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The banana diet offers a safe and effective way of losing weight fast. The good thing about this diet plan is that your meals can be varied, and only few beverages or foods are prohibited. However, it still has rules that you need to follow in order to make it effective.
You can actually lose up to 6 pounds of body weight in just a few days with this diet. This article will give you all the information you need to kickstart the banana diet, and finish with a sexier body.
Banana Diet Benefits
It is true that bananas are rich in sugar. This is why many experts doubt the weight loss effects of this fruit. When the intake is controlled, eating bananas will not make you gain weight. There are people who eat tons of bananas, or any fruit, every day, but still get to maintain their ideal body weight because they do not combine their fruity meals with high-fat options.
The key to successfully pulling off the banana diet is to avoid fatty foods. They accumulate into your fat cells when combined with sugary foods. When you incorporate banana into your meals, you will enjoy improved digestion, natural removal of harmful toxins, and glowing skin.
Bananas have so many health benefits to offer. The fruit is well-known for having high potassium content, but it also has high amounts of magnesium and B vitamins. Bananas do not have cholesterol or fat. They are good for your bones and heart, as well as kidneys and the nervous system. They can also help boost your overall mood, and immune system.
The banana diet is a quick way of shedding those extra pounds without eating boring and tasteless meals. The fruit can help your body produce serotonin, or the happy hormone. It means you should not feel any blues as you stick to this diet. The whole program lasts for three to four days, and you can lose up to six to eight pounds.
Banana Diet – The Meal Plan
The great thing about the banana diet is that it doesn't require you to restrict your calories. So you won't feel hungry!
All you need to do is replace your regular amount of calories with bananas. A typical medium banana contains about 100 calories.
So if you are a female eating 2,000 calories per day – that's about 20 bananas. If you are a male eating 3,000 calories per day, that's about 30 bananas.
Divide your regular daily calories by 3 and you will get the amount you need to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
For example 2,000 divided by 3 = approximately 660 calories, or about 6-7 bananas per meal.
Make sure to gradually return to your regular eating habits to prevent the yo-yo effect. Give yourself two to three days to recover, and avoid processed or fatty foods as well as alcoholic and sugary beverages. Kickstart your normal eating with fresh fruits and vegetables, and slowly add variety into your diet and increase your calorie intake.


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Bandanas & Bliss - HD 1280x720 - (Actress: King Noire, Jessa Jordan 2020)
доп поле скриншотов
Jessa Jordan and King Noire both have thrill seeking personalities and love having sex in public spaces. That fetish for exhibitionism has led them to a high rise condo with a wall of floor to ceiling windows in New Jersey owned reality show star I am Jonathan. It all starts with a sexy photo shoot captured by Rochelle Clinton. As the tension builds for all of the onlookers the performers only get more turned on knowing that all eyes are on them both inside and outside of the condo. With the view of New York City and the Hudson River as the backdrop Jessa sits statuesque for the world to praise. King starts using the bandanna covering his face like a feather to tease Jessa's inner thighs. As he removes the barrier keeping him from his desire they both let out a moan as he tastes her. A lick… A kiss… And as he begins sucking her clit with the hunger of a wolf on the hunt her body flexes to accept the pleasure she yearns for. He licks up every drop as his cock gets harder and harder with her pleasure. He enters her with purpose and she receives his strokes with winds of her hips and legs on his shoulders. As the sun hits their bodies feeding them light and contributing to the sweat building up from their passion, they bring one another exhibitionist bliss up against the windows and climax for the world to see.
Duration: 00:31:03
Quality: HD 1280x720
Format: MPEG-4
Size: 1.11 GB
Download in High Quality - Bandanas & Bliss - HD 1280x720 - (Actress: King Noire, Jessa Jordan 2020)
Genres: BDSM, BDSM Big Dicks, BDSM Tattoo, BBC, Ebony, Facial, Fetish, high heels, mask, mixed, muscular, oral sex, Other Hair Color, Public, pussy eating!, ROYAL FETISH FILMS, Shaved, Straight, thirdparty, top, Vaginal Penetration
Related Videos:

subset: commoncrawl


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With regards to purchasing, everybody does it for their very own causes, and those causes will be for essential gadgets comparable to groceries and provides that should be replenished around the home, or for just out of enjoyment for things resembling clothes, electronics, and all of the latest and devices or fads which might be at present on the market in the marketplace. Because of an uncertain earnings outlook coupled with a premium price-to-earnings ratio of more than 500-occasions earnings, Amazon has failed to beat the market this year. And these would all be achieved on-line, so you would be capable to set up your online retail retailer quickly and simply.
A rising variety of retailers are actually requesting prospects to verify returns earlier than you truly put the thing in the put up. Shops will live on in any foreseeable future—and they are often an efficient aggressive weapon. Amazon is aware of this — no person does it faster than Amazon with their one click on checkout.
In November, Emaar chairman Mohamed Alabbar reportedly met Amazon Chief Government Jeff Bezos on the state-backed agency's cavernous Dubai Mall, in the shadow of its Burj Khalifa , the world's tallest constructing. Due to advantages equivalent to aggressive pricing, shopping comfort, higher product choice, and rapid supply, on-line commerce seems to be a disruptive technology that is here to remain.
My online directory additionally has a listing of 19 distributors of licensed sports activities merchandise in the USA and 9 in Canada (use Advanced search and search for four. Licensed Sports Products Distributors and Nation = USA). The corporate is even experimenting with a Drop & Go" service for on-line returns at its Nordstrom Rack stores, which permits customers to bypass long lines on the register.
The most recent info shows that China has surpassed the U.S. in terms of online retail, and that Europe lags behind. Amazon's five-yr average return on investment, for instance, is 17{764b5e77305c93c272a5ebc717372419a4b8d838743e767cd2488d67549bbf28}, whereas conventional discount and malls average 6.5{764b5e77305c93c272a5ebc717372419a4b8d838743e767cd2488d67549bbf28}. The acquisition strategy is being pushed largely by Lore, who needs to take on Amazon instantly and seize market share quicker.


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These Hidden Hands - Vicarious Memories
After the Industrial earthquake that was 'SZ31X71', Berlin's masters of darkness These Hidden Hands are back with an atomic bang, in the form of long-awaited second album 'Vicarious Memories' - available now as a stunning gatefold 12", as well as digitally via their Bandcamp.
The Quietus describes the album as "gnarled and twisted sounds forged in a foundry gone rogue", while Resident Advisor calls it "light and dark, sweet and sour - an excruciating and exquisite triumph".
It's only a matter of time before These Hidden Hands seep into your soul and leave you shaken by something that is clearly of another world.


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\r\nI'm transitting through London to my next destination and you know what? Today I felt like a really big bear. Maybe people are small in London, I fitted right in on this London Underground tube carriage! The underground goes a long way out of London, this is the end of the Central Line, Epping!
This update was posted by Treacle


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Many of us find ourselves simultaneously taking on the care-taking role for both our children and our aging parents these days. this can be both rewarding and stressful at the same time. Just keeping up with the day to day schedules of your children is a hard enough task, but now you add in additional doctor's appointments, failing health, long-term care issues and complex financial situations and it is time to get some practical advice with a little humor thrown in for good measure! This presentation is perfect for those of us that find ourselves in this situation and are looking for a little help along our journey. Time is provided for members of the audience to share their experiences.
The Sandwich Generation
Schedule Program


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Home > Journals > CLR > Vol. 60 > Iss. 4 (1975)
Volume 60, Issue 4
April 1975
Conspiracy Doctrine and Speech Offenses a Reexamination of Yates v United States from the Perspective of United States v Spock
Thomas Church Jr.
Imports and Section 7 of the Clayton Act
Gertrude Susan Rosenthal
Equal Protection-Indigent Criminal Defendants-Right to Counsel-Recoupment of Defense Costs from Those Found Able to Pay After Sentencing
Paul K. Stecker
Book Review
Cases and Materials on Debtor-Creditor Law
William F. Young Jr.
Drug Abuse Law Abuse and the Eighth Amendment New York's 1973 Drug Legislation and the Prohibition Against Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Robert E. Glanville


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We have a PELCO DVR 5100 in a remote location and when we install the remote client it can connect to the DVR but it doesn't show the video from the cameras. The question is : are there any prerequisites for running the program properly?
No. There aren't any prerequisites for running this program properly. If you don't have a video from the DVR, make sure that you properly made the connection between this and your PC. Also, make sure that you use a stable Internet connection. This can cause problems. Upgrading the program to the latest version is also a good idea. If you still can't get an image, try contacting the developer for further support.


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This resident of Ashburn wanted a new fence to keep her kids in her yard while also increasing curb value. M.C. Fence provided a detailed written estimate for a affordable pressure treated picket fence.
We installed the Fence in 6 hours and now they have a safe new yard to enjoy!
Brior Woods High School needed more room and needed to move some fencing. MC Fence was contacted for a bid. MC Fence was chosen based on quality of previous work. Brior Woods High School now has the room they need and a gorgeous fence to match!
M.C. Fence was contacted by home owner in leesburg ,VA. The customer wanted to replace her old privacy fence.
M.C. Fence provided a written detailed quote along with pictures, and proof of our license and insurance on the spot.
M.C. Fence was chosen to install the new fence. We removed the old fence and installed this cedar flat board fence.
This homeowner needed some privacy for her town home. She called M.C. Fence to provide a free quote. We visited, inspected, and provided a free, written quote on the spot.
The client selected M.C. as her Licensed and insured fence company. We installed the fence in only 6 hours! They love the finished project.
The Frank family needed to enclose their yard to keep their new puppy in.
M.C. Fence was contacted via our website. Roger meet with the Franks and provided a detailed written estimate.
The fence was installed within two weeks and in one day. The Franks now have a pet safe yard.
our service area


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Special Strike 3 it's one of the best counter strike games online. Play online some of the best multiplayer shooting games like the classic counter strike here on vitalitygames.com. And see how good your online skills are! Use different types of weapons to shoot the enemy players and try to get the highest score at the end of each round to win! Strike out and enjoy a fantastic 3D environment. Play with your friends and have fun playing the best multiplayer games! Have fun!
shooting strike unity weapons


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With this theme, you get several options to enable or disable certain plugin elements relating to the following list you see below. If you leave them checked, the only thing that happens is that you will get duplicates loading in your web page, so the idea is to disable the ones you don't need if you are already using a plugin for each one:
- Font Awesome – On by default because this theme has it, but if you have a plugin that loads it, you can uncheck this
- Bootstrap – Inlfuential uses the Grid Layout of Bootstrap, but if you are using a plugin that has Bootstrap, uncheck this
- Animation – If you are using animation for special effects
On the live demo site, I have this setup:
What the above settings do is turn on or off any elements relating to each one.
NOTE I will go more in depth with each one with setup tutorials that relates to each one.


