text:
5 Compelling Reasons Why Your Company Needs a Social Employee Advocacy Program Today
Let's jump right into the math. Say you have 50 employees and 700 Facebook fans. Your FB business page can potentially reach 700 fans that it has currently accumulated. What if every employee in your company has an average of 338 friends (the average number of friends among adult Facebook users is 338). That means your employees can potentially reach out to 700*338 i.e 23,660 people. You can greatly amplify the reach of your branded content by encouraging employees to be active stakeholders in increasing your social exposure.
Before the advent of the internet and social media, employee advocacy occurred offline. The traditional methods include giving employees incentives and freebies (printed t-shirts, water bottles, caps, etc) as a goodwill gesture; office outings; and rewards and recognitions for good performance. These initiatives are still in place; what has changed is the swift move to online employee advocacy programs via the social medium.
Five Triggers to the Rapid Adoption of Social Employee Advocacy Programs
1. The ability to multiply exposure
As discussed in the example above, employees' social networks can serve as content distribution nodes, putting you before thousands of users and increasing visibility exponentially. Given that employees have approximately 10 times more followers than corporate social accounts, you're looking at massive brand exposure from active employee participation.
You can assess reach not just from the quantitative but also the qualitative aspect. Your employees' fans and followers will be more diverse than yours. That means you can reach out to a broader demographic of people, who in turn may share your content with their contacts, thereby multiplying and publicizing your authority.
2. The opportunity to build trust and credibility
You may already be aware that people trust other people more than brands.
Leads developed through employee social marketing convert 7 times more frequently than other leads (Source : IBM)
80 per cent of businesses admit that a better social media presence can increase the productivity of their sales team (Source : Sales Management Association)
The number of companies blocking social media access to employees has been dropping since 2010. (Source : Gartner). Though it may appear to be counter-intuitive, allowing employees to use social media during work hours can have a positive impact on their mood and alleviate stress.
A study by Nielsen reveals that 84 per cent of consumers around the world trust word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family (earned media) over other advertising sources. Consumers are also more likely to trust the employees of a company than individuals representing the public face of the brand, such as the CEO. To win trust, encourage employees to do some of the heavy lifting for you on social media, and experience the difference!
3. The potential to influence consumer purchase decisions
As discussed in the point above, consumers more easily engage and trust what your employees have to say about your brand on social media than what they see on your business pages/accounts. Also consider that word-of-mouth recommendations influence 50 per cent of all purchase decisions. When the recommendations come from friends, family, academic experts, journalists and brands consumers buy from, the tendency is to accept them and take action on them. In contrast, consumers are more wary of marketing messages from company CEOs, celebrities and brands they don't use.
Your employees fall in the 'trusted' category of individuals. Their fans and followers will be more receptive to your company's blog posts that your employees share on their personal accounts. Over time, they will get familiar with your brand, and feel encouraged to follow you on social media and/or visit your website. Your employees' influence is clearly at work here.
4. The impact on your bottom line
The National Business Research Institute has found that a 12 per cent increase in brand advocacy can contribute to a two-fold increase in revenue. Altimeter Group says that socially engaged employees are more likely to drive lead generation. These are significant statistics that strongly suggest the role of employees beyond their expected work responsibilities in directly impacting your sales and profits.
5. The possibilities to improve employee relations
In an age of frequent job-hopping and work-related chronic stress, savvy businesses understand the importance of engaging employees and creating a positive work culture. According to the Workplace Research Foundation, highly engaged employees are 38 per cent more likely to have above-average productivity, and increasing investment in employee engagement by a mere 10 per cent can drive up profits by $2,400 per employee per year.
A social employee advocacy platform with a rewards system can be the solution your business needs to keep employees feeling motivated and taking pride in their work. Align all your employees around a common goal on social to foster loyalty and boost engagement.
Image credit : Sombilon Photography via Flickr


text: There's all kinds of madness being reported regarding a possible deal between the Boston Celtics and LA Clippers. According to Yahoo! Sports, the latest chip to be included in the trade is Eric Bledsoe: "The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers are discussing possible compromises to including guard Eric Bledsoe into the Kevin Garnett-Doc Rivers deal with hopes of completing an agreement on Monday, league sources said. Discussions over a blockbuster deal reached an impasse on Saturday when Boston general manager Danny Ainge held firm that Bledsoe had to be a part of package that included DeAndre Jordan and a first-round pick, but sources say that Boston has shown a willingness to find another asset to supplant Bledsoe and complete the complicated deal, sources said. The Clippers are prepared to give Rivers a five-year deal to coach and believe acquiring Rivers and Garnett – who will waive his no-trade clause – will lock up the re-signing of free-agent superstar Chris Paul, sources said."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
After you've been
to the top of the mountain
and have seen the mountain move.
After you've walk for many miles
with a trusted companion.
After you have been planted
into the darkness and told to rise.
After you have done combat
with the Trickster in the dojo
and have been lifted up
on Angels' wing.
After you have had and encounter
with sister wisdom and brother light.
After you have been lifted up
out of the baptismal waters,
you are taken to the most scared place..
The Tent of Meeting
the encounter with God
whom and where you discover
has been in your own heart all along.
One drop of light among many
flowing and harmonizing as one.
And like the cycle of evaporation,
you are drawn and pulled apart
into two, four, seven, twelve,
and into an infinite number
constantly collapsing
and expanding
at all times.


text:
|LRTAP Convention - Gridded emissions data
European Union (EU) emission inventory report to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP).
Delivery process is managed by EEA
|Legislative instrument title
|Reporting dates and guidelines
|National reporting coordinators
|National reporting contacts
Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) Reporters (extranet-clrtap-reporter)
|Reporting frequency
|Every 48 months
|Next report due
|Date comments
|Report to
|UNECE Environment and Human Settlements Division
|Other clients using this reporting
|Reporting guidelines
|ECE/EB.AIR/122/Add.1, decisions 2013/3 and 2013/4
|Extra information
|Every four years from 2017 onward, Parties shall report for the year x-2 updated aggregated sectoral (GNFR) gridded emissions and LPS emissions.
|Principle repository
|Reportnet Central Data Repository
|Data used for
|Type of information reported


text:
Pixi's Correction Concentrate is a peach-toned concealer that's designed to brighten darkness under eyes and neutralize bluish tones. Higher-end companies like Bobbi Brown and Eve Pearl have versions of a salmon or peach concealer, as well, but these products are generally less common in drugstores at lower price points. I've been eyeing Pixi's version for a little while, and finally purchased it with a Target coupon offer from Black Friday (I wrote about some of my Black Friday purchases here).
Online it's listed at $12, but the Target stores near me have it priced at $15 so it's not exactly the cheapest concealer in the drugstore, but it's certainly a lot more manageable than the higher-end versions. In addition to it's color and concealing properties, Pixi also added rose hip extract and vitamins A, C and E to revitalize and protect the delicate skin under eyes.
The concealer comes in a sweet little jar that I think looks pretty nice sitting in my tabletop cosmetic organizer. Thankfully the packaging doesn't waste any space … storage is always a concern of mine. It only comes in one shade, "brightening peach", and is supposed to work with a variety of skin tones.
The pot is just big enough to fit a clean fingertip, and I find that works well for applying the small amount of product I need for decent coverage. I just pat it on the darkest parts of my under-eye circles, focusing on the inner corners and blending all the way up to the lower lashes.
I find that with natural lighting, my under-eye circles are a bit less apparent in photographs than they are in real life, but I think you can see that the Correction Concentrate helps to brighten my eyes and make me look more refreshed.
As I continue to do my makeup, I do like to use a little bit of liquid concealer that's a touch lighter than my skin tone (right now I'm using the Maybelline Fit Me concealer, which I really like) and blend it under my eyes and on the tops of my cheekbones, but I don't need it, it's just more of a finishing touch. The Correction Concentrate blends into my skin tone surprisingly well considering how bright it looks in the pot, and so I don't need to add an additional concealer to camouflage it if I don't want to.
Above, I'm also wearing: DreamWorld Hermetica foundation in Rhea II C (review), Maybelline Fit Me concealer in Fair (review) on my upper cheekbone area and L'Oreal True Match crayon concealer in N1-2-3 (review) to cover redness on other areas of my face, DreamWorld Hermetica finishing powder in Ghostly Glo (review), The Body Shop bronzing powder in Medium Matte, DreamWorld Hermetica blush in Witches' Sunset (from their Hocus Pocus collection released around Halloween, review), Jane Iredale PureBrow gel in Blonde on my brows (review) and Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes on my lashes (review).
I'm really impressed with the Correction Concentrate, not only for the color but also for how it applies and wears throughout the day. I only need to use a little, it blends with just a few pats of the finger, and it doesn't crease. It has a really nice texture that's just creamy enough to blend well, but isn't so creamy that I pick up too much product with my finger or have issues with it settling into the little lines under my eyes. All in all, I wish it was a little cheaper, but I like it! It's now a product that I'm using every day without fail.
You can find the Correction Concentrate at Pixi or Target, and it costs $12 online (but costs me $15 at my local Target stores).
Have you tried it? I'd love to hear about your experience!


