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Sainsbury's Public Art Commission, October 2013.
My brief for this commission was to produce 5 large scale works which reflected the cultural and historical characteristics of the historic market town of Melton Mowbray. As part of the research leading to the project I was to spend time with children from two local schools - The Grove Primary School and St Mary's Church of England School.
An initial proposal to Sainsbury's outlined my vision of a series compositions to be entirely made up of illuminated sliced fruit and vegetables. Work with the children provided me with much of the inspiration and energy for the works and many ideas including 'we would like to see the hunt, but can the fox be a long way from the horses?'
4 Small panels represent an imaginary journey through Melton Mowbray featuring many of the historical buildings and local people making their way around town. There are also sheep passing through the town on trucks and cattle wandering amongst the shops. Market stalls are manned by stall holders who can also be seen in the larger picture playing football. The whole composition is made up of illuminated macro images of fruit and vegetables.
The large composition represents an exploded view of the town, again entirely made up of illuminated fruit and vegetables. Distant hills of melon and cucumber embrace a townscape featuring the Country Park (mid-ground), the station and church (right), the shops including the Ye Olde Porke Pie Shoppe, and the Play Close Park (in the foreground). Red leaves running through the centre of the work represent the large Copper Beech Trees that encircle the park. A fox nestles on the river back whilst hunters race across the distant fields. The whole scene is busy with fruit and vegetable people, the children that I worked with provided me with many of the ideas for these activities and inspiration for this aspect of the work came from JS Lowry.
'The Crescent Bus Station and Shopping Centre'
Artwork Commission, October 2014
Original design concept 'Stocking Up'
November 2015 saw the completion of my public art commission on behalf of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. For the Crescent Bus Station and Shopping Centre which is currently under the final stages of construction.
More photographs to follow, once lighting fixed and shops open.


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[Plugin: eShop] Confirm Email sent from [blog_name]
the email that gets sent to the customer comes from the code [blog_name] rather than the site it was sent from.
From: [blog_name] (firstname.lastname@example.com)
this "blog_name" code shows up in the header of the email and in the "from" column of the recipients email.
I am using the Automatic default email as the template to send to them and everything in the email comes through just fine.
is there something i can do to get that to come from the "blog name" this way when the customer keeps the receipt it will be from the correct company.
Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Create color layers using one linoleum block and make an edition of 10 prints! No printmaking experience necessary! $125 Class … See Full PostFind out more »
InLiquid is pleased to present the third Drink and Draw event at Park Towne Place Museum District Residences! Drink and … See Full PostFind out more »


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No Genies in the queue - let's get started!
Ora Shtull
Ora is an Executive Coach who helps high-potential executives in Fortune 500 companies enhance their Leadership Presence with the ability to engage, connect, and influence in the workplace. Executives who have worked with Ora over the past 20 years are thriving at their jobs, being promoted, and making successful transitions.
In addition to coaching senior executives, Ora has served as Adjunct Professor of Business Communication at NYU Stern School of Business. She is the author of The Glass Elevator: A Guide to Leadership Presence for Women on the Rise and is a featured speaker at events across the US.
Ora's undergraduate degree is from the University of Pennsylvania and her MBA is from Columbia Business School.
As a coach known for results, Ora loves seeing both the tangible impact her coaching has on an individual and the footprint that enhanced Leadership Presence leaves on the organization.


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TODD'S GEORDIE WORDS and PHRASES, Todd,G.
TODD'S GEORDIE WORDS and PHRASES, Todd,G.
Devised as an aid to communication on Tyneside and thereabouts. The booklet is set out alphabetically in two columns, one giving the dialect word and an example of how it might be used, and the other providing the translation.
48 pages, b&w illustrations. ISBN 9780946928095
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Webinar – Cloud Computing: Benefits and Barriers – 2012-10-11
TechSoup Global and NPower Pennsylvania's Executive Director review findings from the 2012 Global NGO Cloud Survey to enable the NGO sector to make more informed decisions about cloud computing adoption.
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�ĵ����� > Creating NIMAS Files
Creating NIMAS Files
1. The NIMAS fileset
A NIMAS fileset consists of the following:
A NIMAS fileset is a set of source files that may be rendered into a variety of output formats, including student-ready versions such as audio books, Braille editions, etc. It is not a post-production product; it is a pre-production product. NIMAS files are intended for use by publishers, authorized entities, and others to produce accessible versions of printed instructional materials. They are not intended to be used as-is and should not be considered finished products. XML content files in NIMAS filesets must be conformant to the NIMAS 1.1 specification, a sub-set of the DAISY 2005-2 DTD. By definition, a NIMAS XML file will validate to the NIMAS 1.1 DTD.
A print work��s XML content file includes all of the content found in its print version, including frontmatter, such as tables of contents and prefaces; backmatter, such as epilogues and indices; front and back covers, if they include content that is not presented elsewhere; and bodymatter, such as chapters and sections text, images, charts, tables, etc. Essential information about a print work should be included in its XML content file as well as in its OPF file to ensure that such information is available whether a fileset��s OPF is utilized practically or not; such information typically includes a work��s title, author(s), publisher, copyright, and ISBN, and may include other similar items. A print work��s package file includes metadata about the content of the print work, including its images, as well as that required by the NIMAC for submission to its repository. Required PDF-format pages provide a necessary way for users of the fileset to ensure it��s accuracy and completeness as well as providing a way to verify the work itself. Images present in the print work must be included in its fileset (see below for additional information regarding images).
See the History and Core Technologies document for more information on the background of NIMAS and NIMAS files.
2. Creating a NIMAS-conformant XML content file
A NIMAS-conformant XML content file is an XML file that validates against the NIMAS DTD. What this means is that the file is consistent with the requirements of specific NIMAS DTD items. A NIMAS-conformant XML file qualifies as a well-formed XML document. Anyone new to NIMAS should begin by creating a well-
formed XML file and continue from there to create a NIMAS file. Well-formed means that all of the XML is correct. For example, it��s analogous to writing that is grammatically correct. In the same way that correct writing does not have spelling errors, punctuation errors, syntax errors, and the like; well-formed XML does not have nesting errors, opening- or closing-tag errors, or syntax errors. A well-formed XML document is a basic, correct file; a NIMAS-conformant XML file is a correct file using XML specific to the NIMAS DTD.
There are many XML editors available on the market, and it would probably be best for anyone new to XML to create files using one of these. (Although it is possible to create perfectly good XML with a simple text editor such as Notepad or TextPad.) Examples of XML editors include Dreamweaver, XMLSpy, XMLmind, <oXygen/>. These editors will ��test�� an XML document for errors and let you know whether a document is well-formed or if it validates to a specific DTD that is listed in an XML declaration. Many editors will also point out where, or approximately where, an error has occurred. The larger an XML document is, the more valuable this function is. The best way to create good XML files is simply to begin. The following tips may prove useful.
More information is available throughout this web site, in the NIMAS Technical Specification, and in the DAISY Structure Guidelines.
To create well-formed XML documents, keep the following in mind:
To create valid NIMAS-conformant XML files, keep the following in mind:
Since NIMAS files align with the DAISY standard, the following DAISY 2005-specific items should be kept in mind:
The following items are suggested best practices for NIMAS/DAISY XML files:
For more specific best practices recommendations based on NIMAS implementation and the NIMAS Technical Assistance Center technical support, see the NIMAS Files Best Practices document.
NIMAS 1.1 DTD Required Elements
Following is a list of elements that are required (taken from the NIMAS Technical Specification)��other elements may be required if applicable to content.
required elements
The root element in a Digital Talking Book DTD. <dtbook> contains metadata in  and the contents itself in <book>.
Contains metainformation about the book but no actual content of the book itself, which is placed in <book>. This information is consonant with the  information in XHTML, (see XHTML11STRICT). Other miscellaneous elements can occur before and after the required <title>. By convention, <title> should occur first.
Surrounds the actual content of the document, which is divided into <frontmatter>, <bodymatter>, and <rearmatter>. , which contains metadata, precedes <book>.
Indicates metadata about the book. It is an empty element that may appear repeatedly only in . Metadata may appear in the OPF file instead.
Contains the title of the book but is used only as metainformation in . Use <doctitle> within <frontmatter> for the actual book title, which will usually be the same.
NIMAS 1.1 DTD required attributes
Following is a list of attributes that are required if the noted elements are used.
required attributes
version on <dtbook>
<dtbook version="2005-2">
src and alt on

