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Buddha questions Mamata's honesty; TMC angry
Former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has questioned his successor Mamata Banerjee's honesty, prompting an angry rebuttal today from Trinamool Congress which demanded an apology from the CPI-M veteran.kolkata Updated: Feb 06, 2013 22:11 IST
Former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has questioned his successor Mamata Banerjee's honesty, prompting an angry rebuttal today from Trinamool Congress which demanded an apology from the CPI-M veteran.
"I don't agree with the perception that she is honest," Bhattacharjee told a Bengali news channel last night when asked whether he agreed with the popular perception that Banerjee was honest.
Asked to elaborate, he asked the news channel to make its own investigation.
The ruling Trinamool Congress said Bhattacharjee's remarks were unfair.
"What he has said is unfair. The people of the state and his constituency (Jadavpore) have rejected Bhattacharjee. We demand that he express regret and apologise for the statement which involves a person (Mamata Banerjee) who has made selfless sacrifice for the service of the people throughout her life," Trinamool leader and Municipal Affairs minister Firhad Hakim told reporters at the party headquarters here.
Taking strong exception to Bhattacharjee's comment, Hakim said, "Her(Mamata) honesty is beyond question all over India and people of West Bengal largely rely on her honesty and gave her the responsibility to serve the people."
"Such a statemwent is totally uncalled for at a time when the state is undergoing a spate of development projects under Mamata Banerjee's leadership," he added.
Asked if the TMC would move court, he replied, "We leave it to the people. The Trinamool Congress is a transparent party."
He said "The communists are used to making such statements amounting to personal slander only to regret later."
"It is Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee who once resigned from the Jyoti Basu cabinet as minister dubbing the government as one of thieves, but rejoined it later. This is the culture of the communists," the Trinamool leader said.
Referring to Bhattacharjee giving the present regime zero in performance, he said "One who himself is zero, how can he give zero to others?"


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The Sarah Palin show is back in town. Hot on the shelves are two books about her, written by three authors who look as if they're still in their teens. Then there's the former Alaska governor's own, ghosted, book Going Rogue, out this week and being leaked strategically via the Drudge Report website.
She's taped an appearance with Oprah Winfrey, clips of which are already being teased before the full broadcast on Monday, and gushed on Facebook that the talk show diva's "audience was full of warm, energised and (no doubt) curious viewers", Oh, and there'll be a book tour beginning in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Wednesday which will take her to 13 cities, 11 of which just happen to be in battleground states that will decide the 2012 election.
There's little doubt that Mrs Palin is in dire need of a political re-launch. While the 2008 presidential campaign rocketed her from obscurity to stardom, it was brutal baptism of fire. Senator John McCain rolled the dice when he chose her as his running mate and neither he nor his staff seemed comfortable with the decision.
After a tour de force of a speech at the Republican convention in St Paul, Minnesota in August, Mrs Palin crashed and burned in interviews with the network anchors Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson. Then the parody of her on Saturday Night Live sealed it.
Before and since the McCain-Palin was defeated, there have been bitter recriminations between Mrs Palin and the McCain camp, with claim and counter-claim flying about everything from her wardrobe to her desire to give a concession speech.
Then she resigned as Alaska governor with 18 months of her four-year term still to run, giving a rambling speech in which she railed against the media and political dirty tricks but gave no coherent reason for quitting.
Throughout, there's been a soap opera sub-plot involving Levi Johnston, the father of her 19-year-old daughter Bristol's son. Now a regular on the talk show circuit dishing purported Palin dirt, Johnston's latest publicity gambit is to pose nude for Playgirl and accept a porn award at a New York ceremony that featured a woman dressed as a giant vagina.
All this, of course, is fodder for much hilarity at Mrs Palin's expense.
Ever since last summer, there's been a strain of commentary about her that has been condescending, dismissive and even vengeful. The persistent smear that Bristol Palin is the mother of Mrs Palin's Down's Syndrome baby Trig is just the most extreme example.
The hatred of Mrs Palin by the east and west coast elites - to whom her very accent is an affront - is not shared by most American voters. But polling shows that the former vice-presidential candidate has some serious problems on her hands if she is to pursue her presumed ambition of winning the presidency in 2012.
A recent Gallup survey found that 63 percent of voters would not seriously consider her for the presidency next time around. She remains very popular among Republicans but among independents - who will decide the next election - her favourability rating is just 41 percent.
This is not snooty elitism - it's based on the perception that Mrs Palin's track record is thin and that while she has real star quality her political prescriptions are vague. Sound familiar? That may have worked for Barack Obama in 2008 but Americans are likely to want much more substance next time around.
On the pre-released tapes on Oprah, however, Mrs Palin performed superbly - relaxed, unpretentious and funny. She even joked good-naturedly about having Levi over for Thanksgiving dinner.
Republicans have just edged ahead of Democrats in the polls and Mr Obama is suddenly looking as if he might be just a one-term President. But Mrs Palin is unlikely to become the candidate who can oust the man Oprah anointed as "the One".
Perhaps there'll be another vacancy in 2012 that might suit Mrs Palin.
In three years, it might well be time for Oprah Winfrey to move on. Her role as his biggest celebrity cheerleader last year already seems a teeny bit embarrassing and Obamamania will be as old hat as Smurfs and Rubik's Cubes by then.
There is, though, someone who would be Oprah's perfect successor. She's got the fame, the huge book deals and, love her or hate her, she is an object of fascination for every American. We'll see this week that she makes compulsive viewing while holding forth from that sofa.
I can see the bumper stickers now: "Time for O to go - Sarah Palin in 2012."

subset: commoncrawl


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Victoria Azarenka has pulled out of Wimbledon through injury, tournament officials have confirmed.
The women's second seed, from Belarus, injured her right knee after a fall in the second set of her first-round victory over Portugal's Maria João Koehler on Monday.
On Wednesday she was due to play first on Centre Court against Italy's Flavia Pennetta, but her withdrawal was confirmed just before the start of the second-round match.
"It is very tough," Azarenka said. "I could not be any more disappointed.
"Wimbledon is just a tournament I was looking so forward to. I love playing here.
"To not be able to kind of play just because of something with such a bad luck is very, very frustrating. I couldn't be more disappointed."
The withdrawal further strengthens Serena Williams' chances of successfully defending her Wimbledon crown - which Azarenka felt well placed to wrestle away from the American after reaching the semi-finals for the last two years.
"I think [I was in good shape to win the tournament]," she said.
"I was playing well. I started my first match well. I mean, the game, I wasn't so worried about that. I think I did very good preparation. I was in shape and everything.
"But as I said, I couldn't prevent something that happened."