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Ridge modification is an effective procedure for treating deformities in the upper and lower jaws. These deformities can occur as a result of periodontal disease, trauma, injury, wearing dentures, or developmental problems. Such defects can leave insufficient bone for the placement of dental implants and an additional unattractive indentation in the jaw line adjacent to the missing teeth.
During the ridge modification procedure, the gum is lifted away from the ridge to fully expose the defect in the bone. The bony defect can be filled with bone graft material which can help regenerate lost bone, or a bone substitute. Finally, the incision is closed and several months of healing will be required. Depending on the case and type of implant and procedure, a dental implant may be placed during the ridge modification procedure or when healing is complete; much depends on the precise condition of the bone. Ridge modification improves the cosmetic appearance, functionality of the mouth, and the chance of enjoying dental implants for many years.
I have been seeing Dr. Porcu since I was a teenager. I am now 40 years old with a child of my own. He is always very thorough, explains all the options to me, from a simple filling, to an impression for a mouth guard, etc...He lets me know all of my options. He is very caring, and the work he has done has lasted all of these years without having to be replaced, etc... so the quality is good! I took my son there for his first visit at 3 years of age. Dr. Porcu put me in the chair with my son on my lap and examined him. Later, when my son needed a cavity filled at 6 years of age, Dr. Porcu, with his excellent chair-side manner, put my son at ease...so much so that my son never cried or even called out to me during his novacaine shot or the drilling, etc... I was so impressed! I have seen pictures of other dentists offices that cater to children, with all the games and decorations, etc... but I wonder why one would need all that from the moment that the Dentist himself puts the kids at ease...with his calm demeanor, and the way he speaks to them. I am truly very happy with Dr. Porcu, and his staff (the cleanings twice a year performed by his awesome hygienist) that I recommend him to all my friends and family.
Anastasia Damian
Melville, NY
Dear Dr. Porcu, Just a short thank you to your and your staff. During my tooth "emergency" you and your team made me feel so comfortable. While my anxiety level was so high, you and Lina quickly diagnosed my problem, promptly took care of the pain, kept me calm and acted respectfully and professionally but at the same time treated me like family!! The work that you perform Dr. Porcu is always top of the line and the care and concern of those who were in the office that day and the days for my follow-ups are exemplary. Thank you Dr. Porcu, Lina, Nicole and Margaret. Warm Regards.
Elaine E.
Plainview, NY
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Finding the best B&B Insurance is essential.
JSW Insurance understand that running a bed and breakfast or hotel is a big responsibility, making sure that the right insurance is in place is paramount for your own protection and that of your guests.
Finding the time to search the market is challenging, let JSW do the ground work for you! We will contact our panel of UK commercial insurers to find you the right level of cover at a competitive cost. Giving you peace of mind ensuring your business is protected, covering your stock, contents and premises against the unexpected.
All bed and breakfast and hotel enquiries are dealt with by an experienced commercial insurance executive to ensure that all relevant information is obtained and to ensure that the cover is tailored to your requirements.
Our specialist bed and breakfast insurance cover includes the following features:
- Liability Covers – Public/Products Liability and Employers Liability
- Property Covers – Including Buildings, Business Contents and Guests Effects
- Business Interruption
- Business Money
- Loss of Licence
- Household Goods & Valuables
- Commercial Legal Expenses


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Our Wallpapering Instructions
You'll find all the tricks of the trade in our Wallpapering Instructions.
Item number: 625011625011
Delivery times refer to selected country Deutschland.Change country
Shipping costs:
Standard shipping: £11.09
Express shipping: from £46.26
You can print out the sample to get a better idea of the wallpaper pattern.
Print out a sample of the wallpaper (with a scale of 1:1) in order to get a better idea of the dimensions of the individual design elements.Print a sample now
Order a sample of this wallpaper to get an exact idea of the material, the structure and the colour.
Short, irregular horizontal stripes are arranged in a vertical pattern, with the odd orange line adding lightness. With its papyrus look, striped wallpaper Tallec provides a very natural ambience and the perfect framework for furniture made from natural materials, combined with an abundance of house plants.


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Hi Adeneo,
i'm using the AT91SAM9263EK BSP PRO CE6.0 Install Notes v0.0.1 A document and the OS design is correctly compiled but there is an error when I try to make the deploy:
2>------ Deploy started: Project: AT91SAM9263EK_TestAppli, Configuration: Debug SDK1 (ARMV4I) ------
2>Dati di configurazione del prodotto danneggiati. Contattare il personale di assistenza.
(Data of configuration of the product damaged. Contact the assistance)
what does it mean?
Environment setup for Win CE 6.0
This forum is for users of Atmel's SAM Series and who are interested in using WinCE OS.
Moderator: nferre
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests


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FyH010 Privatizing Politics: Proselytizing Prostitutes ~ 70 minutes
MORE ELECTION COVERAGE! GET YOUR ELECTION COVERAGE RIGHT HERE! Don't worry folks it's almost over and the release of all that pent up politics will probably leave many people wondering how they got here, some will sob uncontrollably and others will just light up and slowly drift off to sleep.
Also, we talk about the documentary "God Grew Tired of Us"
And the song of the week is "Jeff's Song" by Vagina Panther off their album Judge


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You are here
Australia job ads rebound 1.8% in August : ANZ
[SYDNEY] Australian job advertisements rebounded in August after a dip in July, pointing to solid demand for labour and a moderate pace of employment growth ahead.
A monthly survey by Australia and New Zealand Banking Group showed total job advertisements rose 1.8 per cent in August, from July when they fell 0.8 per cent.
That left the annual pace of job ads growth at 6.1 per cent. ANZ no longer provides a breakdown between internet job ads and those in newspapers, as the latter were now so small a share of total ads.
"The bounce in ANZ job ads in August is an encouraging sign that the improvement in labour market conditions is continuing,"said Felicity Emmett, head of Australian Economics at ANZ. "The rise in job ads is consistent with the ongoing strength in business conditions and increasing capacity utilisation reported in the business surveys."
At current levels, the rate of job ads growth was consistent with employment growing at an annual pace of close to 2 per cent, she added.
Your feedback is important to us
Tell us what you think. Email us at email@example.com
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes


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Using origami and a children's novel, inmates at Ketchikan Correctional Center have inspired themselves and others by creating thousands of cranes.
No not the real birds, but 3,000 of the paper kind that is part of an annual program where more than 40 inmates compete in May and June to see which ward can make 1,000 of them first.
The origami cranes are then presented to three local organizations who use them to help their clients experience peace and to deal with life issues.
KCC Superintendent Jessica Mathews says the cranes which are made out of donated magazines are also helping the inmates who get to see that they are making a difference in their community.
Mathews calls the process therapeutic because what you do to one side, you do the other.
This year the nonprofit Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep who helps with bereavement with families who experience baby deaths, Post 3 of the American Legion who works with elderly and disabled veterans, and the female empowerment group, Girls on the Run all accepted the cranes from participants.
The Ketchikan Pioneer Home, Peace Health Ketchikan Medical Center, Women in Safe Homes, and the families and friends of Alaska State Trooper Sgt. Scott Johnson and Trooper Gabe Rich, who were killed in 2014 in Tanana all, have received cranes in the past three years.
The program is inspired by the character of Sadako Sasaki who is featured in the children's novel "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" by Eleanor Coerr. Sadako is a two-year-old girl who survives the 1945 atomic bomb attack on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. As a 12-year-old, Sadako learns she has leukemia as a result of the radiation and is given months to live. While hospitalized, Sadako is inspired by a Japanese legend to make 1,000 paper cranes in order to be granted a wish — the wish for peace and life, according to Mathews.
And with inmates using phrases like having balance, being humble, and doing something good for someone else, it looks like the cranes is creating peace inside and out KCC.
Awesome job Ketchikan Correctional Center! We appreciate you!
Photos courtesy of Taylor Balkom, Ketchikan Daily News.


