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Live Acts
Are you considering live entertainment instead of, or to alternate with a DJ? Whether 60s, jazz, swing, contemporary or a theme of your choice … Chris Noon Entertainments can supply the perfect function band for your special event. From duos to larger ensembles, you can rest assured that only professional, experienced musicians are represented and are guaranteed to provide the very best in live entertainment.
A professional function band will usually be happy to perform up to three sets of approximately 45 minutes each, with short breaks in between where background music is played. Chris Noon Entertainments can offer the services of:
- Live Bands covering a variety of musical styles
- Harpists
- Pianists
- Singers and groups
- String Trios/Quartets
- Tribute Acts
Get in touch to discuss your requirements with Chris Noon Entertainments, and remember, the more you book, the more you save!
Prices From £495
Other services.
DJ Services
Whatever the occasion, you can make sure Chris Noon Entertainments gives you the best DJ around. Weddings, Proms, Christmas Parties, Birthday parties and more, trust Chris Noon Entertainments to look after your guests!
Photo Booths
Photo booths give you and your guests a fantastic way to remember your event. From photos with silly glasses, to cramming in as many people in a photo as possible, they are a fantastic momento of your day.
Live Acts
From country music to classically trained harpists, Chris Noon Entertainments has a wide variety of different live acts to make any gathering a memorable one. Click below to find out what we can offer for your next event.
Looking to add some glitz to your next event? A casino can prove extremely entertaining at any private function, particularly at a wedding reception, giving you another dimension of fun alongside a disco. Click below to find out more.
Add a sense of mystery to your next event, with one of our brilliant magicians! Ideally suited to functions such as weddings, corporate events and dinner dances, a close-up magician from Chris Noon Entertainments will provide breath-taking entertainment!
Looking for something different to entertain your party-goers? A professional caricaturist provides excellent entertainment during an unexpected lull in proceedings, and never fails to draw a crowd, particularly at weddings.
At Chris Noon Entertainments, we have a plethora of different artists, acts and entertainments to make your event one to remember. We offer discounts when one or more of these are booked, so do get in touch if you're considering several bookings for your event.
What people say.
"Chris was part of our wedding day. He was amazing. The dance floor was full at all times, which is the brief I had given. He took requests throughout the evening. We loved every minute of it. Thank you, Chris!"
Joanna Louise Hobbins
"Always top professional service given, tailored for every and any event! You won't be disappointed with the attention to detail Chris personally puts in to all his events and hires. First class service all the way!"
James Norton
"We used Chris all day for our wedding. He came to meet with us before the wedding, which gave a really personal touch, not just an email to check what we wanted and then go with it, this made us feel like it was a great choice from the start. Chris was extremely professional and had perfect music for every part of the day and really knew how to keep our dancefloor full for the evening."
Megan Louise Burdock
"We hired Chris for our Wedding in October at Newtown House Hotel. We also had an additional traditional photobooth through him also. We could not have asked for better service and care throughout. Everything was set up seamlessly and everyone had a fabulous time. The music was exactly what we wanted, and the photo booth was excellent fun with a large variety of props etc.
We would whole heartedly recommend them to anyone who asked. They also did my sister's wedding the year before which was initially why we had enquired. Outstanding customer service, reliable and absolutely stress free. Thank you!"
Hannah Dornan
"A huge thank you to Chris, DJ at our wedding yesterday. As always great professional service, before and during the event. Thanks for getting everyone's chosen songs in during the evening. Our guests had a great time and Chris you helped us see in 2018 in a great and perfectly timed way! Fantastic! Thank you for helping us make special memories Chris, we really appreciated it."
Maggie Chivers
"Just wanted to say a massive THANK YOU to Chris Noon and his team. He organised a brilliant DJ (Disco Tex Discos) for our wedding. Making it effortless and stress free on my part. Just Tell Chris what you need, and he sorts it all. Couldn't have asked for better."
Emily Balsdon
"Had a party for my 60th, at the slipway in Hamble, Chris organised Pete to come and do the music, and I couldn't fault it. I had a mixture of guest's ages from 30 to 70, he played everyone requests. My family and friends commented on how much they enjoyed the music and I don't think the dance floor was ever empty. I would highly recommend to others. Thank you"
Rosie Slevin
"I had the pleasure of working with Chris (UK-DJs) at a recent wedding which took place at New Place Hotel. It's always a great day when you get to work alongside friendly and professional wedding suppliers. Hope to see you again!"
Daniel Robinson
"We hired Chris to DJ at our wedding reception and we did not look back once. It was an incredible night and cannot express how grateful we are to have Chris play at our reception. Everyone commented how much they enjoyed the evening and how good the music was. We cannot thank you enough for your professionalism and assurance from the start, right through until the end. You got everybody up on the floor and made it a night to remember. We will recommend you to anyone who is in the need for your services. Thanks again"
Neil Bartlett


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Why has the government announced a housing stratgey?
The credit crunch hit the housing market hard – construction companies mothballed building projects and lenders cracked down on mortgages, reducing the amount they were willing to lend and tightening lending criteria.
Housing transactions have slowed and the influx of frustrated buyers into the rental market has pushed rents up to record levels. The government says getting the housing market moving again is central to its plans for economic growth and "essential to the hopes and plans of young people, families and older households across the country".
What are the main points of the housing strategy?
The main plans include:
• a scheme to help buyers secure mortgages of up to 95% loan-to-value.
• a £400m investment fund to kick start stalled developments.
• plans to consult on increasing discounts under right to buy.
• £150m to help councils bring empty homes back into use.
• change tax rules to support investment by large firms into buy-to-let properties.
But the headline story is the government-backed mortgage scheme.
How will the mortgage scheme work?
The finer details are yet to be announced, but from March 2012 anyone wanting to buy a new-build home in England – not just first-time buyers – will be able to apply for a mortgage of up to 95% of the property's value. The mortgage will be backed by two guarantees, one funded by the builder and one provided by the government, which will indemnify the lender against the property being repossessed.
The guarantee is purely for the lender; if the borrower falls into negative equity, they will still be liable to repay the whole amount of their loan.
Can anyone apply?
Anyone except second homeowners and buy-to-let investors. There will be a cap on the value of properties that can be included, but the level of this has not yet been announced.
How does the guarantee work?
For every property sold under the scheme the builder will put 3.5% of the purchase price into a fund which is held with the bank or building society offering the mortgage. The bank will pay interest on it for seven years, unless something goes wrong and the property has to be repossessed.
If it is repossessed and sold at a loss, the lender can draw on the fund to recoup its losses; after that it can draw on the government's guarantee. The government will make up the guaranteed amount to 9% of the property's value.
Didn't there used to be a mortgage indemnity guarantee?
Yes. In the 1990s, lenders asked buyers who were borrowing a high proportion of a property's value – often 75% and above – to pay for a mortgage indemnity guarantee. This typically cost about 1.75% of the loan and paid out if the borrower defaulted. However, the practice of asking for these died out as banks became more relaxed about offering larger loans.
Is it not already possible to get 95% mortgages?
It is, but they are quite expensive and lenders are very fussy about would-be borrowers' credit. Also, many lenders restrict borrowing on new-build homes – particularly flats.
Saffron building society has a fixed rate of 5.79%, Cambridge building society charges 5.59% and limits loans to £250,000, and Yorkshire Bank has a rate of 6.19%. Nationwide's Save to Buy mortgage has a rate of 6.14%.
The government's move to offer a guarantee is designed to persuade more lenders to offer 95% deals, which could boost competition and lead to lower rates. Currently, borrowers with deposits of 20% have access to mortgages with rates as low as 2.99%.
How do I apply?
The CML says it is not sure how the scheme will work – whether lenders will work with individual developers, or buyers will be able to shop around. The scheme will be open to all lenders and builders. So far, the following major lenders have agreed in principle to participate: Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide, RBS, Santander and Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks. These account for more than 80% of mortgage lending in the UK.
How long will this last?
It is unclear – the government has talked of helping 100,000 buyers and says it will review the scheme after two years, but it is not clear how much money has been allocated or if it will stop if 100,000 borrowers do sign up.
I'm selling my house, will this help me?
No. Buyers will only benefit from the mortgage guarantee if they are buying a new-build property, so this will not free up lending on older homes. In the long run the increased housing supply may make homes more affordable and free up the housing market, but you will probably have moved out by then.

subset: commoncrawl


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"The rate of non-fatal incidents in which students felt victimized at school decreased to 35 per 1,000 students in 2010, from 181 per 1,000 students in 1992, according to the 2013 School Crime and Safety Report. The rate rose to 52 per 1,000 students in 2012, the report found. Any type of school crime, the report noted, increases the likelihood of dropouts, teacher turnover and student transfers.
"Over the long term, schools are getting safer," said Thomas Snyder, the report's project officer. "That doesn't mean there's not a lot of room for improvement."
See on www.huffingtonpost.com


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About a week ago, the newest addition to the LogoLenses team, Riley Walsky decided to order up some customized sunglasses for her daughter's soccer team, the Lightning. As many of our customers do, Riley consulted with our design team first, brainstorming ideas and making suggestions on colors and graphics.
"My daughter's team colors is royal blue and safety green," she said. "I wanted something that obviously focused on soccer but also something that the girls would really love to wear. I wanted to make sure the colors and team logo matched. Our designers created a fabulous design that I knew these girls would flip for!"
Additionally, Riley decided to make some glasses for the other parents who show up every week to support their kid's team.
"There is this one soccer dad that absolutely loves the coach of the team, Coach Brad," Riley said. "Which is why I had a special pair of glasses made specifically for him that says "I heart Coach Brad" with a picture of the coach on the lens."
The glasses for both the team and the parents were a huge success and the team was excited that their glasses matched their uniforms. Riley even ordered some glasses for her fellow soccer moms to wear in the stands. "We got compliments on the glasses throughout the entire tournament weekend. We were the stylish soccer moms!" she said with a laugh.
"The girls were all talking about where they wanted to wear the glasses. They can't wait to show them off to other teams" Riley said smiling. "They were super excited about them and it was great to be able to do something special for the team."
LogoLenses offers completely customizable sunglasses with team decals on the lenses, mottos or personalization. They also have side arm imprinted glasses that can feature team names, website information or any customization desired.


