text:
Where can I find information about the UN's action on sustainable development, the environment, and climate change?
Last Updated: Sep 16, 2019
Views: 475
Within the UN, discussion about protection of the environment is often related to sustainable development.
The major conferences that have dealt with questions of the environment reflect this.
Sustainable Development Goal 13, "Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts", has the footnote: "Acknowledging that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the primary international, intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change" (A/RES/70/1).
Multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) are treaties and may focus on:
- General topics
- example: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change,
- Particular topics
- example: CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)
- Regions
- example: Aarhus Convention
Two recurrent reports that focus on the science of climate change and the Earth's environment are:
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): Assessment Reports
- UN Environmental Programme (UNEP): Global Environment Outlook (GEO) Reports
Links & Files
Disclaimer: answers are prepared by library staff using resources available at the time of writing. This site may include links and references to third-party databases, websites, books and articles, this does not imply endorsement by the United Nations.


text:
Mortgage rates fell at the fastest pace in over a month today bringing them to their lowest levels since early February. The motivation for a move of this size isn't readily apparent, but tomorrow's Employment Situation Report is likely a factor. The underlying reasons for that are complex, but the gist of it can be explained with an analogy.
The financial market participants that trade the securities that end up affecting mortgage rates are like attendees at a sporting event. They may be out of their seats, moving around the stadium, getting a drink or what have you in the time leading up to the start of the game, but there's some sense of urgency to take one's seat and pay attention to the opening pitch, kick-off, jump-ball, etc...
In this metaphorical stadium, there are no assigned seats either, so there can be jockeying for position right at the start of the game and the moments leading up to it. The same is true for the jockeying of trading positions in financial markets. Simply put, everyone is trying to find their best seat before the game starts--their best balance of trading positions before the big employment data.
This frequently leads to the sort of faster-paced movement we're seeing in bond markets today. Unfortunately, that's tended to go against us on most instances of the big jobs report, but this time, it's been in our favor. The important thing to understand about it is that it's NOT necessarily indicative of where rates want to go tomorrow. It just happens to be the easiest spot from which to approach and digest the first play of the big game. With no assigned seats in this stadium, if that play moves to the other end of the stadium, traders will follow in an even more frantic manner.
What does that mean for you? Essentially, "lock if you got em." It could be the case that the jobs data is much weaker than expected and rates continue to improve. But the fact remains that we have the best rates in 3 months today and a report tomorrow that is more than capable of causing this welcome move lower to turn around and head higher. To be clear, tomorrow is ultimately all about how the jobs report comes in, but from a risk/reward standpoint, there are few clearer locking opportunities. In fact the riskiest aspect of locking today is that it seems like such an obvious choice.
The most prevalently quoted conforming 30yr fixed rate for best-case scenarios (best-execution) moved down to 4.25% in most cases, but 4.375% is still close.
Loan Originator Perspectives
"So much for rates worsening each day on the week of non farm payrolls.
Rates rallied again this morning on mixed economic data. The rally of
the last 2 days seems unwarranted and could quickly unwind tomorrow when
we get the jobs data at 8:30am. Today's pricing is about the best we
have seen this year. If you are closing within the next 30 days, I
would strongly recommend you lock today as rates have much more room to
rise then fall. Take the gains on today's rate sheets and don't look
back." -Victor Burek, Open Mortgage
"LOCK--We're at the low end of the range we've been in for the last 3
months. I'm hopeful we'll break lower and we'll see new lows in rates
for the year, but you have to play the odds and the odds are we move
higher within the range with tomorrow's report. As always, if rates do
move lower...look to renegotiate/float down, but for now take the best
rates we've seen in 3 months." -Brent Borcherding, www.brentborcherding.com.
"Rates have been in a sideways range since the beginning of February.
With a nice improvement this week bringing us back down to the floor of
that range, and a high risk event tomorrow in the monthly Jobs Report,
the prudent move now is to protect this improvement and lock in these
rates. Nothing out there suggests we will break even lower and recent
history seems to imply a likely bounce higher at some point soon." -Hugh W. Page, Sen. Mortgage Consultant, M.B.A. Capital Partners Mortgage
"Remarkable as it seems, rates dropped today on NFP eve. Lenders
typically price defensively as major data like the jobs report approach,
so the fact we rallied COULD signal a shift towards better rates.
We're approaching the best pricing of the year, now borrowers have to
decide whether to lock current pricing or hope it continues to improve.
" -Ted Rood, Senior Mortgage Planner, tedroodteam.com
"Floating into the Jobs Report is always a gamble. Mortgage bonds have
enjoyed a nice rally this week and locking in to protect those gains is
the prudent thing to do. That being said the technical picture for
bonds suggest we can see lower rates down the road. If you have time on
your side and can stomach volatility floating may work in your favor
but if time is not on your side Lock into today's pricing. " -Manny Gomes, Branch Manager, Norcom Mortgage
Today's Best-Execution Rates
Ongoing Lock/Float Considerations
Join Now or Login to Post Comments

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This month, in quintessential Karl Lagerfeld form, the legendary designer criticised (which is putting it delicately) a fashion designer for calling herself an artist. Kaiser Karl replied, dripping with disdain, that she - or any other designer who refers to themselves as an artist - is "second-rate."
I might not agree with Lagerfeld's position on Russian men not being good-looking or his issues with Adele's curves, but I've got to hand it to the outspoken fashion guru - this time, he's absolutely right: fashion is not art. Fashion is fundamentally the production of clothing and accessories - it fulfils a function, it is a utility. Some designers just happen to make clothes with more creativity than others.
|Kaiser Karl. Source: style.com.
According to Valerie Steele, the director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, fashion is considered bottom-rung to museum folk. "Fashion is really seen as the bastard child of capitalism and female vanity," Steele told the Wall Street Journal in a 2010 an interview.
That's not to say that fashion cannot inspire art, or be inspired by art. An artist's canvas can be just about anything, whereas a designer's canvas must conform to the form of the human body. Innovation and artistic expression doesn't confine itself to the basic parameters which fashion, by its definition, must fit (so to speak). Shirts, trousers, jackets, dresses - fashion is an interpretation of pieces of clothing.
Veracious artists will agree that the absence of complete artistic freedom hinders the artistic process. And isn't confining and limiting themselves what most designers do? Virginia Postrel, author of The Substance of Style, argues that "fashions of all sorts seem driven by the desire to be different, but not too different - to stand out as an individual while fitting into whatever group you identify with … In dress, the fluctuations aren't random, nor do they mirror current events in some literal way … [styles] evolve according to an internal aesthetic logic of their own."
Essentially, as Postrel goes on to say, fashion is subjective. It relies on and transforms based on previous styles; last season's colour scheme will affect this season's colour scheme just as hemlines, prints and accessories will morph out of what was in style in the past.
There is no denying that what can be considered art isn't always your typical watercolour on a canvas. Recall Guillermo Vargas, the Costa Rican ostensible artist who tied up a stray dog and deprived it of food and water as part of his exhibit. To parents, macaroni and glitter projects from their little ones are Louvre-worthy. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, which anti-Lagerfeld crusaders would shout from the rooftops.
Well, artists might have a problem with that creed, as would other designers, such as Marc Jacobs, Coco Chanel and Miuccia Prada, who are also on Lagerfeld's fashion-is-not-art bandwagon. Despite the wishful thinking we have for the fashion industry, the industry is consumerism to the core. The ultimate goal for any designer is to have someone purchase their items to wear and turn a profit - not exactly our idealistic notions of art for art's sake.
This concept is emulated amongst the ranks of designers. It reared its ugly head in 2009 at the Grand Palais exhibition, Le grand monde d'Andy Warhol, when Pierre Bergé, life-long partner of Yves Saint Laurent, demanded that the late designer's portraits be relocated. Originally, the exhibition's curator, Alain Cueff, planned to hang YSL's portraits in the "Glamour" section, where other designers such as Giorgio Armani and Sonia Rykiel's portraits were. Bergé claimed YSL belonged in the "Artists" section, and that "the rags mustn't be mixed with the serviettes." Ouch. Cueff refused to move the photos, so Bergé pulled out from the exhibit.
|Wallis Simpson wears Elsa Schiaparelli's
lobster dress inspired by Salvador Dali.
Source: twirlingclare.blogspot.ca.
Postrel said Bergé's baffling objection sparked a societal dogma that "fashion is an inferior, unworthy, trivial and culturally suspect pursuit." But fashion and art do enjoy a healthy relationship and can feed off of one another. Many designers have worked alongside traditional artists and incorporated their work into clothing. Take Elsa Schiaparelli, whose lobster dress was dreamed up with help from surrealist artist Salvador Dali. Even Louis Vuitton's Cosmic Blossom collection was inspired by contemporary artist Takashi Murakami. Notable architect Frank Gehry, whom Vanity Fair named the most important architect of our age, was enlisted by Tiffany & Co. to design a jewellery line. Rarely do we ever see artists picking the brains of designers in search of a vision.
Art provides inspiration for designers, it is a muse. Fashion is a reflection of artistic expression, but it is a separate entity. Yes, like art, it can be beautiful and evoke different emotional responses, but perhaps by sharing similar characteristics of art, it might be more fitting to consider it a medium or subset of art.
Designers who have advocated in favour of fashion and art as one and the same, such as Elsa Schiaparelli, Ralph Rucci and John Varvatos (and, we're guessing, Lady Gaga's design team) can take comfort in the fact that art itself is ever-changing. These days, photography, music, film and even graffiti are considered art forms. Fashion, is starting to blur the lines, but still stands on its own. Without art, fashion would continue to exist. And vice versa.
When it comes to fashion and art, I prefer Kaiser Karl's take: "Art is art. Fashion is fashion. However, Andy Warhol proved that they can exist together."
Sign up to receive a weekly dispatch from
The Genteel unearths the forces shaping global fashion and design through the lens of business, culture, society and best kept secrets.
A worldwide collective of contributors currently form The Genteel. On a daily basis our team dispatches thought-provoking and insightful articles from the streets of Oslo, Toronto, Beirut, Moscow, United Arab Emirates, Seoul and beyond.


text:
Bobby Knoop
Biographical Information
Nicknamed "Nureyev" by sportswriters for his exciting and acrobatic fielding plays, Knoop played a deep second base, with exceptional range and a strong arm. He turned the double play well along with shortstop Jim Fregosi, to give the Angels outstanding keystone defense. As a hitter, he had his best season in 1966 with career-highs of 17 homeruns, 72 RBI, 54 runs and 11 triples.
Knoop was sent to the White Sox in the 1969 mid-season and was traded to the Royals in 1971. With Kansas City, he played mostly as a backup for Cookie Rojas.
In his career Knoop batted .236, with 56 homeruns, 331 RBI, 337 runs, 129 doubles, 29 triples, and 16 stolen bases in 1153 games.
Currently, Knoop works as an infield assistant coach at Seton Catholic High School in Arizona.
All-Star (1966) 3-time Gold Glove Awards (1966-68) Led league in triples (1966) Set an AL record for 2B with 12 putouts in a nine-inning game (1966) Set an AL record for 2B with six double plays in game (1966) Teamed with SS Jim Fregosi a duo winner of the Gold Glove award, joining a select list of eight shortstop-second baseman combinations have won the honor in the same season while playing together (1967) See also
List of Gold Glove middle infield duos
The Tiger is a Yang,
and is the Third sign of the Chinese horoscope.
FervorBraveryMagnetismGood LuckBenevolenceAuthority
Birthday: October 18, 1938
Changes: the end of the old and the birth of the new.
Material success, stability, authority and ambition.
Birthday: October 18, 2020
Guidance on religious matters and the need to find spiritual meaning in life.


text:
A short documentary about Dr. David Hardwick that has been two years in the making has now hit YouTube. The idea for the documentary came about one day at VGH, when Zac Rothman (Lead Producer – Ed Tech) and Stephen Gillis (Associate Producer, Ed Tech) noticed a common theme amongst the photos on the wall – Dr. Hardwick was in all of them! Intrigued by his bowties, Stephen asked about him and learnt the legend. From there a labour of love began, with the hope it would inspire the next generation of learners to become the leaders we need in our communities.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.


text:
+44 (0)1264 339 999
[email protected]
All Categories
Your shopping cart is empty!
This website makes use of cookies to enhance browsing experience and provide additional functionality
Selecting a country above and proceeding to our site indicates acceptance of our
Cookies & Privacy Policy
Nourishing, Restructuring, Clinically Proven, Complete Care.
Eye Contour Concentrate is lightweight but rich in some of our finest botanical ingredients, this cream like concentrate is designed to target eye contours marked with lines, puffiness and dark circles...
Clinically Proven Energising Anti-Wrinkle Eye Gel.
Our Eye Contour Gel is uniquely formulated and clinically proven to significantly reduce wrinkle depth and length..
Concentrated Hyaluronic Serum is a powerful hydrator. Staying at the surface of the skin, this type of Hyaluronic Acid can reach a level of water mobilisation of up to 1000 times its own weight. This provides an excellent protective film formation but is also hydrating and has a plumping effect...
Triple Action Breakout Fighter! Anti-imperfections Concentrate is a convenient and fast-drying serum helping to dry and clear blemishes whilst helping to prevent new breakouts. Suitable for oily skin types Targeted treatment for breakout areas...
Make Lifting Mask your weekly "pick me up". Targeting the neck, jawline and cheeks for a more refined outline. Dermatologically Tested Suitable for all skin types..
SkinTonic has been developed by our innovative & experienced scientists and is designed to provide a perfect ratio of liquid to active ingredients to create an advanced, effective and bio-available skincare product...


text:
NETWORK Sets New Record with 125M Unique Visitors
USA TODAY NETWORK reached a new record-high 125M unique visitors for the month of September, the second consecutive month of record-high traffic. According to the September 2017, comScore Media Metrix, the NETWORK's digital reach maintained its #2 spot in News/Information category with top traffic drivers coming from the network's coverage of Hurricane Jose and Irma, the Equifax breach and the release of "The Wall".
In August 2016, the NETWORK added 2M+ unique visitors, up month-over-month from August 2017 and mobile visitor readership up 11 percent YoY from September 2016. September also saw a traffic surge for USA TODAY College Sports for the college football season, up 61 percent from the previous month.
The NETWORK's local sites continue to see strong growth with readership up 27 percent from September 2016. Naples News and the News-Press experienced the strongest month-over month growth rates across local, both over 250 percent increases, attributed to their Atlantic hurricane coverage throughout September.
Source: comScore Media Metrix September 2017. The USA TODAY Network is a combination of USA TODAY Sites and USA TODAY Network – Local Sites. USA TODAY Sites consists of USATODAY.com, USATODAY Sports Media Group & USATODAY Travel.


text:
Sensational Thrill Ride
Joe Konrath has become quite an Internet sensation, so I was interested in his work, but kind of leery of what I might find. After all, Joe seems like a great guy, but it's relatively easy (and somewhat random) to get famous on the Internet, and very hard (and quite unrelated) to write a great book. As it turned out, I needn't have worried.
The List is a sensational thrill ride from the gruesome start to the fiery finish. The action bounces back and forth around the country, and at every stop the story grows more intricate and the danger ratchets up another notch. The characters are by turns sincere and interesting and funny, and Konrath excels at getting his characters into hopeless situations, then letting them get themselves out. The plot contains just enough science to be convincing, and just enough fantasy to be fun. And Abe Lincoln is hilarious.
Whether you are a fan of Konrath, a fan of realistic science fiction, or just a fan of sharp action and tight prose, this book is not to be missed. For my part, it was a great introduction to the work of Joe Konrath, and I can't wait to read the rest.


text:
All the outdoors you can fit
There's still a lot more outdoors than indoors here, and this region uses every acre. The big ski centers are a short drive away, but smaller hills make great family outings for skiers and snowboarders seeking gentler slopes. Skating rinks offer bracing good fun while snow-clad forests beckon snowshoers and the cross-country crowd. State Parks offer many trails to explore, and snowmobilers will find plenty of frozen tundra to tackle.
Discover a state park
Many of New York's top state parks call this region home. Grafton Lakes State Park keeps its trails nicely groomed for snowmobilers, snowshoers and cross-country skiers. When conditions permit, ice fishing lures diehard anglers for perch, northern pike and walleye. Mine Kill State Park features snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing for winter visitors, while the Helderberg Escarpment at John Boyd Thacher State Park reveals a breathtaking panorama of the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys, plus 12 miles of trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and snowmobiling.
Frozen fun
Looking for a good skate? Sharpen your blades or rent a pair, and hit the ice at Albany's Empire State Plaza. Skaters are rink-bound as soon as the ice hardens at arenas throughout the region. Even wobbly ankles are just a lesson or two away from effortless gliding through the winter air. Or watch a game of pickup hockey from the safety of a bench.
Picture postcard moments
A stroll through Schenectady's Stockade District
evokes centuries-old winters. This ancient residential neighborhood is one of America's oldest, surviving wars, sweeping fires and savage massacres. Today, its narrow lanes are still lined with pre-revolutionary homes. In Saratoga Springs, a drive down Union Avenue's Mansion Row hints at the lavish history of this famous town. Every stately mansion here has its stories, legends and even ghosts. Take a ride on the Saratoga-North Creek Railway for beautiful views and as a new means of exploring the region.
Winter festivals
There's a lot to celebrate here. December sees Troy's Victorian Stroll, Albany's Winter WonderLARK event with trolley rides, and the annual Capital Holiday Lights in the Park a Washington Park drive-through event with show-stopping holiday light displays, live music and family fun. Schenectady's Holiday Parade is the largest nighttime parade in the northeast. Both Albany and Saratoga Springs host vibrant First Night celebrations, and Saratoga's Winterfest brings live music and special events to mid-winter. January brings the Grafton Winter Festival to Grafton Lakes. In February, make time for the Saratoga Springs Flurry Fest, and get a sneak peek at spring colors during the New York State Museum's New York In Bloom event. For more events in the Capital Saratoga region click here.


text:
A BBC story today expresses some cynicism as to whether the increasing growing of "sex addiction" is, you know, actual addiction. Sex addiction won't give you the shakes if you go through a dry spell, and while it does have the same dopamine-stimulating effects as gambling, it's sort of like food binging (and money) in that sex is sort of a necessary activity for the survival of the human species, so maybe so-called "sex addicts" need to just calm down and stop acting like they have a "disease." So why force sex addicts to enter a 12-step program? I can think of a reason: because people who have gone through 12-step programs are generally more bearable than people who haven't, and that is because the programs seem to instill in their followers the understanding that they are just inherently shitty people, which is a good thing because, as new studies prove, much of humanity simply has too much self-esteem.
Amid the complexity of perspectives on the human psyche, a slow but relentless change is occurring in how psychologists view self-esteem, said Kernis. It was once thought that more self-esteem necessarily is better self-esteem. In recent years, however, high self-esteem per se has come under attack on several fronts, especially in areas such as aggressive behavior. Also, individuals with high self-esteem sometimes become very unlikable when others or events threaten their egos.
While high self-esteem is still generally valued as a good quality that is important to a happy and productive life, more researchers are breaking it down into finer gradations and starting to understand when high self-esteem turns from good to bad. In fact, it is now thought that there are multiple forms of high self-esteem, only some of which consistently relate to positive psychological functioning.
Now, I've never been through a 12-step program myself, but in the course of my "career" in journalism and underage drinking I've been to a ton of halfway houses and AA meetings and rehab clinics, and it's nothing if not a humbling experience, mostly because people are forced to recount all the shitty things they've done to decent people while under the influence in the name of boosting their fragile senses of self-esteem, and in the process they derive a kind of self-esteem from low self-esteem, and if dudes who are compulsive about having sex with a constant stream of women can't really benefit from that, I know some women who could.
High Self-Esteem Not Necessarily A Good Thing [EurekaAlert]
It's The Adultery, Stupid [Vanity Fair] (Where I got the picture.)


text:
Jupiter Ascending - Full International Trailer
While most people will be talking about Mila Kunis getting engaged today, all we can think about is her role as Jupiter in the upcoming sci-fi epic Jupiter Ascending. An international trailer was released for Andy and Lana Wachowski's latest sci-fi entry came online today and it sheds a bit more light on Channing Tatum's turn as Caine. We initially thought that Caine was just a random fellow/alien that accidentally found himself in the middle of an interplanetary hot mess, but this latest trailer seems to suggest he was kind of born to do this.
"You're the perfect hunting machine," says Sean Bean's character Stinger. "Fearless. Relentless. You've been searching for one thing your whole life....and she's down there." Yeah, you guessed it, 'she' is 'Jupiter' (Kunis) and 'she' is in a whole lotta trouble.
Click here to find out more about Jupiter Ascending which is released in theaters on 18th July.


text:
The Backyard Market on Bricklane
The Backyard Market is my new favourite market. Most of the designers run their own stalls so it feels very genuine – artists who are just doing what they love to do and hoping other people will like it. And you will – good food, good music and some good deals!
For The Love of Law look for necklaces and little heart shaped purses – great little Christmas presents.
These handmade fascinators are made by two sisters J & K. and start at only £8.00!
If you're looking to have something customized check out KM-Toilet. They'll customize t-shirts, running shoes, anything you like. You can chose a pattern or KM can create one for you.
Unkle Baxta does some great girly prints on t-shirts & vests and they make some really cool handmade cards.
This is Silvio, he designs men's and womenswear for his label Twins Diverses. His menswear is quite cool and his trousers have been one of his best sellers and for women, if you're looking for a cute pair of high waisted shorts check out his stall.


text:
Perhaps after considering the UN's stats on livestock agriculture and meat processing, both industrial farms and tech startups are investing in lab-grown meats. Meanwhile, veganism swells.
Would you be willing to give up ice-cream and hamburgers if it saved the environment? Good news: lab-grown meat is set to hit shop floors this year, so you don't have to.
A 2017 study showed that if all Americans substituted beans for beef, the USA would come close to meeting its 2020 greenhouse gas goals originally set by the Obama administration in 2009.
Perhaps spurred on by shocking polemical documentaries like Cowspiracy and the UN's report that showed that processed meat is as carcinogenic as cigarettes, veganism is on the rise. Lately, veganism has risen from its grassroots origins and become a widespread form of eco-activism.
Believe it or not, the meat and dairy industries are starting to listen and lab-grown meat is set to become a reality.
The Dark Truth Behind the Veganism fad
Is veganism just another bandwagon? Or, do these almond-milking vegaholics know what they're talking about?
"What's so wrong with eating meat?", you may ask.
As all of the current U.S. generations currently alive have enjoyed, we no longer have to go out and hunt for animals when we want to eat meat. In fact, we don't even have to go to the grocery store. We can order 24 chicken nuggets from the driver seat or have groceries delivered by an Amazon contractor.
Our lifestyles have changed drastically, but we still claim that we need to eat like our hunter-gatherer ancestors. The sheer numbers involved with keeping everyone fed on steak and cheese are causing a lot of problems behind the scenes.
The brutality of the meat and dairy industries have been exposed in documentaries you may have come across on Netflix. Vegecated, Forks Over Knives and Earthlings are cited as contributing factors by many vegan converts.
However, critics question the validity of the facts provided in these "life-changing" documentaries.
Perhaps it was because the revelations of what has become normal were so shocking or maybe because people aren't ready to face the consequences of their lifestyles. But, Cowspiracy, in particular, got a bad rap for using questionable statistics in the original version.
Although such advocacy documentaries still have their value and are worth watching if you want to get informed, they should be taken with a pinch of salt.
A more reliable source of facts about veganism and the environment are reviewed research papers and official reports. Although these reports may not have the same drama, the facts are clear-cut. The environmental impact of animal agriculture and it's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water waste is extreme.
Here's the impact that meat and dairy have on the environment explained in facts and figures:
- Animal agriculture accounts for 70% of global freshwater consumption.
- In 2016 the UN reported that the livestock sector is one of the most significant contributors to environmental degradation, both locally and globally.
- A UN report that followed this in 2010 warned that rising meat and dairy consumption combined with a population set to be 9.1 billion by 2050, meant a shift towards veganism was vital. It stated that only a major change in the human diet could save the world from climate catastrophe and major food shortages.
- Cows produce 150 billion gallons of methane gas a day. What most don't realize is that this greenhouse gas's alleged effect on climate change is much greater than C02 which usually steals the spotlight.
- Numerous reports have claimed that methane is up to 100 times more harmful than C02.
- 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions are generated by raising livestock for meat, eggs, and milk. That's more than all transportation, including planes combined.
- Raising livestock also uses 70% of all agricultural land, making it the leading cause of deforestation, water pollution and loss of biodiversity.
- It's estimated that it takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef.
- One-third of the world's grain is now fed to animals.
- Antibiotic use in animals is a major contributor to rising levels of antibiotic resistance in the human population
- A 2017 study showed that meat manufacturers JBS, Cargill, and Tyson (All giants in the meat industry) emitted more greenhouse gases in 2016 than all of France.
What would Happen if we all Went Vegan?
A study carried out by Dr. Marco Sprinmann at the University of Oxford attempted to estimate what the world would be like if we all went vegan in 2050.
The results are astonishing and show that in one single year greenhouse emissions would be cut by two thirds. $1.5 trillion would be saved in climate damages and healthcare expenditure. He also estimated that global mortality would be reduced by 10%, with 8 million fewer deaths caused by chronic disease.
Springmann also emphasized that these figures are probably an underestimation.
Could Lab Grown Meat Save the World?
Veganism doesn't have to be all granola and lettuce.
As consumers become more aware of the extent of the current sustainability crisis, eating habits have begun to change. This move towards more plant-based diets has had repercussions in the food production industry. Big names have started to invest in meat and dairy alternatives.
We saw the first synthetic burger make its debut in 2013. It quite literally took to the stage and was eaten in front of an amazing audience. T
he fact that humans could grow real meat without harming animals or the Earth left us in awe. Although the lab grown meat cost thousands to make at the time, now it can be produced cheaply on a commercial scale. Just five years later, the race is on to get it on the shelves.
Something that we wouldn't have believed to be possible is fast becoming a reality. Could synthetic meat replace traditional meat completely?
A startup called Memphis Meats is currently developing "clean meat" with investors like Bill Gates and Richard Branson. Just For All is another major player in the synthetic meat industry who promises to launch their products in supermarkets by the end of the year. Even the some of the world's biggest meat companies like Tyson and Kraft are attempting to reinvent carnivorous staples.
Real Meat Without Slaughtering Animals
Most successful lab grown meat products are created using cell proliferation.
Let's say we want to create a cruelty-free, eco-friendly chicken nugget. No tempeh, no tofu–we want the real deal.
As chickens have an unlimited source of cells that are constantly regenerating and regrowing, the scientists figured that they could take a handful and continue to grow them infinitely. All that is needed from the animal is a cell sample. This could be a feather for example.
This feather is then taken to the lab where it is provided with plant-based nutrients. Just as the cells would grow in the animal, they multiply quickly in the lab turning into a high-density food source–a.k.a. meat.
And it's not just chicken, any kind of animal protein can be grown from a single cell in the lab. Synthetic meat is estimated to be 10 times more efficient than the world's highest volume slaughterhouse.
This cutting-edge technology that is used to re-create food is going to drastically change the meat and dairy industries. Just for all's products range from cookie dough to mayonnaise. Other companies are producing scrambled "eggs" from mung beans and brewing cow's milk from yeast.
In the current world we live in, it is unlikely that everyone will go vegan. Meat is the centerpiece of our plates and ingrained in most cultures. However, synthetic meat offers another solution to the major problems mass-production of meat and dairy pose.
A recent Ketchum survey shows signs of an optimistic response to lab grown meat. 62% of Americans are likely to try synthetic animal products, which rises to 71% among millennials.
Lab Grown Meat is Not a Miracle Fix
Synthetic meat is also seen as a threat to the animal agriculture industry. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation states that livestock supports the livelihoods and food security of almost a 1.3 billion people.
Farming still employs over 26% of workers globally. That's not accounting for those working along with other parts of the meat-supply chain like in processing and packaging.
Additionally, synthetic meat is still meat. Although Lab-grown meat is dubbed "clean meat", as it lowers the risk of microbial and antibiotic contamination.
Eating too much of it is still detrimental to human health. It increased our risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Synthetic meat can ease the negative impact on the environment but at the end of the day, processed meat is still carcinogenic.
Read More: Reduce Your Carbon Footprint by Eating Better
The power to reconsider what we consume is in our hands. This choice empowers us to choose what the future of our planet will be. We can choose to cut down our meat and dairy consumption, become a vegetarian or take the plunge and go vegan.
With the current state of our environment, we need to consider every option possible. Yes, food choices come down to personal circumstances. But, simply eating less meat and dairy could help us prevent negative environmental impacts to the Earth.


text:
Hope & Glory: Above the Clouds
And after the cover, the book itself…
The Princess Himiko is a small flying ship belonging to the fledgling Iezo Republic, cruising the skies in its maiden voyage.
But what the men and the women of the Himiko are about to discover hidden in the stormy sky above the Caucasus, will change the world forever.
A story of exploration and science gone mad in the world of Hope & Glory.
As I think I already mentioned, I planned the novellas in the Hope & Glory series so that each volume will feature different characters from a different culture involved in a different genre of adventure.
Glass Houses is an adventure/espionage caper set in India, and featuring characters from the Anglo-Indian Raj.
Number the Brave is a war story set in Africa, and featuring characters from the Tribal African Confederation.
Part of the Machine is a noirish mystery set in Russia, and featuring characters from both the upper and lower classes in the Czar's Winter Palace.
Above the Clouds is me doing Star Trek in a steampunk setting.
Or maybe Alien.
The characters are the crew of a small airship from the small Iezo Republic – all that's left of Japan after the Catastrophe.
A meeting with a mysterious abandoned airship, the skeleton crew led by grumpy engineering officer Kuwata will have to explore the relic, and look for the true masters of the ship.
And in case you were curious, the Iezo republic (sometimes written as Ezo Republic) is a bit of historical fact – in our world it was established in Hokkaido in 1869, with the help and support of a few French "military advisors", and it was the first democratic experiment in Japan. The experiment did not last long, but what the heck, resurrecting interesting nations is one of the perks of writing alternative history.
Above the Clouds is also a game-changer, because it introduces one of the Big Bads in the Hope & Glory setting – and provides full stats for those that want to include it in their games.
By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://authorsdb.com/


text:
John Royal Houston's Caleb Ramsey knocks a first-inning two-run triple on Friday night
Both teams opened their respective seasons this weekend. The Cougars, under brand-new head coach Todd Whitting, facing the UT-Arlington Mavericks in a three-game series at Cougar Field and the Owls under collegiate legend Wayne Graham facing the Stanford Cardinal, one of college baseball's premier programs, in a three-game series at Reckling Park.
The Cougars got their season off to a great start, accomplishing a feat they haven't pulled off since 1993, winning the first three games of the season. And not only did they sweep UT-Arlington, they did so in a convincing fashion, winning 15-5 on Friday, 9-0 on Saturday, and 6-4 yesterday afternoon.
"It's an awesome feeling anytime you win a game," said Whitting Friday night after getting his first-ever win as head coach. "The really exciting thing about tonight -- two things: number one, tremendous crowd. I thought our crowd stayed in it even though the score got a little bit out of hand. They stayed in it the entire time, and I really appreciate everybody that came out. And number two, our players really executed -- I talked to them before the game about trusting what we've put in, and what we've done from day one. It's really easy when you get in the heat of the battle to revert back to your comfort level."
Friday and Saturday's starters, Codey Morehouse and Jordan Lewis, both made their first career Division One starts, and both threw seven innings of outstanding baseball. Morehouse admitted to feeling some nerves before his start, but after the Cougars scored five first-inning runs on Friday, he just settled down and pitched.
"The first inning, I was pretty nervous, but once I got in the dugout, and we started to get the lead, everything just calmed down and I just went about everything like it was intra-squad, basically," Morehouse said. "Just went out. I trusted all of my stuff. I just knew I was going to throw strikes whenever I went out there."
The Owls' season did not get off to as good a start as the Cougars' as they lost two of three games to the Cardinal. Rice's starting pitching staked the team to a lead on Friday night, but defensive and bullpen letdowns late in the game led to the 5-3 loss. Junior Matthew Reckling took the hill for the Owls on Saturday, and while admittedly not having his best stuff, he shut down Stanford for six innings as the Owls got the 7-1 win.
"I just really wanted to go at these guys," Reckling said. "I don't think like I had my best stuff, but I just pitched. That's what it's going to take to be a great team this year. Those guys behind me played awesome."
John Royal Rice's Matthew Reckling delivering a pitch in the first inning on Saturday
But Owls head coach Wayne Graham wasn't discouraged by what he saw. He really liked his starting pitching, which, lacking in experience, was seen by some to be a weakness heading into the season, and the defense performed better than expected. And while his offense didn't perform, especially Anthony Rendon, Jeremy Rathjen and Michael Ratterree, he expects them to start hitting as the season progresses, and noted the strength of the Stanford staff.
"They're a top 10 team....nobody can match their arms," Graham said. "Texas can't match those arms. They can have three guys maybe match the five guys that Stanford's got that can throw 95 or more."
We Believe Local Journalism is Critical to the Life of a City
Engaging with our readers is essential to the mission of the Houston Press. Make a financial contribution or sign up for a newsletter, and help us keep telling Houston's stories with no paywalls.
Support Our Journalism
It's just one weekend of a season that still has over three months to go. And while it's surprising that the Cougars are undefeated to start the season, it's not surprising that the Owls are 1-2. The Owls make an effort to play a difficult schedule -- they've got USC next weekend, then will be facing top programs at the Minute Maid Classic the first weekend of March before heading out to California for another weekend of tough baseball to follow that. The Cougar schedule is not quite as challenging, but then again, the Cougars are trying to turn around and rebuild a once-great program, so getting a winning attitude is more important than playing the likes of Stanford.
"It's a new energy in the dugout and on the field," Cougar outfielder Caleb Ramsey said. "We talk about it a lot. We set the tone on defense, most part. Making a play, you notice people sprinting back to their positions. It just kind of sets a tone."
The Cougars' new tone has them undefeated. The Owls' tone has them setting up shop for another year of high-caliber baseball. The season might just be starting, but it's a season that both schools can so far feel good about.
SOME MISCELLANEOUS NOTES: Rice hosts Lamar tomorrow night while Houston hosts Stephen F. Austin. The Cougars are off Tuesday while Rice travels to Texas State. Houston will have a three-game series against Ole Miss at Cougar Field starting on Friday evening while Rice will host Southern Cal for three at Reckling Park....Along with a new coach and a new attitude, the Cougars busted out some new uniforms on Friday night, and the bright white uniforms with red lettering and numbers were a welcome departure from some of the abominations the Cougars have trotted out the past several seasons....Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon received the Dick Howser Trophy on Saturday. This trophy is awarded annually to college baseball's national player of the year.


text:
Succeed in PA, Pennsylvania Dropout Prevention Network
The PA Dropout Prevention Network (PaDPN) wants to help you graduate and reach educational goals to ensure a promising future. We strive to give every student an opportunity to succeed in high school so they may also succeed in life. Education opens doors to careers, independence, and higher wages. The PaDPN wants to support your goals and hard work. We offer educational resources to assist you in your academic endeavors.
Click on the hyperlink to go to the Youth section of the PADPN website: http://succeedinpa.org/youth/


text:
Kirtan's popularity on the rise in Kitsap County
World musician and former monk Girish will lead an evening of kirtan Dec. 1 at West Sound Unity Church, 1712 Trenton Ave. in Bremerton, at 7 p.m. People of all ages and backgrounds are welcome; prior experience with yoga or chanting is not necessary. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Samudra Yoga, 1223 McKenzie Ave. in Bremerton.
Girish will also lead a chant workshop on Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to noon. The workshop is open to anyone interested in learning more about yogic chanting and its spiritual and physical benefits. Cost is $35 in advance and $40 at the door. For more information, visit www.samudra-yoga.com.
Island Kirtan holds kirtans at a variety of locations on Bainbridge Island. For more information, visit the Island Kirtan Facebook page.
Island Yoga Space, 9463 NW Business Park Lane 6:30 p.m., third Sunday of every month.
Bainbridge Yoga House, 7861 Day Road, second Friday of every month during the "Happiest Happy Hour" yoga class at 5:30 p.m.
Grace Episcopal Church, 8595 East Day Road, first Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m.
Melanie Simodi and Dharma Sound Yoga hold kirtans at West Sound Unity Church, 712 Trenton Ave. NE, and Samudra Yoga, 1223 McKenzie Ave. For an updated schedule, visit http://dharmasoundyoga.com.
When the crowd of 20 to 40 gathers at Bainbridge's Grace Episcopal to chant Sanskrit mantras on the first Thursday of each month, music and arts director Ann Strickland said the atmosphere of the church changes.
"It feels different in here," she said, "It feels good, calm."
Those who do yoga know the feeling of leaving a class "blissed out," Strickland said.
So it is with a practice called kirtan — a form of meditation that pairs the chanting of mantras with music. Strickland calls it "the yoga of sound."
Strickland is a member of a group called Island Kirtan, which hosts the monthly kirtans at Grace Episcopal Church, 8595 East Day Road, as well as at various yoga studios around the island.
The typical kirtan has participants seated on the floor, much like they are at a yoga class. The foundation of the musical meditation is provided by a harmonium (a type of organ) and a tabla (a percussion instrument that provides the beats). It's not uncommon to incorporate a keyboard, guitar, drums and other instruments.
Through call-and-response, the musicians lead the crowd through the mantras, sung in Sanskrit, the sacred language of Hinduism.
While kirtan has been a spiritual practice in India for centuries, it's only been practiced in the United States over the last century. And while kirtan events have been commonplace in the Pacific Northwest for years, it's been rare for Kitsap to have multiple places to practice each month.
But that's been changing, as Kitsap residents join in kirtans at churches and in yoga studios across the county.
Melanie Simodi, a yoga teacher who is also certified to teach Sanskrit mantra, says kirtan is most easily explained as "devotional chanting." When done in a group of people, the chanting provokes a meditative state.
"You kind of start to tune into the same frequency," she said.
The chanting hearkens what Simodi calls "the many names of the divine" — whatever or whoever that may be to every individual.
Simodi and a group of musicians hold regular kirtan practices — open to all ages — at West Sound Unity Church, 1712 Trenton Ave. NE in Manette, and at Samudra Yoga, 1223 McKenzie Ave., in Bremerton.
There are millions of mantras to be sung, Simodi said, all designed for a specific purpose: mantras for prosperity, mantras for healing, mantras that address a specific emotion.
And while there is no literal translation from Sanskrit to English, that's part of the beauty, Strickland said.
"You can let go of the meaning of it, and it becomes more of a sonic experience," she said. "When you listen to it, it's meditative. It just takes you out of your brain."
Both Simodi and Strickland say kirtan is growing more popular and coming into mainstream awareness.
Strickland's group recently added kirtan nights at Island Yoga Space, 9463 NW Business Park Lane. Another monthly kirtan night is planned at the new Bainbridge Yoga House, which recently opened at 7861 NE Day Road.
Island Kirtan has even chanted with a group of students in a humanity class studying world religions at Bainbridge High, an example of how awareness of kirtan is becoming more widespread, Strickland said.
And while Seattle is the main stop for big names in kirtan, Bremerton will get on the map in December when musician Girish comes to town. The former monk has accompanied many of the well-known names in kirtan and yoga music, including one of the most widely recognized, Krishna Das. Girish will lead an evening of kirtan at Seaside Church, 1317 Sheldon Blvd. Bremerton, on Dec. 1 as well as a chanting workshop on Dec. 2.
While many are exposed to kirtan through music and chanting in yoga classes, being a yogi is not a prerequisite for participating in kirtan.
Neither is understanding Sanskrit, or being able to sing. Those who feel uncomfortable chanting or singing can chant mentally or sing softly.
The only requirement is being open and willing to try it, Simodi said.
"Many, many times, people who are brand new to kirtan leave with a buzz or a high that lasts into the evening or the next day," she said.
Kitsap Frames
- FRAMES: Photo Challenge #102 Wildlife STANDOUTS
- FRAMES ~ From The Archives 1983: Rev. Taylor's church service, a dog in a "stroller", battleship wars and MORE!
- FRAMES ~ From The Archives 1961-62: women working New Years, Kahn's store, OC basketball and more!
- FRAMES ~ From The Archives 1983: SK Bed Races, Roosevelt Field demo, Elvin Bishop and MORE!


text:
PKMS Art Club
Sponsor: Amy Houghtaling
Art Club is opened to all students at PKMS.
Students do not have to be in art class to join.
A fun way to make art with friends.
Activities are completely different than assignments.
Meetings are held about once a month in Ms.Houghtaling's room.
Meetings usually during 1st and 2nd lunch.


text:
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — The gold market got just what it needed this week: a two-session, $135-an-ounce drop in prices and a stark reminder that the higher the price, the higher the volatility.
"Everyone knew that gold had gotten ahead of itself and we needed to blow away the speculative froth," said Brien Lundin, editor of Gold Newsletter, adding that traders who sold gold on Wednesday weren't buying gold for the long term.
"We needed to get back to the levels where investors think gold is not only a value, but a necessity," he said, and investors will "need to get accustomed to this type of volatility, to both the upside and downside."
Gold futures GC1Z fell below $1,800 an ounce on Wednesday, losing a whopping $104 in one session, or 5.6%, the worst one-day percentage drop since March 2008. They traded about 4.8% lower week to date.
"As $100 becomes an ever smaller percentage of the gold price, and as market volatility in general continues to rise, I think it's reasonable to expect more $100 days in gold," said Peter Grant, senior metals analyst at USAGold-Centennial Precious Metals Inc.
For now, long-term investors remain unfazed after the declines, but short-term ones were certainly been shaken up a bit.
Only investors that have bought in the past week should be worried about the recent price fall, said Austin Kiddle, a director at London-based bullion brokers Sharps Pixley, referring to the move as "simply a correction" from a technical point of view.
And gold's already flexing its muscles again.
December gold tacked on nearly $6 on Thursday to close at $1,763.20 an ounce in New York. Year to date, futures prices trade 24% higher. Read about Thursday's gold action.
"The final story has yet to be told for gold and until the U.S. and Europe get their fiscal houses in order — something that won't happen anytime soon — we aren't about to see the final chapter in this gold bull market," said Lundin.
Based on the size of Wednesday's decline, a good number of shorts had been added to the melee, he said. And "with gold entering its seasonal high point for physical demand, with the debt crises in the U.S. and Europe headed back for the front pages at some point, we are likely to see a new rally that will force these new shorts to cover."
Rattled nerves
The next rally in gold could come sooner rather than later as nervousness over the financial and economic situations in the U.S. and Europe grows.
"We see much of the fear premium as being out of gold now," said Ross Norman, chief executive officer at Sharps Pixley. "Oddly, the fall in gold has not been reflected in a fall in the other 'fear index,' the VIX."
Also known as the CBOE Volatility Index
Besides, even after Wednesday's decline to $1,757.30, gold futures only fell back to their lowest level since Aug. 12 and some traders may argue that current prices are a bargain — enough to spur big buying again.
"Gold has fallen back to support, so we expect the central banks (who look for the offer of physical gold and won't chase prices) and the Indian markets … to become interested at these levels," said Julian Phillips, an editor at GoldForecaster.com.
Bubble or not?
Some analysts and investors continue to worry, however, that gold is in a bubble that may have burst, or is ready to.
"Investors have to be concerned that the bubble has burst in gold, for all the signs were there with the market moving parabolically higher late last week and earlier this," said Dennis Gartman, editor of the Gartman Letter in Suffolk, Va.
Spot gold could trade back to $1,550-$1,600 and "not do real damage to the efficacy of the long-term bull market but in doing so, wipe out a lot of late-to-the-party longs and a large fund or two along the way," he said.
Some analysts think it would take a lot to burst gold's bubble if it's actually in one.
Jon Nadler, a senior analyst at Kitco Metals Inc., said he doesn't expect the gold bubble to burst "until sentiment sours massively and prices show that they can easily break previous supports under $1,725, $1,680 and so on."
"Maybe when/if gold caves to under long-term moving averages and levels around $1,200-$1,300, the crowd will look back and finally admit that yes, there had been a bubble and that bubbles, historically speaking, are made to be popped," he said in emailed comments.
But Steven Evanson, chief executive officer at Evanson Asset Management, said he does not believe gold is in a bubble by any conventional definition of a bubble.
"Retail and institutional levels of ownership are very low, the financial press has been more negative than positive about gold … the 10-year chart for gold shows rises, corrections [then] further rises, and fundamentals and macros support gold — unlike bubbles where prices detach from value," he said.
Hair-raising moves
Bubble or not, gold's sure to continue to give investors an interesting ride.
Nadler has, for over three years, advocated a core 10% "insurance holding" in bullion, "regardless of price and regardless of where one believes prices may be headed."
"But as a 'value' proposition to those who are (wrongly) looking to employ gold to 'make a buck', I would say … $1,900 gold was not worth it even if you used money that you might have taken to Vegas otherwise," he said.
"No one should discount the potential for some gold to flow out of the official sector (central banks) as more and more among them are becoming heavily short of funding at a time when their gold holdings are at an all-time high, value-wise," Nadler said.
After all, gold holdings are there "in order to avail oneself of instant value and liquidity when the going gets tough," he said. And "this small market can ill-absorb sizeable liquidations without reflecting them in out-sized moves."
So, for now, expect high volatility as investors place their bets on gold's future.
"Higher prices equal higher volatility," said Mark Leibovit, chief market strategist at VRTrader.com. But "gold is always cheap relative to where it is going."


text: Little is known how four billion years ago, life emerged on Earth out of a pre-biotic "soup" featuring complex organic molecules. Saturn's moon Titan is believed to resemble the pre-biotic Earth, because the large distance from the Sun has "deep frozen" its development state similar that of the early Earth. Tholins are a slush of complex organic molecules that instruments on the Huygens probe detected in Titans atmosphere. In a French laboratory experiments are now underway to recreate tholins in a Titan-like gas mixture...to ultimately understand how complex organic molecules--and which ones--might have been present in our own Earth's pre-biotic atmosphere.


text:
Renters insurance is a type of insurance that lets you protect your apartment or rental house, as well as the possessions you have. It will provide coverage for cases of damage done to your possessions in case you do not own a home and prefer to rent one. It's very important to have a good renters insurance policy for your home and possessions there, as you can be protected in most unpleasant and unexpected situations, such as water damage, fire theft etc.
There are many things that can happen and they will not be covered by the policy of your landlord in most cases – so the best thing to do is take care of everything in advance and find best renters insurance plan available. How do you find the best one? You are usually the one that selects the limits of the insurance policy – but be careful, as these limits will affect the monthly premiums you will be required to pay. So, what does renters insurance usually cover? In most cases you will have the following aspects covered: personal property, personal liability and damage to your home or apartment.
Personal property will include any things you own – furniture, equipment etc; personal liability means the expenses ill be covered for someone who gets hurt in the home you are renting or away from it, while damage to your apartment is a kind of covered case that speaks for itself.
There may be however different reasons for your apartment to get damaged, and that's why you will need to read very carefully all the terms and conditions of your agreement with the insurance company. If your house is burgled, damaged from smoke or fire, collapsed due to some weather conditions or water leakage you will get covered in most cases. Freezing of plumbing may or may not be included – a lot depends on the actual insurance policy that you purchase.
It's very important to read the policy carefully and be absolutely sure about all the premiums you will have to pay and aware of the deductibles. You will need to decide on the level of coverage sufficient for you before actually going online and getting your free quotes for renters insurance there. It's worth taking an inventory of everything you possess and deciding about the level of insurance – that way you will avoid spending too much money and will be able to have everything you need covered.
From The Blog
3 Famous Sculptors and Their Works
We would like to introduce Yenny Cocq from Yenny Cocq Sculpture
A very talented sculpture artist. She offers bronze sculpture anniversary gifts
The bronze figurines express themes of romantic love, marriage, family, relationships, togetherness, tradition, warmth, and commitment, and are especially popular as bronze 8th anniversary gifts and collectible metal sculpture.
Commercial Roofing Albuquerque
Your commercial building is the center of your operations and houses the assets of your company. The integrity of your buildings is therefore closely linked to the efficiency of your activities, since they protect both your staff and your equipment from the elements.
To ensure that your facilities remain in good condition, it is essential that they will be protected by a quality Commercial Roofing Albuquerque, which is both waterproof and energy efficient.


text:
Photo Credit: Jess Wysocky
As tall women, we are always in the public eye. On most days, I'm okay with this. When walking in to work amidst the throngs of Northwest DC pedestrians, I queue up a power playlist, put on my headphones, and glide down the street. People get out of the way. People stare. I feel very much like…well, like I'm 6' 3"! So it is a little humiliating when, with all of K Street's eyes on me, I take a tumble because of unsupportive footwear or slippery soles. The way down is long for me, and my precious pants and tights already have too many scrapes (and I definitely don't like to be brought back to those teen years where I tripped time and time again in high school halls, struggling for so long to grow into my spaghetti legs).
Unfortunately, I still haven't finished adjusting. Some days, if I'm not being assailed from above by way of tree branches, low Metro ceilings, or jettisoning birds (seriously, the birds outside of Whole Foods plummet in tandem from the sky like something out of a scene from Hitchcock's 'The Birds"), then I'm being undercut by a rut catching my heel, a wedge unexpectedly rolling, or a slick road simply sliding out beneath me. While I consider myself among the more clumsy of tall women, I recognize this is not a "me" or a "tall" problem. My lovely photographer for this post (a friend in the lower quartile of the five foot range) can hardly make it down a block without some sort of physical calamity. (I do love you, Jess).
RHEA does tall girls and women everywhere a favor by taking into account pavement and the elements when designing their footwear, and the Daphne bootie (as seen here) is a considerate byproduct of anti-slip technology and a truly waterproof leather upper. These boots have great grip in rainy and dry grounds, and are so comfortably made that the insole requires zero breaking in before wearing for real. I happily trotted around all of DC from meeting to meeting in these boots, and I can't wait to take them on my next trip abroad and on the trails!
To learn more about RHEA's signature anti-slip tread and singularly impressive moisture and weather-resistant fabrication, be sure to check out founders' John Lee and Paul Ahn's story here. The good news is that it's not just women who can benefit from RHEA's patented non-slip technology, luxurious waterproof leathers and suedes, and styles ranging from sandals to loafers to ankle boots—the RHEA line offers stylish and functional offerings for men as well, for all seasons and all terrains. Sizes range from a US 5.5-11 for women; 8-13 for men. And now, you can check out a review of the RHEA Classic Boot from one of The Height of Style men's contributors here.


text:
June is Black Music Month, but it also hosts Father's Day. ESSENCE.com spoke to Usher, one of the headliners of the ESSENCE Music Festival (got tickets?), about being a dad, who some of his patriarchal examples were, and what he's got planned for the crowd at this year's EMF.
ESSENCE.com: June is Black Music Month and it's also the month for fathers. How old will your two sons be this year? What does being a father mean to you?
USHER: Cinco will be four and Naveid will be three. Being a father means everything in life as an African-American man because there is a great sense of departure specifically for us. We truly are nomads in America, brought in on slave ships to this country and a lot of the things that took place helped to tear down the Black man [so he would] not really understand or take ownership of being a father and the stronghold in the Black family.
ESSENCE.com: Speaking of which… you grew up without your dad, but you're a dedicated father. Who was your example?
USHER: I pull from my father not being there to be a great father, I just think of everything I wanted him to do. Everything I admire about African-American families, and a lot of us have Cliff Huxtable to thank. He raised a lot of us, being able to look at the kind of dad he was in theory. Whoever the writers were on "The Cosby Show," we've got to thank them because they filled in the gap for families that didn't have the structure. I got to thank Uncle Phil from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and even Redd Foxx [for his time on "Sanford and Son"] a little bit. For a kid who didn't have a dad there, I lived through those characters.
ESSENCE.com: Let's talk about your upcoming ESSENCE Music Festival performance, this isn't your first time to the event, right?
USHER: I actually did a tribute to Luther Vandross years ago, but as a solo performer, performing my records, this is my first time at ESSENCE.
ESSENCE.com: You have so many hits, how will you choose what to perform?
USHER: The easy thing is I'm just coming off of a tour, so I've already prepared the bulk of the show. But there are certain songs that are specific to New Orleans and the ESSENCE Music Festival, but I'm bringing it all. I'm packing my entire show set.
ESSENCE.com: What does the ESSENCE Music Festival mean to you?
USHER: I'm really looking forward to it, ESSENCE is the true foundation for me and my Black American fan base, women and my fans around the world. In addition to the cover stories I've done and being a supporter of an incredible magazine, the Festival represents music in a way that speaks to the integrity and conveys the bookends of music. If you have Frankie Beverly, Usher, Kanye West, you've bridged the gap. Giving us a festival that's very broad and eclectic is why I wanted to be a part of it, and I wanted to just add to the legacy of people who've rocked that stage. I want to open it up with a bang!


text:
Duplicating a template in Gemini 5
When duplicating an existing template, I am asked to type in the template key and the template name, I assume the template name is the new name we like to use for the template, but, what is the template key? And what do I need to know about duplicating a template.
Rafik Azouz
· 100
|Thursday, January 17, 2013, 5:13:01 PM


text:
Greetings People!
Today I'd like to talk to you about Google Adwords. As you probably know it is a powerful way to get more customers but it really is not designed to be a DIY platform. You can get yourself in DEEP EXPENSIVE HORRIBLE Trouble in no time.
I was reviewing Adwords for a client today. They paid someone to set it up a long time ago but it had not been monitored or changed in some time. So what happened?
If you are paying for someone to manage your Adwords, you should be getting a FULL Comprehensive report on several Key Performance Indicators. If you aren't you should consider why not!
Adwords is a big animal. It takes a lot of time to get it right. You have to constantly evolve your methods.
With You Always,


text:
Wayah Meadows® is for sale! Unique opportunity for buyer to obtain private family retreat on 14.64 mountain view acres with nearly 11,000 sf of living space contained under 3 new and completely updated structures: (1) Mountain Meadow Home; (2) Mountain Stream Home; and (3) Waterfall Entertainment Pavilion. Nestled between 3 streams with a natural waterfall flowing into a trout pond, this property offers all the amenities of a "family camp" with fishing, equestrian, and mountain lifestyle, conveniently located near Historic Franklin, NC., Lake Nantahala, Appalachian Trail for hiking, whitewater rafting, and private aviation airports.
Door Opener, Side/Rear Entry, Workshop, Detached Garage 3+ Cars, Tandem
Door Opener, Side/Rear Entry, Workshop, Detached Garage 3+ Cars, Tandem
Ceiling Cathedral/Vaulted, Countertops Granite, Open Floor Plan, Security System Owned, Smoke Detector, In-Law Suite, Dual Master Bedrooms
Cook Top-Gas, Dishwasher, Disposal, Dryer, Oven-Self Cleaning, Refrigerator, Washer, Wine Chiller, Microwave-Built In
Central Forced, Electric, Multi-Units
Gas Starter, Wood Burning Fireplace, Masonry
Porch-Screened, Satellite Dish, Sprklr In Grnd-Partial Yd, Outdoor Fireplace, Outdoor Kitchen, Generator
Creek, Fenced Yard, Mountain View, Pasture, Pond, Sloped Gently, Some Trees, Underground Utilities, Water View
Listings provided courtesy of the Greater Greenville Association of REALTORS®, Copyright 2020.
IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Listing information last updated on October 24th, 2020 at 4:16pm EDT.


