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Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy is a powerful imaging technique that can provide chemical information of organic and nonorganic materials through vibrational spectroscopy. However, its contrast is not sufficient for monitoring thin film materials. In this study, silica microspheres were employed for enhancing the signal contrast in CARS imaging. One layer of optically transparent silica microspheres was self-assembled onto polymer grating samples to enhance the CARS signals. The highest contrast enhancement factor of 12.5 was achieved using 6.1-μm-diameter microspheres. Finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD) simulation was conducted to simulate the contrast enhancement with silica microspheres of different diameters.
© 2014 Optical Society of America
1. Introduction
During the last decade, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy has become a powerful tool for vibrational imaging of chemical and biological samples [1–5]. It has been proven that CARS [6–9] is more sensitive than spontaneous Raman spectroscopy due to extreme lower typical photon conversion efficiencies in Raman scattering [10,11]. CARS involves the interaction of four waves designated as pump (p), Stokes (s), probe (p'), and anti-Stokes, where pump and probe waves are usually fixed to the same frequency (ωρ = ωρ'). When the beat frequency between the pump and the Stokes beams is matched with the resonant vibrational frequency ΩR of molecules or lattices of samples, a resonant enhancement of the third-order nonlinear optical process occurs and greatly promotes the sensitivity with chemical selectivity. The higher-order dependence on laser power makes CARS more sensitive than spontaneous Raman spectroscopy, which can provide fast contrast imaging based on the intrinsic molecular vibrations of a specimen without the need for extrinsic labels [11–14] and has been demonstrated to be particularly sensitive to lipid-rich structures based on the resonant CARS signals from the C-H vibration [12–14]. However, the CARS contrast is not sufficiently high for monitoring or imaging thin films. There is also a nonresonant contribution to the CARS signals from the sample that does not carry chemically specific information [6–8], which can distort and overwhelm the resonant signals of interest. Simply increasing the excitation laser power increases the risk of multiphoton damage to the samples [15,16]. A research from Xie's group was reported that single frequency CARS microscopy can successfully be used to monitor thin photoresists used in photolithography, which could perform imaging subtraction to suppress the non-resonance background [17]. However, this method could not be applied to a broadband CARS microscope. In this study, we have achieved a high contrast of CARS by employing silica microspheres in a broadband CARS microscope. The test samples chosen here were polymer grating samples fabricated by two-photon polymerization (TPP) lithography, because of their CH-rich periodic line pattern and simple fabrication process. One layer of optically transparent silica microspheres of 3 ~7 μm in diameter were self-assembled on the polymer grating samples consisting of 400-nm-wide lines spaced 280 nm apart to achieve high-contrast grating images in CARS imaging, as shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 1
2. Experimental methods
2.1 CARS experimental setup
Broadband CARS microscopy [18–20] based on a photonic crystal fiber light source has been considered to be a simpler solution for CARS microscopy than the complex picosecond laser and optical parametric oscillator (OPO) systems. Figure 2 shows a schematic of the broadband CARS microscope. Both the pump and Stokes beams are provided by a single fs laser (MaiTai DeepSee HP, SpectraPhysics) in conjunction with a supercontinuum generator (SCG).The SCG ensures that broadband anti-Stokes signals at different frequencies can be obtained without tuning the laser wavelength. As shown in Fig. 2, the mode-locked Ti:Sapphire fs laser provides a laser beam with a fixed wavelength of 800 nm, whose typical duration, power, and repetition are 100 fs, 2.95 W, and 80 MHz, respectively. The laser was isolated from the rest of the setup by a Faraday isolator and divided into two beams by a beam splitter to form the pump and Stokes beams. A 50/50 ultrafast beam splitter designed for S-polarization was used. The splitting ratio was controlled by a ½ λ waveplate which rotated the input polarization. Each arm of the setup had a variable attenuator, allowing independent control of the laser power. The Stokes beam was formed using a ~500 mW laser to generate the supercontinuum in the SCG and then filtering the beam through a long-pass filter (RG830, Newport). The other 800 nm beam passed through an attenuator and was guided to a delay line. Two laser pulses were superimposed collinearly using an 800-nm Notch filter and then tightly focused onto the samples using an Olympus objective (1.05 NA, × 25) in an upright laser scanning microscope (LSM). Under the tight focusing condition, the phase-matching condition is relaxed due to the large angular dispersion and small interaction volume [1,12,20]. The laser powers for the pump and the broadband Stokes lasers before entering the microscope are 40 and 60 mW, respectively. The bandpass filter used for CARS imaging was a Semrock FF01-650/13 (Tavg>93% @643.5~656.5 nm, center wavelength = 650 nm, and bandwidth = 13 nm). The substrates used for the forward CARS imaging were 0.17-mm-thick glass slides. Finally, the CARS signal was detected by a photomultiplier (PMT) inside the LSM.
Fig. 2
2.2 Fabrication of grating samples and self-assembly of silica microspheres
The grating fabrication process consisted of two steps. First, TPP lithography [21] was employed to fabricate the grating samples using a negative photoresist (IP-L from Nanoscribe GmbH). Second, unsolidified photoresist was washed away by rinsing the sample in isopropyl alcohol for 20 min. The laser beam for the TPP process was generated by a mode-lock fs fiber laser (780 nm central wavelength, 100 MHz repetition rate, and 120 fs pulse duration). The laser power used in the grating fabrication was ~4 mW and the writing speed is set to 60 μm/s. The laser beam was tightly focused within the IP-L photoresist by an oil-immersion objective lens (1.4 NA, × 100). The grating consists of 400-nm-wide lines spaced 280 nm apart, as shown in Fig. 3(a). The thickness of the polymer sample is ~500 nm. Several mono-disperse suspensions of 1% diluted SiO2 microspheres of 3~7 μm in diameter (Bangs Laboratories) were used to self-assemble an ordered monolayer of microspheres on the grating surface by drop coating [22]. The substrates were tilted with an angle about 40 degrees to the base during the drop coating and then dried on the air. The SEM image of grating structure assembled by 6.1 μm silica microspheres is shown in Fig. 3(b). The Raman spectrum of the IP-L photoresist [Fig. 3(b)] shows a strong Raman peak at around 2800~3000 cm−1, which correlated to the C-H group vibration. CARS is also sensitive to the same C-H vibrational signatures as seen in Raman spectroscopy. However, unlike Raman spectroscopy, the CARS signal is detected on the blue side of the incoming 800 nm pump laser. Therefore, the CARS signals for the C-H vibrational signatures in the wavelength unit were 645~657 nm, so the 650/13 nm bandpass filter was chosen for CARS C-H imaging.
Fig. 3
3. Results and discussion
3.1 Contrast-enhanced CARS imaging of grating samples using silica microspheres with different diameters
Silica microspheres with five different diameters (3.13, 3.92, 5.06, 6.1, and 6.46 μm) were employed to study the size dependence of the contrast-enhanced CARS imaging. In the experiment, the grating with microspheres was reversely placed in the upright LSM. The collinear pump and Stokes pulse were tightly focused on the grating to generate the CARS signals, which went through the microspheres and were enhanced. The enhancement in CARS imaging was observed for all samples, and only the signals of those grating lines with microspheres were enhanced in the CARS imaging.
As can be seen from Fig. 4(a), only those lines above the microspheres have been enhanced. The lines without silica microspheres show a low CARS contrast, which cannot be easily distinguished due to the low CARS contrast. The intensity profiles in Figs. 4(b) and 4(c) show the enhanced intensity when using the 6.1-μm-diameter microspheres. Moreover, the 3D intensity profile in Fig. 4(d) allows us to distinguish the grating more easily. Although the silica microspheres would have a non-resonant background in CARS imaging, the silica microspheres do not have any active Raman bands in 2000 cm−1 ~3000 cm−1 range. In the experiment, we observed that if there were no grating lines with the microspheres, no enhanced line pattern could be observed. Therefore, the enhanced line pattern is from the polymer grating rather than the silica microspheres. The diameter of the microspheres used here was 6.1 μm, but the view window in the circle [Fig. 4(a)] was only ~4 μm in diameter, showing 4~5 enhanced lines. It may result from the enhanced effect, which can only affect a small area very close to the microspheres' surface. It is also noted that the focal planes for imaging the grating lines with/without microspheres should be the same, because the lasers were focused on the grating and scanned in the same focal plane by a galvo scanner in the LSM. Moreover, the 3D CARS image [Fig. 5(e)] shows that the enhancement happened in 3D space using 5.06-μm-diameter microspheres, considering an ~1 μm depth of laser interaction volume. The 3D image was formed by Z-stacks of the 2D section images. The four 2D (x-y plane) images shown in Figs. 5(a)–5(d) were acquired at various depths in the Z axis with a 1 μm step. It means that even the grating lines were out of focus (focus plane is at Z = 2 μm), the microspheres can enhance weak CARS signals produced by the laser interaction with the volume edge, which are filtered out by the 650/13nm bandpass filter and imaged by the PMT in the LSM. Here, the enhanced area by the 5.06 μm microspheres is smaller than that of the 6.1 μm ones, which shows 3~4 enhanced lines.
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
The enhance factor (EF) has also been evaluated by the following equation:
3.2 FDTD simulation of optical fields with silica microspheres below the grating
In this study, FDTD algorithm under perfectly matched layer boundary conditions was used to simulate the optical field using OptiwaveTM. The microspheres were simulated as pure silica, whose refractive index was set to 1.45. The pulsed laser sources used in the experiments were fs pulsed lasers with a high repetition rate of 80 MHz, so the CARS signals from the C-H vibrations in the anti-Stokes frequency could be generated by tightly focusing the pump and Stokes lasers. Point sources were assumed to simulate the CARS signals of 650 nm since the width of grating line is ~400 nm. The lighting lines can be considered as point sources because of the similar size compared to the CARS nonlinear resolution. The magnitude of the E-field of the CARS signals was assumed to be 1 V m−1. The uniform mesh step for each axis was 40 nm. Figures 6(a) and 6(b) show the E-field distribution in a 2D view with and without a microsphere. It is known that microspheres can generate "photonic nanojets" with super small foci [23–25]. However, the divergent electromagnetic wave from a small area very close to the microspheres can be confined to a parallel propagation wave with a relatively narrow distribution with smaller full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the CARS signal wave, which increases the detection efficiency and enhance the imaging intensity. Moreover, to quantify the enhancement factor in the simulation, an observation plane was placed in the propagation direction. Figure 6(c) shows the E-field distribution on the observation plane with and without microspheres, which shows that the E-field will have a narrower distribution of CARS signal wave when microspheres are applied. The narrower FWHM indicates the higher detection intensity, as shown in Fig. 7. All the microspheres (3.13, 3.92, 5.06, 6.1, and 6.46 μm) result in the enhancment of CARS contrast in the experiment. The EFs are caculated by Eq. (1). The strongest EF occurs when a 6.1 μm microsphere is applied. While in the simulation, the narrowest FWHM occurs with a 6 μm microsphere. Thus, the experimental results match the simulation results well.
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
4. Conclusions
In summary, one layer of silica microspheres of different diameters was self-assembled onto the polymer grating samples to achieve the contrast-enhanced CARS imaging. The highest contrast enhancement factor of 12.5 was achieved using 6.1 μm microspheres under the polymer grating. The FDTD simulation of the CARS enhancement by the microspheres was also conducted. The optimized size for the microspheres based on simulation is found to be 6 μm for the 650 nm CARS signal of C-H bonds, which has the lowest FWHM of distribution in the direction of propagation and the highest CARS intensity. Thus, by applying silica microspheres, the CARS intensity and contrast can be significantly improved. Moreover, in last years a new coherent Raman imaging technique, stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy, shows many advantages as compared with CARS [26]. Due to their similar setup, our method could also be used in an SRS configuration.
This research work was financially supported by National Science Foundation (CMMI 1126208 and CMMI-0900419).
References and links
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How To Take Back What The Banking Cabal Took From You!
Queen Elizabeth II Releases Kate Middleton's Ultrasound Image Of Baby!
LONDON—Excited members of the British royal family released an ultrasound image Tuesday morning showing the unborn child of the former Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, whose pregnancy was officially announced yesterday.
Anniversary Of Qaddafi's Brutal Murder: Ordered By Obama, Cameron, And Sarkozy.
The following statement was issued in response to a question from a Russian journalist about the murder of Libya's Muammar Qaddafi, on Oct. 28, 2011. Qaddafi's brutal murder—orderd by Obama, … Continue reading
Obama's Death Panel Modeled After Hitler's T4 Program!
By Anton Chaitkin (LPAC)' The Royal Family and panicky City of London financiers began implementing, in 2008, a new program to kill elderly and other sick people, precisely repeating the … Continue reading
When America Tried To Pass The Glass Steagall Act To Prevent The Fraudulent Derivative Bailout: Rothschild's Britain ~ Threatened War Through The State Department!
"…the British Foreign Office has communicated direct threats to the U.S. Department of State, warning, in effect, that any move to reinstate Glass Steagall will be considered an act of … Continue reading
Rothschild's Manifesto For His New World Order: Absconding The United States Justice System ~ To Prevent Blowback!
FROM -> The Rothschild Manifesto – circa 1840. 1. LAW is FORCE in disguise, USE LAW. (Statutory Law, codes, regulations) 2. Political freedom is an IDEA, not a FACT and is merely an illusion … Continue reading
Robert Reich Admits Money Is Being Funneled Out Of The USA To The World's Richest 1%
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Americans pay a percentage of their taxes to the Queen of England via the IRS. The IRS is not an agency of the Federal Government. It is an agency of the … Continue reading
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Silver ~ London Banker's Scared: People Dumping Their Paper To Take Possession Of Silver ~ This Will Cause The NWO Banksters To Produce REAL Cash W/O The Ability To Hide Behind Fraudulent Derivative Paper.
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subset: commoncrawl


