text:
Legion icers win NIHL playoffs
MARQUETTE – Spencer DenBeste scored three goals to power the Marquette American Legion Bantam AA hockey team to the Northern International Hockey League playoff championship Sunday in Sault Ste. Marie.
The Legion beat Mackinaw City, 5-4, in the title game.
Tristan Ashbrook and Brendan Campbell added single tallies for Marquette (32-24-8).
Earning assists were Chris LeMire (3), Nick Bink (3), Donny Schultz, Ben Cole, Hunter Doucette and Shane Ring.
Legion netminder Travis Cameron came up with 28 saves.
"In the last four weeks, we've won 11 of 12 games, including clinching the league championship, District 8 championship and the league playoffs," Legion head coach Brian Nebel said.
"Things are coming together at the right time."
In an earlier game, Marquette beat Calumet, 4-1, behind goals by DenBeste, Ashbrook, LeMire (shorthanded) and Bink.
Picking up helpers were Campbell, Bink (3), Joey Phillips, Schultz, DenBeste and Ashbrook.
Cameron made 23 saves.
On Saturday, the Legion blanked the Soo, 4-0, as Jack Eyler turned aside 18 shots on goal for Marquette.
Finding the back of the net for the Legion was Phillips, Ring, Schultz and Bink. Gaining helpers were Ashbrook, Schultz, Alister Henderson, DenBeste (2), Justin Hendrickson and LeMire.
On Friday, Marquette opened the tournament with a 4-3 loss to Mackinaw City, despite two power play goals by DenBeste. Ashbrook tallied the other marker.
Phillips, Schultz, Kyle Lane, Bink and LeMire recorded helpers.
Cameron came up with 19 stops for Legion.
City Insurance second
The Marquette City Insurance Pee Wee AA hockey team finished second in the NIHL tournament in Sault Ste. Marie on Sunday.
The Sentinels lost to Alpena in the championship game, 4-1, despite attempting 67 shots. Of those, 27 were blocked and netminder Cooper Black made 39 saves for Alpena, according to Sentinels spokesman Eric Bordson.
Luke Beerman scored the lone City Insurance goal, assisted by Nate Bordson and Alec Beauchamp.
Dylan Sibilsky made 10 saves in net for the Sentinels.
Marquette (43-19-2) made it to the title game with victories over Alpena (8-1), Mackinaw City (7-3) and Calumet (6-1).
In those games, Beerman had nine goals and two assists, Bordson six goals and six assists, and Daunte Fortner six goals.
Collecting assists in those games were Nick Leafers (4), Tanner Phillips (4), Reece Fortner (3), Beauchamp (2), Chris Sliva (2), Carter Peterson, Ethan Jones and Ted Hoenke.
Sibilsky turned aside 56 shots on goal in the three games.
Wells Fargo girls split
In Cheboygan against the Traverse City Stars, the Marquette Wells Fargo U14 girls split a series, losing the first game 5-0 and winning the second, 2-1.
Briana Holman made 38 saves in goal in the two contests for Wells Fargo.
Kara Salo and Lexi White scored for Marquette, with Chantel LaBlonde and Julia Johnson gaining assists.


text:
America's freedom is not perfect
Thursday is Independence Day, and I have been thinking about what that term might mean to different people.
Of course for most of us it means fireworks and cook outs, but what about those who have their own meaning? To the battered and abused spouse, Independence Day is when he/she is finally free from their abuser and can start living a life free from fear. To the recent college graduate who finally has a "real" job, Independence Day is when they can move into their own place. To the abused child living with an alcoholic or drug addicted parent, Independence Day comes when the child is finally taken to safety and the parent receives needed help.
To the individual living on welfare, Independence Day comes when they can cash a paycheck or use a debit card that they have actually earned. Yep, Independence Day means different things to different people. Of course, back in 1776 when the colonies claimed independence from England there was jubilation and celebration, and the United States of America was formed, to those at that time it meant freedom!
As I think about this historic event and the subsequent holiday, I am grateful for all of those who fought for my freedom. Sadly, however, those who can only find fault with our country continue to disappoint me. Recently I had a posting on my Facebook page asking the rhetorical question, "Why do I live in America" only to be followed by a rant about what they see is wrong with our country, how we are being "governed by white men" and how horrible things are. How very sad! This individual's father fought in World War II for her freedom to disparage the United States of America. He saw his fellow soldiers die, he, along with thousands of others who put their lives on the line was proud to be an American and to fight for the freedom each of us Americans enjoy today. I wonder what he and others who have fought, suffered and even died for our right to celebrate this day might be thinking of the question, "Why do I live in America?"
America is the envy of other countries across the globe because of the freedoms we Americans have. We are able to celebrate the freedom that our country represents not just every year on Independence Day, but every day we live here! We are free to practice the religion of our choice, free to live where we choose to live, free to pursue our chosen profession, free to have our children educated in public schools, free to vote for the candidate of our choice for elected office, free to speak our minds openly and to join in protests for or against change. And as a result of the recent ruling of the Supreme Court, free to marry the partner of their choice in state's where it has been legalized.
In short, our country, the United States of America, will celebrate a true democracy Thursday! Independence Day! We will celebrate our freedom; freedoms that many people living in far too many countries around the world do not share.
It is true that America is not perfect; we still have a long way to go. There is still a disproportionate balance of racial and gender equality among our elected officials, there are still biases that exist, and there is certainly crime that goes on daily, and there is no doubt that many of us continue to make mistakes, but this is still the country that most who share this planet with us would prefer to be a part of. In spite of it all, the good, the bad and even the ugly, we are still free to make critical decisions as to how we live our lives and make choices based on what we believe in.
In America we can speak out whether we agree or not with the current policies and decisions that come from the White House, the Supreme Court or our local City hall, the way to change those policies/laws is clear; in America we have the freedom to let our elected officials know how we feel, join a group of individuals who feel similarly and march, protest and demand change, or vote out the ones we don't like and vote in the ones we do. Or, better yet, we are free to run for elected office ourselves! Amazingly, we even have the right to bash the country that has given us the freedoms that we enjoy but should we? How dare we forget that the freedoms we have today came at a price. How dare we forget that men and women died for the democracy in which we live and the freedoms we enjoy? To these men and women we should say thanks and let them know that their efforts helped to keep the words of Francis Scott Key as meaningful today as they were when he first wrote them . "O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave"
And finally, if you don't like it in America you are free to leave and move to another country of your choosing.
Have a great day.
Vicki Westling is a Dunkirk resident. Send comments to firstname.lastname@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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T.E.A.M. Elam's Annual Charity Weekend - July 14th-16th, 2016
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T.E.A.M. Elam Mentor Program:
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The camps also offer a variety of activities intended to add to participant's life experience outside of athletics.
T.E.A.M. Elam Back to School Shopping Experience:
The Program allows children to enjoy a shopping experience. At the same time learn they are taught the fundamentals of planning and budgeting.
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text:
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Birthday of Me
My birthday was December 27th and it was amazing. I went to lunch with some friends and when I got home this gorgeous bouquet of flowers was waiting for me. They're from Ally of Shybiker! Such a sweetheart. It totally made me squeal with pleasure. I LOVE getting flowers. I love it way more than presents. It's just so sweet and thoughtful. Anyway, THANKS, ALLY!! You're the best.
I'm wearing a casual outfit for my lunch with friends. But I'm also including the evening outfit. My husband and his parents took me to a fancy dinner. It was incredible. I really have to only eat lettuce for the next two weeks to get back to my happy weight. I've been out of control with all the holiday sweets and general yumminess.
Sorry about all the photos, but it's a two in one kind of post.
And even though a woman never tells, I'm proud to say that I'm now 48 years old.
First outfit: Tee: Vince, Cargo pants: J Brand, Jacket: June, Boots: BCBG
Second outfit: Dress: Loft, Sweater: BCBG MaxAzria, Shoes: Jessica Simpson
20 comments:
- Ali said...
Oh wow, a birthday right after Christmas, double whammo ahaha. :) I really like your jacket and boots-- they are quite sharp, if I may say! Happy belated birthday!
- December 29, 2011 at 8:03 PM
- Ruby Girl said...
awww well happy birthday! i lovvvve that first outfit. just perfect. the leather jacket rocks on you! hope you had a great bday!! :)
- December 29, 2011 at 8:11 PM
- Shybiker said...
It gave me pleasure to help you celebrate your birthday. Besides, everyone likes flowers!
- December 29, 2011 at 9:16 PM
- The Suburb Experiment said...
