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Narrator: Nigel Patterson
Published by Self Published / Indie on 24 April 2014
Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
Genres: Horror, Zombie Apocalypse
Format: Audiobook
Source: Submitted
|Rating Report
|Story (Plot)
|Production Quality
|Attention Holding
Buy from Audible Buy from Amazon.comAdd to Goodreads
First people got sick. Then they got very sick…
Nick Adams is just a normal guy. He loves his family, appreciates his home, and covets his car. But he absolutely hates his job. Which is what makes it so difficult when not a single customer comes by his store that day. It seems as though there's a bug going around, something that has come out of nowhere and is keeping people at home. Still, it's probably nothing to worry about. People get sick all the time. And besides, things are finally starting to look up. Nick's first customer of the day has just stumbled through the door…
His day is about to get worse…
It won't be long before Nick's entire life is turned upside down, sending him on a frantic journey through a ravaged world that will ultimately lead him 500 feet upwards to a hilltop amusement park. Is it the last safe place on Earth, or are the monsters at the top of the hill even worse than the ones below?
Welcome to Ripley Heights. Where the fun never starts.
©2013 Iain Rob Wright (P)2014 Iain Rob Wright
I like the dissolute Ferris Wheel in the background on the cover. The lighting is dark and spooky with a feel of innocence about to be lost. I think it is a nice play on helping visually foreshadow the reader for what is to come.
This book is kind of a different take on the usual zombie genre. The sick people remind me of rabid animals before they die and start their zombie afterlife. People just seem to be getting sick with flu like symptoms, then they start going berserk, then biting and eating others. Iain Rob Wright has the story from the point of view of two people, Nick and Annaliese.
There is an error in the synopsis overview though. It says, "Nick's first customer of the day has just stumbled through the door…" In the story Nick has had a few other customers before the fateful one, not many, but a few.
I loved Nigel Patterson's accent. He really helped bring the story to life. The only issue I had is when the story switched point of views between Nick and another main character named Annaliese. Usually I wouldn't have any problems with this, but there were a few times Nigel's voice didn't really have a tone change between the two to help differentiate when they are speaking to each other.
I noticed one scene where he stumbled a little while reading. It was only a slight hesitation, but it is actually the author's fault for making an error in spelling a name wrong. It is in chapter 15. The name is Charlotte, but the author misspells it to Charlie. If you are reading along it is at page 202. On the audio it is at 5:17:49.
I greatly enjoyed this story. I think Iain Rob Wright did a great job of painting out the scenes. The visual details were perfect for me. I am a firm believer that a horror zombie genre should have plenty of gore and blood. This book delivers the gore and more with a dash of senses overload. Warning – Do not read/listen to this story while eating if you have a weak stomach.
I loved how you get to feel the anxiety, hopelessness, loneliness, fear, anger, love, and hope from both Nick and Annaliese. Overall, this story leaves you with the idea of knowing that even when one life is over others must live on. Life does not stop just because something bad happens. Those left alive must learn to not only survive, they must live. You never know when life will end. Enjoy it.


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Business News of Wednesday, 2 August 2017
Source: thefinderonline
Government has revised down key macroeconomic targets, including lowering 2017 budget deficit to 6.3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 6.5%, a clear indication of the government commitment to fiscal consolidation.
This means the budget deficit will be closed by a further 0.2 percent by reducing expenditures by 1.1% of GDP, mostly through cuts to capital expenditure and transfers to state agencies.
GH¢400m cut in Fiscal balance
As result, overall fiscal balance is expected to improve from a deficit of GH¢13.2 billion to GH¢12.8 billion, representing a reduction of GH¢400 million.
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, announced the revised figures in mid-year fiscal policy review presented to Parliament yesterday.
Govt cut expenditure by GH¢2.2bn
He told Parliament that government has cut down total expenditure by GH¢2.2 billion from GH¢58.1 billion to GH¢55.9 billion.
GH¢1.4bn drop in revenues and grants
He explained that total revenues and grants for this year are expected to come in 0.9 percent of GDP at GH¢43.1 billion ($9.80 billion), less than previously anticipated GH¢44.5 billion due to falls in non-oil tax revenue and related expenditures.
6.3% unchanged
He noted that GDP growth will remain unchanged from a previous estimate of 6.3 percent, compared with 3.5 percent in 2016, which was the lowest in 15 years.
Key revisions to expenditures include:
GH¢553.2m reduction in total transfers
Ofori-Atta announced cut GH¢553.2 million reduction in total transfers to other Government Units, which comprise all statutory and earmarked funds, representing 0.3 percent of GDP
GH¢683m cut in capital expenditure
According to him, capital expenditure has been slashed by GH¢683 million representing 0.3 percent of GDP.
Surplus reduced to 0.2% of GDP
The Finance Minister announced that primary balance has been revised from a surplus of 0.4% of GDP to a surplus of 0.2% of GDP
GH¢202.01b nominal GDP
He stated that nominal GDP has also been revised slightly down to GH¢202.01 billion from the original projection of GH¢203.41 billion;
According to him, non-oil GDP growth rate was maintained at 4.6 percent, end-year inflation rate maintained at 11.2 percent and Gross Foreign Assets to cover at least 3 months of imports of goods and services, same as originally programmed.
Public Debt hits GH¢138.5 as at end of June
Ofori-Atta revealed that the provisional gross public debt stock stood at GH¢138.5 billion ($31.7 billion) as at end June 2017
The domestic component of the debt GH¢74.6 billion (US$ 17.1 billion) while the external debt hit GH¢63.9 billion (US$ 14.6 billion)
Provisional Fiscal Performance January-June
GH¢3bn shortage in revenue and grants
He explained that total revenue and grants amounted to GH¢17.5 billion (8.6 percent of GDP) against a target of GH¢20.5 billion (10.1 percent of GDP)
The Finance Minister said total expenditure, including payments for the clearance of arrears amounted to GH¢23 billion (11.3 percent of GDP), against a target of GH¢27.6 billion (13.6 percent of GDP).
GH¢6.8bn on wages and salaries
Ofori-Atta said wages and salaries amounted to GH¢6.8 billion (3.4 percent of GDP) against a target of GH¢6.9 billion.
He said goods and services amounted to GH¢854.6 million (0.4 percent of GDP) against the target of GH¢1.4 billion (0.7 percent of GDP).
GH¢6.7 for Interest payments
He stated that interest payments amounted to GH¢6.7 billion (3.3 percent of GDP) against a target of GH¢7.1 billion (3.5 percent of GDP).
GH¢5billion less spent on Capital Expenditure
He noted that Capital Expenditure amounted to GH¢2.4 billion (1.2 percent of GDP), representing 81.8 percent of the target of GH¢2.9 billion (1.4 percent of GDP) for the period.
Govt to clear all arrears by end 2019
He stated that government plans to eliminate all arrears by end 2019 following the outcome of an audit of the outstanding commitments generated as at end 2016 and institute stringent measures that would prevent the accumulation of new ones.
GH¢5.6bn fiscal deficit on cash basis
The fiscal deficit on cash basis was GH¢5.6 billion (2.7 percent of GDP) compared to GH¢6.7 billion (4.0 percent of GDP) recorded in the same period in 2016;
He noted that the primary balance recorded a surplus of 0.6 percent of GDP, against a target deficit of 0.01 percent.

subset: commoncrawl


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How to work out what motivates you in the workplace
In your career, which (fingers and toes crossed) will be long, productive and fulfilling, you may well go through times when your job satisfaction is low. We at Rise To hope you're never in a job which makes you dread going to work (life's too short, after all), so we're here to help you work out what your workplace motivations are. By knowing what makes you excited to go to work, you can minimise the chances of taking on a job that just isn't your cuppa and instead put your efforts into finding jobs that are right for you.
If you've had previous roles, or work experience – what was it you liked or didn't like? Which were the aspects you told friends and family about?
It may help to put the below, as well as anything else you care about, into a list from most to least important:
- Being able to learn on the job – for example from colleagues or subjects you find intellectually challenging.
- Relationships – making friends at work and enjoying the social aspect of the job can be important.
- Autonomy – being given a free reign to make decisions and execute plans
- Money – salary is important to many, and can go a long way to making you feel recognised and rewarded.
- Work/life balance – perhaps being able to work flexibly, or do well at work while getting enough time for other interests is a priority.
- Values – are you passionate about making a difference or doing something good in the world?
- Achieving goals – goal-driven people need a fast-paced environment where the next target is always in sight.
- Coaching or helping others in the company – bringing out the potential in others can be a huge driver.
- Providing a service to customers – do you get a buzz from providing great service?
Once you've got clear idea in mind, you know what to look out for in potential jobs. Make sure that in interviews you ask relevant questions to ensure this is a job you'll be able to thrive in. (Be cautious though, money may well be a big motivator, for example, but focusing on salary is unlikely to impress a potential employer!)
Find a job you love, join Rise To


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Why not explore the area by bus, with a network of services to get you where you want to go. Use our journey planner so see what options are available for your trip. If you're waiting for the bus right now, try our real time information map to see when the next bus is about to depart.
Looking for a bus timetable? Visit one of the Local Authority websites below for more information.
If you are looking for contact information, or would like to know about the latest service changes, please visit the operator's website.
If you're driving, avoid parking in the city centre with one of our park and ride sites:
If you're over 60 or have a disability, you could be travelling on the bus for free. To find out your eligibility, please follow the link below:
For long distance journeys within Scotland and across the rest of the UK, there are a range of coach services available. Find out more information from the operators below:
- Megabus
- Scottish Citylink
- Parks of Hamilton
- National Express
- Moffat and Williamson
- JP Minicoaches
- Mackies of Alloa
- Smith and Sons Coaches
- ROBE (Ring of Breadalbane Explorer)
If you need to get somewhere not served by bus, there could be a community transport scheme running locally.
If you need a taxi, follow the links below for information about operators, rank locations and licensing details:
The Taxicard Scheme allows people with permanent and severe mobility difficulties, who are unable to use public transport and who have no other means of transport, to travel by taxi at reduced fares.


