text:
Enjoy 10% off with the coupon code BACCARAT10
Vessiere Cristaux
Since 1882
690.00€ – 710.00€
For Daum, Serge Mansau creates a Doudours Gm amber inviting us to travel to our most tender moments : those of our childhood.
Earn up to 710 points.
DOUDOURS MM MANSAU DAUM, For Daum , Serge Mansau creates a Doudours Gm amber inviting us to travel to our most tender moments : those of our childhood. H 13. cm.
Designer : Mansau Serge - french artist and designer :
Serge Mansau is internationally recognised in the perfume industry where, since 1963, he has created bottles for the greatest couturiers (dior, hermès, cerruti, etc.). His designs are dictated by his passion for theatre and set design. Instinctive and spontaneous, his works are the fruit of total artistic freedom. Through his experience and work with master glassmakers, serge mansau knows glass very well, understanding its possibilities and physical limitations.
Daum: The most artistic of luxury brands : Art is unequivocally what has linked Daum's inimitable collection throughout its history. Because art is the ultimate luxury, for 130 years Daum has seduced the world's greatest collectors.
As the initiator of modern glassmaking in the early 20th century. Daum made no secret of its creative ambitions from the outset. In 1891 set up an artistic department within the company: A move that distinctly set the tone. Few brands have worked with so many artists.
Salvador Dali, Arman, César, Dan Dailey, André Deluol, Claude and François-xavier Lalanne, Paloma Picasso, Roland Topor, Manolo Valdes, indeed, over the years, more than three hundred and fifty artists have stamped their mark on the brand, providing the company with a unique collection in the world.
Pâte de cristal is a rare and ancient glassmaking technique, which dates back to 5000 bc (pieces have been found in the tombs of pharaohs). In 1900 Daum rediscovered this technique that had been long forgotten, then further developed it in 1968.
The process of melting glass coupled with the lost wax technique that Daum has developed, ensures a perfect reproduction of the original piece just as the artist had imagined it. Today, Daum is the only crystal maker in the world able to produce this exceptional material so perfectly.
Pâte de cristal is a mutable substance, which has translated every whim of the imagination of the master glassmakers for over a century, in this way, no two pieces are identical, because the fragments of groisil blend and merge at will as the crystal melts.
This mastery and constant research have resulted in world renowned masterpieces.
Black, Blue, Pink, Purple, White, yellow


text:
Even though the temps were warm, we could do a few wintery NYC things like ice skating in Bryant Park. A February-break staycation is always fun when you get to catch up on city outings like this, and the rink wasn't even crowded with tourists shockingly!
Posts Tagged 'free things to do in nyc'
Skating at Bryant Park
Posted in Beautiful Things, Fun in NYC, Holidays, Parenting, tagged Bryant Park, children, family, february break, free things to do in nyc, fun, ice skating, kids, parenting, staycation, winter, Winter Village on March 1, 2017| Leave a Comment »

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hands up who said ''I really must sort my Will out this year'' way back in January?
Now, hands up who finds themselves moaning at how early the Christmas adverts have started this year, having not yet got around to arranging their Will nearly a year on?
If that sounds like you, don't worry, January isn't here yet, there is still time to have your Will drafted and signed before the clock strokes midnight and your find yourself exclaiming ''2019?! Hasn't that come around quickly''!
There are some misconceptions about how difficult and expensive arranging your Will or Lasting Power of Attorney can be. The truth is this, I need an hour of your time for the first appointment and no more than half an hour for the second and you're done. If you need more time during our appointment, you can have it, because we understand that every situation is different and we make sure that our clients never feel rushed. Our prices start at £150 for a Straightforward Single Will and just £200 for Straightforward Mirror Wills for a couple.
If you have any questions regarding making your Will or about Lasting Power of Attorney please contact me on 01903 821010 or via email email@example.com.


text:
Filter to
6 productsClear all
Through a Glass, Darkly
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the Quest to Solve the Greatest Mystery of All
When Sherlock Holmes's creator turned to spiritualism to communicate with the dead, many thought him deluded. Re-examining old records, this book investigates the mediums and séances that gained widespread credence among many bereaved by the First World War.
Poacher's Pilgrimage
An Island Journey
A writer and activist involved in issues including land reform, globalization and non-violence, Alastair McIntosh returned to the islands of the Outer Hebrides – Harris and his native Lewis – on a twelve-day, 60-mile journey of pilgrimage in 2009. This book is an account of the rigours of his journey; the people, landscape and ancient relics he encountered; stories from the islands' history and lore; and thoughts of his own past and present.
Holy Places, Sacred Sites
A Journey to the World's Most Spiritual Locations
Eduardo Rubio Méndez spent three years travelling the globe in search of God or the gods, and the places where people commune with them. This book contains more than 300 of his magical photographs of the world's holiest sites, from Stonehenge to the Australian outback, from Gothic cathedrals to the banks of the Ganges, from Mayan temples to the great mosques of Islam – along with the worshippers who seek meaning, redemption, transcendence and consolation in these sacred spaces.
The Body of Myth
Mythology, Shamanic Trance and the Sacred Geography of the Body
With a focus on Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian mythology, this innovative investigation into the biological basis of myths and dreams enlarges on the work of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell. The author concludes that myths have their origins in esoteric descriptions of what occurs within the human body during shamanic trance, a natural state which was once at the core of religious experience but was then distilled into such spiritual practices as the Indian tradition of yoga.
Living Religions
An Encyclopedia of the World's Faiths
Drawing on a wealth of scholarly research and firsthand source material, this is a comprehensive survey of the modern religious world. Encompassing traditional faiths, indigenous religions and new religious movements, the book focuses on the historical development and teachings of each religion and examines how these traditions have evolved into contemporary beliefs and practices. This revised and updated edition also explores new approaches to spirituality, the spread of religious pluralism and the movement towards interfaith dialogue.
How to Reach Enlightenment
This inspirational guide contains practical advice to help you unlock your spirituality. Its chapters offer strategies for learning how to live a conscious life enriched by enlightenment; find quiet and balance; serve others with compassion; and step into your authenticity. Off-mint and felt-tip mark on lower trimmed edge.


text:
The tale begins January 12 when a single dolphin washes up on the Cape Cod shore.
It's nothing unusual for the Massachusetts cape, whose shallow inlets, rough tides, and curved shape annually trap approximately 120 dolphins from January to April.
But as early as January 23, the dolphin count is creeping up to that number, with the toll resounding at 85. A whopping 30 washed up on January 14 alone, tipping off scientists to think that something unusual may be at play.
"These animals seem to be coming from one large group," said Katie Moore, manager of the mammal rescue and research team at the International Fund for Animal Welfare, a nonprofit group tasked with rescuing dolphins and whales found marooned on Cape Cod shores. "They're all of the same species, and aerial views have seen large groups of 400 animals just off the cape."
Yet one question eludes scientists: why?
Two chief ideas are currently being tossed around to answer that question. Some scientists believe that feeding may be to blame for the high tide of dolphins in Massachusetts, but according to Moore, the empty stomachs found in dolphins that scientists dissected have rebuked that theory.
Instead, a wave of support is growing for a new theory: C.T. Harry, an assistant stranding coordinator for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, has proposed that dolphin strandings may be correlated with weather fluctuations. While correlation does not indicate causation, some scientists suggest that this year's unusually warm New England winter could be a factor in the dolphin dilemma.
For now, as scientists scramble for a solution, volunteers scramble to rescue the dolphins. Though 61 dolphins washed up already dead, killed by injuries from the stranding, rescuers still had their work cut out for them—each marooned dolphin must be rolled onto a stretcher and then carried to a vehicle that drives it to a medical trailer. Here, researchers give dolphins ultrasounds, blood tests, and hearing tests, among other procedures.
The job isn't your regular nine-to-five; the day is only over when all of the dolphins have been cared for and released.
At the current rate of dolphin stranding, paid scientists and volunteers alike brace themselves for a long season ahead.
Moore reflects as she monitors Cape Cod beaches in Wellfleet, MA:
"It's just about as intense as I've ever experienced."
Photo Credit: wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/File:Bottlenose_Dolphin_KSC04pd0178.jpg