If I look half as good as you at 48 I will be taking out BILLBOARDS to announce my age. Or maybe have some t-shirts made. I am not kidding. I thought you were close to my age (33). :)
I'm glad you had a good day - Happy (belated) Birthday!
The Suburb Experiment
- December 29, 2011 at 11:09 PM
- Style Journey said...
Happy Belated Birthday! Girl, you look great at 48! We hope we look as good as you when we are 48 :) That was so sweet of Ally to send flowers too. It's little things like that, that make you feel special on your special day.
Heather & Kayla
- December 30, 2011 at 5:06 AM
- skippysays said...
You are NOT 48. I swear I'm not saying this to flatter you, but there is no way I would have guessed anywhere close to that. More like that minus 10 years. Holy cow girl!
- December 30, 2011 at 8:11 AM
- Piper Alexander said...
Happy birthday gorgeous!
- December 30, 2011 at 12:44 PM
- silvergirl said...
hey girlie girl
i have that dress!!
Hope you had a super happy birthday, sure sounds like you did
wish i could come have a piece of cake with you cuz i also have been off the charts in the stuffing food down my face charts lol
- December 30, 2011 at 1:38 PM
- Ashley said...
Yay! Happy birthday! Again! Your flowers are so purdy and so are you. I'm glad you had a good one!
The fourth picture. I'm so glad you FINALLY spotted me peeping from your glass door.
- December 30, 2011 at 5:54 PM
- pradaforbreakfast said...
Happy birthday!!!! Tracy, you look fabulous (as always) and that shift dress from Loft is absolutely fantastic. Also....I may have featured one of your holiday outfits from your guest post at Tinfoil Tiaras on my blog. Let me know if this is okay!
- December 30, 2011 at 8:20 PM
- Tinfoil Tiaras said...
Waaaaattt 48?! I honest to goodness thought you were the same age as my man (36)- wow I hope I look like you when I grow up :) What a beautiful dress and how sweet of Ally to get you flowers!
- December 30, 2011 at 8:21 PM
- dani said...
My grandpa used to tell people hew as 10-15 years older than he was so people would tell him he looked really good for his age.
I bet that's what you're doing, too! ;) Haha.
You look amazing - duh!
- December 30, 2011 at 9:56 PM
- dimi said...
No waaaayyyy! 48? Happy birthday darling!! You're an awesome person! Best wishes for the New Year! Kisses and love :)
- December 30, 2011 at 10:04 PM
- Cylia said...
happy birthday girl!!:) PS. Christmas is over, but I still want to give you a present.. Join my 'Mystery fashion goodiebag' giveaway with Monki, Pull & Bear goodies and more! Only a couple hours left! here:
- December 31, 2011 at 9:25 AM
- Carly said...
Happy Birthday to YOU! Firstly 48? Wowsers..you look incredible...
Just stumbled upon your blog..definitely following along..
LOVE meeting fellow bloggers but even more..ladies who are doing what I just started to do... started my own personal shopping/styling biz...after years in the industry doing it for OTHERS- I decided to do it for myself:) Meeting other ladies who are realizing their dreams keeps me motivated for sure!
So glad to have discovered your blog and will be back for sure.
You look amazing in BOTH looks:)
- January 1, 2012 at 3:16 PM
- Bonnie said...
You so do NOT look 48 years old. You are one effing hot bitch. I'd hit that.
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
- January 1, 2012 at 3:33 PM
- Laura Go said...
Happy Birthday! and NO WAY ARE YOU 48, you liar! You don't look it at all!!!
♥ laura
the blog of worldly delights
- January 1, 2012 at 6:27 PM
- Tiffany said...
Oh, happy birthday to you!! I would never in a million years have guessed you were 48. I'd have put you around 30... For reals. You look fabulous and happy! =) I'm so glad you had a great day!
- January 3, 2012 at 1:28 PM
- Dawn said...
Happy Belated Birthday Twinsie, I hope I look like you in 4 years....you are the bomb diggity. I have to catch up on your posts. Dawn Suitcase Vignettes xo I can't believe your age!!
- January 17, 2012 at 11:43 AM
- Kat said...
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Tracy, happy birthday to youuuuuu!! Sorry I missed it.
- January 18, 2012 at 7:30 PM


text:
Extended maintenance of Ruby 1.9.3 ended on February 23, 2015. Read more
flt to a BigDecimal and
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require 'bigdecimal' require 'bigdecimal/util' 0.5.to_d # => #<BigDecimal:1dc69e0,'0.5E0',9(18)>
# File bigdecimal/lib/bigdecimal/util.rb, line 30 def to_d(precision=nil) BigDecimal(self, precision || Float::DIG+1) end
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text:
Great Eight Winter Games Saturday at local schools
KINGSFORD – The Great Eight Winter Games will be held in the local area on Saturday with opening ceremonies starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Kingsford Middle School Gym.
The games are being coordinated by the school districts of Florence, Forest Park, Iron Mountain, Kingsford, Niagara, North Dickinson, Norway-Vulcan and West Iron County.
Competition during the games includes events for grades 4-8 in archery, bowling, chess and table tennis. Basketball will be open to fourth and fifth grade boys and girls and students in grades 6-8 can participate in girls volleyball or boys dodgeball.
The schedule for the day will include:
4th Grade Elementary Boys
North Elementary School
A) 10:30 a.m., Kingsford
vs Forest Park
B) 11:20 a.m., Florence
vs Norway-Vulcan
C) 12:10 p.m., Iron Mountain
vs Winner A
D) 1 p.m., West Iron Co.
vs Winner B
E) 2 p.m., Winner C
vs Winner D
4th Grade Elementary Girls
East Elementary School
A) 10:30 a.m., Florence
vs West Iron Co.
B) 11:20 a.m., Kingsford 2
vs Norway-Vulcan
C) 12:10 p.m.,Iron Mountain
vs Winner A
D) 1 p.m.. Kingsford 1
vs Winner B
E) 2 p.m., Winner C
vs Winner D
5th Grade Elementary Boys
Norway High School
A) 10:30 a.m., North
Dickinson vs Kingsford
B) 11:20 a.m., Norway-
Vulcan vs West Iron Co.
C) 12:10 p.m., Forest Park
vs Florence
D) 1 p.m., ron Mountain
vs Winner A
E) 1:50 p.m., Winner B
vs Winner C
F) 2:40 p.m., Winner D
vs Winner E
5th Grade Elementary Girls
Norway Middle School
A) 10:30 a.m., Forest Park
vs North Dickinson
B) 11:20 a.m., Niagara
vs West Iron Co.
C) 12:10 p.m.,Iron Mountain
vs Norway-Vulcan
D) 1 p.m., Florence
vs Kingsford
E) 1:50 p.m., Winner A
vs Winner B
F) 2:40 p.m., Winner C
vs Winner D
G) 3:45 p.m., Winner E
vs Winner F
Iron Mountain
Recreation Lanes
Boys & Girls, Grades 4-8
10:30 a.m.
Kingsford Middle
School Library
Boys & Girls, Grades 4-8
10:15 a.m.
Kingsford High
School Wrestling Room
Girls, Grades 4-8
10:15 a.m.
Boys, Grades 4-8
11:15 a.m.
Kingsford Middle School
Boys & Girls, Grades 4-8
10:15 a.m.
Iron Mountain High School
6th Grade Girls
10:30 a.m.
Niagara High School
7th Grade Girls
11 a.m.
Kingsford Middle School/
High School
8th Grade Girls
11 a.m.
Iron Mountain Central
Middle School
6th Grade Boys
10:30 a.m.
Florence High School
7th Grade Boys
11 a.m.
8th Grade Boys
1 p.m.


