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The biggest problem about exercising is how to make exercise a daily habit. You're bad at breaking an old habit, and particularly bad at making a new one.
Of course, I'm as good as you on this one. We could both do a hundred challenging things in a day, as repeating from memory the year-wise holiday destinations of all our Facebook friends we envy to hell.
And yet not start an exercise habit.
At least three institutes — NHLBI, ACSM, and CDC — recommend we aim for a moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day on at least 5 days a week.* They also say every adult should treat this "30 min x 5 days" guideline as their long-term exercise goal.
Exercise is good for you, whatever your age, sex, or physical condition. It boosts your mood and energy, fights back a horde of diseases, and even increases your life.
Daily exercise is the best means available to us today for delaying and preventing the effects of ageing.
In 2012, the National Cancer Consortium in America measured the effect of exercise on overall health. They found that if you walk at least 75 minutes a week, you can add up to one and a half years to your life.
And if you increase just your walking to 7½ hours a week, you can add up to 4½ years to your lifespan.
But you don't, perhaps won't, take to a daily exercise regimen.
∇ This epic post tells you everything about creating an exercise habit that lasts and sticks. In a hurry? Find an ebook (PDF) of the full article at the end of this post (just download and keep, no email required).
Why Is It Hard To Make Exercise A Habit
To be clear, by exercise we mean planned, structured, repetitive, and purposeful physical activity.
But why it is hard for you to make exercise a daily habit?
And, more importantly, how can you make exercise a habit, and a regular one at that?
• The Problem
This is what scientists have been telling us for decades: regular physical activity, aerobic or anaerobic, can produce long-term health benefits. We believe their words. But we don't follow them.
Why can't we create a daily habit of exercise?
Okay, all of us don't have this problem. Some find it ridiculously easy to take up a new habit or break a bad one. Ask a chronic smoker, and they'll tell you how simple it is to stop their smoking habit. In fact, they have done it so many times they're an expert at it.
On a serious note, why do most of our new habits fail in time, unfailingly? And it's often sooner than later. After the first kick of motivation, discipline goes for a toss. In almost no time you end up where you started.
Why do you leave your good habit midway?
• The Reason
We usually have a fair knowledge of what's good for us, for most things in life. However, the problem seems to be this: information doesn't guarantee execution.
You might be the most informed person in your social circle, and great at advising everyone about the positive effects of exercise, but you still might not be doing it yourself.
Perhaps it's one of our human failings. You always find it hard to follow your own advice, though you freely hand out most of those to others.
We're great advisers, but poor doers.
Sometimes, our goals are too ambitious, but we won't admit it. Setting audacious goals makes us feel powerful. As a famous life-coach told you in a hall full of thousand raving fans,
You absolutely must not sell yourself short.
It's another one of our human flaws. We are not good at predicting our future selves.
We don't tally it in how many parts of our lives we have to change to climb up to the magnificent goal of losing 50 pounds within 50 days of exercise.
It's really the follow-through that falls through.Information doesn't guarantee execution. So, we're great advisers, but poor doers. Click To Tweet
• The Solution
We'll get to that in half a minute. Just bear with us, as we first tell you two things of vital importance:
- How long does it take to make exercise a habit
- How to build a new habit that sticks, as daily exercise
How Long Does It Take To Make Exercise A Habit
We wish this had a straightforward answer. It could have helped us stick to a good habit forever once we have done the activity for those magic number of days.
Many researchers have dived in deep to answer this once and for all. Unfortunately, they haven't reached a consensus yet.
Experts differ fantastically — 21 days to 66 days. You may be puzzled at how widely they differ on the optimum time frame. Take some examples on what they say on how long it takes to make exercise a regular habit:
• 21 Days
Maxwell Maltz, a cosmetic surgeon in the America of 1950s, laid it for generations of self-help experts 6 weeks or 21 days is the magic number for any new habit.
In his bestseller Psycho-Cybernetics, he wrote, "… many other commonly observed phenomena tend to show that it requires a minimum of about 21 days for an old mental image to dissolve and a new one to jell."
• 49 Days
Ryan Brooks, developer of the habit & goal tracker app 7 Weeks, has this to say:
Scientists believe the sweet spot for developing a habit is right around 7 weeks. So, once you have completed 49 days straight with little slip-ups, you can be sure to have developed a positive habit, or broken a bad habit.
• 66 Days
Phillippa Lally, a health psychology researcher at University College London, carried out a study in 2009 which said it takes a little more than 2 months or 66 days for a new habit to take root.
Did we mention, this number is not an exact, but an average of 18 to 254 days?
Ryan reached his magic number by combining information from two sources — Charles Duhigg's The Power of Habit and the X Effect Method of Completing Goals.
5 Keys To Build A New Exercise Habit That Sticks
How do you build an exercise habit that sticks for a long time, or as long as you want?
There are 5 specific steps you can use to form any habit, not just exercise. Applying these, you'll find it easy to get into a daily exercise routine from right from today on.
We just need the following 5 keys to form a new exercise habit that sticks:
- Start The X Effect
- Watch Your Routine
- Begin A Ritual
- Find A Cue
- Take A Bite
1. Start The X Effect
Since we managed to intrigue you with the X Effect Method of Completing Goals above, here's the Reddit thread to catch it in detail.
What it essentially says is you draw a 7×7 grid of 49 squares on a card, label it for a new habit, and keep putting a red X on each square for each day you complete it. You could be targeting something as easy as a 7 minute workout routine.
And now, let's go deeper.
2. Watch Your Routine
Do you have a morning routine? It begins from there.
Simply start by tracking your morning routine. Are there any bad or time-wasting habits built into your mornings? Be warned: Once you realize you've been spending 25 minutes of your mornings wading knee-deep through the freshwater stream of a click-bait site, you might end up feeling it may not be quite as life-changing as you thought.
Why the heck have you been doing this useless thing for so many years?
See the pattern up close. Once you spot the bad habit, it will be easier to pull out the wiggly worm and put it away.
But really, it's more than breaking a bad habit. The best way to break a bad habit is to replace the it with a good one.
Charles Duhigg, author of Smarter, Faster, Better, suggested in order for change to happen, people must replace their bad habits with good ones through repetitive actions leading to rewards. Trying to break a bad habit without finding a replacement is ultimately self-defeating labor. It gets you circling back to the same negative habit.
Why morning, you ask?
Because mornings are the best times to stay on track with an exercise regime for city-bred guys as us. Once our white-collared workday begins, it's mayhem.
It's like you train for the fight before the show begins. Your willpower is stronger in the morning.
Find out how you can increase your willpower with these secret methods.
3. Begin A Ritual
Begin a ritual, and try not to focus on forming a habit. Habits don't work; rituals do.
Habits are spontaneous behaviors. All habits begin with a decision, and ultimately become an automatic behavior.
A ritual is just the opposite of a habit. A ritual requires intention, attention, and engagement. It's never automatic.Start a ritual. A ritual requires intention, attention, and engagement. It's never automatic. Click To Tweet
Thanh Pham, Founder and Managing Director of Asian Efficiency, explains here why rituals fare better than habits. Pham has an elegant definition of a ritual: ultra-specific step-by-step instructions that are easily repeatable and help you get a specific outcome.
Charles Duhigg writes on Quora, "Rituals, by contrast, are almost always patterns developed by an external source, and adopted for reasons that might have nothing to do with decision making."
Simplified, when you do an activity with awareness and mindfulness, you're carrying out a ritual. As you approach your exercise with a ritualistic intent, it starts to become a habit in time. So, set your mind to start with a ritual.
Let's explore this with an example.
You wake up, get out of your bed and consciously put on your running shoes instead of slippers. That's the first step. Now, tell yourself you can't take those shoes off until you've walked around the block for the day.
If you do this ritual for enough number of days, it becomes a habit.
4. Find A Cue
According to a recent research, most of the regular exercisers have a built-in specific mechanism. Their exercise habit gets triggered by a particular cue. Dr Alison Phillips, professor of psychology at Iowa State University, and her team call this an "instigation habit."
As plugging into their workout music the first thing on getting up in the morning. This makes them leave the house to go to the park or the gym without any great deal of thought.
For them, details aren't something to spend time on, as deliberating on the upsides of exercising on a gloomy day. Rather, it's like a pre-programmed decision that sets off instantaneously because of the cue.
Researchers found the sole factor that accurately hinted how good you are going to be at exercising regularly over long-term was how strong your instigation habit was. The stronger the instigation or cue, the greater the chances you will get back to your workout day after day.
So, it's all about finding a strong cue that works for you.
"This study shows that you don't have to be afraid of trying new things. You can have an instigation habit and try new types of exercise without worrying about losing the habit," says Alison Phillips.
5. Take A Bite
Focus on one small piece of the whole act. Take one bite of the whole pie.
Start with a shrunken goal. It works like this. If you have the ultimate goal of half-hour sprints a day, you begin with going to the park and spending all of 5 minutes taking a walk. That's all.
Now, if 5 minutes seem too long, make it a 2-minute walk in the park. Begin there. And keep doing those 2-minute walks everyday till you are convinced it wouldn't hurt too much to increase it to 3 minutes.
Make it so much of a mini-workout (or even a micro-workout), so you can't wimp out.
Remember, building the exercise habit is never an all-or-nothing process.
Martin Gibala, a kinesiologist at McMaster University, devised a micro-workout with three 20-second rounds of an exhausting exercise routine, with intermittent 3-minute recoveries (called high-intensity interval training, or HIIT), against the typical 50-minutes-at-a-time approach, to compare the health benefits.
Surprisingly, both the workout routines produced similar results in improving heart function and blood-sugar levels. "If you're willing and able to push hard, you can get away with surprisingly little exercise," Gibala said.
According to muscle physiology researcher Dr Keith Baar, HIIT should be done early in the day, followed by a recovery period of at least 3 hours. If you're further interested in interval training, check this out: Really, Really Short Workouts.
There's another way of looking at it. Let's call it adaptation. Adaptation is the evolutionary process by which a living thing becomes better able to live in its habitat.
So, you start slow and weak, and gradually adapt into a faster and stronger form of yourself.
10 Scientific Tips To Make Exercise A Daily, Permanent Habit
These are 10 specific tips the scientists have unearthed out of years of research. These have been tested to work like magic, even if you were to follow around half of them.
- Commit yourself in writing. It helps. Psychology professor Gail Matthews studied successful goal-setting in 267 people. She found you are 33% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down, share it with a friend, and hold yourself accountable by sending them weekly updates.
- Get a workout buddy or join a fitness group. It makes the habit sticky. When you exercise with a partner or group, you can't devise a new excuse everyday to skip your exercise. In a study of 117 adults, those who worked out with friends enjoyed the exercise more than those who did it by themselves. Group walks in nature can reduce depression, as well as be an excellent stress-busting routine.
- Set towards-goals. Good goals are 'towards' oriented, rather than 'away-from' oriented. Your goals could be in the lines of: reach 115 pounds – not lose 20 pounds, increase stamina – not decrease tiredness, look more youthful – not less haggard, get fitter – not less sedentary. And, check out these 3 highly effective goal-setting techniques.
- Plan and decide Ahead Of Time (AOT, borrowing the phrase from computer science) — time, duration, types, mix, and variety of activity. When you plan your workouts ahead of time, you are better focused and motivated to go at it. Since you don't spend time thinking up the best activities to match the weather and your mood that day, you're doing it before the minutes tick away.
- Start small and slow, even if it's just 5 minutes a day of leisurely walk. If you can't find long chunks of time in your day to exercise, find 3-5 minute slabs several times during the day. These multiple small bouts add up without overburdening you, and you're more able to continue your exercise routine. Find me a guy who can't find 3 slices of one minute each to exercise on their packed day, and I'll find you the laziest bummer on earth.
- Choose high-energy times. For most, this is morning. However, this is more of an individual thing. So, find out your own chipper periods. A little caution: according to science, your odds of working out is greatest when you're in a neutral — neither happy, nor sad — mood. So, don't fix exercise times when you'll probably be bouncing with euphoria. Nor try to exercise yourself out of your blues.
- Choose the path of least resistance. Try to find your way into your daily exercise routine through a path of least effort. If you've to go through the decisions of how to match your workout gear to the weather and mood of the day, then you're likely setting yourself up for decision fatigue and watch the minutes tick away. Instead, for example, go to bed dressed in your jogging or gym wear.
- Fill in breaks, intended or unintended, as part of your ritual. There will be days when even the most conscientious exercisers among us will find a reason to skip a day or two. Now, the important thing is do not link up these occasional breaks with shame and guilt. Don't feel you've failed yourself. Restart as usual. Better still, fill in a few gaps into your exercise schedules, as a day off in a week or ten days.
- Change patterns if exercise makes you feel bad. Try indoors vs outdoors, aerobics vs anaerobic, light vs strenuous, weights vs free hand, vigorous vs slow, yoga vs dance. There's song by King Prawn called Lick of the Flame which has these lines: "Mundane monotony is all you have to offer me." Don't let your exercise routine sing you that. A handy tip: music can give you bigger mood boost during cardio routines.
- Log your achievements; write them into a diary or store them digitally for review from time to time. You could use Evernote for this. William Arruda, author of Digital You, says it in three simple words in his Forbes post The One Thing Successful People Do Every Day: Document your wins.
Final Words
Exercise is the most powerful way of increasing the quality and quantity of life, as research after research has shown. Exercise makes you not only healthier, but happier too. We would be incredibly happy if this painstakingly written post of 2700+ words finds success in helping you start and stick to a daily exercise habit.
We close this with three little takeaways:
- One, some exercise is better than no exercise.
- Two, a moderate intensity workout has the best benefits, better than high or low intensity.
- Three, outdoor exercises make you feel more refreshed and less tensed than indoor activities.
• Did you there's a scientific link between exercise and happiness? People who exercise are happier and more satisfied with their lives. But there's more to it than just that. Click the pic below to take a peek at our research-based post on exercise/happiness:
*NHLBI = National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; ACSM = American College of Sports Medicine; CDC = Center For Disease Control
• Download the e-book here: How To Make Exercise A Daily Habit
• • •
Author Bio: Sandip Roy is psychology writer, happiness researcher, and medical doctor. Founder of Happiness India Project, and chief editor of its blog. He writes popular-science articles on positive psychology and related topics.
• Email: Contact Us
√ A Courteous Call: If You Enjoyed this, Please Share it on Facebook or Twitter or LinkedIn.
This post may contain affiliate links. Disclosure.


