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Malaysia's biggest state votes in test for Najib amid scandals
[KUALA LUMPUR] An election in Malaysia's biggest state Saturday is the first chance to assess the level of public support for Prime Minister Mr Najib Razak after nearly a year of political turmoil over funding scandals.
On Borneo island, Sarawak's 1.14 million voters will elect 82 lawmakers to the state assembly for the next five years. Mr Najib's Barisan Nasional coalition, which controls 55 of the current 71 seats, is expected by analysts to return to power with a comfortable margin.
Electoral officials added 11 seats in a boundary redraw last year that critics said would favor the government.
Mr Najib has been a frequent presence in the state in recent months, and has promised billions of development funds. The premier needs a strong showing in the state for his coalition as he fends off a public campaign led by former leader Mahathir Mohamad to get him to quit.
"If they win really well, at least he can go back and convince his own party that he's not a liability, he can still deliver seats in an election," said Ibrahim Suffian, an analyst at the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research in Kuala Lumpur, referring to Mr Najib.
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"A Sarawak election that delivered the seats for Barisan is going to be one that gives confidence to Mr Najib as a prime minister."
Millions of dollars were deposited in Mr Najib's personal accounts ahead of the 2013 federal election, and debt-ridden state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd - whose advisory board the premier has chaired - is the centre of global probes into potential embezzlement.
Both Mr Najib and 1MDB have denied wrongdoing. The government said the funds in Mr Najib's accounts were a donation from the Saudi royal family and most of it was later returned.
While Sarawak voters are typically more concerned with basic issues affecting their lives and support BN because of the popularity of Chief Minister Adenan Satem, in power since February 2014, Mr Najib could also potentially claim a victory in the state as a personal endorsement.
Sarawak and neighboring Sabah contributed about a third of parliamentary seats won by BN in the 2013 general election. The next national poll is due by 2018. The BN-led coalition, which has ruled Malaysia since independence in 1957, retained power in 2013 with its slimmest margin - and could have lost if not for the Borneo states.
A solid win for BN could reassure foreign investors that projects in Sarawak will go ahead. Mr Najib touted development of Sarawak and Sabah in his budget speech in October, pledging to build a 1,796-kilometre highway linking the states at a cost of 28.9 billion ringgit (S$9.84 billion).
Projects in the state are expected to benefit Gamuda and IJM Corp, while companies based there like Hock Seng Lee Bhd, Naim Holdings Bhd, Zecon Bhd and Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd are potential winners, according to a JPMorgan Chase & Co report.
Shares of Kimlun Corp, which won a contract recently to help build the Pan Borneo Highway, have risen 29 per cent this year.
Outside Malaysia's biggest cities, voters' indifference to the scandals linked to Mr Najib may help him. Chundau Anak Surah, an Iban farmer who has voted each time for BN, said there are benefits to being a BN supporter.
"After waiting a while we can get what we needed from the government, things like a roof, cement and sand," said the 51-year-old, who works odd jobs to supplement his income from farming.
"I'm half-half about Mr Najib. If he speaks the truth then I like him, if he's not then I don't like him. I can't decide if he's being honest or not."
Mr Najib urged voters on Friday at a Sarawak event to re-elect the government, saying only BN could deliver development and progress for the state, the official Bernama news agency reported.
Separated from peninsula Malaysia by the South China Sea, Sarawak was the country's third-largest state or territory contributor to gross domestic product in 2015, accounting for an estimated 10.6 per cent of output. It contributed to half the country's crude oil output and is the sole provider of liquefied natural gas, according to S&P Global Ratings.
Almost 80 per cent of the seats up for grabs are in rural areas. Large parts of the state are covered by mountain highlands and rainforests, with some settlements accessible only by helicopter or a long river trip.
"The election is going to show that as controversial and damaging 1MDB has been in terms of the international financial reputation of Putrajaya, it has limited traction with voters who are in rural areas," said Mr Ibrahim from the Merdeka Centre.
"At the end of the day politics are local and the local politics are determined by which party can mobilize the voters, which party can attend to the needs of the voters."
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| Australian Business Number: 15154669360 |
| California Travel Consumer Restitution Fund (TCRF) CST #2121440-40 |
| Head Office (admin) 81 Bedford St Newtown NSW 2042 AUSTRALIA |
| Local Office (reservations) #82 Calle Cuba Old Havana Cuba 10100 |
| USA Office (reservations) P.O. Box 13541 Sacramento, California 95853 |
| Cuban Adventures is a product of Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd |
| Havana Adventures is a product of Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd |
| Cuban Adventures USA is a product of Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd |
Click here for a printable version of the terms and conditions.
Contract with Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd.
The terms and conditions set forth below (the 'Terms') constitute the entire understanding and agreement between Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd (the 'Company') and the customer (the 'Customer') with respect to any and all bookings, trips or transactions made with the Company. These Terms affect the Customer's rights and designate the applicable law and choice of forum for the resolution of any and all disputes. All persons wishing to make a booking must carefully read and understand the Terms. By making a booking by telephone, on our website, by email, or facsimile with the Company or its agents, you accept and are bound by these Terms. There is no verbal or written representation, warranty, collateral agreement, prior agreement, description of services, or conditions, other than as expressed herein. The service to be provided is/are the tour(s) referred to in the booking confirmation.
- 1. Reservations / Acceptance of Booking. To reserve a space on any trip (multi night tour, custom tour, day tour, or other service), each Customer must submit: (1) A completed application form; (2) A deposit (paid within 7 days of booking). The balance of the Trip Cost is due 60 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 60 days or less before the departure date, then the full amount is payable at the time the Customer's booking is confirmed. Acceptance of the Customer's booking must be confirmed in writing by the Company.
- 2. Payments / Client Details. Payments can be made by credit card, bank transfer, cash, cheque or by whatever means is acceptable by the booking agent. Payment by credit card usually incurs an additional 2 or 3% processing fee applied by the booking agents (depending on the agent's operating policy). All tour fees stated in these Terms are in US dollar amounts. If payments are not paid when due, the Company reserves the right to treat the reservation as cancelled. No one will be allowed to depart on a trip unless all payments are necessary documents have been received by the Company. In order for the Company to confirm and guarantee the Customer's travel arrangements, the customer must provide all customer details with their final payment as per the dates specified in (2) above. Customer details include passport number, relevant medical conditions, full name, date of birth, and nationality.
- 3. Single Supplement. All accommodations (hotels, etc) are based on double occupancy. We will try to find roommates for single travelers to share accommodations. If no roommates are available then the Customer will be supplied with single accommodation without further charge. If at some stage during the tour the Customer wants single accommodations, the Customer can ask the tour leader to arrange this. If available, the tour leader will arrange this and the Customer can pay the difference in cost directly to the tour leader. There is no guarantee by Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd that such accommodation will be always available.
- 4. Cancellation by the Customer.
If the Customer cancels, a cancellation fee may apply. Cancellations must be in writing, and the date on which the written communication is received by the Company or its Agents, will determine the cancellation charges applicable.
- If cancellation is made 61 or more days prior to the tour start date the cancellation fee is loss of full deposit.
- If made 31-60 days prior to tour start date, the fee is 50% of total 'Booking Value'.
- If 30 days or less prior to tour start date the fee is 100% of total 'Booking Value'.
- If cancellation is made more than 48 hours prior to the tour there is no cancellation fee applicable.
- If made less than 48 hours before the tour, there is a 100% cancellation fee.
Some extra services booked in conjunction with a tour may be non-refundable, such as flights, tourist cards, insurance, & some hotel reservations.
- 5. Postponement by the Customer.
If for any unforeseen circumstances the Customer wishes to postpone the tour booking and any related services the following rules may apply:
- If made 61 days or more prior to the tour departure date, the fee to postpone the tour is $100 USD per person. The Customer then may rebook anytime within 12 months of the original tour date.
- If made 60 days or less prior to the tour departure date, the postponement is treated as a cancellation and the same fees may apply.
(see #5. Cancellation by the Customer.)
** PLEASE NOTE: Some extra services booked in conjunction with a tour may be non-refundable, such as flights, tourist cards, insurance, & some hotel reservations.
- 6. Unused Services. No partial refunds will be given for missed or unused services such as hotel rooms, meals, sightseeing trips or included activities, or for any reason whatsoever (this includes voluntary or involuntary termination – such as sickness, death of a family member, etc.) The Trip Cost is quoted as a package and credits are not given for services not used.
- 7. Cancellation by Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd.
Insufficient sign-up. The Company reserves the right to cancel any trip due to insufficient sign-up (not meeting the 2 person minimum), which makes the trip economically unfeasible to operate or for any other reason. If this happens, a full refund of the Trip Cost is provided. However, the Company is not responsible for additional or incidental expenses incurred by travelers preparing for the trip (i.e., non-refundable 'Advance Purchase' air tickets, equipment, medical expenses, visas, loss of enjoyment, bank fees for receiving the refund etc).
Force Majeure. The Company will not cancel a tour less than 60 days before departure except for force majeure, unusual or unforeseen circumstances outside the Company's control. In such situations no refunds will be provided, however the Company will allow the Customer to choose another date to receive their services (subject to availability and within 12 months from the date that the services were original booked for) and no fee for such date change will be charged.
- 8. Prices, Surcharges and Validity. As we publish our prices in advance, we may occasionally be faced with significant cost increases due to factors over which we have no control. As such we reserve the right to impose surcharges (or price decreases) up to 60 days before tour start date due to unfavourable exchange rates, increases in air fares or other transport costs, taxes, or if government action should require us to do so. Surcharges will be calculated according to the full extra cost, compared to the original costs and exchange rates. If any surcharge results in an increase of more than 10% of the tour cost excluding insurance premiums, the client may cancel the booking within 14 days of notification of the surcharge and obtain a full refund.
- 9. Airlines. Our responsibility in respect of air travel is limited by the airline's conditions of carriage. The airlines and aircraft mentioned in our advertisements may change from those specified. In addition, the Company is not responsible for losses due to cancelled flights or seats or changed flight itineraries. The Customer cannot cancel the contract without penalty due to a change of airline, aircraft type, or destination. The responsibility of the airline is limited to the carriage of passengers and baggage in accordance with their terms and conditions of service.
- 10. Delays. Any costs, whether direct or incidental, incurred by the Customer as the result of delays caused by bad weather, road conditions, transportation delays, sickness, government intervention or other contingencies for which the Company or its agents cannot make provision, will not be reimbursed.
- 11. Changes by the Company. Reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made where deemed advisable for the comfort and well-being of the Customers. While the Company will endeavour to operate all tours as advertised, reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made where deemed necessary or advisable by the Company. If such a change is made, the client will be told at the time of booking. If the major change is due to unforeseen circumstances or circumstances beyond the control of the Company then no compensation is payable.
- 12. Changes by the Customer. Within 60 days of departure, any amendments to a file will depend on availability and will be on a request basis. No changes can be made within 14 days of departure. This includes booking additional accommodations, transfers or excursions. The Company is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by the Customer as a result of such changes, including but not limited to non-refundable 'Advance Purchase' air tickets, etc.). Note, scheduled airlines may impose 100% cancellation charges. Transfer of name: If you are prevented from traveling on the tour you booked by circumstances such as those which would permit you to make a claim on a standard cancellation insurance policy, you may transfer your booking to another person, provided they meet all the requirements relating to that tour. More than 60 days before departure, an administrative fee of 10% of the total value of the tour will apply. Within 60 days, name transfers are not permitted.
- 13. Authority on Tour. The Customer must at all times strictly comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of the countries visited. At all times the decision of the Company's tour leader or representative is final on all matters that may threaten the safety or interfere with the well being of the group or individual travelers. Should the Customer fail to comply with this section, or if in the opinion of the tour leader or Company representative, the Customer's behaviour is causing or is likely to cause danger, distress or annoyance to others, the tour leader or Company representative may order the Customer to leave the tour without recourse to any refund.
- 14. Medical fitness and health.
The Company strongly recommends a visit to a doctor and dentist before your trip. You can ask the doctor about the current inoculation requirements.
The Company does not assume any responsibility about advising the client about health precautions in visiting Cuba.
