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United Kingdom Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG) and the GMB have announced the agreement of a joint charter on shale gas, focusing on safety, skills and supply chain development.
The charter underlines a joint commitment to ensure:
- that gas is recognised as essential to British industry and households;
- gas has a key role in both the UK's future energy supply and the move to a low-carbon energy future;
- an increased understanding about the importance of gas and the long history of exploration and production onshore in Britain;
- the establishment of an industry safety forum to build on the already strong regulatory and safety foundations in the sector;
- that skilled jobs are created and local communities benefit through the employment and training opportunities this brings; and
- that British manufacturing and other supply chains have the opportunity to benefit from the development of the shale gas industry.
GMB has also welcomed UKOOG's development of the National College for Onshore Oil and Gas. As part of the agreement, GMB will have a seat on the operation and advisory council of the college.
UKOOG chief executive Ken Cronin said: "I am delighted to be working with the GMB. Its history is immersed in the gas industry and we have a lot of common interest. Natural gas from shale has the potential to generate many thousands of highly skilled, well-paid jobs.
"Gas is used for heating and cooking in over 80% of the homes and workplaces in the country. Gas is also an important feedstock for the chemical industry, which employs tens of thousands of people in the north of England.
"It is essential for the economic wellbeing and energy security of the UK that we get on with exploration to determine the extent of the gas resources we have."
GMB national secretary Gary Smith added: "Having access to gas is a matter of national security. Our homes and large parts of British industry need gas; any suggestion to the contrary is just not real world.
"The truth is we are going to be using gas – including shale gas – for a long time to come. Given this, we need to honestly consider the moral and environmental issues about transporting gas, including shale gas, across oceans and continents and being increasingly dependent on gas from countries with regulatory and environmental standards lower than ours."
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Tommy Taco
Time Out says
Don't blink, or you just might miss Tommy Taco. Entertaining both the post bar crowd and UCLA students on the quest for a cheap lunch, this hole-in-the-wall shack has got you covered for all your South-of-the-Border and burger cravings. Try woofing down their Frankenstein Style burrito filled with a hot dog weiner drenched in chili, cheese, fries, avocado and sour cream, or hop on the fusion train with the Korean-style taco of short rib, spicy cabbage, onion and cilantro.
970 Gayley Ave
Los Angeles
|Opening hours:
|Mon, Wed 10am-2am; Tue 10am-2:30am; Thu, Fri 10am-3am;Sat 11am-3am;Sun 12pm-2am
|Do you own this business?

subset: commoncrawl


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|Hey! Guess what arrived in the mail today?
Disclaimer: I received a pair of Mizuno Wave Rider 18s as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador) and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!
Hey, just got back from a quick 4 mile run, and it was faster than expected. I took out the new Mizuno Wave Rider 18s that I received as being a Bibrave Pro Ambassador and wanted to give just a few quick, initial thoughts.
They are light. Primarily I am a trail runner, and I haven't bought or run in a pair of road shoes since sometime last summer. That said, I have had periods in my life, where I focused more on the roads and specifically short (5K) type racing. These are lite. I am a size 13. Check out the weight below for that size...
|Yeah, size 13 men's Mizuno Wave Rider 18s...11oz!
That may not seem lite to some of you smaller runners, but for me, they felt extremely lite, especially compared to running in trailrunners. They were also fast. I mostly train for endurance and longer distances, so I am not out pushing speed like I was when I was seeking to lower my 5K times back a few years ago. I could see keeping these aside for racing a local 5K on the roads, or even a gentle trail race, like crushed limestone. I ran about 1.85 of my 4 miles on gravel and they held up fine. These do have less stability in them than I would normally require, but I can definitely see putting them to selective good use in speed sessions, recovery runs, and short distance, not technical racing on roads or gentle trails. More later!!! (P.S. Loved the red fade to black look.)
|These just look sharp!!!


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Summer Dance Intensive
Held at The Studio School of Dance – 74 Jamie Avenue, Nepean
August 19 – 23, 2019 . Register Below
TSSD is pleased to offer an Intensive week of dance for all our students with 3 years or more training. With a strong belief that diversity is essential to dance development our Summer Intensive will offer classes in Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Fitness, Hip Hop, Ballet & more. Join us for a fabulous week of dance with professionals from New York, Toronto and of course some of own amazing teachers. Pre-requisite: Junior 1–3 years … Inter/Sen: 3 +
The Intensive pushes dancers to new levels of personal growth. The faculty selected for The Intensive consists of a fusion of artists from varying genres of dance. Their purpose is to inspire and energize the minds, bodies, and souls of today's dancers.
FACULTY 2019 To be announced
Junior Program
Before May 1st $330.00 .
After May 1st $380.00
Intermediate/Senior Program
Before May 1st $400.00
After May 1st $450.00


