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Award Recipients are Top Program Performers and Leaders for Freight Supply Chain Efficiency
INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Celadon Group, Inc. (NYSE:CGI) today announced that Celadon Trucking Services has been honored with the 2012 SmartWay® Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a true industry leader in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency. Celadon was one of 40 companies, representing fewer than one percent of the Partnerships' nearly 3000 Partners, to receive this distinction. Celadon has been a staunch supporter of the SmartWay® Transport Partnership and its mission to improve freight supply chain sustainability and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Since becoming a SmartWay® partner in 2005, the company has reduced average emissions for carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, and particulate matter by 21%, 57%, and 91%, respectively. In addition, the company estimates that its idle reduction initiatives and other fuel reduction strategies positively impact the environment by eliminating 11,000 gallons of fuel consumption daily.
"We're extremely proud of our record with respect to SmartWay®," stated Paul Will, Vice Chairman, President & COO. "We have a great team in place that clearly understands the importance of these initiatives and consistently strives for additional improvements through our testing and research program. This is our 3rd consecutive SmartWay® Excellence Award, and going forward, we will continue to be diligent in our efforts to save fuel, lower costs and reduce adverse environmental impacts."
Celadon Group Inc. (www.celadongroup.com), through its subsidiaries, provides long-haul and regional full-truckload freight service across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The company also owns Celadon Logistics Services, which provides freight brokerage services, less-than-truckload services, as well as supply chain management solutions, including warehousing and dedicated fleet services.
About SmartWay
EPA launched SmartWay in 2004 to help business improve the sustainability of their freight supply chains. Today the Partnership consists of nearly 3,000 Partners, representing a cross section of the freight supply chain industry. As of today, SmartWay Partners have saved 55 million barrels of oil. This is equivalent to taking over 3 million cars off the road for an entire year. SmartWay's clean air achievements (23.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, 478,000 tons nitrogen oxides, and 22,000 tons of particulate matter reduced so far) help protect the health and well-being of citizens while contributing to our nation's economic and energy security.
More information on SmartWay in general: http://www.epa.gov/smartway/
List of Excellence Award recipients: http://www.epa.gov/smartway/partner-resources/awards.htm
Celadon Group, Inc.
Jeryl Desjarlais, Communications Manager, 317-972-7070 Direct
Source: Celadon Group, Inc.


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Laura Lombardi / Cara Hoops
Part of the twisted brass story are the Cara Hoops. Laura Lombardi's Cara is a full hoop, in a medium sized design.
Info: Due to the nature of the materials used to create this piece, please anticipate slight variation in color and tone from the items photographed.
Material: Brass earrings, surgical steel ear wire. Made in USA.
Size: Hoops diameter 1"/2.5cm, wire thickness is 6mm.
Please select your size

subset: commoncrawl


text: Elizabeth Pelletier is a research analyst in the Justice Policy Center, where she primarily works on projects related to criminal justice reform. Before joining Urban, she researched education policy as a Fulbright grantee at the University of Toronto. Pelletier graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2014 with a BA in public policy and film studies.


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Play Boomanji For Free
Boomanji: a colorful and fast game that attracts players who want a fast and fun experience that lets them win left to right and right to left at the same time.
Boomanji brings the rare joy of a fireworks display to the player's home. The minimalist style of the game coupled with a dark background make the fireworks pop out all the more. While the ten lines may seem like too few, this is deceptive: Boomanji's lines work both ways, doubling up the chances to win on the 5-reel slot machine. This machine is sure to be a player favorite for late night play.
Subtle shooting star animations play in the background of this night-time slot machine. Boomanji's star-studded night sky is the perfect backdrop for the colorful array of fireworks awaiting the player. Instead of tiles, players are trying to line up different sets of fireworks. Once players spin, the winning fireworks set off in a row, lighting up the night sky with sparkling bursts of color. Players can choose between fast animations or regular animations for the reels, with the faster animations cutting straight to the explosive chase. Those who prefer to take their time on spins will enjoy the soft sparkles in the background as they anticipate their next fireworks display.
Many slots have moved on to bigger, over-the-top displays. Boomanji prefers to stick to the purity of the slot machine experience. Players can choose how many lines to bet on and how much to wager per line. Each spin has the potential of winning in either direction. Players should note that lining up symbols on the right is just as much of a win as lining them up on the left. The red, blue, and green cluster of rockets is worth the most, although players might find themselves rooting more for the big blue rocket to line up.
The bonus for Boomanji is just as deceptively simple as the game itself. If a player is lucky enough to get a crate of rockets on their reels, then they've successfully landed a wild card. This wild card expands to cover the entire reel, automatically spinning the other reels. Each new wild card triggers another free spin. The wild card itself counts as any other rocket up to the big blue rocket, meaning that a player who lines up the maximum number of big blue rockets three times in a row will win $7,200 on one spin alone! Since winnings count both to the left and to the right, players can expect to win the most when they line up a full set of symbols–and the wild card is the easiest way to guarantee that.


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ONCE, WHEN I WAS OVERSEAS, I saw a T-shirt which I liked very much. It was white with blue stripes, and it had a crocodile symbol.
As it was not expensive, I bought it. My friends pointed out to me later that it jaws of the crocodile in the symbol were was not a genuine Lacoste T-shirt as the clamped shut.
We are greeted by a myriad of symbols and signs daily, with each presenting a message or depicting the actual substance it represents.
There are counterfeits and imitation symbols that try to pass off as genuine. While these are no substitutes for the real stuff, their imitations indicate that the authentic items, as represented by their respective symbols, have true worth and value in the market.
When Jesus told His disciples that they were the salt of the world (Matt 5:13a), He was referring to the distinctive symbol that we display before the world, and which should characterise Christian lives. While it may become a little indistinct at times, the symbol will not lose the message it presents or the substance it points to. No matter what, it must never be a fake or imitation.
"Fake" salt does not have the qualities out and trampled by men". (Matt of genuine salt and it will be "thrown 5:13b).
The church symbolises our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. It depicts to the world the presence of our Risen Lord among us.
Let us continue to do the Lord's ministry on earth – loving people, preaching the Gospel, be righteous and faithful, gentle and humble, loving one another.
The church comprises you and me. Hence, each of us and every Christian community symbolise the Risen Lord, and all men will know that we are His disciples (John 13:35).
The Rev Dr Chong Chin Chung is the President of the Chinese Annual Conference.
WHILE THE RESILIENCE OF THE JAPANESE NATION is to be admired as its people tackled the multi-faceted problems caused by the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear reactor, their tenacity to win the battle does not come as a surprise.
The Japanese are a homogenous society imbibed with a culture to bond and work together for the common good of the community. They are taught from a very young age to "think community" and not to be selfish or self-centred. From the time they enter kindergarten, they are taught to live with nature, to respect and love the elderly and to help one another in class, at home and in the community.
Society to the Japanese is home, and therein lies their special bonding and care for one another, and for their nation – in peacetime or during calamities. There are valuable lessons to be learnt here. But aren't these the traits of a Christian? Yes, they are. But do we Christians care for the needy and those in trouble or in pain as much as the Japanese?
We have not experienced earthquakes and natural disasters of a magnitude such as those in Japan and other countries.
When we do encounter such crises, will Singaporeans respond as quickly and resolutely as the Japanese? More specifically, will Singapore Christians "stand up for Singapore" and "Stand up, stand up for Jesus"?
We are not just talking about donating money here. That is the easy part. Of late Singaporeans are generally known to be generous with parting their money for a worthy cause. We are also talking about rolling up our sleeves and getting down to Ground Zero to literally reach out to our fellow citizens deep in trouble. In times like this, will we be a brother or sister to our neighbours? Will we bring the love of Christ to them?


