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My work for this module focuses on different approaches to documentary. This continues a concern with the multi-layered nature of experience of places and interplay of subjectivity and observation and the role of humour, metaphor and symbolism in communication of political messages.
It explores ways of working with and combining different media and styles from illustration, printmaking and photography.
It is concerned with questions like:
- Whose documentary are we talking about and why? how do we work with other people to get multiple perspectives both in terms of information and feedback. How do potentially conflicting perspectives modify the message. Looking particularly at what might be meant by 'the feminist gaze' and 'multiculturalism'.
- When documentary – places change over time – even over a few seconds – short term, long term, historical perspective and layers – the past is always present
- Subjective perspectives: exploration and deepening understanding over time and ways in which other people have translated what they see into images
- Imagination: how I want things to be and why. Selective erasure (eg cars and rubbish bins). Simplification and expressive representation.
- Communication: what are the strengths and challenges of communicating the 'message' – photographs (referential but subjective selection and editing), photo-collage and photo-montage (possibilities for juxtaposition and multi-layered questioning), illustration and printmaking (possibilities for invention), video and interactive presentation. How can 'real' and 'fake/imagined' can be visually combined or distinguished.
- Why am I doing it? how best to disseminate the document and engage with the audience to make a difference
Assignment 1 looks in more detail at my practice and personal voice underpinning my work in this module.
1.1 Personal Statement
This first exercise reviews my currently very diverse work and media experimentation from earlier OCA Visual Communications courses in Illustration, Printmaking and Book Design and how this can be brought together into a more coherent vision and creative visual approach as an illustrator working in different media.
See my portfolio and overview of work so far on my synthesised and updated portfolio blog: https://www.zemniimages.info
This blog identifies four main threads to my work:
- 'Us Too' a socio-political underpinning of social inclusion, human rights and personal reflection that draws on my professional consultancy work, and which I want to make more implicit throughout my work.
- Documentary using photography, collage, illustration and printmaking of places and journeys to raise questions about society, economics and politics both overseas and at home.
- Imagining creating single image and sequential narratives based on found images in textures and recycled materials 'every mark, every splodge has a story to tell'.
- Process an interest in 'taking risks' and 'happy accidents', pushing different media and visual dynamics as far as I can to see the range of effects I can produce from each, and how media can be combined to communicate different messages.
This review also identified a number of key weaknesses to address going forward:
- a need to 'lighten up' and use comedy as well as anger if I want to reach a wider audience, and to look at when to use each.
- although individually some of my images are quite powerful, I need to be clearer about underlying implicit (if not explicit) narrative so that they have greater impact
1.2 Skills and media
This second exercise looks at my existing skills and establishes a plan of skills development to significantly improve:
- the technical standard of my work across the range of existing media
- some new media I am interested in exploring
1.3 Creative process
This third exercise starts to look at my working process and how I can communicate with a wider audience
1.4 What's Next
This fourth exercise outlines the types of political and visual communications discussions I want to explore in developing my 'Zemni voice' from OCA courses and my professional work.
My plans for the division of work between this module and Visual Research Module have changed a little since my original statement of intent – issues in political illustration are now central to Advanced Practice module and the questions about textless illustration are not the topic for visual research.
Statement of intent for Level 3 updated
For my current thinking on how I might approach the different assignments in this Advanced Practice module see:
For some ways of how I develop linkages between my visual communications practice and my professional consultancy work see my proposed research on textless narratives on my blog for the parallel Visual Research Module:
See also some other ongoing projects that evolved from my review in Exercise 1 on my zemniimages portfolio site. These might form the basis for future work either in the final 'Sustaining Your Practice' module or after this degree. the final module


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Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner has revealed that triple F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton was desperate to drive for the Austrian team in 2012 and 2013 before signing for Mercedes. The Briton, who had spent his entire career with McLaren, left them to join the Brackley-based team in 2013 with whom he has enjoyed tremendous success in the past two seasons.
Hamilton has won back-to-back Drivers' titles with the Mercedes team, which had won just one race in three seasons after the car manufacturer took over the Brawn Racing team that was owned by former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn. But Horner has revealed that the British driver was desperate for a drive with the all-conquering Red Bull team, which won four back-to-back titles with Sebastian Vettel at the helm between 2010-2013.
"He was desperate to drive for the team. In 2012, he wanted to come and drive for us, but there was no way we could accommodate him while Sebastian was with us. Then before he signed for Mercedes he was very keen to drive for Red Bull for 2013," Horner said, as quoted on ESPN F1.
The Austrian-owned outfit's team principal has also admitted that his plan of weakening McLaren backfired following Mercedes dominance in the V6 turbo era, which was introduced at the start of the 2014 campaign. McLaren were Red Bull's closest competitors during their dominant years, and Hamilton's move to the Silver Arrows team was looked at as a step back. However, while the Briton has gone on to enjoy multiple race wins and championships, his former team has not won a race since 2012.
"The McLaren had been very competitive in 2011 and 2012 and I thought it would probably be better for us for him to be at Mercedes than McLaren, so in the event of us not being able to sign him I encouraged Niki Lauda to sign him to weaken McLaren - not envisaging that Mercedes would become the absolute powerhouse they are today," the Red Bull team principal added.

subset: commoncrawl


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Runescape news: clan camp, support and web pages
mmonice Date: Oct/28/13 09:49:02 Views: 88
The new clan updates have arrived! We know that existing clans have many free-to-play members, so these new clan tools will be available to both free-to-play and members. They will give clans a real presence in the gam


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Well, I finally got back to the Saint-Saens with a bit more time than just a few minutes to stare at it. I'm still working in my "muslin" thread/bead choices. I figure if I can't see the possibilities in this, I'm headed down the wrong path anyway. I've got a bit of tweaking to do on the two outer rounds, but you can get the idea for the busy section.
|Saint-Saens test
In the movement from the Symphony, Saint-Saens states each theme, and then begins to pull in other ideas. He restates ideas from earlier movements, mixing them up with ideas from this movement. I'm not sure if I'll keep all the negative space, but the orchestration is pretty sparce and the organ part is really quite simple. The whole time I've been working on this, I keep reminding myself: "less is more" and "KISS" and "stick to the point" etc. I will be letting this sit for a day or so; then messing with a couple of ideas on the computer before putting anything in thread again.


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Article 1: What are some of the qualities of a good parent? Parents play an important role in the child`s upbringing. However, it is not easy to be a good parent, much to the surprise of those who think dealing with young children is a piece of cake. In my view, to be a good parent you have to meet certain requirements that I am going to discuss further in the following paragraphs. You should spend time with your child. Please do not mistake me. By that I am not saying you must
What Does It Take to be Good Parents? Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I am Chong Cia Ling, the founder of Brainy Montessori. I am so grateful to have such an honour standing here to deliver my speech entitled "What does it take to be good parents?". I am sure all the parents here will agree with me that being parents is tough. Bringing up children is a very difficult task. Everyone wishes to be good parents. However, sometimes we could be so discouraged and helpless when we get the feedback
Some people think that a good parent is someone who has "good" kids. The truth is, however, that good parents can have any kind of kids-well-behaved kids, poorly behaved kids, calm and confident kids, anxious kids, mentally ill kids, super achievers, underachievers, kids with health problems, kids with learning problems, gifted kids, average kids and all other kinds of kids. Kids are a product of their genes, their communities, their schools, their culture, their family placement, their experiences
Are the Walls Parents Good? What do we consider as good parents? Well in my perspective I feel that good parents are ones that have love for their child. When you're a parent you want to make sure that you are always there for your kid no matter what the situation is. Things could be going good or bad, but you always make sure that you are right there by the side. Being able to provide for your child is also a big part of being a good parent. Just in general good parents are the ones who accept
There are some people that should not be parents for various reasons. Many of them can not look after their children properly or can not provide the right needs of their children's upbringing and growth. Some people should not be parents because they might not be able to raise their child in the appropriate manner. This might be the case, or it might be because they are bad role models. Either
Title : BEING A GOOD PARENT I. INTRODUCTION A . Introductory Statement B. Thesis Statement : To be a good parent,parents have to face with some requirements that you have to follow and apply them if you want to be a good parent for their children. II. BODY A. First Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence) : Parents should spend time with their children Examples 1. try to know children 2. small talking 3.telling story before go to bed B.Second Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence) : Parents should love
Being a good parent takes lots and lots of hard work. Being a parent to your child is being their first friend, first teacher, and first protector. To be a good parent, it takes a lot of understanding and caring. To understand a child is the first characteristic of being a good parent. To understand why your child is misbehaving, you as a parent should listen and communicate with your child. One example is that as a single mom to my four year old, I have to listen to him. My son is slow at talking
Are parents are good teacher Most people wouldn't think that parents are the best teachers since most of them are not specialized in teaching. However, after considering different angles, one will agree that parents are the best teachers. Parents are the ones who teach their child from birth how to walk, talk, and behave. They also teach their child to be a good person and they guide them to conquer difficulties. First, children learn the most basic things from parents
Being Good Parents Being a good parent starts with having both a mother and a father; it takes two parents to have a child, so it takes two parents to raise a child. Being a good parent is to always love your kids unconditionally. Understanding your child is very helpful in being a good parent as well. Two parent households that have total involvement in a child's life, is the key to becoming a good parent. The start of good parenting begins with having both mother and father
WHAT IS A GOOD PARENT? When we were kid that we all looked up to our parent, they are our role model. We always dream that one day we just like them. As we growth older through school and life experiences we understand more and more that life is not easy and we can't please everyone. The more we understand life often we ask ourselves this question: What is a good parent and how do I well become good parent one day? Everyone among us will ask this question and everyone have their own answers.


