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Statistics SA (Stats SA) Strategic Plan and Budget 2010/11
Finance Standing Committee
12 April 2010
Chairperson: Mr T Mufamadi (ANC)
Meeting Summary
Minister Trevor Manuel, Minister in the Presidency for National Planning, welcomed and introduced the Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) team to the Committee. He commented that the work programme of Stats SA, in accordance with the Statistics Act, should be prioritised. He noted that the work programme of Stats SA was ambitious, had taken into account the ten priorities of government, and was in accordance with the Statistics Act.
The Chairperson of the Statistics Council said that the Strategic Plan paved the way for a new direction for statistical development in South Africa over the next five years, that the work programme established the foundation for the new strategy and outlined the challenges as the need to build trust in official statistics, to improve the quality official statistics, to ensure that appropriate skills were available, and to coordinate.
The Statistician General presented the Strategic Plan to the Committee. The briefing session comprised an introduction, the national effort on statistical production, strategic enablers and a conclusion. The presentation set out the statistical themes of prices, economic growth and transformation, health, education, safety and security, population dynamics and sustainable resource management, and outlined the main achievements, aims and challenges in regard to each. There was also discussion around food security, land reform and rural development as well as life circumstances, service delivery and poverty. Stats SA was currently working on the planning for census 2011. The pilot had been conduced in 2009 and the dress rehearsal would be in 2010. Challenges relating to the statistical theme revolved around the enumeration of everyone, the reduction of undercount and legislative provisions for the frequency of censuses. It was noted that Stats SA was adequately capacitated to manage Census 2011. Stats SA aimed at building trust and public confidence through integrated research and development, innovation management, integrated communication and marketing, a dwelling frame, quality management system and improved service delivery and productivity. It furthermore intended to invest in learning and growth through the creation of an enabling technology environment and the development of statistical capacity. The strategic enablers pertained to governance, statistical tools and the regulatory environment. It was stressed that the production of statistics was a national effort and that Stats SA was the lead partner in quality statistics.
Members asked about the oversight of Stats SA, questioned the estimates on the undercount, and asked about the recruitment strategy for the 2011 census. Several members expressed concern about the reliability of data across the intergovernmental spectrum and whether the challenge of people being willing to share information still persisted. Questions were asked about progress on the demarcation programme and its linkage to the 2011 census, as also the publicity for that census, and the adequacy of the budget. Members also suggested that unemployed youth be used for data form collection, and asked whether there were standard formats, whether there was a monitoring tool, and noted their concern that Department of Home Affairs should also be included in the intergovernmental efforts, because of the porous borders.
Meeting report
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA)Strategic Plan and budget 2010/11
Mr Pali Lehohla, Statistician-General (SG), Statistics South Africa presented the organisation's Strategic Plan to the Committee.
Mr Lehohla said that the strategic importance of statistics was to inform planning, for the importance of monitoring and assessment of programmes and policies and for evidence-based decision making. He emphasised that the production of statistics was a national effort.
Statistical themes pertained to prices, economic growth and transformation, health, education, safety and security, population dynamics and sustainable resource management. Other themes comprised food security, land reform and rural development as well as life circumstances, service delivery and poverty. Each of these was introduced and explained
Mr Lehohla said that the theme of economic growth and development, applied by Statistics SA (Stats SA) had derived from review methods, an improving series and the production of economic growth shared responsibility.
He tabled Stats SA's progress with regards to economic growth and transformation. There had been a large sample survey programme that had deepened the understanding of industrial segmentation. Fragmented business registration systems had previously prevented a consistent view of the economy. Mr Lehohla said that Stats SA was looking towards an integrated business system that underpinned economic profiles. Stats SA wanted survey and administrative records to complement each other so as to create a comprehensive view of the economy. Mr Lehohla added that Stats SA's objective was to try to have all economic statistics under a single statistical authority.
Challenges pertaining to economic growth and transformation related to intergovernmental collaboration with the South African Revenue Services (SARS), Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO) as well as other role players.
With regards to pricing, reference was made to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) debacle of 2003. Stats SA had introduced a new collection methodology for the CPI as well as for the Income and Expenditure (IES) survey. The way forward for Stats SA with regards to prices was to aim for a regularly updated CPI and industry-specific Producer Price Index (PPI). Challenges related to the reviewing of the PPI and the need for a rolling survey programme.
For the employment, job creation and decent work statistical theme, reference was made to the bi-annual labour force survey and the Quarterly Employment statistics survey from the formal sector. Stats SA wanted an integrated registration system that underpinned employment information. It also wanted surveys and administrative records that complemented each other so as to identify a comprehensive view of employment within the country. Challenges within the statistical theme of employment, job creation and decent work related to the synchronisation of source data and the business sampling frame.
Regarding the statistical theme of life circumstances, service delivery and poverty, Stats SA had published annual information on life circumstances and service delivery through conducting censuses and surveys. Mr Lehohla noted that the General Household Survey did not provide information at lower levels. He said the quality of administrative records at municipalities was questionable and that Stats SA had developed methodology for establishing a poverty line. It had also conducted a living conditions survey. Municipal data had also been based on irregular surveys and not administrative records. Stats SA was looking towards attaining functional administrative systems at municipal level that included a dwelling frame as well as an integrated social statistics system to inform development outcomes. Challenges pertaining to the life circumstances, service delivery and poverty statistical theme pertained to lower level estimation, capacity constraints on Stats SA and municipalities as well as fragmented sources and systems.
For the statistical theme of population dynamics and demographic profile, reference was made to the high levels of undercount, the community survey, midyear population estimates and the population censuses that had been conducted in 1996 and 2001. Mr Lehohla said that Stats SA was currently working on the planning for census 2011. The pilot had been conduced in 2009 and the "dress rehearsal" would be in 2010. Challenges relating to the statistical theme revolved around the enumeration of everyone, the reduction of undercount and legislative provisions for the frequency of censuses. He assured the Committee that Stats SA was adequately capacitated to manage Census 2011.
With regards to Stats SA's education statistical theme, education statistics had been derived by the Department of Education through annual surveys. The statistics had also been produced through the General Household Survey (GHS) and population census. Mr Lehohla said that Stats SA had established interdepartmental collaboration to improve the quality of education statistics, and that developed education standards were based on the South African Statistical Quality Assessment Framework (SASQAF). Challenges and areas of intervention with regards to the education statistical theme pertained to the functionality of the management information system and resource constraints for Stats SA and the Department of Basic Education.
Health statistics had been produced by the Department of Health via administrative records, demographic surveys and health surveys. Health statistics had also been produced by Stats SA via the processing of birth and death notifications. Stats SA was experiencing fragmented and irregular publication of health statistics. In this area too, it had established an interdepartmental collaboration for the improvement of heath care statistics quality. Challenges revolved around statistical standards for health statistics, fragmented health information subsystems and resource constraints for Stats SA and the Department of Health.
Mr Lehohla reported that crime statistics had been derived from the Departments of Police, Justice and Constitutional Development, and the National Prosecuting (NPA) administrative records. Stats SA had also produced crime statistics via the Victims of Crime Survey in 1998. However, there was a general lack of trust regarding the accuracy of crime statistics and that an interdepartmental collaboration had commenced. Challenges pertaining to the safety and security statistical theme revolved around resource constraints, statistical standards and accountability reporting at police stations.
Stats SA's objective for the sustainable resource management statistical theme was that water, minerals and energy statistics be published according to economic environmental accounts. Challenges experienced with the sustainable resource management statistical theme related to the implementation of international standards for South African economic environmental accounts.
With regard to food security, land reform and rural development, Mr Lehohla said that there had been a lack of appropriate data to inform policy programmes. Stats SA was aiming for integrated products, and official statistics for the food security, land reform and rural development statistical theme. Challenges for this theme revolved around the integration of systems and sources and the development of tools to achieve collaborative measurements with key role players.
Stats SA aimed at building trust and public confidence through integrative research and development, innovation management, integrated communication and marketing, a dwelling frame, quality management system and improved service delivery and productivity. Stats SA intended to invest in learning and growth through the creation of an enabling technology environment and the development of statistical capacity.
Mr Lehohla tabled Stats SA's strategic enablers to the Committee. The enablers pertained to governance, statistical tools and the regulatory environment.
Mr Lehohla noted that the production of statistics was a national effort and that Stats SA was the lead partner in quality statistics. He tabled Stats SA's future plans to the Committee.
Comment by Minister in the Presidency for National Planning, and Chairperson of Statistics Council
Minister Trevor Manuel, Minister in the Presidency for National Planning welcomed the Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) team to the Committee. In his foreword pertaining to Stats SA's work programme for 2010/11, he had referred to Section 5 (1)(a) of the Statistics Act No. 6 of 1999. He noted that this section read that on the recommendation of the Statistician-General (SG) and on the advice of the Statistics Council, the work programme of Stats SA should be prioritised.
Minister Manuel found the work programme of Stats SA to be 'ambitious' and noted that it had 'accordingly taken into account the ten priorities of government'. He said that the work programme had met the statutory obligations as contemplated in section 3 of the Statistics Act.
Mr Howard Gabriels, Chairperson of the Statistics Council, said that the Strategic Plan paved the way for a new direction for statistical development in South Africa over the next five years. He added that the work programme for 2010/11 was one of the first steps to establish the foundation on the new strategy. He said that the four challenges that needed to be faced were the building of trust in official statistics, the improvement of quality official statistics, intervention to ensure that appropriate skills are available and coordination.
Ms A Dreyer (DA) said that she was standing in for her caucus colleagues. She displayed concern with regards to the oversight of Stats SA and wanted to know what had happened to the oversight of the entity. She added that she did not recall Stats SA ever coming to the Committee before and wanted to know they were doing so only now.