text:
Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017 Christmas Spirits of Milford Ghost Walk
s Spirits of Milford Ghost Walk, or on our original Spirits of Milford Ghost Walk, in 2017-2018 or beyond. Spirits of Milford will also do its best to accommodate cancellations made by the customer, ensuring that the customer is able to use his or her tickets on a future, mutually agreed-upon date.
- Start:December 23, 2017 Time: 7:00 PM
- End:December 23, 2017 Time: 11:59 PM
- Where:WWI Statue in front of Milford City Hall, 110 River Street, Milford, Connecticut, United States
- Phone:N/A
- Event Type: Family
- Ticket Price:N/A


text:
Deus Ex Go Review
Square Enix Montreal have been on a roll with their mobile series of spin-off games featuring IPs from some of their most popular franchises, as both Hitman Go and Lara Croft Go proved that different takes can be attempted with these franchises while still getting great results. Swiping your character along a touch screen to maneuver obstacles and enemies to ultimately get to the goal at the end (and picking up some extra goodies for the challenge along the way) is a great formula, and now they're utilizing that formula once again. Deus Ex Go definitely has the biggest challenge when it comes to scaling down a series as complex and layered as Deus Ex, but I'm happy to report that they have pulled it off.
While both Hitman Go and Lara Croft Go were all about gameplay and the puzzles at hand, it's really impossible to omit a narrative from a game linked to the Deus Ex series considering narrative is such an integral part of its appeal. Thus, this Go game is the first one to feature actual dialogue and a story to follow, however light it may be. This story takes place within the more recent timeline of the series, featuring current series protagonist Adam jensen and some other familiar faces as they try to hunt down the bad guy. It definitely isn't anywhere near as complex as what is featured in the main series, but having some kind of motivation for maneuvering your way through these dastardly puzzles is a very good thing.
And dastardly these puzzles are! The puzzles that this series has featured have always put up a good fight, but I can honestly say that this game takes the toughness crown easily. The ones that have been concocted for this adventure require some serious skill and forethought nearly right off the bat, and this is largely due to the new mechanics at hand. While you'll once again be swiping across a touch screen to avoid and take down enemies in a turn-based manner, it'a the Deus Ex series' twists that make this game the true test that it is. The big twist here is the hacking mechanic, which requires you to access terminals that you can then utilize to activate/deactivate nodes or turrets by tracing a line to them. Hacking can be seriously brain-twisting the further you get into this adventure, as enemies can deactivate your hack by smashing the hacking line if they move across it, and your hacking line can't pass through certain enemies or other hacking lines.
Deus Ex Go further adds its own spin on the series with its use of augmentations, which essentially boil down to power-ups found within each level that Adam needs to track down in order to utilize. While Adam doesn't have the extensive repertoire of augmentations as he does in the main games, the power-ups that are found within this game do add some interesting elements to the gameplay. Invisibility is the main power-up that you'll be using, which allows you to remain invisible for two moves before it wears off. This power-up is absolutely vital in many of the game's levels, and is often needed to be used in tandem with the hacking mechanic in order to overcome the 50+ levels. Power-ups can also be used to take out enemies and access hacking terminals, which further add to the many possibilities you need to consider when tackling some of the tougher levels. Adam goes down with one hit just as was the case in other Go games, and he'll be going down a lot as you trial-and-error your way through this game and its complex puzzles.
Hacking and augmentations add a welcomed twist to the Go series' proven puzzle formula
The enemies that you'll be taking on throughout your adventure typically ends up being of the guard, a robot or a turret variety, and they each have their own strengths and weaknesses that need to be accounted for. Human characters will start charging at you once you're in their line of sight, but they'll also activate an ability that will make them invulnerable as they are on the prowl. This means that you will not be able to sneak up behind them while they're mobilized as you could in previous Go games, meaning that your opportunities to take them out are much rarer. Robots and turrets are basic enough, but how you can ultimately use them to navigate across the board is really clever. Sometimes you'll be able to hack turrets so they'll shoot enemies that pass by them instead of you, but other times your hacking terminal will not be able to reach them. This results in you having to figure out the right path to take so that either a guard or a robot passes in front of the turret and takes the bullets for you so you can get by. It always seems like there's a new method to complete some of these levels that will suddenly come to you while playing every few levels, and when it does it's a feeling of pure bliss.
The game's visual style is also terrific, taking the cyberpunk aesthetic from the main series and scaling it down to a small and sleek mobile experience. What I found most interesting here is that Deus Ex Go has actually retained a lot of its series' visual style compared to the more cartoonish takes from past Go games. This is a change that I appreciated, as considering it's releasing right around the time of Mankind Divided, it feels like a nice little companion piece to it rather than a completely different beast. The combat animations are also really solid, making the moments when you finally sneak up and take down an enemy all the more rewarding.
If there's any negative to pin on this game at all it's a small one, and it has to do with the lack of bonus objectives for each level. While Hitman Go and Lara Croft Go had optional things to sniff out along with the main objective of completing levels, the only challenge on hand in Deus Ex Go is completing a level in a certain amount of moves. It would have been awesome if there were some bonus objectives like occasionally having to find a piece of intel or something along those lines, but there's nothing like that here. Again, this is a minor nitpick, because the extra challenges in the previous games were a means to make the levels more difficult. If you've been paying attention to this review, then you're already well aware that this little game is not lacking in difficulty at all.
The Verdict
Deus Ex Go is another home run from Square Enix Montreal, creating yet another engaging puzzle game from one of their established AAA franchises. The new gameplay tweaks set it apart from the previous Go entries, while also ensuring that it is the most challenging and rewarding puzzle adventure from them yet. If you're a Deus Ex fan and fancy a puzzle game, you really can't go wrong with Deus Ex Go.
Deus Ex: GO
- Available On: iOS, Android
- Published By: Square Enix
- Developed By: Square Enix Montreal
- Genre: Puzzle
- US Release Date: August 18th, 2016
- Reviewed On: iOS
- Quote: "Deus Ex Go is another home run from Square Enix Montreal, creating yet another engaging puzzle game from one of their established AAA franchises. The new gameplay tweaks set it apart from the previous Go entries, while also ensuring that it is the most challenging and rewarding puzzle adventure from them yet. If you're a Deus Ex fan and fancy a puzzle game, you really can't go wrong with Deus Ex Go."
The Good
- Challenging and rewarding gameplay
- Great new twists to the series formula
- Sleek presentation
The Bad
- Lack of bonus objectives


text:
:: ACE Certified Personal Trainer :: former USAC Level III Cycling Coach :: Certified BodyGeometry Bike Fit Specialist
Coach and owner Marissa Axell began her athletic career at the age of 8, as a competitive swimmer. After completing her undergraduate degree with a BA in Biology from Willamette University (where she was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame), she put her 13 years of competitive swimming behind her and caught the triathlon bug. After finishing many olympic and half-ironman distance races, she tackled Ironman Coeur d'Alene (2005) and Ironman Wisconsin (2006). After completing both 140.6 mile races, Marissa looked toward bike racing for her next challenge.
Marissa currently races as a Category 1 cyclist for JLVelo Cycling Team p/b the Freewheel Women's cycling team based in Northern California. While pursuing her own fitness goals, she also mentors local Category 4 women racers as part of the NCNCA mentoring program. Additionally, she's passionate about coaching new clients and athletes, guiding each person to fulfill their health and wellness goals, whether it's simply living a healthier lifestyle, or finding success at local, regional, national, or international competition.
During the week, you'll find Marissa teaching on-the-bike skill clinics; teaching invigorating indoor cycling, group strength training, TRX suspension classes and individual personal training at Cardio-Tone in San Francisco's Noe Valley neighborhood. Currently, Marissa teaches regularly and diligently sells out classes at the boutique indoor cycling studio. Her style of leading and coaching both on and off the bike, utilizing competition and collaboration creates a rewarding, challenging yet fun class. Her style carries over to her strength training circuit and TRX classes, emphasizing teamwork, collaboration and competition to yield the highest potential from her clients.
Marissa's certifications:
ACE Personal Trainer (NCCA accredited)
Schwinn Indoor Cycling Power Performance Specialist
TRX Suspension Trainer
Certified Body Geometry Bike Fit Specialist
USA Cycling Category 1 racing license
ASHI First Aid, CPR, AED training
What does this mean for you? With her advice derived from her years of coaching and competing, coupled with encouraging tips and a focus on positive attitude, Marissa motivates and guides you toward your goals. She strongly believes that anything is possible with a positive attitude and self-belief. If you're ready to accomplish big goals this year, then contact Marissa at firstname.lastname@example.com and get started today.
Favorite sports: Cycling, Swimming, Triathlon, Running, and Surfing
Follow Marissa on Twitter at @axellrocks & Facebook at: Facebook/axell.marissa or Facebook/axellfitnessworks


text:
After being introduced, the two stars got on famously, a source tells PEOPLE.
Kristen meets Katniss!
Kristen Stewart and Jennifer Lawrence hung out during the Toronto Film Festival on Saturday, where the actresses were at the Hotel Intercontinental promoting On the Road and Silver Linings Playbook, respectively.
"After being introduced, Kristen and Jennifer were soon chatting like old pals," a source tells PEOPLE.
TORONTO HOTSPOTS: Check out where stars and cinephiles will mingle for TIFF
"They were so excited to meet each other," the source says. The duo was joined by Bradley Cooper, Lawrence's costar in Silver Linings Playbook.
Lawrence even invited Stewart to a party for Silver Linings Playbook at the Soho House later that evening.