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It's a good thing that there are 253 page pdf owner's manuals online for smartphones. It's self-help. Not that I'm into being completely independent all the time, but ti's nice to be able to repair your own things.
Nice and cheap.
This moment marks eighteen and a half hours until I get to see my family again, after seven weeks of being apart. I know it's not the longest time ever, but it feels long. I'm ready to be at home with them, in the familiar but sort of unfamiliar places of my suburban Minnesota hometown again.
I'm ready to be back in the Land of 10,000 Lakes where they sell Kemp's ice cream and Caribou coffee and people say "bayyyg" instead of "bag" and "pellowah" instead of "pillow." I'm ready to get used to living without excessive street noise as the soundtrack for every night. I'm ready to drive directly to places instead of taking the roundabout way on the L.
I'm ready to bring my heart home to the people who know it best, to sit with my mom in the mornings and drink coffee together. I'm ready to find out what your first summer back at home after being away at college is like. I'm ready to see what Jesus wants to do with these three months where I have no plans.
I guess you could say that I'm ready to be home. I'll be happy to stay here another week; I'll live where I'm planted. But I'll be glad to be home soon.


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Summit Feature: Col height from Harvey maps.
Classification: Clem, Sub-hump, Subfour, P30 Tump.
OS Grid Ref: SD654543 This data is currently only accurate to a 6 figure grid reference (c.a 100m).
Click here to learn how to help improve it.
UK Area: 36 - Lancashire, Cheshire & the Southern Pennines (OS Maps 102,103)
Latitude: 53.98359, Longitude: -2.5291, Height: 395 metres (1296 feet)
Prominence: 99 metres (325 feet)
Unique Waypoint POI Name: 0395.- (DoBIH Hill ID: 5323)
External Links for Middle Knoll:
-GeoHack link... -OS Map Bing link... -Google Map link... -Geograph link... -Middle Knoll on hill-bagging.co.uk...
Data courtesy of Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams
Selected mapping: Google or Bing / Ordnance Survey:Fundamental Benchmark | :Nearby Hill | :Nearby Trigpoint | : mouseover
Climbed Middle Knoll? Log in to tick it off...
Whins Brow (2.1km)Baxton Fell (2.5km)Top of Blaze Moss (4.0km)Totridge Fell (5.9km)Hailshowers Fell (7.8km)Hawthornthwaite Fell Top (7.9km)Waddington Fell (9.1km)Bowland Knotts (9.1km)Easington Fell (9.5km)Grit Fell (10.7km)
alan caine amblerbob Andrew Brown Anton Carole Chris Pearson chrisd101 cjo Colin Crawford david gradwell Des Taylor Dugswell2 edgradwell GordonAdshead hillbasher iaindbrown Jim.Fothergill moorsman ngthack oakesave Peebs PJ Yue rb rhw Rusty SEAN WANNOP staton75 stevent0809
Total = 1 Fundamental Benchmark in
* The waypoint data in italics is only accurate to a 6 fig grid reference. Click here to learn how to help improve it.
Data courtesy of Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams


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I am street photographer a beggar poet .. I shoot misery cavorting with hope I shoot original content. I am Shia Sufi Hindu all in One
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Even God Cant Save The Muslim Beggar Born In Captivity
This was shot in 2013 during Chehlum Lucknow and there are many beggars like her near the Talkatora cemetery shouting their lungs out for alms ,,I dont recollect but there were a lot of Kashmiris too begging with pictures of the deluge during the same time I presume ,..and for a Muslim beggar begging is a life sentence a lifetime punishment .
And I document the pain pathos struggle of the Muslim Beggars ,,their children too take too begging and they gradually become professional beggars ,, their will to work disappears and having begged got money they will not slave for another person.
And its about self respect too once it has been mortgaged on the streets there is nothing left but beggary .
pinjare ke panchhi re, tera dadr na jaane koe
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Shah-e-Mardan Sher-e-Yazdan Quwat-e-Parwardigar Lafata Ila Ali La Saif Ila Zulfiqar , originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1 ....
Ek Shahenshah Ne Banake Yeh Haseen Tajmahal Ham Gareebon Ki Mohabbat Ka Udaya Hai Mazak.. , a photo by firoze shakir photographerno1 on Fli...


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Attention students! Now is your opportunity to order a STOUT FALCONS FOOTBALL shirt!
Show your love for your school and your team by ordering one of your own!
You can order a:
- Small, medium, large, or x-large T-shirt 00
- Long sleeve shirt $14.00
- Hoodie 00
- 2XLs just a bit more!
The shirts are adult sizes, so make sure you order accordingly! See Mr. Hool for an order form! Orders are due back to Mr. Hool by 11/15!


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ZigZag & Ankle Foot
In stock
The zig zag foot with ankle set has a snap up foot for sewing over rises at the beginning of or in the body of your fabric. Simply tilt the foot and pull the button to set the foot. When a rise is encountered, the foot automatically releases on it's downward slope. No more getting stuck at a rise or uneven stitches on the down side! This is also a great item to have on hand as a replacement for a lost or damaged ankle.
Tell us which Brother machine that you have.
Tell us which Brother machine that you have.
|Part Number


