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Category Archives: Wealth Protection
What is Fiduciary Advice
What Is Fiduciary Advice? May 2016 Anyone searching for investment advice is undoubtedly confronted with many choices of service providers operating under titles such as certified financial planner, financial consultant, registered investment advisor, stockbroker, and insurance agent. These titles can … Continue reading
A Bird In The Hand Blog
A Bird in the Hand… For years, we have been telling clients that we are not often fans of Roth IRA's. It has been a very unpopular stance in many instances but one that we will continue to broadly … Continue reading
Posted in College, Investment Articles, Retirement, Wealth Protection Leave a comment
TIPS to Short Duration Bonds
After careful consideration, we have decided to make a small change to our core portfolios. We wanted to notify you of this change that will prompt you to see some activity via confirmations and in your monthly statements. This change … Continue reading
Recent Market Volatility
While never unexpected, it still surprises me that when markets have bad days I'm inundated with emails, phone calls, and questions that come on the heels of the news. Yesterday was no exception, when the broad US Market (as measured … Continue reading
It always seems inevitable that when markets move enough to be back in the headlines, that I start to get a lot of questions about "Is this the time to…?" As human beings, we are wired to think we can … Continue reading
Beware of Soothsayers
I am often told there are "professionals" around us who claim to know the exact moment when things in the market are going to change; that somehow they always know the right time to get in or out of the market. … Continue reading
State of Mind
America is aging. Of course this only natural, given the baby boomer generation is now full steam ahead toward hitting the retirement age of 65 (or 66 is you ask Social Security!). Today, 13.5% of Americans are 65 or older. … Continue reading
Lessons in Mutual Fund Flows
Since 2008, economic uncertainty and market volatility have tested the staying power of investors around the world. Many people fled equities during the worst months of the global financial crisis, while others waited for signs of a turnaround before investing … Continue reading
Lullaby Part 3: You May Be Right
Here we present the third and last installment of our three-part blog entitled "Lullably: The Financial Markets Tease Us Back to Complacency". This piece takes a retrospective on the market over the past three years, while offering a progressive commentary. … Continue reading
Lullaby Part 2: Pressure
Here we present the second installment of our three-part blog entitled "Lullably: The Financial Markets Tease Us Back to Complacency". This piece takes a retrospective on the market over the past three years, while offering a progressive commentary. After publishing … Continue reading


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7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.pm.
Questions about The New Sanno, advice on what to do in Tokyo, plus tours and travel are specialties of this desk in our main lobby. Ask here for how to get to Akihabara, where to take a walking tour, etc. Also, obtain tickets here for the bus to Narita and local sightseeing tours.
We will help explain the use of trains, subways and buses in and around Tokyo. Many interesting places are within a short subway or taxi ride from The New Sanno, i.e., Tokyo Tower and the favorite nighttime entertainment area, Roppongi.
For more information, Please contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
Highlights of Tokyo
- Asakusa Sensoji Temple
- Akihabara Electronics Shopping Area
- Ginza Shopping Area
- Imperial Palace
- Meiji Shrine
- Odaiba
- Tokyo Tower
- Tokyo Disney Resort
- Tsukiji Fish Market
- Ueno Park & Zoo

subset: commoncrawl


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Following the release of her first single "Hallucinate", indie pop singer/songwriter and artist GABRIELA FRANCESCA returns with the video to her second hit single "Fever" which she collaborated on with LA-based producer/artist GEO. Gabriela certainly raises your temperature as she pulls you in with taunting melodies and er brazen vocals. The nostalgic, early 80's hit is her take on disco and with a playful twist. Check out the video to "Fever" which was brought to life by photographer/producer Elena Kulikova here
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The Law Offices of Eric R. Brown
Personal Injury Law
Haverhill: (978) 469-1972
Lynn: (781) 584-3850
Toll Free: 888-535-4878
Welcome to the Law Offices of Eric R. Brown
It is important to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible following an injury or accident. Many people don't call a lawyer because they are concerned about the cost. The Law Offices of Eric R. Brown does not charge for a consultation. We will review your situation to see if you may possibly have a case.
The Law Offices of Eric R. Brown handles all types of personal injury cases: car accidents, dog bites, wrongful death cases and workplace third-party cases. We utilize trained investigators, photographers, paralegals and attorneys who work with you to successfully handle your case.
Cases are handled on a contingency basis, which means you pay no fee until we recover by settlement or judgment.
Please contact us for an initial consultation. Experienced representation is just a phone call away.
Copyright © The Law Offices of Eric R. Brown. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer - This web site is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered as or intended to constitute legal advice. Under the Rules of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, this material may be considered advertising. Reading of this website or contacting the firm does not create an attorney client relationship. Any past results do not predict future results.


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Dogs are famous for their love and affection to fetch but this viral video appears they're up for any sort of challenge. These adorable husky puppies and their mother playing tug of war with an orange piece of fabric were filmed and went viral on the internet. Watch how this little fuzz butt puppies wanted the orange leash badly. Will their mom let them win the tug of war? Well, she'll probably do.
Cute Little Husky Puppies Play Tug Of War Against Their Mom
by Kris Collins


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It's a classic case of what's in a name -- and it's the "name" of the game in the $22 billion wine industry.
Napa, Sonoma, Willamette Valley, Lodi -- all AVA, or appellations. There are 236 in the United States: federally designated "unique" viticulture regions. If you get one, you put it on your label, and the price on that bottle of Pinot Noir goes up by a couple of bucks.
The newest "appellation" in the wine business is the Snake River Valley -- in Idaho! The place where potatoes were king is now on the leading edge of the expanding U.S. wine industry. While the better-known American 'valley' appellations dominate the shelves across the country, the new ones, like Snake River, will be the ones taking the U.S. business forward through the next century.
St. Chapelle Winery in Treasure Valley, Idaho is the leader of that state's wine business -- over 160,000 cases last year, double or triple its nearing competitor. A world-class maker of Riesling, Idaho is also the best place in North America for 'ice wine' -- wine made immediately after that initial, quick freeze -- the grapes are crushed and the result after-dinner or dessert wine is stunning.
The 'Snake River Valley' appellation -- look for it.
You can see more about the Idaho wine industry and visit the St. Chapelle Winery on 'On The Money' with 'Mike On America' on Tuesday night, 7 p.m ET.
Questions? Comments? firstname.lastname@example.com


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No sooner had Tiger Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and regained the No. 1 ranking in the world than Nike celebrated the moment on Facebook and Twitter.
The company that sponsors Woods proclaimed, in his own words, "Winning takes care of everything." It's a phrase he often uses when talking to reporters about himself and other golfers. But because this is Tiger Woods, Nike's swaggering post is also being perceived as a reminder of his not-so-positive, womanizing past.
"This is another case of Nike being Nike," Los Angeles-based sports marketing consultant David Carter told USA Today. "The tagline will reinforce both people who support Tiger or are put off by him. For some people, this will be seen as another case of an athlete who doesn't understand how a big part of society views what he's done."
The ad has people talking, which, of course, is the purpose of ads. Nike spokeswoman Beth Gast defended it, telling the New York Daily News, "When asked about his goals such as getting back to number one, he has said consistently winning is the way to get there. The statement references that sentiment and is a salute to his athletic performance."
Woods returned to the top spot in golf this week after 29 months spent working on his golf game and his private life. After his marriage so publicly fell apart when his infidelities came to light on Thanksgiving 2009, he tumbled in the world's golf rankings and his endorsements took a hit, too. Nike, though, remained with him, producing a controversial black-and-white ad in April 2010 in which Woods' late father, Earl, spoke to him.
Now, Woods' rebuilt game has begun to come together. He has won three tournaments this year and heads into next month's Masters as the favorite. And there's stability in his personal life. Last week, he and skier Lindsey Vonn announced they're dating. Nike clearly decided it was worthwhile to run the risk of turning some people off.
"The reality," marketing consultant Laura Ries told the Daily News, "is what he said is true."
Is it? Does winning take care of everything?
Follow @CindyBoren on Twitter and on Facebook.
Woods wins for the third time in '13
Woods is back at No. 1. Now for the Masters.
Woods and Vonn are officially a couple.
Tom Boswell: Woods' game is back and we can all take pleasure in that.


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Indium Corporation announces that Paul Lapsley has been hired as an Information Systems Desktop Administrator. He is based at Indium's global headquarters in Clinton, NY.
Paul's responsibilities include deploying and supporting computer-related desktop equipment, as well as responding to internal help desk requests. He also provides training and assistance with corporate software, and oversees corporate-wide software licensing compliance.
Paul has over 22 years in the Information Technology field, and has worked with Indium Corporation since November 2009 as a contract employee.
Paul has an associate's degree in Humanities from Onondaga Community College and a bachelor's degree in English from Syracuse University. He is a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), has an administrator certification from Hewlett Packard, and is certified on Citrix Metaframe. He resides in Liverpool, NY.
Indium Corporation is a premiere materials supplier to the global electronics, semiconductor, solar, thin film and thermal management markets. Products include solders, preforms, and fluxes; brazes; sputter targets; indium, gallium, and germanium chemicals and sourcing; and Reactive NanoFoil®. Founded in 1934, Indium has global technical support and factories located in China, Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the USA.
For more information about Indium Corporation visit www.indium.com or email firstname.lastname@example.com.