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|Prison Nightmare
|Heist Info
|Contract Days
|Loud / Stealth
|✔ / ✘
| Cloaker Gold
Almir's Toast
| 8,000 (completion)
+6,000 (entering the prison)
+850 (per secured bag)
|Internal name
- "Sleep will take you, dear heister. Relax, give in to the exhaustion from all the action. Close your eyes and drift away into the surreal land beyond the waking world. But know that I have stalked your nightmares and dragged you into my prison. You will be locked in here and spend the rest of eternity behind bars."
- —Announcement site.
Prison Nightmare, also called The Wheel of Misfortune, is a Halloween-themed one-day heist that takes place in an abandoned prison complex, where the heisters are the playthings of a giant NecroCloaker. It was released on November 4th, 2016, to celebrate the annual Halloween event.
- Enter the prison
- Spin the wheel
- Take the keycard
- Repeat above until escape
- Secure loot (optional)
|Ammo Bag
| $6,000 (Normal)
$9,000 (Hard)
$12,000 (Very Hard)
$18,000 (Overkill)
$30,000 (Mayhem)
$42,000 (Death Wish)
$54,000 (Death Sentence)
|Doctor Bag
| $6,000 (Normal)
$9,000 (Hard)
$12,000 (Very Hard)
$18,000 (Overkill)
$30,000 (Mayhem)
$42,000 (Death Wish)
$54,000 (Death Sentence)
|Grenade Case
| $3,000 (Normal)
$4,500 (Hard)
$6,000 (Very Hard)
$9,000 (Overkill)
$15,000 (Mayhem)
$21,000 (Death Wish)
$27,000 (Death Sentence)
|Requires the Gage Weapon Pack #01 DLC to unlock
|Gage Courier Packages
|Prison Photos
|Risk Levels
Enter the prison and locate the wheel. Upon using it, the flipper will land on one or two random selections, depending on difficulty. See the list of effects below. Players must defend and survive the oncoming assault wave. If any law enforcement stops the drill, players must "reboot" the wheel which will take 30 seconds. After the drill is finished, a keycard will be available that must be used to enter the prison. Note this will open 2 additional doors outside with quicker access to new wheels so players might want to split up, leaving one player to use the keycard. However, this may not be a viable strategy on harder difficulties as it is advised to stick together.
Once inside, locate the new wheel and use it, surviving the random event(s). The next wheel can be located in the basketball court, laundromat, or the mess hall. After enduring the oncoming enemies, another keycard will be granted. Use this to either escape, or to use the loot switch at the bottom of the prison complex. Using this switch will generate several bags and opens a hatch to drop them into. A large timer at the top will tell you your remaining time, when the time runs out, the loot will explode. Loot bags being held by players will be unaffected unless dropped. Afterwards, players must spin another wheel at a new location and repeat the process. You can repeat this as often as you want.
Upon escaping, locate the ziplines near the starting location to get onto the train. You'll need C4 to blow up a door, which Bain will drop shortly after finding the door. Afterwards, you need to pass through a large open area with snipers hidden in fog (look at the lasers) and several heavy loot items tempting you. If you desire, you can secure these by taking them on your back to the escape zone. As soon as everyone enters the escape zone, the mission will end.
The Wheel of MisfortuneEdit
Upon drilling the wheel of misfortune, the wheel will spin. During this time 1-2 random events will be chosen depending on difficulty, after which you will need to survive 60 seconds with these effects in place to get a keycard as reward, needed to enter the prison, escape or get additional cloaker loot. The random events are;
- Spin: Spins the Wheel again. No other effect.
- Drills: The Necrocloaker will unleash two drills at a location near the wheel, damaging heisters and bypassing skills like Swan Song.
- Snipers: Several snipers will spawn (x2) during the 60 second duration.
- Dozer: Dozers will spawn, with a possibility for a Headless Titandozer to appear.
- Key: Key will become available immediately, no other change.
- ???: Random other event.
- Smoke: Entire wheel area will be covered in smoke, making it very hard to see. Players may also experience a brief blackout before vision is restored.
- Flames: Section of the room will be set on fire, entering the flames will deal damage.
If a law enforcer successfully interacts with the wheel while it's counting down, it will jam and will require a manual fix followed by a 30-second reset period before it will resume.
- Until the wheel is spun for the first time, no law enforcers will spawn, nor will any entrance to the prison block be accessible.
- The Cloaker loot bags do not explode immediately upon the timer reaching zero, they will only do so if they are on the ground. This means players can carry bags from previous loot drops and secure them later, albeit at a hefty speed penalty.
- When attempting to complete the Salem Asylum achievement, avoid letting the cops reach any of the two Wheels of Misfortune, as the 30 second reboot will most likely negate any remaining time to reach the ziplines.
- Do not get greedy at the escape point by trying to go for the heavy loot there on higher difficulties due to their great speed impedance. Lugging them around to the escape point will often mean being pelted by nearby snipers and other enforcers.
- There are more baggable loot around the area than there are players to carry them, so again, do not get greedy and bag everything you see, for you won't be able to haul all of them to the escape zone.
Mayhem+ ChangesEdit
- Occasionally, the drill will glitch out and turn invisible when placed on a Wheel, though the timer screen and sound/visual effects are still present.
Achievements & TrophiesEdit
| Nightmare Machine
Complete the Prison Nightmare job on the Mayhem difficulty or above.
| All Cloakers Eve
Complete the Prison Nightmare job on the Death Wish difficulty or above.
| Haunted House of Heisters
Complete the Prison Nightmare job on the Death Sentence difficulty with the One Down mechanic activated.
| A Long Night of Horrors
Complete the Prison Nightmare job, getting at least 15 keycards on the Mayhem difficulty or above without any player ever going into custody. You have to have played the heist from start to end. Unlocks the "Risen Chains" mask.
| He's Got Experience
Complete the Prison Nightmare job on the Hard difficulty or above by having 1 player playing as Hoxton, all having Nova's Shank melee weapon equipped, and are only allowed to kill enemies using Nova's Shank. You have to have played the heist from start to end. Unlocks the "Risen Houston" mask.
| Salem Asylum
On the Prison Nightmare job, get on the train in less than 4 min and 44 sec on the Mayhem difficulty or above. You have to have played the heist from start to end. Unlocks the "Risen Wolf" mask.
The following appeared on October 25, 2016.
| You
| Can
| Run,
| But
| You Can't
| Hide
| He's Got Experience
Complete the Prison Nightmare job on the Hard difficulty or above by having 1 player playing as Hoxton, all having Nova's Shank melee weapon equipped, and are only allowed to kill enemies using Nova's Shank. You have to have played the heist from start to end. Unlocks the "Risen Houston" mask.
Having bots enabled will void the achievement as their kills are not with melee weapons, so one will have to either do the achievement alone (and be at the mercy of Tasers without Shockproof Aced) or find another player to complete the achievement with.
- Nightmare Machine is an artificial intelligence-driven program created by the researchers at MIT Media Lab in Massachusetts that modifies ordinary photographs into horrifying images as part of a test to determine whether or not the AI can successfully scare humans.
- All Cloakers Eve is a pun on All Hallows' Eve, better known as "Halloween".
- Haunted House of Heisters is a probable nod to the 1969 film The Haunted House of Horror.
- Salem Asylum is likely named after a Steam forum user named Salem, a notorious PAYDAY2 speedrunner.
| Heister's Nightmare
Complete the Prison Nightmare job on the Normal difficulty or above.
Complete the Prison Nightmare job on the Hard difficulty or above.
| Jailhouse Rock
Complete the Prison Nightmare job on the Very Hard difficulty or above.
| Cloaker Phantasm
Complete the Prison Nightmare job on the Overkill difficulty or above.
| On the Edge of Madness
Complete the Prison Nightmare job on the Death Sentence difficulty.
- As was the case with the Safe House Nightmare and Lab Rats seasonal heists, the Prison Nightmare is strongly implied to just be a literal bad dream the player crew experiences come the annual Halloween season. A quote by the NecroCloaker also implies that this dream occurs every night for several days starting with the holiday proper.
- This is the first heist with bright neon green lootbags, which are time-limited before being destroyed.
- The giant cloaker this heist revolves around appeared before in Lab Rats.
- This is the third heist in the game where the soundtrack in not made by Simon Viklund, the first being The Alesso Heist, and the second being Lab Rats.
- This is the first heist which isn't briefed by a contractor nor Bain, taking into account Hoxton became an unofficial contractor with the Safe House release.
- Throughout the heist, players may experience hallucinations. The voices heard in these hallucinations vary between characters, most which refers to the heister's fears of their past after taking up a criminal lifestyle. All hallucination voices can he heard here.
- Some hallucinations also refer to the heisters by their real names.
- When taking the zip-lines to reach the train car, the NecroCloaker will emerge from the waters in an attempt to grab a zip-lining heister, but misses and retreats back to the murky depths.
- The supposed "contractor" for this heist sings in an eerie tone rather than speaking out the mission details.
- If the player is using a flashlight, it will be replaced by a green colored one with some sort of wave effect on it.