type on <list>
<list type="ol">
render on <prodnote> and <sidebar>
<prodnote render="optional">
id on <pagenum>, <note>, and <annotation>
<note id="U01C04.002">
idref on <noteref>, <annoref>
<noteref idref="0114-012">
content on <meta>
<meta content="2007">
dir on <bdo>
<bdo dir="rtl">
DTD and OPF references
While recognizing that the current NIMAS Technical Specification permits use of DAISY/NISO Z39.86 2005 (1) and later (-2 and -3) as the XML source file DTD reference, the NIMAS Center strongly urges the use of the most current DTD in NIMAS filesets. The most current DTD may be found here: http://www.daisy.org/daisyniso-standard-dtd-and-css-files.
The components of a fileset should be evaluated according to the NIMAS Technical Specification (currently v1.1), a sub-set of the DAISY ANSI/NISO Z39.86 standard. Relevant language regarding references and validation are as follows (the entire document is available at the AIM web site: http://aim.cast.org/experience/technologies/spec-v1_1):
"NIMAS-conformant content must be valid to the NIMAS 1.1 [see DAISY/NISO Z39.86 2005 or subsequent revisions]."
"Use of the most current standard is recommended."
"The package file is based on the Open eBook Publication Structure 1.2 package file specification (For most recent detail please see http://www.openebook.org/oebps/oebps1.2/download/oeb12-xhtml.htm#sec2.) A NIMAS package file must be a valid XML OeBPS 1.2 package file instance...."
As an extensible specification, the NIMAS Technical Specification was written to provide some flexibility as well as to state that updates and additions are and would be ongoing. The NIMAS is based upon ANSI/NISO Z39.86, which, as a NISO standard, and ��all NISO standards undergo a review and maintenance cycle�� (http://www.niso.org/standards/), the NIMAS must remain conformant to that standard.
3. Validating a NIMAS-conformant XML content file
An XML file must validate to the NIMAS 1.1 DTD (derived from DAISY ANSI/NISO Z39.86) to be considered NIMAS-conformant. To validate a NIMAS XML file, add the following declaration to the top of the XML file:
<!DOCTYPE dtbook PUBLIC "-//NISO//DTD dtbook 2005-3//EN"
Once the XML file is completed, test it to see if it validates against the DTD. In an XML editor, use the validate function; otherwise, use an online validator:
A validator has been developed by the NIMAC repository contractor to ensure that NIMAS XML content files submitted to the national repository are valid and a client version is available to qualified publishers so that files may be tested prior to submission to the NIMAC.
See the XML Editors and Validation section of the NIMAS site��s Content Development and Design page for more information.
In order to view a complete NIMAS file and confirm that images are placed in the appropriate sequence, change the file extension from -.xml to -.html and add a reference to a css file within  such as, <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="filename.css"/>. Close the document, and open it in a browser. Such an extension-only version should only be used as a visual representation of the XML files as an aid to production: such a version is not a true HTML file, is not a student-ready version, and should not be used in place of these. Any HTML version of a NIMAS fileset intended for use by students or in other post-production capacities should be transformed with appropriate code to HTML or XHTML (software and XSLT transformations for doing this are freely available from the DAISY consortium).
4. Character Encoding (UTF-8 and UTF-16)
The Technical Assistance Center has received queries regarding encoding, as UTF-8 and UTF-16 are strongly recommended but not absolutely required by the technical specification. To clarify: only UTF-8 and UTF-16 are required to be supported by applications that process NIMAS files. Using another, it is quite possible the file would be corrupted when processed by, for example, a conversion tool or player. This corruption would most likely take the form of special characters (quotes, accented letters, etc.) being rendered incorrectly. More careful applications may refuse to process the file and return an 'unknown encoding' error. There are several free software packages that convert character sets. The DAISY Pipeline also has a '"charset switcher" filter. A program expecting UTF-8 but finding other encoding will definitely render incorrectly if the file has any characters beyond the traditional ASCII range. It seems that using encoding other than UTF-8 (or UTF-16) is not a good idea. While using UTF-8 is not required, it seems it would not be worthwhile to substitute another for it.
5. Preparing images for a NIMAS fileset
The Technology Working Group of the NIMAS Development Committee has recommended the following:
Image files
Organization of images
To simplify images organization and to recommend an efficient way to handle images for use with NIMAS files, the following is recommended:
All images should be saved in an images folder:
Within this parent folder, images should be saved as follows:
= frontmatter
The zeroes allow for sequential ordering.
�C = bodymatter and rearmatter
Naming here provides information about image location to unit and chapter level.
Naming here provides for the fact that many works contain images that recur throughout content at all levels.
An icon that occurs several times in frontmatter and twice per chapter in bodymatter:
A folder of images occurring in the middle of a work:*
An image that occurs in the frontmatter of a work:
*Note that ��U02C08�� subsequent to ��U01C01�� in the second example above illustrates the fact that not all pages/chapters/units of all works will have images. The example demonstrates a numerical sequence where not every step in a possible sequence is necessary.
Go to CAST��s NIMAS Exemplars page to see examples of NIMAS-conformant files that include proper handling of images within a NIMAS-conformant fileset.
Value-added components: mark-up of images using previously-published (print) materials
When marking up images from a previously-published, print-based source, it is recommended that images be named according to their placement within original source content. Create filenames based on an image��s page location and sequential order. Example:
An image with this filename appears on page 4 of the original work and is the 2nd image on that page.
Do not use spaces in image filenames.
Choose an image��s sequential order number according to its position: name image files from top to bottom and from left to right. Example:
Occasionally it will not be entirely obvious which layout position an image holds. In such cases, simply choose a logical sequence number and make a note of it for production.
Value-added components: writing alternative text and long descriptions
An alt text placeholder for images is required (example: ), and including actual alt tag text is strongly recommended to publishers, as is including (when appropriate) long descriptions. The alt attribute is part of the  element and text is placed in standard attribute format (example: ). The <prodnote> element is used for images long descriptions in the NIMAS 1.1 DTD (example: <prodnote>Text of long description.</prodnote>). Alt tags and long descriptions are especially important for math equations that will be provided as images temporarily[1] but will not be accessible to screen readers and other devices without inclusion of an alternate representation.
The following is taken from Editorial Process Guidelines for Creating Accessible Digital Textbooks (CAST, Inc., 2004).
Writing for Accessibility: Alt Tags and Long Descriptions
An alt tag is a brief description of an image. The ��alt�� in alt tag stands for ��alternative�� and an alt tag is alternative text��another option to the image. Alt tags should state the type of image and a brief summary of the image. They should not have any unnecessary text. Alt tag text should be
approximately four to ten words long. Alt tag text is designed to be brief. The point is to capture the function of the graphic and to express it in terms that make sense.
Every image has an alt tag associated with it. An alt tag must appear for every purposeful image. The alt tags appear on screen with mouse-over, or when the mouse is moved over the image. Assistive technology such as a voice-output screen-reader will not ��read�� an image but will read the alt tag instead. Text-only browsers display alt tags over the image placeholder.
A long description is a detailed description of an image that supports or adds meaning to the text. Long descriptions are context-specific. The details given depend on how the image supports or supplements the text.
Their purpose is to provide content information conveyed by the image so that students who are unable to ��read�� the image, for whatever reason, still have access to the information relevant to instruction that is conveyed by the image.
Long descriptions are provided whenever an alt tag is not sufficient to convey the content of an image. Long descriptions should be written for each image (map, timeline, picture, chart, graph, photo, etc.) that supports the text or gives additional or new information needed to understand content or topic. A long description should be included whenever an alt tag cannot provide sufficient information about the object and its purpose for inclusion. Remember that long descriptions vary according to learning goals. Try to create a balance between brevity and sufficient information so that every learner can access key content.
Note: There is no limit to the length of a long description; LDs should be as long as necessary to convey image information.
Images and mark-up of math content
Currently, a standard, problem-free way to treat mathematical content in terms of NIMAS mark-up has not yet been determined. The XML specification MathML has been formally accepted by the DAISY Consortium as a modular extension for mathematical content. MathML is therefore a part of the optional element set of the NIMAS specification. Producers are encouraged to begin using MathML where feasible. As an interim solution, where the use of MathML is not yet possible, math equations and other symbolic content should be presented as images with alternative text and long descriptions. When creating math content images, it is crucial to distinguish between content such as in-line equations, that are math content per se, and images, such as graphs, that just so happen to contain math content. The suggested best-practice for accomplishing this distinction is to code true math content with the notation EQ in their image filenames to indicate that an image represents math content. Images such as charts and illustrations that contain or are about math should be coded as any other image would be. Examples are as follows:
Filename of an image of an in-line equation: EQp212-004.jpg
Filename of a pie chart: p010-002.jpg
Filename of a symbol presented within text: EQp005-003.jpg
Filename of an icon used throughout a math textbook: staricon.jpg
Filename of an equation that recurs throughout a unit: EQdifferential2.jpg