If the Customer is affected by any condition, medical or otherwise, that might affect other people's enjoyment of the tour, the Customer must advise the Company at the time of booking. It is your responsibility to advise the Company of any pre-existing medical conditions that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of you requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. As a minimum you must be able to walk without the aid of another person, climb 3-4 flights of stairs, step on and off small boats, and carry your own luggage. While our guides work hard to ensure that all our travelers are catered for equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day's activities unaided. The guide has the right to disqualify anyone at any time during the trip if it is felt that the Customer's continued participation will jeopardize the other Customers involved or the group. Refunds are not given under such circumstances. If in the event a trip member is subject to injury or illness, the Company will attempt to secure the best possible medical attention available. To enhance your enjoyment of the tour, Big Planet Pty Ltd strongly recommends a travel companion for a person over 70 years of age, for a person who cannot walk unaided, or for any person with special needs that may require assistance to complete the regular day's itinerary. However, the Company assumes no liability regarding provision of medical care.
- 15. Age and restrictions. There are no age restrictions on any of Big Planet Pty Ltd Tours. An unaccompanied minor under 18 years of age is required to provide a letter from a guardian or parent. A person over 70 years of age is required to complete a self-assessment form at the time of booking. This does not restrict that person in any way from joining a tour. Big Planet Pty Ltd strongly recommends a travel companion for a person over 70 years of age.
- 16. Baggage. The Company assumes no liability for loss or damage to baggage in transit to and from a Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd trip or while on a Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd trip.
- 17. Insurance.
- Medical Insurance - Every Customer of Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd must be covered by travel related personal medical insurance. This insurance must cover personal injury, medical expenses, air ambulance, repatriation costs, evacuation expenses and all other expenses. The Customer agrees to obtain and verify that he/she has sufficient personal medical insurance coverage for the trip.
- Travel Insurance - It is strongly recommended that the Customer obtains personal travel insurance, that apart from covering medical expenses due to illness or injury, also covers baggage, cancellation, curtailment, loss of belongings, and all other expenses which might arise as a result of loss, theft, damage, delay or inconvenience occurring to the Customer. When the Customer purchases travel insurance recommended by the Company, the Customer acknowledges that he or she is satisfied with the levels of insurance from the provider. If he or she does not take such insurance through the Company, the Customer understands that the price of the tour does not include any insurance. When obtaining travel insurance the Customer must ensure the insurer is aware of the type of travel to be undertaken.
- Asistur Travel Insurance for Cuba - Any Customer purchasing the insurance cover the Company offers that is specific to Cuba, agrees to the general conditions set down by the Cuban State insurance provider Asistur. It is the responsibility of the Customer to check all these details prior to purchasing. There is no refund by Asistur once this policy is issued.
- 18. Publicity. The Customer agrees that the Company may use images of the Customer taken during the trip without recourse to the Customer and without compensation to the Customer, for the publicity and promotion purposes through whatever medium it chooses.
- 19. Travel Documents. The Customer must obtain and have possession of a valid passport, all visas, permits and certificates, and vaccination certificates, required for the entire tour. The Customer accepts responsibility for obtaining these documents and any other necessary documents and is solely responsible for any adverse consequences resulting from missing or defective documentation. Information or advice given by the Company on visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, baggage, special equipment, etc. is purely advisory and given in good faith as a courtesy to the Customer. The Company is not responsible for any errors or omissions as to the information provided.
- 20. Responsibility on Your Tour.
All services herein are organized by the Company. Notice is hereby given that all arrangements made on behalf of customers are made by organizers on the sole condition that the organizers shall not be held responsible for any injury, death, accident, delay, loss, damage or irregularity which may be occasioned through acts of any company and/or persons engaged in carrying out the arrangements. The Company acts as an agent for transport companies, hotels and other contractors and shall not be held liable for any injury, damage, loss, delay or irregularity that may occur, including, but not limited to, any defect in a vehicle or any other form of conveying a traveler, detention, delays or expenses arising from quarantine, strike, riots, theft, force majeure, civil disturbance, government restriction or regulation, accident by aircraft, boat, bicycle, motor vehicle or any other form of transport or in any hotel or guest house, pension, or other form of accommodation. The Customer acknowledges that the quality of the products organized by the Company, including accommodations and all other services related to the tour which are organized by the Company, are not within the control of the Company and that in any event the quality of such products may be compromised by local conditions. Accordingly, the Customer hereby releases the Company from all claims and causes of action arising from any damages, loss of enjoyment, inconvenience, or injuries related to the quality of such products. The information contained on the website is correct to the best of the Company's knowledge and the Company accepts no liability for any innocent inaccuracies contained herein. The Company reserves the right to alter any itinerary in progress or service at any time without penalty to the Company. Any additional expense or cancellation shall be borne by the Customer. The organizer reserves the right to withdraw or refuse any service to any Customer at the discretion of the organizer.
RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND ASSUMPTION OF ALL RISKS The Customer acknowledges that they have voluntarily applied to participate on the trip and have read the description of the trip as it appears in the trip itinerary. In entering this Agreement, reliance cannot be made on any oral, written or visual representations or statements by Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd or its staff or representatives, or any other inducement or coercion to go on the adventure trip, hence, only of their own free will, with knowledge of the hazards involved. The Customer voluntarily participates on the trip with knowledge that travel to foreign countries and/or remote areas visited by this trip involves numerous risks and dangers including but not limited to: the forces of nature, civil unrest, terrorism, roads, trails, hotels, vehicles, boats or other means of conveyance which are not operated nor maintained to standards common in their home country; accident or illness without access to means of rapid evacuation or availability of medical supplies; the adequacy of medical attention once provided; physical exertion for which the Customer is not prepared; consumption of alcoholic beverages; or negligence (but not the wilful or fraudulent conduct) on the part of Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd, its affiliated organizations and their employees, or other agencies known or unknown. Acknowledgement is made that the enjoyment and excitement of adventure travel is derived in part from the inherent risks incurred by travel and activity beyond the accepted safety of life at home or work and that these inherent risks contribute to such enjoyment and excitement, being a reason for my voluntary participation.
The Customer RELEASES AND DISCHARGES FOREVER Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd AND ITS AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LIABILITY ARISING FROM THE CUSTOMER'S PARTICIPATION IN THE TRIP. The Customer agrees this release shall be legally binding upon themselves, all minors under the age of 21 traveling with the Customer, all members of the Customer's family, and their heirs, successors, assigns, and legal representatives: it being the Customer's intention to fully assume all the risks of travel associated with this trip and to release Big Planet Adventures Pty Ltd of and from any and all liabilities to the maximum extent permitted by the law.
- 21. Local Conditions. The Customer is solely responsible for acquainting her/himself with the customs, weather conditions, physical challenges and laws in effect at each stop along the itinerary, and is encouraged to locate or make contact prior to embarkation with his/her local embassy or consulate in each destination.
- 22. Optional Extras. Optional extras do not form part of the tour or contract. It is understood and accepted by the Customer that any assistance given by the tour leader or representative in arranging optional extras does not render the Company liable for optional extras. Amongst others, optional extras include biking, boat rides, horse riding, snorkelling and other extras, which are not included in the tour price.
- 23. Claims and Complaints. If a Customer has a complaint against the Company, the Customer must first inform the tour leader or Company representative while on the tour at the earliest opportunity, in order that the leader/representative can attempt to rectify the matter. If satisfaction is still not reached through these means, then any further complaint must be put in writing to the Company within 30 days of the end of the tour. The Company will not accept any liability for claims received after this period.
- 24. Applicable Law and Choice of Forum. This contract is governed by the laws of the state of New South Wales, Australia, and any legal action arising there from, shall be litigated only in the appropriate court having jurisdiction in the state of New South Wales, Australia.
- 25. Limitation of Remedies. The Customer agrees that the sole remedy for any default by the Company arising under this agreement shall be the return of the paid Trip Cost. To the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, the Company will not be liable for any indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages of any kind (including personal injury) regardless of the form of action whether in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise, even if the Company has been advised of the possibility of such damages, and the Customer expressly waives any right it may have to recover such damages.
- 26. Severability. The Customer understands and agrees that in the event that one or more of the provisions of this agreement, for any reason, is held to be invalid or unenforceable, provision had never been contained herein, therefore allowing all remaining Terms and Conditions to survive and continue as binding.
- 27. Errors and Omissions. Although the Company has made a concerted attempt to verify the accuracy of statements made herein, the Company cannot be held responsible for any error, omission or unintentional misrepresentation that may appear on the website or any advertising material originated by the Company.
- 28. Use of Information. The Customer agrees not to use any of the Company's published or printed materials, (such as maps, town information, or information on the Company's website) for any commercial purposes. The Customer agrees to not approach any of the Company's guides or service providers, to arrange travel services or provide any services to the Customer or Customer's contacts, for future visits to Cuba, for commercial purposes or otherwise, without consent from the Company. The Customer agrees not to enter into an ongoing business relationship with any of the Company's guides or service providers, without consent from the Company.
- 29. Damages. The Customer will be required to pay the full cost of any damage caused to the accommodations or transport vehicles due to improper use of installations and materials, or by being unreasonably reckless.
- 30. Privacy Policy. We will provide your personal information, as well as any personal information you provide in relation to the persons whose travel arrangements have been requested by you, to our trusted suppliers and carriers to enable the operation of the services requested by you. We do our utmost to protect your personal information. Please refer to our website for the Company's Privacy Policy.
Temporary $5 deposit deal. For any multi night group tour starting in 2020 and 2021, bookings can be made paying a deposit of only US$5 per person instead of US$200. The $5 deposit amount is not refundable if the booking is cancelled.
Temporary Amendment Waiver 2020. For tours starting May through December 2020, postponement is allowed without penalty up to 30 days before tour start day. The tour start date that the booking is moved to, must be on or before 31 Dec 2021. The full value of the tour package will be retained and can be used by the client on any of our tours. If the same tour itinerary is chosen there will be no difference payable nor refundable for any change in price. If a different tour itinerary is chosen and is of lower value, no refunds will be provided, however the client can use any left over retained value in extra services such as accommodation or transfers.
Discounts and Promotions
The following are the rules and conditions related to our discount offers and promotions:
- A discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount.
- Only one discount can be used when booking a service.
- Discounts are only valid for customers who book and pay with us directly.
- Discounts are not valid for customers who book and pay for services to a separate agent.
- The Company reserves the right to withdraw, amend or cancel a discount offer at any time.
- The Company reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions for discounts at any time. Any revised version will be effective immediately that it is displayed on this website.
Discounts do not apply to any of the following:
- Local Payment amounts in CUC.
- Extra services attached to a tour such as flights, insurance, extra nights of accommodation, tourist visas.
10% Family and Friends Discount
Following these 4 simple steps will give your friends a 10% discount on any of our tours!
- After you travel with us, fill out an online feedback form for your tour.
- Share your comments about the tour on our Facebook review page
- Recommend us to your friends, telling them that they can get a 10% discount if they quote your email address in the booking.
- Your friend, or family member who is claiming the discount, books directly on our website (not via an external agent) and enters your email address in the field that requests this.
Following these steps will also qualify yourself for a 10% discount if you travel on one of our tours on a repeat visit to Cuba.
Additional Notes:
- There is no restriction on the number of family and friends covered by this offer
- There is no expiry date on this offer.
- Offer is subject to places being available on the desired tours.
- The discount can only be applied once per person per tour (maximum discount amount is 10%)


