text:
Doug Clark: Bikini baristas at risk of a city cover-up
Thu., Sept. 12, 2013
As we get ready to say so long to the summer of 2013, a burning question comes to mind.
Whatever happened to Mike Fagan's war on the bikini barista babe biz?
To recap July's hysteria …
Complaints from constituents about some near-naked coffee sellers had the Spokane city councilman in a froth and vowing to create an ordinance designed to nip any over-fleshed enterprises in the bud.
I'm such an optimist. I figured the sheer silliness of this nonissue would eventually dawn on Fagan, who is a smart guy and would wisely drop the whole matter with a red-faced "never mind."
There I go again, giving Spokane government more credit than it deserves.
Fagan, as I discovered Wednesday, not only has refused to let this rubbish go, but his new "Unlawful Public Exposure" ordinance is almost ready for Prime Time.
"Spokane does not have a public decency standard," said the councilman, who is bent on filling the void.
Not that I'm grousing.
The debate on this alone could provide some of the best Theater of the Absurd since the good old days, when the late-great Jimmy Marks monopolized the Council's public testimony time with anecdotes about the Gypsy Curse he had cast upon the town.
So save the dates. Lest sanity suddenly prevail, the ordinance should get a reading at next Monday's council gathering. Then it could be debated and voted on at the Sept. 23 meeting.
Ever the cooperative public servant, Fagan emailed an advance copy of his aforementioned ordinance to me. So please turn on some soft music and light a candle while I give you my favorite section, Part B:
"Unlawful public exposure" means the exposure of any of the following body parts of the person without a full and opaque covering in other than a public place provided or set apart for nudity:
1. Any part of the male or female genitals, pubic hair, pubic area, perineum, anus, or bottom one-half of the anal cleft;
2. Any part of the areola or nipple of the female breast; or
3. More than one-half of the part of the female breast located below the top of the areola.
And you wonder why the streets don't get fixed.
For the good of the column, however, I am fully endorsing Fagan's Unlawful Pubic, I mean, Public Exposure law.
I'm dying to shadow the poor city worker who will have to go out with rubber gloves and a tape measure to confirm or deny any citizen complaints of too much barista boobage or overexposed bum valleys.
Maybe it's time to resurrect that old city weights and measures department.
Speaking of which, the other day I drove by this really fat dude who was bent way over while working on his pickup motor.
I'm not easily offended, but the "anal cleft" violation he gave me was not only heinous but felonious.
Come to think of it, Fagan's Law might put every crack-impaired plumber out of work in this burg.
The point being that there may be a need for this, although not the way Fagan intended.
To get a firsthand impression of what the hubbub is all about, I drove over to the scene of the allegedly obscene: XXXtreme Espresso on Northwest Boulevard.
I felt a little creepy joining the small caravan of men in mostly trucks who were lined up for some java and jiggle.
Then it was my turn. The young topless woman working alone seemed very excited to see me – until I told her I was media, that is.
A cold front chilled the warm air.
"I don't know (bleep)," she said flatly, "I just work here."
If I got a free cup of coffee every time some interview subject told me that, well, I'd be going to the bathroom a lot more at night than I already am.
Though my fact-finding mission was a bust, I will say that the young barista had the business end of each breast covered by an X made from some sort of black tape.
Even so, showing the bottom half of her bosom would be a violation under Fagan's Law. On the plus side, however, the micro-hot pants she had somehow poured herself into provided just enough booty barrier to keep her derriere street legal.
I can't believe I actually wrote that sentence.
Fagan might actually get Council support if he scrapped his ordinance and rewrote it based on the shocking news story that appeared in Wednesday's newspaper.
To paraphrase, a revolver-toting 12-year-old boy was arrested on charges that he threatened to shoot an Everett bikini barista and then made off on his bicycle with the contents of her tip jar.
Bottom line: Forget about fanny clefts, etc., Mike.
Make it a law that all baristas, for their own safety, must wear enough clothing so they can carry a concealed weapon.
In the end, however, who cares?
As long as just coffee and no sex is being sold, I say …
Flop and let flop.


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LakeSmart is an educational program that offers free opportunities for homeowners to learn how to manage their home and yard to protect the water quality of the pond they live adjacent to. The program is administered by the Maine Lakes Society (MLS). Coastal Rivers works with MLS to bring the LakeSmart Program to residents who live on Biscay, McCurdy, Pemaquid, Paradise (Muddy), Duckpuddle, or Muscongus (Webber) Pond.
Why LakeSmart?
Studies have shown that as water quality declines the value of shorefront property also decreases. Declining water quality also can affect the type and number of fish species that inhabit the lake and can hinder other recreational uses of the lake as well as the local economy. Clearly it is in everyone's best interest to take whatever actions they can to protect lake water quality. The goal is to make lake-friendly land-use practices the norm throughout Maine.
It's hard to believe one person's expansive lawn or eroding camp road could be a threat to something as large and enduring as a lake. But it can when added to a shoreline full of similar sites.
All stormwater that gets into a lake carries nutrients. Over time, the cumulative impact can be thousands of pounds of pollutants. The result, "death by a thousand cuts," means algae blooms, fish kills, and the loss of water clarity and spawning habitat. One tiny rivulet from one rainstorm may not seem like much, but when multiplied across a lake's watershed and added up over decades, eroded soil can turn a lake into a smelly, pea green mess."
~ Maggie Shannon, Maine Lakes Society
How does LakeSmart work?
Participating landowners receive a free evaluation of their property from certified volunteer evaluators. Evaluators look at road, driveway and parking areas; structures and septic systems; lawn, recreation areas and footpaths; shorefront and beach areas, and undeveloped land if any.
If the property meets established standards, the landowner receives an award certificate and a sign recognizing the property as being LakeSmart. At their permission, the names of the LakeSmart Award winners are published in newspapers and in association newsletters and web sites.
If a property does not initially meet the standard, the landowner is given recommendations and educational tools on how to solve the situations preventing the award. The landowner has the option to make modifications to meet the standard and be re-evaluated.
So far, 38 property owners around the Pemaquid Peninsula have received the LakeSmart award and 10 property owners have received a commendation.
Get LakeSmart!
To sign up for a free LakeSmart evaluation, please provide us with your name and email.

subset: commoncrawl


text: From the pastor…I wonder what the combined ratings would show if all the television channels showing the rescue of the first miner from Chile, trapped an half mile underground for sixty-nine days, were compiled into one. Somehow, I think the whole world was watching one news channel or another. As I write these words, fourteen miners have been rescued with high hope of a successful rescue of all the miners. Praise God! Everything about this story, so far, is wonderful. I watched into the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday and the longer I watched the more something stood out. It took the best knowledge and material of so many countries to pull this off. Think about it, when the people of the world work together, and celebrate together, tears of joy flow from all eyes. There is nothing that we cannot accomplish. It took a German cable, U.S. expertise and determination from the people of Chile to save these lives. It was absolutely mind boggling to watch the combined effort culminate in saving lives, contrasted with what we so often see on the news, religious zealots who, in the name of God, celebrate death. My heart was warmed last night. I hope the hearts of those so misled will be touched for good to replace the evil of their hatred. God can do mighty things. We must always hope for peace and good will on earth. Bro. Roger


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Simplify the Complex
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Through our writing, speaking, and teaching, we strive to stay ahead of the curve while promoting a community of interactive marketing professionals. Our employees are ever-present at industry conferences like eMetrics, SMS, SES, writing for blogs like Search Engine Land, teaching at universities, recording podcasts, and more. We believe that knowledge and experience is a tide that raises all ships, and we love sharing our experience with both new and veteran members of our community of appropriately-geeky professionals.


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Eh, winner winner chicken dinner sounds better.
Speaking of pork..did you watch Big Brother tonight?? Ha, loved Adam's shirt.
"I put bacon on my bacon." Sorry for the toothbrushing and earwaxing going on in the picture too.
Another good one…."Bacon makes everything Better." Yum, bacon.
That's an excellent lead in to what I made for dinner last night! Pork tenderloin, Lyonnaise potatoes, and sauteed green beans were on the menu. My guests were my Mom & Dad as yesterday was my Dad's birthday. Happy birthday again, Dad!!
I recreated a delicious dinner that I had in Charlotte. When I was in town, my friend, Kristie, and her husband, Jon, offered to make dinner so that we could catch up and I could see their new house. First off, oh.my.God.their.house.is.so.nice.and.I'm.so.jealous! Secondly, dinner was great! Kristie made the pork and potatoes (and dessert) and Jon made his famous green beans. Kristie had been telling me that Jon makes great green beans. You know, I grew up with canned green beans. I don't really eat fresh green beans at all. I was skeptical. But now I'm a believer. 😉
For the pork tenderloin, I went to Wal-Mart. They have several varieties of Hormel pork tenderloins already seasoned. I'd never heard of them, but the more people I ask…it seems I'm the last to know! Kristie assured me that they are all good (except not the lemon one!). I went with the Apple Bourbon Tenderloin.
She also recommended using a meat thermometer to ensure it was cooked completely. Can you believe I don't have a meat thermometer?? I made my Dad bring his over for me to use, ha! And funny this is….I'M the one that bought HIM a meat thermometer!
Sauteed Green Beans
fresh green beans (I just used a big handful per person you're cooking for…no biggie.)
olive oil
fresh thyme (or crushed red pepper)
Kosher salt
Snap off the ends of your green beans. Wash thoroughly. Add a generous amount of olive oil to a large saute pan/skillet and heat. Add your green beans. Add several teaspoons of fresh thyme and toss. (You can use crushed red pepper instead of thyme if you prefer more spicy food.) Continue to toss and cook on medium-low to medium for 25 minutes. Add Kosher salt to taste and cook for the last 5 minutes. Serve.
Lyonnaise Potatoes
3-5 large Russet potatoes, thinly sliced/chopped
1/2 large yellow onion, thinly sliced/chopped
1/3 cup chicken broth
olive oil
Kosher salt & pepper
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly coat a small baking pan (I used a cookie sheet lined with foil.) with olive oil cooking spray.
Wash your potatoes well. Cut into thin slices. Cut your onion into thin slices. (Really, I just did a combo of slices and chopped pieces on both.)
Layer potatoes & onion in pan. Season with salt & pepper. Pour chicken broth over the potatoes and onion; toss a bit to coat.
Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil. Brush potatoes with a bit of olive oil and return to oven, uncovered, for 10 more minutes to lightly brown the potatoes. Serve!
I love to serve food in pie plates if you hadn't noticed!! Pie plates aren't just for pies!!! 🙂