text:
Privacy Policy
At MyPocketSkill, we care about privacy and are committed to being upfront about our privacy practices, including how we treat your personal information. Without using complicated jargon, this policy explains our privacy practices for MyPocketSkill.com (the "Site") and services provided by MyPocketSkill Ltd (collectively, "MyPocketSkill").
MyPocketSkill looks after your data and we also use a European Company called Sharetribe (a Finnish company with company number 2432359-2) to hold data relating to our digital platform (parts of our website and apps).
This policy is a part of our Terms of Service. By using the Site you consent to our use of your personal information in the ways set out in this policy and in our Terms of Service..
MyPocketSkill's Terms of Service require everyone on our site to be at least 13 years of age and to have the permission and supervision of a responsible parent or carer.
1. Information Collected or Received
1.1 To use our Service, you will need to provide us with a valid email address, first name, last name, and you may be able to choose a username and password. To create a user profile we also ask for additional information: a telephone number, a physical address/location. Please note that for security and performance reasons, such content may need to be accessed by certain MyPocketSkill personnel from time to time.
1.2 Your username and profile is publicly displayed and connected to your MyPocketSkill activity. Other people may see a subset of your profile information, including your name, photo (if uploaded), your approximate location, reviews of your Tasks, and related photos and listing descriptions for tasks you advertised or requested.
1.3 You may log-in to MyPocketSkill with an external application, in which case MyPocketSkill may receive information from that other service, as explained below.
1.4 We use technologies such as cookies for specific purposes: to help understand how you interact with our site and services, in order to provide a better experience. For more information about cookies, see our Cookie Policy.
2. Uses and Sharing
2.1 We use the information that we gather from our community in a number of ways: if you agree a Task, we'll share your information with the other person or business, we will use your "contact us" suggestions to improve our services; we use data analytics and work with a third-party service provider (MailChimp) for targeted online and offline marketing; and of course, we use your email address to communicate with you. We also use Google Analytics to analyse information about how our community uses our website so that we can improve it.
2.2 If you are 13-19 years old, please be aware that all information that you provide on MyPocketSkill may be shared for verification purposes with your parents or legal guardians.
2.3 MyPocketSkill will not sell or disclose your personal information to other people without your consent.
3. Choices
3.1 You may review and change your information in your account settings, and you may remove certain optional pieces of information such as subscribing to newsletters and notifications.
3.2 You may control the receipt of certain types of communications from MyPocketSkill in your account settings. You also may limit certain tracking by controlling cookies in your web browser.
4. Information
4.1 If you have questions or concerns regarding our Privacy Policy or practices, please contact us at [email protected].
4.2 We'll communicate when we make changes to our Privacy Policy as described below.
5. Information Collected or Received
5.1 As a MyPocketSkill user you are required to provide a valid email address at registration and you may be able to choose a username to log-in to MyPocketSkill.com.
5.2 Depending on which services you choose to use, MyPocketSkill may require additional information to provide the service, such as a name, phone number. In order verify your age or ID we may additionally require you to provide us, or a third-party, with information such as your driving license or passport, credit card, other proof of identification, address or date of birth. We work with other companies (Stripe and PayPal) to help us to securely manage and process payment and store credit/debit card information which we use for both billing and payment purposes. Certain Tasks on MyPocketSkill may require you to complete a verification for age, suitable qualification or other check such as a criminal record check (known as a "DBS"). Any information you submit through an authentication process will not be displayed publicly and will only be used internally by MyPocketSkill, unless specified.
5.3 You may optionally choose to provide and publicly display your full name and other personal information (such as photo and specific location) in connection with your account and activity. If you do not want this additional information displayed publicly, you can remove it through your MyPocketSkill profile settings.
5.4 Your MyPocketSkill username or alias is publicly displayed and connected to your MyPocketSkill activity. Other people may see the date you joined, reviews, ratings, profile information, listing and comments in community spaces.
5.5 MyPocketSkill automatically receives and records information from your browser or your mobile device when you visit the Site, such as your IP address or unique device identifier, cookies and data about which pages you visit on the Site and stores it in log files. We may combine this automatically collected information with other information we collect about you. This information helps us to prevent fraud and keep the Site secure, analyse and understand how the Site works for members and visitors, and provides a more personalised experience for members and visitors.
5.6 When you use the Site, you may choose to share your location with MyPocketSkill in order to use our location-based services, for example to help other users to search by location.
5.7 We make it easy to sign-up to a MyPocketSkill account using an external third-party application, such as Facebook. MyPocketSkill may receive data from those connected third-party applications. Connecting your MyPocketSkill account to third-party applications or services is optional, and when you connect your account to an external app, you will be granting MyPocketSkill permission to receive information from the third-party applications in order to sign you up. You may also choose to share some of your activity on MyPocketSkill on certain social media networks which are connected to your MyPocketSkill account.
5.8 MyPocketSkill may receive or obtain information (for example: an email address or IP address) about a person who is not yet a registered MyPocketSkill member (a "non-member") in connection with certain MyPocketSkill features, such as when a member invites a non-member to visit the Site or a non-member emails us. Non-member information is used only for the purposes disclosed when it was submitted to MyPocketSkill. A non-member can contact MyPocketSkill Support if they do not want MyPocketSkill to retain their information
5.9 MyPocketSkill may also receive or obtain information (e.g. names and email addresses) through its public sector and corporate clients. Our use of such data is on the basis that it is legitimately shared under the legal basis of "public task" (public sector) and "legitimate interest" (private sector) and in such cases, is used solely for the purpose of the project for which it was shared.
6. Choice & Control
6.1 We know that members of our community value having control over their own information, and we give you the choice of providing, editing or removing certain information, as well as choice over how we contact you.
6.2 You may change or correct your MyPocketSkill account information (except your username) on the Site. You may also remove certain optional information on the Site that you no longer wish to be publicly visible on the Site, such as your full name.
6.3 For various reasons, MyPocketSkill may send you messages about our services or your activity. Some of these messages are required, service-related messages for members (for example when we make important changes to the Site). Other messages are not required, (such as newsletters), and you can control which optional messages you choose to receive by changing your settings in your account.
6.4 If you have chosen to connect your account to an external, third-party application, such as Facebook, you can change your settings and remove permission for the app by changing your account settings.
6.5 If you no longer wish to use MyPocketSkill's services or receive service-related messages, then you may permanently delete your account (this option is accessible from profile account settings).
7. Findability
7.1 Following other users on MyPocketSkill helps you connect with them on our platform. For example, you can follow another member's public activity, such as their listings or profile. When you begin following another member's activity, they will receive an email notification (unless a member has opted-out of receiving this type of email).
7.2 If you do not wish to be located on MyPocketSkill via your full name, you may remove your name from your public account information on the Site.
8. Messages from MyPocketSkill
8.1 On occasion, MyPocketSkill will contact you. Primarily, these messages are delivered by email or by push notifications, and every account is required to keep a valid email address on file to receive messages. MyPocketSkill may contact you by telephone to provide member support or for transaction related purposes if you give us permission to call you. Additionally, MyPocketSkill may send you an SMS message or physical mail in order to provide you with customer support or to provide you with information about products and features you may find of interest. You may update your notification preferences in your profile account settings.
8.2 Some messages from MyPocketSkill are service-related and required for members. Examples of service-related messages include an email address confirmation/welcome email when you register your account, notification of an accepted listing, and correspondence with MyPocketSkill's support team. You may not opt out of receiving service-related messages from MyPocketSkill, unless you close your account.
8.3 MyPocketSkill may also send you messages related to certain features or your activity on the Site or Apps. MyPocketSkill may send you news or updates about changes to our Site, Apps, or services. From time to time, we may develop new types of messages and share them with you to inform you about our services. Primarily, members will receive these messages via email or push notifications through the Apps, but you may choose to opt out of receiving different types of messages through the notification settings on your MyPocketSkill account.
8.4 MyPocketSkill offers optional email newsletters. When you register for an account, or choose to subscribe to a newsletter, you will receive newsletters from us. Newsletters are available to both members and non-members. Members may subscribe or unsubscribe from optional newsletters under notification account settings or by following the instructions contained in the newsletter emails.
9. Community
9.1 MyPocketSkill is both a marketplace and a community. We offer several features that allow members to connect and communicate in public or semi-public spaces, such as Blogs. Please adhere to our Community Guidelines when posting in these community spaces or sharing your personal information with others on MyPocketSkill. Any personal information you submit there can be read, collected, or used/replied-to by others.
9.2 Another MyPocketSkill member may follow your public activity on MyPocketSkill to receive updates, such as when you create a listing.
10. Information Uses, Sharing & Disclosure
10.1 We respect your privacy. MyPocketSkill will not disclose your email address, phone number or other personal information to third-parties without your consent, except as specified in this policy. We use information to provide and improve our services and products, for billing and payments, for identification and authentication, for targeted online and offline marketing, to contact members or interested parties, and for general research and aggregate reporting.
10.2 MyPocketSkill limits access to your personal information by MyPocketSkill personnel to those whom we believe reasonably need that information to provide products or services to you or in order to do their jobs. Such MyPocketSkill staff who access personal information are appropriately vetted (i.e. DBS check)
10.3 As part of the process of agreeing Tasks and £ rates, MyPocketSkill will facilitate the sharing of information between the two members involved in the transaction. By agreeing a task on MyPocketSkill you are directing us to share your information in this way. We expect you to respect the privacy of the member whose information you received. As described in MyPocketSkill's Terms of Service, you have a limited license to use that information only for MyPocketSkill-related communications or for MyPocketSkill-facilitated transactions. MyPocketSkill has not granted you a license to use the information for unsolicited commercial messages or unauthorised transactions. Without express consent from that person, you must not add any MyPocketSkill member to your email or physical mailing list or misuse any member's personal information. Remember that you need to comply with all relevant legal rules when you use MyPocketSkill. This includes applicable data protection and privacy laws which govern the ways in which you can use another MyPocketSkill member's information.
10.4 MyPocketSkill may release your personal information to a third party in the following circumstances: to protect, establish, or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims; to comply with a subpoena, court order, legal process, or other legal requirement; or when we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to comply with the law, prevent imminent physical harm or financial loss, or investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, threats to our property, or violations of MyPocketSkill's Terms of Service. Law enforcement agencies and their representatives can submit these requests, subject to the provision of relevant paperwork (e.g. RIPA form or warrant), to the contact details in Section 15 below and will undertake to provide this information in a reasonable timescale, which would be advised subsequent to any request.
10.5 We also may disclose personally identifiable information to parties in connection with an investigation of fraud, intellectual property infringement, piracy, or other unlawful activity. In such events, MyPocketSkill may disclose name, address, country, phone number, email address and company name.
10.6 MyPocketSkill may share user/demographic information to effectively run and manage our service, but it will always be aggregated and anonymised/pseudonymised, so personally-identifiable information is not revealed.
10.7 MyPocketSkill engages third party companies which are essential for the operational and management functions of our company. Specifically, these include:
Stripe/Paypal (to process payments on behalf of our users)
Sharetribe (to host our technology platform service)
Google (to provide performance analytics and hosted business management software).
These third parties have limited access to your information only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated to MyPocketSkill not to disclose or use your information for other purposes.
10.8 In some cases, MyPocketSkill may choose to buy or sell assets. In these types of transactions (such as a sale, merger, liquidation, receivership or transfer of all or substantially all of MyPocketSkill's assets), member information is typically one of the business assets that is transferred. If MyPocketSkill intends to transfer information about you, MyPocketSkill will notify you by email or by putting a prominent notice on the Site, and you will be afforded an opportunity to opt out before information about you becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
10.9 Third-party plug-ins also may collect information about your use of the Site. For example, when you load a page on MyPocketSkill that has a social plug-in from a third-party site or service, such as a "Like" or "Send" button, you are also loading content from that third-party site. That site may request cookies directly from your browser. These interactions are subject to the privacy policy of the third-party site. In addition, certain cookies and other tracking mechanisms on our site are used by third parties for targeted online marketing and other purposes. These technologies allow a partner to recognise your computer or mobile device each time you visit MyPocketSkill, but do not allow access to personally identifiable information from MyPocketSkill. MyPocketSkill does not have access or control over these third-party technologies, and they are not covered by our Privacy Policy. If you prefer to prevent third parties from setting and accessing cookies on your computer, you may set your browser to block cookies. This policy does not apply to the practices of third parties that MyPocketSkill does not own or control, or individuals that MyPocketSkill does not employ or manage. If you provide your information to others, different practices may apply to the use or disclosure of the information you provide to them. MyPocketSkill does not control the privacy policies of third parties, including other MyPocketSkill members (Clients or Teens). MyPocketSkill is not responsible for the privacy or security practices of MyPocketSkill members or other websites on the Internet, even those linked to or from the MyPocketSkill Site. We encourage you to ask questions before you disclose your personal information to others.
11. Security
11.1 The security of your personal information is important to us. Your MyPocketSkill account information is protected by a password. It is important that you protect against unauthorised access to your account and information by choosing your password carefully, and keeping your password and computer secure, such as by signing out after using our services.
11.2 MyPocketSkill encrypts sensitive information. MyPocketSkill store passwords hashed with bcrypt password hashing function, which is a current security best practice. This function makes it extremely hard for the original password to be retrieved even if a password hash is obtained somehow, provided that the password was not trivial. Unfortunately, no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure. Therefore, while we strive to protect your personal information, we can't guarantee its absolute security.
12. Data Retention
12.1 MyPocketSkill will retain your information only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this policy, for as long as your account is active, or as needed to provide you services. If you no longer want MyPocketSkill to use your information to provide you services, you may close and delete your account. MyPocketSkill will retain and use your information to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Please note that closing your account may not free up your email address, username, or company name for reuse on a new account.
12.2 You may inform us of any changes or requests regarding your personal data, and in accordance with our obligations under applicable data protection law, we may update or delete your personal data accordingly. We'll respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.
13. Your Rights
13.1 If you are a MyPocketSkill member, you can access, correct, change, and delete certain personal information associated with your account by visiting your MyPocketSkill account settings. If you need further assistance, you can contact MyPocketSkill through one of the channels listed below under "Contact MyPocketSkill."
14. Privacy Policy Changes
14.1 We may update this policy from time to time. If we believe that the changes are material, we'll definitely let you know by doing one (or more) of the following: (1) posting the changes on the Site, (2) sending you an email or message about the changes. That way you can decide whether you want to continue using the Site. Changes will be effective upon the posting of the changes. You are responsible for reviewing and becoming familiar with any changes. Your use of the Site following the changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
15. Contact MyPocketSkill
15.1If you have questions or suggestions about personal information you can contact MyPocketSkill's Support team via our Contact Us link, or by sending an email to [email protected]


