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This series of "Cookie Hacks" gives an overview of some of the ways in which you can customize a recipe to make a cookie that is exactly to your liking. Crispy, chewy, dry, moist, soft or dense... it's all about knowing which levers to pull. Time to play mad scientist in the kitchen.
Part I: Flour and Alternatives
Part II: Eggs and Fats
Part III: Sugar
Part IV: Leavening
Part V: Dough Mixing and Aging
Part VI: "Add-in's" and Baking
Cookie Hacks - Part II
#3 - Eggs:
"An ingredient in three parts"
Eggs and flour are the structural elements in cookies - they both contain proteins that come together to give a cookie its form.
An egg can be thought of as three separate ingredient: The egg yolk, the egg white and the whole egg (sorry, not the shell). Each has a unique composition of proteins and fat which will greatly change the characteristics of your cookies.
Why do I need to use eggs in the first place?
When it comes to kitchen staples, eggs are a sort of culinary magic. A whole egg contains a well-balanced mix of protein and fat which provides both structure and richness to a dough. The balanced composition stands in contrast to the (nearly) protein-only characteristics of wheat flour. A dough can be made with just flour and be structurally sound, but the lack of fat makes for a lean and potentially dry end product. Eggs are the complete package.
- Whole Egg: A whole, large egg weighs approximately 55g. Most of that weight is water, while 7g are protein and 6g are fat.
- Egg Yolk: The yolk accounts for 1/3 of the weight of an egg, or 17g. 3g are protein and 6g are fat. As you can see, all of the fat in an egg comes from the yolk. And less than half of a yolk's weight comes from water.
- Egg White: The white accounts for 2/3 of the weight of an egg, or 38g. 4g are protein. The rest of the weight is water. There is no fat in the egg white.
When an egg is heated, the individual proteins collide with increasing force. Eventually, the individual proteins break down and subsequently form tangled bonds with the other broken down proteins. This network of tangled protein bonds captures the liquid in the egg to form a moist solid.
Different types of proteins (there are many in an egg) break down and form bonds at different temperatures. As a result, egg whites thicken at 145 degrees Fahrenheit and become solid at 150 degrees Fahrenheit. By contrast, egg yolks thicken at 150 degrees Fahrenheit and become solid at 158 degrees Fahrenheit, because they contain less protein and some interfering fats.
Overheat an egg, and you get a curdled mess. The protein bonds become too tight and squeeze out all of the loosely held moisture. Hope you like rubbery chunks floating in water, because that's what you'll get!
The ability of eggs to become solid changes with the other ingredients in a dough - primarily the fat and sugar. More on this later, but the tangled network of protein bonds needs to be tighter/strong to hold milk and sugar in the mix. As a result, the eggs must be heated to a higher temperature. A whole egg mixed with 1 cup whole milk and 1 tbls sugar will not set until it reaches approximately 175 degrees Fahrenheit.
What happens if I bake with only egg whites?
A dough with only egg whites will have an extremely sturdy structure. Consider meringues, which are confections made by whipping egg whites and sugar into stiff peaks. The high protein content (and complete absence of fat) actually makes it possible for egg whites to form a semi-solid through whipping alone. But anyone who has eaten a meringue knows that they are crispy and flaky to an extreme. The absence of fat means there's no tenderness whatsoever.
Cookie Hack: Increasing the amount of egg whites in a dough will improve a cookie's structure, but without the addition of some form of fat, the cookie will not be tender.
Cookie Hack: Increasing the amount of egg whites in a dough will improve a cookie's structure, but without the addition of some form of fat, the cookie will not be tender.
What happens if I use only egg yolks?
The yolk is more balanced with a near 2:1 ratio of fat and protein. As a result, a dough with just egg yolks will be tender and modestly structurally sound. Consider a jiggly (yes, jiggly) custard or flan. It can barely hold its form outside of a mold. However, when combined with flour, greater structural integrity is possible.
Cookie Hack: Increasing the amount of egg yolk in a dough will improve a cookie's tenderness.
Rarely will a recipe call for only egg whites or only egg yolks. More often, whole eggs are used, and then the mix is supplemented by one or two egg whites or egg yolks to swing the balance more towards structure or tenderness.
#4 - Fat:
"Butter & beyond"
So flour and eggs have created a structurally sound cookie... but too much structure can be a bad thing. A good cookie should be tender too.
Which fat is best?
Let's face it - as a species, we know our fats... we know them really well. In baking, there are three common options.
- Butter: It's admittedly a personal bias, but I think butter is the god of fats. At 80% fat, butter is sufficiently fat-dense while also containing flavor-enhancing milk solids. Unlike other fats, a good butter not only enhances the texture, but also the flavor, of a dough. One word of caution - only use unsalted butter... you should be in control of your recipe's salt content
- Shortening: Shortening has a much higher melting point than butter. Adding shortening to a dough results in cookies that "spread" less when baked. And while most shortening is without flavor, butter-flavored varieties do exist. Then why use butter instead of butter-flavored shortening? While the higher melting point of shortening reduces spread, that melting point is higher than our internal body temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, shortening does not melt in the mouth and cookies and frosting made with shortening can leave a greasy mouth feel.
- Oil: Oil is rarely used as the fat of choice in cookies because it is extremely disruptive to the formation of protein bonds and, while it results in amazingly tender baked-goods, the structural integrity is very hard to maintain. When using oil, it's important to use neutral flavored options (canola, corn, vegetable). Fats are very good at carrying flavor in cookies, so the strong flavor of olive oil or, if you're crazy, white truffle oil, would be very noticeable if used (although this may be intentional).
Cookie Hack: Increase the amount of fat in a recipe to improve the richness and tenderness of the cookie. Consider using shortening to increase the melting point of the fat and reduce "spread". Use oils to create extremely tender (potentially too tender) cookies.
Questions? Comments? Send me an email or leave a comment.
follow on Twitter @BreadChefMark. And sign up for the email list.


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The first ever referendum giving voters a say on how their MPs are elected will be held on 5 May 2011
Disabled people who want to become councillors or MPs will have access to a fund to help them overcome barriers they face
A law that automatically expel MPs from Parliament if they have a serious mental health condition is to be abolished
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has set out the Government's vision for political reform
The Government has confirmed proposals for prisoner voting rights which will prevent the most serious offenders from voting
The Government set out a programme for political and constitutional reform as a fundamental element of the Coalition agreement.
The programme is wide-ranging and aims to restore people's faith in their politics and politicians.
Constitutional reform - overview
Find out who is leading the work behind constitutional reform
Contact the team regarding constitutional reform
Frequently asked questions about reform of laws, Parliament and the House of Lords
Links to a range of sites that provide more information about constitutional reform
Latest news on constitutional reform
Latest resources for constitutional reform
View all resources

subset: commoncrawl


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While Mellieha Bay is known primarily for its gorgeous beach – undoubtedly the number one attraction in this coastal town – the resort has much more to offer. They come in the ways of historic architecture and watersports, both along the waterfront and into the hillside beyond. There's even a family-friendly film set turned theme park that a few comic enthusiasts might recognise.
As an island that's changed ruling hands a number of times over its thousands of years of history, Malta has a vast array of historical sites whose designs vary hugely. Mellieha Bay is rife with old world buildings detailing its history, where you can get a glimpse of Maltese life back in the day.
The Mellieha Air Raid Shelter is a network of underground tunnels and caves used in World War II. Another site worth pausing into is the Parish Church of Mellieha, whose reddish-orange facade overlooks the water and aptly gives the appearance of an oversized sandcastle. Finally there's St Agatha's Tower, a 17th-century, sea-facing fortress whose rusty colour makes it unmissable on Mellieha's skyline.
For an island, Malta has a surprisingly low number of beaches. But if you're visiting Mellieha Bay, you're in luck, as some of Malta's finest beaches can be found along this northern coastline.
The top beach is the 800-metre-long stretch known as Mellieha Bay – or Ghadira, to the locals – as it's the longest sandy beach on the island. Golden Bay is a little further off, about a 20-minute drive away. Along with Ghadira however, this beach is Blue Flag certified and well worth the journey. For more secluded afternoons, there's Armier Bay Beach, frequented mostly by locals but open to all.
The Popeye Village was constructed from scratch in Malta's Anchor Bay in 1979 for the filming of the live action musical of the popular Popeye cartoon, starring Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall. Today, it's a family-friendly destination complete with the same colourful shanty-like beach huts and cartoon props you'll see in the film.
Activities here range from acting in your very own version of Popeye, embarking on a boat ride or sitting in on live shows. There are restaurants and shops, wineries and museums to explore. Popeye Village especially comes to life around the holidays, with Santa at Christmas, rabbits at Easter and carnival festivities come early spring.
While Malta's beachy reputation might not precede it, Mellieha Bay's watersport scene is very much alive and kicking. Across the various beaches, you'll find everything from snorkelling to scuba diving trips, paddle-boarding, windsurfing, kitesurfing and kayaking. You can even charter a boat for a private tour of the coastline.
Located roughly a 45-minute drive from Mellieha Bay, Valletta is Malta's capital city. The city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, comprised mostly of Baroque buildings whose origins date back to the 16th century. Valletta was hard hit during World War II, but has since remained a major destination for holidaymakers, and in 2018 will be the European Capital of Culture. As the island's capital, Valletta is understandably the hotspot for those after some culture during Malta holidays, packed with museums, grand churches and shopping opportunities.
Found up in the hillside from Mellieha Bay, the Ghadira Nature Reserve is a quiet little spot to escape the noise of the beach on your cheap Malta holidays. It won't take hours to explore, but can provide fodder for a leisurely afternoon walk. The reserve is rife with native flora and fauna and, depending on what time of year you visit, can be a great place for birdwatching.


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UPDATE 04-11-2014: As reported NOAA is no longer going to be printing navigation charts and publications. We at Seabreeze have alternative sources for approved, official charts. Based on charts provided to us since then, we believe mariners will be pleased with the print quality and also with the paper stock. The colors on some charts may be different from those in the past, but the images are generally the same. The primary difference in the paper stock is it's brightness — it is whiter than that used in the lithographic charts, but the weight is essentially the same. These new charts can be written on and erased without damaging the surface. Additionally, all charts of US waters are corrected as of the date they are printed.
We can also provide charts on waterproof materials and in specific dimensions. Please call or e-mail us for information on special orders.
If you are using these charts for decorative purposes, we think you will be pleased as the images are as shown on our site. Be aware, however, that the actual dimensions may vary from the chart dimensions shown, depending on borders and crop marks. Before you order any framing materials, we suggest you measure the actual chart when it arrives.
If your need is time critical for navigation purposes, please call us at 619-223-8989 so we can discuss how best to handle your requirements.