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Aluminium Window
Aluminum is becoming the go-to choice for architects designing window frames modern houses nowadays. With their attractive grey or subtle charcoal color, aluminum frames in windows can be traced back in the architecture of 1980. Such windows made of aluminum frames are popularly known as aluminum windows. Aluminum windows have come a long way since 1980 and then. Today, the aluminum windows are every architect's finest choice due to their stylish exterior facades.
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Types of Aluminium Window
Aluminium Domal WindowAsk Price
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Aluminium Window Manufacturers / Suppliers List
Shivam Enterprise
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, 380026
Shivam Enterprise from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India is Manufacturer of Submersible Pumps, Submersible Pumps, Self Priming Pumps, Borewell Pump, Suction C...
Aluminium Window Designs
Browse our latest Aluminium Window Designs gallery. Here you will find ideas, images, designs and price quote for Aluminium Window.
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Aluminium Window Price List in India
|Product Name
|Price in INR
|Aluminum Door Partition by Pro Consultant
|Pro Consultant
|Aluminium Window by Shakti Aluminium & Glass
|Shakti Aluminium & Glass
|170.00/Square Feet
|ALUMINIUM SLIDING WINDOW by Kumar Enterprise
|Kumar Enterprise
|230.00/Square Feet
|Aluminum Window by Lala Aluminium Work
|Lala Aluminium Work
|Windows by havayj iron and steel works
|havayj iron and steel works
|Aluminium Sliding window by A Square Associates
|A Square Associates
|180.00/Square Feet
|Sliding Windows by Sai Fabrication
|Sai Fabrication
|165.00/Square Feet
|Aluminium Sliding Window by Dhiman Furniture & Aluminum Works
|Dhiman Furniture & Aluminum Works
|250.00/Square Feet
|Aluminium Sliding Window by Karm Aluminium And Fabrication
|Karm Aluminium And Fabrication
|160.00/Square Feet
|Aluminium Arch Window by Geetek
|190.00/Square Feet
|Aluminium Sliding Window by Winplas Technocrats
|Winplas Technocrats
|350.00/Square Feet
|Aluminium Window by J. S. Interiors
|J. S. Interiors
|250.00/Square Feet
|Aluminium Sliding Window by Stone Ply And Doors
|Stone Ply And Doors
|450.00/Square Feet
|Aluminium Window by DH Enterprise
|DH Enterprise
|220.00/Square Feet
|Window by Sharma Steel Works
|Sharma Steel Works
City wise Aluminium Window Manufacturers & Suppliers in India
- Aluminium Window in Vadodara
- Aluminium Window in Hyderabad
- Aluminium Window in Mumbai
- Aluminium Window in Rajkot
- Aluminium Window in Surat
- Aluminium Window in Meerut
- Aluminium Window in Dhanera
- Aluminium Window in Ahmedabad
- Aluminium Window in Lucknow
- Aluminium Window in Bhopal
- Aluminium Window in Malkapur
- Aluminium Window in Jaipur
- Aluminium Window in Patna
- Aluminium Window in New Delhi
- Aluminium Window in Kanpur
- Aluminium Window in Mohali
- Aluminium Window in Pune
- Aluminium Window in Indore
- Aluminium Window in Jodhpur
- Aluminium Window in Nagpur
- Aluminium Window in Bengaluru
- Aluminium Window in Jabalpur
- Aluminium Window in Hooghly
- Aluminium Window in raebareli
- Aluminium Window in Coimbatore
- Aluminium Window in Daper
- Aluminium Window in Chrompet
- Aluminium Window in Katni
- Aluminium Window in Ambala
- Aluminium Window in Kanchipuram
- Aluminium Window in Shahdol
- Aluminium Window in Dehradun
Types of Aluminium Window
There are various types of window aluminum windows available in the market. One should keep in mind certain things such as space occupied, maintenance needed ease of use before deciding which type of aluminum window they want to install in their pretty homes for synergy. Have a look on various option available below:
- Aluminium Bi-fold Windows – They are easy to clean with minimal maintenance. Great access to the beautiful outdoor space. You can get a durable smooth operation. It provides an undisturbed space in-between the frames.
- Aluminum Tilt Turn Windows – They enable horizontal as well as vertical movement. As they open inwards, these are ideal for houses with limited space outside their houses. They are very easy to clean.
- Aluminium Sliding Windows – They are the most popular type of aluminum windows. They are operated by sliding them from one side to another. Easy to operate with low maintenance.
- Aluminium Casement Windows – They are ideal for the houses located at an angle where the breeze blows. You can breathe lots of fresh air with this type of window in your house. They can be opened at an angle to funnel in the gentle breezes into your house. There are casement locks are embedded into the frame for security.
Various other types of aluminum windows available are aluminum arch windows, Aluminium curved windows and aluminum fixed windows.
Features of Aluminium Window
Aluminium Window comes with lots of features that attracts customers. But while choosing the aluminum window you should certainly look into some of the basic features. Here are some features to be found when opting for aluminum windows:
- Aluminum is one of the strongest material available today. With aluminum windows, you should be able to choose larger glass panels to get a greater view of your surroundings.
- Aluminum windows should be double glazed to reduce your gas heated home's CO2 output, this provides 3 times the energy savings compared to what is required to produce them. Opting for aluminum windows can positively influence your home's efficiency as well as the surrounding environment.
- Aluminum windows can be sprayed with any color of your choice. This gives you an opportunity to customize your windows to fit in with any color scheme of your like, making you are living a truly personalized experience.
- High-performance aluminum windows can easily exceed require energy efficiency standards. They effectively trap heat energy and abstain it to escape from your home.
- Aluminum is chemically stable making it robust and stable. It is able to withstand the harshest of exposure and remain stunning and evergreen in all weather.
- Aluminum windows are architect's material of choice due to its flexibility and versatility in terms of design. With limitless coloring capability, they even fit most traditional properties.
- Aluminum windows have a lifespan of about 30 years and up. As compared to any other, this seems to be highly durable. Hence, you can be assured that your investment is for long-term return.
- An aluminum window can boast thinner frames because of their strength, making lighter to enter the home. This leaves the window with a much cleaner looking more aesthetic.
- Aluminum windows can easily internally be glazed to provide security against potential intruders.
Components of Aluminium Window
There are various components of aluminum windows. Various components of aluminum windows and their major function are as follow:
- Frame: It contains the sash and holds the window to the wall with the help of edge brackets.
- Head and Sill: Head and Sill are the horizontal part of the main frame.
- Jamb: Jamb is the vertical part of the main frame.
- Sash: The moveable component of the window is called Sash. It can move due to metalwork.
- Metalwork: Due to metalwork turning the sash is possible. It consists of hinges which allow the rotation of the sash through clamps.
- Latch: The mechanism which to open and close the window.
- Glazing bead: It fixes the glazing and holds the glass against the sash.
- Glazing/Glass: The transparent part of the window responsible for allowing the sunlight to pass through is called glazing/glass.
- Muntin/panels: The portion dividing the glazing is muntins/panels.
- Weather-strip: The part which prevents air from entering through joints between the frame and the sash.
- Pivot hinge: This part at the top limits windows opening.
Applications of Aluminium Window
Various application for aluminum windows are:
- High-performance aluminum windows provide high energy efficiency standards.
- They don't swell, crack, split or warp over time; making it a durable and long-lasting product life.
- Aluminum is an environmentally friendly and sustainable material. Aluminum is easy to recycle and can be used in to manufacture different utility things.
- Aluminum windows help to reduce carbon footprint by three times that required to produce the aluminum windows, in just one year. Over the lifetime, energy savings heavily outweigh the initial input by over 100 times. For places with electrical heating, or cooling for homes in hot climates, these savings could run up to 300 times.
- Aluminum serves as a quite cheap option. With payback periods on aluminum windows quite small, it offers high improvement in performance.
- Aluminum provides a good option with design flexibility as per user's requirement.
Advantages of Aluminium Window
- Durability and Low Maintenance: Aluminium is corrosion resistant providing very low maintenance and is highly resistant to the external environment under harsh conditions. It will not swell, crack, split or warp over time; ensuring a durable and long-lasting product life. It can be left in its finished condition or for additional appearances decorative finishes, it can be painted.
- Affordability: Aluminium windows can be significantly less expensive compared to other types of windows. It provides a strong yet economical window option, with excellent energy outcomes.
- Design Flexibility: Aluminium offers a wide range of options from the economical to most elaborate premium systems with excellent thermal performance.
- Finishes: A vast range of finishing options are available in aluminum windows that can be perfectly matched with your decor. Powder coating is an attractive finish option for aluminum windows and once applied, it does not require repainting.
- Recyclability: Aluminium has the highest recycling rates than any metal. It is an environmentally sustainable material. Aluminum recycling requires only five percent of the initial energy consumed to manufacture it. This inherent property makes it most sustainable compared to other window options.
- Thermal Performance: High-performance aluminum windows are able to easily exceed energy efficiency standards. They can easily achieve improvements in heat gain and heat loss through windows compared to uPVC Windows.
- Reduces Carbon Footprint: The use of aluminum double glazed windows can deliver CO2 equivalent savings of almost three times that required to produce the aluminum frames, in just one year. Over the lifetime, energy savings heavily outweigh the initial input by over 100 times. For places with electrical heating, or cooling for homes in hot climates, these savings could run up to 300 times.
- Short Payback Period: Payback periods on aluminum windows are far shorter than for other options which offer a marginal improvement in performance at a far higher price. Such alternatives can practically take several decades to deliver a payback.
- Security: With the high-security locking system in aluminum windows, you can just feel safe and protected in your home. The stainless steel hinges and locks installed for security and durability last a life long time period. A restrictor can be easily instilled to ensure child safety.
Disadvantages of Aluminium Window
- Aluminium Window has a high U-value because it loses heat and cold very easily. Hence, aluminum is the least energy efficient of all other materials. Some manufacturers offer customized windows with built-in thermal breaks between the different surfaces to improve efficiency.
- It can be cold to the touch
- It is very often prone to condensation.
- It can be susceptible to corrosion on exposure to salt water and salt air leading to problems with operation and overall performance.
Top 15 Aluminium Window Manufacturers in India
Well, it the time to wisely decide to switch towards a better available option. Let see the options of manufacturers of aluminum windows available to you in order to hasten your decision and benefits. Various aluminum window manufacturers in India are:
- Lingel Windows & Doors Technologies Pvt Ltd
- Windoorz Inc.
- Shankar Fenestration & Glasses India Pvt. Ltd.
- NewGen Building Systems
- Real Fenster
- Kaenat Hitech Glazing System Pvt. Ltd
- Alufascia Private Limited
- Window Stein
- Core Glass Design & Aluminium Work
- Alfab Products
- Gala Aluplast Private Limited
- S.D.Glass UPVC & Aluminium works
- Lumani Systems
- Alupure (Profine India Window Technology Private Limited)
- Green Windows Pvt. Ltd.