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Jónsi & Alex Riceboy Sleeps
Though they've opted to release their debut album under their own names, the Riceboy Sleeps moniker is a longstanding one, under which Jon Por Birgisson and collaborative/romantic partner Alex Somers have staged exhibitions and published an eponymous book. The latter has collected processed drawings and found photographs (silhouettes of birds, prints of trees, images of children balancing on stilts), back-grounded by decayed paper stocks in desaturated sepias and blues. This adorable album provides the perfect audio accompaniment, as the duo partially draws on the atmospheres of Sigur Ros but denude Birgisson's usual band of its rock textures and dynamics in favor of torpidity and slumber. Riceboy Sleeps sounds like a labor of love.


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Early American colonists, from many nations - in fact from all of Christendom, brought the frequent celebration of "Thanksgivings," days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as a safe journey, a military victory or the end of a drought, with them to the New World. And this custom continued for centuries: more than 200 years after Coronado celebrated Thanksgiving in North Texas in 1541, the U.S. Continental Congress proclaimed a national Thanksgiving in 1789 upon the enactment of the Constitution – and was criticized by some members for "following European customs" that weren't serious enough!
These Thanksgiving feasts were considered "secular" holidays despite being occasions for prayer & religious services because they originated from community or worldly life and were not required by the church, like mandatory Holy days are.
Here is a list of some other countries that celebrate their own unique Thanksgiving Day as a fixed holiday each year (info is from Wikipedia and from Consulate or official tourism websites for the various nations):
THE NETHERLANDS (Holland)
Leiden, South Holland, celebrates a Thanksgiving feast called "3 October" (or Drie Oktober ) every year, eating lots of hutspot to commemorate their rescue from The Siege of Leiden in 1574, when the Spanish failed in their attempt to capture the city of Leiden during the riotous, warring years of the reformation. Soon after the siege, this Calvinist city was temporary home to Dutch Mennonites, French Walloons/Huguenots, and the Pilgrims of the Mayflower. Having read about hutspot, I'm thinking we ought to add it to our own Thanksgiving dinner dishes!
Canadian Thanksgiving Day is the 2nd Monday in October, celebrated much like that in the United States, with turkey, pumpkin, and trimmings. The picture above is of Samuel de Champlain's "Order of Good Cheer" celebrating in 1606 in Acadia. Canada's Thanksgiving also shares a similar history with ours: feasts by early explorers & colonists held jointly with Native American tribes for safe arrival at a destination, relief from drought, a good harvest, and other grateful events. Canada has held official Thanksgivings every year since 1879. Before that, going back to 1578, these feasts were observed at various times of year in different provinces. In 1957, Canada's legislature formalized the day as a harvest celebration in this proclamation: "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October."
"The Federal Day of Thanks, Penance, and Prayer (Jeune federal, Der Eidgenossische Dank-, Buss-, und Bettag) is an outgrowth of days established by religious and secular authorities since 1650. The modern observance, since 1832, on the third Sunday in September is a quiet day to review the good things received. "
"In 1870, the legislature recognized "Liberia's dependence on the great Arbiter of events and established a Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the many good and loving kindnesses shown toward us as a people." Its observation occurs on the first Thursday in November. "
"Thanksgiving in Grenada is a public holiday held on October 25th each year. Banks, business places and most shops are closed. Religious services, family meals and get-togethers are the order of the day in most households. In addition, the date commemorates the 1983 joint Caribbean and American military intervention (by invitation of the legitimate government) in Grenada, which restored free elections and a democratic way of life. "
"Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders is a public holiday in Croatia, celebrated on August 5th. In 2008, the Parliament also assigned the name Day of the Croatian Defenders to the holiday, as a memorial to its War of Independence.. The main celebration is centered in Knin where there are festivities commemorating the event, beginning with a Mass and laying of wreaths in honor of those who died in the war, and continuing with parades and concerts. "
Annual Thanksgiving days are not as common perhaps as soccer in the wide world, but it is cool to see the threads that connect us in our shared histories with these nations. We can all find reasons to sit down to a good meal and say grace together!
Annual Thanksgiving days are not as common perhaps as soccer in the wide world, but it is cool to see the threads that connect us in our shared histories with these nations. We can all find reasons to sit down to a good meal and say grace together!


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The journey of The Book of Mormon from gold plates into today's triple combination is a story that most Latter-day Saints think they know.
Co-authors Richard E. Turley Jr. and William W. Slaughter respectfully disagree.
"I think most members of the church have no conception of what it took to get The Book of Mormon, and they have never heard the interesting stories that lead to our present edition," Turley said.
"How We Got The Book of Mormon," (Deseret Book, $34.99) a new book by Turley and Slaughter, tells the remarkable, start-to-finish tale of how The Book of Mormon came to be, using scholarly research and high-quality historical images.
Turley is an assistant historian and recorder for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has written or edited several books, as well as worked on "The Joseph Smith Papers" series and "Massacre at Mountain Meadows." Slaughter is a photograph historian and consultation archivist for the LDS Church History Department. He has also authored or co-authored several books.
Last summer, the two longtime friends decided to work together on a project that would recount in words and pictures the trials, sacrifices, setbacks and eventual successes that have led to the present edition of The Book of Mormon, scripture that has been printed more than 150 million copies in 100 languages.
A year later, this visual volume provides the unique history of the unique book.
"Many will never see a manuscript or the inside of a library," Slaughter said. "There has been a deliberate effort to take information generally only available to scholars and make it available to a broad audience, in a form you don't see very often in the Latter-day Saint market."
Turley researched and wrote the text, while Slaughter gathered the images. Each chapter tells a story that includes richly toned photos of people, places and copies of the various editions of The Book of Mormon. Each photo was purposely placed to engage the reader, Slaughter said.
"The design of the book is important," Slaughter said. "When you jump into water, you don't jump in to come out the other side. You jump in to be immersed in the water. We hope people have the same experience with this book. We hope they will want to be immersed in this book, that it's something they enjoy viewing, holding and reading."
The book is not just a collection of analytical facts. The text, in narrative style, describes the efforts made by Joseph Smith and associates, printer Egbert B. Grandin and John H. Gilbert, who spent months setting the type for the first edition; and William W. Phelps and others who contributed to the publication of each edition. The book includes details about the printing of The Book of Mormon in England and how a committee of general authorities later added chapter summaries, footnotes and cross references to later editions.
Slaughter, a church convert who says The Book of Mormon changed his life, gained a greater appreciation for the sacred scripture and the people who brought it forth while working on the project.
"I don't think I will look at The Book of Mormon the same again," he said. "People argue in Sunday School about the placement of a comma. But we want readers to come away with a greater appreciation for The Book of Mormon. It changed lives and it still changes lives."
While it's true that members of the church, with a few keystrokes, can have access to The Book of Mormon, Turley hopes they don't take it for granted.
"In the earliest days, it took a tremendous amount of sacrifice on the part of Joseph Smith and others ... to have The Book of Mormon," Turley said. "I worry that if members of the church don't appreciate the sacrifices required to get The Book of Mormon to us today, they may also underappreciate the book's intent and purpose.
"I think sometimes we take lightly what we get easily. I am disheartened to find copies gathering dust, copies tossed irreverently on the floor, places that seem to suggest their owners don't know what they have. If they knew what they have, they would treat it with greater respect. If they understood how much sacrifice and labor went into bringing us The Book of Mormon, they would value and read it more. This is a story worth knowing."
"How We Got The Book of Mormon" is available on DeseretBook.com and at LDS book retailers.
Email: [email protected] Twitter: tbtoone