Minister Manuel noted that in fact there had never been a break with regard to oversight responsibility in this Committee.
Ms Dreyer asked Mr Lehohla what the estimate of what South Africa's undercount was.
Ms N Sibhidla (ANC) made reference to Stats SA's recruitment strategy for the 2011 census. She noted that Stats SA had said that it was going to utilise the services of teachers as supervisors.
Mr Lehohla noted that South Africa's undercount was extremely high. A part of the strategy to combat this was the deployment of teachers in a supervisory capacity. Teachers would also encourage people to participate within the mop up process, which was an integral part of the census.
Stats SA was not only looking at the strategy of deploying teachers to deal with the undercount issue. It was also looking at a recruitment drive which would commence with the new financial year and was recruiting at local level within communities.
Ms Dreyer was concerned about the reliability of data across the intergovernmental spectrum. She wanted to know what was been done to ensure better quality of data coming from the government departments. She was also concerned about the poor quality of data across the civil service.
Dr Jaire Arrow, Deputy-Director General: Methodology and Standards, Stats SA, drew analogies with CIPRO and the South African Revenue Services (SARS). He said that Close Corporations and Companies should register their businesses with CIPRO, but that some did not register due to the tax liabilities. Employers also did not register their employees at the Department of Labour. Much depended on the goodwill of those business people and there was no requirement in legislation that said that currently, a person must be registered as a taxpayer, to operate in the South African economy.
Dr Rashad Cassim, Deputy-Director General: Economics Statistics, Stats SA, said that it was imperative for the private sector to play its part. He added that it was a great challenge to get firms to fill out forms.
The Chairperson noted that there had been an attempt at an intergovernmental coordinating committee, regarding the issue of the porous borders. However, without a proper identification of who did what within the coordinating committee, the matter would be under perpetual consideration.
Ms Sibhidla said that the challenge of people being willing to share information still persisted. She wanted to know if Stats SA had a plan in place for that specific challenge.
With regards to the demarcation programme, Ms Sibhidla wanted to know how Stats SA was progressing and also how Stats SA was linking the programme to the 2011 census.
Mr Ashwell Jenneker, Deputy-Director General: Statistical Support and Informatics, Stats SA, explained that the end result resulted in actual demarcation and that it was a process that comprised dwelling frames, Enumerator Areas (EAs) and enumerators. With regards to the dwelling frame, Stats SA currently had 9, 4 million points and it was an ongoing process. 54% of the demarcation had already been done. The target was to reach 80% by September and 100% by December.
Ms Sibhidla noted that October 2011 was very close and was concerned about the lack of publicity around the 2011 census. She wanted to know what Stats SA's agenda was with regards to the mobilisation of communities.
Mr Lehohla reported that he was currently writing a regular column, which was intended to increase publicity. Stats SA had been publishing a quarterly newspaper called 'The Fieldworker' and it would be soon published on a monthly basis. This newspaper was distributed to households. In addition, in the aftermath of the 2010 World Cup, Stats SA would be launching a campaign aiming to allay people's fears about giving out personal information and emphasizing confidentiality.
The publicity campaign would be an integrated campaign aimed at building relationships between Stats SA and the communities. The issue of the production of statistics was a national effort and that Committee members should also take it upon themselves and advocate with that regard in their relevant constituencies.
Mr N Koornhof (COPE) said that Mr Daniels had noted that Stats SA was at the point of departure for the gathering of statistical information. He was concerned about the problems that could arise from intergovernmental and municipality data gathering procedures. The gathering of accurate data was vital and that there was no room for any mistakes as it would take years to rectify. He expressed his concern whether there were enough skilled professionals to deal with the data gathering issues in Stats SA. He was concerned about the food security statistical theme that been tabled by the SG.
Ms Z Dlamini-Dubazana (ANC) thanked Stats SA for its hard work and effort. She was, however, concerned about the timeframes regarding the presentation. She referred to the budget analysis for 2011 and the economic statistics and was concerned about the decrease.
Mr Lehohla said that the budget would suffice for the census.
Dr Cassim added that it must be borne in mind that Stats SA was operating within a financially constrained environment. He said that South Africa was very privileged to have access to the Value Added Tax (VAT) frame, which was a critical dynamic source to measure change in the economy.
Ms Dlamini- Dubazana asked when the formats for data collection would be available. She added that the formats needed to be user- friendly and suggested that Stats SA hire and train unemployed youth for data form collection.
Dr Cassim said that in order to get a good measure of total employment within the economy at both formal and informal sector levels, the authoritative source of information would be the labour force survey. It would assist to give an indication of the unemployment rate in SA. He also made reference to the quarterly employment survey.
Ms Dlamini-Dubazana referred to Programme 3 of the presentation and asked for a diversification regarding corporate relations. She said that money had been allocated for corporate relations and wanted to know if Stats SA had a standardised format for all nine provinces.
Mr Lehohla reported that Stats SA, as prescribed in the Statistics Act, was mandated to have its own provincial offices. The issue of the increasing of budgets within the provinces was because Stats SA was implementing the integrated field work strategy in such a way that the sequence of the field work programme was to minimise duplication. He noted that Stats SA had ensured that every province had been covered, based on a sample by a particular survey. Stats SA looked at issues like distances that needed to be covered. In addition, each province would have its requisite budget to fulfill its responsibilities in the fieldwork operations.
Ms Dlamini- Dubazana wanted to know if there had been a monitoring tool.
Mr Risenga Maluleke, Deputy Director-General: Corporate Relations, Stats SA, replied that there had been.
The Chairperson noted that Committee members had picked up that education, health, safety and security were important issues and commended Stats SA for including it. However, he wanted to know why the Department of Home Affairs had not been included. The fact that South African borders were very porous, thus allowing illegal entry into the country, was of concern, and the Committee would like to hear how those uncontrolled illegal immigrant statistics were going to be handled.
The meeting was adjourned.
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The Theatre Department will offer dance classes open to adults beginning Monday, Jan. 28. Four different classes will be offered, each for 10 weeks, ending the week of Monday, April 8. There are no classes Monday, March 18 or Wednesday, March 20 due to spring break.
The program fee is $100 for 10 weeks of each class you enroll in. Classes are in the Fine Arts Building on the Binghamton University campus. Class participants without a campus parking permit are encouraged to park in the parking ramp just outside Fine Arts for $1/hour.
All participants above the age of 18 are welcome to join. Prior experience is not required. All that matters is that you want to move!
Choose from the following classes; register for one, two or all three styles:
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Ballet technique involves and challenges the entire body. Its intricacies and harmonies stimulate the mind as well as the body.
Jazz from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays with David Wynen
Jazz class will include a warm up based on the work of Luigi and classic Broadway jazz. Enjoy a rewarding workout and classic jazz moves.
Tap I from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays with David Wynen
Tap class will include rhythmic steps and dancing. Dance styles will include rhythm tap and classic Hollywood styles.
Tap II from 6:45-7:45 p.m. Mondays with David Wynen
This class is perfect for those who took tap last semester or who have taken classes recently, would like to learn more choreography and are ready for the next level of tap dancing.
Online Registration Form
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Limelight By Alcone Makeup Review + Swatch
HAAAAPPY #BEAUTYMONDAY! I hope your weekend was as fantastic as mine was. I got to spend time with my best friend in the whole world and I am wishing we lived 5 minutes away from each other like we did in high school! Anyways, I tried a whole bunch of new makeup and skin care out for you this past week so I could give you a FULL review + swatches. The brand was Limelight by Alcone — one I had never even heard of before. Let's jump into it!
Limelight By Alcone Makeup Review + Swatch
This post is sponsored by Limelight By Alone. All opinions are mine and mine alone.
Skin Care Line:
Quench Cleanse — This was advertised as a moisturizing cleanser. $26.00
I felt like this was a good cleanser but not necessarily any better than any other moisturizing cleanser I have used in the past. It did its job well, so no complaints! But I wouldn't go out of my way to buy the full size bottle!
Skin Polish — This is a hydrating and exfoliating skin mask. You leave it on for 10-15 minutes after using the quench cleanse. $38.00
I actually loved this! I really need to exfoliate every other day to get rid of the dead skin and clear out my pores because I have oily skin. It made my skin baby soft and I wish I had more of it on hand.
Skin Therapist — Moisturizing face lotion. $26.00
Much like the quench cleanse, this did it's job well but didn't necessarily stand out from the crowd!! It definitely made my skin feel fresh and moisturized, but so does the one I already have on hand.
Foundation + Lipstick
Botanical Foundation — Wax-based + 50% pigmented $36.00
I am told that the majority of foundations are 18-23% pigmented — and this one is 50% pigmented. One quarter turn in my beauty blender truly was enough to cover most of my face. It was in pan form, and I almost exclusively use liquid foundation. It took a little getting used to because it was a bit harder to spread out over my skin than liquid. Once it was spread, though, the coverage was kind of amazing. I hardly used any concealer to cover the MILLIONS OF ZITS that are covering my face (it's that time of the month) so that in itself was a miracle.
ANYWAYS — this foundation truly was awesome. Because you barely have to use any to cover your face WELL, you definitely wouldn't need to buy foundation nearly as much. HOLLA. Make those dolla dolla bills stretch to all they're worth!
Enduring Lip Colors — Slightly matte lip color designed to stay all day $20.00
I received two lip colors for this review in these little bottles.
Lip Color #1: Creme Brûlée
The Creme Brûlée didn't have QUITE enough lip color in the bottle to cover my whole lips so it came out a little splotchy. It was pretty, a warm pink that would flatter a lot of people. The consistency was good and the staying power was great. It didn't leave my lips dry, which was a plus.
Lip Color #2: Mia
This had plenty of color to put on my lips! I wanted it to be a lot MORE PINK than it actually was. It was pretty much the exact same color as creme brûlée. Honestly, I couldn't actually tell the difference between the two. It felt a little bit creamier than the other color, but that may have been because there was just simply more product in the sample tube.
SOOOO…what is my overall opinion?
This line is new and effective! Alcone did a fabulous job with this foundation, especially. There are ton of ingredients in each of these products that have been proven to reduce redness, smooth skin and overall enhance the actual quality of your skin (things like sunflower oil, pomegranate and jojoba beads).
The price is a little steep — but because it lasts so long, if you broke it down by price per wear, it actually comes out a little less than other brands. It would be worth it to me!
[ctt template="2″ link="0tb_e" via="yes" nofollow="yes"]Limelight by Alcone has a ton of ingredients in each of their products that have been proven to reduce redness, smooth skin and overall enhance the actual quality of your skin.[/ctt]
Let me know what you thought of these products — and if YOU have ever tried this brand before!


