text:
Welcome to ART&TUR!
International Tourism Film Festival
- Are you a director/producer?
- Do you have a company in the area of communication and/or audiovisual?
- Do you promote tourism destinations?
- Do you work in the tourism industry?
- Do you have promotional films, advertising campaigns, documentaries or television programs?
Two Competitive Sections
Audiovisual productions for tourism promotion
- Commercials (up to 1')
- Advertising Campaigns
- Promotional Films (up to 15')
- Animation Films
- Independent Travel Videos (up to 25′)
Documentaries and TV Programs
- Short Docs (up to 30')
- Documentaries (up to 90')
- TV Programs
- WebDocs
Meet the winners of the 12th edition of ART&TUR – International Tourism Film Festival (2019)
It was during the award ceremony held at Teatro-Cine in Torres Vedras that the winners of the 12th edition of the ART&TUR – International Tourism…
Filmmakers cross oceans and continents to compete for best promotional film in Torres Vedras
Imagine a professional audiovisual production team facing the challenge of having to make a good film about a region you have never visited in just…
ART&TUR brings to Torres Vedras the best tourism films
Turismo Centro de Portugal, the Municipality of Torres Vedras and Centro de Portugal Film Commission presented yesterday, at a press conference, the main highlights of…


text:
"We rate Habit Action 10/10. The reason for this is that from the outset to the end you get top quality products installed to the highest quality with great customer service. We have and will keep recommending your company to others."
Atlas Copco
"They listen to what you think you want, then from their experience, and from what they see about your structure and way of working they tell you what they think you need. The result was pretty much bang on."
Signet Branding
"The Habit Action methodology and subsequent results were very enlightening and helpful. The finished effect has resulted in many positive staff comments both as to the improved culture, and improved working and welfare conditions."
RVT Group
"We appreciate the outstanding quality of the design and finished result, and the exceptional service we received throughout the process."
"The final design was exceptional, and the project was delivered on time, on budget and above expectations."
Northwood Investors
"Excellent service and a great company to deal with. We would definitely recommend them to colleagues or friends."
Clancy Plant Hire
"Staff were great communicators, the plans we responsive and realistic, and we were really happy with the quality and timeliness of the work. I'd definitely be happy to recommend Habit Action to others."
National Aids Trust
"From day one the whole team have worked incredibly hard to understand what's important to us and deliver on our vision. Working with you through all phases - planning, specifying, budgeting, building and design - has been an enjoyable journey and a huge credit to the many individuals involved. "

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….
Ancient history began when the newly trained Jedi Knight Kevvie-Wan Gardner began an epic quest for geology, photography and beer on his home planet. If truth be told, there was more beer than the Jedi Council would normally tolerate.
In the early years, the young Kevvie-Wan walked alone. He joined with other rebel factions on occasion, but many of them were big, hairy and made funny noises. None of them wore a white dress or had Danish pastries stuck to their heads.
The journey continued alone until one day, in a seedy bar in one of the more remote settlements of the French Alps, he first met Kas. She was a wanderer from the Land of the Sun, who shared many of Kevvie-Wan's desires, joys, and embarrassing habits. They joined in union and travelled the planet together for some years until the arrival of the two padawan, first Ami-Dala and later Izzykin. The Millenium Falcon no longer met their needs, and it was traded for a bigger motor. And they proceeded together into more recent memory as a band of four, continuing the quest when time allowed, and writing about it when time didn't allow.
Below lies a summary of those early years from the end of the training to the union with the Kas.
Ancient history indeed. Tales of a time long gone, of which little now remains but a few bare images and the fading memory of a once great Jedi.
Meeting the Mrs 1998
In 1998 I transitioned from the singular to the plural, when I met Kas on a skiing holiday in France.
Very Few Photos 1997
Lots of work travel to Germany still, and no foreign holidays, but a couple of interesting events in the UK.
Skiing and Boating 1996
A year with no real foreign holidays but I had a hectic year travelling with work to Singapore and Germany.
Asian Adventures 1995
In the summer of 1995 I made multiple trips to Malaysia and Singapore with work.
Desert Adventures 1994
1994 passed without much incident aside from a couple of travelling adventures over the pond.
A New Home 1993
I gave up the gravy train and moved to Milton Keynes, where I bought my first house and car.
Russian Around 1992
I was still living in Edinburgh through the whole of 1992. In the summer I made a fairly epic trip to Russia.
Over the Pond 1991
In 1991 I lived in Edinburgh, I learned to ski, and I made my first trip across the Atlantic.
Many Countries 1990
In 1990 I did a bit of a European tour, living in three different countries and travelling to several more.
Holland 1989
A year of living and working in the Netherlands, whilst doing my best to visit as many new places as I could get away with.


text:
Resources tagged with "ticketing"
Building blocks for reopening
This comprehensive guide by Spektrix helps lay the foundations for a successful reopening whether you use their CRM system or something else.By SpektrixPublished:2020 Type: guide-toolkit
Why digital dependence could be the key to growing ticket sales
SeatGeek, the mobile-focused ticking platform takes us through their work with Cork Opera House to increase functionality through all of its sales channels.By SeatGeekPublished:2019 Type: blog
Flexible Family Tickets in Museums – commercial considerations
A report by CultueLabel for Kids in Museums looking at opportunities to use flexible family tickets to develop new creative business models.By Kids in MuseumsPublished:2019 Type: research
SQIFF Making the Festival Affordable
In this case study, Helen Wright from SQIFF (Scottish Queer International Film Festival) shares the impact of introducing a sliding scale ticketing system to the festival.By Helen WrightPublished:2018 Type: case-study
Tips to help you with your CRM implementation
Originally published from author Mags Rivett, Marketing Manager at Purple Vision. This guide has been updated by Helen Dunnett, Director of HD Consulting in February 2018.By Purple Vision, Helen DunnettPublished:2018 Type: guide-toolkit
Selecting Ticketing Systems
This guide on Selecting Ticketing Systems was updated in March 2018 from an earlier ADUK resource sheet first shared on CultureHive in 2012. Authored by Roger Tomlinson .By Roger Tomlinson, Helen DunnettPublished:2018 Type: guide-toolkit
Cart before the horse for CRM?
When thinking and talking about a CRM strategy don't just focus on the IT implementation that is the customer database technology. A clear understanding of customer journeys and how a customer interacts with your organisation will help you align your internal business processes and CRM strategy with these interactions.Published:2015 Type: article
Buy one donate one – ticket donation scheme
Spitalfields Music asks ticket bookers to its Summer and Winter Festivals to donate the value of a ticket when they buy their own ticket – effectively buy one ticket and donate one. Money generated through this scheme is used to offer free tickets to local residents who could not otherwise afford a ticket. The value of the ticket donated is decided by the ticket booker. In this case study, Richard Scandrett, Director of Marketing and Development at Spitalfields Music describes how this successful scheme works.Published:2014 Type: case-study
Filling the empty seats first
How important is the person who nearly bought a ticket? US-based marketing consultant Trevor O'Donnell offers some firm but considered advice on where and how ticketed arts organisations should be placing their sales energies to ensure empty seats are kept to a minimum. Trevor is a straight talking marketing consultant who has developed marketing/sales strategies for many arts organisations including Disney, Cameron Mackintosh, Cirque du Soleil and the Music Center of Los Angeles.Published:2014 Type: article
Using pricing to optimise income and access
If you're reviewing your approach to pricing then this article may prove useful. You'll find an expert introduction to pricing theory, including the influences on pricing, how to understand value and the variables you can use to differentiate prices. There's also a practical case study from City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) which discusses the changes they made to their pricing system, what they learned and the impact their new implementation had.Published:2013 Type: article
How to strategically integrate your ticketing system
This article considers how to integrate a ticketing system into an overall marketing operation in order to sell more tickets, more effectively. You'll find case studies from Cheltenham Arts Festivals who integrated marketing and sales activity across their organisation - with no increase in budget allocation - and Historic Royal Palaces who implemented various measures such as using peak queueing times as an opportunity to pro-actively inform and welcome visitors.Published:2013 Type: article
Using CRM to strategically develop your audiences
Helen Dunnett explores what we mean by Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and why it's not widely adapted. Using a Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) case study, she demonstrates the impact that segmentation and targeted campaigns can have on developing audiences.By Helen DunnettPublished:2013 Type: article
Data protection – a guide for the arts sector
February 2015: New guidance on Data Protection is coming soon and information here will be updated as soon as possible A guide designed to assist managers, box office, marketing and fundraising staff in operating procedures for dealing with customers and their data. It gives guidance on how to provide good customer service while complying with the spirit of the Data Protection Acts. It is designed explicitly to offer advice primarily about ticket sales situations. Customers are sensitive as to how they are treated. It is important that venues are seen to behave in ways which respect the public and the integrity of their information.Published:2013 Type: guide-toolkit
Live streaming productions for independent producers and small-scale venues
An evaluation of the approach Camden Theatres took in setting up paid live streaming for the Camden Fringe in 2010 and 2011. The report first outlines the issues for independent producers and small venues, and goes on to look at the tools available, and how they can work together to grow audiences through online video streaming. It considers who the audience is for digital work; how small-scale producers can use social media; how to set up virtual box office agreements,and the cost of live streaming kit. It also highlights how, through streaming and clever use of social media, new income and …Published:2013 Type: case-study
Creating an app to increase engagement and grow audiences
The London Orchestral Marketing Consortium worked with developer Kodime to create an app, Student Pulse, which combined paperless ticketing, a loyalty scheme, social sharing functions and geolocation services. By looking at the motivations and attendance patterns of their target audience - students - the consortium worked out what was needed for an effective app. This case study describes the development process from both the marketers' and the developers' perspectives.Published:2013 Type: case-study
Integrating revenue management with marketing and development strategies
This case study shows how Centre Theatre Group in Los Angeles, with the help of The Pricing Institute, moved from a 2-price to a 3-price house and re-zoned their ticket prices, to price for new audience development. These two examples show how Center Theatre Group has integrated revenue management with their marketing and development strategies.Published:2013 Type: case-study
How to increase ticket sales through dynamic pricing
This case study explains how The Place - a centre for contemporary dance in the middle of London - introduced a new pricing system for all their performances in 2001. After fifteen months closed for refurbishment, the theatre re-opened with five new main prices, all with different booking conditions. The strategy described in this case study proved very effective with ticket yield increasing by 14%, ticket sales by 28% and net income by 44%.Published:2013 Type: case-study
Using pricing to optimise income and access
Transcript of a session giving an overview of pricing strategy and theory, and the pricing review process, with a case study from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO).Published:2012 Type: case-study