A text description of EQ images must be provided for, either with alt tag placeholders or alt tag text and/or long description text. Coding in-line math content as images temporarily will make it accessible, because text descriptions will be recognized and read by text-to-speech software/readers.
See the Math resources page for more information.
6. Preparing a package file (OPF)
Package files created for use with NIMAS XML files must conform to the oebps 1.2 standard (the Open eBook Publication Structure Specification Version 1.2), i.e., validate to this specification. The following information about the oebps 1.2 Specification is based on information made available to the public by the International Digital Publishing Forum.[2] NIMAS package files should validate to this oebps standard, i.e., these files are NIMAS OPF files, not DAISY OPF files. Additional enhancements will be necessary for a file to validate as a DAISY OPF.
Currently, NIMAS 1.1 includes two metadata elements that were created for future use but turned out not to be needed in practice and that are intended to be phased out as the technical specification is updated. However, these two items are part of NIMAS 1.1 and are therefore required. For all OPF files conforming to NIMAS 1.1, these metadata elements should be included yet left blank:
<meta name="nimas-SourceEdition" content=""/>
<meta name="nimas-SourceDate" content=""/>
NIMAS filesets must also meet metadata submission requirements for the National Intstructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC), the national repository of NIMAS filesets. The NIMAC provides a comprehensive sample, instructions, and details at their NIMAC Metadata web site page. A sample NIMAC-valid OPF file is available through a link from this page, and may also be downloaded from the NIMAS site��s Exemplars page (exemplar 9). All of the NIMAS exemplar filesets include OPF files that are valid to the NIMAS specification and to NIMAC submission requirements.
The current oebps 1.2 declaration for an OPF file is as follows:
<!DOCTYPE package PUBLIC "+//ISBN 0-9673008-1-9//DTD OEB 1.2 Package//EN" "http://openebook.org/dtds/oeb-1.2/oebpkg12.dtd">
To create valid package files, keep the following in mind:
From the oebps specification publication:
The major parts of the OEBPS Package file are:
Package Identity: A unique identifier for the OEBPS Publication as a whole.
Metadata: Publication metadata (title, author, publisher, etc.).
Manifest: A list of files (documents, images, style sheets, etc.) that make up the publication. The manifest also includes fallback declarations for files of types not supported by this specification.
Spine: An arrangement of documents providing a linear reading order.
Tours: A set of alternate reading sequences through the publication, such as selective views for various reading purposes, reader expertise levels, etc.
Guide: A set of references to fundamental structural features of the publication, such as table of contents, foreword, bibliography, etc.[3]
MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension)
MIME types
MIME types are standard format extensions used to support the attaching of non-text files to standard Internet mail messages. Non-text files include graphics, spreadsheets, formatted word-processor documents, and sound files. The MIME standard specifies the type of file being sent and the method that should be used to turn it back into its original form.
Manifest list items in OPF files should include standard MIME types in order to be fully accurate. For example,
<item id="idname" href="filename.xml" media-type="text/xml"/> where text in media-type=��text/xml�� is a standard MIME type and xml in media-type=��text/xml�� is a standard sub-type. Another example is <item id="idname" href="path/path/filename.jpeg" media-type="image/jpeg"/> where image in media-type="image/jpeg" is a standard MIME type and jpeg in media-type="image/jpeg" is a standard sub-type.
The main types are application, audio, example, image, message, model, multipart, text, and video. Sub-types are extensive for each type, but, for example, the most common ones for image are gif, jpeg, png, and tiff; and for text are css, html, plain, richtext, and xml. Lists of types are available at http://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/. Other MIME information is readily available over the Internet: type ��MIME types�� into a search engine.
NIMAS filesets and MIME types
MIME types for use with NIMAS filesets reflect the NIMAS�� alignment with DAISY and follow the guidelines of Z39.86-2005, section 3.3 (http://www.daisy.org/z3986/2005/z3986-2005.html#Manifest). They are as follows:
XML content files: media-type="application/x-dtbook+xml"
A full reference/OPF manifest item would read as follows:
<item id="xmlexemplar" href="contentfilename.xml" media-type="application/x-dtbook+xml"/>
PDF files: media-type="application/pdf"
A full reference/OPF manifest item would read as follows:
<item id="copyrightpagepdf" href="copyrightpage.pdf" media-type="application/pdf"/>
images: media-type="image/jpeg" or media-type="image/svg+xml" or media-type="image/png"
A full reference/OPF manifest item would read as follows:
<item id="imgarrow" href="images/U00C00/arrow.jpg" media-type="image/jpeg"/>
<item id="imgarrow" href="images/U00C00/arrow.svg" media-type="image/svg+xml"/>
<item id="imgarrow" href="images/U00C00/arrow.png" media-type="image/png"/>
NOTE: The DAISY DTD on which the NIMAS technical specification is based does not include all possible MIME media types and sub-types because official types are not a static, permanent list but evolve through the coordination of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA [http://www.iana.org]).
NIMAC and metadata
The NIMAC is the national repository for NIMAS files, managed by the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). There are additional metadata requirements for OPF files submitted to the NIMAC beyond those required for NIMAS OPF files. Those differences facilitate the storage, management, and retrieval of NIMAS files. The NIMAC web site has its own metadata page, and a NIMAC sample OPF file that includes both NIMAC and NIMAS metadata requirements is available there (full version with history and comments) and on CAST��s NIMAS Exemplars page (Word and XML versions; separate history and comments document). As noted above, all of the NIMAS exemplar filesets include OPF files that are valid to both the NIMAS specification and NIMAC submission requirements.
For quality control purposes, the NIMAC needs to receive from publishers a PDF of both the title page and the copyright/ISBN page for the book. Because the NIMAC staff has found that the XML file for a work may not always include all series, state edition, ISBN, or other essential metadata, the PDF helps ensure that the metadata submitted in the OPF is accurate, complete, and describes the actual file being submitted. Since the NIMAC does not have access to any print copies of works, these PDF pages provide the best, and in some cases the only, way to compare key metadata provided with the the print version.
An important point that has come up regarding fileset submission to the NIMAC concerns discrete item identification information. In rare instances, a work submitted to the NIMAC may use a UPC code for unique identification rather than an ISBN. In these cases (and only these cases) where UPC information is the only source of unique item identification, UPC information should be contained in the <dc:Identifier> element. The format for this usage is ��UPC23443562NIMAS�� where ��UPC�� prefaces the UPC numeric code itself and ��NIMAS�� follows, without punctuation or spaces. Note that the <dc:Source> element is for ISBN information only and must not be used for these exceptions.
7. PDF pages
In NIMAS fileset submission, the NIMAC needs to receive PDF pages of both title and copyright/ISBN page(s) for a book. If copyright/ISBN (unique identification information) appears elsewhere, those page(s) must also be included.
Because the NIMAC has found that submitted XML (source) files are not always complete and may omit essential metadata such as ISBN information, these noted PDF pages help ensure that submitted files can be completed, are accurate, and describe submitted filesets. Since the NIMAC does not have access to print copies of books, these PDF pages provide the best, and, in some cases, only, way to compare provided metadata with a print version.
Go to CAST��s NIMAS Exemplars page to see examples of NIMAS-conformant files that include appropriate package files within a NIMAS-conformant file set.
Go directly to the oebps 1.2 specification at the <OeB> Open eBook Forum.
Opening the eBook, by Didier Martin. (2000.) XML.com. This article explains the oebps standard using IDPF content in a more readable style than the spec itself. Note the standard has since been updated from 1.0 to 1.2.
Changes were made to this document as of March 8, 2007:
Changes were made to this document as of August 20, 2007:
Changes were made to this document as of December 6, 2007:
Changes were made to this document as of January 4, 2008:
Changes were made to this document as of March 25, 2008:
Changes were made to this document as of May 29, 2008:
Changes were made to this document as of October 15, 2008:
Changes were made to this document as of May 5, 2009:
Changes were made to this document as of June 1, 2010:
Changes were made to this document as of October 8, 2010:
[1] Mark-up for math content��equations, symbols, and the like��should now be created using MathML where feasible. Please see the Images and mark-up of math content section for more information.
[2] http://www.idpf.org/oebps/oebps1.2/download/oeb12.doc#_Toc14771680
[3] _____. OEBPS 1.2 Specification. IDPF, http://www.idpf.org/oebps/oebps1.2/download/oeb12.doc#_Toc14771680
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"The Middle East is hopeful. There's hope there."
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning."Joe Biden on Albert Einstein
"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."Joe Biden on Martin Luther King, Jr.
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free."Joe Biden on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return."Joe Biden on Maya Angelou
"I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe."Joe Biden on Dalai Lama
"Our future cannot depend on the government alone. The ultimate solutions lie in the attitudes and the actions of the American people."
"We're going to be OK because of the American people. They have more grit, determination and courage than you can imagine."
"My dad always said, 'Champ, the measure of a man is not how often he is knocked down, but how quickly he gets up.'"
"This is absolutely bizarre that we continue to subsidize highways beyond the gasoline tax, airlines, and we don't subsidize, we don't want to subsidize a national rail system that has environmental impact."
"I believe the American people have a genuine and justifiable fear of government intrusion in what they instinctively know is going to be an ever more intrusive world."


