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Archive for March, 2017
Woroni Review of my book of poetry Songs for the Band Unformed
Posted by John, March 28th, 2017 - under Songs for the band unformed.
Comments: none
Songs for the Band Unformed reflects a broad scope of modern Australian life, exploring the personal, the political, and often tying the two together with a dark sense of humour. Passant, with his inviting poetic style, has successfully produced a collection that can appeal to even those, like me, with an ingrained apprehension towards poetry.
One Nation and the potential for fascism in Australia
Posted by John, March 27th, 2017 - under One Nation, Pauline Hanson.
Tags: Fascism
Comments: 3
One Nation employs conspiracy theories to create divisions. This may help fuel the rise of fascism in Australia, I write in Independent Australia.
Free speech for the 1%
Posted by John, March 24th, 2017 - under Uncategorised.
Tags: Free speech
Comments: none
Any debate about free speech in our society is really about free speech for the ruling class, I write in Independent Australia
To read the whole article click here. Top class! Free speech is a fundamental right … but only for the ruling right
Malcolm Turnbull against Sally McManus
Posted by John, March 21st, 2017 - under Malcolm Turnbull, Sally McManus.
Comments: 2
As Unions Australia say: When corporate power and greed is so out of control. When union members are hounded by a spiteful government. When our pay is cut and our safety net torn apart. When workers are dying. It's time to resist. SHARE if you think it's time for fairness again. #resistaus Or as Jenna […]
Posted by John, March 20th, 2017 - under Poems, Poems for a new world.
Comments: none
Retreating I can no longer be outgoing, I am retreating from the world, Knowing its horrors Forces me within Are they outside or in? The empathy that kills, kills The love that loves does, too The drunken haze of other days Returns, without the drink This is for you That makes me think Euripides was […]
A mythical land
Posted by John, March 18th, 2017 - under Poems.
Comments: none
A mythical land All praise our myths For they are ours Grown old, stiffed Lying rivers rage White lies our lie Raging torrents the truth Brave founders arrive Genocide befores The joy of fatal shores Brave ANZACs protect Fake freedoms In foreign deaths Fair go, mate It did, and went Victory, their class hate Let […]
Break unjust laws to cut the working week
Posted by John, March 17th, 2017 - under Justice, Sally McManus.
Tags: ACTU, Civil disobedience
Comments: 1
Newly elected ACTU secretary Sally McManus was right to say we should break unjust laws, and I know exactly which to start with – Labor's Fair Work regime.
To read the whole article in Independent Australia click here.
Racism did not die with Bill Leak
Posted by John, March 14th, 2017 - under Independent Australia, Racism.
Tags: Bill Leak
Comments: none
Bill Leak may have been the poster boy for "free speech" anti-Section 18C nutters, but his death has not heralded the end of racism and bigotry, I write in Independent Australia.
An Awesome night of poetry and song
Posted by John, March 12th, 2017 - under Poems, Poems for a new world, The Awesome.
Comments: none
I'm excited to announce my collaboration with musical duo The Awesome.
My strength weakens me
Posted by John, March 8th, 2017 - under Poems, Poems for a new world.
Comments: none
My strength weakens me Caught in the cusp of life My strength weakens me Not only ageing But disappearing It is not my time And will not be What was strong is weak What was weak is weaker I am the wikileaks of life A leaker, Of insights unseen Of analysis has-been To […]


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Obrafour's "Aboa Onni Dua' Single Set For September 9th
After the success of 'Nkontompo' by the living celebrated king of hip life Obrafour, the rap 'Osofo' returns with a new single titled: 'Aboa Onni Dua'.
The new single from the 'Pimpinaa' hit man who is currently enjoying a smooth come back with all his new singles is very sure about the success of this new single.
'Aboa Onni Dua' features the former member of 2Toff music group Red Eye and is another banger.
The song will be premiered on Tigo music Deezer on the 9th of September hence for fans who want to enjoy the song should sign up for Deezer on Tigo.
The brand new Obrafour song is another Tigomusic Premiere.

subset: commoncrawl


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Pineal Gland Experiment [Food Diary Week 3]
Still focusing on the Pineal Gland for the next few weeks to just be conscious of adding more of these types of things into my daily protocol. Related Posts:
- Pineal Gland Experiment (Jun 10 + notes)
- Pineal Gland Health (Food Diary Mar 25-29 + notes)
- Pineal Gland Experiment (Food Diary Week 1) (Jun 10 – 15)
- Pineal Gland Experiment (Food Diary Week 2) (Jun 16 – 22)
You can download my intention for this plan from the Facebook group here.
Mon 23rd Jun 2014
Weather Check: Icy Cold, Stormy, Windy 13°C
Mood Check: Content, Calm, Cold
Sleep Check: 7 Hours
Water: 1.5L
- Coffee x 2
- Dates, Brazil Nut
- Green Smoothie (Banana, Kale, Rocket, Celery, Cucumber, Mandarin, Maca, Chia, Turmeric, Cacao, Coconut Oil, Hemp Seeds, Black Seeds)
- Small Latte
- Indian Takeaway (Chicken Masala, Biryani)
- Coffee
- Chlorella x 5
- Water
- Mashed Potato/Avocado/Cabbage/Hemp Seeds/Cheese/Butter, Asparagus, Steamed Broccoli, Chicken Tender with Cayenne Pepper, Turmeric, Paprika, Coconut Oil, Avocado, Parmesan, Red Capsicum, Spring Onion, Black Pepper, Fresh Coriander
- Dates
- Water
- Abraham Hicks – Sleep & Dream Compilation
Tues 24th Jun 2014
Weather Check: Stormy, Extremely Windy – dangerous to be outside, and we probably won't have 2 garage doors by the end of the day 13°C
Mood Check: Cold, dreaming about Qld
Sleep Check: 6 Hours
Water: 2L
Today is a windy, cold "indoors" day where you don't feel like doing much, the wind affects your brain lol and makes you kinda lazy & sleepy.
Stuck indoors, I decided to do a little re-organizing.
Today I condensed a lot of my supplements & minerals so that I can
1.) access them easier,
2.) start packing the bigger excess stuff for my big move to QLD, and
3.) to have more room in my pantry (I only have 1 shelf in this house, and it fills up quickly).
And now my Pantry section is semi-organized (still need to re-sort my "spice box", but at least, everything is very easily view-able, accessible and most importantly usable.
I can tell it's going to be a "coffee" day today though, and I can't wait to move to QLD where everyday will feel like a "Juice" day instead.
Today's mini vision board to give me more motivation to get my butt to Queensland…
I did a weather check to inspire me…And a Map check to inspire me.. (It really isn't that far!) I could do it today… 2 hrs by Plane or 20 hours by Coastal roads.. not bad.. let's do this!
- 2 Coffees
- 3 Chlorella
- Water
- Dates, Brazil Nuts, Almonds
- Banana Smoothie (Banana, 1/2 Avocado, Cucumber, Celery, Baby Kale, Mandarin, Chia Seeds, Hemp Seeds, Turmeric, Taurine, Moringa, Maca Root, Marshmallow Root, Coconut Oil)
- Veggie Burger, 1/2 Avocado, Spring Onion, 2 Eggs, Walnuts, Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Baby Rocket, Turmeric, Mild Curry, Nori Flakes, Black Pepper
- Neem Seed Oil Skin Concoction
- Magnesium & Lavender Bath
- Vegorama ThinCrust Pizza (Mushrooms, Baby Spinach, Red Onion, Tomato, Oregano, Mozzarella, Garlic Sauce, Anchovies)
- 2 Pieces Garlic Bread
- 2L Water
- Activated Charcoal x 2
Wed 25th Jun 2014
Weather Check: Cold but calm 13°C
Mood Check: Great, Happy
Sleep Check: 6 Hours
Water: 1L
Woke up with Asthma. Blaming the pizza from last night even though I chose thin crust, I have a huge reaction to bread, which is really noticeable since I haven't "purchased" bread for the past 18 months or so.
Pretty unhealthy day today.. oops.. especially after last night's "lesson".. and no supplements today..
- 2 x Coffee's
- Brazil Nut, Dates
- Banana Smoothie (Banana, 1/2 Avocado, Cucumber, Celery, Baby Kale, Mandarin, Chia Seeds, Hemp Seeds, Turmeric, Taurine, Moringa, Maca Root, Marshmallow Root, Coconut Oil)
- Strawberries, Banana, Red Grapes – running out the door
- Went to a friends house for a few hours.. was starving by the time I left..
- McDonalds Cheeseburger, Fries, Chicken & Aioli Wrap, Medium Latte
- Coffee
- 2 x Activated Charcoal (figure I need to detox after the Maccas)
- Water
- Working on a new project.. it's 3:30am and I'm still energetic and buzzing but going to try and get reconnected with source now
Thurs 26th Jun 2014
Weather Check: Cool 15°C
Mood Check:Very tender shoulders, Stressed
Sleep Check: 6 Hours
Water: 1L
- 2 x Coffees
- Banana Smoothie (2 Bananas, 1/2 Avocado, 1/2 Lemon, 1/2 Cucumber, Red Grapes, Strawberries, Celery, Kale, Turmeric, Marshmallow Root, Maca Root, Moringa, Taurine (1/4 tsp), Hemp Seeds, Chia Seeds)
- 2nd Banana Smoothie (2 Bananas, 1/2 Avocado, 1/2 Lemon, 1/2 Cucumber, Red Grapes, Strawberries, Celery, Kale, Turmeric, Marshmallow Root, Maca Root, Moringa, Taurine (1/4 tsp), Hemp Seeds, Chia Seeds)
- Leftover Spicy Throw-together (Mince, Garlic, Onion, Tomato, Coriander, Broccoli, Parsley, Green Beans, Asparagus, Cabbage with spices: Chilli Flakes, Turmeric, Mild Curry, Coriander, Pepper, Cumin, served with Quinoa, and a Deli Mix (Sundried tomatoes, Olives, Eggplant, Artichoke hearts)
- Coffee
- Veggie Burger, 1/2 Avocado, Egg, Quinoa leftovers from lunch, Deli Mix (Sundried tomatoes, Olives, Eggplant, Artichoke hearts)
- Coffee
- Water
- 3:30am again.. arrgh, new projects, gotta love how time just vanishes
Fri 27th Jun 2014
Weather Check: Cool 15°C
Mood Check: Good
Sleep Check: 6 Hours
Water Check: 1.8L
- 2 x Coffees
- Published a new blog post 'Embrace your now and lean towards what's satisfying you the most – Abraham Hicks'
- 2 x Smoothies (2 Bananas, 1/2 Avocado, 1/2 Lemon, 1/2 Cucumber, Red Grapes, Strawberries, Celery, Kale, Turmeric, Marshmallow Root, Maca Root, Moringa, Taurine (1/4 tsp), Hemp Seeds, Chia Seeds)
- Dates, Goji Berries, Brazil Nuts
- Banana
- 750ml Water with 10 drops Zeolite
- Nandos Peri-Peri Pita & Peri-Peri Chips
- Coffee
- Purchased the Android version of Abraham Hicks Guided Meditations and I'm really so happy with my purchase. After listening to the first 2 meditations on the way home (went to my happy place and listened to it in the car).. I was buzzing on the inside. I really felt good. If that's what it does everytime, I'm very happy!
- 5mg Melatonin
Sat 28th Jun 2014
Weather Check: Ice-Cold 11°C
Mood Check: Good, Calm, but slightly "not with it", a little bit overly stressed at work, headache from zeolite overdose
Sleep Check: 7 Hours
Water Check: 2L
- Coffee
- Water
- Dates, Brazil Nuts
- Green Smoothie (Goji Berry Juice, Seaweed, Cucumber, Baby Kale, Strawberries, Banana, Grapes, Lemon, Celery, Coconut Oil, Turmeric, Chia Seeds, Hemp Seeds, Dandelion Root, Taurine, Moringa, Maca)
- Large Latte
- 750ml Water & 11 x drops of Liquid Zeolite.. (gave me a headache even though I sipped slowly throughout day)
- Medium Latte
- Left-over Pasta, Rice, and Meat from In-Laws
- Coffee
- Water
- BlueIce x1
Sun 29th Jun 2014
Weather Check: Winter is here 11°C
Mood Check: Still a bit "out of it", but after work I got a reiki healing and I feel really "soothed"
Sleep Check: 9 Hours
Water Check: 1.2L
About a decade or more ago, I got regular Reiki sessions in the hope it would do *something*.. I felt nothing – it did nothing. And I always thought the people going to these things were hooey – that they were just "pretending to feel something".. But… Today, I saw a sign on the highway that said "Psychic Fair".. and after work, I pulled in and went along.. and I got a Reiki healing from a lady and OMG.. HOLY MOLY.. it was powerful.. it was energizing.. it was pure energy, I dunno what the heck she was doing but I felt it everywhere.. energy / cells in my body moving.. I felt the force of power where she was healing.. it was incredible. At one point in the healing, she did something and I felt all my cells in that area shift at once – like magic or something hehe, I was in awe – I was instantly a *believer* and after it finished, I couldn't stop thanking her (instead of walking away quietly hoping that *something* worked.. I *knew* that something incredible had happened).
Before this session, I kind of scoffed at Reiki and was heading towards Quantum Touch / Quantum Healing as my preferred interest to learn, but 40 mins with this one lady.. what a difference it makes when someone is healing from their heart – I felt the love, I felt the energy swirling and moving and although I had my eyes closed and had no idea what she was doing, I felt it move powerfully through my body. Amazing experience. So my shifts happened especially in the lower half of my body, so many tensions released that I didn't know that I was *holding onto*.. for god knows how long. I'm really eager to learn more now.. how / what happened.. what was that? Incredible. x
You know how you can go to like 100 doctors and not 'take' to any of them? I think the same might be true for any kind of healer. I walked around the psychic fair and there was nothing special about her stand but I was drawn to her, and when she started talking, I could tell she was coming from a heart-centred place.. not a "I'm just here to take your money" place.. I 'trusted' her. I think it's important to trust your intuition with these things. She was also 'spot-on' with her intuitions about me, which is also something that also really impressed me.
I would never have done a Reiki session.. I really haven't been open to it since it didn't do anything for me all the other times I did it (years and years ago).. but with her, I had a good feeling about her from the start, but I didnt actually expect that I would "feel" anything.. and I am still feeling really, really good about the experience.
I am still really surprised that I could feel that powerful energy moving through me..especially as she wasn't even touching me and I could feel .. intense changes happening when she was doing it – intense like – what the heck was that – whoosh – what?? hehe.. I don't know much about reiki – I know its some kind of energy healing I guess, but I haven't looked into it in-depth cos I thought it was a waste of time based on my past experiences.. now, I really wanna know *what* that was.. and what it did to me..
- Coffee
- Green Smoothie (Goji Berry Juice, Seaweed, Cucumber, Baby Kale, Strawberries, Banana, Grapes, Lemon, Celery, Coconut Oil, Turmeric, Chia Seeds, Hemp Seeds, Dandelion Root, Taurine, Moringa, Maca)
- 1/2 of a 750ml Water with 7 x drops of Liquid Zeolite
- Medium Latte
- Potato Cake
- Freshly Squeezed Juice (Carrot, Apple, Lemon, Ginger)
- Reiki Healing
- Coffee
- McDonalds Chicken & Aioli Wrap, Small Fries, Cheeseburger
- Coffee
- Small dinner plate of Roast Chicken, Roast Carrots, Lettuce, Tomato, Mayonaise (thanks Sis)
- Apple Pie & Icecream (thanks Sis)
- Water
- Olive Leaf Extract
So 3 Weeks into this experiment, and I think it's pretty clear that my plan is "impossible" to follow.. Impossible lol. There's just too much, it's wayyyyy too much to do. Even I've been adjusting doses to be much less. I think the only way to achieve it is to choose just 3-4 things to add into the regular diet, and not try and do "everything". And rotate them around a bit.
I might do week-long bursts of the cleanses like the Diatomaceou Earth or Citric acid in the mornings or something but in general I think the only way to achieve adding all this stuff is to be gradually adding them to the diet and not all at once and not all at the same time.
Even though I spaced this plan out over 4 weeks, it's still not long enough to try everything on that list properly, and there's still too much to consume in one day – too many supplements makes you go "loopy" and I haven't been 100% and it hasn't felt like "detox" symptoms, I've just felt "off".
The Liquid Zeolite, if I have more than 10 drops, I get a headache, even though I sip it throughout the day with 750ml water.
Most of the things can be substituted with each other (e.g. Moringa vs Chlorella vs Spirulina vs Wheatgrass = you only need one of them, as they do the same thing), and so I think I really need to go off this plan (last day today) and start from scratch just intentionally "adding" 3-4 things per day, to my normal routine with my mind's intention of the pineal gland while I take it.