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A point-and-tap adventure game for the iPad, set in the near future, where collecting evidence against cybernetically enhanced gangsters is a race for justice and survival. This is Broken Sword meets Blade Runner. Love Crime Scene Investigation and police procedurals? Take that 60 years into the future with Erin Cole and the officers of the Ethics Executive, in EthEx2080.
Erin begins piecing together the clues and discovering both her past, and the plans of the shadowy gang. She must find enough to put them away before they close in to stop her.


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Contractor Scam
Updated: Tuesday, November 19 2013, 05:57 PM EST
More victims of a man claiming to be a home improvement contractor continue to come forward. They're speaking out after seeing News 13 reports about an ex-convict who's bilked people out of thousands of dollars.
Barbara Baker signed a contract with Danny Smith from All About Home Improvement last May for a metal roof on her Montford home. After weeks of excuses, she wanted her money back.
"He left us a number maybe two weeks ago saying I'm going to pay you on the 7th, and we called the number last night and his wife acted like it was the wrong number," said Baker.
Baker hired someone else to replace the roof and is now out $500.
It's the same thing that happened to an Arden woman who lost $180 a few months ago when Smith was supposed to paint her deck.
The same thing for a Candler woman who lost $8,000 when she signed a deal with Danny Smith last year to enclose her patio.
Baker can't believe Smith's been running from customers for years. She's even more surprised to learn he served 10 years in prison for cheating people out of their money.
The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office says this is civil matter and their hands are tied.


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Frustated with Dr (vent)
Mine doesn't start checking until 38 weeks as well. But she did offer to do it earlier if I really wanted to. I didn't bother because those checks are not very pleasant and she told me she figured I would probably only be finger tip dilated at most.
I don't think thats out of the ordinary. I got checked at 38 wks last pregnancy, and again at 39 wks. The 39 wk check put me into labor. My appt was at 4pm and by 9pm I started having "real" contractions. She probably just didn't want to trigger anything.
the only reason my OB has checked since 35 weeks is because I have a history of preterm labor, otherwise he wouldnt have checked until 38 either.
1 in High school, 1 in juinior high, 1 in elementary school and 1 in preschool= 1 CRAZY mama!
Mine checked me for the first time at 36w (I was 2cm), then this week again at 37w and I was 3cm. I wouldn't like it either to have a dr who waits too long to do some things. If you don't like that, change drs after you give birth. I got pregnant 4 years ago and I called my mother-in-low's OB. She scheduled my first apt at 10w. It made me nervous to wait this long so I called another dr who shedule an apt right away (6w).. turned out I was carrying twins and there was something very wrong with the babies (we had to termintae the pregnancy for medical reasons). Ever since that happened I trust my instincts with dr... if I don't feel confortable with a Dr, I go find another one.
Proud mommy of;
DD Bailey 6.10.09,
DD Alice 3.6.12,
Princess Doo '99 | Crazy Z '10 | Lil E '12 | ChubChub '14
My first check was last week at 36 weeks. Afterwards I felt like I might have had some contractions or something so I almost scared me into calling L&D, but then everything settled down and we are still truckin along!
Kevin+Catie+Sean= 3 little monkeys jumpin on the bed!!!
Single Mom to Baby 3-23-2012
Vegetarian, Couponing, C.M.A.
I heart my BBCBs!


