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Commercially important fish such as cod, whiting and anglerfish have shifted significantly north, while some other species moved to colder depths.
Scientists warn in Science magazine that some fish may disappear from the North Sea by 2050.
They say commercial fisheries will have to take account of global warming as well as dwindling fish stocks.
"Some of these species are already depleted and this is yet another challenge that they face," Allison Perry, of the University of East Anglia, told the BBC News website.
Predators and prey
Dr Perry and her team have studied data on 36 species of fish going back to the 1970s. Of those species, 21 have moved northwards, some by hundreds of kilometres.
Since the 70s, the average winter temperature at the bottom of the North Sea has risen by around one degree Celsius, and the researchers believe that rise, which they say is attributable to global warming, is forcing populations to shift.
The main problem is that marine species are shifting at different rates. So some predatory fish might be migrating north, while their prey stay put; and likewise other species might be unable to move even though their habitat is becoming more and more unsuitable for them.
"For example the coley is a large-bodied fish and it can live up to 30 years, and it is currently considered to be over-fished," Dr Perry said. "It is not one that is shifting and it could be in danger, depending on how much its habitat is changing."
The scientists say further research is needed, but as a precaution, greater protection should be put in place for stocks already threatened by over fishing.
"This research adds more weight to what scientists are advising in terms of the need to reduce fishing pressure," Dr Perry said.


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A Licensed Adoption Agency Serving Rhode Island
Since 1986, Adoptions With Love has been assisting birth/expectant parents throughout Rhode Island with our caring and compassionate adoption services. Our licensed agency facilitates open adoptions, closed adoptions, and semi-closed adoptions. At Adoptions With Love, we consider it our primary mission to find the best possible family for each child.
If you are pregnant, you have choices. It is our job at Adoptions With Love to be supportive and assist you in making the best decision for you and your baby.
A Personal Adoption Plan Designed for YOU
The needs of you and your child are our main focus. That is why we are committed to creating an individualized adoption plan to fit your desires. Our staff will work together with you to make the following decisions:
- Decide on the best family for your baby. We will provide you with comprehensive information and photo albums of our prospective families who are ready to adopt. You can choose the family that you think is the best match for your baby. Each of our families has been very carefully screened by us with background checks and we have been to each of their homes. We can also arrange an in-person meeting or a call with a specific family at your convenience.
- Choose between an open or closed adoption plan. You design the type of adoption you want: open adoption, semi-open adoption, or closed adoption. The right plan is the plan with which you feel most comfortable. If you choose to have a closed adoption, you can open it a later date. Our flexible options give expectant/birth parents a sense of security that is especially welcome during this difficult time.
- Medical Care. If you do not have medical care, we will help you find a reputable and caring doctor. You and your baby are important to us and we can help you find the care you both deserve.
Professional Adoption Services in Rhode Island
Our staff at Adoptions With Love can help you explore the many different options you may face while considering adoption. We will also provide you with an attorney (at no cost to you) who is specifically trained in all Rhode Island adoption laws and regulations and who will help you make informed decisions. These professionals are sensitive to your individual needs and are available to provide ongoing support 24/7. Adoption can be an overwhelming and emotional. At Adoptions
With Love, we have caring counselors who can meet with you at any moment to provide guidance. Our counselors and staff are prepared to walk you through each step of this emotional journey. In fact, many of our birthparents develop long-lasting relationships with our staff even after the birth.
Our services at Adoptions with Love are 100% free at NO cost to you. The needs of you and your baby are the most important thing to us and will always be respected. We can assist with maternity related expenses such as:
- Rent/mortgage
- Food
- Transportation
- Electricity, air conditioning, and other utilities
- Maternity clothing
- Medical Bills
- General living expenses
Make A Brave Choice: It Is Never Too Late to Call
At this moment, you may be feeling worried and confused. It is important to remember that adoption is not "giving up" your child. Adoption is giving your child opportunities in life and giving hope to a wonderful and caring family who will love and adore your child. Adoption is a courageous choice that you can make at any stage of your pregnancy.
For more information about Adoptions With Love in Rhode Island, please contact us
today. Amy, Nancy, Jess, Brittany, and Kelly are available toll-free any time of day, 24/7 at 1-800-722-7731. You can also confidentially text us at 1-617-777-0072.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hey! If you're new around here, welcome. Sign up for my newsletter to stay up to date with all that is published here!
I know there are a lot of burger bun replacement recipes out there, but I've never seen or had something like this before and I wanted to give it a shot. I have a fresh batch of Spicy Cranberry Salsa, which is just the perfect condiment to go on this unique burger! If you're looking for something other than mushrooms or lettuce to wrap your patty in, this is definitely a new, exciting way to enjoy an American classic.
Zinger Apple Burgers
Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Total time: 20 minutes
Yield: 6 servings
1. Mix fajita seasoning into ground beef well. Form beef into 6 patties.
2. Heat butter on stove over medium heat until melted. Add patties, as many as will fit onto pan with the ability to flip, and cook them to wellness of your liking. They will cook very fast over the stove and the butter likes to splash a lot, so be careful.
3. Once meat is cooked, slice apples from top to bottom to make biggest "buns" possible for the meat. Sauté the apple "buns" in the leftover butter and beef grease, for about a minute. Flip them halfway through to coat both sides with the oils.
4. Remove apple pieces and allow to cool, and cook bacon in the same skillet. This will also cook fairly quickly since everything is already warm.
5. Once bacon is done, stack up the burgers the way you choose with the collards and any other toppings. Make sure to include some Spicy Cranberry Salsa - it adds the perfect zing to this burger!
1.5 lb grass-fed ground beef
2 Tbsp clarified butter
1 Tbsp fajita seasoning
3 Large apples of choice, sliced from top to bottom (save extra pieces for a side dish)
6 pieces bacon
Collard greens or other greens for topping, as much as desired
1 batch Spicy Cranberry Salsa, as much as desired


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General News
: Regional News
Students safe after fire at St. Lawrence Seminary
Submitted: 03/08/2014
Mount Calvary
- The nearly 200 students at St. Lawrence Seminary are safe after a five-alarm fire at the boarding school. School spokesman Philip Van Ermen says all students have been allowed to return to their dorms, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. No one was injured in the fire, which happened before dawn Saturday in St. Joseph Hall. Action Reporter Media in Fond du Lac reports that St. Joseph Hall is the oldest building on campus, and is severely damaged. The building houses offices and classrooms. The cause of the blaze is still being investigated. No other buildings were damaged. St. Lawrence Seminary High School is a private, Catholic boarding school for male students. It was founded in 1860 by Capuchin Franciscans.
Written By: Associated Press
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Main headline
- Celebrate Earth Day With The Greenest Celebs in Hollywood
- Katie Cassidy Wear Cute Crochet Bikini For Miami Beach Trip
- Deepwater And Dolphins: The Oil Spill's Impact 5 Years On
- Best Sunscreens for Your Face
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- Influential Couple Kim Kardashian And Kanye West Arrive At LAX
- Inside Gloria Estefan's $40 Million Miami Beach Estate
- What makes a good sports city?
- Beyonce Leads the Monokini Trend!
- North West Smiles Throughout Trip to Armenia
- A Look at Kim Kardashian's Style During her Whirlwind Tour Overseas
- Why Rainforests Losing Their Smallest Animals Is A Big Deal
- Inside Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas
- World's most powerful passports revealed
- Quiz: Where in Canada are you?
- Where to travel this weekend: Top 48-hour cities in Canada
- Grounded: Airplane graveyard
- Celebrities who love to vacation in St. Barths
- Aerial views of Netherlands' Keukenhof gardens
- Water fight! 2015 Songkran Festival in Thailand
- Most amazing in-flight amenity kits
- Quiz: Test your knowledge of Canadian geography
- California's drought-resistant garden
- Four-day Harry Potter role play event in Poland