text:
>Runner's World - My Event Ratings>
In short: brighton ceratinly rocked for meIn full: Brilliant race, marshalls, volunteers, crowds everyone fantastic but please sort that finish line out- tired emmotionaland this year extremely hot runners wanting to meet there family and friedns who couldn't reach the meeting point is not a good way to finish such a otherwise brilliant race!!I'm alreay in for next yearDate of review: April 11, 2011
In short: soooooooo much betterIn full: Much better than last year, new route brilliant but PLEASE sort out the spectators crossing the course- its not fair on them or us! Apart from that it was fab and a PB for me too!!Date of review: February 21, 2011
In short: Not a bad marathon warm upIn full: Great 2 lap race, tadbit expensive when you had to pay for baggage drop and only recieved a mug! Route was ok- Hampton Court was lovely in the sun, some marshalls were interested and others were not! Route busy in parts but due to people running/walking 2 or 3 abreast and roads not shut so overtaking was hard and risky!Did like the organisers honesty in the final instructions- that no matter how many toilets they provided there would never be enough! But maybe next time if the toilets are positioned on a road that is open and busy have someone controlling the queue so it is not blocking said road!Overall I would do it again if I was feeling flush!Date of review: April 29, 2010
In short: enjoyed it- but a bit shambolicIn full: Can't really add much to the other comments but the marshalls deserve a big thank you!! I did enjoy it but maybe thats becuae I missed the queue to finish and didn't check in a bag- and in my opninion no race ever has enough toilets. Might be back next year if I was to get more for my money than just the medal.... Date of review: February 25, 2010
In short: Not bad for my first race but doubt I'll be backIn full: As this was my first ever race I'd read all the previous reviwes and thought I'd made a hideous mistake! Now it wasn't as bad as I was imagining but there was a serious lack of toilets and water stations were already struggling and I (luckily) was somewhere near the front of the start. Overall it was a fun atmosphere but for the price (which did not include chip timing)I don't think I'll be returning next yearDate of review: September 22, 2009
In short: Fab race, great marshalls, fun and supportive atmosphere will be back next year even with that hill!!!!!Date of review: September 18, 2009
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Skip to comments.Unpleasant Trend - Fed Counters By Stopping Release of M3 Money Supply Data
Posted on 02/28/2006 7:41:17 AM PST by vrwc0915
At a time when money supply (link to Wikipedia) has been exploding and weekly figures provide a nasty experience week after week, month after month, the Fed put out a short, flat notice last Thursday, saying that it will discontinue publication of M3 figures after March 2006. Such a step may fit in the policy of the current Bush administration but certainly not a supposedly independent central bank. M3 is the most important money aggregate for economists, analysts and Fed watchers to get an idea at what speed the (electronic) printing press is running. The European Central Bank (ECB) honors this set of data with a special press release every month. So much about transparency.
GRAPH: Recent M3 figures are certainly unpleasant and worrisome. M3 has been growing at an annual rate of 7.5 percent or double the most recent rate of GDP growth (subject to a revision.) Since Bush took office money supply M3 has risen by 40%. The Fed prints it and the government spends it as can be seen by growing government participation in growth numbers.
I am still shocked and in a state of disbelief that gives place to being disgusted about the new style. What will be next? Discontinuation of industrial production figures below zero? The consumer price index (CPI) being treated as a national secret once it rises above 5% despite all hedonic adjustments? Torture threats against people insisting to get the whole picture?
US Investing Will Become A Fly By Night Adventure No! First comes the discontinuation of more important data releases. No more repo data, no more Eurodollar data, no more large time deposits. Investing will become a fly by night adventure. From the Fed website (saved locally for later reference):
On March 23, 2006, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System will cease publication of the M3 monetary aggregate. The Board will also cease publishing the following components: large-denomination time deposits, repurchase agreements (RPs), and Eurodollars. The Board will continue to publish institutional money market mutual funds as a memorandum item in this release. Measures of large-denomination time deposits will continue to be published by the Board in the Flow of Funds Accounts (Z.1 release) on a quarterly basis and in the H.8 release on a weekly basis (for commercial banks).
Take note that only publication, but not calculation of these figures will be discontinued. I strongly hope that Ben Bernanke will revise this decision, being an economist who knows that sound research can only be done on the basis of data.
Looking back into history economic data was only kept a secret in failing economies, e.g. the Soviet Union. As this data is published by the board of governors of the Fed every one of their words will have to be scrutinized most carefully in the future and tested for credibility. Words are easy, but I prefer hard data. No prudent investor will navigate his funds through a foggy world but lie at anchor below a clear sky, meaning: elsewhere.
So now you agree that the chart is useless without any reference to the assets that back the debt. Welcome to the club.
The stupid chart included business and household debt. Without any reference to household and business assets, it's useless.
Gold beats paper over the long haul every time.
It doesn't beat stocks. Would you like to see a few examples that beat gold?
"So now you agree that the chart is useless without any reference to the assets that back the debt."
No, I agree that having a national debt is a bad thing and that a national debt backed only by the faith and credit of the US government is not much to go on. Our founding fathers also thought so.
"It doesn't beat stocks. "
Yes and no. Some stocks have been worth far more than metals ever could but most stocks have fizzled and many public companies have ceased to exist.
Also, most stocks do not provide dividends such that to realize the value of a stock the stock must be sold, thereby releasing any future value the stock may provide.
Metals have rarely been a great investment for gains but right now they are.
I agree, having more national debt is worse than having less national debt.
and that a national debt backed only by the faith and credit of the US government is not much to go on.
That's funny! What debt would you prefer to hold? What debt is safer than debt backed only by that silly faith and credit?
If you want to complain about the increase in national debt since Bush took office, that's fine. It increased by $2 trillion. While household net worth increased by $10 trillion.
Some stocks pay no dividends. Gold pays no dividends. Did you have a point?
It is a relevant chart since it's apples-to-apples over 100 years. Computing debt is easy. Computing GDP is accomplished in a fairly straightforward manner, and is a metric, even if not 100% accurate. How do you compute the sum of all assets? What do you think would happen to the price of those assets when everyone tried to realize their "value" by selling?
It doesn't beat stocks. Would you like to see a few examples that beat gold?
The Dow-to-gold ratio has stayed constant between 3 and 5 over most of the 20th century. It traded above this range during the 3 secular bull markets of that century, and below that range in the secular bear markets that followed. In our latest bear market, the ratio has already dropped from 45 to 20. (It is interesting to note that each succeeding bull market brought higher highs, and each succeeding bear market produced lower lows-- if that holds true this time, you'll be able to buy one Dow Jones for an ounce of gold).
Also, keep in mind that Dow Jones average is sort of cheating since it simply kicks out poor performing companing and adds strong performing companies to its average (the Dow Jones today is not composed of the same companies that comprised it in 1900). Also, it assumes that the average investor gets to change horses for free. It doesn't count broker's fees to sell the old company. It doesn't count the capital gains or other taxes on this transaction. And it doesn't count the broker's fees to purchase the new company.
It would really be interesting to see a plot of gold vs. the original Dow Jones over 100 years.
Having said all that, I make the following claims:
1) It cannot be disputed that gold has outperformed the most widely held paper asset of all in the United States over the past century: the dollar.
2) It cannot be disputed that gold has outperformed ALL fiat currencies over time.
3) I will concede that a fair analyis (including taxes, broker fees, etc....) of stock prices vs gold prices MAY conclude that stocks have outperformed gold over the past century. However I have yet to see that data, so until then we must use the previously referenced chart. Nonetheless, I would not be surprised if stocks still won out over the 20th century due to the massive economic growth of the US. Looking forward, I do not expect this growth to repeat itself in the 21st century for a number of reasons.
4) While many individual stocks undoubtedly did outperform gold during the 20th century, many (most?) others did not. The Dow Jones is sort of cheating by eliminating those companies that did not, and adding those that did over time. So an apples-to-apples comparison is suspect since it favors the Dow.
No it isn't. How much of that debt is double counted?
How do you compute the sum of all assets?
If you're using household debt, use household assets. If you're using corporate debt, use corporate assets. If you're using government debt, use government assets.
What do you think would happen to the price of those assets when everyone tried to realize their "value" by selling?
You let me know when that "happens".
The Dow-to-gold ratio has stayed constant between 3 and 5 over most of the 20th century.
Considering that gold was fixed at $20.67 an ounce until 1933 and then fixed at $35 an ounce until 1971, that ratio is kinda useless until the price of gold was floated. And most of the 20th Century would be more than 50 years. And that's not even the case.
It traded above this range during the 3 secular bull markets of that century, and below that range in the secular bear markets that followed.
I don't suppose you have a nifty little chart that shows this ratio?
Having said all that, I make the following claims:
Just so long as you stopped claiming "Gold beats paper over the long haul every time".
You have to copy and paste that link into your browser address for it to work.
"Some stocks pay no dividends. Gold pays no dividends. Did you have a point?
Sure, stocks can become worthless overnight. Gold is still something of material value.
>>What backs our national debt or currency? Nothing.
Are you saying the United States has no assets?
Sure, we have some assets, but do you plan on selling them?
>>but do you plan on selling them?
Certainly not the military ones.
Much more valuable than gold.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


text:
14 Oct 2009
A development framework to provide a world class coaching environment for England's teachers and coaches has been launched by the ASA Coaching Systems Team at the ASA Council Conference.