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- Groom sensitive areas


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Sunday, November 22, 2009
Click Clock Being On Time.. you bet I am. Here's what Karl suggests
No, I'm not gonna tell you how busy I'm going to be this week and that I have to make tests in Italian, History, Art History, Law and Maths lesson, I have to go to maths extra-lessons twice this week (yes, I'm louzy in maths, I suck! But I'm on a good road becoming a genius, one fine day, yes I am), I'm gonna have to go to the hair-dresserer (yes I literally HAVE TO), I have to see two exhibitions for school, I have to see MAXXI and the Valentino movie with my friend Concetta, I have to finish my architecture project, abso-f-lutelly, I have to go shopping (otherwise I'll be going around naked. I'd rather, than dress badly... just like Coco says (Coco's Tea Party check! ) ), I should go and leave my CV-s in shops (in the hope for a job under Christmas, I know, it's late) and in the end.. should I say, I'd like to take a moment and breath, too? Or is it too much to ask. No, I guess not, I should have learned how to organize my time, already. Being 19 and BLABLA everything... It's about time, isn't it? But it could wait, at least tonight.. I want to post about Karl's apartment (and stay up late and tomorrow morning be zombi). Yes The Lagerfeld. I did like this pret-à-porter collection (Spring 2010), it kinda is classical but not boring, with an extra twist and catch in it. I find it inspiring. Take a look at it and what he says to Harper's Bazaar, I find this interview also inspiring:
Can I still look chic while buying cheap?
Karl: "The most important thing is to sleep well. Try to have sweet dreams and no recession nightmares. Never use the word cheap. Today everybody can look chic in inexpensive clothes (the rich buy them too). There is good clothing design on every level today. You can be the chicest thing in the world in a T-shirt and jeans — it's up to you."
"..Reinvent new combinations of what you already own. Play with it. Improvise. Become more creative. Not because you have to, but because you want to. Evolution is the secret for the next step. To reinvent a newly impeccable you in the most modest of outfits, don't skip on makeup, and be sure to have flawless skin and hair. That will have more impact than expensive clothes."
"..Women dressing to impress other women — forget about that. It's a very bad way of thinking.
.. Life should not be a fashion show. Only the girls in the shows have to wear unfinished prototypes."
Here's his home (one of them), in Paris, I think. It was in Elle Italia September issue, if I'm not wrong. I couldn't live in it. Too black&white and surgical. But I appreciate his taste and vision of life. Seems like he only wants the essential and colours may disturb and distract him to get the "juice" out of the world. The apartment is very modern and infact he says, that because of some materials used, just newly invented, he gets amused thinking that only few years ago he could not have realized this apartment. ( I guess we are talking about some plexi-chemical-synthetical-glass in this case. In this apartment basicly there are no real walls that separate the rooms, only this kind of a wall of glass). Down on the first picture you see the kitchen (in the left, on top), the library and a huge guest room (on the left, on the bottom), a part of the guest room with a very modern "sofa" if I can call it that way. The bathroom, the bedroom (on the left) and the guestroom. I had this article somewhere and I should read it so I will be able to describe it better. In the meanwhile, I hope your week is less crasier, and you're a better time-organizer!
Labels: "My dear Diary...", A LEGEND, Blog Suggestions, Fashion, Interior Design
3 comments:
- the paris apartment said...
Absolutely fabulous interview! I just saw the documentary on him. What a legend. I love his philosophies!
- November 22, 2009 at 9:10 PM
- Merilin said...
:) I should see it too. I have to admit, I only discovered him a little ago. I admire him for his modern thinking!
- November 22, 2009 at 9:29 PM
- ROCK AND FIOCC said...
si è vero. sono tutti cool e giusti e la cosa mi annoia a morte. io stessa mi annoio da sola!
- November 23, 2009 at 8:09 AM
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At Cubiks, we're proud to assess people all over the globe every year, collaborating with our clients to help individuals and organisations succeed. Here's what our international teams got up to last year.
To learn more about how Cubiks can support you with talent management and people assessments, fill in the form below or send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com and we'll be in touch.


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The lady I had worked on at 6AM was still in recovery. Her son was outside, wanting her to be released immediately to the floor. The lady was fully recovered, sitting up in bed wondering why she was still there as well. I took a look at the post-op orders. The surgeon had written orders that she could return to the floor at 12:00. She was to be recovered until that time. I went outside to speak to the son.
The son was quite agitated as I told him his mother was doing fine in recovery. He said he knew that, and that was not the problem. It seemed his father was being discharged from the sixth floor at noon to be admitted to a long term care facility. His parents had not seen each other for over a week. The gentleman's father had Alzheimer's, and was being combative.
I went back into Recovery, and informed the nurse I was taking the patient upstairs. I was told I couldn't do that, not without an order from the surgeon. I explained recovery would not stop. I told the nurse to give me a quick verbal report as I assisted the lady into a wheelchair, and retrieved her teeth and spectacles. I wrote down the last set of vitals displayed on the monitor and I disconnected it. The lady was not on oxygen anymore. Her vitals were stable. I had two nurses fussing at me as I told them I was assuming my patient's care again. I had ten minutes.
The elevator ride was silent, neither of us speaking to the other. As the elevator doors chimed open, I asked the lady which room her husband was in. Room 626. I rolled her up to the door and took a peek inside. The EMTs had an ambulance stretcher beside the bed. A nurse, a nurse aide and two EMTs were trying to convince the old geezer he would be fine if he allowed them to transfer him. He was having nothing of it. I could tell by the twisted sheets and furrowed brows that it had not been pretty a few minutes earlier in that room.
"Howard!" she demanded, "Howard, just what the Sam Hill are you doing?" A snaggletoothed grin crept across the old man's face as my patient rolled her wheelchair into the room and inserted herself between the nurse and me. "Howard, you behave. You know I wouldn't let nothin' happen to you that would be hurtful." The glow of recognition enveloped the man as he lay speechless gazing at the woman he loved. The old man said nothing, only staring contentedly at his bride as the EMTs moved him gently to the stretcher and strapped him down.
"Howard, now you be good. I'll be by to see you as soon as I can," his wife told him. I rolled her backwards into the hallway to allow the EMTs to finish up. While we waited, I strapped a Dinamap to her arm and recorded the vital signs on a scrap of paper. As the old gent was rolled out of the room, his bride leaned forward to kiss him on the forehead, telling him it will be OK, she will be there soon. Then they parted yet again.
The lady's son shook my hand, telling me he had to go with his father to make certain he settled in comfortably. We bade him goodbye. It was another quiet elevator ride back down to PACU. Once there, I again hooked the little lady up to the monitors, and recorded her vital signs and notated them on her chart. The recovery nurse fawned over our patient a bit, giving me a distinctly icy shoulder as I gave report back to her. I finished, and started to leave, but the little lady grasped my hand quickly. She couldn't quite say it, but she silently mouthed thank you. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
Labels: Nursing


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to concordism)
Date: Mon, 27 May 2002 15:00:51 -0000
Sender: firstname.lastname@example.com
Precedence: bulk
Loren writes
>So here is a counter-challenge, one which you owe it to yourself to
>attempt: Locate a dozen or two creation stories from ancient cultures
>around the world. Then allow yourself to do a similar level of
>word-redefinition in those stories as you do in the Genesis 1 account, in
>an honest effort to make those stories concord with scientific chronology.
>How many of them can you make work? Certainly not all of them, but how
>many? I'd be curious to know the answer to that exercise.
How sad is this? Or how grave an error? It is far more constructive
for me to support Gen 1 than trash heathen creation accounts. Loren,
nothing comes close to Gen 1. I have been told that Enuma Elish is
easily the closest. It was a complete, utter joke.
>I count approximately 11 Hebrew words which must be redefined (from the
>author's original intent) in order to make the Genesis 1 chronology match
>the scientific chronology in a typical concordist scenario. (In the NIV,
>for example: light,
Loren, are you aware that Biblical Hebrew has about 3,000 words (assuming
that Hugh Ross' reference is correct, and about 8,500 if you insert vowels)?
And modern English has millions.
I have made it very clear in the past that I will not "take on multiple
fights" at the same time. Let's look at your words.
Gen 1:3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
Woo hoo! How easy a question this is!!!! Verse 1:2 states "darkness was
over the surface of the deep." I am not, in any way, shape, or form
asking for a redefinition of the word light. From the context, light
is now where the darkness was - over the surface of the deep!!!!
>So here is a counter-challenge
So here is a counter-counter challenge. Will you concede that the
day-age interpretation requires no redefinition of light? For, if you
will not agree to this, I see no point in addressing your next 10 words.
Jim Eisele
Genesis in Question
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon May 27 2002 - 15:02:36 EDT


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NEW BEDFORD— Police have arrested Joyce Dietlin, 56, and charged her for allegedly setting a fire at 5 Tyler Ave., a sober house in East Wareham.
NEW BEDFORD— Police have arrested Joyce Dietlin, 56 for setting a fire at 5 Tyler Ave., a sober house in East Wareham.
Dietlin was charged with arson of a dwelling, police said.
"We believe (Dietlin) deliberately set the fire in the living room area of the dwelling," said Interim Chief of Police Kevin Walsh.
He added the reasons for Dietlin to commit the alleged crime are unclear at this point.
Dietlin was arrested in Plymouth by Wareham Police and troopers assigned to the State's Fire Marshall's Office, according to a news release stated.
"She was staying ... at a friend's house in Plymouth," Walsh said. "She is originally form Plymouth."
Dietlin did not resist arrest, Walsh said.
The arrest came as a result of an investigation by the Wareham Police Department Detective Division, Wareham Fire Department, Onset Fire Department, and Massachusetts State Police investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshall's Office, police said.
The fire Saturday afternoon caused $170,000 in damage to a two-story wooden frame house occupied by 11 people at the time, fire officials said.
There were no injuries to civilian or firefighters, fire officials said.
— Carol Kozma


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Families and Kid's ClubHotel Imperial is a 3-star hotel for families family on the beach of Marotta - Fano.
With a wide range of services for the family, such as children's play area, swimming pool, garden and private beach with entertainment, Hotel Imperial is the ideal solution for families who want to spend a holiday at the sea.
Private BeachDuring the season the hotel beach is cheered by an entertainment service for families and children.
On the beach you can also find many facilities and games for children.
Sport and RelaxFor sports lovers on the beach there are beach volleyball courts, "bocce" courts. You can also use our canoes and pedal boats to spend relaxing moments at sea.
Entertainment and music eveningsDuring summer evenings the garden is the setting for enjoyable dancing evenings with live music, dinners or theme evenings.
The tree-lined garden that surrounds the hotel, a surface of 4000 m², will make the whole family happy: freedom for the little ones and a few hours of tranquility for adults.
Choose Hotel Imperial for a quiet holiday with your family!