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- Windows
- Home & Hobby
- General
- Building EQ Tool
Building EQ Tool
You can download Building EQ Tool 1.0.96 from our software library for free. The software lies within Home & Hobby Tools, more precisely General. Our built-in antivirus scanned this download and rated it as virus free. The latest setup file that can be downloaded is 15.9 MB in size. This free software was originally developed by Building EQ. The program's installer file is commonly found as dsGUI.exe. The most popular version among the software users is 1.0.
From the developer:
The aim of the project Building EQ is to support the introduction of both: the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (Directive 2002/91/EC) and of continuous commissioning1, which is seen as a prerequisite for an energy efficient long term operation of buildings.
You may want to check out more software, such as EQ Tools, ConceptDraw Solution Building Plans or .Net Protocol Builder Trial, which might be related to Building EQ Tool.
Please add a comment explaining the reasoning behind your vote.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Every year I travel one time-zone further east than last year, this year Sander Bockting and I chose for Almaty (GMT+6), the formal capital of Kazakhstan in Central Asia. The deal: Sander took care of the pictures (See Best selection, All), I of the programme.
During our ten days trip we met several Couch surfing members to join their life in Kazakhstan, experienced the hospitality of the Uyghur community during New Year's eve and travelled by train to the mountains near Kyrgyzstan's for a home stay and horse riding with the park ranger of the area.
Almaty has some places for sightseeing, highlights are Hotel Kazakhstan were got to a room on almost the upper floor for some pictures; the Central Mosque of Almaty – a serene place to contemplate about 2009; and Kok Tobe – the place to make pictures with the famous apple and have a look at the smoggy streets. Most of the nights we slept at So Young's guesthouse, a lady from South Korea with whom shared with us meals, tea and stories.
İnanç, a guy from Turkey who fancies winter sport on Sundays arranged a trip to Chimbulak, a nearby ski resort.
Slopes were almost empty, the rental was cheap and Sander taught me the falling leave while practising his 360s.
On this trip we also met up with Gulnara, a teacher at the international school; and Salim, a proud and funny wedding card salesman from Syria.
Together with Diana, a Kazakh girl who is staying for a short period in her home country, we scrolled down the paths of the Green Bazaar in Almaty.
Descendants of the Silk Road's traders offered their colourful merchandise varying from nuts, spices and even kimchi.
Carrying camera's and video recorders was not appreciated and after an hour the laser pen of insisting security ended our curiosity.
For the New Year's celebration Gulnara invited us to her family at the suburbs of Almaty where an Uyghur community resides.
An evening which started with the warm hospitality of the parents and games with her daughter, ended with a party with members of the community visiting each house to share a shot of vodka, dance and local food.
After the fireworks father frost and his grand daughter hosted a game night, singing songs, speeches and the music chair.
The night continued with Couch surfing at Salim's place, of which I do not remember that much, I fell asleep just after arrival. Sander had a great night with games of Pictionary.
It was hard to find a connection in the countryside, eventually we booked a home stay with a company dedicated to eco tourism – strongly recommended!
We travelled 500 km by train to stay for 24 hours in a village south of Chimkent, home to 20 families and edging a national park.
The train towards Chimkent introduced us to a different Kazakhstan, the language and people have hints of Arabic, mixed with Asia – in contrast to the formal Soviet face of Almaty.
Our host is ranger at the national park and with his sun we rode horses in knee deep snow at 2000 metres, having an breathtaking view on the 4 km summits towards Kyrgyzstan.
The villagers their life is simple, sipping tea and taking care of the land and cattle. In stead of racing around on scooters the local schoolboys had all their horse. I am still smiling when I see the boys do their tricks!
The 12 hours busride back to Almaty was a pain, but I had some fun with the truck drivers behind me.
Our last day we spend with preparing a Dutch meal for So Young and a photographer who is writing a book about the Silk Road and a goodbye party with the Couch surfers.


