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The Spot: The Vig Fillmore 606 N. 4th Ave. 602-254-2242 http://www.thevig.us/
See also: Arizona Wilderness Picacho Pecan Pie Brown Ale: Whole Pecan Pies, Maple Syrup, Vanilla Beans, Love
The Hours: Happy hour is offered Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.
The Interior: The Vig has locataions in Arcadia, Uptown and Fillmore. With long tables and open areas, The Vig Fillmore has a friendly vibe. It's November in Arizona, which means perfect patio weather. It's why we all live here, right? The Vig Fillmore has a spacious patio complete with tables, lounge chairs, a fire pit, and an outdoor bar. With old school tunes like "It's Not Unusual" by Tom Jones playing, we could stay here all night, or at least until happy hour ends.
The Food: During happy hour, the select half-price appetizers are big enough to fill you up. Edamame, guacamole, hummus, hot wings, sliders, a daily flatbread, and grilled fish tacos are on the menu.
We decided on the the Double Down, roasted red pepper and roasted garlic hummus. It's served with fresh chopped tomatoes, cucumbers and warm pita bread for $4. The Vig sprinkles chili powder on garlic hummus to give it a kick. The Hot "Vings" were the other dish we couldn't resist. They come in a traditional, Thai sweet chili, or honey BBQ sauce. We went with the traditional, which is a very mild buffalo. The wings were crispy and juicy with just the right amount of sauce on them for $4.50.
Plus, the waitress played along when my boyfriend kept repeating "hot vings" when I would only say "hot wings."
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The Drinks: Cocktails are $2 off during happy hour, which makes them $7. Wine is $2 off, draft and premium beer is $1.50 off, domestic beer is $1 off and well cocktails are $1 off. Although the cocktails are still $7, they are well worth the price. The Willo Wisp tastes like a slice of key lime pie complete with whipped vodka and a graham cracker around the rim. The Coronado Cup is exactly what is needed when there's a case of the Mondays: a mix of Absolut Citron, elderflower liqueur, strawberries, and lemon, topped with champagne.
The Conclusion: Complete with drinks that go down easily, food that satisfies, a relaxing patio and great service, The Vig left us content and full. We only wish cocktails were a little cheaper, then we wouldn't feel guilty for wanting more than a couple . . .
Grade: A-


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Carmen Falcone
Financier turned activist Emanuel Duarte has promised he would find the one witness who can testify against real estate developer Silas Lancaster. Sick of having every attempt at exposing Silas shut down, Emanuel wants to honor a promise he made, and takes from his opponent what matters most—his beautiful daughter Erika. Only he gets more than he bargained for with the tempting—and frustrating—woman.
Fundraiser and socialite Erika Lancaster can't believe she's been kidnapped. Her sexy captor is feeding her lies about her father that she refuses to swallow. Emanuel's plans will hurt her and ruin her mother's legacy—and that she can't allow. Desperate to find a way out of the lush Brazilian jungle, she decides there's only way to disarm the enemy—seduce him.
But her plan backfires and soon she realizes that seducing the enemy comes with a hefty price…loving the enemy simply isn't an option.
Emmanuel wants the truth exposed. The corruption that caused housing to crumble and people to die. All his efforts to bring Silas down have failed. Frustrated he comes up with a plan he is sure will get him the answers and the justice he seeks.
Erika is her father's spokesperson, usually representing the foundation started in her mother's memory. Often she attends functions with or in place of her father. She heads out to one of these affairs with her contingent of bodyguards, one of which she thinks she recognizes. When they head in the wrong direction she realizes these bodyguards were not sent by her father. She is being abducted, albeit in an unconventional way.
As kidnapping's go this one was more of a game, a trap being set. Erika must be convinced to help Emmanuel destroy her father. Unfortunately that would also destroy her foundation, her mother's legacy. The fact that her father sends goons to retrieve her does much to win her to her abductors cause.
This is a favorite scene.
"Uncuff me. Now!" he shouted. A sheen of sweat slicked on his forehead, and the desire that had fogged his irises moments earlier had disappeared.
"I can't." She reached the threshold, then glanced back.
"Sorry," she said, even though she had no clue why she apologized.
He kidnapped her, lied to her about her father, and who knew what else. But why did a strange feeling nag at her, shooting a nauseating sensation in her stomach? She shook her head and scurried to the entrance. She couldn't afford to waste any time. If the sound of his body slamming against the frame was a hint, he would be running after her soon.
She slid the key in the door handle and twisted it. The sun blinded her. She started to run, but suddenly strong arms grabbed her, and calloused hands covered her mouth.
"Ssshhhh…you're safe." Someone whispered. "Your father sent us."
A burly man materialized in front of her. It took her a couple of seconds to register he just mentioned her father. Somehow her heart kept hammering on.
"You're safe now." The man's grasp around her loosened enough to give her room to breathe. She blinked. "What?"
"Tony'll take you back. And I'll go in."
Tony took her elbow and cocked his head in the direction of a black sedan. He opened the door for her. "Get inside." She stared at the door with hesitation. "Where are we going?" The two men seemed legit enough. Why would a third party want to kidnap her? "Shouldn't we call the police first?" She had no idea how these procedures worked, but why would Tony rush her away while the other one stayed? Was it because the guy would call the police and have Emanuel arrested?
Tony shook his head, somewhat annoyed. Obviously he had expected her to jump into his car without asking questions. Her father must have already had a clue about her whereabouts when Emanuel called him the previous day. Otherwise, how would he have found her so quickly and sent these two men after her? They had showed her no special badge, so she assumed her dad hired them privately. Why would he keep her disappearance a secret when he had done nothing wrong? Her stomach clenched. Unless…
A hellish smile spread across the man's oval face. "There aren't any police involved. Your dad ordered me to fly you home ASAP, and Harry will handle your kidnapper."
Her chest tightened. "What do you mean handle? Listen, I think this is a huge misunderstanding…"
Tony mocked her and waved his hands in the air. "Mr. Lancaster was very clear about it. He wants no loose ends. Emanuel Duarte must be eliminated.
Now, if you get in the car, you can put this nightmare behind you, and you'll be having brunch with your friends tomorrow."
Nightmare? She pushed down the lump in her dry throat. The guy who walked in would kill Emanuel if she didn't stop him. He'd die for kidnapping her because he wanted to help someone he believed was wronged. He shouldn't have taken her, but he claimed he had good reason, and he didn't deserve to die. She couldn't allow that to happen, nor could she live with that kind of knowledge. She slammed the door and stepped back, her hand fumbling in the backpack. She palmed the gun, the weapon heavy and cold. "I can't go."
He opened the door and pointed to the inside of the car. "That's not your choice."
Her dad couldn't have told these men to kill Emanuel, could he? Misunderstanding or not, leaving Emanuel behind was not an option, not if she had anything to say about it. Determined, she grabbed the gun and aimed it at him. "Get away from me."
He laughed. "Why wouldn't you want to go home? Listen, I can call your father, and you can talk to him after we get a head start. Get in the car, or you'll make life harder for all of us," he said, and reached for the inside of his vest.
He launched at her, and she pulled the trigger. The sound sliced through the air, as Tony touched the fresh blood seeping through his pants. "Bitch. You got my leg."
Emanuel punched the intruder in the face, and he stumbled back against the nightstand. The guy must hurt and kill people for a living, he'd give him that. Ever since he'd broken the wooden frame and gotten out of the bed, the cuffs still clasped against his wrist, he'd realized the restraint would be the least of his worries. The idiot had stormed into the room and clocked him before he even registered his presence.
"I should have shot you, but I got paid extra to make it slow and painful," the man said, panting and wiping blood from the side of his mouth.
The thug stood up, but before he could throw a punch, Emanuel shoved him against the wall, curled his fingers into a fist and hit his jaw. Once. Twice.
"You're overpriced. I'm killing you for free." Emanuel shoved his elbow on the man's shoulder, dropping him to the floor. The guy groaned. Did this idiot expect Emanuel not to be such a good fighter? He'd learned his ways as a young boy and knew every dirty trick in the book, even though in his adult life he seldom used them.
A squirming noise yanked him from the moment, and he dashed out of the room. Erika. He left the house and found her fighting with another man who kept pushing her into the backseat of an idling car.
"You've done enough for a day," he grunted. "Now shut up and get in the car, you rich bitch."
Emanuel launched at them and pushed the man off her. He tried to protest, but Emanuel punched him and he fell to the ground.
"Let's get out of here," he said to Erika.
She nodded, and he circled around the car and slipped onto the driver's seat, turning on the engine. She shut the door and stayed in the back. Within seconds, they were driving away from it all.
Carmen Falcone. BC_Galley.indd (Kindle Locations 858-918). Kindle Edition.
As they travel through the Amazon, staying at interesting venues their relationship evolves. A relationship where trust must be earned and the attraction is volatile.
Sexy, intriguing and full of beautiful detail of the Amazon region.
5 Contented Purrs for Carmen!
Click the Cover for Buy Links
Carmen Falcone learned at an early age that fantasizing about fictional characters beat doing math homework any day. Brazilian by birth and traveler by nature, she moved to Central Texas after college and met her broody Swiss husband–living proof that opposites attract.
She found in writing her deepest passion and the best excuse to avoid the healthy lifestyle everyone keeps talking about. When she's not lost in the world of romance, she enjoys spending time with her two kids, being walked by her three crazy pugs, reading, catching up with friends, and chatting with random people in the checkout line.
She loves to procrastinate, so please indulge her and drop her a line. For more info, visit her website.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Amazon Author Page