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Unsane at Boston Music RoomSupport: Wren| USA Nails
October 16, 2017 at Boston Music Room
Promoter: Anaconda Media
A red sky at night, so the saying goes, means pleasant, temperate weather the following day. So, what happens when the day is red, the sun transformed into a blood orange in the sky? London feels different today. As sand from the Sahara has been blown inextricably high in the atmosphere, it has come to colour this day in the UK capital. It seems oddly apt that this day precedes Unsane's return to London. The new album, Sterilize – their eighth, and first in five years – is adorned with their signature stark imagery: an ill-defined claw slash with blood splattered around. With the day subdued by the odd phantom light, and a star beating down that bares the same hue as that which keeps us all alive and conscious, it feels the evening is indeed here to sterilize the hours before and to double down on the disquiet felt by all.
Boston Music Rooms continue to host quality nights of heavy music and it (and sister venue The Dome) really are coming into their own in terms of attracting bigger acts away from the crowded and increasingly neutral streets of Camden. A final push, a final – no, not revolution – but, transition is close at hand. The venue can at times feel a little too "straight-forward" in terms of shape, and lacks the intimacy of some of the capital's other destinations. It makes up for this with exactly the attribute previously criticised – there are no odd quirks that stop anyone from finding a space to enjoy the gig, and it lends itself to a surprising easy knack for finding space to view the stage quite unencumbered.
The venue has a fair amount of people in when Wren take to the stage, but I'm quite surprised that there isn't a larger crowd already. This is my first time seeing the band, but I've heard a large amount of buzz around them, having been picked up by Holy Roar and managed to be on tour with and seemingly friends with a large amount of the "big hitting" underground UK acts around today, certainly when it comes to London. They are a band, from what I've been told, that I should easily like. It is with some trepidation therefore, that I have to admit to not particularly understanding quite what the fuss has been about. From the very first bars the band seem disjointed. There's something interesting going on here, but until they figure it out, it's not much of an interest to me, and seemingly to the other audience members standing close by. An established band by this point, it's somewhat of a disappointment to find the end product so muted.
I feel I have to note that the bands aren't sharing all their gear, as the drum set Unsane will eventually use sits in the "traditional" space, whereas both Wren and USA Nails share a kit that is placed in front. This immediately limited Wren's scope in terms of commanding the stage. They don't look convincingly comfortable. The sound throughout their set remains murky and it seems that this is predominantly coming from the band, rather than any fault to be levelled at the sound engineer. It begs the question – why? Thick distortion, reverb and so on are all central tenants of this post-whatever fair, but instead of producing a sound that dominates the room, Wren's set up washes out the angst and tension they attempt to create time and time again. The veil of noise and poor distinction lends their set a tiresome air, rather than hypnotic vibe. Instead of inspiring rapt attention and engendering that much sought after "closed eyes" moment, Wren simply make me frustrated. Moments that do build and capture creative minds are either over far too soon, or repeated ad nauseam, undercutting that initial rapture.
Rather than go on, I chalk the night simply not belonging to them; their riffs and entire set melting into the forgotten seas and cannon of post-metal something-or-others… Wren's inclusion also sparks the old debate of "respected bands doing well and being local" being put on the bills of too many gigs, especially those that don't suit their style. Yes, Wren create loud, complex, heavy music, that – on a better night – may be noisy decisive and intimidating. But, even then, they don't meld well with USA Nails and tonight's headliners, and upon reflection they were increasingly an odd choice to my mind.
An attribute to Wren's set that also seemed "off" was the lighting. About five minutes before USA Nails take to the stage, this lighting changes to a mellow, dappled, multicolour background. Whereas Wren was drenched in harsh, clear light, glaring into the audience as well, the remaining bands enjoy a more familiar set up. One wonders whether this was a mistake or a request from the opening act. Surely not? Either way, the gig immediately becomes more intimate and it didn't feel at all disconnected that the majority of the audience took at least two steps forward when the second band takes to the stage to do some last-minute tuning. Despite still using the drum kit that is centre stage, the three other members of USA Nails seem to have less pedals and so on than the three non-drummers of Wren, which lets those members of the second act move around the stage far more freely.
The band looks and sounds like they are more at home on the Boston Music Room's stage, and employ that room far more effectively, thus engaging with the audience far better. There's no mistake that the venue has filled up, the audience number bloomed, and that USA Nails are a big attraction for many tonight, lending them an upper-hand I had imagined Wren would also have. The rhythm section and lead guitarist are endlessly inventive throughout their set, and are mesmerising to watch and listen to. The vocalist and other guitarist seems to be the "ring leader" of the band so-to-speak, but never seems to be as in tune with and cohesive as the other members are with one another. His vocals are either swallowed by their frantic sound, or float on top, slightly gratingly. The subject matter of their lyrics – from what can be discerned – is a little by the numbers when it comes to "grown-up", adult angst. I don't mind telling you, dear reader, that I bit my lip once or twice.
However, the band play a memorable set, and many scuttle off to their merch stall – some clearly newly initiated into the USA Nails sound, and big fans hunting down the band's last copies of a recent new split 7". Their set is a mixed bag: some songs fly by and sound fairly unremarkable to my ear, yet others fizzed with creativity and a remarkable energy, and with a knack for numerous heavy, atypical earworm riffs. A band to revisit both live and on record very soon.
Unsane saunter out on stage to rapturous applause; the noise-rock pioneers revelling in the appreciation of a hungry London crowd. The venue by this point is fit to bursting and this sudden increase towards capacity suddenly imbues the evening with a heat and urgency it has so far lacked, despite two weighty support acts. Despite having one less member than the aforementioned bands, Unsane manage to usher a density of sound out of their equipment and the back line that is surprising to all at the venue. Their opening salvo of tracks feels like a powerful wave cresting and breaking on an unsuspecting shore.
Those familiar with the band's sound but having not experienced them live before will find it hard to picture, but there is a breath-taking effortlessness to the trio of Chris, Dave and Vincent's musicianship. They stare at each other intensely during classic cuts, but often look like their goofing about – trying to make the others laugh and mess up – or, at other times, look almost completely uninterested, typically at the most technical parts of a song. Seeing a band live that are due to celebrate their thirtieth anniversary next year (2018) is a very different prospect to seeing a band in their first few. There's an implicit respect, understanding and intuition between the members that only comes with time. There's also a special type of reaction from a crowd when there's such a rich catalogue to play from that again, can only come from time, ceaseless touring and an artist's touch to each recorded output. The band deliver stomping tracks and irresistible shout/scream-alongs from their history.
Sterilize was, of course, well represented, as was Visqueen, and it is to their credit that the audience knew these tracks as well as any other. So often in a long career, the response to newer material becomes oddly muted, and the crowd only comes alive again when a riff from some raging snippet of a career-defining album ushers out of the amps' speakers. Of course, these ruthless anthems are plastered throughout the nearly twenty song set, with a quarter of the tracks being cut from the bludgeoning 1995 album Scattered, Smothered & Covered. Unsane, like truly seasoned performers, artists and "entertainers", put together an evening to please all – and cover the entirety of their fan base, old and new. This is an art unto itself, and Unsane, like everything else this night, do it with ease and aplomb.