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greenmail(redirected from Goodbye kiss)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Legal, Financial.
greenmail,payment, by a corporation that is a takeover target, of a premium price for the shares of its stock that have been accumulated by the potential buyer. In exchange, the potential buyer stops the takeover bid.
When companies threaten to close or relocate (often to another country) if they are forced to comply with environmental laws.


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The first organ on record was built in 1928 by Henry Pilcher's Sons (Op. 1439 – 3 manuals /33 ranks) of Louisville, Kentucky. In 1969, a new instrument was built by Otto Hofmann (3 manuals – 65 ranks) of Austin, Texas. Four stops or ranks (sets of pipes) and their wind chests were retained by Hofmann from the 1928 Pilcher organ, those being a large scale 16′ Open Wood, a 16′ and 8′ Stopped Wood, and a 16′ Gedeckt in the pedal division. By 2010, these stops (from 1928) were barely functional, and the Hofmann organ was becoming more and more mechanically unreliable. The console (or keyboards and stops), having had several alterations over the years, including the addition of a SSL combination action, was also failing.
In 2010, a large gift was given to First Church to begin an organ fund to either rebuild or replace the Hofmann organ. Over the next several years this fund grew, and in 2014, a large gift was given by an FUMC family and over $100,000 was raised by the congregation. At this point, a contract was signed with R.A. Colby, Inc. of Johnson City, Tennessee to begin "Phase I" of two phases to rebuild, enlarge, and revoice the Hofmann organ, essentially creating a new instrument.
Phase I involved:
- a new 3 manual and pedal console of Maple with Walnut Burl interior and 130 drawknobs and a 200 memory level combination action
- new wind chests for the 1928 Pilcher stops
- electrical renovation of the instrument including completely rewiring the organ, and replacing all magnet discs
- a new 16′ and 8′ Bombarde unit in the pedal
- a new 16′ and 8′ Hooded Harmonic Trumpet (TC)
- a new high pressure blower and reservoirs for the new reeds
- expanded tonal resources via digital sampled stops
The new R.A. Colby instrument now has the equivalent of 100 ranks and was premiered in a concert by Ken Cowan on May 31, 2015.
To download the complete specification, click here.


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Caboose Trailers. He showed me one of their subcompact-oriented products: a special hitch for the MINI Countryman. Rated for 100 lbs. of tongue weight and 1,000 lbs. of towing, it's a great accessory for those who might want to pull a small trailer (maybe one of their teardrop trailers?). What's really cool, is it's a no-cut, no-drill piece that utilizes the holes in the bumper for tow points. Plus, it's easily removable when you don't want it on there. Cool stuff.
MINI Countryman Trailer Hitch from Caboose Trailers
Monday, May 9, 2011
Caboose Trailers' MINI Countryman hitch
Posted by Andy Lilienthal at 8:49 PM
Labels: Countryman, MINI, trailer
4 comments:
- Unknown said...
Where can this be purchased?
- May 26, 2014 at 3:48 PM
- john wold said...
I'd like to know as well. I've heard of mini CRAP aka CRAP industries but they seem to not be around anymore.
- January 1, 2018 at 11:04 AM
- Andy Lilienthal said...
CRAP Industries is now closed and all products are retired.
- January 2, 2018 at 11:14 AM
- Unknown said...
Is this type of trailer hitch for a 2013 countryman still available anywhere?
- March 31, 2019 at 7:06 AM
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Excited about Everyday Robots, Damon Albarn's first solo album due out April 28? The internet is now teeming with information and clips about the album, its first video, and Albarn's live promotional appearances. Here's a quick run-down of the latest news.
Damon Albarn stopped by BBC Radio 6 to chat with Steve Lamacq. You can listen to the half-hour interview here.
Lamacq describes Everyday Robots as a very tender, reflective record. The album is a personal narrative that has a brutal honesty at its core. Albarn confirmed the intimate nature of the record. 'The role of the songwriter is to speak from the heart but, also, enable people to feel that, as well.' This is Albarn's most autobiographical record to date. 'What I tried to do with this record,' he explained, 'it had to have happened and it had to have a geographical place in time. Every line happened.' One song in particular, 'Hollow Ponds,' is a very condensed autobiography of Albarn's life. 'The lyrics were the hardest part,' Albarn noted. 'It took me a long time because I wanted it to be about my life, in a way, and I went right back to 1976.' Plus, Albarn treats us to an amusing story about 'Mr Tembo,' his elephant friend. If you're looking for an insightful interview on his solo album, look no further than Rolling Stone, who have the whole elephant story down in print.
If you are hoping for another taste of the new record, check out Albarn performing his new song, 'Lonely Press Play' at YouTube's pop-up venue at the Sundance Film Festival this past weekend. The invitation-only performance included acoustic versions of five new songs and one track each by Gorillaz and Blur. His acoustic set included accompaniment by a four-piece string section and keyboards.
If you have not already previewed the first track off Everyday Robots, watch the official video for the title song below. The music video was conceived and directed by Aitor Throup, who was responsible for both the video and the artwork. What we see is a 'digital portrait' of the singer using CGI software as well as cranial scans. In a new interview with Creative Review, Throup describes the making of the video in detail and shares sketches for the video and artwork. It's a must-read for anyone fascinated by the unusual glimpse into the songwriter's head.
Damon Albarn will appear alongside Haim and the National at the first BBC Radio 6 Music Festival on Friday, February 28 at the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester. He told Steve Lamacq that he hopes to play the solo record in its entirety with several unexpected selections from his varied career. Albarn will also headline the Latitude festival in the summer.


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There are some people who save money for a decade to buy a car of their choice. They save every penny of their hard-earned money for years as they build up their wishes and desires to one day own the car, they like the most, because cars aren't cheap. What happens when that car gets stolen? The owner's heart breaks into small pebbles, that's what happens. Therefore, you need to take certain measures to keep your car safe from all harms.
Vehicle tracking systems are a boon from modern technology that allows us to track our cars in case they go missing. There are various types systems related to vehicle tracking. They are:
CELLULAR VEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEM:The cellular systems related to vehicle tracking is used to track your vehicles with help from your cell-phone. Everyone nowadays has a cell phone at their disposal, and the cell phones can be easily used to track the whereabouts of your vehicle. It is not a very technologically updated or advanced system, like the rest, but with a monthly fee, you can have this easy vehicle tracking system on your phone.
WPTS VEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEM:WPTS stands for Wireless Passive Tracking System for your vehicle. For this vehicle tracking system all you have to do is pay the fees once upon purchasing and installing it on your vehicle. This system consists of both hardware and software and a database. There is a disadvantage of this system though. You can only access the data once the vehicle has been home.
This system is unfortunately not reliable in times of emergencies, like road accidents or thefts, and doesn't provide real-time tracking for your vehicle. Yet you can add an additional model that you to track the vehicle live along with the speed and the whereabouts of the vehicle, anywhere anytime.
SATELLITE-BASED VEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEM:This system is extremely expensive for your vehicle. There is a monthly service fee. Several shipping and trucking companies prefer this kind of tracking system because it gives them a clear picture of the whereabouts of their vehicle or their fleet, even in places with zero cellphone coverage. Audi TT Leasing
There are certain things that you must keep in your mind before choosing a vehicle tracking system. Some of those things are:
If you want your trackers to be visible. Some of the trackers are visible and you can choose the type of trackers you want for your vehicle depending upon their visibility.
The amount of money you wish to spend on your vehicle tracking system. There are quite different kind of tracking systems which you can choose from. All these different systems require different amount of money, some require a monthly fee while some require a huge amount of money for the purchase and the installation of the device. Used Toyota Corolla Car
If you want your vehicle tracking system to be active or passive etc.
These are the essentials and the various types of vehicle tracking systems you must keep in your mind if you want to purchase one.
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- FACT-NetCord Accreditation (3rd)For the third time, StemCord was awarded the accreditation by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) and NetCord for all of StemCord's services and facilities.
- Processing & Storing of Over 40,000 Cord Blood SamplesOver 40,000 cord blood units stored with StemCord
- Opening of New Office & Medical LaboratoriesStemCord and Stem Med Launch Comprehensive Range of Stem Cell Banking Services with Opening of New Office and Medical Laboratories
- FACT-NetCord Accreditation (2nd)StemCord was once again awarded the accreditation by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) and NetCord for all of StemCord's services and facilities.
- Opening of Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital (Singapore)Expanded operations with the Opening of a second Sales Office at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital in Singapore.
- Processing & Storing of Over 30,000 Cord Blood SamplesOver 30,000 cord blood samples processed and stored at our own dedicated laboratory and storage Facilities.
- FACT-NetCord AccreditationAwarded the accreditation for the FACT-NetCord International Standards for Cord Blood Collection, Processing, Testing, Banking, Selection and Release of autologous cord blood units
- 20,000th Cord Blood Banking CustomerRegistration of StemCord's 20,000th Cord Blood Banking Customer
- FACT Accreditation ProcessAs part of the FACT accreditation process, FACT inspectors team conducted an initial inspection which addresses all quality aspects of Laboratory Management including collection, processing, storage, transportation of cord blood and its administration
- Launch of StemShieldMedical insurance plan for StemCord customers covering stem cell transplants
- Introduction of Split Storage Facilities
- 10,000th Cord Blood Banking CustomerRegistration of StemCord's 10,000th Customer.
- Incorporation of StemCord BruneiExpanded operations on a regional scale.
- Incorporation of StemCord Indonesia & StemCord PhilippinesExpanded operations on a regional scale.
- Collected 800 cord blood samplesCollected 800 cord blood samples within the first year.
- Licensed by Singapore's Ministry of HealthIncorporated and began its first day of operations on the same day.
We Care For Your Baby's Future
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Click on the button to find out how you can getting started with us today!