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Interest rate movements (or lack thereof) can present problems for insurers that underwrite and sell long-term care insurance (LTCI), but only under particular circumstances. To understand these effects, it is essential to grasp how LTCI can be affected by inflation, how inflation relates to interest rates, and, finally, how insurers invest their LTCI assets. In this article, Bruce Stahl, ASA, MAAA,explores this issue.
Posted with permission of the ©Society of Actuaries, Schaumburg, Illinois.


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New Rule Proposed for Use of Vermont Fish and Wildlife Lands
OutdoorHub 06.22.12
A proposed rule to regulate public activities on lands owned by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department was approved with the first of three votes by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board at its June meeting. The proposed rule would apply to public activities on more than 133,000 acres managed by the department for the conservation of fish and wildlife and to provide many public benefits and activities.
The proposed rule allows the public to engage in fish and wildlife-based activities, including hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife viewing, photography and more. It regulates activities on the land with particular attention to those activities that may be incompatible.
"The department owns and manages 87 WMAs, five fish hatcheries, two conservation camps, and thousands of acres of streambank properties to conserve habitat for Vermont's fish and wildlife resources," says Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Patrick Berry. "These lands provide outstanding fish and wildlife-based recreational opportunities for the public to hunt, fish, trap and appreciate Vermont's diverse fish and wildlife resources. This rule would allow the department to better protect the public's use of and interests in these unique lands."
On June 14, 2012, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board voted unanimously to approve the proposed rule. This was the first of three votes the Board will take on it. Two public hearings are scheduled to provide opportunity for input about the proposed rule to the Board and the department.
The first hearing will be held 6:00-8:00 p.m., August 21, in Montpelier at the Pavilion Building, 109 State Street. The second hearing will be 6:00-8:00 p.m., August 23, at the Kehoe Conservation Camp, 636 Point of Pines Road in Castleton.
You can read and also comment on the proposed rule on Vermont Fish & Wildlife's website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). Look under "Items of Special Interest" on the right side of the home page. Links take you to the rule and to a "comments" section.


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You don't see too many of these in the wild - and there's a reason...
Sydney Wildlife World's rare Golden Brushtail possum has been rearing its latest joey, Stella.
The baby Golden Brushtail Possum has grown in the pouch over the last four months from the size of a jellybean.
Mum and dad Cascade and Boags (yes, after the beers...which must make Stella - Artois!) have already bred successfully once before. Foster, the first joey, left the pouch in November last year.
Found only in Tasmania the golden colour is the result of a genetic mutation. They are hypomelanistic; meaning they have little melanin in their skin, in fact the only place they have it is in their eyes which is why these animals have black eyes as opposed to true albino animals; who have pink eyes.
Did you know?
• The Tasmanian Brushtail has three main colour variations; silver grey, black and gold
• Their natural and preferred habitat is forest, where they nest in tree hollows
• They feed mainly on leaves of trees and shrubs and enjoy succulent herbs, grasses and garden plants; they occasionally scavenge meat
• The brushtail possum communicates by sound and scent; ferocious screeches and guttural growls are often used
• They have a hand-like back foot for grasping and a strong flexible tail for curling around branches
• Like many of our native animals, human and domestic animals threaten this species