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'Sara is a warm, loving, and most important to her role – a very calming person. Not only was she a valuable asset to us during childbirth, additionally she helped guide us before and comfort us after' – Jess, Birth client
'She was very supportive throughout the entire experience. She helped keep the parents calm' – Nicole, RN
'Having Sara there for me was such a relief. Her calmness and demeanor were exactly what i needed. Some curves were thrown at us and it was great to have her there to help us with options to try before moving in another direction' – Kelly, Birth client
'Very helpful to have this doula attend the delivery via cesarean. This allowed for emotional support for the mom while dad was busy with the baby in OR.' – RN
'Sara is a wonderful doula! She asked uslots of questions to learn about what we wanted, was a great listener and then helped guide us along the way. She was a great source of support from our prenatal visits and phone calls all the way through the labor, delivery and postpartum visit. I interviewed many doulas and Sara was the perfect fit with her flexible, calm and caring demeanor.' – Melissa, Mother and Birth client


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Thursday, November 17, 2011
Did you see this??????
11 comments:
Love it!! What a fun use of crazy wallpaper. The colors are so maj!ReplyDelete
Gorgeous! So out there and daring! Love it!ReplyDelete
WHOA, trippy! I just include you in my recent post, as a style icon :) Love the paper!ReplyDelete
BTDubs - the word verification below is asking me to type - HORNI. Coincidence? I think not!
Holy crap that wallpaper is bananas! Love it, need it in my home. Im intrigued by your juice fast. I have always wanted to do one but not sure I could hang!ReplyDelete
wait until you see it in person! The printing is fabulous. And even the way they package their samples is pretty awesome. I haven't see this bathroom, though--looks hot!ReplyDelete
Do you think this will be one of those things were we look back and think - WOW what was I thinking? Or does it have staying power?ReplyDelete
i just impregnated my computer screen.ReplyDelete
That is bad ass!ReplyDelete
Everything is so right with that wallpaper. Have a great weekend.ReplyDelete
F.R.E.A.K.I.N.G. LOVE! Nuff said.ReplyDelete
WHOA! its awesome.ReplyDelete


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IPO DETAILS : Affordable Robotic & Automation Ltd.
We intend to utilize the Net Proceeds from Issue towards the following objects:
1. Purchase of New Plant and Machinery
2. Repayment of certain Long Term Borrowings availed by the company
3. Funding the Working Capital requirements of the company
4. General Corporate Purposes
The Promoters of the company are Mr. Milind Padole and Mr. Manohar Padole.
1. Mr. Milind Padole: aged 45 years is the Promoter and Managing Director of our Company. He has been a director of the company since its inception viz., January 12, 2010 and has been designated as Managing Director w.e.f February 1, 2018.He has completed his Bachelor of Engineering in Production from Mumbai University. He has more than twenty years of work experience in field ranging from engineering and design, process study, robotic application, offline programming, assembly, material handling design, offline programming, project management, bulk storage and system design etc. He looks after the research and development along with the new product development.
Nationality: Indian
Passport No: P6332312
Driving License: MH-12 20140032340
Voters ID: XCT7283989
2. Mr. Manohar Padole: aged 75 years is the Promoter and Whole-time Director of the company. He has been a director of the company since its inception viz., January 12, 2010 and has been designated as the Whole-time Director w.e.f February 1, 2018. He is a graduate and has more than forty five years of work experience in administration. Further, he looks after the business development, finance and formulation of overall strategy for growth and future prospects of the Company.
Passport No: J2779697
Driving License: Not Available
Voters ID: XCT7284706


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This Canadian singer-songwriter's songs have been covered by artists like Miley Cyrus, S.H.E, Selena Gomez & the Scene, and Jordin Sparks. Massive TV shows such as The Vampire Diaries, American Idol, America's Next Top Model, and more have featured I Want You and Watch Me Move, among others. Stuttering, her latest single, has been playing over and over on my iTunes ever since I got the track. You all probably know who I'm talking about, so let's get on with our interview with FEFE DOBSON!
What is your inspiration behind the single "Ghost"?
The song is about finding out that the person you're involved with has been living a double life. It's about walking away from a bad relationship and sticking up for yourself.
What's the story behind the album title "Joy"?
Making this record was definitely a joyful experience as well as liberating. I wanted to name it after positivity and light.
How does "Joy" differ from your debut?
Well... my first album was written about 7 years ago, so naturally it's going to be a bit different. I wrote songs like Take Me Away and Everything when I was 15, 16, so lyrically they're coming from a different place than they would now, being in my early 20's. I've experienced new things, met new people, discovered more music, etc.
What drew you towards the rock genre?
Growing up, my sister played a lot of rock and roll. She loved Nirvana & Smashing Pumpkins. But I think when I heard Michael and Janet Jackson so perfectly mix electric guitars into pop music, I knew then that I had to somehow do something like that as well.
Who are your musical influences and why?
I have so many... Michael Jackson, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Stevie Nicks, Jimi Hendrix, Madonna, to name a few.
What is your guilty pleasure band?
I'm not really ashamed of anything I listen to. I'm the first person to bust out the boy bands! Hanson and 'N Sync were my faves! :)
OH, you want more of this?
Well, this is just the first part of our chat with Fefe Dobson! You see, I've asked for a bit of help from someone who's been listening to her music (before Stuttering, that is)... so the other chunk of this interview is over at The Reflective Inklings.
ALSO, go and get yourself a copy of Fefe's fantastic single, Stuttering!


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Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels
- Platform: NES
- Wii Points: 600
- In Real Money: GBP 4.20 / EUR 6 (approx)
Hmm. Bit of déjŕ vu, this one. Yes, we already reviewed this, back in September last year, when it kicked off the very first Hanabi Festival. Considered the true sequel to Super Mario Bros, but only released in Japan (the West got a rebranded Doki Doki Panic with Mario sprites) it was a potent example of the sort of obscure offering Nintendo planned to celebrate with their virtual festivities.
Then they had the not-entirely-clever idea of making it a limited offer. When the first Hanabi Festival ended, The Lost Levels vanished from the VC. A bit pointless, really, and very annoying for anyone who didn't download it when they had the chance. Well, now everyone can download it again - and this time it's not going anywhere.
For those who can't be arsed clicking on the link above to see what I blabbed last time, it's a lovely little platform game - though perhaps not different enough from Super Mario Bros. to make it an absolute must-have for anyone but dedicated Mario completists. Many will know it from the slightly inferior version bundled into the Super Mario All-Stars package, but it's worth seeing it in its original form. The only major complaint is that it's a far cry from the quivering majesty of Super Mario Bros. 3, but then most things are.
Samurai Shodown II
- Platform: NeoGeo
- Wii Points: 900
- In Real Money: GBP 6.30 / EUR 9 (approx)
"Long long ago there were a man who try to make his skill ultimate." So begins yet another of SNK's fighting games, though the Samurai Shodown series always ploughed its own furrow, thus taking it out of direct competition with the mighty Street Fighter II.
It's a swordplay game, and it improves on the first Samurai Shodown in numerous ways. There are more characters, but that's par for the course in the genre. It's still a fun and varied line-up, though, with everyone from stereotypical samurai to hulking brutes, old geezers and girls with pet falcons. It's nicely balanced as well, although you may not realise this when Earthquake pummels you with his sodding chain thing all the time. Most interesting are the subtle flexibilities woven into the controls, enabling you to roll and flip out of danger, duck and jump to avoid high and low attacks, and a parry move that turns a last-second block into an offensive opening.
SNK fans will love all the nods to the company's other fighting games, while newcomers will find an accessible but deep combat system that renders button-mashing entirely unnecessary. The only quibbles are with the conversion, which is often noticeably slow, and the controls, which are unwieldy on the remote but not optimised for the GameCube pad either. The Classic Controller is your best bet, but if you don't have one of those it can be a bit of a fiddle.
Still, this is another fine Neo Geo fighting game and one that deserves attention from casual fighting fans as well as the inevitable hardcore devotees.


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FIA sign new Concorde with Formula 1 Group
The FIA announced on Friday that it has finally put pen to paper on a new Concorde Agreement with the Formula 1 Group. The agreement reached by the FIA and the Formula 1 Group in August 2014, setting out the framework for implementation of the Concorde Agreement for the period 2015 and onwards has now come into force, following the approval of the respective governing bodies of the signatory parties," a statement on the governing body's website read.
With very few teams entering the 2013 season, which was ended only a few races in, and fans turning their back to the sport, Formula 1 Group understood that something needed to be done. But with no new discussions or decisions made Formula 1 took a sabbatical over 2014 season.
Many racing fans have waited a long time to hear any news about the sport and many started to believe that they would have to live without Formula 1 for a long time to come.
The new agreement is coming together after a protracted period of negotiation and, as the statement says, puts in place a new framework of sporting governance for Formula 1.
FIA President Jean Todt said: "We can be proud of this agreement, which establishes a more effective framework for the governance of the FIA Formula One World Championship. The FIA looks forward to continuing to fulfill its historic role as the guarantor of both regulation and safety in F1 for many years to come."
Ecclestone added: "I am very pleased that the agreement between the FIA and the Formula 1 Group has been concluded".
With the new Concorde a new set of regulations will come. The 2015 season brings with it some of the biggest changes to Formula One racing's regulations for quite some time.
Power - it's out with 2.4-litre normally-aspirated V8 engines and in with 1.6-litre V6 turbo engines, revving to a maximum of 15,000rpm. While the old V8s produced more than 750bhp, the 2015 units put out around 600bhp with additional power coming from Energy Recovery Systems (see below).
Gearbox - gearboxes have eight forward ratios - rather than the previous seven - which each team must nominate ahead of the season.
Energy Recovery Systems (ERS) - from 2015, a larger proportion of each car's power comes from ERS which, together with the engine, makes up the powertrain or power unit. As well as generating energy under braking, ERS units also generate power using waste heat from the engine's turbocharger. Unlike the previous KERS - which gave drivers an extra 80bhp for just over six seconds per lap - the 2015 ERS gives drivers around 160bhp for approximately 33 seconds per lap. To compensate for the extra power being generated under braking by ERS, teams are allowed to use an electronic rear brake control system.
Fuel - to promote fuel efficiency, from 2015 fuel is limited to 100kg per race. Previously fuel was unlimited, but teams typically used around 160kg per race.
Minimum weight - to compensate for the increased weight of the 2015 powertrain, minimum weight has been increased from the current 642kg to 691kg.
Exhaust - unlike previously where two exhaust tailpipes were used, the 2015 regulations mandate the use of a single tailpipe which must be angled upwards to prevent the exhaust flow being used for aerodynamic effect. Additionally, bodywork is not allowed to be placed behind the tailpipe.
Nose height - for safety reasons the height of noses has been reduced for 2015. The maximum height is 185mm (previously it was 550mm).
Front wing - front wings will be a little narrower from 2015 with the width reduced from 1800mm to 1650mm.
Rear wing - the rear wing also looks a little different for 2015. The previously-legal lower beam wing has been outlawed and the main flap has become slightly shallower in profile. Support pillars, however, are allowed. The DRS slot is also bigger than in 2013.
With the Concorde and new regulations in place we now wait and see which teams will enter the FIA Formula One 2015 Championship and which drivers they will sign. Who is available? Announcements will most likely come pretty soon
Published 2014-08-26 by Kris Locksey | Edit