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Blog Posts and Lists
Friday, January 13, 2012
LiNKing with Our Audience
4 comments:
- Anonymous said...
This was a fascinating post. My personal research focuses on on how I, as a parent, can cultivate healthy curiosity in my own children. A recent article by Clifford Stoll in Education Today supports what you've encountered first-hand. When children have too many inputs -- TV, video games, Facebook, cell phones, computer games -- they don't have the quiet time necessary to think, reflect and cultivate curiosity. I'm currently reading Dava Sobel's "A More Perfect Heaven" about Copernicus. I always marvel at how these "Renaissance men" could puzzle out their new discoveries. I am convinced that one reason they could do such great things is because they had far fewer external stimuli to busy their minds.
- January 13, 2012 at 9:16 AM
- Unknown said...
Thoughtful and provocative, Dorothy! It shows how much the iNK program can contribute if educators can disconnect themselves from their own fixations with improving test scores and smell the roses.
- January 13, 2012 at 10:04 AM
- Dorothy Patent said...
Good point, creatingcuriouskids! I find that even as an 'older person' I get caught up in the things my computer has to offer and get lost. My local writer friends and I are all having trouble focusing these days, so two colleagues and I are going on a week-long writing retreat where we'll be forced to focus on our writing. The internet will be available, but we'll keep our computers in Word as much as possible! And we won't have the usual daily distractions.
- January 14, 2012 at 1:04 PM
- Peggy T said...
Hi Dorothy,
What a great project to be a part of. I am all for encouraging kids to connect with their environment, and like your suggestion that the kids ask themselves more questions. I notice that kids don't really observe things unless it is framed by some electronic device.
- January 16, 2012 at 11:42 AM


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I recently played throughHatoful Boyfriend for the first time. It was completely not what I expected but first I need to explain my decision to engage with this particular aspect of digital Asia. I first found an interest in let's playing visual novels after a friend showed me PressHeartToContinue and I could not stop laughing at all the funny voices she made. Needless to say my voice does not compare. Please see her fabulousness below.
Dodger conveys her experience of visual novels in an entertaining and compelling manner, something that compelled me enough to try a visual novel for myself.
Back to expectations. So, my channel, GameWreck, is all about me being incredibly shit at games for other people's entertainment. Generally, I stumble about running around in circles until I literally bump into the thing I need to pick up all by accident.
Apparently visual novels don't work…
View original post 543 more words


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Wear It Right
Guys, remember a tux is a formal garment. You don't wear a tuxedo in the same way that you wear a pair of jeans or casual shorts. Pants were made to be worn just below your belly button. These are not jeans that can sit on your hips. Those pants also are not secured in place with a belt. There are adjusters for size on the sides of the pants. If you're looking to make sure they stay in place, the formal way to do so is to use your suspenders. Those go over the top of your shirt and under the vest. If you aren't sure how your tux should be worn, we are here to help!
Prom Tuxedo Tips
Pick Up the Tux When it is ready
We recommend picking up your tux as soon as possible. Tuxes start arriving in the store as early as Tuesday of the event week. We will call you when your tux is ready, but you are more than welcome to call us to inquire. We suggest not waiting until Thursday or Friday, if possible, if your tux is ready sooner, because a wait can occur on those evenings. We do our best to get everyone in and out the door as quickly as possible. If there is a wait, we are good at estimating the amount of wait, in case you want to run for food or run an errand and come back.
Appointments recommended. 319.393.4298
Plan Ahead!
As soon as your date has selected a dress, go get your tux. Don't put it off to the last minute. If you want a special style or color, get it locked and loaded. All of the area proms are within a one month time frame, with many on the same weekend. Make tux arrangements / reservations as soon as possible for best selection.
Now, you know you look great!
All that is left is to Be Smart, Be Safe and have a Fantastic time at Prom.
Oh, and don't forget to send us pictures!
Consider What Your Date is Wearing
It isn't a requirement to wear the same colors as your date, but your attire should at least make sense together. Many guys like to accessorize with the color of their date's dress. You can bring a picture of the dress or bring a dress swatch with you. If you will be attending prom with a group of friends, consider coordinating all your tuxedos for a fashionable look.
Make Arrangements to Bring It Back
Your tux ensemble is due back at our store by 5:00 pm the day after Prom. We need that tux back so we can dry clean it, put it back in stock and get it ready for someone else next weekend. Late returns are charged late fees of $20.00 per day.
Try It On
We require you try on your tux before you leave the store with it. Remember, the tux may need adjustments. We have a seamstress onsite to attend to these needs, as they arise. These adjustments are not a big deal, and take very little time for our experts.
Covid-19 Update: Thank you for your support of our business during this very difficult time. Please see our adjusted hours.


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Fun on the pedals is all about having fun. It is a tour where children - and grown-up children – are challenged by speed, river storms and flights.
The 18 km-long cycle tour takes you through small villages, past the pumping station, go-kart track and the best play areas.
Read the tour itinerary for the cycle route Fun on the pedals and learn more about the entertaining experiences along the route.


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Ahhh, my internet is finally up and running. Oh how I've missed it! These are just a few snapshots from the weekend. XPOSE photo's took some professional shots and I'll be loading those soon, but in the meantime here's a peek of what's new.
We also have new extended hours!
We are now here on Tuesday and later on Saturday!
Tuesday-Friday 10-6
Saturday 10-4
Closed Sunday and Monday
The Thursday before First Friday, I know that's a little confusing but it's really just to dangerous to be in the store when we are revamping the vignette's.
First Friday hours 5-9 PM


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Dana Buchman sunnies {also seen here}, Jump sleeveless romper, WS black peplum vest, Chinese Laundry sandals, Nail color is by L'Oreal You Sea Me, Swarovski Crystal Pave Red ring {is also seen here in black}
I'm so glad I held on to this printed romper that I purchased four years ago for a cruise vacation, because rompers are a hot trend right now especially, printed ones at that! As I'm typing this, I couldn't help but think of JT's very famous lyric "what goes around comes back around..." and how it is so true for fashion.
These rompers are perfect Spring and Summer pieces and are great for putting a quick cutting edge outfit together. It doesn't get any easier than having a one-piece apparel that makes getting ready in the morning a cinch. With just a few accessories you can either dress it up or down depending on the occasion. I love the versatility of a romper!
I've played with styling mine with a few different accessories and shoes, but really, the options are endless with just a little bit of imagination. If you want an illusion of endless long legs, you could also wear nude shoes, especially for me since I'm vertically challenged ...lol. More style options of this romper to come. Join this site with google+friend below at footer;)


text: Posted on April 5, 2013 by siftartorgEdible Book Festival in NOLA Defender NOLA Defender writes about The Second Annual Edible Book Festival in New Orleans. Take a look at the article here. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Related


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Hotels around Matera
Close to Matera and the beaches of the Ionian coast, the Borgo Ritrovato is situated in the historical centre of Montescaglioso. It is a peaceful residence which offers rooms and flats positioned in small houses as well as a restaurant. The flats come with a small kitchen making the Hotel Il Borgo Ritrovato the perfect place to look at if you are interested in varying types of accommodation. The rooms are subtly and simply furnished in a modern and elegant way with lovely accents provided by restored by peeks at original floors, arches, fireplaces or walls.