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Haven Waiheke
Designing and building unique solutions for your lifestyle.
Gallery | Cable Bay Lane
Completed November 2010.
Designed by Vaughn McQuarrie Ltd the house is a direct response to the site, turning its back on the prevailing wind and opening up to the sun and views. Large areas of thermal mass, efficient use of space and high levels of insulation will result in a very comfortable internal environment and low energy consumption.


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Upcoming EventsJoin Us for CalRHA and CalRHA Affiliate Events
CalRHA Legislative Day
Sacramento, CA
A delegation of members, comprised of the 10 affiliates which make up CalRHA, will be in Sacramento to meet with our State Legislators and educate them on what we believe will be reasonable legislation to consider for the coming year. CalRHA would like to personally invite you to join us.
In case you are wondering if your presence will make a difference, CalRHA can assure you, IT WILL. If you come and would like to speak directly with an elected official regarding one of the bills CalRHA will be focusing on, we are planning to make as many of those opportunities available as we can.
Here are the details:
When: April 4th – 5th, 2017
Where: The California State Capitol
Time: See Schedule Below
April 4th – 2:30pm to 5:30pm (Legislative Day Briefing Agenda @ Sacramento Masonic Hall)
April 5th – 9am to 5pm (Meetings with State Legislators; Meeting times will vary)
We look forward to your attendance! Have questions? Kindly email Jim Clarke (email@example.com).
Mix & Mingle with CalRHA and NAA
Sponsored by The Screening Pros
You are cordially invited to save the date and attend the California Rental Housing Association (CalRHA) and National Apartment Association's (NAA) "Mix and Mingle" event, being held at this year's NAA Education Conference & Exposition in San Francisco. We already know you will be there — your registration to this year's event was the first step. Thank you for attending. Here are the details:
When: Wednesday, June 15, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Moscone Convention Center – Esplanade 301
Hosted by CalRHA and NAA.
Sponsored by The Screening Pros.
Enjoy networking, a full hosted bar, Mini Street Tacos with adobo chicken / lime & cilantro marinated grilled skirt steak and served with assorted salsas, guacamole and tortilla chips.
We look forward to networking with you! Kindly RSVP to Jim Clarke. You can also email Clarke if you have any additional questions.
Join Us for the 2016 NAA Education Conference & Exposition
The 2016 NAA Education Conference & Exposition will be held in San Francisco where more than 9,200 apartment housing industry professionals come together for an exciting, collaborative event. You'll gain inspiration and motivation from top-name keynote speakers, along with more than 50 education sessions. You'll also discover the latest products and services with exhibits from 450+ suppliers. The combination of education, networking and deal-making simply can't be beat.
To register, and for more information, please visit: http://educonf.naahq.org/
Check out the video by clicking HERE!


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Development pathHome > About Us > Development path
Rakinda Technologies was established in 2000, with headquarter in Guangzhou city. It is committed to develop the barcode products and its technology as the core of the automatic recognition system integration. Besides, it is a professional high-tech enterprise which is specializing in the R&D, automatic identification products production, sales, service for the integration. It has enjoyed many years' industry experience and excellent reputation. Nowadays, it has branches in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Beijing, Xiamen, Suzhou, etc, and we have skillful, experienced and constant innovation of R&D team and after-sale technical support service team.
We are engaged in the development and production of the barcode scanner automatic recognition product, the latest series of scanning module has been developed and got the approvals of the majority of manufacturers. Besides,the barcode scanner automatic recognition techniques have been used successfully in intelligent power, production control, asset management, planning, warehouse management, route planning, process control, share mail access document management, attendance, wharf, production scheduling, luggage distribute, commercial retail, banking, inventory management, transportation and other industries.
If you need a barcode scanner support, Rakinda Technologies can provide a best solution with professional knowledge and experience.
Development Process
Year 2000, Rakinda established;
Year 2002, Shenzhen Rakinda established;
Year 2007, Suzhou Rakinda established;
Year 2012, Beijing Rakinda and Xiamen Rakinda established;
Year 2014, RAKINDA brand established;
Year 2015, devoted to IoT intelligent firmware products R&D ;
Year 2016, more achievements to be continued


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Being passionate about office design is a great start but not the sole need. Your project is unique, therefore logistical and layout planning matter.
You want a seamless solution, minimal downtime and improved processes. The reason our design is built on practical knowledge and imaginative answers.
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we stayed two nights at The Heritage. The room we had was very large, clean, with a balcony. The pool was clean and the area around it is well maintained. We ate breakfast both mornings at the continental buffet which was very clean, well supervised and constantly restocked by friendly staff. The hotel is conveniently located to visit both Lewes and Rehoboth, De. We would absolutley stay here again.
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- This event has passed.
Away from saviorhood, towards solidary. A discussion.
August 9, 2016 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Event Navigation
This round table discussion will explore the role of the activist/scholar in anti-racist and anti-colonial participatory action research and ethnography. Participants will speak from their own experiences about the possibilities, limitations, and challenges of white academics doing accomplice/solidarity work from within academia and other institutions. Audience members are invited to share their own experiences and ideas, both as activist/scholars and as community organizers.
Panelists will include:
Kathleen Cole, Social Science, Metropolitan State University
Colette Hyman, History, Winona State University
Mary Jo Klinker, Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Winona State University


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Home from Beijing. And as good as broke. I managed to spend about 9000 kroner, though mom's paying me back 590. I bought 6 metres of silk for her, and it only cost me 700 yuan*, or 590 kroner. And that is counting the extra the bank takes for using my Visa outside of Norway. I think everything was extremely cheap. I payed 580 yuan for a quilted silk coat! I bought nature pearls too, and a beautiful picture with herons in it. And I've bought mascots for the Olympic Games 2008! ^^ They're just sooo cute! I will take pictures and post them later on. ^^
*is enjoying memories of the Chinese Wall*
*1 yuan=0.8 kroner


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Prof. Dr. Bhekizizwe Peterson
Selected Publications
- Peterson, Bhekizizwe (2012). "Dignity, Memory and the Future under Siege: Nation-building and Reconciliation in the new South Africa." New Violent Cartographies: Geo-Analysis After the Aesthetic Turn. Ed. Samson K.O. Opondo and Michael J. Shapiro. London: Routledge. 214-33.
- Peterson, Bhekizizwe (2011). "The Language Question in Africa." The Cambridge History of Postcolonial Literature. Ed. Ato Quayson. Cambridge: CUP. 681-702.
- Peterson, Bhekizizwe (2000). Monarchs, Missionaries and African Intellectuals: African Theatre and the Unmaking of Colonial Marginality. Johannesburg: Wits UP and New York: Africa World Press.
- Peterson, Bhekizizwe, and Ramadan Suleman (2009). Zulu Love Letter. Johannesburg: Wits UP.
- Peterson, Bhekizizwe, Benjy Francis, and Essop Patel (1985). Fragments in the Sun: Poems and Performance Text. Johannesburg: Afrika Cultural Centre.
(Text received an honorary mention in the Noma Award for publishing in Africa.)


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Title: Penumbra
Author: Kat Micari
Genre: Paranormal
Fed up with the dirty city and a disenchanting life as a fashion model, Beauty's world is at least safe. But the illusion of safety shatters the night that she frees herself from her self-imposed fears only to be thrust into the magical underbelly of the city, where forces that want to save humanity and evil beings that want to feed off humanity's despair fight for balance and power. Forced from the comforts and the trappings of her old life, hunted by a cadre of sinister, rat-faced businessmen, Beauty's only hope is to join with a strange magical ally. Together, with the help of fae creatures in unlikely guises, they must seek out an enchanted, improbable artifact that can heal the city before evil tips the balance, once and for all.
I picked up this book because of the interesting angle – a paranormal featuring a fashion model. I enjoy a good hidden-magic-world-hiding-underneath-real-one story like Paranormalcy, and books with models a la Meg Cabot's Airhead. So I decided to give Penumbra a shot.
I'm not quite sure what to make of this book.
To start with, it was short. As in, 45 pages on my Nook short. And I was a little nervous about starting it, because I was pretty sure a paranormal novel this short would be terrible.
I swear Penumbra made every beginning writer mistake in the book. Hardly any character development, too-easy plot, unrealistic bad guys, all showing and no telling. But somehow…it worked.
I'm not saying that just to be nice – I don't do that. This is why I'm not sure what to make of this book. It broke every rule. Every one. All showing and no telling, but the terse, distant narrating style was somehow perfect for this story. Hardly any character development, but enough that anything more would have seemed extraneous. Unrealistic bad guys, but they fit right into the highly unusual story. Too-easy resolution…well, that's the one thing I think could have been better. I think Beauty's journey should have been more difficult.
Penumbra is so unconventional, I can't even do my regular neat discussion of characters, plot, writing, and little details that stood out. Everything is so tied together, I have to discuss it as a whole.
This is one of those books that makes me glad I don't use a rating system, because it's just too hard to rate. I enjoyed the read. It was a quick, very dark paranormal short story (I think it feels more like a long short story than a novel or even a novella). It broke every rule in the book, but it worked. Don't ask me how or why, but it did.
My overall feeling when I finished Penumbra was bafflement. As in, how could Kat Micari break so many of the rules and still have a good story? (In case you can't tell, I'm still not sure what to make of it.)
I received a free review copy of Penumbra from the author. Her generosity in no way influenced, or sought to influence, this review.