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Mambo Italiano Westchester Broadway TheatrePublished: Sunday, September 1, 2019 By: James V. Ruocco Source: From The Desk Of Jim R.
Staging "Mambo Italiano" is Tom Polum whose Westchester Broadway Theatre credits include "Phantom," "Funny Girl," "Grease," "Carousel," "Hello, Dolly!" and "Oklahoma!" Working from a play script that he co-authored with Jean Cheever, he attempts to bring dazzle, exhilaration, and joy to this production. He also strives to create a family-friendly environment where smiles and good cheer are commonplace and anything offensive or PG-13 is left offstage so as not to break the show's carefree, happy spell.
There are cheeky one-liners. There are tears. There is excitement. There is pasta. There is home-made spaghetti sauce. There are meatballs. There is Italiano, frontwards, backwards, sideways, left, right and center. There is a real sense of family. There is familial commitment. No one looks lost. No one lets their guard down. With Polum pulling the strings, every cast member has great fun bringing the musical story of "Mambo Italiano" to life. Even when the dialogue isn't up to par, he keeps things spinning merrily along from scene to scene, song to song and act to act. At the same time, he's a little over-cautious as to what he can do and cannot do, a conceit that often weakens the play's premise and lessens its credibility.
This being a musical where two men are gay and very much in love, there is nothing really in the actual story to support that conceit except a line or two of dialogue. They don't kiss. They don't hug. They don't embrace. They don't flirt. They don't play with each other's hair. They don't touch. They don't have sex. They don't finish each other's sentences. So why should anyone care if they stay together, break up, go their separate ways or piss off their very different families. The addition of a non-sexual bed scene - played for laughs with the relatives paying a surprise visit on the romantic duo - could not only liven things up but add fuel to their uneven, one-note romance.
The musical score for "Mambo Italiano" has been written by James Olmstead (music) and Omri Schein (lyrics). It contains 24 songs. They are "Italia," "Famiglia Italiana," "Maria's Wish," "Italia (Reprise)," "Nino," "Yes, Girl," "Space," "Space (Reprise)," "The Lunetti Code," "Mama's Cannelloni," "Before You," "A Simple Family Dinner," "The Dream," "All I Need Is You," "Mama's Cannelloni (Reprise)," "Hammonton, New Jersey," "Yes Girl (Reprise)," "Before You (Reprise)," "Read Between the Lines," "Family," "Il Processo! (The Case)," "And Mama Would Dance" and "Famiglia Italiana (Reprise)." "Mambo Italiano," the 1954 song hit, written by Bob Merrill for Rosemary Clooney, is used during the Act II finale.
Musically, the score is original, entertaining, pleasant-sounding and fun. Nothing earth-shattering in the musical theatre vein - just songs that thrust the action forward and songs that are exactly right for the specific characters chosen to sing them. Many of them - "Italia," "Famiglia Italiana," "Mama's Cannelloni," "Space," Family," to name a few - are attuned to the feel-good Italian landscape of the piece and naturally evoke the right emotion, intent, drive, and connection.
For this production, Ryan Edward Wise serves as musical director, conductor, and keyboardist. Joining him are Bob Ray (keyboardist #2), Jay Mack (drums), Crispian Fordham (reeds), Bryan Uhl (trumpet), David Shoup (guitar/mandolin) and Katie Von Braun (violin). The orchestral sound evoked by Wise and company - high energy, flavorful tempos, rippling intimacy - is confident, moody, responsive and engaging. The standard musical language is effecting and pleasing. The melodies maintain their harmonic structures. No matter the orchestration or tonality, everything is played with precipitous muscularity.
Nonetheless, there are a few problems. "The Dream," for example, which opens Act II, is a direct rip-off of "Tevye's Dream" from "Fiddler on the Roof." The song, the staging, the intro, the dialogue and the addition of a menacing, towering character similar to that of Fruma-Sarah, cries "Fiddler on the Roof " at every single turn. If this number is to remain in the show, the writer's need to include a line or two that explains why they are spoofing "Fiddler" and why the dream itself is similar to the one Teyve imagined and told to a frightened Golde. Elsewhere, a song or two is needed to flesh out the Nino/ Angelo love story. And "Mambo Italiano" could greatly benefit from a much larger ensemble and some dazzling new production numbers that cry "big, Broadway musical."
"Mambo Italiano" stars Joy Hermalyn as Maria Barbieri, Bill Nolte as Gino, Alex Drost as Angelo, Alexandra Amadeo Frost as Anna, Diana DiMarzio as Lina, Natalie Gallo as Donna and Zach Schanne as Nino. Everyone is perfectly cast for their respective musical roles, which they deliver most engagingly using the right attitude, charm, angst and theatrical savvy the production calls for. Vocally, they are in perfect harmony, smartly mastering the melodic qualities of the musical score under Wise's whimsical tutelage. You want singing - great singing. You find that here.
"Mambo Italiano," despite its obvious flaws, is lightweight, formulaic musical theatre entertainment. The well-chosen cast - every single one of them - are in fine form musically, dramatically and comically and have the chops to do justice to this obvious work-in-progress. But though things are often fresh and fun, "Mambo Italiano" is hardly ready to make its New York City debut. It has the makings of something that could viably enjoy a healthy commercial run, but it needs to be a little more aggressive in its treatment of homosexuality and the sexual relationship between its two Italian male lovers. In its present form, it's way too G-rated for a piece that is set 19 years ago and purports to celebrate family, Italian food and same-sex relationships to the fullest, dishing out a menu that is only half-baked and imagined. This is 2019, folks. The very thought of two boys kissing is hardly alarming or offensive. It should be sexy and fun.


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MyTaxe Expands Fare Comparison Tool For Long Distance Journeys
Cab services are a must for travelers throughout the world, and it's essential that individuals have the resources they need in order to find, compare, and book their fares as necessary. Various apps and websites have worked to make the process of getting a taxi quote simpler than ever, and there are now multiple options in different countries.
MyTaxe is the #1 premier app in the United Kingdom. Specializing in transportation to travel hubs, they provide fare comparisons and information for thousands of taxi cabs and taxi services throughout the country. They've worked to develop a website that is simple to use and that allows users to find whatever resources they may need in order to get a London minicab quote, a Heathrow taxi or a cab to a different airport, train station, seaport, or just to a local restaurant or hotel.
Recently, they have done some extensive work to ensure they have the capability to provide the most up-to-date and complete information about cabs to hotels and restaurants, cheap long journey taxis to and from airports, train stations, and seaports. By expanding the ability to search for and book cheap airport taxis and cabs to other travel hubs, MyTaxe is able to provide the best services possible for every customer that comes to their website.
A company representative shared this about these updates: "We've noticed that a number of our users have been looking for ways to get to and from the airport. So much so, that even people from outside of the country are coming to us in order to find taxi rates. Because of that, we've found it really important to expand our reach and ensure that everyone can get the information and services that they need."
The website is designed for users to go online and search for taxi cabs by using the parameters of their taxi ride. Then, they are given a variety of options, including cheap airport taxis, long distance taxis, and other taxi types. This allows users to compare taxi quotes and make sure that they are getting the best rate from a taxi company that has a good reputation to back it up.
The company also has a 24 hour helpline for phone and email, and is available in multiple languages. The site also allows for the booking of minicabs and local taxis, so that users can make MyTaxe their main source for all taxi purposes.
MyTaxe, part of MyTaxe Quote Ltd, is a company focusing on providing the best way to get quotes for and book taxis of all types and sizes throughout the United Kingdom. Their comparison tool is available on their website and via their app, and they've done their best to make it simple for users to get what they need and pay before booking.
Learn more about the company at https://www.mytaxe.uk/
Media Contact
Company Name: MyTaxe Quote Ltd
Contact Person: Mr. Paran
Email: Send Email
Phone: 0121 2859686
Address:Fort Dunlop Fort Parkway
City: Birmingham
Country: United Kingdom
Website: www.mytaxe.uk


text: Here's another chance to play geographical detective! This natural-color image from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument on the Terra satellite represents an area of about 296 kilometers x 353 kilometers, and was acquired by MISR's nadir (vertical-viewing) camera sometime in 2003. These data were processed at the NASA Langley Atmospheric Sciences Data Center. Terra circles the Earth in the same orbit as Landsat 7, flying at an altitude of about 700 kilometers above the Earth's surface.


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My grandfather dying was one of the hardest things I've ever had to experience. We were very close, with my family living a mere eight minutes away from my grandparents. His death was sudden and shocking.
But I'm still not going to talk about it. Instead, I'll tell you what I learned from it. What I learned is how precious this gift of life actually is and how easily it can be taken away. Then it put a few thoughts in my head. The first being my own mortality.
Since my grandfather died, I feel like I've had to face my own mortality head on. Life doesn't stop for anyone. And the realization that I could die at any moment (from my severe allergies or a car accident) has created a seemingly bottomless fear and an intense, deep loneliness that comes with it.
I've always said that I don't fear death, but that's a lie. I don't believe in heaven or the classic Christian God, and the idea of me just not existing terrifies me. I almost wish I could believe in God and heaven. It would be comforting knowing that I could see my grandfather again someday, dancing through clouds in utter bliss. But I can't.
Because of this new fear I have, the fear of my own mortality and the fragility of my existence, I've felt like a victim of time, like every second of my life is a drop of sand that hits the bottom of the hourglass of my demise. But now I've changed. I'm not living life through Mondays and Tuesdays, months, years, or even down to a single minute. I'm living my life in moments, even it's something as little as having a cup of coffee or laying out in the sun. I only get one life and I'm not going to waste it.
This brings me to my second thought. I know my grandfather knew I adored him. So, although I did not get to say a proper goodbye, I'm comforted by the certainty of him knowing that. But then I think that, if I died tomorrow, I would hope that everyone I loved knew how I felt about them. Unfortunately, that would not be the case. It's not as easy as it sounds, telling someone you love them.
So my advice to you is that if you have someone you love (a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a friend, literally anyone) when you see them, tell them how much you love them. But still, know that love is just a word until somebody comes along and gives in meaning.


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Within the EU, a new F-gas regulation has been published in April 2014 which increases the demands for the phasing out of HFC refrigerants with a high greenhouse impact. The F-gas regulation also regulates the authority for intervening in the refrigerant cycle in order to avoid leakage, all in order to reduce the discharges. The new F-gas regulation will also regulate the imported volume of refrigerants into the EU with a falling import volume until 2030. This is to give owners of installations time to adapt their selection of refrigerant.
HFC = HydroFluoroCarbons, high GWP impact
Refrigerants' impact on the climate is measured in two terms, ODP and GWP. The abbreviation, ODP, stands for Ozone Depletion Potential (the unit for measuring the impact on the ozone layer) and GWP for Global Warming Potential (the unit for measuring the impact of the greenhouse effect).