text:
Featured Products
Perfetto Inox TXA Line
Perfetto TPA-TP Line
Pratico Hose
QB Wall Mounted
Company Overview
Aertecnica the mother brand of TUBÒ has been building its company history around the concept of a clean world since 1985. "Think Clean" is the company's philosophy, for the health and well-being of all.
The Aertecnica central vacuum systems eliminate dust and improve the quality of the spaces we live and work in.
Aertecnica employs technology to meet the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and is also sensitive to environmental issues, engaging in continuous research to improve well-being.
About Us
Tony Hocking, with a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies from Waikato University, is the founder of TUBÒ in New Zealand, with approximately 14 years in the financial services sector and approximately 25 years working in business advisory and consulting roles, is ideally suited to establish this new venture.


text:
America in the Morning
5:00am - 6:00am
Listen Live
2018-03-16 10:00:00
Northwest Quadrant Wealth Management
According to the BLS from February 2017 to February 2018, total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 2,281,000, or 1.6%. Employment in mining and logging increased by 58,000, an increase of 8.9%, while construction added 254,000 jobs, or 3.7%.
China's economy looks to be on firm footing, with strong export demand spurring increases in industrial production (+7.2%) and fixed asset investment (+7.9%) over the first two months of the year. Also, retail sales remained strong, growing 9.7% year over year. The data suggest China's estimated 6.5% target growth for gross domestic product is certainly attainable. (LPL)
Oregon's Lattice Semiconductor's longtime CEO Dan Billerbeck is retiring. He has run the company since 2010. The company makes programmable computer chips for smartphones and digital cameras. (OL)
The Senate votes to ease onerous regulation on small- and medium-sized banks. The move to roll back part of the Dodd-Frank law, which still needs to pass the House, would reduce the number of banks considered systemically important and subject to the toughest oversight by raising the asset threshold from $50 billion to $250 billion. (LPL)
With Northwest Quadrant Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor I am Troy Reinhart.
Hide Comments
Home | Public File | EEO | Employment Opportunities | Advertising Information | Links | Contact


text: Y3 and 4 enjoyed a very informative session when they made their own communication devices using plastic cups and string (empty bean cans are not considered appropriate these days). It is always a source of great interest when you discover that sound can be relayed using such basic materials. The thirst for knowledge soon progressed to experiments with networking and conference calls.


text:
I'm a major SOAD [System Of A Down] fan. Any other fans out there?! If so, what's your favorite songs? X3
Mine are...
1: Sugar
2: Shimmy
3: Violent Pornography
4: Radio/ Video
5: Lost In HollyWood
|AnimeGalleries [dot] Net
|AnimeWallpapers [dot] Com
|AnimeLyrics [dot] Com
|AnimePedia [dot] Com
|AnimeGlobe [dot] Com
I'm a major SOAD [System Of A Down] fan. Any other fans out there?! If so, what's your favorite songs? X3
Mine are...
1: Sugar
2: Shimmy
3: Violent Pornography
4: Radio/ Video
5: Lost In HollyWood
.:|Sexy set by -Ookami-|:..:|Hige&Blue|:..:|<3|:.
I'm not as big on them as I used to be, but I like them. My favorite songs are Forest, Holy Mountains, Radio/Video, and Mr. Jack.
I'm a pretty big System of A Down fan; in fact, they are one of my top five favorite bands, up there with Tool, Pearl Jam, and some others. It's like sweet chaos when they perform. I wish my lungs were as powerful as those guys - trying to sing along to a SoAD song is a workout in-and-of itself. As far as my favorite songs go:
~ Chop Suey
~ Hypnotize
~ Question!
~ Lonely Day
~ Old School Hollywood
~ Aerials
~ Toxicity
~ Cigaro
My 3 favr are:
1. Chop Suey
2. Toxicity
3. Hypnotize
Sig made by Riina-chan
They used to be fantastic, back 4-6 years ago. Now...meh. I believe they have gone (far) downhill. The last song they had I liked was Aerials, and that was about 4-5 years ago.
My favorite songs are Toxicity, Chop Suey, and Aerials.
"The color fades along the intervals I follow."
Im not a huge System Of a Down fan but i like there Chop Suey song
i reaaly love the songs sad statue and oldschool hollywood
set made by me. im now taking requests, pm me if you'd like a sig.
Chop Suey is about the only song of System of a Down that I like. I really don't like the band in general.
Sig by -Ookami-, thank you Ookami!
Elder Scrolls Oblivion: A Tale Retold
I don't think they're bad, but I never got into them that much. They just remind me of what happened to H.I.M. and CKY at my school (not that SOAD is anything like them musically), they were hardly known at all and then all of a sudden everyone knew who they were and ranted and raved about how amazing their music was. For me, whenever a band hits that level, they lose some sort of credibility. They become more of a brand then a band.
SOAD is my Favorite band, with RATM close behind.
My favorite song's are,
and ATWA
Last edited by White Wolf Of Solomon; 01-15-2007 at 05:13 PM.
The name White Wolf is synonymous with honor,and it will live on in the minds of his friends and foes alike.
That the fear will leave us when we know He is with us and it is wonderful.
They had been defected and excommunicatedand all the pulses were subvertedand they made sure that the obituaries showed pictures of smoke stacks150 mph club
System of a Down is an OK band. I, truly, loved their songs, 'Chop Suey' and 'Hypnotize.' The rest of their songs are just...meh. <_<;
I love System of a Down. I agree that their current stuff isn't all that great - it's not horrible, it's just not as good as their previous work.
My favorite songs are Sugar and almost all of the Toxicity album. >_>;
- Wonderful sig made by Megami91 -
And when the day arrivesI'll become the skyAnd I'll become the seaAnd the sea will come to kiss meFor I am going home.Nothing can stop me now.
Violent Pornography
Chop Suey
P.L.U.C.K. (politically lying unholy cowardly killers)
my top 3 are
1) Sad statue
2) Sugar
This is a Sig. It's horribly out of date.
Gee. I don't have enough time to type then all. Lets just say I think they are a really good band. (almost all of them)
I belive in God.
Invader Zim
Candy Mountain
Kool aid man.
So that's what SOAD stands for. Now I finally know. ^.^
I don't think I have ever listened to any of this music, but since so many people here like them I shall look them up. Maybe I'd like it, who knows?
Thanks for the sig Xey Oiz ^.^
I used to think they were kickarse. Now...not so much. Arials and Toxicity are my favorites.
All The Ways You Wish Could Be? That's me
I think "Aerials" is probably their best song yet. But then, I like pretty much everything off their Toxicity album.
I'm not sure why people think their recent stuff is bad, although I don't think it's nearly as good as Toxicity. When I first heard the music I was "ugh" about it because it seemed so much... stronger than what I was used to from them. But now I like a fair deal of it. "Hypnotize" is grand, and I like listening to the opening of "Kill Rock and Roll".
This post has been approved by Dancing Alec
Hmm..I used to absolutely love them. It seems the older I get the more my love for them fades.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)