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Do I have to be an athlete to work with Janelle?
Not at all! Janelle works with anyone who who wants to feel better in their body, develop a calm & responsive mind & create nurturing life habits that work! Whether its to enhance a competitive racing edge, do your first 5 km run or lose a few pounds, Janelle brings her keen listening skills to hear where you're at. She guides you on creating a structure to deliver you to the vision you have for your life. All the while maintaining your journey as the top priority.
Do I have to have experience in yoga or meditation?
Again – not at all! Janelle meets you where you're at and aligns you to where you most want to go! Whether you've been practicing for years or have a hard time believing you can calm your mind because that's just not how your mind works – it's all perfect! This isn't about experience it's about your commitment to what's possible, even when it doesn't seem possible – especially then! With your input, Janelle aligns your self-care habits & routines towards what you're creating in a way that works for you.
How can I work one on one with Janelle?
Janelle is working with clients one on one beginning in January, 2017! She has programs & services for working with health-conscious & health-seeking individuals here in Victoria, where she currently resides. Janelle also offers distance options for a limited number of clients throughout North America who are ready to embody their next level of health in body, mind & spirit.
I don't have a lot of time. I may not have time to bring fitness & stillness into my regular day-to-day life.
Consider that your relationship with time is something that can be altered, just like your relationship to yourself can always be expanded! Consider that a lack of time is the root of what's stopping you from allowing fitness & stillness as a regular part of your life! Janelle really gets that you have a lifestyle that is unique to you which include responsibilities & roles others depend on you for! Together, you create new ways to approach your self-care habits so that you no longer take the back seat.
Sometimes I have trouble sticking to things. How does this work?
That depends! Are you committed to getting past the fear of how things have gone in the past? Are you willing to open yourself up to new possibilities to create things new & fresh in your life? Janelle's coaching is based on accountability to keep you on track! Once your program is developedwe go over what worked/what didn't and why! Nothing is wrong if you fall off the wagon! It's human! It's about what's missing as we create a structure for your ultimate success and fulfillment going forward!
What are the costs? Janelle doesn't believe that people fit into perfectly pre-planned packages. The only way to truly work effectively with one another is to find out where you're at & what your needs are. To stay true to the integrity of the high-quality service she provides, Janelle offers a Strategy Call (waived fee) so you can find the best solution that works for you and your life before moving forward. Contact Janelle directly to create your initial Strategy Call!
How can I take a Bodisana Class?
Currently Bodisana YinSpin™ & Kundalini Yoga Classes are only offered in Victoria, BC, but things are already moving in new directions. To stay connected to classes & events beyond Victoria, as well as ongoing fitness & stillness self-care tips be sure & join the Bodisana Tribe Email List!
A recent blog Janelle wrote on the Power of Presence in fulfilling what you most want in life! We accomplish this by committing to what we know is needed.


