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Ayrshire, United Kingdom
I have had a tree surgeon come to take a few of the lower branches of my variegated poplar. We met and discussed exactly what I wanted which was specifically that my intention was to have tree swing within the next couple of years, so the branches removed were not to interfere in any way with that plan. The tree was a gift in 1993, and I have waited for twenty years, loving my beautiful tree and looking forward to my tree swing and having grandchildren to swing on it. The original position of the tree in the garden, was selected with that in mind. I am now only four weeks from retiral, having tendered my resignation yesterday. And how I was looking forward to more time in my garden and eyeing up my poplar's thickening branches.
I arrived home today, to discover the qualified tree surgeon had removed all of the lower branches, right up to the flimsy twig-like branches halfway up the trunk. It will take more years than I have left in my life for these twigs to mature to any reasonable thickness, and even then, they are far higher than I would have wanted for a tree swing.
I am heart-broken and that is no exaggeration.
My question is twofold. Is there anything I could reasonably expect the tree surgeon to do eg perhaps something to accelerate and promote chunky branches over the next few years, or is there any other recompense that would in any way soften the hurt of losing my dream. Do tree surgeons have unions?
To add insult to injury, when I expressed my dismay I was met with the rejoiner that he couldn't put the branches back on. My point exactly...and I can't get my twenty years and my dream back.
- 24 Aug, 2012
Hybrid Poplar trees are among the fastest growing trees on the planet. Some poplar trees grow over 8 feet per year, so depending on your type may be all is not lost?
Having had 30 in my garden before they were removed, I am surprised that a Poplar would suit a swing so what type do you have?
I do feel for you but sadly unless you have something in writing showing which branches to cut its unlikely you will get anywhere pursuing this.
I think the lesson to be learned - is to be there when they do the work so that you get what you asked for. I would never leave a tree surgeon alone in my garden.
24 Aug, 2012
I'm not surprised your upset - why don't these idiots listen to us, after all we are paying for it. I don't think I can advise you other than to refuse to pay the bill and don't recommend him to anyone. Sorry.
24 Aug, 2012
I can certainly understand how upset you are and his reply that he can't put the branches back on shows him to be an ignorant rude pig.
Sadly with nothing in writing there's very little you can do and refusing to pay the bill might lead him to take you to court.
24 Aug, 2012
My neighbour asked her gardener to bring down the height of her ornamental cherry tree in her garden, She returned home to find he had reduced the height to 6". But it was a misunderstanding and no hard feelings over the matter, but I can see how strict instructions not adhered to can be very upsetting. I do hope your tree is of a variety that being cut drastically will encourage quick growing.
25 Aug, 2012
Thanks everyone for your comments!
14 Sep, 2012
Dear Gardeners, who took the time to comfort me when my dream of a tree swing after twenty years of waiting, was dashed.
I so appreciated your empathy! I must apologise for taking so long to respond to you, but the truth is I had no idea how I managed to contact you! I was sooo desperated to speak to someone who might understand how I was feeling when the deed was done, that I just opened the laptop...and as complete technophobe, just started putting in words and following prompts, till low and behold, there was a space for my distress to be trumpeted to the world!!
Then I got your wonderful replies, and it's only now, with the help of an IT savy friend, that I'm now in a position to thank you myself...which I do, most warmly.
So, in some respects, my story has a happy ending, in that I now know how to contact this great resource, and also in that I have now decided to purchase a circular tree seat..something I have always wanted. Alas, no grandchildren swinging on my old tree, but right now I'm happy just to look forward to the reality of a good book, and a glass of wine in the shade of the tree, on my new tree seat.
Thank you all for your kind and funny replies. They kept me sane in the immediate aftermath! The tree surgeon himself suggested I didn't have to pay him....so I didn't!!! Some justice in that, I guess.
Happy gardening.
16 Sep, 2012
I am glad you feel better about it and at least the TS was honest and declined payment. A round seat will be fun as you can move round with the sun etc. I do hope you join in this site and enjoy the site. Its addictive lol.
16 Sep, 2012
Well done you. I hope you enjoy many a glass of wine and a good book on your new seat - Cheers.
17 Sep, 2012
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Since its inception in 2006, we've come to know Twitter as a rich source of a variety of information ranging from breaking news updates, celebrity meltdowns, jokes, memes, and just about anything and everything under the sun.
From a digital marketing point of view, Twitter has allowed brands to latch on to the latest trends and topics and, through highly creative means, twist and turn them into little gems of bite-sized promotional content among other things. Over the years, this has seen the likes of promoted tweets and hashtags kick-starting anything from debate to anticipation with PR and marketing in mind. More recently, and as it's a World Cup themed blog, it would be impossible not to mention the storm of Luis Suarez bite memes that saw the likes of Snickers, McDonald's Budweiser and Nando's all earn PR kudos and chew off a piece of the fun.
From a creative perspective, Twitter has established itself as a goldmine of possibilities for all kinds of alternative campaigns and strategies, and we've seen time and time again the speed at which Twitter content can go viral if it's promoted correctly.
Anyway, following on with the theme of the World Cup, I've compiled a list below of my favourite World Cup/football related Twitter accounts that exhibit the very best of what Twitter can do in terms of content ingenuity.
1) Soccer Guy
The ultimate US sports parody account. Soccer Guy delivers real time match summaries in the form of hilariously hyperbolic tweets which incorporate his own terminology (including "goalshot", "headkick", "denial flag" and "equalization") that could so easily spew from the mouth of any over-excited ESPN commentator.
2) Boring James Milner
England's trusty yet oh-so-underwhelming utility man has fallen foul to parody in the most emphatic fashion on Twitter. Boring James Milner sees tweets that present the midfielder in a light of sheer childlike innocence and ignorance as he bumbles his way around the training ground with quips and jokes of Christmas cracker-esque candour. The feature spawned a series of similar "Boring" accounts, with the likes of Boring Gary Cahill and Boring Andy Murray all proving popular in recent months.
3) Joey Barton
When he's not busy involved in on and off-field spates or violence or casually blurting out sexist comments on Question Time, "Football's King Philosopher" maintains a highly active and thoroughly entertaining Twitter account. It's here that the controversial midfielder offers up a divine mixture of top-draw banter, sharp critique on matters both football and topical as well as scathing attacks on his contemporaries; players, pundits and all.
4) OptaJoe
For all you stat lovers out there, OptaJoe is the go-to place for all the best alternative and quirky football stats that you won't hear from your average monotone BBC pundit (Phil Neville, I'm looking at you). Should you happen to watching any particular match at one time, a quick look at OptaJoe will offer up a bombardment of facts both brilliant and bizarre: perhaps a welcome break in the schedule for all you number-crunching technical SEOs out there!
5) You've Been Hodged
Creepy yet executed with Photoshop skills to die for, You've Been Hodged sees everyone from football players to politicians and even the World Cup Trophy itself given a makeover with the owlish features of revered England coach Roy Hodgson superimposed upon them. The results are either the stuff of nightmares or, well, the stuff of nightmares.
If you happen to know of any more entertaining World Cup or footballer-related Twitter accounts that aren't featured above, or simply wish to share an account that does justice to what Twitter can do, then please feel free to share it in the comments section below!
Image credit: marek.sotak

