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A.W. Tozer once wrote, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." This is the Bible's perspective, as well.
- "In the beginning, God…"
- "You shall have no other gods before me (the one true and living God)"
- "Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might."
- You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth.
- "And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
This is the most fundamental aspect of "being transformed by the renewing of our minds" (Rom 12:2) that is key to the process of spiritual formation. Such formation involves learning to see and live our life's story within the story told by the one true and living God. That is why coming to know who God is and what God is like is so important!
That is why I will begin our iMonk emphasis on spiritual formation by recommending a classic book on the subject.
Now, wait a minute. Before you go any further, I must issue a warning.
The evangelical approach to spiritual formation has been dominated by the practice of "reading books." Nobody loves books more than I do, but I will also be the first one to tell you that following Jesus as a growing disciple involves much more than this. Thankfully, there is a growing recognition of how we have overemphasized opening up people's heads, pouring in content, and calling them mature.
Jesus didn't do that. Paul and the other apostles didn't do that. The early church did not do that. Luther and the other reformers emphasized imparting doctrine more because of their extraordinary circumstances, but Luther in particular did so with pastoral sensitivity, balance, and practical counsel, out of concern for the spiritual formation of ordinary Christians.
Spiritual formation is more like apprenticeship than school, more like learning a trade than mastering an academic subject, more like working on a farm with a harvest in view than working for grades. It is more than anything like walking with Jesus, living with Jesus, eating and drinking with Jesus, watching Jesus work, listening to Jesus teach, asking questions of Jesus, fulfilling the callings Jesus assigns us, and living the life with God that Jesus showed us and makes possible for us.
Having said that, a person does need to know truth, especially truth about who God is and what his story that culminates in Jesus is all about. Jesus taught his disciples. The churches devoted themselves, in part, to "the apostles' teaching" (Acts 2). Ephesians 4 tells us that "speaking the truth in love" to one another within the church is a key part of the process by which the Body of Christ grows to maturity. Books are an extension of that, allowing us to hear from the wider Church's best pastors and teachers for our edification. Book-learning has its place, especially when we find books that combine sound thinking, stimulating writing, and sensitive pastoral concern, and when we read them contemplatively and prayerfully, in conversation with God and others.
Therefore, the book I am recommending as a solid foundation for spiritual formation is Knowing God, by J.I. Packer. This book was an important turning point for Michael Spencer in his spiritual journey:
My youth and music minister, Bill, was a huge influence on my life. As a growing young Christian, we spent hours together. I owe him a great deal of gratitude as a mentor during some tough times in my family. He took an interest in seeing me discover and use my gifts and talents in the service of the Kingdom. One day I brought a book to Bill; a book I was excited about reading because it was taking me into a subject I'd never heard about at our church. The book was J. I. Packer's Knowing God. This remarkable book of theology was way over my head as a teenager, but the premise was revolutionary to me: the basic fact of my life was living to know my creator. It was my relationship with God that was my basic identity. God was the center of the Christian experience, and salvation was an unfolding of the greatness of the Lord. All this stood in contrast to the version of the Christian life that was all around me.
• Michael Spencer, Wretched Urgency
J.I. Packer's book asserts strongly that humans were created for a purpose, and the purpose is that we know God. This should be our aim in life. This, in fact, is the essence of what the "eternal life" that we receive in Jesus is about (John 17:3). Packer calls knowing God "the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight, and contentment, than anything else." In the end, it is this profound and personal knowledge of God that brings God most pleasure, by his own testimony (Hosea 6:6). Knowing God "provides at once a foundation, shape, and goal for our lives, plus a principle of priorities and a scale of values." This is the main business of our lives.
Nor is it enough to merely know truths about God.
Our aim in studying the Godhead must be to know God Himself the better. Our concern must be to enlarge our acquaintance, not simply with the doctrine of God's attributes, but with the living God whose attributes they are. As He is the subject of our study, and our helper in it, so He must Himself be the end of it. We must seek, in studying God, to be led to God. It was for this purpose that revelation was given, and it is to this use that we must put it. (p. 18)
To this end, Packer commends this simple method of transforming knowledge about God into personal acquaintance with God: "It is that we turn each truth that we learn about God into matter for meditation before God, leading to prayer and praise to God."
Jim Packer has given us a book that elicits such contemplation.
- In Part One, "Know the Lord," he discusses what it means to know God, and introduces us to the Triune God who has revealed himself that we might make his acquaintance.
- In Part Two, "Behold Your God!" he takes us on a tour of God's attributes, including his majesty, wisdom, love, grace, and righteousness.
- The third and final section, "If God Be for Us…" is an examination of the Good News that this God, the one true and living God who created us and has been longsuffering toward us despite our rebellion and sin, has commended his covenant love to us in his Son forever.
Thus, we are introduced to the God who is, the God who has revealed his character to us, the God who has acted on behalf of humankind and all creation to provide redemption and eternal hope. And Packer does so with such profound theological insight, such depth and breadth of Biblical understanding, such clarity of expression, and such compassionate understanding of our human weaknesses and failures, that each sentence and paragraph cries out for further consideration.
The best I can do in this brief recommendation is to let Knowing God speak for itself. The following passage is from the chapter, "The Majesty of God," answering the question, "How may we form an idea of God's greatness?" First, he says, we must remove any thoughts from our minds that would limit God's greatness. Second, we must learn to compare God with things that are great from our finite human perspective.
For an example of what the second step involves, look at Isaiah 40:12ff. Here God speaks to people whose mood is the mood of many Christians today—despondent people, cowed people, secretly despairing people; people against whom the tide of events has been running for a very long time; people who have ceased to believe that the cause of Christ can ever prosper again. Now see how God through his prophet reasons with them.
Look at the tasks I have done, He says. Could you do them? Could any man do them? . . . Are you wise enough, and mighty enough to do things like that? But I am; or I could not have made this world at all. 'Behold your God!'
Look now at the nations, the prophet continues; the great national powers at whose mercy you feel yourself to be. Assyria, Egypt, Babylon—you stand in awe of them, and feel afraid of them, so vastly do their armies and resources exceed yours. but now consider how God stands related to those might forces which you fear so much. 'Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket. . . 'Behold your God!'
Look next at the world. Consider the size of it, the variety and complexity of it; think of the three thousand-odd millions who populate it, and of the vast sky above it. What puny figures you and I are, by comparison with the whole planet on which we live? Yet what is this whole mighty planet by comparison with God? . . . The world dwarfs us all, but God dwarfs the world. . . . 'Behold your God!'
Packer continues this meditation by following the text and showing how Isaiah compares God to the world's great men who wield their impressive power over multitudes, and finally, to the stars of the heavens.
The most universally awesome experience that mankind knows is to stand alone on a clear night and look at the stars. Nothing gives a greater sense of remoteness and distance; nothing makes one feel more strongly one's own littleness and insignificance. . . . It is God who brings out the stars; it was God who first set them in space; He is their Maker and Master; they are all in his hands, and subject to His will. Such are His power and majesty. 'Behold your God!"
And so, throughout Knowing God, Packer not only teaches, but also leads us in the practice of thoughtful, prayerful, imagination-rich contemplation of the one glorious and gracious God who invites us to know him and to live in the light of that relational knowledge.
Ultimately, that is the point of spiritual formation.


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Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent initially was released after being charged with intoxication manslaughter on $500,000 bail. According to the Associated Press, a judge has slashed the amount by 80 percent.
Brent's bail is now $100,000. A judge also prohibited Brent from drinking alcohol and from driving without a valid license. His driver's license had been suspended prior to the accident that claimed the life of teammate Jerry Brown.
A prosecutor agreed with Brent's lawyer that the bond initially was set too high.
"We want to treat everyone the same," Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins said. "Just because he's a Cowboy doesn't mean his bond should be $500,000."
"It was off the charts, it was inappropriate," said Brent's lawyer, George Milner. "And Mr. Brent should be treated like any other citizen of Dallas County."
Brent also will be required to wear a monitor that will detect whether he has consumed alcohol. Prosecutors hope to present the case to a grand jury before the end of the year. Given that Brent's blood-alcohol level reportedly was 0.18 percent (more than twice the legal limit), an indictment is likely.

