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Natur Boutique's Organic Ginger Tea is tasty and spicy without being bitter.
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10 of the Bollywood's Darkest Secrets and Facts That'll Shock You!
Darkest Secrets of bollywood is an industry where secrets, be it funny or dirty are not only hard but impossible to keep.
In a country where both craze and crave for Bollywood often reaches insane limits, even the paparazzi leaves the stars with very little privacy. We present to you some inside secrets of Bollywood stars as revealed by their peers.
1.Darkest Secrets When Kareena and Ranbir came together for the fifth season of Koffee with Karan, Kareena said she wanted to dance on Katrina's item songs at their wedding. Kareena's exact words on the show were: "I hope I get an opportunity to dance to Chikni Chameli and Sheila ki jawaani at Ranbir and Katrina's wedding!" This big sister definitely lead her young brother to a lot of unwanted questions!
2. Shah Rukh Darkest Secrets did not spare cricketer Virat Kohli at the IPL 7 opening ceremony. The actor staged a mock 'swayamvar' for the team India vice-captain. He was asked to select his potential bride and of all the choices, he chose Anushka Sharma. SRK also made him wear the actress's photo around his neck. Needless to say, Virat turned red in the face. The couple declared that they were indeed in a relationship later.
3.Did you know Darkest Secrets Aamir Khan allegedly has a love child with Bollywood writer Jessica Hines who he had met during the shoot of Vikram Bhatt's Ghulam. While Aamir has denied any possibility of a love child, Hines has been pretty vocal about it. She once said in an interview that when their son grows up, she would tell him that his father didn't like them! Though it makes us wonder if anyone can make such tall claims without an ounce of truth in it!
4. Not many people know that Bollywood superstar, Hrithik Roshan has hired a personal life coach after his divorce with Suzanne Khan. Hrithik Roshan felt the need of someone professional to get over his messy divorce. The life coach's job is to help Hrithik Roshan stay upbeat and focused about his work, and forget about his divorce with Suzanne Khan.
5. The striking resemblance of Sonakshi's face with Reena Roy gave rise to the rumour that made many people believe that Sonakshi Sinha is in fact Reena Roy's daughter and not Poonam Sinha's.
6. Shilpa Shetty was blatantly charged by Raj Kundra's ex wife for breaking her home. The ex-Mrs Kundra alleged that he was so besotted with Shilpa that their reconciliation became impossible. Shilpa, however denied being a home-breaker and said that Raj was already divorced when she started dating him. We leave the rest for you to figure out what must've actually happened.
7.Darkest Secrets was not always hailed as the 'Queen' in Bollywood. She had an extra marital affair with Bollywood actor, Aditya Pancholi. He in fact used to even hit her on occassions, but Kangana stuck around with him as she wanted to work it out in Bollywood. Sad.
8. YES! Rumour is that Salman Khan gifted Jacqueline a 3 crore flat in Mumbai. Not only that, but many sources have seen Salman and Jacqueline drive off to his Panvel farm house.
What exactly happened on the night Sridevi died?
9. Did you know Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was the first choice for Chalte Chalte instead of Rani? But SRK threw her out of the movie because of Salman Khan. Yes. Salman Khan would drive down to the film set everyday and would create a havoc. That is when SRK decided to fire Aishwarya and take in Rani instead. !
10. On a recent talk show, Bollywood's very own 'Queen' said that ,"Hrithik would be nowhere without his famous parents". As shocking as the comment would seem looks like Kangana is in no mood to hold back what she really thinks about Hrithik. Also when a journalist once asked his dad, Rakesh Roshan to comment on the alleged Hrithik-Kangana affair, he said Hrithik is too busy to comment and when he does, the world will get shocked. Hrithik tweeted saying that he was "more likely to date the Pope". The two filed legal notices against each other, Sussanne Roshan: Hrithik and Sussanne had quite a filmy start with Hrithik falling in love with Sussanne after spotting her at a traffic signal in Mumbai. The two started dating soon after. After a year-long relationship, Hrithik proposed to her on a beach in Mumbai, and the two got married at a luxury spa in Bangalore with only close friends and family in attendence in 2000. There were rumours of problems in their marriage in 2013 when Sussanne was missing from the Roshan family's Ganesh Visarjan celebrations. She also left her father-in-law Rakesh Roshan's 64th birthday party abruptly. The two decided to separate just a week before their 13th wedding anniversary in December 2013. There were reports that the cause of the separation was Sussanne's affair with actor Arjun Rampal. Four months after the separation, they filed for divorce by mutual consent in Bandra court. In July, 2014, there were reports about Sussanne asking for Rs 400-crore alimony. The two got divorced in November 2014.Actor Kangana Ranaut and Hrithik became friends while shooting their film Kites, however, they reportedly got into a relationship during the shooting of Krrish 3 (2013). While these reports remained unconfirmed, Kangana opened a can of worms when she referred to Hrithik as her ex in January.

subset: commoncrawl


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Little Ego on BBC News 24
If you've got to grips with the wonders of #hashtags on Twitter, you'll understand the popular social networking site is full of them; whether it be world event related or just a random hashtag that's started trending, everyone has come to love a good ol' hashtag.
Providing viewers with the latest user-friendly apps, gadgets and technology news, BBC Click featured our very own web app, TweetShow, in all its glory shortly after its launch. After Kate Russell tried it out for herself and gave it the BBC click of approval, many took to the web to try it out for themselves.
With recent updates to tie in with Twitter's new permission scheme, using TweetShow is as easy as 1, 2, 3, (no Jackson 5 pun intended). Simply add any hashtag you fancy and click the start show button – that's it! Within seconds, tweets containing your chosen hashtag will become part of a full screen spectacle.
Show me the #hashtag!
Since launching back in 2012, businesses have been sitting back and enjoying their own shows worldwide. Not only is TweetShow perfect for company events, launch parties and award ceremonies, we even have others using it for non-business related occasions such as sporting events, birthday parties and weddings. From #TechnoParty to #Seinfeld, users have enjoyed our shows with all kinds of hashtags…some of which have particularly amused us! #boobs – naughty! 😯
If you're organising a special event or occasion, TweetShow is the perfect social accessory to encourage some interaction. Plus, for all those organising on a budget, TweetShow is completely free to use… so have a bit of fun with it and create your own personalised TweetShow today!