text:
In the guise of "Civil Rights" and 'Human Rights' the LGBT minority community have decided to 'celebrate' the civility of their very uniquely chosen lifestyle and sexual preference publically. I am not sure what their mission or goals are in this effort, but obviously they have received enough incentive and motivation to attempt something that 90% of The Bahamas and Bahamians consider unacceptable and violates their collective convictions, moral standing and values.
Perhaps it may be helpful to first ask a simple yet profound question; "Is it civil, right, reasonable, logical, sane to promote a cause, lifestyle or practice of a behavior that could in its ultimate conclusion cause the extinction of the human race? It is insanity to demand the 'celebration' of your own extinction
I am not sure what role is being played by Government, Government Leaders, Ministry of Tourism, or other parties that may have provided, if any, the incentive for this defiant social act, but I believe this must be addressed from the perspective not from any religious position, but rather from the concern for our very small fragile social fabric being held together by values and moral standards that provide the framework for a healthy Bahamian society.
Concern is also raised concerning the assistance, support and promotion of these efforts by international organizations and in individuals including travel agencies and tourism promotion entities such as gaytravel.about.com. The citizens of the Bahamas have a legitimate right to be and express their concerns in these matters.
I think it is dangerous, inappropriate, immature and disingenuous to accuse anyone with a deep concern about any attempt to impose, force or establish a set of values, standards, moral trends or lifestyle that could and would drastically change and in a very real way destabilize the foundations of a society, as have a phobia – or fear.
One of the greatest natural competent of human mechanism for survival and safety is the element of fear. Without the ability to embrace 'fear' or 'panic' the human species cannot protect himself against threats. The beauty of fear is that is an in inherent human quality that protects against danger and extinction. Phobia is inherently good.
There is no greater harm to human dignity than deception. Throughout history the power of deception has ruined millions of lives, started world wars and even changed the climate of nations. In our postmodern world there is a massive deception invading the very moral fabric of nations and dismantling the very core of the natural existence of humanity. As matter of fact this deception is threatening the extinction of mankind. What is amazing is that this deception is not a new one, but it emerged in the context of human existence on the planet as long ago as five thousand years. However, despite the reality of its existence, it has historically always kept its place at the fringes of mainstream society.
What is this deception? It is the unnatural attraction and relations between human species of the same sex or gender attempting to normalize the unnatural under the guise of being normal? Even though this unnatural behavior disguises itself under many labels, it is generally described as Homosexuality. The word itself incorporates its basic premise and that is, it is primarily sex driven. Those who have decided to embrace, practice, encourage, and surrendered and succumb to its passions, and they desire to dignify, promote and civilize this "lifestyle" over the past generation have become more aggressive even to the point of violence in some instances. This strategy seem to be one of fear mongering, psychological battery, and the selling of self-pity and abuse. Terms like bigot, hate crime, closed minded, conservative, anti-human, anti-civil, bulling, and the most common, phobia, are used to isolate the mainstream of humanity painting them as unloving, insensitive, ungodly, human haters, unsympathetic and uncivilized.
It is my view that this accusation of 'homo-phobia" is the greatest deception of all. Its intent is to make those who are considered 'normal' feel guilty for being normal. This deception is unfair, dishonest and dangerous. Its affect is to make the majority of humanity feel guilty for not accepting, glorifying and dignifying this 'unnatural' human behavior.
I am sure the question will arise, "What is 'unnatural' and who defines 'natural'?" It is essential to understand that natural cannot and does not need to be defined. Natural is simply the normal state of creation which manifests itself by its natural essence. In other words, nature defines itself. What is defined by nature is also what is considered as 'normal'. Normal is that which is the result of the natural course of life as nature or creation works in sustaining itself. Therefore the source of 'natural' or 'normal' is creation itself and any opinion of attempt of human genius cannot change what is natural.
Perhaps at point is it may also be important to note that the root word from which we derive our modern word 'Law' is the word 'norm'. The obvious implication is that all nature is the source of natural law and therefore defines what is the reference for the creation of any human law that attempts to interfere with nature itself? It is also important to note that any law made by man is ignored by nature.
Human sexuality is a product of natural creation and is rendered as normal, thus does not need definition. Any deviation from the natural is generally considered as 'unnatural' or 'abnormal'. In nature there will always be exceptions and these must be recognized as such. But even exceptions must be properly defined, for even in nature there is a natural inherent response to safe –guard its survival by minimizing the impact of the exception. All exceptions in nature are natural and not by choice.
In light of this natural reality why should homosexuality be considered 'unnatural' and perhaps 'abnormal'? Perhaps the answer is in the very description of homosexuality as 'a lifestyle'. Being an heterosexual is not a lifestyle but a natural by-product of nature and not by choice. Lifestyles are 'chosen' or a result of 'circumstances' but never a product of nature. We can choose lifestyles but never our nature.
The natural definition of 'unnatural' is that which is not a product of nature itself is, and that which cannot naturally reproduce in creation naturally. Perhaps this is the greatest challenge of the great deception of homosexuality, the natural fact that members of the same sex can come together, live together, express intimacy, and even be deeply emotionally involved with each other, but the reality and truth is they can never naturally reproduce after their kind. It is this fact, truth and reality that renders this lifestyle 'unnatural'.
It is this simple truth that make those who wish to perpetrate this unnatural 'lifestyle' of 'orientation' dishonest and deceptive. I am not against nor will attempt to prevent any human deciding to practice a specific 'lifestyle' or are inclined to follow a certain 'un-normal' behavior, but my concern and contention is their attempt to impose that decision on those who by nature are considered normal.
It is amusing that when the majority of the human community respond, express their disagreement with, or their deep honest concern about the attempt of those who embrace and practice this lifestyle to impose this 'unnatural' human lifestyle on society response this is interpreted a Phobia or fear.
If this accusation was levied by ignorant, uninformed persons perhaps it would be laughable, but one when intelligent individuals make this claim of phobia to a responsible intelligent person, one must take personal offence. Maybe the real fear is that one I would call 'truthphobia' or 'realityphobia'. Could it be that those who wish be considered normal, acceptable, natural, and civil, fear that self-evident truth that what they are claiming, demanding, promoting and fighting for is by nature unnatural and abnormal?
However, I agree with their accusation from one perspective; and that is yes, I am afraid of any lifestyle, orientation, preference or behavior that threatens that very survival of the human race. Could it be that the homosexual harbor an unspoken heterosexualphobia? Heterosexual never attempt to impose itself on society nor does it need to fight for or recognition any defense.
The lifestyle of homosexuality and all the other names and labels it has come to be described as, is as old as the biblical character Abraham, and was practiced by members of communities of his contemporary over four thousand years ago. Many of the minority who are still involved in this lifestyle seem to act as if this is a new cause for which they were born to fight for. In the early sixties some individuals in high profile positions in society began to venture out of what they called 'the closet' to expose themselves to the larger community as if to test the waters. The reaction from that time by the majority of the population was one of resistance and discomfort which still exist today despite the claims to the contrary.
This resistance has been so strong that those involved in the LGBT lifestyle changed their strategy for social acceptance from imposing by exposure demanding their social rights, and resorted to making the issue one of civil rights. It is interesting to note that after over 4000 years of the recorded existence of the this lifestyle and unnatural behavior the social resistance still exists and I'm sure will continue, no matter how social and so-called civic society attempts to disguise it socially acceptable attire. Nature will never disagree with itself and common or legislative law can ever change natural law.
I have with great disappointment stood on the balcony of history and watched with horror and shock the high-jacking and raping of what we have come to know as the Civil Rights Movements. What made it more distressing was to see many individuals who were actively involved in these historic resistance movements, abandoning the sacrifice of many who died for the noble causes of human dignity for the majority who were being abused, to use their blood to cover the demands of minority sectors of society to justify and civilize their selfish and munnatural preferences.
I have tasted the negative impact of civil oppression by a regime that devalued my humanity, but this was not because of a lifestyle I chose, or a behavior that was by orientation, or a disposition preferred, but rather a reality that was 'natural'. I was as victim of by inherent pigmentation……I was born black and had no choice in the matter. In The Bahamas I and my family along with the majority of the Bahamian population were discriminated against, devalued as humans, disenfranchised, and oppressed by a minority regime.
I have with all my logic and sought to understand, but still cannot equate the Philosophy, ideology or purpose for the Civil Rights movements with the agenda of the Homosexual LGBT community. I think the attempt to equate the historical Civil Rights movements with the demands for the right to dignify, glorify and accept as normal the practice of a lifestyle that could render the human race for which they sacrificed extinct, is illogical, dishonest, and is the abuse of the blood and imprisonment of many. It's a high jacking of the gains paid for by the blood of honorable men and women for an unnatural human-destroying behavior.
The fundamental principle of the Civil Rights movements was the freedom and restoration of the dignity and value of the Majority of an oppressed humanity. As a matter of fact, historically it was usually the imposition of the values, prejudices and inhumane ideology of the minority on the majority that was the context and source of oppression and devaluation of humanity. The context of the present LGBT movement could be considered in the same light where a small percentage and minority segment of the population are attempting to impose their unnatural ideology, values, morals and personal sexual preference on the common culture, moral convictions, standards and values of the Majority.
Perhaps, this could be considered the new 21st century regime of oppression. This idea seem to be further enforced by the encroaching influence and demands of globalization, the United Nations and other world bodies and agencies who have now conditioned their offer of national economic assistance to national social and cultural conformity that embraces moral and values-based compromises.
The most powerful and dangerous partner to deception is perception. The world of media is really about the business and management of perception. The power of the media cannot be calculated and must not be miscalculated or minimized in its impact for creating perception. This is why throughout history anytime there was a need to control the mental environment or to create a perceived reality, the use of the media has always been engaged as the critical tool in exporting, importing and disseminating deception. It is therefore important that in our modern democracy the demand for truth, transparency and objectivity in the media be a primary concern to all responsible citizen. We must always be on our guard as civilly minded citizens to watch for the collective agenda and bias in the media. It has been my observation that in recent times the print and electronic media both nationally and internationally seem to favor the prominent and multiple placement, and preoccupation with stories that promote or glorifies this lifestyle. There seem to be many times and Imbalance of opinions and views. It is my hope that all media would make an effort to also publish the views of the majority.
There also seem to be the increase use of economic and political blackmail in the area of manipulation by the LGBT minority forces, which also includes an intentional smear campaign of the majority as bigots, human haters, intolerant, and bullies. This is a dishonest and grave misrepresentation of the facts. There is also the misuse of un-substantiated claims by the minority regarding changing trends and attitude to boost their own positions. This is incredible. In fact, there seem to be massive plague on intellectual, social and physiological and logical dishonesty. There is no conclusive scientific confirmations that verify claims that the minority who practice this lifestyle, that their condition is matter of biology or genetics rather than a habitual learned behavior which become a lifestyle they prefer.
Let us reiterate once again that the majority of the population in most countries throughout history and in our contemporary society, are not ignorant of the existence of abnormal behavior or unnatural preferences of the homosexual lifestyle. This lifestyle and behavior is really an old story with a new twist. What the majority does not appreciate is the dishonesty and deception that have been engaged by those who wish to impose their will on them. Every human has the right to choose his or her unnatural lifestyle, but must demand that we accept it as natural. They are free to prefer any unnatural sexual orientation they desire or crave, but they must, cannot and should not require that we the majority dignify it by promoting or glorifying it as normal. All the majority want are Honesty and the Freedom to express our concerns, opinion and positons without being labeled ignorant, intolerant, unsophisticated, or homophobic.
Dr. Myles Munroe