subset: commoncrawl


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6 Difficult Types of People and How to Deal With Them
We all have difficult people we need to deal with in our lives on a daily basis. While such characteristics may be exaggerations, you may find traits of them in a few of the people in your workplace, amongst your friends, or even a loved one. Psychological research has suggested several ways of coping with difficult people in your life, e.g. hostile co-workers or bosses, complainers, super-agreeables, know-it-all experts, pessimists, and stallers.
1. The Hostile Co-worker or Boss
Dealing with hostile people requires both tact and strength. Since persons who feel they have been wronged are more likely to be belligerent and violent, you should first try to be sure they have been dealt with fairly.
In addition, it would be wise to help them meet as many of their needs as possible without reinforcing their aggressiveness or discriminating in their favor. Likewise, avoid interactions with them that encourage intense emotions or threats of violence. Certainly do not interact with your angry "enemies" when they are drinking or carrying weapons. Say or do nothing that would incite more anger or, on the other hand, cause you to appear to be scared, weak, and a "pushover."
In most cases, strong retaliation against an aggressive person is the worst thing you can do. Nastiness begets nastiness. Hostility escalates. Threats of punishment may also work. Remember punishment is only effective while the punisher is observing — watch out for subtle rebellion.
If you can divert the angry person's attention to some meaningful task or a calm discussion of the situation, the anger should subside. Also, offer him/her any information that would explain the situation that upsets him/her. Point out similarities or common interests between him/her and the person they are mad at (you). Let him/her see or hear about calm, rational ways of resolving differences. Almost anything that gets him/her thinking about something else will help.
The Institute of Mental Health Initiatives provide a brief list of ways to calm an angry person: reduce the noise level, keep calm yourself, acknowledge that the irate person has been wronged (if true) or, at least, acknowledge their feelings without any judgment, ask them to explain their situation (so you can tactfully correct errors), listen to their complaints without counter-attacking, explain your feelings with non-blaming "I" statements, show that you care but set limits on violence ("I'd like to work it out with you but I'll have to call the police if you can't control yourself").
2. The Chronic Complainer
What about the chronic complainers? They are fault-finding, blaming, and certain about what should be done but they never seem able to correct the situation by themselves. Often they have a point — there are real problems — but their complaining is not effective (except it is designed to prove someone else is responsible).
Coping with complainers involves, first, listening and asking clarifying questions, even if you feel guilty or falsely accused. There are several don'ts: don't agree with the complaints, don't apologize (not immediately), and don't become overly defensive or counter-attack because this only causes them to restate their complaints more heatedly. Secondly, as you gather facts, create a problem-solving attitude. Be serious and supportive. Acknowledge the facts. Get the complaints in writing and in precise detail; get others, including the complainer, involved in collecting more data that might lead to a solution. In addition to what is wrong, ask "What should happen?" If the complainer is unhappy with someone else, not you, you may want to ask, "Have you told (the complainee) yet?" or "Can I tell __________?" or "Can I set up a meeting with them?" Thirdly, plan a specific time to make decisions cooperatively that will help the situation…and do it.
3. The Super-Agreeable
What about the persons who are super nice and smilingly agree with your ideas until some action is required, then they back down or disappear. Such people seek approval. They have learned, probably as children, that one method for getting "love" is by telling people (or pretending) you really care for and/or admire them. Similarly, the super-agreeables will often promise more than they deliver: "I'll get the report done today" or "I'd love to help you clean up." They are experts in phoniness, so don't try to "butter them up."
Instead, reassure the super-agreeable that you will still like them even if they tell you the truth. Ask them to be candid and make it easy for them to be frank: "What part of my plan is okay but not as good as it could be?" Help them avoid making promises they can't keep: "Are you sure you can have the money by then? How about two weeks later?" Tell and show them you value their friendship. Let them know you are ready to compromise because you know they will be more than fair.
Tucker-Ladd, C. (2018). 6 Difficult Types of People and How to Deal With Them. Psych Central. Retrieved on October 29, 2020, from https://psychcentral.com/blog/6-difficult-types-of-people-and-how-to-deal-with-them/
Last reviewed: By a member of our scientific advisory board on 8 Jul 2018
Published on Psych Central.com. All rights reserved.


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If you still recall Windows XP, it is very useful and quite good to go for the end user.
But, since the Windows XP have discontinue and you will no longer able to get update and support from Windows XP, you may now consider Ylmf OS which come with Ubuntu 10.04 based and having the Windows XP based.
With Ylmf OS, it is come with,
– Ubuntu 10.04
– OpenOffice Suite 3.2
– Classic Windows XP UI
– Linux Wine for Windows Application.
– Firefox, etc.
To download it, you may get it from Ylmf OS Official website as URL below.
To understand how to install it, please refer to the Ylmf OS Installation Page as below.


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When the KorUS FTA was negotiated from 2006, the Korean Supreme Court delivered its opinion against ISDS to the Korean government twice in 2006 and 2007. Ridiculously, the opinion of 2006 was disappeared for unknown reason. Here is the opinion of 2007. English translation was made by the Korea National Assembly in May 2012 upon request of the lawmaker Joosun Park (currently the Deputy-Speaker). Original Korean text is found here, and PDF file of the official English translation is here.
Review Opinion on the Investor-State Dispute Resolution Procedure under the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement
January 12, 2007
National Court Administration, [Supreme Court]
I. Key details of the procedure for Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS)
1. Introduction of the "Investor state dispute settlement system"
- The "investor state dispute settlement system" has been introduced to allow an individual investor of one party to a treaty to bring a claim directly against the government of another party to a treaty before an international panel of arbitrators to seek compensation for or reparation of damages or losses suffered due to a breach by the other party to a treaty of its obligations under the treaty provisions concerning investment or state-run businesses.
- Prerequisites
– The investor should file his/her claim within three years of the date when he/she was informed or could be informed of the first instance of the breach and the occurrence of damages or losses attributable to such breach.
– The parties to the dispute are required to attempt to settle the dispute through consultation or negotiation first before filing the dispute with the arbitration panel.
– The individual investor filing the claim is required ① to agree to arbitration under the treaty in writing and ② to waive his/her right to commence or continue remedy procedures with an administrative tribunal or law court in relation to the claim.
- Procedure
– The claimant investor should notify the state, the party to the dispute of his/her intention to file his/her claim with the arbitration panel in writing 90 days in advance.
– The claimant investor may file his/her claim with the arbitration panel only after six months have elapsed from the date of the dispute.
– Arbitration agency: As both Korea and the USA have joined the convention on International Centers for Settlement of Investment Disputes, the arbitration agency shall be the World Bank International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) founded under the provisions of the convention.
2. Substantive provisions provided
- Substantive provisions have been provided for the ISD mechanism ('Investment' of the draft agreement, Article 6, Annex B.)
– Prerequisites or limitations concerning expropriation
– Compensation for expropriation
- The scope of expropriations entitled to compensation is limited to 'measures equivalent to expropriation or nationalization'.
※ NAFTA ambiguously defined the scope of expropriation by
providing 'measures tantamount to expropriation or nationalization', resulting in various controversies in connection with its interpretation, including an unlimited extension of the scope of expropriation.
- Compensation reflecting the fair market value should be made for direct expropriation (title transfer or confiscation or forfeiture) or indirect expropriation (actions which bring about effects identical to that of title transfer or direct expropriation).
- Whether a government act falls under indirect expropriation or not is determined by case-by-case review with consideration of the following:
– The nature or economic impact of the government action; and
– The degree of infringement of reasonable expectations by the investor.
- With the exception of extraordinary cases, indirect expropriation is not constituted by a legal and non-discriminatory action that a treaty state has taken to achieve the purpose of public benefits or welfare, including public health, safety and environment.
II. Review Opinion
1. On the investor state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism
a. Meaning
- An investment dispute settlement procedure between direct foreign investors and host states (Investor State Dispute Settlement Mechanism) has apparently been introduced in addition to the procedure for dispute settlement between FTA-contracting states in order to remedy infringements of foreign investors' rights in cases where the private assets invested by them in a host state suffer damages because of unfair discrimination by that host state, considering that 1) the domestic law court of the host state may pronounce a judgment that is unilaterally disadvantageous to the investor and 2) dispute settlement through inter-governmental negotiations may not ensure substantial compensation or reparation of damages as such negotiations are often affected by priority diplomatic considerations.
- The "investor state dispute settlement mechanism" is a new dispute settlement procedure that has only recently emerged in the field of international investment disputes. It is not designed to exclude judicial review of investment disputes by domestic courts of the host state, but rather to provide foreign investors with an additional option in connection with the forum for seeking remedy of their rights.
b. Merits
- Possibility of securing fair dispute settlement
– Disputing investors may have doubts concerning the fairness of a
domestic court review or its decisions when filing a claim with a host state law court concerning a dispute they have with that host state.
– An outward or superficial fairness may be secured at the very least, as an investment dispute settlement is sought in an international tribunal instead of a domestic law court.
- Likelihood of promoting foreign direct investment and protecting nationals
– A state may protect its nationals who invest in other countries. The ISD mechanism may contribute to the inducement of foreign
investment in the host state.
- The ISD mechanism may adequately control the political or diplomatic ripples caused or costs incurred by existing state-to-state dispute [settlement procedures].
c. Problem
(1) Possible infringement of sovereignty
- It has been pointed out that the ISDS mechanism may infringe the sovereignty or judicial power of a state as there will be no room for its domestic law courts to intervene in disputes concerning foreign direct investment, while the international arbitration tribunal will interfere in the various policies or regulatory actions taken by the host state.
– Some consider that the state has exercised its sovereign right by
selecting the option, as the state voluntarily consents to such restrictions through such procedures as that of ratification of the treaty.
- The point has also been raised that the ISDS mechanism may infringe the right to equal treatment (so-called reverse discrimination against a state's own nationals) as foreign investors may have more rights than the nationals [under the terms of the treaty].
– Developing countries in Latin America or other regions adopted an opposing view to the extension of the domains subject to international law in the past. At present, however, advanced countries like the USA and Canada are leveling such criticism at reverse discrimination.
– In 2002 the US Federal Congress legislated the Trade Promotion
Authority (TPA), which provides a restriction on the federal government's negotiation of investment agreements, by preventing it from granting any greater rights to foreigners than those given to US citizens.
(2) Problem of domestic court decisions being subject to claims filed for arbitration
- Legal instability or unrest may be caused as decisions by domestic law courts may be subject to arbitration under the ISDS mechanism.
- There have been cases where US litigation proceedings or judgments are subject to arbitration under the NAFTA ISDS procedure (i.e., Loewen v. United States and others).
– Following the Loewen case, some US NGOs or Congress members have expressed their concern that the dispute settlement agency under NAFTA may pass judgment on decisions made by US state courts.
- It is necessary to examine ways of excluding judiciary decisions from, or limit matters that can be referred to, the treaty arbitration by clearly specifying them as an undesirable result that may be brought about, including judiciary decisions which may be subject to the treaty arbitration indiscriminately.
(3) Problem of distorting public policies of a state
- Under the ISDS mechanism, the international arbitration tribunal may assess or review various government policies or regulatory measures taken by the host state. Concerns have been raised that government policies may be distorted or national confusion may be caused as government policies are judged by the international arbitration tribunal rather than by a domestic law court.
- As such concerns were recently raised in the United States concerning the NAFTA investment dispute settlement procedure, the US Congress introduced some restrictions on the US federal government's authority concerning the contracting of future FTAs. Accordingly, the FTA concluded between the USA and Chile introduced a provision according to which no indirect expropriation can be constituted by government policies on public health, safety or environment.
※ USA-Chile FTA: "Except in extraordinary cases, indirect expropriation shall not be constituted by a legal and non-discriminatory action that a treaty state has taken to achieve the purpose of public benefits or welfare, including public health, safety and environment."
- As a provision identical to that provided under the USA-Chile FTA is provided under the draft Korea-USA FTA, the problem of possible distortion by the FTA of state public policies will be removed to some extent.
(4) Issue of arbitration procedures transparency
- It has been pointed out by many observers that the NAFTA investment dispute settlement procedure is not transparent (including the non-disclosure of written or oral proceedings).
- Consequent to such criticism, the issue of transparency in NAFTA arbitration procedures has been significantly resolved as the treaty member states have agreed to disclose decisions or review proceedings by the arbitration tribunal.
- Among the matters recently discussed in connection with the issue of transparency in FTA arbitration procedures are third-party participation in proceedings and the issue of appeal.
- The US-Chile FTA provides various devices designed to ensure the transparency of arbitration procedures.
– Third parties are granted authority to present their legal opinions.
– Systems have been introduced to enable the parties to expel or recuse arbitrators.
– Review proceedings and all documents submitted will be disclosed.
– The treaty member states will commence consultation on whether to found an appeal agency or equivalent organ with the remit of judging decisions taken by the arbitration tribunal.
- As a provision identical to that provided under the USA-Chile FTA is provided under the draft Korea-USA FTA, the transparency and fairness of arbitration procedures will be secured to a certain extent.
(5) Others
- It has also been pointed out that the ISDS mechanism will function as a protective device mainly for US investors in view of the amounts invested by Korean and US investors.
d. Review
- Since March 2006, the USA has bilateral investment agreements currently enforced with 40 different countries, while it has negotiated bilateral agreements with a total of 47 countries. No claim has so far been filed by any of the 40 countries under the ISDS mechanism. All ISDS claims have been filed by Canadian investors against the USA under NAFTA only.
- The reason why few claims have been filed by investors from other treaty states is that the majority of the bilateral investment agreements were signed with developing countries whose investors make little direct investment in the USA.
- In view of such a situation, it is expected that US investors will file more claims for arbitration against the Korean government under the Korea-US FTA ISDS procedure. It is feared that the Korean government will face a substantial burden due to such arbitration claims. As seen in the USA example, certain side-effects will definitely arise, including serious legal confusion, if the judiciary rulings are not excluded from ISDS arbitration.
- On the other hand, the ISDS mechanism will help the Korean government to better protect foreign direct investment by Korean nationals while foreign direct investment will be induced into Korea more actively. It is necessary for us to consider the fact that the majority of FTAs concluded among states around the world have introduced the ISDS system.
- In conclusion, we believe that the issue of whether or not Korea-US FTA should introduce the ISDS system needs to be judged by collecting opinions from the general public while inclusively reviewing the merits, problems, scale and status of transactions between Korea and the USA, and examples of FTAs signed by other countries.
- Even when the ISDS system is introduced, it is also necessary to preemptively prevent disputes concerning the interpretation of the subject matters subject to and prerequisites for arbitration claims by specifying them, including exclusion of judiciary decisions from matters subject to arbitration. It is also necessary to examine ways of providing reasonable devices to ensure that all dispute settlement procedures instigated under the ISDS system are implemented in a fair and transparent manner.
2. About Substantive Provisions
- The draft agreement provides such substantive provisions for the ISDS system, including the types, requirements, and limitations of expropriation or nationalization, and the criteria for and methods of compensation for expropriated assets.
- Various example treaties provide both direct and indirect expropriations that are subject to compensation. The compensation for indirect expropriation is already reflected in the majority of bilateral investment agreements Korea has signed, as well as in the FTAs Korea has signed with five countries, including Chile, Singapore and EFTA.
- In particular, the draft Korea-US FTA agreement restricts the scope of expropriations that are subject to compensation and also provides a more specific scope or requirements for expropriation [subject to ISDS], including the exclusion of various regulatory actions from expropriation, including those concerning public health, safety and environment.
- Based on reflective consideration that various problems have arisen because of the abstract nature of certain provisions of the NAFTA signed among North American countries, including too broad a scope of expropriation, the scope or requirements of expropriations [subject to arbitration or compensation] have been provided in more detail under the FTAs signed later between the USA and Chile and the USA and Singapore, thereby partially alleviating the state's accountability in disputes between foreign investors and a host country.
- Though insufficient to constitute specific detailed criteria for determining indirect expropriation [subject to arbitration or compensation], these later FTAs include a provision reading, "The legitimate and non-discriminatory actions which a treaty state takes to achieve the purposes of public welfare, including public health, safety and environment, should not constitute an indirect expropriation." This is believed to comply with existing precedents of international arbitration tribunals or with theories advocated by scholars. It is also believed to be a progressive move. However, it should be made clear that the above illustrates only parts of the purposes of public welfare.
- The above-discussed draft FTA between Korea and the USA does not appear to have any particular problems as it includes a provision that is almost identical to the improvement provisions included in the US-Chile and the US-Singapore FTAs, which reflect an improvement over the NAFTA provisions.
- Yet, as the scope of expropriations subject to compensation will be broadened by the proposed Korea-US FTA, an in-depth study is necessary as to how the broadened scope can be harmonized with the Korean system of compensation of expropriations in the future.