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Walnuts are a great source of omega oils which have been said to keep your heart and brain healthy. DatesContinue reading »
Tag: soy milk
Pumpkin Seed and Cinnamon Smoothie
Pumpkin seeds are a great source heart healthy fats and protein. They contain high levels of magnesium, iron, manganese andContinue reading »
Chocolate Orange Smoothie
This tasty treat of a smoothie combines the timeless flavours of chocolate and orange. I make my marmalade and peanutContinue reading »
Marmalade and Peanut Butter Smoothie
I make my marmalade and peanut butter Smoothie using my homemade orange marmalade, yoghurt and peanut butter.Continue reading »
Soya Yoghurt
Live soya yoghurt is incredibly useful. I use it on my breakfast muesli, in smoothies, lassis, fruity desserts and toContinue reading »


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The LockOut Company
The LockOut Company has developed an unrivaled solution to a large and urgent problem nation-wide: school security. The LockOut Company's SmartBoot System protects students and staff, deters potential threats and assists law enforcement and first responders in the event of a school shooting. The SmartBoot System integrates a superior barricading device with smart sensors, gunshot detection, lighting alerts, audio alerts, law enforcement notification, and a smart app for administrators and staff to control the system and communicate with first responders, students and families during an event. Amherst Fund is an equity investor in the LockOut Company.


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The Parador de El Saler is located 18km from the city of Valencia, and is situated in the heart of the Albufera Nature Reserve, between a lake and its stunning golf course and very close to the beach. The luxurious modern guestrooms are very spacious and many offer magnificent views of the Mediterranean.
Guests can enjoy the outdoor swimming pool and the onsite Spa which offers numerous beauty treatments and indoor heated pool. As well as the golf course, other leisure facilities include a football pitch, tennis courts and gym. The restaurant at the El Saler specialises in local rice dishes, it is renowned for its paella.Click to See Golf Courses
The Parador De El Saler course is a Par 72 measuring 6042m. It is mostly flat, but being built into the natural landscape, there are some hilly fairways. The course layout is very varied with some holes near the beach having a links feel to them, whereas others are within the Mediterranean pine forest.
Some of the holes feature blind greens, which are often huge and are hard to read. Many of the hazards are the natural sand dunes that are dotted around the course and if the wind is blowing it adds to the overall difficulty. This is considered to be one of the best courses in Spain and offers a terrific challenge to all players.


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Call Us Now: 951.693.3132
What is property and debt division?
When a married couple or domestic partners decide to permanently separate through a divorce, their property and debt must be divided. The division will require a distinguishing between community and non-community property and debt. Property and debt division can be contested or uncontested.
Uncontested Property and Debt Division
Uncontested property and debt division occurs when a couple agree on the division of their community property. With a few exceptions, "community property" is all real or personal property acquired by a person while living with their spouse. In general, California courts will accept uncontested division agreements as long as the agreement is deemed fair and reasonable to both parties.
Contested Property and Debt Division
In the event that a couple does not agree on a property and debt agreement, the division is executed by the State Superior Court.
Should Albrecht & Albrecht represent you in a contested division of your property and debt, we will fight to see that you receive a fair and equitable share of your community property and we will fight to ensure that any contested property that is solely yours is not deemed community property and unjustly given to your estranged spouse or domestic partner. We will also fight to see that you do not receive an unfair burden of debt.
Get Your Free Consultation Today!


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Friday, January 25, 2008
Got the T-shirt? - now hear the music
There was some healthy discussion on my recent article about pianist Angela Hewitt's Bach World Tour T-shirts. No discussion on my Future Radio programme this Sunday (Jan 27) at 5.00pm UK time, just 51 minutes 3 seconds of the perfect pianism of Angela Hewitt playing Messiaen and J.S. Bach, connected by less than 5 minutes of the usual low key links from me. The audio stream can be launched here, and is available in real time only.
There is some interesting music coming up on my Future Radio webcasts in the next few months. It includes Elliott Carter's Sonata for Flute, Oboe, Cello and Harpsichord, Michael Tippett's Second Symphony (why aren't his symphonies performed more often?), and a new recording of Lou Harrison's Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra, all complete - no extracts. Through the year I will also be playing all the Vaughan Williams symphonies. Future Radio agreed to this following very positive listener responses to my broadcast of the Fifth earlier this month, and they are rearranging their schedule to accomodate the 71 minute Sea Symphony in August to coincide with the centenary of the composer's birth.
On April 6 I will be presenting Karajan and Twentieth Century Music to mark the centenary of the conductor's birth. For all his faults Karajan made some superlative records, none more so than his 1972 recording of Arthur Honegger's Third Symphony Liturgique, and I'll be playing that with his 1973 recording of Alban Berg's Three Pieces from the Lyric Suite, both with the Berlin Philharmonic. Framing all these contemporary works will be music by Bach, Tallis, Corelli and from the Sephardic Diaspora.
It's all about thinking outside the box, as Olivier Messiaen did.
Listen on Future Radio at 5.00pm UK time this Sunday, January 27th in real time here (convert to local time zones here). An Overgrown Path podcast will follow. Windows Media Player doesn't like the audio stream very much and takes ages to buffer. WinAmp or iTunes handle it best. Unfortunately the royalty license doesn't permit on-demand replay, so you have to listen in real time. If you are in the Norwich, UK area tune to 96.9FM. Report broken links, missing images and errors to - overgrownpath at hotmail dot co dot uk
1 comment:
- Scott said...
...the perfect pianism of Angela Hewitt playing Messiaen and J.S. Bach
Well, I'm certainly going to try to catch this broadcast, although noon my time (Eastern) is not usually convenient. I've not yet been able to warm to Hewitt's playing (most of what I've heard has been Bach).
It's beautifully done, elegant, clear ... but it just hasn't drawn me in yet. For contrast, two widely ... or wildly ... different artists who do capture my attention in Bach are Leonhardt and Gould.
And I've never heard Hewitt play Messiaen. I'm looking forward to the program.
- 3:06 pm
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The Fundamental Duties enshrined in Part IVA of the Indian Constitution (Article 51A) were inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976. In this article we will go through the list of Fundamental Duties, their background or need, legal position and suggestions of committees.
Table of Contents
What is the Need of Fundamental Duties in the Constitution?
While the Fundamental Rights covered in Part III of the Constitution specify the Rights of the individual in relation to the state and Part IV of the Constitution (Directive Principles) list the duties of the state, there were no specific provisions listing the duties of the citizens of India vis-a-vis other citizens and the country and society at large.
In fact, there can be no rights in a society where there are no duties. Rights and duties are two sides of the same coin and inseparable. For every right, there is a corresponding duty. The fundamental duties are intended to regulate behaviour and to inspire citizens to strive towards excellence.
[pullquote align="normal" cite="Mahatma Gandhi"]The source of right is duty. If we all discharge our duties, rights will not be far to seek.[/pullquote]
Therefore, to fill this vacuum, Part IVA containing the 10 Fundamental Duties were inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976 vide Article 51A. A 11th Fundamental Duty was added by the 86th Amendment Act in 2002. Hence there are 11 Fundamental Duties in the Constitution at present. The addition of the chapter on Fundamental Duties was recommended by the Swaran Singh committee, which had recommended an eight-point code of fundamental duties.
The fundamental duties are in consonance with Article 29(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which says " Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible".
Also Read: Top 8 Salient Features of Indian Constitution
List of Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution
As mentioned above, there are presently 11 Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution. The 11 Fundamental Duties are listed below.
Article 51A states that -> It shall be the duty of every citizen of India:
- to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the national Flag and the National Anthem;
- to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
- to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
- to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
- to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
- to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
- to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
- to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
- to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
- to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement;
- Every parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of 6 and 14 years x
x :> Added by the 86th Amendment Act, 2002.
M Laxmikanth – Best Book for Indian Polity
Legal Position of the Fundamental Duties
Although there are no Constitutional provisions for the enforcement of Fundamental Duties covered in Article 51A nor is there any provision to prevent or punish for their violation, there are specific legal provisions for the enforcement of some of the fundamental duties as noted by the JS Verma Committee:
- The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971 was enacted to ensure that no disrespect is shown to the National Flag, Constitution of India and the National Anthem [Fundamental Duty enumerated in 51A (a)].
- Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) prohibits writings, speeches, gestures, activities, exercises, drills, etc. aimed at creating a feeling of insecurity or ill-will among the members of various communities [Fundamental Duty enumerated in 51A (e)].
- Activities and assertions prejudicial to national integration constitute offence under Section 153B of the IPC [Fundamental Duty enumerated in 51A (c)].
- Offences related to religion and caste are covered in Sections 295-298 of the IPC (Chapter XV) and provisions of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 [Fundamental Duty enumerated in 51A (e)].
- Section 123(3) and 3(A) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 declares soliciting of votes on the ground of religion and the promotion of feelings of ill will and hatred among different religious communities as a corrupt electoral practice.
- Article 51A(g) regarding protection of environment has received particular attention from the various courts. The JS Verma committee on Fundamental Duties has listed and documented as many as 138 Supreme Court cases in the area of environmental protection.
Have Fundamental Duties Been Borrowed from Some Country?
The concept of fundamental duties is not unique to India. For instance, article 40 of the constitution of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam enjoins that "the public property of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam is sacred and inviolable. It is the duty of every citizen to respect and protect public property". The Japanese constitution also lays down the duties of the citizen as against the rights he can exercise. Similar is the case with the Constitution of Netherlands.
However, the specific duties as enumerated in Article 51A of the Constitution are unique to the Indian ethos and value systems and have not been borrowed from any country. They are a codification of the practices, customs, traditions, and way of life existing in India for centuries.
Recommendations Regarding the Fundamental Duties
The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution, 2002, recommended addition of the following fundamental duties in Article 51A of the Constitution:
- Duty to vote at elections
- Duty to actively participate in the democratic process of governance
- Duty to pay taxes
- Duty to foster family values and responsible parenthood
- Duty of industrial organizations to provide education to children of their employees
With the increasing incidents of communal violence and religion-based mob violence (example beef lynching), strict adherence to fundamental duties is the need of the hour to foster feeling of common brotherhood and to maintain the unity and integrity of India.