text:
Free My Talking Tom Games Latest Download For PC Windows 7,8,10,XP
My Talking Tom Games Latest Download For PC Windows Full Version.My Talking Tom Apps Full Version Download for PC.Download My Talking Tom Games Latest Version for PC,Laptop,Windows.
The description of My Talking Tom
My Talking Tom is a virtual pet game, which need you to keep the cat(Tom)happy, by feeding him, petting him, taking him to the bathroom, putting him to sleep, and playing games with him. My talking Tom retains the same basic functions as the Talking Tom Cat app, you can still get Tom to repeat what you say in a high-pitched voice and interacting with him by touching him in different ways. But now, playing mini games, customizing his appearance, choosing food, and decorating Tom's house, all of these will bring you more real experience.
How to Run My Talking Tom Apps for PC,Laptop,Windows 7/8/10/XP
1.Download and Install Android Emulator on PC.Click "Download Emulator" to download.
2.Run Android Emulator on PC,Laptop or MAC.
3.Open Android Emulator for PC import the My Talking Tom Games Apps file from your PC Into Android Emulator to install it.
4.Install My Talking Tom APPS for PC.Now you can play My Talking Tom Apps on PC.


text:
Authors: Baris Isikguner
Animation is an increasingly advancing medium and an emerging field of study. Generating convincing characters or developing life-like animations being the two core concerns of the medium, an animation character has to have a specifically adjusted amount of life-like motions in order to be convincing. Initial research has undertaken in the understanding of believability and realism within animation. In order to develop a convincing character in short notice, hair dynamics has been used on a designed 3D cephalopod character. Test results have provided this paper with a rapid and convincing production process.
Keywords: Realism, Life-like, Dynamics, Hair Dynamics, Animation, 3D Animation, Suspension of Disbelief, Uncanny Valley


text:
Tune in at 6 pm.
Emily Dickinson Museum Poetry Reading Video
Check it out:
Pandemic Poetry and Prose Site Opens
Straw Dog Writers Guild launched their website of Pandemic Poetry and Prose today with a poem by Sarah Sullivan, called "Funerals from Afar." Check it out:
Pandemic Submissions
Straw Dog Writers Guild is looking for submissions about the Pandemic for their website. Check it out:
Link to the Emily Dickinson Reading May 7 at 6:30 pm EST
The Emily Dickinson Museum will be sponsoring a poetry reading on Thursday, May 7 at 6:30 pm Eastern Standard Time. Here's a link to the Television Station:
Emily Dickinson Museum Sponsors Poetry Reading May 7 at 6:30 pm (EST)
The Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst Massachusetts is sponsoring a poetry reading with some excellent poets. You can view this by going to the Amherst Media Website:
They are broadcasting Arts Night Out from 5 to 8 pm. View the reading with the Emily Dickinson Museum from 6:30 to 7:30 EST


text:
A colorful surprise!
Celebrate your loved ones birthday by making our marvelous *Birthday Candy Cake*. Three layers of vanilla sprinkles cake meet raspberry frosting, white chocolate, edible pink bubbles and colorful candy. The ultimate cake for a colorful birthday party! <3
By Cakes & Cookies Team • June 21, 2017
© 2017 Cakes & Cookies World


text:
In 2018, Coke launched an ambitious initiative called World Without Waste, which aims to improve the processes of its packaging chain as a whole (from production to disposal) and has goals such as: collecting and recycling the equivalent of each can and bottle sold until 2030.
To contribute to the initiative, Beyond Packaging seeks solutions that, through technology or new business models, can contribute to a more sustainable world with no waste in the environment.
|The platform
We will contribute through innovation, good ideas and entrepreneurial spirit to a World Without Waste.
Beyond Packaging is a platform created by Coke Brazil to find solutions that, through technology or new business models, can contribute to a more sustainable world with no residues in the environment.
Solutions that sign up for the 2019 edition can participate in two separate programs:
Connection or Acceleration
Beyond Packaging is structured to contribute
to the World Without Waste initiative.
Who are we looking for?
Startups, entrepreneurs, researchers and students who have some solution with adherence to the proposed challenge, which can be just an idea or a structured business.
International startups: only those startups with a National Register of Legal Entities, known as "CNPJ", in Brazil can participate in the Acceleration program. In case the startup does not have a "CNPJ" in Brazil, it is only eligible for the Connection program.
Contact - If you need support with your application, please contact email@example.com
The Coke Brazil System is the largest producer of soft drinks in the country and operates in nine segments - water, teas, soft drinks, nectars, juices, dairy products, sports drinks and vegetable drinks - with a line of about 200 products, among regular flavors and zero or low calorie versions. Composed of nine franchised manufacturers groups, plus the partnership with "Leão Alimentos e Bebidas", the System directly employs 53.7 thousand employees, generating around 600 thousand indirect jobs. The Coke Brazil System maintained the level of investments of approximately R$ 3 billion in 2019, betting on innovation to expand its portfolio and achieve the goal of helping to collect and recycle the equivalent of 100% of its packaging by 2030. The company works to continuing offering more options with less added sugar and with the incentive to initiatives that improve the economic and social development of the communities where it operates.
1 - What is the difference between the two programs of the Beyond Packaging platform?
For the Acceleration is looking for solutions still in the phase of ideation, that are seeking financial support to structure, validate and accelerate their MVP.
2 - Will Coke Brazil invest in my startup?
For Connection participants, there is no investment. However the costs of the pilots will be agreed in the POC contract between both parties.
3 - Will Coke Brazil have equity in my company?
4 - Will Coke Brazil own the intellectual property of my startup?
5 - Who can participate?
All international startups are eligible to participate in the Connection program. On the other hand, to participate in the Acceleration program, international startups must have a National Register of Legal Entities, known as "CNPJ", registered in Brazil.
6 - Can I submit an idea?
7 - How are the selection phases?
- of the registered startups, up to 20 will be selected for Pitch Day;
- in this event, it will be selected which will go to the Connection week phase, already directed to the Acceleration or Connection;
- after the Connection week, the startups will be able to go to Acceleration and receive a financial contribution of up to R$ 150,000.00 and acceleration or they will be able to run a pilot with Coke Brazil.
For more information, read the platform regulation.
Contact Us: email@example.com
You are about to update of their linked CA work items. This process cannot be undone. Are you sure?


text:
Defining the Spectrum of Cloud Deployment Technologies
We've come far from a simplistic separation between on-premises and cloud. Today, it's about on-premises versus a range of different cloud options. Indeed, the cloud can be a confusing place for newcomers and veterans alike, with new options cropping up every few months, and the landscape always shifting towards the newer and better.
But how do you choose between good, better and best? Let's compare the various cloud deployment technologies available today and find the common ground and what separates them from each other.
Bare Metal in the Cloud
A bare metal server in the cloud is the closest alternative to a hardware server. Bare metal cloud delivers the real hardware server experience, but instead of the server being hosted in your own datacenter, it's in a vendor-provided cloud.
Read more at The New Stack


text:
Free activity centre - Practical-info
Covid-19 (Corona virus)
No search results available
- Check that all words are spelled correctly.
- Try different search words.
- Try with more general search words.
- Click on index in order to see all topics alphabetical.
Free activity centreMore of our houses have free access to an activity centre. Here you will find more free indoor and outdoor activities for children. All activities are located within walking distance from the holiday home. The many activities of the centre appears from the presentation of the holiday home. (See the menu option Activity centre).


text:
12 June 2014
Last updated at 02:20
Most West African countries have tough laws criminalising all aspects of drug use
Low-level drug offences should be decriminalised in West Africa, according to a high-level report.
The West Africa Commission on Drugs says drug cartels are undermining the region by using it to transit cocaine.
The commission, headed by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, says the cartels should be tackled but that punishing the personal use of drugs does not work.
It argues that current policies incite corruption and provoke violence.
Drug trafficking and consumption have become major issues in West Africa since the turn of the century.
Efforts around this time to stem the flow of cocaine from the producing countries of Latin America to consumers in the US and Europe led criminals to target West Africa as a new route.
Dramatic events like the crash landing of a Boeing 727 full of cocaine in Mali in 2009 have alerted the authorities to the problem.
The new report, commissioned by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, estimates that the annual trade in cocaine alone through West Africa is now worth $1.25bn (£744m) – more than the total of foreign direct investment in the region.
Although drug trafficking and consumption are not new to the region – cannabis smoking there, for example, has traditionally been more widespread than in most parts of the world – the advent of harder drugs like cocaine and amphetamines is.
Pre-trial detention delays
Most West African countries have tough laws criminalising all aspects of drug use.
Continue reading the main story
"Start Quote
Drug users need help, not punishment"
End Quote
West Africa Commission on Drugs report
In some cases, prison sentences of 10 to 15 years are given for possession of drugs for personal use.
But in countries where court proceedings are slow, the commission's report says, people end up spending long periods in pre-trial detention and are sometimes only released after paying a bribe.
This, the report says, encourages corruption and does the prisoners more harm than good.
In Guinea, drug offences can be punished by a fine or imprisonment.
This means that the better-off drug traffickers escape by paying up – often corrupting officials in the process – while more vulnerable drug users who cannot afford fines face appalling conditions in jail.
One of the consequences of the widespread criminalisation of drug use is a large prison population
Guinea-Bissau, where these packets of cocaine were seized, is a notorious trafficking route
Mr Obasanjo and his colleagues argue that drug use should be regarded primarily as a public health issue.
"Drug users need help, not punishment," the report says.
"We abhor the traffickers and their accomplices, who must face the full force of the law.
"But the law should not be applied disproportionately to the poor, the uneducated and the vulnerable, while the powerful and the well-connected slip through the enforcement net."
One of the consequences of the widespread criminalisation of drug use is a bloated prison population, with inmates who are rarely reformed and in many cases end up more criminalised or sick as a result of their time incarcerated.
The report says that those involved in drug trafficking should still face the full force of the law
The report says its recommendations on decriminalisation were partly inspired by the work of the Organisation of American States which last year floated the idea of reducing sentences, particularly for use of cannabis.
In the last decade countries as diverse as Armenia, Mexico and Switzerland have adopted some form of decriminalisation, the commission points out.
"West Africa would remove a huge weight from an already overburdened criminal justice system if it were to decriminalise drug use and possession, expand health and social services for those with problematic use, and expend greater efforts on pursuing traffickers," the report concludes.
As well as Mr Obasanjo, contributors include Senegalese psychiatrist, Idrissa Ba, retired Sierra Leonean judge Justice Bankole-Thompson and Malian singer Oumou Sangare.