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Sep 302011
Some recipes require the fillets of an orange eg. the pumpkin-orange soup - Go to the recipe...
You can use this instructions also for grapefruits or lemons. Let me show you how this is done:
You can use this instructions also for grapefruits or lemons. Let me show you how this is done:
What you need
- a sharp knife - the sharper the knife the less 'juice-loss' you are going to have. If you use a serrated knife you may as well use a hacksaw.
- non-slip cutting board
- sharp paring or chef's knife - not serrated
- Organic oranges
Instructions Fillet an Orange
1. Cut the top and bottom off the orange.
2. Set your knife where the pith (white stuff) meets the flesh and start cutting downward in a curved motion following the shape of the orange.
3. Turn the orange a bit counterclockwise and repeat. If you turn it clockwise the blade will cover the pith/flesh and you will not be able to see where to cut. Cut - turn - cut - turn - cut - turn 'till you're done.
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September 30, 2011 How To Make Recipes
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Hidden Gem: SimsJune 16th, 2011 by Siegz | Hidden Gem, Hip-Hop/Rap |
I think this blog needs to do a hidden gem daily. We consider a musician a hidden gem when we believe they have great music that many more people need to know about.
Sims has been rapping for a long time, being one of the original members of Minnesota hip-hop collective Doomtree. I saw him perform live in late April and he was my favorite performer that night… and he wasn't even the headliner!
In February, Sims released Bad Time Zoo, a must-download album which you can grab on bandcamp. I love at least half the songs, but here's my five favorites.
Sims – Burn It Down (Must-DOWNLOAD)
Sims – Good Times
Sims – Weight
Sims – Sink or Syncopate
Sims – Hey You
In early January he released a music video to his first single off Bad Time Zoo, "Burn It Down". After the jump watch the official music video.
Enjoy Sims music? Follow him on facebook and twitter.


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This is the only venue in town where you can catch the best of both Rock and Hip-Hop shows. We have incredible artists appearing in the coming months.
Be sure to pick up your tickets to upcoming shows!
We're conveniently located in Kansas City's east side off of US 40 hyw between Noland and Lee Summit rd.


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Okay... I'm guessing we're going through a "phase" again. One of those anything and everything will go wrong things. I'm assuming it'll be in threes again as usual, which makes me wonder, what's lying ahead still?
As has been the case, the furnace is still not a happy camper, so I spent the night sleeping with my lappy while it compiled ep 26. >.< I've booted lappy back downstairs, 'puters don't make good roommates. However, I now have the wonderful task of trying to figure out what's wrong with the work modem. It wouldn't initialise this morning, and it's just not anything-ing. *grumble* I really don't want to go crawling into that computer...
On the plus side, I dreamt of kitty last night. ^o^ I haven't dreamt of him for so long now, and he was being his usual cute and silly self. He was also much smaller than I remember overall which would put him back to when he was quite a bit younger. I guess I still miss the silly guy. ^^;
And that was a rather whingy post. I think I'll hide and fight with the modem... >.


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Venezuela's Drug-Trafficking Role Is Growing Fast, U.S. Report Says
Sunday, July 19, 2009
BOGOTA, Colombia, July 18 -- A report for the U.S. Congress on drug smuggling through Venezuela concludes that corruption at high levels of President Hugo Chávez's government and state aid to Colombia's drug-trafficking guerrillas have made Venezuela a major launching pad for cocaine bound for the United States and Europe.
Since 1996, successive U.S. administrations have considered Venezuela a key drug-trafficking hub, the Government Accountability Office report says. But now, it says, the amount of cocaine flowing into Venezuela from Colombia, Venezuela's neighbor and the world's top producer of the drug, has skyrocketed, going from an estimated 60 metric tons in 2004 to 260 metric tons in 2007. That amounted to 17 percent of all the cocaine produced in the Andes in 2007.
The report, which was first reported by Spain's El Pais newspaper Thursday and obtained by The Washington Post on Friday, represents U.S. officials' strongest condemnation yet of Venezuela's alleged role in drug trafficking. It says Venezuela has extended a "lifeline" to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which the United States estimates has a hand in the trafficking of 60 percent of the cocaine produced in Colombia.
The report, scheduled to be made public in Washington on Monday, drew an angry response from Chávez, whose government has repeatedly clashed with the United States. Speaking to reporters in Bolivia on Friday, the populist leader characterized the report as a political tool used by the United States to besmirch his country. He also said the United States, as the world's top cocaine consumer, has no right to lecture Venezuela.
"The United States is the first narco-trafficking country," Chávez said, adding that Venezuela's geography -- particularly its rugged 1,300-mile border with Colombia -- makes it vulnerable to traffickers. He also asserted that Venezuela had made important gains in the drug war since expelling U.S. counter-drug agents in 2005, a measure the GAO says made Venezuela more attractive to Colombian traffickers.
"Venezuela has begun to hit narco-trafficking hard since the DEA left," Chávez said, referring to the Drug Enforcement Administration. "The DEA is filled with drug traffickers."
Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) commissioned the GAO study in February 2008, asking the nonpartisan agency to determine whether Venezuela was "in the process of becoming a narco-state, heavily dependent [on] and beholden to the international trade in illegal drugs."
In a statement about the GAO report, Lugar, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the findings "have heightened my concern that Venezuela's failure to cooperate with the United States on drug interdiction is related to corruption in that country's government." He said the report underscores a need for a comprehensive review of U.S. policy toward Venezuela.
The release of the report is expected to provide ammunition to some Republican lawmakers who have criticized the Obama administration's efforts to reinstate the deposed president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, a close ally of Chávez. U.S. diplomats have said that despite his ties to Chávez, Zelaya should be returned to power to serve the six months left in his term.
A Democratic aide in Congress who works on Latin American policy issues suggested that the call for a review of U.S. policy toward Venezuela could interfere with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's bid to improve relations with Caracas, which were badly frayed during the Bush years. "The administration inherited a messy bilateral relationship and deserves a chance to put it on a more even keel," the aide said.
The GAO report describes how cocaine produced in Colombia is smuggled into Venezuela via land and river routes, as well as on short flights originating from remote regions along Colombia's eastern border. Most of the cocaine is then shipped out on merchant vessels, fishing boats and so-called go-fast boats. Though most of it is destined for U.S. streets, increasing amounts are being sent to Europe, the report says.
The GAO contends that corruption in Venezuela, reaching from officers in the National Guard to officials in top levels of government, has contributed to the surge in trafficking.
In September, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control designated three Venezuelan high-ranking officials, all close aides to Chávez, as "drug kingpins" for protecting FARC drug shipments and providing arms and funding to Colombian guerrillas. They are Hugo Armando Carvajal Barrios, director of the military's Intelligence Directorate; Henry de Jesús Rangel Silva, head of the Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services; and Ramón Rodríguez Chacín, former interior and justice minister.
News of the GAO report came as Colombian officials in Bogota released an internal FARC video in which the rebel group's second-in-command, Jorge Briceño, reads the deathbed manifesto, written in March 2008, by the then-supreme commander, Manuel Marulanda. In the video, seized in May from a FARC operative and obtained by the Associated Press, Marulanda stresses the strategic importance of "maintaining good political relations, friendship and confidence with the governments of Venezuela and Ecuador."
Marulanda's letter also laments that a trove of internal e-mails, many of them compromising Venezuelan and Ecuadoran officials, fell into the hands of Colombian authorities that month. Briceño, reading the letter to a group of guerrillas in a jungle clearing, announces that among FARC "secrets" that were lost is information about the "assistance in dollars" to Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa's 2006 presidential campaign.
Venezuela did not immediately respond to the video. But on Saturday, Correa, an ally of Chávez, denied receiving campaign funds from the FARC and suggested the video was a "setup."
"There is a setup to damage the image of the country and the government," he said in a radio address.