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On An Afternoon With "Red" Skelton
By Tommy E. Sawyer, 32°
Masonry opens doors, including opportunities to meet members of the Craft who
have utilized their God-given talents to promote Masonry, harmony, and goodwill.
I'm sure you will conclude you have met many who possess these traits. You
certainly know one I met — Brother "Red" Skelton, 33°!
After proceeding through proper channels with his staff, I received a letter
in June 1984 granting me a 30-minute interview with Brother Skelton, who was
performing at the State Fair Hall in Dallas and meeting separately with over
150 people from around the world, all interested in purchasing his original
art pieces.
During breakfast, I learned he was born on July 18, 1913, in Vincennes, Indiana,
where he was raised a Master Mason in Vincennes Lodge No. 1 on September 20,
1939. His acting career began at age 10 in a "medicine show." Next
came minstrel shows, showboats, and later a job as a clown with the Hagenbeck & Wallace
Circus. In 1937, he made his New York Broadway debut, and that same year, he
was featured on the Rudy Valle radio show.
Glancing at my watch, I noticed I had only about 10 minutes left in the interview
when I noticed he appeared to have lost something. He asked me if I would accompany
him to his room to help him look for his gold neck chain. There, he seemed
much more relaxed and began to demonstrate his most unique style in talking
about his career in the movies, 48 in all.
I asked him which show business personalities he enjoyed working with the most.
His answered: "I have had the pleasure of working with many talents in
radio, TV, and the movies; but I would say the ones that really stood out were
Ed Wynn, Mickey Rooney, Vincent Price, and the always funny Martha Raye."
I was interested in what a typical day was like in his life. First, he rises
at 5:30 am, showers, shaves, and sits down to write his wife, Lothian, a "love
letter." He spends the rest of the day making appearances and planning
his travel agenda, still finding time to keep abreast of his business pursuits.
He watches TV until 10:00 pm, and then he goes to his study to work on his
famous clown paintings and other artistic projects until about 1:00 am. Four
or five hours of sleep are all he requires.
Asked where he lives and did Lothian have any hobbies, he replied they reside
in Anza, California. She raises thoroughbred horses but manages to accompany
him on some road trips. Also, she is a great support for him as she helps him
with his comic materials.
I asked about the comic characters he had invented to entertain so many millions
of fans throughout his career, those hilarious routines and skits he performed
on and often wrote for his radio and TV programs. I began to name those characters
- Clem Kidittlehopper, Willie LumpLump, the Mean Little Kid, California Pug
and, of course, Freddie the FreeLoader. He said these characters gave him the
opportunity to relive his childhood. He noted that a little bit of the personalities
he portrayed was found in each of us. An interesting comment was that he liked
all the characters the same - no favorites. A point I found interesting was
his comment concerning "The Mean Little Kid" routine with its famous
punch line, "If I dood it, I get a whipping." He wasn't using it
anymore in his skits because another Mason, General Jimmy Doolittle, 33°,
Grand Cross, made headlines during World War II with the statement "Doolittle
dood it," commenting on his famous air attack over Tokyo.
Brother Skelton's military career found him on the front lines in Italy in
the field artillery unit for 22 months. After the war, he performed over 2,500
shows in Korea and Japan. "Red" returned to Hollywood to make movies
with leading ladies Lucille Ball, Esther Williams, and other prominent stars
for many more years.
When travelling across the country, he made it a point to visit as many Masonic
groups, especially Shrine Temples, as he could, and he asked permission to
visit with the clown units - all to make a point. He said children are frightened
of people who wear paint, so if the Shrine clowns follow a simple recommendation
he uses, their success with children would be overwhelming. When they visit
a hospital ward or a room of kids, they should not go directly into the room,
but peek around the corner three or four times before entering. This builds
trust and confidence!
" Masons are doing a great job helping children, and I would personally
like to see more emphasis placed on the DeMolay programs across the country," he
said when asked about his thoughts on Masonic activities. His own personal first
experience with Masonry occurred in Vincennes, Indiana, when he was seven or
eight as he sold papers on a street corner. A man bought a newspaper and tipped
him the remainder of a $5 bill. "Red" asked, "Why did you give
me so much money to keep?" The man answered, "I am a Mason and we are
taught to give!" "Well, I am going to be a Mason, too, when I grow
up," "Red" stated. "Oh, Sonny, you mean you are going to
try to be a Mason." This conversation stayed with Brother Skelton all his
His Masonic career is most interesting. Aside from his membership in Vincennes
Lodge No. 1, he holds membership in both the Scottish and York Rite Bodies.
He was the recipient of the General Grand Chapter's Gold Medal for Distinguished
Service in the Arts and Sciences. On September 24, 1969, he was coroneted an
Inspector General Honorary Thirty-third Degree in Boston, Massachusetts, by
the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite. Also, he's a member
of the Al Malaikah Temple in Los Angeles, California, and he received the Grand
Lodge Award of Gold from the Grand Lodge of Indiana in 1993.
Our beloved Masonic Brother died September 24, 1997, and was buried at Forest
Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California. He will be missed! As the lives of millions
of others had been enriched by knowing "Red" Skelton, so was mine
that afternoon for the three hours I spent with this outstanding humanitarian
and Brother. His success, no doubt, revolved around his love and understanding
of human emotions and people's need for laughter and happiness. He left a great
path for us to walk. In parting, we exchanged a warm, fraternal handshake,
and Brother "Red" said to me, "Tommy, keep smiling-the world
needs laughter, a lot of it."
And what about the gold chain? Did we find it? We looked in and under the bed,
in the bathroom, and down the hall. Probably, the reader realized long ago
that it was in Brother Skelton's coat pocket all the time. His performance
at the Music Hall and his art sale were successes. So was my afternoon with
Brother "Red" Skelton.
This article, edited
for length, was previously published in The Texas Mason,
Fall 1998 (Vol. 7, No. 4).
About the Author:
Tommy E. Sawyer of 6402 Willowstone Trail, Arlington, Texas 76018-3121, was
raised a Master Mason on April 30,1981, in Thomas B. Hunter Lodge No. 1356,
in Grand Prairie, Texas. He is a member of the Dallas Scottish Rite Bodies,
Past Editor of the Hellas Shrine Temple magazine, The Camel's Calf, of Garland,
Texas, and was the author of a weekly numismatic column for The Dallas Times-Herald
for 16 years.


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Frequency Response Design of Controlled Structuresby Jun-Ping Pu, Feng Chai Univ, Taiwan,
Document Type: Proceeding Paper
Part of: Computer Utilization in Structural Engineering
The installation of optimal control systems has been shown to be effective in reducing the vibration responses of structures. In addition to the effectiveness, there are many factors that should be taken into consideration in the design of linear control systems. In general, closed-loop systems with time delays in the loop will be subjected to more stability problems than systems without delays. The stability condition may be deteriorated as the time delay increased. This investigation examine the frequency responses of the control system and try to establish the design strategy of the controlled structures.
Subject Headings: Structural design | Load and resistance factor design | Structural stability | Control systems | Structural response | Linear functions | Deterioration | Structural control
Services: Buy this book/Buy this article
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I just wanted to share with you my fourth painting: a hot pink majestic chair :)
Inspiration: A pink vintage chair I saw in a photograph that I drooled over for a second but then realized if I were to buy it I would really have no place for it! So why not paint it?
Keep in mind I am still practicing! But all in all I think it came out ok. I recently finished painting No 5 and I'm seeing progress which only motivates me to continue painting. I hope to move on to the bigger canvases and more intricate designs soon :)


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Distances are calculated in a straight line and may not reflect actual travel distance.
This is one of our Short-let properties
As with all properties in the Craven House Collection, No.8 The Terrace will be equipped and furnished to the highest standard, and the expected services will be provided: internet, phone, all towels, linens, cleaning and a welcome pack for your arrival.
With over 130m2 of practical living space split over two floors, and a beautiful terrace as well as off street parking for 2 cars, it is an ideal apartment for family holidays, short breaks.
On the main floor, the living area has been thoughtfully designed with a modern kitchen including all the expected appliances. A spacious living room which flows through to a beautiful sun terrace with lovely garden views, in addition to a large dining room to seat six for dinner, and single bedroom and family bathroom finished to a excellent standard.
On the upper floor there is a very large master bedroom, which is light and airy, in addition to a further twin/double bedroom, and second family bathroom.
The apartment is located just 3 minutes' walk (0.1 miles) from Claygate train station and the Parade, which has a great selection of shops, restaurants, beauticians, and art galleries.
Luxury Serviced Apartment
3 bedroom
2 bathrooms
0.1 miles to Claygate Train Station
35 mins to London Waterloo
0.3 miles to Claygate Centre
Well-equipped kitchen and seating area
Spacious dining room, airy lounge and beautiful terrace
Huge master bedroom upstairs
Great sized twin room, with third bedroom on lower level
Contact branch for relevant Energy Performance Certificate