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Can't make a service? Interested in listening to our sermons from afar? No problem. Watch us LIVE on Sunday mornings at 9:00AM and 11:00AM or Wednesday evenings at 7:00PM. If you catch us during the week, you'll find all of our recent and past sermons here - listen any time you'd like. We would like to encourage you to follow along with the scripture by clicking HERE.
Also, be sure to check out each one of the Series' here.
A Good Plan, or a God Plan
Wednesday, January 22nd
Wednesday, January 29th
Sunday, January 26th
Sunday, January 19th
Wednesday, January 15th
Sunday, January 12th
Wednesday, January 8th
Sunday, January 5th


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Sumo – Coming events cast their shadows before them, as soon as the Gyōji commences, the imminent duel reaches the flash point – this is not a battle of vitality but rather a battle of not making mistakes. Most matches will end in just a few minutes.It had been 20 years since I last watched sumo wrestling.
I watched that on TV at a home stay in Aomori, Japan.
As might be expected, I had heard of sumo by that time,
but basically, I had never watched a real one.
And for this reason, I was well pleased even I was merely watching it on the TV.
To experience the genuine excitement of sumo wrestling,
I decided to go to watch the live sumo wrestling Tokyo match.
To get to the Kokugikan Sumo Stadium, one can get off at the Ryogoku Station.
There is a sign showing the direction of the stadium outside the station.
Yes – there is literally only one sign and one direction.
I followed the sign, and after walking for 15 minutes,
I felt that I went astray.
Consequently I went to the museum nearby and asked the way.
As luck would have it, the staff there were so affectionate that they took me there, as they saw me staring blankly about.
It's noticeable that the affable people in Tokyo treated tourists very nicely.
At least that's what I saw.
I got to retrieve my ticket which I booked online before I entered the stadium.
There weren't any hiccups with the help of the pretty staff with her fluent English.
As I went in to look for my seats,
that pretty staff ran to me, sobbing for breath, and said that I had bought 4 tickets.
I told her that's right, but in fact, I was alone.
I am not a billionaire,
but as I studied the seat arrangements,
I figured out that in order to have the best shots,
I needed to sit on the first floor, even it was a four-person room, which was a bit far away from the ring.
I could not book the front row when I bought the tickets,
so I had to take the 4-person room.
The 4-person room is fundamentally 4 seats surrounded by railings.
You can drink and eat inside.
I bought a bento as well.
I got a little bit disappointed as it was not warm, though.
It was 11 when I got there.
The junior wrestlers were having their duels.
Heavy class, the Makuuchi Division to be precise, would not start until it's 2 o'clock.
So, there weren't many spectators there at 11,
and I believed most of them were families of the participants who came to show supports for their most beloved ones.
Maybe that was good for me that I could go near the ring and take pictures.
They would not care about that as long as I was not making troubles.
So there are always conjectures that the sumo wrestlers are clumsy warriors.
Guess your jaws will be on the ground when you see them actually move,
they are very agile.
As soon as the judge started the match,
the wrestlers stampeded to their foes,
and what's next is an exhilarating fracas with amazing strategies between the wrestlers within a meagre space.
Most wrestlers would first use their palms to push their foes' faces or bodies,
they tried hard to push the foes out of the ring with their elephantine builds;
So when the two wrestlers successfully blocked each other's pushes,
they would be like having turf war for a few seconds,
with their faces stick tight to each others',
both of them were marking time for mistakes made by the opponent,
and hoped the rival would be the first to fall.
So after they moved apart,
there's always one who initiates another wave of attacks.
That's the moment someone would fall outside the ring and the winner would then be determined.
This might refer to two situations.
One of which means a wrestler skilfully countered his enemy's attack and throw him out of the ring.
The foe might topple over or even fall out of the stage,
in the unlucky latter case they might even fall on top of some wretched one.
Another one means, within the first few seconds of a match,
a wrestler might lose his balance and fall inadvertently on the floor,
they would lose the match if their palms touched the ground.
This is the most awkward moment for a wrestler.
Push, block, crash, and fall –
All these were amalgamated into a fascinating art with astounding strengths and ancient wits.
I noticed that no matter the wrestlers won or lost,
they would give a deep bow towards the ring after they walked down the stage.
It's nice to see such well-bred behaviours.
So the Makuuchi Division marked the culmination of the sumo matches.
In this division,
they had even much more intricate rituals before the real start,
and they needed much longer time to determine a winner, too.
They showed much more proficiencies,
and the matches were hence more intensified.
They often fought for a time to have one side got the upper hand of the fighting.
The clashes were profound.
I believed I might be minced if I were put on the stage.
The acclamations from the audiences,
the fierce fightings on the stage,
the applauses of the influenced crowd…
That impression in the real live scene…
It's totally worth it!
I didn't stay for long as I was not used to sitting with my legs crossed.
I tried hard to wait for Amuuru Mitsuhiro's match.
He's a Russian white man,
the facial features of a white man made him stand out from the wrestlers.
Anyway, I left after watching him losing the match.
I nodded to the four belles who were sitting next to my seats so that they could use my seats.
At the moment when they tried to say something,
my darn phone rang.
So, JL was at Kamakura, which was not far from me.
There are 6 seasons of sumo matches every year.
They were held in different places every season and it will last for a month every season.
The individual seats are basically all situated on the second floor,
you won't see it unless you are with your binoculars.
The seats on the first floor are mostly 4-person rooms, but the spaces are cramped.
The tickets are not cheap too but they are selling well.
Before you go, you should first check the timetables online and buy the tickets there.
Victor Tai | Freedom is a Right
- CameraCanon EOS 3
Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM II
FujiColor Superia X-TRA 400
Huawei P9
- LocationKokugikan Sumo Stadium
- Other Language繁體中文