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|On May 13, 2018, Sunday, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg attended a conference on "Occupational therapy for stroke", held at Rehazenter Medical Rehabilitation Center as part of 2018 World Stroke Day (Journée mondiale de d'AVC). Grand Duchess Stéphanie is the patron of Blëtz asbl. Blëtz asbl, Rehazenter Rehabilitation Center and ALED Association hold a training course for therapists.
Princess Stephanie attended 2018 World Stroke Day event
10 comments:
- AnonymousMay 15, 2018 at 12:18 AM
Nice combination the pants and blazer nice two salad colors also matching shoes and bag. But foremost she has a big smile.She is there for a great cause Pss Stephany carry on.ReplyDelete
Very nice pants -- the perfect length and neither too tight, nor too roomy. The jacket is adequate if not very exciting (I'd say the sleeves are too long, but that is the style these days). I'd have loved perhaps a bolero with some pretty embroidery on it over the white top, but at least this look is neat and event-appropriate. I am getting weary of ponytails on Stephanie and Victoria, though. Come on, girls, try to find an hour a day to have your hair styled.ReplyDelete
Bland, old-fashioned, unflattering, too big and ugly outfit.ReplyDelete
Just her smile and attitude save her.
I think those are the pants that are too big at bottom and long. The sleeves on the jacket are too long!! Why doesn't she get a tailor? I just do not understand.ReplyDelete
Does she have a elastic hair tie....I wish she would lose those.
I don't understand how she can leave the house with her hair tied back with an elastic tie. I just don't get it.ReplyDelete
Old fashioned, unstylish, too big. Same old baggy pants.Not a good look for anyone. Please Stephanie get a stylistReplyDelete
The sleeves are to long on the jacket!! Why!??ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMay 15, 2018 at 6:15 PM
Jacket doesn't fit at all. She has no style at allReplyDelete
(We will not publish unnamed comments that were posted without stating a name or nickname) - Blogs allow for the posting of public comments. Posted comments must directly relate to the information and or topics of discussion on those blog. Comments that are moderated will be reviewed before posting. Comments that are not moderated will be addressed as soon as possible. We trust the community to ignore personal attacks, negative speech, and respond politely.


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We will immediately arrange 30 day payment terms for any government body, educational or national institution.
As well as helping with the ordering process, we also offer delivery and professional installation services on all our products.
NHS - Schools / Colleges / Universities - Ministry of Defence - National Trust - RSPCA - Museums - Town / City Hall - Prison Services - Utility Companies - Government Departments - Armed Services - Emergency Services - British Broadcasting Corp.


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We understand that life insurance is just one part of your big financial picture. That's why we've created a collection of articles, videos and expert insights to help you navigate life's biggest milestones with confidence. Browse the topics in this section to get started.
Only need coverage for 10 to 30 years?
Get a free term life insurance quote >
Don't know what type of insurance you need?
Start here. Or call us at 1-844-733-5433.
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People often consider Indexed Universal Life, a type of permanent* life insurance, when they're looking for the potential of cash value in addition to life insurance protection. Here's how it works:
Today, many people are looking at the value of permanent life insurance with its ability to provide long-term security along with cash value. As such, indexed universal life (IUL) has become a popular choice in providing permanent life insurance protection, and an even greater potential for growth through indexing of interest credits.
Like other types of permanent life insurance, the premium payments you make to your IUL policy have the potential to earn interest and grow the cash value of your policy. However, what makes IUL different is the way interest is credited to your policy. In addition to offering a traditional declared interest rate, IUL offers the opportunity to earn interest that is linked to the performance of a selected choice of market indexes.
When the linked index performs well, your cash value builds at a faster rate, earning you more money that can increase your cash value. In contrast, if the index doesn't do well, your cash value will accumulate at a slower rate. The amounts credited to the cash value in your IUL grow tax-deferred, and may be used to pay insurance premiums, providing the flexibility to reduce or even stop making out-of-pocket premiums payments as long as the minimum premium payment is being met.
As with a regular universal life insurance policy (UL), IUL allows for a flexible premium. This means you can choose to contribute more to your policy (within federal tax law limits) in order to help you build up your cash value even faster. However, it's important to note that many IUL policies have policy caps, whereby you're allowed to earn only a maximum amount of indexed interest credits per year. This means you'll have a limit on how much you can earn even if the index does extremely well.
Most IUL policies come with a guarantee that you will be credited a certain amount during a given time period - regardless of how the market performs. So if the index goes down in a year, your cash value won't. Granted, this could be as low as one percent (or just a guarantee of floor protection so you don't lose money), but nonetheless, it's an assurance that you won't lose your cash value due to decreases in the index. It's important to note that the account value, any policy loans or surrenders may be subject to policy charges, surrender charges, transaction fees, and may reduce the cash value and death benefits of your policy.
An IUL policy can be a good way to provide your loved ones with the protection of a permanent life insurance policy along with the potential to build your tax-deferred savings and protecting your cash value from market losses.
*As long as required premium payments are timely made.
View your free life insurance quote.
See how much coverage is right for you.
All Learning Center articles are general summaries that can be used when considering your financial future at various life stages. The information presented is for educational purposes and is meant to supplement other information specific to your situation. It is not intended as investment advice and does not necessarily represent the opinion of Protective Life or its subsidiaries.
Learning Center articles may describe services and financial products not offered by Protective Life or its subsidiaries. Descriptions of financial products contained in Learning Center articles are not intended to represent those offered by Protective Life or its subsidiaries.
Neither Protective Life nor its representatives offer legal or tax advice. We encourage you to consult with your financial adviser and legal or tax adviser regarding your individual situations before making investment, social security, retirement planning, and tax-related decisions. For information about Protective Life and its products and services, visit www.protective.com.
Companies and organizations linked from Learning Center articles have no affiliation with Protective Life or its subsidiaries.


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The action often happens quickly in bird photography. One moment the bird is sitting motionless and then suddenly it launches off – wings outstretched with head pointed to the sky. Your opportunity to create an amazingly dynamic image is all over in a split second. When you scroll through the photos on your LCD screen afterwards, did you bag the photo or did you end up with an overexposed, out-of-focus blob?
I can't count the number of times that the latter scenario was my reality when I was getting started out in bird photography. In most cases, the culprit was that my camera settings were way off. When I finally figured out a standard set of basic camera settings tailored to shooting birds and began venturing out with my camera ready to capture the action, my success ratio took a huge leap.
These days, I have one main "default" mix of basic settings for all-purpose bird photography and a modified version for shooting birds in flight. If you bump into me when I'm photographing birds, check out my camera settings. You'll find they're set up as per below about 95 percent of the time, so I'm ready to get the shot …
To read more of Ethan Meleg's column and other great how-to articles please pick up the Summer/Fall 2014 issue of OPC today, or subscribe!