subset: commoncrawl


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Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Card Share: It's a Special Day
I put this nautical-themed birthday card together for a 12 year old boy. Masculine projects are hard for me, but I think the red, white and blue color scheme really works well, especially with the distressed vellum overlay and woodgrain paper.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Card Share: Four You
Here I go again using pink, black and white! I just can't help it. I love the color combo — always have, probably always will. I even added a play on words to this 4th birthday card by using the sentiment, "Four You".
Monday, July 27, 2015
Card Share: 16 (Chickaniddy 365)
A milestone birthday, like a sweet 16, deserves to be commemorated with a fresh, sophisticated card. The pretty florals, stripes, flowers, leaves and music notes from Chickaniddy Crafts 365 collection work together to do just that.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Card Share: Favorite Things Right Now
I'm not even a coffee drinker, but when I saw the Mocha paper from Shimelle's True Stories collection, I couldn't resist. I'm having such fun fussy cutting the cups and making a variety of coffee lover cards.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Card Share: Thanks a Latte (Simple Stories I Am)
"Thanks a Latte" is probably overused, but I couldn't resist fussy cutting this cup from the Mocha paper from Shimelle's True Stories collection and pairing it with the sentiment.
The coffee drinkers out there will thank me and appreciate my need to do this. :)
Monday, July 20, 2015
Chip Off the Old Block with Paper Issues
Chip Off the Old Block is the new linky party at Paper Issues. Come play along for a chance to win a $20 gift certificate to the Paper Issues store.
I'll be linking this travel/bon voyage/retirement card up because I used a chipboard camera. I also used items from various Paper Issues Swag Bags, items from my stash and new products as well.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Card Share: Christmas in July Trio
Believe it or not, I've been getting Christmas cards ready for my Etsy shop for about a month. I thought I'd start off slow with a Christmas in July sale. I've made a bunch, but since these all have similar, common elements, I thought I'd share them all together. The majority of the items came from my stash, but I added some newer items as well to give them a fresh, contemporary look.
First up is, Don't Open Until Christmas, with a mostly non-traditional and fun color combo.
Only 25 Days allowed me to use up a number of stickers from October Afternoon's Very Merry collection. Who remembers this one?
Jolly Merry Christmas is a bit more classic with the red, cream and silver but I couldn't resist adding in some blue.
So there you have it — the start of my holiday card making. How about you? When do you tend to start creating holiday cards and getting your shopping done?
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Card Share: You Make My Heart Smile (Chickaniddy 365)
Pairing Chickaniddy's 365 collection with ephemera die cuts from Dear Lizzy's Fine & Dandy collection makes for a pretty, fresh, and feminine card. I especially love the hot air balloon die cut.
Here's a quick detail shot:
Enjoy your day and happy crafting!
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Card Share: These Moments
What do you get when you pair Chickaniddy 365 ruler paper with Elle's Studio Cienna polka dot paper and Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy ephemera? Oh, and Doodlebug's new Glitter Sprinkles (enamel dots). A birthday card for a four year old girl that's sweet enough to eat. :)
Monday, July 13, 2015
Card Share: Hooray
I found packs of ombre, paint chip-style tags in Target's Dollar Spot and couldn't wait to break into the package. The tags come in two shades of pink and two shades of turquoise/mint green. They're super pretty and small enough for cards. I used one on this card and now have seven more to go. I wonder what type of projects they'll end up on?
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Card Share: Best Dancer Ever
I couldn't resist pairing this cute flamingo die cut and flamingo patterned paper to make a dance recital card. I mean, look at those long legs! Perfect for dancing, right? :) An Etsy buyer thought so too because it sold within a day of putting it in my shop. I love when that happens!
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Card Share: Celebrate Each Moment
This card was quick and easy to put together. I'm loving the bright colors and polka dots. I accented the candle die cut with a trio of coordinating enamel dots. After adding a bow, doily, sentiment sticker and machine stitching, I called it clean, simple and done. :)
Monday, July 6, 2015
Paper Issues: Hey, Tech This Out! with Color Cast Designs
A new linky party started at Paper Issues today. It's called Hey, Tech This Out, sponsored by Color Cast Designs. Come play along for a chance to win your choice of an Embellish Me set (either Colorful, on the left or Neutral, on the right):
I used the #love acrylic accent and #forreal wood veneer from Color Cast's #hastagit set on my card. Some of the other Paper Issues team members also used this set and others used the sets you see above. I hope you'll stop by and take a look. :)
If you're not familiar with Color Cast Designs, I highly suggest stopping by the shop. Jessica creates really fun wood veneer and acrylic products in an endless variety of colors and shapes.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Card Share: How Lucky I Am to Have You (Elle's Studio Cienna)
Last month or so, I shared a number of baby cards made with Elle's Studio Cienna. While I had this pretty collection out, I decided to put together what could be a wedding, anniversary or even a friendship card. The colors are uplifting, fresh and pretty. I think they'd be guaranteed to brighten anyone's day, don't you?
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Posts tagged 'commercials'
Charmin: Just Not Right
I saw this commercial last night and it didn't sit well with me.
NHL Game 5 Commercials
Watching the Red Wings game Monday night was a lot of fun, even though they lost. But during the commercial breaks, I started to get annoyed (weird). There were literally maybe seven commercials that played the entire night during the TV timeouts and intermissions.
- Edge shaving gel
- Dockers
- Cialis
- Flomax
- NBC's new show Fear Itself
I know there may have been one or two other commercials I missed, but when a game goes into 3 overtimes (that's a total of five 20 minute intermissions) and you only play a handful of commercials, it gets really annoying.
If these companies bought all the ad time, great. But is it too much to ask for a couple variations of your commercial?


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Coolum Beach is the home of the Seachange resort. Here you can find ideal family holiday accommodation in modern apartemnts.
The resort is a short walk back from the beachfront and the main shopping area where you will enjoy all the great restaurants and cafes.Resort Features:
Seachange offers superb holiday accommodation that boasts the best of both worlds. You'll appreciate the convenience of self-catering apartments as well as the luxury of a resort setting. Unwind in the comfort and style of spacious interiors or perhaps a rejuvenating dip in the pool is called for. The living is always easy at Seachange.
Two Bedroom - the standard room type for this property these Two Bedrooms feature a bedding configuration of 1 Queen + 2 Single with a room size of 60m²(square metres) there ideal for couples or business traveller. Family Apartment (2 + family room) – these apartments are 2 bedrooms with an added family room attached and as the name suggests ideal for a family, the bedding configuration can be as follows - 1 Queen + 2 Single + 1 Queen or 2 Sofa. The room size is 100m² (square metres).


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It was a good day – and I didn't even have to pull out my AK
Friday night, I was out with my cousin Charles and some friends at the sports bar formerly known as Cluck U., in Santa Clara, Calif. While waiting in line, he told me he was going for a trip to Oakland the next morning to pick up a set of wheels for a bike he is building for his girlfriend, Laura. I jumped at the opportunity, and asked him if I could join. It would be my first time back to Oakland/Berkeley since my graduation. Although it was a last minute trip, I got the opportunity to meet up with a couple good friends from Cal whom I had not seen since graduation, as well as checking out some cool spots in the area.
After arriving at Berkeley, we noticed we were riding on a flat tire on the rear driver's side. We pulled into a Big Ol' Tires and waited half an hour to get the rear tires replaced. In the meantime, we made our way through San Pablo Avenue, scoping out the modified funky cars so common in Berkeley.
This car below reminded me of the song "Fantastic Voyage" by Coolio for some reason. Hella throwback and hippie, all at the same time.
Afterward, we met up with a good friend of mine named J., who I met when I used to help out with a magazine on campus called Cal Literature and Arts Magazine. We caught up in this cafe in the Temescal Disctrict of Oakland. At this cafe, they had about a dozen guys behind the counter working solely on chicken sandwiches, which is about all they make. I had two sandwiches and a lemonade ready about 30 seconds after I ordered. the total came out to $18 bucks, but they were really great sandwiches. My friend J. got me caught up on her life and everyone we used to know who worked with us on the magazine. Some people were still in Oakland/Berkeley, one friend of ours was in Peru, and some others had moved back to their hometowns. My friend, who was an honors graduate in the Berkeley Rhetoric Department, was studying for the Graduate Record Exam (think SAT for Grad school) and was hoping to get into a Ph.D. program somewhere in the East Coast within a year. My friend has gone through a lot just this year alone, and I need to remind myself to continue to pray and remember her as she keeps moving on towards further endeavors. Wow, it was overwhelming to think how much can change within a year. Then, she showed us around other parts in Temescal, which included a bike shop and another shop that sold used goods and antiques. My friend said she has picked up a couple good frames there and some canvases for her paintings too. This place had everything, from used cell phones to old toilet paper tubes and egg cartons. It was like Michael's met Goodwill and had a baby.
We said goodbye to J. and took this picture:
Then, we waited a bit before heading over to some guy's house (I say some guy because we never got his name) who was going to sell my cousin a white-rimmed set of wheels. We drove up Telegraph, and headed to the 510 Skateboarding store, where we browsed around and saw some cool stuff, included selvage jeans by The Hundreds. There was this ominous sign in the store:
Then, we drifted only a few stores down towards one of my favorite stores in Berkeley, the Berkeley Hat Co. I try to buy a new hat each time I come here, and right when I walked through the door, I immediately saw the hat I had wanted at another store the week before. I bought this hat. I wished I had time to go to the Berkeley Campus store to get a t-shirt for another friend back in San Jose, but we didn't have time. Oh yeah, Charles got these Dumb & Dumber style goggles:
We then went back to Oakland, heading towards this guy who gave us a half hour window to meet with him to buy the wheels. He was a very easy going guy; when we asked how he was doing, he said, "Oh, you know, just another day in Paradise." He had on jeans that looked like they hadn't been washed since the manufacturer put them through a mandatory stone wash, and he preferred to go commando when it came to deodorant. But he was great, he didn't even count the money my cousin gave him, which was luckily the correct amount.
We jetted out of his place, which was a metal shop/bike shop/living quarters. I regret not having taken pictures of it. It was a giant garage located across the street from an abandoned cement factory in the industrial district of Oakland. We had passed by it a couple times looking for an actual "home." But I wouldn't mind living there, especially if I were into the sculptural arts and had other artists living with me, as he did. Not a bad gig at all.
We later met up with my friend D., who now lived off of Piedmont Avenue in Oakland. D., is an especially talented and gifted person, having won the Departmental Citation Award for our graduating class in the English Department at Berkeley. She turned down Cal's Ph.D. program in English and is headed off to Brown University. She has got guts. She is another one of the people I met at Cal who I regret not being able to spend more time with. Just sitting with her for an hour that day reminded me of how cool she is; we can talk literature, campus culture, childhood experiences, personal vulnerabilities, catch up on old friends and acquaintances, and just talk about our dreams. I find I took for granted back in San Jose that there are actually people you can talk to like that. I felt sometimes at Cal, between the rat race to be the next top scholar in whatever field you think is worth laying down your life and giving up on all relationships, that there were few people you can relate with on a level that transcends GPA's. Talking to D. reminded me of the passion one can have for studying a field you actually love.
Talking with J. and D. reminded me of what it is like to totally devote your life to something. I struggled with considering entering a Ph.D. program myself. I realized becoming a professor is the secular version of priesthood. You study for year and years, and when you get your degree, you go to wherever Academia will send you, whether that is Harvard University or Florida State or wherever. It is more than a career, it is certainly a way of life. I can't make a commitment to Academia in that way, as I feel I am drawn towards other callings, namely church. I don't exactly know where this "church" thing is taking me, but for know at least, I feel called to getting an M.A. in Philosophy, with a concentration on Philosophy of Religion.
I said goodbye to D. letting her know how awesome she is. You never know when it will be the last time you see someone, so speak now or forever hold your peace.
We took this picture, which some lazy guy at the wine bar we were drinking at took without getting up out of his chair. I HAD to ask the laziest guy in Oakland to take our picture.
I am blowing the picture up a bit so you can actually see what is going on. I am on the right, D. is in the middle, my cousin Charles is on the left.
We left D. and cruised to Manifesto Bike Shop, which we had passed by on the way to meeting with her. The store not only had custom and vintage bicycles and signs, but had great customer service.
Charles swooped in on a set of tires and tire tubes, as well as an awesome shirt with the company logo in Israeli blue and white. "Off the Dipswitch!"
One of the customer service reps helping us out told us about Bike Church, a weekly gathering of bikers every Sunday in the back parking lot of the shop. They have free donuts, juice, and fellowship. It was way encouraging to see people use their hobbies and passions for Christ.
We headed home to San Jose, noting the incredible places we would have never heard of in Oakland if it weren't for my two friends. Above all, J. and D. are incredible people whom I will consciously try to remember the rest of my life, keeping them in my prayers and close to my heart.
Charles and I would hang out later again that night at our friend S.'s party at a Karaoke Bar. It was nuts. There were these two guys who S. knew who threw it down on the Karaoke stage more than a couple times, at one time even jumping on each others shoulders.
Here is my friend Sh. giving her best Anime impersonation at the Karaoke Bar. Puuurrrty Crazy.
And here is the birthday girl herself crashing another birthday girl's gig on stage. It was great.
Anyway, it was the end of a long, spontaneous, yet eventful and productive day. I haven't had such a great weekend in the longest time. More relays from the underground to follow later. This is John Conner — I mean David — signing out. Thanks for reading the blog, please bookmark.
— David
2 Responses
yo! awesome to see you've got a blog, and i shall definitely bookmark it and add it to my blogroll.