subset: commoncrawl


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Disability advocates threaten to sue Texas over special education cap
Advocates warn of litigation if special-ed metric isn't removed
AUSTIN - Disability advocates on Monday threatened to sue the Texas Education Agency unless the state permanently ends its special education enrollment benchmark within the next month.
The advocates said immediate action is necessary because of the "devastating harm" caused by the benchmark.
The state already has suspended and pledged to eventually eliminate the decade-old cap, which punished school districts for giving special education services to more than 8.5 percent of students. But the state has angered advocates by not saying when it will permanently end the policy.
"The time for action to protect and support Texas's children with disabilities is now," the advocates from the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities and Disability Rights Texas wrote in a letter to the Texas Education Agency and Commissioner Mike Morath.
Asked to comment on the letter, agency spokesman Gene Acuña said that officials already are working to eliminate the 8.5 percent metric. Changes to the policy should be proposed in the spring, he said.
"As always, we continue to seek input from stakeholders during this process," Acuña said.
The Texas Education Agency has denied that any child has been harmed by the benchmark.
The threat of a suit adds a new dimension to the debate over the benchmark, which already is a topic in the state Legislature and the subject of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education.
Legal action also could open the door to an effort to obtain compensation for the tens of thousands of students with disabilities who have been denied services due to the benchmark. Federal law requires schools to serve all eligible students with disabilities.
The four-page letter cited a 2016 Houston Chronicle investigation that revealed the policy and the damage it caused.
The Chronicle found that officials arbitrarily chose the 8.5 percent target while facing a $1.1 billion state budget cut and did not consult lawmakers, the federal government or any research.
Nationwide, about 13 percent of students receive some type of special education services such as tutoring, counseling or therapy - a percentage that has not significantly changed for years.
In Texas, after the benchmark took effect, the percentage dropped from near the national average to exactly 8.5 percent. That is the lowest rate in the United States, by far.
More than 100 current and former school employees admitted to the Chronicle that they delayed or denied services to students with disabilities due to the benchmark.
"The children and families of Texas deserve, need, and are legally entitled to better," the advocates wrote in their letter.
The letter also outlined the group's legal theory.
First, the advocates said, the benchmark was inappropriate because states are allowed to monitor school districts "only as necessary to ensure compliance with federal law." Moreover, they argued, the benchmark actively violated the law "because it directs, incentivizes, and has caused school districts to deny enrollment in special education programs to eligible students."
The advocates said they would not file the lawsuit if Morath and the agency counter-sign their letter and initiate the process of permanently ending the benchmark within 30 days.
"We genuinely hope and believe such a lawsuit is unnecessary given our joint interest in making sure the children with disabilities of Texas get the support and services they are legally entitled to receive," the advocates wrote.


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Read more about the debate on online information
Many legal experts say any ruling in the Megan's law cases is likely to be narrowly tailored toward the issue. Still, privacy and free-speech proponents are closely watching the cases, believing they could offer some guidelines about online court records in general. Among the concerned parties are some media groups, which worry about the adverse effects on online journalism from a ruling saying that the publication of factual information online is somehow unconstitutional.
"It would be the first case where the government said online information is not as protected as information in print," said Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, which filed a brief in the case.
The entree of the Internet into the world of courts has renewed the debate over what constitutes a public record and how accessible such records should be. The Web is forcing courts across the country to deal with the issue of privacy versus accountability, as well as whether certain types of court records warrant more restrictions than others. For example, some organizations have proposed placing more restraints on criminal records and fewer on civil. Others advocate redacting only the most personal identifiers--say, social security, driver's license and credit card numbers--and placing the rest of the information online.
Courts also are grappling with who should have access to information: Should online access be limited only to interested parties or people who can afford to pay?
Privacy experts worry that the Internet could erode a legal theory that such records have been "practically obscure," or hidden from all but the most determined or interested parties because, until now, people have had to physically visit the courthouse to obtain court documents. Now, in some counties and states, anyone with a computer can click their way through pages of embarrassing details from divorce, bankruptcy and other records.
Privacy advocates also fear that the increased dissemination of the records via the Internet not only will embarrass people but also could lead to an increase in identity theft and vigilantism. What's more, many privacy experts argue, storing easily searchable criminal records conflicts with the fundamental principle that once people have paid their dues, they should be able to reintegrate into society.
"It's really hard to do so when your past can come back to haunt you so easily," said Electronic Privacy Information Center lawyer Mikal Condon, who co-authored a friend-of-the-court in the case.
In the Megan's law cases specifically, EPIC charges that the government is not only compiling publicly available information and storing it in a database, but also is collecting new, updated personal information--an act they argue violates privacy expectations.
"Although the state has a compelling reason for collecting and making available the information in limited circumstances, Internet dissemination of such information permits the government to make unfettered use of information that would otherwise be effectively unavailable, thus violating the state's duty to safeguard private information from unwarranted disclosure," EPIC wrote in the brief.
"A backlash of privacy"
By contrast, advocates of electronic access to information argue that more online records help citizens to better track their public court system's inner workings.
Guylyn Cummins, a partner at law firm Gray Cary, said that privacy experts are using the electronic access issue as a springboard to revisit whether some traditionally public records should be available at all.
"What we're seeing now is a backlash of privacy," Cummins said. "I think that's the wrong response."
She said that whether or not information is public shouldn't turn on whether it's in electronic or paper form. "If information is public--and legislators and courts have deemed it's important to make the information public--then why are we drawing a line between how it's disseminated?"
Meanwhile, states and counties are dealing with the issue on a piecemeal basis, with each jurisdiction deciding individually how much information to put online.
"There aren't any trends," said Ari Schwartz, associate director at the Center for Democracy and Technology, which conducted a nationwide study on the issue of online records. "Every state and county is doing something completely different."
For example, Hamilton County, Ohio, officials have given the public virtually unfettered online access to nearly all court records, from divorce proceedings to traffic violations.
On the other hand, some states, including Alabama, make only some records available, and only to people who pay. Some Minnesota courts charge a $31 monthly fee for electronic access to criminal defendant and other records. In Louisiana, some courts charge as much as $250 per year. Many states provide extremely limited access to records, offering only court rules and scheduling information.
Still other courts are hobbled by overworked and underfunded court clerks, unable to put court records online even if they want to.
Several bodies and organizations are hoping to issue guidelines to help counties and states navigate the move to some form of e-courts. Schwartz hopes courts and legislators will start to think about the Web more often in the policy-making process. After all, someday all court records may be electronic.
"Unfortunately, what we're seeing in most cases is people putting together laws with the intent of the information being on paper only," he said.
Safety versus justice?
Megan's laws stem from the 1994 rape and murder of 7-year-old Megan Kanka by a twice-convicted sex offender who lived next door. The incident sparked New Jersey legislators to enact the nation's first sex offender registry law, a measure soon followed by all of the other states, though the measures vary in detail.
In the Alaska case, the justices will decide whether the law violates the U.S. Constitution's ban on ex post facto laws that increase the severity of punishments after the crime was committed.
The issue at the heart of the Connecticut case is whether a government may list people in a sex offender registry without having to show that each person might be a current danger to their community--an alleged due process violation.
Connecticut published details of its sex offender list--a practice followed by perhaps a dozen states--on the Internet in a searchable database. After a federal district court and an appeals court ruled against the state attorney general's office, Connecticut pulled the plug on the Web site.
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in October 2001 that Connecticut's law "fails to accommodate the constitutional rights of persons formerly convicted of a wide range of sexual offenses who are branded as likely to be currently dangerous offenders irrespective of whether or not they are."
Connecticut's version of Megan's law requires that people convicted--or found not guilty by reason of insanity--of sex-related crimes register with the state for the next 10 years, and the state is required to post that information on the Internet. Anyone who moves to a new address and is subject to the law must register within five days.
The state's "Sex Offender Registry" Internet database was available at the Connecticut state site until the courts shut it down. It was searchable by ZIP code or city name.
The Internet publication was not a central part of appeals court's reasoning. In fact, the judges wrote that "use of the Internet furthers these non-punitive purposes" such as public safety and law enforcement.
The original Megan's Law
Many state laws are modeled on the original Megan's Law, a New Jersey statute, which says anyone convicted of a sex offense must register with the police or go to jail. The law applies "regardless of the date of the commission of the offense or the date of conviction" and says that a sex offender moving to New Jersey from another state has 70 days to register.
Under the law, anyone already living in New Jersey who moves to a new address in the state has 10 days to notify the local police.
Those required to register must give their name, Social Security number, age, race, sex, date of birth, height, weight, hair and eye color, address of legal residence, address of any current temporary residence, date and place of employment, fingerprints and a description of the crime. In addition, they may be required to supply "evidentiary genetic markers" and "any other information that the Attorney General deems necessary."
The law covers two types of offenses: aggravated sexual assault and similar sex crimes with adults as victims, and crimes that involve a victim under 18 years old or those in which the defendant was convicted or acquitted by reason of insanity.
Anyone who falls into the first category of criminal defendants must check in with local police once a year.
A person in the second category "shall verify his address with the appropriate law enforcement agency every 90 days in a manner prescribed by the Attorney General." In practice, according to the rules implementing the law, that can mean showing up at the local police station or state police barracks once every three months.
There's one exception: Anyone required to register can ask a court to halt the practice after 15 years of good behavior. A group of sex offenders forced to register under this law unsuccessfully challenged it in court, with the New Jersey Supreme Court ruling in 1995 that the law was constitutional.