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Speak to our UK team 01604 300 033
Our monthly residential market review is intended to provide background to recent developments in property markets, as well as to give an indication of how some key issues could impact in the future.
Recent research from property portal, Rightmove, indicates that across the UK, the average time taken from when a property is first listed, until it is marked as under offer, has increased from 72 days in January 2018 to 77 days currently.
The data also shows that Runcorn, in Cheshire, has the fastest moving housing market outside of London. Runcorn has an average asking price of £132,653 and has seen a reduction in selling time from 69 days in 2018 to just 48 days currently, 29 days quicker than the national average. This appears to have largely been driven by the opening of the Mersey Gateway Bridge, alleviating major traffic problems, to allow a journey time of 20 minutes by car, from Runcorn to Liverpool City Centre.
In Scotland, homes are selling quickest in Livingston, where on average it takes just 35 days for properties to get snapped up. Redditch in the West Midlands takes top spot as the fastest selling market in England, with properties in the Worcestershire town selling in 45 days, on average.
A recent survey of more than 400 housebuilding companies in England, by property and construction consultancy McBains, reveals that 57% of respondents reported increasing the rate at which they built new homes during 2018 and are also predicting a further rise over the next 12 months.
However, less than half of those surveyed (48%) think that the Government target of building 300,000 homes a year, on average, by the mid-2020s is achievable, with worries over land availability, slow planning permission and skills shortages being cited as barriers to prevent them building more homes.
Of the homes to be built over the next 12 months, house builders expect 22% of these new homes to be classed as affordable homes for rent or sale. Clive Docwra, Managing Director of McBains, commented: "For those people struggling to get a foot on the property ladder, the finding that only arou nd one in five of new homes to be built over the next year will fal l into the affordable category will be disappointing."
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) February 2019 UK Residential Survey, indicated that the residential property market continues to struggle for momentum. The survey posed an additional question this time, aimed at identifying the most significant factor holding back activity, and in response to this, 77% of respondents cited Brexit uncertainty as the biggest challenge facing the housing market at present. The survey also indicated that 71% felt it was impacting both buyers and sellers, while only 8% were of the view that Brexit was not having an effect on either.
The Chancellor delivered his Spring Statement on 13 March and although little was expected in terms of new policy measures affecting the built environment, many policies remain dependent on the outcome of the Brexit debate, which a RICS press release expressed as 'frustrating given how much parliamentary time has been diverted to it at the expense of pressing domestic issues such as the housing crisis, construction skills shortage and infrastructure deficit.'
It is important to take professional advice before making any decision relating to your personal finances. Information within this document is based on our current understanding and can be subject to change without notice and the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed. It does not provide individual tailored investment advice and is for guidance only. Some rules may vary in different parts of the UK. We cannot assume legal liability for any errors or omissions it might contain. Levels and bases of, and reliefs from, taxation are those currently applying or proposed and are subject to change; their value depends on the individual circumstances of the investor. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission.


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Glimpses: The Best Short Stories of Rick Hautala collects twenty-four short stories from the author of Nightstone, Occasional Demons and Horror Writers Association Lifetime Achievement Award winner Rick Hautala. This volume contains eight never-before-collected stories by the author, original wraparound cover artwork and eight interior illustrations by award-winning artist Glenn Chadbourne. Available directly from the publisher on September 4th, 2012 in two first edition signed and collectible hardcover formats.
One of 2012's HWA Lifetime Achievement Award Winners, Rick Hautala has a writing career that spans more than three decades. From Moondeath, his first novel published in 1980, to the republication of his best-selling novel The White Room (DRP, 2012) and his forthcoming "Little Brothers" novella Indian Summer (CD Publications, 2012), his novels and short stories have entertained millions of readers around the world.
Now comes Glimpses, a career-spanning "best of" collection that brings together twenty-four stories, including eight from each of Rick's critically-acclaimed collections Bedbugs and Occasional Demons, and eight previously uncollected stories.
And Glimpses delivers what it promises — quick glimpses into the deepest shadows of our lives, around unfamiliar corners of streets we think we know, and down the darkest alleys of strange cities where readers will have to face their worst fears and their most unnerving nightmares. Of course, Glimpses wouldn't be a Rick Hautala collection if it didn't included gorgeous original artwork—a wraparound cover and eight new illustrations — from award-winning artist Glenn Chadbourne.
So whether it's in a haunted schoolhouse or an abandoned lighthouse, an iron bridge that spans a fast-moving river or a World War I battlefield, prepare yourself because you never know what you may catch a glimpse of … and by then, it may already be too late.
Under his own name, Rick Hautala has written around thirty novels, including the million-copy best seller Nightstone, as well as Winter Wake, The Mountain King, and Little Brothers. He has previously published two short story collections: Bedbugs and Occasional Demons. He has had over sixty short stories published in a variety of national and international anthologies and magazines.
Writing as A. J. Matthews, his novels include the bestsellers The White Room, Looking Glass, Follow, and Unbroken. Most of his books and stories — and all of them, soon — will be available in all major e-book formats from a variety of e-publishers.
You can pick up a copy directly from Dark Regions here: Glimpses