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Masterpiece by the one and only @lorazombie
Whilst everybody online seemed to be getting excited about their resolutions, 'fresh start' and all that jazz I spent the entire New Year Day in bed, staring at the ceiling, crying over what a total failure I am. Then, the next day I lied to a friend that I'm sick, only because he wanted to meet up in that popular restaurant which I wasn't obviously cool enough for. And not later than yesterday I didn't let the postman in because my hair was a mess. I know what you think. I know the postman is the last person to give a damn about my hair (I bet he wouldn't even notice it) plus delivering hundreds of letters every day he's seen much worse thing than a poor hairstyle, right? Still, I chose to wait until the next day to get out of the flat early in the morning and make it to the post office myself to collect my parcel over letting a stranger potentially notice that I didn't use a hair straightener. How mental is this?!
But hey, don't you have enough? I do. And I think it's about time to kick her arse- shall we do this together?
I'm ready like never before to become the best, self-confident, happy version of myself.
Although I'm by no means an expert, the things I've figured out lately may actually make a difference, may hopefully help you in your everyday struggles so I thought I'd share them.
Make yourself a warm cup of tea (don't worry, I'll wait!) and let's take it step by step.
Ready? Good. Here we go!
First of all, it's important to realise that
1. You're not alone
Do you ever scroll through the blogs of pretty, smiley girls who have it all thinking 'I want to be her'? It happens to me all the time. I absolutely admire all the amazing bloggers who're able to nail it, who make you use the products they use, buy the clothes they wear and live the life they have. Then again, to get there it takes a lot of self confidence. Or does it?
Gorgeous Megs from Pages by Megan– the pic comes from the blog and I really appreciate that she let me use it- Megan is the kindest, sweetest person you'd come across!
Let's take one of my favourite bloggers, the wonderful Megan Ellaby from Pages by Megan for example- the girl is a rockstar. Stunningly beautiful, laid back, bubbly and funny, with her exceptional intuition and distinctive personal style she pulls off whatever she decides to do. I WANT TO BE HER!!! Seriously. She's just absolutely gorgeous and I adore her to bits (alongside hundreds of thousands of Megan's followers). Needless to say I was completely taken aback when, in one of her videos, Megan spoke about her issues with self-confidence. I mean, what the heck?! HER?! How come?!!!
Then I visited another blog I follow… where another beautiful Mancunian, the lovely Alice Catherine, mentioned struggling with anxiety in her post. I needed to rub my eyes- her having social problems?! That just didn't make any sense!
…which only proves how irrational our fear of being judged is. It made me realise I'm not alone and encouraged me to speak about it because it is flippin' important!!!
No matter how scared of new people and new situations which put you out of your comfort zone you are, please remember one thing: you are not alone.
It sadly turns out that, more often than not, that breath-taking beauty with a designer bag smiling to you from her WordPress page is suffering from low self-esteem, exactly like me and you. We're in this shit together- time to get out!!!
2. Stop comparing yourself to the others
We keep doing that all the time, don't we. It reminds me of a picture of a chocolate chip cookie standing next to two softies, thinking: 'These guys are so much cooler than me'. And I bet the softies thought 'Unlike us, he's such a cookie!'. It may be just a funny picture but it's absolutely brilliant to illustrate how ridiculous comparing to the others is. We are all very different and each of us is unique and special. You are unique and special. There's no person like you in the whole world, how wicked is this! You are the most beautiful when you stop trying to be someone else and let your personality shine through.
Allow yourself to be you because the 'you' in you is what I love the most.
3. Get rid of negativity
Do you know anyone, who's always unhappy, whatever happens? Somebody who's always expecting the worse, constantly complaining about every little thing? I used to have such friend. She always had the most stressful job, she was the most knackered, had the most awful boss, the most hopeless friends, the most painful heartbreak, the most responsibilities and in general, the biggest problems in the world. Being blessed with good health, living in a nice apartment, able to afford expensive holidays and fancy parties with equally posh people, she just had the most horrible life you can think of. Or at least that's what she sounded like. And no matter what the others were trying to say (really just to encourage her to find some positivity), she always knew better. She was just never pleased with anything. After each coffee together and listening to her complaints I felt as if a huge van went over my body at the highest speed, crushing it completely. And no matter how many cups of coffee I'd had, no matter how enthusiastic I'd felt about new opportunities in my life, after seeing her I was just completely worn out and demotivated. And a couple of months ago I thought it's enough- I didn't answer her call. And I haven't seen that girl ever since.
I feel this kind of people, they are just emotional vampires, sucking out all your energy, leaving you completely drained and lifeless. Trust me, you don't need this in your life! I know, you probably want to be nice, not doing any harm to anyone and so on… but wait, does that mean that the other person can do the harm to you?
If you don't take care of yourself and your own happiness you won't be able to make anyone else happy.
– Tweet this!
…so please, do that for yourself and your loved ones, at the end of the day they are the people who matter.
And although it may sound quite harsh not to answer the phone or to say that you're busy… in a long run it may just be one of the best, the most mature gifts you can give to yourself and your precious people.
Please, don't let anyone vomit all the world's problems on you, stay out of negativity!!!
4. Focus on what can be done
Have you ever wondered where your low self-esteem comes from? How to gain some self-confidence? What are your insecurities to fight? If I told you about mine, this longest post I've ever written would easily get twice as long. I'm not joking, the list of the things I'm concerned about seems never-ending so I will give you just 3 examples here. There we go:
My English– as most of you know English is not my first language which makes it a great source of my paranoias. Whenever I'm about to meet somebody I get paralysed thinking I won't get what they're saying or that they won't be able to understand me. Whenever I publish a new post, I keep wondering for the next two days how many errors I made. And listening to myself speak is the worst torture I can think of. The reality is, when I meet someone for the very first time, I often hear compliments about my English. I used to work for over a year with English-speaking customers and to be fair, it never happened that I wasn't able to understand them or the other way 'round on the phone or in an email. Having said that, all I can focus on is my annoying accent, the words I know not being able to use them when needed and the silly little errors getting out of my control. Isn't that crazy?
My eyes– now, what can one say about their eyes, you probably wonder. Oh well, I hate mine. They are sooo small and sooo close to each other that it makes me feel like a retard. In this case as well, the story repeats itself- if I've ever heard anything about my eyes from strangers, there were always nice things while all I can see are two tiny dots almost touching each other in the middle of my face.
My body– oh my, that's the thing I've been struggling with since I was a teenager. I've just always felt fat and shapeless, although the biggest I've ever got to was size 8 which, when I think of it, doesn't seem to be big. Still, I don't wear shorts, because I have cellulite. I don't wear sleeveless tops, because my arms are not nicely-tonned. I keep buying beautiful dresses and I never wear them because I only feel they highlight all my imperfections. And I know, there are bigger girls than me who feel good in their bodies, those wonderful humans who don't give a damn about a tiny stretch mark nobody's gonna notice and they absolutely rock! But I will not be happy about my own body unless I work hard to change it.
And Bob's the uncle, 'change' is our key word in here. What is there I can change? What do I need to get over?
Well, even if my English may get slightly better if I work hard, I will never sound like a native speaker so the question is, will 'slightly better' be enough for me?
And even if my English improves, there's no bloody chance my eyes will magically move to the sides of my face, is it.
My body shape, however, is something I can totally control with the proper dose of commitment to healthy lifestyle full of good foods and physical activities, right? Let's concentrate on this one, shall we!
What I'm trying to say is, instead of overthinking what you cannot influence, focus on what actually depends on you. Whatever it is, if you can change it, work for it!!! And, what's even more important: enjoy the process. Allow yourself to be proud of your achievements, they will magically work as a massive self-confidence booster, too- I promise! ?
5. Stay inspired
Whatever it is you're trying to achieve, you need to be patient and determined, which I find hard at times. When you dedicate your time and energy to something, it's quite easy to get demotivated and burnt out. What helps me along the way is looking for an inspiration everywhere as a kind reminder why I keep doing what I do, if that makes any sense. My personal inspiration would be music (long live Frank Turner!) magazines (with i-D being my all time favourite), blogs (too many to name) and social media channels (especially Instagram). Moreover, I'm lucky to live in the area which is itself super inspiring, full of independent cafes, vintage markets, music venues and little art galleries so I try to be out and about as much as possible. Another thing that inspires me are books, I read very rarely but when I find a book on the subject I'm into, I can easily run two days without eating and sleeping until I finish it. Yeah, that's another silly thing about me- when I don't give a shit I genuinely mean it but once I'm into something I turn my whole life around that thing (same is true for people). Anyway, the last thing which keeps me inspired is… visiting my hairdresser. Weird, I know… but let me smoothly move to the next point when I explain it in details! But yeah, my message is: find something that inspires you and indulge in it!
6. Promote positivity
This is where I need to tell you about my hairdresser I'm absolutely, utterly in love with. Unlike the unfortunate friend from point 2. who used to drive me potty, my hairdresser is the affirmation of everything happy and positive. I completely adore him. It's not only because the fantastic cuts and colours I leave with, it's not because of green tea, organic cakes and the loveliest assistant (oh my, she's a real sweetheart!) greeting me every time I enter their door, nope. It's because the atmosphere of the place, bursting with positive energy, creative spirit and passion from every corner. Whenever I pop in we always have a chat about the exciting projects, new opportunities and alternative events while I can't take my eyes out of super talented, hard-working people who genuinely love their job. It's just the most inspiring experience ever which makes me keep coming back for more. Being ambassadors of positivity, they somehow make me feel absolutely relaxed and comfortable with who I am. They make me believe in myself, even if it's just for a short while.
Now, wouldn't the world be a better place if it was filled with people of this kind? Of course, we can't control the universe but we can surely change the little world around us.
My task for you is: think of 5 people you love and write their names. Easy, right?
Now, next to each name write 5 positive things about that person.
Done? Great. I knew that one would be a piece of cake. Now it's time to make things a bit more challenging…
Think of 3 people you don't actually like that much…
No, not Trump, we're not making this extreme, thank you very much!
Once you've got the names, write 5 positive things about each of them.
Oh, come on, make the effort. I know you can. It doesn't have to be super special, 'I like her haircut', 'he's very punctual' or 'she has good skin' will do the job, the most important thing is that you mean it.
Well done! Now something even more difficult- write 5 positive things about yourself. It comes easily while you're creating your CV so you do have some experience, right? But this time, be absolutely genuine, think about the great things about you. If you can come up with more than 5 that's alright, if not, don't worry, 5 is enough.
Now read everything you've done so far- isn't this world full of beautiful people? Let's keep it this way! Next time you're about to say something negative, simply shut up- you don't want to be somebody else's headache, do you. Haters are the people with zero self-confidence, you are better than this. Like that famous quote by Zen Shin says:
'A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.' /Zen Shin/
When you think something positive though, never forget to share it- you may easily make somebody's day with your kind comment. And the good energy is going to come back to you, I promise.
I try to compliment people all the time, whether it's the barista who created a beautiful cup of coffee, the waitress who gave me a wonderful smile taking my order while all of her colleagues looked super grumpy or simply the girl on the tube who's lipstick colour was to die for. Complimenting people is not easy when you're shy like me, but what do you have to lose? People aren't very likely to say 'f*ck off you idiot' when you tell them their shoes are pretty or that their puppy is adorable, are they! In most cases you'll receive a huge, genuine smile making you smile, too.
Same goes for the blogging world. How many times have you written comments on somebody's page just to get the link to your blog out there? What did you get from it? Probably not much. Let's change the game a little bit.
From now on, instead of leaving 10 'this is awesome!' comments on every random blog you come across, write 1 each day. Make it honest. Make it constructive. Make it nice and personal, instead of saying 'I like this dress', say 'you look lovely in this dress', such a small thing and it makes a huge difference. Share your thoughts writing kind, genuine words from the bottom of your heart. Find the article you actually enjoy and let the author know about it. It will make them happy. It will perhaps boost their self-esteem. It will make you remembered. You will no longer be just another anonymous blogger, you'll become the one who stands out in the crowd and that's what counts!
7. Constantly challenge yourself
You've probably heard it many times that great things happen out of your comfort zone but… unfortunately, it's true! The bad news is you actually need challenges to get what you want. The good news is with every challenge completed your self-confidence may just grow a bit! So you know what to do, right? Take small steps and accomplish your goals one by one. It's not going to be easy so make sure to be kind to yourself during the journey- New haircut, killer heels and Ruby Woo may not give you massive self-confidence overnight but they may be just enough to encourage you to take that next little step!
My challenges for this year will be:
- Going to a blogging event- I'm scared of people, I'm terrible at starting conversations and I have zero body confidence… that's why I decided to get the tickets and expose myself to hundreds of strangers who's statistics knock my socks off in the centre of London. Well, I owe this to myself to realise I can actually do it! Because I can!
- Putting pictures of myself online- from time to time only, don't worry! Since I can't stand my reflection in the mirror, that one's really hard too. But I dream of having my fashion voice out there so I need to accept the fact of being photographed I guess? And when you think of it, people more often say: 'what an amazing outfit' than 'what an amusing amount of cellulite she has'. They just don't see the silly little things you get paranoid about and which may open your eyes in a way, too.
- Making a YT video- what a wonderful challenge, this one combines all my insecurities in one, haha… and there's the language, too! When you make mistakes in a conversation, nobody's gonna remember but once it's recorded- with your silly face, weird voice and that funny accent, it just stays there forever. No pressure, right?
So yeah, these will be my main challenges to boost my confidence, to prove something to myself. What will be yours? I'd love to hear about them!
8. Your to do list
A few steps to help you along the way:
- Write down all your insecurities. Separate the ones you can work on and the ones you can't change. Focus on the first part!
- Find what inspires you and get surrounded by it. E.g. if you're trying to lose weight, stock up on health and fitness magazines to keep you motivated.
- Write a nice, long comment on one blog you genuinely like each day. Kindness will come back to you!
- Every time somebody says something nice about you, save it. Write it down, print it or keep it in your mobile. Read weekly!
- Every time you succeed at something, write it down, no matter how small it seems. Whether it's 1000 Instagram followers, 2 kilo down, your first sponsored post or simply introducing yourself to someone- write it down. By the end of the year you'll be amused by how much you've actually managed to accomplish- just another fantastic confidence booster!
- Get to know the people you admire. Whether it's a fellow blogger, your colleague or an artist who's exhibition you've seen lately, say hi to them. All those people you are so intimidated by are really just humans with probably the same goals and needs as yours. Some of them may be too busy to answer, some of them will say a few nice words to you and finally, some will be curious to find out more about you and that's where great friendships start. Even if it doesn't happen, you will still learn a lot and enjoy the experience- a short tweet from Lisa Eldridge last year after I'd published a review of her book absolutely made my week.
Ok, I guess that's pretty much it. If you can think of anything else or you just feel like saying hi, don't forget to comment, catch me on social media or write me an email- I promise to reply to every single message. If you know anyone who may benefit from reading this post, please don't forget to share it with them- let's fight for our self-confidence together!
Thank you so much for your time, it truly means a lot to me that we've stayed together till the very last line. Before you go though, let me remind you one thing:
P.S. Today, a week after preparing this piece, a postman came again and I opened the door in a supper classy sheet mask. Guess what? The world hasn't collapsed. Instead, we both had a good laughter about it!