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Photos Of Chocolate Tree Hostel
Chocolate Tree Hostel, located in Shinchon / Hongdae, Seoul, is a popular choice for travelers. The excitement of the city center is only 5.10 Km away. No less exceptional is the hotel's easy access to the city's myriad attractions and landmarks, such as Hongik University Street, Four Seasons House, Dance Clubs-Hongik University Area.
The facilities and services provided by Chocolate Tree Hostel ensure a pleasant stay for guests. The hotel offers access to a vast array of services, including express check-in/check-out, luggage storage, tours, laundry service, concierge.
In addition, all guestrooms feature a variety of comforts. Many rooms even provide air conditioning, kitchenware, internet access – wireless, hair dryer, refrigerator to please the most discerning guest. The hotel's recreational facilities, which include skiing are designed for escape and relaxation. Superb facilities and an excellent location make the Chocolate Tree Hostel the perfect base from which to enjoy your stay in Seoul.
Click here for more information about Chocolate Tree Hostel location,customer reviews and how to book.


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Many years ago, in Massachusetts somewhere south of Boston, I entered a place of business and spoke to the owner. When I saw Catholic prayer cards on his desk I asked him about his Faith. He was happy to talk about it. He told me that when he was in the service he visited Theresa Neumann in Konnersreuth, Bavaria, after the Allies' victory in 1945. He was even privileged to witness her passion on a Friday. He had a portfolio with successive photographs of every phase of the passion as she experienced it. I will never forget viewing those photos. The stigmatist was covered with blood as she grimaced and sighed under the pain. In the final photo taken at 3:00 pm there was no trace of blood at all. Theresa Neumann, he told me, loved the American GIs. When they came into her house, he said, she would lift a chair and set it down for each of them, so anxious was this humble saint to serve them.
Mystics of the Church: The following eyewitness account comes from an American priest, Rev Linus Michael Schrems (1899-1979), who was a military captain and chaplain in the US Army during World War II. His testimony was given to me through the kindness of his nephew, Mr. John Pat Stapleton. I would like to thank Mr. Stapleton for sharing this wonderful account from his Uncle. May God bless him and his loved ones. -Glenn Dallaire. Account is here.


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Today, I offer a belated reflection on the fifth Kwanzaa principle, Nia, "Purpose"
Traditionally speaking, Nia requires us to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Traditional Greatness?
I'm assuming that the traditional greatness Nia imagines refers to the traditions of African communities on the continent. This is an uncomfortable starting point for LGBT folk. Homosexuality is illegal in over 50 African countries, and several Caribbean ones, despite the incredible work of activists on the continent and in the diasporas. History texts are usually written from a patriarchal heterosexist lens and do little to shed light on the experiences of ancient folk who would now be considered "LGBT" – at least in North America.
Where does a queer Afrikan find out about our traditional greatness, in order to ground our Purpose?
The Sankofa practice – loosely translated as the importance of looking back in order to go forward – gives me a little bit of allowance to take bits (lessons, lore, practices) from the past to guide future steps.
For example, here are three traditions that I have learned from my family that help me live Nia.
- Collective Problem-Solving: My mother tells me that when she was a child, and there was ever a problem that needed to be discussed, it would be done around a table, at a family meeting. She laments that families don't do this as much now and she deeply believes in putting everything out on the table and then figuring out a solution. I think that this tradition is beautiful and critical for problems in families, communities, nations and beyond. I don't know it's origin, but I do know that as the branches of my family tree extend, we will strive to continue this practice. The act of gathering to solve a problem collectively offers opportunities for individuals to bring their strengths to the table for the collective good.
- Eldership: I was taught to respect my elders and to honour the wisdom that comes with age. I strive to remain in a place of respect. There are, of course, instances where that respect wanes or disappears altogether. That is, there are some older adults, who, because of their behaviours can no longer assume eldership status and don't deserve my deference.
- Discipline and Routine: Another lesson I learned from my parents, and that is reflected in my relatives is routine and discipline. My parents lead lives rich in ritual and discipline. It's amazing. Because there are certain things that remain unchanged despite the passing decades, they are in some ways like a well-oiled machine. While in my youth, this used to bother me a bit, because I equated it with inflexibility (still true in some instances) I also see how discipline and routine can free up creative energies for other things. For example, my mother wrote a book – a spiritual autobiography called Jesus Opened my Eyes – Faith Alive – in her 70s while continuing her everyday routine in the home.
Practising collective problem-solving, honouring eldership and cultivating discipline have roots that trace back to an Afrikan past somewhere, and can support development of Purpose.
Traditional Greatness Reloaded?
What if Nia was equally about developing Purpose through the creation of new traditional greatness? What if we imagined forward?
Nia: To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to, and beyond, their traditional greatness.
Afrofturism does this for me. Take a look at this image for example:
This is Lady Sankofa, as imagined by artist James Mason for the Onyxcon Convention, a place where, as eloquently expressed by Ingrid LaFleur and Wanuri Kahiu in their talks on Afrofuturism, the traditional greatness of the past meets speculative technologies of the future.
Such reloaded Nia is reflected in the work of Afrikan academics and activists such as Dr. OmiSoore Dryden, Dr. Naila Keleta-Mae, Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs and Dr. Breeze Harper who are reimagining ways forward while maintaining a mindfulness of various traditions. Sankofa in action. Follow the links to look more at their work.
The work of these women are a reminder that the term 'technology' is not limited to hard tech like computers, phones, vehicles or dwellings, but it also refers to soft tech, like the technology of community, family, relationships and self. Imagining and reimagining ways to survive, heal and grow. This is where I want my practice of Nia to be situated.
Nia Challenge: Invest in individuals who are dedicating their talents to producing new traditions in which all of us can ground in Purpose.
Thanks for reading!
Happy Kwanzaa!


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This Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler is the ultimate late Spring fruit dessert! Sweet, crunchy, buttery and fruit filled.
Welcome to Sweet Saturday and yes, that's totally a thing :) Today I wanted to share an absolutely delicious way to enjoy the classic strawberry rhubarb combination that I think might be just the thing to make your Saturday sweeter.
This Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler features a generous layer of warm fruit, topped with a delicious biscuit topping and a layer of crumbs, that crisp up beautifully as they cook.
This is one of those desserts where you just spoon out in to a bowl and serve warm with a spoonful of whipped cream or ice cream.
Cook's Notes for Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler
You'll notice that the recipe provides a range of sugar for the fruit filling. If you love a tart, less sweet fruit layer, go with the 1/2 cup of sugar. For those who like it sweeter, 3/4 cup of sugar is the way to go. I think the sweetness of your strawberries may also dictate. If starting with super sweet, fresh picked berries you can probably reduce the sugar accordingly. For out-of-season, less sweet strawberries, a bit more sugar might be in order.
If you don't have or want to use a skillet for this dessert, simply use any deep baking dish in the 8 - 10-inch diameter or square range.
This dessert has the potential to bubble over, particularly if you baking dish is not super deep. Baking on top of a baking sheet is probably a good idea.
No buttermilk? Use a scant 1/2 cup of regular milk combined with 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice instead!
Skillet Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler
- 1/2-3/4 cup white sugar ((depending on your taste for tart or sweet fruit filling))
- 3 Tbsp cornstarch
- 3 cups rhubarb (chopped)
- 3 cups strawberries (chopped)
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup butter (cold, cut i to 8 pieces)
- 1/2 cup buttermilk (cold)
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour
- 2 Tbsp butter (cold, cut into 4 pieces)
- Preheat oven to 355 F with rack in centre of oven. Grease a 10-inch top diameter skillet or similar sized baking dish and set on top of a baking sheet. Set aside.
- For the filling: All all the filling ingredients to your prepared baking dish and stir well to coat fruit.
- For the Cake: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and baking soda. Add the cold butter pieces. Using your fingertips, rub the butter in to the flour mixture until the mixture is crumbly, with butter pieces no larger than the size of a pea. In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg and vanilla. Add to the flour/butter mixture and stir just until the mixture is evenly moistened. Spoon mixture over the fruit filling in the skillet.
- For the Topping: In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and flour. Add the cold butter and rub the butter together with the flour and sugar until you have a crumbly mixture. Scatter over-top of cake layer.
- Bake at 355 F. for about 45 minutes, or until top is golden and filling is bubbling.