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May 5, 2014
Russ Wood
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Mitchell Wilbekin, brother of Florida's Scottie Wilbekin, has committed to Wake Forest after being let out of his NLI by Tulsa. ...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now!
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Holocaust Drama Elegy Starring Broadway's David Wohl
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The last date listed for Elegy was Sunday December 1, 2013 / 7:00pm.
Currently at Richard Christiansen Theater
Smart and Sexy Comedy A Widow of No Importance
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In this smart and sexy comedy, devout Hindu Deepa has been a widow for two years. Her only desire… More
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Featured review from J S GreenbergRed Velvet
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This is a very sensitive, beautifully written play.
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The Richard Christiansen theater is a beautiful small intimate space housed in the renovated Victory Gardens Theater. - and saw up-close a provocative play about the experience of a young adults raised by parents who experienced the Holocaust. It...continued
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Amazingly well written play. Most of the performances were well done. The intimate setting and the use of the staging between scenes added to the atmosphere.
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The play was well-acted, but the script was rather obscure and emotionally distant.
By Chicago Playwright Ron Hirsen
Directed by Dennis Zacek, Artistic Director Emeritus of Victory Gardens
Starring: Broadway and film star David Wohl


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Saturday, January 16, 2010
A present in the mail...assembly required!
This wonderful new wine cabinet arrived today :) Well, actually it most likely arrived yesterday and sat on my porch until I discovered it today. (Luckily, my neighborhood is apparently not a shady as my roommate claims.)
Only an hour and a half of assembly, and this lovely cabinet is in my kitchen!
Thanks, Daddy and Kathy for the Christmas gift card!!!
Now for a Saturday nap to recover from all that manual labor!
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browse markets
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Love Your Farmer's Market Contest
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Jefferson Farm Market
Charles Town, WV
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Suzanne Covello
2428 days, 14 hours ago
Local fresh produce and baked goods from my neighbors!
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2429 days, 8 hours ago
Eat Local - Eat Organic - support local friends and farmers! Better for Mother Earth! Yeah!
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2428 days, 14 hours ago
Great to have local produce and products! There's also a wonderful feeling in the atmosphere. It is an expression of community and wholesomeness.
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Heather Meisling
2380 days, 20 hours ago
Vendors are top notch, not only with their produce but with their personability. A true "rich" experience. It is good to see a process come full circle.
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2424 days, 9 hours ago
Our farmers need all the support they can get. I like to think the few farms left in Jefferson County will continue to operate into the future and not become housing developments. "No Farms, No Food".
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2424 days, 22 hours ago
It is very nice to have a place that I can walk to that offers gourmet, local, and delicious products. The people are always nice and it is a wonderful place to go on a Saturday morning.
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2427 days, 23 hours ago
I like the people and the products they offer; plus the atmosphere at the Jefferson Farm market - it's just plain fun to go!
Kevin Hughes
2428 days, 11 hours ago
The market brings the local community together. Great groceries and good people. And the market is 1 1/2 miles from home!
Jamie Gregory
2428 days, 11 hours ago
Fresh produce, local bakers, local coffee roaster The vendors are very friendly, knowledgable
2428 days, 11 hours ago
It's small but I love the homemade tamales and goat cheese. I hope in time that more folks will participate.
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Buying fresh, local, & organic to support local farms.Knowing my food hasn't traveled more than 15 miles to get to my table is good for the earth too!
Suzanne Covello
2428 days, 14 hours ago
Local fresh produce and baked goods from my neighbors!
BJ Appelgren
2428 days, 14 hours ago
Great to have local produce and products! There's also a wonderful feeling in the atmosphere. It is an expression of community and wholesomeness.
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Australian mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has an unusual Christmas suggestion for parents – buy your children the works of Milton Friedman and Ayn Rand, and they will be inspired to become megabucks-earning entrepeneurs. Rinehart has often cited Rand in particular as an influence. Can you tell the difference between her pronouncements and those of the author of the Tea Party's favourite book, Atlas Shrugged?
Gina Rinehart (left) and Ayn Rand. Photograph: Nelson Ching/Leonard McCombe/Bloomberg News/Getty Images


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You were born to THRIVE!
Welcome, I'm so glad you can join me! If you're a busy professional or entrepreneurial woman on a mission to create breakthrough success while balancing it all, then you're in the right place!
It's my mission to help women to create a balanced and purpose-driven approach to achieving all that she dreams of.
My intuition tells me that you're Smart, Driven, and Talented, but the only issue is that you feel frustrated because you've been working too hard to achieve your dreams, and not getting the results you desire, while burnout has brought you to your knees.
If this sounds like you, I'm sure you feel like you're being pulled in a million different directions trying to juggle it all. However, the good news is that you don't have to sacrifice your Happiness and Wellbeing to be Successful. You can achieve your wildest dreams with inner peace, balance, and confidence.
Fortunately for you I provide workshops, mentoring, inspiration, and community to help you unlock your true potential, achieve more of your goals, while enjoying an extraordinary life!


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darlene snyder's ugly mug
Posted in the Richmond Forum
1 - 13 of 13 Comments Last updated Jun 18, 2012
#1 Apr 26, 2012
Is anyone already sick of looking at the ugly red head on the signs for clerk. If I looked like that I would have left my picture off it's scary.
#2 Apr 26, 2012
I have had several sensual dreams of me and her.But that does not have a damn thing to do with who is the best canditate.Darlene is going to massacre all the others.
#3 Apr 26, 2012
hey! You take that back!! Her niece is working awfully hard to be her stylist! At least she's not wearing a track suit like she usually wore at work (pre-campaign that is).
United States
#4 Apr 26, 2012
dam n colonel. i reckon youd fu ck a meat grinder.
United States
#5 Apr 27, 2012
Well for one thing looks don't matter, and second, I bet you're uglier than a mud fence.
#6 Apr 27, 2012
Shallow much. Christie you aren't a Beauty Queen either. If you were blind and couldn't see I bet the prettiest woman would seem like a nagging whinning pessimistic and the ugliest woman would be the nicest sweetest most generous person you've ever met. Looks mean nothing. If people really looked liked what they were on the inside on the outside they would be some butt ugly people in this world. Looks has nothing to do with if she can do her job or not. So shut the hell up and grow up.
#7 Apr 27, 2012
if these post represent the thinking and mindset of the opposing candidates, they should rethink thier friends.do looks have anything to do with the clerks position? I do commend Ms. Snyder, for taking the high road, on these childish rants.Ms.Winkler also sticks to the issues, which is commendable. i dare say, most people on this forum, do not, and never will represent the voters of Madison Co.
#8 Apr 28, 2012
Lee, is that you?
#9 May 23, 2012
Well Christie, just reading your comments tells what kind of person you are. Enough said!
#10 May 25, 2012
For everyone talking trash about Dar, ill have you know that she is a BEAUTIFUL HARD WORKING wife and mother. She always does her very best at everything she does!! I am appalled at the immature and juvenile comments being said about her. She has worked extremely hard to get where she is today! Richmond would be LUCKY to have her as circuit clerk!! YOU HAVE MY VOTE DAR! Keep your head up and ignore the losers that have nothing nice to say about you. You just keep staying strong!! GOD BLESS YA DARLENE!! I LOVE YA GIRL!!
#11 Jun 17, 2012
So how do you feel about her now?! Ha! She made a fool out of her supporters. The newspaper called her out. And, by the way, why are a lot of her signs still up? Can't she be fined?
#12 Jun 18, 2012
What do you mean, I havent seen anything in paper. What happen?
#13 Jun 18, 2012
yum yum i love pusseyberry,best ones are grown, out kirksville area.
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Heroes by DanielMeadWatch
©2011-2016 DanielMead
Just another little doodle I made.
May I suggest you take a class in anatomy?
Fun stuff, Dan! Now they need captions!
Fun stuff, Dan! Now they need captions!
Love the design on these. Great work.
LOL! These are so cool!!!! love em!
This is a nice stylistic experiment
haha!! Nice!