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The confusing scenerio of a conspiracy between factions like Bush types and Obama supporters is not just a.vague feeling many of you have gotten in past years...its real!
Who ever thought SPL would serve a purpose other than being part of the Diversity agenda. This piece is good.
If you had the dreaded vague impressinlon this.was forming into a reality you weren't imagining.things.
And they came out and said it in print this time: 'to take down the empire'.
Everything we suspected about both these factions having the same goal was absolutely correct. And it seems classism.IS indeed part of their agenda regardless of.race so I am correct in seeing they are using race to create their oppressive classist system.
This whole country has gotten way to crazy and no one is doing anything to stop this. Everyone who's smart enough to see this going down is usually educated and rich enough to leave the country, which is why its such a living hell for me becuz everyone in the lower class I am kept down in is too uneducated, stupid or unconcerned to tackle this issue.
It goes way beyond the govt pushing to destroy liberties or the private sector buying out or intimidating what's left of the govt. This finally explains why so many different factions from.both of these belief systems are in on gang stalking.
I could not figure out why I was harassed overtly and viscously in Burlington VT as well as St Louis MO. Yet in the wealthiest sections of the US, I got nothing but good advice, good vibes and well treated. The remote influence in these areas actually gave ideas that were very helpful and nurturing. I always felt supported in places like Prescott AZ, Castle Rock CO, La Jolla CA. (In La Jolla I was given the idea I should do public speaking on my experiences to make money.) So its not necessarily 'rich people' who want to destroy someone like me as a TI. Honestly I have alot of support from wealthy people.
The people who hate my guts seem to be black and other crime gangs, members of the lower classes, union guys and regular middle class types. Outside class and race of course anyone who makes money off of mind control or.the gs system like academia, prison system, psychiatry etc- to them anyone smart enough to see what's going on is a threat.
This proves my theory borne partially from experience that the wealthy are not the definition of the enemy. If anything only they have the ability to remain independent from corruption and this system so as to afford to not bow down to it.
The truly dangerous people are the ones vulnerable to joining this system and the left/right nut jobs who are engineering this horrid NWO, or some kind of social experiment. Acedemics running the world could not be a bigger nightmare.
I at least feel better I was, once again, correct. Which is why this society must continue to systematically ignore me.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
I Was Correct :Left and Right Have Conspired To Destroy Our Nation
by On_GangStalking clock 1:19:00 AM
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Search Results
Tips from various magazines
To reduce commute time:
Personally, commute time can be used for doing other useful stuff.
Relax (when the public transports are not too crowded).
Listen to voice notes of inspirations and ideas.
Read: study materials, news, facebook.
According to Sally Poon (a dietician from Hong Kong Nutrition Association),
food of eating out are high in SALT, FAT & SUGAR,
which increases the risk of obesity, heart disease & hypertension.
Yes, we know all these but many times we choose to satisfy our
Minimize fried food.
Avoid preserved meat, e.g. salami.
For pasta e.g. spaghetti: red sauce (tomato-based) is healthier than white sauce.
"The more time a person spends on the job, the more conflict there is likely to be between work and family."
Do you agree with this statement?
@~@ Things that I must do:
# live my life to the fullest.
# appreciate what I have.
Short-listed things that I find interesting to do:
# Learn copywriting. Learn writing to sell a strategic idea.
# read The happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin (since January 2012)
# make DIY flash cards. First picture that I found: polar bear of Churchill, Canada. Remember that the cuddly-looking polar bear (thanks to its shaggy fur) can be dangerous. My friend J was given a polar bear soft toy as the first birthday gift from his man, and his man can be cuddly yet dangerous like polar bear!
# attend a Nobel Prize banquet @ Stockholm (since March 2012).
# eat Vosges Haut-Chocolat (chocolate with unlikely flavors like curry, taleggio, and wasabi), partly because Katrina Markoff is an inspiring entrepreneur!
# FIND TIME TO DO NOTHING. BREATHE. An advice by Tim Park, the author of Teach us to Sit Still: A Sceptic's Search for Health and Healing.
# Remove dust! Dust can cause your TV, computer, laptop to overheat and reduce its life span. When you do house chores of vacuum cleaning, empty the dust bag when it is half-full. With a fuller dust bag, the machine has to work harder and risks overheating.
# To extend the lifespan of your mobile phone, use its appropriate charger, simply because the voltage is different. Do not charge your phone overnight.
# commit to 30-day challenge of writing a book. Thank you Matt Cutts.
# refuse to let work compromise what my body needs: nutritious, regular meals, 7-8 hours of sleep, 3×10-minute exercise.
# hit the road less traveled with a backpack like Paige Chua. She went for her first solo trip to Beijing & Inner Mongolia in 2007. Interesting reflection: city dwellers seek a simple life when travel, but rural dwellers (e.g. of Inner Mongolia) aspire to move to cities (e.g. Beijing).
Quotes that I like:
# "No one shoots you if you've got a smile on your face." ~ Alan Wicker, travel journalist.
# "When I visit somewhere new, I always absorb it first as a human being, then photography it as my hobby and then consider if it's interesting enough to share with other people through Twitter, Facebook or my blog." ~ Ben Southall, Winner of Best Job in the World (2009), caretaker of Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef.
# "Don't forget that frequent business travellers are often the most frequent leisure travellers." www.businesstraveller.asia
Blueroselady: The next time someone (e.g. CV) tells you and me that he is busy travelling on business trips, he is likely to include sightseeing and leisure activities too!
Tips on how to make a small talk from Keith Ferrazi
I came to know Keith through Michael, and my encounter with Keith, an Italian American somehow reminded me on an experience when an Italian teacher of mine unexpectedly saw me in a professional conference in US, was so happy and rushed to kiss my cheek. Well, as an Asian, I was not used to such a very warm of greeting, but I do appreciate his warmth and caring attitude.
My Italian teacher is a famous professor in his field of expertise, and he remembers me because I am one of his weaker students. I asked him more questions, so like it or not, he ended up remembering me (at least my face). But I guess I have a good attribute too though I am not among his smartest students, it is never give up.
I am grateful to Keith for sharing a lot of useful advice. Herein, I share tips that I learned from Keith Ferrazi on how to make a small talk. They are particularly useful to me because I want to expand my network of friends and acquaintance for my new endeavor next year.
"Friendship si created out of the quality spent between people, not the quantity."
How to make small talks?
1. First, give a person a hearty smile. It says "I'm approachable"
2. Start a conversation, keep it going, create a bond. Be proactive (as Stephen Covey advices).
3. Relax. Unfold your arms.
4. Be yourself. Your uniqueness is your power.
5. Maintain a good balance of eye contact. Unblinking stare 100% of time = leering (scary!). Eye contact less than 70% of time = disinterested and rude.
6. Nod your head and lean in (without invading duifang space).
7. Be sincere, without pride nor insecurity. Do not be an eye darter.
8. Share your passion (e.g. food, cooking, writing, reading stories for children), but do not preach it.
9. Vulnerability is one of the most under-appreciated assets in business today.
10. Adjust your Johari window.
11. Learn to listen.
12. If all else fails, "You're wonderful. Tell me more."
See also
email "Keith Ferrazi"
Learning preferences and strengths: sharing my method in 4 words
Since we were born, we have started learning.
Learning and living are integral processes.
Different people have unique preferences and strengths in learning. The secret is to identify our own preferences and strengths,
and optimize them to develop our talents and creativity,
so that we can be of great service to others (while earning a livelihood simultaneously).
Here are quick reminders for myself to effectively, efficiently & effortlessly learn:
1. Intelligence = nature (genes) + nurture (environment). But, better methods / strategies for learning can boost up intelligence. In an analogy, before dyes and color contact lenses, hair color and eye color were entirely genetic too respectively.
2. Learn from how nature works, when one path gets shut down, we can take a different route.
3a. Must build construct / architecture / framework / blueprint. When we have a construct, we can solve difficult problems even when there is a lot of missing information.
3b. Must summarize / make notes.
4a. Must link concepts / ideas with visuals / feelings (synaesthesia).
4b. Try to link together ideas that do not normally connect (use metaphor / analogy). With patience & perseverance, we can connect any subjects.
5. Must use both: repetition / rote memorization + holistic relating / inter-linking.
6. Must create: write, draw, take photos, make videos.
In 4 words:
Final remark: I appreciate that my ability to understand things effortlessly is improving everyday.
See also:
Holistic Learning by Scott Young
Happiness exercise: write a short introduction about yourself
In a series of happiness exercises, I brainstorm novel and creative ideas of doings that can boost up our happiness. Today exercise is simple: write a short introduction about yourself. You can memorize it to remind yourself when you experience negative emotions, to make new friends and build new relationships, or simply to make an elevator pitch.
Here is a brief introduction about myself.
I am an ordinary woman with a BIG dream to give extraordinary service to others.
My love include life, family, stories and writing. I dream of writing a book that is enlisted in The New York Times Non-Fiction Best Sellers.
Everyday, I give my best to live and learn so that I can share useful tips about education and entrepreneurship / business,
that are thoughtful, helpful, inspiring, necessary, and kind.
I am also interested in people, travel, food (especially Asian food and Italian desserts), visual arts, movies and creative ideas.
Counting my blessings, I am grateful for being a mother, lifelong student, storyteller, researcher and marketer; and having good health and more wealth than the yesterday-me.
Thank you very much for being interested in me!
Please keep in touch and feel free to comment.
Happiness exercise: Describe yourself in positive ways
Happiness means differently to different people.
To some people,
happiness means a combination of the followings:# Finding love & happily married
# Having children, grandchildren, great grandchildren
# Good health
# Be financially well-off
# Enjoying a successful career
# Ability to maintain work-life harmony
# Happy relationships with extended family (ie. parents, grandparents, siblings, nephews, etc)
# Fulfilling friendships
# Making a difference to the world. You laugh … yes, many people, including me, set their dreams so high (and hence raising the standards of attaining their happiness).
To sum up, happiness is fundamentally related to health, wealth, and children.
Since happiness is related to so wide and diverse areas of our lives, how can we work on each area of importance to us? How to prioritize?
I believe in exercises / practice. It takes 10,000 hours of practice to give birth to a real talent.
Sincerely, I want you to master the art and science of happiness,
so that you can choose to be happy
even in the face of difficult circumstances and being overwhelmed by negative emotions.
In my designed series of happiness exercises, I would share numerous effective and tested exercise to enjoy happiness in your life.
Today exercise is to describe yourself in positive ways. Write to yourself. List your favorite attributes, your achievements, your roles, your love, and anything elseo about you.
Herein, I do the exercise on myself (in the autumn of 2013)
I am …
# a mother
# a daughter
# a wife
# a student of Coursera, edX
# a researcher
# a storyteller
# an author
# an ex-artist
I love …
# people who love me & whom I love.
"You can never replace anyone because everyone is made up of such beautiful specific details." Before Sunset (2004)
# food (especially healthy affordable food and desserts)
# simplicity
# diversity
# reading (and writing) and hence books
# gardens & parks in spring & summer, in early mornings & late afternoons
# philosophy of life
# giving smiles, talks in front of groups
# learning diverse things. I believe in the "See one, Do one, Teach one" model.
# dreams
# personal development, making a syllabus for life / bucket list / life planning
# entrepreneurship + unconventional work
# (and honestly sometimes fear) change / dynamics.
"The only constant is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be." Isaac Asimov
I used to love …
# travel
# photography
# fireworks
# movies
But now they are not on top of my priorities.
People who have inspired me (non-exhaustively) include:
# Anthony Robbins
# Cayden Chang
# Chris Guillebeau
# Danah Zohar
# Dale Carnegie
# Dong Mingzhu 董明珠
# Goldie Hawn
# Jean Maalouf
# Jessie Louise Yancey-Siegel, affectionately known as Weezie
# Josh Kaufmann
# Joseph Murphy
# Leo Babauta
# Leong Kaiwen
# Louise Hay
# Luciano Passuello
# Michael Ellsberg
# Napoleon Hill
# Robert Cialdini
# Tahir
# Thich Nhat Hanh
# Tim Ferriss
These people are my brothers / sisters, my mentors, my dearest friends.
Things that I want to have / have more / give more to others:
@~@ Happiness
@~@ Health
@~@ Optimism & Hope
@~@ Gratitude
@~@ Kindness e.g. smile
@~@ Empathy e.g. a listening ear
@~@ Wealth
@~@ Wisdom
@~@ Courage e.g. to make new friends
Things that I want to remove / reduce :
@~@ Fear
@~@ Sadness
@~@ Anger
@~@ Envy / Jealousy
@~@ Clutters
@~@ Disappointment
DO what you LOVE, LOVE what you DO
Do what you love and love what you do sound simple, but appear complex in practice.
How many of us do what we love for most time of our lives?
How many of us love what we do for most of our doings?
For many people across different ages and roles of life, here are possibilities:
Dreams change.
Goals change.
Plans Change.
Do you love a doing because you are good at the doing?
Would you still love the doing if you are not (yet) good at the doing)?
Would you still love the doing if you are not (yet) good at the doing (even after 10,000 hours of practice)?
A quote by Steve Jobs shared by Jeff Moore:
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do.
If you haven't found it yet, keep looking.
Don't settle.
As with all matters of the heart,
you'll know when you find it."
When I was in high school,
I love (or perhaps prefer) science subjects because my linguistic skills are limited (reason #1).
Apparently and consequently, I did better in maths, chemistry, biology, physics than in language subjects. People love doing things whereby we have a sense of mastery, do you feel so as well?
My native Chinese-speaking classmates who have learned writing and reading since early age, are at ease in the Chinese class.
My Eurasian classmates who have a native speaking father / mother, or those who have English-educated parents, seem to write English so fluently.
They had read thick novels / non-fiction books and easily won the essay writing and elocution competitions.
For me,
to write an essay in English or Chinese,
I had to start from simple structures.
When I have an exam topic of essay to write,
I would quickly jot down some ideas in point form and elaborated on them later as my writing progressed.
Normally, I would write explanatory or argumentative essays, and very rarely narrative essays, simply because of my limited vocabularies.
Reason #2
There are high certainty in science subject exams.
1+1=2. If the answers are right now, they will be right tomorrow.
We love things that we do well.
But in real life (including the real scientific fields as my scientist acquaintances point out),
the rules of game are uncertain.
The rules are not constant; change is the rule of the rules.
That's why life is the only known example of infinite game is life, according to James P. Carse.
On contrary, examples of finite games are debates, sports, schools, receiving a degree from an educational institution, belonging to a society, or engaging in war.
The surprise in infinite game is the triumph of the future over the past.
So, when you are uncertain about what to do next, an easy step is to
always choose infinite games.
Winning should not be the final goal because after winning, the game stops.
Life is a game that is meant to be continuously played.
Aunt Florence shared some profound advice on how to play the game of life, you may want (and I need) to revise and remember them,
as resilient shortcuts in the moments of negative feelings and events.
Although I honestly feel that my writing is still not up to standard (set through social comparisons with people of similar professional credentials to mine and authors whom I admire),
I will continue writing.
I think this is an example of "DO what you LOVE".
Sometimes we may have to do things that we are not interested, so it is hard to love what we do.