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Getting people's attention is one of the most challenging tasks for advertisers nowadays especially here in the Philippines. Consumers are being flooded with lots of advertisements. Many brands are competing that consumers are bombarded with too much information.
If you drive across EDSA Guadalupe there are around 93 tarpaulins and billboards within those areas. A consumer that lives in QC can encounter over 250 advertisements when they go to work. We are not counting the amount of they see in Facebook and websites.
Being able to make an impression to the consumerd and become top of mind has been very difficult. Here are some guides on how to tackle this issue.
How can brands get more attention despite these competition?
* Unique Content– one of the best way is to offer content that brings value to consumers. When we say value, it could be something interesting, helpful, fun and more relatable. These contents should be unique and homegrown.
Consumers are so fed up with traditional spam. A glance of a conventional ad (like the ones you see in flyers and typical ads), people automatically activates their anti spam filters. People are so accustomed with traditional ads they have evolved into species resistant to them.
Companies that have the best contents are the likes of Budweisser, Pepsi and Old Spice. Their ads are so iconic, people even download them and share them in all social media. We will discuss on a separate article what content types fly for Filipinos.
* Don't play the hard-selling card– this is something that brand managers and marketers should put into heart. They want logos all over commercials. People are human, if you have content that has alot of logos on it better replace the entire segment with a scaled up logo instead.
Jollibee is one of the best when it comes to this. Their latest ad (the bittersweet episode wherein the guy didnt get the girl and ended up friend-zoned during the wedding) was a perfect mix of storytelling and associating the brand.
The commercial was focused more on the story and they were able to relate the Jollibee restaurant without distracting the flow. The agency who did this made an outstanding work on this. People had an emotional connection with the story while recalling the Jollibee brand.
* Real People Real Story– this is something advertisers especially the traditional ones will find difficulty getting this concept. We are now at the period that people are looking for real stories than commercial manufactured ones.
Commercials are premium grade. They are well produced with all the lighting, camera effects and scripts. Did you know that people doesn't really give a rats ass about polished shows?
This phenomenon is now trending. People follow real people and real stories. PewdewPie is a classic example, who would have though a guy playing a video game and reacting through a webcam would gain millions of following. Check the organic reach of brand posts, you will notice they are lesser than bloggers and influencers who streamed their experience in Facebook Live.
We are not saying we don't invest on quality lighting and video, what we are emphasizing is focusing on true experience. The more candid and less scripted the better. Our world is already filled with many facade, people are looking for something real. Try considering this on your next content.
* Utilize Untapped Advertising Channels– when Facebook and Youtube was at its early stage, alot of brands were able to capitalize their marketing leveraging these channels. When other brands realized the trend, hundreds of thousands jumped in. Today, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube posts are flooded with tons of information.
Many of the consumers have grown weary of these ads that they skip these. Part of your marketing mix is to explore channels that are untapped. These untapped channels can bring more attention for your brand.
Let's take for instance billboards, we see alot of them in EDSA. The only thing I could remember is the billboard ads of bench in Guadalupe. Instead of competing on that space, look for new ways to reach your target audience.
Admov is good example of this. Instead of investing millions on billboards and tarpaulins, you can advertise directly inside Uber and Grab cars. This example can help by-pass distractions from other ad segments and give focus to your brand.
Author: Bobby Ben Davis Cristuta
Bobby is the CMO and Co-founder for Admov Philippines. He is a serial technopreneur. He is passionate in delivering emerging marketing channels and bring Manila as destination for innovative advertising technologies.


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The normal dimensions vanished long ago,
and except for secrets covered in a skin
of words, we were left with only three.
Under every door in Marimbondo,
a letter of demand appeared, stamped
and indisputable.
By hydraulic decree, the Itaipu
catchment will expand.
Marimbondo will be submerged
and you must leave.
You'll be rehoused in tents at Alta Vista.


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Owl City Featuring Carly Rae Jepsen - Good TimeOwl City is one of those singers that you hear again and again, and you just know that he will be getting hits here there and everywhere, he's just that sort of guy. His real name is Adam Young, and Owl City is his electrical project. He does various other projects, some I have heard of, others may not be so well known, and it'll be interesting to see if any will come to light any time soon. Owl City stormed the charts a few years back with "Fireflies", since then he has released a few of his singles in the UK, but has had limited success, however I can totally see this song being the thing that turns his luck around, it has already got quite a few high chart numbers from other countries, and with the addition of Carly Rae Jepsen, how can anyone not like this song? She auditioned for Canadian Idol, which is where she got her big break. She came third overall in the 5th series and also got a chart hit in the UK with " Call Me Maybe" which also has one of the best music videos I have ever seen. I'm interested where her new found fame will take her, let's hope she never fades away. This song was written by Adam Young, Matthew Thiessen and Brian Lee, it's all about having a good time obviously.
The music video definitely captures the essence of what the song is all about. Both artists are quite young and therefore it wouldn't be too difficult to aim this video at a young audience, which is exactly what they do. Believe me I have had fun camping with just friends and doing what I want. It was the best weekend of my life, and that is exactly why I did it again this year.
There is not much of a narrative, but there doesn't need to be. There isn't a lot going on either, there is much more fun things they could do, and maybe they were filmed doing those things, but they decided to cut it out.
Overall a catchy summer song that is definitely going to chart well, it's accompanying music video is exactly what you would expect and more, it relates to the song perfectly. I just feel that some scenes are a little on the long side, and there's just something missing, but what that is I'm not too sure. But taking everything into account, this is clearly the rating the video deserves.
|Buy on iTunes


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(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin'
And you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'..
They are indeed Bob.
There was a time when the Dubs couldn't even buy an All-Ireland ....Oops...my Freudian slip is showing.:-D
avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 1289 - 09/10/2019 16:31:15 2242393Link 6


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We reach out so people of diverse abilities can participate in the arts throughout their lives and as they age. H'art Centre's newest initiative takes a community arts outreach approach to ensure all people have access to meaningful arts-based programming.
Since 2017, the HAAP program has been providing arts outreach to seniors who live in long-term care homes in Kingston. Several times a week, trained artists and volunteers travel to local long-term care homes to deliver meaningful arts-based programming.
How does it work?
HAAP artists deliver high-quality programming that emphasizes increased opportunities for inclusion. Everyone is welcome and no art experience is necessary. The artists strive to create a meaningful, inclusive environment for all participants where creativity and is fostered in a supportive and positive space. It is never too late for an individual to engage in something new and master a skill so we encourage participation for everyone. Families and friends are always welcome so come and see what it is all about.
New session
This session of the H'art Accessible Arts Program takes place in long-term care homes. There will be opportunity for seniors who live in long-term care to:
- Sing their favourite tunes in a choir,
- To reminisce about the past and share stories of the present during Storytelling,
- To create beautiful textile art, paintings, drawings and more
- And to dance (while seated for the most part) to well loved music.
Artist roster
We are thrilled by the roster of HAAP artists. Click on the photos below to learn more about their backgrounds.
Request your roster and workshop guide
Are you an administrator at a long-term care home in Kingston and would like to know more? Request a roster complete with full workshop descriptions.
Volunteer with our artists
Are you a post-secondary student or a senior who would like to volunteer to assist our artists? Volunteering is a great opportunity for you to enhance your skills, learn more about inclusive art techniques, and make a difference. If you are enthusiastic, have 3 hours a week to commit, and can meet the strict volunteer requirements and standards of H'art Centre and its program partners, we look forward to having you join the HAAP! team. Please contact us to learn more about the requirements.
Learn more about the history of the HAAP program, here!