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Shag hairstyle might be short, also. Shag hairstyles have existed for quite a while and have come to be very versatile over the decades. They are a wonderful look for any person who doesn't have the time to spend hours upon hours styling their hair. Evidently, if you're choosing a shag hairstyle, this must be one to look at. Shag hairstyles are practiced for a long time now.It is now versatile over the previous decades.
Shaggy hairstyles can be carried out in many ways. So, the next time you're trying to find a shaggy hairstyle, this is certainly the one to think about. The quick shaggy hairstyle is great for the confident woman within her prime.
The hair at the ends ought to be styled outwards, employing a hair dryer. Update your very brief hair cut with a bold hue similar to this vibrant burgundy when youare prepared for an enjoyable and different appearance. Soon you will see curly-wavy beach hair.
For people who enjoy this look, there's simply no reason to fret. Really, you can't fail with this stunning appearance. Thus, if you believe that you can carry off a bald appearance, then you ought to try out the skinhead style. Plus it's an extremely straightforward appearance to finish. Plus it's such a very simple appearance to finish. Therefore, if you want to produce an entire fresh appearance, the shag hairstyles are certainly ideal choice for you. If you prefer a balanced appearance, keep the sides symmetrical.
Fully being a brief haircut, it's also simple to keep. The shag haircut means hair was set to distinct lengths through layering. There are a number of kinds of haircuts that could be worn by kids and teenagers. When these haircuts look extremely distinct, they're also hard to maintain. It appears much enjoy a bowl haircut. This hairdo is a significant craze on account of the snazzy cuts involved. In case you have resolved to go for punk rock hairstyles, then it is necessary to be comfortable with your selection.
When you're looking for a shag style you enjoy, you should consider your hair's length. Choppy layered styles are quite popular today and provide an outstanding look. It's not hard to style and provides you a red carpet look. This style does not need maintenance, since it is actually intended to be without maintenance. There are a number of approaches to find these styles. Haircut styles and ideas want to reflect the individual you're and not the icon you are attempting to channel.
Hairstyles can fluctuate according to the trend. There are a lot of folks who don't know that shag hairstyles have a lot of advantages in the modern world. Surely, it's among the best short hairstyles for curly hair.
You are able to manage this hairstyle how you want, which is its main USP. This hairstyle is chiefly appropriate for teenagers. It is constantly updated. A fantastic hairstyle states a lot about a guy and the shag is becoming increasingly more popular for men. The ideal thing regarding these hairstyles was they didn't take a great deal of your time and weren't higher maintenance. Let's check out a few of the great hairstyles that guarantee to earn some heads turn.


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A new analysis of global data related to wildfire, published by the Royal Society, reveals major misconceptions about wildfire and its social and economic impacts.
Prof. Stefan Doerr and Dr Cristina Santin from Swansea University's College of Science carried out detailed analysis of global and regional data on fire occurrence, severity and its impacts on society.
Their research, published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, looked at charcoal records in sediments and isotope-ratio records in ice cores, to build up a picture of wildfire in the past.
In contrast to what is widely portrayed in the literature and media reports, they found that:
- global area burned has seen an overall slight decline over past decades, despite some notable regional increases. Currently, around 4% of the global land surface is affected by vegetation fires each year.
- there is increasing evidence that there is less fire in the global landscape today than centuries ago.
- direct fatalities from fire and economic losses also show no clear trends over the past three decades.
The researchers conclude:
"The data available to date do not support a general increase in area burned or in fire severity for many regions of the world. Indeed there is increasing evidence that there is overall less fire in the landscape today than there has been centuries ago, although the magnitude of this reduction still needs to be examined in more detail."
Notwithstanding the serious impacts on society that emerge when fires occur close to populated areas, as exemplified so dramatically by the un-seasonally early wildfires in Canada this spring that led to the successful evacuation of an entire town of 80,000 inhabitants, the researchers find that the risk of direct death from fire for the population as a whole is relatively low compared with other natural hazards.
Global deaths 1901-2014
- wildfire 3,753
- earthquakes 2.5 million
- floods 7 million
The researchers, however, also warn about the serious implications of climate change, land use changes and increasing population density in the so called wildland-urban interface. For instance, climate change has already led to a lengthening of the fire season in parts of North America and is likely to increase fire occurrence and severity in many regions of the globe including the UK.
They note:
"The warming climate, which is predicted to result in more severe fire weather in many regions of the globe in this century, will probably contribute further to both perceived and actual risks to lives, health and infrastructure. Therefore the need for human societies to coexist with fire will continue, and may increase in the future."
Prof. Stefan Doerr of Swansea University, who is also the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Wildland Fire, explained:
"Large scale land use changes are increasingly exposing non-fire adapted landscapes such as tropical peatlands to serious damage by fire".
Dr Cristina Santin, a biologist at Swansea University, whose research also focuses on the impact of fires on the carbon cycle, added:
"Fire is a fundamental natural ecological agent in many of our ecosystems and only a 'problem' where we choose to inhabit these fire-prone regions or when we humans introduce it to non-fire-adapted ecosystems".
In the synthesis the experts highlight the often fundamental, complex and inevitable role that fire has in both 'natural' and 'man-made' environments. They argue that the 'wildfire problem' is essentially more a social than a natural one and that we need to move towards a more sustainable co-existence with fire. This requires a balanced and informed understanding of the realities of wildfire occurrence and its effects.
- "Global trends in wildfire and its impacts: perceptions versus realities in a changing world": published by the Royal Society. Abstract.
- This innovative research paper was produced following a Royal Society discussion meeting, held in September, and was published as part of a volume exploring both the natural and human aspects of fire in the prestigious scientific journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B earlier this week (May 23).
- The full issue, which also contains contributions by the Swansea team on the contentious issue of upland burning practices in the UK and of fire effects on soils can be found on the Royal Society Publishing website.
- Data on global deaths is from EMDAT, the emergency events database.
- While the area burned is one measure, the researchers note that severity and intensity of fire are also important: "For example, the degree of vegetation consumption, the depth of burning into the organic and mineral soil, and the proximity of areas less affected or not by fire are key in determining the length of time for a burned area to 'recover'".
Prof Stefan Doerr with a wildfire: Credit: Dr Cristina Santin, Swansea University
An experimental forest fire in Canada, simulating an intense wildfire, burning more than 5000m2 , with flames higher than 20m and temperatures on the ground of more than 900°C. Dr Cristina Santin took part in this research. Credit: Dr Cristina Santin, Swansea University.
Eucalyptus tree producing shoots straight from burned bark even when the bark is charred, all branches are burned and the tree appears dead. The image was taken only 4 weeks after the catastrophic 'Black Saturday' fires near Melbourne 2009. 179 people lost their lives in these fires, which raged with unprecedented severity and speed, and shook Australian society to the core. Credit: Professor Stefan Doerr, Swansea University
Swansea University is a world-class, research-led, dual campus university. The University was established in 1920 and was the first campus university in the UK. It currently offers around 330 undergraduate courses and 120 postgraduate courses to 16,800 undergraduate and postgraduate students.
The University's 46-acre Singleton Park Campus is located in beautiful parkland with views across Swansea Bay. The University's 65-acre science and innovation Bay Campus, which opened in September 2015, is located a few miles away on the eastern approach to the city. It has the distinction of having direct access to a beach and its own seafront promenade. Both campuses are close to the Gower Peninsula, the UK's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The results of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 showed the University has achieved its ambition to be a top 30 research University, soaring up the league table to be the 23rd placed university in the UK, with the 'biggest leap among research-intensive institutions' (Times Higher Education, December 2014) in the UK.
The University has ambitious expansion plans as it moves towards its centenary in 2020, as it continues to extend its global reach and moves closer to realising its ambition of being a top 200 Global University.
Swansea University is a registered charity. No.1138342. Visit http://www.
For more information please contact:
Kevin Sullivan
Swansea University Public Relations Office


text: (Reuters) - Panasonic Corp will open up for free its technology for Internet-enabled televisions as it looks to create a rival group to the Sony Corp and Google Inc alliance, the Nikkei reported. Sony unveiled its Internet televisions, which use the Google platform, last October. Panasonic will approach TV manufacturers in Japan, China and Taiwan about using its Ajax-CE software, which helps display online content on TV screens, the business daily said. Online functions come standard in Panasonic TVs sold domestically, and around 20 percent of sets marketed in Europe and the U.S. are Net-enabled, the paper added. By Jennifer Robin Raj 1-5-11 Source


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A State of Emergency Declared
Click Image: Ecuador Flooding Since Feb.22, 2008
LOS RIOS PROVINCE, Ecuador, 2 April 2008 – Rain and floods are not unusual in Ecuador's winter, but this year torrential rains have continued since early January, affecting 13 provinces – nearly half the country.
Floods are expected to last until May, prompting President Rafael Correa to declare: 'This is not an emergency, this is a disaster. We don't have enough resources to assist the victims.'
With as many as 300,000 people uprooted from their homes, more than 14,000 are living in shelters and schools. About 40 per cent of the displaced are children.
'We had to flee our homes'
Where the floods hit the hardest, the scene is difficult to believe. People are living in the midst of an immense polluted lake, where transportation is only possible by small wooden boats. Villagers in some of the most affected provinces resist evacuation, fearing that their belongings will be stolen in their absence. But it is a risky proposition.


