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Living With Kami: All About Konkokyo and Shinto
Discover all about Konkokyo and Shinto; and other spiritual practices in Japan! Learn what it's like to follow "Kami no Michi" – Way of the Kami – day to day. A blog dedicated to sharing information, teaching about practices and various ceremonies, and about daily living of primarily Konkokyo and Jinja Shinto, as well as Buddhism, Onmyoudou, Shugendo, and other spiritualities which originate from Japan.
Shinto in Yokosuka:The deities as neighbors, dwelling in the concrete jungle
In 2015, I first landed in Japan and stayed in Sanda, Hyogo prefecture for a few days before heading to live in Konko, Okayama prefecture. Both places I were in at first were forest heavy and either a small city or completely rural town. Locations where shrines were, as I expected, enjoyed large trees and beautiful natural features around them.
When I later visited Tokyo in September the same year – from the famous Meiji Jingu and Hanazono Jinja, to even small neighborhood shrines, natural beauty remains intact amidst the bustling city, one of the largest in the world. Even in Toronto, my home Konkokyo shrine also enjoys large land, beautiful tree and bushes in front and along the sides, wildflowers, and once had a line of 8 trees across the land (which unfortunately had succumbed to illness from an invasive beetle species, and ordered by the city to be cut down), but, even so, I was used to sacred spots being an oasis of natural beauty, largely and especially in rural areas, but even in an otherwise concrete bustling city like Tokyo and Toronto.
So you may imagine my surprise when, upon moving to Yokosuka and coming to the shrine I now live at here, what around it was not a special area with many trees and nature, but houses! I was shocked.
Of course, we are lucky to have a large garden on the side of our shrine, with a mandarin tree, a persimmon tree, 2 large sakaki trees, a small baby sakaki, Japanese maple, and also growing cucumbers, and more. Our border of the shrine also has aloe plants and other bush and earth - our garden and the natural features are definitely special spots for Kamisama, and in some sense we also have a sort of mini-oasis - but to the extent the shrine is so tight nestled between the neighborhood houses, I was really surprised.
Our humble shrine coming up the neighborhood road - it extends farther back and there is a garden farther down, but the road is quite narrow
The trees of our garden
Our two large sakaki trees - our shrine is 120 years old, and the trees have been here for most of our shrine's life, providing the branches to be offered as tamagushi. (Read more about tamagushi here)
To be honest, I was a little disappointed and confused. I always expected shrines to be around nature, and while our garden was a sanctuary and blessing, I wasn't very satisfied at first to be honest!
Over time, living here each day, I started to try and change my thinking. I was thinking about the good of our area. I thought, "Well, it's nice that Kami-sama is like everyone's neighbor". In fact, neighbors often come by to offer sake, candy, sweets, or even the harvest from their own gardens to Kami-sama.
It is a really nice community neighborhood we have, it is so beautifully quiet and peaceful despite just being 5 minutes walk from the core of downtown Yokosuka. Our shrine is up on the hill overlooking the area as well. Not to mention - it is also in the evacuation area in case of natural disaster. Thinking about these positive things, I began to warm up to our shrine's location more and more, and feel very grateful and humbled for the location, especially during a particularly strong earthquake and threat of tsunami, or when there was threats of flooding from the coast. I learned our shrine even survived through major catastrophes, such as the Great Kanto Earthquake, World War I and World War II.
Becoming more appreciative, I began to slowly warm up. And, the longer I lived in the downtown Yokosuka area, the more I realized our shrine wasn't the only neighborhood kami-sama! While other areas of Yokosuka city are more quiet and residential, and the shrines have beautiful natural features (perhaps famously for our city is Hashirimizu Jinja, and the East and West Kano Jinja), no where I have seen is quite like downtown Yokosuka.
For example, Suwa shrine, one of the older and larger shrines, has a sando (Sacred path) squished between a McDonald's and a Chinese food Restaurant, and the other open path is facing the road. Shops tower around the shrine too.
The area around Suwa shrine, courtesy of Google Maps
A medium sized Jizo temple, Enmeiji on Dobuita Street (a famous street here in Yokosuka), is squished right beside a live house music venue and a hearing aid office, with no proper sando, just facing the road path (similar to our shrine).
The Jizo temple on Dobuita Street
A Toyokawa Inari shrine and temple up on the hill, the only way to walk to is to go through Mikasa Dori, a closed roof shopping road, and it is very hard to realize there is the path to the shrine there!
The main way to get to the shrine temple complex, is through these doors in the Mikasa Street shopping center
It is the only main way (there is another way, but difficult to use) to visit. Ryuuhonji, the temple near our shrine, built all the way back in the Kamakura area, is also resting between the houses of our same neighborhood, Fukadadai, and facing the roadways too. It has some large trees, but doesn't enjoy the exact same nature a large shrine in Tokyo enjoys.
Ryuuhonji's roadway
There is perhaps an exception in a small Shinmei shrine near our shrine, just 3 minutes beside each other. It has a good natural space around it, probably the most I have seen in downtown Yokosuka area. But just beside and behind the shrine, it is still very much nestled in our neighborhood as well
Shinmei shrine, the shrine just near ours
As I say this, there may be a sense of dejection. To be honest, I felt so at first. I wondered why the downtown Yokosuka area's sacred spots were like so.
But after living here more and more, I began to love it. In Tokyo, the shrines and temples in the city very much have their own space - that is, you know you're going to visit a shrine as there is a special area, special marked path. In Yokosuka, you can simply stumble upon the torii just on your shopping trip. Or walking around the neighborhood, and suddenly there's a huge temple or a shrine just among the houses.
Thinking about it, and what made me want to write this article is - I absolutely love it now.
I think, while I am more of a rural area girl and love nature, isn't it nice that the deities are right with us even beside shops and homes?
I would be walking down to get lunch, and see Jizo-sama's temple and can make a sacred visit.
I go to visit for a dentist appointment, look up the road from the clinic, and suddenly there's a torii and the shrine right there, just one house down. When I walked around my neighborhood the first time, I stumbled upon the massive Ryuuhonji temple from the Kamakura era, just there down the street without warning. Or, I'm shopping in Mikasa dori, and see a sign for a shrine that leads to stairs, and find myself at the sacred spot.
Other cities may have small hokora in the middle of the roads like this, but Yokosuka is one of the few, if not only places that has a special charm where even medium and large shrines can suddenly be in the midst of the homes and shops. And, I love it. The deities are right with us even in our everyday, mundane life. They're our neighbors, they're there after you're going home after work, they're there right among the shopkeepers and the latest deals of the day. And I absolutely adore that about Yokosuka.
There is a special power and awe to shrines nestled deep within ancient forests, or far up a sacred mountain, or quietly standing proud in the rural villages; I love going to them too, and am always in great respect to them. But at the same time, there is also a special power and awe to the urban shrines too. Shrines near the shops and homes of everyone's everyday life. There is something really special about that too, that I love.
There are countless kami everywhere within the universe. The light of the sun and the moon shines across all land, and the winds blow across the world with no borders. Everywhere is inherently sacred, even if it becomes mundane to us, everything stands on sacred soil, is nourished by the sacred waters, and recieves the sacred light of the sun, moon, and stars. I learned to realize this, that the kami are really everywhere, not just can be felt in the spots surrounded by nature; but really everywhere. I realized this from the bottom of my heart, thanks to Yokosuka.
View into our shrine at night
Monday, 11 June 2018
This is a very beautiful and insightful piece.
I think it's typical for us as Westerners to have particular stereotypes about what a culture is or isn't like and how its religious beliefs are expressed "authentically." But somewhere in the midst of that we forget that in fact, all religions evolve and change and that people in other countries are "modern" too and not isolated in some idyllic past that may or may not have existed.
So it makes perfect sense that as humans have migrated from the countryside to urban centers they've brought their gods with them. So thank you for helping illuminate that aspect in Shinto.
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MUNTINLUPA CITY – Choosing the right school and senior high track under the K to 12 curriculum significantly enhances the chances of career success, said Edukasyon.ph Chief Operating Officer Anthony De Guzman Jr.
"For a Grade 10 student, choosing the right school and senior high track has far-reaching effects beyond just getting a diploma – it sets you on a path towards your future career. In today's highly competitive job market, preparing for your career as early as high school has become an important determinant of future success," De Guzman said during the opening program of the Muntinlupa Senior High Fair 2017 held last February in the city.
"The additional two years in high school will help students determine and prepare better for their career path — whether they choose the path of higher education, employment, or entrepreneurship. Senior high does not guarantee immediate employment after graduation, but it does open up a lot of opportunities through its enhanced education curriculum," he further commented.
In partnership with Muntinlupa City Government and Department of Education – School Division Office (DepEd-SDO), Edukasyon.ph held the largest two-day Senior High School Fair in Southern Metro Manila. Over 5,000 junior high school students attended.
This event provided a venue for students and parents to discover senior high tracks and career pathways; inquire to senior high schools; and apply to these schools using the Edukasyon.ph online platform. As the second year of the K-12 program is rolled out, these topics are expected to be increasingly relevant for rising Grade 11 students.
"We seek to democratize access to education to ensure that an affordable, relevant and quality education is available to every Filipino student regardless of social status. Edukasyon.ph offers this access, as well as empowers students to make better senior high and college choices, by giving them the critical information they need in their education to careers pathway," De Guzman said.
Muntinlupa Congressman Ruffy Biazon underscored the importance of going to senior high to become productive citizens in the country. "Kapag nakapagtapos tayo ng estudyante sa ilalim ng K-12 system, employable at productive ang ating mamamayan (If students finish the K-12 system, our people can now be employable and productive)," he said.
"[S]a ilalim ng basic education, ang graduates pwede nang maging productive. Pwede ng maging employable [dahil] meron [na silang] karagdagang skills na tungo sa paghahanapbuhay (Under this basic education, the graduates will be productive. They are employable because they will have additional job-ready skills)," Biazon added.
Biazon also encouraged students to take technical-vocational-livelihood courses because skilled workers can fill the in-demand job needs of our country.
Career guidance important for K-12 success
The highlight of the event included career talks delivered by speakers who discussed the four senior high tracks and the various careers these tracks can lead to.
"Our goal is to discuss the different senior high tracks with students so they understand them fully. Afterwards, we want to introduce them to a range of schools that offer these tracks. We want to offer them choices so they find the best fit for themselves," Edukasyon.ph Head of Student Engagement Daniel Macusi said.
"Many students clearly need more guidance in making their educational choices as there is a lack of reliable sources of information and career guidance. Edukasyon.ph aims to fill this gap," he added.
DepEd-SDO Muntinlupa Officer-in-Charge Dr. Mauro Gulan also urged students to take the Grade 10 study seriously, as this would reflect the efficiency and effectiveness of the senior high program. "The success of your future is also the success of DepEd and the entire nation. Ang gusto ng gobyerno ay walang graduate na walang trabaho (Our government wants to ensure that there are no graduates that do not have a job)," he said.
The Muntinlupa senior high fair is only the first of the many Senior High School Fairs across Metro Manila planned by Edukasyon.ph. The next SHS Fairs will be held in Pasay City on March 15; Manila on March 20-23; and Quezon City on March 27.