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How taxes affect free agency in pro sports
By Stefanie Loh
Last month, when the Dallas Cowboys were trying to woo free-agent linebacker Andrew Gachkar away from the Chargers while fending off a competing offer from the New England Patriots, one of the first things they sent Gachkar and his agent was a spreadsheet outlining the tax rates of each state and the impact this would have on the player's potential earnings.
California's state income tax: 13.3 percent.
Massachusetts' state income tax: 5.15 percent
Texas' state income tax: Zero.
"Their first proposal included the tax impact of every state because they made us the offer before they knew where we were gonna go; they were afraid he would go back to San Diego," said David Canter, Gachkar's agent. "We talked about that probably 10 times in our conversations. From the minute we knew there was interest from (Dallas) in us, taxes were definitely in the conversation."
Gachkar ultimately left San Diego and signed a two-year deal with the Cowboys that will pay him $2.2 million in guaranteed money in 2015.
The former Chargers seventh-round draft pick calculated that selecting Dallas over New England will save him a total of about $300,000 in state taxes over the next two years. The contrast between San Diego and Dallas is even more stark: Gachkar says signing with the Cowboys instead of returning to the Chargers probably will save him almost $600,000 in the same time frame.
You might not think that the state tax rate plays any role in the heartbeat of free agency in pro sports. But thanks to what's commonly known as the "jock tax," state tax rates can influence where your favorite player ends up signing.
In addition to their state and federal tax responsibilities, professional athletes pay taxes to every state that has an income tax in which they earned money during the year. How much "jock tax" money an athlete owes each state depends on how many "duty days" he spent there. That term includes games, practices and any other team-related activity.
Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia feature teams in the five major U.S. professional sports leagues — NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS. Of those 26, only three are tax-free states, with a fourth, Tennessee, featuring a "privilege tax" that exempts NFL and NHL players from paying any state taxes.
When athletes command a seven-figure paycheck, all those state W-2 forms for the jock tax can add up quickly, especially on top of what's deducted for the federal return and the taxes for the state in which they reside.
Throw in some high foreign tax rates — such as the United Kingdom's 45 percent top tax bracket — that affect the teams involved in the NFL's International Series, and some athletes can end up losing close to 60 percent of that week's paycheck to taxes.
Whether you're Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (with his $30 million base salary for 2015) or Gachkar (who will make $2 million this year), that's a significant tax burden that will hurt any wallet.
California's 13.3 percent tax rate — the highest in the nation — weighed heavily on Gachkar's mind as he was deciding where to sign.
"That 13.3 percent in California plays a huge role for guys like me in that every dollar I get, it's extremely important to me and my family," Gachkar said. "If you have a $100 million contract, what's (an extra) $5 million because you're still gonna live the greatest life in the world.
"But when you're at a lower dollar amount and you're not set for the rest of your life, you have to make as much as you can, especially with the sport we play. It's not like baseball where it's all guaranteed money."
All about the money?
An athlete's chosen state of residence is especially important in football because there are fewer road games than in the other major pro sports.
Robert Raiola, a certified public accountant who works for the New York-based firm O'Connor Davies, said state taxes can have a significant effect on free agency in the NFL "because you spend 80 percent of your time in the state you play in."
For instance, an NFL player who lives and plays in Seattle or Dallas would pay the jock tax in whichever states his team travels to during the season, but would not pay any income tax to his home state.
On the other hand, Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers' new four-year, $36.4 million deal comes with $20.5 million in guaranteed money. But that also guarantees that he'll lose more than $10.2 million to taxes by the end of his contract.
And you'd better believe that rival teams are ready and willing to use the number 13.3 against the three California franchises during negotiations.
Especially teams in tax-free states: namely, the Seahawks, Texans, Cowboys, Titans, Jaguars, Dolphins and Buccaneers.
"I think those teams have a massive competitive advantage," said Canter, the president and CEO of DEC Management. "When my clients come to South Florida, they immediately establish domesticity in Florida."
While not one of Canter's clients, Ndamukong Suh is probably in the process of doing exactly that. The former Detroit Lions defensive tackle was the biggest prize of this NFL free-agency cycle, and despite interest from the Lions and Raiders, he signed a whopping, six-year, $114 million contract ($60 million guaranteed) with the Miami Dolphins.
According to ESPN.com, Detroit offered Suh a comparable deal that would have guaranteed him $58 million. But given the 4.25 percent state tax rate in Michigan and local taxes, and Florida's status as a tax-free state, Raiola estimates that the Lions would have had to offer a deal with $64.9 million guaranteed to match the roughly $34.7 million that Suh will net in Florida after taxes.
Teams can't make many moves like that without bumping up against the salary cap. They have to look out for their bottom line. But players have to look out for their own bottom line, Canter said.
"It's all about the money — 99.9 percent of the time, money talks. Any agent who says otherwise is lying," Canter said. "These guys have a very limited opportunity to make as much money as possible. … Why shouldn't they go to tax-advantageous states?"
Not always about the money?
But not every agent sees eye to eye with Canter.
Kenny Zuckerman of Priority Sports & Entertainment says state tax really comes into play only when an athlete is weighing an offer from a team in a high-tax state against a team in a tax-free state.
"It's not a big player in free agency. … I still think one of the most important aspects is that you want to pick a great situation, a place where you can flourish as a player," Zuckerman said. "I wouldn't say it comes up too much in a final decision."
Don Yee, whose firm Yee & Dubin represents Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, thinks the state tax issue has been overblown by the media in recent years.
"I personally have never been in a situation where that issue has become relevant to any significant degree," Yee said. "In the process of comparing offers, generally speaking, you're going to go through several levels of analysis. One of those levels is strictly economic, another might be competitiveness, another is the team dynamic and livability of the city.
"Each athlete is going to weigh those factors in a different way. I've never dealt with an athlete who weighed the economic considerations entirely."
In the case of Padres pitcher James Shields, the economic considerations weren't much of a factor at all.
Shields signed a four-year, $75 million contract with the Padres this spring over a reported three-year, $60 million offer from the Chicago Cubs.
That $15 million differential may seem like a lot, but after you factor in taxes, Raiola estimates that Shields will net about $38.97 million in San Diego over the course of his deal, while he would have made $34.52 million in Chicago.
Could the Cubs have reeled in Shields if they'd nudged their package price up just a little more?
Maybe, but it's not likely.
A native of Newhall, a suburb of Los Angeles, and a resident of Rancho Santa Fe, Shields picked the Padres in part because he likes living in California — high tax rate and all.
"Considering that I live here, it doesn't really matter to me," Shields said, when asked if the state tax rate factored into his decision to sign with the Padres. "I guess wherever I play, California plays into my game. It doesn't matter.
"This is a way of life, this is where I want to be. There's no amount of money for happiness."
Yet the tax issue can't be dismissed entirely. And it's not just a concern for NFL teams.
In February, Brian Sabean, the San Francisco Giants' executive vice president of baseball operations, told the San Francisco Chronicle that the California tax rate has affected his club's activity in free agency.
"To entice a free agent to come to San Francisco, we're almost in an overpay situation, so why get involved in all those battles where you're not going to be able to go up the totem pole moneywise?" Sabean said. "Things now are getting more and more about the signing bonus, more and more about your take-home. Exponentially, when you get involved in some of those numbers, it makes a sizable difference to some."
Padres General Manager A.J. Preller came to San Diego from a tax-free state (Texas). But as his signing of Shields showed, Preller is undeterred by the challenges that his new state's tax rate might pose in free agency.
Or perhaps he's just good at identifying what's most important to his targets and winning them over that way.
"I think in every free-agent case, there's a lot of factors that determine where guys want to sign. Everybody's got all individual factors," Preller said. "We kinda look at it more on an individual basis.
"Some guys want to be close to home, some guys want to pitch in a pitcher's environment, some guys want to have a really good team around them. Some guys are looking for the most money. I think it's your job to kinda read into that."
This article was brought to you by Licensed NBA & NFL Player Agent Andrew P. Lehman, J.D. and Free Agent Sports, the Nation's Leading Provider of Athlete Endorsement Services, with Offices in Los Angeles, CA and Houston, TX. FAS saw the need for more aggressive action on behalf of agents for athletes to obtain brand endorsements and took this industry by storm. It is our background as Corporate Executives and inside relationships with CEO's that gives us the competitive edge over all other sports agencies. Our philosophy is to present business-to-business opportunities for players to sustain them long after their playing career is over. FAS is an Attorney owned and operated Sports Agency representing Professional Basketball and Football Players in the US and Abroad. "While it is true that good things come to those that wait, it is only those things left over by those that hustle." Andrew P. Lehman, J.D. Licensed Player Agent & Entrepreneur. www.freeagentsports.com
|© Free Agent Sports 2015-2019


text: Christmas crostini: roasted beetroot hummus with goat's cheese, candied walnuts and basil Previous story Next story Journal neptune.com Show all Interiors Great outdoors Features Recipes Store life Your stories Select neptune.com Show all Interiors Great outdoors Features Recipes Store life Your stories Borough chopping board Borough chopping board Christmas crostini: roasted beetroot hummus with goat's cheese, candied walnuts and basil Christmas is a time like no other for gatherings of family and friends, and with family and friends come many a peckish mouth to feed. Whether you choose to serve these jewel-coloured morsels as an alternative to a classic starter (like our spiced soup) on Christmas Day or as a moreish canapé on Boxing Day or New Year's Eve, they promise to serve as a feast for the eyes as much as they do for bellies. Makes enough for: 20 portionsPut aside: 20 minutes for prep and 15 minutes for cooking What you'll need For the hummus – with plenty for leftovers480g butter beans tinned and drained3 medium beetroot roasted and peeled3 tbsp tahini1 lemon juiced1 tbsp white wine vinegar For the base5 slices of sourdough crusts removed For the candied walnuts20g walnuts crumbled10ml honey clear and runny For decoration100g goat's cheese crumbledA small handful of fresh basil leaves What to do1 First, heat your oven to 180ºC fan or gas mark six so that it's ready to go when you come to make your crostini. 2 Next, you'll need a food processor to make the hummus. Add all of the hummus ingredients at the same time and pulse until it's beautifully smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside until you're ready to serve – pop it in the fridge if you're likely to be a while. 3 Now back to the crostini base. Take a small circular cookie cutter (about 4cm in diameter ideally) to cut out sourdough rounds. If you don't have one, you could go freehand for a more 'rustic' look. 4 Lay them on a lightly oiled baking sheet, drizzling a little olive oil and salt over the top, and leave them to bake for 15 minutes until golden. 5 While the bread is baking, take a frying pan and put it on a medium heat. Once it's warmed up, decant the walnut chunks into it and pour the honey over the top. Cook for about 12 minutes until they start to colour – watch out that they don't catch – and then transfer to a small bowl to cool. 6 All that's left to do is to assemble them. One at a time, take a sourdough base and spoon on a small amount of hummus – you can always add more as you go. Next, some broken up goat's cheese followed by the candied walnuts and a few shards of torn basil as the finishing touch. Serve on a big platter for everyone to tuck in and come back for seconds (and thirds). For dishes similar to our seasonal soup, stop by our Bath-based cafe, The Provenist if you're ever nearby for a morsel to bite and something to sip this winter. Tags: Homepage Recipes The Provenist Share this story Back to the journal