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Construction on the beloved theatre started in June 2015 and was completed on schedule in early April 2016. The renovation and expansion incorporated a new wood glulam column, beam, and roof structure system supported by the 1950s brick walls from the original building. The renovation and expansion preserved the theatre's cozy feel, while adding many new features that included the glulam wood structure, new lighting grid, catwalk, and power and audiovisual upgrades.
Keeping the existing brick walls, back-of-house area, and basement provided a cost savings but added a large challenge during the demolition phase. To preserve the brick walls, temporary post-bracing was used along with some of the existing roof joists to provide support. These existing roof joist braces had to remain in place until the new glulam wood structure was installed and could support the weight of the brick walls.
Keeping these elements allowed the theatre to maintain the welcoming, intimate feel that patrons have come to love while expanding the lobby, office, and administrative space, improving dressing rooms and performer facilities, increasing the size of the public restrooms, and adding a second storey to allow for a spacious control booth and electrical room.
The end result is a significantly improved theatre that retains its original charm. PCL's Special Projects division constructed the theatre in the most cost-effective manner possible, as the funds for this work were raised by the local theatre community for the most part, with a little help from actor Nathan Fillion, star of ABC's hit series Castle, who launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the project.
Copyright © 2020 PCL Constructors Inc. All rights reserved
Read the latest issue of Horizons, PCL's quarterly publication.
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As part of my Self-Directed Project, I travelled to Kelsey Park to snap a collection of photographs given that my Self-Directed Project focuses around Nature. For this Self-Directed Project, I researched 5 different nature photographers; Ansel Adams, David Muench, John Shaw, Art Wolfe & Joel Sartore.
As I last visited Kelsey Park 3 years ago, it is safe to say that my photography skills have dramatically and rapidly improved quite a lot over time.
This large collection of photographs that I took of Kelsey Park would comprise of some species of ducks and geese, including some squirrels as well.
As I have a strong passion for nature and photography, I was lucky enough to photograph at least two swans, one of which you can see above which I changed to black and white.
I was surprised to notice that Kelsey Park's lake was mostly frozen from the blisteringly cold weather, though one of the Moor Hen's decided to land and slid across the ice. I did change the ISO mostly to photograph this collection considering that nightfall wasn't far behind, so I did make sure to make the most of the daylight to snap these photographs.
I got some photographs of the Canada Geese up, close and personal, but I did make sure to walk very slowly and crouch down slowly in order to produce these photographs to the best standard where possible.
In terms of these photographs, I feel this is my best photographic collection to date because I have changed the ISO and got a bit more close up with nature which is what I've been looking to do for a while. I must admit, I took these photos with an 18 – 55 mm Nikkor Lens which came bundled with the Nikon D3300 DSLR and I didn't need to opt for a bigger camera lens. On the plus side, I was absolutely glad that I took these photographs on Tuesday as this photographic collection will help me with my self-directed project.
If you have been to Kelsey Park before, please let me know, I would love to hear what your thoughts are on Kelsey Park and if you have never been to Kelsey Park, don't worry, this photographic collection will give you an in-depth look on Kelsey Park and the beauty of nature. Mind you, I am pleased with the final results I've achieved from this photographic collection and I will continue to improve my photography skills and get behind the DSLR more.
If you enjoyed this photographic collection of Kelsey Park, please let me know. I would love to hear your feedback.
Alex Smithson
© The Croydon College Logo & Croydon School of Art Logo are both copyright of Croydon College & Croydon School of Art. Permission has been granted for these logos to be used. No copyright infringement intended.


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If you are in need of a properly-installed toilet or a perfectly-re-graded parking lot, call Remi's Mechanical Services Ltd. We have provided plumbing, heating, construction and mechanical services in Calgary and the surrounding area for over 20 years. Our customers are our first priority – we provide prompt, professional service and we are COR certified to ensure on-site safety. Our team is available to help whenever you need us, so feel free to give us a call or use the form on this page to get in touch. We are happy to provide more information about our mechanical services, commercial plumbing and construction services, and maintenance programs.
Contact Information
Remi's Mechanical Services Ltd
Calgary, AB T2G 1Y6
Phone: 403-243-7740
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Hours of Operation
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Wall Street Eyes Week of Key Jobs Data
ADP data showed private payrolls increased by 212,000 jobs in February, lower than expected. WSJ's Polya Lesova joins Simon Constable on the News Hub to discuss. Photo: Getty
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... this is a week of very important economic data um we've just had a piece of it hit a helpless ... decoded Polya Lesova all the will Street gentle thank you Brian much thing him ... lesser that morning will the breaking economic news is the ADP payroll report which said that though the payroll process of an estimate of how much payrolls grew last month I came in at two hundred and twelve thousand new jokes ... right so that was slightly below expectations for it ... to come to fifteen thousand ... new jobs it sort of points to continuing strong and that don't know but not installed as we get seen ... aam and it is in some recent months now the The ADP ... payroll number is is it good indicator of what we will get Friday when Europe on the Department of Labour's biggest ... but it is the aam than all that precise of my job because sometimes it's a little bit off right ... this is a lot off ... I absolutely so it's not a precise men's areas that ... it's a good number to two walks but the big number will come on Friday ... and what we will have file like coverage a with a team of genius is eight thirty am ... to look at that so that's for import not all the stuff happening with the Dow futures fall ... off the record highs ... I get a cab ... to my Sobel the bell and the Essen P year old's record highs on Monday and of course the mass that goes above five thousand for the first time in fifteen years ... announces that would have the pullback in the market the market fell yesterday ... to the Dow futures are pointing to nowhere again weighed down about twenty points ... for what it once it is so much is going to ... Thompson local radio up ... on the U S oil prices are often a little bit and of the same time the above the fifty cents to fifty one ... thing that that's that that's right about radio right now and which does have some comments from the solid year ABS Oil Minister ... ah ... the fourth was is a closely watched isn't me to think they're kind of global oil market and he has that unite the days that ... price war going on I'll with continuous SEO industry ... I think he is also saying that oil prices hits that belies after they issued stumble ... over his seen in recent months ... and that have oil in the mind is racing and it goes the saying it's balanced so I mean all that will be taken as very good oil oil demand supply ... pre much bounce that night you looking at three stalks to lay the fuss of which is ... at work only in for the ditch which is iMac ... terribly Conte retailing space of apparel with rates so that they had been standing with a sales slump and in fact I included Kwap their ... height data once again disappointed with an expected that seals the top ... of the company is also looking for new ... supply to slow down is up with close to seven percent in the premarket ... of the interesting see what happens to dial Mac ... Apps earthy yet ... ok now you also polled of the evidence from so ... what's so what's coming now so there's a serious its IPO where in the market rebound double digits at the company said that it will not miss you a spinoff of its forms of business ... and that it has hired JPMorgan to advise on what to do with its heavy lifting business now some investors have been hoping for that spinoff ... on and so now they're very disappointed ... when she going on in ... the Senate in pre market the that'll be a very interesting thing aam probably a somewhat disappointing to local people who know but still ... the Honeywell out what's happening at the zoo that very big game and I slept tech and industrial company combined rate has gone beyond that our ... baby a forum to be happening Falco for the Frisk want to end a four year this morning ... and also I did you find a five-year organic sales target ... you'll have an eminent they make it to the New York aam ... but overall the good news for them so too does the things that sentiment marginally down five cents on moderate ... hundred portals of this kind of thing with the thank you Brian much Polya Lesova ... all the will Street gentle was a pleasant path


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Hello and welcome to INSZoom's video blog. Today we'll be talking about the importance of staying on top of case milestones with email. INSZoom's case management platform integrates with Microsoft Outlook to send alerts and help attorneys manage their calendars.
Case management platforms: Juggling multiple cases at once is challenging if lawyers don't have a strong grasp on when court dates or deadlines are approaching. INSZoom streamlines all case milestones into Outlook, a platform that employees are likely familiar with.
Attorneys can easily view events and expiration dates within the Outlook interface, ensuring no case work is ever missed. This approach also saves time because employees don't have to switch back and forth between two different platforms. In addition, INSZoom's case management platform allows you to set alerts when deadlines are coming up.
Thanks for watching and check back with INSZoom for more immigration news.


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Music Brand Development for UK Corporate, Retail, Leisure & Public Sectors
PEL Music & Media has been creating in-space corporate and retail music & media solutions for more than 35 years - nationwide. Our music producers give you a fully bespoke mix.
The style and variety of music you play makes your business and your in-store brand experience distinctive.
There is no need to compromise by sharing a pre-mixed "standard music channel" with other retailers and hospitality venues (even your competitors), when PEL Music and Media will give you a fully bespoke mix which is recognisably your brand, expressed in music.
Music is our business and we'll make it work for you.
Music Branding - Made to Measure
Surely your brand and style is what you've been building towards? Delivering the right atmosphere at the right time to your customers or staff requires a very precise and tailored programme. PEL have been using this "bespoke" approach to clients, of all sectors, since our beginnings. Made-to-measure music solutions are PEL's speciality.
Like a tailor, PEL Music & Media will visit your stores and leisure spaces, to understand what kind of fit, or "cut" you require in your music brand, to suit you.
We make sure your music backs your brand.
We'll talk to your marketing agencies, your store managers and your customers, before we fashion a mix of genres, tempo, mood and presence, all fitted to the pattern of the phases of your hourly, daily and weekly footfall or in-store traffic.
Use PEL's music producers to develop the sound that you play.
PEL has unique in-house system-advantages that enable us to be both creative and responsive within hours, if needed. We provide the very best available music supply systems and support and evolve our delivery solutions to keep you one step ahead.
Getting your music profile just right is our number 1 goal: more people will want to visit, stay and spend more, while your staff will enjoy the atmosphere and become more productive in their work output – resulting in a win / win.
PEL has worked with organisations within the retail, leisure, and hospitality sectors including HOB Salons, Zizzi Restaurants, as well as The Entertainer, SCS and River Island.
PEL's Music Library
Use PEL Music & Media's vast music library and our deep resource of knowledge and advice, to enhance you customers' and staff's experience of your retail, restaurant, leisure or work space.
- Create brand affinity
- Enhance the enjoyment of your business environment and ambience
- PEL have expertise in many environments: retail, restaurant, salon, workspace, leisure
- Targeted and sympathetic audio and visual messaging, advertising and in-space entertainment
- Rapid-response customer service to get the mix of music and media exactly right for the results you need, when you need them
- An "all-in" solutions for your needs: from creative sound design to planning, to start-up, backed by superb in-house support services and aftercare


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Thumping chiptune of the day is awarded to Thurst! Earlier, I enjoyed a belting game of this golden oldie but I now suffer the reward of having its funky music booming through my tiny little mind. Yep, I just can't get it out of my head so it's a good job then that it's one of my favourites! Such a memorable Rob Hubbard masterpiece.
Now, I don't remember too many rave magazine reviews. Probably because it didn't appear that much better than the 8-Bit games? That is actually a good thing, its style is perfect and I'm sure any cosmetic changes would have been a huge mistake, remember Chuckie Egg 2... Anyhow, this a tough game but stick with it because the rewards are huge with massive gameplay longevity. I love Thrust and highly recommended it - a cracking retro game!
- 8BitChip has a version of Thrust that you can install to hard drive.
- Those that need the floppy disk can check out Old Games Finder.
- SNDH Record is the place to visit if you fancy driving yourself crazy with this gorgeous chiptune?
- Masochists can even download it to play later, courtesy of the SNDH Archive. All good fun :-)


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Iran, Sweden, Finland and Denmark signed a quadrilateral memorandum of understanding for industrial cooperation in Tehran on Sunday. The MoU was signed by Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran's director general for international affairs, Ali Araqchi; Swedish Ambassador to Iran Helena Sangeland; Finland's Ambassador to Iran Keijo Norvanto; and Denmark's Ambassador to Iran Danny Annan, Financial Tribune has learned.
The agreement stipulates that the signing parties will promote collaboration in mega projects in the fields of exploration and production of oil, gas and petrochemicals, high-tech and related services; land, marine and air transportation; renewable energies; manager training; industrial renovation and consultation; steel industry; water and wastewater management and treatment; as well as investment and finance.


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If you find planning healthy meals a difficult task, these common issues may ring true for you.
A healthy, balanced supper should contain three components.
1 Grains and starches include bread, pita, wraps, pasta, potato, rice, quinoa or other grains. These offer the fibre, B-vitamins and carbohydrate your brain and muscles need for energy.
2 Veggies and fruit include raw veggies, leftover cooked or grilled veggies, vegetable soup, salad, fresh fruit, frozen berries, canned unsweetened fruit, and dried fruit.
3Source of protein such as meat, poultry, seafood, legumes (chickpeas, lentils, black beans, refried beans and more), cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, canned tuna and salmon, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds.
Meal planning can help keep your budget in check, protect your health, reduce food waste, eliminate meal-time stress, and cut down on time spent thinking about what to have for dinner.
Based on the time you have in your schedule, use a calendar, journal or computer template to assign each day of the week with the following labels.
If you find that this three-step meal planning system is not a good fit for you and seems overwhelming, don't worry! Start small. Any amount of planning will help. Some families find planning one day at a time works best. Others plan only a few meals for the week ahead, leaving nights open to use leftovers and planned extras.
While everyone has different food preferences and cooking skills, these backup supper ideas can help get you started.
Scramble – Scramble eggs and serve with toast (fresh or frozen bread), and carrot sticks or frozen veggies.
Mexican – Make quesadillas using fresh or frozen flour tortillas and grated cheese, canned black beans, red peppers (fresh or roasted red peppers from a jar), frozen corn and salsa.
Shrimp – Sauté frozen shrimp with Thai chili sauce or lemon, garlic and olive oil, and serve with prewashed salad and couscous (which takes only minutes to make).
Beans – Heat baked beans, boil potatoes (or microwave for speed), and steam cabbage or shave it in a coleslaw.
Fish – Dust thin frozen fish fillets with bread crumbs and seasoning, steam fresh or frozen veggies, and add whole grain garlic toast.
French Toast – Top French toast with yogurt or cottage cheese, and frozen berries or mango.
Noodles – Combine pasta, tomato sauce, and ground meat or poultry, or canned drained lentils or chick peas.
Asian – Stir-fry fresh or frozen strips of beef, pork or chicken with fresh or frozen veggies, and serve in a wrap or over rice.
In a best-case scenario, you will book time in your calendar to plan meals for the week, make a grocery shopping list, and go shopping. However, we all know that life is not perfect or predictable. Planning or being able to carry out a plan does not always happen. Sometimes you have an amazing plan, but something happens in your work or family life to steal those precious hours. Having a backup plan can help navigate times like this.
The single most important question to ask yourself each night is simple. Before going to bed, answer the question "What's for supper tomorrow?"
If you forgot to answer the supper question the night before, think about it on your drive to work, at lunch, or while waiting to pick up your kids from school. Any amount of planning is helpful, instead of making do when you are hangry and tired and it's time to eat.
Planned extras come from cooking more of one part of the meal to use in a new way the next day.
• Make extra grilled or roasted meat. Use for wraps or salad the next day.
• Roast a whole chicken. Use extras in casseroles or chicken salad.
• Roast extra vegetables. Add to wraps, scrambled eggs or soups.
• Cook a double batch of rice or quinoa. Freeze in individual or family-sized portions.
Having a solid backup meal plan prevents stress if scheduled meals fall apart or your trip to the grocery store gets delayed. This simple strategy allows work, personal and family schedules to change. It also prevents imbalanced home meals or eating out.


text: Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind: Staff Accounting Bulletin 108 Last September, the Securities & Exchange Commission's Office of the Chief Accountant issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 to provide guidance to companies in considering the materiality of known errors in financial statements issued in prior years. In most walks of adult life, it's understood: you make a mistake, you 'fess up and learn from it. Sticking with a mistake only seems to compound the consequences. So - why the need for regulatory "guidance" in deciding whether or not a financial reporting error needs a correction? Simple: after cultivating an aura of invincibility and precision ("earnings came in as targeted"), companies are loathe to admit an error for fear of looking dumb to investors. Another reason: when it comes to the plaintiff's bar, managers don't want to look like a pork chop waved in front of a coyote. Taking blame for flawed financial reporting can do that. The SEC has a ground-level view of what's under the financial statements; they know that companies have harbored errors in balance sheets for years. Issuing a Staff Accounting Bulletin on error corrections gets them aired, and gives companies some cover to get their sins cleansed "because they had to do it." SAB No. 108 has been little-noticed by investors, largely because in certain circumstances it permits the correction of errors by adjusting beginning-of-year retained earnings. It's not often that investors prowl the statement of changes in stockholders' equity, so they'll miss SAB 108 adjustments unless they notice their mention in the footnotes. There are some real differences in the way large companies and small companies have handled past errors and their corrections under SAB 108. Furthermore, investors who look at return on equity as a measure of operating performance can be misled by the SAB 108 "catch-up" treatment: error corrections that decrease equity can improve return on equity, perversely making companies with flawed reporting look like they're doing a better job with shareholder interests.


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(DEL VALLE, Texas) Del Valle ISD (DVISD) held its annual new teacher luncheon on Friday, Aug. 11, at the Circuit on the Americas (COTA) to introduce the new teachers to the Del Valle district and gave our overall teachers of the year a moment to share their inspirational experiences in the classroom.
The 2016-2017 teachers of the year shared their experiences, stories and successes that made them exemplary from the previous school year. This year's overall Elementary Teacher of the Year was Maria Luisa Fernandez from Baty Elementary School, and the overall Secondary Teacher of the Year was Leslie Daughtry from Daily Middle School.
Along with the new teachers, other attendees were Del Valle ISD Education Partners, DVISD Board of Trustees, campus principals and the executive cabinet members.
"Our new teacher luncheon is an exciting time for us to introduce our new teachers to the entire Del Valle district with a bus tour to get a visualization of where our students come from and familiarize themselves with the area," Superintendent Kelly Crook said. "Showing the new teachers the Del Valle area will allow them to fully grasp the community, which will help make a difference in their students' success."
The luncheon concluded with a district bus tour around the DVISD area for new teachers. The luncheon was held from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Velocity Lounge at COTA.


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Microsoft is taking a page out of 50's era TV variety show advertising. Only this isn't Sid Caeser and "Your Show of Shows". It's Peter Griffin and "Family Guy".
The maker of Windows signed a deal with Fox to sponsor a variety show produced by "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane and the voice of the family patriarch Peter Griffin. Taking a cue from the single-sponsored shows of old, this planned mix of live action, music and animation will feature Windows-branded information throughout the program in lieu of commercials.
As Stewie Griffin would say, "What the deuce?"
With good reviews of Windows 7, particularly a near glowing assessment from the dean of technology writers, Walt Mossberg, why would Microsoft resort to promoting a product on a show with humor (read raunch) close to "South Park"? Type in "Windows 7 Reviews" into your browser and you'll get pages upon pages of what tech types already think of the new OS.
Microsoft's creative team at Crispin, Porter & Bogusky will walk the tightrope of how much promotion will be too much without turning it into an infamous (and cringe worthy) "Windows 7 Launch Party" infomercial. But if Microsoft decides to go heavy handed, the audience won't be laughing with Microsoft, it will be laughing at them.
I'm unsure why Microsoft is concentrating so much time, energy and cash on the demographic that watches "Family Guy". This infortainommercial could turn out to be like Super Bowl beer commercials. Singular, funny, creative, yet unable to sell product.


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Brisbane's property market continues to perform well at a time when many other markets are languishing.
The Brisbane annual median house price grew 3.1 per cent to a new record of $670,000 in the March quarter, according to the REIQ March Quarter Queensland Market Monitor report.
However the apartment market is still suffering from oversupply with prices easing 1.8 per cent over the 12 months to March 2018.
Brisbane real estate was buoyed by steady population growth driving demand and underpinned by good economic fundamentals.
Overseas migrants saw Brisbane as the place to be, bringing 12,847 residents into the city, followed by the Gold Coast and Moreton Bay.
Queensland has now become the number-one destination for internal migration, taking over from Victoria and overseas migration is at its highest level in years.
As always, the markets were fragmented.
Some areas underperformed, 68 suburbs far exceeded the average level of growth and almost a dozen suburbs had double digit price growth over the last year.
The best performers
In the past 12 months the Real Estate Institute of Queensland's figures show Indooroopilly, where the median house price increased by 24.1 per cent to $1.01 million.
The best performer in the March quarter was Paddington where the median house price rose 19.8 per cent to $1,269,500.
Here's what the REIQ says is happening around the Queensland property market.
The Ipswich house market grew 3.0 per cent, to a new annual median house price of $340,000. March was a quiet quarter for this market, falling 1.5 per cent, but over the year it performed well.
The growth in the house market was offset by falls in the unit market, contracting 3.0 per cent over the 12 months to March 2018, to an annual median unit price of $319,900.
As with other markets, it is likely that population growth will start to absorb some of this stock soon, however, due to the area's houses being so affordable, units are competing with a range of stock types to find buyers.
You can buy a unit for $319,000 but just $20,000 more will net you a house.
Ipswich reported a population growth of 3.2 per cent for the year to June 2017, the largest annual population growth for any local government area in the state for that period.
The Logan house market delivered among the strongest performances for all markets in the March report, adding 4.0 per cent to the annual median house price, to $395,000.
The unit market was one of the few markets to grow, adding 0.7 per cent to an annual median unit price of $271,000.
However, over the past five years the unit market has fallen 7.5 per cent.
Moreton Bay
The Moreton Bay annual median house price grew a steady 2.4 per cent over the 12 months to March, to deliver a median house price of $435,000.
This growth is the smallest in Greater Brisbane.
The unit market felt the pain of the combined factors of strong supply and the affordability of houses, with a 3.8 per cent contraction in the annual median unit price to $346,250, down from $359,900 this time last year.
Redland LGA delivered rock star growth of 3.9 per cent for the year to a median house price of $530,000.
The heavy lifting was done in the suburbs of Birkdale and Cleveland which delivered 6.3 per cent and 6.7 per cent growth respectively.
The lifestyle and affordability options in this region are proving very popular with buyers.
Similar to the house market, the Redland unit market delivered stellar growth over the 12 months to March 2018, adding 3.4 per cent growth to a new median unit price of $409,500.
This was by far the strongest unit growth in all of Greater Brisbane.
The Gold Coast has taken the gold medal for annual median house price growth again, adding 6.0 per cent growth to a median house price of $620,000, the highest growth in the state.
Gold Coast house owners now have an asset that is worth an additional $35,000 more than it was this time last year, thanks to strong capital growth.
The unit market added 1.9 per cent to deliver a median unit price of $428,000 for the year.
The Toowoomba market has been a consistently steady performer, delivering 1.1 per cent growth for the year to March 2018, and a median house price of $355,000.
The unit market has defied regional trends throughout most of 2016 and 2017, however, gravity is now catching up and this market contracted 2.9 per cent to $300,000.
The market remains 17.6 per cent larger than it was five years ago.
The Sunshine Coast Statistical Division (SD) (incorporating the Sunshine Coast LGA and Noosa Shire) house market has delivered moderate and sustainable growth for the quarter, the past year and the past five years.
A typical house in the Sunshine Coast SD increased in value $31,250 for the past year, to reach an annual median price of $576,250.
Noosa continued holding the title of the most exclusive market compared to the Sunshine Coast local government area as Noosa houses generally cost $100,000 more.
In March 2018, the Noosa median house price reached $665,000 compared to the Sunshine Coast median house price of $563,000.
The Noosa unit market also performed well for the past 12 months, growing a stunning 7.1 per cent to reach an annual median price of $525,000 and remaining as the most expensive unit market in Queensland.
Unit prices in the Sunshine Coast local government area increased 2.8 per cent, to $405,000 in March 2018.
The Fraser Coast house market continues to be a steady performer, with annual median prices holding steady for the past quarter and increasing very modestly (only 1 per cent) for the past year.
A typical house in Fraser Coast had an annual median price of $315,000 in March 2018.
The unit market performance was weak in the March quarter.
However, its performance for the past year was better compared to the house market as the annual median unit price increased 2.2 per cent.
A typical unit in Fraser Coast had an annual median price of $259,500 in March 2018.
Only about 11 per cent of the regional dwellings were units.
The regional population growth of 1 per cent or 1045 residents for the year to June 2017 was driven primarily by internal migration of 983 residents.
The outlook of the house sales market is steady and remains heavily dependent on the regional economic fundamentals strengthening in the year ahead.
The Bundaberg house market has held its ground over the past five years, with a house costing about the same today as it did five years ago.
However, the market showed small growth levels of 1.8 per cent over the past 12 months, which is encouraging.
A house in Bundaberg cost an annual median price of $285,000 in March 2013 and March 2018.
The unit market performed a bit better than the house market over the past five years.
A unit in Bundaberg increased in value from $251,400 in March 2013 to $259,000 in March 2018.
The Wide Bay SA4 employment market remained weak this quarter as the unemployment rate increased from 9 per cent in December 2017 to 9.2 per cent in March 2018.
We hope the investment on the $210 million Childers Solar Farm, the $30 million Bundaberg CBD revitalisation and the proposed $18 bio-refinery project support regional confidence and create job opportunities.
Regional population in the Bundaberg local government area recorded a small increase of 405 new residents, to reach 94,858 total residents for the year to June 2017.
The key drivers for the increase were overseas migration and to a lesser extent the natural increase in population.
The outlook for the rental market in 2018 is also stable and partially supported by the regional infrastructure program.
Gladstone has stared down some of the most challenging market conditions in the state.
This market lost 8.5 per cent over the 12 months to the March quarter, to a median house price of $280,000.
This market is more than 38 per cent below where it was five years ago.
The unit market fell 36 per cent over the past 12 months to an annual median unit price of $167,500.
The rental market provided some good news for the region, with vacancies tightening for a third-consecutive quarter to 4.1 per cent.
In a typical real estate cycle, the rental market tightens, indicating people are moving to the area and then six to 12 months later we start to see an improvement in the sales market as those renters become buyers.
With the undeniable affordability of the Gladstone market it seems likely that this typical trend will continue here, however, nothing is guaranteed.
The Rockhampton property market slipped moderately for the past year, with house prices falling 1.9 per cent, to $265,000 and unit prices contracting 1.3 per cent, to $295,000.
Units continued to outperform houses, as they've done for much of the year, and ended the year more expensive than houses.
This atypical performance may be the consequence of the limited unit market, which represents less than 10 per cent of the region's dwellings.
Local sentiment has improved over the past few months. In light of this improvement, the rental market has seen improved market fundamentals as vacancies have followed a downward path for the past four quarters.
The weekly median rent for different type of dwellings have also increased over the March quarter, potentially driven by an increase in rental demand.
The economic drivers of housing demand have remained weak for the past few years.
Population fell by 0.2 per cent for the 12 months to June 2017 driven by the exodus of 844 residents.
The Fitzroy SA4 unemployment rate of 6.9 per cent in March 2018 remained above the state's unemployment rate of 6 per cent.
The outlook of the sales and rental market remained challenging.
However, the REIQ has the view that house prices will stabilise in 2018 and the rental market will also see improvement by way of lower vacancies and increased weekly rents.
The Mackay house sales market has delivered an outstanding 4.1 per cent growth to the annual median house price, to reach $333,250, and live up to last quarter's forecast of a stronger start to 2018.
This market is now officially in recovery.
However, the unit market performance remained weak as unit prices fell 7.8 per cent, to $212,000 for the past year.
Mackay is the second most affordable unit market in the state.
Townsville delivered a surprising fall of 3 per cent in the annual median house price for the year to March, to reach $325,000.
Even more surprising, units grew a massive 5.7 per cent for the year to March, to $280,000.
House market indicators, such as days on market and vendor discounting all indicate a market on the improve.
Days on market have come down from 70 days in 2017 to 62 days in 2018.
Vendor discounting has moved from 8.4 per cent to 7.4 per cent, which indicates houses are selling faster and vendors are discounting less to close the sale.
The REIQ is optimistic about the Townsville market through 2018, confident that buyer demand will strengthen and prices will improve and move this market towards a recovery phase.
Cairns delivered steady growth of 2.5 per cent over the past 12 months, to arrive at an annual median house price of $410,000 in March 2018.
The Cairns house market has been one of the top-two regional performers (excluding the southeast corner) for the past five years of all the areas analysed in the Queensland Market Monitor.
House prices increased 17.1 per cent or $60,000, from $350,000 in March 2013.
The unit market was weak in the year to March with the annual median unit price falling 1.7 per cent, to $232,000.
Cairns is one of the big winners from the announcement of the $5 billion Land 400 Phase 2 contract.
Cairns' Redcat Industries has a teaming agreement with the winning tenderer, Rheinmetall Defence Australia.
This means high-skilled jobs will be created in the region and regional businesses will benefit from the transfer of technologies and skills.
Source: REIQ
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Breakfast Buffet
07.00 - 10.00 hrs.
Our breakfast buffet includes traditional choices of American Breakfast such as Ham, Bacon, Sausages, Choices of wide variety of Eggs, Sauteed Potatoes and French Toast. In addition, we also provide Continental Breakfast and Asian Style Breakfast for those wants a special treat for breakfast. Our offer includes Japanese Set - Grilled Fish with Steamed Rice and Miso Soup, Wonton Soup and more. For beverage, we offer freshly squeezed juice as well as fresh roasted coffee and herbal tea.


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3D och SACD Bluray-spelare med Miracast och Dropbox
This Blu-ray Disc Player is compatible with Miracast™, a wireless standard that lets you connect any Miracast™-compatible smartphone or tablet for mirroring videos and photos to the player, so the whole family can view them on a widescreen TV. When using a Yamaha AV receiver, you'll enjoy a variety of media mirrored via Miracast™ with dynamic sound.
Built-in WiFi and Network Features:
AV Controller App• iPhone/iPad, Android phone/tablet app control• VUDU compatibility for video on demand (for USA only)• Dropbox compatibility for accessing to stored contents• YouTube Leanback compatibility• Picasa compatibility for viewing digital photos• Playback DLNA server (PC or NAS) contents• Software update capability via network Video Features• Supports playback of Blu-ray 3D™, the latest video format• 1080p/24Hz-compatible HDMI video output• x.v.Colour and Deep Colour compatibility• Video noise reduction feature
Audio Features• HD Audio format bitstream out• Direct bitstream and multi-channel Linear PCM output via HDMI• High resolution audio 192kHz/24bit FLAC, ALAC file playback compatibility
Advanced Features• Connect to the Internet to access the fun and informative features that BD-Live™ provides• BONUSVIEW™ provides Secondary Video and Audio for enhanced commentary and information• Wide variety media and format support- Blu-ray Disc™s, DVDs, SACDs, CDs- BONUSVIEW™ and BD-Live™ - USB - DLNA(DMP/DMR)• Multimedia compatibility: - MKV with H.264, MPEG PS, MPEG TS, MPEG-4, VOB, AVI, ASF, WMV, DivX Plus HD, AVCHD (Video) - MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, FLAC, ALAC (Audio) - JPEG, GIF, PNG (Picture)• Playback of JPEG slideshows with MP3 audio sound track
Easy Setup and Operations• Setup Wizard makes setup easy• Automatic wireless setup with the WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup)• Software upgrade via network or USB• Multi-language on-screen display GUI• Sequential operations of the TV, AV receiver and this Player (HDMI CEC)• One-touch power on and playback from AV Receiver SCENE button via HDMI CEC• iPhone/iPad, Android phone/tablet app control


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Americans' evolving tastes for how they consume alcohol appear to be endangering an American institution.
Neighborhood bars have been disappearing for a decade now, according to newly released statistics from Nielsen. The market research firm defines these establishments as bars that generally have a regular clientele with no dress code, obvious theme or cover charge.
Between 2004 and 2014, 1 in 6 neighborhood bars closed. The average national closure rate peaked last year, when more than six of these types of bars closed each day.
Closure rates are especially high in the Midwest. States where neighborhood bars have seen the greatest decline are:
- Kansas
- Arkansas
- Michigan
- Virginia
- Indiana
Nielsen cites two trends as possible contributors to the decline of neighborhood bars.
The first is a growing demand for establishments that serve both alcoholic beverages and food, as more new restaurants are opening than bars nationwide. (Not to mention that this year is the first on record in which Americans spent more money dining out each month than they did on groceries.)
Mario Gutierrez, a vice president at Nielsen, tells CNN Money:
"More consumers want to go out for that full dining experience rather than just a few beers with a bag of chips at a local bar."
The second trend is the growing variety of places where alcohol can be bought or consumed. According to Nielsen, these include a growing number of new casual dining options that serve alcohol — like "fast casual" food restaurants and brewpubs — as well as in-store dining and drinking options in grocery stores.
Have you noticed neighborhood bars dying off in your area? What are the most popular types of drinking establishments where you live? Share your thoughts below or on Facebook.
Disclosure: The information you read here is always objective. However, we sometimes receive compensation when you click links within our stories.


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The city tour for explorers: an official City of Munich guide takes you to very beautiful places off the beaten track.
During this guided tour you will discover old and new courtyards, hidden nooks and lanes in the city center.
Even those who know Munich already will discover a lot of new and interesting details.
Book this tour with München Tourismus, Guided Tours
Phone: +49 89 233 30234, -30204 and -30237
Fax: +49 89 233 30319
Duration 2 hours | fee from 140 € incl. possible VAT | available in many languages | dates, meeting point and special requests by arrangement


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February. The longest month of the year with the fewest amount of days. It's no secret I am not a fan of winter. December's okay because there are lights and music and stuff. January is less okay but still not bad because of the New Year and my wedding anniversary. Plus the kids go back to school in January so it's a bit of a celebration. I'm still "excited" about the prospect of winter running in January.
But February. We're in the hard, cold days of winter now. Spring is so close I can almost taste it. But it's still SO far for us Clevelanders. The days drag on. There's rarely any sunshine. It's cold. We're cranky. We need summer!!
Did I paint a dismal enough picture? Great! Because today I'm here with some rants about winter. Last week I brought you Scenes from my Winter Run. Today I bring you… "Winter Running is Hard."
Join Fairytales and Fitness and me for the Friday Five 2.0 linkup! This has been an amazing ride and we're glad you guys link up every week. Scroll down to add yours!
Winter Running is Hard… and Worth It
1. Speedwork on the treadmill? Thumbs down.
Speedwork suuuuuucks in the winter. Take Thursday, for example. My friend and I both had speedwork on our training plans but guess what? It was a snowy, slippery, COLD mess so we couldn't do it together. Winter: 1, Speedwork + Rachel: 0.
But let's forget the cold temperatures for a minute. It's straight up dangerous to do speedwork outside on slippery roads. I don't know about you but when it's even remotely slick or there's the tiniest possibility of ice, I'm running super slow — but I'm more likely indoors.
Winter. Beh.
2. No one likes being cold!
I hate running in the cold. Like, seriously. If I'm with friends that's one thing. But last week I wanted to take my pup out for a run. It was "feels like 2˚F." That is not awesome running weather.
3. Putting on all the clothes is annoying.
For the days I do suck it up and run in the cold, putting on everything I own just to get a few miles in is supremely annoying. And what's worse is after the run when I'm still in all the clothes but now I'm wet from the inevitable sweat from wearing too many clothes, which of course makes me cold. I can't win!
4. But seriously, where's the sun?
I saw the sun on Tuesday. It's now Friday.
There are times we will go weeks without seeing the sun in Cleveland. How depressing is that?! Even running outside in the fresh air is depressing when there's no sun to speak of. I'm all about using exercise to keep me fit and happy but there are some days I just want to open my eyes as wide as they can possibly open just to get more vitamin D.
5. But winter runs with friends are amazing.
You didn't think I would drop a bombshell depressing post on you and then split like that, did you?! Heck no!
For all the times I bitch and complain about winter running, there's nothing better than a winter run with friends. Especially if it's snowing. There's just something magical about being out there with like-minded people, enjoying the weather and the sport, and finishing it off with a delicious, hot breakfast. Summer running is my favorite, no doubt, but I don't have nearly as many awesome stories of long runs with friends than I do during winter training.
Do I love winter running? Uh, that would be a big fat no. Buuuuut, it does have some perks. I guess I won't write it off completely. 😉
Have a lovely weekend and I'll catch you back here on Monday! Happy running!
On the treadmill would you rather: run hills or do speedwork?
What's your favorite outdoor winter activity?