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A wise old teacher and mentor once said, "The greatest thing about music is the people you meet through it" ...and we couldn't agree more. Patrick Oliver Kohalmi is a personal trainer, web- entrepreneur, and budding soprano sax player from Hune, Nordjyllan, Denmark, a picturesque area just off the coast of the North Sea.
The beautiful but rugged landscape in Hune creates a cool contrast to the IKEA-like interior designs of homes and businesses in the region. So where does someone from this area with a passion for soprano sax go to learn the instrument? Discover, Learn, and Play of course!
We met Patrick a few months ago when he submitted a few videos and friend-ed us on facebook. It's easy to see that he is quite a character and very passionate about a number of interests in his life. He recently agreed to answer a few questions for this blog and he agreed to share his story with other DLP users -enjoy!
POK - I am a personal trainer (coach) and I'm working on my webshop. So, I am a fitness and bodybuilding guru. :) I have been playing piano since I was 12 years old. I got some piano lessons when I was 15, but it was only 25 minutes per week and lasted only a half year...it was too expensive. I never really learned to read notes, instead I learned songs by ear and at the time my inspiration was Richard Clayderman.
I heard Kenny G's songs when I was about 20 years old and I really liked them. At that time, I wasn't interested in learning to play sax but I think I got the idea about 2 years ago that it could be cool to be as good as Kenny G. I lost my job and I thought it would be a good time to start something new. I said "I want a soprano saxophone, I want to be good as Kenny G!".
So I bought a Yamaha and have been learning it for exactly a year. The first time I ever tried to play on it I loved it. Fantastic instrument! I did not have a private teacher, I have used "Discover, Learn, and Play" and checked youtube for information when I was in doubt about something. I bought the same reeds and mouthpiece that Kenny G uses. I also bought a lot of music books and now that I have been through all 20 lessons of the Kore Series I can try to learn some of Kenny's songs.
What I liked most about the lessons were the songs. Even at a beginner level, they have a good melody and background play-alongs. You can enjoy them without getting bored and thinking: "Oh God, when will I become a pro so I can play good melodies?" I have suggested DLP for one of my friends who got a guitar for his birthday. I still have to practice song 2 and 3 in Lesson 20 a bit more to make them perfect and I will be sending those videos soon!
We think you are doing a fantastic job Patrick and we look forward to hearing more from you along the way. PS - the Kore Series II and Jazz Series are coming along - we'll let you know when they're ready to go!
Be sure to visit our User-YouTube page to see Patrick and a few other DLP member performances.
5 Best Keyboards for 2019 (Cheap, Gaming, Mechanical) - Whether you're looking to boost your productivity or your kill-death battle royale stats, these are the best keyboards for the job.
1 day ago


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We've just about finished up our police safety unit. I found a lot of great games and other printables online and made a few to fill in the gaps that I needed. I'll be sharing them with you this week.
Today I have for you a count and clip game. It is similar to others I've seen online, but with a police theme.
The object of the game it to count the pictures and clip the number of objects with a close pin.
I like to add a sticker to the back for self checking.
This set includes numbers 1-10. It worked well as new work for Charger who is 3 1/2 and review work for Mustang who is 5. If you are using Bob Jones Kindergarten Beginnings this would be a great supplement to lessons 11-15.
The entire set can be downloaded (free) here.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Police Count and Clip Game-Free Printable
5 comments:
very cute!!
- May 16, 2011 at 4:49 PM
- Katie said...
Very cute! Thanks for sharing
- May 16, 2011 at 5:09 PM
- Mommy of 3 said...
Oh this looks like so much fun. I know my little Buddy, 3 years old would have a ball with this. Thank you so much for sharing. Thanks also for the very kind welcome to TOS. I look forward to getting to know you better! It sounds like so much fun and I am very excited to start.
- May 16, 2011 at 7:52 PM
- Cee@SmookieStyle said...
Followin' ya from the Monster Hop! Thanks for linking up!!
- May 17, 2011 at 9:34 AM
- cajunlicious said...
Hi! Following you from the blog hop! Hope you visit my Cajun blog and return the follow!
- Jessica @ http://cajunlicious.com
- May 17, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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About a year ago a friend asked Chris Lordi (pronounced Lord-eye) to cook up some food for an informal gathering. And the rest, as they say, is rampant business growth via word of mouth about incredible deliciousness. Okay, maybe "they" don't say that, but it's true in the case of Irie Island Eats.
"We didn't really plan on it becoming a full blown business, but eco-friendly catering is becoming a huge thing," he said.
"He's always loved to cook," said Natalie Allen, his fiancée. "But I think Chris was really motivated by the good reviews, and it took on a momentum of it's own."
Since then, Irie Island Eats has been making the rounds around town. They've turned up at local festivals like Marathon's Craft Beer and Bubbly Fest and Key West's Fantasy Fest and last week they catered a Marathon Chamber After Hours event at Habitat for Humanity. They have a wedding on the books next month, and this weekend they will be at Grimal Grove's Chocolate and Wine fest on both Friday night, Jan. 22 and Saturday, Jan. 23. One of the most special moments of 2015, however, was when Chris was asked to cook the Christmas dinner for the employees of Keys Fisheries.
"That was flattering," Chris said.
Keys Fisheries' Mike Dunkailo said it was an obvious choice.
"Chris' presentation is good, I can't say enough about the quality of the food, and he knows how to handle a crowd," Dunkailo said.
For a food business that lacks a food truck or a brick and mortar location, that type of exposure is invaluable. Although Irie Island Eats has some tried-and-true crowd favorites, it's clear Chris is just hitting his stride.
"The rice bowls were pretty popular at the Beer and Bubbly fest," he said, "but that's not something we regularly make."
"And they liked those pork tostadas," Natalie said, "but we only made those once."
On the other hand, the public refuses to do without the Kalua Pork. It's made with Hawaiian red sea salt, cracked black pepper then wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked for hours. And a certain member of the Weekly staff is prepared to elbow competing customers out of the way in order to secure his Spanish chorizo sausage. Island Irie Eats also has a fantastic slaw — Napa (Chinese) cabbage, cilantro and Key Lime vinaigrette. The tropical mixed greens salad features mescaline and romaine lettuce, plantain chips, pineapple, mango, papaya and the aforementioned Key Lime vinaigrette.
"For people who are health oriented like myself, I appreciate the cooking because it's not only delicious, but I also feel good about eating it," said Matt Sexton of Keys Cable Park.
Chris moved to the Keys less than a decade ago after selling his restaurant in West Palm Beach. Natalie, a Michigan native, has been an islander for about the same amount of time. Both hope Irie Island Eats will develop into a full-time venture, or almost full-time, leaving them enough leisure time for fishing and playing with their young son, Nolan O'Hara.


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You've invested a lot of time and effort into ensuring your trip is everything you want it to be. Now let Allianz Travel Insurance protect that investment by taking the worry out of unforeseen circumstances that could disrupt your plans.
Squaremouth allows customers to investigate every aspect of a travel insurance policy before purchase using its unique research capabilities. The comparison engine provides an unbiased platform that allows travel insurance products to shine based on coverage benefits rather than brand recognition.


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We all know the drill: you want to type special characters into an
input field, yet you don't have the characters on your keyboard. You search for the character online, and then copy and paste it into the
input field. Next accented character — and the journey starts again. Wouldn't it be better if the designer took care of providing the access to alternate characters as you type them?
Long Press jQuery plugin eases the writing of accented and rare characters by allowing users to have a typing experience similar to iOS and Android. Users can focus on a form field and hold a key to display alternate characters. It's possible to pick a letter by using the mouse wheel, hovering over it with the mouse, or using the arrow keys. Not every Web form will need the plugin, but it might be a good fit if many users will want to use accented characters on your site — of course you'll have to explain how it works as well. The plugin is released under the MIT license and is available on GitHub. (vf)


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May 3, 2010
Irvine, Calif. - Ciara Short and Lauren Williams continued to excell for the Cal State Fullerton track and field squad over the weekend at the Steve Scott Invitational at UC Irvine.
Short won the 400 meters and was third in the 200 meters while Williams won the 100 meter hurdles by more than one-third of a second. Short clocked 53.77 to win the 400 and 24.04 in the 200. Williams ran the hurdles in 13.72, besting her runnerup by 0.37 seconds.
For the men, Bryan Luther won his section of the 100 meters in 10.77. He ran fifth in his section in the 200. John Carrell was sixth at 15:04.88 in the 5000 meter, Lamar Oliphant tied for third in the high jump at 6-feet-6 3/4 and Andrew Sullivan and Shawn McNany were part of a tie at third place in the pole vault at 15-feet-7 1/4.
Other women's highlights included Bonnie Sorensen, tied for second in the high jump at 5-feet-5 and Ginny English and Alison Stamos were part of a tie for fifth in the pole vault at 11-feet-9.
Meanwhile, in Palo Alto, Carolyn Ellis ran 16th in the women's 3000 meter steeplechaase in 10:39.24 at the Payton Jordan Invitational.
Upcoming are the Big West Conference Championships at Cal State Northridge. The combined events will be staged this weekend with the main meet on May 14 and 15. A limited number of athletes will compete May 8 in the Occidental Invitational.
Women's Results


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The Secrets to Writing WordPress Posts That Convert
We all want to write posts that will attract and retain our readers, but, sometimes, it is not that easy to do that. Brenda Barron are giving you some useful tips in her post! Image Source: http://premium.wpmudev.org/blog/secrets-writing-wordpress-posts-that-convert/ Related posts: Creating WordPress Theme Options With the Theme Customization API Avoiding Common WordPress Image Issues How to…Read more