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Would you believe that I spent a large portion of my time on honeymoon, lying lazily on the couch, watching rubbish on TV? With the new wife obviously. If you said yes, then you know me well. The time off work and with my partner was fantastic. Was I productive? Ha, of course not! But you're not here for productivity so let's chat about the time I wiled away.
Why won't you let me win, Dead Cells?! Have I not been patient with you and dedicated enough time to you? I have a huge backlog of games to get through and yet there you sit on my PS4 dashboard. Taunting me with the potential of THAT run. The one where I beat the final boss for the 2nd time over my 60+ attempts. After all my 59+ loses, I still adore the gameplay of Dead Cells. Simplistic gameplay with oodles of complexity. What keeps me coming back after each failure is the way I fail in Dead Cells. When I lose, I don't think the game is being unfair. I die because I get too bold, I play bad or the run just doesn't come together. That's what makes a great rogue-lite. When you lose and you can accept the loss. Because you know that you can do it and you will do it on another run. The next run? Only one way to find out! *Goes and plays Dead Cells again*
Red Dead Redemption 2 continues to drift in and out of my sessions. It still hasn't hooked me and I'm at the Epilogue now. So, I think I'm far past the part where I *get it* or it *just clicks* like friends have told me. Not to say I'm not enjoying my time with it to an extent. I think the story and characters are engrossing. It's just the gameplay in-between which holds it back for me. I'm looking forward to finishing it, purely from a narrative experience but I can't say I'm racing to play it.
What a fantastic demo that Resident Evil 2 had! The concept of a timed demo seems unfair but it does a brilliant job of giving you that little fix that makes you crave more. Big fan of seeing more demos like it. I hadn't even planned on buying it and yet my order is arriving tomorrow. I've played most of the main Resident Evil series, including 2 but I wasn't that fussed about replaying it. The overhaul though is extraordinary. Zombies are scary again! Get the champagne out! I only experienced shooting mechanics for a dozen or so minutes but I really enjoyed how it felt. The fact that the aim takes a bit of time to finesse itself so you get an accurate shot is a huge deal to me. No more quick shots RE4 style. Precision is key. Zombies also take a lot to kill which I can fully get behind. And when there bodies hit the floor, I really struggle to tell if they're dead or not. So much so, that I employed the Zombieland double tap method. In a game with limited ammo, I can see me firing an extra bullet into the deceased deceased as a bad habit. But, we shall see when I start my playthrough. I'm sure you'll hear my thoughts on the game in the short future.
Starship Troopers really holds up! I watched this film when I was 7 or 8 and saw it mainly as a Sci-Fi/Action film. Guns, aliens, yelling and brief nudity were all bonuses to any film for a young lad. My wife was genuinely scared of this film as a child and when we were flicking through the channels on honeymoon (we don't have a TV license so Sky was a luxury for us) she spotted the film and put it on to show me how gruesome and scary it was. I quickly explained I knew most of the classic quotes of by heart from frequent watching as a child. But when we settled to watch it, it became clear how great the film is. I don't think the film was big budget but the aliens and special effects look pretty great considering its age. Not only that but the satirical aspect of it was completely lost on me as a child. Seeing all its intentions with an adult mind really made me appreciate the film on another level. And it's just a great alien killing romp with some pure cheese lines that steal my heart with each watch. If I'm ever in charge of a battalion, 'Come on you apes, you wanna live forever?' will be my battle cry. No one alive could resist following me into battle after that rousing line! Highly Recommend
An interesting film that fizzled out towards the end and slacked in the middle for me was Bad Times At The El Royale. A really intriguing beginning, fantastically shot with a terrific soundtrack and a cast of actors that always stood out to me. The first hour I was fully on board with the mystery and style but it just couldn't the premise for its almost 2 1/2 long runtime. With its initial setup I was expecting more of a mystery with twists and turns but the film quickly resolved its questions without much fanfare. It made me wonder throughout most of the film if I missed something or when the next big twist was coming. That was possibly my own downfall but it did seem like there should have been more going on than what was handed up, especially with the disjointed first act. But as I said, expecting more mystery is a personal fault in my viewing experience and perhaps not the films fault. I do think the middle drags and I found the end to be a bit bland but strong performances and music kept me interested in this film. I'm glad I watched it and I would suggest watching the film but I don't think I'll ever watch this again. Happy I watched it but it's not very memorable. Light Recommend
I finally started Killing Eve. Watched all 8 episodes in one night so that shows you how good I think it is. Basic premise is Eve, a government investigator gets brought in to investigate a murder of a political figure. That's the first episode and from there it escalates into a game of cat and mouse. The 2 leads are very well acted and the main villain really captures your attention. Fantastic performances all round and what I love about the show is even though it's a dark series about murder and assassinations, it has a healthy dose of humour and dark humour. Which as a fan of early Dexter, I'm all about! Another praise I have to give this show is that it knows not to drag its feet. 8 episodes long and the plot moves at a good pace. Too many shows have a loose middle now from overextending their plot into more episodes but a lean experience is always more memorable than a drawn out one. Quality over quantity and Killing Eve is a prime example of this. Highly Recommend
Random Recommendation
For this month I wish to recommend the graphic novel Invincible by the creator of The Walking Dead. This is his attempt at the superhero genre and I think he does an admirable job of creating an entire superhero universe and hero. Mark Grayson is Invincible, a superhero that is essentially Superman but in his Smallville era except it didn't take 10 seasons for Mark Grayson to learn how to fly. Invincible can fly, is quick, durable and super strength. He wins no prizes for originality but that isn't what the series is about. Robert Kirkman has taken the highs of comic books and its tropes and recreated them in his vision. For instance, there is a Justice League equivalent where the Aquaman version is literally a walking fish man who is the butt of jokes. Just like how Aquaman was a joke character in general media like Robot Chicken. What I really enjoy about Invincible is how the characters evolve. Heroes have problems and downfalls, they aren't always on top form like Batman and Superman. Heroes mess up and suffer consequences or change mindsets in a gradual manner. There is a lot of personality and progression with the characters and some of the storylines are great arcs. As I said, a lot of this stuff is borrowed from other comics but after 60+ years of comics it's hard not to do that. But as I said, Kirkman generally puts his own twist on the tried arcs and brings a new flare to the basics. If like me, you enjoy general comic book films and like comic book characters and like to dip into the comics now and then, I highly recommend Invincible. Part of the reason I only read contained stories in comics like Planet Hulk/World War Hulk is because you can jump into those things with basic knowledge of the characters and the world and just figure the rest out as you go. But if I grabbed a random Spider-Man comic I would be completely lost with what is going on. Invincible has an easy starting point and an end, and at 144 issues, it's not a huge commitment.
Anyway, that's me for this month. Hope you had a good month and thank you for reading. Take it easy.