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Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) carries a poor prognosis without definitive treatment by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The outcome for transplantation varies and is dependent on donor status and the condition of the child at the time of transplantation. Diagnosis at birth may allow for better protection of SCID babies from infection and improve transplantation outcome. In this comparative study conducted at the 2 designated SCID transplantation centers in the United Kingdom, we show that SCID babies diagnosed at birth because of a positive family history have a significantly improved outcome compared with the first presenting family member. The overall improved survival of more than 90% is related to a reduced rate of infection and significantly improved transplantation outcome irrespective of donor choice, conditioning regimen used, and underlying genetic diagnosis. Neonatal screening for SCID would significantly improve the outcome in this otherwise potentially devastating condition.
Severe combined immunodeficiencies (SCIDs) are a genetically heterogeneous group of inherited defects characterized by severe abnormalities of immune system development and function.1,2 Affected infants present in the first few months of life with severe and recurrent infections; without definitive treatment, the condition is invariably fatal. The genetic defects in approximately 90% of the different forms of SCID have now been identified; and despite genetic heterogeneity, all patients are characterized by abnormalities of thymopoiesis and T-cell maturation and function.
Definitive treatment is available for SCID predominantly by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)3,4 but also in specific forms of SCID (SCID-X1 and ADA-SCID) by gene therapy5⇓⇓–8 and by enzyme replacement therapy for adenosine deaminase (ADA) SCID.9 Detailed analysis of a large European SCID cohort showed that survival after HSCT was dependent on a number of factors.3 Patients transplanted before 6 months of age had a significantly better outcome. Matched sibling donor and matched unrelated donor transplants in SCID had approximately 90% and 80% 3-year survival rates, respectively, whereas mismatched transplants predominantly from parental donors showed a 65% success rate. The outcomes in the T−B− and ADA-deficient forms of SCID were also shown to be less successful, especially after mismatched donor transplants. Also important was the presence of pneumonitis before transplantation, with patients who have had such infections having a significantly poorer outcome (P < .0001).
Over the last 5 years, considerable interest has been generated by the ability to screen for SCID babies at birth. Detection of recent thymic emigrants by quantitative polymerase chain reaction of DNA extracted from neonatal dried blood spots can detect all SCID forms regardless of genetic diagnosis.10,11 The potential advantage of SCID newborn screening would be to protect infants at the time of birth from respiratory pathogens, including Pneumocystis jiroveci, and respiratory viruses (eg, adenovirus and parainfluenzae), and to undertake a transplantation at an earlier age. Myers et al12 showed that this strategy may be effective in 21 patients diagnosed at birth, but in this series all patients received an unconditioned procedure with the majority (19 of 21) receiving a T cell-depleted haploidentical procedure. To date, there have been no formal comparative data to show that newborn diagnosis would improve survival in patients regardless of the type of donor or conditioning regimen used. We therefore performed a retrospective study into the outcomes in a cohort of SCID patients who had been diagnosed antenatally or at birth because of a diagnosis of SCID in a previous sibling or family member. We compared this with the outcome in the first presenting person in the family. This report shows that, compared with the presenting sibling, SCID babies diagnosed at birth have a significantly decreased number of infections, are transplanted earlier, and have a dramatically improved survival outcome after HSCT regardless of the donor match, conditioning regimen, and SCID type.
Patient details and outcomes were gathered from databases held at the Great Ormond Street Hospital National Health Service Trust and Newcastle General Hospital, United Kingdom. Patients undergoing transplantation gave consent for data entry onto databases and use in studies in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Data collection was approved by the Great Ormond Street Hospital and Newcastle General Hospital ethics committees.
Results and discussion
Data were collected from the 2 designated centers for transplantation of SCID in the United Kingdom. From 1982 to 2010, 60 SCID patients were diagnosed antenatally or at birth (termed sibling cohort) because of a diagnosis of SCID in 48 previous family members, most commonly a sibling (termed proband cohort) who presented between 1979 and 2009. Multiple subsequent births within families account for the difference in numbers between probands and siblings. Four of the sibling cohorts had been diagnosed antenatally, and the median age of diagnosis in the remaining sibling cohort was 0 days (range, 0-29 days). By contrast, the median age of diagnosis in the proband group was 143.5 days (range, 1-455 days; P < .001).
A diagnosis of SCID warrants intervention with prophylactic antibiotics and immunoglobulin replacement therapy. Specifically, all the sibling cohort was started on Septrin (GlaxoSmithKline) principally as antipneumocystis but also antibacterial prophylaxis once the risk of sulphonamide-induced jaundice had subsided. The proband group would not have received any prophylactic medication; and as a result, the rate of infectious complications in this group was high. Although data were unavailable for 19 of the 48 patients, in the remaining 29 probands, 89% (n = 26) had at least one infection, with 25 of 29 having multiple infections. The most common pathogen was P jiroveci, which was seen in 12 infants followed by fungal infection with Candida and together a total of 65 pathogens were identified in the 29 patients. By contrast, in the sibling cohort, where data were available on 57 of 60 patients, 17% (n = 10) had a total of 12 infections and no cases of pneumocystis were documented. Furthermore, there were no cases of parainfluenza virus and reduced numbers of other respiratory viruses in the sibling cohort.
The outcomes of the 2 cohorts are summarized in Figure 1. Of the 48 probands, 17 (35.4%) died before allogeneic HSCT; and in all cases where data were available, the cause of death was an infectious complication. Of the sibling cohort, only one of the 60 patients died before HSCT, again of infection, and this was in a family who refused transplantation for the child. All surviving infants from both cohorts went onto allogeneic HSCT, apart from one child in the sibling cohort who received gene therapy for ADA-SCID because of the lack of a well-matched donor.
The overall data for HSCT from the 2 cohorts show significant differences. Of the 31 probands who underwent HSCT, 12 died (38.7% transplantation-related mortality) and 19 survived the procedure (61.3%). By comparison, of the 59 sibling cohort who went through HSCT or gene therapy (GT), 5 died (8.5% mortality), giving a transplantation survival rate of 91.5% (P < .001). The significantly improved survival in the sibling cohort was analyzed in further detail to determine whether any differences in conditioning or donor availability may have made major contributions to improved survival outcome (Table 1).
When conditioning regimens are considered, it was found that, even in unconditioned transplants, the mortality was 50% in the proband cohort. This suggests that preexisting infections were responsible for death. Only 2 of 20 patients undergoing unconditioned transplantation in the sibling cohort died. No deaths were seen in 20 reduced intensity transplants in the sibling cohort, whereas 2 of 7 probands died. Although not a statistically significant difference, in the proband cohort 41.6% (5 of 12) receiving myeloablative transplants died, whereas only 16% (3 of 18) died in the sibling cohort. Outcomes in relation to the type of donor used for transplantation highlight important findings. Even though there were proportionately more haploidentical transplantations undertaken in the sibling cohort than in the proband cohort, the former showed a significantly improved outcome. In the probands, 50% mortality (8 of 16) was seen after haploidentical transplantation, whereas only 12.5% mortality (3 of 24; P < .01) was seen in the sibling cohort. This difference cannot be explained by differing conditioning regimens as 5 of 16 probands did not receive conditionings in comparison to 4 of 24 siblings and myeloablative procedures were undertaken in 9 of 16 probands and 8 of 24 siblings. Differences were also observed in those undergoing matched family donor transplantations with a mortality of 67% (4 of 6) in the proband cohort, of which 4 were unconditioned, compared with none in the sibling cohort, of which 5 were unconditioned. No differences were seen for the other donor groups.
The underlying genetic diagnosis was also analyzed and shows important differences. There was a high mortality rate in the proband X-SCID cohort (6 of 10) but only one death in the sibling cohort. Of the siblings, 9 successfully underwent haploidentical transplantations; 4 of these were performed without conditioning. In patients with ADA deficiency, there was again a high mortality rate in probands with no deaths in the sibling cohort. The success in the ADA sibling cohort may in part be attributed to the early use of PEG-ADA, which will have protected infants from the metabolic consequences of ADA deficiency.
Studies have also shown that there has been an improvement in SCID transplantation outcome over time as supportive care and transplantation-related techniques have improved.3,13 We therefore performed a subcohort analysis of probands/siblings that were transplanted within 10 years of each other. In this subcohort analysis, 54% (13 of 24) probands survived compared with 93% (29 of 31) siblings, suggesting that, even if transplanted within 10 years of each other, there is still a significant improvement in outcome in SCIDs diagnosed at birth (Table 2).
Previous studies have shown an improvement in early T-cell recovery in newborn transplantations but no improvement in B-cell reconstitution.16 In our series, total T-cell numbers at 1 year after HSCT were no different between the 2 groups with a mean of 2418 CD3+ cells/mm3 (range, 209-5583 cells/mm3) in 14 evaluable probands compared with a mean of 2465 CD3+ cells/mm3 (range, 87-7956 cells/mm3) in 45 evaluable siblings. Similarly, there was no significant difference in humoral immune reconstitution with 15 of 18 evaluable probands able to stop immunoglobulin replacement compared with 43 of 51 evaluable siblings (data not shown). Thus, in contrast to previous studies, we did not see improved T-cell recovery in the siblings, although our analysis was not as detailed because of the unavailability of retrospective data and overall B-cell recovery was similar to that previously observed. Newborn transplantations in our study did not improve immune recovery, but neither was there any adverse effect. The differences between the 2 studies may relate to the patient population studied (predominantly X-SCID in the Myers et al cohort12) and the nature of the transplantations performed.
For the proband cohort, the overall mortality, including deaths before and after transplantation, was 60.4%, whereas a 10% overall mortality was observed in the sibling series (P < .001). These data show that the improved survival is a result of improved survival both before and after HSCT and after HSCT is seen irrespective of donor choice, conditioning regimen used, or underlying diagnosis. It is highly probable that the improved survival relates to the ability to make an early diagnosis, thereby protecting infants from infection and secondary organ damage and improving nutritional status, and therefore allowing an improved ability to withstand HSCT. These comparative data argue strongly for the more widespread use of neonatal screening for SCID, which may allow an extremely favorable prognosis for this previously devastating condition.
Contribution: L.B., J.X.-B., Z.A., A.R.G., and M.S. gathered and analyzed the data and reviewed the manuscript; P.V., E.G.D., and A.C. reviewed and advised on the manuscript; and H.B.G. conceived the project, directed data analysis, and wrote the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest disclosure: The authors declare no competing financial interests.
Correspondence: H. Bobby Gaspar, Molecular Immunology Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford St, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom; e-mail: h.gaspar{at}ich.ucl.ac.uk.
H.B.G. is supported in part by the Great Ormond Street Hospital National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Center and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.
The publication costs of this article were defrayed in part by page charge payment. Therefore, and solely to indicate this fact, this article is hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 USC section 1734.
- Submitted August 5, 2010.
- Accepted December 27, 2010.
- © 2011 by The American Society of Hematology


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Thanks to feedback from attendees—and those who have been unable to attend in the past—we hosted the conference on the East Coast for the first time in the conference's history! Our speaker lineup was be another roster of experts on all things from marketing to management to social media and more.
The conference took place at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2012.
March 11–13, 2012


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TCB650 Clamshell Grapple
A heavy duty clamshell bucket with a high penetrating force, and a heavily reinforced body. The cutting edges on the bucket are made of .63" (16mm) boron steel. The jaws are sharpened for easy penetration, and close up tight
It also comes with:.
• All Valby grapples have easily accessible grease fitting.
Available options include: digging teeth, hanging mount, rigid mount, and quick attach plate.