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These grown up children are known as "boomerangers" – named after the Australian throwing device that returns to where it came from. Figures suggest the number of boomerangers have been on the rise – hence the term the "boomerang generation". With studies showing there are upsides (as well as downsides) for both parties, returning home may be seen as a financially savvy move and not hold the social stigma it once did.
Hi dad, I'm home
Children have returned to live at the family home when conditions got tough for generations but the number appears to have risen in many countries over the last decade. According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, more than 3.3 million 20–to-34-year-olds in the United Kingdom were living with their parents in 2013 – or 26% of that age group.
The global financial crisis that started in 2007 is likely to be a contributory factor to the rise in the number of boomerangers around the world. High rates of unemployment, particularly in Greece, Spain and Croatia (as figures from Eurostat show) and rising house prices (as International Monetary Fund research shows) make conditions difficult as well.
An article in the Financial Times in May 2014 claims that "young Spaniards' lives have been put on hold" as "youth unemployment stands at 55% - and almost half of under-30s still live with their parents".
Happily ever after?
Although it might not spring to mind, moving back home can have benefits for adult children (not least somewhere familiar to live), but also for their parents as well. A special report from Pew Research in the United States in 2012 found, for example, that 48% of boomerang children paid rent to their parents and 89% helped with household expenses.
Moreover, about a quarter of boomerang children Pew surveyed thought their relationship with their parents had improved as a result of living with them later in life. Research from Australia also suggests that parents and children who moved back together tended to get on well with each other and parents recognised that the children's return was "the most sensible option".
Although some may not consider returning ideal, it may make good financial sense and could be emotionally satisfying.
Across the globe
In Europe, our own 2012 ING International Survey on Homes and Mortgages found moving back home was more prevalent in Turkey, Romania, Italy and Spain and less so in Belgium, Austria and Germany.
Cultural and financial aspects may play a role in the apparent increase in inter-generational living too. Eurostat records significant differences between countries in how families live. For example, the study found that in Denmark and Sweden, half of all young men have left home by age 21, in contrast to Greece, Slovenia and Bulgaria, where half the men still live with their parents beyond age 31.
Spare a thought
While the boomerang generation has positives, there can inevitably be downsides too.
It might be that when children moved out the first time, the family moved to a smaller home, only to find themselves upsizing to accommodate adult children.
This could have ramifications for retirement provision and putting long-term savings plans in jeopardy.
One parent told BBC Radio 4 how he and his wife "ran away" from home to escape their adult children, who had returned and taken over the family home. He says how the return to the "snarling teenager" and "cross parent" dynamic was simply too much to bear.
Be prepared
Most families will have some warning that a relative is approaching financial trouble and may want to live with them again.
At this point, it could be a good idea to be prepared for the extra food and energy bills that will naturally result, particularly if money is a little tight.
It might be a good idea to start a budget to cope with the extra cost.
This may help have a positive experience and enjoy the extra time you get to spend with your loved ones, rather than stressing over money matters.


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As more and more people become comfortable with online communication, many are finding that blogs are not hard to create. Maintaining a blog is currently a very popular activity. To be successful though, and stand out from the crowd, writing a blog takes dedication and passion. Use the tips in this piece to create a blog that works for your needs.
Comment on other blogs to raise your blog's profile. Google Reader is a excellent method for organizing other interesting but related blogs. Comment regularly, if you'd like to say something.
Respond to readers and share information with them as much as possible. Spend time with them consistently. Make a habit or routine for your readers and yourself. If your readers feel like they can rely on you, then they will be more consistent in their own commitment to your blog. You should remember that you have many readers who will be disappointed if you decide to quit writing a blog.
Blog regularly. One of the biggest mistakes bloggers make is not updating the blog often enough. Without updates, the readers, whose attention you grab at the beginning, will quickly tire of waiting for new content. Something you can try that works is to post in your blog at least once a week and provide email updates.
Be careful when adding in keywords to your articles. If you do, your blog could get removed from the major search engines, negating all the hard work you've done so far. Keep your writing organic, and allow it to flow smoothly.
Don't let your posts become long and rambly. Get right to the point. While you still have to provide enough detail to inform your readers, overly long and wordy posts will bore your readers and drive them away. No one expects verbose, Shakespearian depth discourse when it comes to blog writing. People want content, not fluff.
When publishing a blog, consider buying a unique domain name, instead of using a free generic one. It only costs a few dollars, but gives you the ability to brand your website and increase your search engine rank. That will also be simpler for people to keep in mind; this is especially true if you use relevant wording for your title, or use your company's name.
Try recruiting guest bloggers to write for you. This helps you build up connections with other bloggers, which is a helpful tool. Do not underestimate the potential of such relationships. If you are in need a favor, a blogger that you have a relationship with may be willing to help.
Do not let running a blog completely take over your life. If you do nothing but focus on your blog all day, every day, you'll find that you burn out quickly. Make time to go for a walk, visit with friends or just take a five minute break. Taking a break like this allows you to return to your blog with a fresh perspective so you can write some outstanding content.
While trying to build a blog following, stay patient. Remember, it will take time for your blog to gain traffic. Until your blog has a good amount of content, chances are your audience will stay smaller. The longer you have your blog, and the more content you create, the more people will view it.
Consider allowing guest bloggers to post to your site. This can help you foster a good relationship with another blogger, and that could be helpful. Cultivating quality relationships may allow you to reap unexpected rewards. In addition, guest blogging helps build link connections for both sites: they post on your blog, you post on theirs, and you both have fresh content from a new perspective and a backlink to your respective sites.
If you want to build up more traffic to your blog, be sure to focus on producing fresh and relevant content. Users are more likely to become repeat visitors when you post high-quality content that they find to be honest and personal.
You can hold readers' attention and encourage them to visit your blog frequently by supplying new content for them as often as you can. Popular blogs often post daily. If you are having trouble with this, you may want to have a lot of content already written before your blog goes live. This content can be used when you do not have time to develop content or are having difficulty coming up with content.
With blogging, you need to find a topic that you are particularly passionate about. You will sound better and more natural, when you write about topics that interest you. Also, it will make your connection to your readers stronger, making your blog thrive.
Allow commenting on your blog, and respond to these comments. This is an easy way to engage your readers and make them feel more vested in your blog. When people see you acknowledge others, they will revisit your blog to see if you've responded to their comments.
Remember that blogging is a less formal mode of communication than traditional writing. Blogging is a social format, not an academic one. It's important you treat it like this. You want to entertain your readers in a relaxed, informal way, as that is what brings readers back to a blog.
If you wish for your blog to remain consistently viewed, then a well maintained schedule is important to have. If you are not consistently posting new material, you'll be no competition for countless other blogs that your readers could be reading. While you should feel free to take breaks around the holidays or other special occasions, frequent posting should be your goal.
Don't just write one paragraph after another off the top of your head when creating blog entries. Do research on your topic and create an article worth reading. You won't succeed if you are simply writing on the wrong topics. High quality content is the cornerstone of a good blog, and high quality content takes research.
Your blog should not be overly simple. You should always be researching, learning and generally approaching your blog as a business. See what more successful bloggers are doing, and vary and improve your strategies often. You can keep going forward by constantly learning and improving your new methods of running a blog.
Redistribute your blog posts all over the worldwide web. This brings in the most readers. It is not wise to limit the outlets you have for a successful blog. You want to get your content out to the largest number of people with the least amount of effort. Use every possible outlet and your blog will get the maximum exposure.
Always do your homework and research any topic you will cover on your blog. By not having enough expertise on the topic, you may give readers false information. Additionally, you will require a sufficient level of expertise in order to adequately respond to comments.
When possible, italicize or bold keywords that are relevant to your niche. Make bullet lists, too. Search engines pick up on this and will start to rank your site higher. This is a simple yet powerful tip.
Use interlinks within the content of your blogs. This will make your site more easy to navigate and will keep your readers happy. If readers are unable to navigate through your blog efficiently, they will not be able to find the information that they are looking for and they may decide to visit a different blog instead.
Use social media for blog promotion, but do not overdo it. If all or most of your tweets contain self-promoting links, you may soon be overlooked for predictability or even ignored entirely. Provide interesting or useful content in your tweets to keep followers interested.
Advertisements are frequently a big part of writing a blog, because that is what helps bloggers earn money. Using too many different adverts will drive away readers. They'll see the ads and look for a better site which is less distracting.
Your love and enjoyment of your blog is integral to its success. Blogging can get boring after a while, and that will translate into boredom for your readers, unless you are passionate and focused on what you're doing. Select a topic you're passionate about, and put your heart into writing about it. Stay creative, happy and upbeat, and your readers will reflect their enjoyment by sharing your content with others.
Keep in mind that blog posting is an extremely social business. Accessibility is key here; make sure that your readers feel like they can relate to you. Additionally, it is important to be visible and communicate with others in your industry or niche. You won't achieve success if you sit back and do nothing. For your blog to be successful, you need to be the one to make it happen.
Anything you post to your site should be thoroughly researched. If you are not up to date with the subject, you might end up giving misleading and false information. You also want to master the subject, so you can provide intelligent comments to a readers questions.
If you have the means, try to attend a running a blog conference. These conferences are packed with helpful information and tips to help you become a great blogger. You will also find opportunities to network with successful bloggers, which might just motivate you to become one of them!
Make sure you have a page set up where people can contact you. Visitors can ask you for further information through this if they have any questions. You may just get some good feedback if you let your readers contact you.
Add posts often and at, or about, the same time. If you post your content on specific days at specific times, this will train readers to visit your blog at those times. Readers always like seeing fresh new content, and will appreciate the consistency your blog offers. Try to write about a wide range of topics on your blog, as this will stop posts from becoming repetitive.
Make certain to break long posts into smaller chunks. A blog with 1000 or more words is a lot to read in one sitting. This is why it's important to break up your blog into smaller sections.
Make sure your theme is good for SEO ranking. This will help you achieve higher search engine returns and, in addition, streamline your site's operations. Since speed is important in today's world, readers won't want to wait for plug-ins and heavy graphics. They will simply hit the "back" button and find another blog without having seen even a little bit of your content.
Keep your content focused on the original topic of your blog. If you make an attempt to write about a million different subjects in every blog post, it's going to be hard for people to follow. This technique for simplistic writing is easy to implement and will immediately improve the quality of your content.
As mentioned in the beginning of this article, blogging can seem easy at the beginning. Most people think it is a simple matter of putting forth a message or some information they want to convey. There are some things you have to think through, first. The advice from this article is a starting point for making a blog that will bring you success.
Advertising and blogging have long been related, and this is how a large number of bloggers make money off of their blogs. However, allowing too many ads on your blog can actually lead to a decline in readership. They will be put off by so many ads, and they will start looking for a more useful site.