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Admissions to the 2016/2017 edition of the European Master's Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation (E.MA) are open until the 15th March 2016. E.MA was created thanks to the support of EIUC and 41 participating universities from all member states of the European Union.
E.MA is an intensive one-year course aimed at educating up to 100 professionals annually in the…Continue
Added by EIUC - Human Rights on December 10, 2015 at 10:55am — No Comments
Admissions to the second edition of the Master in Democratic Governance - Democracy and Human Rights in the MENA Region (DE.MA) are still open until 16th of November 2015. DE.MA was created thanks to the support of the European Union and of the Danish Institute for Human Rights. It is based on a partnership between EIUC and the following universities: International University of Rabat (Rabat, Morocco), Birzeit University (Birzeit, Palestine), St Joseph University (Beirut, Lebanon), Ca'…Continue
Added by EIUC - Human Rights on November 5, 2015 at 9:30am — No Comments
By James M. Dorsey
The 2022 Qatar World Cup may be sparking social change in the Gulf, just not (yet) in Qatar.
Qatar's winning of the hosting rights for the World Cup gave human rights and trade union activists the leverage they needed to more effectively pressure the Gulf state for reform, if not abolition, of its controversial kafala or labour sponsorship system that puts employees at the mercy of their employers.
While focused on Qatar, the campaign also targeted…Continue
Added by James M Dorsey on October 6, 2015 at 10:01pm — No Comments
Added by Kathleen Malley-Morrison on July 14, 2015 at 4:15pm — No Comments
Published: Oxford Human Rights Hub (faculty of law, University of Oxford)
Kashmir Times, 2 July 2015
Ravi Nitesh 22nd June 2015 OXHRH Criminal Justice
It has become a trend in law enforcement that for every problem, there is a single solution: the use of force. This trend extends to Jammu and Kashmir (India), where state authorities are using force as a form of crowd control, arming themselves with lethal and non-lethal weapons and inflicting series injuries on…Continue
Added by Ravi Nitesh on July 2, 2015 at 2:42am — No Comments
On 17 June 2012, a Saudi Arabian Blogger Raif Badawi was arrested under the charge of "insulting Islam". Raif Badawi had created "Free Saudi Liberals", a website which encouraged debates on religious and political issues in 2008. The website promoted the idea of secularism and criticized religious extremism. He was charged of insulting Islam through this website.
The Saudi Supreme Court held him guilty and pronounced a sentence of 10 years in…Continue
Added by Devika Mittal on June 23, 2015 at 3:00am — No Comments
This week, I'm delighted to be attending the…Continue
Added by Craig Zelizer on June 22, 2015 at 11:11am — No Comments
United to create peace ventures in a weekend
The first PeaceStartup experience in Bogota brought entrepreneurs, innovators and peace-builders together to foster peace through tech-based enterprises
PeaceNexus as one of the supporters reflects on the experience
The first digital enterprise marathon for peace resulted in 3 winning teams being celebrated on Sunday 19th…Continue
Added by The PeaceNexus Foundation on May 5, 2015 at 10:35am — 1 Comment
Human Rights in the globalized world
How we define and defend the Concept of Human Rights at the age of Darkness (the present Era) where globalization on one side, the empowerment of mobs with their unjust signature on the applications of every law and policies on the other side, added with dehumanization of Human existence by the uncontrolled technologies that…Continue
Added by Catherine Stella Schmidt on April 25, 2015 at 5:30am — No Comments
Loodokilani is a predominantly Maasai area where just like any other Maasai community, cultural practices account for most of the hindrances in the advancement of young people especially girls. Being a nomadic community, the struggle to accumulate and care for the livestock over shadows all…Continue
Added by Rachel Wambui Kungu on April 10, 2015 at 11:30am — No Comments
Reson is a 12 year old Maasai girl from Kajiado. When she was seven years old, she suffered from a serious case of cholera and to save her life, her mother had to walk for six hours with the child on her back to get to the nearest dispensary. That day Reson came face to face with a doctor and her life was saved. She has since nursed an ambition of becoming a doctor and is thus working hard in school to ensure she is top of her class to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Next year, Reson…Continue
Added by Rachel Wambui Kungu on April 3, 2015 at 11:30am — No Comments
Charlie Hebdo, Philosophy, and the Rights to Freedom of Speech, Expression, and Press:
From the Perspectives of Xenophobia, Multiculturalism, Laïcité, Atheism, Voltaire, and Rousseau
Dr. Rey Ty
Statement of the Problem
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris, France, in January…Continue
Added by Rey T on February 6, 2015 at 12:30pm — No Comments
Pax Populi, which means "the peace of the people," is a people-to-people peacemaking program with a working objective to put the tools of peacemaking into the hands of ordinary people. We see the peaceful resolution of conflicts as one of the most…Continue
Added by Pax Populi on December 30, 2014 at 4:32pm — No Comments
By James M. Dorsey
A decision by the handball federations of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to boycott the 2015 World Men's Handball Championship to be hosted by Qatar in January signals the failure of efforts to reconcile the idiosyncratic Gulf state with its regional detractors and casts further doubts on the prospects of a Gulf Cooperation Council (GGC) scheduled to be held in Qatar in December.
The boycott by Bahrain and the UAE, which together with…Continue
Added by James M Dorsey on November 13, 2014 at 6:39am — No Comments
By James M. Dorsey
With the absence of labour rights in the Gulf under fire as a result of Qatar's successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup, Gulf states are likely to take heart from a recent study that asserts that authoritarian regimes in the oil-rich Middle East and China have contributed more to the eradication of global inequality than Western nations.
Human rights and trade union activists, targeting Qatar as well as the United Arab Emirates, have succeeded in persuading…Continue
Added by James M Dorsey on November 10, 2014 at 7:30am — No Comments
By Other Worlds and the Solidarity and Resistance Collective for the Population of Île-à-Vache
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Added by Other Worlds on September 15, 2014 at 12:41pm — No Comments
An Interview with Diana Samarasan, Disability Rights Fund
By Beverly Bell
August 5, 2014
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Added by Other Worlds on August 5, 2014 at 11:47am — No Comments
Best Easter
The Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture (TRC)
Cordially invites you to the National Conference:
Towards a Better Future in which Human Rights are Protected
Added by Nabil Hanna on June 24, 2014 at 7:00am — No Comments
Women are at the heart of Afghan society they need to be supported and their rights respected …Continue
Added by Danielle Bonner on April 23, 2014 at 5:30am — No Comments
Hartal is one of deadliest weapons in Bangladesh used to press political demands. The most common phenomena associated with hartals are violence, deaths, injuries, and people burned alive. In recent weeks, during hartals by the opposition parties, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamat-e-Islami (JI), dozens of people were burned and many more dozens suffered injuries from attacks by pickets. The…Continue
Added by ABM Mosleh Uddin on November 29, 2013 at 12:00am — No Comments


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Congratulations on your engagement! I would love the opportunity to preserve your wedding memories. My team and I have filmed hundreds of weddings throughout Alabama and across the United States. Our goal is to give you beautiful wedding imagery without being intrusive or changing your vision for the day.
Check out what my clients have to say. My customer service is top notch, and the final product is simply amazing! With over 15 years filming weddings in Huntsville and Decatur, you can trust me on the most important day of your life!
Wedding Wire 5 Star Rating
The Knot 5 Star Rating
Facebook 5 Star Rating
Heather and Brandon
Creekside Plantation
Thanks Kyle Root for giving us a great memory to last forever!
A few Facebook comments:
J.V. - "So sweet sitting in my room with tears in my eyes. That final shot and voiceover is phenomenal!" E.P. - "How awesome! So glad you got it on video!" A.C. - "OMG that is by far one of the sweetest videos I've seen!" L.M. - "I haven't seen you in 15 years but this had me in tears!" K.M. - "That was so very beautiful! What a great treasure to have of your special day!"
Jenn and Matt
Delano Park
Extremely professional and excellent quality of work. Kyle listened to what I was looking for (to capture audience footage and especially of my Mom) and did it perfectly. He brought in extra cameras (I found this out later) and also did a couple of video interviews with my guests that we didn't know about. Even though Kyle and I met literally the day of the wedding, I think he saw my personality and the ending of the video was one of our friends muttering "I really don't understand weddings". I laughed so hard. Absolutely the perfect ending.
Holly and Jake
Creekside Plantation
We absolutely LOVE our wedding video! Kyle did an amazing job and was so fun to work with! He captured everything we asked him to and much more! We even had a sweet surprise at the end of video! I would definitely recommend him to anyone!
A few Facebook comments:
W.H. "I just squalled watching this." G.S. "Truly Amazing!" D.B. "This is fantastic!" A.C. "I watched it this morning and had a good cry! Love it!"
Ashley and David
Creekside Plantation
Kyle did a great job at my daughters wedding this year and my other daughters wedding last year. He was very professional and would recommend him if you have a life's moment you want captured.
Jessica and Josh
Anna Bella at Cedar Glen
I really enjoyed watching the video. It allowed me to see things that were going on that otherwise wouldn't have been possible. So much fun to watch and will be treasured even more as time passes. You not only made them a wonderful video, but the cover was so beautiful. Your work looks like a lot of fun and you are really good at what you do. It takes enthusiasm and creativity, which you have been blessed with. And a terrific personality to boot!
Marie and Jeff
Creekside Plantation
KR Productions filmed our wedding ceremony and reception at Creekside Plantation in May 2013. Kyle is a pleasure to work with, very easy going and goes above and beyond to make sure your footage is the best it can be. We didn't expect there to be a go-pro camera and there was, which added a really nice touch to the different views of the ceremony. I highly recommend KR Productions, as they are both a professional and affordable company! Thanks again Kyle for an amazing video!
Maegan and Josh
The Huntsville Botanical Gardens
We love the video! Thank you so much! You are very talented and I'm so glad I called you to be a part of our wedding day. I love to scrapbook and document our lives and the DVD is a treasure for us!
Gwen and Mark
The Huntsville Depot Roundhouse
Where do I begin? We just watched the video for the first time - we absolutely LOVE it! You really captured our wedding in the way we remember it - fun, family, and friends! It's perfect! ... I want to watch it over and over! ... You guys are so talented... Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."
Tracy and Steven
First Baptist Church
We loved our video! You did such a fantastic job of catching every moment. We truly appreciate it. Our friends and family have also been very complementary of your work.
Leslie and Paul
Decatur Country Club
We hired KR Productions to film and edit our wedding, including the womens activities (hair and make-up) and the the men (a round of golf at Canebreak) the morning of the wedding. When we received the DVD, I was amazed at how much work Kyle had put into it. We were more than pleased. I recommend him to anyone who desires a special event captured on camera. You will be VERY glad you did!
Part of the Kyle Root Wedding Videography and Photography Team, offering wedding videos and photos to the Huntsville, Decatur, and Hartselle areas.
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© Copyright 2015 kyleroot.com
KR Productions is a showcased Decatur, AL wedding videographer on BigDaySmallWorld.com!