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On the post that I made earlier today I mentioned that I would be moving some things on AndyMelton.net to their own domains. Tonight I was finally able to purchase those domains as well as pay for continued hosting at GoDaddy. Let me tell you, just trying to purchase a domain at GoDaddy made me want to pay more for a domain elsewhere. I didn't, but I wanted to. I can't because I wouldn't be able to afford one elsewhere with everything I was needing to purchase.
So, I'll first tell you what I purchased and then I'll give you the steps that I went through to make those purchases. I bought 2 domains, AndyNotAndrew.net, which will become my new Audio & Video Journal website. I purchased FatTrackBlog.com for the weight loss blog that my friends and I occasionally contribute to. I also needed to renew my domain for AndyMelton.net. Then, I also needed to pay for hosting for 12 months so I don't have to worry about it for a little while.
OK! Let's go and order a domain name. We of course are on GoDaddy.com and logged into our user account. We then do a search for the domain that we want to purchase to make sure that it is available. Good news, it is available. More good news. We can purchase the same domain with the following top level domains (TLD): .com, .info, .net, .org, biz, and .us! More good news! We can also purchase similar domain names. We can also purchase the domain with a TLD of .mobi, .tv, and .us. We can also purchase domains that aren't quite what we wanted but are similar with an added word, like, "Sucks". Don't get me wrong, being able to show you the available options is great if the domain you are wanting to purchase is already taken, but, they just give you so many options!
So after you have scrolled through all of those options you find the "Continue" button. You click on it and you get a page that says "STOP! You've found a great domain. Now protect your name, increase your traffic and more!" OK! First of all, I don't like the fact that you are telling people to STOP, it made me feel as if I had done something wrong and I am usually always nervous when I'm buying anything anyways. Come to find out, I have done nothing wrong, they're just telling me that I can also buy the domain with a TLD of .net, .biz and .info for just a few dollars more! To top it all off, they have "Add these domains now for just $16!" already check marked. If someone was to accidentally click the green button below to add those to their order without knowing, the person would have to come back and go through the process again. SO, if you're smart you will scroll down until you see a link, a link that's not as large as the green button I might add, that says "No thanks. Continue to checkout."
OK! So you clicked on "No thanks. Continue to checkout." You should come to a page that has even more options and more places to add more stuff for super low discounts. The first row of information is where you choose how long you want to register your domain name for. Then you decide if you want it to be automatically renewed or manually renewed. Then you decided whether you want to spend $2.99 more to get the domain certified. Lastly, you choose if you want deluxe or premium email services added to your order. I might be wrong on this, but I do believe you already get email services with every domain your oder. Hmmm. They don't tell you that on this page. You scroll down and you see a section that asks if you want to show exclusive offers to reduce the cost of your order or if you want to quit the checkout process. Your only option is to select the show special offers and click on continue.
Did you think I was finished, yet? HA! Hardly! Once you click on the continue button you are presented with another page that gives you options to customize your order even more. This page asks you to select a hosting plan, a WebSite Tonight package, MORE options for email AND a section for adding Traffic Blazer to your site. Oh, I thought I was done naming off the stuff you could add. I wasn't: Quick Shopping Cart, SSL Certificates, Turbo SSL Certificates, High-Assurance SSL Certificates and finally, a 6-in-1 certificate. FINALLY, after you scroll through all that without checking any of the check boxes, you can click on Continue.
The next page again asks you if you want to make your domain name private. Granted, this is a great idea but I've already told you that I DO NOT WANT THIS! I DO NOT CARE! COME STALK ME ALL YOU WANT! (Ok, NOT REALLY!). I click on continue without clicking any check boxes.
OH MY GOSH! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! WE ARE FINALLY AT THE CHECKOUT! This part is pretty simple. You choose your payment options, give a promo code (don't forget Madge1, Madge2 and Madge3) and pay. I don't want to pay just yet. I want to add the other domain name I am going to purchase and add the domain renewal. I had to go through the entire process again to buy another domain. To renew the domain it was slightly different and it kept asking me if I wanted to protect my domain name.
The other thing that I was needing to do was to upgrade my hosting account from Economy hosting to the Deluxe plan. I done this the other day, but still had some issues. I didn't know if I was suppose to upgrade my account from within my hosting control panel or through the "front door" of GoDaddy. I emailed support and they said to do it from within the control panel. The other problem that I had was that I was not able to choose how long I wanted to upgrade for when I initially upgraded my account. I had to upgrade my account and THEN I could extend the length of my account.
So many annoyances. Why do I deal with it? It's cheap! But it's REALLY annoying.


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- "Two Jefferson County Public Schools principals have been suspended following transportation problems on the first day of classes Tuesday. District officials say the principals at King and Lincoln elementary did not properly prepare tags for their students. This is the first year for the tags, which display bus numbers and school names and were to be given to all bus-riding elementary students. But Superintendent Sheldon Berman says tags were either incorrect or printed late for students at King and Lincoln. That caused confusion and delays. About 400 students arrived home hours after they were supposed to, and the last students were dropped off around 9 pm." [WFPL [4]]
- "Despite earlier reports that the plan has been abandoned, Kroger is moving forward in its initiative to construct a five-pump gas station at the Hollywood Video site south of its store at 2410 Bardstown Road." [Louisville.com [5]]
- "James Mikesell, a former Metro Corrections officer and Jefferson County Public Schools coach, pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual abuse, tampering with physical evidence and official misconduct at a pre-trial conference on Monday." [Courier-Journal [6]]
- "A group had wanted to build a CVS drugstore at the corner of Bardstown Road and Douglass, where the Twig and Leaf diner now stands. But according to a Louisville blog, the developer has lost interest in that location." "A Louisville blog [7]?" I know you're only a Fox afflliate, but would citing the outlet that broke the stody (like WFPL [8] did) have been that hard? [Fox41 [9]] (See, that's a link.)
Photo: Courtesy Jefferson County Public Schools


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Industry Directory
Obaid Translation is a reliable translation company in Abu Dhabi that fosters a variety of trusted linguistic solutions such as translation, copywriting, website localization, editing, proofreading, subtitling and transcription. Supported by a team of creative professionals, Obaid Translation aims to address the crucial and rising demands for integrated language service providers in the UAE. We serve a wide range of business sectors, individuals, private and government entities.
Products and Services
- Translation Services
- Subtitling
- Scriptwriter
- Writer
- Editor
- Transcription
- Copywriting


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When you have done Ibiza, try some partying in Hungary. The town of Siófok, on the Southern shores of Balaton, Europe's largest lake, is a party venue of note. Famous for stunning beaches, sunshine and nightlife, you will have a blast in this popular holiday destination.
Hire an Aston Martin in Hungary for your next Ibiza-style holiday.
Feel the power of luxury under your hands when you get behind the wheel of an Aston Martin Rapide S. This beautiful four-door sports car will delight your senses. The Aston Martin Vanquish Carbon Edition is dark, seductive and brooding. Feel the spirit of the open road in a mean vehicle.
Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe and Hungary's most well frequented tourist spot. Soak up the sun, party all night and enjoy the electronic music festival which takes place at Balaton Sound. This is Ibiza in Hungary. Sail, fish and try out some water sports in summer and go ice-fishing, skate or sledge in winter when the lake freezes over. Eat and party at the famous Sándor Restaurant, where traditional Hungarian dishes are waiting to be enjoyed.
Join the beautiful people in Siófok. Aston Martin Hungary rental offers a perfect vehicle for the trip.


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Forthcoming: "The Nipple," Black Warrior Review, fall 2020
"The Judge: A Parable," trampset, fall 2020
"Questionnaire for the Gravitron Operator Before I Ride," FLAPPERHOUSE #19, 2018
"Y Under the Ocean," The Santa Fe Writers Project Quarterly, Issue 10, 2017
"The House That Tim Built," Green Mountains Review, 2016
"Spectacle," Iron Horse Literary Review, Vol. 18.1 #LikeAGirl, 2016
"Mel Hogan Wants Noodles," Souvenir, spring 2015
"Breakfast," Grist: The Journal for Writers, Online Companion, Issue 8, 2015
"Bird," Stone Canoe, Issue 8, 2014
Recent Nonfiction
"Origin and Survival of the Bastard Title," Sage House News: The Cornell University Press Blog
"Expanding the MFA Debate: On Mentorship," Grist: Journal of the Literary Arts, Blog: The Writing Life
"After the Orlando Shooting, Why Raise Kids in a Faith?" Jewschool
In 2012, cowriter Christopher Julian and I celebrated the release of our first feature-length film, Invisible Ink, courtesy of Vanguard Cinema/Anderson Digital.
Freelance Writing
Currently, I work as a freelance writer for Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and I am available for additional writing work. Please contact me to discuss your project.


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Which is the correct power supply to use the Axoloti as stand alone?I'm now using a +12V / 2.0 A and another 5.0V / 850mA
The DC barrel jack input uses a switching power supply, allowing a wide input voltage range and is capable of powering a USB device connected to the USB host port that consumes 500mA (the legal maximum for USB).Any supply between 7V and 15V is fine, the current it needs to deliver depends on what you plug into the USB host port. Rough ballpark figures: at 7V, 700mA is fine, at 15V, 250mA is enough. Center pin positive.DC-plug center diameter should be 2.1 mm.(there is also a 2.5mm plug variant, will fit too but maybe bad contact, not recommended)
5V on the DC barrel input is not enough. The editor will show you the actual voltage from the switching power supply. That should not be less than 4.75V.
You can also connect a USB cellphone/tablet-style charger to the micro-usb connector.
Really nice to know..
Just tested a power supply for a sony ericson phone and it works fine very nice. Also have not tried connecting anything to the power inlet. Also nice to know it take a broad range of power supplies
What would be the current draw at 9V, around 600mA?
600mA @ 9V sounds fine even when a device on the USB host draws 500mA. Don't have exact numbers near, sorry.
I had to get some polarity-converters since the polarity of the Axoloti is reversed from all my other gear.Be aware of this when you connect your adapter
Center-positive, sleeve-ground is by far most common. Roland does the opposite.DC plugs lack any standard, I hope one day a better alternative becomes common.
It's a hassle that the Boss/Roland center negative is kind of a de facto standard for guitar pedals when most everything else is the opposite.
Incidentally, measure your adaptors! I picked up some inexpensive, generic "arduino power supply" DC adaptors that were rated 9vdc/1000ma and the one I tested with a VOM was putting out almost 20vdc.
Is it possible to solder in a on/off switch somewhere in line (electrically) with the DC jack? I don't see any bridge or anything to cut.
Sorry, this obvious modification escaped my attention during design...It's possible but you'd need to desolder the DC input socket before you can access the trace to cut.(yellow is cut line, and it is on the component side, tracks on the component side are in red).The DC socket is probably the easiest thing to desolder as it has wide holes.As an alternative, you could add a panel-mount DC socket, ignore the on-board socket, and connect (via a switch) to X2...
Thanks Johanne. Good info.
Do you think this powerstation would be good for Axoloti? I need to power 4 axoloti but I don't want to use smartphone powersupply because of the noise.
that specific power supply won't work on the 9V 100mA ports (just saying), as they might burn out because of the power draw.i personally don't recommend anything under 600mA on 9Vdc (5,4W), as the axoloti can consume up to 4-5W max in total (using usb host port, microsd, io ports and such)while using a axoloti core without anything connected i recomend at least 200mA on 9V just to be safe.
so as long as you make sure the power supply aperage is above your need of current, you'll be fine.
I need to warn for hotplugging a non-isolated power supply with Axoloti Core board revision 1.0 - I assume (and internet confirms) these power outputs are not be isolated from each other. If the positive "side" of the plug makes contact before the negative "side" current take a wrong path.Also they're center-negative. Axoloti expects center-positive.
I bought a universal AC adapter today and fried the board. I followed voltage recommendations above and had no other hardware connected. I can only assume the polarity was wrong, since the adapter a polarity switch whose label isn't very clear. After a short ozone smell, the board no longer powers up (and no response to DFU process).
I'm a cautionary tale, I suppose. Best wishes to this very cool community!
If the adapter is faulty, maybe you can claim !What sort of adapter is it ?
The adapter works in another device, so I don't think it's faulty. Thanks for the idea, though! It's a Rhino brand adapter from Fry's in the US.
This guy specifically: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rhino-500mA-AC-Adapter/16318459
Sorry to hear that. A cautionary tale indeed!
I believe it must have been something else than reverse polarity power input on the DC socket, there is a protection diode for that. Just (re)tested applying 20V reverse polarity, no sign of any damage.Note that other power inputs (usb socket, solder pads) are not reverse polarity protected.I will check with @stasibear...