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Jill, a 28-year old teacher from Kalamazoo, Michigan wins $7,200 on Mr. Vegas, plans to trade-in her car for a more winter-friendly model.
When Jill first moved to Michigan, she hadn't known what to expect. "I used to live in Vegas, and everybody warned me that winter is something else. I guess I never believed them." After her first winter in Michigan, she decided that her clunker of a car was not going to be good enough for the harsh winters, especially since the heater had broken months prior to moving. But there was one problem: she couldn't afford a new car.
"Even if I got it as a trade-in, the bills would be way too much." Jill gave up on it for a few months before one of her co-workers suggested that she try her hand at an online casino. Jill was no stranger to casinos, but she'd never tried an online one before. "They're a totally different animal, but I found them more approachable than most." Her co-worker helped to set her up, too, making sure that she got her 100 free spins when she deposited. "Real casinos have little gimmicks to try and hook you in, like discounted drinks or something. This was a nice change of pace, I really felt like I had a good chance at winning." She felt even more confident after using some of the machines in free-play, and more confident still when using her free spins.
That was when she met the Mr. Vegas slot machine. "I think he's what people think of when they think Vegas. The casino darling that gets all the ladies and always does well. I think it's cheesy, but I definitely like it." Jill set up a reward system for herself: she would spin each time that she finished grading a paper. "Eventually I got into a really good rhythm, I think I was getting better at finishing grading at a decent time because of it."
Jill's $7,200 win almost caused her to mess up, of course. "I had to take an hour to cool off before I could finish grading that night. I don't think I even slept, I just kinda sat in bed all night." Jill immediately used her winnings to trade for a much better car for the winter. "I'm using the rest of it to throw a party for my class. They don't know that I won anything, but I know that they all really struggled with the last test, so I want to cheer them up."


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Not that we're surprised, but the NBA last week chose to throw the kind of look-away pass that made for a lost opportunity, the kind that would have made its All-Star Game actually count for something, for a change.
The hot new vulgar female rapper, Nicki Minaj, appearing on the Grammys, infuriated many to most Catholics and civil-minded folks of any and all beliefs by performing a dark, satanic number that included an elderly, white male escort dressed in full Papal regalia, apparently prepared to conduct an exorcism.
Designed to shock and create a stir, it shocked and created a stir. Ms. Minaj's act seemed particularly tasteless and selfish given that it was performed on the night after Whitney Houston's death, when even the most desperate scene-stealers and awards show vandals were moved to take this night off.
But just a few days later, here comes a press release from the NBA: The headline performer at this year's NBA All-Star Game, live on TNT from Orlando, will be Nicki Minaj.
What a pity. The NBA could have issued Minaj a "never mind," cancelled her appearance with a "maybe we'll give ya a call next year," plus a few words about how the "NBA values the sensitivities and dignity of all of its fans and employees," and let Minaj and everyone else figure out the rest for themselves.
David Stern might have, could have, should have issued her what shows up on NBA final stat sheets as a "DNP (did not play) coach's decision."
But it seems some sensitivity and common public decency issues are more important than others. Sure, we all have feelings, but based on how and where the wind blows, some count more than others.
Besides, Nicki Minaj is a hot new rapper, likely to draw a good TV audience. What's more important than that?
* How's this for the open to a documentary? Manassas High School (Memphis, Tenn.) football coach Bill Courtney leans forward, toward his team, then says:
"Let's see, starting right guard, shot, no longer in school. Starting middle linebacker, shot, no longer in school. Two players fighting right in front of the coach when he's trying to make things work out. Starting center arrested for shooting someone in the face.
"For most coaches, that would be a career's worth of [bleep] to put up with. But that about sums up the last two weeks for me."
"The Undefeated," a full-length documentary, opens this week in local theaters. It's worth your time and money.
Cowardly Carton sidesteps Lin criticisms in chat
While we're on the subject of basketball and religion, if WFAN's Craig Carton wants to be a tough guy, then he should be a tough guy. His copout moments have become too frequent and too obvious for even his acolytes to excuse or ignore.
On Wednesday during his show with Weekday Boomer Esiason, Carton bemoaned the fact Jeremy Lin so often places God at the top when listing credits. Carton went on and on about how we don't need another Tim Tebow, and how Lin should keep such things to himself.
Fine. He's not alone.
But the next day, with Lin as a phone-in guest, it took quite a while for Carton to stop fawning long enough to bring up the religion issue — and then he completely removed himself from the equation, as if it were someone else's issue.
"You have been compared, now, to Tim Tebow," Carton said. Lin answered that he respects Tebow, is aware of his charitable deeds and is eager to meet him.
Whoa! The truth of the matter is that Carton had, just the morning before, compared Lin with Tebow — and in a highly negative manner. Carton, Mr. Tough Guy, failed to disclose that fact to Lin, nor to the audience that hadn't heard his riff the previous morning.
To that end, Carton's in the habit of copying the style popularized on WFAN by the discontinued team of Mike Francesa and Chris Russo, who would rip big shots before and after they interviewed them, but not during that interview.
Early in his WFAN career, Carton called for N.Y. Gov. David Paterson's immediate resignation after Paterson admitted to an extramarital affair. Shortly thereafter, when Paterson was a guest, Carton was as sweet as pecan pie. Tough guy.
Jets include mailing fee with PSL invoices
So The Jets' season subscriber, already having reached deep for three PSLs, last week received his 2012 invoice. His three end zone seats, at $125 each per game, cost $3,750 for 10 dates, including two exhibition games. Tack on another $250 for parking and the total comes to $4,000.
Ah, but the total came to $4,004 — a $4 mailing charge was tacked on.
Three PSL payments, two must-buy preseason games, $3,750 for three end zone seats, $25 per game to park and they couldn't send the tickets without charging another $4? You know what Roger Goodell says, "It's all about the fans."
* Thursday we read four breaking Internet reports on the passing that afternoon of Gary Carter. But only one seized on that news for self-promotion. That's right, ESPN's.
The third paragraph of ESPN.com's report read, "The Carter family has granted ESPN access to the family website to inform the public."
Anyone and everyone — and all media — had access to that website, which was how the public was informed.
* The Knicks have signed J.R. Smith (below). Five years ago I moved to the Freehold, N.J., area where Smith grew up and still frequents. Seems everyone in town has a J.R. Smith story, none of them good.
Officially, some "highlights:" In 2007, while with Denver, he crashed a car belonging to Carmelo Anthony, with Anthony in it.
In 2009, he did time — and narrowly avoided a manslaughter charge — for blowing a stop sign and crashing into another car. One of Smith's pals was ejected from his car and later died.
Before that accident, Smith had five driving suspensions and a pile of summonses for speeding. Since that accident, Smith has had several more driving suspensions and speeding tickets. And has missed court dates.
He also had his Twitter account suspended for writing what were identified to be Bloods gang messages. He also used Twitter to trash teammates. Fine fellow.