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Running for ViagraPosted by Mike Antonucci Filed Under: Running is Funny
Dateline London: "Athletes looking for a performance boost are increasingly turning to a little blue pill more usually taken for its off-the-field benefits: Viagra.
"Some sports authorities say the drug is now finding a following among athletes.
"The World Anti-Doping Agency is currently studying Viagra's effects in athletes, but hasn't yet banned it. Experts are divided over whether it actually offers athletes an edge."
As a public service, CompleteRunning.com provides this series of advertising slogans to help Pfizer market Viagra to athletes:
* Viagra – Because it's a game of inches.
* Viagra – Great for racing and tapering.
* Viagra – When the competition is stiff, so are you.
* Viagra – Make your long runs longer.
* Viagra – Runner's high.
* Viagra – The women in your life will run faster, too.
* Viagra – Now when you hit the wall, you'll knock it down.
* Viagra – Because you can't teach size.
* Viagra – Play hardball.
* Viagra – Now your only worry will be motion control.
* Viagra – When you need to take it to the next level.
* Viagra – You can't stop him. You can only hope to contain him.
* Viagra before the race. BodyGlide after.
* Viagra – Not for use during relays.
About Mike Antonucci
I ran 6-minute miles when I was in the military, then tapered for 20 years. Two-time marathoner (3:43 PR), my next goal is to stay healthy enough to run another. There are literally thousands of people handing out running advice and serious tips. I prefer to focus on the humorous or odd facets of our shared obsession. Let's face it, running is funny.
- Web |
- More Posts (61)
Runatthemouth on
July 11th at 11:30 am
You guys sure do stay on top of the important issues!
I agree, though. Definitely not for relays. (Is that a baton in your pocket…)
Runatthemouth's last blog post..What's a running blog about?
Ian on
July 11th at 12:11 pm
Viagra – When you want to finish first.
Great post Mike!
Ian's last blog post..Fast Food
Constantine on
July 13th at 2:51 am
Marathon runners will love
Viagra – Make your long runs longer
Constantine's last blog post..Hypothermia: Dangers of Running under Extreme Cold Rain
Duff on
July 16th at 6:54 am
Viagra – When getting to the start line is just as important as getting to the finish line.
Duffs last blog post..Running for Recovery (my recovery)
cyberpenguin on
July 27th at 6:27 am
Hilarious! One of my friends, Dave G. just blogged about your post.
cyberpenguins last blog post..Run 1, Week 7 (BOHR): Arrrrgh, I Want My Weekends Back, @#*&$%!!!!


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Aussie and example of Australian companies that 'get it'
It was good to see at a panel discussion at this year's annual CMO, CIO and ADMA Executive Connections breakfast event, evidence that some Australian companies are really starting to get what it means to be customer centric.
Particularly Aussie, an Australian retail financial services group, where Aussie Home Loans' general manager of customer experience and technology, Richard Burns explained he saw a danger in appointing a chief customer officer. "Debates around who owns the customer, I think, are a waste of time," he said.
"Debates around who owns the customer, I think, are a waste of time."
"It shows there are some tensions in the culture, which have to be worked through. Because if everyone in the organisation is not passionate about the customer, you will spend a lot of useless time debating what you should be doing.
"Originally my title was general manager, customer, and I changed that because I didn't want people in the organisation thinking, 'well you can take care of the customer'. Part of my role is making sure we are all passionate about the customer – that's part of the ongoing challenge I have. But to say there is one person, I think is very risky."
At Aussie Home Loans, a number of operational procedures are taking shape in a bid to break down the siloed approach, according to Burns, such as activity-based working.
"If you came into the studio where my team sits, you wouldn't be able to tell who's in technology and who's in marketing,"
"If you came into the studio where my team sits, you wouldn't be able to tell who's in technology and who's in marketing," he said. "We have also adopted agile right across the business. That started in technology, but now literally every single team, with every single initiative we undertake, is cross-functional. Right through to executive level, everyone can see what the main priorities are, what we are doing and why."
Read the full recap here.


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Wild Flowers.
We have an unexplained patch of wild flowers growing in our front yard – I don't recall them being there last spring… and I don't recall dropping a packet of seeds there during winter… don't they say that bees are responsible? Perhaps they sucked on a sweet wild yellow daisy 2 towns over and then dropped the crumbs in our garden??


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The most valuable Japan shopping information for you!
Kansai > Osaka Others
2-7-70 Tsurumi-ku Matsutaomiya, Osaka Mitsui Outlet Park Osaka Tsurumi 515
【Get a premium "JSF Limited Pins"!】
[Distribution date] February 1, 2016 (Mon) ~
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[Condition] Base on first come first serve of foreign customers.
※While supplies last.※This is service of non-resident in Japan limitation.


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Column: Marcus Denmon and his shot brand the program he leaves behind
Apr. 01, 2012
The opinions expressed by The Maneater columnists do not represent the opinions of The Maneater editorial board.
When I think back on Marcus Denmon's senior season, that shot of his will come to mind. When I think back to the absurdity of this historic year at Missouri — the unexpected greatness at the start and the unexpected collapse at the end — I'll think of that shot.
I'll think back to how he just flung it up there with no other option; how the shot clock wailed and the backboard's outline glowed red; how Mizzou Arena burst and roared, like a Roman colosseum.
The senior guard made his last year in Columbia a finale of grand proportions. He was the functioning cog that powered the high-octane machine that was Missouri's offense, the sixth best scoring unit in America. On his way to becoming the program's fifth all-time leading scorer, highlights were plenty.
"It was arched high and it spiraled through the still-present layers of smoke from the fireworks that cracked when he and his teammates were introduced and … and … there was just no way it was going to go in. No way."
But of course Denmon wasn't enough a couple of weekends ago. With time running out on his and his team's season, he couldn't connect on that reliable three-pointer. Four minutes left, down by one, no good. Twenty-two seconds left, down 84-81, no good.
No. 2 seeded Missouri was supposed to waltz through that game against No. 15 Norfolk State (in Virginia, if you still don't know). It was supposed to be the start of the Tigers' lengthiest dance in the NCAA Tournament ever. Who could blame your assumptions after watching such a team all the way to 30 wins?
But it was Norfolk State, having never played in the NCAA Tournament, that crushed your assumptions and donned a Cinderella gown.
ESPN.com ran a graphic beside its game recap titled "Just Missouri being Missouri," pointing out that "Missouri fans should be getting used to losing in the first round." As a top-four seed, the Tigers have been dropped three times from tournament openers.
The latest bracket-torching loss will be what you'll think back on: how quickly and how suddenly midnight struck on a remarkable season; how you fell quiet and held on to that hope, that feeling that came all season when the ball left Denmon's hands.
You'll think back to how the hero, despite scoring 20 points, wasn't mighty enough.
This weekend, as March Madness comes to its close, you'll think back to what could have been for Missouri, slotted by many to emerge from the West region. You're still searching for the meaning of this season.
So I urge you to go back to Feb. 4, that electric Saturday night.
Think about what it meant. Yeah, the game meant very much. The ESPN "College GameDay" production came out for the final Border Showdown in Columbia between the Tigers and the arch-rival Kansas Jayhawks. The fans' tents out on the pavilion were wrinkled and ruined, some of them having been pitched as early as the Thursday morning before.
But I'm not referring to the game.
I'm referring to that shot from Denmon. That one that was so desperate. It was like a prayer. It was arched high and it spiraled through the still-present layers of smoke from the fireworks that cracked when he and his teammates were introduced and … and … there was just no way it was going to go in. No way.
Remember that? For some reason, I can't forget it.
So I had to ask him about that shot.
Missouri looked out of sorts on its second possession of the game following Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor's three-pointer on the other end. The Tigers dribbled about and passed about, unable to find a seam in the Jayhawks' defensive jaws.
And then it was Denmon with the ball well beyond the top of the key, scanning his teammates' failed attempts to find space. An answer was nowhere in sight. Fans bellowed out the shot clock's digits. "Four… three… two…"
Once, Missouri took a chance on him, a 6-foot-1-inch, 170-pound dreadlocked Kansas City kid with a mere three stars beside his scouting profile.
"He wasn't highly recruited or highly thought of, but he's driven," coach Frank Haith said of Denmon earlier in the season. "If you guys know me, man, you know I love that story. Guys that don't have a lot of props with them and just worked. And that young man has."
Missouri took a chance on Haith, who hadn't even achieved a winning conference record in his first head coaching job at Miami the seven seasons before.
Marcus Denmon took a chance on that shot.
"Denmon and Missouri basketball showed us something this year, something about the way doubts can be vanquished and the way belief can be sprung from nowhere."
And five days later, he was standing in his practice gear in the tunnels leading to the court. His arms were folded across his chest as he swayed slightly, almost in an anxious way, as if he was ready to just get to work already.
"That first shot you put up. The shot clock going down. That surprise you that that went in?" I asked.
He was quiet for seven seconds, thinking back to it. By now, the shot was forgotten, second-handed behind the stunning nine points he heroically added unanswered in the final two minutes of the game to glide his team to a 74-71 victory. He finished with 29.
"It was far out," I said, helping to remind. "Probably closer to the half-court line than the three-point line."
"Ooohh," he finally let out, remembering that one.
That was the one that quenched his drought of going 5-of-31 from behind the perimeter in the previous five games. Through it all, Marcus Denmon had worked and worked, before practice and after practice. Over that span, his rebounding numbers improved, and he talked about whatever needed to be done for his undersized team to win. Winning was what he'd talked about all along.
That was the one that pierced through impossibility.
"Yeah, that was a tough shot," he said. "I wasn't happy with the shot. But, I mean, you got to make plays and it was something that really sparked us."
Denmon has played in more games than any in the program's history. Over the past four years, he's been the one making plays and sparking Missouri's dot on the radar to blip and inch closer toward national recognition.
Ahead of him are the NBA waters. His scouting profile has been refurbished since his days from Hogan Prep High School. The title of second-team All-American has been attached to his name, a title that was announced last week.
Even so, DraftExpress.com pegs him the 54th prospect from the draft pool, at best a second-rounder.
"I sure hope some team takes a chance on him," Haith has said. "I think, unfortunately, he'll be talked about for what he can't do. But, man, he sure does something to help you win."
The program he leaves behind will be talked about similarly for what it's never been able to do, like make a Final Four appearance.
But this much is true: Denmon and Missouri basketball showed us something this year, something about the way doubts can be vanquished and the way belief can be sprung from nowhere.
And I would have asked more about that shot, that spectacle that just dangled there for a while, that just floated in frozen time and invited all to come and see.
But practice was beginning that day and Denmon was so eager to get to it.
But before he left, he said something about that impossible shot that went in, something that I keep coming back to when I think about how far the program he departs could go.
"Didn't it surprise you?" I asked again.
"No," he said. "No, it didn't shock me at all."
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"Lord, where were you? When did we see you…?"
"I'm telling you that whatever you did to even the least of my brothers, you did it to me." [Paraphrased from Matthew 25:35-40]
Since the days of the ancient Greeks and Romans, sports and competition have been a major part of Western culture. In Europe and the Americas, competitive teams of athletes in dozens of sports can be found in every country. Individual athletes also compete at very high levels, especially in track and field as well as combat sports such as boxing and wrestling. There are international competitions such as the quadrennial Olympic games that allow these finely tuned athletes to compete at the highest levels.
Some successful athletes are idolized by their fans and a few become national heroes. To some degree, this has created a subculture of glorified individuals who produce nothing that advances the culture while gaining wealth and fame beyond what their personal accomplishments might warrant.
While some of us may be disgusted by the excessive focus placed on competitive sports (especially at the professional levels), we also recognize that athletic games and friendly competitions are excellent ways for youth and young adults to stay active, grow in strength, and improve their health. Like the proverbial "coin," sports and athletics have both winning and losing sides.
One of the positive aspects of sports is the sense of accomplishment that it brings to the competitors and the sense of community felt by the spectators. We all like to cheer on our favorites, friends, or family members who are participating in the sporting event. Sometimes our involvement goes far beyond our expectations and takes us to a new level of "community."
An example of this community effect sometimes found in sports can be seen in the following video. As of the date of this article's publication, there have been nearly 1.45 Million YouTube.com views of young boy doing his very best to complete a race.
Please note that he wanted to complete a race – not win a race.
Whatever creed anyone may have claimed that day (including any that might have been atheists or agnostics), one thing is clear to me – everyone on that field who encouraged and cheered that young man showed their love "for even the least among them." Jesus may not have been thinking about sports when he spoke those words, but I'm sure that if he had been watching this young man doing his best – Jesus would have probably been cheering along with the rest of the crowd.
That support and encouragement flowed into that young man, giving him the strength and will to reach his goal. Those parents, coaches and friends supported that young man.
Do you think there were any Jehovah's Witnesses on the field that day? There might have been – but probably not. Let me explain why I think that it's very unlikely that any of those children belonged to JW families.
Sports Make Jehovah Sad
The Watchtower has a long, but somewhat inconsistent history of bias against school and team sports. While the organization recognizes that physical exercise is good for the body and mind, The Watchtower has generally opposed participation or support of organized youth sports such as Little League, Pop Warner football, or school teams.
It's true that all sports and games involve some elements of competition, but friendly competition adds to our quality and enjoyment of life. A reasonable amount of team sports (baseball, football, tennis, basketball and running) helps to develop physical coördination, strength, endurance and motor skills in young bodies. Youth sports also teach valuable lessons in taking responsibility, leadership, team work, and organization.
There's nothing as thrilling or satisfying for a child than scoring a goal, hitting a home run, or making a basket from the top of the key. There is no hate for the other runners when a child wins a foot race.
Watch a Little League World Series sometime. Those young men (and even a few girls) play their hearts out on the field. They don't want to let their team mates down by failing to get a hit or dropping a ball at a critical point in the game. When the game is over, whether their team won or lost, they're just another bunch of youngsters having fun and making new friends.
A rather sad fact is that very few Watchtower leaders have actually raised children. Charles Taze Russell, Nathan Knorr, and Fred Franz never raised children. Joseph Rutherford was a parent, but exhibited no parenting skills or any family values. In fact, his only son Malcolm grew to despise the Judge and refused to attend his father's funeral. Rutherford's book titled Children, released in 1941, was the wrong book at the wrong time by the wrong man.
With a history of leaders lacking any personal experience in raising children, the Watchtower bases its guidance for modern parenting on outdated 19th century protestant ethics. In their articles they quote "cherry-picked" biblical phrases and try to find support by referring to discredited recommendations from so-called (and often unnamed) experts in child psychology. Here are a few examples to illustrate my point:
1. Sports = Death
2. School Sports Encourage Violence
3. Sports Create Selfish Attitudes
4. Watching Sports Builds Hatred and Aggression
5. True Christians Hate Baseball
6. Sports = Bad Associations
Let's Take Another Look at that Video
Go back and watch the video again. Take a very close look at what actually happened that day. Can you see any hatred, aggression, violence or "bad associations" on that school running track?
This is what I saw: A unified community displaying encouragement, support, and love for a very determined young man. They all cheered as he eventually overcame his limitations and finished the race.
That young man and his audience were all winners in my humble opinion.