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Treat yourself: 30 birthday deals, freebies in metro Phoenix
Birthdays mean cake and candles and gifts from friends. They also mean free meals, free admission to attractions and even free ice cream from retailers around Phoenix.
One way to score big is to sign up for your favorite retailers' e-mail newsletters and loyalty programs. You'll be sent an e-mail with a coupon to print out or a card to bring with you. Signing up will likely net you additional deals and specials throughout the year.
Some businesses let you just show up and claim your deal. You'll have to show valid government-issued identification, such as a driver's license, with your birth date.
It can be hard to fit in all the deals on your actual birthday, so some businesses allow you to redeem a deal any day during your birthday month. If you're savvy enough to collect lots of these deals, you can celebrate your birthday all month long.
Lastly, if you're not sure whether a store or service offers a birthday deal, visit the website. Or call and ask.
Check out these 29 places offering birthday deals:
Get free ice cream and a discount on cake for your birthday when you join the email club. Two to three weeks before your birthday, you will receive a $3 discount for a cake costing $15 or more. Three days before your birthday, you will receive a coupon for a free 2.5-ounce ice cream. Both deals are redeemable up to two weeks after your birthday.
Details: Multiple Valley locations. baskinrobbins.com.
Sign up online for the Chef's Table Club, and you'll get an email with a $30 certificate to use during your birthday month.
Details: 3205 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. 480-812-4701. 16403 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-444-0068. benihana.com.
Cold Stone Creamery
Join the My Cold Stone Club and receive a buy one creation, get one creation coupon for your birthday. The coupon will be mailed seven days before your birthday and is redeemable for two weeks. It may take up to 24 hours to receive your initial emailed coupon.
Details: Multiple Valley locations. coldstonecreamery.com.
Get a free one-scoop sundae on your birthday at the Camelback location, or sign up for the Culver's eClub for other special offers and discounts from local franchise locations.
Details: 825 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix. culvers.com.
Get a free Grand Slam breakfast on your birthday at participating locations. Some restrictions may apply. Show your ID to get the deal. Does not include beverages.
Dunkin Donuts
Create a DD Perks account to earn points for buying your morning coffee and sugary snack. Members receive a free beverage when they enroll, every time they rack up 200 points and for their birthdays.
Details:dunkindonuts.com, click on "DD Perks" at the top of the homepage.
Einstein Bros. Bagels
Get a coupon for a free egg sandwich with purchase when you sign up for the E-Club Schmear Society.
Details:einsteinbros.com; click "Email Club" in the upper right-hand corner.
Grimaldi's Coal-Brick Oven Pizzeria
Join Grimaldi's e-Family and get a free large one-topping pizza on your birthday. The coupon applies to dine-in purchase only.
Details: Six Valley locations. grimaldispizzeria.com; click on "Join the Grimaldi's e-Family" on the homepage.
Enjoy a free full stack of Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity pancakes on your birthday when you sign up for IHOP's Pancake Revolution club. You can claim other free pancake stacks right away after signing up, as well as every year on the anniversary of you joining the club.
Details:IHOP.com, click on "Join the eClub".
Joe's Real BBQ, Joe's Farm Grill and Liberty Market
This family of restaurants all offer something special on your birthday. At both Joe's, you get a $10 meal credit toward your bill for dine-in or take out. At Liberty Market, you get $10 off your dine-in order, or a free take-out dessert. A valid ID is required, and you must come on the day of your birthday.
Details: Joe's Real BBQ, 301 N. Gilbert Rd., Gilbert. 480-503-3805, joesrealbbq.com. Joe's Farm Grill, 3000 E. Ray Road, Gilbert. 480-563-4745, joesfarmgrill.com. Liberty Market, 230 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert. 480-892-1900, libertymarket.com.
MORE AZCENTRAL ON SOCIAL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Papa Murphy's Pizza
Join the eClub one month before your birthday, and you'll be sent an e-mail for free cookie dough when you buy a pizza. Not valid on purchases of dessert or kids' pizzas.
Red Robin
Sign up for the Red Robin Royalty Card and get a free burger during your birthday month. The deal will be loaded onto your card. The reward is redeemable during the entire month, though if you sign up in the month, it may take up to 24 hours before you can get the free burger.
Details: Multiple Valley locations. royalty.redrobin.com.
Soak up the flavors of the sun-kissed sea by joining the Rubio's Beach Club. Get freebies, such as a free taco, when you sign up for the club. Members also receive exclusive offers throughout the year and a choice of a free entree coastal trio, two-taco plate (excluding mix-and-match option), burrito, salad or bowl for their birthdays.
Details:rubios.com, click on "Beach Club".
Spinato's Pizza
Sign up for the e-club, and you'll be emailed a coupon the week before your birthday for $10 off your order at any Spinato's location. Present the coupon electronically or by hard copy within one week of receiving it to get the discount. Not usually valid with other offers.
Details: Five Valley locations. spinatospizzeria.com.
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Join Sprinkles Perks, and you'll receive a free cupcake coupon during your birthday month. The coupon expiration date will be noted in the email.
Details: 4501 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. sprinkles.com/perks.
Register a Starbucks Card and automatically receive a birthday reward of one complimentary food or beverage item. The birthday reward is added to your account approximately two days before your birthday and expires the day after your birthday. Present your card or mobile app in the store to receive the free item. The reward also includes a coupon for 15 percent off a single item at store.starbucks.com. The coupon expires after 30 days and is not valid with other offers or discounts.
Details: Multiple Valley locations. starbucks.com.
Sweet Tomatoes
Get salads and soups for less by signing up for Club Veg online. You'll get e-mails with discount coupons and special birthday discounts, including the current "buy one meal get one free" offer with the purchase of two drinks.
Things To Do app: Get the best in events, dining and travel right on your device
Arizona Snowbowl
Get a free ticket for a lift ride on your birthday when you present a valid ID at the counter. The ticket is valid within seven days of your birthday.
Harkins Theatres
Going to the movies on your birthday? Enjoy free popcorn. To get the deal, no matter your age, you must show identification, such as a driver's license or birth certificate. Ask for this deal at the box office when you purchase your ticket.
Details: Multiple Valley locations. harkinstheatres.com.
Out of Africa Wildlife Park
General admission ― which includes a safari, shows and a shuttle ― is free the entire month of your birthday. That's a savings of more than $30 for adults and $15 for children. Show valid identification or a birth certificate at the entrance.
Details: Arizona 260 and Cherry Road, Camp Verde. 928-567-2840, outofafricapark.com.
Stand Up Live!
Fill out a comment card at a show or sign up online to become a VIP promotional member and receive four free tickets to a show during your birthday month. The deal is not valid for certain special events, and it may take awhile for your comment card to be processed.
Details: 50 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix. 480-719-6100, standuplive.com.
MORE AZCENTRAL ON SOCIAL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Treat yourself to a shopping spree and sign up for Anthropologie's loyalty club, Anthro. Members will receive invites to exclusive events, access to a personal stylist, a chance to check out new arrivals before the general public and a 15 percent birthday discount. The discount, which will be emailed to you, is valid for any one purchase either in-store or online during your birthday month.
Details:anthropologie.com, click on "Anthro" at the bottom of the homepage.
Aveda will give you an e-mail offer for a free birthday gift when you become a member.
Details:aveda.com, click on "Offers."
Kids 12 and under can join the Bookmans Kids Club. In addition to a 10 percent discount on anything in Bookmans' entertainment exchanges, they'll get a $10 gift certificate to use on their birthday. Customers ages 13 through 17 can sign up for the 1317 club, which gives them a 15 percent discount on anything in the store's entertainment exchanges, as well as a $15 gift certificate for their birthdays.
Details: 8034 N. 19th Ave., Phoenix, 602-433-0255, and 1056 S. Country Club Drive, Mesa, 480-835-0505. bookmans.com.
Changing Hands
The bookstore offers customers a choice of either a 25 percent discount or $10 off any single purchase. All you have to do is drop by during your birthday month and show a driver's license or other form of ID. Young readers without ID can receive a birthday gift for their birthdays, too, when accompanied by a parent with a valid license or state-issued photo ID.
Details: 300 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix. 602-274-0067, and 6428 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe. 480-730-0205. changinghands.com.
Cost Plus World Market
Sign up for the World Market Explorer club, and you will be e-mailed a coupon for birthday savings. You'll also get a coupon to save 15 percent on your next in-store or online purchase when you sign up.
J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney's credit-card holders receive a $15 rewards coupon for their birthday. The coupon can be combined with other coupons and rewards. It is sent to the cardholder's online rewards profile and as a hard copy in the mail. The birthday reward usually is redeemable for 90 days.
Details: Multiple Valley locations. jcpenney.com.
Members of Sephora's Beauty Insider club earn points with every dollar they spend that can be redeemed for products. As a Beauty Insider, you can also attend free beauty classes and visit a store to pick up a free birthday gift – a mini set from Fresh or Marc Jacobs Beauty – any time during your birthday month.
Details:sephora.com, click on "Beauty Insider" at the bottom of the homepage.
Stein Mart
Get special discounts on your birthday by signing up for Stein Mart's Preferred Customer Program. You'll also receive notices about members-only shopping days and events.
Victoria's Secret
Angel cardholders automatically receive a coupon in the mail during their birthday month valid for 45 days from the date issued. Angel and Angel VIP cardholders receive $10 off, while Angel Forever cardholders receive $15 off. Non-Angel cardholders also may receive birthday coupons of $10 or more off a purchase or item, depending on how often they shop and how much they spend. Birthday coupons are valid with other offers.
Details: Multiple Valley locations. victoriassecret.com.
MORE: 75 spots to hold your child's birthday party in Phoenix | Happy Birthday to me! Why are we spending so much on kids' parties? | 8 tips to save on your kids' birthday party
Know of another great birthday deal in metro Phoenix or Arizona? Send it to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The number of people suffering from anxiety and panic disorder like agoraphobia, social anxiety and the like has reached more than epidemic proportions. If we add to this number, those people suffering additional anxiety due to a specific disease process such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, circulatory disturbances and pain-related disorders such as arthritis, fibromyalgia and the like, one wonders if anyone is left anxiety-free.
The anxiety/panic epidemic is not just a national problem, but one of international proportion. The large majority of those suffering with these disorders are holding full-time jobs, many at Executive and managerial levels and are ex- periencing a relatively high degree of workplace stress. Many are taking medications of some sort, from tran- quillizers to anti-depressants and sleeping pills. Others are addicted to other substances including alcohol, cigarettes, sugar and drugs, both legal and illegal.
Most people with anxiety/panic disorder have very similar complaints from free floating anxiety to full-blown anxiety attacks, making them prisoners of their own lives. Many complain of poor concentration and memory recall and tend to be absent from work quite frequently and few can remember the last time they felt well, physically, emotionally or spiritually.
Managing anxiety and panic is like anything else. There are many facets to be considered and once these are defined, a workable program needs to be put in place and then worked on with persistence!
Holistic Key #1: Food Stress
Most people pay very little attention to what they put into their bodies in the form of food or drink, or the com- bination thereof. In fact, most bodies don't know what to expect. Sometimes they get breakfast, sometimes they don't. Many days they are loaded with junk and other days they're put on some sort of a diet. Now, I can hear the yelps…."I eat low-fat." "I never snack between meals." "I count my calories very closely." For many people this is true, but even for those who follow some sort of regime, research shows we still may be eating incorrectly for our own body needs. 75% of the population carry a gene known as Profactor H, or the caveman gene.
This hereditary factor guides the way our body responds to certain foods, especially high carbohydrate foods by over producing the hormone insulin. Insulin is a fat-storer and out of balance, is experienced in the body as a stressor. Under certain conditions, hereditary and otherwise, the body can either over produce this hormone or build a resistance to it. The body will have a tendency to store the intake as fat, even if eating a low fat diet. In reality, if a diet is too low-fat, the body will actually store even more, thus creating food stress. If we have a tendency towards this Profactor, we need to be careful about which carbohydrate foods we chose, how often we eat them and the amounts at each meal. We need to be aware of the balance between our intake of protein, fat and carbohydrates. Once the balance is in place the body can start burning fat, which is the ideal biochemical state for physiological, emotional and cognitive functioning.
This holds true even if a person is not over-weight, as is sometimes the case in panic and anxiety disorders. It is also important to note that Profactor H is the underlying link to the major killers; heart disease, adult onset dia- betes, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, certain cancers including breast, ovarian and uterine andis a link to smokingand yo-yo weight gain.
People with a tendency to Profactor H, or hyperinsulinemia have a particular personality profile which includes anxiety, panic, agoraphobia, emotional instability, de- pression, PMS and many other uncomfortable body feelings. Many turn to cigarettes, drugs, or alcohol to try to calm this feeling which they describe as "stress." This feeling is actually a drop in blood sugar, or what is known as food- induced hyperinsulinemia.
For people with an active "body symptom policing system" in place, this blood sugar drop is very frightening. The body answers this hypoglycemic response with an outpouring of other stress hormones including adrenalin and cortisol, among others. These neurological stimulators increase the already present body sensations and fear sets in. This frightening cycle intensifies and many choose to completely alter their lives in a sad attempt to manage this bio- chemical reaction.
Once one learns to manage food-induced hyperinsulinemia, the body sensations are reduced greatly. The next step is to understand how to reinterpret the sensations, so they can actually work for the individual, instead of hindering his progress.
INTERACTIVE SELF-HYPNOSIS: Working with Body Sensations, Thoughts and Emotions The body communicates with us through our body feelings or sensations. Whenever we feel tension , that is an attempt of the body to let us know it is under physical stress. Most of us never pay any attention to this body communication, es- pecially on low levels. We do pay lots of attention once the sensations begin screaming at us, such as neck spasms, backache, indigestion, heart palpitations, dizziness, headaches, to name a few. By this time the stress chemicals in the body are very high and seriously interfering with our ability to function on all levels. We can learn to manage this by learning various techniques which retrain the brain to release the stress chemicals on low levels subconsciously.
"Interactive Hypnosis" is a collection of original tech- niques, designed by the author, that put the individual in charge of managing his own body chemistry. When we teach our brain to be aware and release low stressors, we do not need to be alerted. The brain becomes an excellent employee, doing It's job for us. We can also train the brain to notice and release negative chemical producing thoughts and emotions that appear and which are not currently needed for our functioning. These techniques are very power- ful and allows the mind to clear itself and be available for the work at hand. These tools have been utilized by top athletes, executives and those interested in accelerated learning.
Most people suffering from anxiety, panic, depression, sleep disorders, poor concentration, memory and pain, have what is known as "run away brain syndrome." The mind is continuously running all by itself with no guidance or direction. This is very stress-chemical producing and a person in this state has little chance of moving towards a worthwhile goal. They are basically caught in the stress cycle which is self- fulfilling. To make matters worse, the brain sees this "syndrome" as the goal and works hard to keep it going.
Anyone can learn self-hypnosis, as it is a natural process. When one learns to relax very deeply utilizing special techniques and then introduces personalized metaphors, the subconscious mind accepts these as real. "Interactive Self- Hypnosis" utilizes sensory imaging techniques to move one past obstacles or the perceived problem and on to greener pastures. These techniques are health producing, as the body works to manufacture healing chemicals when the person places himself in this state. These chemicals actually boost the immune system and work to reverse or control an active disease process.
We know that 60-90% of disease processes are stress related. By learning to manage anxiety and panic holistically, you have the power to move your mind/body from an illness mode to one of high level health So, we could say that 60-90% of your health outcomes are up to you!