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Skip to 0 minutes and 7 seconds In terms of making set extensions, we have to do a lot for Bleak Old Shop of Stuff because the film is set in Victorian England, and most of these places don't exist anymore. Well, also it's set in kind of magical, nonexistent, kind of satirical Victorian England that never existed. Yeah. Quite a lot of them actually we did by going taking photographs of London and then building new buildings out those photographs. In terms of doing set extensions, you're kind of starting from a point of where you've got your shot, and you know how that's meant to look. And the big thing about it is prospective. I mean it is going back to Leonardo da Vinci, draw the lines.
Skip to 0 minutes and 47 seconds And there's some really great tools in Photoshop these days to be able to see perspective and change perspective of shots using Photoshop, which is great for photos and for manipulating photos and getting them looking exactly how you want them to look. That's definitely the way to go, but the big thing perspective. Work out the perspective, and get the perspective looking right first. Bright and shine. For a farthing. Watch mid 19th century just before lunch on Christmas Eve opening. Curses. I thought it was 20 to Eastend.
The world according to the Blaine Brothers: Photoshop extensions
The Blaine Brothers were called upon to create a Dickensian world - in Photoshop.
A BBC comedy series "The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff" parodying the works of Charles Dickens gave the Blaine Brothers some interesting possibilities to create grimy victorian scenes in Photoshop. The important thing is getting the perspective to feel right, which is where 3D compositing can help. Incidentally as you can see from the clip above the opening scene starts with a swooping vertical shot a bit like our exercise this week.
Designing your sets in Photoshop (or other 2D image manipulation software) makes sense as you can texture and build architecture out of existing photographic references and library images and then composite them into flat layers, before bringing them into 3D space to arrange them. It's a great way to build a world out of found images of buildings and architecture to create your own environment.
The set extensions seem to work here as it's a satirical, comic world, but how might you use this technique- what theme, genre or place would you build?
Rather than creating your own material in this way, you can use other people's imagery- legally. That's very much central to HaZ Dulull's VFX film work - which we'll see next.
© Norwich University of the Arts (NUA)


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Fascia & Readograph Signs Toronto & Mississauga
Facia Signs are traditional wall signs which can be illuminated or non- illuminated and are installed in various sizes, shapes and with a multitude of graphics and colours.
Readograph Signs allow a company to have a manually changeable message (included with the sign) to offer or business specials or daily greetings.
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Girls's & Men's Clothes & Fashion
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An attack against a computer, network, or website in which bandwidth is flooded or resources are overloaded to the point that it is rendered unavailable to users. Can also be carried out by malicious code that simply shuts down resources.
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|"Dmytro Molkov (JIRA)" <j...@apache.org>
|[jira] Resolved: (HDFS-1144) Improve Trash Emptier
|Tue, 11 May 2010 21:25:46 GMT
[ https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/HDFS-1144?page=com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.issuetabpanels:all-tabpanel ] Dmytro Molkov resolved HDFS-1144. --------------------------------- Resolution: Duplicate Since Trash is actually a part of Common I created HADOOP-6761 > Improve Trash Emptier > --------------------- > > Key: HDFS-1144 > URL: https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/HDFS-1144 > Project: Hadoop HDFS > Issue Type: Improvement > Reporter: Dmytro Molkov > Assignee: Dmytro Molkov > > There are two inefficiencies in the Trash functionality right now that have caused some problems for us. > First if you configured your trash interval to be one day (24 hours) that means that you store 2 days worth of data eventually. The Current and the previous timestamp that will not be deleted until the end of the interval. > And another problem is accumulating a lot of data in Trash before the Emptier wakes up. If there are a couple of million files trashed and the Emptier does deletion the NameNode will freeze until everything is removed. (this particular problem hopefully will be addressed with HDFS-1143). > My proposal is to have two configuration intervals. One for deleting the trashed data and another for checkpointing. This way for example for intervals of one day and one hour we will only store 25 hours of data instead of 48 right now and the deletions will be happening in smaller chunks every hour of the day instead of a huge deletion at the end of the day now. -- This message is automatically generated by JIRA. - You can reply to this email to add a comment to the issue online.
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Tech Group is providing a range of construction solutions including key MEP works for a major Ajman project Tech Group, the largest construction group in Ajman, says it has secured contracts worth a total of Dh87 million ($23.
Gulf Asia Contracting, part of the multi-billion-dollar RP Group, has won more than Dh2.28 billion ($620 million) worth of civil and industrial construction contracts in the UAE emirates of Ajman and Dubai, making it a significant player in the industry.
ASGC puts Onyx project on track Al Shafar General Contracting Company (ASGC) of the UAE has completed all the structural construction work on The Onyx development in Dubai, UAE, putting it on track for completion by the fourth quarter of 2015.


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I've been thinking about zucchini (aka courgettes and summer squash) lately. It's a great veg for baby food because it cooks quickly in a steamer and purees well, while being a great nutritional addition to his meal. It also mashes really well when cooked, so it's a popular addition to our baby food. That said, I've never spent much time craving or cooking it, so perhaps now is the time to start so we continue eating it beyond baby food.
Recently, I've prepared it by peeling and slicing thin rounds, then steaming the whole lot for about 10 minutes, or until cooked as desired. I then put it in a bowl, add in grated lime or lemon zest and juice, and toss. It's nice as is, or add a bit of salt as desired.
My mother-in-law made some by dry-grilling, and it was surprisingly good. I had never really appreciated the flavor of zucchini on its own. Slice into 1/4 inch rounds, sprinkle with a bit of lemon juice, then place directly on a hot grill until cooked. The presentation is also lovely because of the dark skin and grill marks. Easy, quick, fat-free...what more could you ask for?
The September 2007 issue of Cook's Illustrated has some additional suggestions on selecting and preparing zucchini.
Shopping Notes: Zucchini weighing less than 8 ounces are more flavorful and less watery than larger ones.
Preparation: Shred, discarding seeds and core, then salt and squeeze dry.
Basic Cooking Method: Shredding, salting (use 1 1/2 teaspoons salt with 2 1/2 pounds zucchini), and squeezing removes moisture from this watery vegetable, as does a dry-heat cooking method, like sauteing. Toss dried zucchini with 2 teaspoons olive oil and then cook in 12-inch nonstick skillet filmed with 2 teaspoons additional oil over high heat for 4 minutes. Stir infrequently as zucchini cooks to promote browning.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
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The first stage of the Driftwood experience is complete and we open our doors to book private rooms or the ENTIRE HOUSE. (Sleeps 7 adults and 2 children)
You will have a private cook, house keeper and laundry service.
We have three unique rooms all with private en suite bathrooms.
Two rooms contain a king bed that can be split into two singles (ocean view or forest view).
The third room is a loft room with ocean view bathroom and balcony. It has a double bed and a single day bed.
The bathrooms are outdoor style with views of the lagoon but have complete privacy. They have Australian standard flushing toilets and beautiful showers that have spring fed clean water flowing through.
The house contains a large open plan kitchen/dining/lounge area central to the house with stunning views of the ocean, neighboring islands and the expansive star filled night sky and romantic moon
The house is designed for comfort and relaxation and is completely screened. It combines Western standards in design and build with Solomon island features and includes a wood fired pizza oven and edible garden.
The kitchen is purpose designed with a large bench top and modern four burner cooker to accommodate guests who love cooking and eating. There is a large dining table that can accommodate 8 guests and plenty of crockery and glassware to host dinner party's day after day.
Our cooks worked with award-winning yacht chef Kdn Lyne and chefs from the Good Food Brother Hood from Bali. Together they developed a mouth-watering weekly menu that showcase the best of Solomon Islander dishes combined with a modern twist.
You are also welcome to take charge of cooking if you wish and they will be your kitchen hand!, its up to you as we like to leave the option open to the chefs out there!
See what guests are saying about us.
'We had a wonderful, relaxing time at Driftwood. There's such a great range of activities, and we particularly enjoyed the wood carving, fishing, and of course the incredible snorkelling and freediving. It's a perfect setting for relaxing and reading, and the food was amazing – the best application of local ingredients that we've had. Thanks for having us!' Aaron Mitchell, expat, Dec 2018
'Driftwood offers the most amazing true Solomon Islands experience in a pristine setting and environment, with a combination of comfortable accommodation, delicious home-cooked food (using local ingredients such as coconuts, limes, locally grown vegetables and freshly caught fish) and the most attentive, accommodating staff and people waiting to make your experience as exciting or relaxing (or a combination of both and more) as you want. Highly recommended. I'll be going back for more asap' Catherine Hanson-Friend Jan 2019
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Thank you for your interest in an Earlham College off-campus study program. Please read the following instructions carefully. Once you have completed steps 1-3, please click the Proceed to Application button, found in the fourth tab on this page.
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18, August 2019: Since its inception, POLICE has been a brand that spoke the language of freedom, individuality, and rebellion. Having pioneered some of the most iconic moments in fashion, POLICE is known for its innovative and trendsetting designs.
Translucent impresses with its unique configuration that cohesively brings together different elements to present a timepiece that is sleek, youthful and truly exclusive. The skeleton dial gives a glimpse into the inner workings of the automatic movement and the polyurethane body equips the timepiece with style and charisma.
With luminescent indices, hands and decorative metal screws on the bezel, Translucent has a clean silhouette that is deft with details and functional elements. The timepiece is available in four exceptional colour variations – clear, clear with rose gold, black and navy blue.
While the striking design and features are sure to garner praise, it is the impressive price segment that makes Translucent a remarkable collection. Featuring technology and automatic movement that is characteristic of high-end timepieces, Translucent is an extraordinary timepiece that offers a plethora of features at an attractive price point.