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This blog is dedicated to the work that I perform on my VW Bus, the trips we take with him, and the things we see and learn about cars, people and ourselves along the way.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
FedEx Ground -v- USPS
It all started after my wife left town. We had found the last of the gifts just before she left. I wrapped them up on Friday night and went scrounging for a box that would fit. Now, I've sold lots of bus parts over the years, and I always have a few empty boxes lying around for when I get around to selling more of the accumulated parts. Friday night, I found an empty Mirror Pond case box that was in perfect shape - no tears, no rips, and never wet. The presents slid in perfectly, so I didn't have to add any paper padding. Now, that's just dumb luck. I've never had that happen before. Anyway, by the time I got through the mayhem of single-parenting, it was 9:PM on Saturday night. FedEx is closed then, so off to the all-night USPS shipping station.
As you might expect, the Lake Grove postal station is not exactly bubbling with activity at 9:30 on a Saturday night. I didn't have any competition for the machine or drop box, so I ran the box through the process. It cost $12.50 to ship a 5 pound box via general delivery with a tracking number ($.80 extra). The shipping estimate was 6 business days. That's a little close to Christmas, but within tolerances, I figured. Besides, it wasn't going through or to snow country.
On Monday when I got home from work, the box had been left on my doorstep. A handwritten note was taped to it stating "no liquor boxes". Apparently the "P" in USPS stands for "prude". In order for me to use that box, it would either have to be cut at the seams and re-taped so the plain inside was now the outside or I would have to tape brown paper to the box so you couldn't see that it once carried beer. Sensitive much? Fine. So, I cut and taped brown paper all around the box, avoiding the 2" x 3" shipping stamp and the large white address label. It looked pretty ridiculous. This morning, I visited the same Lake Grove station. The empty office that greeted me a few days ago had been replaced with a DMV-like experience. The line of frowny-faced postal customers for the 2 glacial-paced clerks was out the door. I watched for about 15 seconds and concluded that I could pay someone else to ship this box for the amount of wages I'd lose just by standing in the line. So, off to the FedEx office I went.
The FedEx shipping center for the south side of Portland is right by the I-5 freeway on ramp where the towns of Tigard, Tualatin and Lake Grove meet. This is the ramp I take to get to work from home, so stopping at FedEx isn't going very far out of my way. The trick is to get there when they're open (8-6 weekdays, not sure about weekends). I took my brown paper ensconced box over to the counter and asked "do you require me to hide the fact that this box once held beer?". He gave me a puzzled look, so I pointed to the brown paper. "We prefer you don't wrap them". Ahh... 30 seconds filling out a form, another 45 seconds getting the box scaled and paid for, and I was out the door. No line. No frowny faces. No glacial pace. The box will arrive by this Saturday, and it cost me $11. The tracking number and guaranteed delivery were free and they recycled my brown paper.
Net net
Simply put, I won't ship anything via USPS again unless there is just no other alternative. It was cheaper and easier to ship via FedEx. I honestly don't know how the Prudal Service will be able to compete in the future. Once consumers realize that FedEx Ground is faster and cheaper, that DMV-like line will disappear.
bus-stuff: if the rain subsides tonight, I'll slide under there with a drill and start working on the radiator mounting. If not, I may do it anyway as I won't have a shot at working on him again until next week otherwise.
3 comments:
I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
And you et an account on Twitter?
- December 25, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
- January 5, 2010 at 5:51 PM
My friend and I were recently discussing about how involved with technology our daily lives have become. Reading this post makes me think back to that debate we had, and just how inseparable from electronics we have all become.
I don't mean this in a bad way, of course! Societal concerns aside... I just hope that as memory becomes cheaper, the possibility of transferring our brains onto a digital medium becomes a true reality. It's one of the things I really wish I could experience in my lifetime.
(Posted on Nintendo DS running [url=http://www.leetboss.com/video-games/r4i-r4-sdhc-nintendo-ds]R4i SDHC[/url] DS scPost)
- February 1, 2010 at 11:10 AM


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Our businesses feature strong core brands, known for quality, service, innovation and engineering design excellence. Our products and engineered solutions enable faster, safer and more economical construction and are used and specified on large-scale and iconic construction projects globally.
From our design and manufacturing operations in Europe and North America, our highly engineered products are exported all around the world.
In Europe, we specialise in manufacturing and supplying high-value, innovative connecting, fixing and anchoring solutions that are predominantly used for building facades and structural elements in buildings and infrastructure projects. Our products enable concrete structures, enhancing the thermal, acoustic and safety features of construction projects.
In the US, our activities focus on lift and brace systems which facilitate the safe handling of large concrete structures on construction sites.
To find out more about our Construction Accessories businesses, click on the logos to the right.


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Modern Family Season 5 Episode 20 : Australia
Latest Modern Family Episodes
The entire family tags along as Phil fulfills his mom's wish for him to return to his roots and visit the country where he was conceived, Australia. Unfortunately, Phil's attempts to embrace his native land are met by a lot of rejection, while Jay and Claire let work eat into vacation time, and Mitch and Cam get reacquainted with an old friend they can't stand but is now a big-time celebrity in Australia.
Episode Guide
Season 01
Season 02
Season 03
Season 04
Season 05
Season 06
Season 07
Season 08
Season 09
Season 10
Season 11


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John Gustafson is vice president – Digital Customer Experience.
He is responsible for developing and executing strategy across all digital channels including mobile and aa.com, as well as merchandising, analytics, content, and user experience and design for both customer and team member self-service tools.
John previously served as vice president – eCommerce, Mobile and Distribution at US Airways where he led distribution strategy across direct and indirect sales channels including usairways.com, online travel agencies and other emerging channels, and the company's relationship with global distribution systems.
Prior to joining the airline, John spent 12 years at Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines, most recently as director – Distribution and Internet Strategy. He began his career at Andersen Consulting where he developed and implemented automation software at airlines.
He sits on the board of directors for Junior Achievement of Dallas and is an executive sponsor for American's Indian Employee Business Resource Group, an organization that embraces the diversity of our workgroups and advocates expanding cultural awareness for all employees.
John earned his Bachelor of Science in operations management, with honors, from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.