'The ASA Development Framework for Teaching and Coaching in England 2009-2013' will effectively create a new coaching system that delivers the right number of coaching hours, by the right coach, in the appropriate environment to achieve success.
Teachers and coaches across all the disciplines and the wider coaching workforce will benefit from the implementation of the Framework which will operate in all five key environments: beginner, talent development, high performance, participation and potential participants.
The Framework represents a significant culture shift by delivering much more than just coach education. Previous systems have had the education and qualification of coaches as their main focus, whereas the new Framework is all about developing the potential of participants (swimmers) by creating teachers and coaches who can promote learning through ownership, awareness and responsibility.
Bill Furniss, Head Coach, Nova Centurion SC believes the ASA's approach to coach development will create a world class, dynamic coaching system:
"Developing a 'high performing' coach takes more than just education. It involves a wide range of activities that help the coach 'develop' and achieve their potential. The approach of the ASA is now focusing on giving coaches ownership of their decisions and the ability to choose what they are going to do. This will then create greater self-belief, allowing the coach to better understand and manage themselves, which in turn will positively impact upon the participants they work with."
He added, "the ASA coach development plan will focus on changing their behaviour, as opposed to simply increasing their knowledge."
Colin Huffen, Coaching Systems Team Manager and National Education Officer for the ASA, is excited about the changes brought about by the new strategy.
"Teachers and coaches face daily challenges and strive to be the best they can be. The ASA have identified that to reach this goal they not only need the ASA to help them qualify, but also support to help them flourish.
"The participant is clearly the priority for all of us. We have identified that there needs to be a move from an instructional, autocratic approach to the empowerment of coaches. This will hone their skills so that they can follow the participants lead and develop them with the knowledge to take ownership of their own development."
The four Key Objectives of the new Framework are:
1. Recruit: Recruit the appropriate number of coaches into swimming's delivery system
2. Train: To qualify the appropriate number and level of coaches required
3. Support: Provide appropriate levels of support to the coaching workforce to allow them to achieve their potential in their chosen environments
4. Retain: To provide systems of recognition and reward in order to retain the coaching workforce
For further information on the work of the Coaching Systems Team and for a copy of the Development Framework, please visit CLICK HERE
For more information contact the ASA PR Officer Claire Freeman on 01509 632265 or email email@example.com
About the ASA
The ASA is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn to Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.
In order to comply with national education and training standards it has developed two separate and independent arms – the ASA Awarding Body and the Institute of Swimming (IoS) - which represent the awarding and delivery channels for all ASA qualifications.
ASA Awarding Body
The ASA Awarding Body develops, assesses, awards and quality assures all ASA qualifications. It is the equivalent of other awarding bodies such as City & Guilds and OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations). The ASA Awarding Body is licensed by British Swimming to award qualifications in England and Wales. It also has the remit for quality assurance of all areas of UKCC standards.
Institute of Swimming (IoS)
The IoS is a licensed training provider, like a school or college. It is one of many ASA Awarding Body Approved Centres. The IoS is also a membership body for qualified swimming teachers and coaches, providing insurance, advice and learning opportunities to its members.
About Kellogg's
The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, and 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain and Special K snacks. Kellogg's has been a partner of the ASA and British Swimming for 13 years, sponsoring the Kellogg's ASA Awards and enabling over 50,000 people to take up swimming as part of an active lifestyle.
About British Gas
British Gas, the biggest energy supplier in the country, has the lowest carbon intensity of any of the major UK energy suppliers in terms of tonnes of CO2 emitted per megawatt hour of electricity supplied to customers. The company is one of the biggest investors in renewable power generation, principally offshore wind. Its recently completed Lynn and Inner Dowsing development, off the Lincolnshire coast, is the UK's largest offshore wind development. British Gas is committed to energy efficiency. Our Energy Savers Report provides free expert advice on how you can cut energy use in the home and, in turn, save money. So far, the report has shown over 2 million people how they could make an average saving of £175 a year. To complete a report go to .www.britishgas.co.uk/energy-efficiency/energy-savers-report
About Speedo®
The world's leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations. Supporting swimming from grass-roots through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps, Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE, SPEEDO ENDURANCE, FLIPTURNS, FASTSKINFSII, SPEEDO BIOFUSE, SWYM and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.


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Triton CNS is a free, automated DNS solution that offers consistent and predictable addresses for changing infrastructure. Use Triton CNS as a free, high-performance alternative to virtual IPs and hosted load balancers.
This post demonstrates how you can deploy and scale a Node.js application backed by Couchbase and load balanced with Nginx. All the components are running in multiple Docker containers on Triton, and use ContainerPilot to automate discovery and configuration. We're using Docker Compose to deploy the application and scale it across the data center on Triton.
Deploying containerized applications and connecting them together is a challenge because it forces developers to design for operationalization. Autopiloting applications are a powerful design pattern to solving these problems. By pushing the responsibility for understanding startup, shutdown, scaling, and recovery from failure into the application, we can build intelligent architectures that minimize human intervention in operation. But we can't rewrite all our applications at once, so we need a way to build application containers that can knit together legacy and greenfield applications alike. This project demonstrates the autopilot pattern by applying it to a simple microservices deployment using Nginx and two Node.js applications.
Containerbuddy, the open source discovery and configuration helper for applications of all types, is now 1.0!
DBaaS solutions lock too many doors: we're locked into a service provider and locked out of configuring it as we need. Fortunately, modern operational patterns are emerging that eliminate the complexity of running even sophisticated applications like databases and free us from the lock-in of *aaS. Now we are free to develop on our laptops and deploy to private data centers, combining the simplicity we thought was only possible with *aaS with the portability of running applications on our own terms. Let's take a look at how to do that with MySQL.
Introducing the Triton command-line tool, complete with usage examples, configuration instructions, and rainbows.
Docker client applications can launch and control Docker containers across an entire Triton data center as a single Docker host. Learn how to get started in three steps.
Whether people feel that unikernels are wrong-headed and are looking for supporting detail or are unikernel proponents and want to know what the counter-arguments could possibly be, there is clearly a desire to hear the arguments against running unikernels in production.
Dave Jensen, Founder of Road Rules, explains why Road Rules selected Node.js and how they leverage the runtime for their innovative new app.
An unlikely pairing: Microsoft's CoreCLR and ASP.NET framework meet Joyent's secure bare-metal container hypervisor and debugging toolkit. See how you can leverage secure Linux containers in Triton to run CoreCLR apps in the cloud with bare metal performance.
At the beginning of the year, I laid down a few predictions. While I refuse on principle to engage in Stephen O'Grady-style self-flagellation, I do think it's worth revisiting the headliner prediction, namely that 2015 is the year of the container.
Hashicorp's Terraform is a powerful tool to create, manage, and version reproducible infrastructure, including compute resources and upstack services. Today we're introducing a preview release of Terraform to manage Triton infrastructure containers, hardware virtual machines, and Docker containers.
Joyent has been running Node.js in production and at scale for over 5 years. As such, we've learned production practices for designing, deploying and debugging Node.js apps and we've built container-native solutions to optimize app performance, security, and management. Experience the container-native difference!
Get an introduction to Containerbuddy, a scheduler agnostic and vendor-neutral tool that simplifies the process for containerizing applications by doing the things most existing apps don't:
This post demonstrates how you can deploy and scale a Node.js application backed by Couchbase and load balanced with Nginx. All the components are running in multiple Docker containers on Triton, and use Containerbuddy to automate discovery and configuration. We're using Docker Compose to deploy the application and scale it across the data center on Triton.


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Jacques de Vitry
Jacques de Vitry c. 1160–70–-1240
(Also known as James de Vitry.) French writer of sermons, historian, and biographer.
One of the most acclaimed preachers of his time, Jacques wrote some four hundred and fifty sermons, many of which were used as models by other clergy. He popularized the use of exempla, or illustrative stories, and this method of conveying religious content was quickly incorporated by other preachers who understood its effectiveness in holding an audience's attention. Many of his sermons were tailored specifically for the social group he was addressing, which might on different occasions be made up primarily of merchants, religious leaders, or farmers. Jacques had a lengthy career in the church, fighting corruption and heresy and attaining the position of Cardinal Bishop; he was also active in lay spiritual organizations. His hagiography of Mary of Oignies, the Vita S. Mariae Oigniacensis (c. 1215; The Life of Marie d'Oignies), reports on the first important female member of the Beguines sect and on many thirteenth-century religious issues. Scholars regard Jacques's exempla important not primarily as scriptural interpretation, but for what they reveal of medieval culture. The popularity of his Historia Orientalis (c. 1219-25), an account of the Holy Land and the first three Crusades, is attested to by the fact that it was translated from Latin into the vernacular. Jacques's seven surviving letters, dating from about 1218 to 1220, are also highly respected for his frank discussion of the Fifth Crusade and have contributed to his reputation as one of the finest of the medieval historians.