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Jefferson County Public Schools are performing worse than nearly 75 percent of Kentucky public school students outside the district, according to new state accountability measures — including tests, graduation rates and other indicators — released Friday.
JCPS is ranked in the 23 percentile in Kentucky under the new "Unbridled Learning" school accountability model — part of the state's most sweeping education reforms of the past two decades.
"Jefferson has some of the highest performing high schools and some of the lowest performing high schools," Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday said.
(Find out where your school ranks here.)
On the high-side are DuPont Manual and Male high schools, which are both in the upper 90th percentile. But 94 of the districts 138 measured schools are below the state average and nearly half of those schools are near the bottom 10th percentile.
Of the five categories measured, JCPS' elementary and middle schools fell below the state average in most area. But JCPS high schools ranked higher on "achievement" "gap" and "growth."
Holliday says the reason may be in part from the district's career- and technical-themed schools, which teach students in differently than most schools.
New Labels Being Given
The state is giving new labels to schools and districts. Schools and districts given labels such as "Schools/Districts of Distinctions," "Highest Performing Schools/Districts" and "High Progress Schools/Districts" will receive certain recognition and other promotional materials.
Other labels like "Priority Schools/Districts" will replace what many know as "Persistently Low-Achieving" schools. Finally, a school may also be labeled a "Focus" school, which Holliday says isn't necessarily a negative label.
These schools could be performing well but certain groups of kids like African-American students or special needs students need more help in bringing up their achievement levels.
Being a focus school means school leaders will have to revise their school improvement plan within 90 days and must show how they're funding programs to reach these students. If they aren't closing the gap, the state education department will put sanctions in place.
JCPS has 57 "focus" schools, 18 priority — former "Persistently Low-Performing" — schools.
Nearly 70 percent of Kentucky schools fall in the "needs improvement" category, and they can improve each year to get to that proficient level, Holliday said. Each school and district must develop a plan based on state education department targets to get to that level, he said.
Holliday said he met with JCPS Superintendent Donna Hargens recently and he was pleased with the district's new strategic plan to oversee student achievement.
Further, Holliday said the new accountability system should make it easier for parents to follow their child's path to college and career readiness from the third grade.
"We hope this really activates a lot parent attention, a lot of community attention and a lot of support for our schools as they struggle to meet these more rigorous standards," he said.
How, Exactly, Did JCPS Do?
Here's some raw data on how JCPS measures up to the state average.
Educators and local officials have all warned the community that the number of students deemed proficient under the new system is likely to drop significantly.
"The proficiency scores dropped, but not as much as we predicted," Terry Holliday.
Below we show the percentage of students proficient in math and reading and compare those results to the state average (in parentheses)
Elementary math: 35.5 (39.5)
Middle math: 32.8 (40.5)
High math: 46.6 (40)
Elementary reading: 42.4 (47.9)
Middle reading: 38 (46.8)
High reading: 51.3 (52.2)
However, proficiency is measured in other subjects which are part of the state's "achievement" category. Here's how JCPS fared in the "achievement" category:
Elementary: 61.2 (69.9)
Middle: 56.7 (67.4)
High: 56.9 (56.7)
College and Career Readiness
The college-and-career-ready indicator is measured through the ACT benchmarks, college placement tests and career measures at the high school level. In JCPS 45.2 percent of students are college and career ready, while the state average is 47.2 percent.
Gap students are members of one of the individual student groups: African American, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native, students with disabilities, free/reduced-price meals and Limited English Proficient.
Here's how JCPS measures up to the state (in paretheses)
Elementary Reading: 32.4 (37.5)
Elementary Math: 25.9 (30.3)
Middle Reading: 27.6 (34.8)
Middle Math: 22.4 (28.7)
High Reading: 38.4 (38.4)
High Math: 35.1 (27.9)
Growth measures the percentage of students at a particular school and district that are making growth year over year. JCPS did better than the state average overall in this category.
Here's how JCPS measures up with the state (in parentheses).
Elementary: 61.7 (60.5)
Middle: 58.4 (60.4)
High: 61.3 (58.5)
Graduation Rates
These were made public earlier this year. The state graduates students at a 77.8 percent while JCPS is at 67.8.
(Read more on JCPS' results here.)
How "Unbridled Learning" works
The "Unbridled Learning" model is a result of Senate Bill 1 in 2009. Since then, the Kentucky Department of Education began moving toward the new system. It was fully implemented last year.
The results released Friday are the product of student performance in the 2011-2012 school year in the following five areas.
- Achievement: Test results labeling students novice, apprentice, proficient or distinguished
- Gap: Schools will look at achievement gaps among minority groups and other groups like low-income and English language learners.
- Growth: This score will measure how students improve year over year.
- College and Career Readiness: Includes a combined ACT-related test and includes the number of certifications earned.
- Graduation Rates
The state had already been tracking much of this data but the Unbridled Learning model focuses on college and career readiness and growth while allow schools to be measured to their peers statewide.
These five areas are given different weight for elementary, middle and high schools but they all add up to points awarded to individual schools and districts. Those points are then converted to a state ranking so schools and districts know where they stand.


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"We renew our dedication to preserve and enhance our traditional heritage, our national identity and our respect for peace, freedom and justice for all mankind"
– Preamble, Constitution of the Republic of Palau
The Palau Mission's principal task is to help an island nation create a sustainable economy, preserve its unequaled environment, and allow future generations to learn, live, and work in their homeland. The Mission, guided by these objectives, will welcome the friendship and support of the nations of the world in pursuing these goals, while strengthening Palau's capacity to do its part in achieving the UN's critical agenda of securing peace and prosperity for every citizen of the globe.
H.E. Stuart Beck


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This is a blog post and nothing in it should be considered legal advice. Please contact us or your lawyer for legal advice specific to your case.
President Trump has issued three executive orders targeting immigrants in the past week – relating to the border wall, refugees, and undocumented immigrants – and three more leaked drafts imply that more is on the way. The situation is changing constantly. We may update our website with blog posts, but we will be updating our Facebook page more frequently. Please check in with that for more timely updates.
Currently, DACA remains unchanged, but refugees and undocumented immigrants are being targeted.
To briefly summarize, two of the executive orders target refugees and visa holders coming from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Sudan and Somalia, and undocumented immigrants in the US. Any refugee or person with a visa from those countries will be banned. Undocumented immigrants who were not a priority for deportation may now be a priority. Undocumented people who have been here for fewer than two years might not get the opportunity to have a case heard by an immigration judge. Any person convicted of any crime or charged with any crime is now a priority for deportation, along with any person with a final order of removal (under Obama, people with old orders – any order prior to 2014 – were not priorities. Now, even someone with a 20 year old order is a priority). There are many more details, including how Trump plans to make this happen, but those are the most important points for people who might be impacted.
A third executive order deals with border security, ordering the building of a wall that has been estimated to cost $20billion and will be paid for by US taxpayers. It also calls for more draconian treatment of people at the border – including more detention of individuals and building more prisons, and allows for paying private prison companies to be contracted to do the work – a windfall for the prison industrial complex.
It is unclear how all of this will be implemented – there are reports of some ICE officers and attorneys who are not doing anything until they get clear guidance on how they are supposed to implement these new rules, and there are also reports of some ICE officers and attorneys who have decided to take this as an opportunity to enact new rules based on their own interpretation of the executive order. There was an unconfirmed report that ICE officers have been stopping and interrogating people at random. It seems that that report was not entirely accurate (they did pull over two cars in Kansas, but ICE says it was for specific people that ICE already were searching for), which also underscores the need to remain calm in this troubling time.
Talk with your lawyer if you are undocumented and have any criminal conviction or charge, or if you have a final order of removal. If you are a permanent resident, you should carry proof of that with you at all times. If you are undocumented, you need to know your rights. You can find a guide in multiple languages from the ACLU.
The most important thing to know is that you have the right to remain silent. If you wish to remain silent, tell the officer out loud. In some states you are required to give your name. If the officer asks what country you are from, you do not have to answer. In the past, most people who were caught by ICE voluntarily gave their passport and admitted to being from another country. Without that information, ICE may not have been able to do anything.
Finally, be on the lookout for scammers! According to Media Matters, some internet trolls have started scamming people into giving up their personal information about their immigration status and then are passing that information along to law enforcement. Don't give out ANY information about your immigration status to anyone but your lawyer.
Stay safe.


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SFC10 Day 7 Reward
July 28th, 2012, 9:47 pm
Author's Comments:
Reply SWSU-Master, July 28th, 2012, 9:56 pm
I have a feeling this isnt over......
Reply Advertisement, May 21st, 2019, 4:04 pm
User's Comments:
Reply rt555 (Guest), July 28th, 2012, 10:02 pm
@SWSU-Master: I wonder what Kris's strategy is? Plus none of Bonnie's tribe mates is happy that she is the one that got them the reward.
Reply Vilecheese, July 28th, 2012, 10:02 pm
Is Kris trying to get Bonnie to flip on her tribe or something?
Reply rt555 (Guest), July 28th, 2012, 10:04 pm
Once again Bonnie reminds why she is one of the most hated contestants there is in Survivor Fan Characters, despite being such a "mastermind."
Reply QJD, July 28th, 2012, 10:06 pm
Kris isn't fooling anyone with that ass-kissing "live in peace" bull crap. Who does she think she is, Prescilla?
Reply AkumaTh, July 28th, 2012, 10:12 pm
Carbo's reward has turned into a torture session. I wonder if they would stick to the plan of keeping Bonnie.
Reply Moonie (Guest), July 28th, 2012, 11:09 pm
I know Kris isn't dumb enough to do this just because she thinks Bonnie will be magically won over. I wonder what she's plotting.
Reply qazox, July 28th, 2012, 11:17 pm
Carbo sent out bonnie, because it would now be easier for them to throw immunity; and Kris might have the Retro's throw it nowas well, all that just to get Bonnie out.
Reply SkySurfer (Guest), July 29th, 2012, 12:47 am
I guess Retro already agreed on throwing the reward challenge in case Chris and Bonnie are the last ones remaning. If this weren't the case, Kris might get into trouble just as Penny did in season 8
Reply anime9001, July 29th, 2012, 2:21 am
Two things about this comic.
Reply Masteroftheives, July 29th, 2012, 5:43 am
*snicker* I think the best part is when Jeff comments that Bomnnie flipped the table "like a boss".
Reply Missing (Guest), July 29th, 2012, 7:18 am
Probably to get Bonnie to flip over to Retro during the voting, they are the only tribe who have a chance against Retro in a vote.
Reply Darth AWQ, July 29th, 2012, 7:57 am
I'm betting that Kris and her Tribe are going to come back and steal the reward..except leaving a few choice bits by the fire. :P
Reply The_mad_one, July 30th, 2012, 7:55 am
How could anyone NOT flip the table...? O_o
Reply lucasmaximo15, September 23rd, 2014, 4:28 pm
okey that wierd what is kris planning doidn with bonnie.
Post A Comment


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Is there a way to capture a waitlist once a program is full
Yes. You can setup a waitlisted category for members to register to at a $0.00 fee.
In order to be able to do this, you must first connect with the Ivrnet Customer Care Team by creating a NEW ticket at firstname.lastname@example.com
In that ticket that you submit to the Team, please provide the following information:
Example Ticket to Submit:
I would like to create a Waitlisted Category for Online Registration
Atom House Waitlist
Midget House Waitlist
Then once the Ivrnet Customer Care Team has responded back to you that the categories are setup, you can then go to:
Setup - OLR Setup
and follow the steps to get to your online registration forms under Registration Listing
Click EDIT beside the form you wish to add the waitlisted categories to.
Go to Select Categories and select the new categories that were created for you (Atom House Waitlist, Midget House Waitlist)
Go to Set Fees and Caps and click ADD NEW FEE and choose the new categories and add the fee $0.00
This way, parents can register to the waitlist, and not pay until the club connects with them that a spot has become available.
As soon as you have done the above, they will automatically appear online and available to your members to register to.
Once a new spot opens up in the REGULAR category registration, you can then transfer them over and add the fee and collect payment from the member.