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Friday, July 27, 2012
little steps
and what is nicer than a purry cat in a basket :-)
except that it is actually my knitting basket...
Still knitting on the jumper, I suspect it will be ready for the warmer weather :-)
also trying out another pair of socks from hand spun merino/kid mohair, - will see how that goes. The yarn tends to stretch even though I plied 1 strand wool with one strand kid mohair - which is supposed to stop the kid mohair from slipping. It still stretches when weaving tapestry with it. I am seeing if knitting with it makes a difference.
Weaving table mats with recycled Sari Silk on a red cotton warp (!) it actually looks nice! using up stash!
and suspect the wool blanket will be ready for next winter too....
I am making some progress weaving the tapestry.
When the going is tuff, - make little steps!
The area of the purple climbing flowers is finished.
The flowers are coming along slowly,
the area which is going to go above the flowers is started.
I am trying out recycled Sari Silk and I have not quite decided yet if I will use it - sometimes it is a good idea to leave things and keep coming back to it until I am sure that I like the choice, or sure that I want to make a change.
I forgot to get all the hanging yarns out of the way,
but I am sure you can still work it out :-)
The "brown" area to the right of it had not been what I wanted and is now re- woven, - I am happy with it now!
only one more bird to go in the next section above.
Karley working out what has happened to my knitting basket...
(left) Niddy (cat) is fast asleep.
(the pic is yellow because I don't use flash when cat or dog are facing me)
I haven't been hibernating ... just finding the change
of situation without a guide dog quite unsettling
and not overly conducive to creativity. It's been a long time!
I might be starting training with a new dog in
2 weeks, or 3 - and fretting about Karley,
- don't know if I can part with her,
respectively manage 2 dogs....
life! It will all work out,
Happy weaving/spinning/creating - to all of you!
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Nothing can beat the idea of gifting decorated Easter flower basket on the occasion of Easter celebration. Easter flowers will blossom your life just like spreading their aroma everywhere. The mesmerizing view of blooming flowers will shower its freshness and softness on your life and fill it with golden charming moments.
Flowers are the most popular medium to pass on your positive and sentimental weave lengths to others. In fact, flowers convey the eternal feelings of your heart straight to the heart of other person. There are myriad of flowers that can make their way to Easter flower bouquet.
Some flowers are even called Easter flowers in terms of the significance and coherence they hold relating to this time of year.
Lily is most frequent associated with Easter. These white flowers spark the spiritual essences of not just the Christian holiday of Easter but also hold more traditional meaning. They are the sophisticated embodiment of reinvented life, hope and sanctity.
They are the native of the Ryukyu Islands in southern Japan, however the control of growth market of Easter lily currently lies with the US. Currently the most commonly found and grown Easter lily is "Nellie white". The traditional shape of large, white, trumpet shaped flowers hold a unique significance at this time. These Easter flowers are also called the "white robed apostles of hope" and are available on altars all over during the Easter season.
Lilies are mostly associated with the Annunciation, or the resurrection of the Virgin, knitting them closely with the spirit of Easter.
Another commonly found Easter flower is the Narcissus. Other most popular flowers at Easter time are Daffodils, tulips and in Germany some king of red flowers, red symbolizing the blood of Christ.
As such Easter lilies make the perfect Easter flower. They merge together traditions of the old and the new, representing both worlds and means for the Easter occasion. They are also an ideal Easter gift that keeps on giving every year. Less often used flowers are the chrysanthemum, daisy, carnation, and even sunflowers have marched their way into the Easter flower tradition.
Since Easter is a time to give, a bright heart-warming floral arrangement can be the best and perfect gift of nature. Easter floral arrangements' styles are both formal and informal designed with Easter themes. The Easter Lily is mostly used as the main flower in bouquets however other flowers such as daffodils, tulips and hyacinths are also associated with Easter. These beautiful bright flowers are perfect to celebrate Easter, and the coming of spring or autumn.
In most Catholic countries, white lilies are associated with Mary, and projected as a symbol of purity since the 12th century. In early paintings, the Angel Gabrielis is displayed offering the Virgin Mary a branch of pure white lilies, announcing that she is to be the mother of the Christ Child. In other paintings, saints are manifested bringing vases of white lilies to Mary and the baby Jesus. It is believed that when Mary's tomb was opened to show Thomas that her body had been assumed into heaven, the tomb was filled with lilies.
Nowadays, other flowers have joined the band wagon of Easter celebration, such as tulips, iris, gerbera, and even roses. But generally spring time colors such as yellow and orange are more popular.
The freshness and enchanting aroma of snow white lily can never fade away so is its significance on the eve of easter!!


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Shared governance is a foundation of higher education, yet it is not always easy to achieve, writes Dennis Barden. This is especially true in the context of search committees and the hiring process, but it is a worthwhile goal. "When search committee members trust one another, listen to alternate views, and use their input productively," Barden says, "better hiring decisions are made."
Read: Shared Governance Works in Executive Hiring, if We Let It


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The Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics - 22.5" x 30" - Pencil on Paper - 2013
I'm honored to have been commissioned by my alma mater UNH to do this drawing, in commemoration of the new Peter T. Paul college building. This was executed over the course of 5 on-site drawing sessions and finished at home in my studio, but as usual I did not use any photographs. I'm thrilled with how it came out and had a really great time working on this.


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If you're already involved in software development as a designer, programmer, tester or another specialist and are looking to upgrade your role and affect the project's lifecycle as well as company's product strategy, you should consider to become a Software Product Manager (SPM).
What is a Software Product Manager?
Software Product Manager is a person who:
- acts as a product's CEO and advocate
- is in charge of corporate product development strategy
- has deep understanding of relevant market segments, users and portfolio
- tests business cases every now and then
- is responsible for risks management
- is enthusiastic about your company's software product
- understands user behavior patterns and building blocks of effective communication
That's how Software Product Manager salaries vary per country (work experience: 4+ years, all salaries are gross and per annum):
Ukraine: $30,000 - $42,000
United States (Chicago): $85,241 - $162,300
Germany: $60,000 - $115,000
As we can see, salaries for SPM in the Western world are generous, with average pay above 6 figures per year. Considering potential for bonuses and profit sharing, the total cash payments to SPMs can peak near $162K depending on individual performance.
However, the same expertise can be found at a much lower cost offshore in countries like Ukraine.
Skills and responsibilities
SPM's key goal is to continuously improve product in each phase of its lifecycle. SPMs communicate both with a software development team (developers and engineers, visual designers, UX/UI designers, QA) and the end user. At a certain stage communication with users may account for over 70% of SPM's daily job.
Some of the responsibilities of Software Product Managers include, but aren't limited to:
- Daily interaction with customer and their project team
- Gathering requirements to spec out the project, expectations management
- Feature specification design (goals, analytics, wireframes)
- Interaction with designers (feedback on completed tasks)
- Design, upgrade and monitoring of product dashboards
- A/B testing
- Coordination of interaction with agencies that monitor user behaviors (e.g., UserTesting, Validately, Ask your Target Market, etc.), analysis of information received
- Product decision making based on quantitive data
Communication with customer is the number one challenge for SPMs. Finding a balance between opportunity and reality is critical, because what user wants is oftentimes a far cry from what customer wants to have developed. And your task is to deliver target user feedback to the customer and get their buy-in for this. It usually involves change resistance that SPMs should be able to deal with. So, if you know how to convince people and turn them into your allies using correct arguments, this job is right for you!
A typical workday of a SPM is hard to describe; tasks depend on a current project phase. To repetitive tasks belong:
- Demo of the latest mockup / prototype, details discussion and getting approval
- Leading a team standup meeting, tasks distribution among team members
- Work with users: testing new features, A/B split, collecting focus group feedback, keeping backlogs
- Work with designers: finalizing mockups, collecting feedback, getting customer's approval
- Market research: analytics, news, competitive research
It's a must for a good SPM to spend at lest 1 hour at work on self-education: reading books, attending events, talking to mentors, taking an online course, etc
Tasks and responsibilities may vary depending on project type and specificity. In many cases, there's no assigned SPM on project, so this role is shared among CEO, CTO, PM and head designer.
Many are curious about the difference between a Product Manager and a Project Manager (PM). Unlike the latter, SPM makes business decisions, gets involved in marketing and product shaping. As such, a Product Manager is able to affect the product and its development, while a PM does't deal with a product directly, but manages this or that product related project and is responsible for helping customer or employer attain their business goals.
Sometimes these roles are mixed and one person may fulfill both functions. Again, it all depends on the project type. For instance, in case of Intersog, some of our projects have SPMs, and some have PMs only. Besides interacting directly with customer and their PMs, our product managers involved in eHealth projects also have to communicate with real physicians to get their feedback on features deployed, and coordinate compliance with HIPAA and other Health IT standards.
How to become a Software Product Manager?
You should have the following basic skills to develop into a SPM:
- Technical knowledge and understanding of web / software development
- Strong domain knowledge and expertise
- Strong social skills, stress resistance, negotiating skills
Intersog SPMs recommend the following resources for self-education:
1. The Lean Product Playbook by Dan Olsen
2. Intercom on Product Management by Des Traynor & John Collins
3. Software Product Management course on Coursera
If you have no technical background, you should consider learning web and mobile development lifecycle and processes. Check out Coursera for a variety of courses.
Speaking about tools used by SPMs, let's point out the following:
- UX Design: Balsamiq Mockups, Proto.io, Axure, Uxpin, Bootstrap;
- Agile Development: Trello, Pivotal Tracker, JIRA Agile;
- Target audience research: UserTesting, Validately, Ask your Target Market;
- Analytics and A/B Testing: Google Analytics, KISSmetrics, Mixpanel, Flurry.
Just like any other profession, SPM requires a lot of field work, experience working on real-life client projects and active trend-watching to stay in the know about what's happening in the market now.
Career opportunities in Software Product Management
When it comes to career growth opportunities, you actually have 3 main options:
- Develop horizontally, i.e. gain experience and knowledge with each new project
- Create own product / launch startup
- Become an advisor, i.e. help evolve a software product as an independent or 3rd party consultant for equity share or at an hourly rate (the most viable option in Western countries today).


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- Directory
- Working at UPEI
- Conferences
- Panthers
- Give to UPEI
- Apply Now!
Skip to: content
We look forward to welcoming Andrews Hockey Growth Program participants and their families to our beautiful campus again this year. Residence accommodations include parking, 24-hour front desk and security services, a bed linen and towel exchange service, access to laundry facilities, high speed internet, and local telephone access.
Andrew Hall: Our five-storey residence, opened in 2006 contains single, double, and triple suites. Each suite features large private bedrooms equipped with double beds, cable TV, microwave, telephone, kitchenette/seating area, and private bathroom. Our nightly rates are listed below:
Blanchard Hall: Completely refurbished in 2005/06, each of our 66 apartments include two bedrooms (each containing two single beds allowing up to four people to share), a full kitchen, living room with cable TV, and private bathroom. These units are popular with families and groups who want to share accommodations. Our nightly rates are listed below:
Bernardine Hall: Refurbished in 2004, our traditional-style residence offers a combination of single rooms that contain one single bed and double rooms that contain two single beds with every two rooms sharing a bathroom. There is a TV lounge, kitchenette, and laundry facilities on each floor. Our nightly rates are listed below:
*Rates listed above do not include applicable taxes and subject to change.
Food Services: Working closely with the Andrews Hockey Growth Program, we are pleased to once again offer our food service packages that provide all-you-care-to-eat meals with healthy choices. The packages are discounted from our regular rates and are available at the residence check-in desk in Andrew Hall.
All meals are served as an all you care to eat buffet featuring several hot entrees and a vegetarian option at each meal. Some of the healthy choices include: white and whole wheat pasta dishes, milk, fresh fruit, salad bar, and a deli style sandwich bar. Our catering provider prides itself on using many fresh, local products.
We are pleased to provide three convenient meal plans to suit your needs:
Package #1: FULL MEAL PLAN - $115.00 + applicable taxes
Package #2: LUNCH PLAN - $52.00 + applicable taxes
Package #3: SUPPER PLAN - $65.00 + applicable taxes
Meals may be purchased on an individual basis at the Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall
Meal Times:
To book accommodations and food services:
Toll Free: 1-877-734-7327
Tel: (902) 566-0952
Fax: (902) 628-4369
Email: email@example.com


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Inventions have changed our lives. Whether it be the wheel, electricity, car, telephone or the microchip, inventions have allowed us to live better, and sometimes longer, lives.
This piece is about the path or journey to these great discoveries. The music is always moving forward-advancing. Even with slight sidetracks or failed experiments, the journey presses on, the journey of discovery.