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Inspired by the mesmerizing Safari Sunset. This pair is made of locally sourced leather and glass beads. 16 multi strands hand stitched into leather to make a beautiful land scape.
Flexible strand in the back for a flexible, bespoke fit.
9 inches long
3.5 inches wide.
European size: 37
American size: 6.5/ 6


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TAC, on May 26th, will host a very special event: the presentation of the music of Sedje Hémon and of two young artists that were deeply inspired by her works and life. The concert is taken care of by Ensemble Modelo62, who will also play the program in the prestigious Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam that weekend. A great opportunity to experience the universe of a rediscovered gem of Dutch modern art!
Hémon, a Shoah survivor who subsequently worked in The Hague for most of her life, developed a unique approach of translating the visual into the sonic. Described as a "method of integration", this approach resulted in fervent explorations of sound and image in Hémon's striking compositions.
After many years of quiet waiting, Hémon's work now returns to the public with fresh energy. During Documenta 14, which attracted over a million visitors, Hémon's painting scores were shown in Kassel and Athens. The Stedelijk Museum has around twenty works by Hémon in the collection. The work Pas de Quatre (1964) is currently on show in STEDELIJK BASE.
The Hidden Agreements program consists of two compositions by Sedje Hémon that have not been heard in public for nearly four decades, and two new compositions by Marianna Maruyama and Andrius Arutiunian that take Hémon's multidisciplinary approach to sound and image as their starting point. Translation into movement, repetitive bodies, virtual reality and digital decay – these are the core themes of the new works, relating directly to Hémon's writings and practice.
Ensemble Modelo62
With a combination of ambitious, innovative programming and a high standard of performance, Ensemble Modelo62 from The Hague has built up an international reputation in contemporary experimental music.
The name Modelo62 was inspired by the playful precision evoked in the novels of Argentinian writer Cortázar, in which the personages operate independently but also collaborate, in order to form a system that is greater than the sum of its parts.
This dynamic coherence in the ensemble leads to taut, energetic performances that bring the compositions to life and have earned them considerable recognition from both public and press. This is also reflected in the way in which the musicians approach the experiment, with a remarkable openness, giving rise to new ideas and techniques that make use of a wide range of musical styles.
Founded in 2001 Ensemble Modelo62 has been guest at The Netherlands' main new music festivals and venues, such as Gaudeamus Muziekweek, Dag in de Branding and November Music. They took part in the International Summer course in Darmstadt in 2010 and they have toured in UK, Norway, Mexico and Argentina. Their first four albums, with great reviews in The Netherlands, Germany and England, were released in from 2014 to our date and are available online.


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Executive Business MeetingBusiness Meeting
|Thursday, November 10, 2005
There was no video broadcast for this event.
An Executive Business Meeting has been scheduled by the Committee on the Judiciary, for Thursday, November 10, 2005, at 9:30 a.m., in the Senate Dirksen Building, Room 226.
By order of the Chairman
Executive Business Meeting
Senate Judiciary Committee
226 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Thursday, November 10, 2005 at 9:30 a.m.
I. Nominations
Joseph Frank Bianco
to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York.
Timothy Mark Burgess
to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Alaska
Gregory F. Van Tatenhove
to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Eric Nicholas Vitaliano
to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York.
James O'Gara
to be Deputy Director for Supply Reduction,
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Emilio Gonzalez
to be Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services,
Department of Homeland Security
Catherine Lucille Hanaway
to be U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri
II. Bills
S. 1088, Streamlined Procedures Act of 2005
[Kyl, Cornyn, Grassley, Hatch]
S. 1789, Personal Data Privacy and Security Act of 2005
[Specter, Leahy, Feinstein, Feingold]
S. 751, Notification of Risk to Personal Data Act
[Feinstein, Kyl]
H.R. 683, Trademark Dilution Revision Act of 2005
[Smith - TX]
S. 1967, A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to certain activities of the Secret Service, and for other purposes
S. 1961, Extending the Child Safety Pilot Program Act of 2005
[Biden, Hatch, Cornyn]
S. 1354, Wartime Treatment Study Act
[Feingold, Grassley, Kennedy]
S.J. Res. 1, Marriage Protection Amendment
[Allard, Sessions, Kyl, Hatch, Cornyn, Coburn, Brownback]
S. _____, Comprehensive Immigration Reform [Chairman's Mark]


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Friday, February 2, 2018
A Grayson County man is behind bars after allegedly breaking into a residence in Edmonson County.
Friday, February 2, 2018
Deputies responded to a shooting after a burglary went wrong Thursday evening on the 300 block of 14th ...
Friday, February 2, 2018
Police believe a Fort Bragg soldier shot and killed a man attacking his wife Tuesday evening
Friday, February 2, 2018
A Texarkana man is recovering from a gunshot would after attempting to break in to a home Wednesday evening.
Thursday, February 1, 2018
A 21-year-old man who was shot during an armed confrontation outside an Edgewood Street home Wednesday afternoon was ...
Thursday, February 1, 2018
25-year-old New Port Richey man is being treated for a gunshot wound after his mother reportedly shot him ...
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Joseph M. Parker is an 83-year-old retired Prince George's County school teacher who lives alone and keeps a ...
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
A man who broke into a Delaware house and was held at gunpoint says he only broke in ...
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
A driver took matters into his own hands when a thief took off with his car.
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
A man was shot after attempting to rob another man at a northeast Houston ballroom Sunday morning, according ...
Do you have an Armed Citizen® story of your own?
NRA Armed Citizen® stories highlight accounts of law-abiding gun owners in America using their Second Amendment rights to defend self, home and family. Do you know of a story that the NRA should know about? Do you have a story of your own you'd like to share? Tell us your account of what happened.


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Remembering the 15 Marines and Navy Corpsman lost in the Mississippi KC- 130 Crash
The lives of their families and friends are changed forever, all over the country. The crash of the KC-130 killed nine Marines from Newburgh, N.Y., and six Marines and a Navy Corpsman from Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. The story will fade from the news, but never for the families, friends, and neighbors.
Please keep the families in your thoughts and prayers, and donate to help with expenses if you have the opportunity to do that.
Some comments by family and friends about those who were lost:
"If I have a kid one day, I want him to have the type of character that Chad did."
"As his heart, he was just a fun, goofy guy. Not a day went by without him smiling."
"…creative, compassionate man who exuded happiness and brightened every room he walked into."
"He was a deeply spiritual man who shared his faith with others and lived his life to its fullest."
"The most common comments his friends made about him were that he helped them, and he inspired them to live life to the fullest."
Capt. Sean Elliott, one of the plane's pilots, had a longtime love affair with the C-130. His father, John Elliott, tells San Diego's Union-Tribune that his son used to take a model C-130 loaded with toy soldiers to bed when he was 4 years old. "He slept with it like you would a teddy bear," John Elliott said. "A big plane, in the bed. A silly plastic thing, with the toy soldiers inside. It went to bed with him every night for quite a long time."
"He wasn't scared of anything," Parrish said. "That's probably why he was so good in the Navy."
"Every breath of air you take, all the things you're able to do, you can do those things because of people like my son," she told the newspaper. "I'll never forget that."
…his son said, "I get to fly everywhere." His son was based at Stewart, traveling back and forth across the Atlantic and Pacific and touring many countries.
"The Marines knocked on my mother's door at 2 this morning," Carlo Kevianne said late Tuesday. "They said his plane went down, and they weren't able to find him."
"You may have been the youngest, but we always looked up to you. Our hero, Owen Lennon. (broken heart) sending love to the other USMC families that lost loved ones last night."
Murray leaves a widow, Gayle, and four children — a 5-year-old, a 3-year-old, and twin 1-year-olds. "He loved to play his guitar and ukulele for us," Gayle Murray said in a statement. "What he wanted most in the world besides our happiness was to destroy evil on this earth."
"He actually would bring military gloves to football practice and play with them," said McGowan, who drove his friend to practice in high school. "He was a patriot and all he wanted to do was serve our country. Everyone had a lot of respect for Dan."
"He was one of the warmest, kindest, more patriotic people I've ever known."
"He was a great friend, man, and exemplified what a Marine would be. A father, an outstanding American. Loved his country. Loved his family. Did everything right the right way."
"He was definitely one to pull for the underdog," Tab Leach told KRCG-TV of his 27-year-old son. "If there was a group of people and someone was picking on one kid, that was the kid he would gravitate to and stick up for."
"He was just the kind of guy who by being there, improved the situation," Jasper said.
The comments are from Midland Daily News: http://www.ourmidland.com/news/education/article/On-plane-15-Marines-1-Navy-sailor-mourned-by-11288208.php
Local Oath Keepers in Florida are working to help Joe Murray's family. This article is about the tragedy and the Murray family.
More at Military.com: http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/07/14/corps-identifies-16-troops-killed-in-tragic-kc-130-crash.html?ESRC=dod_170714.nl