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Not only did Elizabeth just start a new job as an Occupational Therapist, but in the same week won the RMH Home Lottery's grand prize.
Elizabeth went to work last Tuesday determined to do well in the first few days of her new job as an Occupational Therapist. Such was her determination that Elizabeth locked her mobile phone away so she would not be distracted. Which meant that it took all day to contact her to tell she had just won the $3 million home lottery house in Bateman Street, Hampton!
Elizabeth, 24, did not buy the winning ticket, her father bought it for her, as he does for her two older sisters, alternating every year, in recognition of the great care Elizabeth received when she had brain surgery at the RMH on two separate occasions.
"It was touch and go but she had amazing care and we had a great experience at the RMH," her father said
On first hearing the news (much earlier in the day than Elizabeth did) her sisters (one trained as a nurse at the RMH) were very sceptical and could not believe it was for real, her mother didn't believe that anybody wins anything anymore. So it was a huge surprise to see the new house and realise everything in it was Elizabeth's as well.
Having just moved into a new apartment with her parents in the city, from Moonee Ponds, Elizabeth's mother thought they might be empty nesters soon!
Media Contact
For more information about this story, contact Communications on (03) 9342 7000 or email firstname.lastname@example.com


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For the full experience, make this recipe with the Drop Recipes app.
recipe by Drop https://getdrop.com/
Chewy chocolate chip cookies with a little crunch, have we found the perfect afternoon snack? These freeze well too: drop balls of dough onto a tray, freeze, then transfer to freezer bags.
recipe updated Mar 26, 2020


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OdySea Aquarium unveils mystery exhibit at grand opening
There's a little bit of Jurassic Park inside the new 2 million-gallon OdySea Aquarium near Scottsdale, which opened its doors to the public for the first time Saturday morning.
Along with the aquarium's 50 exhibits and 30,000 marine animals, officials unveiled an attraction kept secret until the grand opening — a 20-minute carousel ride that rotates through several marine-life habitats.
OdySea's Living Sea Carousel, with its five 114-seat moving auditoriums, conjures memories of a similar rotating ride featured in the 1993 blockbuster movie "Jurassic Park," where visitors first learn about dinosaur DNA. Walt Disney World's Carousel of Progress ride also follows a similar format.
Carousel riders at OdySea first encounter three sea turtles, including one that was rescued off the Texas coast and lost two limbs while tangled in a fishing line. Other stops feature sea lions, a seal and several species of sharks.
The aquarium spans about 200,000 square feet inside the OdySea in the Desert entertainment complex near Loop 101 and Via de Ventura on the Salt River Reservation. The complex is also home to Butterfly Wonderland, and a separately-owned swim-with-the-dolphins attraction that is set to open Sept. 17.
Below-freezing ice bar, playground coming to OdySea near Scottsdale
About 30 shops and restaurants are eventually expected to open at OdySea in the Desert, including El Encanto, Four Peaks Mining Co., Frozen Penguin Ice Cream and the Kakery.
Hundreds of visitors lined up outside OdySea Aquarium at about 8 a.m. Saturday, waiting to become the first to peruse its concrete halls.
Ramiro Andrade of Gilbert was among the first to enter the aquarium ]Saturday, earning a special invitation as one of the many construction workers who scrambled to get the attraction ready by Labor Day.
"It's just mind-boggling to see the finished product," said Andrade, who spent thousands of hours at the site working 12-hour days. "It's exciting to have an aquarium here, close by, and something you were a part of, building from scratch."
Mesa resident Amy Assante visited Saturday morning with her husband and two daughters and planned to return to bring out-of-town relatives.
"I think we need places like this. It was time to get an aquarium of this scale here," Assante said. "Definitely there's a few things for them to polish off here and there, but they really impressed me. It looks great."
Montini: Would aquarium visit benefit dolphin prison?
The exhibits begin with freshwater species like Siamese crocodiles, piranhas and Asian small-clawed otters.
About two dozen African penguins greet visitors before they descend into a shark tank via an escalator encased in an acrylic tube. Jellyfish, eels, crabs, sea horses and the giant Pacific octopus await at the bottom.
After a 3-D movie called "Underwater Giants" about humpback whales and whale sharks, the aquarium experience predictably ends at an expansive gift shop.
Single-day admission is $34.95 for an adult and $24.95 for a child, according to the company. It is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.


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US security intelligence firm LogRhythm has appointed Queensland-headquartered Baidam Solutions as its latest information security and technical solutions reseller consulting partner in Australia.
The new appointment will enable LogRhythm to tap into Baidam Solutions' established relationships in Federal Government, further reinforcing LogRhythm's market momentum in the sector with a slew of services designed to enalbe teams to detect and respond to threats, provide full visibility into IT environments and reduce the burden of manual work.
In addition, LogRhythm will further support Baidam Solution in its bid to create opportunity for cyber skills training and development among the wider Indigenous community.
Established in 2018, Baidam Solutions is a privately owned and operated First Nations Information Security and Technology business. The company is the first Indigenous IT security company in Queensland and it also services enterprise, Federal and State Government departments, agencies, and not-for-profit organisations around the country. Its suite of ICT security solutions and services allow organisations to achieve greater performance, productivity, and protection.
The company's commitment to giving back a percentage of its profits to the local economy aims to help "Bridge the Gap" of indigenous representation in the IT security sector and the wider IT sector. Included in its corporate charter is a structured and measurable plan called the Baidam Initiative which provides both specialist IT security training courses and meaningful employment opportunities for regional and remote Indigenous communities.
AustCyber's Australia' Cyber Security Sector Competitiveness Plan 2018 Update revealed that the country will need an additional 17,600 cyber security workers by 2026 with current growth insufficient to meet shorter-term demand. Baidam Solutions actively works to provide pathways to employment in the IT and cyber security sector for indigenous and First Nations people.
"LogRhythm chose to partner with Baidam Solutions because of its superior network security and application security expertise, great customer experience and its understanding and shared values of empowering more Indigenous involvement in the technology community," says Simon Howe, APAC Sales Director, LogRhythm. "By working with Baidam Solutions. we are not only actively supporting the indigenous community, we are challenging the status quo surrounding cybersecurity skills shortages in Australia."
Baidam Solutions' selective vendor ecosystem focuses on proving organisations with best of breed solutions which is a natural fit with LogRhythm, itself recognised for its market-leading SIEM, User and Entity Behaviour (UEBA), and most recently Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR) solutions.
"We see LogRhythm as being both a challenger and an innovator in the industry just as Baidam Solutions itself is challenging the status quo in cyber security provision," says Phillip Jenkinson, CEO and Co-Founder, Baidam Solutions. "Their technical specs are second to none and we are excited about LogRhythm's long-term product development which recognises that enterprises need solutions to help them monitor for known and unknown threats and behavioural changes.
As part of the partnership, LogRhythm will work with Baidam Solutions' leadership team to provide partner enablement, marketing, presales and post-sales support to drive mutual success.


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Visit our COVID-19 site for latest information regarding how we can support you. For up to date information about the pandemic visit www.sacoronavirus.co.za.
Read our latest news and views and get to know us better
At Standard Bank, we've recognised that designers have power: not only does every person need and love clothes, but the most revered names in fashion all have established business empires that employ thousands.
Yet, of these attire juggernauts, very few are African. The global fashion industry is worth USD3 trillion, but Africa – even with its population of 1.216 billion – claims just one percent of that. It's not as if the continent lacks talent, resources and manpower; rather, the problems are business-related, such as lack of access to supply chains – both national and international – mentors and skills development opportunities. We are on a mission to change this.
Earlier this year, we launched South Africa's first fashion accelerator, Threads. In partnership with Mercedez-Benz and curated by the Università Cattolica in the world's fashion capital of Milan. The programme is designed to help South African fashion entrepreneurs reach their next through the development of critical business skills such as logistics, ecommerce, franchising, accounting and marketing, among other disciplines.
We recently completed the first phase of our Threads endeavour, The Selection Process, in which 12 fashion entrepreneurs were selected from Kwa-Zulu Natal, Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape. This phase consisted of two steps: the first was the online application, which evaluated the participants on their basic business and financial understanding, as well as the solidity of their business structure. The second was a day-long boot camp (one held in each province), where applicants were tested on key business skills.
The 12 chosen entrepreneurs are now about to enter phase 2, The Accelerator. Taking place on four regional campuses, the 12-week curriculum features intense modules encompassing reading material, classes, academic papers, case studies, group projects, tests and field trips – all of these overseen by five judges, experts in their respective fields of fashion, public relations and communications, branding and design, business, and entrepreneurship.
At the end of the programme in March 2018, the participants will present a business case in front of the judges and a review committee. This is phase 3, Graduation and Announcement of the 2017 Edition Winner.
Though the possibilities for partnerships and collaboration are endless during the accelerator phase, competition is fierce, as only one entrepreneur will be selected for the fourth and final phase, International Trade Trip. This is the part in which the overall winner will be taken on an international trade trip to Europe where he/she will be introduced to fashion industry stakeholders, enabled to present his or her product lines to department store buyers and retailers, and attend the biggest B2B trade fairs.
"SMEs that take advantage of globalisation by breaking into international markets have a 30% higher chance of sustainability and profitability in their home market," says Cleo Zwane, Senior Business Banking Marketing Manager at Standard Bank "By driving entrepreneurship throughout South Africa, Threads hopes to take the South African fashion industry to the rest of the world, and encourage the continent's progress."
For more information, please go to https://threadsonline.co.za/
©2016 Standard Bank is a licensed financial services provider in terms of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act and a registered credit provider in terms of the National Credit Act