text:
There are two types of interns in this world: those who are looking for just any old internship and those who seek a truly immersive, hands-on experience. At Southland, we're only interested in the latter. We view every student as a potential hire and ensures each intern and co-op student receives an opportunity like none other. If a paid internship that exposes you to exciting projects and potential career paths with one of the country's largest MEP building systems firms appeals to you, let's talk!
At Southland Industries, we believe people are our greatest resource and not just someone to get the job done. We respect each person working here–and their life outside of the workplace. By promoting flexibility and a healthy work/life balance, Southland employees are able to remain passionate about what they do for years to come. Our employees offer valued contributions that lead to innovative outcomes, and many times, memories that last a lifetime. Those that enjoy coming to work in an exciting environment filled with inspiring individuals understand that working for Southland isn't just a career – it's a lifestyle.
Many of our past interns have gone on to have thriving careers at Southland. From designers and project managers to executive leadership, students that intern at Southland often become employees that excel at Southland. In fact, our CEO Ted Lynch was Southland's very first intern.
At Southland, we believe time and money invested in the career development of the individuals that work here is also an investment in our business. The more our employees know, the better we are as a company.
If you are a student interested in learning more about Southland Industries and getting the latest information about on campus and virtual events, join our Student Talent Community here. It's like a special membership for people who want to learn more about our amazing culture, know what's happening at our company, get special insider perspectives and receive team-specific updates from the areas you're most interested in. We are looking forward to learning more about you and keeping you connected! (Coming Soon)
Whether your major is in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, fire protection engineering, construction management, environmental health & safety, building information modeling (BIM), or business administration related focuses, an internship at Southland allows you to choose your path forward. Visit our recruiting team at these upcoming events and find out how your time with us will be spent turning textbook concepts to reality through real-world experiences.
Named after the late David C.J. Peters, former Southland Vice President and tireless advocate of recruiting quality engineering talent, the ASHRAE David C.J. Peters Scholarship award is a one-year $5,000 scholarship available annually to a qualified undergraduate mechanical engineering student enrolled full-time in a four or five year bachelor's degree program.
Click here to see if your school qualifies.


text:
In many critical occasions, royal families will top luxurious, elegant or extravagant headpieces, including vintage hats, fascinators, bowlers, chapeaus, etc.
In many critical occasions, royal families will top luxurious, elegant or extravagant headpieces, including vintage hats, fascinators, bowlers, chapeaus, etc. It's a horrible thing when bare heads of royal family members are exposed to air. Viewing from previous tales on royal hats, something interesting could be dug out. It could not be denied that royal family could impressed most people with fascinators or other impressing headgear.
For most British people, the tradition of Royal family is as old as time. Certainly, the British royal family never do something new or revolutionary. All matters have gong trough tests of time. Rich British people have topping hats for several centuries; some has accustomed to not wearing hats since the 1950s. But they didn't get used to wearing gloves. When most civilians have given up the tradition gradually, the monarchy and other royals have to obey these rules and keep it in modern times. There is not doubt that some will wonder why they could not wear anything new. Perhaps royals are bearing critics and hates we know today.
Some clothes and corresponding dress codes could take you back to hundreds of years ago. For instance, loads of greatest society members will gather together each year at the Royal Ascot, which is a yearly Royal Meeting. It is confirmed that royals have been attending the annual Royal Meeting in the past centuries. Then, this traditional seep through others like wedding ceremonies, tea parties or other usual matters. The Queen herself has been keeping the tradition for decades and she owns many a hat suitable for each occasion. Comments around the Queen are that she would like to leave most people with her impressive look. In order to watch the Queen, many adoring public have queued for several hours. Though most people are just common civilians rather than royals, it doesn't mean we could not imitate their life and temperaments. Choosing suitable headpieces may be the easiest way.
Find a personal milliner. Each person is doing it. The current hat make of Elizabeth has made more than 50 toppers for her. The milliner have created many eye-catching and suitable toppers for the Queen, and those classic looks of the Queen have been regarded as outstanding ones. It is the reason that the milliner has won a Royal Warrant.
Figure out applicable occasions of different kinds of hats. It seems that differences between fascinators and hats are benign. When one is young, wearing a fascinator will be considered as impolite. In former times, manufacturing process of fascinators is easier than that of intricate hats. At present, smaller headpieces are regarded as high-end than they once were. Most people will reserve high-end small hats and top them on critical occasions to be courteous to neighboring guests in regards to their sight lines.
Hats are signals of your wealth. Wearing a hat in daily life is not only a matter of fun. It's an opportunity to show one's personal status.


text:
Roll out the puff pastry to a 25cm round and set aside.
Add the butter to a 20cm non-stick pan and allow to melt, then add the peeled shallots and season with salt and pepper.
Cook gently on top of the stove, or in the oven, until the shallots are almost cooked.
Add the port to the hot pan and cook on top of the stove until all of the port has evaporated. Take the pan off the heat and allow the shallots to go cold.
Preheat the oven to 180°C, fan 160°C, gas mark 4.
Cover with the pastry and tuck the pastry down the sides of the pan to completely hide the shallots. Prick the pastry a few times with the tip of a small knife to allow steam to escape.
Cook in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.
Whilst in the oven, make a vinaigrette dressing by mixing the mustard, honey and vinegar together. Slowly add in the oil to ensure the vinaigrette comes together and emulsifies.
Once cooked through and golden, remove the pan from the oven and allow to settle for 5 minutes, before turning out on to your chosen serving dish.
Crumble over the goats' cheese and scatter with the toasted hazelnuts. Liberally spoon over the vinaigrette and scatter over the rocket to serve.
Cook's tip: This recipe will serve 4 as a starter or could be an indulgent main course for 2.
*All information included in this recipe has been provided by UK Shallots.


text:
British flora, British native daphne, British native flowers, Daphne laureola, Spruge laurel, winter flowers
Spurge laurel is such an uninspiring name for this lovely British native, which I was surprised and delighted to find in full flower when I was walking the south Wales coastal path at Lavernock last weekend.
Any gardener will recognise this plant as a member of the Daphne family – its scientific name is Daphne laureola – and, not only does it flower from the middle of winter through spring and into early summer, it also has a delicious honey smell. It's evergreen and prefers to have its roots in rich, shaded soil, growing best on the edge of woodlands on chalk or limestone.
I must add one note of caution, though: everything about this plant is poisonous to humans, from the sap (which can cause a nasty skin rash) to the black berries that appear in late summer. Luckily, the berry toxins do not appear to affect birds, and there are reports of robins and greenfinches enjoying an autumn feast.