text: October 29, 2015 Posted by: Kelly Amstutz Category: No Comments MSHA – Mine Safety and Health Administration Leave a Reply Cancel reply post a comment how can we help you? Contact us at the Consulting WP office nearest to you or submit a business inquiry online. contacts see our gallery


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Progress, what does that mean? Well, on the International Space Station (ISS), one of the commonly used resupply vessels is named "Progress". Of course, being Russian vessels we should really refer to them as "Wessels".
*pause for laughter from Star Trek fans*
I wonder, would there be any puzzles on board for the crew? The ISS would be an amazing place to create an escape room. You can actually watch the live feed of astronauts right now, I mean the screen is completely dark right now (they're sleeping as I'm writing this).
What was I supposed to write about again? Oh yeah, what have we been doing.
So the beginning of August may have been when you first heard about us; however, we have been actively working on this project since May. During this time we have been working hard on getting this business up and running. Some of the highlights are:
- Our puzzle design is complete - We will be opening with two escape room themes. Although completing the puzzle design was something we had accomplished months ago, we have continually have been tweaking the story, the puzzles and the experience to make sure that all of our participants have the best possible experience. The themes of the rooms should be released within the next few days so keep checking in on us to get a sneak peak.
(Are the astronauts still sleeping? Yes…)
- Our website and booking system is almost complete. We're aiming to provide the best possible user experience in terms of navigating the site and making bookings. If there's something you would like to see implemented or improved, please don't be shy, leave a comment or contact us.
- We've been burning up the company credit card buying props, locks and secret items. We're going to make these rooms look great and you'll get a kick out of the gadgets we've been building.
- We've almost found a place to put everything into!
So I'll go in to a little more detail on that last point. Since day one, we have been searching for the perfect place to situate The Enigma Room. Obviously, we will be based in Sydney, but where exactly was the more important question. At the moment we are very close to signing the lease on a property in the Sydney CBD, close to nightlife, public transportation and a restaurant that takes particular pride in the quality of their laksa (I'll be the judge of that).
I have to say that finding a property has probably been the most challenging and frustrating aspect of our business development so far. Commercial property is something none of us had experience in to begin with and it was a telling factor that resulted in several delays.
However, this has not disheartened us, we are more determined than ever to get our Escape Room open and bring the puzzles to the people! Every set back we've had is just a learning experience that will make us better at running our business when we do eventually open.
When are we going to open? It's hard to say, as I mentioned previously we are close to signing the lease, but we aren't there yet. After that we'll commence our build and testing phase, during which we will be able to release an official launch date. If you can't wait any longer and want a rough guide, we could say that we're tentatively looking to launch mid November.
Don't think that we've been sitting around doing nothing waiting to sign a document. Definitely not! Our preparation work load has ramped up so much that we've taken on a fourth member, Vica, to help us with design feedback and the purchasing and construction of props.
So, in summary.
1. We've been working really hard to get open and show you all the cool stuff we've made.
2. The time is almost here, but not quite yet.
3. Astronauts are like lions at the zoo. They're always sleeping when you're looking.
4. I like numbered lists.
Thanks for reading!


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I am happy to report that I managed to do some cross stitching yesterday, after a hiatus of about 3 weeks! 😀 So very, very happy! And to think that it nearly didn't happen… I was occupied with jalan-jalan (sight-seeing, walks) around Kota Kinabalu with the kids on Saturday and being lazy on the Sunday morning. Jalan-jalan because I needed the exercise (having gained a few extra pounds this month) and lazy because the rain ruined my laundry plans and also because the walks made me soooo extremely tired … . Really, I am getting old….er. Too old to chase after my 4 year old son.
I spent my Sunday afternoon cross stitching this new project and it is in my 2013 Cross Stitching Activity Plan. I just adore its cuteness. So far, this is what I've stitched:
And this is what it should look like (more or less) in the end:
So far, it's still easy because I'm using only 1 colour, blanc. Wait till I get to the colourful bouquet – and the dreaded backstitches! But the backstitches will not be as challenging as Tatty Teddy. Nearly gave up on it, really. Speaking of which, I have not yet posted Tatty Teddy's final looks – framed. Need to take a nice pic of it at its new home.
So, how was your weekend?
Have a nice day, everyone!
– Precious Crafts


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by Jaime McCall
(Hudson, Florida)
My fiance and I have a cherry headed conure. Many months ago he started mutilating his feet. Originally we thought it might be a toy bleeding out on his feet, until we realized it was picked raw and it was blood.
we immediately took him to the vet and they put him on antibiotics. He was also given a cone to put on his head. He got over the first time and we started letting him out of his cone for short periods of time and he did it again. Because the vet couldn't really tell us anything the second time (gave us meds and told us to put him in the cone again) he again picked a spot in his foot so we took tommy to another vet. the second vet took samples of his feet and put us on meds again and put him back in the cone.
in the samples from his feet she found mites but said it wasnt[ serious and gave us a spray to use on his feet to help. he has been doing great for a month or so and then today he picked his foot back open again. do you have any suggestions on what is going on, we are worried that he is hurting for some reason and don't want to keep putting him through this. thanks
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Festival of Trees
The 8th Annual Festival of Trees, sponsored by the Carpinteria Lions Club, will begin Friday, November 24, 2017. Our 16 day event has a new home. Thanks to the Carpinteria Arts Center who has opened its heart and door to allow the event to continue at the Art Center facility located at 855 Linden Ave. in Carpinteria.
The net proceeds will benefit three local non-profits this year:
- Carpinteria Arts Center
- Friends of the Library and
- Rebuild Rancho Allegre Boy Scouts Camp
- Movies in the Park
The Festival of Trees event began eight years ago. The inaugural year featured 13 beautifully decorated trees and raised $14,000 for the Culinary Arts program at the Carpinteria High School. The 2016 Festival of Trees, benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Carpinteria, featured 25 trees and raised $26,500 in ticket sales – all tickets are sold at $1 each.
The Lions Club is now requesting local individuals, businesses, service originations and non-profits for tree sponsorship to showcase creativity and decorating skills and create a beautifully decorated and adorned Christmas tree. All Christmas trees are donated by The Carpinteria Lions Club and will be set-up inside the building in individual showcase stalls.
Spaces are limited. Please get your request to participate to Festival of Trees Committee Chair, Mike Dawson (805)680-9600 or firstname.lastname@example.com no later than November 15, 2017. We would love to have your participation so as to make 2017 the best year ever.


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In private with... Edwina de Charette
"On vacation do you prefer the mountains, the beach or the city ?
Beach and city : the first for relaxation, the second for museums and shops.
Three words you associate with travel ?
Discovery, scents, encounters.
Where have you never been but would like to go ?
Your favorite hotel ?
Fundoo Lagoon on Pemba island in Zanzibar.
Your favorite museum ?
The Grand Palais.
The best restaurant in the world ?
Da Michele in Naples, no fuss, no frills, just two pizzas, one margherita, the other marinara; that's it.
What private place would you like opened specially for you ?
The Tropical Island Paradise yacht, once it's constructed.
A romantic getaway ?
An igloo hotel in Kakslauttanen, Finland.
A book for the trip ?
Jules Verne for an escape, or Seneca for reflection.
The biggest change of scenery ?
Cuba, with its colours and its cars."
by Pierre Cauchois