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Dear FlyersRights,
Having not flown in almost four years, I took a trip from DFW to Louisville last weekend 9-13 July, on American Airlines. What could go wrong on a short hop like that? I found out. The trip turned out to be like The Odyssey as re-written by Homer.... Simpson. No problem on the first flight on an Airbus A319, except that the seat in front of me was about 8 inches from my nose, sitting upright.
My return flight on Monday was on a Mesa CRJ-900, due out at 1209 [all times EDT 24-hour]. [All quotes approximate.] Rollback from the gate on-time, and then we sat out by the runway until 1244, when the pilot announced "We had a problem, now fixed. Just need to do paperwork." That took another 20 minutes. About 1305, eight seconds or so of acceleration, then heavy braking "We had another problem, returning to gate. Take your carry-on bags."
About 75 of us lined up at the counter, where for almost 3 hours one agent, with a second agent about 1/3 of the time, processed people one at a time. The first general announcement came about 1340: "10 min till mechanic arrives, then about 45 minutes more."
1417: "No more news, another 45 minutes."
1525: "Departure 1700 at the earliest."
1706: Some bags are being unloaded. At 1710, A passenger said he had gotten on the 1824 flight.
I had been talking to two first-class passengers who were flying via DFW to Tucson. They had used 100,000 AA miles to visit their granddaughter on her first birthday. He was wearing a medical-grade lower-face mask to avoid infection, because he was a transplant patient, and he had an appointment for a critical checkup the next day. They had been second in line upon de-planing.
I told them what I had heard and they went to the ticket counter. Sorry, but the remaining seats on the 1824 flight had already been given out. They were given the options of waiting for the original flight, or renting a car and driving to Lexington for a 1946 flight which was scheduled to arrive at DFW 49 minutes before their 2200 flight to Tucson. A storm front closed the Louisville airport in late afternoon, and had moved toward Lexington, so that was a terrible option.
1737: "Found a spare plane, being towed in."
1849: Pushback from the gate 6 h 40m after the first one.
2050: arrival at DFW gate. [1950 local]
The last thing the gentleman with the transplant needed was more stress, but American Airlines certainly provided it, in spades.
-- Inadequate staff to process passengers for re-booking connections.
-- Not making two lines with one for those with connections.
-- Almost total lack of informational announcements from eithe pilots or gate staff over several hours.
-- Booking young, apparently healthy passengers on the 1824 flight, while ignoring the man with health problems, who was flying first-class and had AA Gold status.
When I got home, I found an automated email from American's computer saying it was so sorry, [deep in it's processor, I assume] and giving me 6000 miles. When I contacted the people from Tucson the next day, they had goten the same message. I paid $434.20 for my trip +25 each way for a bag. I priced their trip as cash, and it would have been over $4300, if they hadn't used miles for the trip. So 6000 miles for them seems like an added insult. Way to treat your most loyal customers, American. Seems like they should have gotten more like 60,000.
D'oh!, American.


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There has been an emphasis on teams and groups in organisations for a number of years now and for good reason. However, the latter suits the extroverts but is not always the choice of the introverts. Some people function very well on their own and prefer to do so, given a choice.
Demonstrating that one is a team player has become a key factor in career success over recent years. Much has been written about the value of teams and the overall argument put forward is that a team can be so much more successful and achieve a great deal more than the sum total of the individual skills. The obsession with teams and groups means that not preferring to be a team player is seen as an anathema. It also places a significant break on your career.
It is true that as humans we are social creatures and we tend to seek out the company of others. However, there are also those of us who prefer our own company without constantly having to be surrounded by others. The response of society at all levels is to try and reform the 'lonely' person. The loner is pitied and everything is done to try and fix the situation whether the loner in question wants it or not.
Different people have different levels of aloneness they can tolerate. The benefit of either complete retirement or reduced working commitments mean that you have the luxury of choosing selective loneliness without having to justify it to either team obsessed organisations or the wider society. Finally you can select solitude without justification or guilt.
The benefit of having more time to yourself is that you can dictate the pace at which you want to do things. It is within your power to choose to do or not do certain things without having to weigh up the pros and cons of not including someone else. This may seem either selfish or a lonely person that needs to be pitied. However, for the loners among you now is the time to enjoy the luxury of that coffee or shopping trip on your own and at your own pace when you choose.
However, solitude may be a challenging adjustment for those who have been surrounded by others most of their lives. Not being prepared for it will be a shock to many retirees. There are so many benefits to solitude, but as with any activity or art form, it takes practice if it doesn't come naturally to you.
Our careers provide us with structures and a social life, which when we retire, disappears. To some this may be a longed for blessing, indulging in the many activities they have looked forward to pursuing. On the other hand if you haven't created a social life beyond your career to suit your personal preferences, it may mean you are deprived of most of the social contact you had during your career.
Many people think that planning for retirement means the financial aspects only. Although critical, it is no guarantee of a successful and contented retirement. You may think that you will plan what to do with your time nearer to retirement and flesh out the vague ideas you might have at that stage. Not a good idea, believe me.
What is of equal importance is to plan what to do with your time when all the demands of work are no longer part of your life. As a coach I have worked with many people over the years that are caught by the unexpected arrival of retirement or reduced working commitments. It can be traumatic if no thought and planning was given to what life beyond work might look like.When planning for retirement, make sure to include reflections on balancing your own particular needs of fellowship and solitude.
A word of advice, don't leave the planning too late. Someone like a personal coach could be a valuable resource to get you started and thinking about life beyond work and the adventures you could pursue, if you chose to do so. As with anything else in life, it will be what you make of it.


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Popularity:#47 of 50 Public Schools in Worcester#245 of 292 Public Schools in Worcester County#1,730 of 2,075 Public Schools in Massachusetts#87,877 in Public Schools
View Address and Phone Number for Head Start, a Public School, at Main Street, Worcester MA.
View map of Head Start, and get driving directions from your location.
Find 6 Public Schools within 0.8 miles of Head Start.
Find 2 external resources related to Head Start.
The Head Start, located in Worcester, MA, is a publicly funded school district that educates children in Worcester County. Public Schools offer K-12 education at elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools located in Worcester County. The Public School system follows Massachusetts state public education policies, accepting all children living within the district boundaries for a tuition-free education.You may contact Public Schools for questions about:
Find Worcester Public School Enrollment and Educational Attainment (Age 25+). Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2017 ACS 5-Year Estimates.
|Worcester County
|Nursery & Preschool Enrollment
|1,509 (65.0%)
|7,265 (56.0%)
|Kindergarten Enrollment
|2,259 (95.1%)
|8,724 (90.6%)
|Elementary School Enrollment (Grades 1-4)
|6,702 (93.2%)
|35,102 (92.0%)
|Elementary School Enrollment (Grades 5-8)
|7,599 (93.0%)
|38,532 (91.9%)
|High School Enrollment (Grades 9-12)
|7,783 (90.7%)
|40,694 (91.0%)
|Worcester County
|Less than 9th Grade Education
|7,283 (6.1%)
|19,939 (3.6%)
|9-12th Grade (No Diploma)
|11,090 (9.2%)
|34,550 (6.2%)
|High School Graduate (Including Equivalency)
|35,925 (29.9%)
|160,212 (28.6%)