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Expertise has performed a key role in making this world a International Village. Encourage your teen to pull himself away from bed with the assistance of this excessive-tech alarm clock that contains a dawn-simulating mild, gradually increasing alarm sound, and Bluetooth speaker. No extra having to search for music whilst you're driving, you possibly can ask for instructions, make lists and even management the units in your house just by speaking to it.
Apple has managed to knock itself off the highest spot for greatest smartwatch with the excellent Apple Watch 3. It's going to look very familiar to anyone who has the Apple Watch 2, as it's basically the same frame with different innards, but these innards make all of the distinction.
The Roomba 880 comes with two Virtual Wall Lighthouse Gadgets. The third-technology Apple Watch also brings a faster processor and a brand new barometric altimeter for measuring actions like the numbers of stairs you climb. But the iPhone X's edge-to-edge display screen and facial recognition system will undoubtedly set a brand new normal for telephones to come back.
We have culled the brand new crop of high-tech devices that promise to change your life and we found …


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YHA Windermere
Number of beds: 70 Free Wi-Fi in communal areas Meals available
Bolt-ons available here
Overlooks England's largest lake
How to get here
By car and coach:
If you are driving from the north, we recommend leaving the M6 at junction 36, 37 or 38 and follow signs for Troutbeck Bridge. After the filling station, take the first turning on the right, the hostel is well signed here and is one mile up Bridge Lane.
By bus:
If you are traveling by bus, there is a shuttle bus running between Keswick and Grasmere, which bypasses the closure. You can then change to the regular 555 service.


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Listen to this brilliant song before YouTube pulls it.
Here's the lyrics (as best as I could manage):
Well, I've seen many things,
but one thing I don't understand:
How can a lady be a man.
Well, I've seen those massive shoulders,
I've seen those huge biceps,
I've seen those bulging eyebrows,
and one thing I'll never forget,
the First Lady is a man.
And what I mean is,
that's a ___, man.
There are no pregnant photos.
the kids don't look like either of them.
Those children, they're adopted,
and that's one hell of a man.
I mean,
What the hell of a man.
What the hell of a man.
Well, before this song is over,
there's one thing I want you to remember:
Apples grow on trees,
not on women.
And so what's a woman doing with that?
The First Lady is a man.
The First Lady ain't no lady.
That's a man.
That there's a man.
Just let anybody tell you:
That ain't no lady.
Barry, he calls him "Michael."
H/t FOTM's Dee
See also "Michelle Obama is a transexual?"


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JLR's new report compares the single family home market in Montreal to rural parts of Quebec.
Key findings:
- Median prices for single family homes are highest on Montreal Island, at $445,000.
- La Vallée de l'Or in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of northwestern Quebec saw the highest y-o-y appreciation rate, at 11%.
JLR's census after the first quarter of 2018 looks at 98 geographic zones in Quebec.
The biggest jump in sales activity was seen in the Rouyn-Noranda district, where 25% more homes were sold this year compared to last year. In total, this amounts to 515 single family homes. The real estate market in this region is strongly tied to the forestry and resource extraction industry, closely following the trends caused by employment and economic activity in that sector.
The 5 biggest increases in residential sales were recorded in:
- Rouyn-Noranda (25%)
- Shawinigan (13%)
- Longueuil (12%)
- Sept-Rivières-Caniapiscau (10%)
- Québec (10%)
The 5 biggest decreases in residential sales were recorded in:
- Les Collines de Outaouais (-9%)
- Papineau (-8%)
- Joliette (-8%)
- Le Granit (-6%)
- Rimouski-Neigette (-5%)
The highest median price in the census areas around Montreal is recorded on Montreal Island, where the average single family home costs $455,000.
The five most expensive regions for single family homes are:
- Montreal ($455,000)
- Longueuil ($339,650)
- Laval ($327,000)
- Thérèse de Blainville ($320,000)
- La Vallée de Richelieu ($314,420)
Despite its high median price, Montreal Island was not among the top 5 areas in Quebec for price appreciation in 2018.
La Vallée de l'Or recorded the highest increase in its median price, with an appreciation rate of 11% for single family homes.
Other notable areas for price appreciation include:
- Antoine Labelle (10%)
- La Cote de Beaupré (10%)
- Memphrémagog (9%)
- Rouville (8%)
Overall, the strongest price gains are noted in the north east regions of Quebec, Montérégie, and the Eastern Townships.
Set up an alert for a property in Montreal.
This article, Country Home vs City Home: A Comparison of Prices and Appreciation Rates, appeared first on Shupilov News.


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Posted: 1st January 2020
Posted in: Health Tips, Home, products
Lets help build our kids strong and active at home! Custom designed - Children's Trapeze swing - Durable materials, Long-lasting, Eco packaging - no waste plastic items, Unisex, engraved logo, wooden bar, Neutral tones to make a lovely addition to your home area of choice. CLICK HERE TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST Read MoreRead More


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Founded in 1985, Cellcom Communications, Bell Dealer, stands out for his leadership and his strong growth. Cellcom Communications is not only retail and corporate sales, but also a great dedicated and passionate team!
We are currently looking for a Sales Representative to join our Bell St-Sauveur team.
- Part-time (minimum of 21 hours per week) or full-time position.
- Base salary and commissions according to the program ($13.10 + commissions = on average from $18 to $19/hour for this store).
- Group insurance (medication, dental, etc.).
- Free cellphone line (15 GB of data).
- Corporate discounts.
- Possibility of advancement (Team Leader, Store Manager, etc.).
- Social activities (eg. Christmas party).
- You are self-motivated and determined to achieve your goals!
- You are able to build a bond of trust with customers quickly.
- You have a strong sense of listening and empathy.
- You demonstrate a willingness to learn and you don't hesitate to take the necessary measures to keep your knowledge up to date.
- You are autonomous.
- You are honest.
- You master the sales process (Experience is considered an important asset).
- Build a relationship of trust with each customer.
- Become a product expert.
- Identify customer needs and find suitable solutions.
- Promote promotions and the distinctive advantages of our products and services.
- Sell the company's products and services, in accordance with Bell/Cellcom standards.
- Prepare products as well as sales contracts.
- Provide outstanding after-sales service.
To ensure the safety of our employees and our customers, we have installed plexiglass protections and we provide masks and hydroalcoholic gel. We have several displays and stickers on the ground to educate our customers on the measures.