text:
Click here to see a web copy of this email
Envirofit International Quarterly Newsletter - Spring 2017
From the Desk of Ron Bills
Dear ,
At Envirofit, serving our customers is a foundational value of our company. By working hard to ensure customer satisfaction our 2017 growth continues to follow suit with our record breaking year in 2016, as we help more and more people access smart clean-cooking solutions around the globe.
Check out our
2-minute video
to see the faces of our customers and the exciting work we are doing to serve them. Give us your feedback as you follow us
A lot is going on in our business units across the globe - our new SuperSaver Charcoal stove has quickly become the most popular stove throughout our markets in Africa. Across Mexico, Peru and West Africa we are opening new Envirofit
Customer Care Centers
, offering an unprecedented commitment to after-sales service that will ensure customers are consistently using our products and are satisfied with them (read more in my latest article on customer service in the
World Economic Forum blog
). Our
Women's Empowerment Programs
are succeeding in India and Kenya. In Honduras, the stoves program will continue to grow in 2017 in partnership with President Juan Orlando Hernández and the
Vida Mejor
We are also seeing the launch of a Health Exposure Study in partnership with Berkeley Air Monitoring Group. This study will measure the benefits of reduced exposure to toxic emissions for users of the Envirofit stoves compared to traditional cooking. This study will also comply with the Gold Standard Foundation's recently approved methodology for measuring Averted Disability-Adjusted Life Years (aDALYs). This means that we will be able to quantify the healthy years and lives saved by use of the stoves. This is the first time that the Gold Standard methodology will be applied to a project of this scale.
In addition, we have some
exciting news for 2017
. This year we will begin pilots and commercialization of our
SmartGas™ LPG technology
that will enable access to clean energy LPG fuel on a daily "pay as you cook" basis using mobile money and our OnDemand LPG Valve™. This marks the beginning of the next phase in Envirofit's evolution to make clean energy cooking affordable, accessible, and adoptable. Using the same rigorous market analysis, product development, and engineering expertise that produced the best-selling biomass stoves in the world, Envirofit has spent the last few years working to understand how to make LPG affordable and accessible to people everywhere who are climbing the energy ladder. Envirofit's new SmartGas™ LPG technology and delivery service will enable customers around the world to use LPG on a pay-as-you-cook basis.
Envirofit SmartGas™ is a total LPG solution that delivers safe, reliable, and affordable LPG. Through Envirofit's GPS enabled OnDemand LPG Valve™, families will be able to use their phones to pre-pay for gas as needed. This activates the OnDemand LPG Valve™ to supply the purchased amount of gas, and sends a notification to customers before the valve turns off. The OnDemand LPG Valve™ also alerts Envirofit's 360 Customer Care Center to automatically schedule the next delivery before the customer runs out of gas, making LPG accessible and reliable. Envirofit will begin SmartGas™ LPG pilots this year in East Africa and West Africa, and scale the technology and home-delivery service globally over the next three years.
We want to support people no matter where they're at or how they cook with affordable, clean cooking solutions. Envirofit's best-selling wood and charcoal stoves will continue to evolve and improve for our customers who use them, and now with the addition of SmartGas™ LPG we can offer even more affordable clean cooking options to families around the world.
Contact us on how you can be a part of the revolution to make clean cooking fuels and technology affordable and accessible.
Ron Bills
CEO & Chairman of the Board
Cooking up Success in Sangli with Female VLEs
We, at Envirofit India, asked ourselves if we might find a way to further economically empower women in smaller towns and villages. We are an industry leader in the field of improved cookstoves, having sold over 500,000 across India and over 1 million globally. In addition, we were already working with Micro Finance Institutions to help women purchase clean cookstoves through financing programs. How could we extend our efforts, using the same stove?...
Class Project Brings Modern Cooking to Akorlikokpe, Ghana
Joel Agbey is a secondary student at Tema International School in Tema, Ghana. In early February of this year, Joel teamed up with his fellow students on a project to fulfill the Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) component of their International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme by delivering Envirofit stoves to the 40 families living in the town of Akorlikokpe, Ghana.
3 Helpful Tips to Effectively Implement a Women's Empowerment Program
The Envirofit Women's Empowerment Program was founded on the belief that women, as primary users of cookstoves, must be involved in their design and distribution in order for stoves to be adopted. We have seen some major successes in running this program over the past 4 years, but we had to overcome many challenges and failures to do so. Here are 3 of the lessons we've learned along the way…
Envirofit Kenya Launches #EnvirofitSuperChef Club
Envirofit launches new #EnvirofitSuperChef Club where new customers of the Envirofit SuperSaver Charcoal stove in Kenya can enjoy daily traditional recipes with a modern twist. To learn more visit our Facebook page.
Like Us on Facebook
Latin America
Envirofit Customer Care Redefines Cookstove Customer Service
With many cookstove interventions, the interaction with households ends when the customer takes their stove home. For Envirofit, this is the beginning. The Envirofit Customer Care Team is the first large-scale after-sales customer support program for cookstove owners…
Balancing Technology and
Tradition in Mexico City
Matches are lit, wood is chopped, beans are soaked and boiling, and the chocolate spicy aroma of molé fills the air. Perfectly round tortillas shaped by hand bubble as they hit the hot, oiled griddle. Neighbors, family and friends start trickling into Genoveva's kitchen to join me – a stranger from another land – for a meal together. The only thing missing from this traditional kitchen is the smoke...
How better customer service can help the world's poor out of energy poverty
Before people emerge from energy poverty, they must first make an important choice: to leave behind something familiar and replace it with something unknown from a company they don't trust…A useful product can get someone's attention, but customer service is the cornerstone of establishing trust…
Waste Management Offsets Carbon Through Envirofit's Clean Cookstove Programs
The Waste Management Phoenix Open has become a major platform for highlighting Waste Management's sustainability initiatives, During this year's event Waste Management offset 100% of the greenhouse gas emissions generated from Waste Management Phoenix Open operations and player travel through Envirofit's clean cook stove program in India and efficient biomass stove project in Tanzania.
In the News
World Economic Forum:
ow better customer service can help the world's poor out of energy poverty
Smart Villages:
A breath of fresh air: How Envirofit is doing social good with a for-profit model
The Guardian:
fficient cooking s
toves could prove a more effective way to protect forests and stem illegal logging than the army
The Practitioner Hub for Inclusive Business:
Listening to consumers is putting consumer voice at the heart of the social enterprise model
El Pais:
Five companies that have truly changed lives for millions of poor people
eTown - NPR:
E-Achievement Award Himalayan Stove Project
Waste Management -
Waste Management Phoenix Open Named "Inspire" Event By Council For Responsible Sport
Clean-Burning Stoves Save Lives In Mountainous Nepal
Envirofit International, Inc.
109 North College Avenue, Suite 200 Fort Collins, Colorado 80524 USA
Forward to a friend
Sent to:
Envirofit International, 109 N College Avenue, Suite 200, Fort Collins, CO 80524, United States
Email Marketing
by ActiveCampaign


text:
WILMINGTON — At the Foster J. Boyd, M.D., Regional Cancer Center – A Member of The James Cancer Network, prostate cancer is the fourth most common cancer they see.
September Is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Nationwide, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, said Dr. Mark Collins, director of medical oncology at the Foster Boyd Cancer Center.
In conjunction with awareness month, Collins provided the following information.
• About 80 percent of men are diagnosed with prostate cancer after they're found to have an elevated PSA lab test. About 20 percent are diagnosed after an abnormal digital rectal exam.
• Among types of cancer, prostate cancer is an area of great controversy in terms of management, including prostate cancer screening. In 2008, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against screening in men over age 75. More recently in 2012, USPSTF recommended against screening for all men.
Many physicians do not abide by the USPSTF recommendations. The initial intent was concern over patients being over-treated for a disease that is often non-threatening if caught early. But many feel that high-risk patients should still be screened.
High-risk patients include: a) patients who have a positive family history of prostate cancer; and b) African-American males if the screening applicant has a life expectancy of more than 10 years.
• Most patients with prostate cancer who are diagnosed after an elevated PSA test have early stage disease, and usually they are free of symptoms.
If a biopsy is needed, it is usually done by a urologist trans-rectally, and is frequently done with ultra-sound guidance.
• Once a patient is diagnosed with prostate cancer, Foster Boyd Cancer Center staff attempt to risk-stratify to determine who needs treatment as opposed to observation.
Risk-stratifying means to determine whether the patient has a low, intermediate, or a high risk of dying of prostate cancer.
Factors that determine risk include: a) extent of the disease seen on X-rays, plus the PSA value, and the Gleason score.
• Depending on the risk assigned by your doctor, the treatment options include: a) observation; b) surgery which is radical prostatectomy; c) radiation therapy; and d) occasionally, testosterone suppression known as ADT (Androgene Deprivation Therapy). Chemotherapy is also an option.
• There are about 180,000 new diagnoses of prostate cancer per year in the United States.
• Most patients with early stage prostate cancer are asymptomatic — that is, they lack symptoms.
Many more men have symptoms that are related to an enlarged prostate, as opposed to having prostate cancer. However, only your doctor can tell the difference.
Note: The medical information above is provided as an information resource only, in connection with National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.