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Oakland, Berkeley, And East Bay News, Events, Restaurants, Music, & Arts
Six days a week, at eight in the morning, a small woman dressed in black makes her way slowly up Gilman Street. Her back bent with osteoporosis, Nevart Kalaidjian Krikorian walks carefully but steadily, her eyes on the sidewalk. She turns onto a plank walkway leading to the recessed doorway of a house that was converted to a restaurant long ago. Disappearing inside, she settles down at a table overlooking the main dining room, casually classy with its white tablecloths, warm wood trim, and botanical watercolors. Her movements precise, she begins to fold stacks of white linen napkins.
"I could probably get into trouble," Haig Krikorian chuckles. That his 85-year-old mother arrives every morning to fold napkins, peel garlic, and take deliveries is a small but telling detail, hinting at the personal attention that makes dining at Lalime's so special.
Haig (pronounced hyyg) and his wife Cindy Lalime Krikorian own five restaurants, each unique, each capable of serving memorable meals in settings so compelling that diners ignore their watches and spend three hours over lunch or an entire evening at the bar, emerging calmer and saner and fully satisfied. It's hard enough to create one restaurant that succeeds on that level. Five would hardly seem possible had conventional wisdom or perhaps even common sense governed the process.
"We started in 1985 on Solano Avenue right at Santa Fe, where the Nepalese restaurant is now," Haig says of Lalime's. He has a soft exactness in his speech, a care he assigns to his words, partly from his Armenian roots but also because he's meticulous. And it's that quality that makes his story so unlikely and yet so perfect. "In 1988, we moved to Gilman. Everyone thought we were crazy because we left a space with lots of foot traffic. But we went from a seven-hundred-square-foot space to about three thousand square feet with storage, a real kitchen, and a walk-in refrigerator. It was not that hard a transition. We're a destination restaurant birthdays, anniversaries."
In 1994 the Krikorians moved Jimmy Bean's to Gilman and Sixth. They'd started the casually upscale eatery in San Francisco, but Cindy and Haig were going bananas with the commute. "We were doing three to four runs to the city every day, the last being about seven o'clock at night," Haig says. "Now all our restaurants are within three or four minutes of each other. I can walk to them sure, even to Sea Salt. I'm a good hiker."
The couple often eats at Jimmy Bean's. "We wanted a casual hangout," Haig says. "You can go in there and have pancakes at nine at night. It's really a lot of fun." He manages to make two restaurants sound doable, almost sensible. After all, they eliminated that terrible commute. But why on earth opt for a third? "We opened Fonda right after the dot-com crash and 9/11," he notes with a sigh. "Everyone thought we were absolutely insane, and we were."
But in Berkeley, everything boils down to real estate. "Fonda came up because Phil Wood of Ten Speed Press owned that space, and we'd already started talking about the T-Rex space, and he owned that too," Haig says.
The T-Rex space at Tenth and Gilman is a large two-story building with lots of glass, very different from the intimate spaces the Krikorians had worked with. As Haig and Cindy pondered the advisability of taking over such a large area, Christopher's on Solano shut down. Wood suggested that Haig and Cindy check it out. "The next three restaurants were about the space," Haig says. "Something about the space made us want to do the cuisine."
Haig had been thinking about tapas, and thought the bi-level Christopher's space lent itself to Latin American tapas dishes, which weren't as in then as now. Haig's vision also demanded a bar and an open kitchen, but the site had neither. "We had a lot to do," he recalls.
The Krikorians wanted to create a bar/food combination different from the usual bar food, or the hanging at the bar till your table is ready. "It took us a little bit of time to get people to learn what we were doing at Fonda," Haig admits. Together with chef David Rosales, who has since moved on, they came up with a menu that seemed to fit what the space would become. Striving toward elegance, they hired designer Connie Riccardi. "Cindy almost had a heart attack with the colors," Haig says. "The dark reds. Connie said it would work. And she was right the whole color scheme brought it together."
The couple hangs out at Fonda, too. "We go there after we finish work at the office," he says. "It's open until 12:30 [a.m.]. In fact, it's practically the only place in Berkeley where the kitchen doesn't close if it's slow. I've made a rule that if someone walks in the door at 12:29, they get food."
So the space dictated the eats but three restaurants? "Why did we do it? I don't know," Haig says. "Cindy would always have the same answer: 'I don't want another restaurant.' But once she gets in there, she falls in love with the space. And then they become her babies. When we started Fonda, our kids were already off in college. Other people get a dog or go to bookstores; we open restaurants."
Their last two places were, if anything, even more about real estate or about Berkeley's uneven issuance of remodeling permits. Haig and Cindy had started a tradition of special barbecue nights, sometimes at Jimmy Bean's, sometimes at Lalime's. The prix-fixe menu included a Caesar salad, ribs, cornbread, and other barbecue specialties. Still thinking about Phil Wood's large space on Gilman, Haig went to New York to research barbecue. "Phil was thrilled with the idea of a barbecue joint," Haig reports, and then adds, predictably: "Cindy wasn't too thrilled, but now it's one of her favorites."
T-Rex ran into difficulties right off the bat, with permit delays and a dependence upon completion of nearby local government projects. Which is where Sea Salt comes in. "In 2005, we were having a heck of a time finishing the T-Rex project, with the building, the permits," Haig recalls. "Someone mentioned the Sea Salt space just in passing. I thought, 'Well, let's go take a look at it.' Again it's one of those things where you get butterflies in your stomach. One look, and we saw a New England lobster house."
Phil Wood owned half of that space too, and his partner was intrigued by the lobster house plan. "He talked us into thinking about it it didn't take much thought," Haig says. "We had an entire crew of management and chefs on payroll because of T-Rex. We also had an entire construction crew lined up for T-Rex that couldn't work. We took over the space in May and in seven weeks we opened the restaurant. That included permits, interior design, the demolition, and the build-out. We got it in May 2005, and by June 14 we opened."
T-Rex finally opened that November and immediately got a bad review in the San Francisco Chronicle. Its top-of-the-line computerized smoking equipment had a faulty valve, which the in-house maintenance man found after two months of tinkering by company repairmen. "For the first three months, it was smoking customers," Haig says.
Once found, the problem was fixed in one minute. "We turned it around, and now it's incredibly successful. We did 780 people last Saturday bigger than Berkeley," he quips. T-Rex has three TVs, tuned to different sports. "It's been a lot of fun, but it was truly a hard first year."
Each restaurant has its own management, although Haig and Cindy are on-call for deliveries, emergencies, managing the managers, and everyday problem-solving. The empire a term Haig hates employs 220 full-timers. Three pastry chefs work out of a commissary kitchen on Fifth Street, close to all the restaurants, in a building that includes storage and offices. "You have to have a solid office crew," Haig says. That crew is he, his wife, and Cindy Clark Cindy #2, Haig calls her who together do the accounting and paperwork.
The Krikorians have a lot of responsibility, and handle it as a team. "We make most of our decisions together," Haig says. "We have our good days and bad days. We have to think of our payroll. We don't drive any fancy BMWs. We have a 1992 Honda station wagon and a Volvo soccer-mom car that I drive."
But they do go out. "We go to Chez Panisse a lot," Haig reports. "I appreciate that even if everything isn't perfect, it's meant to be perfect. We go to Sushi Sho on Solano. We don't take treks into the city."
Then there's home when they can manage to get there between breakfasts at Jimmy Bean's, hanging out at T-Rex, and after-the-office at Fonda. In their own kitchen, Haig and his daughter Elaine cook, and Cindy and son Aram are in charge of cleanup.
And each morning, Haig's mother walks to Lalime's, where it all started, to fold napkins with her spare, precise movements. The personal touch shows in every color, every spice, every pastry. And what could be more fun than that?
Contact the author of this piece, send a letter to the editor, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
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Free Yourself from Addictions, Attachments & Vows
Data: October 8 - 11, 2020
Cerințe preliminare: ADN Bază, ADN Avansat, Sapă mai adânc
Limba (i): English,Croatian
Suma totală Seminar: 440.00 EUR
Suma depusa: 0.00 EUR
seminar Sumă: 440.00 EUR
Vrbje 1 Zagreb, Outside the USA or Australia Croatia 10000
Despre instructorul tau
Goran Karna
Un certificat Practicantul Independent, Instructor, Certificat de Științe
Zagreb, Croatia
ThetaHealing® Free Yourself from Addictions, Attachments & Vows
Duration: 4 days
When one mentions the word addiction, the first association is generally an addiction to certain substances such as alcohol, nicotine or drugs. But there are other kinds of addictions that we are not aware of at first glance, for example, addiction to certain feelings, addiction to success, work, money, conflicts, addiction to praise, exercise, facebook, etc. Do you know that when we are addicted, we are not free, we are conditioned by something or someone we are addicted to? Would you like to liberate yourself from it and be free? Would you like to know the difference between addiction and love, fear, feeling of guilt...? Would you like to know how to heal people from addictions and help them to change their life?
Would you like to find out which programs are stored in your chakras that are blocking their proper functioning and how to open your chakras to their full capacity or which feelings causing your brain chemicals to be unbalanced. If our brain chemicals and their receptors are not in balance, we can be prone to many disorders and diseases, such as ADHD, obsessive behavior, PMS, depression and even cancer and other diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's disease, bipolar disorder, etc.
Do you know reason why our aura picks up various negative energies and vibrations and how to make our aura much stronger? Would you like to find out how to minimize losing our energy and soul fragments and stop giving them to others unnecessarily?
There are many positive meanings of attachment but we will use yogic meaning in sense that attachments are obstacles in the spiritual growth. What does it mean in yogic practice to be attached to someone or something? It means that we do not know who we are without it, and we often cannot imagine our lives without the thing or a person we are attached to. Also, the attachment does not allow new, fresh energies to enter our lives. Attachment can be a limited form of communication, business or partner relationship, or spiritual development. The fact is that we can also be spiritually attached, as well as emotionally and mentally, not just to material things or people, but also to things like planes of existence, secret teachings or societies of the Fourth and the Fifth Planes of Existence, our soul family, the pain and suffering of our parents, nation, ancestors, ...
Vows, commitments, contracts, agreements, promises, obligations, bans and oaths follow us from one life to another whether we like it or not, and we are very rarely, during our evolution, given a chance to get rid of them. The fact is that we do not even know how many vows and commitments we have made (or have taken over from others – our mother, father, ancestors, nation, soul family, ...), nor are we aware of the burden that we carry on the history level, soul level and even the genetic and core levels.
This seminar is a modest contribution to freeing ourselves from all these constraints and broadening our consciousness.
This seminar was designed by Goran Karna using the ThetaHealing Techniques and became an approved Elective in 2014.
Additional Class Information
The Information displayed on this ThetahHealing profile is provided by the ThetaHealer listed above. They are responsible for the information displayed. If you would like to report the information in this profile to THInk click on report profile link. Information on the other pages of this website is provided by THInk.


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Gardai have announced plan to deploy massive resources to cope with an influx of visiting Travellers in Rathkeale over the festive period.
The policing plan will see armed gardai deployed to the town between Christmas and the New year.
The HSE has confirmed it will provide a "triage clinic" in the town from December 20 to January 4th.
Member of the Garda Divisional Drug Unit, Garda Divisional Dog Unit, detective units, will have a presence in the town.
CCTV cameras will relay live images to a centralised control room in Limerick City operated by gardai.
A juvenile liaison garda will also be based in the town for the period, and, holiday court sittings will also be provided to gardai, if required.
During the festive period the town's population can swell by up to 3,000.
Speed ramps have been placed throughout the town by Limerick City and County Council in an effort to curb concerns over over road traffic issues.
Gardai said their policing plan is a direct response to concerns raised by the local settled and local Traveller population.
Last year's operation cost €22,000 and was "very successful" gardai said.
This year's plan is being headed up by the District Superintendent John Deasy and Inspector Alan Cullen.
The operation will target "anti social behavior", "dangerous driving", "littering" and drug offences.
Gardai will maintain a presence at local schools, during pupil drop-off and pick-up times.
A garda personnel carrier will also be based in the town on a 24/7 basis.
"Our plan will have a four-prong approach - dealing with, anti-social behaviour; roads policing and enforcement; criminality; and drug activity," Superintendent Deasy said.
"Our objective is got make sure every part of the community in Rathkeale are able to go about their business without being interfered with."
"There have been issues raised in relation to anti-special behaviour and road policing issues with young offenders."
"We've listened to people and we've listened to when they think the optimum need for a policing presence is, and we'll factor that into our plan."


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TAINAN, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Charles Wu, who founded KMC Group in 1977, has passed away at his home in Tainan. He died Sunday at the age of 77 surrounded by his family. A funeral date is pending.
Wu launched his business, later named KMC, after buying two small second-hand chain factories. He built that company into a mini-empire within the industry making bicycle and motorcycle chains in almost a dozen factories located worldwide.
Wu was well known by many industry executives who have worked with the company for years. KMC has distributors in dozens of nations, and more than 4,000 employees worldwide. Wu's son, Robert, is the company's president. Wu's daughter, Deborah, is vice president of sales and marketing.
Arnold Kamler, Kent's chairman and CEO and a longtime friend of Wu, said the pair had become good friends over the years and often played golf together.
"For many years Charlie would meet his close friends in Tainan and they would tee off at about 6 a.m. and play 18 holes, shower, and then get to the office at 9 a.m. He worked, in the old days, until 7 or 8 p.m. every night building his business," Kamler recalled.
"Of course, as we all know, KMC has become the world's dominant producer of bicycle, motorcycle and garage door chains, plus they are owners of ProWheel, one of the finest producers of chainwheels," Kamler added.
KMC makes chains for Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo, meeting the highest standards of compatibility for three very different companies.
But the money and status that Wu earned over the years meant little to him, Kamler said. "I recall visiting him about 10 years ago in Tainan and he met me at the airport in a Nissan that was more than 10 years old. In fact, I think it still said 'Datsun,'" Kamler recalled.
Bob Margevicius, a vice president at Specialized, has known Wu and his family for years. "Charlie Wu was an incredible leader, father, champion and a pioneer for Taiwan," Margevicius said. "I will never forget meeting him for the first time in Taipei. He was so gracious and welcoming, and I was just a young freshman in the business," he said.
When Margevicius met Wu, he was still working in his factory and took the time to show Margevicius the finer points of chain manufacturing. "He was so humble and an inspiration. He taught me the value of relationships, kindness and how to listen," Margevicius added.
Kamler, in a final note, recalled that Wu was always proud of his mustache. "It kind of made him look like the actor Charles Bronson and that also became his nickname. He was incredibly kind and generous and a credit to the human race. I will miss him," Kamler said.


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The Best Vinpocetine: Top 10 Brands Reviewed for 2020
Best Vinpocetine Supplement Brands
All Benefits/Effects/Facts & Information
Vinpocetine is a compound synthesized in the late 1960s from the alkaloid vincamine, found in the leaf of the periwinkle plant (vinca minor). Vinpocetine is now widely used Japan, Hungary, Germany, Poland, and Russia for its cerebrovascular and neuroprotective effects.
Vinpocetine contains numerous mechanisms of action that give vinpocetine its anti-oxidant, vasodilating, and neuroprotective effects.
Vinpocentine has numerous supplementation purposes including improvement of cognitive function, increased energy, enhancement in focus and visual acuity, prevention of motion sickness, reduces mental fatigue, and improve dementia symptoms.
Vinpocetine benefits:
- Supports blood circulation to the brain
- Promotes focus and alertness
- Supports memory and mental function
- Supports cerebral circulation
- Improves blood flow
- Contains anti-oxidant properties
- Supports the brain, blood vessels, and central nervous system
- May help with subsequent hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Known as a nootropic for its memory formation activities.
Things to Know
Also Known As
Periwinkle, Vincamine
Things to note
- You should supplement Vinpocetine with food. Research shows that when taken on an empty stomach abosption rate is around 6.7%, when taken with food, absoportion increases 60%-100%.
How To Take
Recommended dosage, active amounts, other details
Standard daily dose of vinpocetine : 10 mg – 20 mg three times per day with meals.


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Cambria Hotels Downtown Asheville Amenities
You will feel upgraded in our modern and stylish smoke-free rooms that feature complimentary WiFi, bluetooth mirrors, king or queen sized custom-floating platform beds, hardwood floors, workstations and more. Book with Cambria when staying in Asheville.
Click HERE to explore our guest rooms
Click HERE to explore our guest rooms


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Written by: Equitible | Equitible
While it may seem counter-intuitive to say that clients who are debt-free and single need life insurance, you might be surprised to find out that many actually do. Here's why they might want to consider adding coverage.
Pay funeral costs
1. They don't want someone else to have to pay their end-of-life and funeral expenses.
Without some kind of insurance – even a small term life insurance policy – or other assets, parents or other relatives will end up paying the funeral costs if your client dies unexpectedly. There can be other end-of-life expenses too, such as hospital bills or other costs associated with their home, work, or personal life.
Get the best rates
2. If they're young and healthy, they'll get the best rates.
Purchasing life insurance when your clients are young and healthy may also be cost-effective. That's because, as your clients get older (and potentially less healthy), the rates they'll pay will increase. Why not lock in lower rates now? Buying young can also protect their future insurability, since insurance companies often let clients convert from one policy (term) to another or add coverage at a later date (option to purchase additional insurance rider), without having to go through new underwriting.
Leave a legacy
3. They want to leave a legacy.
They may not have children, but what about brothers, sisters, or even parents who may be struggling financially, or someone else who depends on them? Make sure those special people are taken care of if your clients are no longer around. Or, for a small premium, they could leave a legacy to a favorite charity or cause. Life insurance death benefits are typically income-tax-free to the beneficiary. Remember that life insurance has leverage (the death benefit is initially significantly higher than the annual premiums).
Plan ahead
4. They may not be single or debt-free forever.
Many life insurance policies let clients trade up (convert) or add coverage, so buying a small policy before they get married or buy a home may be a good idea. Again, the sooner they purchase life insurance, typically the lower their rates, at least for their initial coverage.
Save more for retirement
5. They make too much to qualify for a Roth IRA, but still want to save more money for retirement.
If your clients make too much income to qualify for a Roth IRA, and have already maxed out their other retirement plans, they may want to consider permanent (cash value) life insurance. They can pay premiums and their money has the potential to grow tax-deferred, much like a retirement plan. But with a cash value life insurance policy, they aren't limited by contribution or income limitations. And, if the policy is set up correctly, they can take loans from the policy income-tax-free.
Loans and partial withdrawals will decrease the death benefit and cash value of a life insurance policy and may be subject to policy limitations and income tax. In addition, loans and partial withdrawals may cause certain policy benefits or riders to become unavailable and may increase the chance a policy may lapse. If the policy lapses, is surrendered, or becomes an MEC, the loan balance at such time would generally be viewed as distributed and taxable under the general rules for distribution of policy cash values.


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South facing detached Victorian villa overlooking the Holy Loch and rolling hills beyond. 'Rhumore' comprises 4/5 bedrooms, two reception rooms, contemporary breakfasting kitchen, utility / boiler room, downstairs cloakroom and modern wet room and, externally, generous front and back gardens with a decking looking to the shore and parking for several vehicles at the rear. The property also benefits by a modern and efficient heating system with wood pellet boiler and double glazing throughout. Would make an ideal family or retirement home in a truly beautiful setting.
The picturesque village of Kilmun is surrounded by natural beauty, sits on the banks of the Holy Loch and has outstanding views, not only of the loch and the Firth of Clyde, but also the surrounding hills and countryside.
The area, which is approximately six miles from Dunoon and on the edge of Scotland's First National Park, is well served with a post office / mini market, hotel, pub, golf and bowling clubs, medical centre, churches and a fantastic primary school which has been awarded the Green Flag.
Other places of interest and / or leisure include the arboretum with its many species of trees and wildlife and several recognised walks of varying degree of ease and the Argyll Mausoleum set in the grounds of Kilmun Church.
The popular, and ever expanding, Holy Loch Marina is just a few minutes' drive away at the other side of the loch although many boat-owners also have a mooring in the loch for using during the summer months.
A regular bus service to Dunoon makes the supermarkets, shops, hairdressers, eateries, pubs, sports and sailing clubs and cinema etc easily accessible. In addition, there are two ferry links to Gourock with rail and coach links meaning that Glasgow city centre is little more than an hour away, with Glasgow Airport, Braehead Shopping Centre and Greenock even closer.
Lower Floor – Sitting Room, Dining Room, Breakfasting Kitchen, Cloakroom, Boiler / Utility Room and Bedroom / Study
Mid Floor – Wet Room
Upper Floor – Four Double Bedrooms
The property is accessed via either a pedestrian gate or double vehicular gates off the shore road; both lead to the UPVC / feature glass front door and then a small vestibule which has a wall light and vinyl flooring.
Entrance Hallway
A wooden door with feature glass opens from the vestibule to the entrance hallway which is carpeted, has a ceiling light, radiator, original ceiling archway and leads to the sitting room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom / study and stairs to the upper floors.
Sitting Room
4.99m x 3.66m
16'5" x 12'1"
Good sized sitting room with glorious loch views through the front-facing bay windows. Many original features such as high ceilings, deep skirting boards and shelved alcove.
Dining Room
4.82m x 3.65m
15'10" x 12'0"
Also loch-facing and with deep bay windows, the dining room offers a lovely room for formal entertaining.
3.64m x 3.61m
11'11" x 11'10"
Recently installed modern kitchen comprising ample wall and base units and breakfast bar with darker worktop and integrated appliances such as oven / grill, hob with extractor over, fridge freezer and dishwasher. Tile effect flooring, 4-bar ceiling light and window to the rear.
1.30m x 1.14m
4'4" x 3'9"
Handy cloakroom at the rear of the property comprising WC and wash-hand basin and with ceiling light, radiator and opaque window.
Boiler / Utility Room
3.65m x 2.25m
12'0" x 7'5"
Good sized boiler / utility room which is plumbed for washing machine and has space for other white goods. The new, and very economical, bio-flame boiler for the wood pellet heating system and hot water tank are also stored in this room.
Bedroom 5 / Study
3.87m x 2.91m
12'9" x 9'7"
Downstairs room which could either be a bedroom or a study. Carpet, ceiling light, radiator and window to the rear.
The stairs wind from the lower to upper hallways with the wet room on the half landing.
Wet Room
2.76m x 2.02m
9'1" x 6'8"
Modern wet room which is suitable for anyone with mobility issues and comprises shower area, WC, and wash-hand basin. Wet-wall panelling, non-slip flooring, chrome heated towel rail, ceiling light, extractor and opaque window to the rear.
Upper Hallway
The carpeted hallway provides access to all four double rooms on the upper floor.
Bedroom 1
5.00m x 5.00m
16'5" x 16'5"
Spacious master bedroom with stunning views through the bay windows plus a separate window to the side. Plenty of room for large bed and bedroom furniture.
Bedroom 2
5.00m x 3.68m
16'5" x 12'1"
Second front-facing double room with bay windows. Also with ceiling light and radiator and shelved cupboard.
Bedroom 3
3.70m x 3.65m
12'2" x 12'0"
Double room at the rear overlooking the back garden.
Bedroom 4
3.65m x 2.95m
12'0" x 9'8"
Another double room at the rear overlooking the back garden.
Gardens and Parking
The front garden has been well maintained and comprises a lawned area bordered by plants and shrubs and a good sized decking, all bound by a stone wall. The driveway stretches from the front of the property to the rear and provides space for several vehicles to park and turn.
EPC rating: F.