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The whippet looks like an exquisite miniature greyhound. They are so graceful and elegant that when I walk with my dog, I often get stopped by strangers who ask me questions about my stunning hound and they want to pet … Continue reading
Category Archives: Ideas
Spring = Flowers, Flowers Everywhere!
I went shopping with my girlfriend the other night for a dress. The stores are spot on with our sentiments of totally being sick of winter and wanting the bright fresh florals of Spring! They were seen everywhere! I personally … Continue reading
The Blind Side
While watching one of my favorite movies, I was trying to figure out if it was one of my favorite movies because of its unbelievable storyline, amazing characters or the home's decor! If you don't already know the movie, the … Continue reading
Holiday Decor and Gifts~Week Two
It is time to start thinking about your Thanksgiving Table! Today there are so many beautiful ways to make your table feel warm and welcoming. Here are some items that I think would make wonderful additions to your holiday table. … Continue reading
Simply Greige
A friend recently asked me if I could recommend a grey color for her walls as she wanted to clean up her living room. I thought to myself, if I had a dollar for every person that asked me that question, I'd be a lucky lady. The answer does not automatically roll off my tongue because there are so many variables when it comes to grey. Hence the title of this post, "Simply Greige".
Fall Florals Make Everything Warmer
My Blog two weeks ago was on the coming of Fall. I hope you all read it and enjoyed it! I just love this time of year for so many reasons that I just want to keep writing about it! … Continue reading
Hello Labor Day (well almost)!
The one thing I absolutely LOVE about living in New Jersey is that I get to appreciate all four seasons! By this time of year, I am excited for the last round at the beach and the pool. There is … Continue reading
Top Ten Lighting Tips
One of the most neglected areas in planning a home is the correct use of lighting. Most Architects and Builders (sorry) are high hat happy! Don't even let me get started on where they place the switches and outlets, not … Continue reading


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48 cm Christmas Stocking with 3D Reindeer Head Decoration, Cream/ Gold
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Features a cream and gold rudolf reindeer with a festive pattern
3D reindeer with cream and gold scarf
Large Felt Stocking ideal for multiple presents or treats
Soft Fabric Material
Size Height 48cm (19 inches)
This reindeer stocking has been designed from high quality soft fabric and features a 3D Rudolph holding a gold Christmas tree. It is decorated with a cream and gold intricate pattern on the front and comes with a hanging hoop for easy hanging on mantelpieces, fire places and bed frames. This fun design is an ideal stocking for your Children or loved ones. It is a large stocking ensuring that you have plenty of room to store treats and presents and it has been rigorously tested to ensure you can use this year after year.


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Rate: $175.00 per night
The Blue Delft Suite is in the original part of the Manor. It is surrounded by two-foot thick stone walls and large windows. It has a large, custom built cherry closet door with mirrors. The window treatments, queen sized bed and bed curtains are all a combination of the blue delft, blue and white. There are stained glass windows throughout the room. The adjoining bathing suite is equipped with a separate water closet, Jacuzzi tub, and a shower. The original stone walls are exposed and surrounded by American Chestnut.
Check-in time is 3:00 PM.


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Designing Daemons
Rhythm & Hues was tasked with creating the main daemons, including the integral characters Pantalaimon and the Golden Monkey. The R&H designers also worked on the spy flies and divided shots with Digital Domain on the alethiometer (the golden compass itself). Effects producer Gary Nolin says it's the biggest project the 20-year-old company has ever worked on -- all told, more than 500 artists were involved.
In the film's universe, where animals representing humans' souls never leave their sides, "just about every shot where you'd see a human would have a daemon in it," says R&H visual effects supervisor Bill Westenhofer. R&H had actually done much of the groundwork for the animals when the company worked on "The Chronicles of Narnia." They built destruction kits (animated body-parts libraries, if you will), where they could find perfectly designed antelope legs or ferret paws if they needed them. Faces, however, had to be custom-designed.
There were hundreds of animals to create. Animators studied specially shot footage of snow leopards to produce Stelmaria, the daemon of Lyra's uncle, explorer Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig). They designed a true-to-life snow leopard with a very specific eye color. "The eye colors are meant to match the actors'," says R&H visual effects supervisor Ray Chen, "so with Daniel Craig, we had that icy cold blue."
The Golden Monkey (the daemon of Mrs. Coulter, played by Nicole Kidman) posed one of the trickier challenges. It isn't based on a real monkey, but rather a blend of capuchin, spider and three types of tamarind monkey. "Tamarinds are beautiful monkeys with ugly faces, so we used a face that was more like a capuchin, the size and build from a spider monkey and capuchin, and fur from a tamarind," Mike Fink explains.
The effects team also had to figure out how to express the daemons' personalities. "Mrs. Coulter is a beautiful woman but she has a dark heart, and the Golden Monkey exhibits that part of her personality," Westenhofer says. "He's a nasty little guy."
Lyra's daemon, Pantalaimon ("Pan"), transforms according to his mood -- so at various times, he's a ferret, a wildcat, a wood mouse, a cobra, a bird and a moth. His personality, reflecting the smart, spirited Lyra, had to come across in its many incarnations and be consistent within the various designs. "We wanted to have his look be similar across the many animal forms and make him as cute as possible," says Chen. "When he's a ferret, he has a little bandit mask around his face, and we put a hint of that in all the forms he takes, such as the dark area around the wood mouse's eyes. We also tried to keep the same palette of browns and golds."
Pan's design required several evolutions. The wildcat incarnation was particularly tough, Fink says. Its "macho look" had to match Pan's toughest persona, but it wasn't very visually appealing. "So we worked on the shape of his eyes, his coloration, the shape of his head a little bit," Fink says. "He's definitely a Scottish wildcat, but he has a slightly softer look, younger in the face."
The animators also added a sheen to the fur of the daemons, which makes it clear "that they are somehow different and special," Chen says. "You can see the difference when you see the real animals that don't have the daemon quality to them."
Once the daemons' designs were established, Rhythm & Hues had to figure out how to insert them into live-action environments and have them interact with the human characters. We'll learn about that process on the next page.