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Pregnant and Diabetic: What I Learned, and What You Need to Know
Hi, I'm Nicole and I blog about beauty, fashion and my lifestyle in Houston, Texas at LipstickandBrunch.com. Starting this year, I'll also be dabbling into topics about motherhood. I'm so happy to be able to be in this space talking to you about my life as the mom of my precious little boy named Nicolás Enrique. You see, grateful and lucky doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about this baby. I like to say he's a miracle, and here's why. I have type1 diabetes, and have been insulin dependent since the age of 5, so I thought I would never have a baby because of my fear of a high risk pregnancy.
There are so many things that can go wrong when you're pregnant, imagine adding one more layer with my diabetes. I took many risks when I got pregnant, risks that would threaten my life and the wellbeing of the baby. Damn Google for letting me find everything that could go wrong with this pregnancy! Ha! Blood sugar spikes can cause deformities in babies as early as eight weeks into pregnancy… but I couldn't let fear get in the way of growing our family, right?
Having a baby under these circumstances was a daunting thought. Luckily, I also married the best person I know, and he was all the support I needed to know I could do this. My diabetes and blood sugar levels would have to be in tip-top shape during the whole pregnancy; both mom and baby needed to be healthy. The nine months were full of doctors visits and more blood labs than you could imagine. I was even using five times more insulin than I usually do because your body becomes more resistant to insulin as your pregnancy progresses. Trust me, my insurance didn't like that one bit!
The only way to get rid of my fear and beating the odds was to take care of myself. I found an OBGYN who I trusted and who is bilingual; she's from Colombia, and I love her. I found a specialist who was worth the money and who was up to date with Beyonce's pregnancy because the Queen Bee and I were pregnant at the same time. I had a nutritionist because I was sick for the whole nine months, so I had to learn what to eat to stop losing weight. I also had a diabetes consultant and an endocrinologist who prescribed me a continuous glucose monitor (a must when you're pregnant!) to control the diabetes portion of the equation. If I was going to be pregnant, I was going to have the healthiest, most cautious control over it minimize any possibility of harming myself or my baby. I was going to do it right even if it was tedious, annoying and expensive.
The month finally arrived and on July 14, 2017 (lots of lucky sevens in his birthdate!) I delivered a healthy baby boy through c-section, which is how most type 1 diabetic mothers do it. Recovery was the toughest thing I've gone through; tougher than having to give myself 10 insulin shots a day back in the day.
Being a mother to Nicolás Enrique has completely changed my life for the better. Yes, life is chaotic yet beautiful. It is filled with baby cries but also irresistible smiles and giggles during bath time and while dressing him up. My schedule is finally coming together on my birthday month! I'm able to do my freelance writing from home, attend a weekly mommy breakfast with my baby (to get out of the house and feel like I can handle the baby in a public setting), and I occasionally dress up and go to a blogger party. It's nice to feel like me again.
If you're a type 1 diabetic mother and you're reading this, I want to tell you something that nobody told me: You got this and you need to look after yourself before anyone else. Not only are you being a mother and taking care of your baby by catering to his every need, but you're also trying to hustle by working from home or having a part- or full-time job. If you're keeping your blood sugar in check and giving yourself insulin shots or using your insulin pump to feel great, that's amazing. I've realized that by taking care of myself and feeling great, I'm a better mother. Thinking of myself first has become the hardest thing for me to do since becoming a mom.
I'll share one more thing: ever since I had Nicolás Enrique, I can't help but think that I beat the odds and that I won over this disease. I have this beautiful boy and I can't stop looking at his sweet face. It tells me that everything I went through to have him in my arms was worth it.
Tips for Diabetic Moms-to-Be
- Before getting pregnant, visit your endocrinologist and make sure your A1C is low.
- Love your OBGYN and high risk pregnancy specialist; you'll be seeing them A LOT!
- Get on a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) to control blood sugar levels closely as they become a lot less predictable and you lose your ability to just feel when your sugar is naturally high or low.
- Stay active. If you weren't active before, start walking 30 minutes a day to help your insulin work better.
- Have a support system. The endless labs and appointments are grueling and sometimes bringing your mom, friend or hubby along makes it less tedious.
- Visit a dietitian or diabetes educator to understand how to best eat during a pregnancy when diabetic. It's unhealthy to gain more than 20 pounds, and the proper mix of carbs, fats and proteins help to keep your sugar levels steady.
- Stay positive. Don't Google everything that could go wrong. Follow instructions and expect the best. Diabetic blood sugar levels are affected by mood, so stay happy to stay healthy!
- Be prepared to use 3 to 5 times more insulin that you usually do. The placenta makes your body very insulin resistant.


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I just went into O2 to buy a new phone, and not only that but move from being an Orange customer for over fifteen years, and they told me that they couldn't process my order because they couldn't find my address.
I found this extremely frustrating as it was obviously their fault and there I was ready to spend cash with them, guaranteed for the next eighteen months.
I've lived at my flat for over a year now, and within about two months we had added ourselves to the Royal Mail postcode database. We were encountering this problem for a good few months as companies failed to update their database from the Royal Mail's.
There lies the problem, they haven't updated their database to include my address, which means they haven't updated their database in over a year.
Then I was told that since my address wasn't on the system then I couldn't have a credit check carried out. I would have to wait until their Manager added me to the system, and that would take two weeks. Rather than give me a reference and a number to call back I was just told to call back in two weeks. A typical fob off.
What made this more frustrating is that my girlfriend is an O2 online customer, and to clear up any confusion she does live at the same address and gets her bills delivered to our home. Yes, that same address O2 say doesn't exist!
Why isn't that address showing on their system? They have a customer already living there! Why couldn't they carry out a credit check with, as they said they would, my full Bank details? Surely that combined with my American Express card would be enough? If not, what about proving I work for one of the largest financial organisations, and they do their own credit checking, employees aren't even allowed to overdraw without permission.
O2 obviously have some messed up internal systems and just don't want my money or my girlfriend to stay as a customer.


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As the work progresses mixed feelings
of satisfaction and stress emerge. One by one the pieces of the puzzle start
matching and as I move into larger rings there is an element of wonder and a
sense of achievement. Objects of unfamiliar big scale start filling up the
small studio and I find myself surrounded by these remarkable tubular vessels.
They are all individual with their personal form, texture and colour though
they are part of the same story; they need to talk to each other. Their
imperfections should be complimentary, and when the day comes to meet each
other it should feel as they were meant to be together. But it's a long
way to Ithaka and a million things can go wrong. As they transform from mud to
stone there are temptations and dangers and these clay characters
have such volatile personalities.
Iacta alea est.
Since the journey has started, there is no way back. I should hope the journey
is long and full of adventures and experiences and this kind of wealth is what
I should be hoping for. The wise words of Kavafis will keep me company.


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TruClip holder
The next generation Edwards TruClip holder provides a streamlined and efficient sensor organization that can be used across the continuum of care – from OR into the ICU.
The TruClip holder quickly attaches to a wide variety of IV poles; holds up to seven Edwards pressure monitoring, arterial pressure cardiac output (APCO) and blood sampling devices.
Simple, convenient and easy to use
The TruClip holder's design facilitates quick setup by replacing traditional C-clamp holders that require two hands to operate. A simple squeeze-and-release clamping action allows single-handed operation for efficient mounting and quick adjustments in time-sensitive situations. Four color-coded mounting spaces on the front help provide a clear, uncluttered environment.
Color-coded inserts for easy identification of DPT lines
Accommodates a wide variety of IV poles
Improved rubber grips, reinforced structure, robust design
Ease of use
Intuitive design offers quick and easy attachment and adjustment using just one hand
More efficiency with your clinical workflow
By optimizing time to allow quick and simple organization of bedside systems to help reduce equipment clutter, the TruClip holder may improve the efficiency of invasive monitoring in the OR, ICU, ED and Cardiac Catheter labs.
|Model number
|Weight limit
|Compatible IV pole diameters
|20,32 x 6,98 x 6,35 cm
(8" L x 2.75" W x 2.5" H)
(L x W x H)
|1.13 kg (2.5 lbs)
|1,27 - 3.81 cm (0,5" - 1.5")
Related products
The versatile design allows the TruClip holder to work with a variety of devices, including the Edwards TruWave disposable pressure transducers, VAMP Adult and VAMP Plus closed blood sampling systems, Z-site sampling ports, FloTrac sensors and VolumeView sensors.
Contact a sales representative
Do you have feedback about our products? Click here


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US spying charges denied by ZTE and Huawei
Huawei and ZTE deny US spying charges at hearing
Senior officials from the two firms have been questioned by the US lawmakers
14 September 2012 Last updated at 07:14
Chinese telecom firms Huawei and ZTE have denied US charges that some of their equipment has been installed with codes to help spying.
They have been accused of using these codes to relay sensitive information back to China.
Concerns over their association with the Chinese government and military have hurt the firms' expansion plans in the US.
The two are among the world's biggest makers of telecom networking equipment.
"Huawei has not and will not jeopardise our global commercial success nor the integrity of our customers' networks for any third party, government or otherwise," Charles Ding, senior vice-president of Huawei, said during a hearing in front of US lawmakers.
A committee of US lawmakers questioned senior executives from the two firms as part on a continuing investigation into their operations.
The committee's chairman, Mike Rogers, said there had been concerns about the role played by the two firms in alleged espionage.
"We have heard reports about back doors or unexplained beaconing from the equipment sold by both companies," he said.
Beaconing is a process that allows networks to self-repair network problems.
However, Zhu Jinyun of ZTE denied these charges, saying there was nothing sinister in the way the firm's equipment functioned.
"What they have been calling back doors are actually software bugs," he said, adding that such glitches were a common occurrence in the sector.
Meanwhile, both firms agreed to supply a list of their company's Communist Party committee members, something the panel said they had previously declined to do.


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Pointe Shoe Pads
The pointe shoe pads are made of ecological synthetic material and are especially designed to absorb shock and impact on the foot. They firmly protect your toes inside the pointe shoe. The inner side is made of cotton which helps to absorb moisture quickly. The inlays are highly recommended for all ballerinas and especially for beginners in classical ballet to prevent the feet from becoming deformed.


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1 ~ God Makes the World
2 ~ God Didn't Finish
3 ~ The Animals
4 ~ The First Person
5 ~ Naming the Animals
6 ~ Adam Gets a Friend
7 ~ Adam & Eve
8 ~ The Tree
9 ~ Eve and the Rope
10 ~ They leave Eden
Adam and Eve were the very first people in the world. God wanted them to live in a very special place, so he made the world beautiful. They had so much fun with the animals because, at the beginning, they could talk to them. At the beginning also, God even came to earth and walked with them.
***** – Five Stars. Roland Barton
Great little book for young children.