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Best Male Friends From Movies in 2010 Poll
Who Are the Best Dude Buddies of 2010?
If the movies of the past couple of years are any indication, people love a good bromance. Big-screen friendships between men procure both laughs and heartwarming moments, from comedies like Hot Tub Time Machine to more dramatic films like The King's Speech. Which of these dude buddies were your favorite of 2010?
Don't forget to vote on all of my Best of 2010 polls!


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Visa and MasterCard reduce and cap interchange fees in Canada
And pigs can indeed fly.
Visa and MasterCard have finally caved in to pressure from Canadian competition authorities and agreed to set a 1.5% ceiling on interchange rates in the country for the next five years.
But I have to wonder with the pressure on large institutions including telcos to reduce locked in periods, fees, and exits costs, that similar pressure was expected on interchange, and maybe this was a way to get head of the regulators.
One Response
The real problem is the complicated pricing, contracts and statements. Each fee can and often does have a different name on your contract and your statement not to mention between processors. Even the classes of cards have different names between the card brands, statements and contracts. One company uses a grid system for "Non Qualified" card fees (those that are not consumer cards with no rewards done electronically). The grid has different rates for each card, the names of the cards on the grid don't match the statement and the rates which are posted on the grid do not appear on the statement only the sales and $ amount of the fee. For the average business this is very difficult to audit.


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I hope you're all well-rested and enjoying a great start to the week. For today's Monday Music post I'm courting controversy by sharing an advert by Apple! I know this is likely to upset some readers, but I ask you to set aside your PC/Mac loyalties for just a few minutes and enjoy this video purely for its artistic merits.
The video was released less than a week ago but went viral very quickly, which is unsurprising given that it was released by Apple, one of the biggest companies in the world. But credit where credit's due, this is a truly astonishing piece of art.
The performer in the video is known by the name of 'FKA twigs'. She's a dancer who was born in England from English/Jamaican heritage and used to live in South London, which is the part of the world where I live. The director of the video is Spike Jonze, an American filmmaker known for directing Being John Malkovich and Adaptation among many other movies.
Give it a watch and let me know what you think in the comments.


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Petal Pusher Florist is a full-service flower shop with the emphasis on "service." The staff at Petal Pusher Florist will strive to make every event in your life a special occasion. We have merged with our main location at this time but we are servicing Plymouth and all the surrounding towns as normal. We thank you for your patience and continued patronage.
We draw our inspiration from the highest possible standard in customer service. We constantly strive to have exceptional relations with our clients, serve our community well and attend to every request with an absolute "can do" attitude that assures our clients that no request is out of the ordinary or impossible. Amazing flowers, exceptional designs, creativity second to none and a new gold standard for customer service have brought about the right ingredients for success at what we do. Thank you for visiting our website, thank you for asking us to be of service to you. We will always be thrilled to hear from you and to help in every way that we can.


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Konnichiwa in Japanese means 'welcome' and that's what our first impression was about Japan as soon as we landed Narita airport of Tokyo. Everyone at the airport were extremely polite, welcoming and followed etiquette of bowing head while greeting and receiving anything with both their hands. Moreover, in this isolated island where most folks speak in Japanese, people were willing to help us using gestures.
Narita airport is 80 kms away from Tokyo city and we chose to travel by train using Japan Rail pass. We boarded the famous Shinkansen (JR operated bullet train) & reached Tokyo in less than an hour!!
Tokyo – the city with many faces
Tokyo is unique among all metropolitans I have visited – it is unique for the things that you don't see elsewhere and for its bizarre offerings. Moreover, it is truly the city from the future and yet has not forgotten its rich tradition and culture. We spent three days in Tokyo and covered this huge city by foot, by metro, by bus and had myriad of unique experiences. Here are some of the highlights of Tokyo which are etched in our memories:
Modern Tokyo
We were completely bowled over by Tokyo for its futuristic buildings, multiple storeys of highways stacked one over the other and the world's most sophisticated subway system. As world's most populous metro,Tokyo is filled with buzzing neighborhoods with skyscrapers and their neon signages – be it Shinjuku, Shibuya or the high-fashion Ginza district. In particular, we were awestruck to watch pedestrians crossing world's busiest Shibuya intersection in a perfectly orchestrated manner (you can actually make a video while sipping coffee at nearby Starbucks). My wife enjoyed her time window-shopping high-street fashion and eating vegan food at Ginza. Equally enthralling was the bird-eye view of Tokyo's buzzing night-life from 45th floor of Metropolitan Government Building at Shinjuku.
Each metro/subway that I have travelled in is unique – be it London, New York, Mumbai, Delhi or Chicago. In spite of the huge commuter load Tokyo subway system handles,it is the least chaotic subway system and trains always run on time! Commuters are disciplined and do not rush or cross the line and all stations play soothing sound of birds chirping when the train stops at each station.
Another wonder of modern Tokyo is the huge Akihabara mall packed with multitude of electronic gadgets. Japanese manufactured electronics gadgets although expensive than the Chinese are known for their reliability and hence Akihabara mall is a must visit to buy your next DSLR or video game.
Bizarre Tokyo
Isolated from rest of the world, this Japanese capital has many quirks and oddities. One of the oddest inventions which we cited was plastic food previews outside every food joint (even candy-stores!). But actually, it was quite helpful for us (foreigners) for whom language is a huge barrier. The hotel rooms are SMALL even by Mumbai standards – I could barely fit into our bed and slept inclined a few nights. And most amusing part – the toilet seats have temperature control & play music to avoid embarrassing sounds.
Tokyo has bizarre themed cafes and restaurants – be it robots themed cafes or ninja, vampire themed restaurants. The most abundant oddity is private Karaoke themed bars and restaurants. Equally noticeable was the unique fashion sense of Harajuku girls at Takeshita street. We visited a Sushi bar where Sushi plates moved on a conveyer belt; where I thoroughly enjoyed eating Sushi with hot tea.
Traditional Tokyo
Tokyo at heart, is a culturally rich city gifted with natural beauty. Amidst modern structures, Tokyo has still retained traditional designs and culture. And that is what appealed to us the most. Meiji Jingu located in the heart of Shibuya is austere and serene shrine of Emperor (Meiji) is surrounded by natural beauty. It transported us to a different world surrounded by tall trees and chirping birds. We found the entire experience of stopping outside shrine at the cleansing station to offering our respects with bowing our head and two claps to writing our wishes onto the prayer wall novel and spiritual. We were lucky to see traditional Japanese wedding procession as well!
Another place we visited was the Senso-ji temple which is one of the oldest temples in Tokyo. It is located in Asakusa neighborhood providing old-world Tokyo vibes. The temple has gigantic red entrance with a huge lantern in the middle and is surrounded by hustle-bustle of shops on Nakamise street market. Here's where we also bought Yukata (dress) for my little niece.
Amidst the concrete jungle, Tokyo has world's most beautiful parks and gardens and the city has preserved these green spaces as they have preserved culture. And during Sakura, these parks and city boulevards adorn themselves with pink cover of cherry blossoms. Countless of tourists flock to Tokyo every spring for a visual feast of these gorgeous sakuras – Japanese call it 'Hanami' which means 'flower viewing'. Over three days, we visited three parks and each park had a distinct character. Yoyogi Park in Shinjuku is perfect place to entertain yourself watching costumed manga fans or hipsters or open air plays or even dancing with the crowd (!!) while soaking in the nature's spring celebrations.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is the most beautiful park in Tokyo and as soon as we entered the park, we got transported to altogether different world. We visited different sections of the garden and the most stunning was the traditional Japanese garden with tea-house. On our last day at Tokyo, we visited Ueno park. Ueno Park is Tokyo's most significant cultural center and is filled with museums, temples, shrines, natural attractions, important institutions and several of Japan's top schools. We spent most of our time visiting Ueno zoo which is Japan's oldest zoo and then circling the park admiring natural beauty and architecture of surrounding buildings.
We spent our last moments in Tokyo at Ueno Park strolling along boulevards lit with Japanese paper lanterns. In just three days, we experienced many faces of Tokyo and if there is one face which we have to pick then it will be the kindness of its citizens. Even with the extreme language barrier, every stranger we met has tried to help us and we thank Tokyo for that – Arigato (Thank You!)
Watch this space for for our Kyoto and Hiroshima adventures.


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Board Certified trial lawyer Peter Bartinik, Jr. explains the meaning of the term "permanency rating" in Connecticut.
A permanancy rating is an description of your disability to a body part in terms of a percentage loss of use of that body part. For example, assume you are from New London, Connecticut and you are in a car accident in Ledyard, Connecticut. Assume also that you suffer a low back injury in that car accident. If your doctor evaluates you, that doctor might opine that you have suffered a 15% permancy or loss of use to the back. That number-15%-is the permanency rating. That number can form a basis to objectively compare that injury to others. For example, a 15% permanency is more severe than a 5% in theory. That number forms part of a way to determine the value of a case. It is one of many objective and subjective factors.
If you have been seriously injury and need a lawyer, contact the lawyers at The Bartinik Law Firm, P.C., 100 Fort Hill Road, Ste 2 Groton, Connecticut at 888-717-4211.