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We encourage our users and their families to contact us if they have any concerns about the app. Simply click on the "..." icon at the top right of a user's profile within the app or go to our Safety Centre to make a report.
Articles in this section
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- Who should I / my child / my student contact if we're worried about something that's happening on Yubo?
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- What action do you take if someone violates your community guidelines?
- Where can I find your community guidelines?
- Can users change their profile settings on Yubo to protect their privacy?


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There are many ways to drive profit. One way is to be the low-cost provider, or be the most efficient company in your marketplace. However, the most lucrative way to drive profits is through customer preference.
When your customers prefer you to the competition, their willingness to pay you a premium, relative to the competition, increases. The more customers prefer you, the more profit you can make.
What Drives Customer Preference?
If you look at most companies' sales and marketing efforts, you might think that customer preference is driven by claims of being the best, the fastest, the newest, the highest performing or the cheapest.
Sure, those things count. But they aren't the biggest drivers of preference.
Each of those factors describes the product or service being offered. The most powerful beliefs customers have that influence their preference are not about products or services, but about the impact those products or services have on them. A customer won't prefer you just because you are the fastest, newest, or highest performing, but because of what those features do for them.
Why Personalization is a Key Driver of Profitability
Customer preference happens when a customer thinks, "I am better off with this product (or service) than with any other." Every customer has the permission to create their own personal reasons for why a product or service benefits them. For every 1000 customers who believe they benefit from a feature of your product or service, there are 1000 descriptions of what that benefit is.
This means that creating strong customer preference is not just about effective marketing and sales messaging that describes your offerings, but is about framing your offerings in a way that is personally relevant to each customer.
If you are a mass marketer, this is really difficult, because you are stuck saying the same thing to thousands of customers. But most people reading this article are not mass marketers. You have the ability to personalize your message for each customer, as you determine what personally relevant impact your product and service offerings can have for them.
Preference Happens One Customer at a Time
Not only do I encourage you to recognize customer preference as the key driver of your profits, I encourage you to focus your sales and marketing efforts on personalizing your messages. Describe the impact of your offerings in ways that are personally relevant to each of your customers. Most of you have enough one-on-one contact to make that happen.
If you commit your best and highest sales and marketing efforts to customizing your messages in ways that are personally relevant to individual customers, you will increase customer preference and markedly increase your profits.
Preference and profitability. They go very well together.


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Where To Start The Search
To help find a good real estate agent ask your friends and family about their experiences with real estate agents. Find out if there is someone they can refer to.
Houses are regularly advertised for sale in newspaper supplements.
Many houses have open home times when an agent is there for you to inspect the property.
Visiting open homes can be a no fuss way to look at a number of properties in one day.
The agent will take your name and phone number. Expect a call to follow up your interest.
It is becoming more popular to sell houses privately without the use of an agent. A number of 'no frills' agencies have been set out with this in mind.
Some Questions To Ask The Agent When They Are Showing You A House
- Why is the house for sale?
- What chattels will remain?
- Are there any chattels that have been specifically excluded from the sale?
- What are the property boundaries?
- Have there been any recent renovations to the house?
- Do the current owners have a dog or other pets?
- How much are the rates?


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The Eagle's Shadow: Why America Fascinates and Infuriates the World
Mark Hertsgaard
Picador, 2003 (2002)
Hardcover, Paperback, e-Book
Read an Excerpt
Reviewed by Wesley Williamson
s a Canadian, overwhelmed by the outpourings of the U.S. media (with the Canadian media only a few beats behind), and unavoidably awed by the giant on our doorstep, I looked forward to finding out how the rest of the world really feels about the United States. Mark Hertsgaard is the author of four previous books. He is a journalist, lecturer, and contributor to National Public Radio. Apparently he was, at the time of the 9/11 terrorist attack, completing a trip around the world, finding out what people in fifteen countries thought about America; he appears uniquely qualified to set out their views in the context of the U.S. as it is today.
nfortunately, although the author starts off each chapter with a few comments from people he met, they are usually somewhat trivial. After each, he continues with his own beliefs about many aspects of American political, social and economic systems - which are not without interest but not what was advertised. I have my own opinions about the last presidential election, for example, but I am not really interested in reading a rehash of how Bush stole it from Gore, and I doubt very much whether the rest of the world cares. Nor am I much interested now in what Henry Kissinger said about Chile under Allende, or whether the C.I.A. really actively aided in the latter's overthrow in 1973.
r. Hertsgaard is obviously a highly motivated left wing liberal, and I have some sympathy for many of his views. He is also a good writer, sometimes witty and occasionally persuasive. His book is well worth reading for its presentation of nearly all of the aspects of U.S. policy to which other countries have objected. Though I am sure many people in the rest of the world would agree with him, I just wish he had asked them for their views.
Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons.
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Getting your stretch on has less to do with impressing your friends in yoga class or running club and more to do with aging gracefully. As we age, there are several reasons for our flexibility declining:
- The tissue around joints tends to thicken, which can decrease the joint's range of motion.
- We tend to become less active and a decrease in movement leads to decreased flexibility.
- Years of bad posture and too much sitting also can result in loss of flexibility in key areas of the body.
Beyond the three listed above, the most prevalent reason we lose flexibility is we simply don't take the time to stretch. Yes, taking up yoga, whether in structured classes or at home, is a great way to hold on to your flexibility. But if finding the time is what's causing you to turn a blind eye to this extremely important pillar of fitness, here's a quick-fix stretch routine featuring three of the best stretches you can do morning, noon, or night (or all of the above!) to stay on track.
Low Back Love
If you choose only one stretch, this is it. Everyone's lower back could use a little love because so much sitting, bending, and reaching makes it really vulnerable. Keeping this area of the body strong and moving is of utmost importance. Try the standing cat/cow stretch:
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees bent slightly.
- Lean forward and place your hands just above your knees.
- Press against your thighs and round your back (belly will be pulled up and in toward the spine; the shoulders are curved forward).
- Then, reverse the movement by dropping your bellow toward your thighs as you arch your back (opening your chest as your shoulders roll back).
- Hold each position for 3-5 seconds; repeat several times for full benefit.
Hit the Hip Flexors
Much like your back, our hip flexors are constantly in a shortened position from sitting. When the front of the hip becomes tight, your lower back may feel the stress. Keeping hips stretched will help tremendously. The following hip flexor stretch will also help keep the quadriceps in check, which can help the knees:
- Stand with one leg back and the other foot forward. Point the toes of your back foot inward.
- Contract your glutes and shift your body weight forward, straightening your rear leg.
- Raise the arm that is on the same side as your rear leg, reaching to the opposite side until a stretch is felt in front of your pelvis.
- Hold the side stretch and then rotate backwards. Hold for 30 seconds, then switch legs.
Upper Body Relief
Sitting and typing, holding a phone, texting, and general stress tend to manifest in our shoulders, upper back, neck, and traps. A lifetime of tight shoulders and neck muscles is a recipe for pain. Any time you can, try the following upper body release:
- Sit (or stand) up tall with the best posture you can—ears stacked over shoulders, shoulders over hips, and torso as straight as possible.
- Begin with 5 shoulder rolls to the back, then reverse and roll the shoulders to the front. Play around with how big the shoulder rolls are based on pain-free range of motion. Begin with just the shoulders, then try making bigger circles with your elbows leading the way, and finally, do full arm circles.
- Next, lift both arms out to the side of the body in line with the shoulders. Cross the arms in front of the chest and then open. Repeat 5 times.
- Drop your right ear slowly to your right shoulder, and then, to the left. Hold each side for 2-3 seconds before switching. Repeat 3-5 times.
- Finally, drop your chin to your chest, then look up to the ceiling. Hold each position for 2-3 seconds before switching, 3-5 times. Be careful to keep the back of the neck elongated as you look up.
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends stretching all major muscle groups at least two days per week. While the above three stretches do not address all major muscle groups, these are certainly among the most beneficial if you're short on time or need to sneak stretches in during the work week. Aim to set an alarm during your work day reminding you to get up and move (and do these best stretches!) at least once per hour. Beyond the stretches recommend, be sure to stretch after your workouts, and if you can, add a bit of yoga into your life for more in-depth stretching.
To learn more about flexibility training and its benefits, review Fitness Fundamentals: Stretching 101.