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CNN – A new report bolsters the safety concerns raised by the airline, cell phone and television broadcasting industries on the use of ultrawide band (UWB) wireless technology.
Important new films: PUBLIC EXPOSURE: DNA, DEMOCRACY AND THE WIRELESS REVOLUTION
Independent film maker, Len Aitken, now has made 2 documentary films available on our tower fight in the CARE area. Lookout Mountain is a more recent production done after the broadcasters petitioned the FCC to preempt Jefferson County's zoning denial of the supertower. It includes more interviews with researchers and broadcasters and an admission by the Lake Cedar Group broadcasters that they spent at least two million dollars on the supertower zoning battle. Broadcast Blues is a documentary following a citizen effort to expose the dangers of electromagnetic radiation and prevent an HDTV tower from being built in their neighborhood. Both are produced and directed by Len Aitken-Emmy Award filmmaker. Both are available for $29.95 @ from his company. For further information, please check out the Len Aitken Web site.


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I spent Sunday afternoon watching crummy basketball games and downloading songs to my new iPod. This took hours, but because I ran 5 miles again on Saturday I was totally inspired to create some speedy running mixes. I get to try them out today during my 4-miler.
Last night we finished up watching Babel. If you haven't seen it yet then I want to strongly encourage you to watch it. It was moving, nerve-racking, and thought-provoking all at the same time. The thing is, I really didn't expect to like it. But I ended up sitting frozen on the couch the majority of the last hour with my stomach in knots and my emotions running wild. My theory usually is that if a movie can instill that many emotions then its probably a pretty good one even if you dont quite know what to make of it when its over.
On a sad note, the clock keeps ticking. The husband leaves in two nights. I will be a single parent for the time being and the little girl and I are going to tackle some spring cleaning. He he hee. We'll just have to see how that goes.


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Max Steele - Winter Report
After an extremely successful 2018 season, which culminated in moving into the RS Tera Pro fleet, and winning their End of Season National Championships, the winter season of 2018/ 19 has focussed on training in the National Squad (RS Tera Pro), and finding a partner to get started in the RS Feva, whilst staying in form with the RS Tera.
RS Tera Pro, national squadI was honoured to be selected into the top group of the UK national squad (Tera Pro fleet).
We've been very lucky that in nearly all the squad week ends, we have had really strong wind. On one occasion I even broke my mast, but I have generally placed in the top 3 or 4 in most races; winning about a third of them. It has been a lot of fun, but what I can say is that the other squad members have learned quite a lot through the winter, and the gap between us is narrowing more and more.
RS Feva, Icicle series
In the second half of the winter I also teamed up with my friend and fellow squad member, Joe Warwicker in the RS Feva fleet. We had a go at a few regattas in the Winter Icicle series. Both of the regattas we attended had very strong winds, which was a lot of fun but quite challenging for starting out in the Feva. However, we had a great start, achieving a 6th, 4th and then 3rd place (on Yardstick) in our first three weekends. The fleet is incredibly strong and includes current or former national champions from the Wayfarers, RS-600's, and Graduate fleets (as well as former Topper and Laser national squad sailors), so we are extremely pleased with our start.
The Feva fleet is really large, and very competitive, with a lot of very experienced youth sailors in it. Joe and I are going to need to practice quite a lot to master our timing and tactics, but I am keen to focus on the Feva as a start to double-handed sailing, while trying to stay in form in the Tera.
Neil Pryde and 3-D Curve
All this winter I have used my Elite 3D curve drysuit every time I sailed. It is much better than the alternative brand drysuit I tried the previous winter, and I have discovered that the Neil Pryde 3D Curve has a really good reputation, which is really well deserved. It also really helps that my Feva partner, Joe Warwicker, has been accepted into the NeilPryde Team Rider team.
Thank you NeilPryde Sailing.


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The thermal imaging systems used by the French police to find the two brothers suspected in the Charlie Hebdo massacre last week are based on a rapidly evolving technology now turning up in hospitals, airports, and even smartphones.
Like GPS, thermal imaging was once used exclusively by military and law enforcement. In the early 1990s, National Guard aircraft relied on thermal sensors to look for illegal drug activity at the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco, Tex.
In 2013 a Massachusetts State Police helicopter used thermal imaging to locate the Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, after a homeowner reported that the bloodied fugitive was hiding in a boat in his yard.
In June last year, a military surveillance aircraft equipped with infrared sensors played a key role in the hunt for Justin Bourque, a fugitive who had killed three police officers in Moncton, New Brunswick. The cameras found him hiding in deep brush late at night.
While humans see reflected light, all objects that surround us — other people, animals and even "cold" objects such as ice — give off heat, radiation beyond the visible spectrum that can be imaged in the form of a "heat signature." A human body usually gives off more heat than the surrounding field, so it stands out.
Unlike night-vision devices, which amplify small amounts of visible light, thermal imaging cameras rely on sensors known as microelectromechanical systems, or MEMS, to make images from heat.
Thermal imaging cameras are made up of a large array of exotic MEMS devices, as well as specialized optics. Conventional glass and plastic lenses cannot be used because they block heat. Instead, these cameras require special lenses manufactured of transparent silicon.
Long used by the military for surveillance, thermal imaging has raised privacy concerns. In 2001, the Supreme Court ruled that the use of sensors by the police to detect marijuana plants growing inside a home violated civil liberties because it constituted an unreasonable search.
Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in Kyllo v. United States that the thermal imaging sensors could reveal things that the average person standing outside a home would not be able to determine — for example whether "the lady of the house" might be taking "her daily sauna and bath."
Yet despite Fourth Amendment restrictions, the technology has rapidly found its way into low cost-commercial applications where there are no clear legal barriers.
Essess, a software company started by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has equipped a fleet of vehicles with thermal imaging sensor arrays that make it possible to quickly map energy efficiency in neighborhoods of household and commercial buildings.
At FLIR Systems of Wilsonville, Ore., the world's largest maker of thermal imaging gear, military and government customers once accounted for 70 percent of sales; today that figure is roughly 30 percent. The company, which had $1.5 billion in revenue in 2013, now makes thermal imaging cameras for consumers that cost less than $300.
"Our target is the do-it-yourself homeowner," said Andy Teich, FLIR's chief executive. The company also sells a thermal imaging system that connects to smartphones and allows homeowners to hunt for cold air leaks and plumbing problems.
Mr. Teich said he kept an obsolete military GPS system in his office to remind him of the parallels between that technology and thermal imaging. Once used just in military missiles and planes, GPS receivers are now standard in many consumer devices.
Thermal imaging technologies have now also become part of the arsenal used to halt the spread of disease. Infrared cameras at airports detect high body temperature as passengers pass through airport terminal checkpoints.
The cameras, which can detect changes in body temperature as small as one-tenth of a degree Fahrenheit, were initially used in Southeast Asia in response to outbreaks of SARS and bird flu, and more recently to alert officials to individuals who might have contracted Ebola.