However, the good news are interests are malleable,
they are formed through our past experiences (including education),
so we can change them through learning and unlearning.
Revealingly, you can re-program your minds and interests through conscious efforts,
this attempt will also beneficial to discard some preferences that we would not want to have if we think carefully about them but others manage to incept on us — think of the 2010 science fiction film entitled Inception.
For example, I know a number of people who have focused greatly on their careers,
hate doing house chores or parenting tasks,
but I believe that if they want to,
with right conscious efforts to shift their interests,
they can love what they do.
How to continue love what you do (even if you feel tired / bored / disappointed / frustrated) ?
My friend Tracy suggests using positive feedback loop.
You can establish positive feedback loop when the rewards / pleasure of your doing outweigh the sacrifices / pain.
To DO what you LOVE, you need willpower and courage.
To LOVE what you DO, you need positive feedback and inner security.
Inner security that I means here is not worrying so much about achieving certain levels of success.
More real-world examples:
# Joanna: becoming a mother at age 48
# My friend Leo highlights that people rule out the possibility of great change, because it appears unrealistic.
"Do what you love, love what you do & deliver more than you promise!" ~ Harvey Mackay
How to use quotes to better your life? 4 empowering tips
Do you love quotes?
Do you have a collection of quotes that you love?
Would you please share one or few with me those that you love most (in comment below)?
When I was a high school student, like other boarders, I was assigned to a particular class room for 7-10 pm self-study every Sundays to Fridays, and Saturdays too when it was near the exam period!
I was fortunate that the class room where I was assigned to had inspiring quote written on the black board.
Since then, I started to collect my own quotes.
I also learned that by including quotes in my essays, I can improve the quality of my writings, and received higher marks. So, I started to memorize some useful quotes.
Agreeing with my friend Passuello of Litemind, quotes can instantly transform our moods, feelings & emotions, like a keyboard shortcut. Being short & succinct, quotes act faster than books, music & movies.
Toni Robbins highlights the importance of being able to instantly switch our mood, it is a relief to realize that quotes can be one of our arsenals.
We may have already known about the idea that a particular quote expresses, but sometimes we may have forgotten about it. The quote can serve as our reminder.
Sometimes, we may subscribe to popular ideas, but not everything popular is always right. Quotes of different (if not opposing) ideas can challenge our perspectives.
Sometimes, we have an idea on particular issues, but we are struggling to find the right words to express it. Herein, quotes come as a shortcut & springboard for explaining our ideas / established views / formed perspectives to others.
To summarize,
1. quotes are useful to instantly transform our emotions.
2. quotes can make us happy and hopeful.
3. quotes challenge our perspectives.
4. quotes enable us to communicate (write, speak, talk) effectively.
# Quote of the day:
Do our Best
Let God do the Rest
# Quotes at the end of my email
The power of positive thinking that we could never underestimate
Positive thinking
# allows us to treasure, enjoy, embrace our lives
# gives us a reason to continue living as illustrated by a story of Viktor Frankl
# makes learning easy for us
# can be inherited (sounds like our genes) to the future generation as suggested by a reader S
When Viktor Frankl was imprisoned in the Nazi camp,
suffered torture and the loss of his family (parents, brother, wife),
he miraculously realized that
between what happened to him (the stimulus) and his response to him,
he still has the power / the freedom to choose his own response.
Viktor Frankl chose to think positively, to imagine positively.
He imagined that he would lecture to his students after being released from the camp.
He imagined a positive future that gives hope and strength to his present.
He survived,
founded logotherapy and
wrote Man's Search for Meaning,
which highlight the importance of finding meaning in all forms of existence,
even the most sordid ones, and hence a reason to continue living.
Learning is a part and parcel of living.
As my saying goes "Live, Learn, Earn"
How can we effortlessly learn difficult subjects and skills using positive thinking?
Think positive.
Do not think that it is difficult.
The best in the world simplify the complex (e.g. complex subjects);
the most common make the simple complex.
A reader S sent me a warm email about her experience with positive thinking.
She wrote:
Although my pregnancy was relatively physically challenging,
I suffered from acid reflux, nausea, and backache that made sleeping flat uncomfortable,
yet I was very happy.
Pregnancy seems to be a long holiday when I was pampered by my family member, tolerated by my colleagues, and showered with kindness by strangers.
I spent many hours reading self-help positive psychology books.
Probably, I read over a hundred books,
making my own notes that I can review later,
they are like short-cuts to happiness for me,
or an instant side-effect-free 'aspirin' when I am stress.
As a result, I delivered a healthy baby who is naturally happy.
He smiles within 24 hours in his sleep,
and he smiles the first thing in the morning when he wakes up after a good night sleep and being fed with breast milk.
He smiles often, even to strangers.
People loves him.
God must have given him to us to also let us learn from him.
His natural ability to be happy with himself, with life, and to bring happiness to others through his smiles.
On the other hand,
looking back at my post-delivery experience,
there are things that I wish can be better.
Sometimes it seems that the more people (including grandparents, in-laws, the so-called experts, and well meaning friends giving advices)
are involved in the process,
the more different wants and rules to be met,
which made my life tougher.
What I did not realize that I do not have to live my life to other people's expectation!
What works for others, may not work for us (my baby & me).
What works for us, may not works for others.
For example,
his grandmother insisted that we do not buy a breast pump,
but the breast pump turned out to be highly useful!
I just have to keep on experimenting and finding ways that work for us.
It is ok to be different & imperfect.
Finally, the most important lesson that I learned,
while I diligently gulped down all the nutritious confinement meals and red date tea,
I forget to consume my positive thinking nourishment.
Everyday, it seems that there are new problems.
Things that I must buy and do.
Grandparents will tell me to do this, to do that, and the list goes on.
To make it worse,
my mother nagged at me,
she told me to sleep more,
not to breastfeed baby at night,
because that was her experience,
but she did not know that by doing so would result in drop of breastmilk supply,
and I would wake up at night worrying for my baby,
because I was not allowed to sleep with him in the same room or same bed.
Moreover, I need to write as it is therapeutic for me.
In recent years, I have been writing using my laptop
but my mother disallowed me to use IT gadgets (including my laptop, mobile phones) because she is worried that they are bad for my eyes.
I sincerely want to forgive my mother,
she just wants the best for me.
Although she does not realize that children are not necessarily inherit the same likings / ways of feeling goods as parents,
she just wants the best for me.
Perhaps, my mother is also learning from this experience,
after all my baby was her first grandchild.
She appears to be more patient with her grandchild than to me or our siblings when we were young.
Oops! I am comparing again.
Well … I am trying to be more mindful when I compare things.
Some comparisons are fruitless.
After all, all those have become the past.
I choose to cherish the happy and positive things from the past,
and live in the present.
Blueroselady says:
Congratulations S for becoming a new mother!
You are doing well and great!
To summarise S' points:
Cultivate intrinsic happiness daily.
Live in the present.
Live not for others' expectation.
It is OK to be unique / different.
It is OK to be imperfect.
Bonus: voice note dated 2013 Aug 20th
How to live a healthy life? 17 simple tested tips
1. Rest well. Sleep 6-8 hours daily.
2. Live a life of integrity, so that you can sleep well at night.
3. Master the art of how to stop worrying, so that you can sleep well at night.
Many years ago, I found the simple tips by Dale Carnegie help.
I have added more tips to my arsenal,
and will share about it more.
4. Know when & how to say NO to unnecessary activities / requests.
5. Remember "Those who mind don't matter, those who matter don't mind."
Beware of culture-driven narcissism.
6. Remember "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me"
When my good friend L was serving in Students' Union, she gave her best to serve the students as an act of gratitude.
L was from a relatively poor family but fortunately she received full scholarhsip and some living allowance, so she was highly motivated to give back to other fellow students.
Sadly, her predecessor (in Students' Union) scolded her 'lackey' / 'running dog'.
Later she realized that her predecessor was just a man who was hungry for power, loved to drink excessive alcohol, and did not care of others.
No need to care about his word.
I personally found L an inspiring leader.
She was willing to help her subordinates much more beyond what her predecessor did.
7. Pray to say your gratitude and aspirations / hope.
8. Forgive.
The most forgiving person I have ever known: Jesus.
When you want to forgive someone (but still feel the hurt inside), remember Jesus.
9. Harbor no intention to harm others.
If you have been erred, the best revenge is success.
10. Eat more vegetables and fruit; eat less red meat.
cook rice with some healthier choices e.g.
sweet potatoes
11. Eat home cooked food.
Honestly, cooking can consume a lot of time.
On Vesak Day of 2013, I spent my time from 10am – 4 pm going to shop for groceries, washing, peeling, cutting, and cooking.
Yes, I do take a time out for brunch, feeding and bathing my child.
But, it consumed 25% of my time.
My strategy to cope:
do not cook on continuous days,
if possible cook on alternate days.
12. Try your best to pass motion daily.
When the diaper of my first son was wet,
it was more difficult for him to relax and pass motion, regardless that I train him to pass motion.
That is why he loved to pass motion after I just changed his diaper.
13. Stroll / walk, breathe in fresh air @ park / natural reserves / gardens / beaches. Nature heals!
If you have a dog, you can walk your dog.
14. Reframe your perspectives of doing house chores as a form of exercises.
15. While you pursue the tangible, cherish the intangible.
At the end of the day, it is the intangible (love, happiness, health, harmony / peace) that matters.
to have the intangible,
one must have the tangible : money (e.g. to travel / to learn / to buy), achievements (e.g. degree, career promotion, sales record), materials (e.g. nutritious food, warm clothings, safe home / luxurious bungalow).
1. Prioritize.
2. Practice the art of balancing.
16. Write to yourself.
Keep a diary / journal.
This helps to prioritize.
17. Create for yourself & share it to others.
My simple definition of "create" include
think of ideas.
write your ideas down.
do it (e.g. experiments / cooking / dance).
design products.
photograph your creation.
make audios of your ideas & creations (e.g. if your idea is in the form of song / poem / speech).
make videos of your ideas & creations.
make presentations (using e.g. powerpoint).
invent / innovate business ideas / business models.
the list goes on
and most importantly
share them to the world with your greatest LOVE!
Honestly, the act of creating makes me so happy.
If you find my writings are useful to you, please donate to me by clicking here.
8 Life lessons from dog
Dear my beloved readers,
Are you a dog lover?
Do you have a lovely, cute, or naughty puppy or dog as your pet?
Personally, I have lived with a lovely yet naughty dog (she was only 1~2 years old when we began our relationship).
I walked her sometimes,
we played and jumped at a trampoline,
and she would always rushed down stairs when I returned from work at almost midnight.
She would look at me and pant with happiness (just for my returning home).
Her action was very heartwarming,
especially at the chilling night after a long day of work.
Or have you had a bad experience with dog?
I heard a story that in a developing country,
where the social gap is relatively wide,
a beautiful girl was bitten by a dog of a rich family.
Consequently, she suffered serious fever and died few days later.
Such a precious life had gone just like that.
Although I could not ascertain if this story was true,
it serves a reminder to us that not all dogs are good to us.
A good friend was once complaining about his neighbor's dog.
It barked suddenly and shocked his father who has heart medical condition.
It barked fiercely at delivery men, babies and children, including those of neighbors.
In my current conclusion, dogs can be our friends (to some people dogs are their best friend) or foes.
According to BBC reports by Jonathan Amos, dog has actually evolved from wolf 'on the waste dump'.
After knowing about this finding,
would you want to keep a wolf as a pet?
What come to your mind when you think of the word 'word'?
The Red Riding Hood.
Wolves have not been positively portrayed.
On the other hand,
when we think of our pet dogs,
they are so docile and appear to be permanently stuck in a kind of innocent puppyhood.
What make (some) dogs so lovely as compared to wolves?
1. LOVE is powerful.
Dogs love unconditionally.
Once the dog wins over the love of the master, the master is willing to sacrifice / spend for / to serve the dog.
For example,
Roy Chong was helping an expatriate to look for a bungalow to rent in Singapore.
The comfortable monthly price range of the tenancy that the tenant looked for was SGD25,000 (paid by his company), and the tenant had only a request.
He wanted a pool to be available for his Golden Retriever dog to swim around.
Most landlords rejected his request, except a landlord who asked for SGD27,000.
The tenant happily spent the extra SGD2,000 so that his dog can swim / play at his home.
Some wolves had evolved into our best friend: our dogs that protect our home from the most dangerous animal in the whole world and that is human.
For my experience, S always faithfully welcomed me when I just returned home.
3. NATURE heals. Go outdoor, walk / stroll at the park / garden, breathe in fresh air, let the tree and birds cheer us up!
To quote Threesia Goff, a little fresh air goes a long way to brighten your day.
Note : exception exists. If you live in a heavily polluted city or when haze affects your city, perhaps staying indoor combined with a weekend getaway is an option.
4. TIME is the best gift we can give to others, because even money cannot buy back the lost time.
Always make time for the people in your life.
There is a saying that you choose your friends but not your family.
So where do colleagues fit in?
Many of us who are employed spend more time with our colleagues than we do with our family or friends yet we cannot choose who our colleagues are.
In my humble opinion,
there are situations where we cannot choose who our associates are.
If our colleagues are good, we try our best to maintain harmonious fellowship, learn from them, and emulate their strengths.
If our colleagues are bad, we also try our best to maintain harmonious fellowship (not to turn anyone into a foe).
Some people said that we do not choose our parents.
I also heard that before we were conceived,
God asked us which (biological) parents we want to choose, just that when we arrived as a newborn, we forgot everything.
However, we can choose who our Godparents are.
5. be PRESENT.
Dogs live in the moment and don't hold grudges.
Christina Villa suggests us to slow down and notice the sights, sounds, and smells of our everyday life,
as inspired by our dogs which stop to smell the roses and little children.
Although planning is important, sometimes over planning may lead to unnecessary worry. I once read from the National Geographic "Don't worry so much. Worry is praying for what you don't want.".
Here is some suggestions / reflections on how not to worry.
6. PERSEVERANCE : never give up!
Ever see a dog try to chase a squirrel up a tree? They jump, claw at the tree, and bark their heads off.
Personally, I have had some challenges sometimes while walking S (a golden retriever),
when we just left the gate,
she would half running half jumping instead of walking.
Once a guy remarked,
"It seems like your dog walk you instead of you walk your dog!"
S also loves to chase ducks and pursue them until S fell into a dirty drain,
and we had to spend an evening completely bathing her.
Don't go out without your tag. Always remember who you are, where you come from, and the name and number of someone to call if you get lost.
At minimum requirement, know how to return home after running out from your home.
8. Be genuinely INTERESTED in other people.
Being interested in other people here refers to being caring, not interrogating.
Story 1:
Z was sharing with me once she met a President's Scholar, who interrogated her (at their first encounter) on a train.
Story 2:
When my friends visited me, S would stand on her 2 legs against my friends to welcome them.
If you find my writings are inspiring to you, please donate to me by clicking here.