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Google Glass Cuts Workloads and Delivers Better Patient Care
Google Glass is back on the scene with its recent announcement that it is switching to an enterprise focus. For many in the healthcare industry, the technology never really went away.
San Francisco–based clinical practice Dignity Health, for example, was among the first to deploy Glass in a clinical setting in 2014, after vice president and chief medical information officer, Davin Lundquist, spotted the tech's healthcare enterprise potential.
"In the medical profession, we're used to using tools and other instruments as part of our trade," Lundquist tells MobiHealthNews. "It seemed to fit much better than in the consumer world."
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Dignity Health Calls on Google Glass for Hands-Free Consults
Specifically, Dignity Health has been using the technology in conjunction with Google Glass healthcare software Augmedix, which automatically links doctors with their computers via QR codes. It then links the Glass tech with a "remote scribe," a medically trained professional who can remotely take notes while the doctor sees a patient.
After three years of employing Glass in this way, the organization is seeing big benefits in the hands-free tech. It has reduced the amount of time Lundquist spends writing up patient notes and other administrative tasks from more than 30 percent to less than 10 percent of his day. Meanwhile, doctor's at Sutter Health save an average of 2 hours a day with the technology.
"It saves us a tremendous amount of time, because by the time I'm done interacting with the patient, my notes are essentially complete," he tells MobiHealthNews. "It shaves hours off of our time."
Clinicians can use that extra time to treat more patients or improve their quality of life by spending more time at home and with their families.
"Our physicians are our most valuable asset," says Lundquist. "They're obviously smart enough and bright enough to make it through medical school to get to the point where they can provide physician-level care. But our medical records and documentation systems so far have turned them into clerks … and it gets in the way a little bit of doctors being doctors. Glass has allowed us to get back to our main mission, which is seeing patients."
Google Glass Helps Bring Telemedicine to Rural Hospitals
Dignity Health isn't alone in its use of Google Glass to aid its healthcare professionals. One Indiana-based startup, Hodei Technology, is bringing Glass to hospitals as a teaching and communication tool for surgeons. It also introduced a technology named Gemini, which enables what Hodei Technology CEO Guy Mascaro calls "first person point-of-view telepresence" through the glasses.
"With us, we're hands free," Mascaro tells MobiHealthNews in a separate article. "The Gemini unit can also stream [visual data from a] fluoroscope or ultrasound or derm wand or otoscope. And that's what other telemedicine equipment can do, but everything else is either cart-based or you have to hold it — like an iPhone, an iPad, or a computer. So you never really get that first person point of view. So the fact that we're hands free and you see through the eyes of the individual you are coaching, mentoring, or directing is really what the difference is all about."
The Glass-enabled telemedicine technology could potentially help rural hospitals cut down on patient transport costs as well as augment care by providing doctors in remote regions with additional expertise through telemedicine consults.
"A remote rural care isn't always the wilds of Appalachia or the southwest or northern Canada," Mascaro says. "You could think about using it in prisons, longterm care facilities, and even home care eventually, where the spouse is now the caregiver, for everything from Alzheimers to wound care, you name it."


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Almost always, when we have friends for dinner, there comes a point when Andy turns to me or vice versa and says "Should we check on her?" And by that we mean, should we try to lure back whatever guest has walked in our front door only to be whisked upstairs to Abby's lair for a "tour" of her room…. Read more »
Posts Tagged: paper dolls
Who Needs Playmobil?
This post really has no business being on this blog — except for the fact that Paper Doll Command Central happens to be at the kitchen table, especially during long stretches of unscheduled spring breaks. You are looking at Alexandra and Claire, two paper dolls in my daughters' collection of about three hundred (each with her own name). It works… Read more »


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Termites and other Wood Destroying Insects (WDI)
Termites and other Wood Destroying Insects (WDI)
Termites and other wood destroying insects such as carpenter ants and powder post beetles can do serious damage to a home and greatly impact its value if not detected in a timely manner. In most areas of New Jersey termites and other wood destroying insects are a problem and it's not unusual to find that the great majority of homes have had an infestation of some degree.
How do I prevent a wood destroying insect infestation?
There are many steps you can take toward lowering your risk of an infestation if you know what to look for and take steps to make your home less attractive to them.
Subterranean termites, carpenter ants and wood boring beetles are insects that look for habitats that provide food, moisture and shelter. Damp wood provides one or more of these requirements for most wood destroying insects and fungi. Firewood, dead trees and stumps, decaying landscaping ties and mulch are all conducive to a WDI infestation. Wood siding, trim and framing members in close proximity or contacting the ground are a common entry point for termites. Overgrown shrubbery and trees near the house, clogged gutters, poor surface drainage and damp foundation areas are also conditions that promote an infestation.
Eliminating these conditions and maintaining a dryer environment inside the house (especially in basements and crawlspaces) and around the exterior of the building should greatly reduce your risk.
How do I know if my home has a wood destroying insect infestation?
In most cases homeowners only become aware of a WDI infestation when they see evidence of a termite swarm or large carpenter ants are observed marching up the walls inside the house. Sometimes they are discovered when walls, floors or ceilings are opened up during a remodeling project. Usually, it takes a diligent inspection by an experienced, certified WDI inspector to detect evidence of an infestation.
Although a general home inspection does not typically include a WDI inspection it is usually included as an optional inspection in addition to the home inspection. It is highly recommended and is usually required by your mortgage company that you get a WDI inspection and certification that the house does not currently have any type of a WDI infestation.
If an active WDI infestation is discovered during the inspection it is typically the responsibility of the current homeowner to have the infestation treated and any damage found to be repaired.