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What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine — in addition to the normal front to back curvature — has an abnormal side-to-side "S"- or "C"-shaped curvature. The spine is also rotated or twisted, pulling the ribs along with it to form a multidimensional curve.
What are the different types?
Scoliosis is diagnosed and treated as one of three main types:
- Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common form, with no definite cause, mainly affecting adolescent girls, but existing in three age groups adolescent, juvenile and infantile (early-onset).
- Neuromuscular scoliosis is associated with a neuromuscular condition such as cerebral palsy, myopathy or spina bifida.
- Present at birth, "> congenital scoliosis is caused by a ( failure of the vertebrae to form normally — the least common form.
How we care for scoliosis
The Boston Children's Hospital Spinal Program team specializes in the pediatric spine. We treat all types of scoliosis and other spinal conditions — from the most common to the most complex — offering our patients expert diagnosis, treatment and care.
As one of the largest referral centers in the country, our team sees more than 12,000 patients and performs hundreds of spinal operations each year. With ongoing research informing patient treatment, we're known for our science-driven, experience-based approach.


text: Hilde Rosenzweig and Eli Lax were two of the 1.5 million Jewish children who were victims of the Nazi's ``Final Solution.'' Hilde was not yet ten when Hitler came to power in Germany and her happy childhood was disrupted as she and her family attempted to escape from Nazi persecution. Her brother managed to get away; he went to the United States and fought with the US Army from 1943 to 1946. Hilde and her mother, however, were not permitted to leave Germany. They were gassed on a train when Hilde was 18. Eli was born nine years after Hilde in a village called Zarich, Czechoslovakia. He hoped one day to follow his eldest sister to America, but in 1944 he was taken first to a ghetto and then to Auschwitz, where he died with his father and brother. Eli's sisters survived to tell his story. Adler (A Picture Book of Eleanor Roosevelt, 1991, etc.; A Picture Book of Jackie Robinson, below) provides a surprising amount of information in his brief history. Ritz's washed pictures evoke first a happier then a harrowing time. A sensitive but unsentimental account. (Nonfiction/Picture book. 8-12)


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Chuck's Ten Tips Bookmark (When Life Isn't Fair Bookmark)
Hope Beyond Dissatisfaction: A Formula That Brings Relief
Hope Beyond Our Trials: 'When Through Fiery Trials . . .'
Hope Heals: A True Story of Overwhelming Loss and an Overcoming Love –by Katherine and Jay Wolf
I Am: A 60-Day Journey to Knowing Who You Are Because of Who He Is –by Michele Cushatt
Interview with Colleen Swindoll, Part One
Interview with Colleen Swindoll, Part Two
Reframing Life: Focusing on God When Life Gets Sideways -by Colleen Swindoll Thompson
Special Words for Special People: Offering Grace to the Weary
Transformed by Grace: A Candid Conversation about Reframing Life
Unraveling the Mystery of Suffering
What If You Struggle with a Permanent Disability?
What Job Teaches Us about Our God
What Job Teaches Us about Ourselves
When God's Gift Comes Specially Wrapped
When God's Gift Comes Specially Wrapped
When Life Isn't Fair: What They Didn't Tell Us in Sunday School
And Job Lived Happily Ever After . . . Or Did He?
Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance -by Charles R. Swindoll
Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance
Living the Psalms: Encouragement for the Daily Grind -by Charles R. Swindoll
The Futility of Unscrewing the Inscrutable
The Mournful Wail of a Miserable Man
Timely Reminders of Timeless Truths
Undone: A Story of Making Peace with An Unexpected Life –by Michele Cushatt
Destiny: Choosing to Change the Course of Your Life
Encouraging Words for Discouraging Days
Facing Life's Problems With God's Hope
For Those Who Hurt -by Charles R. Swindoll
Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Pain
God's Peace in Philippians 4
Graceless Words for a Grieving Man
Holding on to Hope: A Pathway through Suffering to the Heart of God –by Nancy Guthrie
Hope Beyond Bitterness: When Life 'Just Ain't Fair'
Hope Beyond Suffering: How We Can Smile Through Suffering
Hope Beyond Unfairness: Pressing On Even Though Ripped Off
Laughter, Volume 2: The Essential Ingredient for a Great Attitude
Laughter: Chuck's Prescription for Joy
Reeling and Recovering from Devastating News
What If Someone Kicks You When You're Down?


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Local Problem Solving Center - UCCE
The University of California Cooperative Extension in Plumas and Sierra Counties is part of a statewide system that makes University of California research-based information available to local agencies, industries and the general public. Backed by resources at the nine University California campuses, our educational programs use practical information to address community challenges focused on sustaining agricultural vitality, enhancing natural resources, youth and leadership development along with helping communities shape sound public policy.
Located at the Fairgrounds in Quincy the University of California Cooperative Extension programs operate through a unique partnership of Plumas and Sierra County Governments, the University of California, the Federal Government via the U.S. Department of Agriculture and private funds. We assist individuals and organizations, conduct field research, publish newsletters, produce information for mass media and conduct a wide array of seminars, workshops and events. Volunteers assist with the 4-H Youth Development Program as well as providing resources for local research efforts.
Across California, the University of California's 64 Cooperative Extension offices are local problem-solving centers. We are the bridge between local issues and the power of UC research. Our county-based staff is part of the community – we live and work in the areas we serve.
More than 300 campus-based specialists and county-based farm, home and youth advisors work as teams to bring practical, unbiased, science-based answers to problems across California.
As part of the agricultural community, we help farmers develop more-efficient growing methods, solve pest management problems and develop crops and irrigation methods that use less water.
As stewards of the land, we help develop smart water-use strategies, develop wildfire education and help preserve natural areas and farmland.
As advocates for healthy communities, we promote healthy diets and exercise for better health, help Californians learn to choose the most nutritious foods and help shape the citizens of tomorrow through the 4-H Youth Development Program.
And thousands of volunteers extend the reach of our work through the Master Gardener Program and the California 4-H Youth Development Program.
We work in full partnership with federal, state, county and private resources.
We are stewards, problem-solvers, catalysts, collaborators and educators.
We are UC Cooperative Extension.
Photo By: Andrea Oilar
Plumas Sierra
208 Fairgrounds Rd.
Quincy, CA 95971
Phone: (530) 283-6270
Fax: (530) 283-6088


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Chelsea custodian Cech would have almost certainly pushed his Manchester United rival close had he not spent three months out of action with a career-threatening skull injury sustained in a collision with Reading´s Stephen Hunt back in October.
"He has been voted the best goalkeeper this year and I voted for him. I think he had a great season and you always need a good goalkeeper to be successful," said Cech.
© Copyright PA Sport Ltd 2007, All Rights Reserved.


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A few weeks back, I had a nice long conversation about theatre with Phil Rickaby, host of the Stageworthy podcast. (To which you should already subscribe, if you want to hear fascinating discussions with the folks who make Canadian theatre happen.) You can listen to my interview here!
Category Archive: Random Theatre
Feb 24
D.J. on Stageworthy!
Aug 12
A Brief Procedural Note
I have to give full credit to my friend Debs – she was the one who came up with the idea for organizing my entries in this blog. As much as I seek out connections in my work, as far as this whole Internet thing goes I tend to be just a little bit late …


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All Food and Drink
- The Grill
Start your day with a plate of Lebanese manakish bites and a feast of international offerings as the sun rises over the marina, or sit down for premium steak and a glass of local wine as you watch the stars come out from your seat on the terrace.
- The Lobby Lounge
The perfect place for sipping Afternoon Tea, grabbing a quick bite with friends or meeting colleagues for a scenic power lunch.
- The Bar & Lounge
Enjoy a light meal of international fusion cuisine paired with an artfully prepared drink from our tailored beverage menu in this intimate lounge.
- Arabesque
Our laid-back terrace lounge lends itself to quiet conversations held beneath the stars, shared over drinks, shisha and mouth-watering plates of tabbouleh with quinoa and mini chicken shawarma.
- Level 26
Take in the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea from our chic open-air lounge, where bespoke cocktails, live music, handcrafted sushi, Asian-inspired dishes and inspiring views create the kind of evening you'll want to re-live over and over.
- In-Room Dining
For breakfast in bed, impromptu business meetings or romantic meals on your private terrace, we have you covered, day or night.
- Every Day, 6:30 am – 11:30 am
Breakfast at the Grill
Choose from an extensive à la carte menu, continental breakfast buffet, flavourful Lebanese specialties and a host of healthy options at the most lavish breakfast in the city.
- Every Day, 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Afternoon Tea
Indulge yourself for an afternoon with our menu of freshly made sandwiches, cakes and pastries served daily in our elegant Lobby Lounge.
- *Not available during Ramadan
Four Seasons Sunday Lunch*
Stop in for the city's most popular and elaborate weekly lunch at The Grill, featuring hand-picked local ingredients, an artisan-chocolate cellar and live stations where you can watch and chat with our chefs as they work.
The Team
Executive Chef Apostolos Dimou
Known as much for his humility, warmth and work ethic as for his culinary skills, Chef Dimou has chartered a passionate and adventurous career. After working for several years in his native Greece and alongside Alain Ducasse, Chef Dimou delivers the unpredictable with a classical passion and meticulous attention for details. He loves being part of Beirut's vibrant food scene, and you'll often find him in the local markets or exploring the wine country.
"Cooking demands passion, love, and above all, a respect for the gifts of the earth."
Culinary Experiences
It's all about rarity, distinctiveness and experiences. Each of our outlets has a story, and that's what gives them value.Ali Hakim Outlet Manager
- Only the finest cuts
Steak lovers will find their home at The Grill, where we exclusively serve Wagyu and USDA Prime-Aged beef, hand-butchered, matured and grilled to perfection just the way you like it.
- Perfect pairings
It's a classic combination – cognac and cigars. And we've got just the place for you to share your passion with like-minded guests and other connoisseurs at The Bar.
- High-end shisha
Tucked away on our third-floor terrace is Arabesque, our little slice of old Lebanon, where we invite you to sit, relax, and sample a wide selection of shisha flavours along with our signature drinks, home-made desserts and a tempting menu of traditional mezzeh.