text:
Latest News
Year 10 Netball Team take part in tournament at Wallingford SchoolPosted on: 19/02/2018
On Tuesday 19th February, the DGS Year 10 netball team travelled to Wallingford School to compete in the annual netball tornament. The girls played their best despite the cold conditions and overall came 5th out of 7 schools from around the area. A brilliant effort from all the girls, in particular Georgia Evans and Phoebe Thorpe who received Player of the Match over the course of the tournament. Well done girls for an excellent afternoon of netball!
The team was made up of Jasmine Barnes, Lily Brown, Georgia Evans, Mollie Janes, Sophie Martin, Freya Melrose, Rhiannon Seymour, and Phoebe Thorpe.
Lord Williams – DGS 4-1 loss
Ickneild B – DGS 1-4 win POM- Georgia
Ickneild A – DGS 4-1 loss
Gillotts – DGS 3-3 draw POM- Georgia
Wallingford – DGS 7-5 loss
Langtree – DGS 1-5 win POM- Phoebe


text:
Adoption fees vary depending on the type of animal and its age. We also offer adoption specials throughout the year with reduced adoption fees for animals.
Microchipping, spay/neuter surgery, and rabies vaccination are all included in the adoption fee, so your pet will have a safe and healthy start when it joins your family. A license fee, if applicable, will also be payable at time of adoption.
Please visit our Adopt an Animal webpages to see the fees for our adoptable animals.
*Dispatch is unable to answer financial questions. For assistance regarding licensing, billing and collection proceedings, please call during our phone hours to speak with customer relations staff.
Every mile you walk, WoofTrax makes a donation.
Annual Report
Our 2016 Annual Report can be downloaded or read on our website.
annual-report-2016Download our annual report.
2016 Annual ReportRead our annual report on our website


text:
Zee Bee Market: It's Never Been More Fun to Shop Fair
In 2012, Peruvian-born Julio Zegarra-Ballon launched his fair trade business on a small scale, with just enough inventory to cover an eight-foot table at farmers' markets and other events in the city. "It was clear from the beginning that there was an appetite for all the products I was selling," he explains. "People want authentic goods and handcrafted items that are available to them through fair-trade practices."
Two years later, Zegarra-Ballon opened the first brick-and-mortar location of Zee Bee Market in the South Grand neighborhood. A vibrant community, "it already had an international vibe because of the restaurants in the area, and being that Zee Bee Market offers cultural gifts from around the world, I felt like the neighborhood was a perfect fit," he says.
Inspired by the overwhelmingly positive response to the opening, and further persuaded by the continuing success of the business, Zegarra-Ballon quit his corporate job within the year and fully committed to growing his social enterprise. The grand opening of Zee Bee Market's second store was on April 21, 2018.
Location was just as important this time around. After months of research, Zegarra-Ballon chose a storefront in Maplewood, near Schlafly Bottleworks, with its weekly farmers' market, and the authentic Italian restaurant Acero. "The neighborhood is up and coming," he says. "It's not that far west, but it is in the county—for my friends and customers who don't venture into the city that often—and there's a great synergy between restaurants, independent retailers, coffeehouses and other establishments."
Everything at Zee Bee Market has a beautiful story behind it, and each story shares a common denominator: an artisan community that directly benefits from the export and sale of their products. "Unfortunately, in the conventional supply chain, the people behind the machines or out in the fields don't receive a fair wage, nor do they experience safe working conditions," says Zegarra-Ballon. The fair-trade movement, on the other hand, enables small and marginalized producers to live and work in dignity.
When Zegarra-Ballon became a member of the Fair Trade Federation, he gained immediate access to FTF suppliers, who work with the small artisan and farming communities. "I'm lucky enough to be able to find suppliers that specialize in the products I'm looking for—from sterling silver jewelry, leather handbags, clothes and ornaments to tea, coffee and chocolate—from my laptop."
That being said, it is a dream of his to meet the artisans in person and work hand-in-hand to design products that are unique and exclusive to Zee Bee Market. He's done this twice in the past, albeit digitally. The result was two pieces still found in stores: a wall-mounted coat rack built from reclaimed bike chains, which talented artisans from Northern India shaped into "ST LOUIS," and a functional yet decorative bowl created from upcycled metal, displaying the state of Missouri encircled by "SAINT LOUIS" and fleur de lis repetitions.
Other gifts you can find at either Zee Bee Market location include hand-painted ceramics from Tunisia, handmade cards from the Philippines, dresses from Ghana, Zooties baby booties made in Kyrgyzstan, felt birdhouses made in Nepal, notebooks fabricated from elephant dung paper by Mr. Ellie Pooh and more. In total, there are ethically produced handicrafts from 32 countries across the globe. One of the shop's best sellers is the string keychains of different personages, such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Hamilton and Rosie the Riveter, which Zegarra-Ballon sources from Thailand.
As for products made right here in St. Louis, Zegarra-Ballon offers Better Life natural cleaning products and jewelry and baby clothes made by local refugee and immigrant women who have partnered with the 501(c)3 nonprofit Forai (Friends Of Refugees And Immigrants).
Whether you're shopping for someone or something in particular, or you simply drop by Zee Bee Market out of curiosity, it's unlikely that you'll leave empty-handed. "Fair trade is one of those feel-good kind of purchases," Zegarra-Ballon says. "After you fall in love with a product and learn the story behind its creation, you can't help yourself."
Images courtesy of Zee Bee Market.


text:
Unable to add Citibank to One Step Update
System Member ✭✭✭✭
This discussion was created from comments split from: Stuck in one step update loop.
ChuckKluga Member ✭I have a different sort of endless "one-step" update loop. I have been trying to get my citi bank into one-step. Prior to this I have been logging into citi bank and exporting files to Quicken. At first the citi account was not listed in the one-step update summary at all. The bank personnel had me click something for the account that necessitated that I re-enter my name and password. Now the citi is in the one-step list. And in the Account List, the "Download" column now shows "No (activate download)". When I click that link, I am prompted to enter my citi name and password, click 'Connect", which shows "Activate One-Step Update" screen (shows line with citi card, "ignore" text, and my assigned nickname), I click "Next" and quicken appears to connect with citi. It then returns with 0 transactions updated in the summary. I see many transactions are really there on the citi web page. Furthermore, the the "Download' column still shows "No (activate download)" - my entries had NO effect - endless loop. What am I missing? I ran "Validate and Repair" with normal results.0
Quicken_Natalie Moderator modHello ChuckKuga,
Thank you for bringing this issue to the community, although I apologize you have not yet received a response.
What version/release of Quicken are you using? Do you receive any error messages throughout the process of attempting to link the account(s) in Quicken? What option are you selecting in the bank list for Citibank and what connection type are you attempting to use?
Let us know so we can better help!
-Quicken Natalie
This discussion has been closed.