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The Shining Wizards - Episode 329 - Lucky Pierre
Tony, Kevin, and Matt are back together in Studio A! Matt and Kevin tell tales of creepers and replica belts on their trip to SmackDown Live in Brooklyn. They also cover the Global Force gauntlet match for the Global Championship, the John Cena/Roman Reigns promo, Enzo getting no Amore, SummerSlam 1992, Shawn Michaels being a piece of shit, and more. Plus, meet the newest character of the show!
Be sure to check us out on http://www.RantEMRadio.com
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A. O. Smith Electric Tankless water heaters are compact, easy to install and offer continuous hot water when sized appropriately.
A. O. Smith water heaters are available through your local plumbing professional. Find one near you.
©2018, A. O. Smith. All Rights Reserved. 1-877-552-0010A. O. Smith reserves the right to make product changes or improvements at any time without notice.


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|So I wanted to talk about how I focus on ME TIME which consists of doing things that bring me to a good state of mind. For example exercise is my ME TIME of choice. As hard as it may be at times to even go to the gym on a regular I actually have incorporated things to do during the week to keep my body active for my ME TIME.
Instead of taking an hour break Monday to Friday – while at work – to go and run errands or shop (don't get me wrong there are days I need to do that) I take a 30-40 minute walk around the area. I will either go with a colleague or on my own. When on my own I will take 4-8 mins of a break to practice meditation. I also have made a habit for when I get home to take the stairs instead of the elevator. On the weekends I focus to have my Saturday's as an aerobic plus yoga (I am a yoga beginner; learning it on my own) exercise routine for a total of 20-30 minutes while Sundays I will go to the gym and use either the treadmill or elliptical or bike and add in some weight training for a total of 40 minutes.
In the end I have proven there is time. We all have time and we just have to make it possible and know what will make Y O U feel at your best!!!!
↓ My Saturday morning routine @ HOME ↓
#1 →Music of choice – well I'm a huge fan of oldie rock and alternative music so I always play Spotify on shuffle mostly choosing 90'S ROCK, as this music brings more energy to my routine! Though do remember its what suits your interest the most to know what will motivate YOU!¡
#2 →Aerobic Exercise – this consists of doing squats, lunges, abs etc. for 10-20 minutes. I call it aerobic only because I am not using weights and going at a pace to my music of choice. I created a calendar as you see in this picture→(if on your phone its↑) that shows what I made as a goal for a monthly basis. You will also see a quote that is there for motivation!
#3 →Yoga – I found a little pocket book that I can take with me during the week if needed but it's great and I mean GREAT as it gives tips on breathing techniques and how long to hold a pose etc. I will do some poses for 10-20 minutes.
#4 →Fitbit App – yup I have a Fitbit and I absolutely love it. I always make sure to place in my routine in the app, as it basically only tracks walking movement. I place a goal for the week always changing it from 4 days of workout to 6 days. Sometimes I reach the goal and sometimes I am a day short which is fine by me. Today for my Saturday work out I did 20 minutes and I feel that's enough as I know that's all I needed and also I'm hungry….lol!!
****As stated above there is always time, YOU just have to find a way, so your excuses will dissolve. Your body and soul will be at better peace everyday. You can trust me on that 👌✌**** ↓This adorable fluff ball is my cuddle time reward!! 💙