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Work in progress, exercise. Handmade - Polymer clay Fimo Soft and Fimo liquid clay.
Great work! Fantastic
it's fantastic!!!!
I can hardly believe that's not an actual tomato! Great work
Great work! Making fimo tomatoes is really fun. From the end-product, it doesn't seem like you used a simple method to sculpt and then add the gloss/glaze.
This is a really great approach! I always fail making tomato canes...
I would kill just to learn how to make a tomato
Amazing job....like always ^-^
Amazing job....like always ^-^


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Small flower by eskimoblueboyWatch
©2007-2016 eskimoblueboy
Taken on my front porch.
wow, I like it
That's a great shot. Love the forms
Very nice
Gosh, this is sooooo pretty. I love it!
I'm still trying to figure out the shadowishness.... But it's lovely. Nice work.
The shadows are its purple leaves out of focus. You've seen it sitting with my bigger bonsai. I'm glad you like it.
It took me a second, but I figured out what the purple/burgandy is in the background. I really like the way the clover kind of echoes/shadows the flower. You're getting better at this.
Very delicate, lovely
A great composition.
Wow, nicely done JR.
Great shot, I love the shadow in the background.
Front porch.. Really??
Great shot.. Interesting perspective..
Great colors !!!
Great shot.. Interesting perspective..
Great colors !!!
I love the composition! Nice work!
beautiful composition, JR..the focus and use of negative space are wonderful.
Thank you. I'm glad you like the shot. Thanks for the as well.
Great shot..I love how that little flower can make such a big shadow...Very expressive...
very nice and delicate
It is so delicate, so simple and so very lovely!
Nice, very nice shot!
Fantastic, just fantastic!!


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- Exercise & Physical Fitness Programs
Exercise & Physical Fitness Programs in Broadalbin
Below is a list of businesses listed within our directory. If you do not see your business within the list below, you can submit it for addition to this list. Adding your business will feature your listing above Standard listings.
Sacandaga Therapeutic Massage - Broadalbin, NY - Phone: (518) 883-8964
Helpful Definition for: Exercise & Physical Fitness Programs
Exercise & physical fitness programs in Broadalbin are established for individuals to maintain mental, social, emotional & physical fitness in order to perform their assigned activities and to lessen the risk and severity of injuries and illnesses. These programs are generally strictly supervised by trainers and medical professionals, who are held responsible for assigning all fitness workout activities to the individuals under the program. Non-contact, non-competitive activities are mostly focused on in the workouts. These programs are essential for all personnel associated with emergency response activities. In general, all are encouraged to participate in Physical Fitness Programs.
Recent News from the Green Blog
PSEG Long Island Helps Customers Go Green and Save Green
Energy Efficiency Programs Save Customers Millions of Dollars (Long Island, NY) PSEG Long Island announced today that customers participating in energy efficiency programs in 2015 will save more than $60 million and 307,582,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year. The amount of energy saved is good for the environment, too, as it results in the elimination of the carbon dioxide emissions..


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Dog Breed Guide: Scottish Terrier
Dr. Marc is a veterinarian and writer for Pets Best, a dog insurance and cat insurance agency.
About the Scottish Terrier
Height (to base of neck): 10″
Weight: females 18 – 21lb, males 19-22lb
Color: Brindle, black and wheaten.
Origin: Scotland
Coat: Double coat with wavy, wiry, long outer coat.
Life Expectancy: 12 – 15 years
Energy level: Moderate
Exercise needs: Moderate
Breed Nicknames: Scottie
Is a Scottish Terrier the Right Dog Breed for You?Read More…


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Whether you're a high school student, graduate student, international student, nontraditional student or military service member, now's your chance to discover CMU and put your stamp on the world. More...
Ask us! We're here to help. You'll find mountains of info online plus email addresses and phone numbers if you need to connect with a human. More...
CMU is a diverse and dynamic intellectual community. Make yourself at home, starting with this gateway to campus resources and services for faculty and staff. More...
Welcome to your home for everything maroon and gold. The CMU Alumni Association brings Chippewas together through social media and at events across the country. Catch the Central spirit here. More...
Find out how parents and family can immerse themselves in Central's culture, activities and events, and discover how we support you and your student. More...
We thank you — a member of our local or regional community — for your support and partnership. Come visit. Come be a part of it all. We're here to serve you, too. More...
We had yet another wonderful Advanced Analytics and Predictive Modeling Forum this year, with nearly 150 attending guests. An enormous thank you to all of our speakers and sponsors for making this terrific event possible. We'd also like to thank all of our guests for providing us with valuable feedback that we can use to improve your experience at next year's forum. If you missed the forum and need your contact information updated or if you have any other questions, please email us at email@example.com. Thank you all for your continuing support of IHBI, and we look forward to seeing you again next year!
"Top 10 Analytic Mistakes"
Deeply analyzing data to discover useful patterns has delivered enormous returns in many fields. But, it is easy to go too far and "torture the data until it confesses" and doom your findings to fail where they really matter: on new situations. A key to achieving quality is to avoid "worst practices". Dr. John Elder will share (often humorous) real-world stories of common deadly mistakes. Be encouraged on how to achieve success through tales of barely averted disaster.
"Statistical Graphical Deception"
As we continue to collect, analyze, and interpret more data using both classical and modern approaches, visualization has become a large part of the way we present results or obtain information. Since graphical construction can either help or hinder the audience's understanding of the results, we need to be careful to not fall victim of the "dark side" by creating charts and graphs that are deceptive in presenting the truth. We will explore the visual decoding process, which is called "graphical perception". We will look at what makes a graphical method successful or unsuccessful and potentially deceptive to the audience for which it is intended. The goal is to provide graphical techniques and strategies for both data analysis and data communication.
"The Analytical Death of Personally Identifying Information (PII)"
Personally Identifying Information (PII) allows unique identification of an individual, associating a person with a set of data. As a result, PII requires a high level of security. However, today's data mining and analytic tools enable unique identification of individuals on a large scale without the use of PII. A combination of data points, none of which identify a single person, can be combined to create a unique identifier. The ability to leverage analytics to create complex custom-built keys to identify individuals can make the concept of PII obsolete. The advent of UII - Uniquely Identifying Information - may lead to a reassessment of the security of personal data.
"The Legal Side of Big Data"
The legal realm of Big Data and analytics is a new frontier that is quickly developing and is full of land mines. The private sector moves ahead at lightning speed engaging in sophisticated methods of data gathering and computer analysis in hopes of drawing out insights which can drive efficiency and progress. However, industry is falling short of effectively managing privacy considerations, data ownership, model ownership, and Intellectual Property considerations. Worse yet, our legal system is even further behind industry by slowly setting policies and laws for governing the behavior of industry where consumer data is often given little consideration. In the era of Big Data hacks and leaks, by both US and foreign operatives, US companies are being subjected to much exposure. Doug LaLone will challenge us to consider the legal side of Big Data, where we are today, and the challenges facing businesses.
"The DOs and DON'Ts of Visualization"
Designing clean, clear, and compelling visual representations is a key component to sharing insight and enabling business decisions. Power BI is an end user tool designed by Microsoft to help data explorers and analysts quickly analyze and visualize data. However, tools of this nature always work better in a demo than in practice. Today, you will learn some of the DOs and DON'Ts of visualizations with a demonstration using a tool called Power BI and learn some key methods for detecting and preventing these mistakes from taking place or reoccurring. These principles can be applied across tool sets and are not limited to Power BI in any way.
[Download coming soon]
"The Dark Side of Healthcare Analytics"
Over the past ten years, there has been a revolution to make health care policy and practice more data-driven. There is tremendous need for data to inform clinical practice, health policy, and consumerism in healthcare. All sectors of the industry seek better data, and the availability of data continues to improve. However, despite this expressed need for more data and, in many cases, the increased access to data, healthcare data are imperfect…to say the least. This session will focus on some of the common challenges in analytics for the healthcare industry, with particular focus on use of administrative claims data. The session will include discussion of challenges with analysis at the provider level, the adaptation of financial data to non-financial purposes, and the need to balance access with privacy.
"Target Shuffling (to Save Science)"
It's always possible to get lucky (or unlucky). The central question in statistics is "How likely could this result have occurred by chance?" Modern, predictive analytic algorithms are hypothesis-generating machines, capable of testing millions of "ideas." The best result stumbled upon in its vast search has a much greater chance of being spurious. Such over-fit is particularly dangerous, as it leads one to rely on a model molded to the data noise as well as signal, which usually is worse on new data than no model at all. The good news is an antidote exists! John Elder will explain the simple breakthrough solution that's rarely employed, but is being rediscovered in leading fields. He will illustrate how to use the re-sampling method he calls "target shuffling" in multiple scenarios, showing how it calibrates results so they are reliable. Bottom line: Honest data science is needed to save experimental science!
Speaker Panel: "Best Practices in the Workplace"
The forum speakers participate in a facilitated panel to discuss and answer audience questions regarding real-world application versus theory, and share their insights on opportunities and challenges for effective cross-industry utilization of Big Data.