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Builders Fireplace & Supply can install stone fireplaces and do custom exterior stone work. Visit their showroom to see samples of the stone they offer, or visit the web site of their stone suppliers, Coronado Stone, Builders Choice Stone, Centurion Stone and River Valley Stone.
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Healthy eating. None of us like to think we're unhealthy eaters. Yet how many times a year do you resolve to eat healthier? Admit it, you've probably … [Read more...]
Copycat Starbucks Recipes
Some mornings just call for coffee. Or cappuccino, frappuccino, lattes, scones and breakfast sweets. Oh heck, let's just say it... some days are just better with Starbucks. But, for many of us Starbucks is not good for the budget. Luckily, these awesome bloggers took their Starbucks craving to their own kitchen where they perfected their Starbucks favorites right at home. Yes! … [Read more...]
Skinny Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad is probably my absolute favorite side salad. I love the creaminess and the crunch and the sweetness. However, it amazes me how many calories can be packed into a "healthy" salad … [Read more...]
The Best Burger Recipes
Nothing says summer and backyard BBQs like a big juicy burger! And since summer is in full swing, it's only right to get a burger bucket list going! Whether you're craving something … [Read more...]
Is Your Salad Making You Fat?
When we think healthy eating, what is one of the first foods that comes to mind? Salad. Salads can be a fabulously healthy option for sure, but is your salad making you fat? Yes, I'm talking about a lettuce salad filled with leafy greens. The greens are great. What you cover them with is a different story. Many of the items we think are healthy salad toppings are … [Read more...]


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Cover Band ?
Hello we are Oceans Orange from Myrtle Beach SC and are interested in trading some shows with you guys. We love your sound and have a lot of solid contacts in the area, please check us out and message us back if you are down! Take Care
Hey.....Guys....., Gooooood vibes here!!.......................
It's been a pleasure stopping by...................Come on over to our place..when you get a chance......,put your feet up.....and sit a while...x:)))xx
Diggin' your tunes my friends. Great work and excelllent musicianship. Glad to hear a Band from Fayetteville, NC. I used to live in Raeford & played in Fayetterdville quite often.
Set lists from a previous gig.
Set 1
867-5309 (Jenny)
Fool For Your Stockings
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Born To Be Wild
Edge of Seventeen
Highway Song
Man In The Box
Set 2
Train, Train
Anyway You Want It
Voodoo Chile
Wishing Well
Don't Fear The Reaper
Riding The Storm Out
Whole Lotta Rosie
Set 3
Sweet Home Alabama
Paint It Black
Hold On Loosely
Smoke On The Water
Last Dance With Mary Jane
War Pigs
Keep Your Hands To Yourself
Set 4
All Right Now
Simple Man
Mississippi Queen
Give Me One Reason
Living After Midnight
Knocking On Heaven's Door
Hair Of The Dog
Sunshine of Your Love


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Oh, the Baltimore riots. How the city burned, as angry black youth destroyed parts of the town where the black youth lived, and businesses owned by black elders flourished, all to make some kind of point to white suburbanites in other parts of America where people just don't care anyway, because they have a life of their own to live.
Well, all those thugs who got out of control and had so much fun are paying the price, all this time later, now that they've been tried, found guilty, and their sentences handed down.
You no doubt remember these images all over social media during the Baltimore riots:
And this one…
One of the POS thugs in the first image is a 20 year old black youth named Donta Betts, below.
Young Betts, who, by the way, could have been Hussein Obama's son, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his actions during the riots, and fortunately for all those folks in the suburbs all over the country who never gave a shi* about what he was doing and why he was doing it anyway, he is NOT eligible for parole.


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Camping at Lake Patoka
Knight and I both love to go camping and this past year we were able to go a few times. When we go camping we tend to always end up at Lake Patoka in French Lick. We have a nice spot where unless you're local to the area or find it accidentally then you will most likely never end up there. It is quiet, clean and best of all, it is right on the lake as you can see from the pictures below.
Thanks to Craigslist and a nice gentleman from Bloomington I was able to barter a particular item I had for a 17′ Guide canoe. It is very heavy and hard to get onto and off of the car by myself but Knight loves being able to jump in the car on any given weekend and go canoeing, so it is worth the hernia or two I get loading it up.
These pictures are from our second trip to the lake because on our first trip it was either raining cats and dogs or it was 100 degrees and we were in the water either way.
Perhaps in a later post I will put up some of our pictures from our White River canoe trips. You would think with it being White River and in Indianapolis that there would be nothing interesting to photograph but that is not the case.
Tags: camping, life, son, trip