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Gervais Family Farm
Gervais Family Farm was started by the current owners' (two brothers) father in 1960 with 50 cows. There are currently two operations under the same ownership, with a total of 1000 cows. Farm 1 is the farm concerned with here, as it has an Anaerobic Digester onsite.
950 cows feed Farm 1's mixed plug flow digester, which the brothers initially installed in hopes of reducing farm odors. Unfortunately they came to find that the resultin digestate was not indeed completely odorless, but that it still had a strong smell to it. Nevertheless, the bedding they've been able to produce has been a great asset to the farm, saving them lots of money on sawdust that they would otherwise have to purchase. They are also able to heat every building onsite, in addition to 50% of their hot water, and running and heating the milk house. Overall, they have enhanced their farm revenue, largely thanks to the SPEED Program, which pays more per kWh of electricity than they could have imagined.
IFES Number: 74
City: Bakersfield
State: VT
Country: USA
Type of Firm: Farm
Main Products: Dairy
Size of Firm: 1000 milking cows; 1,515 total acres
Ownership Type: Private
Technology: Biogas
Year Installed: 2008
Energy Feedstock: 1150-1200 mature cows; 100% of barn effluent; 100% of wastewater; 2-3 loads/wk (@3000 gallons/load) of B&J's waste; 3-4000 gallons every-other day of Franklin Foods DAF materials
Energy Produced: Engine 1: 989,978 kWh/yr (net output to grid); Engine 2: 1,337,652 kWh/yr ("gross output")
Energy Uses: Electricity; co-digestion
Fossil Energy Inputs Replaced: They save at least 1 barrel (200-300 gallons) of oil/month
New co-products: Bedding
TCO2 Eq Avoided: 1,911 CO2E/yr
Website: http://www.vtenergyatlas-info.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Gervais-final-rpt.pdf


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In Stock
Southampton Port car parking from Cruise Parking is easy to book and reliable. We will be guaranteeing you a parking space that is located near the docks, so that you save time on transfers to your cruise terminal. The staff are on hand to help with your luggage.
£ 8.03


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Wilma Duncan-Cook, 81
Funeral services for Wilma Duncan-Cook, 81, of Portage, Indiana, were held Aug. 19, 2019, at Rees Funeral Home in Portage, Indiana, with Pastor Phil Willingham officiating. Mrs. Duncan-Cook died Aug. 14 in Portage.
She was born March 6, 1938, near Dora, the daughter of Dewey and Myrtle Smith. She went to beauty school and was a homemaker and a beautician. She was a member of the Heartland Christian Center of Valparaiso, Indiana. She taught Sunday school at several churches in the area. She also loved crafting and flowers.
She is survived by one daughter, Anita Mayfield and husband Dewey of Valparaiso; two step-sons, Jackie Cook and wife Kim, and Barry Cook, all of Portage; three brothers, Claudie Smith and wife Alene of Lockwood, Dewey Smith and wife Doris of Bolivar, and Huey Smith and wife Arlene of Thornfield; eight grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Earl Duncan, formerly of Caulfield, and Maylon "Jack" Cook; three sisters, Edith, Sylvia Rhodes, Pauline Noble; four brothers, Everett Smith, Arless Smith, Prentice Smith and Sampson Smith.
Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Portage.
Rees Funeral Home, Portage, directors.


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Interested in co-working spaces, but not keen on large cooperate spaces? Why not look into the option of a local co-working space, like Squirhill in Warwickshire for example?
Features / Accessories
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EcoLine Markers, Refill Ink and Replacement Nibs - the green solution marker for glass wipe boards.
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Weight Loss
With This Mixture You Will Lose 1 cm In The Waist Area Per Day
This mixture is made from horseradish, honey and lemon and is perfect for losing excess pounds and fat deposits on the stomach.
If you have problems with fat deposits in the stomach area, then the solution of the Russian physiotherapist, Irina Stefanovska is perfect for you. She recently shared a recipe for a mixture of horses, which you can lose a day to a centimeter in the waist circumference.
"Thanks to this recipe, according to my data, some women reduced one centimeter per day to the volume of the waist. This balm eliminates excess fat in the body, improves the functioning of the brain, memory, but also hearing and sight, "said Russian physiotherapist dr. Stefanovska.
The main ingredients in this mixture are horseradish, honey and lemon.
Rhane cleanses the body, improves metabolism, reduces fatigue, stimulates the creation and development of good bacteria in the gut, and destroys the bacteria that cause tuberculosis and salmonella.
To make this mixture you need 125 grams of fresh horseradish, 3 unspecified lemons and 3 teaspoons of honey (and honey and lemon are great foods and are particularly useful in the flu season and colds).
Bring the rhubarb with a blender, and then remove the seeds from the lemon and mix it back with the crust in the blender. Then add three teaspoons of honey and mix everything well with the blender. Keep this mixture in a closed container in a refrigerator.
Take one teaspoon of this mixture twice a day before meals. Use it for three weeks and you will see that your results are guaranteed.