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Network Connectivity". It examined the practicality of a bicycling network being defined as "a set of streets and paths that people consider acceptably safe for bicycling". These streets already exist and in urbanized areas actually comprise the majority of streets. The problems lies in the lack of connectivity of these mostly local streets.
The resulting model is called Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) and it categorizes all streets, and intersections into 4 levels of bicyclists comfort :
LTS 1 suitable for children
LTS 2 acceptable to traffic intolerant adult (interested but concerned)
LTS 3 OK for experienced bicyclists (enthused and confident).
LTS 4 Highest Stress (strong and fearless)
After the jump find out how you can create a simplified LTS assessment for your own community on Google Maps
As you can see in the presentation, there are some variables that need to be looked to create a good LTS map. But you can quickly rate the most of the roads in your area by referencing this chart.
Create a Stress Map:
- Open up Google Maps Engine Lite
- Zoom in to your municipality or neighborhood.
- Click on "Untitled Layer" in Engine Lite and rename it "High Stress Roads". Trace over the major roads, these are the generally county and state roads. Trace one street at a time and name each one.
- Mouse over your streets and change the color of the lines based on the criteria above
- LTS-4 = Red LTS 3= Orange
LTS 2 = Blue LTS 1 = Green
- You can thicken to lines by using the "Line Width" slider
- Use Street View in Google Maps if you need to check the speed limit or lane configuration. Speed limit signs are often located just past major intersections.
- With the high stress streets mapped entered create a new layer - Low Stress Streets
- Trace over local streets, you do not have to trace over every street, but you should highlight streets that provide linear routes.
- Trace any trails or pedestrian bridges.
- Optionally you could add a third layer that highlights destinations (Schools, train station, shopping centers etc.)
- Send a us a link to your map in the comments section or tag them #njbikelts on twitter. We plan on consolidating all the maps we receive at a later date.
Your map could help start a discussion on prioritizing improvements. The map of Edgewater Park Township shows that many of the residential streets are low stress, but most of the services require access to higher stress roadways, especially on the west side. Making a few key improvements such as extending and improving the bike path through Weinman Sports Field (green area near the middle school and the police station) to Lakeside Lane can connect more people to destinations and encourage more bicycle trips.


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A Month of Buying (Practically) Nothing
A couple years ago I read a not-particularly-good book I picked up at the thrift store called Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping. The merits of the writing and conclusions notwithstanding, the concept piqued my interest. The family of the book swears off the purchase of anything not deemed a necessity. For them, this meant they could purchase nothing but groceries and "essentials", a term meant to capture the things that they need to survive. Essentials are things like toilet paper, medicine, and - if I remember correctly - Q-tips. That precludes everything else, including not only goods but also services. No new clothes, no new appliances, and the like, but also no going to movies, no yoga classes, no dining out, no drinks at the bar. Though I remember the book being pretty banal, the idea seemed like a good one, and I added an easier version of it to my 35 by 35 list - go one calendar month without buying anything.
At the beginning of every year, I try to convince myself that I am not an alcoholic by abstaining from the drink for the first two weeks of January. Some years I do better than others. This year, I realized I could make double use of my drying out, and the barrier to my normal social life that it represents, as motivation for my month of "drying out" from consumerism. Interestingly, I realized this after I had a couple bottles of champagne on New Year's Eve, and declared my intention to my also-inebriated companions.
I woke up the next morning with all the joy that drinking a gallon of champagne brings, slept in until an hour that my college-aged self would have found acceptable, and had a quiet day puttering around the house after finally crawling out of bed. That night, I realized I had completed a full day of both goals: no booze, and no buying anything. I also realized that I needed some rules to follow, so I somewhat arbitrarily chose the following:
- Groceries are fine, but prepared food is out. This line is very arbitrary - is bread a prepared food? - but I felt like the judgement line was clear enough. I could buy bread, I could buy deli meat, but I couldn't buy a sandwich.
- Short-term consumables are fine, and these comprise my "essentials" list - medicine, toilet paper, essential toiletries, and nothing else.
- My existing services would not get cancelled, so the gym was in, Netflix stays, and I don't have to open source all of my Github projects.
- Everything else was out. No food or drink at restaurants and bars, no movies, no Amazon, no new services, experiences, or shopping of any kind.
I decided to take individual cases on an individual basis, with the default being "no". In reality, only a couple of issues came up. Could I eat chips or other communal food at a restaurant? (no) Could I buy a new faucet when my kitchen sink sprung a leak? (yes) As an amazing Christmas gift I had received a ticket to a Scotch tasting that fell in the month of my austerity - I decided that was in. I decided gas for the car was OK too, though I tried to limit my driving to necessary trips. After the first two weeks, I also decided that grocery-store beer was fine. Hey, I went two weeks, I can quit any time.
In retrospect, it wasn't really that hard, and I could have extended it indefinitely. The hardest part was the slightly jarring shift in my normal social life, at least for the first couple of weeks. It's a little funny how much of my interaction with friends revolves around getting drinks or food. Instead, we spent time at each others' houses (at least, for the stuff I was invited for - I'm sure they were out having a ball), watching movies, playing games, or going for walks. After the early confusion, it was really nice to be able to simply spend time with people I love instead of having to shout over yet another blown-out bar speaker blaring terrible music.
Another totally unsurprising outcome was that I spent way less money than I normally do, though that wasn't the goal of the challenge. I'd guess I spent roughly half of my normal amount, which is already low by many people's standards. Almost all of the money I did spend went to groceries, as might be expected.
As a sidenote: I've used that saving as justification for buying myself a home theater projector in support of two of my other goals: watching all the films on both the Sight & Sound Top 250 list and the AFI Top 100 list. I did some research and decided the Optoma HD141X was the best low-budget projector for the space I have, and I am unbelievably excited at the prospect of a 107" screen for watching history's greatest films.
Verdict: not a very hard goal, got to spend some quality time with my friends, and saved several hundred dollars. I'd say it's probably worth giving it a shot, particularly if you are a big spender or trying to rein in your soul-crushing commercialism. And it's way easier than the beer mile.


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Workshop Leaders
Sam Ranson, RYT
My yoga journey started back when I was 14 years old. I had a lot of anxiety growing up and was drawn to the strength and kindness that yoga brings. I found myself in a loving yoga community in Spruce Grove and fell in love with the people who also shared the same passion that I do about yoga. It has helped me greatly and also has shaped me into the woman I am today! I decided in 2015 to grow my practice and take my Yoga Teacher Training here at that yoga place! I wasn't completely sure that I wanted to teach but after I received my 200 hours I knew I had a calling to share what I learned and bring it into the community that brought me in! I have reconnected back at that yoga place and now call it home again! With coming back to the studio I have met so many wonderful goddesses that have filled me with the knowledge of ceremony, tarot & Reiki. I am now a level 3 Reiki energy healer & continually growing my knowledge of yoga & spirit. I can't wait to learn more about all of you in our practice!
See you on your mat!
Daria Kilburn
Daria started practicing yoga in her late twenties and throughout her life always being a competitive athlete in horse back riding and training horses, yoga was not something that came really easy to her. It was and sometimes still is a struggle to overcome the powerful ego inside and surrender, surrender to the beauty of the yoga practice and the stillness of the mind through meditation. In her early 30s Daria started teaching yoga in Austria, her home country. In 2014 she made a life changing decision to marry her soul mate and move with her horse to Canada – this is when she became fully devoted to teaching yoga and practicing JSJ-acupressure at her home practice at Wizard Lake. Ashtanga yoga and yin yoga practice are the two styles that make Daria complete and feeling at home wherever she might be: teaching retreats or workshops in Europe or across Canada. In her own words the most important is: "It is the true inner smile from the inside out, from the soul, from the heart that makes every day simply fantastic! Be in the NOW and enjoy every moment…just BE!"
Deanne Miketon
I've been practicing yoga since 2008. I'll never forget that first class, a friend had been trying to get me to go with her. After saying forever that yoga wasn't for me I finally went. Turned out yoga was and is totally for me. Physically, mentally, emotionally. Its been life changing. I spent the next 7 years practicing, learning, growing. In 2015 I decided I wanted to further my own practice and share it with the world, and took my first teacher training. Since then I've tried my best to share what I know with the world, literally. Teaching classes, and guiding retreats in Canada, Mexico and South East Asia. I've also made a point of continuing to learn from some pretty amazing teachers from all over this amazing world. I've had the pleasure of practicing and learning in over 12 countries and 5 continents, a list that will continue to grow. I have graduated additional teacher trainings in Rocket yoga, Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) yoga and as a Paddle Canada instructor. I still lead retreats – or as I like to call them – Adventures. Combining my love of the outdoors, yoga, mountains, ocean and sharing all of that with all of you. See you on the mat!
Mandy McPherson, E-RYT
My own yoga practice began about 9 years ago. In the beginning, I approached yoga from a purely physical aspect, though that didn't last long. Soon, the breath became more important than the asanas. The savasana became more important than the calories burned. I found the healing qualities of holistic yoga and permeated all areas of my life. I fell deeply, madly, and profoundly in love. In love with myself, with my practice and with the sense of direction in my life. I have practiced Hatha, Akhanda, Hot Yoga, Moksha, Yin, Restorative, Sattva, Ashtanga and Vinyasa styles. I want to try and learn from everything.
When I needed it most, I decided to take a teacher training. I was about to go through some major life changes. Perhaps I didn't know it at the time but I needed the tools learned from my YTT to cope and muddle my way through what life was presenting to me. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but "magically" it was exactly what I needed. I am now a certified Akhanda Yoga Teacher. This form of yoga originated from Yogi Vishviketu in Rishikesh, India. I had the honour of being taught by him in 2012. To say that my entire life changed is a bold statement, albeit true. Taking many different workshops and classes from a variety of wonderful teachers from all over the world, I stumbled upon an Ashtanga yoga workshop being offered. This led me to my teacher, Melissa Wasserfall; a direct student of Sri K. Pattahbi Jois, and I completed my 500 hour certification in 2015. While these two longer trainings had a great impact on my practice and my teaching style, I've also taken some extremely insightful shorter trainings and workshops, including:
- Ashtanga Primary Series, Harmony Lichty
- Ashtanga Week Intensive, David Robson
- Twists & Led Primary, Kino MacGregor
- Yin Yoga Level 1, Joe Barnett
and many more…
The best yoga teachers have a wonderful and trusted teacher, who in turn have an even more amazing teacher. We can only teach what we know and I am on a constant search of higher learning. I will share it all with you in a humble but humorous, intent but subtle, challenging but accessible kind of way.
I currently teach many different classes at That Yoga Place as well as I am the founder of Travelling Yogi Retreats and offer retreats, yoga weekends, workshops an teacher trainings all over the world.
Tiffany Sparrow
Tiffany Sparrow, BMT, MTA is an accredited music therapist, singer-songwriter, kirtan artist and yogi. She currently specializes in music therapy at bedside in medical settings, weaving the power of music with breath, movement and meditation to facilitate pain reduction, emotional balance, relaxation and wellness. Sparrow studied yoga and mantra in India, obtaining her 500hr yoga teaching certificate in Akhanda Yoga through Yogrishi Vishvketu as well as recording two mantra/kirtan albums with local traditional musicians. She has traveled extensively around the world and brings her awareness of global music and holistic spiritual and health practices to her work as a clinician and educator. www.sparrowgrace.com
Jay McMahon
Namaste, my name is Jay McMahon. I am a practitioner of all types of yoga and am a 500 hour Certified Yoga Therapist. My yoga practice began with a Rodney Yee beginner VHS tape 15 years ago. As most journeys go there were ups and downs at times yoga was replaced with powerlifting, weight lifting, and Jui Jitsu but in my heart, I knew that yoga was where I needed to be. After a series of sports-related injuries, I decided to focus all my attention on yoga as a way to heal and strengthen my foundation. During the hundreds of hours I've spent on my mat, I found contentment, curiosity, and courage. I also discovered a desire to learn as much as I could about the yoga lifestyle. At the time I didn't realize how yoga would help my anxiety and depression and help me discover my Atma. The Atma is the inner self or soul. I don't just practice yoga asanas, I feel the yoga in my body, my soul and my mind. Yoga is a moving meditation and with the movement comes breath, life is breath and with the breath comes a calm mind. And while you're doing all this, your strengthing your body in an incredibly efficient way. I teach my classes hoping to help people feel the way yoga has helped me feel.