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This morning, Megyn Kelly was honored at the Hollywood Reporter's Most Powerful Women in TV breakfast, where she set the record straight on speculation she is leaving FOX News when her contact expires.
She told "Extra's" Renee Bargh, "It's kind of frustrating because people write these articles and they don't know what they are talking about, they need to write a story. I sent out a tweet the other day and I mean it, if you don't hear it directly from me please don't believe it. I'm trying to give this the thought it deserves."
"I love Fox News, I love my job there, I love the Murdochs, working with them, my colleagues, it would be very hard to leave, but I also love my three little people, who are 3, 5, and 7, in my house; we have to find a way to do better there. Right now, my hours are the opposite their hours. They come home at 3:30 and that's when I go to work — that's not good enough," Megyn stressed.
CNN is reportedly looking to nab Kelly, who commented, "It's always good to have options, that's for sure… I'm trying to just send out vibes into the universe of, 'How can I improve my life?' and I hope it comes back to me with positive energy."
Megyn recently co-hosted "Live with Kelly" alongside Kelly Ripa. Though ratings were through the roof, Megyn won't be making it a permanent gig. She revealed, "I love [Kelly], she couldn't have been more gracious, but no, I don't see that in my future, not because I wouldn't want to hang with her."
As for what Kelly gave her as a welcoming gift, Megyn shared, "She gave me a host gift, I had confessed to her the truth, that I haven't worked out since my son was born three years ago… She gave me a 10-pack to SoulCycle, so we're gonna go together!"
Megyn also weighed in on President-elect Donald Trump, with whom she has traded barbs in the past. Speaking of Time magazine's decision to make Trump their Person of the Year, she said, "They had to choose him — that would be an outrage if they didn't choose him." She continued, "I hope he can be a more unifying force, and I wish him nothing but luck and godspeed."
When asked what would be her first question if she sat down with him again soon, she laughed, "Have you missed me!?"


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What are local Nashville listings?
Local Nashville (business) listings are online profiles within a wide variety of websites and directories, like Yelp, LinkedIn, CitySearch, Angie's List, or Facebook, that contain your business name, address, phone number, and other details. They are one of the three primary ways search engine page results are generated, in addition to organic results, and sponsored pay-per-click (ppc) listings. Usually seen at the top or middle of Google's first page results, local Nashville listings will generally show up when a person searches for a specific keyword accompanied by the name of a city or region, like "Nashville Tattoo & Hair Removal".
Why are they important?
More and more, local listings results are receiving preferential treatment by Google. Compared to organic and ppc listed results, information which can be sourced via Google Maps is more compelling. Also, because local listings often include supplemental information that draws potential customers in, like product or service categories, customer reviews, pictures, and videos, their recent increase in popularity is no surprise. If you want to increase your search engine rankings, taking advantage of the opportunity to share your business in local Nashville listings is key.
How to submit Nashville local listings
- Start with Google+ Local (formerly Google Places)
There are a tremendous number of websites and directories designed for local Nashville business owners to list their business information. Submitting your business for local Nashville listing with Google+ Local is a good place to start. You will need to simply open an account in the Google Local Business Center and fill in the necessary information. Google+ Local is an online platform which literally puts your business on the map, as well as providing customer reviews. If your business is already listed and you don't have access to it (it happens), claim it and verify it.
- Be clear, consistent, and thorough
You will want to be certain your profile is 100% complete with business information such as email, hours of operation, payment options, services, coupons, photos, videos, etc. Provide as much information about your business as possible. This shows Google that you are an active, trustworthy business and that your Nashville listing is the most relevant for the specific keyword being searched. If you are in a competitive market, take a look at your competitor's listings to see how much information they provide. Be sure to provide at least as much information as found in their listings. If their listings are information light, it's an opportunity for your business to surge ahead!
- Additional websites and directories
You will want to add your business in a variety of other places in addition to Google+ Local. Choose sites that make sense based upon your industry, your business needs, and what best suits your customer's needs. Again, be sure to add consistent information everywhere you list your business. The more places your business data (name, phone number, address, list of services) exists in the same format, the better for your purposes of optimization. Google responds well to consistent business data listings. Inaccurate, incomplete, and false information can quickly throw a wrench in your plans for search results ranking success.
- Categories & clarifying your local listing
Often, local search engines allow you to place your business into a number of predesignated categories, usually 2-5, that help describe the nature of your business. This is very helpful in creating your local Nashville business listing. Category data is used by search engines when deciding which businesses to show for particular searches. An uncategorized or miscategorized business will miss out on search engine Nashville listings for particular sets of keywords.
- Use customer reviews
Adding reviews along with your business data is also important. Reviews input directly into your Google local Nashville listing and other reviews from authority sites in your industry (Yelp, Angie's List, Houzz, etc.) are picked up by Google and displayed with your data as your business is shown on maps. Asking satisfied customers to write positive reviews regarding their experience and relationship with your business, service or product is extremely valuable in elevating your business' ranking.
Is your website up to SEO par?
As Nashville local listings continue to rank higher than other listings, it's more necessary than ever to make sure your website is in top SEO condition. Why? Among other things, a well-optimized website stands a better chance of being shown in a Nashville citation, which we'll talk more about momentarily. Making your website a shining SEO success entails things like adding relevant keywords and phrases, editing meta tags, image tags, and tailoring other elements of your website to ensure that it is as accessible to a search engine as possible. This includes listing your complete contact information in a format that search engines can read. Please note: your contact information must be in indexable text, not embedded in an image, flash, or other formats that search engines cannot read. If you'd rather not list your contact information on each of your web pages, be sure to set up a clear "Contact Us" page which displays your complete business name, address, and phone number.
Local Nashville Citations
A website that is well optimized stands a better chance of being shown in a local Nashville citation (example shown at right), sometimes listed in a highlighted "More about" section. A local Nashville citation is a mention of your business name with another piece of business information, such as your phone number, address, website, or a combination of the three. That information acts as a third party validation, giving instant credibility to the business – a powerful opportunity for small businesses to seize the market!
Nashville Citations are shown to be important for ranking in Google's local search results, so the more of them you have from top sources, the better your business is likely to rank. Well optimized businesses with a greater number of Nashville local citations typically rank higher than businesses with a smaller number of local citations.
So what does this all mean for Nashville business owners?
As a local Nashville business owner, you want to drive as many visitors to your website as possible. Utilizing local Nashville listings to the fullest advantage is a top way to attract more potential customers to your business. Expanding your online presence and authority establishes your position as a knowledgeable industry leader, making you more accessible and attractive to those potential customers in greater . It also substantiates your business in the mind of Google's algorithm, thereby driving your business higher and higher in ranking among local competitors for your main keywords and city locations.
For some, taking on the job of orchestrating, implementing, and maintaining your company's Nashville online marketing matters – although time consuming – is an exciting challenge. If you, like so many small business owners, would prefer to focus on your business and leave the Nashville marketing to the experts, we are here for you. At Definet Contact, Nashville Small Business Web Marketing is our business. We specialize in creating Nashville digital marketing suited to your unique needs that will help your business flourish! To learn more, give us a call today at 615.915.4460, or click the link below for a free consultation: https://definetcontact.com/definetcontact/contact-us/#sthash.N6hHKsVX.dpuf


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The FootGolf event in August was a great success, raising money for the Twin Town Challenge 2018 (TT18).
Nick Streeter of SpecialEffect "Huge thanks to everyone at The MGroup for their fantastic support with such a brilliant fun based networking event that will help us continue to bring fun and freedom to the people with disabilities who SpecialEffect help."
Having now collected in all funds, we can confirm that £2,125 was raised from the event directly with an additional £530 raised from the raffle on the day.
Thank you to everyone involved in the event again for all their support; Heythrop Park for having us, STL for their involvement in organising the event and all the teams who took part. Having been raising money from the Twin Town event earlier in the year, the FootGolf event and other events involving team members and clients, The MGroup has been involved in raising over £4,300 this year for TT18.
We would also like to thank everyone else who have generously and kindly supported us. We have been overwhelmed with the total raised and are proud to support SpecialEffect.