text:
How to design and optimise a site for multilingual SEO.
If you have a business that operates in multiple countries and areas, or a business that targets tourists and people of various nationalities, then there's a good chance that you will want a site that uses multiple languages or targets multiple regions.
When you begin to design, develop or optimise (SEO) a site that targets multiple languages or regions, there are suddenly a lot more factors that you need to take into account. In this article I hope to explain simply some of the things you will probably need to consider (or make sure that your web designer considers) so that you can provide a good experience to your audience, and place well in Google's search results.
Multilingual SEO vs Multiregional SEO
Multilingual SEO and Multiregional SEO are not the same thing - but the two have a lot of techniques and considerations in common, which is why I mention both of them here.
- Multilingual SEO is the practice of optimising a site for more than one language. You could have a site for tourists in Lanzarote - the business is in one location, but your clients will likely speak a mix of Spanish, English and German (primarily). You'll want to provide each of them with content in their language.
- Multiregional SEO is more similiar to Local SEO when you're deal with multiple branches (but in different countries). You might have a business that has branches in both England and Australia, for example. Both sites will be in English, but you will have different information for the different areas that you cover.
Where are you targeting?
As always with web design and SEO, the first thing to decide is who you are targeting and where they will be. It's always important to know your audience, so that you can provide them with the most appropriate content.
What language are you targeting?
It's also important to keep in mind the language you want to target. This may seem obvious - but as you will see, this is more than just ensuring that your websites main content is in your chosen language. To have a properly optimised site you will need to make sure that all your efforts are focused on the correct language. All of your site's content, menus, images and technical data should be translated - and most of your backlinks, listings and citations (mentions of your site on other sites) should also be in the correct language.
Managing and creating multiple versions
The first thing you will need to do is to create multiple versions of your site. For multi-region this means creating pages that are relevant to each geographical area that your business covers.
For a multilingual site, you will need to create your site's content in each language you want to provide. I would strongly recommend against using automatic or cheap translation services, and suggest that you find someone who can actually speak the language you want to provide. Automatically or cheaply-translated content is often very obvious, and doesn't give a great impression to your potential clients.
I can personally work on sites in English and Spanish to a high level, and for other languages I can provide or help you find a professional, high-quality translator.
Make the language obvious.
Google (and your visitors) needs to know what language each page is in, so that it can provide the correct results to the correct people. If someone is searching in Italian, Google will return pages in Italian. If Google can't tell what language your page is in, then it won't be able to show your page to the correct people - or worse still, it won't show it at all. There are technical ways to specify the language of a page (and I will cover these below), but Google mostly ignores these. Google will try to guess the language of a page based on the text that it can see - and so will your visitors, so make the language of each page obvious.
This example is from a real site whose name I've hidden. It's not terrible from the point of view of the user - but Google won't be able to work out what language this page is in, and therefore it's unlikely to show up in the search results.
- Translate as much as possible - it's important to translate the main text of your articles, but to give your visitors a really good experience you should try to translate all the other elements of the page, the images, the titles, the menus. You might even have a different layout or style for different languages.
Don't mix languages on one page! I have seen far too many pages that have two languages side-by-side on one page, sometimes in different colours to distinguish. I know this is a really easy way to set up a site for two or more languages, but this is a horrible experience for your users, and will be absolutely fatal for your multilingual SEO. Please don't do it!
Please don't do this.. This is provides a terrible experience for your visitors and will really harm your search engine rankings.
Make it easy to switch languages
Now that your visitors (and search engines) can easily tell which language your pages are in - make it easy for them to switch if it's not the correct one for them!
- Don't force a language on your visitors. Some websites show a particular language or redirect the visitor based on their location. This might seem like a helpful thing to do, but depending on how it's done it might stop users from being able to easily switch between the different languages of your site. There's also a good chance of you getting it wrong - Geographical IP targeting (the technique often used to do this) is not completely reliable, and just because a user is in a particular location doesn't necessarily imply the language that they will speak. There are good ways to do automatic redirections that will help your visitors, but you have to be careful, and always ensure that your visitors have an easy and obvious way to choose their region or language if they want to.
- Don't use cookies or URL parameters to determine the language. Cookies are small information files that you store on the visitor's computer to save their preferences, and URL parameters look like this: "?lang=english" at the end of your web address. These can seem like good ways of letting your user choose and save their preference for a language, but it can make it hard (or imposible) for search engines to find and distinguish between the different language versions of your site.
- Don't use multiple languages at the same address. If you use cookies, URL parameters, javascript, or other similar method to determine a pages language then you will always run into the same problem. Different language versions of your page will be available at the same location. If you click on the link at the top of this page to view the Spanish version, you will see that it goes to a different web address.
Watch out for duplicate content
Duplicate content - having the same content on multiple pages - is generally one of the worst things you can do for your SEO. If a search engine detects that a page is a copy of another page it will usually only index one of those pages. If you have a lot of pages that are have very similar content then it can lead to your entire site being penalised.
With websites that are set up to provide information in different languages, you will have a lot of pages that appear to be duplicate content, but in different languages.
Luckily, there are very simple (technical) ways to avoid this problem (rel="alternate" hreflang link element and x-default hreflang), and if implemented correctly, you should have no problems due to duplicate content.
For the technical among you, a correct hreflang declaration looks like this
<link rel="alternate" href="https://jack-webster.co.uk/en/" hreflang="en-gb" />
<link rel="alternate" href="https://jack-webster.co.uk/es/" hreflang="es" />
And yes, it is considered best practice to include the URL of the current page as one of the alternates.
Improving your Multi-language SEO
Choosing your Domain / Web Address
If you already have a domain or web address, you might be better to stick with the one you already have, but if not, then the languages and regions you want to cover should influence your choice of domain name, and how you organise your sites web addresses.
If you want to target a specific country, then one of the best signals to users and search engines is a country specific domain or "ccTLD" - these include .co.uk, .es, .ca (for the UK, Spain and Canada respectively). If you want to target multiple countries, it might be better to get an international domain, such as .com, .net or .org.
I generally recommend that the best way to organise your multi-language content is with subdirectories this means your site will be laid out like this:
- http://jack-webster.co.uk/en/ - for the English language version of your website.
- http://jack-webster.co.uk/es/ - for the Spanish language version of your website.
- etcetera..
This is fairly easy to set up, and is easy for search engines (and users) to understand, allowing you to easily target and optimise each area of the site. Google also provides webmaster tools where you can set the language of each of these sections.
Server Location
It used to be considered important that your web server (web host) is based in the same location as your clients, so that the search engines would recognise it as a "local" result.
It is now commonly accepted (and Google have explicitly stated), that this is not an important signal for where your site/business is based.
Because of this, you can find plenty of articles giving the opinion that server location is no longer important at all. I think this is misleading - server location can still greatly affect the speed and performance of your site. Customers in the UK are going to find it noticably slower to access a site hosted in the USA than a site hosted in Birmingham, and this will affect their experience with your site.
If you need to provide a high-quality experience for customers in multiple countries, especially if they are far apart, I suggest that you consider using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) such as Cloudflare.
Page elements
Another very common mistake that people make is to only provide translations for the visible, written content on their page. If you want to effectively target multiple languages, so that you will appear in Google search results, then you need to translate all of the elements on the page.
This includes:
- Titles (page title and headers!)
- Images - any text in the image, image titles and "alt" attributes.
- Links - link text and titles (the text that appears when you hold the cursor over a link).
And even invisible content - such as your meta keywords and descriptions.
Off-page SEO
If you really want to promote your page in another language or region, it is important to conduct all parts of your SEO campaign accordingly. It's not enough to simply provide a translation, and then continue all of the other work in English only (although it is still better than not providing a translation).
Off-page SEO are the things that effect your rankings that aren't on your site - these generally aren't directly under your control, but you can work towards improving them. This can include things such as:
- Citations (name, address, phone number of your business) in directories and on other sites.
- Backlinks, links to pages on your site from other websites.
- Reviews on Google, Yelp, Facebook.
If you are serious about engaging customers in multiple languages and regions, you have to consider all of these things. You want to have reviews in different languages (and from different sites), you want to have links back from local or regional pages, relevant to the area in which you operate, and you may want to go as far as conducting your social media in multiple languages - some companies even have separate social media accounts for different regions and languages.
Phew! Thanks for reading all of that!
If you've read this far, I hope you've liked this article and found it useful. If you'd like to subscribe to my mailing list there's a form at the right of this page for you to receive notifications when there's a new article (I promise not to send you spam!).
Also, if you have any questions or comments about this article, or if you'd like to hire me to help with your web design or SEO, please give me a call or get in touch using the form below.
Jack Webster
More Articles?
I hope you enjoyed this article. If you would like to know when I write more articles like this, then enter your e-mail address below, and I will let you know whenever there is a new article available.


text:
The middle way.
Date Issued1960
Garber, Gladys
Export Citation
MetadataShow full item record
Permanent Linkhttps://hdl.handle.net/2144/17781
My theme or intention might be defined as follows: Eugene is a symbol of America, of a land in which even those descended from the passengers of the Mayflower are immigrants. All immigrants search for security. In this land, security is the eternal and evanescent goal. But in this search for security there is a loss of humility. Only the dead and God have security. And the Gods will see you dead if you search for it. The old Greek sin is the sin of Pride--Man attempting to be Godlike. It is our human destiny to be insecure--we cannot go against our destiny. This is fundamentally irreligious. It is a blasphemy. It goes with a lack of values. [TRUNCATED]
Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University
RightsBased on investigation of the BU Libraries' staff, this work is free of known copyright restrictions.


text:
Tax - POSTED: 2008/01/18 14:52
There's at least one advantage to not being a millionaire — less chance of being audited by the Internal Revenue Service.
The tax agency said Thursday that in the 2007 budget year it audited one out of every 11 with incomes of $1 million or more. Among those with incomes of $100,000 or less, 99 out of every 100 escaped further IRS scrutiny.
Still, the IRS said its auditing rates were generally up for people of all income levels. The rates were 9.25 percent for those with incomes of more than $1 million, up from 6.3 percent in 2006; 2.87 percent for those with incomes above $200,000, up from 2.57 percent; and 0.93 percent for those earning under $100,000, compared to 0.89 percent the previous year.
Overall, the IRS looked at 1,384,563 returns in fiscal 2007, 1.03 percent of the total individual returns of 134.4 million in the previous calendar year. The audit rate was up 7 percent from the previous year.
There were 31,382 audits of those with $1 million incomes, up 84 percent from the 17,015 audited in 2006.
On the business side, the IRS said the audit focus was on partnerships and mid-market corporations, those with assets between $10 million and $50 million.
The returns of 59,516 businesses were audited in 2007, 0.66 percent of the total and compared to 52,223 in 2006. About one out of six large corporations with assets of $10 million and higher was audited, 9,644 out of 57,357, were audited, down slightly from the previous year.
The tax agency said its enforcement budget in 2007 was largely unchanged from 2006, so it had to focus on areas of growth and potential risk.
It said enforcement revenues in fiscal 2007, from collections and appeals activities, were $59.2 billion, up from $48.7 billion the previous year.
The IRS also noted that 57 percent of individual tax filers filed electronically last year, up from 54 percent in 2006.