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VICIOUS FEMDOM EMPIRE – Slave to Tits. Starring Mistress Angela White
Mistress Angela White want's you on your knees, completely submissive and addicted to her big, voluptuous tits! Soon your life
will be completely controlled by her massive 32G tits and there is nothing you can do about it. You will only be allowed to cum
when you are smothered by tits making you that much more helpless and obedient to her every command. Now be a good boy and start
stroking as you become a mindless slave where your world will be nothing but tits, tits and more tits!
Category: FEMDOM POV
Related Categories: BIG TITS, MESMERIZE, MASTURBATION INSTRUCTION, SUBMISSIVE / SLAVE TRAINING, FEMALE DOMINATION
Keywords: angela white
File Name : VICIOUS FEMDOM EMPIRE – Slave to Tits. Starring Mistress Angela White.mp4
Runtime: 00:12:15
Video Size: 1.01 GB
Resolution: 1920×1080


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New Country Music Game App
If you like Farmville and Mafia Wars, AND country music, you're in luck. CMT is in the works to produce a new Facebook App called Platinum Life Country. Considering the billions of dollars that games on Facebook are currently making, it's sure to be a big hit. The app is still in the planning stage, but you can find games on the CMT home page for now.


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(For a live blog on European stocks, type LIVE/ in an Eikon news window)
LONDON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - European stocks bounced back strongly on Friday from a sharp selloff in world markets, after Asian shares staged a partial recovery overnight.
Euro zone stocks jumped 1 percent with Germany's DAX up 1.1 percent while the FTSE 100 gained 0.4 percent.
The main euro zone index was however still set for its biggest weekly fall since February, down 3.7 percent on the week.
Third-quarter results were also beginning to trickle in from European firms, with investors' eyes on Wall Street banks which report earnings later on Friday, formally kicking off the earnings season.
Tech stocks - the worst hit by this week's sudden drop - were the biggest gainers, with the sector index jumping 2.4 percent led by chipmakers Siltronic, AMS, and STMicroelectronics.
The growth-sensitive auto and mining sectors climbed 1.3 to 1.6 percent.
Luxury stocks, which had also suffered sharp falls as investors targeted the most highly-valued parts of the market, climbed too.
Gucci owner Kering topped France's CAC 40 with a 3.1 percent gain, while LVMH, Moncler and Salvatore Ferragamo rose 1.7 to 1.9 percent.
Man Group shares rose 4.7 percent after the world's largest listed hedge fund reported funds under management increased in the third quarter thanks to investment gains and net inflows.
Broker notes also moved some stocks.
Online retailer Zalando gained 4.3 percent and Asos rose 2.9 percent after Credit Suisse analysts said they were confident that in Europe retail brands preferred the two firms' platforms to Amazon.
Victrex shares fell 2.3 percent after Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock to "underweight". (Reporting by Helen Reid; editing by John Stonestreet)


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Skip to main content
The Lower School program is designed to meet the needs of gifted students ages 21/2 through 11. The program's content and structure are responsive to developmental stages in the lives of children. Learning experiences are designed to help students find depth and personal meaning in their studies. Fundamentally, Roeper teachers respect and facilitate the individual abilities, needs, and interests of young learners.
At each of the four Lower School Stages, developmentally appropriate opportunities for choice, decision making and problem solving assist the students' developing sense of empowerment and personal responsibility for their own learning. Each Stage brings opportunities for greater levels of abstraction in language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, foreign language, visual and performing arts, technology, and physical education.
Small student-teacher ratios make it possible for teachers to be close to each student's learning experience. Individual learning styles can be understood so that strengths are nurtured and strategies developed between teacher and student to most effectively meet that student's needs.
The Lower School passionately embraces the learning needs of children, preparing students to actively engage in the world as it exists now and in the future. Our daily interactions are guided by the founding philosophy of our founders, George and Annemarie Roeper, and are based on relationships bound by joyful and mutual respect for all members of our community.
Our teaching teams are an amazing group of dedicated professionals who are committed to providing an environment of learning rigor while attending to the academic and social emotional growth of our students. Our curriculum is structured to develop skill sets that are developed based on student voice, and designed to allow students to create, collaborate, and have a shared sense of meaning and purpose.
The Roeper School has been a paragon of progressive education since its founding by Annemarie and George Roeper, and this is a model of education particularly relevant for gifted learners. While our Philosophy and Mission for gifted learners is unique in the world of education, our curriculum is aligned with best practices which foster critical thinking skills and preparation to meet the needs of 21st Century learners. We welcome an opportunity to share the difference we can make for your gifted learner.


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How to Open a MacBook Power Adapter?
Macbook power adapters are approximately four inches by four inches and can be used on any Apple laptop computer. They come in two parts and are extremely easy to open and use.
How to Connect the AC Adapter for a MacBook Pro?
Apple's MacBook Pro notebook has a battery that lasts several hours, but you must eventually plug the computer in to charge the battery. Apple includes a special MagSafe AC adapter with each MacBoo...
Read More »
If you use the wrong household AC electrical power adapter to give power to something what part of its circuit will be damaged?
This question could be understood in two different ways and both ways would make good sense! So two separate answers are given below. ANSWER 1 If the question is asking which part of a circuit woul...
Read More »
What cable/adapter do i need to buy to hook my macbook up to my HDTV?
You have to go back to the place you bought the Mac from or to the Apple store. You're going to need an adaptor (that I doubt the other place sells). You need to get a Mini DisplayPort to DVI Ada...
Read More »
Best video and audio out adapter MacBook Pro 2012?
Hello, Ask Apple here for free 1-800-MY-Apple ,and check out the sites for more informaton http://www.macworld.com/ http://www.apple.com/support/ andhttps://discussions.apple.com/thread/246… ...
Read More »


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Transform your photos into one-of-a-kind, hand painted masterpieces!
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You'll never run out of power again! If the battery on your smartphone or tablet is running low... no problem. Just plug your device into the USB port on the top of this portable battery charger, and then continue to use your device while it gets recharged.
With a recharge capacity of 5200 mAh, this charger will give you 1.5 full recharges of your smartphone or recharge your tablet to 50% capacity.
When the battery charger runs out of power, just plug it into the wall using the supplied cable (included), and it will recharge itself for your next use.
1.80" W x 3.875" H x 0.90" D
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Leontin Jakupi
October 24th, 2017
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Josip Mikulic
September 6th, 2017
Worst experience ever. Ordered on 16/08/2017 and estimated ship date was 21/08/2017, it's 06/09/2017 now and there is still no info when item will be shipped. Tried to contact pixels.com twice via contact form, no answer. Charger supposed to be gift for my father's birthday on 09/09/2017 but you managed to ruin it. Since I tried to contact You via contact form, and got no result. I hope that you'll read this comment and return me my money, since you failed to deliver product which is now useless to me because you weren't able to provide any info for couple of weeks
Elizabeth Layman
May 2nd, 2017
I bought this for my sister who is graduating soon. She spends a lot of time on her cell phone, and I thought this would be a personal and usefu giftl. The image is a bit dark but over all nice quality. The charger came with some charge (blue light came on). It looks easy to use, and I'm eager to see how my sister likes it!
Jennifer Christenson has been studying art since she was a child. Her journey continued into college with an Art & Design Diploma from Red Deer College. Jen moved to Halifax to complete her BFA at the Nova Scotia College of Art & Design and graduated on the Deans List in Costume Studies from Dalhousie University. In 2013 Jennifer completed the Fashion & Film Make-up Artistry Program at New Image College of Fine Arts in Vancouver, BC. She is co-founder of Aquarian Creations Inc., a collaborative partnership with her sister Rebecca Christenson. Created to represent personal creations, Aquarian Creations just released their first illustrated book! Jen has also been commissioned for both theatre and film set pieces. She is interested in...
Our return policy is very simple:
If you're not happy with a purchase that you made on FineArtAmerica.com, for any reason, you can return it to us within 30 days of the order date. As soon as it arrives, we'll issue a full refund for the entire purchase price. Please note - Fine Art America does not reimburse the outgoing or return shipping charges unless the return is due to a defect in quality.
Fine Art America sells thousands of pieces of artwork each month - all with a 100% money-back guarantee. We take great pride in the fact that hundreds of thousands of artists have chosen Fine Art America to fulfill their orders, and we look forward to helping you select your next piece!
All portable batteries chargers ship from our production facility within 1 - 2 business days of your order.


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Submitted by Margaret Ramey on
The CTC Team attended the 2016 NIH SBIR/STTR Conference in Orlando this November. A "Myths Busting" break out session covered common questions and misgivings associated with NIH SBIR/STTR.
- Small program (budget) = low success rate. #000000;">NOT TRUE. Each NIH institute has its own budget and own interests.If you have an idea that fits the interests of an institute, APPLY!
- If you change an institute within NIH it goes to a new review panel. #ff0000;">NOT TRUE. NIH tries to match up past reviewers to keep review consistent.
- Do you think NIH didn't like your technology because of a bad peer review? #ff0000;">NOT TRUE. Peer review counts, but isn't everything. If it's a good technology with a clearly assembled proposal, your technology will be discussed.
- Your budget is scoreable and the smaller it is the more likely to be funded. #ff0000;">NOT TRUE.
- Applying by contract method typically yields a lower award rate. #ff0000;">NOT TRUE. Actually the award rate is slightly higher.
- CDC is NOT an institute within the NIH. #ff0000;">TRUE. It is a separate agency within HHS (The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
- CDC does participate in STTR. #ff0000;">NOT TRUE. The CDC has a small budget of 9 Million for SBIR, but no budget for STTR. Last year the CDC did not deplete it's SBIR budget. Apply small!
If you have questions about SBIR/STTR, NIH or any other agency, contact Margaret Ramey or your CTC contact.