Biographical Information
Jacques was most likely born in Vitry-sur-Seine, near Paris, sometime between 1160 and 1170. He received his education at the University of Paris, which had only recently been founded. His life was most influenced by making the acquaintance of the ascetic and mystic Mary of Oignies, of the Liège diocese, in what is present-day Belgium, who inspired him to become a priest in 1210. Jacques developed a reputation as a gifted speaker who could readily command an audience, leading in 1213 to a commission to preach for a crusade against the Albigenses, followed by another commission the following year to preach for a crusade to the Holy Land. The church leadership of St. John of Acre elected him their bishop in 1215, and he was initiated by Pope Honorius III in 1216. From 1218 to 1221 he took part in the Fifth Crusade, which took him to Egypt to fight the Saracens. In 1229 Pope Gregory IX appointed him Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum, a position he held until his death in 1240.
Major Works
Jacques's biography of Mary of Oignies is considered the most important document on the early history of the Beguine movement. It includes descriptions of some of Mary's visions and the author's views on miracles. Jacques originally had plans, which are outlined in a prologue, for a three-volume historical work to be called the Historia Hiersolomitana Abbreviata. While the third book apparently remained unwritten, the other two books of the projected set, the Historia Orientalis and the Historia Occidentalis (c. 1219-25), were completed and met with acclaim. The Historia Occidentalis seems to have been less popular than the first volume, judging by the number of manuscripts that survive, and its text, as scholars point out, may be less than wholly intact. The book concerns itself with the then more recent history and present times of western Europe and devotes numerous chapters to describing how to renew the western church, which Jacques finds seriously degenerate. Seven extant letters written by Jacques are highly prized by historians for his account of the Fifth Crusade addressed to Pope Honorius. Jacques's approximately 450 sermons are untitled, although scholars sometimes refer to them by their primary subject or by a designated letter. Jacques organized his sermons into four collections: Sermones Dominicales (c. 1220s; also called Sermones de Tempore); Sermones Festivales (c. 1220s); Sermones Vulgares (c. 1220s; also called Sermones ad Status); and Sermones Feriales et Communes (c. 1229-40). Although many of the sermons were directed towards the clergy, they were clearly intended to be passed on to the community of faithful at large.
Critical Reception
While he had ideological opponents, Jacques was a respected preacher and historian in his own time. His work did not receive much attention again until the twentieth century, when critics became intrigued with his sermons and historical writings for the light they shed on the mores and politics of his era. John Frederick Hinnebusch (see Further Reading) praises Jacques for his keen skills of observation and for his insight into the events he describes. He also explores some criticism concerning Jacques's lack of originality and use of dubious sources, but dismisses much of it. Leigh A. Arrathoon examines some of the literary devices employed in the exempla, while Carolyn A. Muessig attempts to determine Jacques's intended audience for various of his sermons by analyzing their themes. Cynthia Ho focuses on Jacques's portrayal of women in the exempla, noting his belief that, while man is subject to God, woman is subject to man. Emphasizing Jacques's literary skill, Debra J. Birch examines Jacques's use of symbolism in his sermons. She analyzes how the themes, structure, and use of biblical imagery in two particular sermons convey Jacques's message that a pilgrimage should be penitential. Translator Jessalyn Bird, who is working on an English translation of the Historia Occidentalis, stresses that Jacques was not a "marginal or idiosyncratic figure," noting that he recognized the value of the secular clergy and discussing his critiques of specific religious and social groups.
Principal Works
Vita S. Mariae Oigniacensis (biography) c. 1215
Historia Occidentalis (history) c. 1219-25
Historia Orientalis (history) c. 1219-25
Sermones Dominicales [Sermones de Tempore] (sermons) c. 1220s
Sermones Festivales (sermons) c. 1220s
Sermones Vulgares [Sermones ad Status] (sermons) c. 1220s
Sermones Feriales et Communes (sermons) c. 1229-40
The Exempla or Illustrative Stories from the Sermones Vulgares of Jacques de Vitry (translated by Thomas Frederick Crane) 1890
The History of Jerusalem (translated by Aubrey Stewart) 1896
The Life of Marie d'Oignies by Jacques de Vitry (translated by Margot H. King) 1987
The Faces of Women in the Sermons of Jacques de Vitry (translated by Carolyn Muessig) 1990
Alfred J. Andrea (essay date June 1981)
SOURCE: Andrea, Alfred J. "Walter, Archdeacon of London, and the Historia Occidentalis of Jacques de Vitry." Church History 50, no. 2 (June 1981): 144-51.
[In the following essay, Andrea confirms the validity of Jacques's reference to Master Walter of London, an archdeacon and influential preacher.]
Jacques de Vitry's Historia Occidentalis is one of the more remarkable and informative studies of contemporary western Christendom to come out of the thirteenth century.1 As numerous commentators have pointed out, it is unmistakably the product of the spiritual-intellectual school of Master Peter the Chanter of Paris, who inspired a generation...
(The entire section is 5332 words.)
Leigh A. Arrathoon (essay date 1984)
SOURCE: Arrathoon, Leigh A. "Jacques de Vitry, the Tale of Calogrenant, La Chastelaine de Vergi, and the Genres of Medieval Narrative Fiction." In The Craft of Fiction: Essays in Medieval Poetics, edited by Leigh A. Arrathoon, pp. 281-368. Rochester, Mich.: Solaris Press, 1984.
[In the following excerpt, Arrathoon discusses and analyzes a preaching exemplum by Jacques in the context of medieval fiction that is ethically oriented.]
Tria sunt item, quae praestare debeat orator ut doceat, moveat, delectat.
Quintilian, Institutionis Oratoriae, 3. 5. 2.
In the third book of his...
(The entire section is 11441 words.)
Carolyn A. Muessig (essay date 1998)
SOURCE: Muessig, Carolyn A. "Audience and Sources in Jacques de Vitry's Sermones Feriales et Communes." In Medieval Sermons and Society: Cloister, City, University, edited by Jacqueline Hamesse, Beverly Mayne Kienzle, Debra L. Stoudt, and Anne T. Thayer, pp. 183-202. Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium: Fédération Internationale des Instituts d'Études Médiévales, 1998.
[In the following essay, Muessig discusses the themes of Jacques's sermons, explaining that they were originally intended for clerics.]
Jacques de Vitry's (c. 1160-1240) dedication to preaching, reform, and pastoral care attracted him to various places. He studied in Paris and was a product of...
(The entire section is 7411 words.)
Cynthia Ho (essay date 1998)
SOURCE: Ho, Cynthia. "Corpus Delicti: The Edifying Dead in the Exempla of Jacques de Vitry." In Medieval Sermons and Society: Cloister, City, University, edited by Jacqueline Hamesse, Beverly Mayne Kienzle, Debra L. Stoudt, and Anne T. Thayer, pp. 203-18. Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium: Fédération Internationale des Instituts d'Études Médiévales, 1998.
[In the following essay, Ho discusses Jacques's understanding of the relationship between body and soul, both in life and in death, and examines his views on women as seen in his sermons.]
Scholars of medieval literature and history are increasingly turning to the numerous surviving sermon collections...
(The entire section is 6249 words.)
Jessalynn Bird (review date 1999)
SOURCE: Bird, Jessalynn. Review of Orient und Okzident nach den Hauptwerken des Jakob von Vitry, by Ilse Schöndorfer. Revue Belge de Philologie et d'Histoire 77, no. 4 (1999): 1098-1103.
[In the following review, Bird praises Ilse Schöndorfer's book on Jacques, particularly her attempt to provide a comprehensive study of Jacques's views, but criticizes the author for insufficiently considering the context of his works.]
Many historians have mined James of Vitry's historical and homiletic works for colorful anecdotes while ignoring the moral imperatives which informed his descriptions. His jeremiadic decrial of contemporary abuses and sanguine hopes for the...
(The entire section is 3137 words.)
Debra J. Birch (essay date 1999)
SOURCE: Birch, Debra J. "Jacques de Vitry and the Ideology of Pilgrimage." In Pilgrimage Explored, edited by J. Stopford, pp. 79-93. York, England: York Medieval Press, 1999.