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syngo Dual Energy Xenon1,2
This new application uses Dual Energy information to visualize Xenon concentration in the lung without use of an additional non-contrast scan. A first step performs a material decomposition into Xenon and soft tissue; the Xenon concentration in the air inside the lung is calculated. The results are shown in a second step as color overlay to anatomical, grayscale information.
syngo Dual Energy Xenon requires syngo® Dual Energy available on SOMATOM Definition Flash.
General Requirements
Minimum Software Version
(one of following)
syngo 2009B (VE36A)
syngo CT 2010A (VA34)
Please Note: Additional technical pre-requisites may apply. Upon receiving your request, your local Siemens representative will clarify whether your system meets the requirements.
Produkty, usługi i zasoby powiązane
1Only for SOMATOM Definition Flash.
2Please confirm approval status of Xenon as contrast agent for lung ventilation in your country.


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WJFK DJ Mike O'Meara Is Off the Air, but Not Maintaining Radio Silence
Saturday, July 18, 2009
After 25 years as a "radio god" in Washington, Mike O'Meara is a deity no more. His daily show came to an end yesterday. A blow, he says, but not the last word.
"I've got a lot of gas in the tank," O'Meara said a few minutes before his last afternoon "drive-time" program -- recorded days ago -- was set to air on WJFK (106.7 FM). "I'd like to keep rolling. If you know someone who wants a guy to run their radio program, tell them to give me a holler."
O'Meara, 50, used to be one-half of "The Don & Mike Show," the comedy-and-guy-talk duo that collected a large and loyal audience starting in the mid-1980s. Things went more or less swimmingly for O'Meara and partner Don Geronimo until two things happened: 1. Geronimo (also known as Mike Sorce) left the program last year, turning O'Meara into a solo act; and 2. the economy went to pieces.
Geronimo's departure forced O'Meara into the lead role, giving the program a gentler, less antic edge. The economy, meanwhile, prompted CBS Radio, WJFK's owner, to reconsider the cost-benefit of employing not just the well-paid O'Meara, but also a cast that included newsman Buzz Burbank (a.k.a. Mike Elston), and sidekicks Robb Spewak, Beth Ann McBride, Joe Ardinger and Katie Powers.
When CBS decided to change WJFK's format to all sports talk (starting Monday), there was no place left for O'Meara and crew.
O'Meara says he's not bitter about being dumped, but he does sound disappointed. "Knowing where we were in my incarnation of the show, I feel as though we should have continued," he says. "We'd gotten into a rhythm, especially the last two or three months. . . . It's the culture of corporate radio these days, reacting to everything in the economy. That's the frustrating thing. It sounds like an oversimplification, but I think I was the victim of the recession."
Well, yes, that is a bit of oversimplification. According to people at CBS, the company effectively decided that O'Meara wasn't successful enough to justify keeping him on the air. "The Don & Mike Show" ruled its time slot for years, but "The Mike O'Meara Show" had fallen considerably, based on a new system for measuring audiences in the region. O'Meara's show finished eighth in its 3-to-7 p.m. time period among the most coveted adult listeners (ages 25 to 54) in June and seventh in May. But from January to April, it had reached no higher than 15th. A better showing might have kept it on the air even with the station's move to sports, company executives acknowledged.
WJFK General Manager Michael Hughes wouldn't discuss the station's internal deliberations, but he did offer praise for O'Meara's skill and professionalism. "There are very few people on the radio around the country who have a history of audience popularity and longevity as Mike," he said.
The demise of O'Meara's program (if not his radio career) might be another sign of radio's twilight. In the current economic climate, few stations are willing to take the risk of creating a live, local radio program with a cast of more than one. Outside of a few handsomely paid stars, radio has gone on subsistence wages; nowadays the person behind the mike is broadcasting from a studio hundreds or even thousands of miles away from where the program is heard.
O'Meara came up in a different era. A broadcast journalism graduate of American University, he's spent his entire career on local stations (his first gig was as a DJ on a defunct adult-contemporary music station in Herndon). After bouncing around a series of stations (he once worked for another local radio star, Jack Diamond), O'Meara hooked up with Geronimo at WAVA.
O'Meara says "Don & Mike's" "morning zoo" format was modeled on a then-popular Chicago program hosted by Steve Dahl, with a bit of Howard Stern's irreverence and raunch thrown in. In any case, the two men had their own chemistry and made something uniquely entertaining. Don was the naughty ringleader, a guy who knew his way around a prank phone call or a clever bit of comment and satire; Mike was the affable sidekick, chiming in with a staggering array of characters and dead-on celebrity voices, including such offbeat impersonations as Jack Cassidy, Marion Barry and former Disney CEO Michael Eisner. They dubbed themselves "radio gods" in self-consciously over-the-top promos.
O'Meara says he's still on good terms with Geronimo, who's broadcasting at a small station on the Delaware shore. But no reunion is contemplated. "I think that ship has sailed," he says. "Don is doing his own thing. We worked together for 20 years. We don't communicate as often as people might think. When we do it's very pleasant. But I don't think that's in the future. There's a perception, at least on my part, that you move on. Dwelling on the past is not productive."
O'Meara says he's got time to consider his options, which might include some voice-over or cartoon work. He isn't hurting financially, despite the decline of his investment portfolio and a costly divorce several years ago.
So it's the kick of being on the radio that trumps (well, rivals) money among his motivations. "I wish I could be more depressed about this, but I'm not," he says. "We're going out with our heads held high."
To which he can't help adding, "At the same time, I'd love to go across the street and kick" WJFK's behind.