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Jackie DesForges is a lifelong dedicated travel lover and a Rail Europe Travel Consultant from our Chicago office. On her off time, Jackie goes on exciting travel adventures. We were lucky to have Jackie approach us to write about using our products in exchange for passes and city cards. We are thrilled to contribute to Jackie's love of travel and to read about her experiences. In this blog series, Jackie used the Global Pass, 15 days in 2 months flexi, Barcelona Card, Lisbon Card, Malaga Hop On, Hop Off Sightseeing Tour and Sevilla Card. If you happen to call our contact center and get Jackie, make sure to mention that you read her blog series!
France was the first stamp on my passport. I've been to Paris three times, I've spent two weeks in Normandy, and I studied for just under two months on the Riviera. I have yet to visit the east or west, but I assume it's only a matter of time.
Although each of these regions will give you a solid dose of the picturesque storefronts, cheese-heavy gastronomy, and je ne sais quoi that make France so, you know, French, I found that the north, south, and Paris each had their own distinct vibe.
The North: Normandy
I spent most of my time in Normandy feeling as though I was an extra on the set of Pride and Prejudice. I realize that this story took place in England, not France, but I was staying with my boyfriend's family in a giant chateau in the middle of nowhere (courtesy of a house swap with a French family), surrounded only by miles of green fields, the chateau's personal apple orchard and horse ranch, and the town's tiny church. I think Elizabeth Bennett would have felt right at home.
We took several day trips to the little towns along the northern coast: Dieppe, Honfleur, Etretat, and Fecamp. Each of these towns had an ample supply of corner cafes, quiet antique shops, and legitimately some of the happiest, friendliest people I have ever met in my life; I half expected everyone to break into song and re-create the opening scene of Beauty and the Beast. The people living in these towns seemed to have adopted a very quiet, laid back lifestyle, almost as if every day were a Sunday afternoon.
The South: The French Riviera
The geography of the French Riviera resembles that of the northern region: lots of ocean and lots of small towns. The energy of the region, however, is what sets it apart. Although there are plenty of people who live there year-round, it constantly felt to me as though everyone I saw was on vacation. Movies, literature, and history have given the region a reputation for hedonistic behavior – and even without that reputation, it's hard not to fall into the rhythms of vacation when you have gorgeous beaches at your disposal at any time of day.
The Riviera still gave me the feeling of a small town setting, but everything seemed to move at a slightly faster pace than it had in the north. The docks were lined with yachts rather than sailboats, the restaurants were buzzing with louder and more animated conversations, and there were always people running from one shop or beach to the next, bouncing from adventure to adventure. While the north felt like a stroll through a farmer's market, the south felt like a Saturday at a street festival.
The Middle: Paris City
I think Paris should count as its own region of France, or maybe as its own country, because there's enough happening there to make it seem like its own little world. Paris was the first place in France I visited, as it probably has been or will be for most people who visit France, and it was everything I had imagined my first foray into the world of European adventures to be.
The city fulfilled my need for streets that were made of actual cobblestones, people that actually carried baguettes in their bike baskets, and meals that encouraged the consumption of as much cheese as possible. A lot of people seem to dismiss Paris for being too touristy or commercialized, and while I do agree that isn't the end-all, be-all of quintessential European towns, I still think it deserves some credit.
There is something about Paris that has inspired artists, writers, historians, musicians, and backpackers in a way that other major European cities haven't. Rome might come close – it has more ruins to back it up. The fact that Paris has maintained that kind of consistency for so many years means that it must be doing something right. Having Woody Allen on your side can't really hurt, either.
With that said, I think a lot of people – myself included – tend to romanticize Paris to an extent that probably isn't fair to the rest of France. You can catch a train from Paris to all other major regions of France – for Normandy, I'd recommend a train up to Caen or Bayeux, and from there you can catch smaller regional trains or buses to the tiny seaside towns. For the Riviera, I'd recommend a train down to Nice or Cannes, and I've heard Marseilles is really something to see, too.
As for me – I think there are several bottles of wine calling my name in the Bordeaux region, or maybe a ski lesson somewhere along the eastern border near Switzerland.


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I do know that a number of hubbers here set up separate web sites underneath domain names they own themselves. All The Time- For those who can afford it, and even should you actually can't, this is not an space you wish to low cost out on. Having a terrific website that ranks well among engines like google can pay for itself in a short time and increase your revenue margins well past what you pay a developer to construct it.
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The website growth contract (web design contract, website design settlement, web development contract, website improvement settlement) sets good relations between the shopper and the company. With such a variety of site building instruments and platforms out there, choosing the proper one in your website isn't any simple task.
Think about trying to individually" monitor the travels of the entire guests to your website on a 24hr foundation. Customers can select a template, level and click, select any further tools or add-ons and be left with an expert wanting website in no time in any respect.
There are many drag and drop website builders accessible out there that actually let you drag content material into a website, and publish it without touching any codes. For most people (together with us just a few years ago), creating a website is one thing that solely IT geeks are capable of doing.


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Willow trellises are natural and useful garden ornaments that can be quickly made. You may want to choose willow for a first project in rustic weaving because it's extremely flexible and easily worked when freshly cut. Rustic structures such as the willow trellis are made using twigs gathered when young and springy then woven and allowed to dry. Dried woven willow trellises can be used to support clematis, jasmine and other lightweight garden beauties. Willow trellises are also useful for supporting vegetables such as climbing beans and peas. Encourage children to help with the project; slight imperfections will add woodsy charm.
Gather your willow material as green wood, using loppers for larger pieces and pruning shears for long twigs. Bundle with twine for easy carrying. Use an old golf bag for gathering several 4-foot or smaller lengths.
Use saplings and branches cut no more than 24 hours before you intend to weave them for highest moisture content. More moisture content makes supple and easy-to-weave willow. Hold willow more than 24 hours by soaking full length in a trench lined with plastic and filled with water to prevent brittleness. Vines must be cut fresh for best results.
Gather willow in these lengths: four 6-foot sections for the uprights, one 8-foot section for the arch and six 5-foot sections for the crossbars. Cut smaller twigs to length and use to form a fan from the top of the rectangular panel to the arch as desired. Uprights and crossbars should be ¾ to 1 inch in diameter; arching pieces need to be ½ inch to ¾ inch to allow for the bend.
Mark a grid on your flat workspace with chalk using your measuring tape. Your rectangular panel will be 4 feet wide by 6 feet high, so begin by marking out a 4 by 6-foot square. Add gridlines for the two inner uprights 1 foot in from each side of the rectangle.
Lay the uprights on the grid. Add the top crossbar and wire tightly at each joint using 16-gauge wire. Measure up 6 inches from the grid base and lay bottom crossbar across uprights. Wire tightly at each joint. Trim protruding ends of the crossbars with loppers as desired.
Mark uprights for remaining crossbars at 16 ½ inch intervals, measuring from the top of the panel down. You should have four sets of marks for the four remaining crossbars.
Weave remaining crossbars in and out around uprights at marked intervals and wire tightly at each joint. Trim off ends that stick too far out. Weave crossbars by eye without measuring for a truly rustic look, or add more crossbars between the originals to create a basket-style weave if desired.
Position one end of the arch piece against the top of the outside left upright with the tip 8 inches below the top crossbar. Wire tightly around arch piece and upright slightly above the tip and where the arch meets the top crossbar.
Bend the arch gently toward the right side of the panel till the other tip is positioned in the same way against the right outside upright. Wire tightly near the tip and where it joins the top crossbar.
Wire fan pieces on the arch if desired, and weave vines around joints to cover wiring.
Stand the trellis up in the garden where you want to mount it. Mark the points where the uprights touch the earth. Drive stakes into the ground at both spots, leaving 16 inches above the ground.
Hold the trellis upright and match outer uprights to the stakes. Wire uprights tightly to stakes at several points on each side.
Plant your climbers and enjoy.
Most recent
- Use only lightweight climbers like morning glory or clematis on your trellis. Rustic arches like a willow trellis won't support heavy climbers such as wisteria, climbing roses or grapes.
- Use untreated copper wire that weathers to a soft green, or brown-treated craft wire for different effects.
- Always ask permission before going onto private property to gather materials.
- A willow trellis is fragile and may need guy wires to withstand heavy winds or snowfall.
- Willow sprouts extremely easily; trellises cut fresh, made the same day and put directly into the ground may produce shoots. Best practice is to mount the trellis on stakes or rebar since willow roots aggressively seek water and sprouting trellis roots may ruin sprinkler systems. Keep fresh willow trellises that have been put directly into the ground well away from piping and sewer lines.


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I have already defined my position on Mohammed Afzal case. But here, I would like to look at few statements used in the judgment.
The Supreme Court says: "The incident, which resulted in heavy casualties, had shaken the entire nation and the collective conscience of the society will only be satisfied if capital punishment is awarded to the offender." (emphasis mine)
We always believe that our Judiciary should uphold constitution and the legal system without getting biased or prejudiced by the opinions of the people or majorities. We believe our penal system is not to punish the offender but to rehabilitate him.
Do we give death sentence to satisfy the collective conscience of the society? Does the convict get a sentence based on the crime or based on what the collective conscience has felt about it?
The Supreme Court says: "As is the case with most of the conspiracies, there is and could be no direct evidence of the agreement amounting to criminal conspiracy. However, the circumstances, cumulatively weighed, would unerringly point to the collaboration of the accused Afzal with the slain 'fidayeen' terrorists". (emphasis mine)
When did we start using circumstantial evidence, however cumulative it is, to be unerring? And when did we start using 'no direct evidence' to award a death sentence, which we agree should be awarded in 'rarest of the cases'?


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How do I change Student app settings on my Android device?
You can manage your personal settings in the Canvas Student app.
The images in this lesson are shown for a phone display, but unless otherwise noted, tablet displays mirror the same steps.
Language settings cannot be managed from the Canvas Student app. The app will display the language set from a user's account settings in Canvas. If that cannot be found, will display the device language.
Note: General settings for the app, such as clearing the cache, can be managed in the Application manager within your Android device settings menu.
Open User Menu
In the Dashboard, tap the User Menu icon.
Open Settings
Tap the Settings icon.
View App Settings
You can change the following settings in the app:
- Edit profile settings, including user name, photo, or avatar [1]
- Change account preferences [2]
- Enable push notifications [3]
- View information about the app [4]
- View legal information about the app [5]
- Get help with the app [6]


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The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the principal public prosecution service for criminal cases in England and Wales.
In undertaking this role, the CPS:
For more information visit the CPS website at www.cps.gov.uk.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has issued guidance on when Internet based offences should be prosecuted. The guidance can be found here
The Coucil of Europe's HELP Programme has created a pan-Europe online course for hate crime designied for prosecuors and judges in it's 47 member states.
The course is available for any user in the HELP platform
Users have access by creating an account in the platform
You may need to download Adobe Reader to view files in PDF format.
You may need to download Microsoft viewer software to view Word, Excel or Powerpoint files.