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Daily Archives: March 29, 2013
Montezuma Castle, Montezuma Well & Indian Fry Bread
We visited Montezuma Castle National Monument this morning. What an awesome place! It's one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America. The inhabitants (the Sinagaua) of the cliff dwellings are believed to have left the area over 600 years ago and they inhabited the area for over 400 years! The 'high-rise apartments' stand 100 to 150 feet … Continue reading
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Raise your expectations
Montana land for sale
Real estate excellence rooted in deep local market knowledge and a passion for the land on which we live.
The prospect of purchasing a parcel of land in rural Montana is an exciting one. Montana has a diverse landscape and the types of properties are as varied as their uses. From working ranches to recreational property for hunting, fishing and relaxing – you can find it in Montana. If you are looking for a mountain plot overlooking a river valley, then head on over to the western part of our great state. If you're looking for some prairie land to farm/ranch, then head east. Whatever you're looking for, you can find it in Montana.
Find A Clearwater Montana Properties Agent
Finding the prefect parcel can be a daunting task in a state as large as Montana. Your first step is to find a licensed realtor that knows Montana from border to border. The agents at Clearwater Montana Properties are just those agents. Participating with Cabela's Trophy Properties, Clearwater Montana Properties has proven to be an asset time and again to sellers and buyers around our state. Visit with a CMP agent and let them help you find your dream property.
Determine What Is Crucial and What You Can Live Without
Many people head out on their property search with only a vague idea of what they want from their property. Looking for a place to relax doesn't say enough about what you want. You have to think about what relaxes you. Do you want mountains and hills or a nearby-forested area? Do you want a property that already has a home built? Do you need outbuildings and easy access in every season? Envision yourself on your property. What do you see when you look around. Determine what your 'must haves' are and let your realtor know. This will cut down on your search and save you and your realtor time and gas.
Always Consider Water
There are two types of water associated with properties; the kind you can recreate in, like rivers, lakes and streams and the kind you work with, like ground water. You can purchase a property that has limited or no water onsite, but you need to know that your use of that property will be limited. Make sure you understand what type of water is available and how much of it there is before you purchase any property in Montana.
Verbal and Written Agreements
When you purchase a parcel of property, you're not just purchasing the physical land and all that grows and dwells on it. You are also purchasing the intangible benefits and conditions connected to that land. Many of the conditions – such as easements and agreements -- are bound by law, recorded with the deed of the land. However, it is a good idea to speak with the owner of the property to determine if there are any verbal agreements they have with their neighbors in regards to access or other items that might limit your use of the property. It is also a good idea to know about any verbal easements your potential neighbors might be giving you as well.
Mineral Rights Versus Surface Rights
In Montana, ownership of the land doesn't necessarily give you ownership of what is underground. Many times the ownership of the surface (surface rights) are separated from the subsurface rights (minerals). Typically, surface rights are in the ownership of private individuals. These give you the right to use the land as you see fit. Subsurface rights in Montana are typically federally owned. This means if you strike oil or find gold – you don't get to keep it. It's not uncommon for the rights to be separate, but ask so you know for sure.
These are just a few of the items that you should consider when looking to purchase Montana Land for sale. Don't hesitate to contact a Clearwater Montana Properties agent. They'll know the answers to your questions and get you started out on the right path to owning your dream property.
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GCA/Carib Beer T20 Matches
Not since 2010, when Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) defeated Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) in a rain-ruined final at Queenstown, has the Roger-Harper-stewarded Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) hosted a T20 competition at the first division level.
Back then, DCC's skipper and Guyana and West Indies T20 all rounder Christopher Barnwell, smashed the opposition bowling to all parts of the ground, in his score of 90 odd as DCC scored in excess of 100 from their seven overs, before limiting their opponents to below the 100 run mark.
Last Sunday the GCA, who joined forces with beverage distribution giants Ansa McAl to foster a relationship for a first division T20 competition under the Carib Beer brand, managed to get two first round games in, while the other two scheduled for the Everest Cricket Club ground were rained out.
One of the two rained out fixtures, featuring defending champions Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) and one of their nemesis in the Thomas Lands based Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC), will take place at the defending champions ground, called 'Home of the Legends', from 13:00hrs today.
In an invited comment with Barnwell, he acknowledged the fact that everyone will be looking to dethrone his side, one that is mixed with youth and experience in this format of the game.
"Certainly, I would like to continue the good work that had been taking place at the club of late, wherein we have been dominating cricket, especially at the Under-15 level, while the first division team was recently crowned champions of the GCA/Hadi's Mall Inc. two day tournament.
With that in mind, we will be looking to execute in all departments, do the basics right, push the opposition onto the back foot as early as possible and look to come out victorious in all matches, retaining the T20 championship in the process," said Barnwell.
To this effect, the right handed all-rounder, who led Guyana in the 2012 Caribbean T20 tournament with moderate success, will have in his corner players in the caliber of Trevon Griffith, Derwin Christian and Paul Wintz, who have all represented Guyana at this level.
There is also, Andre Stoll, the pugnacious Brian Sattaur and his national Under-19 teammate Dexter George, along with Totaram Bishun, a back of the arm spinner who has been creating problems for batsmen at the first division level over the past two years.
While it is yet to be confirmed, rumor has it that pugnacious right handed batsman Jonathan Foo, who created a storm on the Regional scene with his clean and powerful hitting during the 2010 Caribbean T20 tournament, may be donning the maroon and gold for DCC.
However, the MSC lineup is not one that is known to accept defeat without putting up a fight and the mere fact that they have called on the services of former Guyana T20 off-spinning all-rounder Lennox Cush for this tournament, speaks volume.
They are already weakened by the absence of Guyana and the Guyana Amazon Warriors off-spinner Steven Jacobs, hence Cush who took a hat-trick when Guyana lost to Jamaica in the 2008 Stanford T20 tournament, followed by another against Combined Campuses and Colleges two years later.
Former national opener Shemroy Barrington, who recently helped Bermine lift the Berbice Cricket Association/Universal DVD T20 title, Shaquille Williams, Kellon Carmichael, Steven Sankar and another former national off-spinner Dion Ferrier, will bolster the MSC lineup against DCC.
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Anyway, let's take a look at the last of my Halloween polishes! Let's start with Dollish Polish Deadly Nightshade.
Yesterday's swatch: What's This? What's This? on the accent nail.
This one applies a little bit weirdly. It's sheer with just one coat, but builds up well with two or three coats. However, it dries a little dull. It's very bizarre. You can kind of tell from the swatch shot because it isn't as shiny as most other polishes - even with a top coat on. The glitter came out easily and spread well, so the only issue I had with it is the finish when it dries. Anyway, it's a purple based polish with dark purple, fuchsia/bright purple, and bluey-teal glitters.
Next up is Dollish Polish Vampire's coven.
This is my favorite polish from Dolly's This is Halloween collection. It applies evenly, the glitter spreads well, and it's gorgeous! It has a black base with red, wine, and black glitters. If you see this baby on a blog sale or up for swap, grab it! It's a truly special polish. You can check out my comparison of VC to Lynnderella Very Pretty Vampire and Sonoma Deadly Zins here.
I was very surprised by Dollish Polish I'm the Boogie Man (which I actually have on right now!).
Don't be fooled by its snot green color. This is one very complex polish! In one light it's green, but in another it's gold, and in another there are flashes of red shimmer. The polish spread evenly, and the glitters went on without any manipulation on my part. You don't need a base color with this guy, but it definitely looks good over gold. Here, I'm wearing it without an undies. I tossed on 3 coats of Wet 'n Wild Go with the Glow and managed to get a pretty decent picture of it!
I'm saving the best for last... Girly Bits Boo-Berry!
One coat over Dancing in the Sheets
Three coats of Boo-Berry by itself
Whoa momma. This polish is stunning! I paired it with one coat over Deborah Lippmann Dancing in the Sheets, which is a really pretty blurple. On my ring finger, I used only Boo-Berry with three coats. It builds really well on its own, but I wanted to try out the DL since it was sitting in my untried bucket. Boo-Berry is a gorgeous blurple jelly with super fine shimmery particles (I couldn't really make out what color they were because they were so tiny and shiny!), purple hexes and squares, blue hexes and squares, and hot pink hexes. It has amazing depth even with just one coat. I couldn't help but stare at it all day. I don't necessarily think of Halloween when I see this polish, which is great because I plan to wear it often.
And that's all she wrote! I hope you've enjoyed my Halloween manis. As always, you can purchase Dollish Polish at her store, Llarowe, and Overall Beauty. Although, be aware that Dolly has discontinued her This is Halloween collection, so you'll need to snag them from friends or blog sales. You can purchase Girly Bits at her store, Llarowe, Overall Beauty, and Mei Mei's Signatures.
Which is your favorite?


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|Degas, Edgar
La classe de danse (The Dancing class)
c. 1873-75
Oil on canvas
33 1/2 x 29 1/2 in. (85 x 75 cm)
Musee d'Orsay, Paris
This is image #14 of 22 on The Artchive's FAVORITES TOUR
Use the Image Viewer to resize the image to fit your screen, display as a thumbnail, zoom in up to 200%, or even change the background color. [Art Posters] [Home] [Juxtapositions] [Galleries] [Theory and Criticism] [Art CD-ROM Reviews] [Artchive] [Links]


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Posted on September 20, 2017 by Preston Reed
Featured, Footmarks, Partnerships, Retail, Tech
beacon, Footmarks, iBeacon, marketing, Microsoft, mobile, omnichannel, redbox, SmartConnect
Posted on January 21, 2017 by Preston Reed
Featured, Footmarks, Retail, Tech
Footmarks, iBeacon, Microsoft, NRF, NYC, Preston Reed, retail, SmartConnect
Posted on January 20, 2017 by Preston Reed
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iBeacon, Microsoft, mobile, NRF, NYC, omnichannel, Preston Reed, retail trends
Fashion Tech, Footmarks, Retail, Tech
beacons, Footmarks, iBeacon, Microsoft, NRF, Preston Reed, retail
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Posted on March 5, 2015 by lolafeiger
Events, Footmarks
beacon technology, beacons, Chicago Auto Show, Footmarks, iBeacon, Shawn Englund
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beacons, Brian Slettvet, Footmarks, full spectrum location context solution, geofencing, iBeacon, Preston Reed, Skyhook Wireless
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Asia, beacons, Chris Smith, Footmarks, Mindshare, R/GA, SmartConnect, Techstars, Todd Paris
Posted on October 16, 2014 by lolafeiger
" BLE, Amazon, beacons, Boeing, Footmarks, funding, hiring, Microsoft, NFC, SaaS, Shawn Englund, Starbucks, Todd Paris, WiFi tracking
It's been over a week since Apple's high-profile WWDC. In the days leading up to the event, many speculated this would be the year of the iBeacon. After the technology's surreptitious introduction at last year's conference, developers and members of the press expected the technology to feature squarely in Apple's plans for the coming year. Read Article