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Sumner's ground game gets better of North Mason
The rain came down hard for most of the night at Sunset Chevrolet Stadium on Friday night.
The Sumner Spartans didn't seem to touch the ground for 48 minutes. Lokahi Tamau scored twice, Austin Gregg ran for and caught a score, and the Spartans rolled over the North Mason Bulldogs, 38-13, to earn their first trip to the state playoffs since 1994.
"We did exactly what we needed to do — we shut down their run game, and we ran the ball," Sumner coach Keith Ross said. "We ran great, and controlled the game."
It looked like it was going to be a low-scoring affair after the first quarter as a Kamau 36-yard touchdown put the Spartans up 6-0.
North Mason had its best chance to even things up late in the first, but running back Tommy Marsh was stuffed for no gain and Sumner took over at its own 1-yard line.
An 8-yard touchdown run by Dejon Lynch gave the Spartans a 14-0 lead halfway through the third quarter, as the Bulldogs simply had no answer for the Spartans dynamic running-back duo, who combined for over 180 yards on the day
On the other side of the ball, the potent triple-option rushing attack of North Mason simply couldn't get anything going on the ground, finishing with just 88 yards on the ground.
The Bulldogs finally hit the end zone mid way through the fourth quarter on a long connection between quarterback Matt
Becker and C.J. Allen to bring them within 24, but the onside kick was
recovered by the Spartans and Kamau added his second rushing score to put the game out of reach.
North Mason 0 0 0 13 — 13
Sumner 6 15 7 10 — 38
First Quarter
Sum—Lokahi Kamau 36 run (kick blocked).
Second Quarter
Sum—DeJon Lynch 8 run (Kamau run).
Sum—Austin Gregg 72 pass from Chase Torgison (Jacob Richardson kick).
Third Quarter
Sum—Gregg 21 run (Richardson kick).
Fourth Quarter
Sum—Richardson 34 FG.
NM—C.J. Allen 72 pass from Matt Becker (kick good).
Sum—Kamau 2 run (Richardson kick).
NM—Buckner 10 pass from Becker (pass failed).
Individual Statistics
RUSHING—Sum, Kamau 20-124, Lynch 11-63, Green 1-21, Jackson 4-39, Sykes 4-18. NM, Renne 10-50, Becker 9-8, Marsh 7-16, Stromberg 4-6, Allen 1-1.
PASSING—Sum, Torgison 8-11-179. NM, Becker 6-13, 141, 2 TD
RECEIVING—Sum, Gregg 4-103, 2-82. NM, Allen 2-82, Renne 1-12, Marsh 1-13, Burgraaf, 1-34, Buckner 1-10


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The Fulbright NEXUS Climate Change and Food and Water Security group recently spent a week in Mexico to better understand coffee production systems and challenges to farmers' livelihoods in the face of climate change.
Fulbright Scholar Blog
Want to see your story on our page? Learn more about how to pitch your blog idea to the Fulbright communications team.
Fulbright Specialist, Geoffrey Hiller, explores photography in Pakistan at the National College of Arts.
A Fulbright-Nehru Visiting Scholar describes her expanded grant experience with the Outreach Lecturing Fund (OLF).
My journey to Providence University in March 2012 began with Dr. Ming Hung, a retired professor and native Taiwanese, from Kent State University, Ohio.
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers nearly 600 awards in teaching, research or combination teaching/research awards in over 125 countries for the 2015-2016 academic year - Application Deadline August 1