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I've always loved nutmeg. Its woody, sweet smell is as nostalgic an aroma as mothballs, gasoline, pine needles, the residual smell of beer in the nose on a cold winter night after getting turfed from the bar. Okay that's a weird one, but it's up there anyway. And it brings me back to warm times.
In truth, it was one of those spices that got me into baking in the first place. It was like a gateway spice. First, a few sprinkles on oatmeal. A little cinnamon toast. A sprinkle in some hot chocolate. Then on to cookies. Coffee cakes. Banana bread. And finally, rock bottom and full commitment; pies and curries. Never more 1/2-3/4 of a teaspoon, a little nutmeg always goes a long way. It is a short and powerful road, but always delivers a long line of flavor. But space cakes is where I must draw an end to that line.
The concept of nutmeg being a narotic substance came to me when I watched the movie, Malcolm X. I had no idea. But there was Malcolm in prison, going through some major withdrawal, and his cell mate offers him a little shot glass of some "tea" to "help him get the monkey off his back". Eighteen year old me, mind blown. It had been there all along. Nutmeg?! I'd smoked banana peels, mint, various herbal teas. Chasing childhood urban legends, that usually turned out to be scams. Once I even rolled up a bunch of dried maple leaves in a piece of newspaper. Good times, lemme tell ya. But when I heard that nutmeg was a powerful, possibly even toxic, hallucinogen I was shocked and disillusioned. I felt like I'd been lied to. Yet for some reason, even with this new knowledge that getting high could be as easy and cheap as raiding the spice rack, I never bothered.
I suppose part of it was because I didn't really know what to do. How was it to be prepared? In the film, it looked like they were just drinking the stuff. And judging by the actors' wincing faces while they did their prison shooters, it didn't look at all appealing. Also, there was no internet at the time, and no one was talking about it. It was clear that either nobody knew about this, or that adults everywhere had taken a solemn oath to never speak of the dark side of this beloved and essential component of pumpkin spice. So anyway, I just forgot all about it.
Eight thousand years pass and I'm at a beach party somewhere, talking to a bunch of giddy people who have clearly been eating all kinds of oatmeal cookies. Smells yummy. I'm hungry. And confused. Grandma's oatmeal cookies at a reggae party? Reggae bake sale? Okay… On my way to buy my next beer, I see the sign for 'space cakes'. It's written in iridescent glittery marker on a black piece of cardboard. It has a couple of planets drawn on it, and a UFO. Makes sense. And there they were. Hunks of plastic wrapped squares of cakes, next to all the regular bar fixings you'd expect to see. I didn't buy one, but I was offered a bite.
Despite the fluffy looking cakes I'd seen neatly folded in plastic wrap; exhibiting hints of the slightest stickiness and moistness, these were heavy, gritty, baked bricks. More similar to a protein bar consistency, than to any kind of coffee cake. After eating what was a pretty small nibble, my mouth was on fire. It was like I'd downed a whole bottle of Old Spice. There was nothing pleasant about this. Just pure torture of the mouth. All at once, my tongue was sapped of moisture, yet tingling in a similar way that Szechuan peppers cause, which I actually like. I didn't like this though. I could feel the sides of my mouth shrinking and my molars were starting to squeak along the walls of my mouth. Luckily, beer helped. I rinsed out my mouth and that was that for my two-minute relationship with nutmeg space cakes.
For those who enter into the deep space of the nutmeg cake, the highs vary. I never even made it to the lobby. Some have experienced the feeling of trudging around head to toe in a thick, mollasesy substance. Others claim to have loss of appetite, inability to fall asleep, and a lot of other nasties like stomach cramps, headaches, nausea, dry mouth to the extreme, and elevated heart rate, to list a few. That's a pretty iffy laundry list of fine print to roll the dice on, just to get the euphoric and hallucinatory effects that very few people actually enjoy. Still, its legal, cheap, and as easy to get as going to your local supermarket. But I think I'll just stick to cinnamon buns and zucchini bread, thanks.
Okay, a wee bit of science. Nutmeg contains a chemical compound called myristicin, among other things. Its breakdown in the liver produces MMDA, a known amphetamine. However in some studies, human guinea pigs were given high doses of myristicin, but were observed to have much milder results than expected, suggesting that other chemical compounds were probably also responsible for the 'high'. I found a short read on the subject for anyone who's considering getting all janky and sketched out on holiday spice, or just curious.
To put it all in a nut (meg) shell, sorry… some places have strict and often archaic laws in regard to drugs. So I totally understand, and even support, people getting creative in their pursuit to make merry. The fact there's a potentially psychoactive household ingredient sitting right under our noses, can make experimenting pretty desirable. But for all its potential worth, it doesn't actually seem worth the trouble. The fine print warnings read like some TV ad for pain medication. And in my personal view, I do not enjoy destroying my love of the flavors that have happily speckled my life. I'll stick to that recipe.


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Follow TVR on Twitter!
TVR on Twitter12 Jan
Follow TVR on Twitter!
Dion McGregor film somniloquies "BREATHTAKING" and "SPELLBINDING"26 Feb
Using a soundtrack that is pure vintage Dion McGregor—somnolent orations recorded in the 1960s by his roommate Michael Barr—Véréna Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor have created a film that has critics talking (and not just in their sleep). More reviews will be posted soon, but for now here's David Jenkins article at Little White Lies.
DION McGREGOR FILM PREMIERE!12 Feb
Véréna Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor are premiering their Dion McGregor movie somniloqiuies today at the prestigious Berlinale international film festival in … where was it again … oh yes, Berlin! This project—featuring an all-Dion soundtrack—has been in the works for some time and it's very exciting to see it emerge into the world. A glimpse can be had through the link in the photo above, along with a nicely synthesized account of Dion McGregor's sleeptalking history (download "additional information" at the bottom of the page) .
WOMAN FOR PRESIDENT! Dion McGregor's Somnolent Prediction—from the 1960s3 Nov
Terrific BBC Article on "Epic Sleep-Talker" Dion McGregor and His "Dark Tales"23 Feb
Thanks to David Robson for doing a splendid job sharing the story of legendary sleeptalker (and Torpor Vigil recording star) Dion McGregor!
Try Your Wings – in memory of Mr. Michael Barr (1927-2009)2 Jan
Michael Preston Barr would have been 89 today. Here's a fine version (by Blossom Dearie) of a wonderful song he wrote with Dion McGregor.
Try Your Wings
Who better to review an album of dreams . . .13 Dec
I love this little article from the company that promises you "a better night's sleep"!


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Tom Freshwater from Trust New Art talked about the National Trust's work with artists to enhance the spirit of place. In this video, Sigrid Holmwood, at Upton Park, re-makes painting there, using traditional methods and costume too. Great art and deeply affecting too.
Another great speaker Lindsay Seers was inspiring in letting us live through with her the way she creates connections between her own obsessions and a particular site.
A very inspiring day.
More about unravelled at the Vyne in a previous blog.
In other news, more work's going out every week, this week to New Ashgate Gallery, in Farnham. I can't linger there, or I spend my hard-earned on more of their fantastic ceramics and other crafts. They are really good pickers!


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This Week In Sarasota Interview
Check out the video by Nick Friedman!
Smoked BBQ Ribs, Pulled Pork & Brisket!
If you are looking for some of Sarasota's best BBQ, look no further! There is a reason Ray's meat sells out in just hours. He takes pride in the craft of smoking ribs, chicken, pulled pork and brisket the proper way! After a few bites, you too will be hooked, looking for the next pop up location!
Don't forget about Nikki's delicious hand crafted, bite sized desserts!
Maple Bacon Mini Cupcakes!!
The best BBQ & smoked meats I've ever had! Everything that I've had has been no-nonsense, perfectly cooked & delicious on all levels... Do not miss out on trying all of the meats in your mouth!!! You will be so satisfied 😉–Brit Wegmann
Best chicken ever ! The pulled pork and brisket were both juicy and tender - and the Carolina mustard based sauce is my absolute favorite. ....all around delicious! Your mouthole will thank you 🙂–Jean LaBohn Halling
The pulled pork sandwiches were superb!! The candied bacon...delicious and the maple bacon cupcakes...there are no words! Amazing food!!–Nellie King Burrow
When I moved here from Alabama, it was extremely hard to find decent smoked BBQ. Ray, thanks for your hard work to make a lot of people happy!!–Rob W.
Had Mouthole BBQ cater our summer pool party event. All of our guests could not get enough of the food. This was definitely some of the best BBQ any of them had had. Ray calls out all the stops with his flavorful meat and you'll be savoring each and every bite. If your looking for some great quality BBQ for your event. I would definitely recommend Mouthole BBQ. We'll definitely be booking our future events with them.–The O'Neills