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Bulk SMS Service Provider In Sonipat, Haryana
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A man stopped at one of those roadside "scenic marker" places to have lunch and take some time to take in the natural beauty. But when he returned to his car, his battery was dead. With no cell phone service way out there, or any other alternative, he decided to try and flag down a passing car. Finally, a someone stopped but they didn't have jumper cables.
The man convinced the driver who stopped to give him a little push to get him started.
"Just come up behind my car and push it and I'll pop the clutch"
"How fast will I need to go?" "Oh, 20 to 25 miles an hour should be fine"
They agreed, but after a few moments, he didn't see their car anymore.
He looked in his rear view mirror to see what was taking so long.
When he looked he saw to his horror that they had backed way up and they were coming right at his car at 25 miles an hour.
It dawned on him, at that very moment, he had not been adequately clear with his instructions.
That was not the case with Jonah. God had been very, very clear. Go to Ninivah.
But in a surprise move, we instead find him running in the wrong direction. We find him going the opposite way that God instructed.
I guess I didn't get your attention, Jonah.
Then we find him sleeping in the bottom of the ship during a terrible storm while even the pagan sailors were praying to their gods.
Am I not getting your attention, Jonah?
He wakes up when the captain of the ship challenges him. They all know that the storm had been brought upon them by God because of Jonah's disobedience.
You know, I've gotten the pagans attention, Jonah? What about you?
Then, finally starting to grasp the reality of the situation, he volunteers to be thrown over board to save the others.
Oh, so you do fear me Jonah, I was wondering about that.
The crew gives him the heave-ho. The storm stops. God most certainly has the crews attention.
But what about Jonah? Has God really gotten his attention yet?
It's taken a lot, but I think the gravity of the situation is finally starting to, most appropriately, sink in as he goes into the sea to his certain death.
But, amazingly, Jonah doesn't die, because, as it says the LORD provided a great fish to swallow him, and that's where we find him now: inside the fish, at last praying to God.
Jonah Chapter 2 [From the NLT – New Living Translation]
1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish.
2 He said, "I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me.
I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!
3 You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea.
The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.
4 Then I said, 'O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.'
5 "I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.
6 I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth,
whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!
7 As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.
8 Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God's mercies.
9 But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows.
For my salvation comes from the Lord alone."
10 Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.
So for the first nine verses of this short chapter, we find Jonah inside the fish, praying. The book doesn't tell us anything else about what he does in there for those three days.
J. Vernon McGee, whom I respect and usually agree with, proposed in his sermon series on Jonah, that although we've always assumed that Jonah was alive in the fish for three days, maybe he wasn't. Maybe he was dead. And in a parallel to Jesus, this was also a resurrection. He speculates that maybe when he was spit out by the fish, he came back to life.
Jesus does mention Jonah by name, and there are a lot of interesting little similarities. Jesus even compares his three days to Jonah's three days specifically.
But I'm not convinced.
McGee says the Bible doesn't say Jonah was alive. And in the King James, and other translations he's right. It doesn't say it outright. Instead it says he was in the belly of the fish, but not specifically alive. And when he prays, as in verse one, it says he was in the fish but again it doesn't say specifically alive.
And, of course, it is a plausible, possible explanation because God has brought the dead back to life.
But each time God has done so the Bible says plainly that a person was first dead and then alive again. In no place here, does the bible even hint that Jonah died and came back.
And I, for one, although it's interesting from time to time to wonder about things left out of the bible, am not comfortable adding just adding these details to the Bible that God himself did not give us or changing the facts as they are presented.
So in this case, I think Dr. McGee is taking a big leap, and one not permitted by a literal reading of they scripture. They are interesting lectures, and worth a listen, as he has a lot of insights, but I feel the text is plain.
God has finally gotten Jonah's full attention. He's alive inside a big fish, and praying. There's no need to change that fact, or explain it away. God can do anything. He has done, quite literally everything, and Jonah now finds himself in a very sticky situation.
And to be inside a big fish for three days and alive, no less, sounds like a nightmare to me.
But some circumstances that we think are our worst nightmare may be exactly what we need.
But lets first stop and think – what would being in a big fish, alive, be like?
Has anyone seen the animated Disney movie Pinocchio? Where Pinocchio is in whale and he has this little campfire in there, plenty of space to move around and figure out what to do next.
It wouldn't have been like that.
Again, I'm not going to add details, because we really don't know how God sustained Jonah inside the fish. But if Jonah was inside any sort of fish that we might recognize today, and there are such creatures today that could easily swallow an man if not several men at once whole, but the three day ride would be nothing but unpleasant.
First, it's pitch black with stomach acid and dead sea life and plants decomposing all around you. The little oxygen that is there is saturated with salt water. There's a rancid smell. Everything you touch has the slimy feel of a mucous membrane. You'd likely feel claustrophobic. Every turn and dive of the great fish would throw you around. You slip and slide in the huge cesspool of fluid. There's nothing to grab on to stabilize you and keep you from being bounced around. And finally, you'd have no idea if or when it would ever end , and no way to get out.
So what do you think? Does this sound like fun?
Scientists tell us that normally, being in the belly of a great fish would be a deadly circumstance, but in this situation it was exactly what Jonah needed for God to get his attention.
Without God intervention, He simply wouldn't have survived long. It would be kind of like being stuck in washing machine at a laundromat. Yes, you'd tumble around in there for a while, alive, trying to get your bearing, and catch your breath, but not for three days. To stay alive in a situation like that, God would have to take hold of you and save you.
But frankly, sometimes God has to take some rather drastic measures to get our attention when we have wandered from Him.
But I'm sure that none of us here can relate to that, right?
In the bigger picture, the over-arcing theme of the book of Jonah is salvation: salvation for Jonah, and salvation for the people of Ninevah, and salvation in general.
And in verse nine, Jonah finally admits this. " my salvation comes from the Lord alone"
It takes some mighty hard work sometimes to get our attention, but he offers to salvation to all who head His call.
You see, Jonah might have given up on God, but God had not given up on Jonah. Jonah had started his troubles, but God finished them. God had pursued Jonah. God did not give up on him.
How would we respond if we were in a similar situation? One response is often to be like those who, as Jonah puts it in verse 8, "cling to worthless idols." We trust in our money, our intellect, our families, our own hard work, but in the end these things are worthless idols. They won't save us.
That's common today. The idea that we can save ourselves. Jonah could have tried to save himself. Maybe he could have tried to swim for it, trusting in his own strength. But almost certainly he would have drowned in the storm. So, instead he HAD to trust in God, and God in his grace provided a rescue for Jonah. Because Jonah could not save himself; only God could save him.
To be saved you have to give up your dependence on idols and yourself, and accept the salvation that God offers.
God's salvation demands a response. Jonah turned away from his rebellion against God, and turned back towards him. So, Jonah is saved.
To save Jonah, God provided a fish; to save us he provides his very own Son.
That's a big deal, if you haven't caught on so far. Jesus, in no way, should have gone to that cross, we should have. But because Jesus did, we don't have to. In the same way, Jesus never rebelled against God, but he died the death of a rebel, the death that we should die.
Jesus saves us from danger by taking our place in that danger: he pulls us out of storm, but dies in the storm himself. That's how God's salvation works: it's the story of the whole Bible.
That's what it takes to receive God's salvation, if you have not already done so?
Just like Jonah, you must acknowledge the danger that you're in, but also that God has pursued you and is longing to save you.
You must recognize that you cannot save yourself. Like Jonah our only hope is to call on the Lord. Only God can do it.
And like Jonah, we must act. God saves us as we are, but he does not leave us as we are. Returning to God will mean huge changes in your life. Jonah vowed to the Lord, and he kept his vow. The direction in his life was literally turned around when he came back to God. He wasn't always happy with how God was doing things, but he stayed on course in following God's will. Go against God, and he'd be in for some rough seas again.
And the same will happen for us; we must be prepared for that.
So I'll end with a few words from Charles Spurgeon who sums up this dependent salvation so well.
"Salvation is the work of God. It is he alone who quickens the soul "dead in trespasses and sins," and it is he also who maintains the soul in its spiritual life.
He is both "Alpha and Omega."
If I am prayerful, God makes me prayerful; if I have graces, they are God's gifts to me;
if I hold on in a consistent life, it is because he upholds me with his hand.
I do nothing whatever towards my own preservation, except what God himself first does in me.
Whatever I have, all my goodness is of the Lord alone.
Wherein I sin, that is my own; but wherein I act rightly, that is of God, wholly and completely.
If I have repulsed a spiritual enemy, the Lord's strength nerved my arm.
Do I live before men a consecrated life? It is not I, but Christ who liveth in me.
Am I sanctified? I did not cleanse myself: God's Holy Spirit sanctifies me.
Am I weaned from the world? I am weaned by God's chastisements sanctified to my good.
Do I grow in knowledge? The great Instructor teaches me. All my jewels were fashioned by heavenly art. I find in God all that I want; but I find in myself nothing but sin and misery. "He only is my rock and my salvation."
Do I feed on the Word? That Word would be no food for me unless the Lord made it food for my soul, and helped me to feed upon it.
Do I live on the manna which comes down from heaven? What is that manna but Jesus Christ himself incarnate, whose body and whose blood I eat and drink?
Am I continually receiving fresh increase of strength? Where do I gather my might?
My help comes from heaven's hills: without Jesus I can do nothing. As a branch cannot bring forth fruit except it abide in the vine, no more can I, except I abide in him.
What Jonah learned in the great deep, let me learn this morning … "Salvation is of the Lord."
© 2010 Timothy Henry


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Thovinion Drenaemil Anessus
Approximately 30
Magister of the Department of Arcana of the Order of Solis
Table of Contents
Thovinion is a Sorcerer Magister of the Department of Arcana in the Order of Solis. He is part of the special task force known as the Acolytes of Solis.
Physical Appearance
Thovinion stands slightly shorter than the average human, or half-elf, at only 5'4". His skin is dark, with the golden-brown shade typical of many Farraji. His hair is black and straight, reaching down below his ears, but not quite shoulder-length. His ears are slightly pointed, as is typical of half-elves, and his startling dark violet eyes are evidence of the elvish blood. He wears a short goatee, finely trimmed and kept immaculate. The expression seen most frequently on his face is a slight grin or sneer. His teeth are perfectly straight and are so white they almost shine. His body is not frail, but neither is it built, however he prefers to keep most of it concealed under his flashy robes. Other than his brilliant purple eyes, the most distinguishing feature of Thovinion is the jagged cut in each of his ears, one merely a centimetre down from the top in his right ear, while the left ear is cut nearly half-way through. This ear has small golden rings passing through both sides, almost holding that damaged ear together.
Master Redbad
Septimius of the Tryphosian Dynasty
Perceived Characteristics
Note: This section is to add notes and details on the PC Thovinion as others perceive him.
- Blows things up
- Haughty
- Does not laugh in the face of danger
- FOR SCIENCE! Probably likes dissection.
- Pretty heartless.