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Check out our GM Hummer 02 photo gallery
with 3 HQ pics.
Last update in Hummer 02 gallery was at Monday, 18 Dec 2006 with 3 new photos.
The new cars are aimed at China, but some novelties will arrange sales in other countries.
General Motors has promised to source sustainable natural rubber in its tyres.
GM is going to stop production on 5 of the American assembly factories this January. Calm down, this will happen only temporarily in order to deal with an oversupply of sedans.
GM faces a new ignition switch recall.
GM has stated another recall for 31,000 SUVs because of a possible risk.
The compensation for ignition switch from GM has finished reviewing more than 4,000 submissions. It has officially admitted that the issue caused 275 injuries and 124 people died from it.
We select only big size gm hummer 02 photos
for our photogallery.


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Charge your way through Colorado powder behind a canine sled team this winter. "Hike!" shouts my guide, Chloe, into the calm, frosty air as soft morning snow gently falls around us. Our anxious team of yelping dogs instantly charges into the fresh powder like it's their birthday. Before today, I'd never even thought about taking … Continue reading An Invigorating Dog Day Afternoon
Tag: dogsledding
From the Story
Although I live in Colorado, I'm not one for winter activities really. I'm more of a warm weather type of guy. However, when the recent opportunity to do a story about dog sledding came, I jumped at the chance. The full story won't be published until February but here's an image I grabbed near the … Continue reading From the Story


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Longchamp Le Foulonné Backpack Pilot blue>>Mens Backpacks>>Longchamp Men Bags
Longchamp Le Foulonné Backpack Pilot blue
- Materials: Leather
- Dimensions: 30x35x13 cm
- Reference: L1617021729
Accessories finishes : Nickel
Body : Cowhide
Lining : Polyester - Jacquard, Longchamp ribbons
Closing : Zipped
Shoulder strap : Adjustable
Zipped pocket : 2
Compartment : 1
Handle : 1
Patch pocket : 1
This article has been manufactured with the greatest care; it is nevertheless fragile and must be protected from rain. Appearance can change with use, particularly in areas subjected to repeated rubbing. Dark or bright colors may bleed onto light-colored clothes, especially in moist conditions.
Brush leather areas regularly with Longchamp colorless polish. This product can be protected by applying a waterproofing agent, following the recommendations given by the manufacturer.
This streamlined backpack boasts an elegant and casual look. It has many well-organised inner compartments. Le Foulonné is the iconic Longchamp line created in 1975 with the utmost


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To continue with the accessory trends of Spring/Summer 2014, it is worth to mention the headwear pieces that will be in vogue very soon. For one thing, it is always nice to have various caps and headbands, which can beautify any look. Also, spring tends to be quite rainy, whereas summer is usually pretty hot. This means that we ought to come up with a perfect solution in order to protect out precious hair. And, lastly, a hat covering a part of your beautiful face is going to raise up a lot of mystery and questions in the minds of the male population.
6 Headwear Trends of Spring/Summer 2014
White as a color trend is also applicable to the headwear accessories. No matter what exactly it is that you want to cover your head with, it has to be white. This is a perfect way to stay on trend and attract more attention. Plus, in summer white works the best, as this shade reflects the sunlight preventing you from getting a sunburn. DKNY, Olympia Le-Tan and Acne Studios presented white caps, although in a very different way.
Dolce & Gabbana, Marni, Alexander McQueen and Valentino offered another hit of the coming season. According to these prominent designers, there is no need to completely hide your head beneath the head piece. What you need to do is just to get an item that will stress the beauty of your hair and face. Here you have quite a range of options. Metal plates, rhinestones, crystals and studs: whatever you choose will create an impression of luxury and grace. I would say, it is a sort of a tribute to the Victorian style, when ladies tend to embellish their grandiose hairstyles with precious stones.
Unique and creative shapes are also something you want to look out for soon. This is where you can fully express your artistic approach and show off individualism. A Japanese-styled hat by L'Wren Scott stands out the most, due to the unusual design and bright color. However, pieces by Lyn Devon and Dsquared2 look fabulous as well. Just a small note: with such adorable and catchy items, the outfit itself needs to be as simple as possible. Otherwise your brilliant detail will blend in without any chance to be noticed.
Caps with a sporty touch definitely deserve our attention. With the magnificent pieces by House of Holland, Sonia Rykiel and John Galliano, you quit perceiving caps as a tasteless piece of headwear to be donned during the workouts. No one would even dare to claim that it's missing sense of fashion or any style. Due to the color combinations, bright patterns, embellsihment and interesting performance these items looks incredibly desirable. Great thing about this trend is that you actually can apply it to both sporty outfits and more elegant ones. Moreover, such a mix is more than welcome.
And, of course, our list of head accessories won't be complete without wide-brimmed hats. Zadig et Voltaire, Zac Posen and Kenzo created beautiful pieces featuring different styles. Zac Posen opted for a very "beach" look, offering a straw hat in cream, which immediately creates an image of a seashore and crispy sand. Zadig et Voltaire went grunge representing one of the possible headgears donned by the witches. And Kenzo designed an urban piece that can be rocked on any occasion.
These were the coolest headwear trends of Spring/Summer 2014. All of them are definitely worth trying on. It is your decision whether to choose only one of the offerings or opt for all the five.
- hat trends 2014


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Our staff is always asked about our backgrounds and how they came to work at the Driehaus Museum. So we wanted to share some of our amazing team with everyone. And, as always, let us know if you have any other questions.
First name? Claire
What is your title and what role does your position play at the Driehaus Museum? Museum guide. I give tours of the Nickerson mansion to guests of the museum.
How long have you worked at the Museum? 8.5 Months
Where are you from/where do you currently reside? I am from Minnesota and I currently live in Wicker Park
What is your education/experience background? How or why did you come to work at the Driehaus Museum? I have a Bachelor's degree from DePaul University in anthropology and art history. I also have a Master's in Archaeology from the University of Glasgow.
If you were a staff member of the Nickerson Mansion at the turn of the century, what role would you have and why? Probably something like a ladies' maid because I hate doing dishes and laundry.
If you were trapped in the Museum overnight, what would you do? Expect all of the objects to come to life.
What is your favorite movie? My favorite movie is probably a tie between The Princess Bride and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
What is your favorite holiday/program or event at the Museum? I liked working the Driehaus Prize event because we got to go into the Murphy Auditorium.
What is your dream job? Something in the curatorial department in a museum dealing with art objects, artifacts, etc.
Tell us about one of your favorite moments during your time working at the Museum? I thought it was pretty funny when someone asked me to explain hysteria during a tour.


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Two Italians walk into a restaurant in London, and order one of Britain's most iconic dishes while Ryan Adams's New York, New York plays in the background. A funny coincidence that, alone, would make it a meal to remember; the feast that ensued, however, was simply too fulfilling to forget.
The restaurant at issue is Kerbisher & Malt: one of London's fish and chips institutions, with restaurants in Hammersmith, Ealing, Clapham and Mortlake. The iconic dish is a gigantic platter of battered haddock, served with the most plentiful portion of chunky chips I ever caught sight of. As for the song, I like it too much not to mention it; eating to the sound of good music is one of life's pleasures, especially when said music is loud enough to be heard, but low enough to not feel intrusive. Had it been Jay-Z's Empire State of Mind, blasted at full volume in a chain fast-food joint, we'd be having a rather different conversation.
I walked into Kerbisher & Malt's flagship restaurant in Hammersmith with mixed feelings and muddled expectations. On the upside: glowing reviews from all sorts of publications; the convenience of going out for dinner a short walk away from home; and my partner's double-whammy enthusiasm, for we were both on birthday dinner duty, and giving ourselves a long promised treat ("We'll celebrate my new job with fish and chips", I once said. That's a masterpiece of procrastination right there). On the downside: my long-standing wariness of fish and chips, stemmed from far too many dodgy experiences with pub fare. I was prepared to either leave delighted, or forever swear off the stuff; Kerbisher & Malt brought my appreciation of fish and chips to a new, vertiginous high.
The restaurant will perfectly suit your need for a quick meal or a cheeky takeaway, rather than a fully fledged sit-down dinner. The few tables available to diners are neatly arranged on the sides of the small floor, leaving a corridor large enough to host the queue of customers waiting for seats or takeout orders. A queue that grows so consistently, you can't just choose to focus on your food and ignore it; whether that's a side effect of the limited space, or a gentle reminder to vacate your table as soon as you can, I haven't figured out quite yet. Not that I mind: I'll happily bear a speedy dinner, if the prize is a meal this quality and size, with a side of courteous service. Not once did the staff rush us to leave, and given the ever-growing queue right next to us, we felt smug for having chosen exactly the right time to visit. When we arrived, at 8pm on a Friday, we walked into a pleasantly quiet room; not even fifteen minutes later, customers began flocking in, taking up all vacant seats and forming a queue that reached the front door. We even witnessed one couple enter, enquire about waiting times, and head back out. I felt sorry for them, for the deep-fried bonanza that landed in front of us was one not to miss.
Kerbisher & Malt offers a short and sweet menu, compelling you to devote your attention to their signature fish courses. Cod, haddock, plaice, pollock and coley are all available battered and double fried, grilled, or in matzo meal (kosher breadcrumbs, as I just learnt from Google). If you're particularly hungry, you can begin with a fried fish starter – but chances are you'll decide against it once you take a peek at the size of your neighbours' plates.
To the risk of repeating myself, I'll make my point one last time: the fish portions are huge. Blimey-are-you-gonna-eat-all-that? huge (yes, I am, and I don't feel guilty in the least). I'm-glad-I-walked-to-the-restaurant-and-then-back-home huge. Thankfully, not the I'll-have-trouble-sleeping-tonight kind of huge: my lifelong issue with the fish and chips of budget-friendly pubs is the nocturnal nausea resulting from a cheap food binge, but Kerbisher & Malt's fare is far from the overfried junk I've grown to dread.
One thing I found quite cheeky is that chips and sauces need to be ordered separately from mains; walking into a restaurant that prides itself on serving London's finest fish and chips, you'd expect to get the full package at the very least. Even so, my bill amounted to less than £9, and would still have not reached £10 if I'd ordered a helping of tartare sauce (to borrow another British classic, not quite my cup of tea). Given the generous portion I got, that's excellent value for money – and if you're into that kind of stuff, you'll find complimentary ketchup and vinegar on your table.
Having ordered the chips as an extra, I was expecting them to actually come on the side; instead, all came in the same platter, a bed of fries with the battered fish on top. Visually striking as it was, this solution lacked in convenience: cutting up the fish while keeping my chips from falling off the plate required a number of contortions I performed rather clumsily. A side bowl, or even a neat pile of chips next to the fish, would have avoided the pain of eating like a four-year-old at a family function ("But mum, it only was on the table for three seconds!"). A minor niggle, that doesn't spoil my memories of a meal I thoroughly enjoyed: the double fried, hand-cut chunky chips have a refreshingly genuine look and texture, and exactly the right balance of soft and crunchy. A tiny bit softer, and they'd be mortally soggy; a tiny bit crispier, and they'd be just as criminally overcooked. Indeed, I should thank the staff for serving me a picture-perfect plate: unusually for a food blogger, my dinner was still piping hot when I put my smartphone to sleep. Now that's what I call fast food – and of the finest kind.
Kerbisher & Malt
164 Shepherd's Bush Road
London, W6 7PB
(closest tube station: Hammersmith)
Open 12.00 – 14.30 and 16.30 – 22.00 Tuesday to Thursday; 12.00 – 22.00 Friday and Saturday; 12.00 – 21.00 Sunday.
020 3556 0228
Find Kerbisher and Malt's menu on Zomato.