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Picture this: you're going to an open home to check out what you think will be your dream digs. You pull up outside, full of excitement and anticipation. As you walk in the front gate, it creaks a little. "No biggie", you think – a little WD 40 will fix that.
Then you go through the front door… and the first thing you smell is tobacco smoke. Ugh. Further inspection reveals cobwebs, dirty skirting boards and windows that haven't been washed since around about the beginning of time. Then, you're confronted with it – the awkward family photo that permanently etches into your mind an image of the weirdos who used to live here.
Do you: Continue reading


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German Shepherd Rescue Elite (GSRE) has been formed with the aim of rescuing, re-homing German Shepherd Dogs (GSD's) and educating people on the breed. GSRE is backed up by a team of unpaid volunteers who strive to aid and promote responsible ownership of the breed.
GSRE's aim is to be the prevention and not always the cure, through offering education on the lovely breed and how to look after these amazingly intelligent and energetic dogs. We not only look to re-home dogs but keep them in their original homes by offering training and behaviour advice. Through our volunteers and website we want to inform people on all aspects of dog ownership before you decide to take the plunge especially as German Shepherd Dogs are a large working breed and are not suitable for everyone.
More recently GSRE have also been helping the Belgian Shepherd Malinois (Mali's) breed who have started finding themselves in rescue, and as the other main working breed used by the police and armed forces, we feel we are better placed than many rescues to understand their needs.
GSRE is a registered charity that works alongside many other reputable rescues which means that through team work and pulling together we can help even more dogs in need. To assist in this we are now a Full Member of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) who promote best practice in animal welfare, and a member of the EU Dog and Cat Alliance who call for EU action to build a better Europe for dogs and cats.
We are a proactive charity with a common goal; the welfare of animals.
Here at Finn's Store we serve the very best healthy organic dog food, paw-picked by Finn himself. We know that dogs are happy and healthy when they are fed the very best in food. That's why Finn started Finn's Store, to bring you his favourite organic food to your furry friend.
Every order from Finn's Store is delivered next day within an hour time slot via our chosen courier DPD. Not going to be in? Just use the tracking link we email you and select a safe place or a preferred neighbour for delivery, it's that simple.
At Finn's Store we believe in making a difference, so we have chosen to donate 10% of our profits to German Shepherd Rescue Elite where Finn is a proud patron. We believe in giving back and Finn has personally chosen this registered charity as it does such amazing work supporting Finn's kind.
Please be sure to read our guide to adoption and adopting a GSRE dog before considering adopting a German Shepherd.
We're always looking for foster homes, even if you can only spare time at a weekend to walk or look after our kennel dogs.
Volunteers are what makes our rescue, if you care about the breed and want to make a difference we'd love to hear from you.
Any money donated goes directly to the dogs we help, so please give whatever amount you can.
Visit our online shop and show your support for GSRE.


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Brando offers new stereo speakers for the Sony PSP.
Their first stereo amplifier went on sale in May and looked cheaper than this new hi fi speaker accessory for the PSP. The PSP Hi Fi System weighs 63g and uses 2 AAA batteries to create amplified sound for the Sony PSP. The speakers snap on to the PSP.
More details on the Brando shop.
More Sony PSP Deals!