text:
If pretty cupcakes, intricate tarts, Danish dough and good old-fashioned carrot cake tickle your taste buds, there's a dazzling array of bakeries in London to satisfy your sweet tooth. Guests staying at The Rubens at the Palace and Hotel 41 won't need to travel far for a sweet treat; the hotel offers an exquisite afternoon tea that's freshly prepared by its talented pastry chef. For an extra sugar hit, follow the honeyed scent of freshly baked delights to these top London locations, all within a short walk of our Victoria hotels.
Dominique Ansel Bakery, Belgravia
Located in the heart of Belgravia, Dominique Ansel Bakery came to London in 2016 after receiving rave reviews in New York and Tokyo. Fitted out with an open kitchen, chic banquette seating and a quaint jasmine terrace, the bakery is the perfect place for a hearty breakfast or a light lunch. The menu is built up using innovative French baking techniques and oozes creativity. Highlights include Marcel the Monkey, a classic French religieuse filled with caramelised banana jam and dulce de leche ganache, as well as the Banoffee Paella, cooked in an authentic paella pan. However, it's Dominique Ansel's signature Cronut, a half-donut half-croissant hybrid, that takes centre stage here, attracting admirers (and long lines outside the bakery) at all its international outposts.
Peggy Porschen, Belgravia
This one-of-a-kind parlour offers candy floss coloured décor and the welcoming scent of freshly baked cupcakes. The owner, Peggy Porschen, is famous for her cake artistry, bringing life to nostalgic flavours such as Eton Mess, Cookies and Cream, Salted Caramel, Banoffee Pie and Red Velvet. To make the most of her charming confectionery, accompany a sweet treat with one of the many floral tea infusions, a freshly ground Italian coffee or even a glass of pink Moët Champagne.
Ole & Steen, St James's
A Danish export, this St James's bakery was the first of Ole & Steen's London locations. An open kitchen shows off the delicate artisan production process that goes into making every pastry and cake, right up to the moment they land, still warm, on the glass counter. Must-try menu items include aromatic cinnamon swirls, chocolate marshmallow puffs and delicate raspberry tarts. Breakfast, lunch and dinner options can be enjoyed in this simple, yet unarguably elegant Nordic Patisserie, located approximately 20 minutes from Hotel 41 and The Rubens at the Palace, though a Victoria location is set to open soon.
Poilâne, Belgravia
Wood fired ovens are at the core of Poilâne's baking philosophy, which they have labelled as 'Retro-Innovation'. A combination of traditional baking techniques and organic ingredients go into making the patisserie's freshly baked bread, Viennese pastries and crispy punitions. Alongside these, counters are lined with a delicious display of organic jams and sweets as well as zesty gingerbread and warm French biscottes.
Rose Bakery, St James's
Founded by Dover Street Market's Rose Carrarini (sister of Comme des Garçons president, Adrian Joffe), Rose Bakery is a predictably stylish affair. Located on the 3rd floor of designer boutique, Dover Street Market, shoppers enjoy catching their breath at this simple, understated bakery. Printed at the start of each day, only the freshest ingredients make it onto the menu, transformed into nutty pastries, goat cheese tartlets, fruit cheesecakes and of course, Rose's famous carrot cake.
After you've spent the day sampling the delights of London's best bakeries, make your way back to The Rubens at the Palace for a refreshing cocktail in The New York Bar.
Image Credits: Dominique Ansel London bakery © Scott Grummett. Peggy Porschen © Peggy Porschen. Ole & Steen © Ole & Steen. Poilâne © iStock/serts. Rose Bakery © Rose Bakery.


text:
Buffalo State's The Record on Ellen Steinfeld Suspended Motion
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Students will have the opportunity to get away from winter's dull gloom when they see the colorful, dramatic sculptures and watercolors on display in Suspended Motion: Sculptures and Watercolors by Ellen Steinfeld, an exhibition on view now through July 28, 2013 in the Charles Cary Rumsey Gallery and the Sylvia Rosen Gallery for Fine Arts in Craft Media at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Both dance and motion fascinate Steinfeld, who creates vivid works in different media that are meant to reflect life at its most exciting moments.
"Art enriches your life and it's important for students to be exposed to art," Steinfeld said. "My exhibit is about balance and pushing things to the edge."
Steinfeld also said that Suspended Motion is the first exhibition of its kind. Burchfield Penney is known for Charles Burchfield's watercolors, and Western New York is known for steel, so both were combined for her art. "This isn't the typical approach to watercolors," Steinfeld said. "I used a variety of transparent, as well as opaque colors. I also used black lines in the paintings to create a window effect. The images you see in my sculptures are similar to my paintings.
"The exhibit is all about color, texture, composition and balance."
Kathy Gaye Shiroki, Curator of Learning and Community Engagement at the museum, appreciates Suspended Motion's whimsical nature.
"It's fun to look around at this exhibit," Shiroki said. "It allows viewers to let loose. I see dancing lines, movement, beautiful arching and nature. "You can almost hear Ellen's work, with the sounds and seasons coming together. It's delightful. Dance is about balance and so is her work, even if things aren't connected."
Shiroki gave some advice to viewers, telling them to pay attention to more detail to have a better appreciation for Steinfeld's sculptures.
"Pretend you're little and play on the sculptures," Shiroki said. "I like to imagine myself starting at the bottom and working my way up."
Exhibit curator Nancy Weekly, also a Burchfield Penney Instructor in Museum Studies at Buffalo State, said that though it may seem that Ellen used an odd combination of media for the exhibition, viewers can still see her message.
"The Ellen Steinfeld exhibition, Suspended Motion, is a wonderful interplay between sculpture and watercolor painting to express dance, movement, and a lush, metaphoric landscape," Weekly said. "You might think this is an unexpected combination of media, but the artist's abstract language of form, volume, space and color speak across three- and two-dimensional means...
"Steinfeld encourages viewers to interpret the works subjectively and individually." Weekly also said that in honor of Charles Burchfield, the museum is launching a new initiative for watercolors and Steinfeld's watercolors are the first to be on display for this initiative.
"The Burchfield Penney Art Center is launching an initiative to be an International Center for Watercolor, so this is our first watercolor exhibition to show, in addition to Charles E. Burchfield, our commitment to presenting the art of watercolor," Weekly said. "I think Buffalo State students will enjoy the fluidity of the exhibition. They don't have to be art majors to appreciate some the underlying concepts the artist expresses."
Shiroki said that along with this exhibit, there are many more on display at Burchfield Penney, which is a free and fun getaway for Buffalo State staff, faculty and students.
"Come with your friends and dates," Shiroki said. "Converse and get to know whoever you're with. It's a fabulous place and there's always something going on."
For more information on Suspended Motion: Sculptures and Watercolors and other exhibitions at the museum, visit http://www.BurchfieldPenney.org. For more information on Ellen Steinfeld's work, visit http://ellensteinfeld.com.
Colleen Young can be reached by email at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
As the first official post for 2016 I thought it would only be right to start off with the little ones! A sweet maternity shoot beautifully done by Verola Studios with a vintage feel complete with teacups on our swing! What a beautiful way to capture the feelings of excitement and happiness the start of a new life brings! The Talent
Artist Robin Miller | Creative Director/Coordinator Lara Buday | Desserts Classy Cupcakes | Florals Lara's Theme | Furniture Crystal & Crates Vintage Rentals | Hair Topknots by Jamie Lynn | Jewelry & Styling Seahorse Lane Boutique | Makeup Rebecca Lind Professional Makeup Artist | Photography Veroal Studios


text:
TCES Community is an intuitive community equipment platform and a back end asset management and tracking platform, making sure equipment is always sourced, maintained and located within the community.
Community Equipment
Visit TCES Community
TCES Community Wheelchair manages and automates the entire process from referral to issue, constantly highlighting risk and priority based on the NHS 18-week initiative - ensuring your service users have a smooth transition from referral to clinic.
Wheelchair Services
Visit TCES Community Wheelchair
Pro-Cloud will manage your entire business, taking control of your inventory and supply chain, developed in a modular form to accommodate all business requirements whereby one or a combination of modules can be utilised.
Business Critical
Visit Pro-Cloud
TCES Connections is the UK's leading community equipment ordering platform, which can be integrated with any aspect of community equipment: prescription models, loan equipment, self-funding, and direct supply.
Community Equipment
Visit TCES Connections
Pro-Cloud BlueLight is a fully configurable asset, fleet, task, and test management software solution specifically designed for the requirements of today's emergency services.
Emergency Services
Visit Pro-Cloud BlueLight
Pro-Cloud Fleet is the complete package, ensuring you are always aware of driver locations, important vehicle maintenance indications and real-time routing. Obtain past and present data and analyse your fleet with ease.
Fleet & Telematics
Visit Pro-Cloud Fleet
About CSS
We have over 20 years' of experience and successful business across the UK, with a proven track record of assisting companies just like yours to obtain efficiencies and cost savings.
Our customer retention is excellent with many of our customers continuing to utilise our services year on year, trusting in us to keep giving them the software and support they need to run their service in the most efficient way. Business delivery is down to CSS's team of people who are experts in what they do; from having the most forward thinking in-house developers through to employing experienced individuals from the market sectors in which we work; we always put customer needs first and work around the clock to get the job done.
All our software comes under the software as a service model (SaaS), with project implementation being the steer to getting our software up and running as quickly as possible. This model allows us to offer the most cost effective subscriptions, giving us that competitive edge other software companies may not have.
Call us today at 0844 879 4531 or Email us at email@example.com


text:
I have the honor of being the Guest Designer over at Sketch Support this month! You can download and print this sketch for free right here.
I've enjoyed working with all the sketches this month! They are fabulous and so versatile, what's not to love? For this 1-page sketch, I made some significant changes to the original design, using what Allison calls an enhanced or extreme approach.
Variation #1 - flipped the sketch
Variation #2 - added an extra border at the top and moved the banner to the bottom
SUPPLIES (place cursor on photo for description, click on photo for link)
Other: American Crafts Remarks Paradise dimensional stickers; Thickers