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Gentle Dental Care of Northern Virginia
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Sep 26, 2020
ASPIRE HOUSE McLean 2020 Designer Show House
Home & Garden
Sep 26, 2020
Colonial Williamsburg's Merchants Square
Food & Drink Event Markets
Sep 26, 2020Oct 17, 2020
Art & Exhibitions
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A Remarkable Renovation
In turns Robert E. Lee's boyhood home, a boarding house, and a museum, this Alexandria estate has seen its share of history. Read more
Coastal Renaissance
Revitalization in Cape Charles has helped establish the new Eastern Shore. Read more
Elegant Eggs
Dress up your picnic basket with decadent deviled eggs. Read more


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Next Level Apparel 6610
Women's CVC Crew T-Shirt
Item# 6610
Next Level Apparel 6610
Women's CVC Crew T-Shirt
Item# 6610
Next Level Apparel 6610
The Next Level Apparel 6610 Women's CVC Crew T-Shirt contains a greater percentage of combed, ring spun cotton than other poly/cotton blends (60%). Chief value cotton (CVC) breathes and feels like a high end tri-blend, and an elastic, inset 1x1 baby rib collar and tear away tag add to the prominent comfort of this women's t-shirt. Next Level Apparel created a shirt that is incredibly soft, lightweight and durable, yet more affordable than many of its counterparts that contain rayon. It is a favorite among customers and industry professionals alike. The light heather texture makes your heat transfers and screen prints pop from the surface with crisp edges, whether you use poly or water based inks. This makes it an ideal shirt for everything from homemade projects to professional print businesses. Pre-laundered for accuracy in sizing, these women's tees will stay true to fit and form. Choose from 34 separate colors to complete your t-shirt creations.
- 60% combed ringspun cotton, 40% polyester jersey
- 4.3 oz.
- 32 singles
- Slightly heathered
- Fabric laundered for reduced shrinkage
- 1x1 baby rib-knit set-in collar
- Tear-away label
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About Next Level Apparel
Next Level Apparel has been taking the wholesale t-shirts industry by storm for a good reason. Next Level t-shirts and tank tops not only look great with their fresh fashion, but are also made with top-notch fabric that makes for an extremely soft and comfortable feel. T-shirts like the Next Level 3600 and 3900 are made with high-end jersey 100% cotton that's always comfortable and lightweight. Next Level tri-blend shirts like the Next Level 6010 not only are very comfy, but the tri-blend fabric also has great recovery and stretch. As for the very fashionable Next Level tank tops, they are available in many fabrics and styles ranging from the popular Next Level 6733 tri-blend racerback tank top to the Next Level 6533 burnout tank top.
Style-minded individuals will enjoy a selection of burnout shirts, tanks, and hoodies, racerback tank tops, dolman shirts, and deep V-neck t-shirts as well as a plethora of other garments that can be paired in infinite combinations to show off your style. Some of these less-conventional pieces also create a certain amount of attention-grabbing panache to accentuate your printed or embroidered design. Relaxation-minded individuals will be pleased by comfortable Next Level Apparel thermal hoodie and thermal long sleeve t-shirts,, CVC t-shirts, French terry shirts, hoodies, and tank tops.


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Nigeria and other African countries have been advised to provide a solid foundation at national level for the development of maritime in the continent.
The advice was given by Mr. Henrik Madsen of the International Maritime Organisation while speaking at a workshop to address maritime security challenges in Africa in Victoria, Seychelles.
According to him, development of maritime security in Africa must be based on a solid foundation at national level, saying that "The initial focus must be on developing capability, legal frameworks and inter-agency cooperation nationally as the foundation for stronger regional cooperation. It is therefore vital that the signatory States establish their own national organizations, legal frameworks and develop their capacity in order to benefit from the maritime sector".
Work to address maritime security challenges in Africa's major maritime zones. Over 60 maritime security professionals from more than 30 States are attending the ACSS* event, which is designed to emphasize whole-of-Africa solutions to the maritime security challenges faced in the Gulf of Guinea, the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, and the Horn of Africa.
IMO's Henrik Madsen provided an outline of two IMO-supported regional codes helping to address a range of interrelated maritime crimes and threats to security and development in Africa – the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct, and the Code of Conduct concerning the repression of piracy, armed robbery against ships, and illicit maritime activity in west and central Africa.


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Tag: Make America Great Again
Jeb Bush Successfully Corrects Order at Pancake House
MIAMI – Jeb Bush overcame some terrific inner demons today when he challenged a restaurant server to fix a mistaken order at a local pancake restaurant. "What? Who?" asked a server at King Kanpakes when questioned later about the incident. "Oh the Trump guy? Yeah he wasn't into blueberries." The incident came about when the […]
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Giro d'Italia: Elia Viviani wins stage 13 as Simon Yates retains lead
Italian sprinter Elia Viviani took his third stage win at the Giro d'Italia as Simon Yates kept his overall lead.
Viviani had endured a miserable day on Thursday but outkicked his rivals as the 180km stage to Nervesa della Battaglia ended in a bunch sprint.
With the infamous Zoncolan climb coming on Saturday this was an easy day for the contenders for the overall lead.
And Yates and main rival Tom Dumoulin finished safely in the bunch, the Briton's lead staying at 47 seconds.
This flat stage always looked like one for the sprinters, but when unheralded Italian Marco Coledan launched a solo attack with a kilometre and a half to go he almost caught the lead-out trains napping.
Viviani had won the second and third stages of this Giro into Tel Aviv and Eilat but had struggled since, Ireland's Sam Bennett taking two sprint wins and closing to within 22 points of Viviani in the points classification.
But this time Viviani picked the correct line down the left hand side of the road as Danny van Poppel and Sacha Modolo led it out after Coledan had been sucked up, and his explosive power took him clear.
Bennett came late for second, kept off Viviani's wheel by the Italian's Quick-Step team-mate Zdenek Stybar.
Van Poppel held on for third, with Modolo left disappointed in fourth, thumping his handlebars in frustration as he crossed the line.
A defining few days for the British leader
Yates' Mitchelton-Scott team kept him towards the front of the bunch as the pace accelerated in the final 30km, and his thoughts now turn to the Zoncolan on Saturday afternoon.
Yates has enjoyed eight days in the race leader's maglia rosa and will hope to take more time out of reigning champion Dumoulin in the two mountainous stages that come before Monday's rest day.
Dumoulin, world time-trial champion, is expected to take at least a minute and a half out of Yates on Tuesday's 34.2km time-trial, but the Zoncolan could yet blow the general classification apart.
It averages 11.9% over its 10.1km length, with a maximum gradient of 22%, making it arguably the most feared climb in the Giro's history.
By comparison the Tour de France's Alpe d'Huez averages 8%, with a maximum of 12%, Mont Ventoux far longer at 21.5km but averaging just over 7%.
No Briton has ever won the Giro, and Yates knows that his own bid will be defined over the next few days before the race finishes in Rome on Sunday 27 May.
Stage 13 result:
1. Elia Viviani (Ita/Quick-Step Floors) 3hrs 56mins 25secs
2. Sam Bennett (Ire/Bora-Hansgrohe) Same time
3. Danny van Poppel (Ned/LottoNL-Jumbo)
4. Sacha Modolo (Ita/EF Education First-Drapac)
5. Ryan Gibbons (SA/Dimension Data)
6. Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux/BMC Racing Team)
7. Manuel Belletti (Ita/Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec)
8. Clement Venturini (Fra/AG2R La Mondiale)
9. Baptiste Planckaert (Bel/Katusha-Alpecin)
10. Jens Debusschere (Bel/Lotto Fix All)
Overall standing after stage 13:
1. Simon Yates (GB/Mitchelton-Scott) 55hrs 54mins 20secs
2. Tom Dumoulin (Ned/Team Sunweb) +47secs
3. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +1min 4secs
4. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita/Bahrain-Merida) +1min 18secs
5. Richard Carapaz (Ecu/Movistar) +1min 56secs
6. George Bennett (NZ/LottoNL-Jumbo) +2mins 9secs
7. Rohan Dennis (Aus/BMC Racing Team) +2mins 36secs
8. Pello Bilbao (Spa/Astana Pro Team) +2mins 54secs
9. Patrick Konrad (Aut/Bora-Hansgrohe) +2mins 55secs
10. Fabio Aru (Ita/UAE Team Emirates) +3mins 10secs
12. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +3 mins 20secs
Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/44174145