text:
Saving Brinton
2017, Tommy Haines, John Richard, and Andrew Sherburne, USA, 90 min.
Show Times
- Fri, Jul 20th 2:15pm
- Sat, Jul 21st 5:00pm
- Mon, Jul 23rd 6:00pm
- Wed, Jul 25th 8:00pm
"A celebratory documentary…sensitive, humane filmmaking." - Wesley Morris, The New York Times
"Delightful…Anyone who loves movies is bound to love SAVING BRINTON." - Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
A nitrate copy of THE TRIPLE-HEADED LADY, an elaborately hand-tinted short by French cinema pioneer Georges Méliès, thought to be lost, comes astonishingly to light in an Iowa farmhouse, but that is only one part of the remarkable story of heartland film history told in this engaging documentary. Mike Zahs - amiable retired history teacher, part-time farmer, and eccentric fulltime hoarder living in tiny Washington, Iowa - discovers a vast trove of artifacts from the estate of William Franklin Brinton, an entrepreneurial theater owner whose barnstorming shows once introduced his rural audiences to the moving-picture wonders of the dawning twentieth century. Zahs becomes a crusader for preservation of the priceless horde, including film reels, catalogues, posters, handwritten journals, and more, and soon the unassuming teacher is hobnobbing with the elite of the film preservation world in France and the U.S. A portrait of small-town Iowa is integral to this warm-hearted chronicle, which includes a complete viewing of the restored Méliès film. DCP digital. (BS)
Saturday, July 21: Film subject Michael Zahs and filmmakers Tommy Haines and Andrew Sherburne are scheduled to appear for an audience discussion moderated by Michelle Puetz, Curator of Collections and Public Programs at Chicago Film Archives. This screening is a Movie Club event.
Wednesday, July 25: Filmmaker John Richard is scheduled to appear for audience discussion following the screening.
Play Trailer


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Hint: It May Not be What You Expect
Email and electronic media are critically important to the way people communicate. What do you do when you have a question that you need answered? Likely, you head to your computer. Email, social media sites and websites are all important. However, in order to be effective, electronic media must be used correctly as part of a well integrated legal marketing campaign.
Common Email Marketing Mistakes - and How to Avoid Them
Email can be an effective marketing tool if you know how to use it. Below are the three most common mistakes we see and tips for avoiding them in your own lawyer marketing plan:
- It is all email, all the time. The biggest mistake law firms make with their legal marketing campaign is that they use emails to the exclusion of everything else.
- The email is seen from the point of view of the writer, not the reader. As the writer (or sender) of the email, you probably think the content is pretty good and pretty important. You may have taken considerable time to draft what you believe to be a persuasive email. However, how is the email going to be received by someone who got 217 other emails that day? Why would that reader take the time to open it, much less read it and follow through on a call to action?
- Assuming all potential clients are the same. A complex attorney marketing approach will help you reach each individual client the way that client wants to be reached. For example, some people prefer email, and your follow up legal marketing campaign should include emails. Other people want a DVD they can watch at home or a newsletter they can read while waiting for a doctor. You have the ability to cater to all of these clients by refusing to rely on only one small law firm marketing approach.
It is Time to Get Your Law Firm Marketing on the Right Track
Please browse through the videos, articles, books and FREE offers on our website to learn more about effective and complex legal marketing techniques. Additionally, if you want to make major strides towards improving your small law firm marketing campaign, please contact us today at 703.591.9829.


text:
On the day of the event, moms, dads and kids of different ages flocked 9th corner 34th street in BGC even before sunrise. Many parents came with their kids' strollers and some mommies wore their babies on slings! There were booths from the sponsors and stalls for food and refreshment. A tent served as a diaper-changing and breastfeeding station. How convenient is that?
|Rookie USA Apparel set up a Mega Blocks play area for the kids to enjoy
|Breastfeeding station for nursing moms like me. Beats NAIA 1... LOL!
Before the start of the run, a fitness instructor from Curves led the warm up and stretching. Afterwards, the participants of the 5K run headed off 10 minutes earlier than the 3K run participants. Majority joined the 3K and it gave thrilled my son to see so many kids and their parents at the starting line.
As soon as the 3K started, Caleb immediately dashed off and I had to catch up with him because he might get lost in the crowd. I think he thought it was a race. Lol! After 1 Kilometer, he was already complaining that his legs are starting to hurt. Good thing they had a couple of water/hydration stations by Waters Philippines and Gatorade. We kept a steady pace all throughout the route and what do you know! We made it to the finish line! I was so proud of my son!
|Proud moment! We made it!
|Enjoying sweet treats from Goldilocks
|Photo c/o Mommy Mundo


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At one time or another, every business goes through a growth spurt and, whether it's a multi-national corporation or an entrepreneurial enterprise, expansion is a tough process to navigate.
The real danger for any expanding business is that it does so too quickly or in an uncontrolled way. When this happens, cash flow and customer satisfaction are usually the first casualties and, in extreme circumstances, these can result in the demise of a once flourishing business. The trick is therefore to manage the growth process so you reap the benefits in the medium- and long-term.
- Plan your expansion
It may seem obvious that any entrepreneur going through an expansion phase should do so with a game-plan, but many businesses expand in reaction to circumstances and don't draw up a solid plan. Without this roadmap, it's easy to get lost along the way, making changes to your business that are either too costly or not well thought out.
- Don't over-expand
While planned expansion can take a business to a whole new level, over-expansion is one of the biggest dangers of a growth phase. It's easy to get carried away in the heat of the moment and to expand beyond the needs and the financial capacity of the business.
As a rule of thumb, plan capacity based on a five-year projection of demand and allow an additional 10% of capacity over and above that for periods of heavy demand or for partial down-time in any part of your business. More than this could be very risky and leave a business with overheads it can't cope with.
- Get professional financial advice
Whatever the nature of your expansion, there are financial implications for the business and it's always best to seek professional advice. If you need to build or purchase your own premises, for instance, it's important to speak to a financial institution that has experience in this area.
For plant and equipment, you may need to consider a flexible financing option, either a loan or a combination of a loan and an equity investment. Perhaps leasing is an option. Again, an institution with experience in the field and in your own industry is essential.
- Develop a Project Management Schedule for the expansion
Again, this may sound self-evident, but many businesses expand without treating the expansion like a project – one of the most significant it will ever undertake.
Managing the process is as important as planning it and it's important to commit to this in a formal way, building in the appropriate checks and balances.
- Keep your customers informed
Expansion of any kind can cause disruptions in your day-to-day operations and it's important that your customers know what to expect. Before commencing an expansion, tell them what you're planning and what the expected completion date is. If possible, tell them what disruptions to expect and how you're intending to deal with them.
- Announce the completion of your expansion
Once the expansion phase is complete, it's important to let both existing and potential customers know about it. Tell them about the increased capacity of the business and the additional products and services you can offer. Develop a special marketing drive to announce the occasion and send out media releases, especially to the local and regional press.
Celebrate this moment in your business – it's one of the best marketing opportunities you could ask for. Thanks for reading. firstname.lastname@example.com


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I am working with an urban community who live on the tidal estuary of a river. Given the high water table and flooding could anyone suggest a latrine design which would be appropriate in this situation?
I am working with an urban community who live on the tidal estuary of a river. Houses closely packed together and are built on stilts. Some of the houses stand permanently over water while the tide floods under the others. The community practices open defecation under their houses. Given the high water table and flooding traditional pit latrines or septic tanks are not appropriate could anyone suggest a design which would be appropriate in this situation.
4 Answers
Have a look at this resource..
www.engineeringforhope.org has developed anultra low cost loo specifically for this purpose. You can see the basic design by following the links. For your application, the poop would be collected in a 5 gallon bucket with slits on bottom. The bucket with slits would sit inside another bucket which has a diversion tube to collect the effluent in plastic container like empty detergent bottle. Total cost ~$12 and easily transportable. There are many configurations,so this is not featured in the website yet. Composting site is necessary. Effluent is added back into compost pile with no odor. We expect to publish videos to train people how to make them and how to teach WASH hopefully within 3 months. Way too much to talk about here, but key to this is a micro business approach. email@example.com Collector.pptx
To prevent contamination of groundwater, the bottom of the pit should be at least 1.5m above the water-table level. And have a look on this link:http://answers.practicalaction.org/our-resources/item/ventilated-improved-pit-latrine
I have recently travelled to Cambodia and have come across problems such as those you have described in floating villages with similar challenging environments. I innovative product maybe something that could work for your situation.
This thread is public, all members of KnowledgePoint can read this page.