[In the following essay, Birch analyzes two sermons Jacques wrote specifically for Christian pilgrims.]
Enthusiasm for pilgrimage amongst the peoples of Christendom remained unabated throughout the medieval period. Journeys to the tomb or shrine of a saint or martyr, or a visit to some other holy place, were readily undertaken by men and women, young and old, rich and poor alike. Some travelled only as far as a local holy place, while others ventured much further afield. For the majority of...
(The entire section is 7514 words.)
Further Reading
Böhmer, H. "Jacob (James) of Vitry (Jacques de Vitry)." In The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, edited by Samuel Macauley Jackson, p. 80. New York: Funk and Wagnalls Company, 1910.
Sketches Jacques's life and career.
Gurevich, Aaron. "Heresy and Literacy: Evidence of the Thirteenth-Century 'Exempla.'" In Heresy and Literacy, 1000-1530, edited by Peter Biller and Anne Hudson, pp. 104-11. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
Explores the prevalence of guarded attitudes towards literacy due to its association with heresy; Jacques's use of the vernacular is...
(The entire section is 216 words.)


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February 14, 2005 WIC Update
SUBJECT: Printed WIC Approved Food Lists - English and Spanish (March 1, 2005 - September 30, 2005)
The English and Spanish versions of WIC Approved Food List are being printed at the State Printing Center.
English Version (YELLOW):
The State Office plans to ship about 3-4 month supply of English version of the list to local WIC providers (LWPs) as soon as it is printed. All LWPs should receive the printed list (YELLOW) by February 25, 2005.
Spanish Version (PINK):
The Spanish version of the list (PINK) will be shipped only to LWPs that completed the Translation Needs Assessment Survey form mailed to LWPs on February 8, 2005.
Please order additional WIC Approved Food Lists (English and Spanish) as needed after you get the printed lists from the State office. If you have any questions, please contact Takako Tagami, 1-800-392-8209, or e-mail email@example.com
Have a great week. Happy Valentine's Day


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Yoga Retreat, Koh Samui
Vikasa is the ideal place to practice yoga, find like-minded people, eat healthy food and just chill-out in an amazing environment. Whether it's your first time in Thailand, or you're a regular who calls Vikasa home, we hope your stay here will be inspiring and transformational. Joining our community gives you access to daily yoga classes, yoga vacation packages, regular events, and training of teachers, as well as various healers and nutritional counseling. Vikasa is the creation of yoga pioneer Konstantin Miachin, who created this unique place for personal evolution. It's the ideal place to practice yoga, find like-minded people, eat healthy food or just chill-out in an amazing environment.
Become a Yoga Teacher
If yoga is your passion, maybe now is the time to grow from student to teacher. Vikasa is a certified yoga school, hundreds of students successfully pass intensive training courses each year to receive a globally recognized 200 hours Yoga Alliance certificate. Our inspiring training is run by a group of outstanding and leading professional yoga instructors, and will satisfy even the most demanding and inquisitive mind. Our beautiful open-air and ocean front yoga salas offer a serene setting with soothing sounds of the ocean. You'll make a new network of peers, mentors, and friends that will open up opportunities and new experiences. If you're feeling stuck in the rat race or like life is flying by too fast, training courses for teachers give you a space of time to focus on what you really want to be when you grow up. You'll transform yourself to be a person that finds it easier to be happy, harder to be upset and all-round wiser and healthier. Training of teachers allows the student to become immersed in anatomical demonstrations and philosophical lessons.
Like a Pro
Attending a teacher training course at Vikasa gives you dedication, know how, and confidence. But what about your career? How do you get started on this journey of passing on the yogic lifestyle? If you complete your yoga teacher training at Vikasa, then in addition to a solid education, you'll also join our PRO community. The Vikasa PRO community provides support and inspiration long after training is completed. By offering numerous resources, we help you promote yourself and find connection in the community. Connect to other teachers, find students in your area, join international events and even get the latest employment opportunities around the world. As a graduate, you can register with the Yoga Alliance to become a registered certified yoga teacher. Being a Vikasa graduate has tons of benefits to get you started on your professional path.
Yoga Holiday Packages Book Now
Spend your days practicing yoga, eating healthy food, meditating, inspiring wellness, lounging by our infinity pool or enjoying exciting local activities. You're in control of your vacation schedule with free time to explore the beautiful island of Koh Samui right outside our hotel. Yoga at Vikasa Yoga Retreat is taught by experienced international teachers in a variety of styles, including our unique Vikasa style. Vikasa has beautiful ocean rooms while the gorgeous open-air and ocean front yoga salas of our resort offer a serene setting with the soothing sounds of the sea in the background. Koh Samui is an ideal place to unwind and explore yoga. Most of Samui is still considered unspoiled and unpolluted. Your time here is an opportunity to relax, explore and focus on yourself. At Vikasa, you can book private sessions and personal programs are available all year-round. Yoga Holiday >>
Yoga Teacher Training
We believe that everyone is a yogi, and that means you. Our training is inspiring and run by a group of outstanding leading professional yoga instructors, satisfying even the most demanding and inquisitive minds. Our beautiful open-air and ocean front yoga salas offer a serene setting with soothing sounds of the ocean. You'll make a new network of peers, mentors and friends that will open up exciting opportunities and new experiences. You'll transform into a person who finds it easier to be happy, harder to be upset and all-round wiser and healthier. A Vikasa Yoga Teacher Training allows the student to become immersed in anatomical demonstrations and philosophical lessons. You'll also be getting lots of hands on experience teaching and assisting your fellow classmates as we compassionately guide you to be the best you can be. This course is appropriate for all levels – including beginners. You don't need to be flexible or thin, or have the "right" clothes. All you need to do is show up with an open mind and do your best. You will transform your body, mind and life with this course. Vikasa Teacher Training is officially recognized by the Yoga Alliance in the USA and Canada. You'll receive an internationally recognized certificate that you can hang in your own yoga studio or office.
Vikasa Life Café
Vikasa Life Café is a unique and healthy restaurant on the beautiful island of Koh Samui. We've formulated a signature cuisine, combining healthy ingredients with pure indulgence. Enjoy breathtaking views and friendly service from our famous terrace. Vikasa serves a wide variety of food styles to suit different dietary needs; we offer vegan-friendly, international, fusion, western, raw, and non-vegetarian dishes. In addition to other influential creators, our featured raw chef Boris Lauser from Berlin designed many of our menu items. Vikasa Restaurant >>
Tours & Excursions
Explore this tropical island with a conscious centric tour hosted by a Vikasa Discovery Guide. There are so many hidden gems on this island paradise. Discover more than just the beautiful beaches. Go off the beaten path and discover a side of Thailand that will inspire your adventurous spirit and offer some incredible photography opportunities. Find out more about Vikasa Discovery for a detailed program for more info. We also offer experiences on neighboring islands, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Koh Samui Tours >>
Kosta and the Evolution of Yoga
Konstantin Miachin, the founder of Vikasa Yoga Retreat is a yoga pioneer and advocate of healthy lifestyle. He shares his vision for a better world through teaching his unique style of yoga, Vikasa Yoga, and by raising human consciousness in regards to philosophy and community. This mighty task is being with the help of his devoted team by focusing on the study of yoga with an emphasis on holistic health, organic food and an inspiring environment that is conducive to personal transformation. The retreat is open year round and you can often find Kosta there teaching yoga and making the wheels turn for his dream to grow even larger than life. Konstantin Miachin >>
Yoga at Vikasa
We hope you'll enjoy our yoga classes in our sea side yoga sala at Vikasa Yoga Retreat. Frequent yoga practice greatly improves your well being, physical shape and the overall quality of your life. Even if you're new to yoga, you will find yourself becoming more flexible as you learn to control your body. All you really need to begin practicing yoga is yourself and a good teacher. There is no special dress required, so just wear comfortable lightweight clothes. As your practice develops, you might want to buy your own mat. Until then, just use the high quality mats provided here at the Vikasa retreat. A towel and drinking water will be provided for you as well. Stop by Vikasa for a drop in class, everyday at 9am or 6pm. We also offer a free meditation everyday at 8am. Yoga at Vikasa >>
The Evolution of Detox
Feeling unhealthy, sluggish or bloated? Sugary foods, alcohol, chemical additives and general excess can leave your organs overworked and your digestive system exhausted. An occasional detox can give your system a well-deserved break from all the chemical additives and other hard-to-digest elements we encounter on a daily basis. You'll be amazed by how you feel after a detox as your system improves its ability to absorb the nutrients found in fresh foods. This gives you more energy, restores cells faster, and also improves your body's ability to rejuvenate and heal. Detox is the body's natural process of neutralizing or eliminating toxins. Toxins are anything that can potentially harm body tissue; they can be produced naturally, ingested through our diet or inhaled from our environment. While our bodies perform the detox process by themselves, it is thought that certain food types and herbs can assist the process and even help to speed it up. Find the right program for you at our resort here.