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Intel and Micron announced availability of new 3D NAND Flash memory they developed jointly with up to three times the capacity of existing flash technology. The product was developed by a joint venture the two companies formed in 2006 called IM Flash Technologies.
Intel says that a key design aspect in the new 3D NAND Flash is a floating gate cell, which stacks flash cells vertically in 32 layers to achieve 256Gb multilevel cell (MLC) and 384Gb triple-level cell (TLC) die. This allows creation of gum-stick-size SSDs with more than 3.5TB of storage, or regular 2.5 inch SSDs with over 10TB of capacity.
According to Intel and Micron, the new design features improved latency and increased endurance over previous generations and new low-power sleep modes that cut power to inactive NAND die. Putting stock in the all-flash data center, Intel puts forth the tenet that 3D NAND Flash will extend Moore's Law for flash storage and both improve density and lower cost of NAND flash.
With this early entry of 3D NAND technology Intel and Micron leverage their-long standing partnership and hope to grow their own respective market share. IM Flash has produced innovative memory products for almost a decade, with engineering and fabrication located in Lehi, Utah.
Providing further evidence to the evolution toward 3D NAND Flash, Toshiba also recently announced the development of a 48-layer 3D stacked cell structure flash memory called BiCS. Samsung, Hynix and SanDisk also have active 3D NAND product strategies. Wikibon believes flash storage will drive big benefits for the enterprise through "order-of-magnitude improvements in speed and I/O." It also hypothesizes that the "lifetime cost of flash will fall 50-fold from $470 per terabyte today to $9 per terabyte in 2020."
Intel says the 256Gb MLC version of 3D NAND is sampling with select partners today, and the 384Gb TLC design will be sampling later this spring.


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Former Chelsea and Liverpool transfer targets found the net this evening in pre-season friendlies as did Tottenham Hotspur's star man Gareth Bale.
A round-up of friendly results from July 16.
Dozens of friendlies have been taking place around Europe today, and here is our rundown of some of the results and notable moments.
Saint Etienne 3-1 Istres
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's former club showed no signs of missing him with a 3-1 win over Istres. 21-year-old prospect and former French youth international Idriss Saadi was on the scoresheet.
Sion 2-3 Benfica
Europa League runners up emerged as 3-2 winners over Swiss side Sion, thanks to a second half brace from new signing Lazar Markovic, who had been on the radar of Chelsea.
Notts County 1-3 Galatasaray
League side Notts County hosted Galatasaray, almost holding the Champions League quarter-finalists to a memorable and highly creditable 1-1 draw. There was pure joy for fans when Enoch Showunmi put the hosts ahead on 55 minutes, only for the Turkish club's prolific marksman Burak Yilmaz to net an 80th minute equaliser, but Wesley Sneijder scored a late winner to break the hearts of supporters.
Heerenveen 2-1 Oud-Heverlee
Dutch side Heerenveen won out 2-1 winners over their Belgian opponents. The winning goal was scored by Icelandic striker Alfred Finbogasson, linked with West Ham, Aston Villa, and previously Everton.
Swindon Town 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Gareth Bale scored a first half goal in his return to action for Tottenham against Swindon, lashing the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area, but it was not enough to earn them victory in Wiltshire, pegged back by a 76th minute equaliser from Andrew Williams.
Motherwell 2-4 Newcastle United
Newcastle did not let a lack of summer spending so far prevent them beating SPL side Motherwell. Goals were scored by Haris Vuckic, Moussa Sissoko, Yoann Gouffran and Sylvain Marveaux, while former Everton man James McFadden netted for the hosts.
Port Vale 3-5 Derby
Championship side Derby County emerged winners in an entertaining battle with Port Vale, scoring eight goals between them. Port Vale had gone 3-1 up before the Championship side fought back to claim a 5-3 result.
Colchester 0-2 West Ham
West Ham won comfortably against their Essex rivals, through a goal in each half. Joe Cole opened the scoring, his second of pre-season, before James Collins added a second.
Luzern 1-4 Borussia Dortmund
Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored once again for his new side in a 4-1 win over Swiss side Luzern. The Armenian's goal was the third of the game, with Marvin Duksch, Robert Lewandowski and Marco Reus scoring for the Germans. You can check out Mkhitaryan's goal below:
image: © Jan S0L0
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|Home | Before Pickup | Starting Pickup | In The Middle Of Pickup | The End Of Pickup
Phone Rules
1. Introduction
The first phone can be one of the most anxiety-laden moments of a pickup.
You've had a successful interaction with a woman and exchanged numbers, but now what?
What if you she's forgotten you?
What if you're too nervous on the phone and blow it?
What if she's busy on the day you want to see her?
What if a guy answers the phone?
What if she's given you a wrong number entirely?
Don't worry about it.
The fact is, if you get out of your head, the first phone call can be a very easy and simple thing. You may receive a lot of conflicting advice and opinions on the phone call – and much of it does work -- but this is the way I do it and have always done it.
2. How Long to Wait
How long are you supposed to wait between getting the number and making the call?
Some say call the next day; others say wait three days.
They're all wrong.
There is no fixed amount of time you need to wait.
Rather, here's how long you wait: As long as you possibly can.
In other words, if you meet a woman and make an amazing connection and she begs you to call her, you can wait as long as a week. She's not going to forget you.
However, if you meet a woman, talk for a few minutes, exchange numbers, and afterward you see her talking to different guys all night, you're going to have to call her the next day. Because you didn't make that deep of a connection or impression, within 48 she's going to have forgotten all about you.
So the general rule on phone calls is, to quote David D'Angelo, "Don't let the line go slack." Simply call her while your interaction is still fresh in her head, but not so soon that she thinks you're a stalker.
3. To Block or Not To Block? To Message or Not To Message?
When I first joined the seduction community, many guys advised blocking your phone number when calling a woman and not leaving a message.
The idea, they explained, is that you will eventually "trap" her on the phone when she answers and convince her to see you.
I don't use or recommend this crowbar method, unless you're a telemarketer. The fact is: If she's not taking your calls, it means that you didn't do your job properly during the interaction.
So I NEVER block my calls and I ALWAYS leave messages. Why? Because it shows confidence. If I did my job properly when approaching her – and displayed personality and value and conveyed trust – she's going to be excited when I call. I try to leave every interaction with the woman worried, "What if he doesn't call."
In addition, if you've seeded your event properly, she'll know just what you're calling about and will be comfortable taking the call.
If she's not calling you back or taking your calls, the problem is not with your phone game; it's with your approach game, because you didn't convey the qualities necessary for her to WANT to see you again.
4. When To Text
Personally, I never like to text for the first interaction. It shows a lack of confidence, and to a small percentage of women this can be a deal-breaker.
www.seductionbase.com @2006-2007 - The Ultimate Collection Of seduction Opener, Close Routines and Other seduction Tactics


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For many in the UK, rising energy prices have seen a shift in the types of light bulbs installed in homes and commercial premises, which is where Low Energy Lights are becoming an increasingly popular choice for lighting solutions.
, we have a vast selection of
Low Energy Lights
to satisfy all your requirements, be it for your living room or your restaurant or retail outlet. Our extensive range of Low Energy Lighting offers customers a choice of stylish and practical light fittings that use low energy bulbs for better efficiency and cost.
With the UK government and much of Europe now phasing out inefficient standard light bulbs, light manufacturers are now adapting their production to incorporate low energy lights that are better for the environment and consumers. But what are Low Energy Lights?
Well, they are light fittings which use a different type of bulb to ensure better efficiency and energy usage, without compromising on the illumination. There are two main types of low energy light bulbs available in the UK that can be found in standard light fittings and downlighters, as well as spotlights - Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
CFLs are incredibly cost-effective using up to 75-80% less electricity to illuminate than traditional light bulbs and will last much longer too. CFLs work by gas in a glass tube being charged with electricity, which glows to emit light. CFLs are mostly used with standard lights and downlighters and currently aren't widely available for spotlights.
LEDs are small individual lights that emit a small amount of light through a one-way electrical current, which is what makes them so efficient. They use 90% less electricity than normal light bulbs and will last up to 50 times longer. Whilst one LED doesn't emit huge amounts of light, in domestic and commercial lighting, a large number of LEDs are used in bulbs to increase the brightness of the illumination. LEDs are commonly found in spotlights and dimmable lights, but can also be used for downlighters too.
The main benefit of using Low Energy Lights is the savings you'll make on energy consumption, lowering your electricity bills. With CFLs and LEDs using considerably lower amounts of electricity to emit light, you'll find that replacing standard or halogen light bulbs with either of these bulbs could bring significant yearly savings on your electricity bills and even more over the lifetime of the bulbs. Whilst many low energy lights will cost more in the initial outlay, they do in fact offer great value for money as they last much longer than ordinary bulbs, so your costs for replacement will also be lowered.
With the increase in availability for low energy lights, you'll find plenty of places where they can be used to great effect. In domestic residences, they can be used in almost any room in the property and will offer suitable illumination for living rooms, kitchens, hallways and bathrooms. Although, with bathrooms you will need to make sure the light fittings have the appropriate IP ratings.
A great way to give additional light in your kitchen or bathroom, without wasting energy is to replace halogen spotlights with LED low energy light fittings, like the
Studio 4 Light Spot
. Not only will you have the flexibility to adjust the lighting to where you need it most, but they will still give off the right amount of light, but use far less energy in the process.
Low Energy Lights can also be used in commercial environments too, and with many commercial premises requiring large lighting systems, they can prove to be extremely cost effective. Products like the
Rectangular Flush EL18
, offer a great lighting unit for retail outlets, offices and hotels using LED bulbs for high efficiency. Alternatively, if you're looking for something with a little more panache and elegance for a restaurant, bar or boutique then we have plenty of styles like the
Flush Carillon 600m LED
, which makes for a great centrepiece in commercial and domestic establishments.
With Franklite, you will find a huge selection of light fitting styles that are suitable for low energy lights. From flush and standard downlighters, to wall lights and spots, we have plenty to offer that will tick all the boxes for style, efficiency and excellent value for money.
Browse our full range below and find the perfect
low energy light fittings
for your home or your commercial premises.