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The Davis Hoffman building (Image: CHS)
People familiar with talks between the Pike Pine Urban Neighborhood Council and Alliance Realty say the developer is ready to unveil a new plan for its 1020 E Union project that will include preservation of the 1915-built Davis Hoffman building at 10th and Union.
The new plan will be unveiled to the public next week at a community meeting held at PPUNC member and Capitol Hill developer Liz Dunn's 12th and Pike coworking space, Agnes Underground on Tuesday, September 25th from 5 to 7p.
Alliance had been struggling to move a plan forward through the city's design review process that called for demolition of the building currently home to Capitol Hill Housing and the Pravda Studios event space even as it planned to benefit from the neighborhood's preservation incentive program. In August, we reported on PPUNC's opposition to the plan and efforts to stop Alliance from tearing down the old auto row-era structure to make way for its new seven-story, mixed-use apartment project.
We've asked Alliance for an update on the situation and will add more if we hear back.
in this breakout provided during design review by Alliance, the developer described the four structures that are currently part of the parcels set for development. Initial planning called for only the Madison Park Greetings office and garage structures at 11th and Union to be preserved.


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Dear Sir,
I would like to comment on your article entitled "Myanmar in need of better public transport system" by Aung Khin, which appeared in the Tuesday issue of the New Light of Myanmar, 26 August 2014.
My guess is that the traffic jam in Yangon is largely due to parents doing the school run in their cars. The traffic jam around high schools is more terrible when school is over.
I walk across Pyay Road when I go to a swimming pool at weekends. Cars never stop at the pedestrian crossing. It is very dangerous for pedestrians. I don't think schoolchildren will be able to cross the road safely without the help of their parents. This is why parents find it necessary to take their children to school and bring them home.
If drivers obeyed the traffic rules and stopped for pedestrians to cross the road at the zebra crossing, parents can stop driving their children to and from school. This will dramatically reduce the traffic congestion near schools.
Mr. Kaoru KOTOZAKI


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Money Matters: How To Make Allowances Work
Functioning in today's world requires the ability to manage money. From my point of view, it's a disservice to let kids grow up thinking that money will magically show up whenever they want something. It's not helpful to inadvertently teach them that they can obtain money by whining, cajoling, or throwing a fit. It's a way to sabotage our own teaching when we bail our kids out whenever they overspend. Competence in money management comes from experience, not from being on the dole. Preparing kids to eventually be on their own means systematically tutoring them in money matters.
Parents have found ways to successfully teach their kids how to deal with money for generations. I don't claim to have a corner on the "right" way to do it. I can only share what many parents in my parent study groups have found to be helpful as a modification of the age-old allowance.
The fundamental principle is that kids can't learn to handle financial responsibilities unless they have some money of their own to manage. Done well, a weekly allowance covers as many weekly needs as possible so that the child doesn't constantly have to ask her parents for money. The point is not to give your children more money than you normally would but rather to gradually shift as much responsibility for money management to them as possible to prepare them to handle money well.
Tips for Making an Allowance Work
- Be a good role model. If you don't already, make banking and paying bills visible. When kids see their folks making a special time once a week to deal with the budget and to write out checks or go online to pay bills, they understand that this is part of what being an adult is all about.
- Sit down with the kids and ask them to list their fixed weekly expenses. This might include lunch money, club dues, a church offering, and money for a weekly movie rental, for example – whatever you usually dole out over the course of a week. Then add the amount you usually end up throwing in for treats or outings each week. For older kids and teens, add in what you would normally spend for their special toiletries. If you generally give your kids money to help them buy presents for family members on birthdays and holidays, add that in too. The total is the weekly allowance. It may surprise you just how much it is.
- Help the children draw up a "budget." Stress that they are expected to pay their "bills" just like you do. If they want to be sure to have enough money for an unexpected event or item or to buy someone a present, they need to be sure to save some percentage of what they get.
- Decide on the frequency of the kids' "paychecks." There's nothing sacred about a weekly allowance. Some kids can handle getting a whole week's money all at once. Some will burn right through it by Wednesday. When that's the case, start out with maybe some money coming in on Monday and some on Friday (so they are sure to have money for the weekend). As they get better at budgeting, expand the time between payments. Older teens often eventually benefit from having a monthly allowance to manage so they get practice in thinking longer-term.
- Be absolutely clear that there will be no extra money coming from you between allowances – and mean it. If you open your wallet as soon as the kids run short, you are teaching them that there are no consequences for bad planning. Warning: This can be painful. It's hard to watch a child have to stay home when all his friends are going to a movie and he's already spent all his money. But, trust me, over the long- , it's more painful for a child to grow up clueless about money.
- Don't argue if a child asks for money in between allowances. Simply say something like, "I'm sorry you ran out. Your payday is on Friday and there's nothing I can do." End of story. There's no need to be angry or to give your best lecture on responsibility. Not having money is a much more powerful consequence than anything we can say. On the flip side, don't be persuaded to give an advance. It's important that kids not learn to live on "credit."
- Especially in the beginning, have a weekly review of how it's going. It's important to remember that this is an educational situation, not a trial. Criticizing and scolding will make the meeting so painful that neither you nor the kids will want to keep up the lessons. Instead, look at what went right and where your child or teen needs extra help. If you find that there is a legitimate gap between the allowance and expenses increase the allowance. Often kids get more conservative when they are spending their own funds. Don't dock them if they're not spending it all. Praise them for becoming good savers. You can certainly provide financial gifts now and then (birthdays, when the kids bring home a stellar report card, the tooth fairy, etc.) but these should be genuine gifts and not included in the allowance routine.
- As kids get older, more and more responsibility can be turned over to them. Some parents, for example, give their teens the entire amount that would normally be spent on back-to-school clothes in the fall. They then have a conversation about the difference between needs and wants and together make a list of where the money should probably go. Then it's up to the teen. If she or he decides to buy one pair of designer jeans instead of two pair of a no-name brand for the same price, so be it. There's a lesson to be learned when that designer pair is dirty and there's not another clean pair in the drawer.
- It's not helpful to withhold an allowance as a punishment. When the allowance is a teaching tool, taking it away deprives the kids of important lessons. Most of us don't lose a paycheck for forgetting to take out the trash or coming in 15 minutes late or losing our temper now and then. Neither should the kids. It's more helpful to find another consequence for misdemeanors.
When Family Money Is Tight
If money is difficult to budget in your family because income is unpredictable or very tight, it may not be possible to give the kids a regular allowance. But you can still help them learn to handle money. You can make the grocery shopping a teaching moment, for example, by having the kids work with you to figure out how to buy what the family needs with the cash you've got. Kids can't appreciate how much the phone or the electricity costs unless they see those expenses. Older kids can sit in on paying all or some of the bills. They are less likely to complain if they understand the reality of their family's finances. A teen who gets a part-time job can be taught how to budget and save so a paycheck doesn't just burn a hole in his pocket. Do try to give a little money now and then to kids who are too young to be in the workforce so that they can have the experience of deciding how to handle it.
It's the Skills that Count
Imagine my surprise when one of my students last semester told me she was able to buy food for herself for $100 a month while another complained that his parents gave him only $100 a week! The young woman's parents had done a fabulous job teaching her how to juggle funds and manage on what she had. The other student rather sheepishly confessed to me that before college he'd never even thought about how much groceries cost. There's a lesson in this: How much money is enough seems to be a state of mind. But knowing how to manage what you've got is a state of skills.
Hartwell-Walker, M. (2018). Money Matters: How To Make Allowances Work. Psych Central. Retrieved on October 29, 2020, from https://psychcentral.com/lib/money-matters-how-to-make-allowances-work/
Last reviewed: By a member of our scientific advisory board on 8 Oct 2018
Published on Psych Central.com. All rights reserved.