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PALMERA Professional Hand Tools has released a range of pliers to lead a series of releases in its fully-warranted range of hand tools.
The plier range includes over a hundred different combination pliers, cutting pliers, pincers, multi-grips and specialty pliers in stand-out colours for easy identification.
The grips are comfortable even under extreme hand pressure. This and the high mechanical advantage designed into these tools means the user can repeatedly apply great force to the work piece via the hardened jaws and cutting edges without muscle fatigue.
Forged of first-run European steels using the latest-generation forges, Palmera pliers are built to last. Palmera offers a virtual lifetime replacement guarantee against faulty materials and workmanship, provided the tools are not misused.
Cutting pliers in the range include electrical cable cutters, end cutting and diagonal cutting pliers, as well as diagonal 45° and 90° cutters for plastics.
In addition to conventional combination pliers, lineman's and electrician's combination pliers are available.
Extra-long versions of the combination pliers can also be supplied.
The range includes long round, long flat, long straight-jawed, long bent-jawed, duckbill and extra-long snipe-nosed pliers.
There are also external and internal straight jawed, bent jawed and circlip pliers.
Also included are wire strippers, wire twisters, pincers, water pump pliers and electrical cable cutters.
Palmera claims the list is so comprehensive that a plier is available for every application.


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We specialise in Re-Fit cleaning throughout the UK and have completed trouble free handover cleans to most leading high street brands (see client list). Re-Fit cleaning requires not only a certain kind of mindset, it needs a "no problem" approach since very rarely do Re-Fit cleans go according to plan, delays and last minute changes mean the cleaning team must be flexible and be able to work with you and around you no matter what potential challenges might arise.
All our work is 100% Guaranteed since although fixed price our team will not (cannot) leave site until the site manager is totally satisfied and has signed the 5 Star "Complete & Satisfied" form - Experienced, specialised cleaning operatives with a working supervisor, a positive attitude, competitive prices and a guarantee of a first class "5 Star" handover - that's the 5 Star difference.
We have completed successful handovers and store openings throughout the UK and they all have one thing in common - extremely high standards and they always demand the best (5 Star). Our extensive experience in Re-Fit cleaning is second to none. In simple terms we set the standard in Re-Fit cleaning - guaranteed!
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Our proven track record is based on years of successful projects. We are seen as the industry leaders both in commitment and attitude - we really do care about cleaning and building management.Learn More
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Recent Posts
Tag Archives: Carsonville
Respect School Show Assembly Presentation Michigan
The respect school assembly program is back on the road. The ROAR Show will be visiting elementary schools in Michigan between September 25th and October 3rd, 2011.
Parents, school principals and teachers in the cities of Deckerville, Carsonville, Waterford, Livonia, Fair Haven, Marine City, Hartford, Holland and Thompsonville know the importance of their children being respectful, responsible, ready and safe. They're inviting Al The Respect Guy to bring the message of "ROAR – Respect Others and Act Responsibly" to their communities.
"I'm looking forward to talking to the students," said Al.
You can "like" the ROAR Show on its FaceBook page http://www.facebook.com/theROARshow
Posted in About the Show Tagged act responsibly, Carsonville, Deckerville, elementary schools, Fair Haven, Hartford, Holland, Livonia, Marine City, Michigan, respect others, ROAR Show, school assembly program, the respect guy, Thompsonville, Waterford Comments Off on Respect School Show Assembly Presentation Michigan


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Gaining back my equilibrium 0
HUMMING IN MY UNIVERSE By Jim Paredes (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 19, 2017 – 12:00am
A few days ago, I saw a post from a book on Facebook that read, "To the enlightened mind, what is and what should be are one and the same." This spoke to me in a deep way.
I was going to copy and paste and share it on social media until I realized that it was a quote from a book I had actually written years ago.
I was stunned. I read it again. It occurred to me in a painful way that I am now nowhere near that frame of mind I used to be in. The realization shook me.
I remember how I was when I wrote my first book. I was calm, quite settled with myself, and my Zen meditation practice was solid. I would wake up in a heightened state of awareness and aliveness. The wisdom of the world opened up to me. And I understood it in a heartfelt way. My heart was open like a lotus.
At that time, I would sit on my meditation pillows on my mat almost every day. It was a habit. I felt like a mountain. I felt solid! I was the direction, the way people look at mountains. I was not the one seeking it. I was constant, sure as a guiding star to myself in my own life's travel.
These days, I am not as calm as I ought to be. I get easily confused, angry and agitated. Social media and the pressures of life push and pull me in all directions, disturbing my peace. Trolls, the political situation, personal problems, the vicissitudes of life drive me up the wall. I lose my center and my clarity so easily and feel that my life is being lived, led and rearranged according to an agenda not of my doing or planning. I find myself living in other people's worlds, whereas I used to feel that I lived in a world I had fashioned myself.
One of the things I learned in Zen meditation is the ability to simply observe things without getting caught up in them, or being attached emotionally, intellectually, or in any other manner. I could watch my thoughts come and go and suspend my opinions and biases about them. They were simply clouds passing by. They didn't stay. Everything was transient.
Not having an opinion, or preferences, or any emotional interest or bond with personal issues and how the world should be could be very liberating. It was like being the eternal blue sky above the changing weather below.
With enough meditation practice, I could look at myself in the third person and watch myself the way I would observe other phenomena or events as they arise and leave. I had discovered what meditators call the "witness" — one who can look at the world and oneself without interest or ego, and just watch.
It is like looking at the world fresh and new with no cynicism or prior judgment. Everything is there but without labels. There is that freedom to experience things as though for the very first time.
I once asked my teacher what would happen if I stopped meditating. She said that everything I had learned or experienced while in such a state would become a memory and eventually become meaningless.
I started meditating again when the new year began. I am slowly gaining back some of what I thought I had lost. I am slowly learning again to not always comment or engage in arguments on social media. I am learning to turn away and not engage. In the process, I am going back to the direction of wholeness and balance. I am gaining back my equilibrium.
Zen is pure unadulterated awareness. The Zen mind is without artifice. It sees purely. And strangely enough, a natural compassion can arise from one's own depths. How can it not when judgment is set aside?
As I observe myself these days, I feel a kindness slowly taking over. Whatever I am right now, with all my mess and shortcomings, I know I am in the state of the art of who I am. I am in the here and now. Everyone always is. We are always doing our best at the present moment, considering everything. Only hindsight can point out if we are doing better or worse compared to any other point in our lives. But at this moment, we are simply unfolding as best we can.
We simply "are who we are," right now. And maybe be that's how we ought to be.


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Straight in with a big general update from me
I've got tons to share and I want to update the blog more with pics/ info and wargaming 'stuff' I think may be of interest to other people.
I've just got back from Turkey with some of the other bloggers.
Instead of painting I started reading 'The Sundering'
It's an awesome book so far with tons of info not only about Elves but also Dwarves, Shaggoths, Beastmen and other fantasy creatures.
While on holiday I may have bought a few Titans from eBay
and also ordered 7th ed + Fateweaver as I plan on having a small Daemon unbound force consisting of 28 Screamers and Fateweaver
I also arrived back home to lots of goodies
which I need to fit into the Warhammer room which is starting to fill up again
I've also just ordered some DayGlow Pigments from Forged Monkey after seeing some pics
I'm also going to start working on a secret project at some point which includes this guy
and as a parting shot I wanted to share with you my next Necromunda gang


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Faculty of Applied Health & Community Studies
Personal Support Worker
Prepare for a caring career helping others.
For the Winter 2021 semester, this program will be delivered through a hybrid model that combines remote and in-person learning. View delivery modes for all programs.
Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Work within the personal support worker role in community, retirement homes, long-term care homes and/or hospital care settings in accordance with all applicable legislation and employer's job description, policies, procedures and guidelines.
- Act responsibly and be accountable for own actions while recognizing the boundaries of knowledge and skills within the personal support worker role that require collaboration with the clients, families, supervisors and/or other members of the interprofessional care/service team.
- Participate as a member of the interprofessional care/service team and maintain collaborative working relationships in the provision of supportive care in community, retirement homes, long-term care homes and/or hospital care settings.
- Provide client-centred and client-directed care that is based on ethical principles, sensitive to diverse client and family values, beliefs and needs, and which follows the direction of the plan of care/service plan.
- Establish and maintain helping relationships with clients and their families reflecting open communication, professional boundaries, employer's policies and adhering to confidentiality and privacy legislation.
- Identify relevant client information using basic assessment and communication skills and report and document findings in accordance with the requirements of employer policies and procedures and all applicable legislation.
- Promote and maintain a safe and comfortable environment for clients, their families, self and others including the implementation of infection prevention and control measures and emergency first aid procedures that are in keeping with the plan of care/service plan, employer policies and procedures, and all applicable legislation.
- Assist clients across the lifespan with routine activities of daily living by applying basic knowledge of growth and development, common alterations in functioning, disease prevention, health promotion and maintenance, rehabilitation and restorative care.
- Assist with household management tasks and instrumental activities of daily living in accordance with the plan of care/service plan and considering the preferences, comfort and safety of clients, families and significant others.
- Assist clients who are caring for dependent individuals considering client and family choices, professional boundaries and the direction of the plan of care/service plan.
- Identify and report situations of neglect, and potential, alleged or witnessed/actual incidents of abuse, and respond in accordance with all applicable legislation and employer's policies and procedures.
- Assist in the provision of culturally relevant palliative and end-of-life care to clients experiencing life threatening illness and to their families and significant others, from diagnosis through death and bereavement, and in accordance with clients' choices and the plan of care/service plan.
- Use identified approaches and best practices to support positive and safe behaviour in clients experiencing cognitive impairment, mental health challenges and/or responsive behaviours.


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Honourable Mentions:
goes to some fave entries where our stamps have been used.
Fame, glory and braggin' badges awaits! ;-)
The winner and honourable mentions will be announced
on the 5th of June.
Lia won our March Theme Challenge.
She used: Textured Flowers, Buzzy Bees and
Something Wonderful
Here are the beautiful projects from our Creative Team:
using Textured Flowers, Textured Spring,
Night and Day , Art Defined, Retro Beach and Coneflowers
using Antique Botanicals, Artfully Stamped
and Textured Flowers
using Collage Elements, Grungy Harlequin,
Vintage Script and Face Up
using Art Defined
Now it's your turn! Have FUN! :-D


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OSAKA – Osaka-based Daikin Industries Ltd. has bought the Indonesian firm PT. Tata Solusi Pratama, which has marketed Daikin's industrial air conditioners in that country.
Daikin acquired Tata Solusi from its Singapore-based holding company for more than ¥1 billion, with an eye to boosting sales to corporate customers, including Japanese, European and U.S. firms expanding into Indonesia, the firm said Thursday.


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A Guide to Liberation Theology for Middle-Class Congregations
Jump to: About Endorsements & Reviews Contributors Bio(s)
This book is a guide to understanding both liberation thought and its implications for the unpoor. It argues that our captivities are directly tied to the desperate conditions of the marginalized, both those in the Third World and those in our midst. The theme of the book is "proclamation of the good news of the saving wholeness offered in Jesus Christ." The author believes that Christians can work for true liberation while working within the democratic system.
Endorsements & Reviews-
"Does liberation theology have anything to say to middle class congregations in the United States? Or is it strictly a Latin American phenomenon that withers if transplanted? Bayer demonstrates that we in the First World have much to learn from the liberation theologians. His careful and compelling case may serve to loosen some of our moorings, but it will also help us cast off shackles forged by our consumer society."
--John Eagleson, Editor-in-Chief, Orbis Books
--John Eagleson, Editor-in-Chief, Orbis Books
Charles H. Bayer


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Remembering Sophie "Vivian" Aderman Yocum
Today we celebrate the birth of Sophie "Vivian" Helene Anna Adermann Yocum. Vivian was born 11 May 1902 in Illinois to Ferdinand and Mary (Heiden) Adermann, the tenth of their twelve children.
She married Leonard Yocum on Christmas Eve, 1924 when she was 22 years old. Viv and Leonard had two children, Harley Eugene and Maxine Leigh. I owe access to the recipes below to Maxine's son and my genealogy buddy, Kevin Hackett. These are his Grandma Yocum's recipes.
Here are her recipes for Raisin Applesauce Cookies, Peanut Blossoms, and Chocolate Icebox Cake.
They look awfully good! Enjoy.
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Elite athletes take recovery time seriously; in fact they probably consider recovery more seriously than the average person. So, why are a lot of us not taking it as seriously?
Recovery goes hand in hand with performance. Recovery methods should complement the workouts completed throughout the week. Rule of thumb is the higher the intensity of the workouts, the higher levels of recovery is needed. The higher the frequency of workouts,the more recovery time is needed. Here are our most underrated recovery tips:
SLEEP, SLEEP, and SLEEP more!
Some forget, while snoozing in an unconscious state of mind may seem uneventful, there are so many crucial modes of recovery going on while we enjoy our beauty rest.
The release of growth hormones by the pituitary gland stimulates tissue growth and muscle repair, while reduced brain activity in sleep allows our blood supply to focus on delivering more oxygen and nutrients to other muscles. This is the time where muscles and body tissues are rejuvenated to stimulate its growth and healing.
Sleep is essential for recovery, even if you're not conscious of the processes that are on going.
Have You Heard of a Foam Roll?
Like many of us, I was a skeptic of this simple and awkward to use tool. Once I got used to using it and completed my first rolling session, I was hooked!
The combination of pressure and movement helps to stretch, lengthen, and kink out the knots in your muscles. The result will leave you feeling looser, as foam rolling helps to increase blood flow and relieves tension in the muscles.
Releasing tension in the muscles is key to overall performance as it helps to prevent injuries and prepare your muscles for optimum performance for your next workout.
Stretch Those Muscles Good!
Similar to what foam rollers do, stretching helps to increase blood flow and circulation for your muscles, which aids in muscle repair and also dramatically reduces soreness.
Spend at least 10 minutes or more stretching (there's no such thing as stretching for too long) and you'll notice the difference the next day or compare to how your body feels when you don't stretch.
Happy recovering!


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Carefully study of the start list of this 71st Paris-Nice suggests that the race appears to have lost some of its appeal.
With last year's winner Bradley Wiggins absent, Team Sky will be 'leaderless' in as much as the riders who have led the teams in recent stage races – Wiggins and Chris Froome – are both absent. This means that the protected rider on the team will be, well, it could be Richie Porte or it could be Jonathan Tiernan-Locke.
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Apart from the absent Wiggins, there's no Chris Froome, Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank), Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin), Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) or Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) either. In other words, there's a real dearth of stage race big hitters, so it looks like the way is open for a new name to add a prestigious stage race to their palmares.
Astonishingly, it looks like the French teams have their best chance to win the race in years, in fact, since Laurent Jalabert won back in 1997. An absence of big names allied to the ongoing clean-up in the overall health of cycling means the French should at least finish with a rider on the podium.
And perhaps a stage or two for their new sprint star, national champion Nacer Bouhanni of FDJ. The leader's jersey should still be white though…
The contenders
Robert Gesink (Netherlands) Blanco
Gesink has had a good winter, his 'new' team has been winning races all over – from Australia to Langkawi to France and Portugal – and Paris-Nice is Gesink's first target of the year. He's brought a motivated, strong, well-balanced team to help him and he's been climbing well. If he can keep out of trouble early on, Gesink must be in with a chance of the podium at least. He's even been working on his time trialling. The final podium beckons.
Rui Costa (Portugal) Movistar
Movistar is another team that has enjoyed a decent start to the season, principally through the absent Alejandro Valverde, but the team has looked strong and capable of riding to set up riders and defend a lead. Costa finished fifth overall in the Tour of the Algarve, a close second to Sky's Sergio Henao on the toughest mountain stage and eighth behind Tony Martin in the decisive 35km time trial. Top five. Easy!
Jean-Christophe Peraud (France) Ag2r
The former mountain biker Peraud has some form in as much as he won the Mont Faron stage of the Tour of the Mediterranean, although he only finished second overall, on the same second as the overall winner Thomas Lovkvist. He can time trial a bit too – he was third behind Wiggins and Westra last year on the Col d'Eze. His weakness may yet be the team, but Samuel Dumoulin and 22-year-old Roman Bardet can climb well, offering him support in the key hilly stages at the back end of the race. Assuming of course he hasn't been blown away in the crosswinds early on.
Simon Spilak (Russia) Katusha
Well, here's a turn up, Katusha reclaimed its World Tour team status after an appeal to CAS and now finds itself at the start of Paris – Nice. Spilak was riding well in the Algarve and he's got a band of henchmen around him – Denis Menchov, Yuri Trofimov – capable of doing whatever it takes.
Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Sharp
The Garmin team finds itself a little short of racing, since their bikes were stolen, en masse, prior to stage three of the Tour of the Mediterranean. Whether or not this will have had a major impact on Talansky's form we can't know. We suspect not. Talansky first showed his hand at this race two years ago and he's only got better since. He can climb and he can time trial too. His form is unknown but his ability is in no doubt.
Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC
The all-American cycling 'jock' has a higher profile following his exploits in the 2012 Tour de France where he won the best young rider's jersey. There have even been mutterings about him leading the BMC team in the 2013 Tour. He finished second in the Tour de San Luis in Argentina at the start of the year, but Paris-Nice is a step up from that. Capable of winning. Or capable of near anonymity.
Lieuwe Westra (Holland) Vacansoleil DCM
The surprise runner-up last year, a mere eight seconds behind Wiggins on general classification as well as two seconds behind on the final col d'Eze time trial, Westra showed well in the Tour of the Algarve, finishing third overall behind Tony Martin, who won the overall there thanks to a stunning time trial. Westra has a decent team around him, including 2012 Giro podium finisher Thomas De Gendt.
Ivan Basso (Italy) Cannondale
Basso is now 35 and has brought a team with him which is a mix of old hands and wet behind the ears children. It's hard to see any one of them doing anything spectacular with the team's new star Peter Sagan riding Tirreno-Adriatico, together with rising star Moreno Moser. With last year's leader Vincenzo Nibali lured by Astana loot, the team is looking a bit light. If nothing else, the race should provide the thinking man's rider Ted King some good material for his blog.
Sylvain Chavanel (France) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
Chavanel has showed his face at a few early season races, getting into breaks and stretching his legs – most notably at Het Nieuwsblad last weekend. He's got a decent time-trial pedigree of course, though whether or not he can cope with the hillier stages is open to question. Peter Velits is due some kind of performance, but Tom Boonen still appears short of form.
Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark) Astana
The Dane endured a torrid time with his former RadioShack manager Johan Bruyneel last season. Essentially Bruyneel left him on the subs bench from July. So the Dane will be fresh as a new pro and have huge motivation. And he's backed by a very solid team. Time for Jakob to put a few people straight? Or is it a bit too early for a man with an eye on the Tour de France?
Alexandre Geniez (France) FDJ
The FDJ team have been knocking at the door in early season races in France – Artur Vichot won the Tour du Haut-Var, sprinter Nacer Bouhanni won a stage in Oman – so the team is on the up, in terms of morale. Geniez is an experienced enough, he can get over hills and post a decent time trial too. Between Bouhanni and William Bonnet, the team is probably hoping for a stage win and a top five overall.
Thomas Lovkvist (Sweden) IAM Cycling
Lovkvist quit Sky last year to strike out on his own and he's already won the Tour of the Mediterranean this season. It's hard to believe that a new Swiss team will have the manpower and smarts to influence the race, but Lovkvist is no fool and he appears to have some form.
Richie Porte (Australia) Sky
So far this year, the Australian hasn't shown the same form which saw him triumph in the Tour of the Algarve in 2012, but if he's still nurturing some ambition, then this might be his chance to remind the world that he's more than a super-domestique in the mountains. This is a rider who led the Giro d'Italia, remember.
Nicolas Roche (Ireland) Saxo-Tinkoff
Roche knows these roads and this race well enough to ride most of them blindfold and he's shown himself near the front in enough early-season races to suggest that he's got something in the tank for a top 10 finish at least. In the absence of Alberto Contador, this will be one of Roche's few chances, although there's likely to be competition from a strong Danish contingent in the team.
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke (GB) Sky
The man known to many as 'JTL' has had a low-key start to the year. He rode in the Mallorca Trophy and went on to ride the Tour of the Algarve where he finished 51st. Tiernan-Locke finished well enough in the road stages but lost seven minutes in the 35km time trial to stage winner Tony Martin, though you suspect this was more to do with his workload than ability. Recall also that he won three stage races in France last year, so maybe there's something about French roads that suit him.
Thomas Voeckler (France) Europcar
Whether he's got the legs for it or not, gurning Tommy V will lead Europcar to Nice. He's a long way short of the form that gave him two stage wins in 2011 and a fall in the recent Tour du Haut-Var won't have helped his form or those dodgy knees. It's hard to see him doing much more than showing his face, though he did get in the break of the hilly Classic Sud Ardeche in a field that was fairly weak. If he gains 10 minutes on the other favourites by getting into a freak break early on, he's got a chance of a top 20.
Twitter: @KenBobPryde
Related links
Paris-Nice 2013: The Big Preview


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Over the years, the Summit has set the bar on global and regional stage, bringing industry specialists, policy makers and practitioners under one roof to discuss the promises and pitfalls of sustainability. Together, they share insights on ways forward to transform the built environment, future-proof our earthly resources, rethink corporate ethos and business practices, empower energy sector and industries towards a low-carbon economy, and reshape all mobility needs of the modern world.
This year's summit will be extra special with the launch of Destination Green campaign, urging businesses and society constituents to take tangible steps in creating a sustainable world. Tiny hinges swing big doors, which is why we believe every step in the right direction matters. By pledging support for Destination Green, organizations will commit to improve their operations and practices towards a carbon-neutral world. Any organization – small or big – can claim its space as long as it has worked towards the conservation of the environment.
Simon Henry
Director of Carbon Market Development
International Emissions Trading Association (IETA)
Ahmed A. Al-Said
Park & Free Zone management director
Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP)
Prof. Tatiana Morosuk
Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
Glen Mc Hall
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Applied and Materials Physics
Northumbria University, UK


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Iron Hill's newest beer release, The Cannibal™, will be available in 16-oz. cans at all 11 Iron Hill locations, only while supplies last
On Thursday, June 30, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant released The Cannibal™ Belgian-style golden ale, in cans – perfect for the dog days of summer. This complex, award-winning beer will be available in four-packs of 16-oz. cans at all Iron Hill locations, and is a popular favorite that pairs perfectly with barbecue, grilled foods and other summertime staples.
- The Cannibal™ boasts dry finish, accented by a nose of tropical fruit and dry spice; it earned its first medal, a gold, at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in 2005, as well as a silver at the World Beer Cup the following year and another silver at GABF in 2015.
- The Cannibal™ cans will be available while supplies last in four-packs of 16-oz. cans
- Cans will be available for both dine-in and for take-out at all 11 Iron Hill locations


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Several years ago, on a Sunday morning, my girlfriend and I met writer Calvin Trillin on a corner in New York City, shook hands and set out to eat our way toward Brooklyn, walking through Greenwich Village, into Little Italy, then Chinatown.
Back then, it was the second year of The New Yorker Festival, which was sold as a weekend of interviews, panel discussions and tours, readings from authors and conversations between New Yorker journalists and their often revered subjects. It might sound at first like a weekend of C-SPAN, but it struck us as a good excuse to zip into the city and zip out. And it was.


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I added shortcode functionality to the WordPress Countdown Widget with version 2.4. Using this new update, you can add countdown timers to your posts and pages easily. In this post, I am explaining how to use the shortcode feature.
[toc style="regular"]
Basic Syntax
Basic shortcode syntax:
[countdown event="Testing shortcode" date="1 January 2019"]
This shortcode displays:
Wow, that's a lot of numbers! But don't worry, We can limit digits using the countdown widget format option 😉
[seealso ids="7636,4580,4621,1825″]
Default Syntax
Let's add hours & minutes to this:
[countdown event="Event with hour & minutes" date="1 January 2019" hour="18" minutes="54"] :
Please note that hours are 24 hours based. If you write 6 pm there, it won't work.
Shortcode Attributes
Here is a list of default shortcode attributes:
$args = shortcode_atts(array( 'title'=>'', 'event'=>'', 'date'=>false, 'month'=>'', 'day'=>'', 'hour'=>'0', 'minutes'=>'0', 'seconds'=>'0', 'year'=>'', 'format'=>'yowdHMS', 'link'=>false ), $atts );
Note: If you use the date field, you don't need to specify day, month and year. Those are automatically calculated via magic date attribute.
Full Syntax
And here is the full shortcode template in case you need it:
[countdown title="Countdown" event="Until next release" date="1 May 2019" hour="13" minutes="45" seconds="00" format="DHMS"]
For shortcode displays, you can't define background color and color values. Those can only be changed via CSS. For styling tips read my tutorial here.
I hope you found this tutorial useful. If you still didn't download it, click here to get the latest version of WordPress Countdown Widget.


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Fremont Espresso 2 Drawer Tall Night Stand with Open Shelf
Additional Information
This stylish Tall Night Stand features an open shelf that is perfect for bedside reading material. Other features include two drawers, a profiled top, arched kick plate, solid antique bronze-finished knobs and drawers that run on smooth, all-metal roller glides with built in safety stops. As a higher quality ready-to-assemble product, it is made from durable composite woods and finished in a rich espresso laminate. This product has a 5-year manufacturer's limited warranty on parts and matches other items from Prepac's Fremont collection.Drawers run on smooth on metal roller glides with built-in safety stops, solid antique bronze-finished knobs, Made in Canada, Assembled Dimensions: Assembled Dimensions: 23.25"W x 28"H x 16"D, Made in Canada, 5-year manufacturer's limited warranty on parts, Requires assembly.


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You have 'too' many interests?
Specialising seems like something you should but can't do?
You feel like you don't fit anywhere?
Well, guess what.
Click to make your first appointment
You are of a very special breed. And whether you know it already or not: You have the potential to be outstanding.
I'm Robin and I was where you are now. Torn between interests. Easily excited by new concepts and ideas. And desperately trying to find my niche, my expertise, my one true calling. Why? Because that's how people do it, right? You family expects it from you and your friends roll their eyes in amazement when they listen to your newest explorations.
We have many names: Renaissance Soul, Polymath, ENFP & INFP, Multipotentialite or Multipassionate.
Some of our most well known comrades were Leonardo Da Vinci, Cleopatra, Benjamin Franklin, Eleanor Roosevelt, René Descartes, Elizabeth I, Isac Newton, Aristotle, Hildegard of Bingen and Thomas Jefferson.
To name but a few.
Click to make your first appointment
Today I have embraced my multipotentiality. I act on the second-biggest opera stage in Vienna, Austria, I paint and I travel in a camper van full time whenever possible. Furthermore I write books, do graphic design, I sing, and every now and then I'm coming back to my childhood love, film making.
Also to name but a few.
More importantly for you: I have turned my knowledge about human behaviour and my interest for psychology, gained from an unsatisfying career in Marketing (basically manipulating people into doing what they don't want to do) into a quest to help people just like you and me: Life Coaching (helping people find ways to do what they want to do).
What's Life Coaching? A psychologist treats you when things got so much out of hand you need to repair your mind. A Life Coach is on a long term quest to prevent you from even getting to that point. Together we do foundational work to get you into a position of options and knowing how to navigate them, but also explore everyday issues, relationship troubles, career choices, self-confidence, your health and education.
But enough talk about me! Are you ready to turn things around and explore and embrace who you really are?
Whether you only just found out that you are not alone, or if you have lived a multipassionate life for some time and are running into issues in daily life: Guidance is right at your hand.
Your first 100min are completely free and without any strings attached. Get an appointment now and see what's possible within only 100min of your time. I'm looking forward to chatting with you!
By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies, the detection of the country you visit this page from and the language of your browser. All to give you a better experience. more information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.


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I am so excited to be giving you all a peek at a really fabulous blogger April J Harris! She gave me the wonderful opportunity to a guest blog, I chose for April, Autumn Turkey Sandwiches! So, please make sure to pop over to April's blog and check them out!
Autumn Turkey Sandwich!
By: Kecia's Flavor Breakthrough!
I was invited to do this guest post for April and I am thrilled to help her celebrate her 12th Blogiversary! How exciting is that! I wanted to make sure that what I made for her was absolutely perfect and pretty, too! One of my favorite things to make and create are new sandwiches that are unique and fun. I know this one will be fantastic, the combination of the sweet of the apples with the salty of the bacon and tang of the marinade! Yum! I can't wait to share it! My Honey actually said this one was one of my best yet! And I served it with my Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges!
Congratulations April and I hope you have another fantastic 12 years ahead with your wonderful blog! Thank you for having me.
Link Here: April J Harris, Autumn Turkey Sandwich Guest Post!
Remember you can follow April on all of her social media!
Blog: http://www.apriljharris.com
Facebook: April J Harris https://www.facebook.com/The21stCenturyHousewife
Twitter: https://twitter.com/apriljharris
Google +: https://plus.google.com/+AprilJHarris
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/apriljharris
Instagram: http://instagram.com/apriljharris


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First episode of Game of Thrones (season 8) gets over 5 million tweets
New Delhi: With over five million tweets referring to it, the first episode of the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones (GoT), that aired Sunday on HBO, became the most-tweeted about episode of the show ever.
"The most-tweeted about character from the extremely popular fiction series was Bran, followed by Jon Snow, Daenerys, Sansa and Cersei," the micro-blogging site said in a statement on Monday.
Also Read
Meanwhile, Twitter was buzzing with fans giving mixed reactions to the new season of GoT. "I'm judging you #GameofThrones," tweeted one user, while another posted: "When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives. #GameofThrones."
Another Twitterati posted: "Am I the only one who didn't like it? Nothing happened at all. #GameofThrones."
"Jon and Arya's reunion scene on loop just because #GameOfThrones," posted yet another one.
GoT is an American fantasy drama television series created by David Benioff and DB Weiss.


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Photo/Film Shoots
Our Beatnik Breaks properties are not only quirky and unusual, but they beautifully kept Regency properties with lots of original features. Not only are the spaces perfect for film, tv, music video and photo shoots, but they can also accommodate the cast and crew with rooms to sleep and eat with huge dining spaces, places to shower and change or even just chill out between takes.
Please contact us with any enquiries…
See below for Absolute Magazine's 'New Romantic' photo shoot – amazing pictures on location at Beatnik Breaks:
See below for Daniela Exley's Vintage Afternoon Photoshoot Pics (danielaexley.com)