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ប្រធានបទ៖ How to Make the Best Use of LinkedIn
អំពីប្រធានបទ៖ LinkedIn is a networking site used by professionals worldwide to keep track of former colleagues, connect with new ones and market themselves to employers and clients. The key to getting the most out of LinkedIn is to use your LinkedIn account in the best way possible to generate interest in your skills and your job experience.
អំពីវាគ្មិន៖ Samnang has a master in Computer Science and has more than seven years experiences in IT training and management. Samnang is currently working as the Training Program Manager of Social Innovation Lab Cambodia (SILK), which is a project funded by USAID.


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When summer visitors are enjoying beaches, sunny walks and ice-cream, it is quite a leap of imagination to think of Scilly during the winter months. Often I am asked what it's like to live on Scilly in the winter, and I'm met by genuine surprise when I answer, "We are really busy".
For the islands' flower farmers, the season starts in October when the first of the scented narcissi are picked and we work, pretty much every day, through to the end of March. Christmas is really busy, as you'd imagine, as is Valentine's Day, Mothering Sunday and, if it's early, Easter!
There is a long history of flower farming on the Isles of Scilly and it has been a mainstay of the Scillonian economy for centuries. Today narcissi are grown commercially on four of the five inhabited islands, keeping up the long-held island tradition of producing high quality and beautifully scented narcissi for which Scilly is famous.
In January, the Isles of Scilly often find themselves getting a mention on the national weather forecast for being the warmest (and sometimes the windiest) place in the UK. Our mild climate is not just because we are so far south, but it's also because the sea surrounding our little islands acts like a giant blanket and the temperature rarely drops below freezing. This means we can grow flowers outdoors all through the winter in small fields, sheltered from Atlantic gales by tall Pittosporum hedges.
The way Scillonian farmers grow their flowers might be very traditional but the way we sell them certainly isn't. Many flowers are now bought online and sent in gift boxes, delivered through the post or by courier. Flowers also go straight to the large supermarkets, so next time you spot a bunch of narcissi when you're out shopping have a look at the label… often it will proudly state that they are from the Isles of Scilly.
As the hotels and guest houses on Scilly spruce themselves up ready for the busy summer season, the flower farmers are gearing up for Valentine's Day and Mothering Sunday when thousands of boxes of Scented Narcissi will leave Scilly sending messages of love and a little bit of Scilly to homes all over the country.
As the first flush of visitors arrives for the Easter holidays, the winter flower season will be coming to a close. But the work doesn't stop there: over the summer months, bulbs will be lifted from the ground and sorted, fields prepared and bulbs planted. If you're visiting the islands and see some particularly dusty and dirty looking faces, you will know what they have been doing! These processes are all part of the growing traditions and ensure that the best quality narcissi are produced by farmers on the Isles of Scilly.
This article was kindly written by Zoe Julian, owner of Scilly Flowers on St. Martin's.


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The Witiku were a species of humanoids, mutated from Laylorans.
Biology Edit
The Witiku were two metre high humanoids covered in thick dense fur. They had sharp fangs, red eyes, and four long arms ending in three taloned fingers. The talons were 30 centimetres long and were retractable. Witiku displayed pack behaviour and signs of creatures with low intelligence, yet had coordinated, goal oriented attacks. They were allergic to Jinnera. (PROSE: The Price of Paradise)
History Edit
The Witiku were linked to the ancient past of Laylora, and were historical figures who came when disaster happened on the planet. When the Tenth Doctor and Rose came to Laylora, they were attacked by several Wikitu. The villagers, however, eventually found out that they had a weakness to Jinnera and used Jinnera paste on spears to defeat them. After the aliens had all left, Witiku no longer appeared. (PROSE: The Price of Paradise)