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Barcelona vice-president Jordi Cardoner says a move to re-sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain can be ruled out at this time.
Sky Sports News understands the Brazil forward has told PSG he wants to leave the club this summer.
But it is also understood the French champions will only sanction a sale if they are able to recoup the £200m they spent to bring Neymar to the club in 2017 or if players are included in any proposed deal.
PSG sporting director Leonardo insists there has been "no concrete offer" for the 27-year-old so far.
When asked about a deal for Neymar, Cardoner told television station TV3: "As of today, there's no Neymar case, as the president said, and it's complicated.
"We are passive actors. We know he's not happy in Paris and it's a situation that needs to be resolved in Paris.
"We haven't spoken to them. There is a lot of respect between the clubs and if there is a Neymar case one day, we'll talk.
"Today, at this time, it's ruled out."
Also Read – 2020 U-20 Women's W/Cup: FIFA Inspection Team To Arrive Nigeria Monday
French football expert Jonathan Johnson says Philippe Coutinho is the "key chip" in any potential deal which would see Neymar re-join Barcelona from PSG.
"There are certain players PSG know they wouldn't like," Johnson told Sky Sports News.
"They are not very keen on Umtiti because of his injury history. I am also led to believe Umtiti is not keen on a move to PSG either as is the case with Rakitic.
"The player who seems to have the unanimity at the moment needed for a deal like this is Coutinho. He would be the key chip in any potential deal.
"The other player that would make a lot of sense for PSG, and it is certainly a position they are looking to strengthen in since Dani Alves left on a free transfer, is Semedo at right-back.
"So PSG might be hoping that Barcelona would be willing to sacrifice in order to make this deal possible."11 BUSINESS NUGGETS FROM SUPER EAGLES BRONZE MEDAL TRIUMPH. The content of this ebook will propel you above your competition. DOWNLOAD NOW!!!


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At Semetrical, we help to maximise conversion rates on all client websites.
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We prioritise where to test, then maximise the conversion rates on key pages.
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This document provides more details on each of our measurement, insight and improvement based services, along with recent result data.
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See below to view some of our recent Analytics & CRO work.
Contact our Analytics team for a free consultation.


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Author Encounter – Library Talk/Workshop with Katrina MacDonald – Elanora Library Friday 18th January 2019.
Book Launch Photos (to come)
Media are welcome to use any of the attachments below. You can use the contact page if you would like to interview Donna Munro about the publishing industry and The Zanzibar Moon or Kendwa's Secret.
Kendwa's Secret – Press Release PDF Kendwa's Secret
Kendwa's Secret – Book Poster PDF Kendwa's Secret
Press Release Donna Munro PDF The Zanzibar Moon
Press Release Donna Munro Word Docx The Zanzibar Moon
Interview questions Word Doc Donna Munro
Interview questions PDF Donna Munro


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Wonderful investment opportunity. Great location in Mount Pleasant and close to many parks. This home offers 3 suites in the main home and a separate one bedroom coach house. Many updates have been done including kitchen, baths, decks and sprinkler system. Offers a considerably large return on investment!
Taxes (2019): $5,429.42


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Walk-in flu vaccines will once again be available this Saturday. On October 14th, patients and parents can get flu vaccines during our acute care walk-in times from 9AM to 11:30 AM.
This is a great time for any college student home on break to get his or her vaccine before the holidays and finals approach. Don't forget to pick up your Halloween treat after your shot.


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Easy. Smooth. Shiny. Fluffy.
Yum, Yum. This is a very easy and smooth, shiny frosting. I got the idea to do this from Flourless Peanut Butter Cupcakes - this is the same consistency as that batter, but without the eggs and baking soda.
Peanut Butter Frosting
Hanunyah Creation
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup lard
1/4 cup safe powdered sugar
1/4 to 1/2 cup water
1. With a whisk, whisk all ingredients together, adding water until desired consistency.
~ Hanunyah


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Hypersexuality, also referred to as erotomania , or, more straightforwardly, sexual addiction, has been linked to traumatic experiences during the sufferer's childhood. This does not imply, of course, that all those who suffer childhood trauma will go on to become hypersexual in adulthood, nor that there aren't other causes (there are – such as some neurological conditions which it is unnecessary for me to go into here).
Erotomania can be defined as a persistent and enduring, intensely powerful compulsion to indulge in sexual activity, whether that activity is solitary or with another/ others. Although it affects females (in such cases, yet another term is sometimes used – 'nymphomania') it is more common amongst men. Clearly, it is no easy task to judge when a 'normal' sexual appetite escalates to such extremes that it is classified as erotomania ; nevertheless, clinicians generally classify sexual addiction as being a pathological condition when it substantially interferes with day-to-day functioning, including friendships, relationships, work and lifestyle in general.
Clinicians regard addiction to sex as a coping mechanism which allows the sufferer to 'dissociate' (click here for my article explaining in detail what psychologists mean by 'dissociation) or, in other words, to mentally 'escape' from feelings of intense emotional distress (including clinical depression, severe anxiety and intense loneliness brought about by social isolation).
Symptoms include – – frequent, anonymous sex – frequent use of prostitutes – obsession with online porn/sexually-oriented chatrooms/phone sex – view of others as mere sex-objects – obsessive masturbation (can be even as much as 10-20 times per day) and, at the more severe end of the scale, symptoms may include: – indecent public exposure – voyeurism – bestiality
Severe childhood trauma, as we have seen so often in other articles I've written for this site, often causes the adult who experienced it to develop conditions that give rise to deep-rooted psychological and emotional distress. Erotomania may then result as a defence mechanism (i.e. the need to dissociate as discussed briefly above). Not infrequently, drink and/or drugs may be used during sexual activity in order to intensify its dissociating effect.
Whilst the sexual activity associated with erotomania may bring temporary relief from emotional pain and suffering, this tends to be heavily outweighed by the negative effects of sexual addiction. The first port of call for the sufferer of erotomania is usually the GP (in the UK). However, because of the sensitive nature of the subject, some prefer to initially see an expert in sexual therapy.
As we saw above, one reason why those who have suffered childhood trauma may become addicted to sex is that the act of sex helps them to 'blot out', or make themselves feel 'numb to', or 'dissociate' from unbearable emotional pain connected to their early life experiences (for example, those who have suffered severe childhood trauma may go on to develop borderline personality disorder and a major symptom of this condition is a propensity to develop addictions – including sex addiction).
Indeed, because most people who suffer from sex addiction are generally unwilling to discuss their problem with others, the fact that they are suffering from it only becomes apparent when then develop a trusting relationship with a therapist who they initially went to see for help with other addictions such as alcoholism or drug abuse.
Alternatively, they may have initially gone to see their therapist in order to seek treatment for depression, anxiety or low self-esteem (all of which are also more common in those with a history of childhood trauma).
Currently, sexual addiction is regarded as being similar in nature to addiction to chemical substances because the act of sex seems to have a similar 'numbing' effect (see above) on feelings of mental anguish (however, it should be noted that, as a discrete condition, 'sex addiction' is not yet (at the time of writing) included in the Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders. Sexual addiction can manifest itself in a number of ways, including :
- Voyeurism
- Exhibitionism
- Fantasies
- Internet Pornography
- Sadomasochism
- Compulsive use of prostitutes
In fact, sexual addiction is NOT the same as simply having a high sex drive (indeed, a high sex drive can be a sign of good psychological health) but involves a compulsive quality that brings about negative results (for the sufferer, those s/he comes into contact with or both). Sexual addiction can seriously, adversely impact upon the individual's quality of life. For example, it may :
- cause financial problems
- result in the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases
- lead to legal problems
- impair relationships
Once a person suffering from sex addiction recognizes that s/he has a problem which is significantly spoiling his/her quality of life, seeking help from a therapist can be very helpful.
Confiding in a trusted, accepting, empathetic therapist can help to reduce feelings of shame related to the addiction and the therapist can provide advice about how to avoid triggers and how to develop healthier and more functional coping mechanisms to deal with negative feelings.
Therapies used to treat sex addiction include cognitive behavioural therapy and psychodynamic therapy (the latter may be more appropriate when the problem is clearly related to childhood issues).
How to Overcome Sexual Addiction | Self Hypnosis Downloads
David Hosier BSc Hons; MSc; PGDE(FAHE).


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Reshow USB Cassette/Tape Player Converter Convert to MP3 into USB Flash Drive
Get The Best Deal At Amazon
See Special Price
Reshow cassette converter/player with tiny & exquisite look. Lightweight and portable. Wonderful memories always worth to recall. What a pity if you throw away the things past which are carrying the most precious. With this amazing invention, you can convert all the tapes into MP3 and store them into thumb drive, MP3 Player or any other digital device. What are you still waiting for? Now give a chance to awaken your precious memories.
- Please check that if you use battery power, you should turn the switch (top of the cassette player) to AA side, same as USB power. Tips: if the battery is low, that the LED green light would be solid which can't record.
- Then, make sure that you've connected thumb drive to the cassette player. It would not record unless connecting thumb drive.
- Speed of converting can't be adjusted, same as the speed of playing tape.
- Auto mode: press the up down button till the LED light turn blue. It needs some interval times between two songs for automatically detect.
- Sound quality: depends on the audio source. If the music level of tapes is low, that the mp3 of converting from it will be not good either.
- The item has no built-in speaker, except attached earphone.
- Battery, cassette/tape and thumb drive are not included.
- Converter format: MP3
- Working time: 1 hour with 2*AA battery
- Audio channel: Stereo L/R
- Bit Rate: 128Kbps
Package include:
- 1 x Cassette tape to mp3 USB flash drive converter
- 1 x USB cable
- 1 x User Manual
- 1 x Earphone
- CONVERTS TAPE TO MP3 – Converts cassettes/tapes into thumb drive to be MP3 audio file directly without computers or any other devices.
- MULTI-FUNCTIONAL & PORTABLE – Supports playback and check the recorded audio on the device. Small pocket size, user can record and convert it anywhere.
- STANDARD WALKMAN USE – It can be used as walkman, playing the tapes or MP3 of thumb drive without converting. 3.5mm AUX jack enables you to listen with your stereos, headphones, or other speaker system.
- POWER SUPPLY – 2 AA batteries, or 5V DC USB power.
- BIG TIPS – It may cause some problems with NTFS format of thumb drive, such as "slow" or "skip" etc. Recommend the format of FAT32. Please contact thumb drive to cassette converter by composite cable (package includes), or it will be some static in MP3.