text:
Blatter agrees FIFA must improve
By app
ZURICH - FIFA president Sepp Blatter agreed on Friday that football's world governing body needed to become better at weeding out corruption after two executive committee members were banned and fined for improper conduct.
He added that collusion was difficult to exclude from the World Cup bidding process and that, once forced into action, FIFA had responded well to newspaper allegations of vote-selling in the contest to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The hosts of both tournaments will be decided at a FIFA vote on December 2, a huge occasion in which leading political figures, including heads of state, from all nine bidding nations will be present.
"The World Cup is not only a footballing, emotional competition, where people assemble, they dance, they are happy," said Blatter, who has already conceded FIFA was wrong to choose both hosts at the same time.
"December 2 is not just an important date for football, it is important for international politics.
"We have nine bidding countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, they will send their top representatives, we have to deal with nine countries sending prime ministers, heads of state and other high-ranked political personalities."
"We have a political dimension and we have to look to avoid in the future such situations, this is an item under scrutiny.
"With experience in life, you should not repeat twice the same error."
Executive committee members Amos Adamu of Nigeria and Reynald Temarii of Tahiti were accused last month of offering to sell their votes to undercover reporters from the Sunday Times posing as lobbyists for an American consortium.
Temarii was banned for one year and fined on Thursday after FIFA's ethics committee found him guilty of violating rules on general conduct and loyalty while Adamu was banned for three years and fined after being found guilt of corruption.
With voting for the World Cup hosts restricted to the executive committee, it means that only 22 officials, not 24, will choose the hosts of the two tournaments.
Blatter was not happy with the newspaper's methods, even though he admitted FIFA had been forced to act.
"It gave us the opportunity to clean a little bit whatever has to be cleaned but I cannot say it is very fair when you open traps for people," said Blatter, adding that he was satisfied with the ethics committee's decisions.
"It is not fair but when the aims and objectives are to have a clean sheet in the football, then I can understand."
FIFA also looked into allegations of collusion between Spain/Portugal, one of four bids for the 2018 World Cup, and Qatar, one of five candidates for 2022, but found no evidence of rule breaking.
"You cannot avoid collusion but if there should be something wrong in such collusion, then naturally somebody should intervene," said Blatter.
"You find collusion in politics, in elections, when two parties are enemies during the year and then they run together."
England, Russia and Belgium/Netherlands are also bidding for 2018 with Japan, South Korea, United States and Australia the other candides for 2022.
Get the best features, fun and footballing frolics straight to your inbox every week.
Thank you for signing up to Four Four Two. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.


text:
Interested In Our Inventory?
Join Our Buyers List Today!
Off Market Homes
Off Market Lots
Off Market Development
Amazing deals on Off Market Properties with G Buys Philly
Get your hands on the best deals of off market homes Philadelphia region only with G Buys Philly. Are you looking for buying an off market property in and around Philadelphia?
Well, your search has finally come to an end. We at G Buys Philly offer exciting deals on off market properties that can suit your specific requirements. All you got to do is visit our site or give us a call and fill in your requirements.
We will get in touch with you with the best offers on buying property in Philadelphia. Also, we have plenty in our store to offer so that you get the best offer from the market.
Great offers that you cannot miss out
Once you register your requirement we will put our best efforts to bring you a great range of off market properties that fulfill your requirements. Also, if you have any query regarding procedures we follow or our deals then do not hesitate to ring up.
Our expert staff at G Buys Philly will clear all your doubts in a jiffy and present you with the best deals possible. Let's take a look at some of the great offerings that we provide our buyers –
1. Honesty and integrity are our primary motto of thriving in this industry. With us you'll get the most authentic deals on off market homes Philadelphia area. Now very often when it comes to buying off market properties it seems like the fair price homes do not exist. But that's not who we are. G Buys Philly only provide the best of the best price offerings for off market homes.
2. Our expert team have more than 20 years plus experience in the real Estate industry. Hence, be assured to get the top-quality listings of property that suit your specific requirements.
3. We make your dealings as convenient as possible. We understand that you do not fully understand the workings of real estate and keeping that in mind we create an easy and reliable contract deals. This helps both the buyers as well as the sellers for closing the deal.
4. With our professional experience we provide you with deals as fast as possible. Hence, if you are in need of buying property in Philadelphia area in a limited period then G Buys Philly is the ultimate spot for you.
So what are you waiting for? If you want fast, convenient and best deals in off market properties specifically in the Philadelphia region then we would be your ultimate guide. Join hands with us now for getting the best deals on off market homes.
Visit our site or give us a call to fill in our requirements. Buy or sell properties at best offered deals with G Buys Philly. We give our 100% to provide you the best deals on off market houses in Philadelphia area.


text:
When she sees his big cock she can feel her mature pussy get wet and a shiver of excitement run up her spine. Suddenly her mouth is watering and the wanton mature slut knows what she needs to do. She offers him her slippery fuck hole and he accepts, feasting on her slit while she poses on her hands and knees. She looks hot in her white lace top stockings and she's open and more ready to be fucked than you can imagine..
View Gallery :: Brought to you by ActionMatures.com @ FerroNetwork
Check Official Reviews to learn more about FerroNetwork sites


text:
★ Make your own game!
Welcome to Vorpal Swords, the anime fanlistings approved listing dedicated to the series Kuroko no Basuke also known as Kuroko no Basket or Kuroko's Basketball by the mangaka Tadatoshi Fujimaki.
If you happen to be a fan of this series, please do consider joining the list! To find out more or what a fanlisting is check out the about section.
fans { 55 + 0 }
updated on 11th September 2020
updated on 11th September 2020


text:
The changes to LTVs include an extension from 80% to 85% for STB-1 products, and from 75% to 80% for STB-2 and STB-3 products.
Secure Trust is also amending its two-year fixed rate at 80%, from 3.19% to 3.09%.
Secure Trust Bank targets customers overlooked by high street lenders, including contract workers, the self-employed and those with complex incomes or those who have experienced a credit blip.
Launched earlier this year, Secure Trust's mortgage arm has continued to expand its distribution.
Tony Hall (pictured), head of sales and marketing at Secure Trust Bank Mortgages, said: "We are constantly monitoring the market so that we can continue to evolve our residential mortgage product range and ensure that we offer first rate products. The latest product enhancements will further increase the number of people we are able to help and put us in a more competitive position."


text:
Sidmouth RC pair 'fly through the eye of the storm' at the Haldon Forest Flyer meeting
PUBLISHED: 10:52 14 August 2019
On a windy and soggy Friday evening, two Mighty Green ladies took on the challenge of The Haldon Forest Flyer, writes Hamish Spence.
The event took place in the woodlands of Haldon Forest on Friday, August 9. It was organised by the Dawlish Coasters and the route was completely off the road following footpaths and tracks.
Including Bex MacDonald and Laura Broughton, there were 174 runners taking part and despite the yellow warnings issued by the Met Office for heavy rain, wind and thunder, the race was on!
So, at 7am, with all the competitors ready to go, the heavens opened, the hooter blew and they were off.
With the rain hammering down they set off along an undulating, but smooth run through the beautiful, albeit wet and blustery Haldon Forest.
The first part was fairly easy, with a simple flat loop and plenty of downhill sections.
But as we all know in the laws of cross country running, what goes down, must come back up!
The runners descended deeper into the forest, only to be met by the last mile being completely uphill with an elevation of 838ft to climb! With tired legs, the two ladies kept on going.
Finally, the finishing line was in sight and they had made it to the top to be welcomed by a great crowd and a fantastic medal.
Both ladies had certainly flown the Forest Flyer with Bex coming 130th in 50:44 and Laura was 132nd in 50:50.
If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the Sidmouth Herald. Click the link in the orange box above for details.


text:
Call (888) 990-8547 for a locksmith in Herndon PA.
Herndon, PA
For a round the clock solutions to all your security mechanism, we are the company you can depend on. We have an impressive range of locksmith services that will meet all of your needs whether you are a residential, commercial or an automotive client. To ensure 100% customer satisfaction, we provide quality assured services and workmanship plus unbeatable customer care.
When it comes to emergency situations that require prompt action hiring our 24/7 locksmith professionals is the best you can do. This cover night, Saturdays and Sundays, holiday breaks like Christmas without paying for more. Same day service is also possible as soon as you call us.
Our staffs can tackle and end no matter what kind of lock and key problems you might have because they are well-updated on the latest tools and procedures. For customer's protection, we guarantee that we only send you licensed skilled and bonded locksmith technicians who can work on different kinds of security mechanisms.
Our Residential locksmith services include re-keying of your locks, new keys made for locks with lost keys, installation of locks that includes drilling if required, installation of dead bolts, desk or other home locks replacement and repair.
Our commercial services include high security locks, panic bar installation, master lock system, exit devices, office or business establishment re-keys or replacement, keycard access and more.
And in our automotive locksmith services, we are highly specialized in emergency car lockouts, transponder keys programming, transponder chip keys, ignition keys, key extraction and more.
High security is a must have to protect and secure your home, car and business. In order to achieve that, it is better to avail it from our locksmith services. For a free estimate, you can drop us a call as soon as you need our assistance.
Zip Codes we service in this city: 17830


text:
Click image to enlarge
Mon 17th February 2020
- Fri 21st February 2020
Time: 10am -4pm
Aylett Nurseries, North Orbital Road, St Albans, AL2 1DH
Visit us this half term for our Big Bug Hunt - an educational creepy-crawly search jam packed with bugs and beasties!
Follow the clues around the garden centre and find the bugs to discover the mystery word!
Free of charge - no booking necessary - children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Please note: although parts of this activity are outside, all clues are under cover (bugs don't like rain either!).
Visit website
Tell your friends about this event:


text:
Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. Use hand or mail handling machines to time stamp, open, read, sort, and route incoming mail and address, seal, stamp, fold, stuff, and affix postage to outgoing mail or packages. Duties may also include keeping necessary records and completed forms.
Currently Employed:
Projected Annual Job Openings:
Typical Hourly Wage:
$12.78 - $19.24
Typical Annual Salary:
$26,600 - $40,000
Typical education needed for entry:
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical work experience needed for a job in this occupation:
Typical on-the-job training once you have a job in this occupation:
Short-term on-the-job training
Explore Careers
Salary Info
Resumes + Applications
Employer Research


text:
How Zelle, banks combat real-time payment fraud
Show more sharing options
Share Show more sharing options
For bankers and network providers, it's a given that moving to a real-time payment system will lead to an increase in fraud attempts.
Banks have at times reported double-digit basis-point spikes in fraud after adopting such a system, and one banker recently said that soon after his firm launched Zelle, fraud skyrocketed so high he had to go into the office at midnight to shut the system down.
What's been unclear until now is how Zelle and other real-time payment providers are fighting back against such efforts. Banks and their vendors are adding additional security controls to try and detect bad actors quickly and take them out before they do significant damage.
"With everything we do, we think about fraud," said Scott Bellomo, senior vice president and payments manager at PNC Bank. "And we know the fraudsters out there love to target new payment types."
PNC began using The Clearing House's real-time payment network last December as part of a beta program. So far, the Clearing House has not seen any fraud, said Steve Ledford, senior vice president of product and strategy. But that may be due to the fact that the real-time payment system, dubbed RTP, went into production in November 2017 and transaction volumes are low.
Yet fraud remains a concern. PNC runs every transaction through a series of algorithms to make sure neither party is on the Office of Foreign Assets Control list and to determine whether the payment is similar to historical transactions. The Clearing House also screens each transaction, with the help of a security partner.
"That doesn't mean everything is perfect out of the gate on day one, but it does mean we've got significant focus on any type of fraudulent activity," Bellomo said.
The Clearing House has a plan in the works to send the sender of each payment a note with the recipient's name on it, to make sure it's the person to whom they want to send money.
Zelle, meanwhile, warns each new adopter up front that their attack rates will be highest at launch, according to Donna Turner, chief fraud policy and control officer at Early Warning, the company that runs the Zelle network.
"Be careful not to get consumed with the rates," Turner says she tells Zelle members. "Pay attention to the magnitude and don't let the rates distract you from the discipline. That discipline is you have to live in fraud risk management every day — preventing fraud, detecting fraud, resolving fraud, because it's going to happen, you're in the payments business, learn from it."
Turner advises banks using Zelle to dissect the observed fraud and find out who is doing it, what controls aren't effective enough, and analyze the tradeoff in expense, experience, adoption and usage if those controls are ratcheted up.
Early Warning has a long list of items banks need to tick off on a readiness assessment before they can go live on the Zelle network. Roughly 30 of those are about fraud.
"The single biggest requirement is, you have to have a real-time fraud engine," Turner said. "If you're going to be in real-time payments, you have to have the ability to say yes or no in real time."
Though Early Warning is at heart a security technology company, it can't do these things for a bank, Turner said. It does have a team of fraud risk management professionals that teach bank technologists about the types of fraud that can occur and how to detect and prevent them.
Finding fraud
Zelle's bank members report all their Zelle fraud to Early Warning. The company hosts a weekly call in which it reports back to the bank the kinds of fraud it's seeing on the network. Early Warning also asks bank members to take a closer look at accounts that receive money in fraud incidents (it's up to them to decide whether to shut those accounts down). It blocks the tokens used in fraud so they can't be used in future attacks.
A dominant form of fraud remains account takeover, according to Turner, which could happen through phishing or some other malware tactic. Zelle banks use stronger authentication, device binding and malware detection tools to try to keep this type of fraud at bay. Some use one-time passwords to improve authentication. Early Warning tries to match the user's address against what the card networks and the banks have for that person.
"Because of the collaboration between Early Warning and its bank members, fraud rates are lower on Zelle than on any other P2P solution," Turner said.
Zelle banks are all making a few changes toward further security, Turner said, including messaging a customer sending money to a new contact asking if they are sure about the transaction.
Additionally, by the end of the fourth quarter, banks will start sending users the name of the person they're sending money to, to help avoid the problem of people sending money to the wrong person by mistakenly typing in an old or incorrect cell phone number or email address. Such efforts can disrupt the delicate balance of security versus convenience, however.
"Years ago, Visa piloted sending an alert on every transaction," Turner recalled. "What we observed as an industry was consumers became numb to it. We're trying to be much more intelligent about our alerts so that you pay attention to them, you don't get numb."
Last year, PNC reported that fraud on Zelle for a time hit "double digits" in basis points of payment volume, but then subsided to 5 to 6 basis points.
"I'm worried about the fraudster angle more than I'm worried about the Zelle network," Bellomo said. "Fraudsters are getting slick on social media. Social media has turned into a fantastic way to lure innocent individuals into compromising information, whether it's Zelle or a different payment type."
Bellomo also points out that there is "fuzziness" around perceived versus actual fraud within Zelle. When a consumer falls for a too-good-to-be-true scheme, like $5 tickets to a baseball game, the consumer considers that fraud "when it's really a bad consumer choice," he said.
And though account takeover is legitimate fraud, "it's not Zelle-specific for me," Bellomo said. "The concern about fraud for me is the way these fraudsters continue to get creative with the methods in which they approach consumers."
Vetting certain identity elements can help reduce fraud on Zelle, according to David Barnhardt, executive vice president of product at fraud analytics company Giact. He was previously the payment product manager at Early Warning and he has held risk and fraud positions at Bank of America and Wachovia.
"If I'm taking over someone's account, I'm using their name and date of birth and changing only email address and phone number," Barnhardt said. "If you look closely you can see that phone number is only two weeks old and that the email address may have existed only a short time. And there's no social media. So you start to see where something as minute as secondary pieces of information are becoming almost primary. Understanding those details and the metadata behind them are what a lot of companies and banks are starting to have to do because the legacy systems aren't working."
In this vein, PNC is trying to get more information about the accounts receiving Zelle payments, Bellomo said.
"Things stick out like a sore thumb," he said. "If you're trying to send a $5 million payment to an account that's been open for two weeks, that gives the bank an opportunity to ask the customer, are you sure you really want to make this payment? Here's the DNA on the account you're sending it to. Does this make sense, or do you want to confirm things before we initiate this payment?"
The trouble is, doing this to a consumer or business means the experience becomes less convenient. "We're trying to balance technology and fraud with convenience," Bellomo said.
If the enrollment process is too onerous, for example, people can just give up and walk away.
"Our customers say, 'I've got fraud problems, but I'm really concerned about turning away a good customer and having that person not only never come back, but tell their friends and family never to do business with me,'" Barnhardt said. Some banks try to take a picture of the driver's license and prefill the application while running identity and OFAC checks, he said.
Banks also investigate each fraud perpetrator and shut down their account as fast as they can, Barnhardt said.
"That doesn't mean they don't pop up somewhere else, but we don't ignore that there might be a consumer-based transaction that can be characterized as fraud," he said.
Editor at Large Penny Crosman welcomes feedback at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
On Monday, while showing his own torn kurta, Congress vice-president, Rahul Gandhi commented on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's clothes when addressing the audience from the stage in Rishikesh, Uttrakhand.
Gandhi continued his attack on Modi and took a dig at RSS during his speech.
While slamming Modi for many other things, Gandhi stopped his speech midway and showed the torn pocket of his white kurta to the crowd. His antics with the kurta earned him a roaring response from the crowd.
Gandhi said, "Mera kurta phata hua hai, lekin Modiji ka kurta kabhi phata hua nahi milta. Bade paisewaalo ke saath unki photo milegi" (I wear a torn kurta but you'll never see Modiji in a torn kurta. You'll only find his photographs with the rich people of the world.)
He went on to add, "I am doing politics for the poor. Modiji's photo appears with the super rich."
You can watch his entire speech here:
Also On HuffPost India:


text:
Your last read book was:
You dont read books at this site.
Total books on site: about 20000
You can read and download its for free!
Williams, Archibald (1842 - 1895)
There are books for online reading by Williams, Archibald on this page. Also you can read a biography of Williams, Archibald.
Archibald Hunter Arrington Williams (22 October 1842 - 5 September 1895) was a Democratic U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1891 and 1893....
If you want to know more about Williams, Archibald Read more at Wikipedia.org
Book of Williams, Archibald (free read or download):
How it Works Dealing in simple language with steam, electricity, light, heat, sound, hydraulics, optics, etc., and with their applications to apparatus in common use
IHTIANDR - is a site with thousands books on English for free reed and download


text:
Keep your skin safe with style on this Kite Festival 2019admin
Keep your kin safe with style on this Kite Festival 2019
Winter bids farewell followed by the celebration of Kite Festival since the year 1989.. This year in 2019, we are again enjoying the festival in the Sabarmati riverfront of Ahmedabad. We abide by the joy of the celebration in open air under the sun. But the festive mood often makes us forget about the dirt and dust getting all over us.
We experience the Uttarayan during the Makar Sankranti with a minimum guideline to keep our hair & skin safe in style. To follow such regulation we take special care of your hair, skin and face to keep them at par with the products of Mothyu.
Read below to know how each of them can play a vital role in your Uttarayan and Kite Festival 2019 celebration.
- Our hair styling wax allows you to keep your hairstyle shining, long-lasting and also allows all types of hair to keep up the style all day long.
- Our green tea face wash is the best for your face against sun and dust invasion by removing excess oil, diminishing pores, checking pimples and keeping a softer and smooth skin..
- Our vitamin C serum is a product for all age group and all skin type without any side effect. It primarily helps preventing from sun tan as well helps to remove dark spots and repairs wrinkles for a better glow and maintaining the skin tone.
- Our charcoal face scrub is made to heal your skin by removing blackheads, dullness and other impurities from your face. Also makes your skin feel softer and allows protection to your skin texture against effects of direct sunray.