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Everyone should have an emergency survival kit on hand in case of a SHTF situation.
Because making these survival kits is so popular, there are all different kinds of lists and types of kits out there you can create.
The problem is that fitting everything you need to survive in a kit that is still easy to grab if you need to get out of Dodge.
Use our trash can emergency survival kit list and the tips along with it to strike the perfect balance between having all of your necessities and still staying portably prepared.
Start with your container:
A large trashcan works nicely for this kit. It's large enough to fit everything you need but portable enough that you can take it with you in the event that you need to leave your home in an emergency situation. I would recommend something in a heavy plastic. You want lightweight and rugged at the same time. There are some metal cans that might work okay, but with plastic you never need to worry about rust or corrosion.
You'll want a lid that can be snapped securely into place so that in the event that you'd need to transport your kit all of your supplies will stay safely inside. Imagine loading your kit up in a truck bed only to take a sharp turn, spilling the contents of your trashcan. Not only could you lose items, but you could also do some serious damage jostling your supplies around like that. Keep a lid firmly on your can and avoid this hassle.
What you'll need:
Survival Food and Water:
You should have a 3 day supply of food and water. You'll want 1 gallon of water per person per day. You don't want to be stuck without enough water. Especially in a situation where you may have to be exerting yourself more than usual.
For food, you'll want to stick with non-perishables. I recommend cans as they last a long time and are very convenient. As far as what to get, that's up to your tastes. Just be sure to get plenty of proteins and nutrient rich foods to keep your body fueled up. Obviously, you'll be needing a can opener as well.
Consider the dietary restrictions and needs of those in your group when creating this list.
First Aid:
You'll want a standard first aid kit that has everything you need to sanitize and mend all sorts of wound. Pack up your favorite bandages, antibiotic ointment, gauze, and anything else you like to use to fix up nicks and scratches.
You'll also want to add sunscreen to this kit, as well as some other medications. Pain reliever, antacid, laxatives, and anti-diarrhea medication should all be added to your kit.
A first aid reference book would also be a great thing to keep on hand in case of an emergency.
Tools, etc.:
You'll need some extra items in your kit as well for practical purposes. Add these tools and you should be set!
- flashlight
- multi-tool
- duct tape
- compass
- map
- matches
- aluminum foil
- radio
- batteries
This is another portion of the list that takes some thinking. Where will you likely be? What will your days look like? What will you need? Consider these things and add whatever else you'll require to your survival kit.
Sanitation Essentials:
Toilet paper, soap, personal hygiene items, detergent, bleach, and trash bags should all be added into your kit.
This depends highly on where you'll be in the survival situation and what time of year it is. You won't need a parka in Florida and you won't need rain gear in Arizona. Go with your best judgement when it comes to what to pack for clothes and bedding.
You'll definitely need a change of clothes for all of those in your group and enough bedding to keep everyone comfortable in your climate.
Extra Essentials:
Consider who will be in your group in a survival situation. People with special needs will need to be considered in the planning for your kit. Think about what is needed to live several days for each person in your party. Thinking about the individuals rather than the group could help you remember some important items you'd otherwise forget.
Some examples of these special items:
- Eyeglasses and contacts
- Prescription medications
- Denture supplies
- Baby formula, diapers, etc.
- Diabetes supplies
- Pet food, etc.
Packing your supplies:
Start with the water, placing your containers at the very bottom of your container. This keeps the rest of your supplies safe from water damage in the event of one of your bottles springing a leak.
From there, you go from heavy to light with your items. The heaviest, least breakable items should go on top of your water. Don't put anything too sharp that might puncture the containers directly on top of the containers, and avoid putting anything that might rust too close to the water. Hopefully you'll have no broken containers, but just in case, keep your metal away if at all possible.
Moving towards the top of your container, you should be adding lighter and lighter things, saving the most delicate for the top. Careful not to break your delicate things when putting the top on your trashcan. Keep your extra shoes/clothes on top for easy access in the event of needing to quickly change attire for travel.
With that, you should be all set with your highly-useful, well
For the full article, click here.
Want more survival kit list and instructions? Check out these links:
Emergency Hurricane Survival Kit List & Preparedness Tips
Must Have Items For Your Survival Kit
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Hindalco has declared its 4QFY2009 results. The standalone topline de-grew by 24% y-o-y to Rs3,809 crore.
This de-growth was mainly due to a steep fall in LME aluminium, alumina and copper prices y-o-y, during the quarter.
For FY2009, the standalone topline de-grew by 5.1% y-o-y to Rs18,219 crore (Rs19,201 crore).
On the operating front, Hindalco posted a significant decline in EBIDTA margins by 670bp y-o-y, to 9.2% from 15.9%, during 4QFY2009. The decline in the margins was mainly due to lower LME prices y-o-y and an increase in the costs. Hence, Net profit declined by a hefty 50% y-o-y to Rs268 crore (Rs536 crore), during the quarter.
However, on a consolidated basis, the company posted a substantial decline of 78% y-o-y in the Net profit, at Rs485 crore from Rs2,193 crore, in FY2008.
The Net profit has been impacted due to a loss of US $1.9 billion in Novelis, a subsidiary of Hindalco, in FY2009, which includes extraordinary losses of US $1.5 billion due to asset impairment, and a loss of US$556 million on account of unrealised mark-to-market losses on the hedging of commodities and currencies.
Excluding the impact of extraordinary items, on a pre-tax basis, Novelis has posted a loss of US$164mn in FY2009, as against the profit of US$47mn in FY2008.
On account of weak aluminium demand and prices, an over-stretched balance sheet and rich valuations, we maintain SELL on Hindalco.


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Greetings, Kelly!
I am extremely moved by your article. What a timely read, encouraging purposeful action!
Love the wording of this (and the article as a whole):
"…There is power in realizing that the One – in you, wants to work – through you.
The hope of glory, Jesus Christ, is not in us just to hang out. He is in us to be worked out into the world.
Do I allow this?"
With this new year, I've been reassessing what I'm allowing – or not allowing – "to be worked out into the world." So, Kelly, your words definitely line up with this season of regrouping for me. I will share on my Facebook page and revisit this beautiful piece of writing — often! 🙂
Thank you for sharing!
Smiles & Blessings,


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Find Tours, sightseeing tours, activities & things to do in Brussels. Find discounted tickets, events, and many more.
See the best of Brussels on an easy and convenient hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour! The perfect do-it-yourself sightseeing tour in Brussels, the hop-on hop-off tour allows you to see Brussel's top attractions at your own pace aboard a comfortable open-top double-decker bus with pre-recorded multi-lingual commentary. With 22 hop-on hop-off stops conveniently located around the city on two different routes, you can stop at all the major attractions, including the European Parliament, Grand Place and the iconic Atomium!
Discover the best of Holland on this full-day trip to Amsterdam from Brussels. Holland is only a stone's throw away from Belgium so don't miss the chance to visit Amsterdam on a comprehensive day trip from Brussels. Cross the Dutch border and enter a land of polders and dikes dotted with countless windmills before reaching the Amsterdam area. Take the opportunity to customize your itinerary with free time in Amsterdam. Soak up the vibe at Dam Square or enjoy an optional canal ride - the choice is yours!
Make the most of your time in Brussels and uncover thousands of years of European heritage on this full-day Luxembourg day trip from Brussels. Explore old and modern Luxembourg with your guide and discover top city attractions such as Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Royal Palace and the European Court of Justice. Before heading back to Brussels, stop in the beautiful town of Dinant and see its 13th century cathedral. This tour is ideally suited to those with only one day to spare.
Book a Local Brussel''r'for a personalised meet-up. Ditch the travel guides, decide where to go, what to see, what to do together with your private, personal, like-minded local host. With a friend who knows what you like, the city will unveil its best to you.
Discover medieval history and Belgian mystery on this Ghent and Bruges day trip from Brussels. Explore the historic, UNESCO-listed cities of Ghent and Bruges ' two of Flanders' special gems ' with your guide. Visit top attractions such as St Bavo's Cathedral, the ancient port, St Nicholas' Church and the Castle of the Counts of Flanders in Ghent. Travel by coach through the Belgian and Flemish countryside to Bruges. There, marvel at Minnewater and wander cobblestone streets to the impressive Market Square and the Chapel of the Holy Blood.
Explore Brussels on a 4-hour guided walking tour with a twist as you following the trail of the city's top chocolate shops. Your guide will point out the major sights as you go, explaining the history of Brussels and why it's famous for its chocolate. Enjoy tastings of these Belgian treats and learn to create your own in a workshop with a chocolate connoisseur.
Discover Brussels, the gourmet city, by night on this fantastic three hour, small-group, foodie walking tour! Visit Brussels' tastiest restaurants, sample Belgian specialties and learn about the city's history and culinary traditions. Numbers are limited to a maximum of 20 people on this small group walking tour, ensuring you'll receive personalized attention from your knowledgeable food expert. A great trip for food and history lovers!
Book a Local Brussel''r'for a personalised meet-up. Ditch the travel guides, decide where to go, what to see, what to do together with your private, personal, like-minded local host. With a friend who knows what you like, the city will unveil its best to you.
Take this Brussels beer-tasting tour to discover why Belgium is so famous for its mouth-watering beers! No country in the world boasts a brewing tradition as rich and diverse as Belgium's, and this tour is the perfect way to learn about the country's beer heritage and taste great beers. Numbers are limited to a maximum of 25 people on this small group Brussels Beer tasting tour, ensuring you'll receive personalized attention from your knowledgeable guide.
Enjoy unlimited internet everywhere in Belgium with 4G-LTE Pocket WiFi. Stay connected anytime and avoid data roaming charges for your next travel in Belgium.
Choose between a morning or afternoon guided coach tour and get better acquainted with Brussels. See the world-famous market square, glance at the remarkable city hall and discover the secrets of Belgian chocolates, the European Parliament or the Basilica of Koekelberg (afternoon tour only) on this comprehensive half-day tour. Sit back and relax as you soak in the historic highlights of Belgium's culture capital.


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Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and I wanted to show my love for all the awesome people who love James and Lola. Chocolate and roses are so cliche, so I decided to whip up a brand new Vice, Virtue & Video novella instead. This is a Valentine's gift that won't make you fat like candy, and it won't dry… Read more →
Category: Short Stories
New cover for First Dance
I recently updated the cover art for First Dance. The changes are available now on Smashwords editions and will be pushed through to other retailers very soon. Download First Dance free here: Smashwords Amazon iBooks Barnes & Noble Kobo Sony Diesel Read more →
Diving In now available
Diving In, the third short in the Vice & Virtue series, is available now on Smashwords. Here is a brief synopsis: In this third short in the Vice & Virtue series, Lola Caraway goes to Southern California to visit her long-time best friend, James Laird, who has become a rising star in the adult entertainment business. She meets several of… Read more →
Exposed now available
My second short, Exposed, is also out now. Pick it up for FREE for a limited time. A short synopsis: After achieving success in the porn industry, James Laird returns to his home town to visit his best friend, Lola Caraway, and must face his growing attraction to her on the night of her senior prom. A bombshell drops that… Read more →
First Dance out now
First Dance is available now on Smashwords and other eBook retailers. Here is a brief synopsis: Lola Caraway is a nerdy freshman attending her first high school dance. Her long-time best friend, ultra hot upperclassman James Laird, is there with his pseudo girlfriend, popular cheerleader Kelsey Vaughn. Kelsey gets mad when he shares a slow dance with Lola, so he… Read more →