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God has created each of us as a unique individual with a unique purpose. Our greatest fulfillment comes when we understand His love for us and realize our calling.
READ: Ps. 139:13-18; Is. 43:1-4; Is. 61:1-4; Jer. 1:4-10; Mark 13:32-37; 1 Pet. 2:4-10.
HEART ISSUE: Do you know who you are in Christ and what makes you unique to God? Do you know how much He loves you?
PRAYER FOCUS: Father, help me see myself as You see me, so that I may understand Your purposes for me. Give me Your grace to fulfill Your plan for my life. Amen.
God has appointed a special calling to each of us, and we must be good stewards of His gifts. He gave us gifts to bless others and build up the body of Christ.
READ: Deut. 8:11-18; Is. 6:1-8; 1 Cor. 9:24-27; Phil. 3:7-16; 2 Tim. 4:7-8; Heb. 12:1-3.
HEART ISSUE: Are you exercising your gifts--developing them in ministry to others? If not, what are you waiting for?
PRAYER FOCUS: Father, thank You for equipping me to serve Your body. Guide me by the Holy Spirit's power to be a good steward of the calling You have placed upon me. Amen.
For a limited time, we are extending our celebration of the 40th anniversary of Charisma. As a special offer, you can get 40 issues of Charisma magazine for only $40!
NEW from CHARISMA: Do you want to encounter the Holy Spirit and hear God speak to you? Increase your faith, discover freedom, and draw near to God! Click Here


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In 19 Minutes, A Team Of Snipers Destroyed 17 Transformers At A Power Station In California
- Uploaded by Kanaeta on Feb 7, 2014
- Views: 323
A terrorist act was the cause of an April attack on a California phone and power grid system, a former federal regulator says. Former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chairman Jon Wellinghoff said that a group of snipers shot up a Silicon Valley substation for 19 minutes, knocking out 17 transformers before fleeing the scene. Wellinghoff was in office at the time, and called it "the most significant incident of domestic terrorism involving the grid that has ever occurred." RT's Ameera David takes a look at what would happen if this incident were to be replicated across the US. Find RT America in your area: http://rt.com/where-to-watch/ Or watch us online: http://rt.com/on-air/rt-america-air/ Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/RTAmerica Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/RT_America


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Annnd the Speed painting serie starts now !
Let's see if i manage to keep this up for at least 3 weeks ^^
So we start with a landscape. Yes it's not especially impressive but then again the goal is to paint quick and once I'm at the end of that session I should have made some progress :3
Let's see if i manage to keep this up for at least 3 weeks ^^
So we start with a landscape. Yes it's not especially impressive but then again the goal is to paint quick and once I'm at the end of that session I should have made some progress :3
You have a very creative imagination.
freaking awesome bro...just awesome.
For a speedpaint, it's pretty precise and well-detailed so it's not unimpressive at all
The point of view is interesting.
For a change you're in the role of a predator this time,at least it gives this feeling to me.
Maybe this river will become the personal styx of this two men.
For a change you're in the role of a predator this time,at least it gives this feeling to me.
Maybe this river will become the personal styx of this two men.
having a cottage there wouldnt give a bad view
I love how humble you are with this. "It's not especially impressive", yet, it's by far the best one of the speed paintings so far in my opinion!
Nice landscape
How is this not impressive? You'v captured the scenery and setting perfectly, its like one of the front pages to a professional novels.
well thank you
Just calling out good work when I see it, also what you said in your earlier journals about working with things your not always comfortable with has defiantly inspired me to continue with even the more frustrating parts of drawing, automobiles and any form of architecture are always a pain TT_TT.
Not that impressive ?
I would die to have these kind of skills in painting, great work !
I would die to have these kind of skills in painting, great work !
how much time are you giving yourself?
Nice transition from dark to light...really moves you through the scene!
Love this. Great foreground and mid-ground. Would be nice to see a little more sky through the trees. Great colour. Humanish subjects not needed. Look forward to more of you work.
well you can certainly tell what's what, which is good. then again, considering your high skill level already that should have been expected. It looks like just a lot of basic colors organized in the right pattern. Now there's a tree in the back however, which seems like you used fine dots for it...that is a very well done tree
wish I could properly critique you though. I've never tried a speed painting, and even then it sounds like the goal is just to get something out quick, with as much high quality as possible so in that regard you're doing quite well
I like the smoothness and consistency, very calming.
You speed painted this? Pretty nicely done.
Excellent work
Very well done for a first attempt. A good amount of detail was put into the foliage to give it nice scale and depth, I really like the shading on the vines and the mangrove tree, gives it nice contrast between the bright open river in the background and the scary dark jungle in the foreground. Nicely done
Very nice, especially for such a speedy work. I like the cool, secluded feeling of all that overhanging foliage.
Good luck with the rest of the speed paintings! I'm very curious what else you come up with.
Yeah, Not especially impressive- compared to your other work but still well drawn and quite beautiful in a sense...I've had to look at it several times to come up with words to describe it as whenever I move down to comment I forget that it's not incredibly detailed and in fact somewhat simple. I guess what I like about this Speed drawing of yours is that it actually seems achievable whenever I look at it unlike your other landscapes and whatnot that's generally so breath-takingly good that I get swept away that my train of thought kinda is sent into the picture so that I'm stuck staring at the picture itself for minutes without blinking...So well done!
Looks delic-er, delightful.
Simple but still quite effective. :3
Very nice sense of depth, the speed painting shows in the lack of sharpness, but the concepts and layers are wonderful.
Awesome! Love it <3
Great illustrative piece.
love it
i'd like to use your scenarios on my videos, they are really well done, specially when done fast as you did.
(Game show voice) CONGRATULATIONS!!! You've reached 600 deviations and made a damn good painting. What are you gonna do now?
Very peaceful, I kind of want to go exploring now
Really,look like a commomplace. But sprite this have a nice look,with good coloring!
Looks remarkable!
Nice work.
very nice
Hey. That's actually pretty good for a speed-job. Well done.
There has to be at least one mermaid in that creek!
For the sake of making you able to post art more often, I'm all for the speed painting exercise, but you should know I look forward to when you're finished and can make more like your "older" stuff (like from a few months back... you know, when you put outlines on things) because I preferred that style.