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Spring Asparagus
Total TimePrep/Total Time: 25 min.
Makes8 servings
- 1-1/2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2 small tomatoes, cut into wedges
- 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon grated onion
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted
- 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese, optional
- In a large saucepan, bring 1 cup water to a boil. Add asparagus; cook, covered, until crisp-tender, 3-5 minutes. Drain; place in a large bowl. Add tomatoes; cover and keep warm.
- Place vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, onion, salt and paprika in a blender; cover and process until smooth. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Toss with asparagus mixture. Top with almonds and, if desired, cheese.
Editor's NoteTo toast nuts, bake in a shallow pan in a 350° oven for 5-10 minutes or cook in a skillet over low heat until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
Nutrition Facts3/4 cup: 154 calories, 11g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 159mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 fat, 1 vegetable, 1/2 starch.
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Mar 29, 2020
Very Nicely done.
Mar 22, 2020
Great recipe. I'll add sugar to taste next time, little to sweet form me. Also, only used about 1/2 of the dressing. Also, didn't have blue cheese so I used goat cheese. Was great.
Apr 2, 2013
I only used a tablespoon of sugar. It really doesn't need it.
May 26, 2011
This is awesome - didn't put in the almonds though as I was running short on time to toast them etc. Also I only used about half of the dressing. SOOOOO tasty.
Apr 9, 2010
Fantastic salad, great both hot and cold the next day...
Apr 30, 2009
This is awesome. I made it after finding asparagus on sale at the grocers. What a treat! I will make it over and over, and have already passed it on to others!
Sep 14, 2008
This simple recipe is fresh with a complex flavor. My brother-in-law who doesn't like asparagus raved about this dish!


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Our culture has a very me-centered mindset. What do I want? How can others meet my needs? What can you do for me? We get so caught up looking at ourselves we miss out on the very real needs of those around us. Needs may not always be obvious like the need for food and shelter. Someone may need an encouraging word, a friend to listen or the truth from God's word. If we're not looking out for the needs for those around us, we are missing out on amazing opportunities God has to use us in the lives of others. Who in your life has a need God has gifted you to meet today?
SERVICE: Seeing a need and meeting it out of a heart for God.
MEMORY VERSE: "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many." MARK 10:45 (NLT)
This Week's Finish Line: See a need. Meet the need.
In Luke 10:30-37, Jesus tells a story of what it means to serve someone selflessly. A man was attacked and robbed on the winding desert road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Left for dead, he was helpless and in desperate need. The first two people to cross his path saw his need but were too concerned with themselves to stop and help. Then the most unlikely servant came along, a Samaritan. Jews and Samaritans did not get along but that didn't stop this man from abandoning his plans to help the need he saw. The Samaritan sacrificed what he had to care for the injured and never expected anything in return. At the end of the story Jesus calls us all to "Go and do likewise." There are needs all around us if only we will stop and see them. God gives us what we need to be the servants He calls us to be to a world in need.
Family Questions:
- What gifts did the Samaritan use to serve the man? What did he have to sacrifice in order to meet the injured man's needs?
- What are some reasons you give to not meet a need you see?
- Read 1 Peter 4:8-11. Who gives us what we need to serve others? What gifts has God given you that you can use to meet others' needs?
- What is the point of serving others? Why should we meet the needs that we see? (see 1 Peter 4:11)
Bring It Home Activities
1. Secret Servants
Designate this week a "Secret Service" week. Encourage your family to try and serve each other without being found out. Extend your serving to your friends and neighbors around you. Be on the lookout for needs that you come across in your daily life and brainstorm with your family how you can meet those needs. At the end of the week celebrate all of the ways God used you to serve others.
2. Serve your Community
Watermark's External Focus team has put together an amazing resource of ways you and your family can serve your community this summer and throughout the year. Our ministry partners have a variety of ways where you can show your kids what it looks like to serve others throughout the Dallas area. Jump in with Second Saturday, Brother Bill's Helping Hand, Mercy Street and many others to meet the needs of those around you.
3. Significant Summer
All throughout the summer, we are challenging parents to make the time they have with their kids significant. Take time this summer to intentionally disciple your kids in 4 areas: Grow, Play, Serve and Rest. You can download a free copy of our Significant Summer booklet filled with ideas for you and your family to not waste your summer. Track the fun things your family did on the Significant Summer chart and tell us about it on social media using #sigsummer14.
Thank God for how He meets the needs you have in ways you may not expect. Ask Him to help you see the needs of those around you and give you what you need to meet those needs. Thank Him for meeting your most desperate need, the need for the Good News of Jesus and salvation!
Looking Ahead
Next week we will look at the lives of two sisters, Mary and Martha, as we learn what it means to serve out of a heart for God.
Talk Back
Has your family done anything significant this summer? Be sure to share it with us, using the hashtag #sigsummer14 on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook!
The post See a need. Meet the need. appeared first on Watermark Community Church Blog.


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Studio Gear Draw the Line Kit Review & Giveaway!Thursday, January 08, 2015
|Left to right: Suede, Brown, Blue Grey, Midnight Blue, Steel
Today, I'm reviewing (and giving away) the final Studio Gear Kit I own, the Draw the Line set. Check out my other kit reviews/tutorials here and here. This kit is an eyeliner lover's dream! You get 5 total pencils, with an array of shades. The first shade is suede, which is a very light brown. This shade is very unique and unlike any others I've seen, and because of that it is my favorite. It is very natural and looks like you are not even wearing eyeliner. It gives the illusion of thicker lashes and more defined eyes. This shade would be perfect for blondes and redheads, or younger teens!
The next shade is brown, which is a standard neutral brown. Then there's blue grey, which is a medium cool grey, followed by midnight blue which is a dark navy. The last shade is called steel, which is a dark grayish black that has shimmer in it.
Overall, I love the formula of these liners. They are soft and creamy, but dry enough to look natural and stay in place. I don't have any problems with smudging either. The only downside I found to this kit, is that it does not come with a purple shade. They also are not automatic, and have to be sharpened. However the kit does come with a pencil sharpener, which is awesome!
The Draw the Line kit is currently on sale of only $25! Use the code GlamMeUp8 to get 10% off when ordering from Studio Gear!
Now finally, for the giveaway!
Want to win your own Draw the Line Kit?! Follow these easy steps:
-Follow my blog (click the blue "Join This Site" button on the right-hand sidebar)
-Subscribe to my youtube channel
-Comment on this post with your email (you must leave your email so I can contact you if you are the winner)
-For extra entries, follow me on my social media sites. Please leave your social media usernames in your comment.
-Giveaway will end in 2 weeks, on 1/22/15 at midnight EST.
-The winner will be announced in a blog post.
-Winner will be contacted via email, and a comment reply
The winner for the Shades of Pink Kit is: Tina Lovee
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♥ My teeth whitening kit: http://www.smilebright.info/ <--Use code "kit24" to get it for only $25 (regular $99)