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Submitted by justin on Mon, 30/03/2015 - 11:05
We are in the middle of a bunch of major updates to the Shedworx apps and as part of this has included taking a look at all the Shedworx apps.
Based on the revenue that these apps have been generating and the work required to update them, we've decided to retire the following apps:
- Cosmos - this was our dedicated video manager for HD video but has become too costly to update based on the revenue it was generating.
- Loops - this was our group photo sharing service which has finally been surpassed by Apple's new Photos service. Photos has delivered on what we were trying to do with Loops back in 2011. We've found Photos to be a great option to store all your photos in the cloud and be able to manage the library from any device. We've been using Photos for a while now and it certainly delivers.
- mkvWatch - this was our first experiment in the video converter space after Voltaic and has been surpassed in every way by Smart Converter Pro.
Dropping these apps means that we can focus our efforts on the core Shedworx apps that deliver the best results for customers.
The following apps are being updated right now and will be released later in 2015:
- Smart Converter Pro for Mac - an update is underway to deliver a whole bunch of minor improvements for 2015.
- Smart Converter Pro for Windows - the Windows version of Smart Converter Pro will be receiving the full Folder Monitoring and Metadata lookup features of the Mac version, and Windows 10 support.
- Music Converter Pro - many bug fixes and minor improvements.
- miDVD Pro - many bug fixes and minor improvements.


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Goodwill of North Georgia Goodwill of North Georgia
Here's a sample of our volunteer opportunities:VIEW AS
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Mission Statement
The mission of Goodwill of North Georgia is to put people to work.
When you shop and when you donate you support our mission to put people to work. We use your donated goods to help generate funding for our job training programs and employment programs. Last year, we provided services to more than 60,000 people and helped more than 20,000 people to find jobs or start new business.
When you give to Goodwill or shop in our stores, you are helping people who lack education or work experience, those who have disabilities, youth, veterans and others who may be having a hard time finding employment. Together, we put people to work.
Social Media
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MUMBAI: Actress Genelia D'Souza says you just need love and a dog to complete your life.
"All you need is love and a dog, Then life is complete… Happy Birthday Flash… Your my reason to smile," Genelia tweeted Sunday.
The actress also posted a photograph of herself with her pet dog on the micro-blogging site.
The actress is married to actor-producer Riteish Deshmukh and they were blessed with their first child Riaan last year.
The couple, who had been dating since 2003, tied the knot in 2012. Having starred together in movies like "Tujhe Meri Kasam" and "Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya", they are often called the 'cutest couple of tinsel town'.


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Articling Women (AW) was founded as a chapter of the Women's Law Association of Ontario to support the career development of women lawyers from the very beginning of their careers. Through a series of programming and events, AW aims to foster dialogue and camaraderie amongst women articling students in the hope of promoting long and satisfying careers for women in law.
AW's inaugural event, 'Leaning In to Your Career in Law', was a panel hosted at the Law Society of Ontario on March 18, 2014. Paulette Pommells led a panel of five brilliant women lawyers through discussions of work, life, family, mentors and success in the practice of law. The conversation then shifted to a series of roundtables, each led by women leaders in law. The event was generously sponsored by the Law Society of Ontario and Torkin Manes LLP.
We have assembled some tips to help you get through the Articling Process (somewhat) intact!
- Be nice and authentic to everyone, but especially the staff. Always. Not just while articling, but forever. Learn names, say hello, ask how people's weekends were even and especially when you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off. Be considerate and ask about the systems that are in place so that you don't make anyone's job more difficult. (i.e. where should I leave documents for so-and-so? How should I enter my dockets for you?) Such consideration is important to a good working environment and may also inspire people to help you out more readily when you're in a bind.
- When you're working with a more senior lawyer, it may be helpful to seek advice from a more junior lawyer or law clerk who frequently works with them. The senior lawyers' time is expensive, it is helpful to seek guidance from someone who might also better be able to relate to your questions.
- Questions about your assignments will come up and you should ask them, however make sure you have exhausted your available resources before you go back to the lawyer who gave you the assignment. (i.e. have you checked both the paper file and the electronic file? Have you checked the applicable act? The annotated version? An applicable textbook? Have you searched for precedents? Asked an associate who works with the lawyer? Asked the lawyer's assistant?) When you go back with a question, the first thing they say might be, "Well, have you looked in [blank]?" It's a really nice feeling to be able to "Yes, I have, and I've also looked here and here and here."
- The other side of tip #3: don't spend hours "spinning your wheels" before asking a question. You should be conscious of your time, efficient with your resources, and checking in to provide a status update when you're not getting anywhere might show that you are conscious of that. (i.e. "I've spent (however long) researching this question, I have looked at the applicable annotated act and the textbooks, so far I have found [BLANK] but little that is related to your initial question. I will continue but please let me know if you think I can reframe the inquiry in some way.")
- If you are not the only student, use your fellow articling students. Try to create a team environment where you have an open door to one other to discuss difficult issues, bounce ideas around and seek advice. Often when you are stumped on a legal issue talking it out provides clarity; there is no one better to help than other students. It will be a lonely 10 months if you are competitive and keep your cards close to your chest. The legal world is not a one-person show but involves a team – be a part of one.
- You will figure out quickly which lawyers don't mind having you drop in with a question, which ones prefer a phone call and which ones prefer email. No matter which form of communication you use, take a little bit of time distilling your question/communication to the essential. It is important to be efficient with time and a little bit of preparation will go a long way.
- Try not to say 'no' to assignments when you are busy. Instead, explain what you have on the go and see if you can work that particular assignment into your schedule. However, take time to set realistic expectations. If you get an assignment, make sure you communicate what else you think might impact your ability to make a deadline. It is a difficult conversation, but it is far better to be up front about timing difficulties than to have them create problems at the moment of deadline. Along this vein, it happens that you may take on more than you can chew. In this case, make sure you inform the lawyer that you cannot meet your deadline before the deadline arrives so they can prepare and advise accordingly.
- Be yourself and be positive. Being positive creates a pleasant work environment and is contagious to those around you. It can be as simple as putting a smile on your face even when you are swamped and responding positively when someone asks how you are. Along that vein, allow the people you work with to get to know the real you. Like the interview process, being an associate is also about 'fit' and that 'fit' is just as important to your career as it is to the law firm.
- You will have the opportunity to work with lawyers, students and staff from other law firms. Whether it be on litigation files or corporate deals, remember that you may work with these people in some capacity for the rest of your career. They may also be some of the best resources to you if you find yourself looking for a job or for a change down the road. Even in an adversarial context, be respectful, considerate and where possible, take the extra steps that will make everyone's job easier.
- Do the best work you can do but don't beat yourself up over mistakes (you will make some). Use mistakes as an opportunity to learn and try out all different kinds of law – don't waste these 10 months being political just for the sake of having a job at the end. Remember that the ability for a firm to hire you back may have less to do with your ultimate performance and more to do with business considerations beyond your control. This is the best opportunity you will have to find out what it is you want to do in your legal career, use it well!
Interested in starting a chapter in your area? Contact us


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Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has named Jeffrey Lyash its new CEO and president, the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) said on Wednesday. Lyash has worked within the public and private sectors in the field of nuclear power generation. Most recently, he served as president of Power for the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company. Read More »
The Canadian Nuclear Association elected a new Board of Directors responsible for supervising the association's overall direction and strategy at its annual general meeting. Read More »
Nuclear energy a major contributor to country's status as clean energy leader. Read More »