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We have a lot of Grammy talk and news to catch up on so let's start with something to make your day a little brighter. Here's Drake performing "Hotline Bling" at a Bat Mitzvah in NYC. Read More PoC News in America
Tag: Grammys
Friday News Bites: Scalia Replacement Significance, Shkreli Karma + More
Happy Friday, Unicorns! Time once again to catch up on some of the news stories catching my eye this week.
Read More Friday News Bites: Scalia Replacement Significance, Shkreli Karma + More
PoC News in America
This week we're counting down the minutes until Star Wars and enjoying everything John Boyega is doing. In news, we have big updates about Daniel Holtzclaw, affirmative action, and a movie that surprised us with a trailer release last night. Read More PoC News in America
PoC News in America
Lots of things to cover, so let's just get right to it!
I'm Confused About How I Feel About Chris Brown
I recently read some anti-Chris Brown playing the Grammy posts, most notably "I'm Not Okay With Chris Brown Performing at the Grammys and I'm Not Sure Why You Are" on Hello Giggles. I can't say I disagree with anything stated in the article, because I really don't. The article is mostly on-point. But my retort to this question is "Why Do We Care So Much About Chris Brown But None of the Other Domestic Violence Perpetrators in Hollywood?" Read More I'm Confused About How I Feel About Chris Brown
Esperanza Spalding: Better than Bieber
Last week at the Grammys, Esperanza Spalding rode in as the dark horse of the night, winning Best New Artist. (I will mention only one other female artist was nominated in this category: Florence and The Machine. Although women did have a pretty big take-home: 16 awards in all.) It had many people saying, "Who?" And it had me saying, "Wow, amazing dress!" Read More Esperanza Spalding: Better than Bieber
Grammy Awards: Red Carpet and Show Live Blog with La Belle Amelie!
Hey guys, it's that time of the year again, when we get to relax and watch the Grammys! Yay! So pull up your couch, get this party started, and hope there aren't anymore disastrous performances like Taylor Swift's cover of "Rhiannon"! Snacks are sure to be at hand and keep the wine bottle near. It is gonna get crazy!
Read More Grammy Awards: Red Carpet and Show Live Blog with La Belle Amelie!
Live Blog of the Grammy Red Carpet and Awards!
This is a reminder for you all to tune into the live blogging of the Grammy Awards and the Red Carpet. I will be live blogging and relaxing, so tune in!
You will all have to bear with me on this momentous occasion as it is my first live blog! Yay! Get ready to get the party started at 6 ET/5 CT. I will be starting with E!'s coverage of the Red Carpet then moving onto the Grammy's themselves.
See you there!
Image via techh.com


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The team behind Keswick Mountain Festival (KMF) has revealed more details of plans to make 2016 the event's biggest and best year yet. The 10th anniversary festival is now three months away and KMF has added to its growing programme of sporting events and outdoor activities. With trail runs, open water swims, triathlons, a cycle sportive and walks at all levels, KMF has more than ever for anyone who needs some inspiration to help them stick to a new year's resolution to be more active and get outdoors. The latest activities to be announced include guided walks, wild camping and a new longer open water swim.
Keswick Mountain Festival, sponsored by Hi-Tec, has grown into one of the biggest and best loved outdoor events in the UK, with more than 17,000 visitors in 2015, including over 2,000 who took part in the sporting events. KMF 2016 will run from 19-22 May and along with sports and outdoor activities, will offer live music, high profile speakers and a wide range of other attractions from its Festival Village base in Crow Park on the outskirts of Keswick.
New for KMF 2016 is a 3km open water swim on Sunday 22 May, the longest to ever feature during the festival. A deep-water start will take swimmers across to the shores of Derwent Isle, before they make their way along the shore of Derwentwater. Swimmers will finish back at the Festival Village, where family and friends can cheer them home.
KMF has also revealed details of its Hike schedule for this year. The programme includes hikes up some of the Lake District's most iconic fells, with a scramble on Helvellyn, a sunset walk on Skiddaw, moonlit hike on Blencathra, two hikes on Scafell Pike, and a second chance to visit Helvellyn, in time for sunrise. In addition, the festival will host four navigation sessions for beginners, and a wild camping adventure. The programme has been devised to deliver a mix of levels of walking and offer something that is suitable for everyone.
Lucy Scrase, KMF sports director, comments: "Every year, we resolve to make Keswick Mountain Festival bigger and better. I think that this line up of events will provide something to work towards for anyone whose own new year's resolution is to get more active. That's particularly important this year and we really hope that people will get behind these events and help Keswick to bounce back in a big way after the terrible flooding last month.
"2016 is going to be critical for tourism in the Lake District and it's already a very big year for Keswick Mountain Festival. We will be holding our 10th festival and we have come a long way in that time. The event has always contributed to the local economy, by bringing in large numbers of visitors and this year we are building a programme that has the capacity to attract more than ever. Given recent events, we hope that we can play a big part in bringing people back for some amazing experiences in this incredible part of the world."
More details about the wider programme will be released in the near future, including other outdoor activities, a full schedule of speakers and the concert line up. To find out more about KMF, visit www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk.


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It seems there is a never-ending supply of information about the ins and outs of the Universal Service Fund (USF), its' proposed structure, potential funding shortfalls and its' status on regulatory dockets. As ILECs know, the health of universal support is crucial to paying off past capital expenditures and for making future spending decisions about bringing quality communications to rural America.
The 2017 industry meeting season got off to a great start at NTCA's RTIME meeting in San Diego. It was an excellent opportunity to continue spreading the word that Onvoy's acquisition of ANPI in the second half of 2016 was paying dividends for our hundreds of rural customers in the form of enhanced services and capabilities. It was very uplifting to hear from longtime ANPI and Onvoy customers alike about their enthusiasm for the direction of Onvoy under Fritz Hendricks' leadership.
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Bulls Gap Historic District
Main Street
Bulls Gap, TN 37711Phone:
(423) 272-2186Website:
The Main Street area is fully intact and includes antebellum buildings and other structures of historic importance.
1880s Main Street is still fully intact. Includes 27 structures, ranging from Old Country Store to Gilley's Hotel and private residences. This was the site of several skirmishes and campsites during the Civil War. One of the bridges successfully destroyed by The Bridge Burners was Lick Creek Bridge in Bulls Gap.
Bulls Gap was a strategic location for both armies during the Civil War and was a fortified town and from 1863 to 1865, with several battles over control of the town and railroad. Throughout most of the war, the Federal forces maintained control of the town.
The Battle of Bulls Gap, in November 1864, pitted Confederate Major General John C. Breckinridge against Union forces guarding the railroad. Breckinridge believed that Confederate sympathizers in the area would help drive the Union from the area. After four days of fighting, Union troops, headed back to Russellville in search of supplies. Breckingridge headed back to Virginia, having created a temporary Union setback in its plans to rid East Tennessee of Confederates.