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Bitter Realities and Benefits of Consumer Credit Card Debt Relief
By doing this, the government is helping the economy, since the people will be less likely to lose their homes, and will be more likely to spend in the economy in the future. Very often, the debt traps are so hurting and unmanageable that people choose to get help from any of the consumer credit card debt relief agencies without even taking the time to research and make the best choice among the many options available. Getting educated on the pros and cons of the consumer credit card debt relief can help anyone to make the right decision in this regard without being lured by the false claims made by many in this arena.
When you decide to get help from a consumer credit card debt relief agency, it is imperative that you should understand the rudiments involved. Be it any consumer credit card debt relief agency, they will first let your credit fall into the defaulters' list before they initiate the debt assistance service for you. Credit card debt, being an unsecured type of debt does not need collateral and the creditors are ready to risk the non payment of debts from their clients at any point of time. However, if you intend sailing on the 'credit treadmill' such that you don't wreak havoc to your credit score, no consumer credit card debt relief provider would be able to assist you. The creditors agree for a negotiation only if they are convinced that you are no more in a position to repay your credit card debts and this comes in only when you default.
They help the person to sort out their current spending habits and show them where they can cut back and save money so that they can pay their mortgage again. They induce a feeling that all is well with current repayments while the debt assistance measures are being implemented simultaneously. But in reality, the credit score of the client goes in for a toss and bounces back to normal during this process of debt consolidation and management.
Sometimes the debt relief educational services will work with the mortgage companies on behalf of the mortgagee so that they are better able to save their home. Otherwise you are likely to get into tax debt relief soon for non conformance to file returns for that annual year.
They may also help to talk to the creditors to negotiate a lesser amount to pay off so that the debt can be resolved even more quickly. The best part of the consumer credit card debt relief is the fact that an authentic agency can reduce the outstanding that you owe to your creditors at a drastic pace. Yet another important factor that needs attention and consideration is the calculation on how much you can save after paying the reduced debts to your creditors and the service charge to the consumer credit card debt relief provider whom you choose. This turns out to be the saving that you can get out of debt assistance that you had sought for.


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Location: Les Saints
Today started with a midnight wake-up consisting of me informing the crew that history had been made in America. With this news and the title of skipper over my head I knew November 5th was going to be great. Caroline, Beaker and I started the morning with a sunrise run, while Ben, Chris and Sam enjoyed coffee at a local bakery. After breakfast (French toast) seven of us presented our literature review OCE projects and then we had the remainder of the day free ashore to explore the Saints, and catch up on work. Some people rented scooters, and while they looked pretty dorky, they still were having lots of fun. Shower time was filled with successful and not-so-successful (painful) gainers (back-flips) and flips off the starboard side of Ocean Star. Tonight we are looking forward to a night out in the quiet town, followed by some home work and another pleasant night on Ocean Star.
Related VoyageView All Voyages
Take your college campus to the ocean and sail the length of the Caribbean's Lesser Antilles. One of our most popular semesters, this fall educational expedition is made up of short 1-3 day passages, allowing us to spend plenty of time exploring the Caribbean's marine and island environment and culture.View Details


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The truck accident lawyers at Whiting Law Group, Ltd. understand how difficult it can be to identify the right legal action if you are in a trucking accident. Let us help you receive the compensation you deserve.
Trucking Companies and Liability
In the past, trucking companies often tried to avoid liability for trucking accidents by creating distance between themselves and the driver, the vehicle, and the equipment. Trucking companies would do this in the following ways:
- Permits. The trucking company obtains the necessary permits to operate the truck. However, the company often does not own the tractor, trailer, or equipment used to haul the goods. Instead, the trucking company would lease the equipment, tractors, and trailers from the "owner/operator."
- Independent Contractors. The trucking company would avoid liability by not directly employing the drivers. Instead, it hires them as independent contractors from the owner/operator.
- Placards. The trucking company would give the owner/operator a "placard," which includes the name of the trucking company and its permit numbers. The placard is then affixed to the door of the tractor, making it appear as though the truck is owned by the named trucking company and the driver is an employee of the named trucking company.
In the event that the truck is involved in an accident and the trucking company is sued, it would argue that:
- The driver was not the trucking company's employee, so the trucking company is not liable for driver error, or
- The trucking company does not own the equipment, so it is not responsible for the operation, maintenance, repair, and inspections of the equipment.
Fortunately, federal laws and regulations have put an end to these arguments. Under current federal law, any company owning a trucking permit is responsible for all accidents involving a truck that has its placard or name displayed on the vehicle.
Consult an attorney
Whiting Law Group takes a personal interest in every case that comes into our office. If you are looking for an attorney that will give you undivided individual attention, commitment to excellence, and use every possible resource available to help you win your case, then Mr.Whiting and his team of accident and injury trial lawyers personally invite you to contact them for a free consultation toll free at 1-877-936-7200 or by email at firstname.lastname@example.com. There is no fee unless we win your case.


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A lot of people take advantage of the great weather by going for a joyride using their motorbikes. They do this as a hobby, to unwind, see beautiful sceneries especially in the countryside, and enjoy the fresh air. You will find riding a motorcycle full of fun and excitement. However, you have to be very careful too because a lot of riders have already met accidents on the road.
If you are planning on going for a ride, read this post and learn more about how you can protect yourself while you are out on the road with your motorbike.
Protecting yourself when riding a motorcycle
Riding a motorbike and going for an adventure is, without a doubt, a very exciting activity. But you have to ensure your safety too. Take note that for the past few years, there is a huge number of reported road accidents that involve motorcycles. So, it is crucial that before you head out, make sure that you have your safety gear with you.
Here are important reminders that you need to follow when riding a motorbike to ensure that you are safe and healthy;
Avoid riding against the traffic
Going on a busy street and riding against the traffic is very dangerous. Just imagine what the impact would be if you and your motorcycle collide with another vehicle. This would mean death. With that said, it is extremely important that you follow all the traffic rules and regulations when you are on the road. It is crucial that you maintain the right speed too.
Wear safety gear
There are various safety or protective gear that you can use when riding a motorbike. You need to invest in a helmet, boots, elbow and knee guards, as well as the best textile motorcycle jacket on the market. When shopping for such items, it is necessary that you choose only those that are durable and made from high-quality materials as this will increase the level of protection that they can provide you with.
Be alert
As a driver, you must stay alert at all times. You can't drive and text. You need to avoid distractions. Instead, you should keep your eyes on the road and stay focused.
There are more things that you can do to protect yourself while you are out on the road. But the key to an amazing motorbike riding experience is to be a responsible driver, follow the rules, and wear protective gear.


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Schools for India is evaluating various sites across India for suitability and the need for building the schools.
A School for your Village:
Here is the chance for you to own a project that will make a difference to the people whom you belong.
If you or your parents are from the village, and would like to see how you can contribute to educating the children from your village, you can send the details of your village details to us at email@example.com.
We will let you know when we are planning to take up the project.
We will also help you link up to the Celebrity and other members who are involved in building the schools in your district.
In case if you happen to be from one of the villages and think that building a school there would be of great help to that community, please refer us the name of the person to be contacted from that local community.
We will keep track of all such requests and will include them In our evaluation and give you the feedback on the status of your request
Since this is a massive project catering almost all parts of the country, local knowledge about the conditions will definitely help.
The Data we need:
You can provide us the following minimum details for us to process your request:
Village Name, Contact person, Block,District and State. and Telephone number or e-mail.


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On this date in 2009, the British Music Experience opened at the O2 in London.
Amanda and I have actually been to the British Music Experience! We visited the O2 when in London back in May of 2011 and went into the exhibit. Somehow, I think we felt that if we at least went to the O2, we'd feel better about the shows being cancelled (I am speaking for the both of us: it did not), and at least we would see the British Music Experience (wish it had been Duran Duran instead, but the BME was interesting).
Ok, so after writing that last sentence, I need to admit that I remember very little of the BME (and I really hope these memories are from the BME or else this entire post is about to get embarrassing) with the exception that I saw the blue suit that Roger Taylor wore for Rio (because really, isn't that the most important thing anyway??) of which I recall two things:
- It was TINY. I mean seriously small. I couldn't have fit one leg into those pants, much less the suit jacket. I consoled myself by saying that he was practically a child himself when he wore it.
- It was so SHINY. I wondered just how comfortable that fabric (silk) was in the blazing sun all day. Hot and sweaty I'm sure…
moving on…
I also remember that there was some sort of wall outside that served as a timeline (and in this moment I'm really hoping that I'm remembering these things correctly or else I've recalled another part of our trip entirely, which would be embarrassing…but not really all that surprising for me.) *sigh*
Oh, I also remember there being some sort of map thing in the center of the exhibit. I want to say it included the cities in Great Britain along with the musicians that came from there. And that concludes my working memories from there unless I go dig through my pictures. I know there had to be a lot in there on the Beatles, and many other bands too, but you know….Duran Duran was on the brain. As usual.