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Arun Bali and Himani Shivpuri in DJ's next
Veteran actors roped in for a NRI return show...
A little birdie informs Tellybuzz, "The show is all about a NRI family who is forced to come back to India after many years and the whole drama how the family is convinced to reside in India. A seasoned veteran actor, Arun Bali and Himani Shivpuri would essay a couple, who force their kids living abroad to come back to India."
"Arun Bali and Himani are the only major reasons why the family comes down to India" ,adds the source.
We contacted Arun Bali and he confirmed, "Yes, I would essay the head of the family." While Himani Shivpuri too confirmed the buzz, she remained silent about further details.
Watch this space for more details on the show.
Reporter:Tejashree Bhopatkar
Author:Sharat Kumar


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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:56 — 41.3MB)
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In today's episode I am sharing all the techniques I use and the holistic approach I've taken when it comes to healing my mind, body, emotions and more.
It only takes one moment, literally a split second to trigger my depression and a panic attack to occur and I experienced both over the past two weeks which I am sharing with you today.
I've never kept this a secret and I know that when I share my story, I can help others so tune in to hear how breathwork, meditation and therapy are a must for me. Especially when it comes to recovering and healing.
If you're open to sharing, I would love to know how you cope if you deal with the same issues. Essential Oils, CBD products, bubble baths. I mean those are just a few of my personal go-to's.
I really hope you enjoyed this episode today. If so please let me know by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happy-workaholic-podcast/id1254994721?mt=2
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June is always the month for weddings, and Dallas Light and Sound spent nearly
every weekend in June at the Texas Discovery Gardens,
providing lighting for wedding receptions.
One of our favorites was the wedding reception for Sahar Haji and Josh Strange.
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Find out how different companies and organisations, large or small, across multiple sectors, can make use of business fuel cards. The information discusses fuel cards for the self-employed and small businesses, as well as for larger companies and organisations.
We also cover some individual sectors, specifically fuel cards for taxi drivers and charities. These are just two of the industries that can make effective use of this method to manage and control fuel expenditure.
Farmers use a number of vehicles during their business day and are always on the move. Whether it's delivering produce, collecting livestock or attending events and shows, the fuel used to do these journeys is all part of a farmer's business expenses.
There are a huge variety of businesses within the construction and building trade, each with their own offering and unique service. One thing all businesses have in common is the desire to save money and time wherever possible.
Irrespective of company size, fleet management can take up a considerable amount of your time and annual budget, especially when it comes to fuel. Regardless of whether you are a large or small business, fuel cards should be something that you consider.
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Many charities incur fuel costs during the course of their work, whether collecting and delivering donations, or travelling to fundraising events, meetings and conferences. As every penny counts for charitable organisations, a simple and cost-effective solution for managing fuel expenditure is absolutely essential.
Fuel cards offer a way for driving instructors to control and manage the ever-present cost of petrol or diesel. See how they can work for you.


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Wednesday, February 20, 2008
But in practice, the jump alluded to is not measured in solar years. Instead, it's a break point in the Python language's development, accomplished with a lot of smooth maneuvers, including a 2to3 converter (runnable in 2.5).
Yes, I see why apply was taken out. Instead of going apply(f,(1,2)) we just go f (*(1,2)) i.e. the asterisk unpacks the contents, makes 'em two arguments.
And no, and I won't miss reduce either, and so far no sign little lambda is going away (I bet Mary is really happy about that).
We're going to think in a more organized way about bytes and strings, by making these the two principal encoding types. In string world, we default to Unicode, but that's really a complicated standard, so utf-8 is more like it (not complaining -- as a user of Latin-1, I'm already privileged).
Making print a function: yeah, seems like the right idea. Guido is good at this stuff. I'll reserve comment on some of the more esoteric innovations, until some more opportune time.
Were I to start teaching new Pythoneers tomorrow, I'd stay with production 2.5.x, as learning core Python means learning core concepts, and these only get reinforced, not abandoned, i.e. one's comfort level only increases with future versions. In other words, learning 2.5 today means you still have 2.6 and 3.x to look forward to, and that's a good thing.
We've added another Ubuntu laptop to the family, given the Sony had to go off to meetings in Philly. True, Sims 2 doesn't easily run on this distro (right?), but Lost at abc.com certainly does.
Background reading:
Re: minimalist vs. maximalist spectrum (Feb 18)
Posted by Kirby Urner at 12:40 PM


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Good question put by Plish (see comment below on previous post). I guess what makes any member of any cabinet effective: they need to be able to bring new information and inspiration to the table and then be able to get incubation and implementation. That means clever finding your way around, create some consensus along the way and still be able to maintain the new and the different. But I think the main talent of a SOI would be to get the notion of experiment into politics. Prototyping rules and regulations, doing try-outs on a smaller scale, getting lots of stakeholders involved, empowering talent. In fact being a creative person, not afraid to make mistakes in trying.
So I'm not quite sure I agree with Plish that government can't have a place for innovation. It might even be one of the essential features of modern government in the 21ste century. Putting all our faith into the businessworld when it comes to change, seems a little bit dangerous to me for some reason...
And creative people per definition like to stand on the side and just critize the system, so that doesn't speed up the proces of progress either.
Comment Plish
For Leaders of Innovation to be effective they...
1. Must be close enough to the systems involved so that they are an integral part of them.
2. will do their best work by getting out of the way and allowing the inherent creativity and innovation to come to fruition on their watch.
As such, an innovation post within a government meets neither of the above conditions.
Innovation is a function of Creativity and Risk. Where innovation has stalled, no doubt there is an aversion to risk. Again, goverment posts hardly ever create structures or enable greater risk taking.
Innovation can prosper when business leaders, entrepreneurs, and most of all, the creativty people (i.e. everyone!) who have something at stake, can be free to dream and work together to acheive those dreams.
So, what would make a Secretary of Innovation effective?
If that person began first and foremost with creating a culture of innovation within the government itself, a structure that actually brought value on multiple tiers to the citizens and industry within that country.
There is a conversation beginning here (http://tinyurl.com/b45h7x ) that is looking at just this issue. Please join in the conversation!