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"You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up." - Matthew 24:34
Years ago I was in a parishioner's kitchen an hour or so after he died. His wife was in the living room with his body. Their teenaged daughter, a church friend and I were at the kitchen table. We tried to speak comfort to one another, but we'd run out of things to say. We sat in silence. To me it felt like we were waiting. But waiting for what? The funeral home was due to take away the body. That would only make things worse.
Then the doorbell rang and a plumber stepped in. An hour earlier the hospice nurse had followed protocol and flushed all of the dead man's medications down the drain. This broke the toilet. The plumber knew none of this. He just walked into raw grief, a pastor out of words, a reeling family and the recently deceased right there in the living room. He could have run straight to the bathroom. But he didn't.
He shook my hand, looked the teenaged daughter straight in the eyes and told the grieving widow that he knew what a good man her husband was. As he made his rounds something in the room turned. For a moment the pain broke and became something else. Or at least the pain was met by a power that promised it would not last forever. Grace comes in the most unlikely guise. Christ comes when we least expect him. "Like a thief in the night." Or a plumber at a deathbed.
Dear God, you don't always show up when we expect you, but you do always arrive. Thank you for your surprising faithfulness. Amen.
Matt Fitzgerald is the Senior Pastor of St. Pauls United Church of Christ, Chicago, IL.
Please review our Community Guidelines before posting a comment. If you have any questions, contact us.


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IEEE, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, promotes the engineering process of creating, developing and dedicating its knowledge to advancing technological innovations.
Be a Host has partnered with IEEE, the world's largest technical professional association, to bring some of their most prestigious meetings to Vancouver. With more than 60 IEEE meetings under our belt, we're excited to confirm four meetings for 2017:
- 8th IEEE Annual Information Technology, Electronics and Mobile Communication Conference (IEMCON)
- International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS)
- 26TH International Conference on Computer Communications and Networks (ICCCN)
- International Conference on Cloud Engineering (IC2E).
IEEE Vancouver Section promotes the exchange of useful information and awareness of the local engineering community. They provide support to six local IEEE student branches (UBC, BCIT, SFU, UBC-OK, UNBC, KPU) and was named the "Outstanding Large Section" in 2009 by the IEEE members and the board. We're proud of the work they do and the direct impact they have on our growing technology community.
To read more and join the IEEE Vancouver Section, please click here. Feel free to contact us to learn more about how to host conferences and the complimentary support available to you through the Be a Host program.


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Hartland Family History
14-Day Free Trial
Hartland Name Meaning
English: habitational name from Hartland in Devon, named in Old English as 'estate (land) on the hart (heorot) peninsula (teg)'. The surname is now most frequent in the West Midlands and it may be that another, now lost, source is also involved.
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press
Similar surnames: Harland, Marland, Haviland, Garland, Eastland, Darland, Marsland


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Webinar Recap - iMentor Informational Session
Originally Aired June 16, 2017.Read more
A Recap of EPIP Chicago's "What is the role of philanthropy in social change?"
Written by EPIP Chicago Steering Committee Members,
Claire Kaufman
Cristina GuerreroRead more
Guest Post: Civic Engagement is a House—and there's room for you even if you come through the window
Civic Engagement is a House—and there's room for you even if you come through the window
Adiel is Communications & Marketing Director of PACE and leads the organization's internal and external communication efforts to further the critical dialogue moving our field forward.
This post was published on PACE's Medium publication, Civic Engagement & Democracy: https://medium.com/civic-engagement-and-democracyRead more
Webinar Recap - Investment 101 and Transformative Finance
Originally aired on May 10, 2017Read more
Member Voices-Descending from 100,000 Feet
Hayden Couvillion, EPIP Boston Steering Committee member and Analyst at CEPRead more
Member Voices- For Emerging Philanthropy Professionals: The Power of Personal Branding
Chao Yang is a first generation Hmong women leader with intense focus on impact. She is driven by a desire to empower people to realize their greatest potential by building connection, collaboration, and ownership between groups that lead to societal progress.
She is currently a Ron McKinley Fellow at Medtronic Foundation, where she oversees a diverse local and global grant portfolio. Chao is prolific reader, writer and nature enthusiast. Her community involvement, leadership and activism has brought about tangible and lasting impact that helps others capitalize on opportunities and succeed. She is currently the Chair of the Minnesota EPIP Chapter and welcomes new ways in which she can contribute to empowering underserved communities.
Read more
Webinar Recap - Grantmaking for Equity
Originally aired April 19th, 2017Read more
Member Voices-EPIP - Perpectives on San Diego Grantmakers
Eliza is a member of EPIP San Diego works for the International Community Foundation (ICF) as their Marketing & Development Manager. "Perspectives on San Diego Grantmakers Taking a Stand Conference (March 2017)." Eliza manages all activities related to donor relations and outreach, fundraising campaigns, and communications, working with the staff, Board, grantees, donors and the media to promote and expand ICF's impact on the communities we serve. Eliza brings an intimate knowledge and passion for the Latin American region, where she has lived for over 20 years and continues to visit frequently.Read more
Member Voices: From Seed Money to Full Service
Caroline is a member of our San Diego Steering Committee and is a program assistant at the Gary & Mary West Foundation (as well as working for their dental center). In her role as program assistant of the Gary and Mary West Foundation, Caroline Berger supports the Foundation's grant activities in a variety of ways including research, grant writing, cultivating grantee and donor relationships. Berger supports the Foundation's president and program officer assisting with projects and initiatives as needed. In addition to her work with the Foundation, Berger supports the Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center in its efforts to provide patient-centered, integrated care and related clinical research.Read more
Reflections on the Impact of Poverty Part II - An infographic to highlight a past post
Hazel Garcia reached out to offer her research from InvestmentZen. Her work further highlights the challenges facing those currently experiencing poverty that include and go above and beyond those reference on the EPIP blog in 2016. Childcare expenses are not the only heavy burden; there are systemic difficulties that low income families face on a daily basis which continues the cycle, as illustrated in the powerful infographic in this blog post.Read more


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The Superburger location at 1501 4th street has been serving up the best hand pressed burgers in Santa Rosa since after WWII. Originally this location on 4th street began as a "Dog-E-Diner" owned by the Oates family. The diner was most remembered for its pies which were baked every night in the Oates family's old house a block away on 4th street. All the favorite standards were on the menu including hamburgers, cheeseburgers, shakes and Coca Cola as well. Meanwhile, two blocks away from here was also the original Superburger burger shack located where 4th street, College and McDonald Avenue intersect.
Needing a new home the Superburger owners purchased Dog-E-Diner and changed the signs to Superburger in 1978. Now managed by Gayle she became locally famous for her cantankerous banter and exchange of friendly and sometimes not so friendly insults with anyone that had the courage to hold her attention. Gayle faithfully maintained the tradition of serving up old school pies, shakes, and her famous potato salad. Known as Gayle's Superburger from 1978 until 2007 the diner thrived as the go to spot for hungry Santa Rosans' until Gayles' retirement.
Throughout Superburger's colorful history the diner has earned Best Burger in Sonoma County more than once as voted by the readers of the Press Democrat. Most recently in 2012 Superburger regained this high honor. Post 2007 the flavors of the shakes may be a bit more modern and the burgers a little bit more adventurous than in the 1950s but the shakes still have to be patiently mixed and the burgers pressed one at a time. Currently the restaurant is owned by two cousins Bill and Destiny who hope to keep charbroiling hamburgers long into the future. No one knows what 2040 will look like but by the time Bill and Destiny retire they may be the last people known to serve a deceivingly simple meal called the hamburger.


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Contact Us — Jobs at UNE
Each job advertisement contains useful information about the position. If you wish to speak to someone further about the job opportunity you will find contact details in the body of the advertisement.
Please read the How To Apply and Frequently Asked Questions pages for further assistance.
If you can't find the answer you are looking for you can email us.