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UK drinking age
The legal drinking age in the United Kingdom
You can buy an alcoholic drink in the UK if you're over the age of 18. A few words of advice: if you look young, you may be asked for identification – your passport should do the trick. Some pubs run identity-card schemes, but if you're a visitor you probably won't have one of these cards.
Minimum age limit
What may be somewhat confusing to visitors is the fact that some pubs, clubs and bars operate their own minimum age limit, a limit that's above the minimum legal age. This can be 21, 23 or 25 and is entirely down to the discretion of the management. If they refuse to allow you in, don't argue: it won't get you anywhere other than chucked out into the street. There are plenty of other places to go.
Admittance to any establishment is at the discretion of the management – if they don't want you in the place, there's no legal obligation for them to let you in.
Underage drinking
It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to buy an alcoholic drink or for anyone knowingly to purchase a drink for someone underage. It is also against the law for anyone running licensed premises (or their employees) to sell a drink to someone underage. There is an exception: it is not an offence to buy a drink for a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old in conjunction with a table meal in a restaurant as long as the meal is not in the bar area. Similarly, a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old can purchase a drink in a restaurant with a table meal under these restrictions.
Some pubs allow families in for meals and some don't. Some even have areas where children can play, but they still require parents to supervise their offspring (although we hate pubs where this isn't the case and the little terrors run riot).
Children under fourteen years of age are allowed into pubs that hold a children's certificate. They must be accompanied by an adult and are restricted to those areas that have been certified suitable for young children. Pubs holding such a certificate must serve meals and nonalcoholic drinks, normally until 9 p.m.


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THE NIGHTINGALE by KRISTIN HANNAH.
BACK COVER BLURB: Bravery, courage, fear and love in a time of war.
Despite their differences, sisters Vianne and Isabelle have always been close. Younger, bolder Isabelle lives in Paris while Vianne is content with life in the French countryside with her husband Antoine and their child. But when the Second World War breaks out and Antoine is conscripted to fight, Isabelle is sent to the country by their father to help Vianne.
As war develops, the strength of the sisters' relationship is tested. With life changing, and confronted by unbelievable horrors, Viann and Isabelle will find themselves responding in ways they never thought possible, as bravery and resistance take differing forms in each of the two sisters.
FIRST SENTENCE {ONE ~ APRIL 9, 1995, THE OREGON COAST}: If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.
MEMORABLE MOMENT {PAGE 267}: Rachel stood in the black, yawning entrance of a cattle car, her face and hands still smeared with her daughter's blood. She scanned the crowd, saw Vianne, and raised her bloody hand in the air, and then she was gone, shoved back by the women stumbling in around her. The door to the cattle car clanged shut.
SOURCE: A library book.
READ FOR: Not applicable.
MY THOUGHTS: First things first, why oh why the minute print?
Though I can't obviously comment on every edition, the size of print in this 2015 Pan edition was ridiculously small.
OK, so perhaps not ALL of the themes/situations covered in The Nightingale (it is after all an epic novel, its 400 plus pages packing in a lot of history) will have featured in every book of its kind but nevertheless I didn't find anything here that I hadn't read in countless other books.
Set largely in the small French village in which Vianne resides, for such a rural village there did seemed to be an awful lot occurring, including a lot of SS 'top brass' stomping around - indeed, as a friend of mine who was reading the book at the same time commented, she was only surprised that Hitler himself wasn't billeted with Vianne and her daughter at some point.
In fact, all rather cliched. The author's writing cleverly if blatantly (I'd argue perhaps too blatantly) calculated to elicit certain responses (typically that of sadness or anger) rather than letting the author explore their own feelings.
Though told from the point of view of the two sisters (and therefore jumping around in both time and place) essentially the plot was easy enough to follow. The sisters, and in particular some of their actions, however didn't always ring true, at times seeming contrived merely as a way of manipulating the reader in much the same way the eliciting of certain emotions did.
Why then (to use GoodReads star rating system) my rating of 4 stars/'I really enjoyed it'?
A sucker for this genre.
Despite my misgivings, there are no two ways about it, if not necessarily the best of writers of this kind of fiction, a good story-teller. I found myself totally caught up in Vianne's and Isabelle's world, moved by their plight, as well as that, of course, of their family, friends and co-conspirators.
PLEASE NOTE ... As always please be sure to look out for Kelly's review which she typically posts the day after the group meets which is tonight.


text: Retina \Ret"i*na\, n. [NL., from L. rete a net. Cf. {Reticule}.] (Anat.) The delicate membrane by which the back part of the globe of the eye is lined, and in which the fibers of the optic nerve terminate. See {Eye}. [1913 Webster] Note: The fibers of the optic nerve and the retinal blood vessels spread out upon the front surface of the retina, while the sensory layer (called Jacob's membrane), containing the rods and cones, is on the back side, next the choroid coat. [1913 Webster]


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ambiguous atrioventricular connections, ambiguous codon, ambiguous external genitalia < Prev | Next > ambilateral, ambilevous, ambiparous
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No match for ambiguous grammars
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Have you ever dreamed of owning a creek front log cabin in the north Georgia mountains? Now's your chance... and, I have 2 lots to choose from!
Either of these two beautiful creek lots, which are offered for sale for only $25,900 per lot, would make a perfect building site for your dream home. Each lot offers over 2 acres but could easily be joined together to create a 4.5 acre estate lot for your creekside dream home in the mountains!
These "ready to build" properties are located in Little Sugar Creek Estates, an upscale cabin community just 3 miles from historic Blue Ridge, GA, which offers PAVED ROADS and UNDERGROUND UTILITIES.
With only 28 single family homes nestled on 1 to 5 acre lots homeowners in this community enjoy a generous amount of green space making it the perfect place for those searching for upscale amenities in a rustic, wooded setting.
Ask About Owner Financing!
Ask About Owner Financing!
SEE MORE PHOTOS: Creek front lots for sale in Blue Ridge. GA
This Blue Ridge GA Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Georgia Properties located in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, GA. Please feel free to call (866-413-1781) or drop me an email firstname.lastname@example.com if I can assist you with buying or selling your Blue Ridge GA real estate, mountain home or property.


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It's been a while since I posted, so I feel so rusty. Gosh. My absence can be attributed mainly to the fact that Dada Joel is so busy to help me maintain Ceskypooh's World. But I vow to do my best to continue posting regularly. And now, for my first post in over a week, I'm happy to introduce a new blog co-authored by my father (so that's what you've been doing, huh!).
Perfect World Expedition is, as its introductory phrase implies, "The adventures and misadventures of an erudite Pinoy gamer in his first-ever MMORPG." Primarily authored by Dada Joel's long-time friend, Relly de Guzman Carpio, the new blog provides a fresh take on online gaming. It features not only insights into a first-time MMO gamer but also funny anecdotes presented through one-line comic strips.
Here's a sample entry:
I have never played an MMORPG before (that's short for Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game, dearie, and its pronounced as spelled; try not to read it as a word). But I have played. Oh have I played. I have been playing Role-Playing Games since I was 12. On this, my 20th year as a gamer, I have finally decided to cross the final threshold, to finally drop the proverbial final fig leaf.
Filed under: Advertisements, Blogging, Digital Art, Family, Gaming, mmorpg, Perfect World |


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The beauty of free-range chickens:
• The chickens graze freely on acres and acres of pasture, woods and fields.
• The eggs are wonderful.
• The chickens are eating all the ticks.
• There's no nasty, stinky, lifeless, fenced-in, chicken-yard full of sad, corn-fed chickens.
• There are few foods healthier than a truly free-range chicken, or a free-range chicken's egg.
Free-range chickens are great.
I am a huge fan of rree-range. If you don't know how to keep chickens without fences (also known as "The Redneck Way") go here to learn how to do it.
If you live with free-range chickens … you know there is a dark side to these wonderful, tick-eatin', free-rangin' critters.
Welcome to the Dark Side ….
Their grazing habits will not be limited to those acres of pasture, woods and fields. The attentive, free-range chickens will also graze your garden, pigpen, back porch, front porch, cow barn, machine shed, yard, driveway, garage and everywhere else you don't really want chickens. Ugh.
Here's the countdown to why I want to shoot my free-range chickens.
5. Poop – they poop everywhere. Oh, how I wish chickens could hold their poop. Just until they get back on the grass. There's chicken poop in my garage, on my porch, my deck, my cow barn, on the driveway … everywhere.
4. They nest in my flowers. This has been going on for years. (More on chickens in the flowers here.) There are bowl-shaped nests in my container garden. I even find eggs in them.
3. We have a little, young flock that has decided to move to the back porch. I have no idea why. There's no grass, nothing to eat, nothing to scratch or peck. They just stand around on my porch pooping and shedding feathers. These are also the chickens that like to be petted and cuddled and think they are cats, so I guess it makes sense.
Note to self: Don't turn chickens into cats unless you want to clean their poop and feathers off your porch. Groan.
2. I can't even go in my cow barn without securing the door behind me … It's a chicken ambush. There are some good cattle feed and molasses in there!
1. The No. 1 reason I want to shoot my free-range chickens is the garage. The chickens think the garage is the promised land. It houses pig food, deer corn, chicken starter, cat food and water. When the chickens make it into the garage it's like winning the lottery … they go insanely ravenous eating everything in sight … as quickly as possible … because they know I am coming ….
And I have a broom.
And I will slap them into next week if I get the opportunity.
Did I say I slap chickens with brooms? I would never do anything like that. Wink.
When the chickens hear the sound of the garage door going up they come running.
And I go for my broom.
This one saw me coming.
Run, Chicken, Run!
To hear more stories, fun and craziness about free-range chickens, milking cows, raising stinky pigs, and homesteading life with four children, go here. Smiles are guaranteed!