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History's epic drama series Vikings has had a very strong but often tragic third season, with former farmer Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) as King, always leading his people to an uncertain fate. As Ragnar and his band of Norsemen came together to break down the walls of the mythical city of Paris, the family saga that also includes Rollo (Clive Standen), Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) and Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) continued to play out, while relationships were often pushed to a breaking point.
During this exclusive phone interview with Collider, actress Katheryn Winnick talked about the unexpected journey she's taken on the show, feeling blessed to have to overcome so many obstacles, being such a strong role model for girls, how closely intertwined she feels with her character, how important the collaborative process with show creator Michael Hirst is to her, how surreal this set is to be on, and just how little CGI they actually use. Be aware that there are some spoilers.
Collider: When you look back to where this character was, at the start of this journey, could you ever have imagined the path that she's taken?
KATHERYN WINNICK: No, not at all. That's what's great about Michael Hirst. The way he writes, he doesn't ever keep you comfortable and you always get thrown a curve ball, but I love that. I love not being in a comfortable state, anyway. That makes for much more interesting storylines and an interesting story. I feel blessed that she has so many obstacles to overcome.
What has most surprised you about the path that Lagertha has taken?
WINNICK: At the beginning of Season 1, she was very much tied to Ragnar, as his wife and a young mother, and her identity was Ragnar's wife. I feel like she came into her own in Season 2. And now, in Season 3, she's her own woman. She doesn't necessarily need a man anymore. She chooses one, when she wants to be with one. I think that's a very strong place to be in, as a woman. And I think that she's turned into a role model for a lot of young girls.
What's it been like for you to live in Lagertha's shoes for three seasons? Are there things that you most enjoy about embodying her?
WINNICK: It's so funny because you say "her," but after three seasons, and then a fourth seasons, Lagertha is a part of me. You're just so intertwined. Yes, you may have a different look and a different accent. I don't know what's going to come. I know that I'm in a different place, this year, personally, as everybody is, every year. It will be interesting to bring my life experiences into what the storyline shapes up to be. What's great about playing Lagertha is that she's a strong woman, but she's also a feminine woman. She can be strong and sexy, at the same time. I feel that she's very much a modern woman, or modern for her time. She's able to incorporate both. You don't have to be just the sex kitten. You can be a sexy, feminine woman, but also have a strong voice and be a warrior, at the same time.
Lagertha is a strong woman who also happens to be a mother and kick some ass, alongside the men, which has made her a feminist icon, around the world. How do you feel about the way people have responded to her, and the way people seem to absolutely just love this character?
WINNICK: It's overwhelming and amazing, at the same time. I'm so happy that people have responded to her as they have, just as I have. I fell in love with her, at the very beginning. It's interesting because people are shocked when they read about Lagertha or they watch the character. They think there is no other character like her on TV, and I think that's true. Women characters on TV are not as well-rounded as her, but these women exist, even today. I feel very close to Lagertha. The young mother who also has to take her kid to hockey or soccer practice, and also go to work to make sure there's food on the table, and run a committee for her kid's school is also challenging, in its own right. I grew up in martial arts, and I feel that I could do both. She's not like any other character on TV, but I feel that women like her and enjoy her because they see a parallel to their own lives, being strong and feminine, at the same time.
What's it been like for you, as an actress, to work and collaborate with Michael Hirst?
WINNICK: I love it. We've been exchanging emails, just about what's going to happen in Season 4. It's amazing to have that open dialogue. He's been so great about bringing us into the characters and making it work for us. He talks it through with us. There are times where I've questioned him, but after talking to him, I can understand his point of view. That open dialogue is so rare to have. I feel like creating Lagertha has bene a collaborative process with Michael Hirst, and it's an evolving, ongoing process, too. I don't feel like I've figured Lagertha out yet, just like I'm learning a lot about myself, on a day to day basis, and I grow, each year. That process and the journey of discovering yourself is an ongoing thing. I'm grateful that Michael Hirst is open with his actors, and with me. You want to bring as much of yourself into the character as possible. If you understand your character and feel like it's a collaborative process, you're more inclined to dive into the deep end and fight for your character and feel passionate about your character, and that passion comes across on screen. I feel like he's done it right by making it such a collaborative effort to find your character that it actually makes me feel so personally invested to do the best job possible in making this character come to life.
Now matter how epic each season feels, it somehow manages to become bigger and more epic, the next season. Is it just surreal and mind-blowing?
WINNICK: There's so much research that goes into making it as authentic as possible that you get a chance to see that world and how it was, at that time period. When you walk on set, it will blow your mind. I pinch myself that I get paid for it. I've always approached acting from a passion point of view. It's what I love to do. The fact that we get paid is just a bonus. I feel like I was meant to play Lagertha. She's my favorite role, to date. I feel very close to her, and I feel very blessed that the world has taken notice and that people love her character, as much as I do.
How do you view Lagertha's journey, so far?
WINNICK: Lagertha has her own path. In the first season, she was Ragnar's wife, a shield maiden, and a young mother. She had to deal with a lot of home issues, with her husband's infidelity. In Season 2, she had to deal with an abusive second husband and had to go through a divorce, and she became an Earl, in her own right. In Season 3, she was a free woman. She doesn't need a man, but she can choose to be with a man. She's also trying to figure out what is next for her. We ask ourselves, many times in life, what's our next chapter and purpose? She has her own struggle, being a woman in a position of power that has authority. She has to deal with gaining their respect and instilling the respect that she deserves, as an Earl, to her people. There are different challenges every year, and there are different challenges in every episode, in my opinion. Michael Hirst is always great and throwing you a curve ball. Just when you think you have it figured out, you get another ball at your head and you have to figure out another route.
How do you think Lagertha feels about who her son, Bjorn, is now?
WINNICK: Lagertha is a warrior. She feels very comfortable on the battlefield, and she's raised Bjorn to be a warrior. He's her son, and she's a very famous shield maiden. She feels very comfortable with Bjorn fighting. In history, he actually even surpasses Ragnar, in terms of his legacy. And Alexander Ludwig plays him brilliantly. He's one of my favorite people. I absolutely adore him. He's really come into his own, as a character. Bjorn has become a man.
This show uses CGI, but only very minimally. What would probably most surprise audiences, as far as just how real everything is, on this show?
WINNICK: We don't work with green screen. Maybe sometimes, if it's for certain things. The location is what it is. What's great about shooting in Ireland is that the landscape is so rich and so beautiful. In the far background, they would have to make it look like Norway, or different parts of Scandinavia, but we just shoot in the open landscape in Ireland. When you walk on set, you really feel like you're in a different time period.
Vikings airs on Thursday nights on the History Channel, with the Season 3 finale airing on Thursday, April 23rd.


text: Books ($5.00 - $10.00) are needed for conservation clubs. The purpose of the clubs is to teach students, age 8-12, about the connections between wildlife, the landscape and the people. Interactive materials have been developed but books about African animals and people would reinforce the concepts. The goal is for the next generation of pastoralists to become wise stewards of their rangelands.


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The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail is a partnership to develop and sustain a system of trails for recreation, transportation, health, and education between the mouth of the Potomac River and the Allegheny Highlands.
The designation of a Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail corridor in 1983, an amendment to the National Trails System Act, is being used by communities in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania to develop and make connections among trails, historic sites and a range of recreational and educational opportunities. Six trails are currently recognized as segments of the Trail:
the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail between Ohiopyle and Seward, Penn., managed by Laurel Ridge State Park, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources;
the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage between Cumberland, Md., and Pittsburgh, Penn. (connecting to the LHHT in Ohiopyle), managed by an alliance of organizations and agencies;
the 184.5-mile C and O Canal Towpath between Georgetown (in the District of Columbia) and Cumberland, Md., managed by Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park;
the 17-mile Mount Vernon Trail and the 10-mile Potomac Heritage Trail in northern Virginia, managed by George Washington Memorial Parkway; and
Other existing and planned trails--in southern Maryland, Northern Virginia, the Northern Neck of Virginia, and the District of Columbia--contribute to the concept of the National Scenic Trail and a developing Trail network.


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A senior Iranian lawmaker slammed the US travel ban on citizens from six Muslim majority countries, branding it as a hypocritical measure that would "yield no results" for the Americans.
Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman of Iran's Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, criticized the contradictory US policies regarding Muslims, saying the US officials "on the one hand promote extremism in Muslim countries, and on the other, restrict their nationals [from entering the US], claiming to fight extremism", ICANA reported on Friday.
Trump's ban targets six predominantly Muslim countries, namely Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen, whose citizens have so far not been involved in mass killings in the US.
On the contrary, all major terrorist groups attacking the United States and other western countries over the past couple of decades—from Al-Qaeda to the Taliban to the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group—can trace their roots back to countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates that conspicuously did not make the list.
Out of 19 hijackers, who slammed two planes into twin towers of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, 15 were Saudi nationals.
A redacted long-classified report released by the US Congress in July 2016 found that some of the 9/11 hijackers were in contact with and received support from individuals likely connected to the Saudi government.
Known as the "28 pages", the secret document was part of a 2002 Congressional Joint Inquiry into the Sept. 11 attacks and has been classified since the report's completion, despite repeated calls for its release.
***Ultimate Hypocrisy
During his campaign for presidency, Trump came particularly hard on Saudi Arabia, promising to reveal its true role behind the 9/11.
"I think I know what [the uncut report] is going to say. It's going to be very, very profound, having to do with Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia's role on the World Trade Center, and the attack," he told Fox News at the time.
However, after assuming office and in a complete U-turn, not only Trump did not censure Saudi Arabia for its ties with the terrorist attacks, but also went so far as to sign arms deals worth hundreds of billions of dollars with the oil kingdom.
Pointing to the ultimate hypocritical nature of US policies, Boroujerdi said the controversial travel ban contradicts the American leader's claims of combating terrorism.
"These measures would only make America a more hated nation among Muslims," he said.
***Truly Shameful
In addition, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif criticized on Tuesday a decision by the US Supreme Court to revive part of Trump's travel ban, branding it "truly shameful".
"A bigoted ban on Muslims will not keep US safer. Instead of policies empowering extremists, US should join the real fight against them," he said.
Zarif said the travel ban punished people who had never been convicted of a terrorist act, while people from other countries involved in past attacks would not be affected.
"For some, terrorism and support for terrorism are measured by the amount of arms they buy from the US, and not by actually being involved in acts of terrorism," he said, in an apparent reference to the recent US approval of $110 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia.