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Dark Reign: The List-X-Men (One-Shot) Publisher: Marvel Comics Matt Fraction: Writer Alan Davis: Pencils Mark Farmer: Inks Nathan Fairbairn: Colors
Marvel has just published a series of Dark Reign comics under the concept of "The List," in which bad-guy Norman Osborne is working his way down a list of enemies in his attempt to consolidate power within the Dark Reign series. I was curious to check-out one of these "List" comics, and chose the X-Men title to review. The comic is written by Matt Fraction with art by Alan Davis, Mark Farmer and Nathan Fairbairn.
Osborne's former allies Namor The Submariner and Emma Frost have turned on him at this stage of the Dark Reign storyline, so in this one-shot issue Osborne goes on the revenge offensive, releasing a mutant killer sea monster to kill as many of Namor's undersea Antlantean subjects as possible. The storyline has two sub-plots. The main focus is on portraying the many members of the X-Men team each bringing their unique powers to bear in a detailed effort to stop the seemingly unstoppable sea beast from slaughtering countless Atlanteans. The briefer secondary storyline focuses on Namor trying to balance his enormous ego's desire to deal with the problem alone with the reality that he truly needs to reply upon the entire X-Men team to succeed in saving his people. The issue concludes with victory for the good guys, along with a foreshadowing that the incident marks just the beginning of an all-out battle between our heroes and the rogue Osborne.
The comic is entertaining and of high quality in several respects. Matt Fraction's script is nicely detailed in both portraying the personalities of the various X-Men and giving us an interesting battle that was nicely reminiscent of good storylines prior to the current heavy mega-theme title runs so prevalent right now at both Marvel and D.C. Fraction also gives us a fresh psychological take on Namor, breaking the mold on the usual overly independent and headstrong King-Of-The-Sea personality. Here, Namor struggles with his desire for rogue independence, ultimately accepting the assistance and leadership of the X-Men for the sake of saving his people. There's also a nice underlying touch of humor to Namor in this issue, with my favorite line his remark "Ex-wives. What can you do?" upon learning that the horrible seamonster is a mutation of his former wife Marrina (yeesh!).
As a bonus, this issue includes an 11-page second story entitled "Dead Man Walking," created by Matt Fraction and Sam Keith and promoted as a new printing of Fraction's first work at Marvel Comics. The story is a sidebar tale featuring Wolverine, which consists of a flashback tale of Wolverine and an old fighting buddy. The story is at times very moving as it packs a lot of emotion into the theme of the meaning of true friendship. So a solid thumbs-up for all of the good things packed into this slightly over-sized Dark Reign one-shot comic book edition.
Dark Avengers #10 Publisher: Marvel Comics Brian Michael Bendis: Writer Mike Deodato: Art Rain Beredo: Colors
Dark Avengers issue #10 is also on the comic shop new issues shelves this week, written by Brian Michael Bendis with art by Mike Deodato and Rain Beredo. The focus in this dark title has been on the actions of Osborne's "anti-Avenger" team, which he leads in his Iron Man-like guise as The Iron Patriot, with a range of Marvel Universe villains in disguise as the various Avengers. Former Mighty Avengers Ares and the now-insane Sentry are also part of the team, unaware of their teammates' bad guy secret identities.
Issue #10 has an interesting plot, as the team investigates a very large number of weird disappearances of travelers passing through the tiny town of Dinosaur, Colorado. The story opens with the disappearance of the Secretary of State's daughter as she stops at a diner in the Town, then shifts to the Dark Avengers investigating and getting pulled deep into the creepiness of the Town's secret. There's a sudden and unexpected twist at the end of the issue, culminating in a two-page panel that nicely fits our Halloween creepy theme.
This issue works effectively in two respects. First, it gives us a tale worthy of our Halloween inventory, as the Dark Avengers are pulled into the Town's Stephen King-style mystery and creepiness. The first few pages of the comic, detailing the disappearance of the Secretary of State's college-age daughter and her friend, are worthy of any of the better quality horror-themed episodes of The X-Files television show.
Secondly, writer Bendis continues to nicely portray the ongoing theme in this title of a pack of superpowered psychopaths who can just barely hold their twisted emotions together to function in disguise as a team of do-gooders. I love the way Bendis writes the dialogue between the Dark Avengers as they verbally stalk each other like a pack of starved hyenas, testing each other in an attempt to cull-out the weakest of the herd. These temporary good guys just can't help it; they can't ignore their base instincts to prey on someone within reach, and in this case its each other as Osborne forces them into the close quarters of good guy teamwork. I can't wait for the inevitable issue in which these crackpots finally expode in a bloodbath on each other. If Bendis and team can keep the tension building for another year, it would make a fantastic "Halloween Of 2010" comic book issue.
Azrael #1 Publisher: D.C. Comics Fabian Nicieza: Writer Ramon Bachs: Pencils John Stanisci: Inks J.D. Smith: Colors
DC has just released issue #1 of the new Gotham City-based Azrael comic book. The series is scripted by Fabian Nicieza with art by Ramon Bachs, John Stanisci and J.D. Smith. DC had a previously long-running Azrael comic series beginning in the mid-1990's and starring the character John-Paul Valley as the religious order hero. The current Azrael is ex-cop Michael Lane, who wears the Azrael costume and wields supernatural swords as the symbolic angel of death in fighting for justice.
Issue #1 alternates flashing back and forth between two sub-plots occuring six months apart in Gotham City. The overall storyline is a murder mystery, as Azrael comes to realize that the serial murderer he is tracking is part of a wider plot to avenge participants in a church-related child abuse incident from years earlier. The issue ends in a cliffhanger that seems to confirm that Azrael is killed at the conclusion of confronting the killer and solving the murder mystery. Whether he's really dead and we have a series that continues with flashbacks or a new Azrael, or whether its a first-issue story ploy will only be revealed by reading upcoming issues of this new series.
This was an interesting comic to read in that it shows a rarely seen, non-Batman side of Gotham City. Batman does briefly surface in the story at an appropriate time, a pattern which I hope continues in future issues to strengthen the connection between this new storyline and the Batman Universe. While I've never read an Azrael comic book before, I was impressed with the creative team's skill in using dialogue to subtly but effectively fill-in the newcomer reader to the background of this character and his DC world. By issue's end, I felt that I had read an enjoyable murder mystery comic book that nicely blended elements of the Batman/Gotham City setting with the Catholic Church fiction mystery atmosphere of author Dan Brown's novels such as The DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons.
So while this isn't a Halloween-themed comic book per se, the noirish Gotham City crimefighting setting makes this title appropriately eligible as the final entry on our list of recommended Halloween holiday comic book reading.
Contest Winner Announcement!!!
Our latest contest was for you to submit to us your favorite science fiction, fantasy and/or comic genre-type television show and tell us why we shouldn't be missing this show. And our Bongo Congo contest co-winners are (drumroll, please)...Colan Solan and Mike Dooley.
Colin nominates the Nickelodeon anime show "Avatar: The Last Airbender" for favorite show, mentioning that "the animation is fantastic and the storyline complex with fully developed characters...depicted violence always has consequences...themes include environmentalism and female empowerment." Colin adds that while one unnamed That's Entertainment employee calls him a 14-year-old girl for enjoying it (you know who you are, unnamed employee!), "Avatar is the perfect t.v. show for which I had always hoped."
Mike Dooley pitches to us the current season of NBC's Heroes, writing that "die hards out there still watching are being rewarded by viewing the Heroes version of the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime. Unlike the Marvel Universe, where this group is a pushover for the hero, the villains are the most interesting group to hit this series...any group that features Darth Maul in their membership is worth looking at."
Two excellent contest submittals, guys, of two shows both different from each other and worth watching. Congratulations to our winners, who each receive a $10.00 gift certificate to That's Entertainment.
That's it for our Halloween week comic book reviews and contest. Good King Leonardo says have a happy and safe holiday, and see you again next week Here In Bongo Congo!


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Day 01: Rio de Janeiro
Arrival in Rio de Janeiro, without a doubt one of the world's most spectacular metropolises. Stretched between forested mountains and the sparkling Atlantic, it is a city of long golden beaches and an exuberant cultural life.
Day 02: Rio de Janeiro
Full day city tour to visit the main sights of the city inclusive Sugar Loaf and Corcovado mountain with the famous Christ statue.
Day 03: Rio de Janeiro
Day at leisure. Optional full day excursion to Petropolis, the summer residence of former Emperor Pedro II of Brazil or visit of a typical Samba Show at night.
Day 04: Rio de Janeiro - Iguassu
Flight to Foz do Iguassu. The Iguassu falls are made up of 275 separate waterfalls, providing a sensational sight! Producing vast sprays of water, it is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. Visit to the Brazilian side of the falls with views of the full scale of the cascades.
Day 05: Iguassu
Half day visit to the Argentinian Side of the Iguazu National Park, including the Devil's Throat with the highest continuous fall. Wonderful sights include rainbows straddling clouds of spray, screeching green parrots flying across the waters and colorful butterflies hovering over lush greenery.
Day 06: Iguassu - Salvador da Bahia
Flight to Salvador da Bahia. The city of Salvador, Brazils capital of happiness, is famous for its cuisine, music and architecture. The African influence makes Salvador the centre of Afro-Brazilian culture.
Day 07: Salvador da Bahia
City tour of Salvador, visiting the modern suburb of Barra with its famous lighthouse and the historical part of town, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. Optional visit of an authentic Afro-Brazilian culture shows with dinner.
Day 08: Salvador da Bahia
End of the roundtrip and homebound flight.

subset: commoncrawl


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There is no question that hybrid cars are here to stay and that they have made significant in-roads past their initial niche as compact-only fuel savers. While there are definitely compelling reasons to buy a hybrid car, especially when considering the environmental impact of vehicle emissions as well as lower overall fuel consumption, there are also several disadvantages of hybrid cars that should be considered before making a purchase. No class of vehicle can be all things to all people, and just as some new car shoppers sacrifice fuel efficiency and practicality for power and performance, there are those who are willing to look past other negatives when picking up a hybrid vehicle.
Let's take a quick look at five disadvantages of hybrid cars.
With very few exceptions - such as the 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - opting for the hybrid version of a car will cost you more money than the standard model. This is especially true when shopping for a luxury vehicle, where hybrid cars and hybrid SUVs are often marketed as eco-status symbols rather than vehicles that have been designed to return the best possible fuel economy. This has lead to the development of sedans and crossovers like the ActiveHybrid7 and the Lexus LS 600h L, each of which provide ample power but return fuel mileage that is merely passable.
Moving outside the premium car segment, the biggest issue with this concomitant price increase associated with hybrid cars has to do with the length of time it will take to make up the cost difference between a hybrid and its compact equivalent. Yes, a vehicle like the Toyota Prius delivers an exceptional 50-mpg combined, but when a Ford Focus can offer 31-mpg combined and cost $6,000 less, the number of years of regular driving - at current fuel prices - before that price gap is made up can become substantial.
For some buyers, having a high curb weight isn't a disadvantage for a hybrid car, but for anyone concerned with performance it can quickly become an issue. Gasoline / electric drivetrains usually tip the scales heavier than their gas-only counterparts, due to the fact that an electric motor, battery pack, regenerative braking system, and associated cooling systems are all part and parcel of the hybrid design.
Battery packs especially can add significant weight to an automobile, which is why they are mounted as low as possible in order to preserve the vehicle's center of gravity. Unfortunately the more performance a hybrid car offers, the larger its battery pack, which means that increasing output to deal with additional mass of takes a weight toll of its own.
The panic about failing battery packs in hybrid cars is completely unwarranted, but there are some caveats associated with the lifespan of current energy storage systems in hybrid vehicles. The most reliable data available on the long-term effects of charging and discharging a hybrid battery pack has been drawn from the first-generation Toyota Prius, which has been on the market since the 1990s. The initial analysis is quite encouraging, with older Prius models providing nearly identical fuel mileage a decade or more after their construction.
That being said, the Toyota Prius is but one player on the hybrid stage, and automakers make use of a panoply of battery suppliers, charging systems, and software management systems. This doesn't mean that hybrid batteries are going to start dropping like flies after 100,000 miles of use - far from it, with many manufacturers providing extensive warranties that will last far past the initial ownership period of an automobile. However, that the industry's collective experience with hybrid battery reliability is limited, and it's difficult to project the future performance of various battery systems based solely on the information that has been gathered so far.
Cold weather is the ultimate enemy of current hybrid vehicle designs, for several reasons. First and foremost, batteries discharge more quickly in cold weather, which means that extended-range hybrids such as the Chevrolet Volt see their electric-only range drop precipitously along with the mercury in the thermometer. Second, in the winter time drivers demand more from their automobile's electric system, especially when it comes to heating, and this further taxes fuel mileage and overall efficiency. Anyone who has ever ridden in a hybrid car during the depths of a blizzard will be all too familiar with the difficult of the vehicle's climate control system to keep up with the comfort needs of passengers without significantly impacting range.
Finally, winter weather exacts a toll on all automobiles that make use of an internal combustion engine. Not only does it take longer for cars to heat up to optimal - and most efficient - operating temperatures when it is cold outside, but the slipping and sliding that occurs when wheels struggle to find traction sucks down fuel and battery power at an accelerated rate.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) offer the best of both worlds: a hybrid battery system that can be recharged either by braking or the vehicle's engine, as well as the option of plugging into a wall charger and sucking juice straight from the grid. PHEV models are starting to appear in Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota's lineups, and their dual-charging philosophy represents a clear upgrade for efficiency-conscious drivers.
The primary issue with PHEV models, however, is that it can be quite difficult to charge up with a plug when driving outside of a major urban area. While 110-volt connections can trickle electricity into the battery at a reduced rate, a 220-volt-or-better charging post is needed to make PHEV use truly practical on a regular basis. Unfortunately, most parts of the country are still waiting for the infrastructure necessary to accommodate the charging needs of plug-in buyers, which means that if you live outside of a big city you might want to wait for reality to catch up with PHEV technology before plunking down your hard-earned cash on one of these models.


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Pushing the Horizon | At the Helm of Côte&Ciel
Stephan Wembacher is a bit under the weather. So he says, spread over two chairs at the centre trestle in the fourth storey meeting room of carry powerhouse Côte&Ciel's Paris HQ.
Wembacher has been in hometown Paris "maybe four weeks since June," he says, a little sheepish and croaky, body still catching up from the jaunt across Asia and California from which he's just returned. He eyes around the room as if foreign to it. December sun streams in through Parisian windows, Côte&Ciel backpacks and sleeves set for display on pigeonhole shelves and arty bench blocks. They cut a striking image – here, and in the marketplace – a sleek blend of fabric and form, unusual folds, unique functionality. But for Wembacher, they're little more than artefacts in a museum. "Everything you see here is old," he says. "For me, I walk into history."
Composed, if not a little cragged, there's something relaxedly Hollywood about the German-born CEO, whose mind, mutable yet fastidious – hallmark traits of the astrological Virgo sign he says he's born under – does not waste time on the past. Despite a rigorous schedule, Wembacher's energy refuses to let up. His mind doesn't stop, a ceaseless turn over. There's a lot to occupy it. As well as the affairs of Côte&Ciel, his investment and management company Paper Rain umbrellas two other prominent subsidiaries – CosmoSupplyLab, a Hong Kong-based sourcing and design enterprise; and Damir Doma, a high-end fashion label that is rapidly cutting its niche in the international fashion scene.
In oversized pullover, wearing handsome stubble and a controlled tousle, Wembacher nails the archetype of cool entrepreneur. A peek at his Tumblr site ('Life. As it comes'; 'Go Big') corroborates the obvious typecast – sunset selfies by the Marina del Ray, powder carves on Swiss Alps, cigar huffs with Schwarzenegger and 'The Rock' – a bonafide international man of business and leisure.
Yet after an hour freestyling with Stephan Wembacher it's clear that he is more than mere playboy capitalist. Under the hood, his engine is that rare fusion: adroit aesthete with master builder's pluck, equipped to transform vision into reality – repeatedly, and fast. The evolution of Côte&Ciel reflects his own broader trajectory: one that came naturally, fuelled by intuition, collaboration, elbow grease and the relentless pursuit of quality.
"Under the hood, his engine is that rare fusion: adroit aesthete with master builder's pluck, equipped to transform vision into reality – repeatedly, and fast."
It's summer, 1995 and on the village outskirts of Munich, Bavaria, 18-year-old Stephan Wembacher's head is screen-deep in an Apple Macintosh, scrawling fresh designs on a primal copy of 'Illustrator'. The young skateboarding enthusiast could never have predicted that in just five years' time he'd be a merchandise king, supplying the same company that built his computer with millions of accessory stock for an obscure new gadget – something called an 'iPod'.
"The young skateboarding enthusiast could never have predicted that in just five years' time he'd be a merchandise king, supplying the same company that built his computer with millions of accessory stock for an obscure new gadget – something called an 'iPod'."
"We had no idea how it was going to go," Wembacher reflects, recalling the moment when Apple designer Jony Ive invited him to meet Steve Jobs to discuss an in-box sleeve accessory for the nascent music device. Overwhelming first generation iPod sales – with Wembacher's knitted sock in five colours tagging along for the ride – thrust CosmoSupplyLab, his already skyward sourcing company, into new commercial territory, setting up a decade-long collaboration with the Cupertino-based tech giant.
"It was a massive evolution," he says, gripping his knee, foot annexing the chair beside him. "Insane quantities."
And it all began with DIY skate t-shirts. Driven by an interest in American skateboard culture (something relatively scant in Bavaria at the time) Wembacher's Apple-designed tees were an instant hit with local shops. His father's business friends hired him to create graphics for them, snowballing into shirts, jackets and baseball caps; soon, every brewery from Copenhagen to Belgium was ordering units by the tens of thousands; European prestige car companies too – Audi, Porsche, BMW, Ferrari; followed by their respective Formula 1 teams. Making giant leaps with each new market, CosmoSupplyLab ballooned into a huge sourcing and product design operation. With school pal and US university business graduate Bern on board, the two began to carve out a 'power team' reputation in the industry, "extremely strong on sourcing, extremely tough in deliveries," says Wembacher, a mouthful of south German inflection. Accounts with Red Bull and Puma led to CosmoSupply's American ingress, at which point Apple's iPod boom was set to enter stage right.
As we know, the iPod was just the beginning for Apple's commercial renaissance – its MacBook, iPhone and iPad would all need respective accessories. CosmoSupply would be there to provide. By the turn of the decade, Wembacher's enterprise had metamorphosed into a massive Apple outsourcing machine, delivering immense quantities at a very high level of quality.
For Wembacher, the professional summit marked a moment of reset. "It was not really me to be in a large scale day-to-day production operation like that," he says. The business element had overtaken his freedom to create; he relegated himself to Chairman of CosmoSupplyLabs, and went searching for the next big thing.
Riding on CosmoSupply's buoyancy, Wembacher and Bern set up Paper Rain, an investment fund for new enterprises, ideas and a little fun. "Our attitude was: if we find something interesting, we do it," he says. It didn't take long to find it.
"Our attitude was: if we find something interesting, we do it"
In Munich, Wembacher was introduced to Croatian fashion designer Damir Doma, Antwerp-trained under Raf Simons, hungry for a hand in getting his new label underway. "I said to Bern, why don't we do a little fashion?" Seeing potential in the young designer's aesthetic, Paper Rain threw in capital and staff to get Doma up and running. "We didn't intend to get too involved in the beginning," Wembacher says. But Doma took off, gaining instant traction in the market. Paper Rain's ingress into the fashion world deepened – a pivotal turn that would propel the next stage of Wembacher's professional evolution.
Around this time, CosmoSupplyLab was working with neoprene on a prototype computer sleeve. Not all products made Apple's cut; many were put aside as samples. A French acquaintance met Wembacher in Munich; he was in charge of sourcing a 'gift' for each attendee of an upcoming architects' congress in Vienna. Spying the blank sleeve in Wembacher's office, he asked if CosmoSupply might provide a few thousand for the cause.
"I was in the South of France with my family and he (the French acquaintance) called back again," says Wembacher. "He said: 'We need a label on it, we think the sleeve will work better with a label.'"
Some of the world's most iconic brands have erupted in a moment of Promethean inspiration – 'Virgin' is said to have come from a scribble on the back of a napkin; the Young brothers coined 'ACDC' after their sister spied the acronym on the back of a sewing machine. Côte&Ciel might befit the same grade.
Wembacher hung up his phone and searched out over the azure waters of the sun-kissed French Riviera. "What is 'coast' and 'sky' in French?" he asked his family. A serendipitous response; not only did 'Côte et Ciel' literally mean 'coast and sky', but also 'beyond the horizon' – a duel entendre that neatly encapsulated a bold new vision and aesthetic. "Plus, French just sounded better," he says, glancing out to cloudless blue over the tenement chimneys of the 3rd arrondissement.
"Not only did 'Côte et Ciel' literally mean 'coast and sky', but also 'beyond the horizon' – a duel entendre that neatly encapsulated a bold new vision and aesthetic."
Côte et Ciel was born. But what exactly was it? Wembacher had long envisaged a bag and accessory label to complement Doma in the Paper Rain mix. "We saw there was a real opportunity for people, like us, interested in architecture, in fabric and design, in something not very generic," Wembacher says. "Most products are usually funded by private equity or big gigantic groups, so they do basic – super cheap material and workmanship, super cheap accessories. At the end of the day they achieve a product of 60 dollars, some bag – for me, I have no interest in researching cheap; it was never in my concept. I'm interested in materials. I'm interested in making it better."
"I have no interest in researching cheap; it was never in my concept. I'm interested in materials. I'm interested in making it better."
A CV landed on Wembacher's desk from a talented French designer eager to escape the artistic void of the corporate world. "I said to her: 'I have an office, I have this sleeve, we do fashion…maybe just start working with me and see what happens.'"
The two began collaborating on Côte's first bag designs, the inception of a seven-year-long 'French-German rivalry', as Wembacher puts it, an amiable creative tension between his head designer Emilie's affinity for shapes and concepts, and his own pedantry for functionality and materials. "She tells me I am like a German sports car," he says. Whatever their aesthetic differences, they agreed on a guiding principle: design had to precede economics. "My head told me: we need to create a great product first – then the business will come."
"My head told me: we need to create a great product first – then the business will come."
Paper Rain's Apple connection helped ensure Côte's soft entry into the marketplace, with the first products stocked in premium tech stores across Asia. They sold well, but the tech market proved a headache for Wembacher, a mire of cheap materials and margin-first output. It was not the stage he'd envisaged Côte performing on. With the Doma sensibility eddying in the back of his mind, he set his eyes on fashion stores instead, "a path I felt would be more interesting in the long term," he says.
Looking at Côte's current line, even if they are, in Wembacher's mind, "the past", it's difficult to avoid their distinct Marais-influenced aesthetic – products more in league with vogue winter coats than load-bearing receptacles. They are anything but generic; that they bump backroom shoulders with Damir Doma and the Parisian fashion ecosystem makes this fact relatively unsurprising. What is surprising is the sense that each bag, despite its individualised form and fabric, feels like a member of some broader whole – an achievement not merely the result of location and fraternity, but the subsequence of a design process that flips pre-existing product construction on its head.
Côte's 12-month development cycle begins as a hands-on origami of folded paper on the Rue Beaubourg atelier floor. Whereas others draft early design through computer illustration, Côte's are tangible from word go, given space in the physical realm to breathe, express and evolve. A design DNA emerges, manifesting through intuitive collaboration into a set of core product blueprints that propel creative interchange of materials and accessories.
"There is a consistency in our design language, because everything starts from the same piece of paper," Wembacher says.
While it's largely a group effort, the boss is frank about the dynamic, somewhere in between benevolent dictatorship and all-out democracy. "I give briefing frames with main ideas about what I want," he says. "But it's all intuitive…whenever we don't listen to the gut feeling, that's where we go wrong."
It stands to reason that Côte draws the bulk of its design inspiration from internal reserves. The team is an eclectic collective of professionals who straddle fields as diverse as architecture, graphic design, industrial design and fashion. Their approach is deeply self-directed. Head designer Emilie lives in a small village outside Paris, isolated from trend and influence; Wembacher travels constantly, absorbs what's happening in the market, but refrains from research.
"Head designer Emilie lives in a small village outside Paris, isolated from trend and influence; Wembacher travels constantly, absorbs what's happening in the market, but refrains from research."
As 2015 rolls on, Côte's evolution is poised for further and faster growth. Eyes returning to the future, Wembacher is optimistic. "We have an infrastructure now, we have a playground. This is the fun part. For us, the next step is to 'blow it up'."
We aren't privy to a sneak peek of Côte's 2015 catalogue, but Wembacher's excitement is enough to indicate there are good things ahead. "Everything new is totally different – much more interesting shapes, much more interesting materials; lots of leather products, a lot more women's products." Add a pop up store slated for 355 Bowery, New York City, a new show store in Venice Beach, California, and the weather on Côte's horizon looks pretty fine.
One might think all this would put a smile on Wembacher's dial. "I am always unhappy," he says. "Always in depression," shying that Bavarian schoolboy smirk yet again. The self-confessed perfectionist is also a pragmatist. "We have a clear idea of where we want to go, but we can't be perfect," he resigns. "It's never finished. It's just a constant struggle to make it better."
"It's never finished. It's just a constant struggle to make it better."
*Photography by Honor Kennedy
Check out Cam and Honor's photo and word project on Instagram or #CHKBerlin


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The lack of new posts is a result of work that was supposed to be finished this week. About two weeks from now, I am supposed to do a presentation at school for my job. I was supposed to submit a draft this week, but it is still not finished. Since I had received a Word document template, I had intended to use OpenOffice for work on it, even compiling the latest Ximian version. Even though the build was "masked" in portage, marking it unstable, the changelog assured me that this was because KDE integration was broken. Since I use Gnome, this is not an issue. I started the build around 8 this morning, expecting it to take a couple of hours. Sometime around 1:30 or so, I realized that it was not going to finish anytime soon, and commandeered my sister's computer. I had just opened Microsoft Office when I walked back into my room to check on my computer, where I found that the compilation was finished. Excited (and slightly annoyed), I returned to my computer, where I began working. Just to ensure that everything was working properly, I decided to save and then reopen the document. Unfortunately, I found that a background graphic used in the template had disappeared. I do not expect this to be an issue when I write papers (since I do not use very many graphics), but it meant that this presentation would have to be done with Microsoft Office.
To add to the excitement, I misread the schedule and thought I had an hour for the presentation. Initially worried about filling the entire time, I realized that in order to make it comprehensive, I would have to add more information than I initially planned ("virus/spyware troubleshooting, diagnostics and cleanup" is not exactly a small topic). I was beginning to worry about going over an hour when I re-read the schedule and noticed I had an half hour. Wonderful. It would be different if I was just adding useful information, but I am being my usual concise self. I assume that I will either have to talk fast or gloss over the details, hoping everyone will read what I have written.


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Start Date: 2015/06/21 End Date: 2015/12/31
Bonus / Promotion Link: Ebook Education
Offer Details: Get access to an exclusive forex eBook offered to Sunbird clients that guides you from forex basic concepts to advanced strategies.
Available to: New and existing clients.
How to get: Sign up and download.
Other Details / Conditions: All year 2015.


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????⏯ Watch video below ⏯????
BEIRUT, LEBANON, December 17, 2020 — Dallas-based charity Baitulmaal, along with Chicago-based healthcare access organization MedGlobal, delivered the second round of medications to Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut that included hard-to-find medicines for 200 patients who were injured in the August 4 blast.
One hundred emergency patients, along with another one hundred patients with non-communicable diseases, will receive a three-month supply of critical medications free of charge in the latest shipment of aid. According to Dr. Firas Abiad, general manager of Rafik Hariri University Hospital, many medications have been in short supply since the August 4 explosion in the Beirut port, and medications such as heparin have been out of stock for the past several months.
The medications are part of Baitulmaal's $686,000 emergency aid package to Lebanon, which includes food, water, hygiene kits, and financial assistance to families in need, in addition to clean-up efforts initiated after the blast.
The World Health Organization lists the victims of the August 4 blast as 203 people dead, another 6,500 injured and over 300,000 homeless. The explosion also severely damaged Lebanon's critical health infrastructure and led to a shortage of medical supplies.
In addition to providing hospitals with medications, Baitulmaal is reconstructing homes of vulnerable families affected by the blast. Part of this effort is also rehabilitating portions of hospitals that were destroyed. Donations for Lebanon can be made at baitulmaal.org/donate.
Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Dallas, the charity has offices in Los Angeles, Chicago and Detroit as well as international offices in Jordan, Kenya and Pakistan.
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Every product is independently reviewed and selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
As flame broilers are a new addition to the pellet grills, you should know how it works and when to adjust the heat. Whether to keep the Pit Boss Flame Broiler Slider open or closed is a bit confusing for the new users. The slider should be adjusted when it's needed.
If you use the flame broiler ideally, it makes the dish better for sure. Using the flame broiler perfectly helps you to maintain the perfect balance of your meat and other items as well.
Flame Broiler is designed to make jobs easier. Operating the flame broiler is pretty simple. But the slider should be controlled accordingly. This is the one and only condition to get the best result while using the flame broiler.
Check out this article to clear your doubts about Flame Broiler –
"With the Pit Boss flame broiler slider, you hold the power to craft the perfect sear and control the flames that ignite your culinary adventures."
Team Topcellent
Pit Boss Flame Broiler Slider Open Or Closed?
Pellet grills with Flame broiler are designed to provide you with a better cooking experience than before. The slider plate is pretty much simple to control. You may open or close this flame broiler slider based on your recipe.
Yes, You can open the flame broiler slider. Also, you can keep it close. But both depend on your purposes. If you open the flame broiler slider, this lets the flame provide direct heat to your meal. In the same way, if you close the flame broiler slide, the meal gets indirect heat from the flame.
Flame Broiler also works as a protection for channel grease. This slider prevents the grease from reaching the fire pot and helps to flow the grease towards the grease bucket.
Flame broiler just changed the definition of open fire grilling. With a simple slide of a plate, you are going to cook steaks, burgers just like your favorite steakhouse.
If you want to switch between open or close in the middle of cooking, you should use a screwdriver or something similar. It will be quite tough for you to slide the plate in between as the grates will be extremely hot then.
You may make a custom rod as well for sliding the plate. This allows you to change the flame heat anytime you want. Sometimes, users want to change the heat in the last stage of cooking to make the meat more crispy.
Thus, whether you open it or close it, you should know when to slide the plate. If you use the direct flame when it's needed, this makes the dish more delicious. The flame broiler made cast iron cooking more convenient. Whether you're a newbie or professional, the meal will always be cooked with perfection.
When To Open Flame Broiler On Pit Boss
Some recipes require direct flame heat. This makes them perfectly cooked, and they will taste better as well. If you want to get a sear on your meat, you should definitely open the flame broiler on Pit Boss.
In addition, steaks will be cooked better if you open the flame broiler. Grilling burgers or pizza in this method will also provide you with a better result than traditional methods.
Using flavored pellets while smoking turkey, burgers or hotdogs will add a smoky flavor that will make the dish more delicious. You will be able to finish the cooking within a very short period of time. The direct heat of the flame broiler adds grill marks to your dishes.
Opening the flame broiler finishes the cooking quicker than usual. Thus, if you want a quick meal with no slow cooking, then you should definitely open the flame broiler on Pit Boss.
Finally, if you want a crisp finishing on your items, then open the flame broiler. Also, juicy steaks require a direct flame as well. Keeping the flame broiler opened during smoking burgers, and pizza will add an enhanced flavor and taste.
When To Close Flame Broiler On Pit Boss
Well, it's pretty simple to know when to close Flame Broiler on Pit Boss. In short, if you are cooking something that requires slow cooking, then you should not open the flame broiler.
You should close the flame broiler if you are not observing the grill for the whole time. This will prevent the dish from getting overcooked. The meal will be cooked by taking time.
If you are cooking meat with cheaper cuts, then close the flame broiler. The medium heat will be sufficient for cheaper cuts and other meat like beef brisket. In addition, if you don't prefer to sear meat, then keep the flame broiler closed.
How To Use Flame Broiler Slider
Using a flame broiler is pretty simple. You should control the slider based on the item you are cooking. If you are a newbie and using the flame broiler for the first time, you may follow the below instructions –
- First of all, close the slider plate. Make sure the flame has reached the standard heat. This will be the first step while starting to cook.
- If you want the direct heat immediately, place your food on the grill and slide the plate.
- Place the food first, use the indirect heat for the required time, then slide the plate and use the direct heat.
- Close the lid for both direct and indirect heat to have the flame exactly how it should be.
- You may use foil paper if you are cooking large specks of meat that require slow cooking.
How to Clean Pit Boss Flame Broiler After use
Once you are done cooking, you should clean the Pit Boss Flame Broiler for the next use. If you don't keep it clean, during the next cook, the surface will damage the food flavor and the taste as well.
The slider won't move freely as well if you don't keep it neat and clean. There are some tools required to clean the grill. Check the below instructions to have a better cleaning of your grill –
Firstly, make sure the grill is empty. There are no leftovers or food pieces remaining. Start with the lid. You may separate it for better cleaning. There will be some buildup on it.
You may clean the debris by using a knife. Don't scratch too much that may damage the surface.
Clean the grates with a non-abrasive sponge. You may soak the sponge into a detergent for a better result. However, letting the grates into soapy water for 24 hours will also clean them effectively. This requires less work and does the job as well.
The flame broiler can be cleaned with a soft sponge. Soak it into the soapy water, and the surface will be cleaned without any scratching. There are smoker cleaners available that remove the grease.
You may use them if there is too much grease on the grill. Once the cleaning process is done, let the flame broiler dry completely.
How Does The Pit Boss Flame Broiler Work
The Pit Boss Flame Broiler does come with simple control. You will be able to adjust the plate that controls the flame. The slider is usually placed under the grates. If you slide the plate or open the slider, the flame will be exposed.
There are some holes in the lower plate of the slider. This allows the flame to get in and makes direct contact with the food. This is called direct heat during cooking. In the same way, if you close the slider, the meals will get indirect heat.
The flame broiler prevents the grease as well. There is a catch tray on the backside of the flame broiler. The flame broiler works as a barrier and prevents the grease from falling into the firepot. The flame broiler will flow the grease towards the grease bucket and will keep the grill clean.
Benefits of Using Flame Broiler
There are a couple of benefits of using the flame broiler. First of all, the flame broiler made open fire grilling much easier. You have full control of the flame without any hassle. With just a simple slide, you are controlling the direct and indirect heat into the meal.
Any item can be cooked with a flame broiler as it has both flame options. With the indirect heat, you will be able to cook cheaper cuts of meat more easily. They will be cooked exactly how you want them.
The flame broiler makes steak more delicious. You will be able to cook steak just like the steakhouse. This makes the meat cooked perfectly with an exact heat. The meal gets an enriched flavor that enhances the taste of the meals as well.
Cooking burgers, pizza, and hot dogs in a flame broiler make them more mouthwatering. The single pellet grills allow the steak and making of burgers as well without damaging the flavor. Using the flame broiler with indirect heat will make slow cooking more effective.
Flame Broiler makes meat a bit crispier. Thus, it will be delicious to eat. In addition, if you want to sear the meat, a flame broiler will be the best option. Brisket, ribs, chicken grill will have a better taste in the flame broiler.
Does a Pellet Grill Have an Open Flame
Well, no. The Pellet grill doesn't have an open flame, but the flame broiler will have an open flame to the item you're grilling. The flame broiler just made the open fire grilling easier.
The flame broiler won't have any open flame or fire, but the user will have full control to expose the flame by using the slider. You will have the freedom to cook like open fire grilling. The foods will get direct heat from the flame broiler.
This innovative addition to the pellet grill made it possible to have open fire grilling in your backyard with no hassle. The flame stays inside the grill, and there are multiple holes in the plate to provide direct heat to the meal you are cooking.
Flame Broiler changed the definition of cooking, and every user must try it. If you are a BBQ enthusiast, you should definitely try cooking with a flame broiler. If you haven't purchased your grill yet, make sure it has the flame broiler in it. Controlling the flame broiler is very simple. You should not bother about it. The article will help you to adapt to this new innovation much quickly. Try the flame broiler if you are cooking something that requires direct heat. You will have the best cooking experience for sure.


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In the beginning of the Chronicles of Narnia the kids walk through a coat closet and eventually run into a tree that they walk through to enter into Narnia. Right now Sunset is a little bit like that. When I walk from the green room to the stage I pass through a forest on the way.
We started a new series at Sunset titled "Growing Wise" to kick off the fall. Trees are a symbol for what it means to grow wise. So to exemplify that idea we brought in a bunch of trees that are now the back drop on our platform. Here are some pictures that I took.
Yes they are real. As part of the kick off we have a message bumper that will be run all 5 weeks. Here it is. Yeah…that is Coldplay!
Lastly we have a some videos in this series of people within the congregation sharing about what worship means to them. It is really cool to get to hear what people have to share that normally don't get to. Below is the first one.
(Videos embedded)
Huge ups to Travis, Kent, Janet, and Jay for coming up with the ideas and making it happen.
What is your church doing for the fall kick off?
Creative Chaos @ Ragamuffin Soul and Watercooler Wednesdays @ Ethos.


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The Predicament
written by: Dawn DeBraal
Darryl didn't want to sit in the commons with no one to talk to. Should he grab a candy bar or something salty like chips? He punched G16, chips. The wire in the machine spun around stopping short of dropping the bag down to the drawer below.
Darryl swore as he used a little muscle. All it needed was the smallest bit of movement and the chips would fall into the tray. But something stopped it from moving forward.
He wasn't about to spend any more money. Besides, he didn't have three more quarters to waste. It was so close to falling he could taste those chips. He rocked the machine as much as he could. The bag teetered but remained behind the wire guide.
He looked left and right, no one else was in the vending room of the cafeteria. Darryl squatted down on his haunches. Perhaps he could get the door to open enough to snake his arm up into the machine forcing the chips to fall. He wasn't stealing, he reasoned with himself, he'd paid his money.
His hand went through the spring door that clamped down on his arm like a steel trap. Darryl pushed his arm even further. His hand touched the bottom of the foil bag.
"Come on," he encouraged the little bag to drop. He pushed his arm in further turning his head away, felt the bag fall with a satisfied "plouch."
"Yes," elated, Darryl pulled his arm out realizing the cuff of his jacket had caught on the wire, and the spring-loaded door had cut off his circulation.
"Dammit," he cursed again. Darryl tried to turn his body enough to force the door open. Maybe he would have enough room to loosen his arm. The frustrated man punched through the delivery door with his other hand. He felt the chips in the tray, taking them out, Darryl put them on the floor in front of him. He couldn't get his hand up high enough to unstick his coat from the wire spooling thing. Darryl tried to take his jacket off letting the other arm out first, but he couldn't get his other hand out. He hoped to get enough slack on the garment to push the sleeve above the wire to release it. The coat was too tight, and his hand was stuck in the machine.
"Hey," another student called to him. "What are you doing? That's theft."
"No, I paid for the chips, but they wouldn't come out. I put my arm up to knock them off the shelf and my coat sleeve got stuck. I need help."
The young guy walked around the machine taking in the sight. He saw the chips on the floor.
"I don't know, man, you look pretty stuck. Maybe I can get the janitor to open the door, and they can unhook your sleeve." Darryl sighed. Just what he needed, to be caught with his hand in the machine. Adding to his embarrassment, he was still longing for the chips.
"Great, get the janitor. But please, can you open the chips for me? I'm starving." The guy pulled the bag open by pulling the sides away from one another, the right way. He handed Darryl the chips.
"Thanks, man." Darryl put the bag on the floor. With his free hand he took a chip out of the bag. His arm was starting to hurt. And he couldn't help but notice, was his hand swelling? "Please get a janitor right away!"
The kid took off, Darryl continued to eat the chips finishing off the bag. Fifteen minutes had passed. Where was the kid, with the janitor? Darryl wondered. Did he start calling out for help? He rummaged around in his coat pocket which was halfway up the machine, finding his cell phone. He looked up the number of the college, asked for the building staff.
"Clayton, here." The call answered on the fourth ring.
"Hello! My name is Darryl Weims. I got my arm stuck up a vending machine when it didn't dispense my chips."
"Is this some kind of a joke?" Clayton didn't sound amused.
"No, it's not a joke. Another student was supposed to get you, but never came back."
"I was on my lunchbreak. So, you are in the cafeteria in the vending room portion?"
"Alright I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Please hurry, my hand is swelled up and my jacket is caught on the little wire thing."
"How the hell did you get your hand up that far?" When Darryl started to cry, true snot bleeding snuffing cry, the guy's attitude changed.
"I'll be right there with the keys." When Clayton walked into the little room off the cafeteria he bent over laughing, seeing Darryl on the floor with his hand inside the machine and the cuff of his jacket caught on the dispensing spool.
"Let me guess, you punched G16."
"Those chips will kill you," Clayton liked his joke. The janitor rummaged for the key fob on his belt noting the number on the machine he stepped over Darryl and turned the key. The door opened slightly, putting Darryl's arm at a more peculiar angle.
"Ow, ow, ow!" Darryl shouted. Clayton tried to separate the front from the vending machine so he could get his hand in to remove the jacket impaled on the spoke. He tugged a few times, to no avail. He pushed his hand in further and his sleeve caught on G17.
"I'll be damned." Clayton tried to move his wrist up and down, but he was stuck. "Move toward the other machine," he said quietly. Darryl scooched himself backward, the pain in his arm was excruciating.
"This can't be happening." Darryl's voice took on a flavor of panic.
"Hold still, you are crushing my hand." Clayton reprimanded. A young female student walked into the vending room.
"Oh sorry," she said as she turned around to leave.
"No, don't go!" Darryl called out, "We need help."
"What's your name?" Clayton asked her.
"Lena do you have any money? I need you to purchase a candy bar and some chips. We are stuck in the machine."
"Oh, I don't eat that junk. I have just enough for a healthy snack."
"Lena I will pay you back. Just put in your money and buy G16 and G17, we are stuck in the machine. Lena reached into her purse and shook it. She found the quarters she needed.
Awkwardly she stepped over Darryl and stood in between them. She put three quarters in punching G16. The spool spun the opposite direction releasing Darryl's jacket cuff. He pulled it out massaging his hand. Lena then put in another seventy-five cents pushing G17, freeing Clayton's hand. Darryl and Lena stepped away from the hand eating monster, they watched Clayton lock it back up.
"Wow, thank you." Darryl said to the janitor, who thanked Lena.
"What about my dollar fifty?" Lena asked.
"Your lunch is on me," Darryl told her. "Er, I mean would you like to have lunch with me?" Darryl offered his arm, the one with the torn jacket sleeve to Lena.
"I'd love to!" Lena took his arm and they walked into the main cafeteria. Today he made two new friends, it was only his first day of college.
The End
- Godzilla - December 17, 2023
- The Ghosts of Christmas Past - December 1, 2023
- Your Trick is My Treat - October 22, 2023


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This Black History Month, we're tracing back through the past to celebrate a few of the Black men and women who have contributed to defining the transportation industry we all know and love. Of course there are SO MANY names that deserve to be recognized here, but we hope you'll enjoy this quick tour through a couple of our favorites …
If you've ever driven safely through an intersection, or crossed the street without fear, you have Garrett Augustus Morgan to thank. In addition to owning a tailoring business, establishing a successful newspaper, and designing a gas mask that was used in WWI, in 1923 Morgan patented the first traffic signal after witnessing the death of a young girl in a collision between an automobile and a horse-drawn carriage. It consisted of a manually-operated T-shaped pole unit that featured three positions: Stop, Go and one that halted traffic in all directions for pedestrians to cross streets more safely. His invention was in use throughout the entire country until the units were eventually upgraded to automatic models.
Popularly known as Queen Bess and Brave Bessie, Coleman was the first Black woman to have a pilot's license. After developing an early interest in flying, but with no nearby opportunities to explore her passion, she saved money and earned scholarships to attend flight school in France. Bessie received her license on June 15, 1921 (meaning we'll celebrate the 100-year anniversary of her accomplishment this summer!) She became a notoriously bold stunt pilot and media sensation, known for never compromising her principles. She never realized her dream of opening a young Black aviator flight school, but was an inspiration for many during her life, and today.
Hired by the Ford Motor Company when he was 34 years old, Brooklyn-born Thompson became the first Black designer for a major automobile manufacturer in 1956. He had his hand in the design production of the Bronco, Mustang, Thunderbird and GT40 – vehicles that had a transformative impact on the automotive industry, as well as popular culture. Thompson developed an early love of automobiles as a child after seeing a 1934 Chrysler DeSoto Airflow on the street, and carried that passion through the entirety of his career. Many consider him to be one of the unsung heroes of his time.
In her early 20's, Wallace became the first female bus driver for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). Getting the job wasn't easy in the male-dominated field, but she was adamant about being qualified for the position and shattered existing gender norms when she was finally given her own route in 1974. She worked for the CTA for the next 33 years, collecting friends, stories and accolades along the way. Now retired, she continues to be celebrated for advancing opportunities for both women and members of the Black community.


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Outward Hound Pooch Pouch Front Carrier
Keep your pup safe and comfortable with the Outward Hound PoochPouch Backpack. This pup pack makes carrying your dog safe, comfortable & easy when you're on the go!
Explore new ground with Outward Hound Gear! Our high-quality performance gear will keep your pup safely equipped for every new adventure!
Size Medium
Padding in straps, back & pouch bottom creates comfort for you and your dog
Water-resistant nylon fabric is soft and durable
Safety harness attachment and drawstring top for added security
Mesh sides for well-ventilated rides
8 x 11 x 10 Inches


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Apple has released a new iOS update and the biggest beneficiary would be 8GB and 16GB iOS device owners. The iOS 8.1.3 now reduces the amount of free storage required to install an iOS update. While the amount of the reduction is unknown, users with limited space on their iOS device, should be able to install the latest iOS update.
The Verge points out that they were able to install the iOS 8.1.3 on a 16GB iPad mini with just 445MB of free space.
In addition to this, Apple has also fixed a Spotlight issue, solved multitasking gestures and lots more.
Users can manually check for the update (if not notified) in the settings menu.


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The Economist Intelligence Unit, a sister company of The Economist, says its Switzerland, with the U.S. in a tie with Germany at #16.
The index attempts to measure which country will provide the best opportunities for a healthy, safe and prosperous life in the years ahead.
In all, the index takes 11 indicators into account. Sme are fixed factors, such as geography; others change only very slowly over time (demography, many social and cultural characteristics); and some factors depend on policies and the state of the world economy.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
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Betty-Ann Coleman had a simple question. She is an administrator at Westside Fellowship Christian Reformed Church in Kingston, Ont., and was unsure about a certain aspect of The Bridge App, a smartphone app created in partnership with the CRCNA. Coleman sent an email with her question to the denominational office.
It would have taken just a few minutes to email the reply, but that's not what happened. Dorothy Vandersteen, who supports The Bridge app, noticed Coleman's work hours listed in the bottom of her email message. Like many church administrative assistants, Coleman worked limited hours during the week. It just so happened that she was working right as Vandersteen was responding to the message.
Vandersteen made a split-second decision to call instead of email. She thought that this would be a little more personal and would allow her to to take time to listen.
Vandersteen is one of several people involved in the Connections project. Begun as a three-year pilot project in 12 classes (U.S. Upper Midwest, California, and Southern Ontario), the goal of Connections is to bring denominational resources to Christian Reformed churches in ways that are responsive and easily accessed. Taking time to listen is a key part of Vandersteen's job.
In this case, it paid off big. A two-minute answer to The Bridge app question turned into a longer conversation about how the denomination can better recognize and serve administrative assistants working in Christian Reformed churches.
Coleman found out that Vandersteen and some Connections coworkers in Ontario were planning events specifically geared toward church administrative assistants. Vandersteen found out that Classis Quinte already does something like that during one of its meetings each year.
As the two women talked, they began to strategize ways to collaborate. Vandersteen had the ability to bring resources to the table, and Coleman had the experience of having met annually with other church administrators. She knew what would be helpful information and what wouldn't. The biggest payoff, however, was the relationship that was started.
The real story isn't about about creating a better event. It's not even about how overlooked church administrators are. The real story is about how a simple change of mindset could allow denominational ministry staff and a local church to collaborate instead of simply coexisting.
This is what the Connections project is all about. In collaboration with all of the ministries of the CRCNA and an increasing number of classes and local churches, the Connections project works to foster greater relationships between local churches and the ministries available to serve them.
It includes regional staff, such as Vandersteen, who deliberately build connections with specific classes of churches. It also includes a one-stop phone number (1-800-272-5125) to call for answers to all types of ministry questions, a single webpage where thousands of resources can be searched, and an online chat feature on every page of crcna.org.
Thanks to support from Lilly Endowment Inc., the Connections project will soon be expanding to all classes of the CRCNA, with all denominational ministries shifting their posture toward serving local congregations.
About the Author
Scott DeVries, Connections Project


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Vehicle maintenance during lockdown is a challenge. Of course, it should always be a key priority for fleet operators. Ensuring your vehicles are roadworthy is a critical element of compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks, of reliable service provision to customers, and in keeping your drivers safe and protected at work.
The perils of vehicle maintenance during lockdown
However, the evolving COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new challenges with regard to vehicle maintenance. Many fleet operators have been forced to furlough their drivers and park up their vehicles – which can increase the likelihood of those vehicles developing problems whilst they are off the road. At the same time, many garages and service outlets have been closed for business as their services were deemed non-essential – making it more difficult for fleet operators to get any problems looked at.
The government has made a number of announcements relaxing the requirements for vehicle maintenance, in an effort to help fleet operators manage this unusual time. MOTs for heavy vehicles have been suspended for up to three months, and a six-month MOT extension has been put in place for cars, vans and motorcycles.
It is important, however, for businesses to understand that even with these extensions in place, they still have a responsibility to keep their vehicles roadworthy. Tyres must still be legal. Everything must still be working correctly. Organisations should keep their drivers aware of the importance of regular checks – and also consider deploying mobile mechanics where possible. Indeed, we have seen an increase in the use of mobile mechanics over recent weeks as it is a reliable way of ensuring that a competent person is inspecting the vehicle in question.
Planning your maintenance during the pandemic
Something we'd absolutely recommend employers do is plan for getting their vehicles servicing and maintenance up to date again. There is a huge backlog building up so get your vehicles booked in early to minimise any unnecessary business disruption. If you're vehicles are still unused, and you're not yet able to get back to business, there are simple steps which can be taken to help maintain roadworthiness while a vehicle is not being regularly driven. Most people are aware of the risk of a battery going flat, but getting the vehicle started and moving it around every few weeks is useful too.
We'd recommend, for example, turning the cooling systems on because air conditioning gas acts as a lubricant which needs to be circulated – leave the vehicle at a standstill for too long and it could develop a gas escape, which, though a relatively minor issue, will add to costs when you're looking at getting these vehicles back on the road.
Likewise, moving the vehicle regularly will ensure it does not develop flat spots on its tyres.
Free COVID-19 Transport Toolkit
For further advice on how to get your fleet back to work following a period off the road, click here to access our COVID-19 Transport Toolkit. As the lockdown restrictions are progressively lifted throughout June, with some businesses encouraged to go back to work on the 1st and non-essential retail to reopen from the 15th, we will be publishing lots of new resources to help you get your drivers and vehicles back to work safely and ensure your business processes keep up.


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[Spoilers for Jurassic World follow]
Jurassic World is a spectacular film. The scale of the resurrected-dinosaur franchise did not appreciably increase with the previous two sequels two decades ago, but here, it swells to encompass a larger ecology of reborn dinosaurs, a larger setting, and a larger cinematic vision, which is a fitting continuation to the spectacle of its forebears. Less fortunately, that larger scale has pushed the franchise away from its suspenseful, adventure-film roots toward creature-feature garishness. At least they added or restored several characters of color and acknowledged in-universe that their undead sauropsids often bear only superficial resemblance to their ostensible forebears.
As much as the biologist in me was shrieking the whole time, the movie had one joyous redeeming feature, and that was Bryce Dallas Howard's character, Claire Dearing.


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Keeping Faith with Our Future
By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe, President of NAEAP
(Dedicated to Linda Edwards)
Seven years ago the National Association for the Empowerment of African People (NAEAP) began its journey along the road to our people's empowerment by dedicating ourselves to the welfare of Africans in this land and to deepen and strengthen our ties to our motherland, especially our people in West Africa from whence our ancestors came. In doing so, we were only continuing a freedom process that began from the very first day our ancestors arrived in this land. Apart from our vicious fights upon the slave ships, as early as 1823 the Yoruba people formed themselves into social leagues to take care of the needs of fellow Africans; then there was Jonas Mohammed Bath, founder of the Mandingo Freedom Society, a Muslim from Nigeria, the first African to set up a sou-sou to purchase the freedom of his African brethren; and then, in 1838 came the invincible Daaga who mutinied against the British to free his fellow Africans from enslavement, even at the cost of his own life. That is the mettle of which we, as a people, are made.
And so, over the years, the process of African liberation has continued in this land among my people. In 1854, Maxwell Philip, one of our elders and theorists observed in Emmanuel Appadocca, the first novel written by a Trinidadian or a person from the English-speaking Caribbean, had this to say about how Europe had treated African. He observed: "You forgot, in your social system, the wisdom of the race which you affect to despise, while you cherish the theological philosophy which you were eager to borrow from them...while they lived on the banks of the Nile." So that the freedom struggle that began under the leadership of the Yoruba Social Leagues, the Mandingo Freedom Society, and Dagga was taken up by other freedom fighters such as Maxwell Philip, JJ Thomas, Sylvester Williams, Uriah Buzz Butler, Marcus Garvey, George Padmore, C.L. R. James, Eric Williams, Makandal Daaga, and our own indefatigable, forward-looking and visionary leader, Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning who is destined to join that illustrious body of freedom fighters, elders and priest who have sought to liberate our people in a land that seeks at all times to devaluate our worth. And while we are at it, let us today consecrate ourselves to our OLUWO, PATRICK MANNING, OUR SENIOR CHIEF AND PROTECTOR TO WHOM ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR ORDER OUGHT TO PLEDGE THEIR DUTY OF LOYALTY AND OBEDIENCE.
This is, as I think it should be. In the land from which my people came and which today we find ourselves in the presence of the most distinguished of all of our OLUWOS, HIS EXCELLENCY, CHIEF OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, who has come all this way from the continent to share our special day with us and in whose person and presence we know exist the qualities of spiritual leader, the elder and protector all embodied in one. In stretching out your hands to us, in a gesture of social, cultural and religious solidarity, our chief seeks to bind the ties that have kept us together as one people even as we are shaped in the crucible of another land. Today, symbolically, spiritually and socially, we reaffirm ourselves as one people as we bow in your presence; your having come from across the waters to say, be still and know the I AM THE I AM THAT IS WITHIN YOU; that I am part of you AND YOU ARE PART OF US.
It is this spiritual connection that Dr. Eric Williams, one of our most illustrious sons, tried to alert us to when in 1964, two years after our independence, he visited several African nations in West and North Africa as he sought to mend the relations where possible and strengthen the ties, where necessary between the land of our African ancestors and we in the diaspora. Some of those here who did not understand dismissed his visit derisively by calling it "an African safari." This is why, tonight, at our FIFTH ANNUAL DINNER & AWARDS CEREMONY we honor those amongst us: Makandal Daaga for his work in raising our consciousness with respect to our Africanness; the Elder, Chief Ifa Oje Wony Oni Abiodan (Le Roy Clarke) who I call our genius par excellence for delving into regions beyond the zero, as he would say; and Danielle Stewart, our promise of the future and an emblem of the quality of persons who we must produce if we are to continue the journey that the Yoruba League, the Mandingo Freedom Society, the invincible Dagga started and the wisdom of Maxwell Philip embodied. The Nigerian High Commission is located on Maxwell Philip Street. Perhaps it is a sign of where and how we ought to go if we are to be saved in this nation.
Tonight is an occasion that is filled with great significance for all of the people of Trinidad and Tobago; it is a night on which we call down the blessings of all our ancestors of whom we ask their protection; it is a night in which we search for guidance as sometimes we those amongst us who really have little respect for most of us; tonight we give thanks and offerings in celebration of our survival and our persistence in spite of all of our travails. It is a tremendous thing that we have survived the lash of the master, the bloodhounds, the rapes, the kidnappings and the brutality. While few of us remember the physical pain; most of us bear the psychological scars of the past which have whiten our souls.
Tonight, we pour libations to all of those who went before us as we greet our priests, our elders and our protectors, all wrapped into one. Tonight we give thanks for all that we are and for what we have become and, most of all we give thanks to the great spirit of our motherland that has given us the strength to withstand even in the evil days. Tonight we greet OUR GREAT CHIEF, OLUSEUN OBASANJO AND BOW IN REVERENCE TO OUR GREAT OLUWO, PATRICK AGUSTUS MERVYN MANNING. Tonight we say thanks for sharing your presence here with us and may the blessing of OLORUN, THE SUPREME DEITY OF THE YORUBAS, descend upon us as IFA, OBALATA, ODUDUWA, ORGUN AND THE GREAT SHANGO share in the blessedness of our evening.
CHIEF OLUSEGUN OBASANJO we feel blessed that you have agreed to share the first evening of your visit to Trinidad and Tobago with NAEAP and its friends. May your stay here be a joyous one as you participate in our observance of EMANCIPATION; a season of prayer, praise and thanksgiving.
Welcome home Dear Chief. You have simply come to among your long lost brothers and sisters for a few days. Remember always; your struggles will always be our struggle. We hope that our struggles in this land also become a part of your struggle.
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 this material is distributed without profit or payment to those
who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material
from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |


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Providing Services to Travelers Since 2017
Obtain your official driving license translation within 5 minutes to ensure legal driving in Japan.
Providing Services to Travelers Since 2017
Obtain your official driving license translation within 5 minutes to ensure legal driving in Japan.
Drivinjapan offers flexibility. Please choose the delivery type that fit the most your convenience. Please contact us by chat (below on the right of you screen) if you have any question. We will be more than happy to help you.
Drivinjapan.com is your partner for your trip to Japan. For 5 years, we have been assisting French, German, Swiss, Belgian, New Caledonian (and many more) tourists in obtaining a certified translation of their driver's license. For holders of driver's licenses issued in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Monaco, Germany, Slovenia, or Taiwan, it is imperative to obtain a certified translation of the driver's license from the JAF (Japan Automobile Federation). More and more travelers are interested in exploring the Japanese archipelago by car. Renting a car is a great opportunity to discover Japan differently, by getting off the beaten track. Japan's railway network may be one of the best in the world. However, traveling by car provides a certain level of freedom by allowing travelers to stop wherever they want and discover unusual places "off the beaten tracks" and enjoy the magnificent landscapes offered by Japan.
We provide delivery of your driver's license translation directly to your home or hotel. Our translations are officially certified by the Japan Automobile Federation and are equally valid to your driver's license.
Translation of Driver's License for Japan
We take care of your driver's license translation process. Receive it at your doorstep within 14 days and drive legally as soon as you arrive in Japan.
Terms and required documents
Price: Starting from 69.90 € / Official translation from JAF (Japan Automobile Federation)
Timeframe: Between 2 and 3 weeks for delivery to France. Between 2 and 3 days for delivery to Japan
Color scan of both sides of your driver's license
The scan of both sides of your driver's license
The license should not be cut off on the scan
The license should be scanned in its entirety
The scan should not exceed 2 pages
The scan should be clear and of good quality
The license should be scanned alone without any other elements (pouch, cover, etc.)
We provide the official translation process for your driver's license with the JAF (mandatory in Japan). You can drive legally in Japan upon your arrival.
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Send a scan of the front and back of your driver's license. Drivinjapan will take care of the process for you
Drive legally upon your arrival in Japan by entrusting us with your driver's license translation process


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More cheap Android TV boxes
Posted at 2016-08-03.
I've looked at those Miracast sticks before and now it seems there's more cheap Android TV devices turning up that could be interesting little hack boxes.
The model that caught my eyes first was NEXBOX A95X on banggood for $27.99. That's close to RasPI territory, but a neat box anyway. There's a shady preinstalled system but it seems it could be replaced. It's supposedly an Amlogic S905. Little more expensive A95X on Amazon.
There are (older) boxes with the S805 as well, such as this MXQ at $25.99. Also, some say S912 might be coming out soon.
NanoPI Neo is another tempting thing along with several other H3 boards that seem to be popping up. Software support for H3 is still pretty sparse, I think, but the prices are amazing.
I don't know if any of these are really worth the effort for me ATM, but still interesting.
edit: New S905 box?
- Amlogic's Linux page
- MiniPCs G+ community (news)
- Nexbox info
- How to run headless on S905
- Videostrong K1 teardown
- Armbian might be good (Odroid C2 image works?)
- Armbian S905 thread
- Libreelec thread
- S905X Specs from Nexbox?
- Linux for Amlogic Meson
- Odrobian?
- Transcend WIFI card hacks (unrelated odd thing I found)


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Home Technology
On the plus side home technology can now control lighting, communications, entertainment, HVAC and security from a single platform. These systems are popular for the added convenience and peace of mind. However, depending on the system and end user, installation, cost and ease of use can vary widely. Ideally, for household members who have difficulty performing some daily tasks, home tech makes it possible to answer the door, secure the house and turn lights on/off without needing to get up. From a design point of view, hardwired systems require some modification, and most home tech solutions will retrofit to homes.
$ $$$
Many off-the-shelf options have been designed specifically for easy setup and use, with low costs that make them an appealing choice for many households.
How-to tip
Look for systems that are modular, scalable and easy to use day to day. This ease of use is especially relevant for older household members who may not be as tech savvy as younger generations. Controls that have visual and auditory cueing work better.


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Because of varied legislation modifications related to immigration in UK, the Tier 1 Visa for Graduates in UK has been recently replaced with the Start-up visa for non-EU/EEA citizens interested in opening a business in this country. For the moment, the Tier 1 visa for investors in UK presents the same conditions and requirements that can be explained by one of our immigration solicitors in London. Our advisors can deal with all the immigration issues you might confront at a certain point, so you can address your inquiries at any time.
Table of Contents
Short facts about the former Tier 1 visa for graduates in UK
Foreign students who graduated in UK had the chance to set up their businesses by applying for a specific type of visa, the Tier 1 visa for graduates. The UK Trade and Investment, alongside UK Higher Education Institution, were in charge of establishing the eligibility criteria and control the visa application process. This kind of visa had a validity of one year, with the possibility of renewing it before the expiry date. A series of conditions had to be measured for obtaining this type of visa, like having a Ph. D degree, or any other high education degree, a satisfactory level of English knowledge, plus other related requirements. At the moment, graduates cannot apply for this kind of visa, but they can solicit information about the UK start-up visa, the newly introduced visa, from our London immigration lawyer.
What is a start-up visa for UK?
As explained earlier, the Tier 1 visa for graduates in UK was replaced by the Start-up visa for UK, mentioning that non-EU citizens must switch the existing visa with the new one. Here is information about the Start-up visa for UK and the conditions that must be considered at the time of application:
- Start-up visa replaces the Tier 1 Visa for Graduate Entrepreneur, the Tier 4 (General) student visa, the standard visitor visa, and any Tier 2 visa;
- Meeting specific English language requirements is still an available condition;
- Such a visa can be obtained by foreign citizens of at least 18 years of age who graduated in UK;
- One must have at least GBP 945 in a bank account for 3 months before the visa application;
- A tuberculosis test is mandatory;
- All travel or personal documents must be translated into English.
All the requirements for the new type of visa can be entirely explained by our London immigration lawyer. They can also help you switch the former visa to the Start-up visa for graduates in UK.
Presenting the business idea prior to the visa application
Another important condition for obtaining the Start-up visa for UK is to present the business idea, in order to obtain the endorsement letter from the entitled bodies in UK. All the business plans offered by newly graduates in UK are attentively selected and verify by empowered institutions. This is a process that involves market research, the viability of the products, and if the business presents chances for development in the country. It is important to know that numerous endorsing bodies sustain the entrepreneurial growth in UK and support innovation and start-up ideas. The government in UK provides a list of authorized endorsing bodies that can be accessed at any time by foreign graduates willing to start their entrepreneurial careers in UK. For a better understanding of the conditions for obtaining the Start-up visa that replaced the Tier 1 visa for Graduates in UK, you can address your requests to our UK immigration lawyer.
English knowledge for obtaining the Start-up visa
Having a satisfactory level of English language is among the conditions for obtaining a Start-up visa. One must prove he/she passed the CEFR approved language test and acquired at least level B2 in writing, reading, listening, and speaking in English. There are also exceptions of proving the English knowledge for citizens from the Bahamas, Canada, Guyana, Belize, Jamaica, USA, New Zealand, Grenada, Barbados, Australia, Dominican Republic, plus many others.
We have gathered some interesting facts and figures about the immigration in UK, as revealed by recent reports offered by the Office for National Statistics:
- more than 642,000 citizens moved to UK in 2019, while approximately 402,000 left the country;
- more than 20,000 citizens received humanitarian protection in UK, as data for the year ending December 2019 revealed;
- most of the citizens who relocated to UK in 2019 declared the intention of living in UK for at least 12 months;
- the number of non-EU students increased since 2016, around 228,000 being registered in the year ending September 2019.
Foreign graduates in UK who want to know more about how to obtain the Start-up visa that replaced the Tier 1 Visa for graduates in UK are invited to talk to our team of immigration solicitors in London. Feel free to contact us.


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What are bears up to this winter?
Rest and repair:
January finds bears across much of North America tucked snugly into their dens, living off the fat reserves they worked so hard to accumulate while their bodies rest and repair injuries. Exactly how bears do this is a mystery that scientists would love to solve. Just imagine if humans were able to "hibernate," heal wounds without losing any muscle or bone mass and wake up months later fit and alert. Spend months asleep without going to the bathroom. Or go to sleep after the holiday food fest and wake up in the spring several sizes smaller. READ MORE: Do Bears Really Hibernate?
Bear dens turn into nurseries:
In January and February, pregnant bears give birth and bear dens turn into nurseries. Cubs are born while their moms are very drowsy, although they are alert enough to clean up their tiny newborns and tidy up the den before going back to sleep. At birth, cubs weigh less than a pound and would easily fit into your hand. Cubs instinctively know that their only job is to nurse and grow bigger and stronger on their mom's rich milk, which has as much fat content as whipping cream. While snoozing mother bears nurture their newborns, other bears may take advantage of a warmer than normal February day to wander out into the world for a bit.
Time to venture out:
Adult male bears generally spend the least amount of time in their dens and are typically the first bears to emerge in March. In areas where food, human-provided or natural, is plentiful, many bears may not den up at all. Unlike most humans, bears can go from sound asleep to wide awake in seconds; that ability helps them react swiftly to any intruders or other surprises. As the month progresses, more bears venture out, and soon will be searching for water and eventually food. More than one hiker, dog walker or bird-feeder filler has surprised a bear (and vice versa).
READ MORE about the nature of bears
Get a head start on making the year ahead a better one for people and bears by visiting our BearWise Store filled with educational materials.
(Top photo courtesy of North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission)


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Below are two ways you can track conversions.
Global Site Tag: The global site tag adds visitors to your basic remarketing lists and sets new cookies on your domain, which will store information about the ad click that brought a user to your website. You must install this tag on every page of your website.
You can add this to your Header or Footer Code in A.I. Editor > Website Settings > Custom Code
Event Snippet: The event snippet works with the global site tag to track actions that should be counted as conversions. Choose whether to track conversions on a page load or click (we recommend page load).
Add this code to the final page clients land after they have called you or completed your contact form. This ensures that the only way your client will see this page is if they have contacted you.
We recommend a "Thank You" page. On this page, you can place the embed code in A.I. Editor > Manage Blocks > Add Block > Embed


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Carpеts arе not just floor covеrings; thеy arе invеstmеnts that contributе to thе ovеrall aеsthеtics and comfort of your homе or businеss.
Ovеr timе, howеvеr, carpеts can accumulatе dirt, allеrgеns, and stains that not only dеtract from thеir appеarancе but can also affеct indoor air quality and your hеalth. This is whеrе profеssional carpеt clеaning sеrvicеs comе into play.
In this articlе, wе will еxplorе thе rеasons why invеsting in profеssional carpеt clеaning Farningham sеrvicеs is еssеntial for maintaining thе longеvity, clеanlinеss, and ovеrall wеll-bеing of your living or working spacе.
1. Prolongs thе Lifе of Your Carpеt
Carpеts arе subjеctеd to a daily onslaught of dirt, dust, pеt hair, and spills. Ovеr timе, thеsе particlеs can work thеir way dееp into thе carpеt fibеrs, causing wеar and tеar.
Profеssional carpеt clеaning sеrvicеs еmploy spеcializеd еquipmеnt and tеchniquеs that can еffеctivеly rеmovе еmbеddеd dirt and grimе.
By rеgularly invеsting in such sеrvicеs, you can significantly еxtеnd thе lifеspan of your carpеt, saving you monеy in thе long run by dеlaying thе nееd for costly carpеt rеplacеmеnts.
2. Enhancеs Indoor Air Quality
Carpеts act likе giant filtеrs, trapping dust, allеrgеns, and bactеria. Whеn thеsе particlеs accumulatе, thеy can bеcomе airbornе whеn disturbеd, lеading to rеspiratory issuеs and allеrgiеs.
Profеssional carpеt clеaning not only rеmovеs visiblе dirt but also еliminatеs thе hiddеn contaminants that vacuuming alonе can't rеach. By invеsting in rеgular carpеt clеaning, you can еnsurе that your indoor air quality rеmains hеalthy and frее from allеrgеns.
3. Rеmovеs Stubborn Stains
Stains from spillеd drinks, food, or pеt accidеnts can bе a nightmarе to rеmovе without thе right tools and еxpеrtisе. DIY stain rеmoval attеmpts can oftеn worsеn thе problеm or damagе thе carpеt fibеrs.
Profеssional carpеt clеanеrs Eynsford havе thе knowlеdgе and spеcializеd clеaning agеnts to tacklе еvеn thе most stubborn stains еffеctivеly. Thеy can rеstorе your carpеt to its original condition, making it look as good as nеw.
4. Prеvеnts Mold and Mildеw Growth
Carpеts in humid еnvironmеnts or thosе еxposеd to moisturе arе suscеptiblе to mold and mildеw growth.
Thеsе fungi not only damagе thе carpеt but can also posе hеalth risks. Profеssional carpеt clеaning sеrvicеs еmploy drying tеchniquеs that еnsurе your carpеt is thoroughly driеd, prеvеnting mold and mildеw from taking hold.
This proactivе approach can savе you from potеntial hеalth issuеs and еxpеnsivе rеpairs.
5. Prеsеrvеs thе Warranty
Many carpеt manufacturеrs rеquirе rеgular profеssional clеaning as a condition to maintain thе warranty. Skipping thеsе clеanings may void your warranty and lеavе you rеsponsiblе for any futurе carpеt rеpairs or rеplacеmеnts.
Invеsting in profеssional carpеt clеaning not only еnsurеs your warranty rеmains valid but also hеlps protеct your initial invеstmеnt in high-quality carpеting.
6. Improvеs thе Ovеrall Appеarancе
A clеan carpеt can instantly transform thе look and fееl of a room. It adds a sеnsе of frеshnеss and vitality that no amount of vacuuming can rеplicatе.
Profеssional carpеt clеaning sеrvicеs can rеstorе thе vibrancy of your carpеt's color and tеxturе, lеaving your spacе looking wеll-maintainеd and inviting.
7. Savеs Timе and Effort
Carpеt clеaning is a timе-consuming and physically dеmanding task. By hiring profеssionals, you can frее up your valuablе timе and avoid thе strеnuous labor involvеd in carpеt clеaning.
This allows you to focus on othеr important aspеcts of your lifе or businеss whilе еnsuring your carpеts rеcеivе thе carе thеy nееd.
Invеsting in profеssional carpеt clеaning South Darenth sеrvicеs is not just about aеsthеtics; it's about maintaining a hеalthy, comfortablе living or working еnvironmеnt.
Rеgular clеaning not only prolongs thе lifе of your carpеt but also еnhancеs indoor air quality, rеmovеs stubborn stains, prеvеnts mold growth, prеsеrvеs warrantiеs, and savеs you timе and еffort. It's a smart invеstmеnt that pays dividеnds in thе form of a clеanеr, hеalthiеr, and morе appеaling spacе for you and your lovеd onеs or customеrs.
So, don't wait until your carpеts arе visibly dirty; schеdulе profеssional carpеt clеaning today and еnjoy thе many bеnеfits it brings.


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Football Coaching Clinic
Attached is a Coach Education learning experience…. Coaching Clinic run by the County Senior Football Manager Davy Burke and his Management team.
That Coaching Clinic is open to all Club coaches in the County to Attend on Saturday 1st February 2020 in Ballinakill commencing with registration at 9.30am and will conclude at 1.20pm
The emphasis of the morning will be to educate and inform the coaches in attendance on methods to Prepare, Train & Analyse a team to a very high standard. The Games Based Approach will form the bulk of the pitch session.
We are encouraging all clubs to give this your due attention when promoting and recruiting coaches to attend this Coaching Clinic.


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Los Angeles: A 71-year-old man was stabbed as he searched for recyclables early Friday morning.
On March 13, 2009, at around 6:40 a.m., the victim was in the rear alley of the 14000 block of Ventura Boulevard collecting recyclables. A White man with blond hair, weighing 160-180 lbs., 40 to 50 year of age, began arguing with the elderly man; the reason remains unclear. The suspect stabbed the victim with an unknown sharp weapon.
The elderly victim was transported to a local hospital where he was listed in critical but stable condition.
Van Nuys Homicide Detectives are asking for the public's help in identifying the suspect in this case.
Anyone with information is asked to call Van Nuys Homicide Detective Pedro Barba at 818-374-0040. During off-hours, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247). Callers may also text "Crimes" with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on Web tips. When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with "LAPD." Tipsters may remain anonymous.


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- Sleep
You need sleep. Over the holidays you tend to stay up later "because you can" and because there's often so much to do. A lack of sleep makes you feel extra scattered and cranky though, so do your best to continue to get 8hrs+ of sleep each night. The to-do list will wait! - Opt Out
There is no shame in saying no, setting boundaries and prioritizing yourself. If the idea of another family meal, or another holiday party stresses you out, just say no (and say yes to your self care!). Don't feel forced into meeting others' expectations, especially if they contradict what you need to look after yourself. - Go Easy on the Booze
Alcohol is a depressant, which means it negatively impacts your body and brain the next day and it lowers your inhibitions- which isn't always a good thing! - Let Go of Perfection
The gifts don't need to be perfect, the meals don't have to be perfect either. Keep in mind what the Holidays are really all about.