text:
Department of Agriculture, Commodity Credit Corporation: 2003 and 2004 Livestock Assistance Program
GAO-05-522R: Apr 14, 2005
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
(202) 512-8156
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
GAO reviewed the Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation's (CCC) new rule on the 2003 and 2004 Livestock Assistance Program (LAP). GAO found that (1) the final rule sets forth the terms and conditions of the 2003/2004 LAP as provided for by the Military Construction Appropriations and Emergency Hurricane Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005, and under LAP, assistance will be available to livestock producers for either 2003 or 2004 grazing losses in a county that was designated as a primary disaster county by the President or Secretary of Agriculture after January 1, 2003, for certain losses occurring through December 31, 2004; and (2) CCC complied with the applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.
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Fuel retailer Eko-Elda Bulgaria, a subsidiary of Greek Hellenic Petroleum Group, was established in July 2002 and is one of the largest investors in Bulgaria's petrol sector.
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text:
Books are an integral part of many
business and leisure trips, and now that more than a few of us have an e-reader such
as the Kindle,
we can travel with as many books as we like, without worrying about the
The Kindle
has also opened our world to an entire army of new authors, people
we may never have stumbled across previously. But whether the
decision be based on more attractive pricing compared to the
regular authors we read, or simply the great reviews you get on
amazon.co.uk and such like, these new authors are proving
themselves to be more than capable than the famous names that used
to adorn our bookshelves.
of the books below are serious books, others comedy, some fiction
and non-fiction. Whatever your preference, all (especially the
newer reviews - those at the top) can be purchased online.
you have any suggestions on books that you have read and would
like us to review, please
contact us
with details.
And then I read Conrad
Jones's books. Had never heard of him previously, and
started with The Child Taker and Slow Burn before reading the
entire Detective Alec Ramsay series and then moving straight on to
his Hunting Angels Diaries. He is another of these new authors
that you would not normally get to read as an expat living
overseas, but thanks to Kindle we have access and how grateful I
am that we do. His kindle books are not the cheapest, and his set
collections don't seem to save you much money either, but once you
have read a few of his books you can expect to be addicted. His
books are violent in places, and cover some rather gruesome but
real issues, but they are excellent reads. And ironically, as this
is a travel news wesbite, if it were not for Conrad Jones I doubt
I would be planning to visit Barmouth in Wales on my next visit to
England! Google it, the beach looks amazing!
If you have enjoyed Lee Child's Jack Reacher
series then you are almost guaranteed to love the John
Milton series by Mark Dawson, especially if you are British. Do
read all the books in the series in order, so as you fully
understand the characters and storyline. Personally, I
find the John Milton series far more realistic and enjoyable to
read than Lee Child's Jack Reacher. Mark Dawson's work has so
impressed, me that after finishing the entire John Milton series
(one book after another), I immediately read all his books in the Soho Noir series, and am now
reading the Beatrix Rose books. Until recently, I had not even
heard of Mark
Dawson, but now I am totally addicted to his work.
Great stuff.
Ed James. His Scotland-based Scott Cullen series
of crime thrillers / police procedurals are excellent. Not only
are they a great read, but you will also find yourself learning a
little Scottish as well! For example, "Back of
three" does not mean just before 3 o'clock as you may assume, it
actually means just gone 3 o'clock, such as ten past or the like.
That's Scottish.
Do read the books in order, as while it is not absolutely
necessary, that is how you will get the best out of them.
Definitely an author to watch as once you have read the first I
would be very surprised if you don't read them all!
Oliver Tidy. At the end of
his first
book Oliver writes, "Not being a professional in any respect of
the book creation business...". Well, I heartily disagree. After reading his first book
- Rope Enough, I could not stop
myself from devouring all of the Romney and Marsh
series. Having finished them, I went on to read the three books in
the fast-paced Acer Samson series, which I really hope there are
more of. Unfortunately though, I did not enjoy his third series at
all. The two books in the Booker & Cash Series, Bad Sons and
He Made Me, are extremely slow compared to the Acer Samson series,
and not written in the same way. While bits were OK, it is
almost as if Oliver was trying too hard with those two books, and
completely lost the speed and action of his previous two series. I have every confidence
that Oliver could become one of the top crime/thriller writers in
England, I just hope that future series are more like the first
two than the third one.
Free Country: A
Penniless Adventure the Length of Britain by George Mahood. I
absolutely loved this fun journey of two young men cycling from
one end of the country to the other - LEJOG (Land's End to John
O'Groats) as it is known - without spending a single penny. And
with over 780 five stars on amazon.co.uk and over 155 four stars,
it is obviously a big hit with many others too. You do not need to
be into cycling to enjoy this book, just the sense of humour,
generousity encountered and spirit of adventure make it a very
worthwhile read. I liked it so much, I immediately bought his next
book, Every Day is a Holiday, but I could not really get into it
in the same way. I will try again, but it definitely did not have
the same impact that his book about his LEJOG journey did.
Stephen Edger -
Remember his name, because he is an immense talent when it comes
to writing books that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and
will be responsible for more than a few sleepless nights when you
just cannot put the book down. Started with Trespass - which at
the time of writing is a free book on Amazon Kindle, and just
finished the amazing book Integration. The latter was so good that
instead of moving on to the next author I just had to order the
next in the series, Redemption. Terrific. Will soon be reading his
latest book, Snatched.
Simon Toyne - Absolutely loved his three books -
Sanctus, The Key and The Tower (to be read in that order). You
will find yourself googling parts of the stories to discover
whether they are truly fictional or not! Best religious thriller I
have read since the first Dan Brown books came out.
The David Raker Collection (Books 1-4) - by Tim
Weaver. Tim Weaver is an author to keep a very close eye on.
He has the story-writing ability to be one of the very best. His
books are not the cheapest on the Kindle, though the trilogy of the
first three David Raker books does help you to save a little of
your hard
earned money, so get that rather than buy them individually. The books are terrific with
all the twists and turns, and
solid characters you want from a thriller. Having said that, there is one
particular moment towards the end of the second book when you will be
tempted to try and reach out of the pages and slap the author, but thankfully
he (and David Raker) seems to have learned from his mistake quite early on in the
third book. Don't let that put you off though, these books are of the highest
quality and are some of the
best I have read in a long time. Already looking forward to the
fifth book in the series for more from Tim
Soldier I - The Story of an SAS Hero - by
Michael Kennedy and Pete Winner. If you are interested in Special
Forces, and in particular the SAS then this is a terrific book,
one of the best I have ever read. It even gives you detailed
insights into SAS selection. This book is non-fiction and details
historical events such as the Battle of Murbat, the Iranian
Embassy siege in London and much, much more. Very interesting and
educating read.
Sniper / Gunnery
Sergeant Kyle Swanson Series by
Gunnery Sergeant Jack Coughlin (and at times Donald A. Davis). At
the time of writing this mini-review there are six books in the
highly entertaining series, with the seventh expected some time in
H1 2014. At first, the books were released and promoted as the
Sniper Series and it was a little confusing what happened to books
1 and 4. It now seems that this has changed slightly to the
Gunnery Sergeant Kyle Swanson Series. As there are a few
references to past events featured in earlier books, I would
recommend you to read them in the correct order: Kill Zone (1), Dead
Shot (2), Clean Kill (3), Act of Treason (4), Running the Maze (5)
and the sixth book - Time to Kill. If you enjoy special ops action
books then you will most likely love these. They are very
enjoyable, informative and easy to read and we are already looking forward
to next books in the series.
Stephen Leather -
Has Stephen ever written a bad book?! If he has, we have not yet
come across it. Stephen is one of our favourite authors, and over
the years just seems to get better, and better. He has fully
embraced the digital age, and now not only publishes his regular
full length books, but also often comes out with short stories
that cost just £0.77. Private Dancer should be a must read for any
single guy planning to visit Thailand for the first time, and the
rest of his books - while of a completely different topic - are
all just as entertaining.
Michael Connelly
- we are very big fans of most of Michael Connelly's books. The
kindle version of his books can be expensive though, so watch out
for promotions or read something else until the one you wants
becomes cheaper.
The Big Mango, The
Ambassador's Wife, Laundry Man and a World of Trouble ALL by Jake
Needham - As far as we know, Jake has only written two
books we have not yet read - The Umbrella Man and Killing Plato -
and they are very much on our "to do" list. It is always enjoyable
to read an author that not only has a skill for writing, but also
has a true knowledge and understanding of the cities you know and
love so much. Jake knows his stuff when it comes to Thailand,
Singapore and to some extent Hong Kong. If those cities interest
you, and you are looking for a thriller / detective story based in
this part of the world then look no further. Jake Needham's books
are always an enjoyable and informative read, with an often quite
daring take on things to spice up the story a little.
Gray (Gray Justice, Gray Resurrection, Gray Redemption) by Alan
McDermott - Three excellent books, and if you buy the
trilogy you can (at press time) save yourself £0.80 off buying all
three separately. You will enjoy these books if you enjoy a little
espionage, terrorism and of course some action from the SAS! While it is pretty easy to guess what is
going to happen the first book, Gray Justice, it is still an
enjoyable read with a good couple of unexpected twists, to help
keep you entertained. Books two (Gray Resurrection) and three
(Gray Redemption) are even better. It would be nice to see the
Gray series continue even further than these three books.
Life, A Very Unchristian Retreat, It's All About Danny,
Looking Bloody Good Old Boy, The Wildest Week of Daisy Wyler AND
The Hedonist's Apprentice, ALL by Giles Curtis - If you
enjoy English humour at its best, want a book that will crack you
up and make you desperate for the next to come out, then you really
should read these six books by Giles Curtis (the sixth is
mentioned at the bottom of this brief review). All the books,
except for Second Life, are connected in some small way, and it does help if you read
them in order. Start with A Very Unchristian Retreat then read
It's All About Danny before reading Looking Bloody Good, Old Boy,
The Wildest Week of Daisy Wyler.
Having said that, it would not matter if you did read them in a different order, but
there are some little jokes you will miss out on if you do. I
cannot recommend these books highly enough, and my only surprise
is that they do not have more stars and positive reviews on Amazon. I had
never heard of Giles Curtis up until recently, now I can't wait
for him to release a new book! Released in May 2014, The Badger and Blondie's Beaver,
is another
terrific, fun read. The author actually told us that some of the
characters from his previous books make appearances, but to be
honest it was difficult to spot as there was quite a a lot of time