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For many people we're now into the holiday season. As well as lots of turkey, this probably means time away from work and at least a couple of long weekends.
For people who do SEO in-house at a company, or for people who run their own websites/businesses, this can actually be a valuable time to do some work out of the office. You can focus on tasks (big and small) that you just don't tend to find the time to do when you're in the office, and you might even find that your creative juices are flowing particularly well after stepping away from the 'snow-blindness' that a 9-5 routine can deliver.
With that in mind, I've suggested a few different tasks below. If you have a few minutes or a few hours over a weekend or the holidays to do something work-related, and would like to achieve something more productive than just checking your email, then one or two of the following might provide a useful diversion.
1: Double Check Your SitemapsTask: Parse your XML sitemaps to make sure you're not pointing to any URLs that 404 or 500.
Why: Bing has talked publicly about how having more than 1% 'dirt' makes them lose trust in your sitemap. Google are likely to take a similar approach.
How to: You could co-opt your whole family to spend an afternoon checking pages from your sitemap. As an alternative, Mike King (@IPullRank) has created a nifty tool - the Map Broker - XML Sitemap Validator - to do all the work for you. Submit the address of your sitemap (or upload the file) and check up on the errors. Save the output for when you get back to the office, and you have time to start fixing the URLs in there or removing the errors.
Time Required: From what I've seen, I'd allow about 5 minutes per 100 URLs. The length of time that it'll take you to fix any problems depends on how good your data quality was to begin with!
2: Reclaim Some Link StrengthTask: Find any pages where people are linking to URLs on your site that 404.
Why: Not only will Google will be wasting crawl allowance looking at useless pages, but you may be missing out on link juice from people who have mis-linked to you.
How to: In Google Webmaster Tools, click on 'Diagnostics' -> 'Crawl Errors'. Clicking the link on the far right of each line will show you which pages are linking incorrectly. If there are any internal links listed here, keep a note to work through the list later to fix each one. For external links you can decide whether you'd prefer to contact the site to ask them to ask them to correct the link, or to 301 the target URL to a more appropriate page. It's worth mentioning that in the process of reaching out to people, you may even be able to use the opportunity to strengthen your relationship with them - which could be really valuable for the future.
Time Required: 5 minutes to log into WMT and to start parsing the data. 5 minutes for each site you need to contact, to find a contact email address and send them the email.
3: Add a New String to Your BowTask: Find one new head term that you want to rank for
Why: There's very little risk to targeting a new term with your site, and you've got an opportunity now to try something that you may not otherwise have dedicated any time to.
How to: You may well have a variety of terms that you had in the back of your mind that you might want to target. For this exercise, you should look for something that's going to be reasonably hard to rank for, but could bring a worthwhile amount of traffic to your site. Use your favorite keyword tool (I'd just go straight to Google's Keyword Tool) to find a term that could be among your 10 biggest non-branded keywords if you ranked on the first page for it. If you're an SEOmoz user, I'd use the Keyword Difficulty Tool to make sure that the term you're going after is at least a 40 or 50% difficulty term.
Write content that targets the term, grab an appropriate image, and get a page up on your site with a targeted URL and title. Bear in mind the question "does this page deserve to rank in the top-10 for my keyword?" If not, think about what additions to the page would make you answer 'yes'.
Link to the page with exact anchor text from the home page of your site, and encourage a few of your friends or fans to tweet about it. The page isn't going to rank #1 straight away, but leave it to get indexed by search engines and see if it shows up anywhere. When you're back in the office, think more critically about your off-site strategy for this page.
Time Required: 30 minutes research; 1 - 2 hours to build the page; 30 minutes to promote it to a few relevant people.
4: Give Your Videos a Fighting ChanceTask: Create a video sitemap for your site
Why: Video sitemaps are still incredibly effective at getting your videos indexed by Google, and giving you the opportunity to have blended video results in very competitive SERPs.
How to: Depending on time allowed, I'd suggest we get this up and running as a proof-of-concept, rather than a full blown video sitemap system right now. As such, don't worry about an automatically updating system with all the bells and whistles. Start by collecting a list of the videos on your site (including: their titles, the page they're embedded on, the actual location of the video file.) Look at the video sitemap format specifications on Google.com and figure out how you're going to produce a file in that format with your data. (You could do some 'copy-and-paste' work if there's only a modest number of videos. Another basic solution might be to create a sheet in MS Excel to do this for you. I've not been impressed by any of the various 'video sitemap generators' that I've seen online; I'm very open to recommendations.)
Once you've created the sitemap: upload it to your server, add a reference to it in your robots.txt and submit it to Google via Webmaster Central.
Time Required: Depending on the number of videos you have, it could take anyone from a few minutes to a few hours to collect the video data, and could take a similar amount to time to create the sitemap. If you have huge numbers of videos or don't have easy access to video data, consider just spending 30 minutes on creating a video sitemap for a dozen videos and get this up to see if you can start by getting blended search results for those videos.
5: Appeal to a New AudienceTask: Write a blog post about something that will appeal to a very different crowd to your normal audience.
Why: The best reason to try this is to widen the potential group of people who might link to your site or promote the content on niche sites.
How to: It can be hard to pick one niche from the huge variety of people that fall outside of your typical audience, so focus on something 'non-core' that you've done recently that someone might find interesting. By way of examples: could you write about some aspect of your current website that would be interesting to Hacker News readers? (One non-technical client wrote about a custom Drupal module they'd created; the post did well on Hacker News, the Drupal forums and on other developer sites.) Could you write a post about how you designed your logo, and get it featured on Design Float? Could you write about tips & tricks you use to be more productive, with a view to coverage from sites like Lifehacker?
Do be aware of how your regular blog readers may respond to an off-topic post. If they're interested in seeing another side of you, then that's great. (We get good responses to the occasional non-SEO post on Distilled; SEOmoz are known to go off-topic from time to time.) If regular readers are likely to be unhappy about you going off-topic, consider publishing this type of content on a static URL or in a separate section of your site.
Time Required: How long does it take to write a blog post? You tell me. Give yourself a deadline (eg: 30 minutes for idea generation, 90 minutes to draft the post, 30 minutes to find a handful of prospects to promote it to) and see how you get on.
6: Mine your Mailing ListTask: Use a service such as Qwerly or Fliptop to gather intelligence on your contacts
Why: You can look at the email addresses in your customer database or on your email subscription list and identify the people that could be most useful to create closer relationships with.
How to: I used to espouse using Qwerly; the company has recently been purchased by Fliptop, so I don't know what the long term plans for the Qwerly API are. I'm investigating Fliptop at the moment, and will write about that in more detail when I have something to report! With both services, you're able to parse a list of email addresses, and get back data including the Twitter & other social media accounts associated with each email address; it will cost a small price per contact, though this can add up with thousands of contacts.
With this information, you could find the customers/subscribers with the highest follower count or Klout Score. These people would make great targets for outreach to promote content or new products. If you have limited time over the weekend, you could at least send a couple of personalized emails to influential contacts from your lists; thank them for being a reader/user/subscriber/customer and perhaps offer them something special.
Time Required: Getting up and running with a new API can sometimes be a struggle, and will depend on your tech ability. However, Fliptop does appear to be working on ways to make it easy to import your contact lists directly (from tools such as MailChimp, ExactTarget, ConstantContact and Salesforce) which may make the process much faster.
7: Impress the LinkeratiTask: Identify three influential bloggers or writers that you'd like a link from and do something to impress them.
Why: This is the kind of task that's easy to overlook while you're in the office; let your creative juices flow and do something out-of-the-ordinary.
How to: Though there's plenty to say about identifying influential people in a particular space, I'd hope that you already have a good handle on who the influential writers in your niche are. If you need some inspiration, think about the blogs that you read (or the ones that you read when you were just getting into your industry.) Alternatively, have a look if there's already a curated list of bloggers on Alltop; take a look the bloggers listed at beer.alltop.com, college-football.alltop.com, seo.alltop.com etc. Use their search feature, or I'm sure you can figure out the URL format there ;-)
What inspires your three favorite bloggers to write a post? What impresses them enough to share something? You don't need to execute on this straight away, but try to come up with a suitably long list of ideas and start whittling it down. Do you want to follow WePay and drop a 600lb diss outside your competitor's conference? Or like Nordstrom, and insist upon 'one holiday at a time'? Or Game of Thrones and release a 2 minute 'production trailer' on TV and online to start building buzz.
Time Required: Give as much time as you want to thinking about this. Think about it in the shower. Think about it when you're falling asleep. Think about it when you're reading the blogs you want to get covered on. You might suddenly have a startlingly great idea, or you might create enough average ideas that you can discuss them with the rest of your team to iterate and create something really effective.
Enjoy your holiday season and all the long weekends. Have fun with your friends and family, and don't work too hard.