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The Best Electric Skateboards
An electric skateboard can be a convenient and fun way to get around town. Whether you are looking for an easy way to commute to work, complete the last mile home after getting off at your subway stop, or just want to speed around your neighborhood for a thrill, an electric skateboard can fill that role for you. These boards can be enjoyed by new skateboarders and old pros alike.
When considering an electric skateboard, we recommend thinking about how you intend to use it. For example, if you are planning to use it to commute to work, you need to make sure that it can carry enough charge to cover the distance to your office. The range isn't as important if you're just planning on using it for fun around your neighborhood. Another factor is ease of use in terms of the remote. Speed is also important. Most people don't feel comfortable going more than 15 mph on an electric skateboard, though some pros may. Different skateboards also have different weight maximums so keep that in mind. The weight of the board itself may matter to you if you need to carry it for any distance. Some skateboards work well for off-roading whereas others require a smooth, paved surface. If you have a hilly commute, a skateboard that can handle the incline will be crucial.
We've included several Acton skateboards in this review, but the best quality is the Acton Blink Qu4tro. This electric skateboard is expensive, but much more impressive than the other Acton skateboards. It is called the Blink Qu4tro due to it's all-wheel drive involving 4 powerful hub motors. This allows it to take on hills with up to 30% incline! Reviewers said being able to speed down roads at up to 23 mph was thrilling. A 22 mile range means you can conquer even longer commutes than some less expensive boards. Regenerative braking recovers energy used to slow the skateboard to be utilized later. The board itself weighs 24 pounds, so it's a bit heftier than other choices we've reviewed. Integrated lights on the front, tail, and sides can be turned on or off via the app. Recharge time is approximately 3 hours. The Bluetooth joystick has a comfortable, ergonomic fit.
Boosted Dual+
The Boosted Dual+ is a high-quality electric skateboard with a bamboo deck. It has a 22 mph top speed and can take on hills with up to a 25% grade. Worried about how you're going to stop once you get to the bottom of that hill? The regenerative braking system has got you covered. The standard range battery weighs 4 pounds and the extended range battery weighs 5 pounds, so your overall board weight will be different depending on which you choose (14.7-15.5 pounds). The shock-absorbing, flexible bamboo deck offers 38 inches of length. The Boosted Dual+ operates on a powerful 2000 W motor with belt drive system. The Bluetooth-connected remote is simply designed and easy to use. This electric skateboard was a favorite to use among reviewers.
Evolve Bamboo GT electric skateboards spent more than two years in development. The top speed is 26 mph for the street version and 25 mph for the all terrain version though again, this can vary depending on rider weight, terrain, and battery life. Speaking of battery life, recharge time is four to five hours with the standard charger. You can also get a fast charger which will recharge the battery in 80 minutes if you are short on time. The street model weighs 17 pounds whereas the all-terrain model weighs 21 pounds with its heftier wheels. In other words, this is a heavy board but you may not mind that much once you feel its impressive performance. The included remote has a small display screen however reviewers found that they generally didn't feel comfortable looking down at a screen while speeding through the world on the Evolve Bamboo GT. There are four speed modes to master: GT, Fast, Eco, and Slow. The Eco mode is designed to get the most out of your skateboard's range, so speed is limited to about 12 mph in that particular mode however you can speed up more in more advanced modes.
Yuneec E-GO2 Electric Skateboard
The Yuneec E-GO2 Electric Skateboard is a budget-friendly board available in three stylish colors: Deep Mint, Royal Wave, and Hot Pink. One female reviewer noted that she appreciated the pink, as she feels that sometimes electric skateboard companies cater to men and forget that women like to ride too! This board features a classic kicktail longboard shape to provide riders with better steering and control. Reviewers appreciate the price tag but understand that it comes with some compromises. You don't need to be concerned about reliability, but this won't go as fast as some more expensive models. This Yuneec board has a top speed of 12.5 mph and a battery range of 18 miles. It can take on hills with inclines of up to 10%, so if you live in a particularly steep or hilly area, consider one of our other board recommendations. Recharging the battery takes a total of three to five hours. It weighs just 13.9 pounds, which is relatively lightweight for an electric skateboard, so it is lightweight enough to carry by hand into a classroom or office. It has a maximum 220-pound weight capacity.
The Inboard M1 is a high-quality electric skateboard that has some great features. Just carry an extra PowerShift Battery in your bag if you're traveling greater than the range and swap it out quickly and easily when you need to. Battery recharging time is 90 minutes. Keep in mind though that each extra battery goes for $199 on Amazon. This board operates via dual in-wheel motors instead of an external motor, which looks cool but reviewers note that doesn't accelerate as fast as some other boards. The RLFX remote has a unique ergonomic design. LED headlights and taillights both make the rider more visible to others as well as increases visibility slightly for the rider while navigating inadequately lit areas. Because this electric skateboard is splash resistant, you can ride after it's rained without worry.
The Swagton Spectra Advanced offers the exciting next step in electric skateboard technology with its integration of AI. There are pressure sensors that are built into the carbon fiber deck which sense your posture and adapt to your movement for a smoother, more effortless ride. Unfortunately, these features come with a higher price, which brought down the score on this electric skateboard. This board measures 19.4 inches by 11.1 inches by 15.3 inches and weighs just 12.5 pounds. It features a 12.4-mile range however the regenerative hub motors recharge the battery as you decelerate or go down inclines. Otherwise, battery recharge time is about 90 to 120 minutes. It has a 15 mph maximum speed, which most reviewers found comfortable and plenty fast. You can conquer hills of up to 15 degrees on this board so consider the incline rates in your area when you make this purchase. Reviewers absolutely love the included lock and alarm feature that this board incorporates. You can activate it easily via the eBoard Go app.
The Acton Blink S is a more expensive electric skateboard than the Acton Blink Lite, but still very affordable when compared to other models. The Acton Blink S has a 27.5 inch by 8 inch deck made of Canadian Maple Wood and Aircraft Grade Aluminum. These dimensions make it relatively small for a skateboard, which may not be comfortable for some users over longer rides. It weighs 11 pounds so it is quite portable and easy to carry. The 220-pound maximum rider weight is 40 pounds greater than the Acton Blink Lite. The Acton Blink S is capable of taking on hills with a 15% grade, though some reviewers noted difficulty even with less steep hills. The acceleration is not the fastest however it could be comfortable for a beginner, and you often have to pay quite a bit more to get a board with greater speed, range, and a smoother ride. You can use the Acton app, which is compatible with both Android and iOS, to change between the three modes: Beginner, Normal, and Pro. Acton recommends mastering one mode before advancing to the next.
The Acton Blink Lite electric skateboard is a great choice for kids, college students, and those who are new to electric skateboarding. One thing that we should say outright is that there is a weight limit of 180 pounds according to Acton's user manual, though the recommended rider weight on their website is 130 pounds. This lightweight skateboard weighs in at just 7.7 pounds, making it easy to carry for those times you can't ride it. It has a range of up to five miles before it needs to be recharged, and charge time is up to two hours. This board operates on a 450 W 1 hub motor. The max incline rate is 8% so it won't be able to handle the toughest hills. The deck is constructed out of Canadian Maple Wood and measures 26.8 inches long. This electric skateboard comes at a budget-friendly price that is perfect for people who are curious about electric skateboarding but don't want to shell out thousands of dollars.
Swagtron SwagBoard
The Swagtron Swagboard NextGen Electric Skateboard has a fast charging time of just 90 minutes, so you don't have to waste the entire afternoon waiting for a charge. It has a 10 mile maximum range. It's not the fastest, with speeds topping out at 11 mph, but it is currently selling for under $200 which is a big plus! Reviewers mention that the cutouts in the board make them feel as if they have a better grip on the board while riding, and additionally make it convenient to carry by hand. Plus, this skateboard weighs just 9.5 pounds, so it's light enough for even kids to carry. The battery is UL 2272 certified for safety and is equipped with the latest SentryShield battery technology. It can only support weights of up to 187 pounds, so it's a good choice for lighter adult riders and kids. Auto shutdown after 10 minutes without use helps to preserve battery life. Swagtron offers a limited 1-year hardware warranty on the SwagBoard.
The Acton Blink Qu4tro was the favorited board reviewed by our testers! It is expensive, but offers top speeds, 4-wheel drive, regenerative braking, 22-mile range, and can conquer 30% incline hills! The Tension Suspension also allows for smooth rides that made reviewers feel stable and in control. Despite its high price tag, the Boost Dual+ also scored as one of the highest among the electric skateboards reviewed. The remote was easy to use, it has a decent range (especially if you get the extended range battery), does well with hills, and was a pleasure to ride. It also offers user-replaceable parts and a six-month warranty. Our runner-up is the Evolve Bamboo GT which is available in three different wheel setups and offers a long range. The Inboard M1 also got great reviews, and people especially like that the battery can be quickly changed out on the go, thereby increasing your range. The Swagtron Spectra Advanced is truly exciting with its incorporation of AI technology. You'll feel like you're living in the future! Finally, the Acton Blink S and Acton Blink Lite are more budget-friendly options. Keep in mind that they don't offer as much in terms of range or speed, nor do they offer as smooth a ride as the higher priced choices. That being, these boards are nonetheless good choices for those just getting into electric skateboarding, kids, and those who don't want to spend a lot of cash.
For more comparisons and reviews about electric skateboards, click here!