text:
Tell us about yourself!
- bmiller91 commented on Anders644PI's instructable Einstein Bust With Secret Switch
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- bmiller91 commented on marlin_j's instructable BalloonSat Stabilization With Compressed CO2View Instructable »
Please forward link to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporationhttps://nypost.com/2018/01/08/chinese-engineer-claims-space-station-is-not-out-of-control/
- bmiller91 commented on jpetrach's instructable DIY Sandblasting Encloser.View Instructable »
There should be a standard disclaimer to insert. Media = Media NOT sand. Real sand will create silica dust which you do not want to mess with as it will destroy your lungs.
- bmiller91 enrolled in Welding Class
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Have you looked at air cooler and separator between compressor and tank? Has benefit of putting less water in to tank. I have car AC core on way to test it out.
- bmiller91 commented on quintaar's instructable Make Your Keyboard Shine Again in RGBView Instructable »
You could replace a few select keys such as WASD with transparent labelling but you'd quickly get to point where it would be cheaper to buy whole new keyboard. https://m.newegg.com/products/9SIA0U02KJ4744
- bmiller91 commented on davebodnar's instructable Fidget Spinner to Brushless MotorView Instructable »
Is it ironic or poetic to turn a device which takes perfectly good industrial bearings and turns them in to junk back in to a functioning device? ;-)
- bmiller91 commented on usbg3rd's instructable Volume Units MeterView Instructable »
I need a circuit to measure volume on a speaker level output (could convert to line level) then provide output which varies resistance based on level. Trying to use speaker level out to set volume of a second amp which uses simple wired potentiometer to set volume output. Any suggestions?
- bmiller91 commented on Renard_Bleu's instructable Potent Pirate Smoke Ring Cannon
- bmiller91 commented on Renard_Bleu's instructable Potent Pirate Smoke Ring Cannon
- bmiller91 commented on ThomasVDD's instructable Hard Drive Sander
You can but it's a real grind ...View Instructable »
Realistically how long will the motor hold up to this type of use?
- bmiller91 commented on RaviP6's instructable Esp8266 Firmware UpdateView Instructable »
Anyone happen to know if these would be compatible with Wink home automation hub?
- bmiller91 commented on dAcid's instructable Pneumatic Logic Gates Made With Simple Tools
- bmiller91 commented on mikeasaurus's instructable Unusual Uses for VaselineView Instructable »
Ok - admit it. Who's inner 14 year old maturity came out when you read the title? :-0
- bmiller91 commented on tatebullrider's instructable DIY Powdered Coffee Creamer Flamethrower!!View Instructable »
I wonder if high voltage spark would work as ignition source? You can buy an HV generator (good for short bursts) that runs off a couple AA batteries for about $6. That would be lighter and even safer than lit propane torch.
- bmiller91 commented on slamfist's instructable diy dirt cheap hepa filter for your vacuum !!
- bmiller91 commented on mtairymd's instructable How to Grow Popcorn ShootsView Instructable »
It's fine if using common 2-way pallets but good luck finding drivers for 4-way or CP3 pallets.
- bmiller91 commented on prototype_mechanic's instructable Nixie Watch Prototype_CView Instructable »
Agree. Point is to backup material which would be impossible/difficult to reproduce.You can get free cloud space with Microsoft Onedrive, Google Drive etc. or paid service such as Carbonite.Onedrive is great but requires a bit of "mindset" change. It's not a backup per se rather it's an online drive which you can sync to your local drive (PC, Tablet etc.).
- bmiller91 commented on mtairymd's instructable How to Grow Popcorn ShootsView Instructable »
Forum truths: ;-)1) Any discussion on Windows will devolve in to Linux vs. Windows debate2) Any discussion on growing plants will devolve in to GMO, chemical, patent debate
- bmiller91 commented on prototype_mechanic's instructable Nixie Watch Prototype_CView Instructable »
"2 weeks ago my SSD drive died with all drawings... of all my creations"So sorry! Hopefully it will at least serve as a reminder to others to do online backup.
- bmiller91 commented on bmiller91's forum topic Metal hallide ballasts - projects using?View Topic »
So you're suggesting to use output from ballast as power for MOT? MOT output is then super high voltage but low current? Not healthy but less deadly than powering MOT with 120/240v AC?
- bmiller91 commented on Erroneous Data's instructable Hack an old iPod using an Android and an Arduino.View Instructable »
Would love to be able to do this in reverse. Use Arduino to translate commands from car Ipod controller to play files from Android device (tried the USB Uart TTC cable and PODEMU but no success.
- bmiller91 commented on tanner_tech's instructable Start Fires With Electricity: DIY Arc LighterView Instructable »
"Could you just use a step-up transformer and start directly with AC power?"People do this with Microwave Oven Transformers (MOT) - HOWEVER the output is DEADLY and not really advisable for anyone but definitely only for the advanced experimenter with 100% attention to safety protocols. One mistake and you will not be using Instructables again ....
- bmiller91 commented on Trochilidesign's instructable USB Volume knobView Instructable »
The Trinket literature states that there is no USB serial chipset and that USB is only for uploading code. And that FTG cable is needed for normal USB connection. Is this incorrect?Love the concept but thinking I might sacrifice an HID standard mouse to see if that can be used as controller.
- bmiller91 commented on stasterisk's instructable Build a Microwave Transformer Homemade Stick/Arc Welder
- bmiller91 commented on Proto G's instructable Advanced Plasma Arc Speaker
- bmiller91 commented on bmiller91's forum topic Metal hallide ballasts - projects using?View Topic »
I know an HID ballast will drive a ladder but I didn't get a spark even across a very small gap. Maybe I just need to "Prime" to get it started but I was leery of shorting it out.
- bmiller91 commented on CobusK1's forum topic DIY AUX unit with steering wheel controlsView Topic »
Slightly confused by what you're trying to accomplish. Just adding aux audio input but want head unit to automatically recognize that aux has been connected and switch to "CD" or pass commands from steering wheel (Skip, pause etc. to external device e.g. phone?
- bmiller91 commented on ydeardorff's forum topic Active Noise Cancellation for cars not equippedView Topic »
At $250 electronic solution may not even be the way to go. You could install "dynamat" in doors, floors etc. with bonus of better insulation and silencing door rattle from speakers.
- bmiller91 commented on Proto G's instructable Advanced Plasma Arc SpeakerView Instructable »
It might be the ultimate audiophile tweeter, and ignoring complete impracticality, wouldn't you basically need the rest of the system in a faraday cage to filter out massive EMI? :-0
- bmiller91 commented on MitchellCochran's instructable Subwoofer hidden in plain sight
- bmiller91 commented on michael.j.feierstein's instructable Table Saw Rust RemovalView Instructable »
Rather than remove rust entirely you might consider using a rust neutralizing paint. This stuff is AWESOME as it converts rust to a black coating which is itself resistant to further rusting. There are a number of brands but example http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/s_trmt_extend_spray/overview/Loctite-Extend-Rust-Neutralizer-Spray.htm
- bmiller91 commented on bxl4662's instructable Arduino Based Stranger Things Lights
Brilliant. Foolish ... but brilliant.
See Instructibles #987 - How to get best night's sleep on a couch.View Instructable »
If this thing starts working on it's own I'm running. Sure hope they don't ruin season 2....
- bmiller91 commented on Scenic Sauthoff's instructable LED World Map/ClockView Instructable »
Needs a laser which shows moving date line which can be flipped around.Bond: Do you expect me to talk?BF: No Mr. Bond I expect you to die!
- bmiller91 commented on nqtronix's instructable Solder Fume Extractor With Activated Carbon FilterView Instructable »
Yep, for a little more though you could buy a fan which comes with little trim pot to adjust speed and you could then adjust to level that's quiet but still effective :-)
- bmiller91 commented on NightHawkInLight's instructable Cheese Ball Machine GunView Instructable »
Dunno. Using cheese puffs as ammo might class it as a weapon (at least on the West Coast where cheese puffs "are known to the State of California to contain ....")
- bmiller91 commented on mdeudon's instructable Low Cost Reliable & Powerfull Laser Engraver
Anyone price this out assuming you don't have access to 3D printer? Banggood offers kits starting around USD 180, including laser, so I'm just wondering if that's a bargain vs. paying for parts to be printed?View Instructable »
+1: I've had a very good experience with Banggood - close to being Amazon level service with reasonable shipping time if item is not in more local US or EU warehouse.I take it back, "close" is not fair - BG customer service has responded overnight every time ;-)
- bmiller91 commented on Radioactive_Legos's instructable 48V Electric Flat TrackerView Instructable »
FYI I came across a direct replacement for the B&S motor http://www.electricmotorsport.com/emc-r-me0708-pmdc-motor-24-48v-8-hp-cont-15-hp-pk.html
- bmiller91 commented on All that i do's instructable Cheap, crash resistant portable T Copter (in apprx 200 USD)View Instructable »
Yikes. Looks like it would survive crash just fine but would really ruin your day if you got hit by it :-0
- bmiller91 commented on lonesoulsurfer's instructable Portable, Solar 12V Battery PackView Instructable »
Now build a peltier charger where you can throw heat conductor in fire and cooling side in bucket of water.Methane collection from tent is another option but let's not go there ...
- bmiller91 commented on HHarry's instructable Desk fan/heaterView Instructable »
A peltier is just a heat pump so you might be able to get a cool stream of air but you'd be dumping heat back in to room + heat from power supply = net loss.
- bmiller91 commented on Tez_Gelmir's instructable Rocking Speeder Bike
- bmiller91 commented on calincostelcoty's instructable Diy Arduino Laser EngraverView Instructable »
Would love to see video of project in action or at least comment on speed. I have small engraver which will do 2x2" but it takes FOREVER! Wondering what laser wattage is needed to get to something like "Printer" speed?
- bmiller91 commented on mikeasaurus's instructable Glow tableView Instructable »
Any practical experience on how long glow powder lasts? And the referenced resin doesn't mention UV resistance. Are you really keeping this outdoors or just for photo op?


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If I were to tell about cars then there is a really cool car, a safe ride, the Breaking system is really cool, the space is more comfortable than the Swift Car, the seat is very comfortable, theRead MoreRead Less
I bought grand i10 1.2 Litre Kappa petrol sportz celebrations edition on Feb 1st week. So far 1 driven this for 1500+ KM and the best thing about this car is it's smoothness. Clutch and GearRead MoreRead Less
My car is of Magna petrol version using since Aug 2014 + Mileage is 18-19 kmpl on highways and 12-14 kmpl in city rides. + Pick up is good and with less vibration till 120 kmph speed. +Read MoreRead Less
Bought this car 3 years back. Now thinking of moving to a different brand. I will try to make my review point wise. Please note that my experience is in Kolkata hence the cons might not be applicableRead MoreRead Less
Got my hands on this Marina Blue beauty 2 days back. Least to say, this car is just awesome. I am yet to take this for a Spin on Highways but did few short distance drive 10 kms daily in regular cityRead MoreRead Less
Chandra Hyundai Coimbatore, India - Worst Experience Ever, Still No Response, Abuses Customer, Booked a Grand I10 Magna on Apr 14, 2017, by paying booking amount of Rs.5000. The sales SPoC (Sivakumar)Read MoreRead Less
I purchased in the month of August 2016 which is only six month before, I have run my car only 5000 KM upto date. Clutch plate is not working, service centre is respoding us. On long drive at 10pm onRead MoreRead Less
Hi, Myself Manjunath, It gives me immense pleasure to let you all know that on 21/09/15 I have booked the Grand i10 Asta Petrol (O) and got delivery on 16/10/2016. So far I have driven onlyRead MoreRead Less
I am writing this Review 2.4 years after owning the car. I have the Petrol version and have driven it for close to 25000 Kilometers.When I was planning to buy a car back then, I didn't have tooRead MoreRead Less