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This was as good as it got: my father all to myself for ninety minutes, maybe two hours if traffic was heavy. No bickering from Emily and Avery in the back seat. No giving up the front seat to Dawn. I was again riding co-pilot.
I adjusted the AC on my side and tuned the radio station to today's top hits. My father turned down the volume from the controls on the steering wheel.
"Did you have fun at the orchard?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said. When I was younger, my parents took me apple picking every autumn, driving out to Long Island for the day, filling our baskets to overflowing and spending the rest of the weekend baking apple pies and making applesauce. A sweet memory from my childhood.
"I think the girls enjoyed it. Of course, they would have had a better time if Dawn had come along, but we're learning to spend time together on our own, and that's important."
"I suppose it is," I said.
"The pregnancy is tough on them. They're too young to understand."
"It won't last long, and when the baby's born I'm sure they'll be ecstatic."
"I hope so," he said. "What about you? Will you be ecstatic?"
I shrugged. Sometimes the thought of a little brother or sister excited me. Other times, I suspected he or she would just be someone else coming between my father and me. "I just hope there's enough of you to go around."
He didn't respond, the miles speeding behind us on the Thruway. "You feel left out," he said at last.
"Left out. Left behind."
"It doesn't help that we live so far apart."
"No, but I can't live with you and Dawn and the girls. It's too much."
"You know I'd do anything to have you with me."
"No, you wouldn't," I said. "If that was so, you'd have to leave them, and that's not happening." These words were difficult to speak aloud. I guess I'd been hoping he'd wake up one day and realize his marriage to Dawn was a mistake and come home to my mom and me, or, at least, move out of the McMansion. A baby erased all possibility of that happening.
"This is my new life, Aerin. Nothing is going to change. I have you, Dawn, Emily and Avery, and this new child. You have to accept it."
"I know," I said, my voice small.
"It's been four years."
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
"I'm sorry I've hurt you."
I waved my hand at him to stop. "We're so past that," I said willing my voice not to quiver.
"Are we?"
He nodded and tapped out a rhythm on the steering wheel. The mood in the car seemed lighter. I sat back in my seat, more at peace than I'd felt in a long time. Coming to terms with him and his new life was a long time coming, but now that I'd accepted our new normal, I knew everything would be okay.
"We haven't had much time to talk about you. Everything all right?"
"Have you heard from your mother?"
"I got a letter the other day." She'd written three pages, most of it about her progress with her therapy, her swimming, and her new job in the library, sorting and shelving cartons of books some church had donated. "She's doing okay, adjusting to life in that place. She said she might be getting some new privileges at the end of the month, and maybe she'll be able to send email."
"That sounds good. I've only heard from her once. I wish she'd write again."
"I'll tell her."
Traffic backed up on the Thruway, and we idled a while. In the late afternoon, the leaf peepers and apple pickers headed home. Poor Dad. He'd have to face the same traffic in reverse after he left me at Maggie's.
"It's unfortunate your mother had to go to such extremes to get help for her problems," he said, his eyes fixed on the car ahead as he inched us forward.
"She never does things the easy way," I said. "I think she's learning to slow down, to realize that it's not her job to save the world."
"That's what I loved about her," he mused. "She was never afraid to fight for her beliefs. She put everything she had into righting wrongs. Sometimes she put in too much."
Like us, I thought but didn't say it, understanding that the same words reverberated in his head, too.
"You were once the same way," I said.
He nodded. "The two of us made a formidable pair. From day one it was Gordon and Devon against the world."
"What happened?"
"We grew up. We wanted to change the world, but when we took on jobs, marriage, a child, a mortgage, we didn't have time to fix the world. We barely had time to build a decent world for ourselves.
"I realized it a lot sooner than your mother did, and chose a more stable work environment where the risks were small and the rewards were great. Devon kept going, trying to save the world one patient at a time at St. Vincent's, rattling the powers that be about healthcare for the homeless, volunteering at soup kitchens and shelters, always striving to do good no matter the cost. I'm not saying her work wasn't necessary or important, but it took a lot away from what we were trying to accomplish as a family."
The traffic started moving, and he shifted gears, accelerating and moving into the left lane to pass the minivan in front of us.
"I managed to get out of that trap, but your mother loved it," he continued as we once again sped down the Thruway. "She thrived on it, and couldn't stop. Then the worst catastrophe that ever hit our country occurred and she was right in the middle of it, and couldn't let it go. I can't blame her – I almost gave up my job at the firm to get involved with the post-September 11th effort - but by that time our marriage was in trouble and showed no signs of reconciliation, so I stayed my course to keep things afloat at home."
His version of the story sounded a lot like Maggie's, and I saw no reason to disagree with him.
"Her joining the Army Reserve ended things for us."
"She couldn't help it," I said in her defense. "She was compelled to join."
"I get that," he said, "but I couldn't accept it."
"And here we are now."
"And here we are now."
A mile or two rolled by in silence as we each absorbed these words. We couldn't go back to what we were before. Our lives had diverged in such different directions. I was the one caught in the middle, pulled two ways, and at the same time preparing to embark on my own undefined journey. Scary.
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Tidlo traditional wooden baby walker with Abc and numbers blocks. The wooden baby walker of choice for Princess Charlotte! This traditional style wooden baby walker comes with a set of 24 colourful wooden abc blocks that also have numbers on one side. The perfect aid for little ones as they learn to walk. The wooden blocks are also great fun and a lovely way to encourage word and number recognition.
Size: 30 x 48 x 43 cm
Suitable from 12 months.
If this product is shown in stock and available to purchase, then it will be delivered by our courier UK MAIL on a 24 hour service, complete with tracking and SMS notification.
Orders can take up to 2 days for processing unless the next day option is chosen, however we always aim to get your order out within 24 hours.
For orders outside the UK please see our delivery page for further information on delivery times and costs.
John Crane has been operating in the UK for over a quarter of a century now and this is testament to he high quality traditional wooden toys they they distribute into the children's toys market. Prominent brands that they represent include Pintoy, Pin Furniture, Lilliputiens, GoGo Toys, Sevi, Trudi, and B. They have also recently started manufacturing for themselves through the toy brand known as Tidlo Timeless Toys.
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This paper analyzes the feasibility and proposes a strategy for cooperation between the United States and Russia in the field of countering ISIL in the digital sphere. In doing so, we have identified female recruitment through digital networks as a niche area in which both countries may have overlapping interests and face comparable challenges. Our research consists of a literature review of existing academic studies regarding ISIL and terrorist network recruitment, conversations with both American and Russian experts in public diplomacy and international counterterrorism, an examination of recruitment narratives in the media, and a content analysis of Russian and American social media channels. Our research shows that the US and Russia may increase awareness of this issue among the public in both countries by highlighting stories of women who have survived life under ISIL and have escaped. It is crucial to create digital content that shares forms and methods of ISIL recruitment, and potential warning signs on social media, in simple and understandable language. We propose the creation and regular management of a micro-site and accompanying social media campaign from the communities that most need this information. The Stanford U.S.-Russia Forum commissioned this paper in a Track II diplomatic effort between young scholars in the United States and the Russian Federation.
About the Authors:
Amara Manoogian graduated in May 2017 with an M.A. in Global Communications from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. She holds a B.A. in International Affairs with a Security Policy concentration, also from the Elliott School. Amara studies public diplomacy and the Olympic Movement, as well as media coverage of cybersecurity. Ken-Ben Chao is a senior at Stanford University studying political science and history with interdisciplinary honors in international security studies. Daria Shcheglova is a Ph.D. Candidate at Moscow State University in Moscow, Russia, studying social philosophy and political science. She holds an M.A. in Economics from the Institute of Economics and International Economic Relations at the Southern Federal University in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Her interests include nation-branding, Middle Eastern studies, and ethnic studies. Liya Khalikova is currently pursuing her Master's degree in international political economy and development at Fordham University as a Fulbright Scholar. She holds a B.A. in political science from the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Russia. Her interests include political and economic development with a focus on the MENA region.