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Does Your Website Have SEO Performance Anxiety?
I've already touched on figuring out the ROI of Search Engine Optimization before, and one important factor of actually getting that right is to keeping track of, and understanding, so-called Key Performance Indicators.
Key Performance-what now?
Let's abbreviate it to make it easy for us: KPI.
A Key Performance Indicator is a set of measurements (metrics) that reflects the performance (failure or success) in terms of progress towards its goals.
Sounds fancy, right?
Let's connect the dots to Search Engine Optimization.
We'll start with an easy example — If your website is ranking in the top 3 spots for 4 keywords, but you want to rank for 5 other terms, then a goal would be to rank 5 pages for those keywords (or one page, or two…)
Your progress is simply your performance towards that goal — are you increasing or decreasing in the SERPs?
How do you measure this?
Easy: monitor, report, and analyze your rankings.
So far, so good, yes?
Cool. Things get a little more complex once you start to really utilize the power and juice of SEO, and tie SERP performance to actual business goals, such as leads and sales (or anything else you're looking for).
Are You Catching My Drift, Kid? Indicate With A Nod
A KPI, then, acts as a daily, weekly, or monthly indicator as to how you're doing in reaching your goals.
Are you hitting those goals or not?
Needless to say, that means you should keep track of all this data.
If you're measuring it, you can make decisions on how to optimize or pivot what you're doing.
As you are well aware of, things change a lot in the world of search.
It's critical for us to measure the right things — relevant and reliable indicators.
So, an e-commerce sites needs to measure different KPIs compared to a lead generation site, compared to an advertising site, compared to a blog, compared to… and so on.
Goals And KPIs Go Together Like Plaid Shirts And Geeks
Or mustaches and creeps?
Here's the thing: KPIs are only useful, valuable, and powerful when closely tied with measurable goals.
If you run an e-commerce site, one goal could be to increase sales by 15% over the next month or quarter. What are some KPIs? Conversion rates, daily and/or weekly sales, site traffic, number of purchases, average transaction value, and so on.
A content website with a goal of increasing media consumption and pageviews is probably looking for time on site, number of pages per visit, return visitors, social shares, and more.
For the most part, you pick only a few KPIs and don't focus on everything — because then you end up focusing on nothing.
Past performance of your website will give you a clue as to what you should be focusing on. You are already collecting data and tracking stuff, right?
Good, now about that performance of yours…
Getting To First-Base With Your Key Performance Indicators
In future posts we can get more detailed and specific on particular KPIs for specific kind of websites, like lead generation and e-commerce.
The KPIs we'll be talking about here all apply in different ways, and no matter what kind of website you're trying to evaluate the performance of, you should walk away with some indicators to implement right away.
Let's start with an obvious category and a brief breakdown of some possible KPIs for you to adopt or make sure you're using already.
Traffic Key Performance Indicators
- Keyword Ranking: In a nutshell, we're looking for what keywords and phrases generate the most (quantity) and also what kind (quality) traffic. Are you tapping into some short-tails or are you only snatching up long-tails? I'm going to assume you have your master list of keywords you want to rank for, so how well are you doing? On your way up on all of them? Which ones are lagging or, worse, decreasing?
- Traffic Generated By Particular Terms: This is where you can evaluate your long and short tail keyword strategy. With Google Analytics, you can look for 2 or 3 word phrases, or even terms according to specific rules. Use regular expressions in the advance filter to do this. This goes hand-in-hand with keyword rankings and should help you measure the performance of particular keywords. You might find that you're wasting time and effort on phrases that are giving you very little yield in terms of traffic.
- Bounce Rate (Per Keyword): It's worthwhile to check the bounce rate of individual keywords. That long-tail you thought would lead to pots of gold might turn out to be a dud.
- New vs. Returning Visitors: You'll find this under the Visitors section in your Google Analytics. If you're ranking an advertising or media consumption website, you want to make sure visitors come back. You've already spent effort and resources for them to find you once, so if they come back your ROI will only increase).
- Click-Through Rate: Wondering how effective your SEO campaign is in turning rankings into actual visitors? Don't assume that high rankings equal massive quality traffic. This is where compelling meta descriptions, headlines, and rich snippets make a difference. Getting on the first page only invites you to play — you didn't win just yet. Divide the Search Volume by Actual Volume to get your CTR %.
Engagement Key Performance Indicators
- Media Consumption: Basically, how visitors gobble up your content — reading posts, listening to audio, watching videos, graphics, and any other form of content you publish. This is where you utilize event tracking and look under the Content section of your analytics. Are people spending time on your website? How long? What pages? How many pages? We're talking about pageviews and such here.
- Social Media: Look for both traffic to and from social media networks, in particular how much of your website is shared, tweeted, and liked. If you run a content website, for example, and want to measure how well your content performs with your audience, this is a good place to start.
Transactional Key Performance Indicators
- Average Transaction Value: Great for e-commerce websites, of course. This will indicate how well your cross and up-selling works. Are you increasing the value or does it remain flat? If you're looking to boost sales by a certain percentage, look here first to see if you can increase the transaction value.
- Cost Per Transaction: Wait, you mean transactions cost money? Of course they do. It takes time, effort, and probably money to get visitors to your site, let alone to buy something. You're spending resources on ranking, probably on PPC campaigns, email newsletters, and more. You should be keeping track of how much a campaign is costing you just to generate one transaction. Are you spending $1 to make $2? This will be crucial for making decisions in regards to allocating your advertising budget.
- Conversion Rate (Per Channel): You want to know what channel(s) are putting the most money in your pocket, right? Of course you do. If you use the "Medium" view option, you can find your top selling channels under the "All Traffic Sources" menu (we're talking Google Analytics here, of course).
Basic Website Key Performance Indicators
- Time On Site & Bounce Rate: Are your visitors finding what they're looking for and staying on your website? Whether you're generating traffic for an e-commerce or content website, you want to keep track of these. They will, in general, indicate whether you're either getting the right kind of traffic or if you need to tweak something about what visitors first see. You won't know which it is until you start testing various headlines, sub-headlines, and other content pieces. If your bounce rate goes down, time on site increases and your other conversion goals increases, then you're doing it right.
- Goals And Conversion Rate: You should have goals set up and know what actions you want visitors to take (you do, right?). Well, keeping track of how many goals are completed and your conversion rates (the performance) in relation to those actions is critical for reaching either sales or lead generation goals (or something else, like increasing email subscribers).
- Types Of Sources: Get in the habit of segmenting your traffic by specific sources and mediums (like direct, organic, referring sites, email, custom campaigns, and more). Use Google's URL Builder to generate custom campaign parameters for better tracking. Don't just look at the number of visitors but also the quality of the traffic, which would be their behavior (are they bouncing right away, spend time on the site, visit particular pages?).
I've covered some really basic KPIs here, but if you're not already covering your bases, forget about performing well when the stakes get higher.
It's Personal: Deciding On Your Very Own Key Performance Indicators
Keep in mind: we've mainly talked about top-level KPI at a macro-level. These help with overall SEO strategies.
And they determine actual micro-level, tactical metrics for analysis.
This is where you come in.
Once you've decided on a few goals and figured out the applicable KPIs, then you can tap into the power of Google Analytics or any other metrics provider you might be using, like KISSMetrics or Mixpanel.
But you have to start with the end (goal) in mind. You can't skip this part.
Search Engine Optimization is powerful when you put it to work for achieving business goals, such as generating sales, leads, email subscribers, advertising revenue, and more.
It's a means to an end, and so are KPIs — Performance inform decisions and KPIs drive action.
What KPIs do you use for your business and website goals?