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DNA trails lead to San Antonio for one Frenchman
As a young boy raised by his single mother and grandmother in 1970s France, Nordine Mohamedi always felt a deep connection to the United States. That's because his father, who he'd been told was killed in the Vietnam War, was an American soldier named John Wayne Nelson.
"When I told my friends that, they laughed at me," he said ruefully. "They said my mom told me a movie story."
For the longest time, about all his Algerian-born mother would tell him about his father was his name and that they met in 1965 while he was stationed at the now-closed Châteauroux-Déols Air Base in central France.
"I always felt her sadness when she talked about my father," he said.
A 28-year search that involved letters to the Army, posts on military blogs and chat rooms and — what eventually struck gold — two DNA tests and help from people he'd never met, led him finally to the father he'll never meet and deep into the heart of Texas.
"Finding the father I'll never know, and finding and meeting all his relatives who are now my relatives, has helped me understand myself better," said the 52-year-old journalist with French public television who, to honor his father, now goes by the name John Wayne Nelson Jr. He was in San Antonio recently with his wife Celine Pauilhac and their two young daughters to meet and host a number of relatives from the area.
"For the first time, I really know who I am now," Nelson said.
A happy childhood
It wasn't until he started school as a child that Nelson (still known as Nordine), realized he was different from most of his classmates. They had a mother and a father. He had only a mother. And he lived with his grandmother in a Paris suburb while his mother worked as a waitress 150 miles away.
He says his childhood was happy, that his grandmother and mother (when she could visit), showered him with affection. But with his fair skin and blue-green eyes, he often felt he straddled two worlds, especially when visiting relatives in Algeria.
"Each time, they would speak French to me, as no one could imagine that I could speak Arabic," he wrote in his self-published book about his search, "How I Found My Dad in Texas." "In France my birth country, numerous people were puzzled by my name," he continued.
As he was able to understand more, his mother revealed more details.
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"She told me that, when she was three months pregnant, he was transferred to Germany," Nelson said. "He knew he'd eventually be sent to Vietnam so before he left he told her, 'If I survive, I'll return and marry you.'"
Although he took solace in the fact that his mother told him his father's name, Nelson concedes he sometimes wondered if his mother was being completely truthful.
"Who knows?" he said with a shrug. "A lot of American soldiers lied to French girls about their real name, whether they were married. Then you think, 'Could it have been rape?'"
Perhaps that's why he never seriously considered trying to track down his missing father's U.S. origins.
Then, in 1988, his first daughter from his first marriage was born.
Finding father
"When you become a father you realize what it is to be a father," he said. "When Rachel looked into my eyes, I could see how she loves me, even as a baby, an infant. I thought, I never had that. So I decided to start looking for my father."
Where to begin? His mother refused to answer any more of his questions and did not help with the search. She died in 2000, and Nelson has no idea what else she might have known.
He didn't have a Social Security number for his father. A letter sent to the Army ("a message in a bottle," he calls it) went unanswered. And in those pre-internet days, how would he even find a list of all the John Nelsons there were in the United States?
Later he posted on various military blogs and in chat rooms, looking to connect with anyone who was based at Châteauroux-Déols at the same time as his father. Some promising leads went nowhere. He met a woman online who'd been born in Châteauroux but lived in the U.S. where, he'd hoped, it would be easier for her to search. But she was unable to uncover anything useful.
By 2011 he'd had enough and decided to stop searching.
Then his second wife Celine and Rachel bought him a genetic test kit as a birthday present.
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"We never imagined it would lead to him finding his father," said his wife, who is also a French public television journalist. "We only wanted to give him a global view of his origins. To confirm what his mother had always told him."
Not only did the results show he had relatives on this side of the Atlantic, they also connected him with two people in the U.S., Dan Dotson and Tina Zimmer, who were distantly related but, more important, conversant in the ways of genetic sleuthing.
Tina suggested he do another, more specific test with Ancestry.com and, within a few weeks, he got more than 10,000 matches, including 428 close matches, meaning fourth cousin or closer. A week later, Tina sent him an Ancestry.com link, not to his father, but to his grandfather, Perry Nelson, complete with a photo.
"For the first time I was able to see a direct relative of mine," he said, pulling up the photo on his mobile phone, his eyes rimmed red with tears at the memory.
From there it was only a matter of time before Tina could track down Perry Nelson's four children, including John Wayne Nelson, born in 1946 —Nelson's father.
"I have five children, and every birth was emotional for me," said Nelson. "But finding my father was a different kind of emotion. I was overwhelmed."
Once on the Ancestry.com website, Nelson's connection to the family was available for all to see. And the first more direct cousin to contact him was Amanda Canion, who lives in San Antonio and is his second cousin once removed.
Making more connections
Canion is an experienced genealogy detective and had recently helped her husband's cousin find his biological family. So she connected Nelson with members from both the Nelson and the Brady sides of his family.
To stay in touch with his more than 150 cousins from around the U.S. and Canada, he changed the name on his Facebook profile from Nordine Mohamedi to John Wayne Nelson Jr. in 2016, marking the first time he publicly identified himself that way. He is currently in the middle of legally changing his name in France.
Last year, during Nelson's first trip to Texas to visit relatives, he visited the small town of London, north of Junction, where his father was raised. He also went to his father's gravesite, where he sprinkled dirt from his mother's gravesite in Colombes, France, that he'd brought with him. He also took some dirt from his father's grave to bring to Colombes.
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"I had a mix of sadness and happiness when I was there," he said. "I thought to myself, talking to my father, 'I'm just here, right now, close to you. I just want to tell you how long it took me to get here.'"
As the saying goes, however, be careful what you wish for. As he communicated with his long-sought relatives, Nelson learned more about his father, including that he did not, in fact, die in Vietnam as he'd always been told.
"Yes, my father was wounded in battle and he was taken to Japan and then to North Carolina for treatment," said Nelson. "He wasn't expected to survive."
Nelson Sr., did survive, only to be killed shortly after leaving the hospital while driving his Mustang on the streets of Fayetteville on Labor Day weekend, 1967.
"He was making a left turn and was T-boned," said his cousin Shane Nelson, an Idaho resident who grew up in Texas and who has many fond memories of his uncle, Nelson Sr.
News reports at the time said that Nelson's three passengers, Timothy Beckman, Inge McMillan and Eve Adams, survived. Nelson has tried to find them all, but without success.
More enjoyable were the tales he heard about his dad from those who remembered him even if they were kids at the time.
"He was really nice, especially to my sister. She was his favorite," recalled Shane Nelson of his sister Stacie. "He'd come by and take us for ice cream."
Shane tells an uglier story about a run-in Nelson Sr. had with his own father, Clovis Nelson.
"Uncle John was tough, but my dad was mean," he said. "I remember once my father beat Mom up. Beat her bad. Uncle John put us in his Mustang and told us to stay there. Then he went into the house and beat the (expletive) out of Dad."
The family is already planning another reunion for 2020. Shortly before he and his family returned home to France, Nelson was asked if he would come back for it.
"Absolutely," he replied without hesitation.
firstname.lastname@example.com | Twitter: @RichardMarini


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| 10.1°C Belfast
David Moyes felt it was crucial Manchester United showed the pain they suffered in Sunday's derby defeat to Manchester City in their performance against Liverpool on Wednesday night.
The Red Devils bounced back from their 4-1 mauling at the Etihad Stadium in the perfect manner, with Javier Hernandez grabbing the only goal in a Capital One Cup third-round victory over another of their fierce rivals.
And Moyes could not have been more delighted with the response.
"It was important the whole club showed we were hurt by Sunday," said the United boss.
"We didn't perform to our levels.
"Now the players have gone out to get us a big result. I am really pleased with them."
Moyes' sceptics had a field day following Sunday's hammering at Manchester City, which led to claims the Scot is incapable of securing victories in the biggest matches.
For the moment, they have been silenced, as Luis Suarez's return from a 10-match suspension ended in disappointment.
And, after being told he had now made the best start of any new United manager since Matt Busby in 1946, Moyes claimed he will eventually do it for good.
"Everybody seems to be picking a stat out - I have not won here or I have not done that," said Moyes.
"That is one of the good stats.
"I have not had that many good ones. But that is one of the better ones.
"It is not frustrating. I will sort it. I will fix it.
"I will turn it round. I have no doubt about that."
Moyes did confirm England midfielder Tom Cleverley was ruled out with an injury which watching Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson must hope is not too serious.
But, after making eight changes - and naming Wayne Rooney captain - the United boss saw his team perform with more attacking conviction than they have done in most of their more important matches this season.
"It certainly was," said Moyes, when asked if his reaction at the final whistle was one of relief.
"It was a big game for us. We had lost at Anfield a few weeks ago and at the Etihad on Sunday and we wanted to put that right.
"Every game, everybody is either a first for something or it is a monkey off my back.
"It is going to be the way, isn't it?"


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photo credit: Jackal of all trades
Okay, I can finally get to this post on interruptions on work. I've meant to do it for months. Now's the time.
"Hey, Scot," says my Cube Mate, "did you ever find out the answer to why that chart was so off?"
"Ah, no, we took it down some bunny trails, but never found the real reason."
"Drats. I'm running into the same problem and I can't figure out what to do," Cube Mate says with frustration.
"Sorry." Okay, I can finally get back t this post on interruptions on work. Now…
"Hey, Scot," my Boss queries, "can you do me a big favor? I have this emergency du jour from the Big Boss and I really need some help gathering up the numbers for a report I need to do."
"Sure, boss, when do you need it," I replied, knowing that your manager is your most important customer.
"Well, Big Boss wants it in the next two hours because he has to present it to the Even Bigger Boss during the lunch hour," Boss says while looking down at the floor not believing the Big Boss wasn't more organized than this.
"Oh, well, better get right on it then," I said, looking at the computer monitor with my new post barely even started.
"Okay," I say to myself after a couple of hours, "that's finally done. Now to get back to that important post I was going to do. What was it again? Oh, yeah, that post on work interruptions. Pretty topical, isn't it!"
"Hey, Scot, how was the weekend anyway? You said you were going Up North — did you end up going anyplace interesting," says my Happy Hour Buddy stopping in for a quick chat between meetings.
"Sure did. Really enjoyed ourselves too. Hey, I have a bit of work to get to here — how about I catch up with you later?"
"No problem. I really want to hear about the trip. See ya!"
Okay, back to what I was writing about. How was I going to structure the thing again? Where are my notes? I just had them right next to the computer. Argh! I must have put the notes in with the stupid report for the Big Boss. Now where did I put that folder? Oh, yeah, I actually filed it. Can't stand it when I put something right where it should go. Let's see…ah! Here they are. Great that the notes for the Big Boss are in the right place. Too bad my notes on the really important post I was going to write aren't in the right place. Sigh.
Okay, now to get going on this interruption thing.
Riiiing. Damn, it's Ms. Follow-up on the phone. I'll bet she wants to know where her information is that I promised her for tomorrow. She never waits for the due date — always calling early. Let's answer it quick and get it out-of-the-way. "Hello? Oh, hi Ms. Follow-up. Sure, sure, was doing that tomorrow since that's when you needed it. Oh? Really? Today? Really, today? I suppose I could. Yeah, okay, sure. Okay, by the end of today."
Well that sure is nuts. Someone else moved up the time frame and now ten people have to rearrange everything and jump through hoops to get this thing done today instead of tomorrow. You'd think I could at least plan out today. Tomorrow can change, but at least you'd think today would be okay. Not….
Okay, well, that took the same hour and a half of time that I thought it would, but at least Ms. Follow-up is happy.
Now…where was I? Oh, yeah, the post on work interruptions. Man, where did the time go? I better look at my calendar and see what's — oh, crap! I have to pick up my stepson in twenty minutes and then we need to go to his soccer game. I barely have time to get a little organized and shut this thing down. Forgot all about that important appointment — good thing I put it on my calendar.
Okay, so pick up stepson, go to soccer game, then off to home and take care of those honey-do's.
Now, what was that thing I was going to do today? I know it was something I've meant to get to for a while. What was it again? Oh, yeah. Work interruptions. They are pretty bad, aren't they? I'll have to get to that tomorrow.