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Marshall 1962 HW Bluesbreaker and 1973X Combos Reviewed
MARSHALL'S RECENT REISSUING of two classic amps of the '60s and '70s is welcome news for anyone who revels in classic British tube tone. The list of guitar amplifiers that have attained mythical status since the 1960s most certainly includes Marshall's model 1962 combo from 1965—particularly the series II version that Eric Clapton used on the famous "Beano" album (a.k.a. John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers). Powered by two KT66 output tubes, the "Bluesbreaker"—as it has come to be known—was custom built at the request of Clapton, who wanted a stageworthy rig that could fit in the "boot" of his car. Jim Marshall accommodated the young guitarist by taking a 30-watt JTM-45 tremolo head, flipping it on its side with the controls facing upward, and bolting it into an open-back cabinet that held two Celestion 12" speakers. Though about two-thirds the size of a half stack, it was Marshall's first combo.
Probably seeking to downsize the model 1962, Marshall introduced the 1973X combo around 1966. (If you're confused by the model numbers and issue dates, welcome to the club!) This amp produced 18 watts from a pair of EL84 power tubes, and it also featured a tube-driven tremolo. Besides being easier to lug around, the '73X could be driven into distortion at lower volume than its 30-watt sibling, making it more suitable for cranking up on smaller stages, while still keeping the wide soundstage afforded by two 12s in a open-back cabinet.
I tested these amps with a Gibson 1963 ES-335 TDC reissue, a PRS Modern Eagle II, and a Buzz Feiten T-Pro.
1962HW Bluesbreaker
Two things visually define the British-made 1962HW: size and style. This big combo is 32" wide and stands almost two feet tall, and it features period-correct cosmetic touches, including salt-and-pepper grillecloth framed in white piping, a gold plexiglas panel, the requisite four inputs, and a complement of controls that includes dual Volumes, 3-band EQ (Bass, Middle, Treble), and Presence, Speed, and Intensity knobs.
Though originally equipped with an aluminum chassis, steel is now used for extra strength, and within this heavy-gauge housing we find hand-wired circuitry on vintage-style tag boards, with very clean wiring runs to the pots, jacks, and switches. The components are primarily from U.S. and British manufacturers and the transformers are from Drake, who was the original maker. It's all very reminiscent of the innards of a Marshall from the mid 60's, and the labor involved in building a tube amp this way nowadays—especially at such a high level of execution—makes the 1962HW a real fair deal for anyone shopping in the upscale market.
Firing up the 1962HW is a rewarding experience, as this amp has a burly sound with plenty of headroom afforded by the muscular KT66 power tubes. Even at low volume this amp has quite a presence, and it just gets bigger and badder as you turn it up. The '62HW isn't modded for extra gain, so getting to a level of overdrive suited for lead playing requires a healthy twist of the Volume control. It sounds killer when you crank it, but the volume delivered by those two 12s is pretty intense for smaller rooms and stages, and that's why it's more practical to use it with a distortion pedal for your higher gain tones.
The tremolo adds a rich throb to the tones, and the range of the Speed and Intensity controls gives you a lot of ways to deploy the effect— everything from a subtle pulse behind a rhythm part to a corpulent stutter that's great for embellishing breaks, etc. It's worth noting that a basic design flaw of the original tremolo circuit caused it to become virtually non functioning when the Volume control was set to maximum. As Marshall says, " This is because there is no series resistance to 'pull against.' Only with the volume pot turned lower is this series resistance provided. In those days it was probably hard to imagine someone playing the amp on full volume when using the tremolo anyway!"
Interestingly, the original tremolo's oscillator was also connected to the HT (high voltage) line in a different place than on subsequent "Bluesbreaker" reissues, which caused a subtle modulation of the power supply, especially when the amp is driven hard. Marshall notes that the screen grid resistance is also higher on the original circuit, which lowers the maximum output power a little, as well as affecting the transient response. Both of these circuit elements have been restored on the 1962HW due to their subtle but discernable sonic impact.
My only issue with the tremolo is that a special footswitch is required (which is included), and it has to be connected for the tremolo to operate. Size- and weight-wise, the 1962HW is a pretty serious heft, but sonically speaking, it has all the cool harmonic complexity and touch responsiveness that early, tube-rectified Marshalls are so famous for. Bottom line: There's nothing else like this amp, and for anyone who wants to own a piece of British rock history, the 1962HW accurately represents a bygone time when Jim Marshall was getting his company off the ground by working diligently to accommodate the needs of some of the best blues and rock guitarists in England.
Featuring the same period-correct styling, the 1973X looks basically like a shrunken version of the 1962HW. On closer inspection, however, the control layout is quite different, as this amp has two independent channels: one with Volume and Tone controls, and the other with Volume, Tone, Speed, and Intensity knobs. Both channels have dual inputs, and while the '73X does not have a voltage selector, it does have a second speaker jack—something that's not offered on the '62HW.
The hand-wired circuitry maintains the same high standard of workmanship we see on the 1962HW. The workmanship is extremely neat and every soldered component and wiring run is attended to with perfection. You really get what you pay for here, and it shows that Marshall is capable of not only doing solid reissues of their early amps, but also replicating the small-production quality control standards that went into them back in '60s. Too bad they have to put metal cages around the tubes to keep small children and dumb adults from burning themselves on the hot glass, but alas, that's the world we live in today.
The 1973X has a lot to offer players who love to drive a low-wattage amp hard to take advantage the distortion and compression generated in the output stage. That said, this amp has nice range of cleaner tones, with impressive headroom for an 18 watter. The '73X definitely comes alive when turned up, delivering sweet distortion when you dig into the strings and cleaning up well when you lighten up on the pick or turn down the guitar volume. The two 12s automatically give this amp a lot of sonic spread, and the fun really begins when can you turn it up enough to get the power stage sweating and the speakers pushed to where they're adding to the sonic brew. Running the EL84 tubes in class AB helps to give this amp a badass British sound that reminds me a lot of my late-'60s Marshall PA-20 head.
Contrary to what you'd expect, the Tremolo channel is louder and brighter than the Normal channel, and that's just fine because the effect is so addictive. The ranges provided by the Speed and Intensity controls allow for a satisfying variety of organic sounding tremolo textures, and considering it doesn't have reverb, the 1973X is very open and dimensional sounding. Reflecting its vintage heritage, this is an amp that sounds great on its own or with pedals, so if you want the old-school, low-wattage Marshall experience in a convenient combo format, the 1973X is simply a stellar choice!
CONTACT marshallamps.com
PRICE $3,999 street
Controls Volume 1, Volume 2, Bass, Middle, Treble, Presence, Speed, Intensity
TUBES 2 x KT66, 4 x 12AX7, 1 x GZ34 rectifier
POWER 30 watts
EXTRAS Impedance selector (4/8/16Ω). Voltage selector. Footswitchable tube-driven tremolo (footswitch included).
SPEAKERS Two Celestion G12M Greenback 12"
WEIGHT 71.6 lbs
KUDOS Great tone. Superb build quality.
CONCERNS. Only one speaker jack. Requires a dedicated footswitch to activate tremolo.
PRICE $2,799 street
CONTROLS (Normal channel) Volume, Tone. (Tremolo channel) Volume, Tone, Speed, and Intensity.
TUBES 2 x EL84, 3 x 12AX7, 1 x EZ81 rectifier
POWER 18 watts
EXTRAS Impedance selector (4, 8, 16Ω). Dual speaker jacks. Footswitchable tube-driven tremolo (footswitch included).
SPEAKERS Two Celestion G12M Greenback 12"
WEIGHT 50.7 lbs
KUDOS Great tone. Superb build quality.
CONCERNS Requires a dedicated footswitch for the tremolo.


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10 Interesting Facts About Leonardo Da Vinci
Painter, inventor, architect and a scientific genius, Leonardo da Vinci (1452- 1519) was an Italian genius who was rightly called the "Renaissance Man." Today, he known for all things related to science and nature and of course the very famous paintings- The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. Here are 10 more interesting facts about Leonardo da Vinci.
#1. Family life
Image Source: Ashley Van Haeften — flickr
Leonardo Da Vinci was the illegitimate child of Ser Piero da Vinci and a local woman called Caterina. Though he was the only child they had together, but he ended up having 17 other siblings. His father married four times and his mother married another man.
#2. Codex Leicester
His manuscript, the Codex Leicester was bought by Bill Gates in 1995 for $30 million. This is the only manuscript that is held outside of Europe and includes his studies on water movement and hydraulics.
#3. Didn't finish what he started
Very often, he would take commissions but would never actually finish the work. This included creating an altarpiece for a chapel in Signoria. His other famous incomplete work include the Mona Lisa and The Adoration of Magi which shows a moment between the Christ child, Mary and three kings. Even this unfinished work is displayed in Florence.
#4. Biggest Project
He has produced various masterpieces but his biggest and most substantial project was to complete a 16-foot statue of Duke of Milan's father on a horseback. He worked on it for 12 years but before completion, French forces invaded Milan and destroyed the statue.
#5. Dissecting Corpses
Da Vinci was especially interested in human anatomy and during 1480s this interest of replicating the anatomy in his art led him to dissect various human and animal corpses. It is believed that his artworks depicting the vascular system, heart, genitals and other body parts were the first depictions of their kind.