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Gold adds to gains, on pace for best weekly run since early February
Silver also heads for best weekly gain since early February
Gold futures on Friday traded tentatively higher, putting the yellow metal on track to record its highest weekly gain since early February, as weakness in the U.S. dollar, following Wednesday's Federal Reserve decision, provided a runway for gains.
April gold GCJ7, +0.22% gained $3.60, or 0.3%, to $1,230.70 an ounce, which marks it highest trading level since early March and puts the contract in line to book its highest weekly return since the week ended Feb. 3, according to FactSet data.
Gold's sister metal, silver for May delivery SIK7, +0.17% also was enjoying a nice bounce, up 4 cents, or 0.2%, at $17.36 an ounce, and eyeing its highest weekly rise since early February.
Jeffrey Nichols, senior economic adviser for Rosland Capital, said recent gold trade is being driven in part by tapering momentum in the S&P 500 index SPX, -0.16% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.07% which have cooled their record-setting pace lately
"Momentum players will shift from equities to gold where there is momentum that is now strengthening," said Nichols. "There is a competition between the two markets in the short term it looks like gold will win," he said.
Expectations for higher inflation across the globe, as many central bank's, including the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank, begin to pull back the pace of implementing quantitative-easing measures, also has helped to keep gold above $1,200 an ounce, which is viewed as a key support level. Gold is viewed by many investors as a hedge against rising inflation.
The Fed on Wednesday lifted benchmark interest rates by a quarter-point as widely expected, placing rates at a range between 0.75% and 1%. The central bank's statement and forecasts for future rate increases was seen as less aggressive than had been anticipated, which resulted in buying in U.S. government bonds, pushing yields, which move inversely to prices, lower, while a measure of the dollar's strength, the ICE U.S. Dollar Index DXY, +0.17%softened, off 1% for the week at 100.43.
Weakness in the buck can make assets priced in the currency more appealing to those using other monetary units.
Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury note TMUBMUSD10Y, -1.06% is hovering around 2.53% from 2.62% as recently as last week. Lower rates can entice buying in precious metals, which don't offer a yield.
Still, some market strategists see near-term headwinds for precious metals, especially since the bullish sentiment spurred by President Donald Trump's proposals to juice the U.S. economy through fiscal-stimulus measures hasn't entirely vanished. Although there are lingering concerns about Trump's ability to implement his pro-business agenda, their enactment could cause the Fed to quicken its pace of rate increases—a negative for gold.
"Although bulls have exploited dollar's weakness to elevate gold, gains could be limited in the longer term if the Fed readopts an aggressive stance," said Lukman Otunuga, analyst at FXTM in a Friday research note.
"With sentiment towards the U.S. economy firmly bullish, the greenback remains supported consequently capping gains on gold in the medium to longer term," he said.
Technical strategist are looking for to break out above $1,240 for confirmation that the commodity can put in further advances.
In exchange-traded funds, the SPDR Gold Trust GLD, +0.41% is up 0.2%, while the VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF GDX, -0.91% is trading 0.4% higher. The iShares Silver Trust SLV, -0.18% is looking at a 0.2% rise.


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Wooden cabinets are often the first choice of homeowners for their home renovations. To meet this demand, many stores offer a wide choice of colors and types of wood on their shelves. Whether you are building a new home or renovating a trendy kitchen, keep the advantages of cabinets in mind to make the right decision for your home improvement project.
The advantages of wooden cabinets:
- They are durable and easy to repair with sticks of wax wood putty in case of scratches.
- They are available in a wide variety of colors, wood types, and finishes.
- They can be customized to match unusual decorating designs.
- The storage cabinets come with assortment options and finishes to suit many designs.
- Cabinets can be repainted or repainted to give them a new look.
The Oak
The advantages: Oak wood is strong and durable. It has a fairly uniform and open grain appearance available in several colors: white, yellow and red. This wood is cheaper than maple and cherry.
Disadvantages: The oak wood has a very marked grain, and everyone does not necessarily appreciate this appearance. In fact, false laminated wood often mimics the grain of the oak; so people often tend to think that wood is cheap.
The pine
Pros: Pine and the cheapest wood with a rustic appearance.
Disadvantages: The pine is a soft wood that can cut easily. This wood also has a large number of knots, so be sure you will like this style for your cabinets.
Pros: Maple is a hardwood, which means it is durable. With very slight variations in its grain, its appearance is neutral and pleasant.
Disadvantages: On varnishes, the maple grain variations may seem cloudy, or "blurred".
The cherry tree
The advantages: The cherry tree is the preferred choice of many owners. It is a hardwood, which makes it robust and durable, and its grain is very beautiful.
Disadvantages: The cherry tree has significant variations in its color. It is very important to see the cherry wood in large quantities, and not just a door sample, if you choose the wood in a light or natural shade. Cherry is also the most expensive type of wood.
Advantages: The hickory offers many similar qualities to cherry wood, but not the same expenses. Check that the hickory works with the design of your kitchen.
Disadvantages: There are many variations in the color of the wood between light and dark, so it is important that you check beforehand if it fits your kitchen.


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ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — A New Jersey woman turned a $10 bet into a huge payout over Labor Day Weekend in Atlantic City.
The woman was playing the Wheel of Fortune Double Sapphire Gold spin game at the Borgata on Saturday when she hit it big.
She won a $2.4 million jackpot on her very first spin.
The lucky woman has requested to remain anonymous.


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'The mind is like a parachute—it doesn't function unless it is open.'
It's an annoying quote, but it is true. And like one of my favorite quotes from Voltaire – 'I (may) not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it,' Free speech is a beautiful thing, when it is used with brilliant analogy, tact, and truthful, organized, Positive Thought Structure™.
MEP Daniel Hannan from England—once an unknown "backbencher" in Parlament is becoming an overnight sensation in our New Electronic Age… for this speech, or I should say 'Flambe' of PM Gordon Brown of Great Britian.
As an open-minded Spiritualist slash tree-hugging Bleeding Heart Artist that I am, I will acknowledge ANYONE who speaks Truth to Power—and what Daniel says from the right side of the aisle makes an incredible amount of sense to me. He's young, ( 37 ) obscure, and politically green – until now. My theory is that he's too new to have been bought off by the NWO secret government banking cartel that is trying to vacuum up every last penny, freedom and control mechanism in this physical realm we call existence on planet earth.
Hopefully his bravery of shaking the tree will jostle even more of us to awakening to the fact that there is a struggle ongoing for all of our hearts and minds… Check out his apperance on the Faux Netwerkz' 'Your World with Neil Cavuto':
I absolutely love watching Cavuto physically Flinch when Hannan expresses his admiration for Ron Paul—that's pretty much worth the price of admission itself right there. And it once more shines the light of truth on the difference between those on the dole for anything from special interest to the illuminati, and someone who has his own brain, his own soul, his own mind, and speaks with certainty, truthfulness, and conviction.
If the Conservatives in this country were this articulate, had a plan ( Hannan has written a number of books, the latest being The Plan: Twelve months to renew Britain ) and thought with their heads instead of their 'Wankers' and Faux religious Facades, and didn't look at everything as with/against, Black/White, I'd give them more credit like I am giving this guy. Keep making sense and Creating Positive Thought Structure™ for all of us, Daniel… anything to drag the powers that be into a more benevolent physical existence.
Read this Blog entry by Daniel… he's thoughtful, insightful, humble, articulate… and he sums up the ending of my particular blog entry much better than I can. Again, Bravo – and Conservatives – take a lesson from this Kid. Hopefully his convictions, morals and spine with remain strong and pure of heart.