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Defensive back Jack Jones smiled, shook his head and took his place at the end of the line on Wednesday at the Opening.
The 5-foot-10, 157-pound Jones challenged 6-foot-4, 237-pound tight end Isaac Nauta in one-on-one drills and Nauta, who is committed to Florida State, defeated him each time.
"Isaac is a great player," Jones said, smiling. "I can't doubt him anymore. I just have to respect his game."
Jones, a two-way player, has been one of the most talked-about athletes at the Opening this week.
He has more than a dozen scholarship offers, but has yet to name any favorites.
"That's classified," Jones said, when asked who his top schools were.
Jones did admit that Michigan is a school where he will make one of his five official visits because of Jim Harbaugh's coaching experience in the NFL.
"I'm really trying to prepare myself for the NFL," Jones said. "I feel like that's what everyone goes to college for -- to get the best coaching -- and Jim Harbaugh being in the NFL for years, I feel like he can give me the best coaching."
Jones, from Long Beach Poly High, is thought to also favor UCLA and USC.
"UCLA is a great program," Jones said, when asked about the local schools. "All the [coaches] are great guys and have good attitudes, fun to be around."
Jones said he visits USC more than UCLA because of the school's proximity.
"I hang out at USC a lot because it's like 15 minutes away, but if I could I would hang out at UCLA a lot more," he said.
Jones is expected to make a commitment on signing day in February.
Follow Lindsey Thiry @LindseyThiry


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Lovely calendar with many helpful functions for our workDownload
CalendarDC is like a beautiful and smart secretary who helps you to manage your tasks in work and life. It has transparent UI widgets on the desktop with helpful functions.Get Started!
Many types of calendar with events of days
Notify events by popup windows, email, sms
Easy to create and manage notes and events
Display weather information in realtime
Feel free to join and contact us!


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The Discovery Pack is a preorder bonus for ESO Morrowind. It's a digital bag of goodies, which includes a handful of exclusive in-game items. Everyone who preorders the expansion will get it, and Bethesda have finally published detailed explanations of each item included, as well as where to find them once you're in the game.
Tag Archives: Morrowind
ESO Daedric Explorer Achievement – Ruin Locations in Morrowind
Daedric Explorer is a general achievement/trophy in ESO Morrowind. It's worth ten points, and it is one of those achievements you'll want to get back to later, after you've already completed almost all of it. It requires you to visit all 25 Daedric ruins on Vvardenfell. If you decide to unlock it one go, you'll start to notice the architecture of these ruins even more and wonder if there is more to this.
ESO Strider Caravaner Achievement – Silt Strider Locations in Morrowind
Strider Caravaner achievement is a trophy you can earn in Elder Scrolls Online Morrowind. This is a general achievement that's worth five points. It is considered one of the easiest ones. Its worth in points is equal to the number of minutes you'll need to unlock it.
ESO Echoes of a Fallen House Quest – Bell Order in Morrowind
Echoes of a Fallen House is a dungeon quest in Elder Scrolls Online Morrowind. This quest takes you on a journey to collect four clues, open the doors by ringing the bells in the correct order, and more. It is a rather short but interesting challenge, with a great reward in experience points and other […]
ESO Morrowind Exact Launch Time Revealed
Bethesda have revealed the exact launch time for ESO Morrowind. The expansion is already in an early access phase on PC, but console players will be getting it on June 6th. The developers have decided to release it simultaneously across the globe, which means some players will be getting it in the evening, while others will start early in the morning.
ESO Pilgrim's Path Achievement – Shrines of Seven Graces in Morrowind
Pilgrim's Path achievement is a trophy in Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind. In order to unlock it, you'll have to find all seven Shrines of the Seven Graces. Finding them and reading their inscriptions will net you five achievement points. These shrines are rather hard to spot from a distance. They are small, engraved stone pedestals with candles on them. In this guide, we're going to help you unlock ESO Morrowind Pilgrim's Path achievement, by showing you all shrines of Seven Graces locations.
ESO Morrowind Lost Library Quest – Ancestor Spirit Answers
Lost Library is one of the quests in ESO Morrowind. It stars only after you bring all 30 ancestral tomb rubbings to librarian Bradyn in the Library of Vivec. He'll send you to find the lost library of Andule, east of Red Mountain, and bring him several important tomes from it. Once there, you'll have to solve several puzzles in order to get the books. In this guide, we're going to show you how to solve ESO Morrowind Lost Library quest, how to complete the Daedric tile puzzle and which answers to give to ancestor spirit questions.
ESO Morrowind Ancestral Tombs Locations – Where to find rubbings
Ancestral Tombs are sacred burial grounds in ESO Morrowind. The "Ancestral Tombs Hunter" general achievement worth 50 points is given to those that collect them all, and hand the quest back to Librarian Bradyn. There is even a quest that starts to introduce you to this subject, but the objective only marks one of the tomb locations. Other than the achievement points, you'll gain additional experience points for the two quests, as well as some juicy prizes. Our ESO Morrowind Ancestral Tomb locations guide will help you find all 30, so you can get the rubbings and find the Lost Library.
ESO Morrowind Early Access On Steam Not Working For Some
ESO Morrowind is out – at least the early access version is. This means anyone on PC can start playing now if they preorder a particular version of the game. However, some people who've bought it on Steam are having issues. The game doesn't allow them to access Morrowind content, even though they've purchased and downloaded it. There's a simple solution that may help at least some of them. Those that don't manage to get it to work will have to contact Steam's or Bethesda's support team.
Hireling of House Telvanni Quest
A Hireling of House Telvanni is a quest in ESO Morrowind. It takes you through the adventures of the slave Sun-in-Shadow in Sadrith Mora. This quest is the first of many in a large chain. Completing them all will unlock the Rising Sun achievement, which is worth 10 points.


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The Lavatube is one of the more affordable variable voltage mods available. Following my review of the Lavatube, it has become one of my favorite devices while at home. Simply because of it's size, I prefer other mods while out and about.
Recently though, the Lavatube is being offered from various other suppliers under various names, with a mini option.
The Mini "Lavatube"
I have found my mini tube to perform like my original Lavatube. Battery life will not be as long as it uses an 18350. But at 3.75 inches, versus the regular 5 inches, the new mini's are more practical for on the go vaping.
While using the mini lavatube, I did find it more comfortable to switch up my fire button finger. With the regular size, I use my thumb, with the mini, using my middle finger is more natural, as the activation button rests approximately in the middle of the unit.
Other than that, I receive all the benefits I enjoyed with the full sized Lavatube, with a more practical sized mini.
If you like the full size Lavatube, but would prefer it in a smaller (shorter) footprint, check out the following link:


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Global Chief Investment Officer John P. Calamos, Sr. summarizes some of our team's current thinking. He also shares his perspective on investing in a rising interest rate environment.
Michael Grant discusses positioning considerations given his view that recession risks are low and politics are underpinning an improving economic cycle.
Donald Trump's election has come as a surprise to many, but the market volatility we've seen is not unexpected. It's important to remember that while markets haven't been in this exact place before, they've navigated many unknowns to climb the wall of worry.
Check the background of this investment professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck.
Before investing carefully consider the fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Please see the prospectus and summary prospectus containing this and other information which can be obtained by calling 1-800-582-6959. Read it carefully before investing.
Calamos Financial Services LLC, Distributor
©2017 Calamos Investments LLC. All Rights Reserved. Calamos®,
Calamos Investments® and Investment strategies for your serious
money® are registered trademarks of Calamos Investments LLC.
Calamos Investments LLC, referred to herein as Calamos Investments®,
is a financial services company offering such services through its
subsidiaries: Calamos Advisors LLC, Calamos Wealth Management LLC, Calamos
Investments LLP and Calamos Financial Services LLC.
The personal data collected by Calamos on this website, or by any other means, is collected and stored in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 ("GDPR").
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Grilled Cheese and Creamy Lentil Soup
Taste: 5/5
Ease of Making: 4/5
Dishes: 3/5
Soup and grilled cheese has always been a comfort food go-to for me so on a night where we're rushing to get out the door, it is a welcome meal! This week we tried out a new-to-us recipe from Skinnytaste: Creamy Lentil Soup. As we've found most recipes on Skinnytaste, this one was delicious, relatively easy to make, and pretty healthy to boot!
Here are a couple photos:
Due to a grocery list miscommunication months ago, we (still) have approximately 4 pounds of lentils, so if anyone else has some fantastic lentil recipes, please send them our way!


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I am too lazy to write on anything particular. I came across this exercise and gladly I accepted to answer these only in a word.
You are most welcome to try this, the only rule is that the answer has to be just one word.
- Where is your mobile phone? Lost
- Your hair? Curly
- Your mother? Inspiration
- Your father? Hardworking
- Your favorite food? Dosa
- Your dream last night? Scary
- Your favorite drink? Tea
- Your dream/goal? Contentment
- What room are you in? Bedroom
- Your hobby? Blogging
- Your fear? Loss
- Where do you want to be in 6 years? Mumbai
- Where were you last night? Home
- Something that you aren't? Assertive
- Muffins? Vanila
- Wishlist item? Thousand
- Where did you grow up? India
- Last thing you did? Cooked
- What are you wearing? Pyjamas
- Your TV? NDTV
- Your pets? Bruno
- Friends? Many
- Your life? Amazing
- Your mood? Optimistic
- Missing someone? Yes
- Vehicle? Car
- Something you're not wearing? Spectacles
- Your favorite store? Homestore
- Your favorite color? Blue
- When was the last time you laughed? Today
- Last time you cried? Yesterday
- Your best friend? Sister
- One place that you go to over and over? Goa
- One person, who emails me regularly? Boss
- Favorite place to eat? Four Seasons
It was great fun and I enjoyed this a lot 🙂
This is Day 6 of the #DailyChatter by BlogChatter.