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This book gives an insight into the artistic process and the human adventure that was propelled by the Kumulus street theatre company during its experiences creating the work Box Meetings. It invites the reader to enter into a space where theatre, photography, life as a theatre company and writing all come together.
The shoebox and its contents, which at first sight may appear initially ridiculous, were both in fact for Kumulus the instruments with which to perform theatrical research and create human encounters. They were the tools with which to play with acting and the imagination as a form of vehicle to explore the theme of exodus. In order to carry out this project, the company went travelling for several months to meet other actors, other faces and other realities in the Balkans, in eastern Turkey, in West Africa, in Europe and in France. The cornerstone for the creative process, Box Meetings ended up becoming the path that turned into the show in itself.
Going back over several years of experience as source material, the authors hinged their work on the chronology of the process and the interviews that were made of the people who took part in Box Meetings in all the many countries they travelled through. The work intertwines the photographic narrative by Jean-Pierre Tutard with the choral text of the actors in the company, as well as the lighting by Joël Cramesnil. It sheds light on the creative approach taken by Barthélemy Bompard, the artistic director of Kumulus since it was founded in 1986, and pits his vision against the challenges faced in theatre today.
Both the form and content of this book are designed to be enjoyed by all readers : those who know Kumulus and Box Meetings already, those who don't, those who are simply curious, professionals or dedicated fans of street theatre, and citizens who are open to the idea of making international encounters.
This book is for sale here : www.editeurs/rencontres-de-boites
Belles Lettres
This book was published with the financial support in France of Pronomade(s) in Haute-Garonne (Street Arts Centre – Encausses-Les-Thermes), the Atelier 231 in Seine Maritime (National Street Theatre Centre – Sotteville-Lès-Rouen), Lieux Publics (National Centre for the Development of Street Theatre –Marseille), L'avant Scène (National Street Theatre Centre – Cognac), Kumulus Theatre Company (Rousset-Les-Vignes), the Rhone-Alpes region, the Languedoc-Roussillon region and the Drôme department.


text: Stunningly Light, Powerfully Beautiful The new ASUS UL50Vg is a harmonious blend of form and function. Powered by an Intel® Core™2 Duo processor, it boasts an impressive battery life for all-day computing, and switchable graphics, as well as powerful multimedia entertainment with Altec Lansing® and SRS Premium Sound™. These features can be found in an ultra-light notebook that is generously cloaked in brushed aluminum and measuring less than 1-inch in profile. Shop Modal header Ultra-portable All-day Computing The ASUS UL50Vg is designed specifically for individuals who desire an all-day computing companion, minus the bulk and weight of a conventional notebook. The ASUS Power4Gear facilitates the deployment and usage of power according to the users' preferences in relation to the specific tasks that they need to perform. It also provides users with the option to turn off hardware devices to conserve even more energy, enabling users to manage their power usage more effectively, and works in conjunction with an Intel® Core™2 Duo ultra-low voltage processor for maximum energy efficiency. The ASUS UL50Vg is shrouded in a robust brushed aluminum lid which not only looks magnificent, but also helps in maintaining its stylish exterior day after day. Switchable Graphics for Visual Performance and Energy Conservation The ASUS UL50Vg features GraphiX Boost technology that allows users to maintain a balance between surreal graphics performance and battery conservation. The ASUS GraphiX Boost allows users to switch between a dedicated NVIDIA® GeForce® G 210M graphics card for graphically intensive applications, and integrated graphics options for better energy savings. High Definition Multimedia Entertainment The ASUS UL50Vg is a highly capable multimedia entertainer while on-the-move. It features a 15.6-inch high definition display with a 16:9 aspect ratio, complemented by a pair of Altec Lansing® high definition speakers which are 30% more powerful compared to those found on conventional notebooks. The speakers provide better amplification, delivering a wider frequency range, which in turn produces lower pitches that allow users to hear every reverberation of the drums, as well as every note in pitch perfect quality. Enhanced by SRS Premium Sound™, they provide a virtual surround audio experience to the powerful speakers. *Subject to system specifications and prevailing usage.


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Senate Minority Whip William Payne introduced a proposal this week that calls for the state's top elections officials to study the feasibility of bringing biometrics into the mix. That could mean anything from retinal scans to the thumbprint-imaging technology used to access smartphones.I don't like to see so much made of retina biometrics but because this is big enough news, I'm linking it anyway.
After hearing the same debate year after year, the Albuquerque Republican said he wanted to find a way to take some of the "venom" out of the argument that requiring photo identification would lead to voter suppression.
Monday, January 26, 2015
US: New Mexico legislator proposes biometrics for voter ID
Thumbs Up? New Mexico to Study Biometrics to ID Voters (University of Minnesota)
Posted by Jason at 10:24 AM
Labels: elections, fingerprint, New Mexico, US, vote, voter


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This spacious villa which is newly completed is located in the Cannigione hamlet of Arzachena, just 1500m from the beach with magnificent sea views and close to both Porto Cervo and Baja Sardinia.
This beautiful 5 bedroom detached villa is located in Baia Sardinia, less than 10 minutes from Porto Cervo on the north east coast of Sardinia.
This lovely spacious 4 bedroom villa is set among the rocks of the Costa Paradiso on the northern coast of Sardinia and is directly above the sea, with magnificent views.
This newly constructed 4 bedroom exclusive detached villa is located on the northern Sardinian coast at Costa Paradiso with magnificent views over the sea