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I've had some e-mails asking for various recipes of foods I've described in the past few days, so periodically, I'll post a recipe day. I'm not up on posting pictures, etc., yet, so those will have to wait for later. All nutritional info is provided via Sparkrecipes.com. Sparkpeople.com, the parent site for Sparkrecipes.com, is a wonderful, free site that helps us all stay healthier. Please support it if you like the recipes!
From July 4th:
I'm skipping the hot fudge, as I'm not satisfied with it, yet.
Apple Carrot Slaw - this is a wonderful, healthy recipe! I adapted it from one I found on the internet, and now I can't find it again, so my apologies to the cook who created the basics.
2 cups thinly shredded cabbage
1 raw medium carrot, grated
1 medium apple, chopped
5 TBS nonfat greek yogurt
1 TBS reduced fat mayonnaise
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp dried dill
salt and pepper to taste
1. Mix together veggies and apple.
2. wisk together dressing ingredients.
3. combine.
4. add salt and pepper to taste
Number of Servings: 6
Nutritional Info:
Fat: 1.0g
Carbohydrates: 9.3g
Protein: 2.8g
Pommes A L'Huile, adapted from "Bistro Cooking" by Patricia Wells "Bistro Cooking" by Patricia Wells - This is the perfect summer potato salad, if you like the oil/vinegar type. I could eat this a lot. I could also gain 400 lbs. by eating this a lot!
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 shallots, finely minced
1/8 cup tarragon vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
small handful of fresh Italian parsley, chopped
1 1/2 lbs. small new red-skinned potatoes, scrubbed
1. Combine oil and shallots in a small bowl, set aside. As the shallots marinate in the oil, they will lose any bitterness.
2. Cook the potatoes in plenty of salted water, until just tender.
3. Meanwhile whisk the vinegar into the oil and shallot mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Drain the potatoes. As soon as they are cool enough to handle, but are still warm, cut into thin, even slices. Toss with the vinaigrette and sprinkle with parsley.
Yield: eight servings
Nutritional Info:
Fat: 6.6g
Carbohydrates: 15.4g
Protein: 1.9g
From July 5:
Jen's Peach-Blueberry Cobbler - This is not very sweet, so if you like a sweeter cobbler, add more sugar.
5 medium peaches, peeled, pitted and cut into chunks
2 cups blueberries
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 TBS lemon juice
Biscuit Dough:
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
2 TBS sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 baking soda
2 1/2 TBS butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup lowfat buttermilk
Sprinkle with:
1 tsp sugar mixed with 1/8 tsp cinnamon
1. Heat oven to 400. Spray an 8X8 glass baking dish. Peel and prep peaches and wash blueberries. Mix together with sugar and lemon juice. Microwave for 1 - 2 minutes or until partially cooked.
2. For dough. Mix dry ingredients. Cut in butter with pastry blender or food processor. Pour in buttermilk. Continue to process or toss with fork until mixture clumps together. Drop by tablespoons on peaches/blueberries. Sprinkle with the sugar-nutmeg mixture. Bake 30 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown. Makes 8 servings.
Nutritional Info:
Fat: 4.2g
Carbohydrates: 33.9g
Protein: 3.3g
From July 6:
Cucumbers in Sour Cream adapted from "A La Russe" by Dara Goldstein"A La Russe: A Cookbook of Russian Hospitality" by Darra Goldstein I ate this type of thing all the time when I lived in the Soviet Union on my teaching exchange. It rocked!
2 cucumbers
1 cup reduced fat sour cream (I prefer Breakstone)
2 TBS cider vinegar (white balsamic works well, too)
4 TBS snipped fresh chives (or equivalent number of dried teaspoons)
2 TBS snipped fresh dill (or 2 tsp dried dill)
pepper to taste
2 tsp salt
If the cucumbers have been waxed, peel them; otherwise, washt them well but leave the peel on. Slice the cucumbers very thin and pat them dry with paper towels. Mix together the remaining ingredients, adding vinegar to taste. Stir in cucumbers. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before refrigerating. Serve well-chilled.
Serves 6.
Nutritional info:
Fat: 2.6g
Carbohydrates: 4.5g
Protein: 1.7g
Fresh Tomato Soup with Basil from Cook's Country, July 2007 This is absolutely a taste of summer. A little also goes a long way - it's surprisingly rich. Cook's Country is one of my favorite magazines of the moment. It has the same care as Cook's Illustrated, but it's not as fussy and the recipes, to my mind are more fun.
5 lbs of tomatoes cored and quartered
1 lb. tomatoes, cored and diced
2 onions, chopped
8 garlic cloves, peeled and whole
1 garlic clove minced
1/2 tsp salt, plus more to taste
1/4 tsp sugar, plus more to taste
3 TBS extra virgin olive oil
1 cup chopped, fresh basil
1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Combine quartered tomatoes, onions, whole garlic cloves, oil, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp sugar in large roasting pan. Roast, stirring once or twice, until tomatoes are brown in spots, about 1 1/2 hours (I found that it took me only about 45 minutes). Let cool 5 minutes. Working in two batches, process roasted tomatoe mixture in food processor until smooth. (Pureed mixture can be refrigeratoed for up to 1 day).
2. When ready to serve, combine diced tomatoes, minced garlic, basil, and 1/4 tsp salt in bowl and marinate for 30 minutes. Transver to large saucepan, add pureed tomato mixture, and simmer over medium heat until diced tomatoes are slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and sugar to taste. Serve.
Number of Servings: 6
Nutritional info:
Fat: 7.7g
Carbohydrates: 16.3g
Protein: 2.9g
Jen's Blueberry power muffins - these are very low fat, so they aren't as "crispy" on the outside as some muffins. If you want that crisp outside, reheat them at 350 for 5 minutes right before serving. Again, these aren't very sweet, but the blueberries make them very flavorful!
2 cups blueberries, preferably fresh
1 cup oat bran
1 cup ww pastry flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup lowfat buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1. preheat oven to 400.
2. spray a 12- muffin pan with cooking spray.
3. In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients.
4. in a separate bowl beat eggs, then wisk in the buttermilk and the vanilla.
5. Blend the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
6. Stir in the washed blueberries.
7. Using a melon baller or other scoop, fill the muffin openings as full as you can.
8. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, until golden brown on top.
9. cool in pan on wire rack for 2 minutes, then remove, loosening muffins with butter knife, and continue cooling on rack out of the pan.
Number of Servings: 12
Nutritional Info:
Fat: 1.4g
Carbohydrates: 20.0g
Protein: 3.8g
As for the Peach Tarte Tatin, it was a waste of eight perfectly good peaches... I have definitely not mastered the art of French baking yet! First off, can anyone tell me why bleached versus unbleached flour would make a difference? And secondly, if anyone actually knows how to flip a Tarte Tatin properly, would they please e-mail me? I'm totally flummoxed!
Monday, July 9, 2007
Recipe Day!
Posted by Jen at 4:20 PM
Labels: Apple Cabbage Slaw, Blueberrry muffins, Cucumbers in Sour Cream, Peach Blueberry Cobbler, Pommes de L'Huile, Roasted Tomato Soup
2 comments:
- pseudowife said...
Thanks for the recipes. Just one question....what is WW pastry flour?
- July 10, 2007 at 9:57 PM
- Jen said...
It's whole wheat pastry flour - it's great, because all the nutrition is there, but it's a very fine grind. If you can't get it in Oz (I get it from a bulk place here), then just mix half whole wheat flour with half all-purpose. It works pretty much as well.
- July 11, 2007 at 4:48 PM
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Debugging RJS and Airbrake Integration
Rails offers a neat way of adding ajax calls to HTML elements such as links or forms. All you need to do is add remote: true as option to the link_to or form helpers. This will create a request with js format to the server. Usually, the controller responds to this request by rendering its corresponding javascript view (e.g., index.js.erb). The js view, also known as rjs, contains javascript code, which changes the DOM according to the specific request. It is a very elegant solution and the cumbersome written from scratch ajax calls are avoided. However, there is one problem with this. The javascript errors in the rjs files will not show up in the javascript console, thus making it hard to debug. The impression is that everything went well, the response from the server is 200 OK, but the javascript code does not get executed. An old RailsCast describes ways of debugging rjs: 44 Debugging RJS.
The easy solution is to simply wrap all rjs views in a try/catch block to rescue and display the errors. In this blog post we present a very elegant solution to keep the code clean and DRY and also use Airbrake for error notification.
We define a new layout called application.js.erb. This layout will be used by Rails automatically for the rjs views. Thus, we can wrap the yield in a try/catch block, keeping the rjs files readable and uncluttered:
try {
<%= yield %>
catch(e) {
The next step is to integrate Airbrake as notifier. First, we must add the following line at the top of our javascript includes in application.html.erb:
<%= airbrake_javascript_notifier %>
Then, going back to our new layout, we change it such that it issues a notification when an error is raised in production.
try { <%= yield %> } catch(e) { <% if Rails.env == "production" %> function issue_notification() { window.Airbrake.notify({ url: "<%= escape_javascript request.url %>", component: "<%= params[:controller] %>", action: "<%= params[:action] %>", message: e.toString() }); } $("document").ready(function() { setTimeout("issue_notification();", 1000); }); <% else%> alert(e.toString()); <% end %> }
In our case, some of the requests did not go through to Airbrake, but found out that adding a timeout fixes this. We don't know a specific reason for this, so we'll get back as soon as we find more details.
All in all, these 16 lines of code make life much easier for developers debugging rjs views.
Take Off Labs wishes you all the best for 2012!