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A complex password is a firstmost requirement for any system that simply uses username/password (no RSA, 2Factor authentication kinda thing) for authentication. For a windows or unix/linux based systems, system administrators used to push complex password requirements via AD/LDAP.
A complex password ensures that system is least vulnerable to any unauthorized attempt to login to your system and vSphere is no different than any other system in this regard.
With release of vSphere 6, VMware enahnced their password policy and enforced to use more complex passwords with Esxi hosts and SSO. Esxi host enforces password requirements for direct access from the DCUI, Esxi Shell, SSH and vSphere web Client.
ESXi uses the pam_passwdqc.so plug-in to set the password policy/rules. ESXi doesn't place any complexity restrictions on the root account's password. However, non-root accounts will be subject to the default rules defined in pam_passwdqc.so.
In previous release of vSphere, Esxi host password complexity changes were made by editing the /etc/pam.d/passwd file on each ESXi host. With vSphere 6.0 this is done by adding an entry "Security.PasswordQualityControl" in Host Advanced System Settings.
Password Policy with Esxi 6
When creating a password for an Esxi host, it should include certain complexity requirements including:
- Passwords must contain characters from at least three character classes.
- Passwords containing characters from three character classes must be at least seven characters long.
- Passwords containing characters from all four character classes must be at least seven characters long.
- An uppercase character that begins a password does not count toward the number of character classes used.
- A number that ends a password does not count toward the number of character classes used.
- The password cannot contain a dictionary word or part of a dictionary word.
To change the default required length and character class requirement we need to modify Security.PasswordQualityControl option on Esxi host via Web Client.
The default configuration ESXi 6 is : retry=3 min=disabled,disabled,disabled,7,7″
What does retry=3 min=disabled,disabled,disabled,7,7 means anyway?
It means that passwords with one or two character classes and pass phases are not allowed, as indicated by the first three disabled items. Passwords from three and four character classes require seven characters. More information on this can be read from man page of pam_passwdqc
Lets break the string into a format which is simple to understand
retry=3. This setting dictates how many times Esx host will ask for a new password if the user fails to provide a strong password for the first time.
min=disabled This setting takes five positional parameters, each one representing a different kind of password complexity. The position reflects the level of complexity required, and the value reflects the length required:
- N0 is used for passwords consisting of characters from one character class only. The character classes can be: digits, lower-case letters, upper-case letters and other characters.
- N1 is used for passwords consisting of characters from two character classes that do not meet the requirements for a passphrase.
- N2 is used for passphrases. ESXi requires three words for a passphrase. Each word in the passphrase must be 8-40 characters long.
- N3 and N4 are used for passwords consisting of characters from three and four character classes, respectively.
How to change password complexity?
To change the password complexity requiremnts, we just need to edit the option Security.PasswordQualityControl from vSphere Web Client.
Here is an example where I changed the value to disabled,disabled,10,7,7
If we check the /etc/pam.d/passwd file, we can confirm the updated value
[root@esxi04:~] cat /etc/pam.d/passwd
#%PAM-1.0
# Change only through host advanced option "Security.PasswordQualityControl".
password requisite /lib/security/$ISA/pam_passwdqc.so retry=3 min=disabled,disabled,10,7,7
password sufficient /lib/security/$ISA/pam_unix.so use_authtok nullok shadow sha512
password required /lib/security/$ISA/pam_deny.so
Changing password complexity via Power-CLI
Below simple script ( credit to Ivo Beerens) can be used to change password complexity on all Esxi host that is connected to a given vCenter
# Set the ESXi Password Policy by using PowerCLI for every ESXi host
# Default Password Policy ESXi 6 = retry=3 min=disabled, disabled, disabled, 7, 7
$PasswordPolicy = "retry=3 min=8,8,8,7,6"
$VMHosts = Get-VMHost | Where { $_.ConnectionState -eq "Connected" }
foreach ($VMHost in $VMHosts)
{
$VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name "Security.PasswordQualityControl" | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value $PasswordPolicy -Confirm:$false
}
ESXi Account Lockout Behavior
Starting with vSphere 6.0, account locking is supported for access through SSH and through the vSphere Web Services SDK. The Direct Console Interface (DCUI) and the ESXi Shell do not support account lockout.
By default, a maximum of ten failed attempts is allowed before the account is locked. The account is unlocked after two minutes by default. To change the lockout behaviour, we need to modify below configuration options via Web Client:
Security.AccountLockFailures: Maximum number of failed login attempts before a user's account is locked. Zero disables account locking.
Security.AccountUnlockTime: Number of seconds that a user is locked out.
Resetting your Failed Login Attempts with pam_tally2
Pam_tally2 is a simple but very effective tool to reset the failed login attempts and this tool is baked by default with ESXi installation.
The command to clear the lockout status and reset the count to zero for an account is:
[root@esxi04:~] /bin/pam_tally2 --user root --reset
Login Failures Latest failure From
root 0
I hope you find this post informational. Feel free to share this on social media if it is worth sharing. Be sociable 🙂


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FER-013 Hurts to Laugh & The Dead Deads on sale this week!
A brand new split 7 inch from Nashville bands The Dead Deads and Hurts to Laugh just arrived at FER HQ. They will be on sale this Friday right here at FatElvisRecords.com
150 copies on Neon Green or Boris Purple Vinyl
25 Wax Mage Variants
10 Test Press