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To get from Lake Maninjau to Padang the only direct bus leaves at 6am. Not wanting to get up that early I decided to take two buses. First I got a minibus to Lubuk Basung (Rp.10000, 30mins) and the driver dropped me off on a large road where I immediately got on the bus to Padang (Rp.15000, 3 hours plus). The journey was pleasant though slow, with frequent glimpses of the sea as the road followed the coast to the south.
The bus terminated before Padang city centre and I hopped in an angkot (minibus) to get to my hotel. According to what I had found out online, Hotel Tiga Tiga seemed cheap. The hotel receptionist showed me an expensive-looking price list, over twice as much as the prices I had seen online, then taking the price of the cheapest room, she added tax, then gave me a 50% discount. In the end the price was Rp.77000 for a single room, private bathroom, cold water only and no breakfast. When I tried to haggle a discount for a 3-night stay she told me that because I was a foreigner I should not expect her to lower the price any more. I was quite shocked by the outward "foreigner" treatment and checked in for just one night. The room was large with an oversized bathroom, and although it wasn't exactly dirty, it seemed old and shabby, not in good condition at all. Never mind, I thought, just for one night, and I quickly looked for alternative accommodation online. I came upon the website for Brigitte's House, a guesthouse that opened just four months ago. By phone I was able to book a dorm bed with breakfast for Rp.75000 per night. Since this would save me the cost of a meal each day it seemed worthwhile. So I spent my first night in Padang at Hotel Tiga Tiga.
In the evening I went out for dinner and walked along the road next to the beach. I liked that this large city was right on the coast, giving it a relaxed seaside town feel. Looking out across the ocean several small islands were clearly visible on the horizon. I ate satay and drank coconut juice straight from a coconut as I watched the sun set over the ocean.
The next morning I moved hotels. Brigitte's House was so much nicer, set in a quiet neighbourhood in the south of the city. It is in fact Brigitte's house where she and her family live, and she has made it into a guesthouse with just a few rooms. I rented a dorm bed in a room with three beds for Rp.75000 including free wifi and breakfast. The room was lovely and clean and the bed exceptionally comfy. The shared bathroom, also very clean, had a shower but only cold water. Given the hot weather in Padang a cold shower was actually very refreshing. I checked in and then headed straight out to explore.
I was curious to see the hill known as Gunung Padang (Padang Mountain), right where the river meets the sea. So I set off walking, crossing the river at Siti Nurbaya Bridge and headed for the hill. Unfortunately during this short walk I heard more calls of "hello mister" and similar irritating white foreigner attention than I had heard anywhere else on my entire trip. Nevertheless I continued my walk and followed a small footpath around the base of the hill. The scenery quickly changed from village to jungle and the views out to sea and back to the shore were fantastic.
A couple of young men decided to pester me, the lone white woman, and insisted on firstly following me, then when I stopped, chatting to me. After a while a group of teenagers passed on the footpath, and I decided to start walking again so I could walk close behind them and hopefully lose my stalkers. This tactic was successful and I followed the path with many many steps as it rose up to the peak of the hill. From the top the view was spectacular. On one side it was possible to see the whole city of Padang spread out along the coast with the beach and then the huge expanse of ocean dotted with tiny islands. The other side of the hill looked out to Pantai Air Manis (Air Manis Beach) and many more small islands. At low tide it is possible to walk from Pantai Air Manis to the nearest island.
I sat on one of the many benches and rested, sweating profusely after the long uphill slog in the heat. I was glad I'd brought some water with me because there were no stalls or shops at the peak, just a toilet and places to sit.
The two men who had followed me earlier showed up at the top of the hill and I did my best to ignore them and hoped that they were harmless. Also enjoying the view was a family and when they were about to descend to the bottom of the hill, one of them came over and said that she was concerned about the two men and suggested it would be safer for me to go with them. I agreed and so we made our way slowly back down, chatting along the way. We stopped and looked at the grave of Siti Nurbaya, hidden behind a large rock down some steep steps. She was a local heroine or literary figure whom the parkland of the hill is named after, Taman Siti Nurbaya. As the story goes, Siti Nurbaya was at the centre of a complex love triangle. Ultimately she was poisoned to death and this hill became her grave.
From Gunung Padang and Taman Siti Nurbaya I walked back across the bridge and into the city centre. I wanted to find out if there would be any music performances at the Taman Budaya during my stay, which there weren't, and I found myself at the Adityawarman Museum (Rp.1500). The museum is set in a park-like area and is built in the shape of a traditional Minangkabau house. Inside were many exhibitions – it is much bigger than it looks from outside. There were displays of model Minangkabau houses, weapons, household items, and information about the Minangkabau matrilineal system. Downstairs there was a room of displays about the people of Mentawai, with examples of hunting equipment, jewellery and black-and-white photographs showing Mentawaian people. There was then a larger room devoted to Minangkabau wedding costume, which varies from between regions. Further rooms displayed traditional musical instruments, information about flora and fauna, and much more. It was generally very interesting. Forced out by closing time (3.30pm), having underestimated the size of the place, I strolled back to my homestay, pleased to have seen and done so much in a day, but looking forward to some peace and quiet from the men shouting at me in the street.
The next day, my last in Sumatra, I had a more relaxing time and focussed on buying souvenirs. Padang is famous for two types of snackfood: kripik balado and karak kaliang. I found the shop Christine Hakim very near my homestay with a huge range of local and regional snackfoods. Taking snacks as "oleh-oleh" or gifts for friends and family back home is big business in Indonesia and many people were buying box-loads. I bought some kripik balado and some karak kaliang to take back to Java.
In the evening I once again went to the beach and watched an even more fantastic sunset. The sky was fairly clear and, as I ate my soto (rice soup) and drank iced tea, the sun very quickly dipped down behind the horizon leaving a brilliance of orange and red in the sky.
Resting up at my homestay and preparing for my journey home the following day, I felt like I had been away for longer than two weeks, with so many kilometres covered, places seen and people met. I had spent no more than three nights in one place and more often just one or two. My whirlwind tour of Sumatra had been a success. I was happy to have seen a great deal in a short time and have had a taster of this diverse island.


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The Registrar of the Federal University Dutse, Malam Bukar Usman, has announced the institutional cut-off point as well as the cut-off points of Programmes in the three Faculties of agriculture, Arts and Social Sciences and Sciences
He said the Management has approved 160 as the minimum bench mark cut-off point for the 2017/2018 admission in the university while the cut-off points for the programmes are as follows;
FACULTY: Agriculture
Agriculture – 160
Fisheries and Aquaculture- 160
Forestry and Wildlife Management – 160
FACULTY: Arts and Social Sciences
B.Sc. Economics – 180
B.A English – 180
B.Sc. Criminology – 195
FACULTY: Science
B.Sc. Biotechnology – 180
B.Sc. Chemistry – 180
B.Sc. Computer Science – 180
B.Sc. Environmental – 180
B.Sc. Mathematics – 170
B.Sc. Microbiology – 180
B.Sc. Physics – 180Share This Post


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A parade of fall fashions adds pomp and circumstance (and jewel tones) to a former military outpost reimagined at the hands of artists. Read More »


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In many cases there is insufficient market data. Assessment of the current market volumes or a forecast regarding their future development offers the opportunity to develop a Market Model. The analysis of relevant client-specific parameters and our rich set of experiences in this field helps us develop a reliable model with less data.
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The combination of secondary and primary data provides a comprehensive picture of our customers' chosen markets. The relevant information, which is based on a variety of existing data from studies, databases, press-reports, and company annual reports, is collected and presented according to customers' needs and preferences. All open questions, which were not answered during the secondary survey, are then primarily evaluated by the means of expert interviews and suitable surveys.
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Niche markets are characterized by low amounts of available data. Hence, it is important for our clients to trust us with building up a well-founded Market Model. The following projects are a proof of our clients' trust:
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In terms of the Market Modelling we define the relevant target market based on detailed secondary research or primary surveys so as to identify trends and drivers of relevant markets. Based on collected data we evaluate the potential influence, the impact intensity and the likelihood of occurrence of the determined trends and drivers. Finally, our team creates different scenarios based on the trends and drivers analysis and evaluates the potential courses of action for achieving customers' goals.


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Granola Bars can be so expensive [not to mention packed with sugar and other unhealthy additives]. This recipe is a great alternative and my family LOVES them! It is packed with protein to quickly alleviate those afternoon/late night hunger cravings. I borrowed this recipe from a friend and changed it to better fit our preferences, feel free to do the same! Enjoy!
2 c pitted dates
1 c almonds, finely chopped in food processor
1 c walnuts, finely chopped in food processor
1 c unsweetened coconut flakes
1/2 c of sunflower seeds
3 c whole oats
1/2 c natural peanut butter
1/2 c honey
1/2 cup of coconut oil
Process dates in food processor (add a little water if too thick). Place in large bowl and combine remaining ingredients until mixed well. Make into balls and eat immediately or freeze for later use.
*Note, without the coconut oil, the mixture is more sticky and could be made into bars when pressed flat onto a baking sheet.


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By Lety Laurel
If Yazmin Anzaldua were to stretch her arms just a bit in front of her, she could almost touch the Judith Nulty painting that hangs on the wall of the John Peace Library. Instead, the junior business management major works diligently on her iPad.
But the soothing blues, greens and browns of the valuable oil painting, called "Garden at Thorrent," don't go unnoticed. Nor does the rest of the art that surrounds her in the library.
"You know in museums, artwork is so far away and you aren't allowed to get too close to them," she said. "But here, they're so close we can really enjoy them. You get bored looking at your books, and you look up and see a little bit of color."
Indeed, the white walls of the second floor of the JPL form an ideal gallery for the paintings, most of them from two donations from AT&T's art collection. On one wall hangs "Garden of Thorrent." On another, pop art by Nick Krushenick, considered a pioneer of the style, hovers over an intimate study area, the painting's loud red, yellow, orange and blue color scheme demanding attention.
Along a back wall looms artist Carmen Cicero's "Fin de Siecle," an acrylic on canvas that measures more than 96 inches across. It is the most expensive of the donated paintings, valued at $65,000.
"It is like you're coming into a museum," said Arturo Infante Almeida, art specialist and curator for UTSA. "These are museum pieces."