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Okay ya'll.
Feel the beat.
Here we go...
I don't mean to brag and I don't mean to boast
But I love my new iPad more than cinnamon toast
I'm a hip and funky rapper named-ah Cinnamon Spice
And let me tell you that my iPad is way better than nice
(Hey, what do you think? If this blogging stuff doesn't work out for me... Hmm, hmm?)
I've only had my iPad for two days, but here's what I think so far.
I love:
That I can take it anywhere and access the Internet instantly.
The Kindle app.
That it's small enough to fit in my purse.
That I can sync my email contacts from my computer to the iPad.
That it's easy to set up and use.
That an icon pops up to notify me of new emails.
The Kindle app (oh, did I already say that?)
I don't love:
That it's a little heavy when reading a book on it, but I knew about that complaint before I bought it.
My Favorite Feature
My favorite feature of the iPad, besides being able to check emails on the go, is the Kindle app. I've taken it to the gym twice (yep two days in a row - good girl) and I bought and downloaded the book Cutting for Stone through Amazon. Most people find it difficult to read a book while using the elliptical; I've always enjoyed it except for trying to hold the book open with my elbows or turn the pages with my nose (just kidding). But the iPad sits perfectly on the elliptical's book holder and with a swipe of my finger on the screen I can turn the page. Love it! Plus, if you need to you can increase the font size to make it even easier to read while you're (hopefully) pumping your legs like crazy and working up a sweat.
In the Kindle app you can click on "popular highlights" to see portions of text most often highlighted by Amazon/Kindle customers, which are shown very lightly underlined. I like this feature, and the popular highlights underlined are usually what I would have highlighted myself. Missing, though, is the dictionary that's available on the regular Kindle, where you can highlight a word and see the definition. That would come in handy for me.
However! The iPad comes with it's version of eReader called iBooks, and it does have a dictionary. It also has a search gadget where you can click on a word or phrase and it will locate the word or phrase throughout the book.
I also like the page turning aspect of iBooks; when you swipe the screen it looks like the page is actually flipping. Pretty neat.
In iBooks, a Winnie the Pooh book is already on the "shelf," and it shows illustrations. I don't think pictures or illustrations are visible on the Kindle app, which is a bummer because I read a lot of memoirs and biographies that include pictures. If I buy these through iBooks, would the pictures be visible? Not sure.
When you turn the iPad on, both the Kindle app and iBooks go directly to the page of the book where you left off.
I know there are considerably fewer books available through iBooks than Amazon, but I haven't shopped in their "store" yet to see what they've got.
There are a lot of features that I'm finding out by trial and error - just pushing buttons and seeing what happens. The iPad does not come with a manual; a 150+ page pdf manual is available on the Apple website. I haven't had a chance to go through it completely, and I certainly won't be printing it out.
Here are the other apps included on the iPad desktop that I haven't had a chance to check out yet:
Calendar/appointment book
Notes (see below)
You Tube
Funny: The first day I had the iPad I wrote a note on the "Notes" app, "Get something for dinner." That night when Larry got home I was excited to show him the iPad and everything I can do with it. When I showed him the notes app, he saw my "Get something for dinner" note and said, "Well that didn't work."
And off to dinner we went.
Questions about the iPad anyone?


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We've chosen a complete online strategy!
We've worked with Giovanna for developing a complete project. – says Deni De Cesero owner of Deca Design – We've needed not only an optimized website able to reach a good ranking on Google, but also a complete online strategy that allowed us to engage with our potential clients. For this reason initially she's worked on the keyword research and analysis, the developing of an optimized structure and the SEO contents. After releasing the new website, we've also required Giovanna's experience on Social Media Marketing with 16 hours of training course. We are very satisfied with the quality of her service and, of course, with the results!


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One of the things about the "gradual and communicative" Fed is that they pretty much tell us most of the important things we need to know well in advance. No one said anything about a hike (even the hawks) so the odds of a hike at the September meeting is basically "zero." They have also communicated for the past two meetings that tapering is coming, so the odds of the Fed not announcing the taper at this next meeting is also basically "zero." I suppose there could be some question about when tapering would start. My "pick a date out of the air" guess would be October 1. But I know nothing. I just think the Fed is itching to normalize the balance sheet, and reinvesting a few less securities does not seem so radical a change that it can't take effect in a short period of time.
Tapering should be 99+% priced going in. However, it is my theory that it could take some markets some time to get used to trading without the Fed reinvesting tailwind. So I think it's important to make some room to add to reflation trades, if we get any kind of noticeable "buy on the news" bounce in fixed income. Over the next year after tapering, I think we should get less favorable bullish price action than we've seen in previous years. But it could take some time for the markets to adjust.
The most interesting part of the meeting for me are the dots. Considering the markets have pretty much ignored the dots for most of the year, this may seem like a silly thing to say. However, since the Fed eventually makes the decisions on rates, understanding what they think will be important in how the curve is priced. In particular, I'll be looking at three things:
The 2017 dots. For simplicity, I'm going to assume no one is calling for a Sept or Nov hike. To review, at the June meeting we had 4 members call for 2 more hikes this year ("blind hawks"), 8 people call for 1 more hike ("light hawks/moderates") and 4 people call for 0 hikes ("doves"). I think it's reasonable to assume the blind hawks will now go down to 1 hike this year. It's also reasonable to ignore these people for being out-of-touch. So we are left with 12 dots that matter. We could probably take out Bullard's dot and a few more hawkish dots, but I think the bottom 12 are a reasonable representation of the core Fed. The question then comes down to how many of the previous 1 hike folks go down to 0? My over/under is 2.5, bringing us to 6.5-5.5 (for 0 hikes vs 1 hike). We would also lose Fischer after this meeting, and I would have thought he was most likely in the "1 hike" camp. I think the Fed should skip another hike this year (assuming the data stays in-line), but the Fed can be sticky with their dot plots. We've had no inflation, Q3 GDP is on a lower trajectory, and retail sales have not been great (except 2 months ago). Even if they think they are going to hike, they probably aren't factoring in the debt/budget deadline a few days later (which on the margin raises the hurdle for a hike), so I think the markets will price the Dec meeting less than the Fed. We will have a lot of data noise, which could make the meeting a little trickier to guess.
The 2018 dots. The Fed dots have been pricing in a little over three hikes for some time now. I do not expect that to change. So it's a little crazy that the markets caused EDZ8-Z9 to go below 25bps. If the longer end dots do come in, I would expect the 2019 dots to take most of the hit. For me, if the Fed still believes in 3 hikes next year, I am going to look for dips to put on some bearish trades.
The Long Run FF dots. A few weeks ago, I suggested that the 30 year rate could be roughly capped by the Fed's long run FF projections. We know Kaplan is lowering his dot, to around 2.625. Will Brainard/Kashkari do the same? Is Dudley going to lower his long run dot, if he thinks there are structural forces keeping inflation low? How about the other members of the FOMC? I'm not sure I saw anything in the past three months to think the longer term rate should be noticeably lower (other than the markets buying the long end like mad). But inflation has been low for a while and we have had no wage pressure, despite the constructive growth. I think part of the very long end flattening on the selloff last week is the expectation that the Fed dots will move lower. My over/under is that the longer run dots will drop about 10bps (as a mean), but possibly more as a median. It would only take 2 of the 3.0% dots to move down to 2.75 for the median to move 25bps (this is why I hate the median as a measure). I think some of this could be priced in. But really, if the markets can so blatantly disregard the Fed's 2018 dots, I'm not sure how much the long run dots should be worth.