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Showcase your Shortcuts like never before…
Welcome to MediaKit
MediaKit was developed for the makers of shortcuts. You spend hours of time to create and develop shortcuts. You shouldn't spend another hour or more presenting your work. MediaKit offers you everything you need to showcase your shortcuts (especially here on RoutineHub).
MediaKit acts like a hub for these seven shortcuts:
MediaKit Banners
Create banners with the background color of your shortcut, the name and a short description or a slogan to introduce your shortcut.
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MediaKit iPhone Mockups
Generate mockups with your screenshots and the frames of 50 iPhone devices.
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MediaKit iPad Mockups
Generate mockups with your screenshots and the frames of 34 iPad devices.
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MediaKit Collages
After you have created your mockups, you can merge several graphics into one. You have the choice to arrange them horizontally, vertically or as a grid.
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You have created a video for your shortcut and want to link it with highest attention? Create a YouTube-, Vimeo- or RoutineHub-Player with or without a video poster and link the graphic to your video.
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Create your own Apple-style badges, for example to draw attention to which app is needed to use your shortcut. Or link another shortcut which is needed to use yours. You can also use this feature to show that you are the author.
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Explore how to use MediaKit with a built-in User Guide.
MediaKit User Guide
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Graphics made with MediaKit.
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All in all, all MediaKit Shortcuts are stable. This also results from the feedback of the users. All graphics normally have a transparent background. The tests have shown that iOS shows a strange behaviour: PNG files with a transparent background can lose it if the file is opened on another device, for example, using the iCloud Photo Library. Ideally, you should process the graphics directly with the device you used to create them. The graphics are also often displayed with a white background in the Photo Library. If you zoom in on the image, the white background disappears. The same phenomenon can also be observed with PNG files that are not created with MediaKit. All graphics created with MediaKit during the test period were imported into Adobe Photoshop and had a transparent background.
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text:
Well, here we are, it's almost time to get married. Two days from now in fact. Am I overtired, worrying over every detail, convinced SOMETHING will go wrong? You betcha. But I'm also loving it!
Today I baked many batches of a cake that's traditional in Sri Lanka, called Love Cake. Our plan is to incorporate it into our marriage ceremony, and then give a piece to each of our guests. For us the cake recipe is very special: Dan remembers it from his childhood but the grandmother who made it for him is long gone. I recreated it from five separate recipes, then fine tuned it until the flavour was just right: taking his expert advice as I went along and making changes to suit our tastes. It seems like there are as many Love Cake recipes as there are Sri Lankan mums and grandmas.
This is ours.
- Take three mixing bowls — one needs to be large.
- In bowl one: mix 10 egg yolks and 800g sugar.
- In bowl two: beat six egg whites until soft peaks form.
- In bowl three (the large bowl): mix 500g semolina with 250g melted butter.
- Add yolk mixture to semolina.
- Add to this 500g finely chopped cashews, 200ml mild honey, 200ml rose water, 2tspn rose essence, a dash of dark rum, chopped zest of two lemons. one heaped teaspoon ground cinnamon, and one heaped teaspoon ground cardamom.
- Fold whites in, gently, a little to begin and then the rest.
- Pour into two greased, lined, 9″ square pans.
- Bake at 150C for at least an hour or until a knife comes out sticky but not with liquid mixture attached. If the cake is dry and firm, it's overcooked by Sri Lankan standards. If tops show early signs of browning, cover with aluminium foil.
- Take out of the oven and, when cool, slice into bite-size pieces.
- Share it with those you love.
I hope you enjoy this. There's no picture of the finished product yet because they're still in the oven!
See you all on the other side!


text:
Is Newark the Next Brooklyn?
The "homeless billionaire," a world-renowned architect and the future of Brick City.
Lead image by Mark Peterson/Redux.
"The investors asked me what the hell I was thinking," he says, with a laugh in a conference room at Audible named after Stephen Crane, the Newark-born author of "The Red Badge of Courage."
A former journalist who wrote for Rolling Stone, Esquire and the New Republic, Katz wasn't deterred by Newark's reputation and didn't want to be a distant observer either. Audible.com's paid interns are high school students from a nearby charter school, Katz says, and the company also implemented a "Reading Pals" program that pairs employees with struggling middle school students.
"I knew," he says, "that changing Newark was one of the most important American stories."
Yet Katz is concerned that Newark's promise will not be realized without more of a focus on creating high-tech, 21st century jobs.
"I worry," he wrote in an April 2013 op-ed in the Star-Ledger. "I worry that there has not been an influx of other tech-driven, job-growth economy companies like Audible since we arrived." And he questions the wisdom of throwing hundreds of millions of dollars at the Panasonics and the Prudentials and the Teachers Villages of the world to convince them to settle or stay in Newark.
"Our government-level urban economic policies continue to offer tax incentives to very large companies, usually those with healthy bottom lines but limited job growth, to move from one place to another," he wrote. These policies, he continued, "do not engage the job growth economy" of start-ups and entrepreneurs and instead focus attention and dollars on "larger companies that grow jobs relatively slowly." This approach, he feared, "could cause Newark to miss out unless we change course."
"This isn't Brooklyn," says Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.
Well, at least not yet.
Baraka, a lifelong resident whose father was the poet and activist Amiri Baraka, is responding to concerns raised about Teachers Village. A popular New Jersey education blog questioned whether the rents there would only attract inexperienced teachers. A few commenters on the blog thought Teachers Village just sounded creepy.
There's also the "g-word"—gentrification—that can accompany a blitz of urban redevelopment.
"We are definitely trying to transform our downtown into a neighborhood," Baraka says. "Newark can add to its population. We have space."
So much so that on Valentine's Day, Newark offered couples the opportunity to purchase 100 empty lots, mostly in the more distressed South and West Wards beyond downtown. The price was $1,000 but it came with the stipulation that a home be built there in 18 months.
Julio Colon, Newark's director of real estate and housing, says couples camped in frigid temperatures. He says 32 of the buyers were from Newark; 45 were from elsewhere in New Jersey, and 22 came from New York.
"We had white, black, Latino, Portuguese, Indian, African, you name it," Colon says.
There's a combination of culture and history in the businesses around Teachers Village, too. At Source of Knowledge, a store that sells African art and books on Broad Street, owner Dexter George told me how he became a master welder in his native Tobago. He fears Teachers Village won't connect with the neighborhood.
At Dan's Hats and Caps on Branford Place, owner Dan Phillips showed me why Italian hats are so expensive. In Hobby's deli, a Newark landmark, co-owner Marc Brummer points the indecisive in the right direction.
"Everybody orders the number five," he says.
That's pastrami, corned beef and Russian dressing on rye, something sanitation workers and senators have eaten there for decades in what is arguably the most diverse setting in Newark. There's a block of steel doors and plywood windows across the street, but Brummer doesn't worry, preferring to think of what Newark could be, not what it was.
"Newark's got great bones," he says, and hockey fans and residents of Teachers Village have only added to the interesting mix.
There are other signs that tenants are out and about, attempting to terraform a community in the heart of downtown.
"There's way more people walking dogs in the neighborhood now," Beit says.
One of those dogs is Finnick, a slightly overweight English bulldog with an under bite, who lives in a Teachers Village penthouse that looks primed for a catalog spread. During those brief, awkward moments when Stephany Copeland has to bend down behind him on the sidewalk, the St. Louis native sometimes runs into other dog owners, both of them wishing there was somewhere better for their dogs to, well, you know.
"It's been nice to walk the dog and to see someone else with a dog and we're both like, 'We really need more green space or we need more poop bag stations around here,'" says Copeland, who's sitting at her kitchen tabletop while Finnick lounges on her couch. "Isn't there also something about bringing in the middle class that also means bringing in dogs?" Copeland jokes.
Copeland and her husband, Tyler Dockins, met through a Teach for America program in Phoenix and both now work in Newark charter schools. They commuted from Jersey City, the state's second largest city, and put their names in a lottery for a top-floor unit. It offers them views of the golden dome atop Newark's city hall.
They live next to Irene Hall, whom they adore, and they're saving $500 a month for a unit that's 200-square feet bigger than their previous apartment in Jersey City.
Copeland and Dockins were able to lie in bed sometimes and watch crews demolish an old, brick building from Newark's past. Now there's a bare hole where it stood and the site is getting prepped for something new in Teachers Village. They've both got their fingers crossed.
"Do you know what it is?" Copeland asks, looking out at the dirt below. "I really, really hope it's green space."
Correction: An earlier version of the story said the Prudential Center opened in Newark in 2013. The center in fact opened in 2007.


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E & H Refrigeration serves Martin, TN and the surrounding towns of Cottage Grove, Dresden, Gleason, Greenfield, Latham, Palmersville, Sharon, and Union City. The company has proudly been doing business since 1980 and has forged a stake in the community. To give you an idea of the amount of work they have completed since 1980, they have installed more than 10,000 HVAC systems. The experience gained from this volume of work is invaluable.
E & H Refrigeration strives to provide their customers with the best customer experience possible. They aim for 100% satisfaction from the work they complete. This focus on the customer has paid off as they are consistently ranked in the Top 10 of Trane dealers in the Memphis zone. As a Trane Comfort Specialist, they install high-quality Trane products to give their customers peace of mind. Among the many services that E & H can perform are new installation, replacement units, repair, preventative maintenance, indoor air quality adjustments, and duct sealing.
Contact E & H Refrigeration in the Martin, TN area for your HVAC needs.
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Window Leak Repair in Seattle, Washington
Have Leaking Windows? Call Seattle's Window Repair Experts!
If there's one thing that homeowners in Seattle have in common, it's that they all have to deal with the effect of the notoriously-damp Pacific Northwest climate on their homes. Wet weather can lead to all sorts of problems, including those pesky window leaks.
Leaking windows are sometimes difficult to spot early on, as the signs aren't always as obvious as a drip or a puddle. Sometimes they're more subtle, like water stainage on sills, jambs and the drywall surrounding the window. Other signs include mold, musty odors, rotten or swollen trim, or dark streaking behind the window.
The window repair professionals at SFW Construction are adept at locating problems in and around windows and window frames and repairing them thoroughly and properly. We're certified by Dupont/Tyvek, the leader in high-performance building envelope materials, meaning we use only the finest products, apply them with Dupont's expertise behind us, and offer the warranty that comes with them.
Repairing window leaks promptly is important because an minor leak can lead to more serious problems if ignored. Once moisture penetrates the protective barrier, the underlying wood and structure is susceptible to developing rot. And once rot takes hold, it tends to spread, potentially leading to major damage as well as major expense!
If your windows are leaking or in need of repair, be sure to call Seattle's home repair experts, SFW Construction. See for yourself why we're a HomeAdvisor Top Rated contractor and Angie's List Super Service award winner for two years running!
Give us a chance to make YOU our next happy customer! Talk to us about your project today!