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Called the Bibliothèque, the room is filled with approximately a thousand books to read. The room is also furnished with a queen-size bed, and the bathroom is open-plan. Located in the attic, please note that guests will need to climb stairs.
Features available
Bathroom Facilities En-suite
Beds Queen beds
Other Tea and Coffee Facilities, No Smoking in Rooms, Hair Dryer
TV Television
De Oude Huize Yard is part of a 150-year old historical house in Harrismith. We offer exceptional accommodation and our restaurant is known for its wonderful meals.
We offer accommodation in the Eastern Free State. We are en-route to the Drakensberg, from Johannesburg or OR Thambo International Airport. De Oude Huize is also within easy access from the N3 en-route to Durban, and within easy access from the N5 en-route to Bloemfontein. Our establishment is in procimaty to the Drakensberg, Sterkfontein Dam and Battlefields.
We offer a romantic and historical ambiance. Experience our historical tour through town in a 1948 Chevy.
Our rooms are all en-suite with private entrances. We also have a live-in artist specializing in beautiful wrought-iron pieces. Flowers are grown and displayed for the pleasure of our guests. Our dinners, on request, are prepared with home-grown produce and we support local farmers for only the freshest produce.
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c) In the event of a premature departure or cancellation, guests will be charged 100% of the total booking value.
A 50% deposit is payable on reservation


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U.S. News & World Report has ranked Mahtomedi High School as the best high school in the state.
The school, with an enrollment of about 1,180 students, also landed in the top 1 percent of the nation's high schools, according to the rankings released last month.
"This is not an accident," Principal Kathe Nickleby said in a statement. "This is due to the passion of our teachers and staff members who are deeply committed to ensuring that every student will be prepared for life after high school."
U.S. News teamed with American Institutes for Research (AIR), of Washington, D.C., to compile the rankings, which involved a three-step process to ensure:
1. Students performed better than the state's average student on state math and reading tests.
2. Economically disadvantaged students performed better than similar students on the math and reading tests.
3. Students ranked high in college-readiness.
Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test data was used to gauge how well students were prepared for college.
According to U.S. News, 6 percent of Mahtomedi High students were minority-group members and 7 percent were economically disadvantaged.
Other east metro schools to land in the top 10 in the state include St. Anthony Village High School, Eagan High School, Mounds View High School in Arden Hills and Irondale High School in New Brighton. St. Anthony Village High, which ranked third, joined Mahtomedi High as a U.S. News "gold award" recipient.
Family service project deemed a 'success'
More than 700 families were served this year during a one-day event connecting needy families in the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District with social service providers.
The initiative, 622 Project Family Connect, was held on April 20 at Woodland Hills Church in Maplewood.
According to the school district, more than 200 people volunteered their time and resources, more than 7,000 pounds of food was distributed and more than 100 free haircuts were given. Students and staff members also helped organize food and clothing drives before the event.
South Washington
Administrators plan education discussions
Current and future education trends will be among the topics discussed in a series of talks set for this month in the South Washington County School District.
The conversations also will touch on district initiatives, a news release said. Superintendent Keith Jacobus and fellow administrators plan to attend.
Meetings are set for Tuesday, May 7, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Cottage Grove Elementary School; Tuesday, May 14, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the District Service Center, 7362 East Point Douglas Road S., Cottage Grove; and Monday, May 20, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Red Rock Elementary School in Woodbury.
New Life Academy hosts Chinese festival
A Chinese festival featuring a dancing dragon and lessons in basic Chinese greetings kicked off what is expected to be a series of cultural events tied to the diverse backgrounds of students at New Life Academy in Woodbury.
The two-day event was held last week and was sponsored by the school's international club. Club members include students from China, Vietnam, Mongolia and Sweden. They've decided to share with the student body "each of their countries, one festival at a time," said Inna Collier, the club's director and New Life Academy's guidance counselor.
Jason Zhang, who is Chinese and the club's president, said in a news release that he believed it was good for American students to learn about different cultures "so when we all get out in the business world, we are prepared."
Anthony Lonetree


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Valextra Namaste Hobo in Burgundy or Black
This Valextra Namaste Hobo in burgundy is exclusive to Selfridges. Made from burgundy leather, the bag has a single, hobo style hard and bendy carry handle and a top zip fastening.
The bag is a lovely, easy to carry scoop shape and features pale gold coloured hardware throughout.
Inside, the bag is lined in a contrast cream fabric, and there is a leather trimmed zip pocket together with a slip pocket. The brand name and serial number are embossed in metallic gold on the leather trim around the pocket.
Measurements: 38cm / 14.8″ x 50cm / 19.5″ x 10.5cm / 4.1 (all measurements are approximate)
Exclusive to Selfridges and very limited in quantity, this is a sleek and beautifully shaped hobo bag with subtle gold hardware that goes well with any smart on or off duty look, and it's perfect for city slickers.
- Click here for more info and to buy the burgundy (exclusive to Selfridges)
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UK based


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Sunday, June 12, 2011
Back on the Right path...
Posted by Carter Family at 6:41 AM
9 comments:
- Megan said...
good job working on your nutrition. Hope you stick with it and make it fun. Good luck adding the fitness into your daily activities. Have fun on vacation.
- June 12, 2011 at 5:26 PM
- Anonymous said...
If you're in a hotel with no kids, why are you worried about internet?!? :)
Congratulations on your phenomenal loss this week! I'm so proud of you and excited for you!
And I love your blog. The header makes Mondays suck just a little less. :)
- June 12, 2011 at 6:03 PM
- J said...
Congrats on your loss this week. That is excellent! Love your Twilight guys too.
- June 13, 2011 at 4:00 AM
- Jenn of PersonalFitCoach.com said...
Whoops, hit enter too soon on my comment. Here is my true identity. LOL!
- June 13, 2011 at 4:01 AM
- Rachel (@rachhabs) said...
CONGRATS on your weight loss this week!!! :) Hope you have a fabulous & relaxing time at the beach!!
- June 13, 2011 at 6:12 AM
- MrsFatass said...
Woo hoo! Awesome loss! Way to go!
- June 13, 2011 at 7:47 AM
- Kimberly said...
Congrats on your loss
- June 13, 2011 at 9:14 AM
- Lena said...
Love to have you back
- June 13, 2011 at 9:52 AM
- kia said...
Congrats on the weight loss and I hope the wake-up call was not too harsh. Also kudos to you on working with the nutrition.
- June 14, 2011 at 4:47 AM


text: My friend's lease is coming to an end and fortunately for me he lives in Michigan, which hates Teslas so he's not planning to keep it. He still loves the car and wants to see it stay with his friends, family though (lucky me). Anyways the lease residual on his car is a screaming deal, but if he takes it, and then i buy the car from him would we end up with double taxation? (sales tax in MI is 6%) Or does the weird nature of the early leases mean that he doesn't have to pay sales tax?


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Prints by Andrés Nagel
Sin título 5
Date of creation: 1991
Medium: Etching and collage
Media: Paper
Edition: 75
Size: 98 x 69 cm
Etching and collage on paper signed by the artist and numbered edition of 75.
Andrés Nagel belongs to that generation of Spanish artists that revolted against the abstraction and informalism, dominant in the exhibitions at museums and galleries during the 60s. Nagel's success is, without any doubt, due to his intrinsic honesty. The artist has always been loyal to his own particular style, no matter the artistic trend of the moment.
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Reference: nagel_005
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Instantly recognisable iconic styling, radical, yet oh-so-familiar, yet somehow different, may be the best way to describe the Fret-King Black Label Esprit.
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The distinctive reversed six-a-side in-line peghead and striking asymmetric body add up to a statement of style with individuality and attitude to spare.
The three pickup Esprit III is a rock monster in disguise with its feet firmly rooted in tradition, and a flair and versatility which belies its looks.
The long tenon set-neck construction, combining a three-piece centre block agathis body with fast-playing maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, creates a solid platform for you to build your Esprit III's tone.
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Unconventional? Possibly. Versatile? Certainly. A strong statement of individuality? Most definitely!
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