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Relatively new on the market is Ability based learning. There are many who agree that if you group people together that enjoy the same learning ability, you'll help them to help one another. They can gain more in their learning capabilities and enhance one another's learning experience. By contrast, there are a lot of traditional learners who firmly believe that all students should stay at the same pace as their peers to keep them up to date. According to research, there are both advantages and disadvantages to this learning method. Ability based learning enhances the effects of learning that students experience.
Benefits Of Ability Based Learning
With Ability Based Learning, students are allowed to move at their own pace. When they group students together based on their skill levels and ideas, the pressure lowers and the students tend to learn more readily. Students will have a like understanding and their learning styles will enhance one another. Some students are going to take longer to learn a concept. If you leave these students in the mainstream class they may wind up holding the class back. By grouping these students with other students that have a similar learning style you're going to be helping the entire group as well as the one student. They will move more quickly from one concept to the next when they are grouped in this fashion. Students will be more challenged and progress more quickly through their curriculum and gifted students will be challenged accordingly. In this fashion, those who are gifted will remain motivated and those who aren't will get the help that they need to complete their studies. Tradewind have some interested takes on the matter.
Disadvantages Of Ability
Of course, with advantages, come disadvantages. There are many reasons that there are disadvantages. There can be some discomfort for some of the students who will have trouble adapting to a new environment. These students may have a social anxiety that is exacerbated by placing them with a group of students that they don't know. The grouping can also highlight the various differences in their cognitive abilities and some groups may appear to be lower than others. There can be feelings of isolation and separation from peers that they may have been close to who remain in a different group.
Those students in the lower group may work to the level of a higher group and be changed at a later date. This may stall some students who have learned one concept slowly but catch on more quickly to other concepts. Some also consider this to be "pigeon-holing" and sequestering the smarter students thus giving the lower level students a distinct disadvantage.


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Raspberry Liqueur 375 ml
$29.90 incl. tax
In a word – yummy. Like sticking your nose into a big bowl of fresh raspberries! This has become one of most popular liqueurs but sadly we are sold out of the most recent batch. We do have another batch on the way however – so stay tuned for its release (should be in early August 2017, once those raspberries ripen on the bushes!
September 4 update: We took delivery of our raspberries a couple of weeks ago and we will have the liqueur on the shelves by Sept 7th. Promise!
May 24, 2018 – all the Raspberry Liqueur is sold now. The next harvest will come in late July and our Liqueur will be out mid August
Well it's now mid-August and our Raspberry Liqueur has returned – ruby red, tart and delicious.


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Some community managers are really lucky. We work with groups of people mustered around a mission that we already care about—whether it's a charitable organization, a favorite TV show, or the industry that we already work in. But many, maybe even most, of us are in an altogether different boat: we're managing communities in which we're not subject matter experts. How many times have you stared at a question that's gone unanswered because, not only do you not know the answer, you don't even know how to find someone who does know, because half the words being used might as well be in Linear A?
The solution is obvious: find subject matter experts and mobilize them into community ambassadors—uber-helpful power users who help onboard their peers, start discussions, answer questions, and sustain the community environment. If you've ever tried to start a community ambassador program, though, it can be overwhelming to start. How do you select people for the program? What tasks can you give them (and which ones should you keep under your umbrella)? And how should you reward them?
Step 1: Creating Rules
Start your journey by developing a specific job description for the ambassadors, because the more explicit you are in the beginning, the better fit you're likely to find. There are two possible approaches worth considering here:
- Create a single umbrella ambassador role and list responsibilities under that role, or
- Create specific, segmented roles and allow potential ambassadors to choose the best fit
Some of my favorite roles include Unanswered Question Experts, who are responsible for answering questions with zero replies after a certain time period; Discussion Starters, who help prompt engaging and relevant discussions within the community; Moderators, who are responsible for keeping an eye on the community and making sure that inappropriate content is flagged for review by the community manager. Whether you segment these jobs out or roll them up, make sure to state the requirements clearly and plainly for the ambassadors so they know what the roles require.
Step 2: Finding Your Ambassadors
If your community has launched, you shouldn't have too difficult of a time finding potential advocates to reach out to. They probably have already risen to the surface, and by running a report or automation rule to find the most active community members, you'll have identified a group of people who might be interested in becoming a community ambassador. If it's possible, reach out to these folks directly with a personal request, rather than issuing a blanket call to them as a group or, worse yet, the community as a whole. If your community is newer and you don't have top contributors established yet, you can always issue a call for volunteers and evaluate them for suitability as time passes, or you can reach out to people already respected and helpful within your organization. Finally, there are technological solutions that can allow ambassadors to virtually raise their hands to volunteer. If possible, I also highly recommend working to collect a diverse group of ambassadors that reflects all the types of users within your community. Once you have 15-30 individuals, you should be set.
Step 3: Onboarding Your Ambassadors
Now that you have a pool of ambassadors who understand and have agreed to their roles, you need to develop an onboarding process. Recently, when Missouri REALTORS® launched an ambassador program for their community THE LANDING, they held a two-hour-long kickoff call to get volunteers excited and start thinking up ideas. First, the ambassadors were sent a "homework" assignment: come up with one idea for improving THE LANDING and one idea for a subject-matter-appropriate discussion starter. During the call, the ambassadors and staff collaborated with these ideas as inspiration to develop a huge list of tasks and discussion topics that they could work on in the coming year. Then the list was uploaded to a private Ambassadors-only community, and staff used this community to foster collaboration within the group, as well as direct them to discussions and questions that could use their help.
Step 4: Reward Your Ambassadors
Your ambassador program will be the most successful if ambassadors are motivated intrinsically to participate, so the best reward for your ambassadors is making sure that they feel recognition and joy from helping the community. However, consider providing additional motivation using digital badging or a member spotlight that shines the light on your ambassadors within the community itself.
Additionally, I recommend asking your members to select one ambassador as their "Ambassador of the Year" for their assistance in the community—this is a good way to ensure you're rewarding qualitative, rather than quantitative, contributions. And, of course, if you want to produce some special, limited edition Ambassador swag, that often goes over well as a way to say thank you.
Once you've established the roles for your ambassadors, enlisted them in the program, and developed a process for welcoming new ones and rewarding the existing ones, you've done most of the hard work. From here, continue to tweak your program by removing "ambassadors" that don't undertake the tasks you ask them to and adding new people to replace them. As new hurdles present themselves within your community, consider putting your ambassadors to work. Whenever you need a subject matter expert to chime in on a topic, produce content, or simply give you their input, reach to them first. And finally, keep rewarding them intermittently and heavily, ensuring they know just how grateful you are. A true and honest advocate is worth their weight in gold.