Detox Programs >>
The Spa At Vikasa
The Vikasa Spa offers a range of services that will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed. We specialize in authentic Thai massage, as well as offering Swedish and Indian styles as well. We use excellent, quality organic and locally manufactured products for our scrubs, facials and skin treatments. Our spa is open-air and constructed on a stunning ocean cliff-side. Feel the soft sea spray and hear the waves crashing on the rocks as you enjoy being pampered by one of our expert therapists. Treatments at Vikasa Spa are designed to revive, refresh, and inspire. The Spa at Vikasa Retreat is open from 11am to 6pm. Please reserve your treatments at the reception. If you need to cancel your treatment for any reason we ask for 24 hours advance notice of cancelation. Please advise your therapist if you have any special requirements. It's recommended to leave at least one hour after eating before a massage. Combine any 3 treatments or massages to create your own custom spa experience and save 15% on the regular price. It's a great way to try a variety of treatments and feel pampered. Did you know that yoga and massage are the perfect combination? We offer an exciting selection of group and private yoga classes as well as unique yoga events. Yoga Koh Samui >>
Healing Treatments Book Now
Take your yoga vacation to the next level by focusing on your own inspiration and transformation through one of our healing treatments during your holiday. Our expert therapists will take careful time to review your needs, be it stress reduction, sports injury, general wellness, energy shifting, hypnosis or wondering what the future holds in store. Our selection of healing treatments and therapies cross many boundaries of beliefs and systems. We offer a wide range from western medical doctors to palm readers and everything in between. We have collected some of the most talented healers, therapists and coaches Koh Samui has to offer. When you stay at Vikasa or join the Vikasa community, you have access to this incredible selection of treatments and services. Healing Treatments >>


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I always have a fascination of what are their faces behind the pseudonyms and names on the wrappers of cakes. Here are some of them:
So who knows, if one day I bump into some of them in tea exhibitions, I should know who they are.
I hope I don't get sued by any of them of infringing their privacy ....


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What began as a campus performance is now taking Columbia students and alumni to the New York International Fringe Festival. "Lydia & Tom," put on in November 2012 as a CUPAL special project, will open Aug. 9 at the 14th Street Y.
The cast and crew—most of whom are current Columbia students or recent graduates—have been spending the last few weeks busily revising the show to best communicate its ideas through a blend of music, dialogue, and contemporary dance. That process has been far easier because the creators of the show are the ones putting it on.
"Doing an original show is a different thing because if you need more music somewhere or if a line needs to change—whatever it is—you're at total liberty to explore the different solutions and work with the team to figure out which is best," Solomon Hoffman, CC '14 and the show's composer and co-creator, said.
The show follows two childhood friends from the night before they leave for college through their mid-20s and the complications that come with maintaining their relationship.
"It's a relationship that you have 100 percent had before," executive producer Ally Engelberg, BC '15, said. "It's a relationship that everyone struggles with, with somebody who you think is a friend but you don't know if they're somebody more. It's so relatable that it becomes cathartic."
The team said that their focus has been on developing the characters to be as realistic and honest as possible and on performers effectively depicting the characters' thoughts and feelings.
"Fringe is pushing the experimentation of the story and of our concept, which is dance and musical theater onstage simultaneously," Nick Parker, CC '14 who wrote the show, said. "I've gotten a lot braver and smarter in terms of how I've written this show. We're staging something that looks very realistic."
Dance plays a large role in "Lydia & Tom," with dancer versions of Lydia and Tom communicating thoughts left unsaid by their singing counterparts.
"In this version the dancers have a constant presence on stage," said Adrianna Aguilar, BC '13 and the show's original choreographer and co-creator, now performing as Dancer Lydia. "The dancers are there to support the singers. They dance what the singers can't express totally."
For the Fringe performance, movement director Victoria Pollack, BC '12, said, "We take more advantage of choreographic motifs to communicate flickers from the past."
"That's been fun to experiment with," she said, "like a painter using different colors and cycling through them again."
In this performance, the team has also acquired moving props to help communicate Lydia and Tom's physical distance and separation.
"This isn't a musical where dancers are accessories or where the stage is stagnant," Pollack said. "It's a world where there is a lot of movement and these people are growing with and away and towards each other."
Preparing the show for Fringe has been tireless work for the team, which has spent the last four weeks in rehearsal, incorporating new additions and rewrites through last week. Having worked together on campus productions in the past, the creative team has the advantage of knowing one another's work style as well as how to make a show successful.
"It's been exciting to see how much we're able to apply … the things that we've learned and the skills that we've developed as students and aspiring artists in student shows on campus," director Alex Hare, CC '13, said. "It's been nice to continue to hone those skills and see how much is similar about the student theater world and the real theater world."
In addition, bringing the show to the city at large provides an opportunity for many of the cast and crew members interested in theater as a career.
"For those of us looking to pursue theater professionally, this is our foot in the door, so it's very exciting," Parker said.
Engelberg hopes that the encouragement the team saw from its Columbia audience will help guide the show's opening at Fringe.
"Taking what we've had in this really insulated space and bringing it out of the bubble, we really want the support to come with us to the show," Engelberg said.
The FringeNYC performances of "Lydia and Tom" will take place at the 14th Street Y, 344 East 14th Street. It opens Aug. 9 at 6:45 p.m. Tickets may be purchased here.


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Click HERE to see an interview that Nick Santino of A Rocket To The Moon did with Buzznet. Find out what he always takes on tour and how he likes to enjoy the open road.
News - all
|May 02, 2012
|May 01, 2012
Our friends in This Providence released their new Brier EP today on iTunes. Click HERE to get it now! It includes their new single 'Trouble' and three other new songs that they've been playing on their tour with Go Radio.
|May 01, 2012
Watch the video above to see what details Fun. disclosed on the new video for 'Some Nights' in an interview with MTV. The album Some Nights featuring 'Some Nights' and the hit single 'We Are Young' is available on iTunes HERE.
"We're going to try and get it out as soon as possible. It's been really rough, because we've been on tour for the last two months, so we found a night off — that was all we get, and we have to rush to a show the next day — but I know we're going to make the most of it, because the director has a brilliant concept and it's something that doesn't put as much pressure on us, other than just to perform and perform well, and he's going to set an amazing scene around us." -Nate Ruess
|May 01, 2012
Catch our buddy Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship on the upcoming season finale of The CW's hit show, Gossip Girl. The show will air on May 14th at 8/7c. Click HERE for more details.
|May 01, 2012
Click HERE to see some live photos from our newest band Twenty One Pilots' sold out hometown show at the LC Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio. Over 2,200 people came out to see the show where the band announced their signing to Fueled By Ramen and their plans for recording a new album.
photos by Reel Bear Media
Use the code SWRSPRING in the Sublime With Rome Webstore to get $5 OFF any order of $25 or more. Click HERE to check out everything they have available!
|April 30, 2012
Watch the video above to hear Fun. talk about their excitement to play the MTV Movie Awards and click HERE to read even more of what they had to say. The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards air live Sunday, June 3rd at 9pm.
"We have to show up and play the song, but they build this whole entire world around us. And it's really amazing."
|April 30, 2012
Check out A Rocket To The Moon on the cover of Highlight Magazine. The issue will be available beginning May 1st right HERE.
|April 30, 2012
Fueled By Ramen is proud to welcome Twenty One Pilots to the family after the band announced the news to the hometown fans at their sold out show on Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio. Tyler and Josh are now in Los Angeles working on their new full-length album.
Click HERE to watch the video for their song 'Guns For Hands' and join us in welcoming Twenty One Pilots to our family.
|April 30, 2012
RCRD LBL premiered the brand new remix of 'We Are Young' by Betatraxx on Friday. Click HERE to listen to the track!


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- G Living | Dark Twisted Space Monkies Go Green - http://gliving.com -
Purebred Dingoes In Need of Protection
Posted By Jennifer Buonantony On November 24, 2008 @ 5:23 am In Nature / Non Human Stories | 3 Comments
I once stood a few feet away from one of the last wild dingoes in Australia. I was visiting the World Heritage site, Frasier Island — or as the Aborigines named it, K'gari, meaning "paradise". It is one of the world's most notable eco-tourism sites and is the largest sand island featuring rainforests, crystal clear lakes, dessert dunes, and a 75-mile beach. It's famous for its array of rare plants and animals, and is home to some of the last remaining purebred dingoes.