text: This happened today in the neighborhood! Posted on October 24, 2013 by AHA The last tree to be planted as part of the 5th Street streetscape project of the City of Phoenix, Phoenix Biomedical Campus, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Dignity Health, Evans Churchill Community Association, and Roosevelt Row CDC. Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:Like Loading... Related


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Create your own personal brand, climb up career ladder
Do you find it hard to get a foothold on your chosen career ladder? Fret not. Get that by creating a personal brand, says Ann Pickering, HR director for Telefónica UK.
A personal brand seems like a strange concept, but it's actually incredibly important. It affects how people perceive you professionally, and can help you make that all important first impression - formed within just seven seconds of meeting, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
A research has shown that it can take as many as 20 interactions to change someone's first opinion of you, so it's vital that you make every second count. A strong personal brand can also give you greater confidence and open up more opportunities at Work.
Here are some tips by Pickering on how to create your own personal brand:
1. Identify what makes up your own personal brand. Assess everything from style, body language and tone of voice, to how you communicate on email or by phone. They may seem worlds apart, but what is the one thing that successful women like Clare Balding, Victoria Beckham or Deborah Meaden all have in common? All three have strong personal identities and have worked hard to create them. Even the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, wasn't afraid to seek extra help to refine her brand, famously employing a vocal coach to lower the pitch of her voice and subsequently progressing from Cabinet member to Prime Minister.
2. Decide exactly what it is you want people to know about you. A good place to start is to think about why someone would want you in their team. Ask yourself key questions including - What are my values? What motivates me? What are my key skills, strengths and achievements? What can I bring to a team?
3. Concentrate on your key strengths. Once you have identified these, make the most of them by seeking out opportunities to demonstrate your skills, whether it means putting yourself forward for a specific role on a project, or working with someone who brings out your strengths.
4. Focus on the things that make you different - what makes you, you? Concentrate on the positives on both personal as well as professional level. Consider the way you react in everyday situations, whether it's the way you manage people, how you deal with stressful situations, your creativity, or the way you think and process information. Write your answers down so you have a clearly defined set of objectives.
5. Critique it. Look back at what you've written and be ruthless. Remove any irrelevant or unnecessary detail and make sure that you're using simple, impactful language, no jargon. Once you're happy, seek feedback from others. Ask friends or family, or if you're comfortable, other colleagues. It's important to ask people who will be able to give you honest feedback.
6. Put it into action. Once you have identified what makes up your brand identity, you need to put it into practice. Think about specific projects and meetings that you have coming up and what you want people to remember about you. Simple steps such as giving yourself enough time to prepare can ensure that you come across in the right way.
7. Take it online. A recent Telefónica survey of 18-30 year olds found that young men are significantly more likely to identify technology as holding the key to future success than young women. This is a worrying trend. More women need to realise the opportunities that digital revolution can bring, such as using social media for networking and building a network of influence. Make sure that you use technology to your advantage. Keep your Linkedin profile up to date, join groups, participate in discussions and ensure that the brand you project online matches up with your brand off line. - IANS


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Select the clinical service(s) that you are looking for and then press filter to find match.
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Online therapy & direct billing available! Anna will support her clients to communicate at their highest potential. Once needs have been identified, she will work address her client's speech-language goals using researched and evidence-based…
Online therapy is here so that your child can work on communication skills safely from the comforts of home! I have been helping children learn to talk for over 30 years. I provide personalized private speech-language therapy services throughout…
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Evrath and Vaareng came back to Base Camp. Dragons clustered around them. "Behold, behold! We bear treasure worth bearing!" hooted Vaareng. He held forth the C♯ Spear, which was his by right of getting stabbed with it.
"Oh, that's a wonderfully beautiful magic spear!" said all the dragons. "Except that it's odd and blotchy of color."
"Well, the cush can't see color, so they didn't paint it or anything," said Evrath. "But it's quite powerful. Don't get stabbed by it!"
Xilobrax ¼-spread his ears. "A caution there. While the spear is indeed beautiful and brilliantly powerful, it is localistic magic. It will not work as well off of Cussa as it does on it. I suspect that you will get two stabs with it, perhaps three, and then it will be merely a normal spear with an odd blotchy color."
"I won't demonstrate it then!" cried Vaareng. "Still, is it not a most delightful item of loot? And would it not be worth admiration and comment were it to be mounted over a hearth in a parlor of a castle? A castle that I would be glad to share with an enspoused … dragon!" He stared intently at Driaith as he said that, but could not quite bring himself to say "drake".
Driaith grinned. "I hereby praise the magnitude and might of Vaareng's spear! It pierces, it penetrates, it works therein a greatness! I am enthralled! I grovel, I salivate, I worship Vaareng's most puissant and potent spear!" Mirinxan swatted Driaith with his tail. Vaareng flattened his ears and kneaded the soil of Narethy with his claws, in mixed pride and embarrassment.
The Mintwall Shield had also gone to Vaareng. He showed it off to considerable admiration, for it was quite strong indeed. But he abruptly hid it when Mirinxan whispered, "He needs it! He will agree to become a dragoness, but then protect his claspers with this mighty artifact!"
The Minty Bow had gone to Evrath. It was duly admired, its powers considered, and the bas-relief image of darts and flashes on the front was discussed. "And yes, let us hang it in the parlor!" cried Charimaan. "Let all dragons know that my husband is a drake worthy of all draconic traditions, and not to be trifled with!"
Herowiz's collection of artifacts and devices had gone to Evrath, since Vaareng had two of the great ones. None were particularly mighty, and I do not know what became of them, since nobody felt they were worth mentioning to me.
"And how did you find the natives?" asked Charimaan.
"Hostile, easily defeated but not so easily that it's boring, and delicious roasted," said Evrath. Husband and husband giggled, and entwined their tails and headed to their hanger.