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Bokrijk is a place in Belgium where the heritage of buildings, objects and customs of Flemish rural life has been preserved for 60 years. Bokrijk as a collection is a treasure trove, an inspiring breeding ground and a carrier of traditions that can be translated and used again and again. The focus is on contemporary craftsmanship. New projects and products take the past as inspiration. Inventive dealing with images, materials and manufacturing processes is the goal.
This results in the new brand BKRK. Under this label, new projects are set up. One of these is the redesign of the Castle of Bokrijk. Creators and makers work together on a joint project and are given the assignment to design a contemporary object for the castle. The designs are inspired by existing collection pieces from Bokrijk's open-air museum and clearly relate to everyday objects. Craftsmanship, a fair manufacturing process and a contemporary image are the goal.
Bokrijk shows everyday rural life from the past. The castle, its interior and original inhabitants are at odds with this. In search for a metaphor for this contradiction, Grosemans came upon the image of a floor cloth.
The castle represents the upper class of society while the village represents the middle and lower classes. The underclass only came into the castle as a maid or servant. They had to do the heavy and dirty work and serve their master.
The floor cloth becomes a symbol of the underclass and claims a prominent place in the castle. A humble piece of textile, only good enough to clean up dirt and filth, grows into a showpiece. Instead of serving the floor, it now adorns the floor as a carpet.


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Learn the real story of why over a million folks just like you own a
Shopsmith MARK V.
Send For Your FREE Woodworking Fact Kit and "Sawdust Therapy" TV Show.
The Mobile Potting Table
Make this move-around Potting Table in a single weekend and get set for a "blooming" Summer season!
If you have an active Green Thumb, you probably spend a fair amount of time potting and re- potting your treasured plants - and more likely than not, get your share of backaches from doing it! Now, you can put an end to those annoying backaches with this handy, 36" high Mobile Potting Table that we guarantee will make your chores lighter and put more "fun" back into your horticultural activities.
NOTE: Although we're calling it a Potting Table, by eliminating the cutout in the top, it also makes an excellent Barbecue Table, Poolside Porta-Bar or Move-Around Workbench.
With screwed and doweled construction, a beefy 1-1/2" thick top and solid, 4" x 4" legs, this Table is sturdy enough to handle your toughest tasks. Plus, the convenient Handle and Wheels bring added portability to this heavyweight workhorse.
We made our table from (mostly) ordinary 2"x4" fir construction lumber...being careful to pick out straight, knot-free pieces for the best appearance. Another option would be to make it from 3/4" thick Western Red Cedar, Redwood or Cypress stock, glued-up to the appropriate thicknesses. These alternative lumbers are much more durable when exposed to the weather.
We made our wheels from three pieces of 3/4" stock, glued-up to a 2-1/4" thickness, but you could just as easily purchase a couple of 8" diameter wheels and steel axle from your local Home Center. If you do decide to make your own, for the sake of durability, it will pay you to use a rugged, closed-grain, hard wood such as maple...alternate the grain directions of the glued-up pieces for added strength...and round the edges over to help prevent splintering. For added protection, you could also cut out a couple of rings of motorcycle inner-tube and stretch them over your wooden wheels.
NOTE: Due to outdoor exposure, use only waterproof resorcinol or epoxy glue when assembling the Table.
Begin by cutting the two Top Side Rails, two Top End Rails and two Top Support Rails to length, as per the Bill of Materials. Round over one end of each Top Side Rail using your Shopsmith Bandsaw or Scroll Saw. Smooth the rounded ends with your MARK V Disc Sander.
Next, cut the two Shelf Side Rails, two Shelf End Rails, two Top Shelf Support Rails and four Legs to length, as per the Bill of Materials.


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Our ever popular sweetly spiced iced gingerbread Christmas trees in a stocking filler box.
Pack of 6 Biscuits
Gingerbread Bears 12 Pack
Our famous sweetly iced spiced gingerbread bears. Kids love them, parents love to give them….
Peanut Butter Choc Chip Cookies
Crispy chocolate chip cookies made with roasted peanuts. 25 pieces. Approx size: 9 cm
Little Gingerbread Bears
Macadamia & Salted Caramel Sandwich Cookies
Chewy golden syrup cookies made with macadamia nut filled with a white chocolate & caramel filling. Approx size: 7cm
Pistachio, Cranberry & Orange Biscotti
Pistachio, cranberry & orange crunchy Italian biscotti sliced generously (approx 70 pieces). Approx size: 7 x 2 cm
Salted Caramel Chocolate Crackle Snap
Snappy volcanic biscuit with pistachios and salted caramel crater. Approx size: 8cm
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Message from the Chief Executive Officer
Heidi Mannis, Chief Executive Officer
We are so fortunate to have caring staff and volunteers, kind families and visitors, and engaged residents and clients, all of whom show how much they care in so many ways, every day. The people who live in the care homes and come to the day program share their stories, humour, ideas, and wisdom.
Everyone contributes to making MSA Manor and Maplewood House these special places. I am honoured to be in these remarkable communities. I look forward to being here every day, wondering how I will be gifted in what I see, hear, and do.
Join me in your own way as we all continue to make our communities comforting homes to live and visit, and great places to work.
The Leadership Team
We would be happy to speak with you. Please call us at Maplewood House, 604-853-5585, or MSA Manor, 604-853-5831.
Krista Homfeld
Director, Resident Services
Georgia Hutchison
Director, Finance and Operations
- Conni Wardrobe – Maplewood House Housekeeping Supervisor
- Alison Wiebe – Maplewood House Food Services Supervisor
- Lisa Moore – Maplewood House Recreation and Adult Day Program Manager
- Gurman Gill – Interim Maplewood House Care Manager
- Bryan Robinson – MSA Manor Recreation Manager and Society Volunteer Coordinator
- Leo Villanueva – MSA Manor Food Services Manager
- Rene Lou Del Castillo – MSA Manor Care Manager
- Sandi Kirschner – Administrative Liaison
- Shawndra Zimmer – Executive Assistant/Administrative Coordinator
- Taylor Nicholls – Social Worker
Board of Directors
The matters of Maplewood Care Society are entrusted to a board of directors by members of the Society. Board members are community-minded individuals who reflect experience and competence in areas such as governance, global perspectives, finance, law, business or non-profit leadership, healthcare, gerontology, fundraising, public relations and human resources. Equally important are personal attributes and qualities of character such as being personable, a team player, articulate, a good listener, dependable, ethical, and understanding of local values and cultural dynamics.
Message from the President of the Board of Directors
Ann Douglas, President, Board of Directors
We will continue to grow over the years and will ensure that we always value diversity, safety, individuality, relationships and respect.