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Another film I watched in the cinema was the remake of Evil Dead. I was going to write about this film this week, along with the original trilogy. Hence the poll that is to the right hand side of this blog at time of writing. But this may not happen as few hiccups include:
- waiting for the Blu-Ray of Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn to come in the post.
- the fact that the people behind me in the cinema while watching Evil Dead wouldn't shut up throughout the whole movie. So I will be watching it a second time whenever I get the chance.
- I am currently going through the Marvel/Avengers boxset in the lead up to Iron Man 3.
And given that my ideas for article topics tend to change on a regular basis, whether I get around to writing about it remains to be seen. So I may as well write about something that's sort of related to the Evil Dead franchise. So I'm going with a film that stars Ash himself, Bruce Campbell.
One of the other movies I picked up along with River Of Darkness (which I wrote about here) that also cost a fiver was a sci-fi flick called Assault On Dome 4, featuring Bruce on the cover. I didn't read the back of the DVD case to see what it was about, as I figured that I couldn't go wrong with a film starring Bruce Campbell. However I also had a feeling that it would be the only redeemable quality of this movie, which somehow makes it more intriguing.
91 minutes later.....
It is pretty much Die Hard, but set in space. There's nothing more I can say about the story in that respect, other than the whole court marshal scenario throughout the film was pretty pointless, and undermines the actions taken by the hero. I think this movie was only meant to be TV filler, so I can't lambaste it for lack of originality, production value, or even decent acting. It's a run of the mill sci-fi flick that's at least watchable, but for the wrong reasons.
I seem to have a habit of picking films with misleading cover art. While the film certainly does star Bruce Campbell in a major role, it turns out that he happens to be the villain of the movie, which is quite rare for him to play one (to the best of my knowledge at this time). In this film he's an escaped convict who leads a group of prisoners to take over a space station, of which "peace keeper" Chase Morran, the hero of the piece (and damned if I know who plays him), happens to be present.
In a way the cover is not that misleading, as the entire movie focus on Bruce, instead of the villain. Granted he's the only "major" star in this film, and by far the best actor in it. And that's not because I am a fan of Bruce Campbell to begin with. But imagine if the poster for Die Hard made Alan Rickman the main focus of it, with Bruce Willis somewhere in the background. That's how ridiculous the DVD cover was to me.
|On a sidenote: Alan Rickman is awesome.
With so much focus set on the villain, and an entertaining one at that, not only did I find myself rooting for him, but everytime the focus shifts to anything else, I wanted the film to go back to Bruce. His performance is his usual wisecracking self that you see in his other movies, but that's not the only reason I wish to see him back onscreen. Whenever the focus shifts to something else, the film just falls apart onscreen. While it is after all a sci-fi B-Movie, it clearly shows that it's a bad one to boot.
The rest of the actors range from wooden to woeful, with next to nothing in terms of character development. Since the rest of the cast don't appear onscreen for too long, or stay alive for that matter, their purpose in this film means very little. Other than Bruce, the only person with more screentime than the rest was the actor who plays Chase Morran. Which doesn't do him any favours, as his lines come across as stupid, especially when spouting unfunny monologues.
The action sequences are so poorly orchestrated that even the one guy with any martial arts background (one of Bruce's main henchmen) doesn't appear in the film long enough to showcase these skills, being taken out by an old soldier with a gun. Not only does this waste an opportunity to use him as one of the main obstacles before taking out the bad guy, the old soldier ends up dead less than five minutes late, which makes this scuffle even more pointless.
Speaking of actors with a lack of fighting skills, "Chase" has very little in that department. So little that I started to wonder why cast him as the good guy in the first place? His part could easily be given to Bruce Campbell. Sure he may not be bulky, but it's not like he has to face anyone that looked more threatening than him (considering that he was never gonna fight the kung fu henchman anyway). But he would have been more believable as a good guy. Here, it's hard to be intimidated by a wisecracking jerk dressed like a saloon bartender.
|Erm, when I said that I wanted a shot.....
As with any good (or in this case, bad) B-Movie, there is the combination of poor script, plot holes, cheap special effects, and continuity effects. Plus you know the movie is running short on material when many a time the film goes into slow motion, sometimes for no reason whatsoever. I even have a theory that the whole court marshal scenes were just added in to make up the 90 minutes. These scenes just seem out of place when compared to the rest of the film, much like the alternate opening to The Avengers. To me, it's not really clear if he is found innocent or guilty towards the end. But by that time, I was just glad the credits were rolling.
This is a terrible film, full stop. I would only recommend this to fans of Bruce Campbell, and those who at least appreciate his acting style. If it wasn't for him, not only would this film not get a look in, but it would just crumble under the weight of how bad it really is. It goes to show that he can carry any movie, good or bad, on his shoulders and make it work. Plus he is always entertaining in anything he stars in, be it lead, support, or even a cameo. Other than that, for a Die Hard clone, it was at least better than the godawful A Good Day To Die Hard. Not even Bruce could save that pile of excrement.
And on a final note.....


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Extensive experience
High-quality ingredients
Modern production
Extensive experience
High-quality ingredients
Modern production
Delicious recipes
Cranberry-orange smoothie
Juicy orange and sweet banana are a good company to a sour cranberry which altogether makes this cranberry-orange smoothie a healthy snack or a fast breakfast.
Fizzy cranberry cocktail
This refreshing and fizzy cocktail is perfect for a Summer garden party. To make a bright red cocktail you can use dry sparkling wine or a non-alcoholic sparkling wine.
Classical potato salad
The real classic of Estonian party tables that never misses a birthday or the New Year's Eve! Before you start cooking, keep in mind that the right taste of the salad is achieved with Salvest's best ingredients.
Oat flake crumble with lingonberry jam and apples
Homely-tasting holiday treat that gives a sweet final chord to your winter feasts. Crunchy on top and juicy inside, the cake takes little time and effort to make. Be sure to try this delicacy with ice cream!
Lingonberry-caramel pastry baskets
Elegant appearance, cosily homely flavour! When a dessert combines creamy caramel, the local tart wonder-berry and fluffy whipped cream, the result may only be tasty, healthy and crisp as befits the north.
Cabbage and groats stew
A proper winter dish from the treasury of our forefathers' recipes. In addition to the cabbages and groats, it receives extra flavour from a sufficiently brown bacon. The filling stew is wonderfully easy to make and is a welcome guest at any winter feast.
Lingonberry sauce with orange and ginger
The multi-talented lingonberry is already a familiar guest on our holiday menus. When adding some exotic notes in the form of orange and ginger, we will discover a symphony of flavours that tastes well with both meat, sausages and why not even desserts!
Sweet & sour fried cabbage with apples and cranberries
You can refresh and heat up a true classic with easily available ingredients! The sweet and sour flavour combination marries well with both potatoes and all kinds of meat dishes that we love in these parts.
After-holidays cabbage soup
If plenty of fried cabbage and a few meat cuts are left over from the holidays, it is time to let your belly take a rest from solid food, and make a proper cabbage soup. A nourishing plateful for the winter!


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Yesterday I told Elijah to clean up his room. (yes he's only two and a half...but if you know how to make the mess you know how to clean it up in my book.)
I went to my room and started making my bed and before I was done Elijah was at my feet. Strange I thought, you must have performed a miracle to clean up so fast.
So, I asked, "Elijah is your room all clean?"
and he looked at me like I was some kind of idiot and said, "mom, the other little boy in there doing it." (we have no other little boys living in our house...just in case you were wondering.)
Wow, we're at that stage now. He sure keeps me on my toes.
(yes...he's decked out in all of Caleb's lacross gear. He wants to be just like dada.)