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Why we love it: This 2-step sheet mask+serum is the perfect treatment for anyone who wants to both treat their skin and free their stress in one go! Ylang Ylang oil is added for the dual effect of calming the nervous system and balancing oily complexions. Combined with edelweiss, a natural anti-aging powerhouse full of minerals and vitamins, this 100% silk sheet mask will leave skin bright, smooth, and glowing!
Benefits: relieve stress, mattify oily complexion, repair and anti-age
Skin Concerns: Oily, Anti-Aging, Sensitive
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Edelweiss is a plant with excellent anti-inflammatory capabilities that prevent irritation induced pigmentation and calm enflamed skin
Ingredients: (Serum) - Aqua, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, PEG-3350, Xanthan Gum, Soluble Collagen, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Cellulose, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Yeast Extract, Tilia Cordata Wood Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Mannitol, Calcium Pantothenate, Aesculus Hippocastanum(Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract, Biotin, Acetyl Tyrosine, Proline, Glycogen, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Adenosine Triphosphate, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-39, Sodium Hyaluronate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil , Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6 II, Ceramide 1, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Cananga Odorata Leaf Oil. (Mask) - Aqua, Methylpropanediol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, PEG-55, Glycosyl Trehalose, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Triethylhexanoin, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Trideceth-10, Sclerotium Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Glycerin, Pearl Powder, Sea Salt, Sea Water, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6 II, Ceramide 1, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Milk Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate


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Guide Profile: Henry H. Henley
Born in Nairobi Kenya on 25.12.1952
Educated in Kenya, England and South Africa
Work description: Joined Ker and Downey Safaris as an apprentice hunter under John Sutton in January 1972, gained restricted Professional Hunters licence in 1974 and full Professional
Hunters licence in 1975 and hunted professionally with Ker and Downey until the hunting ban in 1977. Continued guiding photographic safaris with Ker and Downey until 1980. Also
skippered Deep Sea Sport fishing boats out of Pemba Channel Fishing Club, Shimoni, Kenya from 1977 to 1980.
1980 moved to Galana Game and Ranching where I managed the safari business on the Ranch up until 1989.
Since then have been a free lance safari guide conducting photographic, birdshooting and fishing safaris mainly with Ker and Downey Safaris.
Married to Jessica Henley and have two children, Howard 18 years and Anikia 16 years
Interests: Natural History, fishing, bird shooting, gun dogs, and artwork in the form of drawing and watercolours.
86-00502 Karen NBIFax: 552378
Website: http://www.wildernessafrica.com/
← Go back to silver-level members page


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Before you can begin the Android or iOS quickstarts, you need a target Apps Script project. The mobile quickstart code executes a function in this project remotely, and receives a response back.
Follow these steps to create a simple script project and enable it for API access.
Step 1: Create the script
- Create a new script project.
- Click on the "Untitled Project" title to rename the script. Name the script "Apps Script API Quickstart Target" and click OK.
Replace the contents of the
Code.gsfile with the following:apps-script/execute/target.js
/** * Return the set of folder names contained in the user's root folder as an * object (with folder IDs as keys). * @return {Object} A set of folder names keyed by folder ID. */ function getFoldersUnderRoot() { var root = DriveApp.getRootFolder(); var folders = root.getFolders(); var folderSet = {}; while (folders.hasNext()) { var folder = folders.next(); folderSet[folder.getId()] = folder.getName(); } return folderSet; }
Save the project by selecting File > Save.
Step 2: Publish the script for execution
- In the code editor, select Publish > Deploy as API executable.
- In the dialog that opens, leave the Version as "New" and enter "Target-v1" into the text box. Click Deploy.
Step 3: Choose a quickstart
Each of these quickstarts use the Apps Script API to execute the script you just created:


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World Famous 'Nucleus Bong' Moving on to Chicago
World biggest Jerome Baker piece "Nucleus Bong" makes its move from Myxed Up Creations in Denver to the Made Gallery in Chicago.
As some of you might know, Jason Harris aka Jerome Baker had bestowed a gift upon Myxed Up Creations in Denver several months back. This gift was called "Nucleus Bong", and to date it is the largest Jerome Baker piece in the world. Nucleus Bong, aka "Bongzilla" was happy to call Myxed Up it's home for almost 6 months. Over those 6 months, we had become great friends. People from far and wide would come to gaze upon it in all of its green glowing majesty. Some people who saw it knew about the history of the piece, and its cultural significance. Some people who saw the piece, just saw a giant water pipe, and they wondered out loud how incredible it would even be to use this amazing piece of art. Nevertheless, the piece had its impact, and we were so happy to have been a part of the story. Nucleus Bong will now make its move from Denver, on to its new home in Chicago at the Made Gallery. We were so excited to see Nucleus Bong arrive, and were equally as sad to see it go, but with every end is a new beginning. We wish Nucleus Bong the best, and to the new handlers of "Bongzilla" at the Made Gallery in Chicago, we say, "Thanks so much, and enjoy the ride!", oh yes and also "Handle with care"!
Jerome Baker fans here in Denver might be sad to hear the news. The good news is that we will have the new line of BakerBots available at all of our stores just in time for MyxedUp420 Weekend!