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THE GOOD: Ben Zobrist getting the start. Everytime he did something good, we were rewarded with shots of his wife Julianna. That's it. That was the only redeeming quality of yesterday's game.
THE BAD: Joe Maddon had some questionable (read: idiotic) pitching changes on Sunday. First he brings Dan Wheeler in to face Ryan Ludwick one day after Ludwick had taken Wheeler deep for a walk-off home run. First pitch on Sunday? Home run. But the really stupid move? After Wheeler walked the lead-off hitter of the 8th inning. A lefty was due up. So Papa Joe brings in Trever Miller. Seems fine with the lefty due up, EXCEPT IT IS A BUNTING SITUATION AND THE NEXT BATTER IS A RIGHTY. Why Miller, who was allowing righties to hit 8-25 (.320) prior to that at bat? Result? You guessed it. A single to left that scores 2. Game tied…More poor fundamentals. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, why on earth did anybody let Evan Longoria go out to the field without sunglasses? Sure enough, he lost a pop-up in the Sun. Eric Hinske was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double. And the pitchers walked 10 batters, 4 in the 8th inning alone. It is a miracle the Cards only scored 5…But the real reason the Rays lost on Sunday? They angered the gods of baseball. The Spring Training jersey in the regular season is idiotic. First of all they are acceptable for practice, but they are ugly and do not look like a major league baseball jersey. The pit-stain coloring is horrendous. The wide white stripe on the side clashes with the piping on the pants. Not to mention the color of the jersey is not the same as the cap. We'd expect that from an AAU team. Not from a major league baseball club. For all that is holy, please never do that again.
THE TELLING: Jason Bartlett was out of the lineup with an illness. This was siginificant as the very first batter for the Cards hit a ground ball in the hole, that Zobrist got to, but threw late to first. We have seen Bartlett make that play two dozen times this season…The Rays batters only went down 1-2-3 in 2 innings during the entire 3-game series. Both of those innings came on Sunday. While the Sox now have a 1-game lead in the East, the Rays and Sox are still tied in the all-important loss column…The Rays have a 1.5 game lead in the Wild Card standings over the O's and the A's.
- Don't forget to VOTE for Carl Crawford to start the all-star game. If you haven't voted yet today, go NOW! [MLB All-Star Voting]
- We will have the Rays Index Live Blog-A-Baloo on Wednesday afternoon for game 3 of the Oakland series. The Live Blog-A-Baloo will be held right here.
- A "24-hour bug" has hit the Rays clubhouse recently, but Jason Bartlett was the first player to get sick, and had to sit out yesterday's game. [MLB]
- Big League Stew called the Rays-Cardinals series the "best of '08 interleague debut", noting that the series "actually oozed playoff intensity at times" although we have to take exception to the suggestion that the Rays have a "fundamentally sound approach". Clearly they did not see Saturday's game with all of the baserunning mistakes or the 10 walks on Sunday. "Fundamentals" cost the Rays a sweep. [Big League Stew]
- Rays of Light called yesterday's games the first "Maddon-loss" of the season…They are too kind. [Rays of Light]
- Jonny Gomes has only started 1 of the last 8 games, but should get 2 starts in the A's series as they are scheduled to throw 2 lefties in the series. [Tampa Tribune]
- Is Jonny Gomes shilling for Kevin Costner? Some (very) circumstantial eveidence suggests that Oliver Stone needs to be called. [Bugs & Cranks]
- Yesterday, DRG linked to a story about Gary Shelton suggesting that the Rays roster is better than the Yankees roster. Today we have Bugs & Cranks offering a rebuttal. [Bugs & Cranks]
- The same Bugs & Cranks writer (not David Chalk) thinks that the Rays "followed the lead of the perennially low-budget Florida Marlins by ponying up the money to sign one of their key stars, pitcher Scott Kazmir, to a four-year contract worth $28.5 million"…The Kazmir-deal is only the latest of a several long-term deals that the Rays have given to young players. Evan Longoria, James Shields and Carlos Pena have already been locked up long-term in the past few months. If anything, the Marlins are following the Rays and even then, they have a ways to go as one deal hardly compares to four. [Bugs & Cranks]
- Akinori Iwamura has cut-down on the flyball outs and it has helped to the tune of 26 hits in the last 15 games. [MLB]


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HOW TO APPLY: http://scanlinevfx.applyfirst.ca/
Celebrating over 25 years in the industry, Scanline VFX specializes in creating complex visual effects for high end, block buster feature films with studios worldwide: Vancouver, Los Angeles, Munich, and Stuttgart. Founded in Germany, the company expanded to Los Angeles in 2007 and opened the largest studio in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia in 2011. In 2015 it won the Emmy for Outstanding Visual Effects for their work on Game of Thrones. Scanline VFX has received multiple Academy Award Nominations for Best Achievement in Visual Effects: 2014 for Iron Man 3 and in 2010 for its work on director Clint Eastwoods Hereafter. We are also well known for our proprietary, in-house fluid effects software Flowline, for which it received a 2008 Scientific and Technical Achievement Academy Award.
Reporting to the Animation Supervisor, the animator is responsible for expediting high quality character/creature/object animation for feature films.
Work under the direction of the Animation Supervisors and Animation Director to create high quality animation
Be accountable for incorporating a high level of quality in each scene
Work with other animators and supervisors to identify and solve problems, both technically and artistically
Liaising with other production team members to ensure production deadlines are met.
Degree and/or Diploma in Animation or related field. (preferred)
Minimum of 4+ years VFX production experience with Live-Action realism. (preferred)
Knowledge of Maya, (required) Nuke, 3Ds Max, photoshop, zbrush (preferred)
Must have a strong sense of animation basics, acting, staging, posing, weight, timing and storytelling as well as staying on model
Strong understanding the language of the camera; framing, perspective, lenses, coverage, continuity, camera movement, blocking, etc.
Possess a strong understanding of the principles of animation
Solid animation grounding, preferably action oriented; previs experience a plus.
Solid camera animation work (laying out shots, staging, using film cameras or on-set experience)
A good attitude and ability to smoothly change and adapt with the project
Background or experience in fine art which shows a thorough understanding of physical motion, weight, balance
Knowledge of human and animal anatomy as well as life drawing skills desirable
Ability to debug technical problems and follow up for assistance if required
+Extended Medical
+Disability Insurance
+Dental Insurance
HOW TO APPLY: http://scanlinevfx.applyfirst.ca/


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I really couldn't believe the tip a reader sent in earlier this month that Microsoft's Zune MP3 player would be incompatible with Windows Vista.
I had heard the Windows Media Player DRM and the Zune DRM were not going to be compatible. (According to this Knowledge Base article, Zune supports Windows Media Player 10's DRM, but not WMP 11's. And "Zune software and devices only play protected music files from Zune Marketplace.") That was bad enough.
But there is absolutely no way Microsoft would allow the Zune to work only with Windows XP SP2 and Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Update Rollup 2, I said. It is going to have to support Vista -- or at least have a clear-cut upgrade path and timetable as to when Vista support will be provided.
But on November 14, Microsoft rolled out the Zune player, which doesn't work with Vista. And so far, the Softies haven't provided any public info (that I've heard/seen) about when the company will introduce a patch or update enabling the Zune to work with Vista.
I already know Microsoft's justification: Vista only RTM'd on November 8. So there was no way that the Zune team could have made sure the final Vista bits would work with Zunes.
All I can say is Microsoft really needs to have a Vista update -- or at least a public Vista support strategy -- for Zune by the time the company does the business launch of Vista on November 30.
(Update: In a News.com story, Scott Erickson, a senior director of product management for Microsoft's Zune effort, said Microsoft is working on Vista compatibility and is shooting to deliver on it by the time Vista is made available to businesses at the end of November. If Microsoft misses that date, Zune-Vista compatibility should be achieved before the Vista retail launch on January 30, Erickson said.)


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A Book of Abstracts will be published. All abstract submissions will be peer-reviewed before being accepted for publication.
Full text papers of the presentations may be submitted (free of charge) to the "Journal of Physics and Technology" (JPT), http://jpt.uni-plovdiv.bg/. All manuscript submissions will be peer-reviewed.
Full text papers of the presentations may alternatively be submitted (with additional fee) to the "Scientific Works of the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria" (USB -Plovdiv). Those publications will be registered by the ISSN system, and thus be referenced and included in the library system for international exchange (http://www.subplovdiv.com/nachalo). All manuscript submissions will be peer-reviewed.
Abstract instructions download from here.


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Date 1 - 1 of 1
Hashtags and Email Groups
We've added a new Help Center to answer common questions people have about Groups.io. One of the articles in the Help Center talks about hashtags, a powerful feature of Groups.io:
Hashtags are words that start with the pound sign, '#'. In the case of Groups.io, they only apply to the subject of a message. So, if you send a message to your group with the subject 'This is a sample message #test', the message will be categorized with the hashtag '#test'.
You can search the archives by hashtags. And you can set hashtags so that any messages tagged with them will be deleted automatically after a specified period of time.
Hashtags are completely optional.
One potential use of hashtags are for intros. Tell people when they join your group that they should post an intro message about themselves, and have them tag it with #intro. Then, you can search on the #intro hashtag and see everyone's intros.
Another potential use is for neighborhood groups with people offering things for sale. Those messages can be tagged with #forsale, and that tag could be configured such that messages tagged with it are automatically deleted from the archives after a month. So you're not left with a bunch of for sale messages in the archives that no longer apply.
Muting Hashtags
An advantage of tagging messages is that members can mute hashtags that they're not interested in. If someone is not interested in the #forsale tag, they don't ever have to see any of those messages.
Hashtag Options
Your group can be configured to require all messages to be tagged or not. You can configure a hashtag so that only moderators can post using it. Or you can configure a hashtag so that messages tagged with it will not be sent to the group. This is useful for 'loading' messages into your group. And you can configure a tag so that messages tagged with it will automatically be deleted after a specific time.
We are just getting started. Please let us know how we can improve the service.


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Monday, 18 April 2016
Man Repeller Flatform Trainers
8 comments
Flatform trainers are definitely marmite but I love these, they're actually really chic! Love how you've styled them xReplyDelete
I love flat form trainers and have my eye on some in Zara at the moment. They look so good and I need that. Little bit of extra height! XoReplyDelete
Oh wowzers, that is one incredible pair of trainers! I'm in love with them xReplyDelete
I agree, the platforms are quite a marmite piece, but I like the stella mccartney ones, and this pair are so good, especially considering they're a fraction of the price!ReplyDelete
These look beautiful on your Gem. Personally I love them but would be worried I would break my ankle in them as I am so damn clumsy! xxReplyDelete
Love this outfit. The white jeans look amazing with those shoes. Perfect for Spring!ReplyDelete
Ruth Writes | https://ruth-writes.co.uk/
I'm loving the flatforms and i don't care if they are man repellants! Love how you styled these beauties!ReplyDelete
OBSESSED WITH THE TRAINERS!ReplyDelete
So cute!
These shots are beautiful girlie x
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For residents of most developed countries, opening bank and stockbroking accounts abroad is not difficult. But for US residents, it can be a bit more awkward.
On the domestic side, there is little to stop you opening offshore accounts. US law only forbids you from sending money to a small number of countries: Iran, Cuba, North Korea and so on.
And you must declare your accounts and pay US taxes when required (see below for an important warning on this). But assuming you stick to these rules, the US government doesn't care much where you put your money.
The problem arises at the foreign banks and stock brokers, many of whom refuse to deal with US clients. And responsibility for this lies with some overly broad rules implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – plus the threat of new tax legislation.