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Marjorie Benbow
What Is A Not-For-Profit?
Generally defined, a charitable institution is an organization or other entity
engaged in the relief or aid to a certain class of persons, a corporate body
established for public use, or a private institution created and maintained
for the purpose of dispensing some public good or benevolence to those who require
it. , The range of not-for-profits is varied, from the entertainment giant NFL,
the medical monolith Blue Cross and Blue Shield, American Red Cross, the recently
discriminating Old Town Club, YMCA, Jim Baker's church, the Forsyth Humane
Society, and the Ku Klux Klan. From the list, one may wonder if not-for–profits
are necessarily eleemosynary institutions. The benefit that they bestow may
be for private or public benefit. While not-for-profits may accumulate profits
, they have a non-distribution constraint -- they are not allowed to distribute
any assets to third parties (payments to shareholders).
Annual giving to not-for-profit organizations in 1997 increased 7.5% from 1996 to $1,498 billion , which represents approximately 15 percent of the gross national product . North Carolina has 5913 or approximately 2.5% private not-for-profit organizations officially registered with the IRS grossing in 2.5% of reported annual giving .
Why Is Nonprofit Liability Exposure Important?
The purpose of this paper is to value my liability exposure from working with
not-for-profit agencies. My interest peaked after the Metrolina HIV/AIDS Consortium
president sexually molested an employee. The acts were witnessed. She complained
to her managers, who then went to the board and recommended that she be cut
from full time to part time because of the traveling expenses between counties.
The managers made no mention to the board of the philanthropist's sexual
escapades against the employee. The county where her assailant lived was taken
from her multi-county territory, although it was an adjacent county, no substitute
county was given to her, they cut her pay, and removed all benefits. She filed
a lawsuit for sexual harassment. The claim was settled out of court.
As an applicant to law school, I looked forward to having my degree so I could assist charities possibly by incorporating them under I.R.C. 501(c), drafting simple contracts, or connecting them to legal experts for free as a professional courtesy to me. Once I pass the bar, my ability to offer expertise along with my volunteer hours is four years closer than it was when I entered Wake Forest. One dream is to serve on the bio-ethics committee of a hospital. As I learned more about the law, I became aware that the price of giving is the possibility of exposure to liability. I could be personally liable under respondeat superior or other tort theory for a wide array of actions:
• the lecherous conduct of a fellow board member or manager (sexual harassment);
• breach of fiduciary duty for not paying employment taxes or not studying the monthly financials to catch embezzlement or misuse of assets;
• bodily harm possibly wrongful death to employee or visitor at the facility;
• wrongful discharge, breach of contract or other tortious claim ; and
• violation of bylaws or deviation from the charter. (The Attorney General often monitors these claims and a third party usually does not need to bring claim).
Even if not liable, I may still be responsible for litigation costs arising out of such claims.
Over the past decade, I have served on various not-for-profit boards. Presently, I am serving on the Sawtooth Center for Visual Arts Board, the North Carolina Medical Society Alliance Board, and the North Carolina Medical Society's Prevention and Public Health HIV/STD committee and will be serving on the Alumni Council for Babcock Graduate School of Management shortly.
Is Liability as a Not-For-Profit Board Member real or is the law student's equivalent to medical student's disease?
Real! In general, potential liabilities for generally fall into three categories: (i) liability for breach of duty to the organization, (ii) third-party liability in which plaintiffs who suffer some injury from the corporation seek to hold directors and officers personally responsible, and (iii) government enforcement actions. The 1996/1997 Watson Wyatt Worldwide Survey reported 1,290 claims made against nonprofit directors and/or officers from 1987 through 1996 . Fifty-five percent were closed. Approximately 73% of these closed claims were resolved by settlement or trial and the claimants dropped the remaining 27% of cases. The average indemnity payment for all claimants was $376,168. The average indemnity payment for D&O claims made by employees (including physicians) was $275,170. Close to five percent of all nonprofit claims had an indemnity payment over $1 million. The average defense cost for those claims, which were closed by litigation, was $147,274 and by settlement was $118,204. If the claimant dropped the case, the average defense cost was $19,092. Sexual harassment cases more than doubled in 1991 from 6,883 to 15,889 in 1997 . Between 1991 and 1996, awards to victims under federal laws nearly quadrupled from $7.7 million to $27.8 million, not including punitive damages .
Is Charitable Immunity an Option in North Carolina?
Charitable immunity does not mean that plaintiffs could never recover for damages
for the act of a charity. Previously, it was established that if a charitable
institution has exercised due care in its selection and retention of its servants
or employees, it might not be held liable to a beneficiary of the charity for
the negligence of its servants or employees. , A non-beneficiary, for example
visitor to the not-for-profit could sue if s/he hurt her/himself due to negligent
maintenance of the premises by an employee.
Two theories supporting charitable immunity were the trust fund theory and the nonprofit theory . Under this theory, courts argued that charities should be immune from paying damages in tort because charitable donations were said to be held in trust for the beneficiaries of the charity, and paying tort judgments from those funds would frustrate the intent of the donor. The nonprofit theory supporting immunity was that charities were not bound by the doctrine of respondeat superior because charities did not profit from their employees' work.
Justice and sound public policy alike dictated that a not-for-profit should be exempt from liability because one is acting as the Good Samaritan. Another theory was implied waiver .
By 1940, four fifths of the states recognized charitable immunity , . Since then the states have abrogated this defense and limited its application. Reasons cited for the demise of the doctrine were (1) the development of an advanced insurance industry and (2) the growth of the not-for-profit sector . Courts reasoned that any burden placed on charities because of tort liability could be alleviated with insurance. Moreover, charities were no longer the historically poor organizations operating on shoestring budgets. They had evolved from asset-poor groups into substantial corporate powers with sufficient assets to self-insure.
North Carolina abolished the common law defense of charitable immunity as to actions arising after September 1, 1967 with G.S. 1- 539.9 . A Westlaw search looking for charitable immunity and nonprofit found 14 North Carolina cases. Eleven had to do with hospitals. Of these 11 cases, eight clarified the date that charitable immunity precluded suit by a beneficiary or disallowed recovery because the tort was asserted against the nonprofit before September 1967 ; two allowed recovery because the plaintiff was not a beneficiary ; and one case held that the hospital was not a nonprofit . The remaining three cases, all predating the abolition of charitable immunity, were against the YWCA, the Masonic Lodge, and a railroad .
What Is My Liability Exposure from Community Service?
I am involved in four not-for-profit agencies; Sawtooth Center for Visual Arts, the North Carolina Medical Society Alliance, the North Carolina Medical Society's The NCMS Prevention and Public Health Committee, the alumni council for Wake Forest's Babcock Graduate School of Management. To assess my liability exposure based on the four committees, I will discuss each committee separately. One underlying assumption is that due to my background in the law and general ethics, I would not be the tortfeasor, such as the president of the AIDS Consortium. Rather, I would be the object of liability because my position in the organization.
Sawtooth Center for Visual Arts, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Sawtooth teaches the visual arts to approximately 14,000 students of all ages in roughly 10 counties around the Triad. The media include photography, glass blowing, metalworking, pottery, painting, woodworking, and weaving. Presently, I am beginning my third year on the board and am working with the Winston-Salem conductor Peter Perret and Sawtooth's executive director, Jim Sanders, to design an arts-based curriculum for a new charter school in the area.
Subjectively, my concerns for liability are from the toxic chemicals, potential chemical and heat burns, and explosions. A slip-and-fall case would possibly pass through us because we are a tenant and the Arts Council is the landlord. The executive director, who has been there for over a decade has never had any complaints for mismanagement of employees or funds. I don't necessarily have 100% confidence in each individual to understand financial statements and be a bloodhound when it comes to possible mismanagement of assets or breach of fiduciary duty. As a twenty-plus team, my confidence is more than 100% that we could catch any misdealing. Historically, there have never been any claims against the Sawtooth or the North Carolina Arts Council.
North Carolina Medical Society Alliance (NCMSA), Raleigh, North Carolina (www.ncmsalliance.org)
I am completing my fifth year on the board and am the awards chairperson for North Carolina. The group is comprised of physicians' spouses and is a little sister organization to the North Carolina Medical Society, which represents about 50 percent of NC-licensed medical and osteopathic doctors. Subjectively speaking, I do not see any possible claims regarding employment because there are only one and one-half female full-time equivalents. The board is female dominated. To this day there have been no claims against the NCMSA, nor against any states' medical society alliance. In addition, the national organization has never had a claim made against it.
North Carolina Medical Society's Prevention and Public Health Committee
Third, I use my background in epidemiology and infectious diseases while working with the North Carolina Medical Society's Prevention and Public Health Committee. The primary tasks over the past five years have been to author health policy statements for the medical society on issues surrounding communicable diseases. Subjectively speaking, there are tons of lawyers crawling around that office and actions regarding employment or financials are very carefully scrutinized. Only the impulsive tortious act or similar slip and fall case would be likely to pop up. For the North Carolina Medical Society board and all of its committees, no claim has ever been asserted against it. Like it's spousal counterpart, there have been no assertions against any state medical societies or the American Medical Association. I was unable to find out whether there had been any claims against any county medical societies or the county medical alliances.
Babcock Graduate School of Management Alumni Council
Finally, beginning July, I will begin my three-year term on Babcock Graduate School of Management's Alumni Council, a 36-person team that acts as a conduit for fundraising and a steering committee for the graduate program. (Only vehement Tarheel fans have made only non-legal claims against Wake alumni). I was unable to find out if the alumni council per se had insurance. I will assume that it does not and will also assume that it functions simply as a committee and do not impact Wake Forest employees, visitors, or policy . Rather, if any action implicated the alumni council, the plaintiff would sue Wake Forest, Babcock Graduate School of Management, and the board of directors and trustees of the respective schools.
Analysis and Conclusion
To calculate the liability, the following data was incorporated into the decision tree model of liability exposure . See Appendix C. Over the past nine years there have been 1290 claims or approximately an average of 145 cases annually . Because North Carolina represents 2.5% of registered not-for-profits, assuming an equal distribution of suits, North Carolina is faced with four cases per year . Assuming that liability suits are independent variables, the four suits will randomly impact the 5913 not-for-profits registered or each not-for-profit has a 0.068% of being plagued by a lawsuit, making my exposure to suit equal to 0.27% . I have rounded the model up to 1% for each board.
Continuing with a suit was assigned 73% and dropping a case was assigned 27% based on nine-year sample from the Watson Wyatt survey . Based on anecdotal evidence from trial lawyers who state about 5% cases go to trial and the rest settle, I used divided the likelihood of settlement and litigation accordingly. In addition, the defense costs for litigation, settlement, and dropping a case were $147,274, $118,204, and $19,092, respectively . While I felt that the average indemnification payment for directors and officers, $275,170 was high because of the skewing effect physicians and health settlements would have on the sample average, it was added to litigation and settlement outcomes . My expectation of liability exposure this year is $2,933 using the inflated 1% chance of suit per board and the skewed average D&O payment.
If one uses the actual 0.068% likelihood, the result is $793.85.
The fault of this logic is it does not touch on the horrific randomness of a lawsuit. Instead, the model averages the probability of an event happening throughout time. Anyone who has experienced even a minor sickness without health insurance knows that the magnitude of such an event limits the applicability of the decision-tree model. By continuing the analogy, the solution is foreshadowed for the philanthropist.
Is There A Way to Protect Oneself?
There are two ways to cover oneself as a board member. The first is to have directors and officer's liability insurance and the second is to check to see if your personal umbrella policy has appropriate clauses covering your exposure. Often called D&O liability insurance for a not-for-profit, some technically refer to it as not-for-profit organization liability policy. Unlike its for-profit counterpart, which only covers directors and officers, this covers the board, directors and officers, committees, corporation, staff, and volunteers. (For a list of companies providing appropriate insurance, see Appendix B). The costs associated with my coverage are below in Table 1: Insurance Costs Associated With the Four Boards
Table 1: Insurance Costs Associated with the Four Boards
Sawtooth: $0 - No coverage (bids ranged from $2,000 - $5,000 for the 20 –
30 man board)
NCMSA: $1,500 to cover 20-person board. Brokered by Cameron M. Harris & Company of Charlotte for $1,000,000 through Reliance Insurance Company and Colonial Insurance Company.
NCMS: $1,500 same as above
Babcock: N/A
Unlike individual umbrella policies, the D&O insurance is not a cost the individual incurs, rather it is provided by the not-for-profit.
There is a 0.068% that a North Carolina not-for-profit will be sued. North Carolina statute does not provide not-for-profits with charitable immunity, but board members and trustees are given limited protection, as long as they act within the scope of their duties, exercise reasonable care, and are not involved in business for individual or illegal profit. Based on the decision tree model, one has a $2,933.79 exposure annually.
Appendix B: Partial list of companies providing policies for not-for-profit organization liability insurance.
ALTRU Inc.,
Boardroom Plus
CAN Financial Insurance
Chubb Insurance
Emergency Service Insurance Program (ESIP)
Executive Risk
Great American Insurance Companies
ISM Insurance
Monitor Liability Managers, Inc.
Royal and Sunalliance
Zurich Insurance
Appendix C: Other Valuable Resources:
ABA Model Nonprofit Corporation Law, Revised Model Nonprofit Corporation Act, Prentice Hall Law & Business (1988) (devoted exclusively to nonprofits).
American Association of Fund-Raising Counsel
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Independent Sector
National Center for Charitable Statistics
National Charities Information Bureau
National Society of Fund Raising Executives
The Nonprofit Times
Philanthropy Journal online
Watson Wyatt Consultants


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Visit Cisco-Eagle at Modex 2018
See booth B630 for innovative material handing and safety solutions
If you plan to be among the thousands of warehousing, manufacturing and safety professionals headed to Atlanta in April for Modex, make sure you take some time to visit Cisco-Eagle. We'll be there exhibiting the latest in material handling and safety innovations to help take your operation to the next level.
Why should I attend Modex?
The conference runs 4/9-4/12 at the Georgia World Congress Center, and is the place to be if you're looking for ideas, inspiration and education.
You know why: because it's a competitive world, and you need new ideas. You have to be forward thinking.
You're always out of time. You're pressed to squeeze more out of less. These are the times you need to be thinking of ways to work on your business rather than in your business. The velocity of change in the supply chain world has increased, and will increase more as we move ahead. Manufacturing, distribution and warehousing are changing. To truly move your career and company ahead, you need to adapt. You need to find ways to improve. That's the opportunity Modex can provide you. It lets you see what's coming.
Here are some direct benefits
Modex's website offers an extensive case for attendance. Check it out.
- Network with people in the business: You can make new contacts in the industry. It's a great way to develop peers and contacts
- Connect with innovative suppliers: You can browse hundreds of cutting-edge solution providers (make sure Cisco-Eagle is on your list). You can find live equipment demonstrations, consult with experts, and identify real world solutions that can help you today – and tomorrow
- Get ahead of your competition: Understand emerging trends that will help you out-think and out-produce others in your industry
- Learn and grow in your career: There are keynotes from innovators and over 100 free educational sessions you can participate in.
The conference and exhibits are free to attend. You can register here.
Where can I find Cisco-Eagle?
We're at booth B630, which is in the Manufacturing & Assembly Solutions area of the show. Conveniently, we're located right next to the food court, so you can come visit us and perhaps get a snack as you navigate the show. A full floor map can be found here.
What will I see at the Cisco-Eagle booth?
Offerings ranging from automated conveyor systems to high-density storage to safety innovations. We'll have videos and information on a scope of material handling solutions. Our exclusive AisleCop® forklift safety system will be live in the booth so you can see it run and discuss applications. We'll have experts in productivity and safety on hand to answer any questions and discuss your needs. We have solved some of the most difficult material handling and safety problems for virtually every type of company, ranging from large scale distribution to specialized manufacturing.
Can I schedule time with Cisco-Eagle?
Absolutely. We'd love to meet with you. To get started click below to register. We would love to set an appointment to chat with you:
Scott Stone Cisco-Eagle's Director of Marketing. He has over 25 years of experience in the industry.