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The Committee on University Discipline for Disruptive Conduct at the University of Chicago has released a new report detailing suggestions for dealing with students who shout down speakers and otherwise disrupt events, either as individuals or in groups.
Minimizing Disruptive Conduct with Discipline and Education
After calling attention to the University's previous Freedom of Expression report (i.e. the Chicago Statement), the committee recommend five steps to remedy the problem of students and others disrupting events. Their suggestions are:
- The current All-University Disciplinary System should be replaced with a revised centralized disciplinary system.
- As it supports protest and dissent, the University should revise its procedures for event management to reduce the chances that those engaged in disruptive conduct can prevent others from speaking or being heard.
- The University should modify its existing approach to disruptive conduct by individuals who are not currently affiliated with the University.
- The University needs a more robust program of educational programming to ensure that students understand the rights and responsibilities of participating in the free-speech commons at the University.
- The University should amend Statute 21, which defines and prohibits disruptive conduct, to make clear, among other things, that "persistent and serial conduct may in the aggregate rise to the level of disruptive conduct even if a single instance of such conduct does not."
The committee hopes that these changes will limit the amount of disruptive conduct on campus by educating students about the importance of free speech and by providing sanctions for disrupters.
Key Constructive Principles Guide Free Speech Policies
Of special interest are the "key constructive principles" that the committee relied upon in making its suggestions. These are as follows:
- The speech that takes place at the University is first and foremost determined by the faculty, other scholars and students present at the University.
- Norms of respect, civility, openness and inclusion are essential to enable speech from everyone at the University. A restrictive, hostile, unwelcoming climate will shrink expression, while a rich, friendly, inclusive climate will enable speech to thrive.
- At the University, we share a free-speech commons, by which we mean the communal forum, shared by everyone who participates in the life of the University, in which free expression takes place and that is subject to certain reasonable rules if the commons is to continue to thrive.
- The fundamental operating principle of the University free-speech commons is one of decentralization and local creation of expression supported by central authority to ensure that the University's free speech values are upheld fully.
- The University operates in this fashion because doing otherwise would be antithetical to the core idea that knowledge is best created by individual faculty members, other academic appointees, postdoctoral researchers and students.
- Protesters are fully within their free-speech rights to counter and object to speech, as long as they are doing so without blocking or disrupting the free-speech rights of others.
- Disruptive conduct may itself be a form of speech, but that does not mean that it is a protected form of speech. Like other forms of civil disobedience, disruptive conduct may lead to disciplinary consequences for those engaged in such conduct.
- The benefits and burdens of a robust free-speech commons will not be distributed evenly, and the University itself can and does speak to address that fact when warranted.
Read the whole report for detailed suggestions on turning theoretical principles into actionable policies on campus.


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Cause / Condition
For various and emergent medical situations a temporary colostomy may be performed. Once the initial emergent situation has stabilized, a patient may be evaluated for a reversal of the colostomy. Prior to reversal, it is imperative that the remaining colon and rectum be examined for normalcy.
About the Procedure
Bowel cleansing is done at home prior to surgery. During the laparoscopic procedure, the stoma is removed and bowel continuity is restored without having to reopen the first abdominal incision. Along with 2 or 3 ½" incisions, only one additional incision around the stoma is required.
In a small number of patients, the need for more extensive surgery will require conversion to an open approach. As with any surgery, your physician should identify all potential outcomes.
Generally the hospital stay is around 5 days, allowing for return of normal bowel function, overall increased activity and a regular diet for the patient.
Expectations / Experience
Patients can expect to feel temporary discomfort and tenderness. MIMIS surgeons have reported, written and lectured on results and other facets of colon surgery, worldwide.
|Hospital Stay
|7-8 days
|5 days
|Pain during recovery
|Return to work timeframe
|6 weeks
|3-4 weeks
|Cosmetic results
|2 large incisions
|3-4 tiny incisions
For more information contact:
The Milwaukee Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery
Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital Milwaukee
2301 N. Lake Dr.
Milwaukee, WI 53211
(800) 377-2673


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Office space is attracting investment in India
According to the CBRE 2017 Asia Pacific Occupier Survey report released recently, multinational as well as Asia Pacific-based companies have aggressive expansion plans for India and China over the next three years.
• In the Asia Pacific region, more than 80% of Indian respondents plan to hire more people in the next three years.
• As per JLL India, India's macroeconomic outlook has been resilient since 2014, leading to the entry of new foreign firms and expansion of existing firms. All of this has resulted in a demand for office space. While 30 million square feet were absorbed annually from 2012 to 2014, the figure rose to 35 million in 2015.
• The growth of the office spaces suggests that many companies are adopting an aggressive expansion strategy.
• Of all office leases, IT-ITES continues to be at the top with a 35-40% share.
The growth of commercial / office spaces, spurs the substantial demand for residential apartments. Commercial spaces gives much needed boost to residential market. Housing, combined with promising prospects in terms of planned infrastructure is expected to further attract both end-users and investors in any region.
Source: HT


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|Tejas LCA at Aero India 2013
Tejas LCA is to be equipped with an EW suite developed by DRDO's Defense Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) in collaboration with Israel.
The EW suite contains radar illumination, laser illumination and missile-lock warnings, a radar jammer and a flare dispenser.
The suite is capable of dealing with multiple simultaneous threats from air or ground.
Radar Warning and Jammer Suite (RWJS)The EW suite centerpiece is an integrated Radar Warning and Jammer Suite (RWJS) that can detect when the aircraft is being illuminated by enemy radar, determine the type of radar (ground based or airborne) and its operating mode (track-while-scan, lock-on); alert the pilot and facilitate neutralization of any radar guided surface-to-air or air-to-air missile threat through Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) based signal jamming.
Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) is an electronic method for digitally capturing and coherently re-transmitting RF signal such that the transmitting radar cannot distinguish it from other returns that it receives and processes as targets.
The re-transmitted signal can be tweaked to create false range targets both behind (reactive jamming) and ahead of (predictive jamming) the target intended for protection. Slight variations in frequency can be made to create Doppler (velocity) errors in the victim receiver as well. DRFM can also be used to create distorted phase-fronts at the victim receive antenna which is essential for countering monopulse radar angular measurement techniques. [via Wikipedia]
The DARE RWJS provides 360-deg coverage.
Previous generation fighters, like IAF Jaguars, are equipped with just a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), which could only alert the pilot to hostile radio frequency emissions, but not jam them.
If the DARE EW Suite clears its currently underway (January 2015) trials, Tejas would become the first Indian fighter aircraft to be fitted with a Radar Warner and Jammer equipment.
The DARE RWJS is similar to ELT/568(V)2 developed by Italy's Elettronica S.p.A. and EL/L-8247/8 developed by Israel's ELTA.
Typically a RWJS can be integrated with any airborne platform's avionics, including Chaff and Flares Dispenser, Missile Warning System, Laser Warning System, Towed RF Decoy and Multi-Function Display. It is flight-line re-programmable. Using PC-based equipment and user-friendly human-machine interface, threats and jamming EW techniques may be easily updated.
RWJS FunctioningTypically RWJS functions as follows:
- The RF signals received via the receiving Antennas are amplified by Front-End Amplifiers and fed to the advanced Channelized Receiver in the Central Unit.
- The Receiver measures all the RF signals parameters such as PRF, PRI, PW, direction etc., building pulse descriptors that are fed to the Central Processor.
- The Central Processor extracts the threats according to priority and level of lethality and provides the situation awareness to the pilot via the Multi-Function display.
- Upon detection of a lethal threat, the Central Processor activates the Jammer, selecting the appropriate EW technique for each threat. The jammer is capable of responding simultaneously to several threats by implementing Power Management techniques.
EW Suite Development ProgressThe suite was test flown for the first time on Tejas PV1 on January 10, 2015 at HAL airport in Bengaluru. According to a DRDO press release "the equipment was noted to be detecting Radar signals operating in and around the flight path."
Over the coming few months, ADA and DARE will be scheduling further sorties to evaluate the system in various signal scenarios.
An EW system developed by DARE for MiG-29 UPG reportedly was rejected by the IAF due to performance shortfalls.
The suite was earlier tested on the ground using simulation. Airborne testing on PV-1 was initially expected to start in November 2013 or early December 2013.
In October 2013, Deccan Herald reported that DRDO has fitted the EW suite on LCA PV-1.
PV-1 had been on the ground since 2001-02, having flown 242 test flights till then. According to MoD's annual report for 2013-14, Ground Acceptance Test (GAT) has been completed.
IDP Sentinel members can remain updated on the Tejas project by visiting the link below.
Tejas LCA (IDP Sentinel)