text: This textbook brings the humanities to students in order to evoke the humanity of students. It helps to form individuals who take charge of their own minds, who are free from narrow and unreflective forms of thought, and who act compassionately in their public and professional worlds. Using concepts and methods of the humanities, the book addresses undergraduate and premed students, medical students, and students in other health professions, as well as physicians and other healthcare practitioners. It encourages them to consider the ethical and existential issues related to the experience of disease, care of the dying, health policy, religion and health, and medical technology. Case studies, images, questions for discussion, and role-playing exercises help readers to engage in the practical, interpretive, and analytical aspects of the material, developing skills for critical thinking as well as compassionate care.


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So, a little while ago, I had an email contact from the website from a gentleman by the name of Hugues Villemain. He was claiming to be a young and dynamic French champenois (as if there are any other types of French champenois??) and the new Australian representative of a prestigious Champagne house, Brimoncourt, "taken over" by former Navy Seal and Art Dealer Alexandre Cornot in 2008, who " has the ambition to redefine the expression of Champagne throughout the world." Hugues also stated that he had "heard (my writing) has a strong influence in terms of wine critics." Not quite a Nigerian prince wanting to share the wealth….but you can understand my skepticism, unless Hugues had been chatting with Huon, James, Campbell and MikeB.
I did a little bit of research to find out Hugues did indeed exist and wasn't from Nigeria. So did Champagne Brimoncourt, and they're based in Reims, and with access to vineyards in the heartlands grand cru towns in the Côte des Blancs and along the Marne, not Lagos. And they have some pretty sexy, young, dynamic Champenois website action going on. Just maybe this was the real deal. I replied that I would be interested in seeing what Brimoncourt had to offer. Hugues invited me for a drink, but as I'm currently based in Hobart and Hugues hadn't got over his jet-lag in Sydney, he arranged for 2 of the labels to be sent from France as Brimoncourt are still working on the distribution here.
Arrive they did and in quality packaging they are, with the Brut Regence having a Giraffe in military uniform, with the reason being (to quote Hugues)
The bubbles inside are also bloody good. Welcome to Australia, Brimoncourt. I look forward to catching up with Hugues soon and having that drink.
Chamagne Brimoncourt, Brut Régence, NV
The entry level cuvee. A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Pale straw colour. Lots of exciting bubbles linking together and reaching for the surface like strings of pearls running across a stockinged thigh.
Soft white crusty bread roll, light strawberry tart, a touch of yoghurt, honey, smoke & waxy little rose soaps.
Far more textured, broader across the palate with the addition of the Pinot. Still light with dancing lemony chardonnay, elegant red fruits and soft bran wheatiness. The mousse fluffy and like a little pink cloud exploding Champagney goodness through your mouth.
Acid is well and truly present, gives structure and refreshment where a cheaper NV falls over.
RRP(expected): AU $65
Alc: 12.5%
Chamagne Brimoncourt, Blanc de Blancs, NV
Pale pale gold in the glass. Delicate beading. Looks good and alive. Gorgeous light cream bun, SAO biscuits, pale lemon lollies, bright white flowers, and lovely bubbles from the mousse that tickles the nose.
Quartzy crystalline mouthfeel, plenty of refreshing lemon citrus with elegant acid spine, restrained and fine.Exceptionally fresh….
Feminine, diamond edge cut. Excellent linear Blanc de Blanc with that ever so subtle slight grape fruit fleshy sweetness.
RRP(expected): AU $79
Alc: 12.5%
Wine samples courtesy of Brimoncourt


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Pine Breeze Wooden Bench W StorageSTOCK REF: 146229103
Pine Breeze Wooden Bench W Storage
Here we have a classic bench/wide arm chair, with storage space underneath the seat plate. It's attractive and in new condition.
Size (HWD): 37 1/4″ x 19 1/4″ x 40 3/4″ (201/4″ bench height) [947 x 488 x 1035 mm]
Price: £140 + VAT
If you would like to ask any questions about this wooden bench or any other items we have in stock, then please call us at Authentic Reclamation on 01580 201 258. Feel free to come and visit our yard in East Sussex and have a browse through our stock. Staff are always available to give you a hand and show you around our stock.


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I'm all in favor of kindness and service to others, but not when it means allowing others to manipulate us. Refusing to allow others to walk all over us is not about being selfish or self-centered, but of being self-aware. It's about understanding we are responsible for our own lives. If we GIVE IN to others, we GIVE UP on ourselves.
This article is about people manipulating others. Let's start with a definition. Manipulation is about being used, abused, intimidated, coerced, pressured, bullied, or 'brainwashed' into doing something you don't want to do. When we do something that is not in our best interest simply because we were pressured into it, we surrender our personal power and turn control over our lives to others. Unlike cats, we have only one life; so, don't turn it over to someone else.
We are here to help others, but we cannot help others until we help ourselves. How can we make others strong if we ourselves are weak? How can we teach others to defend their rights when we do not defend our own? There is enough unhappiness is the world, it needs more people spreading joy. Yet, when we do what we don't want to do, we add to the unhappiness in the world.
We help one another by engaging in a series of transactions. We make exchanges of value. For example, I agree to work for my boss and he agrees to pay me a salary. As long as he pays me, he is living up to his part of the bargain and I am obligated to work for him. But manipulation involves no exchange of value. For instance, a coworker comes up to me and says, "I'm moving into a new apartment Sunday and need a lot of help. If you don't help me move in, I'll be very disappointed." The coworker is trying to manipulate me. He wants free labor and in exchange promises not to feel "disappointed." He is acting like a child threatening to throw a temper tantrum unless it gets its way.
I'm not responsible for my coworkers' feelings. I would hope he chooses to be happy and joyful, but if he chooses to be unhappy and disappointed; well, that's up to him. Because of the absence of an exchange of any value, I am not obligated to help him. Nor do I owe him any explanation or apology. So, the conversation may go something like this:
"Sorry, Bob, but I have something else planned for Sunday."
"How long will you be busy on Sunday?"
"All day."
"What are you doing that's so important?"
"Leading my life by doing what I want to do. It's something I recommend to everyone."
"I'm disappointed in you, Chuck; I thought I could count on you."
"If you want someone to count on, call the moving company."
I'll stop here, but manipulators can be persistent. They hope you will break under the pressure. If Bob were to persist, I would just break off the conversation with something like, "Sorry, Bob, but I already gave you my answer. I wish you luck. Now I've got to get back to work. See you later." Also, when standing up for our rights, there is no need to reply in a hostile tone. We can remain polite, but firm.
Bob, my coworker, is just an acquaintance, but Jim is a friend. Compare Jim's conversation with Bob's. "Chuck, I'm getting ready to move again. I know you're working on your basement. If you give me a hand moving, I'll help you out in your basement."
There's a big difference in conversations, isn't there? That's because Jim is not a manipulator. Cooperation is the opposite of manipulation. He offered to exchange something of value. I was happy to help because we both got each other's job done in half the time and had fun doing so.
To avoid being a victim, remain on the alert. If someone asks you to do them a favor and you can't say NO without fear or YES without resentment, you are a victim. If you are, it's time to regain your power. No one stole it from you, you handed it over to them. Now take it back. After all, you can't live for others without squandering your own life. When you are in control, doing what you want to do, you will be happy and in the position to spread happiness to others. But when you reluctantly follow the wishes of others, you will be resentful and spread misery. You owe it to yourself and others to remain in control of your life.
Although you should be on the alert, there is no need to fear the attempts of others to manipulate you. For their attempts will give you the opportunity declare, decide, and develop into the person you want to be. Further, once you understand why they are trying to manipulate you, you fear will be replaced with compassion. And because of your compassion, your assertiveness will never change to aggression.
Why do some people try to manipulate others? Because they're weak. Weak people are not to be feared, but to be pitied. Their weakness comes in many forms and includes feelings of inadequacy and incompetence. They try to get others to do what they believe they cannot do. They try to compensate for their feelings of powerlessness by gaining power over others. People like this don't care which way the car is going as long as they remain in the driver's seat.
Also, people who live miserable lives like to make others miserable too. When they are successful in doing so, they find some relief by diverting their attention from their own pain to the pain of others. Also, they may be afraid that if they ask for what they want, you may refuse, so they try to manipulate you instead. Some manipulators have distorted thinking. They either believe they are superior and entitled to their demands or they feel they are treated as inferiors and therefore are entitled to special privileges.
Whatever the cause, it's based on weakness. So, whenever they try to get their way by making you feel guilty, refuse to give in to them, but do so in a gentle caring way; after all, they're weak, and you're not. When facing manipulation, don't give in to fear. Don't be afraid of losing a friend, hurting their feelings, or disappointing them. You are responsible for your life, not theirs. Remain vigilant and ignite in your heart the flame of courage, for as Helena Petrova Blavatsky (1831-91) wrote, "The more thou dost advance, the more thy feet pitfalls will meet. The Path that leadeth on is lighted by one fire — the light of daring burning in the heart. The more one dares, the more he shall obtain. The more he fears, the more that light shall pale."
Chuck Gallozzi lived, studied, and worked in Japan for 15 years, immersing himself in the wisdom of the Far East and graduating with B.A. and M.A. degrees in Asian Studies. He is a Certified NLP Practitioner, speaker, seminar leader, and coach. Corporations, church groups, teachers, counselors, and caregivers use his more than 400 articles as a resource to help others. Among his diverse accomplishments, he is also the Grand Prix Winner of a Ricoh International Photo Competition, the Canadian National Champion of a Toastmasters International Humorous Speech Contest, and the Founder and Head of the Positive Thinkers Group that has been meeting at St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto since 1999. His articles are published in books, newsletters, magazines, and newspapers. He was interviewed on CBC's "Steven and Chris Show," appearing nationally on Canadian TV. Chuck can be contacted at email@example.com. View his photography at https://500px.com/chuckgallozzi. This article cannot be re-published without permission.