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Sat, 12 May 2018
This week Kriss is joined by Elise Bacon (@B4c0nzilla) and after a bit of early trolling (because Kriss is evil), they get into the topics for this week.
Unreasonable Fridays
@UnFridays on Twitter
Bacon's art prints
Please take our Audience survey. It takes 5-10 minutes, is completely anonymous and will help us deliver a better show!
Direct download: Freedom_Fries_-_Insanity_Check_607.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 6:02pm EDT


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Marie Avgeropoulos as Octavia Blake
Episodes 100
Earth Skills
Discovering that Jasper may still be alive, Clarke, Bellamy, Finn, Wells and Murphy head out to find him. On the Ark, Abby is determined to prove Earth is habitable, and enlists a mechanic to craft an escape pod.Read More
Earth Kills
As a dangerous, acidic fog approaches, Clarke, Finn and Wells set out in search of a seaweed-like plant to make an antibiotic poultice for Jasper's wounds, while a vulnerable young girl follows when Bellamy takes a group out hunting for food.Read More
Murphy's Law
Bellamy, Clarke and Finn try to protect Charlotte when everyone learns she killed Wells. On the Ark, Abby risks getting floated in order to give Raven the chance to launch the escape pod.Read More
A plan to contact the Ark is put in motion after Raven crash lands on Earth. Meanwhile, Abby exposes Kane's plan to reduce the population of the Ark.Read More
Bellamy, Finn and Jasper head into Grounder territory to search for Octavia, as flashbacks show the siblings' difficult childhood on the Ark. Meanwhile, Raven finds out about Clarke and Finn.Read More
While Bellamy tortures the Grounder, Raven and Clarke make contact with the Ark and ask Abby to help them save Finn. On the Ark, Kane deals with his guilt, and Jaha surprises the council with a shocking revelation.Read More
I Am Become Death
Murphy returns to the camp carrying a horrific virus created by the Grounders to weaken the camp. After learning the Grounders plan to attack the next day, Bellamy, Finn and Raven come up with a plan to delay them.Read More
Clarke and Finn come face to face with a new enemy after Lincoln rescues them from Anya, while Bellamy, Raven, Octavia and Jasper deal with a vengeful Murphy. On the Ark, Jaha makes a plan to try and get to Earth.Read More
As the remaining members of the 100 face off against the Grounders, Jaha makes a noble sacrifice to ensure the Ark makes it to Earth.Read More
Clarke wants answers from the President. Abby performs emergency surgery. Octavia will do anything to find Lincoln.Read More
After discovering a horrifying project in Mount Weather's medical ward, Clarke joins forces with an unexpected ally.Read More
Clarke ends up being betrayed by somebody that she trusted. Bellamy, Finn and Murphy attempt to save a stranger.Read More
Human Trials
Kane takes part in a mission to make peace with the Grounders. Jasper decides to take part in a risky experiment. Lincoln enters a world of pain and President Dante Wallace issues a warning.Read More
Fog of War
Tensions are running high between Clarke and Finn. Raven finds out that Mount Weather is interfering with their communication systems.Read More
Bellamy is able to get Clarke to agree to accompany him to the drop ship. Dr. Tsing is in charge of a deadly experiment.Read More
Clarke comes back to Camp Jaha with some shocking news. Finn has to face the consequences of his actions.Read More
Remember Me
Lexa and Clarke manage to make a deal.The newly created alliance is under threat. Monty comes up with a plan.Read More
Lives are left in danger following the arrival of a new threat. Lincoln and Bellamy decide to break into Mount Weather.Read More
Coup de Grâce
Lincoln and Bellamy's efforts to get into Mount Weather has some brutal consequences.Read More
Clarke begins to question Lexa's leadership decisions and Indra continues to push Octavia. Meanwhile, at Mount Weather, Jasper steps up into the role of leader, and Cage throws Maya into a life threatening situation.Read More
Bodyguard of Lies
Lexa and Clarke get into a heated discussion during battle preparations; Bellamy races against time.Read More
Wick and Raven are faced with a setback. Maya and Jasper witness a terrible act.Read More
Jaha makes a surprising move. Clarke gets help from an unexpected source. Lincoln seeks revenge.Read More
Three months have passed since the tragedy at Mount Weather and our heroes learn that a bounty has been put on Clarke's head. Unbeknownst to Clarke, a team led by Bellamy and Kane journeys deep into Grounder territory to save her. Meanwhile, Murphy finds his way to the mansion and discovers a very different Jaha on a very different mission.Read More
Bellamy and Kane risk life and limb to rescue Clarke. In an attempt to avoid worrying about her daughter, Abby focuses on whether to open Mount Weather as a medical facility. Meanwhile, Murphy plots to betray his former Chancellor.Read More
Clarke wrestles with a decision. Bellamy learns that something isn't what it seems. Meanwhile, Murphy plots to betray his former Chancellor.Read More
Clarke discovers the mastermind behind a devious plan. Kane struggles to keep the peace. Meanwhile, Jasper's grief drives him to reckless behavior.Read More
Bitter Harvest
Clarke is torn between vengeance and mercy. Meanwhile, Kane and Octavia work together to avert a disaster, and Abby continues to worry about Raven.Read More
Kane is searching for a peaceful way to handle things but soon realizes he may be forced to resort to drastic measures. Meanwhile, Pike suspects that there may be a leak within the walls of Arkadia. Lastly, Raven has a plan and reaches out to Jasper for help.Read More
Stealing Fire
Clarke discovers a shocking truth, and Octavia is forced to make a decision that could have devastating consequences. Meanwhile, Kane and Abby share a moment.Read More
Join or Die
Clarke is on a mission that could change everything. Meanwhile, Murphy gains insight that might prove useful in ensuring his survival. Lastly, Kane reaches a breaking point.Read More
Red Sky at Morning
Clarke, Bellamy, Octavia and Jasper hit a tragic roadblock. Meanwhile, Raven and Monty make an important discovery.Read More
Clarke finds hope in the most unlikely place. Meanwhile, Alie's master plan comes together.Read More
Our heroes begin to face the reality of their tragic situation. Everyone prepares for a final showdown.Read More
The burden of leading weighs heavily upon Clarke and Bellamy when different challenges force them to determine who will live and die.Read More
Jaha leads Clarke and Bellamy down a road to possible salvation while tensions rise in Arkadia and Polis.Read More
A Lie Guarded
Continued struggles with leadership and trust in Arkadia and Polis take violent turns while Abby leads a team to a distant location hoping to find answers.Read More
The Tinder Box
Clarke makes a desperate plea with a former allied force in an attempt to avoid a war and ensure the survival of her people.Read More
We Will Rise
Clarke and Roan are forced to work together when they are tasked to deliver a dangerous but crucial asset to Abby through enemy territories.Read More
Gimme Shelter
Clarke's arrival on the island quickly takes a turn for the worse. Meanwhile, Bellamy tries to avoid further tragedy in Arkadia.Read More
God Complex
After a disappointing discovery, Clarke and Abby question how far they're willing to go. Meanwhile, Jaha finds a lead to the mysterious Second Dawn.Read More
Die All, Die Merrily
Octavia fights in the final battle for her people's survival, but not everyone is willing to play fair.Read More
The Chosen
Jaha and Kane disagree over how to handle their grim reality. Meanwhile, Clarke leads a group to save a friend.Read More
Sleeping Giants
Bellamy leads the charge investigating a potential way home. Meanwhile, Clarke and Madi deal with the new, uncertain threat to their home.Read More
Pandora's Box
Our Heroes are forced to rely on the help of Shallow Valley's dangerous new inhabitants in order to save some of their own, with surprising results.Read More
Shifting Sands
Octavia leads her people towards Shallow Valley against the advice of Clarke and Bellamy. Meanwhile, Kane and Abby adjust to a new set of challenges.Read More
Exit Wounds
Kane's attempt to prove himself useful tests Wonkru's allegiance to Octavia. Madi faces an unexpected threat inside Wonkru, forcing Clarke to make an unlikely ally.Read More
Clarke and Bellamy make a startling discovery about Wonkru's battle plans as Echo risks her friendship with Raven to complete her mission.Read More
Clarke's determination to protect Madi puts Bellamy in an impossible position.Read More
The growing fractures in Wonkru threaten to explode once and for all. Meanwhile, in Shadow Valley, Murphy starts a fire, unleashing catastrophic results.Read More
The Warriors Will
Monty strives to show Wonkru an alternative to war, and to the valley itself. Meanwhile, Abby's health continues to deteriorate, along with McCreary's patience.Read More
The Dark Year
As Clarke races to save Abby, she learns more about the trials and tribulations Wonkru faced in the bunker, and the impossible decisions they were forced to make in the dark year.Read More
Damocles - Part One
Octavia leads her people into war. While behind enemy lines, our heroes must overcome their differences to save Wonkru from extinction.Read More
Damocles - Part Two
Clarke and her friends must risk everything to fight one last battle for survival, only to glimpse an even darker threat to the last living valley on Earth.Read More
Red Sun Rising
The team on the ground flights to survive the threat they face on the new planet. Meanwhile, Raven must join forces with an unlikely ally to save everyone on board the Mothership.Read More
Clarke tries to win over the leaders of Sanctum in order to let her people stay. Meanwhile, Bellamy, Echo and Octavia discover a new threat while on a mission to retrieve the transport ship.Read More
Clarke embraces the traditions of Sanctum and tries to make amends for her past actions.Read More
Jordan investigates Sanctum. Meanwhile, Octavia and Diyoza discover the threats of the new planet firsthand. Lastly, Bellamy and Clarke butt heads.Read More
Memento Mori
Diyoza learns more about the mysterious Children of Gabriel while Abby continues searching for a way to save Kane.Read More
Octavia and Diyoza make their way to the mysterious anomaly in search of the Old Man. Meanwhile, Murphy has an offer for Emori.Read More
Bellamy must venture into enemy territory with an unlikely companion. Meanwhile, Octavia is forced to confront her past.Read More
Russell seeks justice. Meanwhile, Gabriel must make a difficult choice. Lastly, the Blake siblings reunite.Read More
Ashes to Ashes
Bellamy and Octavia must work together to save their friends. Echo is forced to face her past.Read More
Adjustment Protocol
A special Naming Day changes everything in Sanctum. Gabriel comes face to face with an old friend.Read More
The Blood of Sanctum
Sanctum becomes a battleground between the devout and the non-believers. The mystery of the anomaly deepens.Read More
From the Ashes
Clarke and her friends attempt to rebuild Sanctum as a new threat rises in the woods.Read More
The Garden
Echo and Gabriel learn more about Hope and her mysterious past.Read More
False Gods
Raven faces an unexpected threat. Clarke must keep the peace among opposing factions in Sanctum.Read More
Mysterious outsiders arrive with news of Clarke's missing people.Read More
Welcome to Bardo
Octavia gets to know a whole new world. Meanwhile, Murphy and Emori play make believe.Read More
Emori tries to heal Sanctum's old familial wounds while Echo, Octavia and Diyoza struggle with new ones.Read More
The Stranger
It's a new day in Sanctum. Clarke, Octavia, Raven and Echo struggle with a new foe.Read More
A Sort of Homecoming
Clarke and her friends reckon with all that has happened only to find an unexpected threat looming.Read More
Clarke and Octavia mount a desperate rescue mission as the Disciples close in on what they want.Read More
The Last War
After all the fighting and loss, Clarke and her friends have reached the final battle. But is humanity worthy of something greater?Read More