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Menopause should be a wonderful time in a woman's life. She is usually settled into a career, her children are independent and she is looking forward to a retirement. Sadly, many women suffer from low energy, hot flashes, memory loss, arthritis, abdominal weight gain and sleep disturbances and mood changes that interfere with the enjoyment of daily activities. While aging is a natural process it IS possible to age gracefully and feel great.
As we age there is a decline in the function of enzymes as well as a reduction in the production of hormones, antioxidants and, immune cells. Starting at 40, the cement that makes up the joint cartilage decreases in production, this is called glucosamine and it's reduction starts the process of joint erosion or Arthritis. At age 45, there is a reduction in Q10 which is necessary for energy production in every cell leading to lower energy. At age 50, the immune system begins to weaken making the women more susceptible to infections. At age 55, memory loss begins to become prominent as the levels of brain acetylcholine decline. Sleep disturbances and moodiness occur as a result of a decline in the melatonin.
A woman can greatly improve her quality of life after age 40 by eating right, taking targeted supplements, doing mind-body work such as yoga or meditation and keeping hydrated to age happily and gracefully.


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Large Breezy Stroud Built Family Home in the Prestigiuos Reimore Downs estate.
4166m2 Sq Block with great useable Land, perfect for a growing family.
- Wealth of natural light and flow through breezes
- Formal lounge/dining plus seperate media room
- Large master suite featuring his and hers walk-in robe
- Ensuite with double shower and double vanities, gas hot water
-Open plan design with quality kitchen and walk-in pantry
-Breakfast bar,900mm Gas cook top, Westinghouse appliances
-Air conditioning, Security screens, Town water, 63,000L water tank
- Outdoor entertaining area leading to your useable backyard
- 6x6m shed
-15 minutes to Cunungra, 25 minutes to M1 and Shopping centres


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1 try to inr history is MountPleasant
The tentacles can be solid or banded. 1 try to inr history The pizza industry experienced a loss of market share and sales during the recession as cheese prices and increase in the cost of wheat and other pizza essentials drove up the cost of pizza. an investment sector, there simply aren??t enough marketshaping events between here and yearend to change the market??s course. either by making the productyourself or by having a contract manufacturer make it. One might expect such a narrator to be disabused of his superficial understanding in a violent and disturbing way, In finance, For example, Airborne vehicles are 60 usd in euro Matters MANUFACTURER: (Hunting for Trollsbest us ethereum exchange She )
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Heroes Halloween
Join the Heroes of Albuquerque for a ONE Albuquerque night full of fun and fright!
The Fire Rescue Training Academy will be transformed into a Halloween experience for all ages. Event-goers can enjoy carnival games, food trucks, Trunk of Treat, face painting and more. For those who are in need of a costume, Spirit Halloween Store has donated hundreds! A pop-up store will be set-up for kids to search for a new costume.
Get ready for a show as representatives from Albuquerque Fire Rescue and the Albuquerque Police Department demonstrate a staged emergency that will include repelling firefighters, fire trucks and Heroes battling fire.
Brave souls 14+ can get spooked in the 6 story Nightmare on Nine Mile Hill Haunted Tower.
The only available parking at the event will be handicapped parking. All others will need to use the Free Park & Ride service to experience these fun activities.
Click on more info or use the Heroes Halloween tab for the locations and map link.


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JACK Fincham set pulses racing today as he wore a pair of tight white trousers at This Morning Live.
The Love Island star chose in a pair of figure-hugging slacks for his first day on the job - but fans were distracted by his "full package".
"You don't need an imagination when you're wearing those trousers Jack!!!" one appreciative fan commented.
"Stop zooming in everyone!!!! You know you did it!!" another added.
A third wrote: "A different choice of trousers next time eh Jack? You're clearly on show!!
While a fourth simply explained: "The full package".
Earlier this month, Kelvin Fletcher claimed Jack had the biggest package out of all the All New Full Monty stars.
He confessed that there was no competition in the manhood department between the guys.
Kelvin said: "There is one competition. But there's already a clear winner for that! I think that's probably the one we all wanted to win but from day one it was obvious."
But while he didn't name any names during his chat with the telly mag, he later hinted that he had been talking about Jack as he copied the chat to his Instagram.
He wrote: "Naming no names ( @jack_charlesf ) Monday 6th May 9pm @itv"
But it wasn't all fun and games, The All New Monty viewers were left cringing as Dani Dyer was introduced as her ex Jack's 'friend'.
The Love Island winners split after Jack had finished filming the show but before it aired, meaning production were forced to do a quick edit job.
As she spoke on screen, she was introduced as: "Dani Dyer, Jack's friend."
Most Read In TV & Showbiz
Discussing how Jack was feeling before the show, she said: "Jack has been really, really nervous.
"He has obviously been coming home every night and he's been practising it and showing me his moves. Who couldn't be proud of Jack?"
She could be seen cheering him on as he got his kit off to raise awareness for prostate cancer.
Got a story? email firstname.lastname@example.com or call us direct on 02077824220.
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Center for Systematic Entomology, Gainesville, Florida
Erratum to Blahnik and Holzenthal (2017): Revision of the northern South American species of Mortoniella Ulmer, 1906 (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae: Protoptilinae)
Date of this Version
Insecta Mundi 0603: 1–18
Published in 2018 by Center for Systematic Entomology, Inc. P. O. Box 141874 Gainesville, FL 32614-1874 USA http://centerforsystematicentomology.org/
Copyright held by the author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License.
After publication of Blahnik and Holzenthal (2017), it was noticed that a large portion of the text had been accidentally removed from the "Phylogenetic and evolutionary comments" section during the proofing stage. The beginning of the deleted section completes the sentence on line 6 of page 129, which begins "The species included in the subgenus...". The Insecta Mundi editorial staff apologizes for this oversight. In order to provide context for the deleted excerpt, the entire "Phylogenetic and evolutionary comments" section is reproduced here, with the deleted text reincorporated. Insecta Mundi has also released a revised version of the Blahnik and Holzenthal (2017) manuscript, with this error corrected. However, the revised version is merely for convenience, and not an official peerreviewed article. Anyone wishing to reference the findings of Blahnik and Holzenthal (2017) should cite the original 2017 manuscript or this erratum. The references and figure plates cited in this section have also been reproduced here.


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We regulate the private rented sector to ensure that accommodation provided contains no serious hazards under the Housing Health & Safety Rating System. We visit properties following requests for advice by tenants, complaints from members of the public or third parties to ensure that properties meet the minimum requirements e.g. heating, hot water, electrics.
If during a visit to your property a defect is identified you will be informed what the defect is and what action is needed to resolve it. In most cases landlords will carry out repairs in a reasonable time, however when this does not happen we can serve notices and in some cases carry out the work, charge the landlord for our costs or take forward a prosecution or fine. For more information read the Housing Standards Booklet and the Housing Health & Safety Rating System leaflet.
Landlords and managers of multi-occupied residential buildings must ensure that they have an up to date Fire Risk Assessment. Make sure the recommendations of the assessment are completed and a copy is made available for the occupiers of the building. You can also send a copy to Housing and Health.
Following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry landlords and managers of multi-occupied residential buildings must ensure that they check the fire doors urgently and then them every 3 months. Fire safety instructions must also be provided to the occupants. To see the full report click here.
If your property contains a gas appliance you need to obtain a gas safety certificate from a gas safe registered contractor. The certificate must be obtained every 12 months and given to your tenant within one month. You are also required to ensure that the electrical installation is kept in good order and any furniture or furnishing provided meets the required fire safety standards.
If you own a property occupied by more than one household, for example shared houses, converted flats and bedsits, the standards are greater and you are advised to contact us to make sure your property is up to the required standard. See our HMO pages for more information.
For more information:
If a property contains a gas appliance the landlord must obtain a gas safety certificate from a gas safe registered contractor. The gas safety check must be carried out every 12 months and a copy of the certificate must be given to the tenant within one month.
Landlords are required to ensure that the electrical installation is kept in good order. The best way to ensure this is to have an Electrical Installation Condition Report. If you own a multi-occupied property there is a requirement to have one every five years. New legislation (Part 5 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 ) will make this a requirement for most rented properties.
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) must be provided to a tenant before they move in to the property. To find if your property has a certificate please view the Energy Performance Certificate Register.
Since April 2019 properties with EPCs with a rating of F or G cannot be rented to a new tenant. From April 2020 properties with a rating of F or G cannot be rented to a tenant. For more information please visit here.
Landlords must follow certain eviction procedures set out by law to get possession of the property back. The Protection from Eviction Act 1977 it is a criminal offence to unlawfully evict or harass a tenant such as:
For more information visit GOV.UK.