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Silkie follows up his 2009 debut with a sophomore effort that's simultaneously nostalgic and contemporary.
If Silkie's City Limits Volume 1 had an immediate identity, it was dubstep's more upfront tendencies dialed into a somewhat upscale frequency-- tasteful without being bland, busy without being messy. Headphone music that worked just as well filling rooms, his material had a strong sense of rhythmic pull and intricate density. And while Silkie augmented his developing sound with occasional detours into "purple" bass and evergreen boogie funk, what stood out was an overarching style that didn't see a mutual exclusion between cocktail-lounge ambiance and tons of wobbly bass. At times it skewed closer to the pop-gloss sophistication of late-90s UK garage than the escalating bassbin arms race of crossover dubstep.
Follow-up City Limits Volume 2 isn't as immediately gratifying or revelatory-- it's a logical progression, reliability replacing novelty. But it also explores the possibility of connecting on a level simultaneously nostalgic and contemporary, right down to the decades-past pirate-radio evocations of its song titles: "Get Up N Dance", "Rock Da Funk". Repeating themes seem intent on sparking flashbacks, vivid enough to hit specific nerves but vague enough to avoid coming across as specifically derivative-- and threading together a narrative of genre developments in the process.
The synth sax that drove the melody of Volume 1 track "Beauty" is a more prominent component here, punctuating tracks with melodic stabs that could have originated from a decade-old Locked On garage 12"-- if not a late-80s hip-house remix. "Selva Nova" tweaks the neo-jungle turf that its title hints at, wringing jittery force out of the old "Amen" break and dousing it with a choppy yet liquid 303 bassline. And whenever a voice breaches the surface, it's in a familiar form-- Rastafarian incantations ("Feel"), Roger Troutman talk-box warbles ("New York City"), or a distorted, pitched-up note or two from a rave diva ("Snowed In"). Even the synth and piano melodies that drove some of the more compelling hooks on Volume 1 sound more comfortably worn and identifiable from eras past, like the rollerskate-jam electro of "Boogie Boy" or the Junie Morrison-esque g-funk extrapolations in "Lucky".
The catch is that once Silkie gets ahold of these vintage signifiers, he pushes them all the way into the red with the pedal-down immediacy of current bass music. Even with the obvious nods to dance music's past, from rave to garage, the forward-looking listener can be assured that Silkie's found a way to make his rhythms even more nuanced and multifaceted. Attempting to break down drum patterns into individual components of snares, hi-hats, and kicks will just wind up causing dizziness; some of the beats are so stuffed with counter-rhythms and jostling emphases-- even before the buildups and breakdowns shift the topography-- that it's almost easy to lose track of just how supple they are. The bass feels a bit more aggressive, too. There are some points, such as late-album tracks "Taxi Mi Get" and "Only For You", where it takes on the hissing crackle of a shorting-out amp, and others where the wobble shakes things out until rich, individual notes turn into frenetic, staccato trembles. It's bracing stuff when all the elements click-- "Selva Nova", the cheery prog-funky of closer "Outlook", and Skream collaboration "Untitled", which pulls off a great double-paced slow-stride/fast-scramble momentum. And if this album's status as the final City Limits installation marks the end of an early career-defining phase, it suggests a good transition for Silkie: The body of work he's put together so far proves that the man knows his roots, and he knows where to follow them.


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Let's See: ThinkGeek April Fools 2016 round-up
If there's a battle for best brand each year on this day, April Fools Day, ThinkGeek is certainly in the running for emperor. This year we've got a handle on their entire collection, starting with the couple of products you see here in the header image. That's a very tiny hand of Magic: The Gathering cards - a Travel Edition. Behind it, you'll find a White Noise Machine along the lines of Star Trek. You might see where we're going with this one already.


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96{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8} of People shop online, and the majority of those shoppers prefer shopping on-line for causes like saving time and avoiding crowds. You will be able to search out every little thing you're on the lookout for along with many hard to find products online. For instance, Greatest Purchase , the biggest retailer of electronics in the U.S. in August 2014 reported its tenth consecutive quarterly dip in gross sales, citing an increasing shift by shoppers to online buying. 48{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8} of internet buyers have bought or spent more than deliberate when purchasing on-line.
One of many nice advantages of on-line shopping is the ability to read product critiques, written both by consultants or fellow internet buyers. For instance, the massively common e-commerce platform Shopify has a marketplace where you might find the best on-line enterprise on the market for you. sixty nine{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8} of web shoppers need extra opinions from ecommerce sites.
10{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8} of web shoppers could be more likely to make a purchase from Snapchat. Even companies whose total business mannequin revolves round selling promotional merchandise online stress the importance of having a sales representative contact the consumer in some unspecified time in the future to make sure all the things is so as. All this not only on the lowest price however with the perfect provides and exclusive deals to make the net procuring experience the most effective you may have at any on-line devices or electronics store.
What marketplace consumers buy: Book, motion pictures, music (forty four{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8}), Clothes, shoes and accessories (forty three{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8}), Computer systems and electronics (34{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8}), Health and sweetness merchandise (29{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8}). Helpful instruments similar to product filters and shopping for advice support you in your search for your particular merchandise and make your buy a comfortable shopping expertise.
How To Promote Your Merchandise on eBay the Easy Manner Did you know that most eBay sellers are full time staff in an enormous variety of work domains? 53{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8} of U.S. parents have shopped on marketplaces, seventy eight{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8} at giant retailer sites, fifty three{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8} on webstores or independent boutiques, and 34{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8} at class-specific online shops. 66{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8} of internet buyers have decided not to buy an item because of shipping costs.


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Organic Pregnancy
Organic Maternity and Pregnancy Products Made from "Green" and All Natural Materials at Natures Organic Market
The advantages of organic substances are universally known. These days, there is a spurt in the demand for organic products, including organic maternity items. Expecting and nursing mothers need a lot of nourishment and care. Any use of synthetic maternity solutions is likely to leave the mother and the child exposed to harmful chemicals. Therefore, despite higher prices, organic maternity items are finding greater space by the day. Following is a collection of some of the commonly used organic maternity products:
Organic Foods
Organic maternity food refers to the balanced diet that provides essential nutrients required for the proper development of the child. A well-planned diet is also essential for the mother during a physically challenging time. These natural foods are free of toxins or other chemical components, which may pose a serious threat to health. According to a detailed study done in 1993, organically grown fruits and vegetables are higher in essential elements, such as iron, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, molybdenum, potassium, and zinc. They are also loaded with antioxidants and vitamins that play defining role in the growth of the fetus.
Organic clothes
During pregnancy, the mother's body becomes extremely sensitive, owing to the reduction in overall immunity. Therefore, the chemicals present in the conventional dress materials can prove much more harmful during pregnancy, than they do in the normal course. Organic maternity clothing is made from naturally produced fibers, free of harmful chemical, pesticides, and other irritants. According to a research, organically manufactured maternity clothes prevent the unborn child from many diseases, such as hearing impairment. These congenital conditions can be caused, if the environment pollutants reach to the baby, through the umbilical cord.
Body toning oils and lotions
Most of the women get worried about their sagging skin after childbirth. Organic body toning oils and lotions contains ingredients, like pomegranate, avocado, Vitamin C, Shea butter, mango butter, cocoa butter, and jojoba oils to name some. These products increase the collagen production and help the skin retain it elasticity, all the while nourishing and moisturizing it deeply.
Organic shampoo
According to a research conducted by Elias Aizenman and the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine, a chemical called methylisothiazolinone, present in shampoos, may cause a bad effect on the brains of the growing baby. In addition to that, conventional shampoos contain synthetic detergents, including sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate, which is a known carcinogen.
Organic shampoos contain botanical herbs that help in cleansing the hair and the scalp gently, but thoroughly. Therapeutic extracts, like tea tree oil, are helpful in treating bites, dandruff, burns, and blisters on the scalp. Another popular element found in organic shampoos, is beta glucan, which has immunity-enhancing properties, both internally and topically. Other ingredients can be varying combination of lavender, Sapindus mukorossi (reetha), coconut oil, chamomile, fruit vinegar etc.
The list above is only indicative, and not exhaustive. There are hosts of other products for body and skin care, including cleansers, moisturizers, fresheners, ointments and others that contain herbal concentrates and other natural compounds milk enzymes, honey, vitamins, Aloe Vera and so on. So, go ahead and make the most cherished event of your life, safe and pleasurable with organic maternity items.


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Hotel Garau
Welcome to Hotel Garau, our home to home hotel close to the sea side.
Where you will find everything you need: comfort, kindness and location.
We are just 50 meters from the amazing El Arenal beach, surrounded by numerous shops, restaurants and pubs. Palma de Mallorca city centre is 15 minutes' drive from the hotel and Palma Airport it's just 5 minutes drive away.
We are waiting for you!


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1. Your name, title, and age? What do you do (or did you do) for a living?
Ronald Russell, Owner/Chef SunCafe Organic, age 56
2. Who was the person that inspired you as a child to eat healthy and stay fit? What was their relationship to you?
Jack Lalanne.
3. What did they do to inspire you?
At age 5, I remember watching his TV show with my mother. We would do jumping Jacks, stretches, push ups, and more. He was always so vibrant and full of energy. I always admired him. He instilled the message that your body is a temple and treat it right.
4. How did their lesson change your life?
My whole life, I've been health conscious. It started with Jack! Then later, he did all those feats in his later life to show how fit someone can be. His talks and books about nutrition led me to study more and ultimately that led to me opening my raw food, organic, vegan restaurant. My goal was to create food better than mainstream cooked food. Customers have compared us to 3 Michelin star restaurants in Paris, Spagos, and other famous restaurants. Carnivores who got dragged to SunCafe, usually by girlfriends, end up loving it and become regular customers. I've seen health miracles through my customers changing their diet. Overcoming cancer, diabetes, obesity, chronic headaches and much more.
5. Do you convey their message to kids in your life presently?
By example. Of course, children come to SunCafe Organic and love the food. They learn to enjoy greens, the building block of a healthy diet.
6. What would be your main message to children today to lead healthy lifestyles?
Your body is your temple. Treat it with respect. Stay away from all soft drinks and energy drinks, all of them harm your body. Fried foods and animal products should be avoided as much as possible. Learn to enjoy greens and make them the heart of your meal.
7. Do you have a web site you would like to promote….web address only?