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text:
Born: Feb 5, 1985
Age: 34 Years
Birth Place: Funchal
Nationality: Portugal
Club: Juventus F.C
Height: 1.87 m
Position: Left Winger
Agent: Gestifute
Net Worth: $400m
Children: 4
Juventus vs Atletico Madrid
UCL - February 20, 2019
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most decorated soccer players in the world today. It is not an exaggeration to call him a living legend. He is an exceptionally talented footballer, and the awards and trophies are a proof of that. But, he is not only a skilful player, but also a sports star, a much loved celebrity. Ronaldo has millions of fans all across the world. They either want to be him, or be with him. Of course, there are haters and critics who criticise his every move. But, all the negativity does not stop Ronaldo. He perfectly balances a successful career as a footballer, brand ambassador of several big names and businessman, and a beautiful family.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Childhood
Behind the glitz and glamour in Ronaldo's life now, there are years of hard work, and it can be said that he is a self-made man. He was born as Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro on the 5th of February 1985 in São Pedro, Funchal, on the island of Madeira in Portugal. An interesting fact is that he is named after his father's favourite actor, Ronald Reagan.
He grew up in a middle-class family, in a tin-roofed house that faced the sea. His childhood was full of hardships. His father, who was a gardener, died of kidney problems in 2005. His mother started working as a cook and a cleaning lady to provide for the children. But even amidst all the hard work, she kept encouraging young Ronaldo to pursue soccer. Jose's work as an equipment manager had first introduced Ronaldo to the sport, and he soon became phenomenal in it – and he was just 10 at that time. His godfather, Fernao Sousa, says that Ronaldo would skip meals, miss his sleep, and ditch school work, just to play. And it doesn't stop there. His friends remember how he used to race with running cars at traffic signals. No wonder he is one of the fasters footballers on the field today!
As a child, he played for the amateur team named Andorinha, beween 1992 and 1995. He was popular with the other kids at school, but not so much with the teachers, and got expelled after throwing a chair at a teacher who had allegedly disrespected him. By this time, he and his mother had already decided that he would cease his formal education, to concentrate on sports. He was diagnosed with a racing heart, and this could have stopped him from continuing but he underwent a surgery, and resumed playing.
CR7 Sporting Lisbon Career
In 1997, when Cristiano was only 12 years old, he went for a trial of three days with Sporting CP, with whom he signed for a fee of £1,500. Eventually, he moved to Alcochete near Lisbon, to join the football academy of the club. After his short stint at Nacional da liha da Madeira, Ronaldo signed with Sporting Portugal in the year 2001. He was only 16 then, and had already impressed everyone with his dribbling, especially Sporting's first-team manager László Bölöni, who promoted him from the youth team.
Within one season, he crossed U-16, U-17, U-18, B, and first teams. In October, 2002, he made his debut in the Primeira Liga against Moreirense in a match that saw him score two goals. During that season, he did so well that he attracted the attention of many clubs. He was almost on the verge of signing with Parma, which used to be a Serie A side at that time, for an amount of €11 million. But, his life changed because of a single match against Manchester United, in which Sporting won with a score of 3-1, of which Ronaldo alone scored 2 goals. This match on the 6th of August 2003 attracted the attention of Sir Alex Fergusion towards the boy wonder, and even MUFC player Rio Ferdinand wanted Ronaldo as a teammate.
Ronaldo Manchester United Career
After the historic match between Sporting and MUFC, Ronaldo received a whopping £12.24 million to join the English club. He thus became the most expensive teenager transfer at that time. And, MUFC did not regret the decision. He played immensely well, and started to absorb all the training that was given to him, thus growing as a player. In 2004 FA Cup final, he scored the first three goals in favour of his team, thus helping them to lift the trophy. In 2006, he scored 20 goals. His contract was renewed for £31 million in 2008, and he proved again that he deserved the price, as he played in what turned out to be one of the finest seasons in his life, as well as in the history of the club, with a record number of goals, at 42! Ronaldo's presence in the team has earned them 3 premier league titles.
Despite personal problems, like his mother's cancer and his father's constant health struggle followed by death, 2006-08 turned out to be the most successful phase of his life. It was at Manchester United that brand CR7 was created, as Sir Alex wanted him to play with jersey no. 7. While Ronaldo was reluctant at first, thinking of the great names associated with the number, he eventually agreed. His career at Manchester United not only earned him big offers from different clubs, but also gave him good friends, and his father-like mentor, Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ronaldo Real Madrid Career
Ronaldo had already started to attract the attention of the media and the critics, and everyone questioned his commitment towards the club. After Ronaldo returned from the World Cup 2006, during which Rooney was sent off from the Portugal vs England game, and Ronaldo was seen winking at the crowd. He then returned to MUFC a villain. In 2009, Ronaldo moved to the Spanish clib, Real Madrid, for a record fee of £ 84 million.
He initially played there with jersey no. 9, but as Raul moved out, Ronaldo against assumed no.7 in 2010. And thus began a new era of CR7 – at Real Madrid. Since then, he has remained at Real Madrid, and made some exceptional contributions to the team, and winning several personal accolades, as well. The most recent of these achievements include Real's successive Champions League titles, the La Liga win in 2016-17, Ronaldo's fourth Ballon d'Or, and so much more!
C.Ronaldo 7 International Career
While Ronaldo has had a decorated club football career, he has also done immensely well internationally. He joined the U-15 team of Portugal in 2001, when he was just 15. He then went on to represent Portugal in the U-17, U-20 and U-23 competitions. He appeared in the senior team of Portugal for the first time in 2003, and his first match was against Kazakhstan. He was part of the 2006 World Cup team, scoring the 2nd highest number of goals in the qualifying round. After a massive overhaul of the team in 2008, Ronaldo became its captain, and he led the 2010 team in the World Cup, during which his team was knocked out in the 16th round. In the 2014, Ronaldo was the only dependable player of Portugal, and he performed prolifically.
Cristiano Ronaldo Awards and Trophies
Cristiano Ronaldo's amazing career has studded with some incredible awards to honour and recognize his contributions to the sport. He has won the FIFA Ballon d'Or award in 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2016. He became the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008, and was declared the Best FIFA Men's Player in 2016. He was awarded the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year accolade for his performance in 2007-08. Some of his other awards are the FIFPro World Player of the Year in 2008; the UEFA Club Forward of the Year for 2007–08; the World Soccer Player of the Year in 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2016; GSA Best Player of the Year: 2011, 2014, 2016; International Champions Cup Best Player in 2013; Onze d'Or in 2008, and for 2016–17; the Onze d'Argent in 2007, 2009, and 2011–12; the Onze de Bronze for 2010–11; the Bravo Award in 2004, the FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year for 2003–04 and 2004–05; the World's Best Football Player by Fans from Czech Republic in 2007, and many, many more.
Ronaldo vs. Messi – The Never Ending Battle
One of the biggest competitors of Ronaldo is Lionel Messi, who represents Real Madrid's arch enemy, Barcelona. The rivalry of Real Madrid and Barcelona is as old as the history of club football. Ronaldo and Messi are the main representatives of the two teams. Hence, the Real Madrid vs Barcelona rivalry has become synonymous with Ronaldo vs. Messi competition. These two players are pitted against each other, and not just in terms of the matches in which the two teams face each other. Their numbers, in general, are always compared, to keep the fight alive.
The media makes its efforts to compare their behavior, personal lives, and everything else, but the fact is, these two players have a healthy competition, and respect each other. They say that they consider each other as a player of the competing team, nothing more and nothing less. In terms of numbers, the two players are not too far from each other. If we take a look at their all-time career, including club and country matches, Messi has appeared in 705 matches, and scored 568 goals, with 231 assists. Ronaldo on the other hand has scored 608 goals in 863 appearances, with 198 assists in his kitty. Every season brings new comparisons, and after the 2016-17 season, in which Ronaldo has helped his team bag the La Liga and Champions League titles, it is likely that Ronaldo will get his 5th Ballon d'Or, to level with Messi.
Cristiano Ronaldo Net Worth
In July 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo was declared as Forbes' highest paid athlete, with a net worth of $93 million. This includes $35 million worth of earning from sponsors and licensing deals. He also secured a four-year contract extension with Real Madrid which will pay him around $50 million for each football season. Cristiano Ronaldo is also linked a lifelong deal with the sports giant Nike which is worth of nearly $1 billion.
Cristiano Ronaldo Sponsorships
A major chunk of Ronaldo's income comes from sponsorship deals. This is not only because he is a handsome face, or a celebrated player, but also because of his immense social media presence. Each of his Instagram posts is worth £310,000! Ronaldo is associated with brands of sportswear, soft drinks, electronics, health drinks, and much more. Some of the brands that sponsor him are Nike, Nubia, Herbalife, Clinic All Clear, etc. He represents various international brands. Besides other sponsors, he is also taking care of his growing line of CR7 branded products which now includes jeans, shoes, underwear and fragrances. He also collaborated with Pestana group while opening CR7 group of hotels all over the globe.
CR7 Cars Collection
Ronaldo is a flamboyant man, and it's no surprise that his flamboyance reflects in his garage. Ronaldo has owned some of the fastest and the most expensive cars in the world. His first ever car was an Audi A3 coupe, which he purchased in 2004. Currently, his fleet of Bugatti, Ferrari and Bentley luxury cars is worth almost £5 million.
His fleet includes cars like Bugatti Veyron, Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, BMW M6, Bentley Continental GTC, Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sports Coupe, Porsche Cayenne, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Audi Q7, Ferrari F430, Porsche 911 Carrera 2 S Cabriolet, Bentley GT Speed, Audi R8, Audi RS6, Maserati GranCabrio, Ferrari 599 GTO, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI, Phantom Rolls-Royce, and Aston Martin DB9.
Ronaldo CR7 Houses
Cristiano Ronaldo's first house was Alderley Edge Mansion in the Village of Cheshire at Alderley. He bought it for more than $6 million, but now the house in the posh area is up for sale. Currently, he lives in the Madrid Mansion worth over $7 million. The La Finca Villa mansion in Madrid is one of the most luxurious buildings ever, with an area of almost 9000 sq.ft. This is where he lives with his family. He also owns an $18.5million apartment in Trump Tower in New York.
Cristiano Ronaldo Girlfriends
Ronaldo has always had a reputation and a womanizer. The handsome player has had a number of romantic relationships in his life. While some have lasted a couple of weeks, others have gone on for months. The beautiful women in his life have been models, actresses, socialites – all beautiful ladies who have matched up to his level of hotness.
He has dated Niki Ghazian (model), Nuria Bermudez (FIFA certified fooball agent and actress), Mercge Romero (model), Irina Shayk (model), etc. Rumours have been spread about him being involved with the socialite sisters, i.e. the Kardashians, as well as hotel heiress Paris Hilton. But the most serious among them is his current girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, who is 22, and is expecting his child. It is speculated that the two might get married soon, after having dated each other publicly since last November.
Cristiano Ronaldo Kids
Ronaldo is the father of three beautiful children. The eldest, Cristiano Ronaldo jr. or Cristiainho, is 10 years old, and the identity of his mother is not known. Some believe that she was one or Ronaldo's former lovers, while others think that she was hired as a surrogate, just like his other two kids who are twins born in 2017 to an anonymous surrogate.
While the genders of the twins have not been confirmed, the media seem to believe that there's a boy and a girl, named Mateo and Eva. Recently, Ronaldo has confirmed that his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez is pregnant with Ronaldo's fourth child, after months of speculations regarding her pregnancy. It is believed that the child will be born in October this year.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Parents (Mother and Father)
Cristiano Ronaldo is the fourth child of Maria Dolores dos Santos and Jose Dinis Aveiro. His father, a gardener and equipment manager was an alcoholic. This affected his kidney, and even though Ronaldo tried to help him by offering to put him in a rehab, Aveiro refused. He started having kidney problems, and ultimately, he died in 2005.
His mother, who worked as a cleaning person and cook to feed her children after their father's death, struggled with breast cancer around 2007, which also hampered Ronaldo's career, even though eventually turned things around. Dolores, who has supported his son's sports career at every step of the way, is a strong force in his life, not only for him but also for his son who is growing uo without a mother, but receives all the love from Dolores.
Unbeatable Records of Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo, with his incredible skill displays and amazing performances, has been able to set an enormous number of records for the future generations' players to chase. These records include 1) the most expensive footballer in history for 2009–2013; 2) top goalscorer in the history of FIFA Club World Cup with 5 goals, shared with Lionel Messi, César Delgado and Luis Suárez); 3) most international goals in a calendar year with 25 goals; 4) most career goals in Europe's top six leagues with 372 goals; 5) most goals scored in all UEFA competitions with 137 goals; 6) first player to reach 100 career goals in European competitions (club football); 7) first player to reach 100 career goals in the UEFA Champions League; 8) most goals scored in European competitions (club football) with 106 goals; 9) most goals scored in the UEFA Champions League with 105 goals; 10) most assists in the UEFA Champions League with 36 assists; 11) most hat-tricks in La Liga history with 32 hattricks; 12) most goals scored from penalty kicks in La Liga history with 57 goals; 13) Real Madrid all-time top goalscorer with 407 goals; 14) top goalscorer in La Liga with 279 goals[citation needed; 15) top goalscorer in UEFA Champions League with 78 goals; 16) top goalscorer in European competitions with 80 goals, etc. In fact, these are not even a fraction of all the records that Ronaldo has set in his career so far!
Cristiano Ronaldo Nicknames
He got his name 'CR7' from the fans when he got the jersey number "7" while playing for the Manchester United. The CR7 actually stands for his initials and then the jersey number that he wears since long back. Besides this name, Cristiano Ronaldo is known and called by his fans with several other names such as C.Ronaldo, C.Ronaldo7, Ronaldo7, RonaldoCR7 or even with a little distorted variants such as Cris or Christiano Ronaldo.
C.Ronaldo Philanthropy
Cristiano Ronaldo is noted as one of the most philanthropic players in the world. He makes it a point to donate blood as often as possible, and has never had a tattoo, as many places have rules regarding the time gap between getting inked and donating blood. He also donates blood marrow, and encourages his fans to do the same, as it is not a painful procedure. He is always ready to help his home town, Madeira, and was seen making large donations during the flood and the forest fire. He has paid for treatments of many people in the world, like he did in 2012 with nine-year-old Canarian boy who had terminal cancer. He became the brand ambassador of Save the Children to fight child hunger and obesity, and of The Mangrove Forum to spread awareness about mangrove conservation. From Ebola to the children of Gaza, Ronaldo's contribution to those in need is undeniable. He sold his 2011 Golden boot to fund for the education of the children in Gaza, and he started a selfie app whose proceeds go to Save the Children. His philanthropic activities are many.