text:
Boys' Life
Og, Boy of Battle
The Mysterious Valley
Og again proves himself able
illustrated by Charles Livingston Bull
OG GRIPPED Ru's arm and with a grunt of warning pulled him down behind a boulder where they both crouched tense and silent while they listened to a weird and blood-chilling noise that sounded down the valley and reechoed against the craggy sides of the extinct volcano where they had been hunting. It was the terrible cry of the hyena; shrill, wild and horrible to listen to. Again and again it sounded and the two Hairy boys hiding there on the stony mountain side realized that it was swiftly drawing nearer to them, and they peered down the slope toward the entrance of the valley in fear and trembling, for there was no more terrible creature roamed the forest than the hyena.
Closer and closer it echoed, and presently they heard the pounding of ponderous feet and the crashing of underbrush, and just below them where the forest left off abruptly at the foot of the mountain at the edge of great folds of cold and hardened lava that had at sometime flowed out of the crater of the volcano, plunged a woolly rhinoceros and close upon its heels followed two huge bloodthirsty hyenas that looked like hump-backed, bristling fiends as they kept leaping at the rhino's flanks, tearing great bloody wounds into its thick hide with their gnashing, fang-like teeth.
From where they crouched Og and Ru could see what vicious creatures these hyenas were. Indeed, they knew well that they must be formidable beasts when two of them could put a woolly rhinoceros to flight, for the rhinoceros was not a beast to retreat from most dangers. Indeed, its temper was such that usually it was the aggressor, charging first, and fighting to the death. Og could see that this one had probably fought both of its pursuers until it could stand the pain of the slashing wounds they inflicted no longer, and had bolted panic-stricken, hoping to rid itself of the ferocious tormentors by running away from them. But the hyenas were swifter of foot than the rhinoceros, had clung to its flanks like savage, snarling fiends, punishing the great beast with every leap, sometimes burying their fangs so deep into its shoulders, or rump, that they clung on until the rhinoceros, whirling, would throw them off and charge them with a snort and a toss of its ugly horned head. But those long horns never found their mark, for the hyenas were too swift and capable at the art of dodging to be caught even by a woolly rhinoceros who could move like a flash when it had to.
Breaking into the open, the rhinoceros turned and stood its ground once more, lunging viciously at the nearest hyena with a savage toss of its horned head, and Og and Ru realized that if that keenly polished weapon had found its mark one of the hyenas would have been tossed high in the air, and killed instantly. But the slashing horn did not find its mark, for as swiftly as the rhinoceros lunged, the huge, ugly, dog-like creatures leaped away even more swiftly, and as one dodged, its mate charged the other side of the animal and ripped a great gash in the beast's shoulder from which Og and Ru could see the blood gush.
WITH a squeal of pain the rhinoceros turned to slash at its other tormentor, and missing its mark there too, it whirled on its stubby legs and started again to run, madly scrambling over the folds of lava with surprising agility.
It was headed for a huge pocket-shaped valley at the foot of the mountain and just below Og and Ru. That pocket was a strange freak of nature. The two Hairy boys had observed it when they had come out of the forest and there was something about it that had held their interest and curiosity. In truth, they had been on the point of entering it when their attention had been arrested by the hunting cries of the hyenas. It was a long bowl-shaped valley a half a mile or more across and perhaps a little longer and although it was denuded of vegetation, as were all the sloping sided of the volcanic mountain, in the very center of the pocket was a long glistening pool of apparently clear water; a rock rimmed, rock-bound pool that looked invitingly cool and tempting. Indeed, Og and Ru, feeling thirsty, had decided to go into the packet and rest beside the pool, for although they were not a long way from the village of the Hairy people in the cliffs beside the river, they had been hunting hard for some of the little goats that were known to roam the rocky sides of the mountains in that region.
But they were glad now that they had not entered the pocket, for to be caught in there with the rhinoceros, and the two hyenas charging down upon them, would have been a very disagreeable situation. So they crouched there behind their sheltering boulder and watched the rhinoceros, with the two savage beasts bounding beside it, rush past them, within a short spear's throw, and plunge into the pocket. The rhinoceros, staggering now, crashed onward, the hyenas snapping and snarling and tearing at its flanks, and their ugly cries grew more eager; more triumphant it seemed, for they sensed that the rhinoceros was nearly spent. Indeed, Og could see how unsteady it was on its short legs, and how it swayed once or twice as if it were about to fall, and they knew that at almost any moment one of the hyenas would sink its fangs deep into the great thick, bulging neck and pull it down.
But the Hairy boys, and the hyenas as well, reasoned without the great courage and fighting ability of the rhinoceros. Deep into the pocket it staggered, then whirling. and with its rump to a sheer wall of rock that enclosed one side, it stood at bay, and the hyenas, sensing that their quarry was far from ready to give up, backed off discreetly, and with hideous snarls, their ugly lips drawn back bearing their great fangs, they stood alert and ready to plunge in and deliver a telling stroke. For the span of several minutes they stood thus, then like a lightning flash one of the hyenas leaped in and struck. But as swiftly as it moved the rhinoceros moved just a little swifter, and with a lunge so quick that Og's eyes could scarcely, follow it, the big beast hooked its huge horn into the flanks of the leaping animal and with a toss of its head whirled it upward and backward until it crashed with a bone-crushing thud against the sheer wall of rocks behind the rhinoceros and fell to the ground in a Iimp, nerve-convulsed heap. And Og and Ru, highly excited by the conflict, could scarcely repress a cheer for the valiant old woolly creature.
WITH its tiny pig like eyes flashing fire the rhino turned its attention to the remaining hyena that crouched snarling a few feet in front of it It seemed on the point of charging headlong at the repulsive beast. Indeed, Og and Rut saw it start, and sway forward, and then a strange thing happened. The rhino tossed up its head, exposing its great throat while it seemed to struggle for a breath of air, then it swayed, strove a moment to keep its feet, then collapsed in a heap. A great sympathy for the old beast swept Og and Ru, for they had for some reason wanted it to win out in the unequal battle. They knew now that the hyena would rush in and make certain of the big beast's death and begin its feast. But again they were mistaken. They watched the hyena expectantly, but when the rhinoceros fell, it seemed to pay no attention to it. Indeed it was acting queerly too. It had ceased its snarling now and was holding its head high with mouth open and tongue hanging while it staggered about on legs that threatened to collapse at any moment. And suddenly it did collapse and after a few convulsive kicks lay still.
Og and Ru looked at each other questioningly. Here was a mystery indeed. What could have happened? That the rhinoceros was sorely wounded they could see. Its wounds and loss of blood could have caused it death, but they doubted that it would have collapsed as suddenly as it did. As for the hyena, as far as they could see it was practically uninjured and yet it too had collapsed as suddenly as if it had been hit in the head with a stone hammer. It was more than Og could understand and because he was always curious to know the cause and effect of things he exclaimed:
"Come, we will go and see for ourselves. There is good meat there and the skin of the hump-backed one will be worth carrying to our people to bear witness to our strange tale."
Ru assented and together they came out from behind their hiding place and started toward the entrance of the pocket. Swinging along, spears in hand and ready, for they did not know for certain that the hyena was dead, they hurried forward eager to get near the woolly rhinoceros; a beast that the Hairy people always feared because of its great courage and its irritable temper. Og was the first to reach the huge animal, and when he was beside the lifeless carcass he could not help but marvel at the ponderous bulk of the beast, and the massiveness of the great head with its polished horn. But just as he and Ru began to climb to examine it a strange premonition of danger swept over Og. Something was wrong. Something very strange was happening. He was having a hard time getting his breath. He was choking. Frightened he looked at Ru, and he saw that he too was clutching al his throat as if trying to rid himself of something that was strangling him. What was this mysterious danger that threatened them?
Og began to get dizzy. His head whirled, and he had to breathe deep and long in an effort to satisfy his craving for air. And as he inhaled in great gasps he was conscious of just the suggestion of a strange sweetish flavor to the air. And in an instant he knew what the trouble was. The air in that pocket was poison. He remembered back to the days when the Hairy people had been driven out of a valley far to the north by the eruption of a volcano. He had tasted that same sweetish flavor in the air then. He did not know that in this pocket were several gas vents from the volcano and that they kept the pocket filled with a heavy colorless, odorless, and almost tasteless gas that was very insidious and very deadly. But instinct told him that he and Ru must get out of that pocket at the foot of the old volcano immediately or they would perish as the rhinoceros and the hyena had. Even as he seized Ru's arm and started running toward the entrance to the pocket his eyes swept the shores of the glistening pool in the centre of the basin and there he made out white sun-bleached bones of animals that had doubtless been lured there by the prospect of drinking at the pool and fallen victims to that mysterious death.
Ru, gasping for breath and clutching at his throat, could not understand it at all. To him the sweetness of the air was so faint as to be unperceptible, and all that he knew was that he was slowly strangling to death. But he followed Og as unsteadily he ran toward the entrance of the terrible little valley of death. On they pressed. Ru observing Og's warning to refrain from breathing as much as possible. They held their breath until their lungs ached and their hearts pounded as stabbing pains shot through their chests. Their eyes bulged with their effort, and their heads whirled dizzily. On they struggled. Og could feel himself weakening, his legs sagging under him. With the utmost exertion of his will power he drove himself to keep going; to struggle onward. How soon he would reach fresh air be did not know. He wanted so much to rest. It would be easier to crouch there and close his eyes. Then he would drift off into sleep, oblivion, death. He struggled against the desire to stop; to give up and rest. Forward he pushed. It seemed to him the air was growing purer now. Only a little further and he would be able to fill his lungs with good, wholesome life-giving air. Only
A CRY of anguish sounded behind him and Og turned to see Ru staggering and groping blindly, madly about. Then, uttering another cry, he sank to the ground. Og, nearly spent himself, looked at Ru stupidly for a moment and there swept over him a desire to leave him there; to abandon him; to go on and save himself. He did not want to go back even those few steps. The thought of having to struggle even that short distance again under the burden of the unconscious Ru awakened all the selfishness in him. It was the survival of the fittest, and Ru had fallen. Let him stay. He must save himself. In effect those were the thoughts that crowded into Og's terrorized brain, and he was on the point of turning as other Hairy men might have done and bolting to save himself. But the appealing look on Ru's pain distorted face and Og's realization of how helpless he was, coupled with the consciousness that Ru in his place would be big enough to forget himself and come to his aid, made Og turn back and hurry toward the unconscious one and, gathering the limp form of his companion in his arms, he began once more to struggle toward the entrance to the pocket. Grimly, doggedly, he went on with the realization back in his befogged and half-numbed brain that he must make fresh air, for now the lives of two instead of one depended upon his efforts. Staggering, stumbling, sometimes half crawling, he fought his way forward and only his will power served to keep him going, for he had long since passed the state where he was fully conscious of his acts. Yet he kept on, step after dragging step, until presently he went down and he could not find the strength to rise again. Nor did he want to. He found relief in lying there prone on the ground. He could breathe deeply now and he cared not whether it was poisoned air or pure air he inhaled. All that he knew was that for him the struggle was over. He relaxed and the last suggestion of consciousness passed from him.
Kug, the short one, with Rab the Hairy one and Ack the strong one were hunting on the very edge of the great swamp. It was a. dangerous place for them to be, but since Og and Ru had ventured into the very heart of that great expanse of bog and gloomy forests and had killed the great snake, the other hunters of the hairy people felt braver about venturing in that direction. Kug and Rab and Ack had gone there in the hope of spearing one of the big bebristled and vicious hogs that roamed the swamp. They had been hunting since dawn and they had surprised an old pig with six young ones and had killed them all. Joyous now, and laden down with meat, they started back out of the swamp toward the open meadow that reached away toward the river bank and the cliffs in the caves of which their people dwelt, when suddenly the gloom of the forest on the edge of the great swamp resounded with the most blood-chilling noise they had ever heard. It was a resonant, booming sound, like the beating of many unearthly drums, and the three hunters went cold with fear as they sensed the menace in that horrible chorus.
In an instant the trees seemed to swarm with a horde of horrible creatures. Kug and Rab and Ack saw them everywhere, huge, monstrous gorillas that swung from branch to branch with the agility of the apes. But they were all twice as large as the largest of the apes and many times more vicious both in demeanor and appearance. The three hunters recognized them at once as the great flesh-eating gorillas that Og and Ru had told them of when they had returned from their adventure down the great river, and they wondered what they were doing there on the edge of the great swamp. They did not know, of course, that a terrific forest fire that had swept the country beyond the swamp had driven these huge creatures out, and that in their wandering to find a new home they had crossed the vast marsh, and stumbled to the abode of the Hairy Men.
With wild yells of fear and consternation the hunters dropped their burdens of meat and run madly toward the open meadow. But Ack did not run quite fast enough, for three of the huge creatures, swinging through the trees as swiftly as he could cover ground on foot, dropped upon him from a great height and bore him kicking and struggling to the ground. And although Ack was the strongest man of the tribe, big and powerful of shoulders, the giant gorillas handled him as if he were a baby. Keg and Rab saw with horror how, with savage snarls of anger, they strangled him and broke his neck and back and finally tore him to pieces in their great rage. Kug and Rab lingered long enough to hurl their spears and they had the satisfaction of seeing them buried deep in the back of one of the three who had attacked Ack, then they turned and fled with hundreds of the great creatures following them in the tree tops.
Kug and Rab had seen at a glance that the gorillas could travel swifter through the trees than they could run on the ground and they realized that their only salvation was to gain the open meadow where there were no trees for the huge beasts to swing through. On foot Kug felt they would be able to outdistance them, for he had noted how short and under-developed their legs and feet were.
Madly they sped forward, running harder and swifter than they had ever run before and the ugly creatures in the trees, realizing that they were going to escape them, redoubled their efforts to overtake them and their booming noise and wild, mad shouts echoed and re-echoed through the trees.
Kug and Rab gained the meadow and sped out into the open, just as two of the gorillas swung out of a tree and dropped so close behind them that their arms and ugly hands scraped Kug's back. With a cry of terror they both leaped forward and, because the meadow was free from undergrowth and because fear lent speed to their flying feet, they moved across the open piece like three-toed horses. On they rushed, nor did they look behind them to see whether they were being pursued until they had gained the rock-strewn council grounds, below the cliff village, where a horde of Hairy people had gathered, because lookouts on the cliff top had seen them in their mad flight and had called the tribe.
Ric and Tug and Fu and all the strong warriors and great hunters had gathered at the council rock to await their coming, for they knew by their mad flight that some terrible danger had threatened them, and when Kug and Rab came panting up they read the terror in their eyes and demanded to know what the danger was.
"The gorillas! The gorillas! The cannibals who captured Og and Ru! They are coming! They have killed Ack! They are upon us! Look, look !"
Kug pointed off toward the edge of the forest of the great swamp and there they beheld in the trees and on the ground hundreds of the most hideous creatures they hard ever seen.
It was evident to keg and Rab and all the rest of the Hairy men that they meant to attack the village, for even as they watched they saw them gather in a dreadful company and start on their short legs across the wide meadow toward the village.
Calls of warming were shouted then, and the Hairy men, under the leadership of Kug and Rab and Ric and Tug and other brave warriors, began to prepare the defense of the village. Women and children were sent scrambling up to the cliff-top first and then the warriors followed, taking with them all the stones and spears and stone hammers they could carry, while the women and children at the top busied themselves gathering together huge quantities of stones, piling them up in mounds so that they would be convenient for the defenders.
On came the gorillas, waddling and scrambling across the meadows on their short legs. They were beating their huge chests with their fists and sounding their hideous, booming battle-cry. They were gnashing their teeth and snarling and making hideous faces and, as the Hairy men looked down at them from their refuge on the cliff-top, they realized that they were beset by a ruthless, terrible enemy and that if any of their number fell into the hands of these ugly giants they would suffer an awful death.
Their advance was slow at best and when they left the meadow and started across the rock-strewn council ground below the cliff, they became more cautious, and scattered instead of remaining in a compact mass. One big. powerful fellow, the largest among them and apparently their leader, was the first to start up from the base of the cliff. But he had scarcely begun his climb when at a grunt from Tug a. half dozen warriors on the cliff edge let fly a volley of stones flung with stunning force. And most of them found their mark, for with a scream of rage the huge gorilla staggered backward and went down, and the warriors shouted in triumph as they saw him scramble dizzily to his feet and stumble back to his comrades with blood flowing from a great wound in his head, and one of his long arms hanging limp because a stone had broken it at the elbow.
But this only served to infuriate the others and presently they began to rush forward in little groups to storm the cliff. Then the battle was on.