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Program Description
The Italian Chamber of Commerce for the UK is pleased to announce the opening of the application process for the 25th edition of the Master in Hospitality and Hotel Management held in Central London.
The Master in Hospitality and Hotel Management is perfect for young talented individuals who want to grow professionally in this sector and one day manage their own hotel.er is a vocational course, focusing on practice. Our students attend four intensive weeks of lectures (classes are all in English), followed by a three-to-six month placement in a prestigious hotel in London.
The Master in Hospitality and Hotel Management aims to teach students various skills, such as professional, methodological, problem-solving, social and management skills. The capability to respond with efficiency to a market constantly changing is nowadays a necessity for every manager.
90% of the students of previous intakes found a job within 3 months of the end of their training programme.
- 7 October 2020 for the tutorial part (in case of Covid-19 emergency the course will be moved online)
- 3-6 months for the Internship
- Good knowledge of English (min B2);
- Strong motivation to work in the Hospitality industry;
- Age: 18-32 years old;
- EU citizenship
Classes are structured as follows:
a. Hotel Sales and Marketing;
b. Staff Management and HR Assessment;
c. Leadership;
d. Conferences and event organisation;
e. Reception and Front of House;
f. Budget, accountancy and price setting;
g. Food&Beverage and Purchasing Management;
h. Housekeeping;
i. Business cases and Hotel visits.
Start date: 22nd April 2020
Number of places available: 25
Deadline: once all spaces have been filled
Location: London
Language: the Master is conducted entirely in English
- 150 hours: full-time classes in London (lectures and hotel visits)
- 20 hours: individual study
- Internship in London: 3 to 6 months (500 hours minimum), to be completed following tuition.
The Master of Hospitality and Hotel Management includes:
- Complimentary return flight to London (either from Rome or Milan, at the beginning and at the end of the lectures);
- Complimentary return transfer to the accommodation from London airport;
- Accommodation in London during the first month of the course (lectures);
- CV revision and optimization according to the UK standards;
- Lecture material provided in digital format;
- Personalized placement service in accordance with the job demand;
- Tutor assistance;
- Certificate granted by the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK.
15 scholarships will be granted for the participation of the Master. Our sponsors provide 3 scholarships worth £600 (VAT incl), 4 scholarships worth £480 plus 8 additional scholarships worth £400.Scholarships will be given out on a first-come-first-served basis.
Our teachers are renowned professionals in the London hospitality industry, most of whom have international working experience.
Every student is supposed to attend minimum 500 hours internship, with which the student will acquire a unique recognised experience. All the candidates will have to deal with international realities of the hospitality sector. Some of the companies who hosted the students during the previous editions were: Dukes, Millennium Hotels, Melia Whitehouse, Crowne Plaza, The Ritz, Sanctum Soho, The Rocco Forte Collection, Baglioni, Hotel Wellesley, Hotel Xenia, The Ampersand, PH Hotels, Sheraton, St. James Hotel etc.
ICCIUK's Alumni – We have always maintained relationships with our ex-students over the years. We also inform them constantly about new job opportunities that arise at our partner hotels.
If you work hard and are determined, the sky is the limit - our former students can prove it!
About the School
The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK is one of the oldest Chambers overseas and today has over 400 members. Founded in 1886, the ICCIUK aims to promote and develop business relation ... Read More


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A young child's interaction with toys at an early is critical to their mental and social development. As parents, relatives or close friends we want to make the best possible choice for our little ones when it comes to everything involving our children and toys are no acceptation. At two years of age, toddlers are beginning to understand the logical order of objects, and also at this age, they are entering the stages of more complex playing. Dolls play a crucial role during these critical developmental stages, so its best to understand this fact and make the best possible choice for the special little one in your life. Below are reviews on the best baby dolls for 2 year olds toddlers.
8. Baby Alive Potty Dance Baby
The Baby Alive Potty Dance doll is ideal for boys and girls as they begin to interact and understand the new world around them. With the ability to speak over 50 distinct phrases including mommy and daddy, the Baby Alive is a great toy for you little particular person. This bi-lingual lifelike doll can express full sentences to encourage toddlers to develop the skill of going to the potty. Speaking phrases of encouragement like "Yay I did it" and "Time to go potty," the Baby Alive doll also includes accessories to help your toddler develop the link between play and the real world. Included as part of the set is a potty, comb, sippy cup, undergarments, stickers and wash up clothing.
7. 12 "Baby Twin Dolls one Boy and one Girl with Milk and Juice Bottle
The 12 "Baby Twin Dolls are an adorable pair and are ideal for your particular little person. Each baby comes with its own no spill, no liquid realistic baby bottle and is sure to stimulate your little one's developing brain. Having the responsibility to care for two babies is sure to keep your little entertained. This pair of adorable dolls includes a three-piece ensemble that includes pants, hat, and shirt and is all made of child-safe lead-free materials.
6. PENSON & CO. Reborn Newborn Baby Doll Handmade Silicone Vinyl Weighted Alive Doll
The Reborn Newborn Baby Doll is drastically realistic, and once you see it, it is evident it is handmade. With its relentless attention to detail, this 10-inch doll is ideal for toddlers two to four years old. The hand-crafted toy is soft to the touch and is 100 percent safe as required to have an ASTM F963 stamp of approval. Crafted to have the perfect weight to simulate a real newborn, this doll is ideal for your developing little person. While this PENSON & CO is the ideal toy for toddlers, it is also great for a gift to an adult for a collectible item. The doll includes a pair of infant socks, hat, and onesie and is sure to please the collector or infant you choose to give this piece of art.
5. LA NEWBORN 10 Piece Deluxe DIAPER BAG GIFT SET Baby Newborn Doll
The LA NEWBORN baby doll is a deluxe set including ten accessories to keep your unique toddler occupied and is best baby dolls for 2 year old. This BPA free and non-scented set includes a rattle, bottle, diaper and wipe, spoon, baby bowl, sippy cup, birth certificate and hospital band all of which is water safe. This 13-inch doll has fully functional joints that allow you to safely move the hips, neck, shoulder, and legs weighing slightly more than a pound and is backed by the trusted JC Toy brand, designed by Berenguer.
4. Berenguer Boutique 15″ Soft Body Baby Doll – Pink 10 Piece Gift Set with Open/Close Eyes
The Berenguer Boutique designed 15-inch doll is incredibly realistic with a lifelike touch and included open and closed eyelids. This cutie pie of a toy consists of a ten-piece set of two adorable outfits, baby bottle, shoes, pacifier, rattle, three-sectioned plate, spoon, and knife. Safety tested and approved for toddlers and is backed by the trusted brand of JC Toys. The lifelike baby doll is very soft and encourages holding and cuddling to help stimulate the two-year old's developing mind. This Berenguer designed doll stands up to the expected standards if the brand is sure to bring joy to your toddler.
3. 11-inch Soft Body Doll in Gift Box – 11″ Baby Doll
This realistic adorable 11-inch infant doll comes with a cute little onesie and matching hat. This particular doll has deep blue eyes that compliment its realistic look and feel. With so much attention being made to every little detail, including practical soft texture ideal for a two-year-old toddler to carry and care for. Being water safe, tested and approved for all toddlers two years and older makes this an ideal toy for your little tyke to mimic mom and all the clothing is washing machine safe also. This New York Doll Collection is available in multiple ethnicities.
2. JC Toys, La Baby 16-inch Purple Washable Soft Baby Doll
The JC La Baby despite being 16 inches is very lightweight and easy for toddlers to carry. Completely BPA free and safety tested making this an ideal toy for toddlers and also includes a pacifier. Manufactured using JC Toy's 30 years of successful experience to ensure the doll has undergone an extensive battery of safety inspections and is 100 percent safe for your little special person. Included is a cute pink, footed onesie with a collar and matching hat and is all machine wash friendly.
1. Melissa & Doug Mine to Love Jenna 12-Inch Soft Body Baby Doll
Melissa & Doug Mine to Love Jenna doll is an adorable 12-inch doll with realistically soft materials to encourage cuddling. With open and close eyelids and the ability to suck her thumb and the pacifier accessory will keep your toddler entertained as they simulate taking care of a real baby. Including a pacifier, cute pink romper and matching hat all of which is safe in the washing machine. With the option for additional accessories including a full bottle set and baby food that gives that extra bit of a realistic feel for your toddler.