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Dimensions | 75cm x 80cm 75cm high
Material | Finnish Birch plywood and wood
Design | Agata & Arek Seredyn
Color | white, natural, whitewash or black
The Rafa K desk can be set in two different positions: an open and close one.
When closed the furniture is clean and elegant. Once the lid is lifted you discover another layer
of the desk with rounded corners and hidden organizer.
Perfect place to put your notebooks , iPad or little toys and treasures. The vertical part is good
exposition space for drawings, photos or important messages.
Rafa have put great attention to detailing of their K desk. You will see no screws or connectors
Closing the lid is yet another experience. Completely hidden dampers are softly closing the lid
protecting children's fingers from being shut.
The desk is made from Finnish birch wood and plywood and available in natural, white and black finish.
The natural version is protected with two layers of transparent lacquer.
The white and black versions are colored with water based stain and protected with additional two
layers of lacquer. The beautiful nerve of birch plywood is visible in all models.
The desk goes perfectly with X stool from Rafa-kids.
We recommend the K desk for children from age 6+
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text: 'The Only Way Is Essex' Gets Chinese Makeover 3:53 AM PST 12/1/2015 by Scott Roxborough FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Hunan TV will produce a local-language version of the hit U.K. reality TV series, described as a British answer to 'Jersey Shore.' What's Chinese for wel jel? Chinese viewers are getting a taste of Brit lowbrow reality TV with a local version of The Only Way Is Essex, ITV's long-running (and BAFTA-award-winning) scripted reality soap. Now in its 16th six-week season, the series is often described as the British answer to Jersey Shore. The Chinese version, called San Li Tun De Peng You Quan, airs on satellite channel Hunan TV and is produced by Hunan, Mango TV and independent producer Zhang Hong. According to figures from All3media International, which holds format rights to the show, the Chinese TOWIE is a ratings success, ranking 14th among all satellite shows airing in the 10 pm primetime slot in China. All3media has had success with other local-language adaptations in the middle kingdom, including game show Are You Normal?, which has racked up 430 million views on Chinese VOD platform TenCent. All3Media has commissioned a Vietnamese version of the show, originally produced by Zoo Productions for the OWN Network in the U.S., for Vietnam's VTV9 channel. All3media is among the host of international content owners descending on Singapore this week for the Asia Television Forum, which runs Dec.2-4. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Scott Roxborough firstname.lastname@example.com sroxborough


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Re: Capital Needed for an Insurance AgencyLUCKIEST Jan 10, 2008 9:39 PM (in response to InsuranceMan)I Man, Welcome to this site. You will get some great advice and many offers.
Do you have an Accountant?? You are on track with your business plan.
When does it show a profit. Is the loan included in your plan??
Re: Capital Needed for an Insurance AgencyInsuranceMan Jan 11, 2008 4:45 PM (in response to LUCKIEST)
My business plan shows a profit in year 5. My loan is built into the plan so that is why my plan does not show a profit until year 5.
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Reply to original post
I opened a Nationwide Insurance agency in 2006 and I am now looking to expand my practice by purchasing a book of business from a local independent agent. I am on track with my business plan but like most businesses I am showing a loss in the first 3 years. My credit is great but my debt to income ratio is not. I have a home equity line of credit but I would rather have a business line of credit or a small business loan. In order to purchase the independent book of business I need between $50,000 - $75,000. What is the best approach for obtaining a business line of credit for this amount? Will a bank allow me to open a business line of credit if my business is only 2 years old and is currently showing a loss?


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As one of the most culturally diverse cities in the USA Jersey City has an exciting and vibrant arts and culture scene that is getting bigger and bigger every year, with a special focus on public art. Even rare visitors to the city have probably noticed the many vibrant murals they adorn.
This is very thanks to of the Jersey City Mural Arts Program
. an initiative of the Mayor's Office that combines established and emerging local, national and international muralists with property owners throughout the city as part of an innovative beautification program. The program, which has been running for seven years, has transformed the city into an outdoor art gallery with the help of artists such as Seth, Ruben Sánchez, Pixel Pancho, Eduardo Kobra, MadC and Faith47.
Featured Image: Aqualand of the JCMAP Summer Youth Program in Jersey City.


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We provide milk, water, breadsticks, fruit and cereals. We do ask that all children bring in either fruit, cereal, breadsticks etc each week. This is used for morning break. If your child is here until 5pm can you please provide something for their tea (4pm). Please speak to a member of staff regarding this. Pre-school room and 2-3s room due to less staff (no hot food to be heated).
We do ask that parents provide a packed lunch for their child if the child is to be in the Nursery between 12.00 and 12.45pm. This should be packed in a NAMED container and placed in the fridge or on the trolley.
Eating together forms an important part of the children's social education. If however, you do not wish your child to be fed whilst at the Nursery please let a member of staff in your child's room know.
NB: Please do not send your children to the Nursery with crisps, biscuits, unless they form part of your child's packed lunch. Sweets and fizzy drinks i.e coke, lemonade should not be bought into the Nursery at any time. If your child does not drink milk/water please supply own juice in a named beaker that they can access during the day.
As some children may be allergic to nuts, please do not bring in food that contains nuts. i.e Peanut Butter, Nuts, Biscuits – please read ingredients on cereal bars etc.
Please provide babies with adequate bottles/feeds for the duration of their stay.


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Quick Links
Monroe County, Iowa - Primary Election Information
A primary election is an election in which voters in a jurisdiction select candidates for a subsequent election (nominating primary). In other words, primary elections are generally when each political party decides its nominee for the upcoming general election. For more information about Primary Elections visit
2020 Primary Election Unofficial Results
For more information and to download forms regarding Iowa Ethics and Campaign
Disclosures, CLICK
HERE to go to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board


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Fear the beard, a phrase so well known by the schnauzer lovers. It actually holds a lot of truth to it. How many of us fear when our furry friends go to drink water, ending with their beards dirty? Do you ever just stare at that beautiful amount of hair just wondering how come it never looks as white as the first time you lay eyes on your schnauzer? Does your schnauzer now have a brown beard instead of a white, gray or black one? How does my neighbor keeps their babies beard so clean? Thankfully there is a way.
First of all, if it never gets dirty you never have to worry. Of course this bread being a terrier it is almost impossible. Thankfully someone created a no spill bowl. This bowl will help you keep their beards out of the water. They will drink all the water they want, but their beards will be dry and so will your floor. No more worrying about that water trail they left behind. Also, remind yourself to get a washcloth with the only purpose of drying their beards. Every time you see their beards wet just dry it. All this may seem too much but is worse trying to get that brown stain out of their once white beard.
The other terror: food. Of course your baby needs to eat; we all do, but look at that brown gravy that mysteriously appears. When eating dry kibble suddenly their saliva will create this gravy and voilà their beard is brown. The solution is your new best friend: a washcloth. Seriously is your new best friend. Place their food on top of the wash cloth. Now some dogs a really smart or just like to take their food out of the bowl and eat it on the floor, but for those who don't help them by placing the food on top of the washcloth. It has to be white, this way you can tell when their saliva if forming the gravy.
To wash the beard you have to do it daily preferable. Every time after breakfast wash their teeth and beard. Washing the beard works better with a wet washcloth and drying it with a towel. Then brush it with a comb. Now about the smell. Sometimes a schnauzer might get a sour beard. It usually gets mistaken and taken as if the dog just needs a bath. Let's be clear, no amount of water and soap would get read of the smell, but don´t worry the solution is simple. Pour half a teaspoon of baking soda into a cup of warm water and wait for it to dissolve. Then lightly rinse out a washcloth in it and wipe the beard, generously wetting it.