text:
A few days before I wrote this article, I was reminded of one of the major differences between film/TV/videogames and novels. The novel that I'm (still) re-reading at the moment is a spin-off novel based on the "Final Destination" horror movie series. This was a novel that I first read in 2005/6 and, when I first found my old copy of it, I thought "I remember this! I'll look online for other books in the series".
It was quite an eye-opener. Whilst DVDs of the films from this series were reasonably cheap, most of the spin-off novels (all less than two decades old!) were surprisingly expensive out-of-print copies. Whilst I was pretty amazed that I unwittingly owned a book that had become a collector's item, it also crystallised one of the major differences between prose fiction and other mediums.
Namely that it is much easier for books to be obscure than it is for stuff in other genres. After all, if you see an interesting film or play an interesting game, then there's a good chance that quite a few people have heard of it. There will be Youtube videos about it, fan art about it and maybe even mainstream press coverage too. On the other hand, if you find a really interesting novel, then there's a fairly good chance that most people haven't even heard of it.
There are, of course, a lot of reasons for this. Books take more time and effort to enjoy than other mediums. Publishers' advertising budgets are lower, so only a few big name authors tend to get promoted. The experience of reading a book is slightly different for every reader. It costs less to produce a book, so there are many more of them. Reading is an inherently solitary activity. I could go on for quite a while, but there are a lot of reasons why books will often be more obscure than things in other mediums.
And, yes, this can be somewhat off-putting at times. I mean, when I got back into reading regularly a few months ago, I soon felt the familiar feeling of disconnection that comes from enjoying a medium that really doesn't have a mainstream fan culture in the way that games, films, TV shows etc.. do. Or, rather, one that has a very limited mainstream fan culture. Seriously, aside from classic literature and a few big name authors, books really don't get the kind of press that games, films etc.. do.
And, yes, this can make being a reader, rather than a gamer or a film/TV buff, feel somewhat lonely. But, it isn't all bad news. For starters, the obscurity of most novels means that there is a whole culture that is "hiding in plain sight" in the modern world. Whilst film franchises might be well-known about, there are loads of even better book franchises that no-one has heard of. And discovering one of these is like finding hidden treasure or joining a secret society or something like that.
Likewise, this obscurity also gives books a level of freedom that other mediums can only dream of. After all, the more mainstream something is, the more it has to appeal to a mainstream audience. Because most novels won't become well-known, this gives authors a lot more creative freedom. This includes everything from the choice of main characters to the types of stories told to things like censorship-related issues (seriously, read a 1980s splatterpunk horror novel. It'll make even the most gruesome modern horror movies look tame by comparison.)
Plus, because books don't require things like special effects, teams of programmers etc… books can do things that films, TV shows and games can't do. Or, to put it another way, even the cheesiest and most "low budget" novel can be considerably more impressive than even a mid-budget film, game or TV show.
This obscurity also means that books can be years ahead of other mediums too. For example, this horror novel from the mid-2000s actually seems like it's from the mid-2000s, rather than the "1990s in disguise" that films from the time often inhabited. This sci-fi novel from 1992 reminded me a bit of a sci-fi movie from 1995-99 (like "The Matrix" or "Ghost In The Shell"). I could go on, but because books don't have to fit into mainstream expectations, they can often be years ahead of more popular storytelling mediums.
The obscurity of books also means that, if a genre that you aren't a fan of becomes popular, then there are still loads of other good books out there. I mean, whilst superhero films and online multiplayer games might be all the rage these days, lots of new books in all genres are still being published all the time.
So, yes, books being the most overlooked and obscure storytelling medium out there these days isn't an entirely bad thing.
Anyway, I hope that this was interesting 🙂


text:
Blog Stats
- 7,813 hits
Category Archives: Animals
Do All Dogs Really Go To Heaven?
The Lonely Zebra story has me thinking about something which many people think about: Will there be animals in heaven? There was an animated film in 1989 called 'All Dogs Go To Heaven', but is is true? I just found out … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, Standing Firm, The Lonely Zebra, The Roman Road, Wright Way Publications Tagged Animal charities, Animals in heaven?, cats, Dogs, Heaven, Pets Leave a comment
New Book from Wright Way!!!
HOT OFF THE PRESS!!!!! The Lonely Zebra is the new book from Wright Way Publications and Moorleys. It's the first project by Matt and Claire aimed at younger children. Read more about it here or better still, order one for any children … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, Book, Children, Fun, Fun stuff, Jesus, Keep Going, Love, Read, Standing Firm, The Lonely Zebra, The Roman Road, Wright Way Publications Tagged Amazon, children's story, Moorleys, Wright Way Publications, Zebra, Ziggy the Zebra Leave a comment


text:
Attorney at Law
As a practicing attorney in the County of Philadelphia for close to twenty years, I worked in public service as an Assistant Philadelphia Public Defender in the beginning of my career and then transitioned into private practice 15 years ago. I founded my own law firm in 2009 and have dedicated my career to representing people charged in criminal matters as well as dependency matters, where parents have had their children removed from their care. I have had the opportunity to represent people often times in the very worst moments of their lives and have fought on their behalf so their lives would not be defined by one singular moment. I have been an Adjunct Professor in the Criminal Justice Department of Temple University for 12 years. I earned my J.D. from Temple University's Beasley School of Law. I earned my undergraduate degree Boston College. I am admitted to practice in both Pennsylvania and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Andrea Murillo & Kyle Driggs Performers, 3AM Theatre Hilary Beard Author & Public Speaker Brian Sanders Artistic Director, JUNK Brandi Mclaughlin Attorney at Law Khalil Salaam, MBA General Manager, PepsiCo & Business Coach Daniel Mclaughlin Restaurateur, Mission Taqueria Joey Sweeney Creative Director, Musician, Writer & LIFER