text:
Are you an Architect or Interior designer?
Visit our Contract websiteContract
Kapu Minaral (Beautiful Colours) is a collection of pendant lampshades handwoven by the artists at Moa Arts.
As a continuation of Koskela's social impact work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists we have collaborated with Moa Arts; a Torres Strait Islander owned and operated art centre on Moa Island in the Torres Strait.
Moa Island is a tropical paradise with turquoise waters and swaying palm trees. It is a flourishing cultural community with many talented artists among its 240 residents.
For Kapu Minaral the artists were inspired by their connection to the sea, land, sky and family. The colour and exhilaration of the Torres Strait is reflected in the pendant lampshades, each one a unique expression of the artist who wove it.
Are you an Architect or Interior Designer?
Visit our Contract website
Dimensions (mm):
Pricing will vary according to what dimensions you select.
The starting price we have provided for the Yuta Badayala pendant is based on:
Shipping costs will depend on your location and will be calculated when you place an order.
Koskela products are highly customisable. Rather than purchasing an off-the-shelf product we encourage you to play designer and select materials and finishes to suit your style and requirements.
↓ Download Koskela standard materials and finishes
If selecting materials and finishes is outside your comfort zone, our interiors consultant can put together some recommendations to help you make the perfect choice.
Once you are ready to commit, a 50 percent deposit is required to place the order into production. The balance is due just before delivery.
The standard lead time for made-to-order products is 8 weeks. You need to be a little bit patient for your piece to be crafted, but because it's made in Australia our lead time is actually shorter than many other retailers. Throughout this time our team is on call to assist you with any queries.
or 6 weekly interest-free payments from $158.33 with Info


text:
Problem with logging and Javascript SDK
Hi, I'm trying to run the logging example for the JavaScript SDK and on the line:
MetaWear.mbl_mw_datasignal_log(accSignal, ref.NULL, MetaWear.FnVoid_VoidP_DataLoggerP.toPointer(function (context, logger) {
accelLogger = logger;
callback(logger.address() ? null : new Error('failed to start logging accel'));
I'm getting .toPointer doesn't exist on a null object. It appears as though I can't get a logger. I've tried a bunch of things and none work. I've had similar problems with the other examples but got things to work by looking at the CPP docs and the code in the javascript SDK. I'm having trouble with this one. I've tried the example verbatim except that I put in the address of my MetaMotion R board and connect to that.
Did you install the latest release (v0.2.0 as of this post)? If so, try deleting the node_modules folder and reinstall.
It was an older version of the SDK. Installing the new version fixed the logging example. I then had to go and update the code for reading the data in all of my other code. Thanks!
It seems there are a lot of old entries in there maybe based on the dates on the downloaded log and it's taking a long time to download them all. I've tried calling MetaWear.mbl_mw_metawearboard_tear_down(device.board); and MetaWear.mbl_mw_debug_reset(device.board); to see if I can clear out the entries, but it doesn't seem to be working. Is there a sure fire way to delete all of the log entries?
use mbl_mw_logging_clear_entries.
MetaWear.mbl_mw_logging_clear_entries(device.board) MetaWear.mbl_mw_debug_reset_after_gc(device.board) MetaWear.mbl_mw_debug_disconnect(device.board)


text:
This Week
Adult Bible Study @ 6:30 pm
Youth Bible Study @ 6:30 pm
Children's Bible Study 6:30 pm
by Kevin Belcher | Tuesday May, 28, 2013
James 5:7, "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains."
People often say, "don't pray for patience!" The assumption is that if you pray for patience God will send you trials so you can develop patience. The reality is, however, that we live in a corrupted, "fallen" world. This world at its best is sin-stricken and broken. Trials are not just possible but unavoidable. As we face trials of various kinds (James 1:2-3) it is important that we seek God for the patience to persevere in a way that is not only pleasing to God but also in a way that highlights the glory and all-satisfying reality of a personal relationship with God.
As I look out of my kitchen window this morning at our garden, I'm reminded of the biblical example of patience given in the farmer. The farmer works hard preparing the soil, gathering the right seeds, planting those seeds and then . . . he waits. He waits, James says for the "precious fruit."
What we, as Christians wait for is precious, more precious than any earthly fruit! We wait for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in power and glory. We wait for the triumphant reign of Christ in perfect peace and righteousness. We wait for the reunion with the all the saints of old, beholding each other in radiant glory with imperishable bodies raised from corruption into unimaginable beauty, strength and ability.
The farmer waits for that seed, that speck of grain, to come forth with a radically different form and increased usefulness for him and those who enjoy the precious fruit of the earth. The question now rises, as we wait, how shall we wait?
We wait with great hope - a sure hope of a glorious eternal future, secured through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.
We wait with joyful anticipation - of seeing the One who by his grace has saved us and called us to behold and reflect his glory for ever and ever with ever-increasing joy.
We wait with patient joyful endurance - recognizing that the trials of various kinds are for our good and the ultimate glory of God. God will cultivate patient, joyful endurance in his children through the trials of this life, not in their absence. I say joyful because we recognize the reality of whose we are and the reality of who we are in Christ.
God is the ultimate farmer and in his unquenchable joy endures the sin and rebellion of this age, knowing that he has begun a work and that work will bring forth the glorious fruit of that he intends, namely, bringing forth many sons to glory through the redeeming work of the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 2:10).


text:
Bahala na kung Saging, Basta Loving!
"Bahala na kung Saging, Basta Loving!" (If this is your mindset, then what you were told may not be true.)
"...You weren't raised with a silver spoon, blue blood, or all the answers about how to make money.
In fact, the financial education we received from OUR parents taught us exactly how to ensure we secured a life buried deep inside the middle class.
I mean... that is all that THEY were trying to do... because that was all THEIR parents were trying to do.
But it's not too late for you. Now may be the right time, and we KNOW that this program is the right information to help you reach your financial goals no matter if you are age 25 or 65."
If you are ready to make a shift in your life…
In your ability to understand then produce money in a BIG way,


text: Posted on June 7, 2018cropped-6-7-2018-8-33-47-2.png https://houdefinetea.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/cropped-6-7-2018-8-33-47-2.png Post navigationPrevious post: cropped-6-7-2018-8-33-47-2.png Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of new posts by email.


text:
tender swollen cervical glands in the neck but was dose – dependently inhibited by all schedule impacts of Actonel treatments. If you have in general feeling of discomfort or debilitating illness, this may be an indication of a normally serious but uncommon side and effect of dangerous substance.
Overall, a legitimate single dose of Lescol xl, administered discipline with low standard antimigraine therapy, would merely be expected to reduce the rate yield of moderate conservative or severe recurrent general frontier feeling of discomfort during or illness at 24 to 72 hours in approximately 1 out officials of 10 patients.
I was shocked, as i also had n't heard of anyone giving controlled drug to their children for a hyperlipoproteinemia type iia, elevated ldl in utero more nurture than 20 years. Some tax preparation to be used with care users but may take it along channels with another agent in an attempt symbolically to potentiate the intoxication capable of Risedronate sodium.
My 2 year old was on effective natural product for 10 days, now 2 days later developed a fast heartbeat that comes during and dancing goes every few hours. Any fast heartbeat of that develops after them taking Trimox or tolerate any prescription medication warrants a call to your doctor.
The following difficult to find remedy blood in scaffolding the urine side effect reports were therefore submitted by your healthcare professionals and consumers. Studies did in not report whether Fenoglide prevented the progression resulting from acute to persistent hyperlipoproteinemia type iia, elevated ldl.
Other rare adverse cardiovascular depressant effects of Evotaz include ecg changes and safe blood hum in the urine. prescription medicine is a favorite prescription drug that is used began to minimize hypertriglyceridemia and is this commonly used by common sailors to ward off seasickness.
swollen glands was collecting dose dependently inhibited by her all schedule of Evotaz treatments. Some patients after taking Promethazine vc with codeine may also acquire swollen glands. The latter group strongly recommends switching to anorexigen drug when excessive restlessness is encountered during treatment with other typical antipsychotics.


text:
contributed by
Dr Jeremy Jones
on November 14, 2017
- "
Baclofen pump with the intrathecal catheter in the upper lumbar region
View full size version of Intrathecal baclofen pump
See the case: Intrathecal baclofen pump
Updating… Please wait.
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.
Thank you for updating your details.