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DEFINITION of Contingent Shares
Contingent shares of company stock are issued only if certain conditions are met. Contingent shares are similar to stock options, warrants and other convertible instruments in that there is a level of uncertainty associated with their issue. For example, for contingent shares to be issued, the corporation must generate earnings that exceed a certain threshold. Contingent shares are also important for common stockholders since the contingent shares can dilute the ownership of existing shareholders.
BREAKING DOWN Contingent Shares
In the TARP bailout, the U.S. Treasury was granted contingent shares in certain companies. These shares were meant to offset the risk of loss for taxpayers. Under the terms of the agreement, the contingent shares vest automatically if the U.S. Treasury loses money as a result of purchasing the troubled assets.
Contingent shares as a financial security make an attractive incentive option. To entice managers while aligning their interest with shareholders, a contingent share can help motivate managers to grow a business as they would benefit from an increase in value as well.
The primary drawback to contingent shares is their dilute nature. If the contingency is triggered, thereby expanding the number of available shares, existing shareholders will see their ownership stake fall proportionally.
Example of Contingent Shares
For example, Company A acquired Company B. During the negotiation; Company A agreed to issue 20,000 common shares to the shareholders of Company B if Company B increased its earnings by 20% in the current fiscal year. The current earning of Company B is $200,000, and the current number of shares outstanding is 200,000.
As of now, the earning per share would be = (Earning/Common Shares) = ($200,000/200,000) = $1 per share.
Now, let's say that Company B can hit the target of a 20% increase in its earning this year. That means Company A will issue 20,000 common shares as contingent shares.
As a result, the new earnings would be = ($200,000*120%) = $240,000.
And, the number of shares issues would increase to = (200,000 + 20,000) = 220,000.
Therefore, the new EPS would be = ($240,000/220,000) = $1.09 share.
However, an additional 20,000 in common shares will proportionally dilute existing shareholders before the issuance of the new [contingeny] shares.


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Visitors Book
Here are a few of the new friends we have made over the years. Thank you all for your kind comments. Click on a Thumbnail below and then mouse over the larger image, or tap the large image on your tablet to see what they had to say about Les Lavandes.
Gordon and Christine Swalwell
"Twice in one year! Well we thought about Italy and we thought about Croatia. But in the end we thought that there is no place nicer, so here we are again. What can we say that hasn't already been said? Wonderful place, wonderful friends and a good time had by all. As always we hope to be back soon."
Kelso, Scotland
Lee, Sophie, Charlotte and Betsy Cottingham
"Wow! What an amazing time we've had here at Les Lavandes. This really has been one of our most memorable holidays. Loved the location. Loved the property. You two as hosts are fantastic. Thank you so much" Hope to see you next year."
Leicestershire, England
Guy, Colette, Chloé et Cecile
"Un grand mercie pour votre acceuil chalereaux. Avons passé un excellent séjour, tout était parfait"
Lyon, France
Lewis, Kim, Elyse, Amelie, Renee and Effie.
As a family of 6, it takes some time to find the right place for our holiday, set in the tranquil hills Les Lavandes is the perfect location for us, La Trufferie was perfect clean, tidy, Wi-fi, TV available with English TV channels. Thank you Ken & Linda for making our stay so wonderful. Can't wait to come back.
Devon, England
Olexiy Sologubenko and Lily Poberezhska
"We haven't been here for a few years and had forgotten how beautiful the place is. Ken and Linda, our respects as ever, great to know you for the past 14 years. We'll be back and will check the website on cold, rainy days."
Hampstead, London
Angele and Ed
"Three weeks at Les Lavandes! Alas we must leave today, feeling as if we were leaving home. All of it due, not just to the lovely La Bergerie, that we occupied, but also to the warm hospitality extended by Ken and Linda. We are especially grateful for their kindness during the shocking events of September 11th. Everyone leaving Les Lavandes, leave a little of themselves behind. Our deepest appreciation.
San Francisco, California, USA
Helene, Frederic, Clara and Clement
Dear Ken and Linda, thank you so very much for your warm welcome at your lovely property. We had a wonderful time here and enjoyed every bit of it. We hope to be back soon, love from us all.
Brussels, Belgium
Linda and Derek Goodwin and Friends
"Our fourth visit and it is even better than we remembered. The only place we've been to when 1 week isn't long enough. Perhaps when we've retired we will come for longer"
Hertforshire, England
Alan and Angela Philpott
Our fourth visit as memorable as ever. We came the first time with our children and now we're back with our grandchildren. Ken and Linda are lovely hosts, we will return for visit No: 5 very soon.
Paddock Wood, England
Andrew, Sophie, Lucy and Ben Butcher
"Great to be back for an almost exact repetition of our last holiday. Either we are very dull or we just enjoy being here that much. Great pool, Tennis, Golf and all week table tennis tournament kept us fit. All countered by an evening of over indulgence with K & L, marvelous! Till next time!!!"
London, England
Ashley, Jemma, Millie and Poppie
Our Sixth Visit After five holidays at Les Lavandes it really does feel like home here and it's always a pleasure to be hosted by Ken and Linda. On my first visit I was a young single teen, I'm now returning as a married father of two girls. Looking forward to visit number seven!
Kent, England
Carl Beetham
"In total, collectively and individually this must be our tenth visit. Here's hoping that the next time we come, Ken will pay his way and get a round in! Hope we'll be here for longer next time."
Surrey, England
The McNamaras
Thank you for a lovely stay again. Great views, lovely property. Enjoyed diving in the cool water after hot days exploring.
London, England
Steve and Paula Connor
"Sixth time here and it's just as wonderful as the first. Thanks again to Ken, Linda for a fantastic week and also to the extended family. We wish we could take Wallace home with us, but we will be back to see him soon. Lots of love."
Vienne, France
Paul and Sharon Gaines
We booked later than normal and broke our no kids resort rule and we're so glad that we did. It has been the best holiday we've had for a long, long time. We were so glad to meet Ken and Linda, who will be friends from now on. Les Lavandes is a central hub for exploring everything in the region.
Carmarthenshire, South Wales
Christophe, Kerstin, Luise and Lenn Boeckheler
Dear Ken and Linda Thank you so much for everything. All of our vacation dreams have come true. We will be back.
Frankfurt, Germany
Geraldine, Dominic, Megan and Harry
Such a beautiful place to come and relax. The house was comfortable and clean and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. The pool has definitely made our holiday. Many thanks.
Guildford, Surrey
Yan and Tru
Ken and Linda, we had a very pleasant stay in a beautiful area and very nice Gite and with wonderful hosts. We will be Back.
Pat and Len Longuet
"Our hosts were kind, helpful and understanding. The location perfect We have fallen in love with Les Lavandes. A delightful holiday in an idyllic setting, with hosts who we now consider to be our friends."
London, England
Di, Steve, Jess and Lottie Harris
Back after 10 years and had a fantastic time. Thank you for your great company and the fun we had at the barbecues, great times never to be forgotten. Hope to be back again soon to see Linda and Ken, it feels like coming home.
Kent, England
Marilyn and Richard Bloom
Thank you so very much for a memorable holiday. You are both such gracious hosts and made us feel very welcome. We will certainly spread the word when we get home.
Pebble Beach, California, USA
Daniel, Sara, Jorge and Susannah Aguilar
Wonderful setting, relaxing holiday and we leave with happy memories of the dogs, the pool and our wonderful hosts, Ken and Linda. Thank You.
Cambridge, England
Alison, Thomas and Jesse Schulz
The location is beautiful and very peaceful and we thoroughly enjoyed relaxing here, helped by the glorious weather. It was lovely to have our dog here with us and we thank you for your relaxed attitude. We wish you all the best for the future.
Hannover, Germany
David and Sue Kitchen
"As usual our twelfth year has been as wonderful as the previous eleven. Our batteries have been re-charged and we are looking forward to next year . "
Lancashire, England
Maxine, Ian, Jodie and Joe
"After living a busy London lifestyle, plus moving and renovating a house, we all feel like human beings again after ten days of pure blissful relaxation. It was lovely to meet Ken and Linda, who made our time so comfortable. It was like being on holiday with friends."
Kent, England
Les Lavandes, Self Catering Holiday/Vacation Properties in the Dordogne.
Les Lavandes,
24510 Ste. Alvere,
Tel: +33-(0)553-071775 Mob: +33-)0)682-494683 Mob: +33-(0)682-494754
Copyright © Les Lavandes All Rights Reserved. Built by Magiwebs ~ magiwebs.com Powered by Webshosters ~ webshosters.com


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Pleating and subtle brand detailing is captured on the high quality leather upper on the Rombah Wallace 'Warwick' style. In addition, this men's classic, slip-on, loafer also incorporates a high quality leather lining and sole.
Fits true to size
UK Orders
UK Standard delivery is charged at £2.95 and UK next day delivery is charged at £3.95. Order before 5pm to receive your delivery the following day. Orders made after 5pm on Friday will be dispatched on the following Monday. Orders are delivered Monday - Friday with the exception on bank holidays.
UK Returns Procedure
We now offer free UK returns via Collect+.
International Orders
Details for orders shipped outside the UK can be found on the 'Delivery & Returns' page.
Payment can be made using the following major credit and debit cards: Visa, Visa Debit, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Maestro. We also accept payment through PayPal.