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After the death of friend and photographer Chris von Wangenheim in March of 1981, Gia, embraced by sadness, lost all control over her heroin addiction. Her beauty that created a sensation at the start of her career now reflected an image wasted by the ravages of addiction.
By fall of '81, Gia determined to make a modeling comeback but was met with skepticism and derision. Francesco Scavullo out of sympathy offered her a cover-shoot for Cosmopolitan magazine. It was a gift. Scavullo felt pity for the model he had photographed at the height of her dazzling but short-lived career. Wanting to help her, Scavullo insisted that Gia deserved the winter cover shoot for the April 1982 issue. Gia did not live up to the favor. Her arms, scarred from the puncture marks of her addiction to heroin, could not be concealed in the sleeveless Fabrice gown chosen for the cover. Scavullo got around the problem by having Gia keep her arms tucked behind her. It would be Gia Carangi's last cover.
Gia Carangi
Once a Great Beauty


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By E. Darius Sturmer, J.D.
The nonsolicitation clause within an employment agreement between crane manufacturer Manitowoc Company, Inc., and an engineering employee constituted an unreasonable restraint of trade upon the employee and was, therefore, unenforceable under Wis. Stat. § 103.465, a divided Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled. In a 5-2 decision, the Court decided that Section 103.465, referring explicitly only to "covenants not to compete," could also be applied to the nonsolicitation provision that barred the employee, for a period following his departure, from convincing other Manitowoc employees to leave and join him at a competing company. The provision restricting the employee restrained competition by limiting a competitor's access to the labor pool, in the court's view. Further, the court held that, because the nonsolicitation provision was not "reasonably necessary for the protection of the employer," it could not satisfy Section 103.465's prerequisites for enforceability. A Wisconsin appellate court's reversal of a trial court's $1.1 million judgment in favor of Manitowoc was affirmed, and the matter was remanded to the circuit court (Manitowoc Co., Inc. v. Lanning, January 19, 2018, Abrahamson, S.).
Applicability of Section 103.465. The plain meaning of Section 103.465 was not limited to a covenant in which in an employee explicitly agreed "not to compete" with a former employer, in the court's view. Wisconsin courts have applied the statute far more broadly, to "traditional non-compete agreements, non-solicitation of customer agreements, and non-disclosure/confidentiality agreements between employers and employees as well as a no-hire provision between two employers," the court observed. Thus, whether a particular agreement constituted a restraint of trade was based not upon how the agreement was labelled but upon the effect of the agreement on employees and competition, the court said.
In this instance, the provision prevented employees from Manitowoc from having complete information regarding employment opportunities elsewhere, the court remarked. It also "limit[ed] a potentially valuable professional resource [the departed employee] would otherwise have regarding resources in the labor market." Although the law "encouraged the mobility of workers," the court stated, the provision at issue "hinder[ed] the mobility of Manitowoc Company employees." The effect was clear.
The precept of legislative acquiescence further reinforced the principle of stare decisis and supported its interpretation of the statute, the court said, noting that the Wisconsin legislature had passed up the opportunity on three separate occasions between 1995 and 2015 to amend the wording of the statute to counter the judiciary's broad application of it.
Enforceability. Because Manitowoc failed to establish that it had a protectable interest justifying the sweeping restriction it imposed upon the employee's activities, it could not satisfy all of the prerequisites that a restrictive covenant had to meet in order to be enforceable, the court concluded. The company claimed it had an interest in "protecting itself from 'the loss of the employee(s) it trained and invested time and capital in, and the institutional understanding, experience, and intellectual capital they possess.'" However, the provision contained no limitations based upon the nature of the employee's position, the employee's personal familiarity with or influence over another particular employee, or the geographical location where he worked. "The argument that Manitowoc Company [had] a protectable interest in maintaining its entire workforce flout[ed] the generally recognized principle that the law 'does not protect against the raiding of a competitor's employees,'" the court stated. The company could have tailored the language of the agreement to its specific needs.
Manitowoc's argument that a "sliding scale" approach should apply to gauge whether the nonsolicitation provision met Section 103.465's prerequisites was without any basis in Wisconsin law, the court added.
Concurrence. A concurring opinion penned by Justice Rebecca Grassl Bradley and joined by two others disagreed with Justice Abrahamson's basing of her interpretation of Section 103.465 in the lead opinion almost exclusively on arguably bad Wisconsin case law, and chided her opinion for "skip[ping] the critical first step of statutory analysis—examining the plain language of the text." The case law interpreted and applied the statute expansively, "sometimes straying far from the text in advancing policy choices that should be made legislatively, not judicially," the concurrence noted. In abandoning the process of textual analysis, the lead opinion risked reading into the statute "imagined words derived from the court's perception of the legislature's unspoken policies and purpose."
Dissent. A dissenting opinion filed by two other justices contended that the nonsolicitation clause in the employee's contract did not come within the plain meaning of Section 103.465 and was, therefore, enforceable. According to the dissenting justices, the lead opinion's case law approach changed Section 103.465 "from a statute that balanced the rights of employees and their employers into a broad mandate that prevents employers from protecting their businesses from third-party raiding." Declaring the nonsolicitation clause unenforceable permitted the former employee to assist his new company in "cherry picking Manitowoc Company, Inc.'s key employees and thereby reduce[d] the competition that Manitowoc would otherwise be able to exert against SANY, as both compete in the same marketplace," the dissent said.
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A insight on the history and Achievements Of Havells Sylvania Lamps
Havells Sylvania is an international designer and manufacturer of lighting products. It has plants throughout Europe, Asia, North Africa and Central and South America, and is one of the few lighting companies that produces both lamps and lighting fixtures. It is owned by Havells.
Founded in the early 1900s as a business that renewed burned-out light bulbs, Sylvania and its predecessor companies ultimately began producing new lamps and then vacuum tubes for the fledgling radio industry. By the time Sylvania Electric Products merged with General Telephone in 1959, Sylvania had become a manufacturer of electronics, lighting, television, radio and chemistry and metallurgy. The merged corporation was renamed GT&E Corporation. Sylvania operated as a separate entity and produced cameras, photo flash bulbs, general lighting and TVs and anti missile defense systems. GTE sold its consumer electronics business to North American Philips in 1981.
During the early 1990s it was clear that GTE must make substantial investments into the emerging mobile telecommunications field, which was beginning to compete against its core business in traditional telephone systems. The decision was made to sell off Sylvania to finance these new investments. At this time the global lamps market was dominated by only four players - Sylvania, GE, Philips and Osram, each of whom had roughly a quarter of the market. International monopoly regulations prohibited an outright takeover of the entire of Sylvania by one of these three competitors. Eventually a deal was struck in which the company was split into two parts. OsramGmbH, obtained the North America, Mexico and Puerto Rican operations and rights to the Sylvania brand in those territories. The remainder of the company in Europe, Asia and Latin America, together with the Sylvania brand in those countries, was the subject of a management buyout which led to the formation of SLI Holdings International LLC. Eventually, Australia and New Zealand became independent entities.
In April 2007, SLI was acquired by Havells India Ltd. at a transaction price of €227.5 million, forming Havells Sylvania. This newly formed entity has 91 branches and representative offices and 8,000 staff in more than 50 countries.
Invented together with Bausch & Lomb, this was the world's first light source to feature a cool-beam reflector coating which directs light forwards while allowing heat to escape out of the rear of the lamp.
Following Sylvania's invention of the red-emitting phosphor for colour television screens, a spinoff application created the modern deluxe colour mercury lamp.
Invention of the sodium-scandium lamp chemistry which continues to set the standard for metal halide lighting all over the world.[4]
Invention of The Flashcube allowed still cameras to take four images in succession. It had four electrically fired flash bulbs with an integral reflector in a compact cube-shaped arrangement.
Tru-Aim Professional — The world's first MR16 lamp to feature a sealed front lens and UV protection.
An extremely robust, reliable high intensity discharge lamp (HID) which features dual arc tubes for immediate re-ignition after current interruptions, and more than doubles lamp life to 55,000 hours.
Invention of the first Integrated Circuit ballast for a compact fluorescent lamp - the development responsible for dramatically reducing the size of modern CFL lamps.
The first high voltage halogen lamps which permitted a higher performance upgrade over traditional incandescent reflector lamps.
Invention of the world's first mercury-free HID lamp.
Invention of the GU10 lamp cap and compact mains voltage halogen lamp, offering transformer-free operation.
An ultra-compact, unconventional lamp of extremely flat dimensions.
Invention of the world's first compact metal halide lamp in the popular MR16 format, as an energy efficient alternative to the halogen MR16 lamp for commercial lighting..
Introduction of the first compact fluorescent lamps to feature almost instant light at switch-on without reducing lamp lifetime.
The first high efficacy mains voltage halogen reflector lamp, whose 30% energy savings allow the 50W GU10 lamp to be replaced by an efficient 35W alternative with no loss of light.
The world's first LED based retrofit designed to match the performance and size constraints of the popular GU10 50W tungsten halogen lamp, matching the 350 lumen output of the 50W halogen lamp. The lamps are produced at the first LED lamp manufacturing facility in Europe; earlier facilities have been in Asia. The Sylvania RefLED GU10 lamps are manufactured at the plant in Tienen, Belgium, where the world's first GU10 halogen lamp was invented in 1996.
The company has established competency centers at the following locations:
In addition a number of satellite factories serve other global regions:


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A hobbled Howard Schnellenberger says hip is okay, but will coach today's game against Florida from press box
Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger will coach the first game in his final season from the press box.
Schnellenberger was walking with a cane Saturday after being taken off the team bus on Friday to have his recently surgically repaired hip examined at a Treasure Coast hospital. Schnellenberger experienced a "major cramp" while the bus was stalled on the turnpike and the doctor who performed his hip replacement surgery on Aug. 5 suggested he have it checked out immediately.
"I tried to get as comfortable as I could," Schnellenberger said hours before FAU's opener at Florida. "I crossed my legs across two seats. Like an idiot I continued to rehab while we were on the bus and bang I got a major cramp in my leg.
Schnellenberger said no damage was done and his hip is "in great shape," but "I'm going upstairs (to coach the game) because only an idiot would take two chances on it in two days."
He expects to back on the sideline for next Saturday's game at Michigan State.