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Here are the documents for this year's NCBGA Level 4 State Championships and Levels 5 & 6 Qualifier Meet.
- Meet Info/Flyer:
- Level 4 States:
- Level 5-6 Qualifier:
- Level 4 Meet Procedures:
- Rotation Schedules:
- FINAL Session Summary:
2012level4states_session-summary-final (pdf)
Golden Bear will be conducting on-site registration for L5-10 State Championships at the L5/6 State Qualifier (those that qualify at the qualifier and any pre-qualified athletes of any level that you haven't yet registered).
You must complete your registration by the conclusion of the state qualifier so please bring your completed registration form (you can cross off any that don't qualify) and ONE check made out to UC Regents to cover the athlete and team fees and any pre-paid t-shirt orders. I'll be there to help figure out how much you owe.
For those clubs with L7-10s and pre-qualified L5/6s who haven't registered for L5-10 State Championships and will not be attending the L5/6 Qualifier, please send your registrations directly to Golden Bear now.
The registration form can be found at http://www.ncbga.com/wp-content/uploads/2012boys_state_meet_entry_form.pdf
2012 NCBGA Level 4 State Championships & 2012 NCBGA Level 5 /6 State Qualifier
March 10th – 11th
Meet Site: Performance Athletics
4484 Broad St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Host Gym: Performance Athletics
Contact: Leslie Breeze, John Keeter
Phones: (805)547-1496 (Gym); (559)799-9514 (John); Fax: (805)547-1090
E-mail: email@example.com
Check Web site for up to date information: http://www.performanceathleticsslo.com/
Meet Registration
All Level 4's automatically qualify to compete at the State Championships.
Level 5's that have scored an 88 twice during season, and level 6's that have scored an 86 twice during season CANNOT attend the State Qualifier, all other level 5's and 6's are eligible to attend. If a level 5 or 6 achieves their second qualifying score after the meet entries have been received, we will issue a refund for that athlete.
Registration forms must be returned to Performance Athletics, with full payment of meet fees, by
- February 17, 2012 for Level 4 State
- February 24, 2012 for Level 5/6 State Qualifiers
Please include only one check for all meet fees and shirt orders per event, and fill out the registration form.
No personal checks from the parents will be accepted.
Please email firstname.lastname@example.com and fax rosters to (805) 547-1090 so we can try to get session times set early.
Entry Fees:
$75.00 must be postmarked by February 17th for Level 4, February 24th for level 5-6.
T-shirts and Sweat Shirts will be: Pre-order T-shirts $15, Sweat shirts $30. At meet T-shirts $20, Sweat shirts $35 (limited to sizes on hand)
Program Ads:
Program ads & shout outs will be available soon at http://www.performanceathleticsslo.com/2012-boys-state-meet/
Start your morning off right! The concession stand will be serving hot breakfast every morning. There will be tri-tip sandwiches and much more available throughout the day as well.
Directions to Performance Athletics – San Luis Obispo, CA
From 101 North – Take Los Osos Valley rd exit. Turn right onto Los Osos Valley Rd. Turn Left onto S. Higuerra. Turn right onto Tank Farm rd. Turn right onto Broad st. Turn left into gym parking lot, 4484 Broad st.
From 101 South – Take Los Osos Valley rd exit. Turn left onto Los Osos Valley Rd. Turn Left onto S. Higuerra. Turn right onto Tank Farm rd. Turn right onto Broad st. Turn left into gym parking lot, 4484 Broad st.
Hotel Information
Rose Garden Inn (from $75/night)
1585 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo CA
(805) 544-5300
Econolodge (from $89/night)
950 Olive, San Luis Obispo CA
(805) 544-8886
Super 8 (from $95/night)
1951 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo CA
Best Western Royal Oak (from $134/night)
214 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo CA
(805) 544-4410, (800) 545-4410
Best Western Somerset Inn (from $149/night)
1895 Monterey, San Luis Obispo CA
(805) 544 0973
Madonna Inn (from $168/night)
100 Madonna Rd, San Luis Obispo CA
(805) 543-3000


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For this reason the same saint may say one thing about a certain matter today, and another tomorrow; and yet there is no contradiction, provided the hearer has knowledge and experience of the matter under discussion. Again, one saint may say one thing and another say something different about the same passage of the Holy Scriptures, since divine grace often gives varying interpretations suited to the particular person or moment in question. The only thing required is that everything said or done should be said or done in accordance with God's intention, and that it should be attested by the words of Scripture. For should anyone preach anything contrary to God's intention or contrary to the nature of things, then even if he is an agel St Paul's words, 'Let him be accursed' (Gal. 1:8), will apply to him. This is what St Dionysios the Areopagite, St Antony and St Maximos the Confessor afirm. For this reason St John Chrysostom says: 'It was not the Greeks but the Holy Scripture that transmitted these things to us. There is no contradiction when Scripture says about a certain person both that he did not see Babylon as a captive and, elsewhere, that they took him to Babylon with the rest. For one who reads attentively will find it said about the same man in another part of Scripture that they blinded him and in this condition took him off as a captive (cf. 2 Kgs. 25:7; Jer. 52:11). Thus he went to Babylon, as the one writer says, but did not see it, as the other says.' [Homilies on the Statues XIX, 3 (P. G. xlix, 195)]St Peter of Damaskos, Book I: A Treasury of Divine Knowledge, Chapter XXIII (Holy Scripture) in volume three of The Philokalia, pp. 265-266.
Again, some say in their lack of experience that the Epistle to the Hebrews was not written by St Paul, or that St Dionysius the Areopagite did not write one of the treatises ascribed to him. But if a man will pay attention to these same works, he will discover the truth. If the matter pertains to nature, the saints gain their knowledge of it from spiritual insight, that is, from the spiritual knowledge of nature and from the contemplation of created beings that is attatined through the intellect's purity; and so they expound God's purpose in these things with complete accuracy, searching the Scriptures, as St John Chrysostom says, like gold-miners who seek out the finest veins. In this way they ensure that 'not the smallest letter or most insignificant accent is lost,' as the Lord put it (Matt. 5:18).
Thursday, April 3, 2008
St Dionysius the Areopagite, Postscript II
4 comments:
I am greatly enjoying your blog. If I might make a comment.
It seems to me that church fathers such as St. Dionysius wrote from their spiritual experiences after having gone through long spiritual suffering, fasting and achieving some degree of theosis. Later fathers would not disagree with St. Dionysius because they, too, would have obtained some sort of spiritual knowledge through their ascetic work and understand what is being said. I don't think the fathers wrote these works for the same reasons many academics do today - they were trying to teach others based on their own experiences that were revealed to them by God.
Our modern theologians, approaching these subjects as academics with much less spiritual experience than the fathers, use rational explanation and modern methods of textual criticism to try and compare, contrast and understand such works. I think we can see the fruit of these methods described in your article - St. Dionysius's writings are simply not really understood.
One of my feelings is that our modern Orthodox leaders are mostly academics. My background is engineering, and I have started some businesses. I have been trained to be practical, as in such fields the results of your efforts are clear and measurable. We should remember that the church fathers were also practical - their writings were completed on the basis of results they obtained and observed, and they also understood that what they wrote would produce results. When I read the fathers I never get the feeling they are speaking for the sake of explaining; no, they are speaking for the sake of doing and motivating others to act. They were not academics.
From my own limited experience as a repentant sinner, I can see the changes in myself by trying to follow the true Orthodox faith and lead as much as an ascetic life as possible as the years go by. Deep prayer, fasting and following the liturgical life of the church is ultimately transformational and therapeutic. Our view of life and the world changes as we slowly change. I think this simple approach to the faith is largely lost in some circles, and mostly absent from western Christianity. These fathers understood somehow intuitively that spiritual progress could possibly be "measured" and perhaps described with our limited human language.
- April 3, 2008 at 6:00 PM
I really enjoyed your series on St. Dionysios. I have held the same opinions as you for some time and am quite familiar with Frs. Golitzin and Romanides corrections of these misunderstandings.
I'm actually one of those odd Orthodox that believes the author is the actual disciple of St. Paul. I don't go along with the crowd that says that his statments were lifted right out of Proclus without questioning that the reverse may very well be the case. It is this scientific method of textual criticism that is actually distorting the truth (speculatively) and questioning old texts (like the scriptures) that were always quite certain.
Bravo on the series though!
- April 28, 2008 at 5:57 PM
- Felix Culpa said...
Photios: I'd really love to hear your argument that the Dionysius of Acts is the author of these treatises. If you would like to write something up along these lines I would be honored to post it here as part of this series.
- April 28, 2008 at 8:40 PM
Don't expect anything by way of a knock down argument here on this one. It is based on the liturgical witness that the church venerates the persons she says he is: the author of the texts in question. And the fact that textual criticism doesn't give any truer picture of the author in question. Then there is the unquestioned reading of ancient texts in the light of philosophy and NeoPlatonic writers, i.e. if it looks like a text lifted from the writing of a NeoPlatonist, the NeoPlatonist predated the writer, and the writer is in fact a NeoPlatonist himself and belongs to this genre of writing. This is a Eunomian language theory: that different terminology used constitutes a different author or genre of authors. Think the JEPD theory here in the Old Testament. It's a subtle Gnosticism. Instead of adhering to Tradition that Moses wrote the penteteuch, they [unkowingly] use a Eunomian theory of language that different divine names used by the author in the text necessarily means that the text is written by different authors or different "traditional" groups of authors.
That's the gist in an nutshell, but the Eunomian language theory and its inherent falsity and dialectical method is the thrust of the argument.
St. Dionysios definitely needs some more rescuing I believe.
- April 29, 2008 at 8:00 PM