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Marketing in the digital age has far surpassed the days of word-of-mouth and newsprint. The new millennium has brought all sorts of advertising opportunities, and one of the most effective is creating a video channel for your company. Video channel management is not complicated, but there is a clear distinction that separates novices from the professionals. Hundreds of hours of content are uploaded to video sites every minute, and these sites receive billions of views per day. Never before have marketers been able to reach so many so easily.
Since so many people seek out video content, naturally the best rises to the top. If you do not manage your video channel well, your content will be lost in a sea of ones and zeroes as others' better, more appealing videos receive more likes and views. If you choose your platform wisely, stay diligent with your channel structure, pay close attention to SEO, use established techniques, and seize on the opportunities available to video channel marketing, you'll grow your brand in amazing ways and reach an audience you didn't even know you had waiting for you.
Anyone with a cell phone or a camera and a computer can upload video content. According to marketing experts at HubSpot, "By 2017, video content will represent 74% of all internet traffic." This presents a fantastic opportunity for video advertising. Whether you're waiting to upload several videos already or you've just begun the process of video marketing, you'll have to decide which platform(s) to use. Options like Facebook, Periscope, Meerkat, Vimeo, and YouTube are all great places to advertise with videos.
The most extensively used platform is YouTube. Its ease of access and popularity make it an obvious choice for your primary video channel. Buffer contributor Ash Read states that "on mobile alone, YouTube reaches more 18-34 and 18-49 year-olds than any cable network," which is phenomenal news if you're in advertising. Other platforms have different, if less extensive, niches. For instance, Vine and Twitter offer limited seconds of video content, requiring an entirely different kind of content than YouTube or Vimeo. If you have channels on several different sites, you definitely won't be able to upload identical videos and still be effective.
Establish Your Goals
As with any advertising endeavour, you must decide your marketing goals and have a clear direction for your content. Random videos without a strategy won't be any more effective than other unplanned content in other mediums. Marketing guru Neil Patel explains that there are two reasons people watch internet videos: "Either they want to learn something to solve a problem, or they want to be entertained." Structure your goals to meet those consumer needs.
Traditional television advertisements such as 30 second or 1-minute slots aren't equipped to meet these needs. When people watch television, the network subjects them to ads; when they watch videos online, they choose the content themselves. You have to be desired to get anywhere in the world of video marketing. Attention span plays a big part here, too. You don't want to tell a story which takes too long to start, or else potential viewers will click somewhere else.
Structuring Your Channel
Many video platforms allow you to customize the structure of your channel. Crafting the best structure is important. The layout incorporates many of the visual aspects of traditional marketing—meaning you want the format to look good—but it also requires some selectivity on your part. Having too much content can create self-sabotaging noise which can wash out your brand's story. Hootsuite contributor Jon Mowat offers similar advice: "When users come to your channel, you want them to be able to find the best content you have, and easily. Don't, therefore, feel like you have to put every piece of video content you've ever created on your channel… If it's low quality or outdated, then leave it out. Your channel needs to showcase the best about your business." Similarly, don't rank your videos based on the most views, or subscribers will be less likely to watch other quality content.
Search engine optimization is extremely important when it comes to video channel management. All video platforms have their own search engines. In fact, YouTube is the second largest search engine on the internet. As such, you'll need to do all the typical SEO research you would for any traditional online marketing campaign. The right keywords are important not only in video titles but also in their descriptions. SEO will affect video rankings which in turn impacts consumer search results. Search Engine Watch hammers this point home, writing that video platforms "heavily lean on the text surrounding the video to understand your video's topic… the more [a video platform] knows about your video, the more confidently it can rank it for your target keyword."
Many platforms also integrate with other search engines as well. For instance, Google links with YouTube in such a way that a search on either one will affect suggested videos and links on the other. Try harnessing this synergy with all your different advertising mediums.
Tried and True Techniques
You've got your platform, you've set your goals. You've structured your channel to best represent your brand and you've honed in on search engine optimization. Now you have to create videos that will actually compel people to watch. Sourcing content should be simple if you have your SEO in order, but if you need more ideas you can always do a little research to get creative.
Configuring your content is also hugely important. Quality means everything in this endeavour. Shaky cameras and poor sound will be a huge turnoff; subscribers can go watch home video fails if they want that kind of quality. There are several techniques which can help you out:
- Draw out complicated explanations. There are thousands of explanatory videos on the internet which have clear but well-drawn whiteboard illustrations with someone narrating the action.
- Consider filming with a white screen or green screen background. This is another way to cut the clutter.
- Cut your shots as often as you want. Many tutorial channels and comedy channels have their videos edited immensely. Don't have your actors going for a 3-minute monologue if it's not flawless.
Streaming is another way to configure your content successfully. Many sites offer streaming, some even within very specific niches. For example, sites like Twitch.com allow users to stream a live feed of video games they play for others to watch, and millions of gamers use this monthly. Live streaming breaks down the barrier between the audience and their content, which is great news for marketers.
Opportunities and Constraints
A video channel offers exciting marketing opportunities. It is much more engaging than anything in writing—imagine trying to repair a complex machine by reading a schematic instead of by watching someone do it step by step—and also much faster. Videos can also play on emotions more than print advertising, in a way that theatre can be more compelling than a book.
On the other hand, it takes much more time and effort to film a high-quality video and upload it on your channel than it does to write a blog entry. If you're not proficient in video media production, you may have to hire freelance directors and editors, which can be costly. Finally, as mentioned earlier, video advertising also has to cut through the clutter and hold people's already-short attention.
Hosting your own video channel is a great way to get your brand out there and add some quality depth to your marketing campaign. With a properly managed channel, you'll be able to place your content in front of millions of viewers, and hopefully nearly as many subscribers. As long as you focus on the quality of your content and what you hope to achieve with your channel, you'll draw the attention of viewers and strengthen your brand.


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Unfortunately, due to some issues with funding, one of the Promoters due to programme Ian Sexon's A Life with the Beatles in March has had to pull out of the tour.
The show is available from Tue 7 – Thu 9 Mar and further details can be found in Tourbook.
Click the "I'm Interested" button asap in Tourbook if you'd like us to introduce you to the producer.


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We have Bilingual Staff that will greet you on your arrival at the ZIH Airport to provide you with the services requested on your reservation , One way Airport Transfers or Round Trip Airport Transportation, on Private or Suttle Service. Note that .On Saladitas or Troncones Airport Services the Transportation have to be private , either taxi, van or Bus.
Brasco Transfers Airport Services on Round Trip or One Way Transportation:
When Booking your Airport Transportation Services to Brasco Transfers, we will wait at the Airport Arrival Gate holding a sign with the name of our Company BRASCO TRANSFERS for you to Identify us very easy or we can have your name Printed if you requested , once we meet you at the Arival Gate we wil take you to the Services booked and leave right away to your Hotel , Villa or Condominium.
On Your Departure Day, our team from Brasco Transfers will meet you at your hotel lobby to provide you with the service, you can give us the desire time or we can suggest you the pick up time , we are very flexible company with our clients.
Ixtapa Tours: The best activities in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo.
Yacht Rental: Rent a Yacht for your vacations in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo.
Sportfishing: The best Sport Fishing in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo


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The bittergourd chips are very easy to prepare and an instant preparation that goes very well with meals. This can be a substitute to the fried papad and other fritters that is served with the main meal. It can also be used as a snack along with tea/coffee in the evenings.
bitter gourd-1no(large),
chilli powder-2tsps,
turmeric powder-1/2 tsp,
hing powder-1/8 tsp,
rice flour-2 tsps,
urid powder-1tsp,
salt to taste and
oil for frying.
Wash and slice the bittergourd into thin round pieces.
Mix all the powders and salt(call it masala).
Roll the bittergourd pieces in the masala.
Keep it for about 2 mts for curing.
Deep fry in oil till it becomes crispy.
Remove them with a perforated laddle to remove the excess oil and spread them on a large paper napkin to have the balance excess oil absorbed in the paper.
Chips are ready for use.
To maintain its crispiness , store them in an air-tight container after cooling. It can be stored for a few days.
Fresh chips can also be made with vegetables like ladies finger(cut into 1′" pieces),brinjals(cut into round pieces) etc.