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Just took capra demon on first try, I had the LAST line of hp left, and no flasks. You are right, dogs were a bitch, took them out on stairs then danced with the demon. Also rang first bell earlier, kinda confussled where I am supposed to go now
(click to show/hide)Once you've killed Capra he gives you a key that unlocks a door. From Capra, exit and turn left down staircase. Keep going, and on your right hand side you'll see a door - key unlocks that door. Don't go up the left hand staircase though.
I'm stuck at a boss.... (click to show/hide)This firey spider boss is a huge pain in the ass, I think I'm permanently stuck down here... I gotta run across the poison water than fight this bitch who almost 1 hits me.
Yes there is, http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_244831&feature=iv&src_vid=-mGA3gcNia0&v=4T-g3uoBHIg pretty simple guide, im playing with my ps3 controller and everything works exactly like on the actual ps3


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Species Shock
A supporter of Kicking It Forward.
The elevator pitch
Worldbuilding can be hard, especially when it comes to aliens. All too often, fictional aliens feel like they're really just humans in costumes, and even when they are weird enough to feel truly nonhuman, they're usually still suffering from a serious case of monoculture-itis. Species Shock is a series that aims to supply you with samples of truly alien extraterrestrials, covering everything from their planet to biology, culture, and interactions with humans. It will be published with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license, so that you can share, remix, transform, and build upon its contents however you'd like, even commercially, with very few restrictions.
However, because I'm essentially releasing this for free, I can't count on making enough money from Species Shock to offset the costs. This poses a problem for a financially-strapped college student such as myself: I can take care of almost everything on my own, but the one thing that I can't do is draw art for the book.
That's where you come in.
With more detail
The book that I'm currently writing is going to clock in at 40-50 pages before art and nice formatting enters the picture. It's going to be a pretty hefty book, when you consider that it's dedicated to the ins and outs of a single alien species and their planet.
For this first volume of Species Shock, I'm focusing on the Agloanikoi, or aglos, a species of many-legged tree-dwelling aliens that are carbon-based and breathe oxygen, like us, but evolved on a world where jaws were never developed and the most common form of blood is cobalt-based.
Sexually dimorphism is nothing new, but the aglos carry it to extremes rarely found on Earth: the males are herbivorous and the females are carnivorous. The sexes differ in other behaviors as well, including their spiritual inclinations, social behaviors, and the females' fondness for ritual battles that the xenolinguists translate as "flowery warfare." This phenomenon is one of the chief forces responsible for the shaping of their society, as influential to their history as monarchies and capitalism have been to our own.
The book covers a wide range of subjects, of which the following represent just a sample:
- Geography, climate, and relevant information pertaining to the homeworld itself, including the phenomenon of hypercanes, terrible storms that human scientists have theorized about but, thankfully, never had to deal with because our oceans aren't big enough to support their creation.
- The evolutionary history of the aglos and other species on the planet, explaining the development of various notable characteristics (not the least of which are their jawlessness and dietary sexual dimorphism) and show their place in their world's great tree of life.
- Diet, physical development, and other features of their physiology, including the nature of perceptory fronds, a set of multipurpose organs that serve as both ears and nose for aglos, among other things.
- A discussion of the nature of art as aglos understand it, plus popular forms of art, including "hanging hardens" and literary genres like "banquet fiction" (or "nomfic"), a sort of culinary travelogue.
- Mathematics and timekeeping systems, including the tradition of "digit calculators," aglos who use their many arms to act as living abacuses.
- Fringe cultures, subcultures, and other exceptions to the norm, including a lengthy entry on the so-called "atomic pirates," a collection of near-failed states who have maintained their sovereignty, such as it is, through the fortuitous early development of nuclear weapons.
- Entries on close relatives, distant cousins, and other life forms on the planet, from macropedes to spiderbellies.
- Examples of unconventional members of this species - If I were doing this for Klingons, then this would explore how taxi cabbies, doctors, and secretaries, for example, see themselves as fitting into the warrior ethos that drives Klingon culture (or, for that matter, how they don't, and what this means for them).
- How they relate to humans, include possible first contact scenarios and what they think of some of the classic works of human culture. You know, Hamlet, Star Wars, Xena: Warrior Princess...
- An appendix with all sorts of numbers from population demographics to the sizes of just about every region you'd care to look up.
Not to mention economic systems, social structures, metaphysics, popular games, architecture, and much, much more. There's a lot in here, is what I'm trying to say, and I'm absolutely certain that you'll enjoy it.
Also, while this is written with a science fiction setting in mind, there's absolutely nothing to say that it can't be adapted for other settings. Instead of aliens on a faraway planet, the aglos could be from another plane of existence or just one of the weirder nonhumans in your fantasy setting.
What is the money going to be used for?
Art, plain and simple. For starters, it's going to take $300 to commission a high-quality map. I've already paid for part of it out of my own pocket, along with the concept art that you see at the top of the project page, but that's about as far as I can go on my own.
After the map, I want to commission more artwork. The bulk of this project is going to be handled by the talented Tania Kerins, who contributed much of the art for Strange Nations (if you're interested then you can check out some of her other work here). If you pledge $150, then you'll be able to work with me to fine-tune one of those commissions!
Ideally, there will be a two or three illustrations of aglos in various circumstances, another illustration with a human or two, and some illustrations of the native wildlife. Here's some of the original concept art, by the artist TinToad:
Are there any stretch goals?
I'm going to be writing as much as I can for this book. Unlike the campaign for Strange Nations, I won't be offering extra words or subjects at higher funding levels because, if I don't add something to this book, it's because it was impossible for me to do so.
As I said in the beginning, though, this is just the first volume of Species Shock. There are a couple of ways that I could get funding for the second volume, but if this campaign reaches $2500 then I'll distribute $1,000 to the first volume, $1,000 to the second, and let all of my backers decide how the rest of it should be distributed. It would be fantastic if we could achieve stretch goal, not least because it will mean that the second volume can be published much earlier than it otherwise would be.
There are several candidates for the second volume. If we reach $2,500 then I'll let you vote on your favorite:
- The podlings, whose life cycle consists of a motile juvenile stage and a sessile adult stage. Both stages communicate via pheromones, but the adults also make use of electrical signals, propagated through the pools of sulfuric acid on whose shores they are rooted.
- The photovore vultures, nocturnal flying scavengers whose wings are used to catch sunlight for photosynthesis as they sleep. Because of the nature of their distributed brains, they have to be more wary of physical injury than most species, but that doesn't mean that they eschew violence entirely.
- The woodspiders, who evolved from trapping carnivores that figured out domestication before they achieved sapience. In certain ways they resemble a sort of slow-moving woody plant, and a number of cultural mores have arisen out of their practice of grafting limbs to each other (to say nothing of stranger traditions).
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Risks and challenges
Most of the book has already been written, but it is possible that I will get hit by a meteor or something like that and be unable to finish it on account of being dead. It is also possible that there will be art-related delays, but I've worked with this artist in the past and experienced no problems at all.Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
Questions about this project? Check out the FAQ
Funding period
- (30 days)


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Barrhead green network
Utilising the Green Network to restore and transform the environment of Barrhead.
The Barrhead Green Network aims to deliver a series of exemplar projects which will enhance the existing Green Network of the town, as well as develop new greenspaces to serve the needs of the community. This allows additional opportunities for enjoying our countryside through recreation, learning and exercise and outdoor activities!
The Barrhead Green Network project has five key themes:
- Balance - creating an environment that can adapt to climate change.
- Belonging - a place where people feel safe and want to live.
- Growth - creating an environment for sustainable growth.
- Feeling Good - creating an environment that supports healthy lifestyles.
- Nature - creating an environment where wildlife can flourish.
As well as ongoing greenspace enhancements, the Barrhead Green Network addresses a legacy of dereliction and contamination at key sites. These improvements can go hand in hand with redevelopment of vacant areas ensuring the highest environmental quality. By creating new and improved links between the green and open spaces Barrhead could become one of Scotland's most green and sustainable towns.
Barrhead green network includes:
- Barrhead water works
- Carlibar Park
- Cowan Park
- Auchenback Greenspaces
- Barrhead South (including Aurs Glen)
Feasibility study
The Barrhead Green Network's feasibility study is available for download:
Placemaking report
This report presents the findings and recommendations from a series of placemaking activities carried out by Greenspace Scotland working with East Renfrewshire Council and Grow Wild. These activities allowed local residents and local organisations (including key officers from the council) to come together to explore the Green Network across Barrhead. This included an evaluation of the current quality and effectiveness of the network and the key greenspaces within the network and the identification of actions needed to improve the Network and to maximise the beneficial impacts of the Network on the town.
The report explores the views, ideas and priorities of the participants in a series of workshops and meetings and links these to the concept of a Barrhead Green Network as outlined in the Development Plan for East Renfrewshire. The report includes a wide range of recommendations for action - some for the Network as a whole, others for the constituent greenspaces within the Network. An annex to the report highlights which of these recommendations are, in the view of the authors, the priorities for early action.