text: By Marc Rayman As NASA's Dawn spacecraft makes its journey to its second target, the dwarf planet Ceres, Marc Rayman, Dawn's chief engineer, shares a monthly update on the mission's progress. This image illustrates Dawn's spiral transfer from high altitude mapping orbit (HAMO) to low altitude mapping orbit (LAMO). The trajectory turns from blue to […]...Sep 2, 2014 / More »


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The series is back with more brides battling it out for a dream honeymoon.
Four Weddings is back for its run and this time it's going international. The hit series sees four brides battling it out each week to win a luxury honeymoon. The contestants judge each other's big day and score the dress, the venue, the catering and the overall presentation. Who can stage the perfect day, and who will be in the throws of wedding day disasters?
There will also be more celebrity appearances this series, including magician Paul Daniels renewing his vows with wife Debbie McGee, a Shameless actress getting hitched and a Big Brother star and a glamour model allowing viewers to watch as they tie the knot.
Filming for this series included the Kent locations of Pluckley, Maidstone and Teynham.
Pluckley is a historic village in Ashford situated close to the picturesque North Downs. Pluckley has previously welcomed filmed from This Morning (2012) and The Darling Buds of May (1991-1993).
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, home to a number of parks and shopping facilities, as well as The Maidstone Studios which is the UK's largest independent High Definition TV studio facility. Productions which have filmed in the area include Take Me Out(2015), Later… with Jools Holland (2015) and Couples Come Dine With Me (2014).
Teynham is a large village in the Swale borough of Kent and lies between Sittingbourne and Faversham. The Swale area has previously featured in projects including A Taste of Britain (2014), Strawberry Fields (2012) and Southcliffe (2013).
Four Weddings will be shown on Living TV at 9pm on Tuesdays.
For more information about filming in Kent please contact: email@example.com
For more information about the series visit: www.livingtv.co.uk/shows/four-weddings
For more information about Pluckley: http://www.pluckley.net/
For more information about Maidstone: http://www.visitmaidstone.com/
For more information about Teynham: http://www.teynham.org/
For more information about Kent's Filming History please visit our Movie Map: https://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/kent-movie-map/moviemap-live-2/


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Reuben Morgan reflects on a poweful testimony, and wonders whether we csan remember what it was like when we first got saved. Sometimes, we all need reminding of how simple it all used to be.
A little under two hundred years ago, a massive revival swept through Wales. And like all true revivals, it sent people packing. With hearts on fire, these wide-eyed believers gathered their belongings and took the message of a glorious, all-powerful, grace-soaked God to the four corners of the earth.
Many were drawn to India - a land ruled by tribes, idols and multiple gods. It was a dangerous place, particularly in the northeast region of Assam, where the practice of head hunting flourished. Severed human heads became a form of currency and a symbol of power and the rule of fear.
As Welsh missionaries started preaching throughout Assam, the conversion of one family in particular sparked controversy. The local chief was angry, raging against the family who had embraced this new religion brought in by the pale skinned outsiders.
The more the chief ranted and the more the chief threatened, the faith of the family - particularly the husband - gained strength. He began telling others about Christ, and saw others make the choice for themselves to follow Jesus. Of course, this made the chief even more angry, and one day the entire village was called to a meeting. In front of everyone the man and his family were commanded to renounce their faith.
But none of them would do it. Instead, the man poured out these simple words:
"I have decided to follow Jesus
Not turning back, not turning back."
This made the chief even madder, and he ordered archers to kill the man's two sons, right there and then. And as they died, the chief commanded the man and his family to renounce their faith. Again, his reply spoke of true faith in the midst of great fear:
"Though no one joins me, still I will follow
No turning back, no turning back."
The chief ordered the murder of the man's wife. As her blood stained the earth, still the man kept his eyes fixed on Jesus, calling out:
"The cross before me, the world behind me
No turning back, no turning back."
Eventually, just like his wife and his sons, the man was killed. The other converts watched on, awaiting their own fate. But the chief was troubled. How had this man shown such courage? What was it about this Jesus Christ that was worth laying down your life for? What power was found in this strange new God?
Stunned, the chief fell to his knees. He had seen so much death in his life - but never a death like this. There was only one choice. He, and the rest of the village too, would follow Jesus.
When it comes to following Jesus, we can be tempted to make things so complicated. We start adding to the equation. Where at first we were sure that Christ = enough, we change the formula;
Christ + church = enough
Christ + friends = enough
Christ + ministry = enough
And then there are the less noble things that we add instead of church, friends or ministry. Like power and influence, comfort and wealth. In order for our lives to be full and for us to feel like we have enough, we wander so far away from those first days. We stray far from home.
But there is always an invitation to return to the center. Always. Why? Because Christ is enough. We don't need to add to the mix or start to rely on anything other than this one, simple, life-changing truth; Christ is enough.
People sometimes talk about the secret of successful living, but it's really no secret at all. Pale skinned Welsh missionaries, single-minded Indian evangelists forced to their knees, even blood-stained village chiefs have all discovered that when we rely on Christ and Christ alone, life finally makes sense.
A few years ago the Church was full of talk about how to live a radical life. These days we wonder about engagement and connection and discipleship. They're all good outcomes, but we risk over-complicating things when we get stuck in formulas and programs and systems and five-step plans. Christ is enough. If we live today and tomorrow with those three words burned on our hearts, then how can the world not be transformed?
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Cookbook author and founder of Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream Jeni Britton Bauer is threatening to ditch FedEx if the delivery service doesn't sever ties with the National Rifle Association (NRA). In an Instagram post, Bauer said customers are demanding action and if they don't get it, the James Beard Award winner would take her artisanal ice cream pints elsewhere.
Bauer's protest comes in the wake of the fatal school shooting in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were murdered by a former student with an assault rifle. Shortly after, companies were criticized for their ties to the NRA, including FedEx, which offers discounted rates on shipping for members.
In Bauer's video — which displayed the text "Your move, @fedex" — the 44-year-old entrepreneur said: "And you know exactly what I'm talking about — I'm talking about the NRA. I'm talking about stricter gun control. The majority of Americans want it and the NRA is supporting stuff that we don't get behind. OK? UPS is out there, man!"
An accompanying caption stated that while "#teamjenis" loves FedEx, the delivery company needs to "drop [its] support of the NRA or we will be looking at other options." Bauer noted that the withdrawal of her business would cost the courier over 100,000 shipments.
Bauer — who has curated legendary ice cream and sorbet for two decades — carried the debate over to Twitter, where she announced that she has begun exploring new carriers.
In a release, FedEx said its positions on gun policy and safety issues differ from those of the NRA and that it opposes assault rifles being in the hands of civilians.
"While we strongly support the constitutional right of U.S. citizens to own firearms subject to appropriate background checks, FedEx views assault rifles and large capacity magazines as an inherent potential danger to schools, workplaces, and communities when such weapons are misused," the brand wrote, adding that it supports restricting these weapons to the military.
FedEx also pointed out that its pricing program not only serves NRA members, but American small businesses and consumers that are members of the association.
"First, the pricing program that is the focus of these concerns is not for the NRA itself — it is for American small businesses and consumers that are members of the association. For shipping from its online store, the NRA uses UPS and not FedEx," the statement continued, adding that the company has "never provided any donation or sponsorship to the NRA" and that it "remains committed to all our customers and the pricing we provide them independent of their political affiliations and views."
Some brands that have ended relationships with the NRA include Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Enterprise Holdings, Hertz, Avis, Budget, Symantec, TrueCar, MetLife, SimpliSafe, First National Bank of Omaha, Allied Van Lines, Paramount Rx, Best Western, Wyndham Hotel Group, Republic Bank, and Starkey Hearing Technologies.
In response, USA Today reports that the NRA optimistically said that eventually these businesses will "be replaced by others" that are eager to align themselves publicly with the values of NRA members.
Most Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream customers seem to be fairly pleased with Bauer's values, at least as far as product quality is concerned. The chain made it to No. 5 on our list of the 12 best ice cream parlors in America.


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In focus
A new generation of airway visualisation
The Standards in airway management are changing and the clinical community is increasingly embracing visualisation devices to enhance patient safety and control costs. This trend is further accelerated as clinical studies document the benefits of using advanced visualisation equipment and in the extensive NAP4 report from UK that underlines the importance of adding visualisation devices to the toolbox in airway management.
Insufficient availability of equipment for management of the difficult airway and bronchoscopy is considered among the major causative factors contributing to poor patient outcomes.
Think about it — do you always have immediate access to a flexible bronchoscope when you need it?
Infection control
Flexible bronchoscopes are difficult to clean and disinfect due to their long, narrow lumens and delicate materials. The question is whether it is possible to ensure a clean scope after reprocessing.
Contamination and inadequate cleaning of endoscopes has been recognized as a major patient safety issue by the ECRI.
Health economy
The combination of capital investment, repair and reprocessing of reusable bronchoscopes adds up to a per-use cost of more that hospital staff often realize.
Do you know the true cost of using a reusable bronchoscope?
Environmental Impact
Leading environmental professors from the University of Southern Denmark have investigated the impact of single-use bronchoscopes compared to the complex and resource demanding cleaning process of reusable bronchoscopes.