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Hospedaje Los Delfines is a fine place to stay if you can afford to spend a bit more. All the rooms are nicely furnished and include a private bathroom, fan, mini-bar and screened windows. Hammocks abound in the courtyard and there is a TV in the common room. This hotel has something that distinguishes it from the others: It has its own water treatment plant, which is checked regularly by health officials.
Cra. 11, 12-85
This Hotel is: Budget
Hotel Amenities, Services and Facilities , Child-Friendly Facilities, Common Room, Data Port in Room, Linens Included, Non-Smoking Rooms, Taxes Included in Price, Towels Included
Currencies accepted
Colombian Peso
Room Prices:
Contact Information:
Phone: 592-7488, Cel: 310-309-9194
E-mail: losdelfinesleticia(at) hotmail.com / fondoamazonia(at) hotmail.com
Upon re-declaring her independence at age 29, Lorraine Caputo packed her trusty Rocinante (so her knapsack's called) and began...
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The ForexBrokers.com annual forex broker review (four years running) is the most cited in the industry. With over 50,000 words of research across the site, we spend hundreds of hours testing forex brokers each year. How we test.
Having personally used MetaTrader platforms from several dozen brokers for more than a decade, in this guide I will outline some of the reasons why new and existing traders continue to use this online trading software. This guide starts with basics that will help beginners and then progresses to more advanced topics, such as social copy-trading and using automated trading systems.
Best MetaTrader (MT4) Brokers
Here's a summary of the best MetaTrader brokers, scored on 3,180 data points.
- Admiral Markets - Best overall for MetaTrader
- FxPro - Full MetaTrader suite, average pricing
- Pepperstone - Excellent pricing and customer service
- Darwinex - Full MetaTrader suite, expensive pricing
- Swissquote - Full MetaTrader suite, great pricing for higher balances
Best overall for MetaTrader
Forex and CFD traders choose Admiral Markets for its excellent investor education and advanced MetaTrader features, including the Supreme add-on and market research via Premium Analytics. Overall, Admiral Markets is our top MetaTrader broker for 2020. Read full review
Full MetaTrader suite, average pricing
FxPro competes among the top MetaTrader brokers, offering the full suite of MT4 and MT5 platforms with multiple account pricing options. Drawbacks to FxPro include a small range of tradeable products and limited market research. Read full review
Excellent pricing and customer service
Pepperstone offers a small set of tradeable products but provides forex and CFD traders with competitive pricing, excellent customer service, and one of the largest selections of third-party platforms, including numerous options for social copy trading Read full review
Full MetaTrader suite, expensive pricing
The full MetaTrader suite is available for use by self-directed traders at Darwinex to access CFDs on 41 forex pairs, 244 single-stocks, ten indices, six metal contracts, and five cryptocurrencies. Pricing with MetaTrader at Darwinex is more expensive than other low-cost MetaTrader brokers. Read full review
Great pricing for higher balances
Swissquote allows traders to choose between both the MT4 and MT5 trading platforms. The most competitive commission-free account for retail traders at Swissquote is the firm's UK Premium account, which requires a $5k deposit with spreads as low as 0.6 pips. Read full review
MetaTrader Brokers List
Today the MT4 and MT5 platforms are available across hundreds of online forex brokers, with the native version of the desktop platforms available for Windows operating system (OS) and a Mobile app for Android and Apple iOS devices available by default.
Based on our 2020 Review, which included 30 brokers, here is a list of those that offer MetaTrader:
- Admiral Markets
- ADS Securities
- AvaTrade
- City Index
- CMC Markets
- Darwinex
- Dukascopy
- easyMarkets
- ETX Capital
- Forex.com
- FxPro
- HotForex
- KVB Kunlun
- Markets.com
- Pepperstone
- Swissquote
- Tickmill
- XM Group
A web-based version of both platforms are available, although the web-based versions are not offered by all brokers and do not support automated trading as the desktop versions do.
Trading Platforms Comparison
Taken from our forex broker comparison tool, here's a comparison of the trading platforms for the best metatrader forex brokers.
|Admiral Markets
|Proprietary Platform
|Desktop Platform (Windows)
|Web Platform
|Social Trading / Copy-Trading
|MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
|MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
MetaTrader Overview
Founded in 2000, MetaQuotes Software Corporation – the developer of MetaTrader4 (MT4) and MetaTrader5 (MT5) software – was an early pioneer in developing forex trading and charting platforms. The Metatrader suite – which is licensed by brokers and offered to traders – continues to be one of the most widely used trading platforms in the retail foreign exchange (Forex) and CFD markets globally.
Today, MT4 and MT5 have extensive documentation, codebase, and articles supported by the developer and its global community of users, making it an ideal solution for retail and professional traders to find the resources they need to create algorithmic trading systems or carry out manual trading and even social copy-trading.
A key catalyst was the developer created the MetaQuotes Language (MQL) syntax to allow programmers to create automated scripts and trading systems.
The proprietary MQL language – both MQL4 and MQL5 – enabled the growth of a secondary marketplace supported by programmers who created custom scripts, including utilities, libraries, indicators, and automated trading strategies known as Expert Advisors (EAs). This ecosystem continues to evolve.
MetaTrader History
After launching its MetaTrader brand in 2002 as its third-generation software, MT4 was subsequently launched in 2005, and by 2010 the company followed with the launch of MT5 to expand into additional asset classes, including securities and futures markets.
By this time, the marketplace for EAs and custom indicators was becoming saturated, and traders could buy or obtain plugins for free, or even hire developers to code their Experts on the freelance section of the MQL5 Community marketplace or outside of it.
This led to the rise of more MetaTrader brokers, as companies competed for existing market share and new market entrants.
MetaTrader Charting and Tools
Starting with the desktop version of MetaTrader (MT4 or MT5), beyond an easy-to-navigate layout (with everything housed under seven categories from the upper toolbar), the scope of charting tools and number of available indicators by default give traders a good starting point for performing basic technical analysis.
In terms of the layout and charting, customizable chart templates can control how default charts appear; meanwhile traders can save all their charts into a profile so the entire workspace is backed up, including all trend lines and chart configurations. All such custom and default settings, including scripts, experts, and indicators, are stored in designated folders within the main data folder under "File>Open Data Folder."
This structure of storing settings within specific files makes it easy for users to back up or transfer their settings to other devices or users, and it is what helps make the platform so versatile, as these settings are exportable.
Those seeking more advanced indicators and analysis tools (and even automated trading strategies) can buy or rent them directly from the MQL5 marketplace from within the platform under the options menu under "Tools>Options" or CTRL+S. In terms of fundamental news, the available news streams vary, depending on the broker and any related news providers the broker uses to deliver headlines within the platform.
Signals Market and Social Copy Trading on MT4
The signals market available on the MQL5 Community lets users copy the live trades of approved signal providers in what can be described as social copy trading, which is available for a subscription fee charged by each signal provider.
From within the platform, users can also sync their account with their MQL5 Community user ID to enable the signals market for social trading and in the mobile app to receive push notifications of their trading activity.
Automated Trading via Experts (EAs)
Expert Advisors (EAs) are used in the MT4 (and MT5) platform to run automated trading systems. An EA will either be a copy of the original .MQ4 file that contains the source code, which can be modified, or it will be an .EX4 (executable) file of the same code, which cannot be tampered with and is often chosen by those who want to distribute their strategies without revealing their source code.
Most EAs have a range of customizable parameters that let users specify the position size and risk/reward-related attributes, among other elements, that may be configured before automated trading is enabled.
Back-testing and optimizing EAs
The MetaTrader platforms also let users test how an EA would have performed over historical data, using a process known as backtesting in the Strategy Tester section. This is useful when users want to check out how an EA would have performed over a given period and for a given instrument.
When an EA is built and then tested on historical data for the first time, this is known as testing on out-of-sample data, which means the EA has never used these historical prices (in which case the result will not have the benefit of hindsight).
On the other hand, some developers may optimize their strategies over a historical data set (i.e., run it multiple times over the past three months of EUR/USD tick data) on purpose – which can lead to curve-fitted results. While there can be some benefits to optimizing a strategy over historical data, results of a curve-fitted strategy can be misleading as only the best trades are cherry-picked, and the results of forward-testing the same strategy can be significantly different. Therefore, forward testing a strategy can be even more important than backtesting it, before the value of results can be assessed.
Using VPNs and the cloud for automated trading
Another important distinction is that back-testing occurs locally on MT4 and requires users to have the platform running either on their local machines or using a dedicated Virtual Private Network (VPN).
The same applies to trading with EAs; the platform must be open and running as the EA runs locally, which is why many traders use VPNs to host their EAs so the strategies can run continually without interruption on remote servers.
Pros and Cons of using Expert Advisors
Just like manual trading, any automated strategy is only as good as the results it can achieve on a risk-adjusted basis over time, and just as there are some good EAs available, there are also some bad ones circulating on the internet. Therefore, while there can be pros to using EAs to automate trading, traders must be aware of the pitfalls and know how to vet an EA before using one to manage their investment capital.
Here are five tips to select a good expert advisor:
- Understand the trading methodology (strategy) the expert advisor follows.
- Consider its availability, cost, and historical performance for other traders (if any).
- Back-test it across multiple instruments/timeframes, if possible, or examine its historical performance (if available).
- Analyze the results of multiple back tests to see if they meet your expectations.
- Forward-test the strategy with a small test amount before getting serious.
MT5 – MetaQuotes' latest generation platform
While MetaQuotes continues to update the MT4 platform to cater to the significant user base that still runs its prior generation platform for Forex and CFD trading, the developer has pushed many of its most innovative features into its latest generation MT5 platform. In addition to CFDs and Forex trading, MT5 can support Stocks and Futures, making it more of a multi-asset platform than its predecessor MT4, in addition to supporting more complex trading strategies.
A significant difference between MT4 and MT5 is in the syntax of how EAs are coded, where the MT4 EAs (based on MQL4) are not cross-compatible with MT5 (based on MQL5). Even though many third-party programs offer to convert MT4 EAs to run on MT5, this difference in coding keeps both platforms isolated from each other on purpose.
However, from build 600 onwards, MetaQuotes created a unified MetaEditor development environment and revised the MQL4 programming language to more closely match features available within MQL5 syntax. This unified compiler supports both languages, helping to aid the transition of many old trading robots to be compatible with the latest build or for use on MT5.
Overall, MT5 has a more modern look and feel in terms of visual layout and navigation, while much of the platform design still looks like MT4 in terms of the layout. Another key difference is the use of the MT5 cloud network, where users carry out backtesting through the developers' own VPN available within the platform as virtual hosting. Otherwise, with the signals markets available for social copy trading, both platforms provide traders with plenty of options, yet MT4 is more widely available than MT5.
Which MT4 broker is the best?
When it comes to forex trading on MetaTrader 4 (MT4) in 2020, the best MT4 broker is Admiral Markets. Admiral Markets offers traders a variety of excellent educational resources alongside the Premium Analytics add-on for MT4.
Is MetaTrader only for forex?
The MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform is predominantly for forex trading. However, depending on the broker, MT4 often comes with a range of other symbols such as CFDs on indices, commodities, futures, energies, and metals.
What is the difference between MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5?
The MetaTrader 4 (MT4) forex trading platform is based on a prior generation (version) of software developed by Metaquotes Software Corporation, whereas, MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is the latest version. In addition to supporting individual shares, MT5 features advanced functions like utilizing cloud-storage to run strategies and to conduct backtesting. With MT4, backtesting must be done locally or through a virtual private server (VPS).
What are Experts in MetaTrader?
When using MetaTrader platforms, such as MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5), there are automated trading systems known as Expert Advisors (EAs), or Experts for short. Experts are not humans. Instead, they are automated trading systems created by traders designed to execute a trading strategy.
Is it risky to use automated strategies with MetaTrader?
Yes. Experts, which are automated trading systems in MT4 and MT5, are built by traders and rely on backtesting to prove their profitability. As the famous market adage says, "past performance is not indicative of future results." The problem with automated strategies is that they rely on the benefit of hindsight bias. The reality is that very few trading systems are profitable over the course of an entire year.
Final Thoughts
While determining whether to use MT4 and/or MT5, traders should consider the range of markets available from their broker on each platform as this may vary. Other points to consider are any related tools that may be used, including custom indicators, scripts, libraries, or EAs, as these may not be cross-compatible, although an increasing number of developers are able to create dedicated versions for each platform.
All in all, after 17 years of development, MetaQuotes has proved to be a leader in developing forex and multi-asset trading platforms for online forex brokers and retail traders globally, with MT4 and MT5 providing nearly all user types with the necessary tools to trade and backed by its user-supported community and market place.
To sign up for a live forex account or demo trading account with a MetaTrader broker that offers MT4 or MT5, see our list of reviewed brokers for further guides and resources to choose a broker that best suits your overall trading needs.
Read Next
- Best Forex Brokers for Copy Trading 2020
- Best Forex Brokers for Beginners 2020
- Best cTrader Brokers 2020
- Best Forex Brokers for 2020
- Compare Forex Brokers
For our 2020 Forex Broker Review we assessed, rated, and ranked 30 international forex brokers. Each broker was graded on 105 different variables and, in total, over 50,000 words of research were produced.
While encouraged, broker participation was optional. Each broker had the opportunity to complete an in-depth data profile and provide executive time (live in person or over the web) for an annual update meeting.
All data submitted by brokers is hand-checked for accuracy. Ultimately, our rigorous data validation process yields an error rate of less than 1% each year, providing site visitors quality data they can trust. Learn more about how we test.
Forex Risk Disclaimer
"There is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities. With respect to margin-based foreign exchange trading, off-exchange derivatives, and cryptocurrencies, there is considerable exposure to risk, including but not limited to, leverage, creditworthiness, limited regulatory protection and market volatility that may substantially affect the price, or liquidity of a currency or related instrument. It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable, or that they will not result in losses." Learn more.


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There are different diet plans for crash dieting. Let's get you familiar with 7-day diet plan. It is the best crash diet plan of 7 days for you to lose weight in few days. You need to choose best crash diet plan to lose weight very quickly. Want to lose extra kilos of your body in lesser time then crash dieting is the best way for you. You can do it with the help of short diet plan or by diet plan of whole week. You will get back your body in shape very quickly.Crash dieting will help you in losing weight but healthy diet will protect you from heart or other fatal diseases.
During this 7- days plan take tea without cane sugar, Green tea (GT) with honey three times a day. Use only white non-processed butter for stir frying of vegetables or marinated meat. Everyday food type is restricted but no check on the quantity of the foods taken. Divide every day's food options into pre-breakfast, breakfast, snacks and dinner and take fat burning soup FBS in between. On days 1, 3, and 4 take mix fruits for pre-breakfast and on days 2, 5, 6 and 7 take plain or warm honey water for pre-breakfast PBF.


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Mass Effect Summary
Mass Effect Review
BioWare's acclaimed sci-fi role-playing game finally comes into dock with PC thanks to Demiurge Studios, who've brought it to the home of the RPG.
Latest Updates
Bioware Hinting At More Dragon Age And Mass Effect Yet To Come
Bioware have confirmed that there's more Mass Effect and Dragon Age stuff baking in the oven. What sort of stuff might that be, though...
The Best Single Player Games On PC
Single player games tend to trade the thrill of playing with or against other folk by giving players deeper, more interesting worlds to explore at their own pace with deeper narrative elements, with some exceptions. We've put together some of the finest single player games into a comprehensive list to help you with picking your next adventure.
It's N7 Day Again, But With Mass Effect Basically Dead, What Could Bioware Be Teasing?
I'm no Mass Effect expert, but the idea of November 7 being N7 day just seems like a silly coincidence to me. A bit like May 4 is for Star Wars. Either way, we've arrived at it once more, except this time it's the series' 10th-anniversary celebration.
EA's looking into remasters, particularly for the Mass Effect trilogy
Electronic Arts never really believed in the remastering of older games, re-releasing them in HD and adding improvements to make them more appealing for the modern era, with COO Peter Moore saying only last year that it "feels like pushing stuff out because you've run out of ideas".
It looks like that's all about to change though, because according to Executive Vice President for EA Studios Patrick Soderlund, the publisher is actively looking into remastering some games, particularly for the Mass Effect trilogy.
E3 2015: Mass Effect Andromeda opens EA's E3 conference, due Holiday 2016
The next Mass Effect has been named as Mass Effect Andromeda and is being released in Holiday 2016. This is being worked on by BioWare and will be a sequel to the original trilogy with Commander Shepard.
Teasing snaps of Mass Effect Andromeda were shown including a very fancy way to explore the new sections of the Milky Way we'll be travelling to. Sadly there's no solid gameplay or details yet.


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If you are an adventurous soul, and would like to explore exotic locations while teaching English you are in luck! Why not chow down on Peking duck in Beijing, participate in Brazil's infamous Carnival, or go river tracing in Hualien, Taiwan? Your accredited TEFL certificate opens many doors and gives you access to a world of exciting opportunity!
Your TEFL certificate is your passport to the world


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Get Loose and Get Together!
Get Loose and Get Together!The Best of Dan Zanes is a collection for the fans that have been following Zanes since the beginning and for those who are new to the party. Featuring fan favorites from over the years, "Get Loose and Get Together" is a perfect family soundtrack for this summer's kitchen dance parties, backyard sing a longs and road trips.