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The Drifters bring their special blend of music to Bromley
PUBLISHED: 15:41 04 July 2019 | UPDATED: 15:41 04 July 2019
The story of The Drifters is one of tragedy and determination that all adds up to an enviable back catalogue of hits.
And the latest line-up will be in Bromley to wow audiences all over again.
The Drifters is bringing their 2019 UK tour to the Churchill Theatre on July 26.
If you have seen then before the band says this is a brand-new show, performing all of their classic hits from the last six decades.
Following the phenomenal success of their 65th anniversary tour last year, they have added further live shows for 2019 including one night at the Churchill.
The legendary group have previously been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, listed among the greatest artists of all time by Rolling Stone magazine and have produced an incredible list of hits.
These include Saturday Night at the Movies, Come on Over to My Place, Stand by Me, Under the Boardwalk and loads more.
So what about that history?
The latest Drifters line up was hand-picked by Tina Treadwell, the President of the Treadwell Entertainment Group and owner of The Drifters name.
Tina's father started the group with Clyde McPhatter and brought in several greats thereafter such as Johnny Moore and Ben E King.
Her mother Faye was later responsible for bringing the group to the UK and overseeing hits such as More than a Number and Kissin' in the Back Row.
After the passing of her parents, it was down to Tina to continue the legacy of The Drifters name.
Even after all the decades and line up changes, audiences still love the classics that started in 1953.
Due to the continuing phenomenal demand they are still selling out theatres.
Tina, who previously worked for Disney as an executive producer and casting director, believes this current line-up is one of the best to date and looks forward to the upcoming concert tour.
She said: "I am very excited that following our 65th anniversary year we have a new show for the fans who we invite to join us in celebrating this incredible and everlasting story of The Drifters."
Tina said: "Fans can expect a return to the best that the original era of The Drifters had to offer: gorgeous harmonies, crisp choreography, high quality musical accompaniment, sharp attention to detail and top notch renditions of treasured Drifters classics.
"Their longevity all comes down to classic songs, to the quality and the distinct sound of the music and to the singers, throughout the years, whom my parents put into place.
"Keeping my parent's legacy alive and the group going strong, is of paramount importance to me. First of all, my father was one of the first African-American music managers, in an era when that was not the norm.
"When he and Clyde McPhatter partnered to begin The Drifters at the urging of Atlantic Record's president Ahmet Ertigan, it was at the height of the doo wop era. But this was also a time when Jim Crow laws were still in effect in the south.
"But because of the power of the music and the popularity of groups like The Drifters, The Platters and singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Ruth Brown and Sarah Vaughn, music eventually played a significant role in helping to break down colour barriers.
"After my father died in 1967, my mother took over management of the group, and in doing so, became one of the first African-Amercian female managers.
"She extended The Drifter's reach by bringing them to international fame and thus continuing their legacy in the UK and abroad. So, it is my goal to honour my parent's contributions to musical history, as well as to this treasured group, that is renowned throughout the world."
Tickets for the July 26 show are available from the box office on 020 3285 6000 and at firstname.lastname@example.com
If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the Bromley Times. Click the link in the orange box above for details.


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Max Graham says goodbye to Rebrand Records and launches Cycles
It is after much thought that Max Graham decided to say goodbye to his record label, Rebrand Records, and Armada as its distributor.
"Conceived in 2004 with the idea of creating a family of like-minded artists, I can look back and say it was an amazing experience and we achieved exactly that. Huge thanks to the entire team at Armada for backing the label and helping it grow and the talented artists we featured, specifically my great friends Protoculture and Solid Stone who helped create the sound that Rebrand was so known for.
With that, I introduce the next step: my new imprint, Cycles.
Like its successful namesake Cycles Radio, Cycles the record label will encompass a much broader sound with a wide variety of true Progressive House and Techno with melodic influences--almost a return to the days when Trance had an underground groove and genres were not as defined as they are today. I'm very excited to showcase so much more amazing music from guys like Solid Stone (whose sound has evolved considerably since the earlier Rebrand days) and the incredibly talented Tim Penner, as well as many others already lined up for releases.
Along with the label, we are planning "CyclesLive" events which will be designed to celebrate the talent the show has to offer. I'm very excited to move forward with this new phase and bring everything under the one banner of Cycles.
The label's first release in spring 2015 will be my own new single, "Redemption," which carries amazing remixes by Alex Di Stefano, Tim Penner and Solid Stone who each premiered their version during Cycles 200 Live back in April in New York City.
I cannot wait to share this new song with you, along with the many other amazing releases we have on deck, as we embark on the next chapter of the Cycles journey together." - Max Graham


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Nintendo has been slowly teasing what hopes to be a giant E3 for them. With the successes of the Switch, a lot of people have been clamoring for the major franchises on Nintendo to release new games. One of the big ones that has been announced is Super Smash Bros. One of the best selling games on the N64, Gamecube, 3DS and the Wii has been the Super Smash Bros. franchise. It has been an international phenomenon for the better part of 20 years and seeks to keep going. Combine that with how popular Nintendo is, it seems to be that there needed to be a plan of attack for demoing out this game. People in the past have literally trampled others to get in line at the Nintendo booth at E3, so they recognized this and came up with a solution. With safety and people actually getting to play the game in mind, the company announced that they would be following the footsteps of Sony and Microsoft by making E3 attendees to sign up to play their new game. They stated:
"To shorten the time fans will need to wait in line to try it, Nintendo invites E3 attendees to reserve play slots ahead of time for just this game. This should provide fans with a faster, smoother experience so they can play the Super Smash Bros. game and spend more time enjoying the rest of the June 12-14 show."
This is great news for some and annoying news for others, as these slots will likely fill up incredibly fast. However, if you are that interested in the game, you will sign up and it will feel more organized and fair than years past. While reserving your time slot, players will be allowed to choose one of two game play modes to try out. First one being "For Fun" Mode, which would be a much more laid back difficulty level and the "For Glory" Mode, which will be fast paces and a huge challenge. Information on how to sign up will be released around June 5th, if you are planning on attending. If you want to check out the teaser Nintendo released in March of this year, check out the video below. Set to release later this year, be on the lookout for gameplay impressions and videos all around the internet come this time next month. For more E3 news, keep it locked to Mammoth Gamers.


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Woodworking Projects For Beginners
What can I say about woodworking projects for beginners. Well up until a few years ago I was in a position where my carpentry skills were below average. I absolutely loved my DIY and woodworking but I didn't have the ability.
Even for most simplest of task, I really struggled. I had all the power tools and everything you can think of to build literally any project.
Carpentry requires patience and dedication, It's trial and error and making mistakes as you go along. The difficult and frustrating part was trying to follow plans that were flawed. Measurements and diagrams that just didn't make any sense. They were inaccurate, missing vital information and didn't even reflect the finish product.
I was fed up of wasting my hard earned money so I decided to do something about it. I guess going to a joinery class would of helped and I would of at least had the fundamental basics.
Woodworking projects for beginners doesn't have to be difficult! It's having the right resources and coaching
What made all the difference for me was life changing. A few years ago, my good friend Chris who's my neighbour revealed something quite remarkable to me. Click HERE to find out
If you're a beginner, this will be ideal for you as I'll explain further. I'm sure you were like myself when I started out but I made tons of progress not long after that. What changed for me was, I came across a resource that I wish I'd known about years before. What an unbelievable find this was and I'm going to tell you all about it.
It comes with over 16,000 unique designs and plans for every conceivable woodworking project. This resource gave you access to a database with precision blueprints. It was better than enrolling on a carpentry course, because it included visual aids and guides.
High resolution photos and a library of 150 training videos that showed you all the methods and techniques and how to apply them. All the professionals and master craftsmen, have published their strategies and tips on how to overcome issues whilst you're building.
Take for instance, you've selected a design with the plans to build your project, then you watch the tutorial videos to guide you. Now with your unique plans you have the 3-dimensional diagrams that have expandable views. They illustrate every joint, corner and angle clearly so you can follow the plans to the next step.
This has been very cleverly engineered by 2 master craftsmen over their 20 year period to make this process easy. Woodworking projects for beginners have become more widespread now and more accessible than before. It's like been coached and shown what to do and how to do it through the entire process.
Blueprints that come with a formulated built in plan. They all precisely calculated for you
Now as a beginner, you're going to love this feature. It comes with a 5 element plan that ensures every project you build, becomes a success story. All the hard work has already been done for you. If you're not quite sure don't worry, I'm going to explain how this incredible system works. Click HERE to find out
The table as seen above is a relatively easy project for a beginner, however this resource makes building it so simplistic. As I was saying, You get your complete pack with your plans, diagrams and additional training aids.
It already has everything calculated for you with your cutting list, tools you need and exact materials needed for the job. This saves you on time, money and effort. You'll know exactly the correct amounts and quantities of materials to buy.
This avoids getting in-excess of what you need or too little and avoids multiple trips to the store.You can assess and evaluate if your skills are suited to the project and determine the completion time.
The correct measurements, instructions and details will ensure you're on the right track and you can refer to all the sketches. You also have the tutorial training videos and high quality photos to guided you from start to finish.
Woodworking projects for beginners, has become more easier now, than ever before. This way your progression levels will develop as you go along and you'll also learning at the same time.
The database is packed with thousands of plans and woodworking projects for beginners
Now you can see for yourself how easy this will make your life and accomplish your goals. No matter how big or small the project is, you'll always finish it whilst learning and improving your skills.
Make that decision today and invest in yourself, It's exactly "What you see is what you get". There's no catches or elaborate misconceptions, just a reliable trustworthy resource. Enjoy your DIY!