before the latest was released, and many other books read
in-between time. His latest book to come out (July 2015), The
Hedonist's Apprentice, is another fun read. Great fun.
Barmy Army, The Crew, Top Dog, Billy's
Log, and Wings of
a Sparrow ALL by Dougie Brimson - I first started reading Dougie Brimson to learn more about football hooliganism in
England. Started on Barmy Army before moving to The Crew and then
Top Dog. The more I read Dougie Brimson's books the more I like
them. Granted in Wings of a Sparrow there is a ton of spelling
and grammatical errors, especially in the second half, but the storyline was fun and
fascinating, as was Top Dog, The Crew, Barmy Army and even the
diary style Billy's Log. Most
definitely aimed at a male audience, especially those that enjoy football, these
books are well thought out and very entertaining to read. I look
forward to reading more from Dougie Brimson.
Bite: The most gripping thriller you will ever read by Nick Louth.
No, it's not. Could not even get half way, and won't be trying to
go any farther.
Blowback by Michael Forwell with Lee
Bullman - Another drug smuggling-related book! This one
focuses on huge quantities of marijuana and takes place primarily
in Thailand and Singapore. The book is extremely entertaining and
hard to put down. It is quite mind blowing just how these guys
made their living, and avoided capture in doing so. It is much
more than just a book about smuggling, Blowback has heart and as
such is a moving story.
Life and Laughing: My Story by Michael
McIntyre - Today Michael McIntyre is one of the most famous
and successful stand up comedians in the world. But how did he get
there, what challenges and obstacles did he overcome? This book is
not only an excellent insight into the lives of one of the most
popular entertainers on the planet, but this rivals any
self-motivational business book you have ever read. An amazing
story, an amazing journey and most of all an amazing man and book.
Read it!
Standing in Another Man's Grave by Ian
Rankin -
VisitScotland should buy Ian Rankin a nice bottle of good
single malt, or two, because every time I read one of the
Detective Rebus books it makes me want to visit the glorious
country of Scotland! I have read most of Ian Rankin's work, and
admire him greatly as an author, despite charging too much for the
electronic version of his new books. This latest book in the
Detective Rebus series will not disappoint, although to be honest
I did find the ending a little soft and not quite what I had
expected. Still, Ian Rankin is one of the best authors around and
if you can buy the kindle version of his books at a price you are
comfortable with then even better!
Blood, Sweat and Tears by Bear Grylls
- You probably know of Bear from the TV hit series Wild Man, and
if those programs impressed you then you will love his book. It
does take a little while to get going, but once it does then you
learn what motivates Bear, and how he has accomplished many of the
amazing things he has. Not only an enjoyable book to read but also
a great motivational book as well. Highly recommended.
Marching Powder by Rusty Young -
This is the real-life account of Thomas McFadden, a black
Englishman and cocaine trafficker, who was caught in Bolivia
trying to smuggle cocaine out of the country. The book
concentrates on the weird, yet intriguing, way life works at San
Pedro prison in the heart of La Paz. The prison, which at one
stage allowed tourists to visit and even stay over night, made it
into Lonely Planet as one of the most bizarre tourist destinations
in the world. A very interesting, entertaining, and eye-opening
Snowing in Bali by Kathryn Bonella
- Bali is one of the top tourist destinations in the world,
millions flock there to enjoy the sun, sand and surf, or just to
unwind in luxurious villas spread out among the rice paddies, or
nestled up against a favourite beach. This book opens your eyes to
an entirely new Bali, a world that many know little, or nothing,
about. A fascinating read into the life of drug traffickers that
made Bali their home, selling narcotics to make themselves rich
despite knowing full well the dangers and risks they were taking.
Hotel K by Kathryn Bonella - This
book is an amazing insight into life as a prisoner of Kerobokan
Jail, Bali's notorious prison. You will learn how the prison
works, and how all those prisoners cope - or don't - with the
situation they find themselves in. Kerobokan Jail is home to
nationalities from around the world, including many that have made
headlines around the world.
Much OLDER Book Reviews
The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity by
Daniel Reid - An absolute must have for anyone interested
in health, losing weight, and living life to the most. A book,
which if read with an open mind, can open a thousand or more
doors which can help lead you in a happier and healthier life.
Uri Geller Magician or Mystic - by
Jonathan Margolis - Uri Geller is regarded by some as the
most talented magician to have ever lived, by others not as a
magician at all but as a human with very unusual paranormal mystic
powers and by others as a fraud allowing people to believe one
thing while using trickery. This book excellently written by J.
Margolis investigates Uri Geller's entire life and offers us an
intriguing insight into this amazing mans life and powers.
Excellent read if you are interested in magic and or paranormal
mystic powers.
Hardship Posting Volume 2 - by Stuart
Lloyd - This, the second volume of the popular Hardship
posting reviewed below, starts off on a negative note, with the
author informing us, that no, for love, nor money we cannot have
the telephone numbers of the two girls on the front. Very
disappointing and something they should improve on in volume 3.
Having said that the book is an excellent read full of stories
from present or past expats and their funny experiences within
Asia. Some of the stories make you want to hit that particular
author over the head with a very heavy hammer but the majority
will make you laugh with an understanding of fellow expats. As you
can not buy this from Amazon please go to your local bookshop. By
the way if you click on the cover you will see a really large
version of the cover open in a new window. At least we know what
you want !!!
The Blue Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver - WOW. We can highly recommend
all of Jeffery Deaver's books for anyone interested in good story
lines, and some amazing twists that keep you guessing until the
very end. The Blue Nowhere is no exception but is one of if not
his best. Based on the internet and the frightening ability of
computer wizards this book will leave you quite amazed and you
will never be able to look at your computer in quite the same way.
Excellent buy.
Pest Control by Bill Fitzhugh - is
not a new book, but is outrageously funny, and a great read for
anyone looking to have a great time between the pages. The story
line is great, and while unbelievable will keep you amused for
hours. Great read if you want a good laugh.
Undercurrents by Frances Fyfield -
What a beautifully written and well molded book. This is the first
Frances Fyfield that we have read but will most definitely not be
the last. The characters are excellently portrayed, the plot
intriguing and with a couple of surprises along the way it is
difficult to put down. The use of the English language also stands
out and Frances Fyfield has done an excellent job using her
extensive language skills to write this magnificent book.
Roses Are Red - by James Patterson
- As with all James Patterson's books this is another superb read.
One of his Alex Cross novels Roses are Red is exciting all the way
through. The end however is an enormous surprise and a bit of a
let down as it is completely unexpected, it also has for some
unknown reason over 100 chapters ! Great buy though.
Losing My Virginity - by Sir Richard
Branson - An incredible read, and a true insight into one
of the greatest British entrepreneurs of all time. Can be a little
too honest in places, but the passion that can be found in the
writing and the real look at the world of business, is
outstanding. We can't wait for the sequel!
Girlfriend 44 - by - Mark Barrowcliffe
- Comedy is a difficult thing to put on paper and even more so
into a book, Mark Barrowcliffe achieved this with side cracking
results. A must read, for anyone, and a unique journey into the
male mind. Excellent.
Mayan Prophecies - by Adrian Gilbert and
Maurice Cotterell - a timeless masterpiece that looks into
the hidden lives and meanings of the Mayan people and culture.
This deep book, will open your eyes to far more than you would
ever imagine possible. Although very heavy in places, the book is
an excellent read. Edgar Cayce on Atlantis - A very interesting,
but short book on the works of Edgar Cayce, a well known American
psychic and his comments on the existence and cross existence of
Atlantis - the hidden continent.
The Tutankhamun Prophecies - by Maurice
Cotterell - Oh boy, this book, similar in style to the
Mayan Prophecies, goes even further into the principles of the
intelligence of the Egyptian people, the sun, the Mayans and into
the tomb of Tuntankhamun. The book is definitely a must buy. As
not only does it dwell into the past, but also brings in factors
that we see in every day life today. We only advise you to buy
this book if you can read it, with an entirely open mind. Amazing.
Hardship Posting - by Stuart Lloyd
- Living in Asia ? Thinking of moving out there ? Have lived life
as an expat ? Yes ! Then read this book, it will crack you up and
make you realise that you are not as demented as you possibly once
believed. Great fun, about the strange lives that expats lead.
The Orion Mystery by Robert Bauval and
Adrian Gilbert - A very complicated book in places that
looks at the star system and how the Egyptians used it thousands
of years ago. Very interesting read.
Culture Shock Thailand - by Robert and
Nanthapa Cooper - from the well known Culture Shock series
of books, this is definitely as very good read if you are planning
to come to Thailand whether it be just for a holiday or to live.
The Empty Chair - by Jeffery Deaver
- what a great read, all of Deaver's books are great and this is
no exception, it keeps turning with mystery, intrigue,
information, and is so captivating you will not want to put it
down. Excellent read as are all JD's books.
The Bombmaker - by Stephen Leather
- Once again, Stephen Leather has managed to turn out a book that
has you turning the pages with great admiration, and excitement,
but leaves you wondering when his next book will come out. This
book talks with a frighteningly good authority on the subject of
bomb making, so let's just hope that all the facts are not too
accurate! The book is great, fun and fast paced although there are
not as many twists and turns as in his other books this is
definitely a great buy.
Pearl - by Frank Delaney - An
excellent book written with a beautiful use of the English
language. Touching on the issues of post world war crime, and
football hooliganism, the book manages to keep you turning the
pages, wanting more. There are sufficient twists and turns to keep
you reading this, without putting it down. Described by the Daily
Telegraph as "something exceptional and utterly gripping".
Private Dancer by Stephen Leather -
One of Stephen Leather's first books, and it became so hugely
popular as a free .pdf download that Stephen eventually published
it properly and started to make some well deserved money from it.
Private Dancer is a must read for any guy visiting Thailand (or
other parts of south east Asia), especially if they are going to
visit some of the more notorious nightlife areas of the
country/region. Extremely well written, highly entertaining and
frighteningly accurate. An absolute cracker.
Select from the Following Travel Tips:
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Guide to Airline Bumping
Free Long Distance Telephone Calls when Travelling
Planning Your Trip
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Worldwide Satellite Imagery
Planning Your Trip
How to Avoid Culture Shock
How to Beat Jet Lag
Beat Jet Lag - Is Melatonin the answer?
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No Frills Flying
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Travel Insurance Guide
VAT refunds for tourists in Bangkok
Connect to the Internet in Dubai
Using Mobile Telephones In Bangkok
Using Mobile Telephones in Singapore
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Duty Free Shopping Guide and Tips
Travel Gear
Guide to Buying Electronics when Overseas
Luggage - Buying the right Luggage
Gifts - Ideas on what to gifts to buy when in Asia
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