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One of the print quality goals of the Chaucer Vertical 3D Printer is to be able to print snap-in LEGO® compatible plastic building blocks that are equal to or better in quality than LEGO parts. To be clear, the goal is NOT to reproduce LEGO parts, but to develop a 3d printer with a print pipeline good enough to high quality print parts that share similar interface characteristics with LEGO, but not copies of LEGO.
Today I was able to print compatible test parts that do indeed snap-in to Lego parts with an audible snap, which I might add, was music to my ears. The printed parts are also compatible with themselves. The quality is not there yet, but it will be when the print pipeline is fully developed and tuned. Nevertheless, I am pleased with the results thus far, and pleasantly surprised that Chaucer was able to print this level of quality, knowing the current print pipeline is far from being tuned.
Here is a photo of two of my test parts. The red part is the official LEGO® part, the black, LEGO compatible printed parts. The test parts were printed with 1.75 mm PLA filament.


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The PCs finally face a tiny piece of reality and start talking about revenue, but since they are dedicated servants of the elite the goal of any new revenue generation will be to have it fall mainly, if possible COMPLETELY on the middle class and the poor.
Cut spending, hike taxes, find a climate-change policy, reform health care, control public-sector pay— Premier Jim Prentice's core agenda sure sounds familiar.
That's because so much of it was ex-Premier Alison Redford's agenda, and Ed Stelmach's before her.
In fact, if you consider promises to diversify the economy and sock away cash savings, Prentice is still following the agenda Peter Lougheed pursued for 14 years from 1971 to 1985
The whole Prentice enterprise often looks like a dismal reflection on decades of PC rule. The same party keeps picking new leaders to solve the same old problems.
Lame justifications about 'driving away investment' a bogieman of ancient vintage just keep slamming up against the fact that we could raise 10 billion dollars in new corporate taxation alone, filling our 7 billion dollar fiscal hole with enough leftover for long delayed infrastructure improvements BUT STILL have the lowest corporate taxes in Canada.
The goal is to use the crisis du jour of low oil prices to protect ideologically based wealth distribution upwards and attack organized labour and public services.
At some point we have to stop falling for this.


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Looking back on the past 31 days, I am happy I participated and I plan to eat a mostly fruitarian diet. There are a few things I wish I would have done differently.
- I would have started the day with a juice. When I started the fruit feast I had just come off of a 114 day juice cleanse. I feel like having a juice in the morning would have been something my body was used to. I felt like I shocked my system a little bit. Plus I wanted to keep juicing a daily part of my diet.
- I would have exercised more. I really didn't start exercising until the last week of the fruit feast. Daily exercise was one of the rules of the feast. I just never got started until the last week. Daily exercise would have helped move more toxins out of my body, get my lymphatic system moving and help me tone.
- I would have not tried durian. I love durian and I'm glad I tried it, I just wish I hadn't tried it during the fruit feast because of the fat content and how eating it noticeably slowed down my digestion.
- I would have been more practical with my fruit shopping. I bought a few things just because I could buy them in bulk for a reasonable price like the case of blueberries and the bananas.
- I would have planned my meals better. There were times I found myself hungry and those are the times when I made rash decisions and bought durian.
I really enjoyed being on fruit for 31 days. I like how uncomplicated it is. Fruit is filling and sweet and most of the time you just grab and go.
So for the first day after the fruit feast I started the day with fresh squeezed pink grapefruit juice. I snacked on jackfruit and I had some durian that wasn't very good. For dinner I decided to make a zucchini noodle dish.
I spiralized two zucchini and added
- Olives
- Sundries tomatoes
- Leaks
- Broccoli
- Hearts of palm
- Fresh dill
- Trader Joe's 21 spice salute
For the sauce I blended together
- The zucchini scraps
- 2 short celery ribs
- 1/2 of a golden tomato
- Two cloves of garlic
- Some nutritional yeast
- 4 soaked sukkary dates
- Lemon juice (I used the juice of one lemon and it was way too much)
- 1/2 of a small shallot
- 2 garlic cloves
- Cayenne pepper
Then I combined it all together.
It smelled amazing! Like I stated, I used way too much lemon juice so the sauce had a tangy flavor that overpowered everything else. The dish still tasted good and I'm going to make again tomorrow with a few tweaks.
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Want to find out what's new from the UK at Musicnotes.com? This month has seen the addition of some exciting new sheet music to Musicnotes.com's extensive catalogue!
We have recently added a selection of Ian Dury songs that inspired the motion picture SEX & DRUGS & ROCK & ROLL; the biopic about legendary performer and cockney wordsmith. The film, starring Andy Serkis (from THE LORD OF THE RINGS) as Ian, has been greeted with much critical acclaim for its portrayal of Dury and his rise to fame with the Blockheads, as well as his battle with his disability as a result of contracting polio as a child. The soundtrack of this film features unforgettable tracks that span the career of Ian Dury & The Blockheads. Now you can sing and play along with such classics as Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, Reasons To Be Cheerful (Part 3) and the ode to a Rock N' Roll legend Sweet Gene Vincent. If you enjoy music by this artist, be sure to browse our catalog of sheet music by Ian Dury.
Bright young thing Marina Diamandis released her debut album "The Family Jewels" in February of this year; it was certified silver days before its physical release, guaranteeing Marina & the Diamonds a top 5 hit in that week's UK album charts. 'The Diamonds' in her band name actually refer to her fans rather than a backing band, as she says on the blog for Marina & the Diamonds: "You are my glittering army. I hope you never leave." Marina has attracted attention for both her original fashion style and unusual vocal delivery and has been compared to iconic artists such as Kate Bush and her peer Florence and the Machine. You can download the sheet music of singles such as Hollywood, (I Am Not A) Robot, Shampain and the forthcoming new single Oh No! which are all arranged for piano, voice and guitar. For more arrangements by this popular artist, visit our selection of Marina & the Diamonds sheet music.
As well as those great arrangements, we're also pleased to announce we've arranged some exciting new singles straight from the charts.
Indie pop band Scouting For Girls released their first single from their second album "Everybody Wants to be On TV" in April. It went straight to number one in the UK singles chart, knocking Lady Gaga's smash hit, Telephone from the top spot. You can now buy the sheet music to their first number one single, This Ain't a Love Song, arranged for piano, voice and guitar in Musicnotes.com's popular Singer Pro format.
X Factor semi-finalist Diana Vickers released her first single entitled Once. This song literally stormed the UK singles chart in late April, entering at number one after selling over 70,000 copies in its first week of release. Our arrangement of sheet music for Once is perfect for piano, vocal and guitar.
Plan B released a second single from their concept album "The Defamation of Strickland Banks." The song is a finger-clicking, soulful stomper that harks back to the classic Motown era. If you are in the UK, you can download our sheet music for She Said, arranged for piano, voice and guitar.
Last but not least, popular UK artist Muse has a title that is featured on the soundtrack for TWILIGHT: ECLIPSE. We're pleased to announce that you can play or sing sheet music for Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever) on Musicnotes.com.


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The iComet Technologies Program was formed during Term 2, 2016 when the ICT Strategic Committee at Comet Bay College approved the initial idea of a student run helpdesk. The new in-school initiative was created by Mr Jason D'Argent (English Teacher) and student Daniel Joyce as a response to 21st century technologies being integrated to schools.
As part of the Program, a student-run helpdesk supports staff and students daily. With a 100% succession rate, the iComet Technologies Helpdesk operates out of the computing lab, Room 362, in the upstairs of the administration building at Comet Bay College. Students and staff are able to visit for support during any Recess or Lunch session, specifically for technical support relating to:
- Connect
- Google Apps
- Photoshop/Premiere Installations (provided students are enrolled in a Design course)
In addition to this, students can also have a 1:1 tutoring session on any technical system used at Comet Bay College.
The iComet Technologies Team is the first port-of-call for students to request technical support.
A dedicated website has been created for technical tips and advice, this is available through the button on the right. To contact the Coordinators of the iComet Technologies Team, please click the 'contact' button on the right.


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The deadline for graduate students wishing to apply for the CATR travel subsidy is fast approaching. All eligible students (see criteria below) should send the following information to the Treasurer's email at firstname.lastname@example.com by 22 May 2017, by email attachment:
- a copy of your membership receipt and conference registration receipt;
- an email invitation to participate in the conference (panel, seminar, and other kinds of involvement/presentation; you can simply forward what you received);
- documentation indicating your travel or accommodation (plane/rail/bus ticket, or hotel/residence booking, etc; reservations will serve the purpose).
Note: if you are driving or taking alternative means of travel without a standard ticket or bill, or otherwise have difficulty accessing appropriate documentation, send the Treasurer an email indicating your origin of travel and involvement in the conference, and we will follow up with you.
Residents of the Toronto region (416 and 905 area code) will not be able to receive travel or accommodation subsidies for this year. Registrants travelling from other regions of Ontario, and from Quebec, will receive costs up to $100, and registrants travelling from further away will receive costs up to a maximum of $250. For exceptions and special needs, write directly to the Treasurer, and we will do what we can to help.
Please note: application for this subsidy must be submitted by 22 May. This is a firm deadline. Cheques will be prepared to be distributed in person at the conference.
We appreciate that reimbursement guidelines are blunt instruments; if you have any questions, exceptions or special needs, do not hesitate to write to the Treasurer, and we will do what we can to assist, within our own budget restrictions.