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Q&A: Tax Reform Survey with U.S. Senator Chuck GrassleyWritten by Theresa Rose on February 27, 2015
Q: Why is tax season so vexing for so many taxpayers?
A: No doubt many Iowans are in the trenches right now as tax season gets into full swing. Gathering tax forms, receipts and documentation for income, expenses, charitable contributions, itemized deductions and the like is a painstaking process for many taxpayers. New mandates enacted by the Affordable Care Act add even more complications to an already time-consuming annual ritual that arguably causes blood pressures to rise in households across America. More than half of U.S. taxpayers outsource the headache and hire a professional tax preparer. A survey by the National Society of Accountants reports the national average fee for preparing 2014 tax returns will cost $273. Iowans will pay on average $198, the average fee in the Upper Midwest, according to the survey. Some taxpayers file independently, buying off-the-shelf tax preparation software to help them navigate the increasingly complex tax rules and regulations. Let's also factor in that the IRS forewarned taxpayers to expect poor customer service. More than 100 million taxpayers are expected to call into the IRS, and yet the agency estimates less than half will get through. And for those who do get answered, average wait times will be 30 minutes or more. So now the IRS will take even more time and money away from hard-working taxpayers. A few years ago, the National Taxpayer Advocate estimated Americans spend 6.1 billion hours preparing and filing their tax returns. Tax compliance comes at a steep price, costing the taxpaying public valuable time and money.
Q: Is it possible for Congress and the President to push the re-set button on the federal tax code?
A: With all the uncertainties surrounding tax compliance, one prevailing concern ranks high among the taxpaying public. The federal tax code is too complex. When taxpayers sit down to file their returns, a confusing collection of deductions, credits, exclusions, exemptions and phase-outs must be taken into consideration. It's little wonder so many taxpayers turn to professionals for help. The non-profit, non-partisan Tax Foundation says that tax experts need to be well-versed in more than 70,000 pages of federal statutes, regulations and case law to have a strong command of the federal tax code. The National Taxpayer Advocate estimated in 2011 that the federal tax code exceeds more than 3.8 million words. There is a glimmer of good news. With new leadership taking the helm in the 114th Congress, the stars are aligning to simplify the tax code. The Constitution vests authority in the people's branch to provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States, so Congress legislates how to raise revenue that will protect national security and fund public services for the public good. The last major legislative overhaul to reform the federal tax code passed more than a generation ago in 1986. Since then, Congress and the presidents at the time have tweaked and tinkered with the tax code, adding provisions and extensions that influence behavior and set public policy. For example, research and development tax credits help trigger economic growth and job creation. Other tax incentives help foster home ownership, encourage savings for higher education and retirement, support charitable giving, subsidize health insurance and give tax breaks for state and local taxes. These provisions are popular, but applying for them can be a headache. An important caveat to whether tax reform is achievable is that Congress can't do it alone. Major tax reform requires leadership from the President, using his bully pulpit to help create a consensus among taxpayers and Congress alike. President Reagan was highly involved in the last successful tax reform effort in 1986.
Q: What is your tax reform survey?
A: Taxpayers overwhelmingly agree the federal tax code is too complex. And the idea of starting over with a clean slate is very appealing. Obviously, it's much easier said than done. Congress needs to take a hard look at the menu. Choices that may seem appetizing to some may give indigestion to others. As a fiscal conservative, I'd like to see comprehensive tax reform include discussions about balancing the budget and keeping federal revenues within historical limits as a share of the economy. Simplification also needs to make tax compliance less intimidating and less expensive. As a former chairman and senior member of the tax-writing Finance Committee, I'm co-chairing a panel tasked with scrutinizing individual tax reform. We will report specific proposals to the full committee in May. As I so often tell Iowans who attend my town meetings, representative government is a two-way street. I make it a priority to listen and learn. At the same time, Iowans have a duty to hold up their end of the bargain to strengthen our system of self-government, especially when it comes to paying for it. That's why I'm casting a wide net to reach as many Iowans as possible on this important issue. I've created a brief survey on my website for Iowans to give me feedback so that I may bring their voice directly to the policymaking tables. The survey asks Iowans to rank priorities and share views on individual tax breaks that are important to their households. The survey will run through Tax Day, April 15, 2015. Iowans may go to www.grassley.senate.gov and click on the Tax Survey tab or find a link on my Facebook page. If you are fed up and find tax compliance too expensive and too confusing, please register your views. The tax reform train won't leave the station without broad support from the taxpaying public.


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'I have removed Maxime Bernier from the Official Opposition shadow cabinet, effective immediately' Scheer says
Jun 12, 2018
Former Conservative leadership contender Maxime Bernier has been removed from his spot on the party's front bench in the House of Commons, says Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer.
"I have removed Maxime Bernier from the Official Opposition shadow cabinet, effective immediately" Scheer said in a short statement issued by his office.
"The shadow minister for science, Matt Jeneroux, will assume the additional role of shadow minister for innovation, science and economic development on an interim basis."
A Conservative MP provided the reason for Bernier's removal on condition he not be identified. He told CBC News that Bernier was removed because of his decision last week to post on his website a chapter from his book, in which the MP said Scheer's victory as party leader was owed to "fake Conservatives" who only joined the party to defend supply management in the dairy industry.
"What was more offensive than his attack on supply management was the attack on our supporters, quite frankly, calling them fake Conservatives, or nefarious paper millionaires," the MP said.
Full article:


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Hot Topic - Cold Comfort. Climate Change and Attitude Change
How do we respond when we are faced with the repercussions of our interactions with nature? Gudmund Hernes, researcher, Professor of sociology and former Norwegian minister, sets out assertions and theses as a basis for debate. Only when we understand how and why we have reacted so far can we take effective action.
Program: Toppforskningsinitiativet


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Four Anchorage area men have been arrested in connection with the sexual assault of a seventeen year old homeless girl. Anchorage Police say the four men, ages 19 to 21, are alleged to have detained, abused and sexually assaulted the girl in a home in suburban Eagle River. APD spokeswoman Dani Myren says the girl was picked up initially by three of the men
"All three of those suspects gave her drugs and alcohol, threatened her, physically abused her and repeatedly sexually assaulted her. At one point, the following day, the three perpetrators were joined by another man, named Joseph Sanford, and the alleged abuse of the young female continued. The sexual assaults reportedly took place over a two day period."
Myren says the attacks occurred in March. She says the girl is now safe with her family.
The four men are Alex Metzger, age 19 , Ryan Poole, age 21 , Jesse Contreras, age 19 and Joseph Sanford, age 20
They are being held on a total of 33 charges.


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Today I'm picking up from my last blog, and carrying on with our last few days in the incredible Torres Del Paine National Park in Patagonia.
Patagonia Diaries – Torres Del Paine – Part II
We checked out of our hotel on Lake Pehoe and drove around to the catamaran jetty further down the lake. We'd leave the car here for the next couple of days with most of our baggage inside, take the boat across to Refugio Paine Grande and hike the final section of the W trek to Refugio Grey with just enough stuff for a couple of days.
Anything that involves getting on a boat with Menno makes me nervous, as he gets horrendously travel sick. So starting a full day of hiking with a boat ride across a very choppy lake could have been a recipe for disaster. Thankfully the ride was smooth, and we docked at the other end still smiling. We grabbed our rucksacks and started hiking, following the signs towards Refugio Grey. It wasn't long before we started to feel the brutal force of the Patagonian wind, which made the hike so much harder than it would have otherwise been. The rain also came and went a number of times, made so much worse by the winds blasting it in our faces. We paused for a few photo stops on the way, but both of us just wanted to reach the refugio and get out of the elements.
It took us around 4 hours to hike to Refugio Grey. There we a number of look-out points along the way, but by now the clouds had really come in and we were cold and wet from the rain, so we just headed straight to the hut. We found our bunks for the night and warmed ourselves up by the fire.
The next morning, the skies were clearer. We were booked to go kayaking on the lake the following morning, but since the weather was looking nice, we went over to ask if it was better to do it today. We chatted with the guides who told us to call back in the evening when it might be possible. They explained that the biggest problem would be the wind, and if it was too strong, it wouldn't be possible to paddle out.
Making the most of the good weather, we decided to continue hiking further along the trail towards to glacier itself and a viewpoint that had been recommended to us. Even the trail itself was exciting, with two suspension bridges to cross, but the views at the mirador were just incredible.
We returned to camp in time to change and head back down to the shores of the lake to see if we would be able to kayak. The wind had started to pick up, so the guides were unsure about whether they would be able to take us. Since there were 2 guides for 4 people, they decided to give it a go. We got kitted up, had a safety talk, and headed out on to the lake. It wasn't long before we left the shelter of the shore and we felt the full force of the wind coming down from the glacier. We managed to paddle to a huge iceberg that had broken off from the glacier but after about 30 minutes, the guides decided it was too windy and that we should head back. Of course, we were a bit disappointed not to have been able to paddle to the glacier itself, but it was still a very awesome experience.
That night we returned to the refugio feeling exhausted but so thrilled to have had a gap in the weather that had allowed us to see the incredible Glacier Grey and kayak to one of the icebergs on the lake.
The next morning we got up early, had an early breakfast and headed back to Refugio Paine Grande to catch the catamaran back to our car. We were lucky to have clear skies again, although the wind was still very much blowing. At least this time it was predominantly a tailwind, so it was at least a little easier to hike in.
We made it in plenty of time to catch the boat, which meant we were back at our car by lunchtime. We threw our grotty backpacks in the boot and drove to our final hotel for our last night in Torres Del Paine.
Having been in the cold refugio for 2 nights, we decided to book ourselves into something a little more luxurious for our last night in Chile. Our hotel, the hotel Rio Serrano was just outside the park limits, so we stamped our passes before leaving so we could drive back through the park the next morning.
Despite not being within the limits of the park, we were absolutely blown away by the incredible views from our hotel room – a panoramic view of Paine Grande and the Cuernos mountains. We spent the rest of our evening chilling in the hotel spa and reminiscing about the incredible time we'd had in Torres del Paine.
The next morning we woke up feeling refreshed, to a beautiful sunrise, and horses wandering around the hotel grounds right outside our window. After breakfast, we packed up the car one final time and started our long drive back to El Calafate in Argentina. Not wanting to leave Torres Del Paine a minute sooner than we had to, we decided to drive back through the park. As we left the park limits one final time, we were sent on our way with some final sightings of guanacos, rheas and a Patagonian fox.
That night we returned to El Calafate, where we started our Patagonia adventures. It felt like our incredible trip had come to an end. Except for our flight the next morning wasn't back home. It was to a new area of Patagonia that we had yet to discover, the east coast, and Peninsula Valdes.
If you'd like to buy prints of some of my pictures from Patagonia, you can find them in my
Missed the first three chapters of our Patagonia adventure? Catch up on them here:


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Group Visits and Presentations
Scheduling Information for Educators (K-12)
The University invites educators to schedule a campus tour, a group visit, or an on-site presentation at their schools. No group is too small or too large.
Group Visits
1-800-GO-TO-ISU | School Group Visit registration for the 2019-2020 academic year >>
School group visits are offered September through April on the ISU campus. These visits enable your students to experience and explore Indiana State University's campus. Your students can tour our beautiful campus and hear from our admissions staff on topics ranging from college preparation and admission criteria to scholarships. The visit lasts a minimum of 2 hours, with an option for groups to dine on campus in one of our dining halls. Presentations are tailored to your group's ages. Our office can be flexible on the time of your visit to best accommodate the individual needs of your group.
On-Site Presentations
1-800-GO-TO-ISU | email@example.com
Presentations can be arranged at your school September through March. Information will be tailored to meet the needs (and ages) of your students. Possible topics include career options, financial aid, scholarships, and tips for preparing for college.