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Understanding the soul behind SoL: The back story.
In the iconic Sydney beachside suburb of Bondi, we decided to transform a recurring problem into a real life solution, so we created Australia's most health-conscious and seriously sexy reusable glass. Health – both physical and mental – is vitally important to myself and my family, and SoL Cups tick all of our wellbeing and sustainability boxes. They're a hand-blown, chemical-free and infinitely reusable solution for an on-the-go coffee companion that will give you all the taste, with none of the waste. SoL Cups are a practical product with a playful heart – our logo symbolises the sun ('sol' in Spanish) and our signature zigzag pattern reflects the ocean waves of our beautiful hometown beach, where we pursue an active, outdoor lifestyle.
SoL Cups' Managing Director, Rebecca Veksler, gives us the lowdown on the story behind Australia's coolest 'take anywhere' glass …
Why did you create SoL Cups?
"Over the years myself and my family have faced numerous health challenges, mainly around autoimmune disease.
This year has definitely been a journey, as I was personally diagnosed and went through a pretty serious episode, from this, learning to completely re-structure my lifestyle, recover and better understand Auto-immune diseases on a very personal level, We've done in-depth research about the harmful impact the use of plastics has on the human body and environment, and we want to share our passion for wellbeing with as many people as possible".
I was working as a personal trainer at the time and always struggled to find a solution to taking a glass from home with my coffee or tea in it, and obviously it caused a few spillage problems. I found a few other cups on the market but they were either made of plastic, which i definitely didn't want, or they were too heavy and didn't look that great. I wanted a holistic solution – something health conscious, good for the environment and that also looked good, so I designed our own!"
SoL Cups are more than just a practical product though – you can clearly see Rebecca's bright, bubbly and super positive personality injected in to the design of the glasses themselves – their logo symbolises the sun ('sol' in Spanish) and the signature zigzag pattern reflects the ocean waves of her beautiful hometown beach. They make you happy just looking at them, which was one of Rebecca's aims.
She founded her company on the foundation of a strong business culture, which comes down to four factors: Happiness (the experience you feel either meeting or working with one of the team members or using the glass); Health (the reason they do what they do – the chemical and toxin-free aspect); Sustainability (the manufacturing process, being eco-friendly, environmentally conscious and minimising their carbon footprint); and Beauty (the way the product looks and the aesthetic of their branding). The SoL Cups product she created from scratch ticks all of these boxes. They're a hand-blown, chemical-free and infinitely reusable solution for an on-the-go coffee companion that gives users perfect taste and a sense of joy.
According to Rebecca, the essence of the company is experience.
"Everything we do, everyone we talk to, everything we touch – we want people to walk away feeling like they've experienced something special, whether that's building a relationship or actually using the product," she says
.From a functional point of view, Rebecca designed SoL Cups to keep beverages tasting exactly the way they are made, unlike plastic cups that can not only affect the way drinks taste, but leach harmful chemicals into it as well – a side effect that nobody wants. "One of the most valuable differences in SoL Cups is the love and passion behind our brand. It's all in the experience – the little extra details we've put in to make you fall in love with your SoL Cup. The weight and clarity of the glass, the 'no spill' lid, as well as the waterproof eco bag that provides you with a hassle free solution so you can pop them in your bag and not worry about the inside of your bag".
Rebecca has worked across several different areas in her career, describing herself as becoming "passionate with idea of business development", to the point that while she was still a personal trainer she started helping other trainers, boot camps and small gyms develop their business models and make their business grow. From there, she started her first business, centred around her passion for mental and physical health and wellbeing in the workplace. She spoke at high schools and universities, sharing and educating as much as she could, and also delivering fitness workshops on the side. Rebecca also worked closely with her brother, David, in his commercial kitchen fit-out company Guru Projects and watched him grow it from the ground up, into a flourishing business.
Outside of SoL Cups, Rebecca is still involved in a business organisation, as well as being the youngest board member on the Bondi Chambers of Commerce, she is mentoring other people in their start-up process. The first piece of advice she gives anybody is to understand why they do what they do, in its simplest form, and what problem are they solving.
"If you can refine that to its essence and passionately connect to why you are creating this company in the first place, then selling the service to your customers isn't work anymore. People aren't buying what you do, they're buying why you're doing it and the problem you are solving"
Her most valuable lesson in business has been how important communication is.
"Working for a range of other people in the past, I've seen how it can all go wrong," she explains. "Our values as we build this business are about connecting, not just with our clients and customers, but building really strong teams and relationships within the company. We're very forward-thinking when it comes to business structures, and we really want to make every step of the way with our team as connected as possible."
Embracing downtime and allowing herself to pursue the outdoor lifestyle she loves is also imperative. "There's freedom in running your own business, but that comes down to how organised you are as a person. I'm very passionate about system management and building processes, and my freedom and my rest time is so vital to my health. I've been through so many burnouts and crashes and now learning to manage an auto-immune disease that has left me in chronic join pain– if I don't have that balance and time off then I can't function at 100%," she says. "It comes down to understanding your business, refining your services and business model, and working smart to create efficient systems so that you can actually step away sometimes and not stress or have to be on top of everybody."
This relaxed but in-control attitude will be increasingly important as the company plans its expansion. Currently setting up their Sydney and Melbourne teams, they will soon be across Australia and are determined to go international in 2017, getting into the important American and European markets to spread their message of health.
"We want people to resonate with who we are, not necessarily what we sell. As we roll out other products and other lines and ideas, we want people to connect with the SoL name, not just the glasses. We're definitely a face-to-face business.
Rebecca's own active lifestyle, which is also toxin and chemical-free, gels perfectly with the SoL business culture. "Any chance I get, I'm moving around, preferably outdoors. I don't like to be in the office in general, so if I do have some time off you will most likely find me down at Bondi spending time with family and friends and doing things that are mindful, positive and make me feel good."
Rebecca has determinedly and successfully built her business with a purpose, and produced a beautifully designed and useful product with a playful heart, so we can all use it to enjoy life … one glass at a time.
Interviewed by Sarah Halfpenny.


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| 8.2°C Belfast
An army of top teachers should be deployed in schools that are failing their poorest pupils, according to Sir Michael Wilshaw.
The Ofsted chief inspector is calling for the Government to recruit a proportion of England's most talented teachers to teach in "less fashionable, more remote or challenging places".
Teachers could be offered incentives to sign up to become a National Service Teacher such as bigger pay packets, higher status and faster career progression.
In a major speech, Sir Michael warns there is an "invisible minority" of disadvantaged children living in "leafy suburbs, market towns or seaside resorts" who are being let down by their schools. These youngsters are underperforming and coasting through school until they leave at the earliest opportunity.
He says: "The quality of education is the most important issue facing Britain today. In the long term, our success as a nation - our prosperity, our security, our society - depends on how well we raise and educate our young people across the social spectrum."
In the last 20 to 30 years, standards in schools in major cities such as London, Birmingham, Greater Manchester, Liverpool and Leicester have been transformed, and problems of underachievement have shifted to deprived coastal towns and rural areas of the country, especially in the east and south east of England, Sir Michael argues. There are also a significant number of poorer children in reasonably rich areas such as Kettering, Wokingham, Norwich and Newbury who are being failed by their schools, he said.
"Today, many of the disadvantaged children performing least well in school can be found in leafy suburbs, market towns or seaside resorts," he says. "Often they are spread thinly, as an 'invisible minority' across areas that are relatively affluent. These poor, unseen children can be found in mediocre schools the length and breadth of our country. They are labelled, buried in lower sets, consigned as often as not to indifferent teaching. They coast through education until - at the earliest opportunity - they sever their ties with it."
He adds: "The most important factor in reversing these trends is to attract and incentivise the best people to the leadership of underperforming schools in these areas. This may require Government to work with Teaching Schools to identify and incentivise experienced and effective teachers to work in less fashionable, more remote or challenging places. The concept of a 'National Service Teacher' should be considered."
National Service Teachers would be employed and funded by central government to teach in schools and areas of the country that are deemed to be failing their disadvantaged pupils.
A Department for Education spokesman said they would consider Ofsted recommendations and respond in due course.


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WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. government is set to levy sanctions against the three companies involved in the Deepwater Horizon disaster, an agency chief said Thursday.
Director Michael Bromwich of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement said the process could begin as early as next week when his bureau would initial notices of non-compliance to BP, Halliburton and Transocean, the Houston Chronicle reported.
The notices would cite seven offshore drilling violations in connection with the disaster.
Violation fees now are capped at $40,000 per day per incident, the Chronicle said, but if the violations covered the full 87 days of the oil spill the total would reach $3.48 million.
A joint investigation by the bureau and the Coast Guard identified the seven alleged violations:
-- BP failed to protect health, safety, property, and the environment when BP and Transocean did not perform all operations in a safe and workmanlike manner; or maintain all equipment and work areas in a safe condition.
-- BP, Transocean, and Halliburton (through subsidiary Sperry Sun) did not prevent conditions that posed unreasonable risk.
-- BP, Transocean, and Halliburton (Sperry Sun) failed to take necessary precautions to keep the well under control.
-- BP and Transocean failed to maintain the BOP (blowout preventer) system as per regulation.
-- BP and Halliburton did not cement the well in a way to properly control formation pressures and fluids; and prevent the direct or indirect release of fluids from any stratum through the wellbore into offshore waters.
-- BP failed to use pressure a integrity test and behavior observations to adjust the drilling fluid program and the setting depth of the next casing string.
-- BP failed to conduct the negative test on April 20 in accordance with the test procedure. A negative test looks to see if a determining condition is absent.


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I have been playing guitar for 13 years and have been gigging in Columbia's music scene for about 8 years. My influences span the musical spectrum…nothing is off limits. I spent the past 4 years in the band "Funky Junk." I've also played with local rockers "The Casual Kings," and I'm currently playing with "The Losos," a local prog-metal band.
I started my musical journey with a bass and a few lessons from local jazz great, Jerry Sims. Soon after that, I began studying guitar. I now study under Don Russo and strive to expand my musical knowledge every single day. My determination to find as much musical influence as possible is what drives me to teach others about the boundless world of guitar playing.