In 2004, these dingoes were listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Today, conservationists in Australia are pushing for a national campaign to give the dingo formal protection as a threatened species. A campaign that could not have come soon enough, as the already few populations of purebred dingoes continue to dwindle closer to extinction.
The dingo (aka "Australia's wild dog") is the largest native carnivorous mammal in the country and plays a vital role in maintaining the balance within its vast ecosystems. Dingoes are agile hunters whose game includes kangaroos, sheep, and deer, and smaller animals like rabbits, rodents, birds, and lizards, as well eating fruits and plants. Their hunting is vital in keeping populations of their prey in check. Dingoes communicate with howls and hunt cooperatively like wolves, but they prefer to travel independently or in small family groups or pairs rather than large packs. Dingoes are distinguished from dogs and wolves by white markings on their chest, feet, and tail, and their color ranges from sandy yellow, to red, and even black.
These hunters traveled rapidly across the nation and eventually occupied the entire continent. However, as the domestic animal grazing industry in Australia grew, the presence of dingoes as a predator of domestic stock (most notably sheep) shifted the public to view them as pests rather than key hunters in their ecosystems. A national effort to control dingo populations began – much like that of wolves in the U.S. – and dingoes were now targets for trapping, shooting, poisoning, and exclusion fencing. A Dingo Fence, which became the largest manmade structure at the time of its construction, was erected to keep dingoes out of fertile southern Australia. As dingoes are still found in this region today, the fence was only somewhat effective – obviously a wise use of financial means and manpower!
As a result of these tactics and the interbreeding of dingoes that came into contact with dogs, the extinction of the purebred species is believed inevitable. It's thought that more than a third of all dingoes on the continent are hybrids, or dingo/domestic or wild dog crosses — hybrids that are forcing the purebred dingo to disappear.
The main problem conservationists face in the fight to protect purebred dingoes is a lack of country-wide protection and public understanding of the animal's importance. Although domestic dogs are prohibited and dingoes are considered protected within most federal national parks, World Heritage sites and Aborginal reserves, much of the country still considers dingoes pests to be slaughtered. Despite the fact that dingoes generally do not attack humans. Because the rules vary so widely within the country, it is hard to uphold the ban on killing dingoes. Even sites which are now protected, like Frasier Island, once saw the culling of 65 dingoes after a dingo attack caused the death of a child tourist — a large blow to conservationists when you consider that only 200 purebreds were estimated to inhabit the island at the time.
The Human Society International is one group campaigning on the dingo's behalf and has nominated the purebred dingo for Australia's Heritage Register, which is usually reserved for places and not animals. But so far, the Federal Government has ignored the call of conservation groups to pass a national standard of protection.
While this purebred creature that only a few years ago I observed from a few feet away could soon be eradicated, the memory of it will never leave my mind. The dingo and I stared at each other for a moment before he fled into the paradise that is Fraser Island. For now, it is the dingoes' home, but if a unified stance is not taken, Australia will soon be inhabited by a bunch of dingo hybrids that are not so eco-friendly.
Article printed from G Living | Dark Twisted Space Monkies Go Green: http://gliving.com
URL to article: http://gliving.com/purebred-dingoes-in-need-of-protection/
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Beds&Drinks Hostel is a fully renovated art deco building in the heart of Miami Beach that was designed by the renowned art deco restoration guru Allan Shlulman. It is arguably the hippest place on South Beach and has been designed with the young and adventurous traveler in mind in terms of location and comfort. Everything at the property is new and ready for your enjoyment as we just finished a 16 month construction project to make this building the best it can be! LOCATION….this is what really makes this property a gem. We are located one block from the beach and 300 feet from Lincoln Road; the premier street on South Beach for dining, drinking, and shopping! Our property also offers plenty of accommodation choices. You can book a fully private room, a six room dorm or an eight room dorm. And depending on your choice, the dorm rooms can be mixed or female only.
Property Information:
This property is managed by the owners of an extremely successful hostel chain in Costa Rica. This is their first property in the United States and they have taken the knowledge they have accumulated over 15 years of working in the hostel industry to make this hostel the BEST in South Beach. This is the ONLY fully renovated hostel within the immediate South Beach area and you will NOT find a cleaner or newer property offering the services and amenities that we do.
Types of rooms:
DORMITORY STYLE ROOMS: 6 or 8 person dorms available. There are female only dorms, but there are no male only dorms. Each room has a private bathroom and security lockers.
PRIVATE ROOMS: Different styles available including accommodations with king, queen, and 2 double beds. All private rooms have their own bathroom.
FREE BREAKFAST- everyday
FREE Movie Nights
FREE Wifi throughout the hostel
FREE Linen
FREE Security lockers
FREE South Beach Maps
FREE Cable TV which can be enjoyed in our tv lounge
FREE housekeeping services which will be provided four times a day
Private Bathrooms In EVERY Room
2 Lounge Areas
Big screen movie room
Indoor And Outdoor Dining Areas
Huge outdoor Terrace/Patio Area in upscale section of Miami Beach
Phone Room In The Lobby
Safe Deposit Boxes
Luggage Storage
24 Hour Security Cameras
24 Hour Reception
Washing Machine/Dryer
Car Service Available To All Airports (this is not a free service, but is considerably cheaper than local taxis)
Cheap Cold Beers, mixed drinks, and wine (we have a full liquor license)
No Curfew, No Lockouts
Large Groups Welcome!
Special weekly and monthly rates available
We take pride in maintaining an extremely clean property in both the rooms and the common areas.
If canceled or modified up to 3 days before date of arrival, no fee will be charged.
If canceled or modified later or in case of no-show, 100 percent of the first night will be charged.
20 USD deposit will be charged at check-in for the room key card and towel.
10 USD will be charged against your deposit for lost key card or towel
Any cancellation must be done by email (cancellation over the phone is not accepted).
To avoid any charge, you need to get a confirmation email from the hostel.
Please note that during special events and holidays, any cancellations made within one week of the date of arrival will be charged 100 percent of two nights.
100 percent of the first night may be charged anytime after booking.
Special Events:
Halloween Oct 31-Nov 1; Veteran's Day Nov 10-14
Thanksgiving Nov 26-29
Art Basel Dec 3-6
Christmas Dec 24-25
NYE Dec 31-Jan 2
MLK Jan 16-20
Boat Show/Pre and Day/Valentine's Day Feb 13-17
Wine and Food Feb 20-23
The entire month of March (Spring Break, WMC, Ultra)
Prices quoted do not include 14% tax this will be added to your bill upon check in.
Check in time starts at 3:00 pm
Check out time before 11:00 am
Children are allowed at this property, but in PRIVATE ROOMS only.
Verfügbarkeit & PreiseWähle bitte die Termine aus und klicke auf "Daten aktualisieren", um die Verfügbarkeit zu sehen
Hostels Ausstattungen & Richtlinien
- 24 Stunden Rezeption
- 24 Stunden Sicherheitsdienst
- Adapter
- Altersbegrenzung
- Klimaanlage
- Flughafentransfers
- Bar
- Frühstück inbegriffen
- Kabelfernsehen
- Zahlung per Kreditkarte möglich
- Kostenlose Stadtpläne
- Kostenloses WLAN
- Haartrockner
- Reinigung
- Internet-Zugang
- Zugang per Schlüsselkarte
- Waschmöglichkeiten
- Bettwäsche im Preis inbegriffen
- Schließfächer
- Speisen verfügbar:
- Kein Rezeptionsschluss
- Nichtraucher
- Außenterrasse
- Dampfsauna
- Steuern sind nicht inbegriffen
ReiserücktrittsversicherungDiese Unterkunft hat eine 3 Tage Stornierungsfrist. Ergeht innerhalb dieser Zeit keine Stornierung, wird eine Stornogebühr in Höhe der ersten Nacht des Aufenthalts in Rechnung gestellt.
AnfahrtKarte anzeigenKarte verbergen
If you are coming from the airport, contact us so we can help you arrive quickly and safely to South Beach.
We are located 15 minutes from the Miami International Airport and 30 minutes from the Fort Lauderdale International Airport (depending on traffic conditions).
If you are already on South Beach, we are on 1676 James Avenue which is located between Lincoln Road and Collins Avenue.