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The team at Sennheiser really does some great work with their audio technology, providing top-notch build and sound quality at a rather high premium. Within their gaming division, Sennheiser has a number of headsets, with headsets in the midrange starting at $99.95 and going all the way to $279.95. The Game ONE headset enters the ring at $249.95, behind the Game ZERO headset.
The Game ONE headset comes in two colors, white and black. The headset unit reviewed was a white headset. With a plastic build and an adjustable microphone, it definitely has a great appeal. The headset's ear components have vents that allow air into the airs to prevent overheating. While the Game ZERO headset opted for leatherette ear cups and head rest, the Game ONE opts instead for a velvet ear cup and headband. The right ear cup contains the volume control and the left ear cup has the noise-cancellation microphone that allows the player to mute by simply moving the microphone up. It's a feature that has been making its way to modern headsets, alongside the capability to work with multiple platforms that include PlayStation, Xbox, macOS, PC, Linux, and mobile systems via the 3.5 mm headphone jack cable.
The quality of this headset is great, but not as good as the more expensive Game ZERO, which is made of metal. While the white hides scratches easier, it is easier to notice color staining; on the other hand, the black headset would show more scratches. Its plastic build allows it to stay light, weighing at 300 grams. I must stress this — plastic does not mean that the headset is an inferior product. The lightness of the set makes it an extremely comfortable piece of hardware to wear for extended periods of time, even with glasses.
The sound quality of this headset, though, is fantastic. It's almost identical to the sound quality that I enjoyed on the Game ZERO headset – the noise-cancelling microphone provides a nearly complete immersion experience that allows the player to identify and hear background noises such as footsteps and extraneous sound effects. This alone made a huge difference between this headset and other headsets provided by other manufacturers. My comparisons were made with a Corsair Void and a Logitech Artemis Spectrum headset; the Sennheiser provided the clearest audio by a long shot. This could simply be due to the fact that the Sennheiser Game ONE headset connects via a wired connection which provides the higher audio quality compared to a wireless signal. There was no latency issues or sound skips in this product with many hours of listening.
Compared to the Game ZERO, this headset actually provides a more comforting experience as it's lighter. It allowed heat to leave easier as the ear components are vented to allow air into the headset. This is just a personal experience, mileage may vary. I'll just leave it as a potential data point to consider, however. The headset looks great and sounds wonderful, although it comes at a premium-level price. I'd recommend this headset for those that can make the investment, and to maximize the gaming experience.
Want a chance to win one? All you have to do is enter here. Thanks to Sennheiser for providing the units.


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A Vote for the Recall is a Vote for inBloom
Note by Donna Jack:
One of the democrat candidates for the Jefferson County school board rightly explained in the video above that InBloom is data gathering for corporations.
Susan Harmon, one of the 5 people on the democrat/union-supported slate for the Jeffco School board, demonstrated her disconnect with parental concern about this excessive data gathering. She also wrongly thought InBloom was stopped in the school district by the present school board. It was done by the previous board.
Is she representative of a desire by the entire democrat/union-supported slate to bring InBloom back into our school district? The five seem to be pretty much aligned across the board to overturn what this board majority has accomplished. I would not trust them to protect our students and families from extensive data-gathering.


text: Winter Sausage was founded in 1951 by Eugene Winter, a master sausage maker (wurst macher) from Germany. The family tradition continues today with the same old world recipes used in our products. The current management, led by Rose Mary Wuerz (Eugene's daughter), is committed to producing the same quality products that our customers have come to expect for over 56 years.


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Occasionally in life, the sight of a certain object or a sound will transport you back in time to your childhood days. The smell of dust, burning on a 250W light bulb is one such trigger for me. I don't know if the smell reminds me of the old 8mm film projector that my dad would pull out on occasion to show us the films and animations that he made, or if the smell I remember is the actual smell of dust, burning on the 250W light bulb that he used to light the frames as he shot them, one at a time, to create an animated sequence.
This semester I am teaching a class in traditional 2D animation and the light stands we are using are the same ones that my father built and used to make similar films more than thirty years ago. One of the bulbs is an actual bulb that he used so many years ago. My father was the artisan, I am a teacher, he explored the world of light and animation and I try to explain well established principles of the art. Where he spent time breaking rules that he already understood, I spend time keeping kids from breaking the rules so that they will understand why they are there to begin with. As I develop this class, I often find myself wondering how he would have done it or what assignments he might have created to teach a specific concept or technique. I have a blown up picture, taken by my uncle, of my dad with his camera. It reminds me each day, how privileged I am to have had him as a father.
This afternoon, we finished up class at 3:45 and most of the students dutifully shuffled off to other things. But one student stayed behind to take pictures of his 48 hand drawn animation frames that we had worked on in class. He was wrapped up in his task and I was busy preparing my lesson for tomorrow, but the smell of the dust sizzling on the top of that 250W bulb, whiffed into my head and knocked invitingly on a door in an older part of my brain. It took me back to when I was a little boy in that big old adobe house with the high ceilings and creaky floors, in Tome. My dad had a large office from which my brother and I were usually banned. A large serape blanket served as the door and when the wind caught hold of its corners in the springtime, we could catch glimpses of the magic as he worked silently behind that heavy curtain. Occasionally we could enter into his sanctuary and watch him create or even create ourselves as he guided us. I still remember how awkwardly my hands felt, compared to his, as I pushed the cutout of a cartoon rocket ship I had drawn across the page. Dad clicked out the frames of an animation that he was helping me build. The result was a simple, somewhat jerky animation of the coyote chasing Roadrunner through space, but it was mine, I had made it, just like my dad. His animations always looked so much smoother and cleaner than mine did, and I was in awe of his amazing skill. He was, as dads tend to be, bigger than life. Sitting by my dad's camera stand or standing over his desk as he spliced film together or shot frame after endless frame of white dots on black card stock, is to this day one of my favorite childhood memories.
Today, I animate using Autodesk Maya, on a set of 24 inch monitors that make HD look blurry. My computer is a quad core Mac powered by four 3.06 GHz Intel processors with more RAM than a single person should have. My computer uses amazingly powerful animation software that incorporates light and dynamics. With a few clicks of a mouse, I can alter time, change the weather and even create living breathing creatures (no... not really, but it sure does look convincing) I bring images to life in ways that would boggle my dads mind.
He passed away in 1983, almost thirty years ago. A year after the original movie, Tron came out, a full two years before Dire Straits ground breaking 3D animated music video "Money for Nothing" came out on MTV. He never saw the computer revolution take hold as it has today. I often wonder what he would have done with the technology if he were still around. Back then, for most of us, we could not even imagine doing what the artists at PIXAR do with computers today. I am privileged to be able to do what I do, here in my little high tech corner of the New Mexico State University Carlsbad campus. But some days, in the midst of my speedy lab computers and expensive software, I still long for those days of still frames, of dust burning on overly bright light bulbs, bulbs that could singe the hair off of your little adolescent arms if you got to close.
Some days I wish that I could pull back that curtain, just one more time and watch his hands coax life out of those little tiny dots or painstakingly splice a frame or two of film into a larger reel. It is strange how the slightest whiff or quickest glimpse can impact you, so many years later.
At least I still have the smell of dust, burning on a 250W light bulb.
A small glimpse into the life and times of us... now in a much larger house, having completed the peanut desensitization protocol!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
A Stab at the Art of Carpentry
There are a few very distinct advantages to working as a college instructor. Probably the most obvious one is the time off. This Christmas season, I decided to spend a few days of my break sawing wood into various pieces and attempting to turn it into something that resembles furniture.
Early on in our marriage, I had attempted to build a hutch for our kitchen. The results were... functional. We eventually chopped it up into a set of toyshelves for Nathan. They did not make the cut when we moved back to New Mexico from Texas. I have since successfully built a trash bin for the kitchen and a cabinet for the bathroom that are a little more aesthetically pleasing than that first stab at a hutch.
After a rather stressful semester, trying to apply for tenure at work, this break, I was more than ready to spend my tie out of doors and offline. And so, I decided to try my hand at something a bit more complicated. I am not yet brave enough to start working with "real" wood, oak, cherry or something expensive like that. Everything so far has been made out of white pine, that way, I can mess up without the angst of destroying some really nice wood. Incidentally, I have the issue with paper, I would much rather draw on a napkin than on a three dollar sheet of sketch paper. That probably says something profound about my personality. Maybe I should examine that later... maybe I'll write about my ponderings, on a napkin.
A five foot tall three drawer dresser made of white pine and carpenters glue
Anyhow, the photo above was taken yesterday. Today, after church, I built a schnazzy little door for the lower opening added two wooden dowel hooks on the side to store pants and belts when I retire for the evening and a dowel and small tray on the inside of the cabinet door to hold a cap or lanyard and the contents of my pockets.
Currently the cabinet is sitting alone in the garage waiting for the stain to dry before I move it to the bedroom, where it will take it's predetermined place as real live furniture.
While my work is a far cry from fine art, It sure is satisfying to create something with your own two hands. Typing on a keyboard just doesn't produce the same effect. With that said, I am going to logoff, unplug and go do something useful.
Posted by Sam Moon Christensen at Sunday, January 02, 2011 No comments:
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Plumbing Tips To Help You With Your Needs
When you develop plumbing issues in your home, chances are that you become frustrated. Usually, this is because you do not know how to fix it. Although major plumbing problems require the help of professionals, simple problems can be fixed by you. The following article will give you easy plumbing tips.
If you have bad water pressure in the shower, the showerhead might be clogged. Take a plastic baggie, fill it with regular vinegar, and tie it to the showerhead so that the showerhead is covered. Leave it overnight. In the morning, take the baggie off and use a small toothbrush to scrub away any mineral deposits.
Find out the plumbing codes in your local area before starting any project. Plumbing codes can vary wildly from area to area and you don't want to run afoul of the codes. Visit your local building department to find out information or hire a plumber for a day to help you go over your plans and provide advice.
Before you can fix a toilet that does not flush properly, it is important that you find out what is causing the problem. Depending on what the problem is, you may be able to fix it yourself. However, more complicated toilet flushing problems may require the services of a plumber.
Clean the aerator to if you are dealing with low water pressure issues due to sediment buildup. A small brush (an old toothbrush is ideal) dipped in vinegar will do a great job on the aerator after it's been removed and disassembled. Rinse the aerator, reassemble it and reattach it to the faucet. This should help increase the water pressure, because any obstacles in the aerator will have been removed.
Avoid using harsh chemicals to clear clogged drains by purchasing a hand-held manual auger. A drain auger is a one-time purchase as opposed to purchasing a new bottle every time a drain is clogged. This is especially helpful for people who deal with clogged drains often, such as people with long hair or kids who like to drop things down the drain.
Avoid pouring grease or oil down your kitchen sink drain. Grease and oil can build up in your pipes and cause a backup. Instead, wait for the grease or oil to cool and solidify and either throw it away or see if there's a place to recycle it near your home.
There are two ways to remove stubborn clean-out plugs. The first one is to use a hammer and chisel to attempt loosening the fitting. The only other method is to take the chisel and use it right through the plug.
Have a specific plumber or someone from drain cleaning Utah in mind before you have an emergency. Most people don't think about plumbers until they find themselves having a big problem that needs to be fixed right away. Instead, choose a plumber who you are comfortable with and whose experience you trust--way before you actually need his services.
As was stated above, it is normal to become frustrated by plumbing problems your home may have. But, these problems can usually be easily fixed, if you know how. Use the tips that this article has provided to you in order to get started in plumbing repairs as soon possible!
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The 11th annual Expedite Expo is America's largest expedited trucking show. With more than 100 exhibits and a wide range of events and entertainment, the event is scheduled for this Friday and Saturday, July 22-23, at the Roberts Convention Centre in Wilmington, OH.
OOIDA Director of Security Operations Doug Morris will be on hand to educate truck professionals on the First Observer program. First Observer is a national safety and security program that uses the skills, experiences and savvy of America's transportation professionals to help protect the critical transportation function that moves the goods and services and people across America.
First Observer is operated by Team HMS under a Cooperative Agreement with the Department of Homeland Security Trucking Security Program. OOIDA is a partner in First Observer. The program's mission is to administer an anti-terrorism and security awareness program for highway professionals in support of the national preparedness guidelines.
There will be a total of eight $100 cash giveaways at Expedite Expo, four on each day of the show. At 4 p.m. each day, a $1,000 cash prize will be given away to a lucky winner. A $1,200 Espar Heater also will be given away at the show.
A total of 11 free driver workshops are planned for the two-day expo, covering a range of topics from maintenance to insurance to vehicle financing.
Expedite Expo attendees will find the display of antique trucks to be a highlight of the show. Sponsored by Old Time Trucks magazine, the show will feature classic trucks from all over the United States.