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Dealing with leaking attic roofSunday, November 14th, 2010
A leaking attic can be very dangerous and it can cause damage to the whole building as a whole gradually. To stop the erosion, one must immediately take assistance of a professional contractor. He should be able to detect the exact point of erosion. Often it a spot which is constantly impacted by hail or heavy rains.
There can be shingles, which are damaged or broken and needs a replacement. Any cracks or leakages can be plugged in as well. However, if there is seepage in the attic roof all together, it is obviously advisable to completely change the roof all together. Considering the material of the roof, which might be tiles or iron, it is ideal to take professional help and spend some more money if required to fix it.
The professional would take care of all the vents and damages on the roof through sealing the gaps or changing the material all together.


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We recently obtained a favorable court ruling on behalf of our client, Tecumseh Products Company LLC, on an insurance coverage issue that has vexed corporate policyholders for decades — whether primary insurance policies contain aggregate limits for long-tail environmental insurance claims. See Bedivere Insurance Co., et al. v. Tecumseh Products Company LLC, et al., (Michigan State Court, 2019) (decision).
1. The Aggregate Limits Issue for Environmental Claims
Tecumseh's situation was not atypical. For years, even before litigation started in 2017, Tecumseh's primary insurers and excess insurers conceded that their policies were at risk, but refused to pay a single dollar because of disagreement regarding whether or not the primary policies contained aggregate limits. If the primary policies did not contain aggregate limits, those policies are on the hook to pay their full per occurrence limits for each occurrence, meaning that there are multiple limits (rather than one limit) for each former manufacturing site. However, if those same primary policies contain aggregate limits, then payouts would be reduced dramatically, and in some situations could be zero because of prior payments on other claims.
2. The Primary/Excess Carrier Dilemma
Unsurprisingly, the primary insurance policy carriers have argued for years that their policies contain aggregate limits, and that they were already exhausted, or nearly exhausted from the payment of prior claims; whereas the excess insurers have taken the opposite view that the underlying policies do not contain aggregates, are not exhausted, and thus their policies have not yet been triggered. It's been a classic case of the chicken and egg, with each set of insurers pointing the finger at the other, refusing to pay because of this aggregate stalemate, and both sets of insurers content to see their insured fronting the full costs of investigating and remediating the underlying environmental sites, as well as fully covering the cost of litigation by third party landowners and government agencies.
3. The Insurers' Best Argument — Ignore Policy Language, We Know Better
In its litigation against its historical general liability insurers related to policies going back to the 1950s and involving a number of former manufacturing sites in Michigan and Wisconsin, Tecumseh purchased primary liability policies from Travelers Indemnity Company, Maryland Casualty Company (now part of Zurich) and Michigan Mutual Insurance Company (now part of Amerisure), as well as excess liability policies from Continental Insurance Company, London Market Companies, and other excess insurers. The primary policies were clear on their face that there were no aggregate limits, so that the full per occurrence limit was available for each individual site. These policies stated that aggregate limits equal to the per occurrence limits of each policy would apply if and only if the polices were "rated" (i.e., the calculation of premiums) based on remuneration (i.e., payroll data for certain periods of time). However, the policies did not even mention remuneration, let alone provide detailed payroll data for Tecumseh employees. Rather, the policies contained detailed annual sales information for Tecumseh, which the underwriters for the primary policies used to rate or adjust the premiums then due and owing.
4. As It Should — Policy Language Controls
Despite the clear language in these policies, the primary insurers, as they have done in just about every other long-tail pollution or asbestos case over the past four decades, argued that the court should disregard the clear language of the policies and instead should consider and rely upon evidence outside of the four corners of the policies, such as an underwriters manual, testimony by a former Travelers executive paid by Travelers to provide so-called "fact testimony," and vague and generalized notions of "underwriting industry practices" in the 1950s-1970s. The Michigan trial court correctly rejected these arguments, holding that "[b]ased on the express terms of Primary Policies, no aggregate limits apply to property damage coverage in this case, [because] none of the policies contain any language indicating that the underwriters used or were authorized to use remuneration figures in the premium calculation." The court added the following: "The Primary Policies in this matter contain plain and unambiguous language governing resolution of this motion as a matter of law. The Court further finds that it would construe any ambiguous language, if there were any, in favor of Tecumseh."
The court's decision in Bedivere Insurance Co., et al. v. Tecumseh Products Company LLC, et al., (Michigan State Court, 2019) is important for corporate policyholders facing long-tail liability claims. These include any claim where more than one occurrence policy has been implicated, including pollution, asbestos, silicosis, opioid, sexual abuse, and any other kind of claim where bodily injury or property damage has been alleged to have occurred over multiple policy periods.
This decision should become one of the seminal pro-corporate policyholder rulings on the aggregate limits issue, and we strongly encourage companies facing long-tail property damage and bodily injury claims to contact us if they have any questions.
Miller Friel, PLLC is a specialized insurance coverage law firm whose sole purpose is to help corporate clients maximize their insurance coverage. Our Focus of exclusively representing policyholders, combined with our extensive Experience in the area of insurance law, leads to greater efficiency, lower costs and better Results. Further discussion and analysis of insurance coverage issues impacting policyholders can be found in our Miller Friel Insurance Coverage Blog and our 7 Tips for Maximizing Coverage
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.


text: Politics / Paul Ryan Ryan: 'Oh Gosh,' Loss Was 'Pretty Sad' Former VP candidate gives first post-election interviews By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff Posted Nov 13, 2012 8:48 AM CST Copied Mitt Romney embraces Paul Ryan after Romney conceded the race during his election night rally, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Boston. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (Newser) – Paul Ryan did a bit of a post-election media blitz yesterday—but no, he didn't reveal any plans to toss his hat into the 2016 ring, telling Madison's CBS affiliate WISC-TV it's too soon to discuss. "Oh gosh, we just finished a presidential election," Ryan said. "I think everybody's tired of talking about presidential politics. I am." More from that interview, as reported by Politico and the Washington Post, plus Ryan's sit-downs with the Racine Journal Times and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: story continues below "We thought this was going to be a very close race. We thought we had a good chance of winning," Ryan said. In all three interviews, he gave President Obama credit for getting better voter turnout, particularly in urban areas. Ryan's home state of Wisconsin, which has not voted for a Republican president since 1984, was always "an uphill fight," he said, insisting that "Mitt didn't pick me for Wisconsin," but rather because of his experience on budget issues. Ryan doesn't think his plan to cut Medicare hurt the ticket, particularly because he and Romney won seniors 56% to 44%. In 2008, John McCain carried older voters 53% to 45%. "We were with the Romneys when we knew it was over," Ryan said, calling the mood in the hotel suite "pretty sad. And our comments more or less revolved around our concern for the country." It was Ryan's first election loss, and he called it "a foreign experience. It's tough to describe it." His homecoming Wednesday was "bittersweet," Ryan said, noting that he spent time with his family for a few days and didn't watch any TV other than football. "Right now, I look at what I've just been re-elected to do, to represent Wisconsin, to be the chairman of the Budget Committee, to deal with these budget and fiscal and economic issues. I'm going to throw myself back to that work because it's work that needs to get done." Ryan's first post-election national TV interview airs today on ABC. (Read more Paul Ryan stories.)


text: For those who've overcome the stereotype and admitted HP's MediaSmart Server into your abode, we applaud you. Apparently, HP thinks pretty highly of you as well, as it's gearing up to beam out a number of software enhancements to its iconic Windows Home Server-based device. First up is the addition of integrated server-side anti-virus software, which will be provided by McAfee but will only remain free for the first seven months. More interesting, however, are the updates involving PacketVideo technology and 64-bit Vista support. Apparently, the former will "enhance the media streaming process from the server to other digital media devices in the home, such as the MediaSmart TV," and it will also add "advanced graphics such as thumbnails of photos, in-menu browsing and album art." As for the latter, HP simply informs us that 64-bit Vista support will be added in. When can you expect the goods? Look for the whole lot to be delivered automatically sometime next month.