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CityVille Cream of the Crop Timed Goal: Everything you need to know
Cream of the Crop
- Harvest 75 Crops
- Ask friends for 20 Gold Gems
- Collect from 120 Homes
You will have to ask your friends for the Gold Gems, but hopefully, the time it takes for your friends to respond will give you a chance to finish these other two tasks. You can grow any crop or collect from any home to earn progress towards completion, so feel free to plant or build homes that only take a few minutes to process in order to really rack up the points quickly.
If you can finish all three of these tasks within the first 48 hours, you'll receive a Gold Trophy, 50,000 coins and five Zoning Permits. Finish it within 48-72 hours and you'll receive the Silver Trophy, 20,000 coins and a single Zoning Permit. Finally, if you complete the goal within 72-96 hours, you'll receive just 5,000 coins and the Bronze Trophy.
Are these prizes worth the energy points you'll need to expend collecting from all of those homes or harvesting that many crops? That will ultimately be up to you to decide, but you'll need to decide fast, as this goal likely won't be available for long.
[Via CityVille Wiki]
What do you think of this Cream of the Crop Timed Goal? Will you try to complete all three tasks for the Gold Trophy, or will you skip completing the goal altogether? Sound off in the comments!


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Sunday, February 18, 2018
This sermon is the sixth sermon message in the series A FIRM FOUNDATION.
Thank you for visiting this web page and listening to Pastor Cliff's worship message, A FIRM FOUNDATION: "Missional God." This sermon was shared with our church family and friends at our Sunday, 9:30-10:30 am service. We also have our casual weekly Wednesday evening service from 6:30-7:15 pm.
The scripture references were from the Christian Holy Bible Genesis 3:21-25, Romans 5:15-17, Revelation 21:1-4, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
Pastor Cliff would like to hear your comments about this message.
Use "Post a Comment" on this page, e-mail them directly at firstname.lastname@example.com or leave them a voice message at 248-634-9711. Holly Calvary is a hometown church with caring people.


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This summer, 81,000 homes in Pittsburgh received a worrisome letter about their water. The local utility "has found elevated levels of lead in tap water samples in some homes," it said. Seventeen percent of samples had high levels of the metal, which can cause "serious health problems."
The situation was bad enough to attract the attention of Marc Edwards, the Virginia Tech professor who helped expose the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. "The levels in Pittsburgh are comparable to those reported in Flint," he said in an interview with local TV station WPXI.
This was surprising because until this year, Pittsburgh's lead levels had always been normal. So what happened?
First, a bit of background: In 2012, the city faced a dilemma. Though it had clean water, its century-old water system desperately needed repair. And its utility, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, was plagued by administrative problems. Residents complained of bad customer service and unfair fees. And after a series of poor financial decisions in the 2000s, PWSA was hundreds of millions of dollars in debt.
Pittsburgh isn't alone: Public utilities around the country are trying to make ends meet with dwindling public funding and increasingly outdated infrastructure. Many, like Pittsburgh, turn to private management companies to help out.
Pittsburgh's utility called in Veolia, a Paris-based company that consults with utilities, promising "customized, cost-effective solutions that reflect best practices, environmental protection and a better quality of life." Veolia consults or manages water, waste, and energy systems in 530 cities in North America, with recent contracts in New York City, New Orleans, and Washington, DC. Last year, the company, which operates in 68 countries, brought in about $27 billion in revenue.
Pittsburgh hired Veolia to manage day-to-day operations and provide an interim executive team, helping the utility run more efficiently and save precious public dollars. Under the terms of the contract, Veolia would keep roughly half of every dollar the utility saved under its guidance.
Under the leadership of Jim Good, a Veolia executive serving as interim director, PWSA began making sweeping changes—and they seemed to be working: Within a year, call waiting times for concerned customers dropped by 50 percent. Thanks to new fees for commercial buildings, new customers, and other assorted changes, the utility saved $2 million.
According to a 2013 article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Veolia changed PWSA's culture, too: Instead of traditional top-heavy management, Good checked in with employees over pizza and burgers every week. At a staff barbecue in 2012, "I told them that we were there to work with the employees as their partners," he later told the Post-Gazette. "I provided assurances that there wouldn't be any layoffs and that together we could achieve anything."
But by the end of 2015, the utility had laid off or fired 23 people—including the safety and water quality managers, and the heads of finance and engineering, according to documents obtained through a Right-to-Know request. The PWSA laboratory staff, which was responsible for testing water quality throughout the 100,000-customer system, was cut in half. Stanley States, a water quality director with 36 years of experience at the utility (employees referred to him as "Dr. Water") was transferred to an office-based job in the research department. Frustrated with the move, he retired.
Good maintains that not all staffing decisions were made by Veolia, which was in a consulting rather than management role when the layoffs occurred. Any suggested staffing changes had to be approved by the board, he said.
As the lab staff shrank, PWSA made major changes to its water treatment system. For decades, the city had been adding soda ash—a chemical similar to baking soda—to its water to prevent the pipes, many of which are lead, from corroding and leaching into the water. (Lack of corrosion controls caused lead to leach into the water in Flint.) In 2014, PWSA hastily replaced soda ash with another cheaper corrosion control treatment, caustic soda. Such a change typically requires a lengthy testing and authorization process with the state's Department of Environmental Protection, but the DEP was never informed of the change. Nearly two years later, as news spread about the disaster in Flint, the utility switched back to soda ash.
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto puts the blame for the treatment change squarely on Veolia, saying the company never informed the utility's board or the city. Veolia denies responsibility for the change, saying it "did not and would not prioritize cost savings ahead of effective corrosion control methods or water quality."
What is certain is that this spring, the state's DEP cited the utility for breaking state law and ordered immediate lead testing.
Tests this summer—the first since 2013—found that the city's lead levels had crept up and, for the first time on record, exceed federal standards. Seventeen percent of homes had levels above the Environmental Protection Agency's action level of 15 parts per billion.
Many suspect that the change in water treatment chemicals led to the jump in lead levels; the city is currently conducting an internal investigation into the matter.
Stanley States, the former water quality director, believes the staff cuts almost certainly played a role. Lead levels first crept up in 2013 because of a previous change in treatment chemicals, though they didn't exceed federal standards. But without a fully staffed lab, says States, the matter wasn't addressed. "They cut our laboratory in half," he said. "We would have been researching like crazy this lead corrosion problem to see how to correct it."
But Pittsburgh citizens' complaints about Pittsburgh's water goes beyond quality—it's also extraordinarily expensive. In 2013, a year after Veolia was hired, the water board approved a 20 percent rate increase over four years; by 2017, the average residential water bill will be $50 per month—triple the average Midwest cost, according to the Guardian.
Soon after, customers began complaining that their bills were coming erratically and appeared to charge for water residents hadn't used. One vacant property owner was charged for using 132,000 gallons of water in one month—that's about how much a family of four uses in a year. "You don't know if it's going to come in, whether it's late or not, how much it will be, a Pittsburgh retiree told Truthout. "Then you get it and there's a late charge."
In May of 2015, a group of Pittsburgh customers filed a class-action lawsuit against the utility, Veolia North America Water, and the accounting company keeping track of PWSA bills, alleging that new water meter readers installed in 2013 "catastrophically failed and customers have received grossly inaccurate and at times outrageously high bills"—including increases of nearly 600 percent. "PWSA is acutely aware that the billings are wrong but do not hesitate for a moment to issue 'shut off' notices and then arbitrarily turn off water service," read the complaint. PWSA and Veolia declined to respond to the allegations.
Last December, facing the class-action lawsuit, a state citation for changing corrosion controls, and mounting debt, Pittsburgh terminated its contract with Veolia. All told, PWSA had paid Veolia $11 million over the course of the contract.
Earlier this month, the utility announced it was suing the company. According to a press release, Veolia "grossly mismanaged PWSA's operations, abused its positions of special trust and confidence, and misled and deceived PWSA as part of its efforts to maximize profits for itself to the unfair detriment of PWSA and its customers."
Pittsburgh isn't the first municipality to sue Veolia this year. In April, Massachusetts officials sued Veolia, which was managing Plymouth's sewage treatment facility, for allowing 10 million gallons of untreated sewage to spill in and around the town's harbor last winter.
Two months later, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette charged Veolia with fraud and negligence for failing to discover Flint's enduring lead contamination problem after the city hired the company in 2015 to consult on water quality.
"Veolia stated that the water, quote, was safe," Schuette told NPR. "Veolia also callously and fraudulently dismissed medical and health concerns by stating that, quote, some people may be sensitive to any water."
In many cases, critics point to a pattern of Veolia saving utilities money through quick fixes—while ignoring bigger problems. In a phone interview, Kevin Acklin, the chief of staff for Pittsburgh's Mayor Bill Peduto, pointed out that Veolia's earnings are directly tied to the utility's short-term savings. "They had the incentive under the contract to not make capital investments in property, planning, and equipment—to basically not fix the pipes when needed, to pass off those costs to other agencies, including the city and private homes," he alleged. "Ultimately they were fiduciaries for the public authority, but they also served the business needs of a large multinational corporation."
Veolia denies responsibility in both Plymouth and Flint, saying the leak in Plymouth came from a pipe failure that was out of its control, and that the contract in Flint was limited to looking at another chemical called TTHM.
In the case of Pittsburgh, Veolia maintains that PWSA's board of directors retained control over the authority over the course of the three-year contract. "Veolia met its obligations and fulfilled the requirements of our contract in a fully transparent manner," wrote a Veolia North America spokeswoman in an email. "We stand behind the work performed on behalf of PWSA."
Yet Pittsburgh leaders can't help but notice that the city's utility is arguably even worse off than it was when it hired Veolia four years ago, with a depleted bank account—half of all earnings are directed to serving debt—and pipes that are still a century old. "The authority is in a pretty precarious financial situation right now, and I can't sit here and point to anything tangible to show the positive legacy of the contract we had with Veolia," says Acklin.
A former PWSA employee was more blunt about it. When asked how to advise utilities considering contracting with Veolia, he warned, "They will come in, rape your water company, and leave with money bags."