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To find out more about our services and solutions call us now
We create peace of mind by handling all of your Information Technology needs. Among the many services that we offer is Managed Services on a fixed budget which frees you to run your business without worrying about the I.T. portion. We proudly serve the Charlotte and Lake Norman area.
Computer Pros On Call: Trusted IT support for businesses throughout the Charlotte and Lake Norman areas – Let us help you today!
Maybe you're concerned with the current rising costs of your IT services, or maybe you are just running short on time because of your expanding business and need to hand over the reins. Whatever your reason, we can help you with quality IT services today.
Your business can save money and time today with Computer Pros On Call's managed services, network solutions, IT support and more.
With Computer Pros On Call solving your IT issues, you can:
- Start using your time wisely – With the basics of your company under control, you can focus on more profitable ventures for your company.
- Enjoy exemplary uptime – Don't worry about your network being down at awkward times anymore. With Computer Pros On Call's 24/7 monitoring, you can trust your network will be running when you need it.
Our custom service packages deliver what you need and want without overstepping the boundaries of your budget. From cloud services to data backup, we're here to team up with you and your company for expert support.
So if your company is located in the Charlotte or Lake Norman area, Computer Pros On Call can help you today.
Managed Services
When you need managed services to maintain peak operation in the IT network of your small to mid-sized business, consider us here at Computer Pros On Call. We'll manage all of your IT services for a flat-rate fee so you can focus your efforts on spurring your revenues to grow. Let us give you the peace of mind you deserve with your small to mid-sized business today with Computer Pros On Call's managed services.


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School Improvement
The purpose of school improvement is to improve achievement and outcomes for every student by working to eliminate the ability to predict achievement based on socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity.
We do this by collaboratively and continuously analyzing data and making decisions considering the unique needs of the learning community and the district's strategic plan.
School Improvement Team Membership
- C. Elenbaas, School Improvement Team Process Manager (Chair)
- T. Peuler, Principal
- V. Wood, Assistant Principal
- T. Sauls, Kindergarten Teacher
- J. Canaday, 1st grade Teacher
- A. Dadashev, 2nd grade Teacher
- A. Whaley, 3rd grade Teacher
- A. Smith, 4th grade Teacher
- A. Weaver, 5th grade Teacher
- G. Lowe, Instructional Facilitator & K-2nd Literacy Coach
- C. Maroclo, Counselor
- H. Mabe-Reed, Instructional Assistant
- T. Bradley, Instructional Assistant
School Improvement Meetings
All school improvement meetings will be held in the Media Center at Vance Elementary School.
- Wednesday, July 24, 2019 at 10:15-11:30am
- Tuesday, August 13 at 4:45-5:30pm
- Tuesday, September 10 at 4-5pm
- Friday, October 18 at 1-2pm
- Tuesday, November 12 at 5-6pm --Quarterly Review Rescheduled
- Tuesday, December 10 at 4:15pm Quarterly Review
- Friday, January 24, 2020
- Tuesday, March 10 at 4-5pm --Quarterly Review
- Wednesday, April 22 --Quarterly Review
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| 8.1°C Belfast
Two inept thieves who stole Chinese artefacts worth £2 million from a museum but then could not find where they had stashed them have been handed lengthy jail sentences and told the real value of their haul was "immeasurable".
Lee Wildman, 36, was jailed for nine years and Adrian Stanton, 33, was handed an eight-year term for planning and carrying out a raid at Durham University's Oriental Museum last Easter.
They had planned the break-in well, choosing the night before Good Friday when the campus was quiet, using cloned number plates and chiselling a hole through a brick wall to get in and out quickly.
From the display cabinets, they picked out just two items - a 1769 jade bowl and a porcelain figurine - worth up to £2 million, Judge Christopher Prince told them.
But their plan was flawed because after hiding the items on wasteland, Wildman could not find them when he returned two days later. He was seen by a witness searching the plot, speaking in an agitated manner on his mobile, as the light faded.
Just weeks before the pair from Walsall had received suspended sentences for a night-time break-in at an amusement arcade in Rhyl, where they cut a hole in a roof and broke into slot machines.
On that occasion police stopped their car on the way back to the Midlands, and found them to have over £10,000 in coins. That was in their minds when they decided to hide the Chinese artefacts and collect them later, the judge said.
Both men had shown no remorse and had told "transparent" lies during a two-day hearing at Durham Crown Court in which they tried to play down their roles in the burglary, the judge said.
It was hard to put a price on the items, the judge said. "The financial value of artefacts such as these is perhaps the very least important factor," he said. "These items have got a historical, cultural and artistic value that is quite simply immeasurable."
The items were found following a finger-tip search of the waste area after a witness who read some of the widespread publicity about the case recognised she had seen Wildman in the area. Four others who helped the offenders while they tried to lie low from police will be sentenced on Friday.


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Having not long cleared up after Christmas joy with my daughter and her partner I got a call late from Jacqui and Peter. Story has it they were resigned to the fact they were not going to make the Spirit of Tasmania sailing to their home in Tasmania so decided to seek out a night in Rutherglen for themselves, and their two gorgeous dachshunds Felix and Nina. Next day they took advantage of the situation and toured some of the Rutherglen wine region before
Thanks Dom Perignon
Carissa, Ben and 'Indy'
Just when I thought guests were settled for Christmas I had a call from Carissa enquiring of a night stay with her partner Ben and their gorgeous 5 month old Siberian husky, Indy. What a lovely couple, and a treat to dog-sit Indy whilst they enjoyed a meal at The Victoria Hotel in Rutherglen.
Joy & Alf relocate to Tasmania
Amazingly I received a call from the Rutherglen Wine Experience just before Christmas. An elderly couple were seeking a traditional B&B experience in Rutherglen as they were making their way from the Southern Highlands in NSW to Tasmania, where they had bought a home off the internet!
Joy and Alf were a wonderful and interesting couple. They enjoyed dinner at Taste of Rutherglen
Happy Birthday Kellie-Anne
Guests Colleen & Charlie
Getting ready for Christmas
Thanks Mrs Walton for the great Christmas cake recipe...actually it was one of my guests, Dale, who provided the recipe
Your host Kellie-Anne
June 2020


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237 Teenager charging his phone was electrocuted to his death
On August 16, 2019, when a 13-year-old boy was playing with a mobile phone while charging in a fast food restaurant, he suddenly fell to his seat and was sent to the hospital for medical treatment. My sister said that the doctor had indicated that his brother had suspected signs of electric shock; afterwards, the mobile phone and charger could still be used normally, and it was suspected that it was a socket problem. The police have been involved in the investigation.
Por: stainless (43345.40)
Etiquetas: electrocuted during charging,
Ubicación: Jiangxi
Visualizaciones: 301780 Puntuación: 237
enlace sin respuestas:


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Founded in 2002, ShineWing TY TEOH is a leading regional accounting and consulting firm with office presences in Malaysia to provide a diverse spectrum of business solutions and consulting services to public listed companies, Fortune 500 companies and multi-national corporations, representing a cross section of major industries.
ShineWing TY TEOH is Approved and Registered Auditors of (i) The Audit Oversight Board, Malaysia; (ii) Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, USA; (iii) Labuan Financial Services Authority, Malaysia.
ShineWing TY TEOH is an independent member firm of ShineWing International and Praxity, and joint venture partner of GreaterChina Professional Services Limited for valuation advisory and strategic business partner of Quantera Global for transfer pricing advisory.
ShineWing International is a global network of independent accounting and consulting firms, consistently ranked as Top 20 largest accounting network by the World Survey of International Accounting Bulletin (IAB) and the winner for the category "Rising Star Network" for the International Accounting Bulletin (IAB) Awards.
GCA TY TEOH Valuation is group member of Greater China Professional Services Limited (8193.HK), and a leading regional valuation specialist in the valuation of business & intangible assets, financial instrument and derivatives, mineral and energy, and contingent assets & liability.
Praxity is an award-winning alliance of global independent accountancy, tax and business consulting firms, and the world's largest alliance of independent accounting firms by the World Survey of International Accounting Bulletin. Praxity has 64 participating firms in 103 countries with 630 locations and 42,000 professionals.
Quantera Global is one of the world's leading independent transfer pricing advisory firms, providing specialist transfer pricing services to multinationals of all sizes across the globe in satisfying all aspects of their transfer pricing design, and implementation, compliance and risk management requirements.
What sets us apart is a deep knowledge of a variety of industrial sectors, and the expertise and ability to develop tailored solutions for our clients operating within these industrial sectors. Find out more about the services we offer.
ShineWing International Partners Conference 2018 at Chongqing, China
October 19, 2018
2018 World Congress of Accountants
October 19, 2018
ShineWing Hong Kong and ShineWing Malaysia joined forces to participate in the In Style • Hong Kong Expo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
November 30, 2017
ShineWing International Partners Conference 2017 in Hong Kong
November 9, 2017
Quantera Global sponsored on Malaysia National Tax Conference 2016
August 9, 2016
ShineWing TYTEOH Malaysia visited ShineWing China Shanghai offices
April 11, 2019
ShineWing TYTEOH Malaysia visited ShineWing China ShenZhen and Guanzhou offices
November 20, 2018
ShineWing admits new member firm in India, Thailand, Taiwan and Germany
October 20, 2018
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September 24, 2018
ShineWing Thailand visited ShineWing TY TEOH Malaysia offices
June 5, 2018
We extremely value our staff and believe that they are an essential investment as we believe that people build culture. Be part of us and develop your careers here.


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This Folding Chilean Home Unfolds Stunning Views
It's eco-friendly too
The Folding House
Rodolfo Lagos Berardi
Take a brief tour through this gorgeous house near Rapel Lake in central Chile. The home owner is Jorge, a pilot with his own avian company. With so much time traveling for work, it was essential for him to have something beautiful to come home to. Above all, it was important to Jorge to have a sustainable and eco-focused house, to pay back to the environment that nourishes us.
Essential to Jorge was the dream to have enough rooms to house visiting family members. He gave B+V Arquitectos plenty of freedom to play around with a design and found himself extremely satisfied with the result!
You can see there are many levels to this Chilean home. From the road side access, the entrance takes you into the main body of the home, or right up on to the roof terrace. Built over a mountainous terrain, it was important to make good use of a smaller plot of land rather than trying to level out much of the ground. As such, the house is built on top of itself over different levels. This defining feature has also become a central element to the cooling and heating elements of the building.
In order to deal with the extreme heat of the summer, the common areas circle a central atrium. At the same time, the fold in the roof favors ventilation, and the wooden slat terrace creates shade too. For winter months there is plenty of insulation and a wood burning heater.
The warm wood kitchen has a markedly natural tone that matches the feel of the surrounding countryside.
The master bedroom is one of our favorite spots in this home tour! With such stunning wake up views, you can understand why simple decor has been chosen for the design of the room.
Neat and tidy, extra bed spaces were created for visitors. The beds blend in and there is ample space for storage too.
As well as a veranda that reaches through the back end of the house, the roof features this excellent terrace space. The shade provided is enough for keeping cool in the summer, but we're told it's quite pleasant in winter too. In this way, the wooden facade acts as both a protective and attractive design detail.
All in all, we think this Chilean home is a modernist beauty. Striking in design, yet built in a way that is sensitive to its surrounding environment – when can we come and visit Jorge?


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Accra Ghana for Airports and Visas
Top Travel Stories
2007-08-18 03:36:00
Accra Ghana for Airports and Visas
Accra, Ghana West Africa
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Accra appears to be an almost ideal location to base the acquisition of Visas for West Africa. The airport is one of the cheapest entry and exit gates in West Africa and on average can be about 300-400 USA dollars cheaper than either Ivory Coast or Togo.
I have been having a few looks at this page to discover how to get Visas for all the countries to the West and North of Ghana; it looks like I can get almost all of them in Accra, Ghana.
I am probably going to apply for the Burkina Faso Visa on Monday and hold off on the Liberia and Sierra Leone. I am thinking it is better to take an upper road loop to Burkina Faso, Mali and on to Senegal, and then come along the coast back to Accra. I think some overland truck campers come this route and I can learn from someone who spent a year researching the trip before leaving.
Getting a Visa can be easy or difficult, Liberia wants three days, and Sierra Leone wants about 7 days, this is 10 days of living in Accra, Ghana. A person has to decide, do I want to invest 10 days into Accra, so far my answer is no, if this were Cape Coast, Ghana I would say yes.
I tried to ask the Sierra Leone Embassy how soon I needed to enter; I could not get by the reception person to find out the answer.
For example, I got the Ghana Visa in two days in Lome, Togo, I then had three months of leeway time before I needed to enter Ghana or the Visa would expire. This leeway time makes getting Visa too soon a problem, I got cheated by Niger and had to pay 40 US for a Visa because they refused to honor a valid Visa Entente because they wanted to ignore how the leeway and use of the Visa worked. The Visa attained in Cote d'Ivoire was good, but the time to cross Ghana before made confusion that helped Niger cheat me. Even the smallest confusion in interpretation and the crossing of a border can erupt into a pay questionable and more or less bribes to get it to work fees.
I need to get a Visa to a country less than one month before I enter if possible and not more than two months if possible to optimize my chance of not having problems.
The Hotel situation in Accra is close to bleak at the under 10-dollar price range, I am paying 80-100,000 for a great private room, with a shared toilet in the double road belt area.
I took a Taxi to the Crystal Hostel, it cost 15 US for a room, and 10 for a dorm bed, then the cost of a taxi back and forth to the embassies would be double the cost and double the time as it is out through a ton of traffic area.
The central beltway or the YWCA area would be the ideal location to get Visas. Anyway, I do it, two people make more sense for rooms in Accra, and I am tempted to think the George something hotel would be the best all around for a couple.
The best reason to be in Accra so far as of today is for the internet, it is Skype.com fast, I can connect my computer and make telephone calls cheap to about anywhere at some cafes. I was all excited because the Crystal Hostel has WIFI, and when I got there is was not on, and not being used, one computer and he said I had to pay if I did more than casually checked my email. The area is more typical Ghana though and would be more cultural than the central beltway, however to me strictly taxi.
I was hoping to find some Hong Kong style, Expat hangouts in Accra, however I have only seen NGO people and it looks like World Vision was building a new building. I am not sure, it seemed like the Crystal was out in NGO central, so maybe the reason for being popular.
I looked at my map; the Airport, Embassies, and Internet are my three reasons to be in Accra, Ghana. I am trying to suss out the city, however somewhere between the airport and the Embassy area would be ideal place to find a Hotel. I would expect to find an Internet café, as they do seem to be most places.
The big bus situation is semi-nuts, it appears I need to take a taxi to find out the cost and times, etc, and if I did that, by the time paid for that and did all the taxi mess, it would be just better to take off and hope to snag either a Tro Tro 15 passenger van and get to Cape Coast quicker in total travel time.
All in all Accra is a modern city; out towards the Airport I saw a mall and some large grocery stores, some huge housing additions. This all looks very modern; all the neighborhoods around the Embassies seem nice, shaded and pleasant.
I would say the Hotel I am in presently, however the Ghana people on the internet threaten me.
Senegal may have all the same Embassies, and I think more Western Countries do not need a Visa to enter. I think there are some surfers over in that area also to lend to beach life if it exist in Africa.
Accra Ghana for Airports and Visas
Ghana Farm Tractor
Volunteer Planned Africa Trip
West Africa Jump Gates
Ludo Togo Board Game
Sound Levels of Accra Ghana
Finding English Books in Accra Ghana
African Paparazzi Photo Danger
World Development Timeline
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Registration is Open for January Classes
We have been cooking up some new, creative classes for January. Dana will be back with her Project Life, Made in Minutes and Recipe Class. Sheila will be teaching a new Artistic Photography Workshop and Key to My Heart Soldered Necklace.
Grab a friend and come for a night of creativity and friendship. Seating is limited so register today.