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Putting together a footwear collection doesn't have to be difficult. You just need to pick a few pairs that you can wear for work or play. The good news is that we have rounded up for you the perfect checklist of shoes you should have in your wardrobe for all occasions. Here are the five shoes every gent must-have in his closet.
Athletic Sneakers
Assuming that you work out, you should invest in a good pair of running shoes. Select a pair that's comfortable, durable, and that goes with your personal style. There are even a few running shoes that can be worn outside the gym, typically with a skinny jean, leather jacket and casual t-shirt. And, DICK'S Sporting Goods is having a big sale of running shoes so check that out!
Boat Shoes
When the temperature gets warmer that's the time to break out your boat shoes. This stylish pair is extremely comfortable, give your feet breathing room and work for just about any casual occasion. Boat shoes are meant to be worn without socks, but you can buy no-show socks if your feet can't handle being al fresco. Wear them with tailored short trousers, a linen tee, and your favorite hat.
Chukkas are ankle boots, sometimes called desert boots, that are ideal for the upcoming colder months. They are more dressy than sneakers so you can wear them for business casual events with jeans or trousers. Chukkas are extremely versatile and come in all types of colors, and styles like suede, mesh, and leather. Get your first pair in black or brown to see if you like them. These brown leather chukkas from Kohl's are the perfect introduction to fall boots.
Leather brogues are an essential piece of every man's wardrobe. They're perfect for when you need to look more put-together like for a wedding or interview. Brown ones can be worn for both the office and casual everyday wear. The black cap toe oxford style is perfect for fancy events. If you're going for a business casual look, wear your brogues with tapered pants, a suit jacket, and a fitted dress shirt.
If you're into dressing more polished or even preppy, loafers are the way to go. Wear them in the summer when you're tired of your boat shoes and slip-on sneakers. They're incredibly versatile and a good investment piece for both casual and more dressy occasions. These ASOS Tassel Loafers in Tan are great for going from summer to fall weather. Style penny loafers (without socks) with a summer suit all in the same color, and wear a dress shirt and tie in your favorite patterns.
Let's Connect
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Want to support our site and eat better? Check out Blue Apron, a new approach to healthy cooking.


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Two sides to story
Says he "led the fight to expand Medicaid."
— PolitiFact Virginia
on Tuesday, September 10th, 2019
Repetition doesn't make it true
"Five years ago, when I took office, our state was mired in debt - a $2.4 billion debt left over by Republicans."
— PolitiFact Virginia
on Tuesday, June 25th, 2019
Jumping the gun with flip claim
On Evers' support for a $15 minimum wage
— PolitiFact Wisconsin
on Thursday, February 14th, 2019
Slightly off on rural communities
During his governorship: "Every single city and county in Virginia, their unemployment dropped, and in most of the rural communities, it dropped more than 50 percent."
— PolitiFact Virginia
on Tuesday, December 4th, 2018
When "walk" means probation
Says Brendan Kelly "allowed half of the criminals he faced to walk free" and "failed to protect women who were violently assaulted," allowing "those guilty of sexual assault to cut inexcusable plea deals."
— PolitiFact National
on Monday, November 5th, 2018


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Drum Circle
View Calendar
Wednesday, October 17 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
The Lodge of the Fishermen
Address: 4415 Boonsboro Rd., Lynchburg, Virginia
Chris Russell and his father, Mark Russell, host this monthly event at the lodge. Bring a drum if you have one. If you don't have a drum, extra drums will be available for your use.


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As a planner, my worst enemy is the unknown. When I was researching our New York trip and looking for information about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, I only found one good, informative blog post. This was frustrating since no one really went into detail about what to expect, the possible pitfalls, and a good place to go and watch the parade. Hopefully this post gives future parade viewers some helpful insight!
I'll start with the most memorable part of the day – we were apparently lucky enough to experience the coldest ever Thanksgiving day parade… yay! (<— note the sarcasm) Despite multiple layers, heavy "winter" jackets, scarves, gloves and more, we were woefully under-prepared for the bitter cold that morning. When we got up at 4:15, the temps were around 12˚ F according to my weather app. By the time we left the hotel and got to our chosen location around 5:15, we were at a blistering 17˚ F.
Admittedly, I'm a Californian, and my blood runs much thinner than a native Nor'Easter. That being said, holy bleepity bleep it was cold! I'm glad we learned from this experience for future reference, but it was a hard-earned lesson.
One of the most surprising parts of our time at the parade was the people out there with us. The freezing cold weather really brought everyone together as a community in the realization that we were all equally crazy for being outside in that weather for over five hours – before the parade even got to us.
The first person we met was an incredibly helpful transplant to New York; she happily answered our questions and gave us some good info, while laughing at our weather ineptness. There was also the guy who, in a booming bass tone medieval heralds would be proud of and wearing a turkey hat, periodically called out how much time was left until the parade started. Other folks we met were the group of college friends who decided last minute to visit the city for the parade; the family with a little girl who could probably rival Einstein; and my personal favorite, all the people who thought they could steal our spots at the last minute.
In all seriousness though, I can't recommend strongly enough to engage with the people around you (if they're willing) and try to be a good human being. Everyone's as miserable as you are, so be kind – and buy a big pack of hand warmers to share among your newly-formed tribe.
So I'm sure you're wondering "wow, you said this would be informative, and all you've done is blabber about the cold and the people?" But fear not! Here's your oh-so-helpful breakdown of what I highly recommend should you decide to brave the parade yourselves!
- Get up early – This parade is not for the faint of heart. We got up at 4:15 AM, which we thought was pretty good, but apparently if it hadn't been as cold as it was, the area we sat in would have already been filled.
- Do your research – You're reading this post and have hopefully made it this far (bravo), but seriously, do your research. Look up the parade route, and then check which side of Central Park West and 6th Avenue you're staying on. In our case, we had chosen a spot on Central Park West near the restaurant we were brunching at, and that meant crossing the parade route on 6th Avenue. Thankfully at 4:45 in the morning, the cops let us cross, but there's very few spots on 6th Avenue where you can cross the route before the parade starts, so be very patient and very polite to the very tired NYPD officers working the parade, ask them where you can cross, and be on your merry way.
- Plan to walk – our original plan was to grab a cab over to our chosen parade viewing location, and when we realized how the streets were blocked off, we quickly scrapped that plan in favor of hoofing it. If you or anyone in your party can't walk or would have difficulty traversing the sidewalks, plan ahead and either watch the parade from your hotel or choose a spot close by where you won't have to travel far.
- Bring snacks, hot drinks and room temp water – Our hotel kindly had a hot drink station set up in the lobby where we were able to fill our thermoses with tea before heading out. This was incredibly helpful and money saving, although due to the weather we did end up finding a Starbucks close to our location. It allowed us to get more hot liquid in us, and get out of the cold for a few minutes. Don't forget about water, hydrating will help with fatigue. One mistake we made is we brought hardly any snacks, and our brunch reservation wasn't until 10:30… d'oh! Make sure you bring enough to keep you full and energized without making a mess – protein bars, trail mix, chips, etc.
- Plot out a bathroom ahead of time – Speaking of our stops at Starbucks, guess which line was longer? If you said the bathroom line, you'd be correct! Everybody was trying to squeeze in a quick pitstop, so if you think you'll have to go in the hours you're waiting for the parade, figure out where the closest public restrooms are in case the local Starbucks is swamped.
- Bring clothing layers and blankets – This is an incredibly simplified version of what many parade goers had with them, but these basics would have been unbelievably helpful to us in our rapid descent to hypothermia. Many people had thermal blankets, tents, folding chairs and more; some people even had folding tables with full breakfast spreads for their group. It depends how much stuff you want to lug with you if you're walking any distances, but my recommendation – extra warm layers and several blankets.
- Wear comfortable clothing – While we're talking clothes, I can't state enough the need to be warm and comfortable. Like I said, we waited over five hours before the parade got to us, so wearing your comfiest, warmest clothes is the way to go. Chances are, if you're seen on the telecast, you'll be a blob in the crowd, so fashion should be the least of your concerns.
- Buy HotHands ahead of time – The local stores in our area did a booming business that morning with one product – HotHands. These little packets of glorious warmth were a hot commodity with the parade goers, and we were lucky enough to be waiting with a group that graciously passed them out to those around them who didn't have any.
- Pick your spot ahead of time – This was one of the smartest things I did when planning this trip. I knew that 6th Avenue would be a zoo the closer you get to 34th street, so I decided our best bet would be to head for Central Park West. It would give us a chance to get away from the telecast crowds, and we'd be done sooner so we could eat sooner! Keeping that in mind, I did a search for brunch restaurants open in the area and after reading reviews, settled on Cafe Fiorello. That ultimately determined our spot on the corner of 64th St. and Central Park West. I can't overstate how lucky we got with that spot! It's hard to describe in writing, but if you want a good spot with a great view of the parade, that area is a great option.
Ultimately, I'm incredibly glad I got the chance to experience the parade in person. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience that non-New Yorkers have to see to believe. That being said, would I ever do it again? NOPE. At least, not without a warm hotel room overlooking the parade route or an actual seat in front of Macy's. I It was a blast to watch the parade live, but I can't see myself doing a five hour wait in the cold like that again. And that's coming from a Disney fanatic who has way too many parade and show waits under her belt to count. But don't let me discourage anyone from trying it! I highly recommend it, especially if you're prepared the way I've described.
Hopefully this breakdown helps future parade goers, and feel free to drop any questions or comments below!
All the best,
Mrs. P²


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|"Ramkumar Vadali (JIRA)" <j...@apache.org>
|[jira] Resolved: (HDFS-1453) Need a command line option in RaidShell to fix blocks using raid
|Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:59:33 GMT
[ https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/HDFS-1453?page=com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.issuetabpanels:all-tabpanel ] Ramkumar Vadali resolved HDFS-1453. ----------------------------------- Resolution: Invalid RAID is a MR project, will reopen this under MR. > Need a command line option in RaidShell to fix blocks using raid > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > > Key: HDFS-1453 > URL: https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/HDFS-1453 > Project: Hadoop HDFS > Issue Type: Improvement > Components: contrib/raid > Reporter: Ramkumar Vadali > > RaidShell currently has an option to recover a file and return the path to the recovered file. The administrator can then rename the recovered file to the damaged file. > The problem with this is that the file metadata is altered, specifically the modification time. Instead we need a way to just repair the damaged blocks and send the fixed blocks to a data node. > Once this is done, we can put automation around it. -- This message is automatically generated by JIRA. - You can reply to this email to add a comment to the issue online.
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