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Tiger Woods' former caddie and friend, Steve Williams, exposed the former world No. 1 as an inconsiderate employer with little regard for his on-course demeanor and attitude when he blasted the 14-time major winner in his new book.
An excerpt from Williams' tell-all was published in his native New Zealand, and the full version is set to release on Monday. The man who spent his life and career in the game of golf was candid about his tenure at the top of the sport as Woods' man between the ropes.
Some of the details are well-known facts, while others offer significant insight as to what it was like to work with the enigmatic legend on a daily basis during his heyday.
"One thing that really pissed me off was how he would flippantly toss a club in the general direction of the bag, expecting me to go over and pick it up," Williams wrote. "I felt uneasy about bending down to pick up his discarded club, it was like I was his slave. The other thing that disgusted me was his habit of spitting at the hole if he missed a putt."
Woods' temper often drew the ire of his critics during his career, as did his penchant for throwing clubs on occasion. What's new is that it bothered Williams, since many other PGA TOUR players have reputations for similar behavior or worse.
It's unclear whether Woods had any sort of non-disclosure agreement with Williams, but given the scope of information, it's safe to assume that the public will hear from Woods' camp in due time.
As for Woods, he continues to recover from a second back surgery since competing on the 2015 TOUR.
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Tech Talk: There's a secret emergency number hidden in your Uber app.Uber has been testing a phone number that its passengers can dial in case of an emergency. According to Inc., Uber's emergency response line, called the Critical Safety Response Line, has been undergoing testing in 22 cities across the country since October. (Read More)
This Is NOT A Drill: Every day from March 13 to April 2, Ulta Beauty will be offering hefty discounts on select items.For those of you who are new to Ulta's storewide and site-wide sale, let us break it down for you. Every day from March 13 to April 2, Ulta Beauty will be offering hefty discounts on select items. But be warned: Each of these deals only lasts one day. So, click through to check out our favorite items and remember to mark your calendars! (Read More)
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What's On
Telford Kids Festival
Easter Motor Show
On Monday March 3rd 2014 Severn Gorge Countryside Trust (SGCT) is launching a new Iron Trail with a leaflet and video on a brand new website, which, along with several other new trails, aims to enhance the Ironbridge Gorge's existing reputation as a major world tourism destination.
Following an interpretation strategy for the World Heritage Site by PLB consultants in 2008, SGCT have been working with a range of partners, including the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and Telford & Wrekin Council, to improve the way the cultural landscape of the World Heritage Site is interpreted to both the visitors and local people.
One of PLB's recommendations was that the beautiful yet complex landscape of the World Heritage Site together with the ten Museums could be better seen as one whole visitor experience through the creation of a series of high profile trails.
SGCT has spent the past two years researching the landscape history working closely with local people and experts, to produce a flagship Iron Trail, which is an enjoyable three and a half mile stroll starting from the Iron Bridge itself. It then winds its way up through the Sabbath Walks within Dale Coppice, which were laid out by Quaker Iron Master Richard Reynolds in the early 1790s, and which we now believe was the first privately funded public park in the UK, some 160 years before National Parks.
The trail takes in breath taking views from the Rotunda on Lincoln Hill towards the Iron Bridge and then down a series of steps back into Ironbridge. For the hundreds of thousands of visitors who plan to come to Ironbridge each year, SGCT has developed a new website which includes two new videos where, from the comfort of your armchair, you can walk the Iron Trail and find out about our volunteering programmes or download a range of material.
Russell Rowley, Manager of SGCT said; "We will also launch a Lime Trail of Benthall Edge and a new Ironbridge to Blists Hill walking leaflet which takes in the remains of the historic Madeley Wood Hall and provides a safe and enjoyable stroll through Lloyds Coppice.
"We hope that the new website, videos and trails, will help local people and visitors alike to explore the wonderful landscape of the Ironbridge Gorge. We also hope that it will inspire visitors from all over the world to stay for a few nights in the excellent local hotels and B&Bs and spend that little bit more to help the many businesses that make a vital part of the local economy".
For copies of the new trails send an SAE to the SGCT office at Darby Road, Coalbrookdale, TF8 7EP, or they are free to download from website www.severngorge.org.uk; for more information email email@example.com or Tel: 01952 433880.
Notes for Editors:
Severn Gorge Countryside Trust was established in 1991 as a Charitable Trust to manage 260 hectares, or just over 50% of the land, with a key Aim, 'To promote, protect and conserve the living landscape within the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site'. It works alongside other key organisations including Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Telford & Wrekin Council and Parish and Town Councils, as well as a range of organisations that make up the World Heritage Site Steering Group.


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Do you have plans to paint the interior of your home in 2015? If so, then familiarize yourself with the paint color trends that will be followed across the country. We rounded up the color schemes destined for popularity from leading paint companies Behr, Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Pittsburgh Paints.
View our main website for more on 2015 Paint Color Trends and the opportunity to enter our 2015 Definitive Color of the Year survey.
The company presents 15 palettes for the coming year, including Deep Dreams. Shown in two bedrooms on the Behr website, the dark colors transform the space into "a dreamy, mythical landscape." In the first, Essential Teal covers the walls, adding mystery and majesty. Seared Gray on the walls of the second bedroom serves as an elegant neutral.
On the lighter side, Behr shows Frosted Pastels in two bathrooms. The frosty pink of Secret Blush on walls has an airy, feminine appeal, and Dandelion Tea creates a lovely background against which brighter accessories and furniture can pop.
Nuanced Neutrals in two kitchen examples creates the "perfect marriage of function, color and contentment." The dusty Blue Clay covers the walls in one, with the crisp Snap Pea Green as the dominant color in the other. Mocha Foam, Mulberry Wine, and Peach Preserve complete the color scheme.
Four palettes represent the paint company's color forecast for 2015, among them Unrestrained and the "bold, ethnic-inspired colors to the Bohemian lifestyle." In a living room example, Frank Blue and Nifty Turquoise cover accent walls, with Marshmallow providing contrast.
In Chrysalis, the earth and sky served as inspiration for an oasis. The bathroom shown uses Cotton White and Willow Tree, with Sticks & Stones and Roycroft Mist Gray also in the décor and paint color scheme.
Benjamin Moore
The company has already announced its Color of the Year for 2015: Guilford Green. Ellen O'Neill, creative director for Benjamin Moore, describes it as "A neutral that's natural. A silvery green that works with, well, everything."
The color palette it comes from includes 22 new hues for 2015 within four collections. Guilford Green belongs to Ground Yourself in Green, which takes inspiration from "a citrus grove, a pot of lemon verbena, a sprig of silver sage." The hue shows up in just about every room in the example house, from the entry way to the enclosed back porch.
In Tried, True & Utterly New, tradition carries on but with a twist. Old Claret provides a pop of sophisticated pink in a bathroom and adds warmth on the walls of a living room.
Pittsburgh Paints
Blue Paisley takes home the Color of the Year title from this company. Described as "a lavish, almost-but-not-quite royal shade of blue," it will "play a prominent role in home décor trends for the coming year as homeowners look to positively influence their lives and decisions with vibrant hues," Pittsburgh Paints says.
It comes from the Co-Leidoscope trend palette, inspired by the taste of the exotic and luxury, global travel. The collection also includes Mother of Pearl, Bone White, and Curry Sauce.
The softer Good Life palette "emphasizes an earthen spirit and a respect for simplicity to uncover the maximum harmony between man-made and the natural environment." Oatmeal, Burnt Red, Holland Tile, Malibu Dune, and Curlew create color scheme rich in soft reds, pinks and whites.
When following a paint color trend, be sure to choose hues that you will love for years to come in order to get the most from this home improvement investment. Also keep in mind current furnishings and décor as well as any changes you envision making during the lifetime of the paint job.
Specializing in exterior and interior


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Jackett could give Millwall's fringe players a chance at Ipswich
KENNY Jackett has hinted he is ready to give Millwall's fringe players a chance to impress against Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Alan Dunne, Liam Trotter, Shaun Batt and Liam Feeney started on the bench during the Lions' 1-0 win at Coventry in midweek and would be the likely candidates to come into the side at Portman Road should Jackett make changes.
Captain Paul Robinson and top-scorer Darius Henderson could also be involved again, having overcome their respective injuries.
"I'll assess training on Friday and see what the energy levels are like," Jackett told the club's official site.
"What the players are telling me, through their opinions and also their body language, is they want to keep playing and keep going. But I have to temper that with fresh energy and perhaps finding out one or two things for next year as well.
"We've had a good run of late. I felt the Coventry performance was probably our flattest of recent weeks, but we found a way and found a formula to get a great win. We want to continue that up at Ipswich.
"It will be their final home game of the season and every club wants to sign-off well, so we will have to match that.
"Our aim now is to finish as high up the league as we possibly can and take some kind of form and momentum into the start of next season."


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Major apologies for not having posted anything in a while. I know I am quite behind on this blog. I intended to take a couple of days to catch up on it. I have SO many wonderful recipes to get on here! However, my laptop decided to die on me a couple of weeks ago...without having finished backing up all my photos! *insert facepalm here* And of course all of our desktop computers are being "re-built". Doh!
So yes, life has been quite busy recently (understatement of the century!). This week in particular...because guess who is turning 3 in a few days???
Yep! Punkin is going to be turning
12 years old 3 years old on Monday, however, we will celebrate her birthday on Saturday. We will celebrate it with my family the same time we celebrate Easter. As if getting everything ready for the party (cake, games, party favors, decorations, etc.) isn't enough work, I am making a tutu to complete Punkin's birthday outfit. Yes, I know it's going to be a bit crazy, but that's the fun part right? I promise I will be back as soon as I can and when I do, you are all in for a treat! I hope all of you lovely readers have a wonderful Easter! Eats lots of chocolate! I know I plan to!