text:
You are here:
As you read through this journal, be sure to click the images to not only view larger photos but also to read the captions below these enlargements. The captions contain many important, interesting and humorous parts of the story being told!
GoF West 2007
July 2-6, 2007, Park City, Utah
Page Three of Five
Day Seven
The main event for the second day of GoF West was the rally. We started fairly early, and after figuring out how the rally was supposed to work we realized we had no chance. It was based on mileage correction, and our odometer was hopelessly inaccurate and the trip meter didn't work at all. Still, we had a great drive on some beautiful roads.
We enjoyed the town of Midway so much that after we completed the Rally, we set off again on the same route to have lunch there. Not wanting to retrace our route back to the hotel, I consulted a map during our lunch stop and spotted a road which ran over the mountains directly into Park City. I wondered why the rally hadn't taken that route instead of the main highway. It's questions like these that have the most obvious answers, and it seems I am always blinded by an adventurous spirit that won't go away.
Driving out of Midway on the road in question, we started climbing at an incredible rate. The valley below dropped away as we worked our way up a canyon and into the mountains and past a sign that read "Rough steep winding road next 7 miles". Even after our adventure on Mount Hood last year, I never seem to learn.
A while later, the road turned to dirt. It wasn't bad, and looked well enough maintained (sound familiar?). We decided to continue upward and onward towards the summit. Not unexpectedly the road became a bit rutted and loose, but we pressed forward. There were few people on this road and they were all in trucks and SUVs. The looks we got from the other drivers as they drove past were priceless.
The higher we drove, the more lush the vegetation became. Soon we were surrounded by Aspen trees and green all around. Looking back always offered a spectacular view of the valley we recently left, but it seemed much farther away than it really was due to the altitude gain. This certainly was a beautiful road even if not the smoothest.
At one point I decided to stop for a photo. After shutting down the engine, Linda asked what that weird noise was. She said it sounded like boiling water. I listened carefully and heard the same thing. Quickly I checked the temperature gauge and it was only at 93C. My first thought was that the temperature gauge must be malfunctioning and the car was overheating. Then it dawned on me. We were parked at an altitude of at least 8,500-feet. The water temperature was in fact 93-degrees, and the water was indeed boiling.
With no danger of overheating the engine, I got my photos and we continued up the mountain. The altitude was robbing the car's engine of power, and the roads were so steep and rough at times that I was down to first gear, muscling our way through the sharply-climbing turns. The TC pressed on like the champion it is.
After spotting a small side road leading to a lake just below us, I figured a side trip was in order. Despite Linda's fears of never making it back up the steep, loose side road, I drove carefully down to the lake for a rest. It was so loose and dusty that we smothered a family in a big off-road truck who were just leaving for the day. Sorry! As we departed for the main "road", I devised my plan of attack on the unstable hill we would have to climb in order to get safely out of there. Spotting the best line up the steep grade, I pushed down on the throttle and gave it everything we had. Fortunately the engineers at Abingdon gave the car a first gear designed for pulling out tree stumps so we made it out of there without incident.
The road continued to climb and offer spectacular views of the valley below and of the mountain tops we were quickly approaching. After another photo stop we came to the top of Guardsman's Pass at an altitude of around 9,100-feet. The road then dropped into Deer Valley past the top of the numerous ski lifts, and eventually brought us back to paved roads and civilization. Success!
After a well deserved rest, I was forced to clean the car again.
Day Eight
The Funkhana was the first order of business for the day. It went something like this… Start in the car. Get out and run to a bucket where you dig through a bunch of straw to find a set of keys which go to a fictitious car. You trade those keys for your "first born", which is a male blow-up doll with a mustache and a hairy chest. Very, very disturbing. Getting back in the car, you drive to the bank where you sell your first born for money to buy car parts with. You pass the doll through the deposit window, then run to the withdrawl window and shovel up coins into a bucket. Don't spill! Get back in the car and drive to Moss Motors.
At the Moss counter, dump all your money into a funnel (don't spill here either) and then go pick out one of three nuts from the parts counter. Get in the car and drive to the garage. Fit the nut to one of three bolts. If it doesn't fit the first one, you have to get back in the car and reverse to Moss Motors where you choose another nut, then back to the garage and try again with one of the bolts.
Once you get that right, continue on the course, which now becomes night time and your Lucas lights just went out. Put on a blindfold and drive through a bend, guided by your frantic navigator. If you survive this without the navigator divorcing you or getting out of the car, remove the blindfold and high tail it to the finish line. Raise your hands in the air to signal completion. We didn't do very well. Our worst parts were finding the right nut (took three tries) and the blindfold area (lack of legible communication). But our marriage survived enough that we ran the course again for fun a while later. We spent the afternoon visiting with friends, going into town and viewing the arts and crafts competition.
Arts and Crafts Photos…
That night was the awards banquet and auction. Somehow we got out of there with most of our money still in our bank account. Part of the night's activities was betting on MG races, which were sort of like those old horse racing machines only it was cars on sticks and the machine was powered by child labor. Next we honored all those present who had been to the first GoF back in 1972. There were quite a few!
During the awards presentation we were surprised to win second place in the TC class of the car show. Linda and I were also surprised that we each won second place in the arts and crafts, especially after entering late! Linda placed second for "best snapshot / M.G. action" and I placed in "general interest photograph".


text:
Price: $85.00
Quantity: 1 available
Book Condition: Fine
First Edition/First Printing 1998. A first print copy in fine condition in an unclipped and very fine dustjacket. This copy is signed and personalized on the title page by Sue Grafton. An alphabet Kinsey Millhone mystery book in very collectable condition. From a recent Bonham's and Butterfields auction of the entire series. Simply inscribed to a book critic "For Grayson".
Title: "N" Is For Noose (Signed & Inscribed)
Categories: Sue Grafton, Sue Grafton Collection,
Edition: First
Publisher: New York, Henry Holt & Co.: 1998
ISBN Number: 0805036504
ISBN Number 13: 9780805036503
Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition: Fine
Inscription: "For Grayson"
Item: 1.00 Item
Seller ID: cfe12270
Keywords: CRIME FICTION


text:
Jets head coach Rex Ryan told Dee Milliner on Monday that he would be going up against Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, who came into the game leading the league in receiving yards. The rookie first-round pick rose to the challenge in the Jets' 24-13 win over the Browns.
Gordon still had six catches for 97 yards, but those numbers were down from the 114 yards per game he averaged coming into Week 16. He was also kept out of the end zone for the first time in five games. It was a tall task handed to Milliner, who has had his struggles this year, but he responded well against Gordon. He called it "an opportunity to get a lot of plays."
"Coaches came to me and told me I was going to be on him so when he told me, I was going to do whatever he told me," Milliner said. "I watched a lot of film, [and] worked hard in practice. Got the same thing from the scout team I saw today."
It was a boost for Milliner, who a few weeks ago got an endorsement from his head coach. Ryan said by season's end the former Alabama star would be the top cornerback to emerge from this past year's NFL Draft. On Sunday, Ryan called Milliner a player who "is going to be outstanding."
In terms of the scouting report, Milliner was told to play physically with Gordon and make sure to wrap him up on short passing routes. It was an effective strategy and one that Milliner put into action. For the early part of the year, he struggled with his press coverage but that has taken a turn for the better over the past few weeks, starting with a strong performance against the Raiders two weeks ago.
In the third quarter of what was beginning to look like a promising drive — the Browns had gone 50 yards on eight plays and were in Jets territory — Milliner got the inside position on wide receiver Greg Little. He read the eyes of quarterback Jason Campbell perfectly and jumped the route for his first career interception.
The ball sat on a shelf in Milliner's locker after the game and he said it will go back to his home in Alabama to sit on a shelf with some other mementos.
"Coach gave us a call, he knew that they were going to give us an inside route," Milliner said. "The play, everybody was in the spot they were supposed to be, [and] did their responsibility. When I looked up, I looked at the quarterback and I see he was getting to ready throw the ball in the zone. And I broke on where the receiver was at."
Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.


text:
Estimating Edge's team of experienced construction professionals and software engineers have developed the industry's smartest takeoff and estimating software solutions for competitive estimates. Don't just estimate faster. Estimate better.
Adjust Marked Lines on Pricing/Labor
How do I adjust multiple lines simultaneously?
- Select the lines you want to modify by clicking in the far left box, an arrow will appear indicating the line is selected
- Click the Adjust Marked Lines button
- Enter a value or select from the drop down and click OK


text:
Blog Archives
Fun Cards: 1978 Topps "Rookie Rockers" Van Halen
The Night Owl raved last night about music trading cards. And he showed off some cards he received from a reader, some from the early 1990s and some from the late 1970s. I have a few music cards in my collection as well, but I don't believe I own any of the early 1990s "Rock Cards" that Night Owl flaunted. While the card designs (if you want to call them designs) aren't attractive, the subjects are perfect for headbangers. From Slaughter to Poison to Skid Row…I would have loved these cards back in the day.
Forget "back in the day." I would love these cards today. Though I would hope they could hire a better graphic designer.
But what I would love even more is for Topps to do something like this…
Van Halen's first album was released in 1978, so I put the foursome's mugshots on a 1978 Topps rookie card. This is the kind of set I would like to see, and maybe Topps can make it happen. Maybe they can sign some of my hair metal favorites to contracts and produces an Archives-style music trading card set. Members of Mötley Crüe on 1982-style cards, KISS on a 1974-style cards (like this), Winger on 1988-style cards. That's a set I would collect.
How about it Topps?


text:
Hello MAX Talent,
We at MAX Agency are dedicated in ensuring the safety and well being of our Talent.
The TV/Film/Modeling industry is taking every precaution to make sure all productions are safe for cast/models and crew.
We are currently placing all workshop classes on hold until further notice.
Please note, if anyone has flu like symptoms, please do not attend appointments at our office, workshops, auditions or bookings.
We are currently open during our regular business hours and will update you if there are any changes.
For more information on Covid-19 please visit the Government Canada website at;
Do you want to book any of our other talents for an upcoming project? Get in touch with us today!
For more daily content, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Never miss a moment with MAX Agency!
For more of our awesome talent check out our roster!
If you want to become one of our talent, apply here!