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Big Ears Fest Closes With Xylophone and Air-Raid Siren-Assisted Experimental Piece
As a kind of parting gift to the city of Knoxville, Tenn., Big Ears Festival composer-in-residence John Luther Adams ended the weekend with a Sunday afternoon performance of his Inuksuit, a composition written for between nine and 99 percussionists. Held alfresco on a mild and gorgeous day, the show had a larger crossover appeal to non-festivalgoing locals than most of the weekend's events; with many out-of-towners already driving or flying back home, it was a free and not-too-crowded chance to see what all the fuss was about.
Naming his piece after the enigmatic piles of stone people have used as place-markers in the Arctic for centuries, Adams has created a similar kind of man-in-nature encounter: Percussionists set up their gear outside — in this case, in the woods around an old quarry — and scatter about, perching in unexpected places as they perform.
The piece isn't just set in nature but resembles it — it begins and grows like a meteorological event. Before they even approach their usual instruments, the players wander among audience members, blowing through rolled-up cones of paper or making swooshing notes by swinging plastic tubes overhead. Establishing the quiet, attentive mood, they one-by-one settle in at their stations to gently brush cymbals or hit gongs.
At a performance of Inuksuit a few years ago in New York's fully-enclosed Park Avenue Armory, listeners maintained a concert-hall reverence, wandering about slowly but making no noise. Here, as the music grew less quiet, attendees had varied responses. Some sat in meditative poses with eyes closed. Some played with children, walked dogs, chatted quietly with friends. One or two philistines even let their phones ring. But the vibe was congenial and appreciative, with even those who wouldn't exactly call this "music" enjoying the additional textures Adams gave their Sunday nature stroll.
Like the number of players and the terrain, the composition's length is variable, but while no clear indications were given, most members of the audience had a sense of when to return to the spot where things started. Sounds had turned from shimmeringly percussive to alert and melodic (or, as with a hand-cranked air siren, somewhere in-between); a five-note xylophone pattern bounced from one part of the park to another, before a piccolo gave songbirds in the area some company. Sounds tapered off, and when one brave soul started to applaud, everyone joined in. However structured the piece is, its end proved to be a solid introduction for those locals who, next time the fest is held, want to see how the free-improvisation segment of the Big Ears populace conducts itself.


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As I have said many times before, Code Geass is probably one of my all time favourite animes, I can't say that I am much for mecha but I definitely do not hate mecha. Just the character development and flow of the anime drew me in. Plus the animes ability to off anyone and everyone which will keep you guessing. You never have that blanket of security like you do in a lot of big name animes knowing that X character will never die because he or she is too important.
Anyways, this figurine I purchased off EBay some time ago, I saw pictures of it, in fact I believe it was as article on Sankucomplex that I first saw this because my wife and I sadly do not have our fingers near the pulse of the figurine community, at least not back then. I instantly knew that I had to have this, I was currently on a Code Geass kick which really is what started it off. I can't remember how much I paid for it but I think it was around the $250 range. I wanted to make sure that it was not a bootleg as this is a popular bootleg item. I suppose that there really is no 100% sure way to know this is the legit item as stickers can be copied, however I am relatively sure after doing some internet searching.
All that aside, lets talk about the figurine. When I first got it, it was the gem of my collection, as time goes on and we collect more figurines, I personally lose more and more interest in it. I can honestly say its one of the best C.C figurines I have personally seen however. There is a lot of good on this figurine so lets get started with that. First of all the pose, very seductive and sexy, C.C never really came off to me as a sex symbol in the anime, probably because she has large breasts, but this is a sexy figurine. I love her tight and small shorts and her tight shirt which is very form fitting. The cloak or jacket she is wearing is a nice contrast to her as well. Her midsection is moulded well, it looks very shapely and nice.
The way they did her hair and her head is a little off-putting. I have read online that Banpresto has had poor quality on some of their figurines in the sculpting and in the paint job and I can personally see why they would say that. The figurine from 2-3 meters away looks perfect, its a striking figurine but since we have started this review site and I have been forced to look closer at all the figurines we own, I do notice a lot of things.
So lets talk about her head. Ugh I swear I need to get better lighting where I type these up, I'm always straining… anyways. The color and texture of the hair is great, I love the way its done, the paint job I have no complaints about. However the way the hair is put together is a little odd. Of course you have your normal seam on the head but it also has 3 other parts where more hair is added, it doesn't look like it was a continuous mould. The nose mouth and eyes are all fine on the face but there is a bit of a space very very tiny on where the head connects to the rest of the figurine. Since it's very difficult to see, in fact I never noticed it until now I can't say its really an issue though.
I suppose that's really all the bad things I have to say about this figurine, again from a distance, a striking figurine and a great addition to any collection. The price on this is considered to be high even from the retail standpoint, whereas I dropped like I said, roughly $250 on it. I always wanted to have a good CC figurine and I just could not find any good ones so i was willing to drop the extra cash to have one i was happy with. With the stat of our collection now, I probably would not of purchased this. I would be happier with a resin kit and just pay someone to paint it and build it for me then with this one.
All in all, a good addition to our collection, I cant think of any figurines I have that I wouldn't WANT to have, except maybe one… or two… I'll give this figurine a 74%. I feel that the painting on it was done well, i think that the sculpting was pretty lacking however. They could of done a better job, they had a perfect idea but the execution suffered and the fine details on the figurine show it. I would not recommend purchasing this figurine for anything over 100 bucks.
What is your favorite C.C. figure? Which one do you own? As per usual we would love to hear your comments on this figure!
To see more pictures of this figure visit the Gallery!