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Try to find the simpliest of office supplies in CUBA and you'll be suprised to what lengths you would go to find it.
Reinventing CUBA is a CCTV News Documentary that chronicles life in CUBA and how its residents must adapt under a stagnant economy.
When in the initial meeting, we learned that CUBA was the epicenter for silk screening. We took that grungy, vintage silk screen look and designed our project around it.
With the Documentary being set in CUBA, most if not all of the documentary was in Spanish. When editing we had to ensure to NOT accidentally cut-off any words the people were saying in spanish, but also make sure they matched the subtitles.
With the Condensed Bold type and a retro Silk Screen look, our graphic style helped transform our
Washington, DC studio into a piece of Havana.
Washington, DC studio into a piece of Havana.
To further promote the documentary to be featured on other media outlets, web ads were featured on current.org


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Posts In Category
Armless Woman Offering 'Sexual Favor' on Craigslist
Woman says she is happier than ever after fulfilling lifelong wish of becoming blind
NORTH CAROLINA — A North Carolina woman said she has now found true happiness after fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming blind. Jewel Shuping, 30, apparently has something called Body Integrity Identity Disorder which causes able-bodied people to believe they are meant to be disabled. Same sort of thing as
Woman Thanks Bear For Not Eating Kayak, Bear Then Eats Kayak
Woman Files Lawsuit Against Psychic for 'Horrible Predictions'
SANTA MONICA — Saffron Jones is taking a street psychic to court for making "horrible predictions" that she says changed her life forever. Jones found the street psychic, Monica Star, on Santa Monica Pier seven months ago and paid her $3 for what she thought would be a fun and positive
Getting a Big Handful in the Street [NSFW]
Detroit Man Seeks Woman to Fart in His Mouth
350 Pound Man Protests After Being Kicked Out of All-You-Can-Eat Restaurant
Chuck's Place, a restaurant in Thiensville, Wisconsin, got more than they bargained for when a 350 pound man, Bill Wisth, ate all their fish. Wisth ordered the bottomless fish fry on a Friday night and was given about 20 pieces of fish before finally being told they were out. Wisth


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California prisoners stage hunger strike over solitary confinement
Between 50 and 100 inmates in solitary confinement at California's Pelican Bay State Prison have pledged to refuse to eat until officials agree to better conditions.
Isaac Ontiveros of the anti-prison group Critical Resistance explained the prisoners' demands to DemocracyNow.
"End the use of group punishment and administrative abuse; abolish the debriefing policy and modify active/inactive gang status criteria; comply with the commission on safety and abuse in America's prisons 2006 recommendations regarding an end to long-term solitary confinement; provide adequate and nutritious food; and expand and provide constructive programming and privileges for indefinite SHU status inmates."
Watch this video from DemocracyNow!, broadcast July 1, 2011.


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Dark Alleys leading to darker zones
Furnaces smoking incessantly
A trail of meagre sunlight peeking in
From a square opening atop the barred windows
A shrill whistle disturbs the ominous silence
A flurry of activity commence
Short fragile bodies move at lightning speed
To deliver scalding hot molten glass
From the furnace to the moulds
To be moulded into stunningly beautiful bangles,
Very different from those parched faces
And now coarse hands and frail limbs
That work day and night
For long exhausting hours sans a break.
Emptying the pans to be rushed back and refilled
Muffled cries of pain escape from the sealed lips
As a drop or two slips on to the blistered hands and legs
Working on the moulds to create with finesse
Shushed into silence by the hawk eyes
Following their slightest deflection.
Innocence being strangled and suffocated to near death
In the dreary and scary dark dungeons
Bereft of even a breath of fresh air and light
Slaughter-houses of childhood and future citizens
Of this ever-progressive world.
© Vinita Surana (email@example.com)


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Hello Friends! We're looking for people to host Will Johnson Living Room Shows in between October 26 and November 9 in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kansas and Southern Missouri.
Do you have big living room, loft space, community space, art gallery, yoga studio, recording studio, coffee shop or other space where we can do a private show that can comfortably and safely host 40-60 people? If so, please read everything below and get in touch if you live in these areas and want to host. We'd love to have a show at your place!
Deadline for submissions: August 25
Tickets on sale: September 1 @ 2pm (Central time).
Thu Oct 26 : Austin – Host pending
FRI Oct 27 : San Antonio – Host pending
SAT Oct 28 : Sealy TX – Host pending
SUN Oct 29 : OFF
MON Oct 30 : Fayetteville AR – Host pending
TUE Oct 31 : OFF
WED Nov 1 : Tulsa OK – Host pending
THU Nov 2 : Oklahoma City OK – Host pending
FRI Nov 3 : Dallas TX – Host pending
SAT Nov 4 : Keller TX – Host pending
SUN Nov 5 : Lubbock TX – Host pending
We'll make this as easy as possible for the hosts. All you have to do is let us borrow your living room for about 3 hours, check names off the list at the door… in return you'll get 5 additional free tickets for friends and our eternal gratitude.
You read everything below and it's all cool?
1. send an email to email@example.com with this info:
– a. Your address.
– b. A few photos of the space where the show will happen.
– c. Please put "Will Johnson Living Room Show" and the name of your city in the subject line.
2. Sit tight and we'll get back to as soon as possible if we can book the show at your house.
1. You have a big living room, loft space, community space, art gallery, yoga studio, recording studio, coffee shop or other space where we can do a private show that can comfortably and safely host 40-60 people. There needs to be street parking, parking garage or public transportation nearby and your neighbors should be cool. It would be a huge bummer if someone called the cops because of all the extra cars and people coming to your place. You probably shouldn't do this if you live in a tiny apartment with a bunch of uptight neighbors or a cranky landlord. Be realistic on how many people your place can hold. We need to know how many tickets we can sell in advance. Sorry, we can't do these shows outside.
2. Ticket price will be $20. Everyone must buy tickets in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door. There will be no reselling or third-party tickets sales. All tickets sales are direct to fans from Undertow. Limit 4 tickets per person. We want everyone to have the same chance of getting tickets.
3. We'll provide the host with a list of everyone coming to the show. The host won't have to deal with any money and will only need to check people off the list as they arrive. We ask guests to arrive between 7:00-7:45pm. The shows start at 8pm and we ask everyone to be out of your space by 10pm.
4. The host gets 5 additional free tickets for the show. If you have other friends beyond your 5 guests who want to come to the show you should direct them buy tickets on-line.
5. Your home address will not be published on the web and will only be given to people who purchase tickets.
6. The shows will promoted on our websites, Facebook and Twitter and word-of-mouth.
7. We'll need your help to spread the word on your Facebook and Twitter too. We'll create a Facebook event for each show and make you a host of the event so you can easily invite your friends (Thank you!). Remember, please don't post your address. The address only goes to people after they buy tickets. We need to keep the location private so random people don't try to show up and pay at the door.
8. You don't need any sort of sound system. All we is an armless chair for Will to sit on and glass or bottle of water near where he'll be playing. It's nice if you have some kind of ambient lighting like a lamp on coffee table, floor lamp, or overhead lights with a dimmer to help create a cozy mood.
9. You don't need seating for everyone. If you have a bunch of chairs, great! But most shows are floor seating and we let guests know they should bring a cushion or pillow to sit on during the show.
10. There will be no opening acts on the living room shows.
11. We love dogs and cats… we really do! But an excitable pet running around during the show can be distracting for the guests and performers. If you have curious and friendly 4-legged family members, would you be ok with putting them in another part of the house or sending them to a friend's house during the show?
Thanks for your help!
Bob & Jayne / Undertow