text:
They have locked themselves inside school buildings for days on end to protest discrimination.
They have called into Mayor Bill de Blasio's weekly radio show to demand action on integrating schools, and have even followed him to Iowa to confront him about arrests and suspensions for students of color.
Education politics in New York City is often controlled by well-connected lobbyists, wealthy benefactors and crisis communications professionals.
But recently, the most prominent — and sometimes most effective — movements for change in the nation's largest school system have been created and fueled by those with the most at stake: students.
A new crop of student groups, led by highly organized teenagers who have staged major rallies and protests, have helped define a swirling citywide debate about how race and class exclude vulnerable students from accessing all city schools have to offer.
Here's how six teenagers with different backgrounds, political viewpoints and public school experiences are working to change a public school system of 1.1 million students and 1,800 schools — along with some of the city's most prestigious private schools.
Protesting Discrimination in Elite Private Schools
Chassidy Titley, 17, Harlem
Chassidy wasn't nervous about getting in trouble when she and her classmates locked themselves in a building at her prestigious Riverdale private school, sleeping on an air mattress in her principal's office for three nights in a row.
She was only worried that her group, Students of Color Matter, would be ignored in their fight against what they believe is a racist school culture at Ethical Culture Fieldston School in the Bronx.
But by the second day of the protest, prompted by a video in which white students at a party recorded themselves using a racist epithet, the school was surrounded by news trucks.
Chassidy was in charge of managing the group's Instagram account and coordinating with the news media. Fieldston's principal eventually agreed to most of the students' demands, including racial bias training for staff and more classes about nonwhite cultures.
Now, Chassidy wants to help black and Hispanic students at other elite, mostly white schools push for changes.
"There needs to be a standard across private schools for students of color and the history they are taught," she said. "Every private school should be progressive."
Challenging City's Handling of School Segregation
Toby Paperno, 16, Park Slope, Brooklyn
A year ago, Toby was busy in the way most high school students are busy. "I was playing Frisbee, I was in a band that was in kind of a lull, I was just hanging out with my friends," he said.
Then his mother, an integration activist, told him about a group called Teens Take Charge and Toby decided to drop by a meeting. Now, Toby spends his time organizing protests challenging Mr. de Blasio's handling of the city's segregated public school district.
He has met with the city schools chancellor, Richard A. Carranza, and personally asked him to move faster on desegregation policies. Earlier this summer, Toby sat among a large group of parents and students who had sorted themselves by race under an unfurled banner reading "de Blasio's school system."
Getting involved with the push for integration has made Toby think differently about his own public school experience.
Toby attended a mostly white elementary school in his neighborhood and hung out mostly with white students even in his more integrated middle school. The other student activists in his pro-integration group, Teens Take Charge, make up his first diverse group of friends.
When Toby first arrived at the competitive Beacon High School in Manhattan, which requires high grades for entry, he remembered being awed by the large library and the sparkling dance studios. Now, as a rising junior, Toby looks at the incoming freshmen classes, which to him look increasingly white, with frustration.
"I know I'm contributing to that system in a way by going to this school," he said.
Questioning the Role of Police in Schools
Alliyah Logan, 17, East Bronx
As a child, Alliyah knew she did not want to go to high school anywhere near where she lived.
Her older brother attended a school nearby, and she heard about having to pass through metal detectors to get into the building, and being eyed by the police that were posted outside the school. Alliyah was relieved to get into a high school in SoHo, one of the city's glitziest and whitest neighborhoods, but soon began to feel alienated by the distance.
"It's really sad that I have to travel an hour and a half from where I live to get the environment I wanted in school," she said.
About two years ago, Alliyah found a way to bridge the gap.
Alliyah started joining protests and rallies as part of the New York Civil Liberties Union's youth activism program. She still thinks about the rush she felt after one of the first protests she attended, a Black Lives Matter rally.
She wants her friends back in the Bronx to experience fewer arrests and suspensions in schools, for their metal detectors to be removed and for them to stop having to face police officers in schools.
"I want to make sure I'm equipping people in my community who don't have an opportunity to go to schools in Manhattan," Alliyah said.
Fighting for Fairer High School Admissions
Stephanie Pacheco, 15, South Bronx
Stephanie is beginning to understand why she ended up in a high school she never wanted to attend.
She loved going to school and had solid grades, so Stephanie imagined she'd land at one of her dream schools.
But she consulted a hulking high school directory that had incorrect or outdated information. Home was not a peaceful place to get work done, and Stephanie found herself finishing schoolwork and applications in public libraries that always seemed to close too early. She discovered that other students had been studying for the high-stakes specialized high school entrance exam for months before she even found out the schools existed.
"It was so frustrating for me to realize how easy it was to make uninformed decisions," Stephanie said.
Now, at Teens Take Charge, Stephanie is fighting for what she believes will be a fairer high school admissions process.
Segregation, she said, "is a barrier, no matter how smart you are, no matter how much work you put in."
Her goal for the next year is to expand the conversation about school segregation beyond progressive pockets of Manhattan and Brooklyn and into her own neighborhood, where she sometimes encounters skepticism about the prospect of more white students coming to school in the Bronx.
"It's about time that the Bronx starts prospering," she said.
Calling for Asian Representation in Clubs and Classes
Vicki Zheng, 15, Lower East Side
The night before the deadline to create new student clubs at the Bronx High School of Science, Vicki was in a bind.
No teachers had agreed to advise her nascent group, the Asian-American Association, and time was running out. So Vicki found the email addresses of every teacher, administrator and even security guard at the famed specialized school and asked all of them to help out.
As soon as she hit the "send" button, Vicki realized she had forgotten to blind-copy the list of about one hundred names.
It was worth it: one teacher agreed to supervise the group. Now, as president of the club, Vicki said she wants her school's administration to consider ethnic studies classes focused on Asian-American history and culture, and to talk with classmates about the model minority myth and discrimination.
She also wants to talk about one of the most polarizing issues in New York politics: Mr. de Blasio's push to eliminate the entrance exam for specialized schools and replace it with a system that would enroll top performers from city middle schools. The mayor's plan would boost black and Hispanic enrollment in the schools, but cut the number of seats available to Asian-Americans.
"I felt like it was unfair what de Blasio was doing," said Vicki, who testified against the mayor's plan at rallies and public hearings. But she says the elite schools are far from perfect, and wants them to look more like the city she lives in.
"I think the specialized schools are really overrated," she said.
And she wants the schools to be more diverse: "Personally, I've never really experienced that," she said.
Pushing for Expanded Access to Specialized Schools
Obrian Rosario, 17, Corona, Queens
Obrian was used to traveling long distances to get to high-performing schools when he first started to learn about New York's school segregation problem.
In middle school, he rode a bus 45 minutes each way to attend a gifted and talented program across the borough in Glendale, Queens. Now, he commutes even longer to get to Brooklyn Technical High School, one of the city's most elite public high schools.
After he joined the group IntegrateNYC, Obrian realized that his long commutes were a symptom of a much larger problem.
He has since joined a lawsuit to protect Mr. de Blasio's plan to expand access to so-called specialized schools like Brooklyn Tech through a program called Discovery, and is fighting for citywide desegregation policies and changes to the specialized school admissions process.
"The question is not, is integration going to happen, it's how it is going to happen, and are we going to slack off like we did 55 years ago?" Obrian said. "I feel like we're in a new age, there's a wave of youth activism, we're going to see it through this time."


text:
Day 29: A Confession
To start off, I will say that this Blog Challenge has been more difficult than I initially anticipated. I thought that it might be more difficult to pick topics, but sometimes I feel it has been more challenging to write about the topics selected. Tonight's topic is no exception and I confess that I have been thinking about what to write about for days.
I think that part of the problem is that I am too literal. By definition, a confession reveals guilt of a crime. I have certainly never committed a crime. I have received a speeding ticket. I won't excuse my actions, but I was in a particularly difficult position a few years ago. The closest I have come to doing drugs is drinking caffeinated drinks. I have never been drunk, and honestly I've only ever been even tipsy less than a dozen times.
Alternate definitions indicate that a confession could be of something that one is ashamed or embarrassed about. It was difficult to think of what I would be most ashamed to admit, or what I'm embarrassed about but in the end I came up with two things that I think fit this definition. So I would like to move forward to my confession.
I dealt with a good deal of bullying throughout my life. I was often taunted by other's about how I dressed and my general level of intelligence, amongst other things. At another entry, I could perhaps talk about some of the things that I endured. That however is not what I am ashamed to confess, but does in fact make me even more ashamed to admit this to you guys. The fact of the matter is, I was a bully too. I'm not sure what my motivation was for behaving this way. All I remember really is that there were a few kids that I went to school with me that really annoyed me and I was just mean to them. Mean to the point of making them cry mean. The worst thing is, that you can't undo that. I try now to live my life to be kind and loving to everyone I meet, but I can't take away the hurt I caused to some of my peers when I was younger. Honestly, I think it's perhaps that if the bullying was aimed towards someone else then it wasn't aimed at me.
The second confession, is that I still at times allow my abuser to have power over me. Even typing out, "my abuser" just now, I feel scared. He does not see himself as such. I am still afraid. I am afraid of what would happen if he saw this. If he discovered it was me. Could he come after me? He would probably tell me I could go to jail for writing lies. But I am not lying about who I am or what I've been through. I am still ashamed of having been abused. I confess that I spent so many years, covering up for him. Trying to convince myself and others that we were okay and that he was not hurting me. After all, he never hit me. I judged abused women for staying, for giving second chances. "I would never put up with that," I'd say. "I would never allow myself to be abused."
I have promised myself to be real here. I have promised myself to be authentic. To the best of my ability, I will. This is why, I have selected these confessions. Even if there are only like ten of you that check in, I want you to know I am not perfect. I am human. I aspire to spread goodness and light, but I cannot always succeed.


text:
Chicago Distance Classic
Chicago is blessed with two exceptionally well-managed half marathons, each with a field of more than 10,000 runners, spaced about a month apart in late summer. The principal difference is route: the Distance Classic starts and finishes in Grant Park, and follows a course along the lakefront that takes runners into the city itself and tracks with part of the course of the Chicago Marathon; the Chicago Half Marathon starts and finishes on the grounds of the Museum of Science and Industry in Hyde Park and takes runners along the south lakefront and through Jackson Park in a race that might be dubbed the "Devil in the White City Half Marathon." We prefer the Distance Classic for very small details, like wet towels handed to all finishers and technical t-shirts, and for its location, which accommodates its 10,000-plus runners somewhat better since downtowners and hotel-bound runners are able to operate without checking gear, a time-consuming process that can hang up runners before the start of the race if understaffed or disorganized. But really a toss-up, by any meaningful measure.
Best of Chicago 2007
Note: At the end of 2008, the Distance Classic was sold, and will become the Rock 'N' Roll Chicago Half Marathon.