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It's 3:30 in the morning and I'm on my fifth draft of this post. Just what exactly am I doing… So once more, you all can see the lack of a beginning that seems to start off my posts. I've been sitting here since 1:00, surveying the darkness around me and wondering just what it was I wanted to say. I suppose I sealed this blog's end with my last post, the one prior to Chapter Zero. I talked about Cowardice, and in specific, my own cowardice. I said things I probably shouldn't have, I mentioned parts of me that are better kept hidden. I don't know why this is here anymore. Why am I writing? Am I writing for myself anymore? Was I ever writing for myself?
Just what am I doing. I'm not sure if I'm even telling the truth. As I read back on what I've said and wrote, what I've told people, I feel like a fool. I don't just change my mind, I lie. Without even realizing, I deceive, trick, and cheat people. I'm not even sure if 10% of what comes out of my mouth is plain, simple, honest. I feel as though 90% of what I say is complete bullshit, a lie, or provocation. I don't know if what I'm feeling now is what I should be feeling or what I'm actually feeling. Everything seems out of place. I sealed everything when I wrote 'Cowardice', speaking in a tainted view. What foolishness.
At a certain point, this blog turned from observation of the world about me, personal opinions and more far-reaching topics, to something more introspective, and eventually it devolved into foolish whining. As if writing about it would do anything. As if writing about anything will have a benefit. Not in a closed off, hidden blog. Not one that very few people can see. Just what was I thinking. I suppose I'm writing today to dispel some of the darkness that's creeping up on me.
I start college next month. Classes start in 20 days, I'm gone in another ten days. Where did the time go? Where did my summer go? I wasted it away, and I was happy at the time, sometimes bored, but content. Looking back on it now, I feel this sense of regret. I know I wouldn't have done anything anyway, even if I was warned, but that's just part of learning, part of growing up. I think what I regret more is sitting on my bed a few weeks ago, calling every single person in my contacts list… and knowing not one of them would pick up. I made calls for as long as I could, I got through the entire contact list, but everyone either didn't pick up or was busy doing something else with someone else. I asked for people to call back, one after another, an entire contact list full of people… and no one returned my calls. I send out emails and I get no replies.
Was I that meaningless? Did I never really matter? What was the point of my attitude if no one wanted to deal with me, to even call back. Of course, that was never the point. I always tried not to be the nice guy, but the guy who was reliable, who was around for you if you asked for him. Very few people asked. And of course, I never reached out for help. I always felt like if there was a problem, I could fix it myself. I would simply continue the way I had done things, never asking for help, trying to offer it, and isolating myself. When I tried again a few weeks later, it was harder. Even calling a single person suddenly turned into a monumental task for me. I was scared. Scared to be alone. Scared that being who I was had pushed away everyone I thought I could call friends. I couldn't go through and call everyone on the next pass, afraid of being overbearing, afraid of being a bore, afraid that my attitude, my remarks, my caustic aura would eat right through whatever loose strands of friendship held us together.
Holding conversation was impossible. Summer orientation at college taught me that. I didn't last longer than a few minutes with anyone, I kept overly silent or pretended to be that brash, loud boy that I was in high school. That sort of facade is and was tiring. I was reminded of just how incapable a person I am, how unsociable. When I got home, it was impossible for me to try and call anyone. I had sent out e-vites in the weeks before for a graduation party that my parents were throwing for me, whether I liked it or not. That was bad enough, as a mass message was not something I usually did, and now I was certain my detached attitude was going to frustrate people. When my parents decided to change the date, I had little choice but to accept, and once more I had to send out a mass message, informing everyone of a date change. That, in and of itself, was a horror. There was a protocol to this, one I had no idea about. I was most certainly messing things up, rending all the relationships I had tried to build over the years in two. So when time rolled around and I reached for my cellphone, I found that my fingers trembled every time I got close to the call button, my heart sinking deeper and deeper with each new answering machine. They don't want to talk with me. They're having fun without me. I'm not a necessary, or even wanted existence. I'm just in the way.
Now that date is coming around. My graduation party. My send-off party. What if no one shows up? What if my friends bail… I called around twenty to forty of them, can I really handle it if only two of them show up? Can I handle the jeers from my parent's friends, the pitying looks, the insufferable silence? I'm hoping beyond hope that those people who haven't replied show up. I don't mind. I won't mind. If I invited you and you show up without saying anything before, I won't be mad. I won't be disappointed. I swear I'll be happy, so please, not just for my sake, for my parents too, please let enough people show up. Let things go by without a hitch. I don't want to screw everything up again. I don't want to lose my friends. I don't want to look around and realize I'm alone.
Every time I pick up my phone, I am reminded. It's become impossible to call. It's become too hard to try. I don't have that strength. I don't have that power. And I know, this is a problem I could fix by myself. If I lie to myself even more, if I put myself out even more, if I pretend to be outspoken, questioning, a charismatic spokesman, I can keep going, I can survive. But will the scared, sentimental introvert ever get a chance to exist? Will I have to give up who I am in private in order to exist in the world? In society? Is that the price? Burying who I am, pretending to be someone else, living someone else's dream, someone else's life. I can't even dream. I can't even cry.
And so I welcome back the smiling fool, who smiles even as he's cut to pieces. Hello World. It's me again, I don't know what I'm saying, but I hope you understand.
Who am I?
Who am I going to pretend to be this time?


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A parenting couple, who wish to remain anonymous and to be known as Jay and Sarah, made a discovery in their child's bedroom that shook them to the core. Now they want to the whole world to be warned.
It all began when their 3 year old son told them that he heard strange voices, which spoke with him in the night. At first the parents just thought it had been a dream or lively fantasy.
But one evening as Jay entered the room of his sleeping son, the blood in his veins nearly froze as he heard a voice say "wake up little one, your daddy's looking for you."
As he called to Sarah, the voice said "See, someone is coming". They couldn't find where the voice was coming from at first, but then: the baby monitor! They noticed that the monitor's mobile camera followed them. Then it became clear what had happened.
The baby monitor had been hacked by a stranger and was being controlled by someone's computer or smart phone. The high tech baby monitors today are often complete monitoring systems with sound and video transmission functions and therefore often controlled via the internet, which is precisely the danger.
Nobody knows exactly what the hacking was doing with Sarah and Jay's son. Did he just scare him? Did he take photos? It is a stranger or someone the child knows? After receiving the shock of their lives, the couple want everyone to be warned and to know what they could come up against:
hacking can only be avoided when one is particularly careful with the passwords and keeps up to date with the security updates. The baby monitor should never have the same password as the wifi - and the password should be complicated and difficult to guess. Many people use the first or last name of their children or partner as the password, or even just "1234" or "abcd". These passwords need to be changed immediately, because they're a creating a hole in your security. In addition, the baby monitor software and the wifi router should always be up to date.
Here is a TV report about this topic:
If you are not familiar with the tech, you should always consult an expert for advice because you do not know who is watching. It is not always as obvious, as in Jay and Sarah case, that the camera has been hacked. Therefore, it is important to SHARE this article and let everyone protect their home and children from strangers.


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The below item has been discontinued.
Logitech 920-004161 Bluetooth Easy Switch Keyboard for Mac, iPad and iPhone
Be the first to review this product
Product ID: 17707
Introducing the Logitech 920-004161 Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard for Mac, iPad and iPhone is a illuminated keyboard to use across your Apple devices. A beautifully designed keyboard with one touch easy-switching between your Mac, iPad and iPhone and bright illuminated keys for better typing in the day or night.
Technical Specifications
System Requirements
Warranty Information
Package Contents
- Logitech Easy-Switch - Press one button to switch in an instant between your Apple Bluetooth devices. Logitech Easy-Switch allows you to quickly toggle between typing an email on your Mac, to taking notes on your iPad, to replying to a text on your iPhone. Switch & type from Mac to iPad to iPhone - It provides you to type on your Mac and toggle over to your iPad or iPhone with the touch of a button.
- Reliable Bluetooth connection - Pair the keyboard with your Mac, iPad and iPhone easily over Bluetooth. The fast, reliable connection allows you to move and type on the keyboard anywhere within 30 feet (9 meters) of your Apple devices.
- Laser-etched backlit keys - Type easily in low light and even in the dark. Back lighting ensures the keys are sharp, bright and always easy to read in any light. Only the key characters are illuminated, so you see just what you need to see without distraction. Better typing - day or night - Keys are sharp, bright, and always easy to read thanks to auto-adjusting illumination which dims or brightens depending on the amount of light in the room.
- Auto-adjusting illumination - The illumination automatically adjusts to suit the light conditions in the room. You can also manually adjust the brightness of the illumination using the F5 and F6 keys.
- Hand proximity detection - A motion sensor detects your hands as they approach the keyboard and turns the backlight on/off to help you save power when you are not typing.
- USB rechargability - Forget about having to change batteries. With USB rechargability, you'll never run out of power. Easily top up your keyboard with the convenient USB cable and continue to work. Fast, flexible recharging has never been easier. You'll enjoy between 10 days and up to a year of power, depending on the intensity of illumination and time spent typing. Actual battery life will vary with use, settings and environmental conditions. Allow 3 hours for a full charge. 10 days of power is based on 2 hours typing per day at maximum key brightness.
- Power management - On/Off switch on the right side panel helps you conserve power when the keyboard is not in use. There is also a battery indicator light which turns red when you need to power up and green when the keyboard is charging.
- Made for you, inspired by Mac - The real aluminum finish was designed to perfectly complement your Mac and the familiar layout features all the keys you've come to expect - Command, Brightness, Mission Control keys and more.
- Sleek and ultra-thin - With sleek lines and low-profile keys, this slim keyboard will be a stylish addition to your workspace.
- Compact and wireless - The minimalist, cable-free design takes up much less space on your desk than a full-size keyboard. It also means you can take your keyboard wherever you go with your Mac, iPad and iPhone.
- Logitech Incurve keys - Type comfortably thanks to the unique Logitech keycap design. The concave key surface complements the natural profile of your fingertips and helps you better locate each key for an improved typing experience. The key edges are also softly rounded so your fingertips glide smoothly from key to key.
- Logitech Perfect Stroke key system - The Perfect Stroke key system distributes typing force evenly across the key surfaces making every keystroke silent, natural and fluid - even if you strike the edge of a key.
Literature (Please open the following documents for more technical information)
|Installation Guide - Logitech 920-004161 Easy Switch Bluetooth Keyboard for Mac, iPad and iPhone
|Part Number
|Mac with OS X 10.6.8 or later, iPad, iPad 2, iPad (3rd and 4th generation), iPad mini or iPhone with iOS 4.0 or later
|3-year Limted hardware
|Connection Type
|Connection Type


text: Mechanic Callum is stopped on his way to work by two mysterious women doing a survey. The aggressive ladies trap this dim-witted mechanic in a desolate warehouse and tie him up so they can do whatever they want with him. The women literally cut the clothes from his body, tie him up, whip him, kick him in the balls, screw his virgin arse with a rod, spit roast him with strap-ons and drain his balls. If you want to see more cock humiliation and cfnm photos from this session,click on photo above.