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Unusual Churches Around The World
The Church of Hallgrímur, Reykjavík, Iceland
The Church of Hallgrímur is very very unusual, never seen anything like that.
This Lutheran parish church is also a very tall one, reaching 74.5 metres (244 ft) height. It is the fourth tallest architectural structure in Iceland.
It took incredibly long to build it (38 years!) Construction work began in 1945 and ended in 1986. The Architect of this building is Guðjón Samúelssondesign.
Cathedral of Brasilia in Brasilia, Brazil
This is a very famous Cathedral of Brasília designed by Oscar Niemeyer. It looks really modern but somehow childish to me. These columns, having hyperbolic section and weighing 90 t, represent two hands moving upwards to heaven.
The construction was finished in 1970.
Paoay Church (St. Augustine Parish) in Philippines
Paoay Church reminds me of Aztec architecture. It looks very massive and strong. The walls of the church are 1.67 meters thick and are supported by 24 carved and massive buttresses.
Its construction started in 1704 and was completed in 1894 by the Augustinian friars led by Fr. Antonio Estavillo. It is said, that Its construction primarily was intended to withstand earthquakes. And it could test the strength of the walls very soon, because the church was damaged by an earthquake in 1706 and 1927.
The design of the church is a mixture of Gothic, Oriental and Baroque influence.
Duomo (Milan Cathedral) in Italy
Duomo looks incredibly tall and majestic. It even has an evil and scary look in this picture. After checking the Wikipedia for more info I found there were more photos of this cathedral, but they don't look as cool as this photo here. Maybe its just an illusion made by a good photographer that this building is so amazing.
On the other hand, Mark Twain said the following of the Duomo in Milan in his work, Innocents Abroad:
"They say that the Cathedral of Milan is second only to St. Peter's at Rome. I cannot understand how it can be second to anything made by human hands."
Church Ruins in Goreme, Turkey
The rock cut ruins of a church by persecuted Christians.
Not sure when it was built, but definitely look very ancient. How did those guys carved the inside of these rocks?
The Cappadocia valley, where this church stands, is very popular for its rocks that the people of the villages at the heart of the Cappadocia Region carved out to form houses, churches, monasteries.
There are an estimated 150 churches and several monasteries in the canyon between the villages of Ihlara and Selime.
Those rocks are volcanic deposits, so that means they are soft rocks, making it possible to carve such structures.
Green church, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Don't have info about this church, nevertheless it's very unusual. I have never seen a church so green, have you?
Michael: "a parish church in Buenos Aires, Argentina known as the "Huerto de Olivos", or "Garden of Olives," most likely a reference Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives"
Borgund Stave Church, Lærdal, Norway
Stave churches may have been very usual all over medieval northwestern Europe but now you can only find them in Norway. Well ok, there is one one in Sweden, but nowhere else.
Borgund stave church located in Borgund, Lærdal, Norway is the best preserved of Norway's 28 extant stave churches. This wooden church, probably built in the end of the 12th century, has not changed structure or had a major reconstruction since the date it was built.
Interesting fact: the church is also featured as a Wonder for the Viking civilization in the video game Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings.
Paraportiani Church, Mykonos, Greece
I will just cite, what the author of this picture wrote about it:
"Paraportianí Church is one of the most famous architectural structures in Greece. Its name means secondary gate, because it was built on the site of one of the gates of the Medieval stone walls. Some parts of this beautiful church date from 1425 and the rest was built during the 16th and 17th centuries. "
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
I have never seen anything as incredible as this building! Never been to Spain, but if I ever happen to do so, I will definitely include Sangrada Família on the must-see list. I wonder, how does it look in reality?
Sagrada Família is a very massive Roman Catholic basilica under construction in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Construction began in 1882 and continues to this day. A very famous architect Antoni Gaudí worked on the project for over 40 years, devoting the last 15 years of his life entirely to this endeavour.
In the center there is going to be a tower of Jesus Christ, surmounted by a giant cross; the tower's total height will be 170 m (557,7ft).
There is so much info on this one, that you should check Wikipedia.
St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia
Cathedral of Saint Basil the Blessed , is a multi-tented church which stands on the Red Square in Moscow.
This church looks really cool, because It has very unusual onion domes which look playful and colorful. Sometimes people even say, that they remind them of lollypops.
The cathedral was built in 1555 -1561 by Ivan IV (a.k.a Ivan the Terrible) to celebrate the capture of the Khanate of Kazan.
A legend says that Ivan had the architect, Postnik Yakovlev, blinded to prevent him from building a more magnificent building for anyone else. In fact, Postnik Yakovlev built a number of churches after Saint Basil's.
More info: Saint Basil's Cathedral
Basilica de Higuey, Dominican Republic
Basilica de Higuey is located in the city of Higuey, Dominican Republic. Its unusual look reminds me of a basket.
The church is one of the most respected monuments of the Dominican Republic. The basilica was inaugurated on January 21, 1971, and was built by French architects.
Grace Fellowship Baptist Church, Baltimore, MD, USA
This strange building is actually a church. Once it was famous for being "Detroit's most beautiful Chinese-American restaurant". Later it closed down and became the Omega Baptist Church and then the Grace Fellowship Baptist Church. Located at 265 Baltimore, MD, USA.
Las Lajas Cathedral in Columbia
Las Lajas Cathedral looks unusual to me because one side of it seems to be a part of a bridge across the river and the other side rests on the hill. The overall look is really fascinating.
Built in 1916 inside the canyon of the Guaitara river where, according to local legend, the Virgin Mary appeared.
You can find this church in southern Colombian Department of Nariño, municipality of Ipiales, near the border with Ecuador.
Jubilee Church in Rome, Italy
Jubilee Church has very distinctive curved walls which look like sails to me. Designed in 1996 by architect Richard Meier, the church has curved walls which serve the engineering purpose of minimizing thermal peak loads in the interior space.
The walls are made from a special cement, which contain titanium dioxide, so it destroys air pollution.
According to Borgarello "When the titanium dioxide absorbs ultraviolet light, it becomes powerfully reactive, breaking down pollutants that come in contact with the concrete."
St Joseph Ukrainian Catholic Church in Chicago, IL, USA
Maybe I'll better don't tell what those domes remind me (haha). Very very unusual looking building I must say. Its massiveness and gray color looks like Soviet architecture. I was amazed when I read that it was actually in USA and not somewhere In Soviet Union.
St. Joseph Ukrainian Catholic church is a is most known for its ultra-modern thirteen gold domed roof symbolizing the twelve apostles and Jesus Christ as the largest center dome.
It is celebrating its 52 years, so it was built in 1956 (if my calculations are right).
Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, France
Someone told that the roof of this building looks like Elvis' hair.
Informally known as Ronchamp, the chapel of Notre Dame du Haut was completed in 1954 and is considered one of the finest examples of architecture by the late French/Swiss architect Le Corbusier.
Most interesting fact to me is that, when it rains, water pours off the slanted roof onto a fountain, creating a dramatic waterfall.
Odd Church in Huntington Beach, CA, USA
Don't have info on that one, only this photo and the location: Huntington Beach, CA, USA.
As far as I understand it must be sponsored by Shell, because it has a huge SHELL logo on it (this statement can be absolutely different from the reality). Looks terrible overall.
Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro looks like a Pyramid of Egypt or Aztecs.
It was built between 1964 and 1979. Conical in form it has internal diameter of 96 metres (315 ft) and an overall height of 75 metres (246 ft). The church has a standing-room capacity of 20,000 people.
Four rectilinear stained glass windows soar 64 metres (210 ft) from floor to ceiling.


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Cyber security
Cyber security
Cyber crime can derail your company
Whatever your industry, cyber security is a worldwide concern. As you hold more data, and your staff use their own devices, you can become more vulnerable to security breaches.
Those breaches can have significant legal and reputational effects upon companies. As shown by recent data breaches, and related litigation, this is not just an IT issue.
Watch US partner Timothy Harkness describe the current cyber-security landscape, the rules and regulations governing cyber security, and how companies can best prepare themselves – from a legal perspective – for a material breach.


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Car Products
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Car Products
You likely spend a large portion of your day traveling in the car, and technology is an important piece of your daily activities. However, keeping your phone accessible and available while driving can pose many safety risks. No need to worry, as several car products on the market can allow you to keep necessary information available while remaining safe on the road.
Maximize Your Car's Power
The media on your phone significantly reduces boredom on long trips, and maps help you get easily from one location to the next. At the same time, these applications on your phone can quickly drain your battery life leaving you without access to important information. Phone chargers specifically designed for use in the car can regularly save you significant hassle while on the road. Our wide selection of options easily fit your needs, and some provide more than one charging port for your passengers as well. We even have *wireless options to create a sleeker easier look, and many options can charge more than just your phone. (*Not all phones support wireless charging).
Chargers aren't the only important product for your vehicle. Auxiliary cables allow you to hook your phone up to your car's speakers, so you can listen to music and audio books or more clearly hear directions from your phone. Mounts additionally improve access to your phone, as they allow you to quickly glance toward the screen and make selections without fully removing your eyes from the road. Quickly skip through songs or reroute directions without becoming a danger on the road.
Car/Travel Options For Your Phone
We have a range of options to help you maximize the technology for your car. Technology is essential to your daily interactions and travel. Having the right tools for your vehicle can help you more easily navigate your day. Shop around to find the products that make your life just a little bit easier.


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Meter (Dreidel)
By Barbie Paulsen
I have a little meter
I use it through the day,
When finger's done with bleeding
Then dreidel I can play
Oh, meter, meter, meter
I use it every day
And when I'm done with testing
I throw used strips away (Hah!)
I have a little meter,
It counts down really fast
And keeps a steady record
Of when I tested last
I have a little meter
I take it everywhere
But when I need to use it
Sometimes it isn't there
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text: 'New Year's Eve' Stars Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Zac Efron Celebrate at Film's Premiere 10:57 AM PST 12/6/2011 by Rebecca Ford FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Kevin Winter/Getty Images Zac Efron Lea Michele - H 2011 The stars of Garry Marshall's romantic comedy hit the black carpet in Hollywood on Monday. The end of 2011 may still be three weeks away, but a New Year's Eve celebration took place on Monday night on Hollywood Boulevard. The star-studded cast of Garry Marshall's upcoming romantic comedy New Year's Eve celebrated the film's release at the premiere, walking the black carpet, and then enjoying an after-party at the Kodak Ballroom. PHOTOS: 'New Year's Eve' Premiere Red Carpet Arrivals The Warner Bros. romantic comedy follows several people on the last night of the year in New York. The big-name cast, much like Marshall's Valentine's Day, features Ashton Kutcher, Zac Efron, Lea Michele, Hilary Swank, Abigail Breslin, Katherine Heigl and Michelle Pfeiffer, who all attended the premiere. Ashton Kutcher came alone, but posed for photos with Glee's Lea Michele on the carpet before the event. The Two and a Half Men star rushed past reporters, avoiding any interviews on the black carpet. Lea Michele, wearing a stunning Valentino dress, did not come alone, but brought a date – Spring Awakening co-star Jonathan Groff. Additionally, her Glee co-stars including Chris Colfer, Darren Criss, Harry Shum Jr. and Kevin McHale also came out to support their castmate. Another star who brought a date? Josh Duhamel, who arrived with his wife, Fergie. Fergie sparkled in a beautiful gold dress. Zac Efron arrived in a cool grey suit. The actor, who plays a bike messenger in the romantic comedy, told THR that he liked working in the film because he could say he was in a movie with Robert De Niro – even though he didn't have any scenes with him. VIDEO: 'New Year's Eve' Star Abigail Breslin Talks About Her First On-Screen Kiss Katherine Heigl arrived at the premiere with her husband, Josh Kelley. While she too did not do any interviews on the black carpet, the couple let loose at the afterparty, dancing together to Journey's "Don't Stop Believing." Abigail Breslin spoke to THR on the black carpet before the premiere, revealing that this was her first on-screen kiss. "It was very professional. There were a lot of breath mints on set," said Breslin. Breslin, who stars as a 15-year-old who wants to spend New Year's Eve with her friends rather than her mother (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) also told THR that she and Parker spent most of their time talking about American Idol, a show they both love. Hilary Swank, who plays the stressed-out producer of the Times Square balldrop, told THR that she really relates to her character's predicament when the ball has a mechanical malfunction on New Year's Eve. "I totally relate to it. I take my job so seriously and I don't want to mess it up, so I totally relate to it," she told THR. View more photos of all the stars at the New Year's Eve premiere here. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Rebecca Ford email@example.com beccamford


text: Sydney's avocado toast is the kind of food that makes you do a double take and say, "I want that!" It's 'grammable, it's gourmet, it's a textural symphony. Seriously, one bite and you'll get everything you wanted out of a dish in a mouthful – the tang of the tomato and feta, the silky-smooth creaminess of mashed avocado, and the loud crunch of the crusty bread that holds it all together. It's onething to enjoy this creation, it's another to know the secret behind Sydney's famous open-faced sandwich. We got some insider info on what actually makes this avocado toast so delectable, and we're here to share it with you. Locations in Providence, Garden City, and Portsmouth.