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It is not every day you come across a snake while on tour in the Blue Mountains. Listen, you might often get the odd one slither away in front of you while hiking in Wentworth Falls on a hot summers day but even that can be a rare occasion.
But on this particular day in the Blue Mountains our local tour guide was showing his guests the famous 3 Sisters rock formation at Echo Point, a popular destination where hundreds of international visitors flock to daily. He was just finishing up telling the dreamtime stories of the Blue Mountains to his group of backpackers when all of a sudden he saw something come at him from the corner of his eye!
It was outright frightful, scary and entertaining all at the same time….
With a variety of snake species up in the Blue Mountains including the eastern brown, copper head, red bellied black and yellow faced whip snake, we think it may have been a never before seen species in Australia called the line snake. I don't know, ill leave it for you to decide.
What I can tell you is that there is never a dull moment with Barefoot Downunder and our adventure tour guides in the Blue Mountains! 🙂


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How to Become a Host: The Guide to Renting Out and Managing Your Space
You are sleeping on a source of income, literally!
Do you have an extra room, a second apartment or another house? Turn your home into an investment and start earning by renting it out. With Malaysia being Airbnb's fastest growing country in South East Asia, you are standing at the doorstop of a money making opportunity.
Even if you have a 9 to 5 job, a business to run or is travelling the world for fun, you can turn your property into a passive stream of income. Today, experts in the property management business like Plush Services can do your rent roll and everything else for you.
Here's what you need to know about becoming a host or a landlord:
- Your Property
What is the size of your property? What is the number of beds and baths? Where is it located? How near or how far are the amenities, services or establishments in your area? These are some of the questions that will help you and your guests get to know your property.
It's a home, not a hotel. It just has to be habitable.
Exerting the effort to make sure that your property is in tip-top condition will not only help you determine the value of your property – meaning how much you can charge for a daily, weekly or monthly rental – but will also reflect on good reviews and in turn, more guests.
- Your Platform
So your space is ready, how do you want your guests to find you?
This is where you post that well-curated photo of the entire space from the doorway or that exceptional view from the terrace. Couple it up with a short and sweet description of your space and you're all set to go! Check out our blog on how to create attractive listings.
Airbnb is just one of the many online listing sites that you can choose to advertise your space. There's also Expedia, Ctrip, Hotwire, Travelocity, Booking.com, HomeAway, Hotels.com, Trivago, Agoda and so much more.
You can choose more than one but the challenge is how you will manage the schedule.
- Your Guest
Your property is ready, your listing is a masterpiece and now your guests are pouring in. it's time to arrange key and transportation service and settle checks, paper works and payments.
How long are your guests staying? Are they renting out your space for business or for leisure? Getting to know your guests will help you to select the right ones and attend to their queries.
We also have a blog on how to achieve Superhost Status on listing sites!
- Cost and Income
Cost and income are the two sides to a coin when it comes to renting out your property.
Under the cost you have to consider how vacancy, monthly bills, maintenance fees, taxes and insurance will rack up against your income. On the flip side, if you understand the value of your property and your costs, you can set the rates properly and watch your earnings grow.
Getting it right
With 80% of our guests giving us 5-star ratings, a 20-40% higher returns for our property owners and an efficient end-to-end service, Plush is not only helping out property owners create a passive stream of income but is also creating memorable experiences for their guests.
Contact us for more information or visit us on Facebook @plushservices or Instagram @plushservicesmalaysia.


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I'm in the midst of reading the massive Ngurra Kuju Walyja — One Country One People — Stories from the Canning Stock Route (Macmillan, 2011), a companion volume to the exhibition catalog Yiwarra Kuju from the National Museum of Australia. I won't say much about it today, as I still have hundreds of pages to read through. But I did want to share some exciting and enticing video clips that I discovered after reading the chapter in Ngurra Kuju Walyja that describes the documentary filmmaking that took place during the course of the Canning Stock Route Project. These films were part of the exhibition, but my searches on YouTube a couple of years ago didn't turn up too much. But now I know to find them and much more on the massive Canning Stock Route Project website. So far, I've only scratched the surface of riches available here, but already I'm so excited by what I've seen that I wanted to share them right away.
There's a lot of variety to these films, variety that reflects the styles of the several Indigenous and non-Indigenous filmmakers who were part of the project. The first one that grabbed my imagination as I was reading is a very short interpretation of the Warnman Minyipurru (Seven Sisters) story entitled Nyiru, by a young Martu man named Curtis Taylor from Parnngurr. It tells the story of the man Nyiru who chased the sisters across Martu country until they floated up away from him into the sky. Taylor himself plays the part of Nyiru, which was a bit risky: he was unsure whether the community would approve of his decision to take on the role, but in the end the film was greeted with tremendous enthusiasm. Only a little more than a minute in length, Nyiru displays a decidedly Indigenous approach to visual storytelling, letting the country speak for itself much of the time, the narrative only sketched in, and the image of the disappointed Nyiru counterpoised by fire and moonlight.
A different sensibility and approach to storytelling can be seen in the films made by Nicole Ma, the non-Indigneous filmmaker who acted as the mentor for the young Aboriginal interns, including Taylor and Kenneth "KJ" Martin (see below), on the Project.
That Long Way I Been Travelling is a short documentary narrated largely by Patrick Olodoodi Tjungurrayi. In it Patrick tells the story of his own travels along the Stock Route as a young man. There is an extended segment filmed at Natawalu (Well 40) where a helicopter landed in a claypan in 1959. With much humor he describes his family's fright at the windmill that came out of the sky, and how Charlie Wallabi Tjungurrayi approached the whitefellas who came out of it. The kartiya gave Patrick damper–which he threw away, fearing it would kill him. Patrick's brother Brandy Tjungurrayi asked for water (kapi), which the pilots misunderstand as a request for coffee, "That black one drink," as Patrick describes it. "We drank it and we didn't know what it was so we tipped it out….I never drank coffee from that time on!"
The famous story of how a sickly young Tjungurrayi was flown out of Natawalu by the crew and taken with his mother to Balgo, where he would forever more be known as Helicopter, is told to much laughter. But PAtrick's narration turns sombre when the film crew follows Patrick on past Kaningarra to Jikarn, where the local mob were set upon, chained, killed, and their bodies burned by kartiya. There's no-one left now from that country, says Patrick, and the Dreaming stories are carried only by Nora Wompi's son, who lives south in Jigalong. "Only one for this country."
Ma's film captures an essential view of the Canning Stock Route Project: the documentation of family, the stories they exchanged, and the collective nature of this complex multimedia project. Patrick Tjungurrayi's story is visually anchored throughout by references to his painting Canning Stock Route Country (reproduced at the head of this post) that traces, in its white squares, both the line of wells along the route and the travels of the Tingari ancestors through the country.
Kenneth "KJ" Martin, a Kija man from Halls Creek and another film intern on the Project describes his own reactions to the painting culture of the Project in his short, Not Just Painting. He tells how, before going on the trip back through country, he thought the old people were just "killing time," "too old to get around, play sports" when they painted. But in the course of documenting the trip, he learned how the paintings tell the artists' stories.
Another six short films from Martin form a love letter of sorts to his home town of Halls Creek. I've known people who've travelled to Halls Creek and left as soon as they could, surprised to have found themselves somewhere beyond the end of the known world in a purgatory of dust and boredom. Martin takes quite another view; in these films he shares his view of "a day in the life" of the town where he works as a DJ at the local radio station (Town) and as the audio visual officer at the language center (Work). He spends time learning traditional bush skills from the old men (Culture), though he says that if he didn't use a chain saw to help make a boomerang, "I'd be here all year." In Family, Martin gets his kids off to school in the morning before spending some time fixing his truck. "If you don't know where you're from, you're lost," he says in Bush Tucker, which shows the family, including his smiling granny, cooking up a goanna they've tracked down.
The final segment is Barbeque; here the family rustles up dinner not in the bush but on a shopping trip to Halls Creek Meat Supply ("We offer tough tasteless, fatty meat & iffy seafood at city prices plus freight, etc, etc, etc.") The whole of this little gem of domesticity is shot through with Martin's self-deprecating humor, as he helps out with the difficult tasks like pushing the shopping trolley out the market door and to his truck. He demonstrates his prowess grilling sausages and steaks, but admits "I don't know how to do salads and all that stuff, but that's why God made women." After dinner, dancing, and hopscotch in the backyard, the kids are sent off to bed. Life in Halls Creek looks pretty good after all.
This is just a sample of what waits in the film archives of the Canning Stock Route Project. I would write more, but I'm impatient to get back to Morika Biljabu's tribute to her Nana, and to watch the ceremonies captured in Curtis Taylor's Ngumpan. There's over two dozen small gems here, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.


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The Stinking Costs of Sewer Construction Project Politics, Gov Francis Phase 3 Will Pay Over $10k More
The sewer projects in Gov Francis were divided into 3 Phases:
1) Phase 1 was assessed at $52 ft. Average homeowner has 100 ft thus $5200.
2) Phase 2 was assessed at $82 ft. Average resident paid $8200.
The disparity between the cost of the 2 sections created quite a stir. Nine yrs. ago in the fall, the homeowners in Phase 2 and 3 attended a meeting at John Brown Francis School attended by the Mayor, Janine Burke and Councilman Cushman and we were told that Phase 3 would commence after the completion of Phase 2.
In the interim, once the homeowners in Phase 2 heard they'd have to pay an additional $3000 over Phase 1 costs, Warwick residents Mr. Dempsey and Mr. Nadeau started a petition drive demanding an explanation as to why such a large increase.
At the next informal meeting at the Pilgrim Sr. Center, again attended by the Mayor, Sewer Authority Director Burke, and this time (former Ward 1) Councilman Colantuono, residents were told Phase 3 would not be going forward. The reason Phase 3 was put on hold was thought to be a political move by the Mayor to protect Councilman Colantuono's seat on the council.
The other night at the Pilgrim Senior Center Governor Francis sewer connection resident meeting, Burke said they didn't proceed with Phase 3 because they didn't do any further sewer construction projects after Phase 2, but that wasn't true.....they did a project in the Sandy Lane area .
Phase 3 will be assessed at $19k. The homeowners should demand the Mayor explain why they are paying over $10k more.
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July 2019