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If you want a new G50 engined machine building to your personal specification, I will discuss it with you and then prepare a quote for you utilising the components you have chosen. I will then order the parts and assemble your machine. I have constructed many machines to order and you can see some of them here.
The Seeley Condor was a very exclusive hand built machine produced by Colin Seeley for some discerning road bike customers. It offered all the advantages of the Seeley G50 racer which was then the current state of the art for the privateer racer, with the relative comfort of a road bike. The replica shown here was built to the customer's specifications which included a mildly tuned G50 race engine, 5 speed gearbox with kickstart and also a lighting system. This particular machine was built completely from new parts, but it would also be possible to convert a secondhand race bike to suit.
The Seeley G50Mk2 race machine was constructed from the finest available parts, with a Titchmarsh chassis, Walmsley G50 motor, 6 speed PGT gearbox and Superlightweight fairing and other parts. In the hands of its owner it was very successful and TGA was responsible for preparing the bike and transporting it to the IHRO races around Europe for the customer. I can build you a Seeley G50 with any specification that you require.
This off road G50 machine was built for a Japanese customer who wanted a G50 trail bike to ride around on his private island. The basis is an MRD replica Metisse scrambles chassis with a detuned G50 engine and wide ration 4 speed gearbox with kickstart. The bike has a total loss lighting system to keep the construction simple.
The examples shown are typical of the machines produced, but of course any variation to the basic specification is possible, again just contact me with your ideas and we can discuss them.
Price: from £25,000.00
Price plus VAT @20% if sold in the EU


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Kiss of Death
'Grandpa,' pleaded Thoko, 'Tell us a story before we go to bed.'
'You're far too old for fairy stories,' I replied.
'Then tell us a horror story,' said Khoza.
'Once upon a time,' I began, 'in the
, the Great Leader died suddenly and there was nobody to replace him.' Land of Zed
'Why not?' demanded Thoko.
'Because in those days,' I explained, 'a leader always threw all his competitors in jail, or had them murdered, and instead surrounded himself with complete dunderheads who were too stupid to topple him.'
'So how did they find a new leader?' asked Thoko.
'The elders went to the Leaders Graveyard,' I said, 'and started digging, to see if there was any life left in any of their dead leaders.'
'Uhhgghhh,' said Thoko with a shudder. 'How disgusting!'
'And did they find one?' asked Khoza.
'Yes,' I said. 'They found a grave marked King Nyamasoya, Born 937, Died 1008, May His Soul Never Rest in Peace. So they thought that sounded hopeful, and dug him up. Sure enough, when they opened the lid of the old stone coffin, out jumped old King Nyamasoya, shouting What took you so long? I've been waiting here for nearly a thousand years!
'But why aren't you dead? they asked. 'Ah Ha! He laughed, The foolish fellows forgot to drive a stake through my heart!'
'So he was a vampire!' Khoza gasped.
'Of course,' I said. 'But in those days the people hadn't heard about vampires. And anyway, they were in a hurry to find a new king so they didn't ask too many questions.'
'Very foolish,' said Thoko.
'So what sort of king did he make?' Khoza wondered.
'He started off alright,' I said. 'Seemed to be a very jolly fellow. Ate a lot, drank a lot, laughed a lot. Better than the previous fellow who had a nasty temper.
'Don't call me Nyamasoya, I never liked the name, declared the new king. Just call me RB! But when he said that, the people began to shake with fear, because there had been previous leaders who had been called RB. There had been Rig the Ballot, and Rob the Bank, and Run from Bullets. Don't worry, laughed the new king, RB stands for Royal Blood. After all those years of democracy, you now have a king!'
'He had come to suck their blood,' said Thoko.
'Things began to go wrong,' I admitted, 'after he appointed his first minister. When the new minister came out from the palace he was looking very pale and thin.'
'He'd been given the Kiss of Death!' declared Thoko. 'The king pretended to kiss him, but instead sucked all the blood out of his jugular vein!'
'In those days,' I said, 'before taxes were invented, kings grew fat and rich by sucking blood from the people. Soon all the king's ministers were bloodsuckers. Just as the king sucked blood from his ministers, so the ministers sucked blood out of the people. And so the people grew thinner and thinner as the king and his ministers grew fatter and fatter. Soon there was a national surplus of blood, and the king began to export blood to Ching Chang, where all the people were small and thin because of a shortage of blood.'
'So the
soon became rich?' suggested Khoza. Land of Zed
'Don't be silly,' snorted Thoko. 'The government became richer as the people became poorer. They had to keep working harder and harder to grow the food to replace the blood that was constantly being sucked out of them.'
'But I thought a king was supposed to be the servant of the people,' said Khoza, 'not just a gigantic blood sucker.'
'The king did his best to explain how he was really working for everybody's benefit. Every day the Zed National Blood Corporation was busy telling the people about the new hospital where they could donate their blood, and the new mobile hospitals that would seek them out wherever they went. And new roads to enable the blood to be exported to Ching Chang. Free agricultural inputs to produce more food for increased blood production. More schools for pupils to learn the process of turning mere peasant blood into fine Royal Blood. And billboards everywhere repeating the national slogan Your blood, working for you!'
'Didn't the people protest? Rebel? Riot?' asked Thoko hopefully.
'The Kiss of Death didn't just affect ordinary people,' I explained. 'The police would round up protesters to suck the blood out of them, to replace the blood that was being sucked out of them. Similarly the courts had to offer up victims to have their blood sucked, or the king would suck the blood out of the judges instead.'
'No elections?' asked Thoko.
'Of course not,' I laughed. 'The king sucked all the blood out of the Electoral Commission, and their desiccated corpses were put on display in the
.' National Museum
'No constitution?' asked Khoza.
'It had so much blood sucked out of it,' I replied, 'that it was reduced to only five words: The King's Word is Law!'
'So the Kiss of Death destroyed even the state itself,' said Khoza glumly.
'Completely,' I said.
'What I can't understand,' said Thoko, 'is why Nyamasoya hadn't had that stake driven into his heart in the first place, to prevent him ever coming back.'
'That was the problem,' I said. 'He didn't have a heart.'
Just then Sara put her head round the door. 'Time for bed! Give Grandpa a goodnight kiss!'
'Aarrghhh!' they both screamed, and ran helter-skelter out of the room.
'You've been telling them another of your horror stories!' said Sara. 'What a horrible frightening Grandpa!'
'It's a frightening world,' I replied.
[Story based partly on suggestions from my Facebook friends, especially Francis Mwelwa Bwalya]


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However I don't have anything that brick-toned in my collection, so I went for the very first Mac Blush I ever bought: Coppertone.
Coppertone is, as you would have guessed, a kind of warm Terracotta color with coppery tones and it has a matte finish.
So of course, I'm wearing Coppertone placed quite high on the cheeks.
On the lids, I used a mix of Rubenesque and Indianwood paintpots as a base, before putting Coppertone on top. I have no other shadows on, it's just a wash of color.
On the lips, I used Mac Charismatic, one of my all time favorites.
I think this is a very wearable, non dramatic look. I'm going to try and find a nailpolish that matches it so I can redo the whole thing with matchy nails as well!


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Your Sister's Sister is a charming new film about love, family and friendship, and how they can get complicated once intertwined. For an indie movie, it has had a very successful opening weekend and has garnered good reviews from critics and fans.
After the passing of his brother, Jack, played by the wonderful Mark Duplass, spirals downward. With the one year anniversary approaching, Jack's best friend Iris, portrayed by Emily Blunt, decides he needs an intervention.
Iris sends him away to a family cabin, which unexpectedly is inhabited by her sister Hannah, depicted by Rosemarie DeWitt. After drowning their sorrows in tequila, Jack and Hannah sleep together. When Iris appears and confesses her love of Jack to Hannah problems begin to arise. "I really think your face is going to annoy me right now."
The movie, written and directed by Lynn Shelton, had a meager 70 page script, allowing most of the film to be improved. This lead it to become more raw and honest. Holding steady at 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, they say this about the movie,
"Superbly acted and satisfyingly engaging, Your Sister's Sister subverts rom-com conventions with sensitive direction, an unconventional screenplay, and a big heart."
Watch the trailer below!


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18 February 2013
The tables have been turned in the first-of-its-kind exhibition at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
Technicians who are more accustomed to assisting art students and academics have decided to showcase their own creative talents in Perceptions, which runs until 27 February.
The 15 members of the Technical Resource Support Team, from UCLan's Learning and Information Service, have produced work in a number of disciplines including fashion, photography, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture and model making.
"Our work has been well-received by the students, staff, our families and friends"
It was the brainchild of Crispin Owen, Deputy Technical Resource Manager for UCLan. He said: "The idea for the show was something I have been keen to do for a while and I was pleased that a number of the technical staff were also keen on the idea.
"I wanted to showcase the creative talents and highlight the different side of the technical team's abilities that support art and design. A number of the technicians, including myself, have completed their MA's at UCLan so thought it was a great way of showing what we can do."
"We've all found it a positive experience and it's been great for teamwork between all the technicians"
The countryside, old photos, recycling and working with business prompted some the design work on display.
Crispin added: "Our work has been well-received by the students, staff, our families and friends. I think they've been surprised by the creativity we've displayed. We've all found it a positive experience and it's been great for teamwork between all the technicians."
Perceptions, housed in the PR1 Gallery in UCLan's Victoria building, is free and open to the public until 27 February.