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**PLEASE NOTE** No HEAVILY mottled linen/evenweave should be used, all squares should be an even toned NEUTRAL color as listed above.
2.) Each Stitcher shall swap TWO squares of linen/evenweave. Both squares shall be stitched from the SAME EXACT linen.
- ONE linen/evenweave square shall house the stitched design
- The OTHER shall house the stitcher's name, date/year and location as you wish (at a minimum it should contain your name and year)
An Example:
3.) The design on the square should be around 50 stitches X 50 stitches. *If your design is bigger than 50 x 50 then ask your partner if that is appropriate for what she is doing with her squares. (Designs should NOT be more than 70 x 70 as it wouldn't give enough finishing area left on the linen)
4.) Each square of fabric that you send should be at least 6 inches x 6 inches - this is the MINIMUM size - larger than 6 in. x 6 in. is fine. **(BOTH squares must be this size! no skimping and using scrapes of fabric differing sizes!!)
5.) The "raw" unfinished squares will be mailed to your partner. Please make sure your squares are in good clean condition. Make them look like you would want to receive your squares. Partner information will be e-mailed to you at the beginning of the round by the Round Moderator.
6.) A stitching time period of 6 weeks will be allotted to all participants. On the 6th week all stitching should be completed and the parcels mailed. *Stitcher's can mail at any time during the 6 weeks if their projects are finished prior to the end date!
7.) There will be a 2 week time period between rotations - a "clean up" time period - for people to sign up for the next round and for the previous round's parcels to be received. Therefore you can participate as much or as little as you want. Sign ups dates and information for each round are located in the sidebar beneath each round title - please look at the dates and round information carefully!!! NOT every round is open at the same time. Rounds will only be open during the specified time and only 1-3 Rounds will be open at any given time to allow for sign ups, as we don't want anyone over committing and not following through with their original commitments.
PLEASE NOTE: I allow a new member to sign up for ONE round to begin with. After the first round is mailed and it is mailed "on-time" and received by their partner, the new member may sign up for as many rounds as she/he wants to as long as the rounds are open and as long as they continue to follow through with the commitments that they make!
8.) Swapping partners will be assigned *randomly* (pulled from a hat), each round will have new partners, partners will not be duplicated - as we track "Previous Partners" in the exchange. Partners are randomly picked and their exchange information is e-mailed to you by the Round exchange moderator.
9.) This is an open blog and will be available for members from around the world, so people need to remember going into this exchange that your partner may be from a country other than the one you are from, therefore you need to keep in mind that postage rates will differ and be more costly. If this does not appeal to you than please don't join in the exchange.
10.) The Design of the square = Stitcher's Choice (although Member Profiles are maintained so that you can see your partner's "likes" and "dislikes")
11.) The Fibers used for the square = Stitcher's Choice
12.) Finishing of the raw squares = Recipient's Choice (collect a lot for a friendship quilt, make pinkeeps, pillow, flatfolds, smalls, the sky is the limit!!!)
13.) Once squares are received, the Recipient is required to send an e-mail to their partner and also make a post to the Fair Squares blog so that we can track squares and so that your partner knows that you received the squares exchanged. This should be done in a TIMELY matter...you don't have to post a photo immediately - but you should at the very minimum send and e-mail to your partner and post to the board stating that you received your squares. This is only fair considering the time your partner spent stitching your squares.
Pictures of your squares should be posted to the Fair and Square blog in a timely manner so that we can all see what you received in the exchange. **IF you have no means of posting pictures of your squares to Fair and Square then you must notify your partner AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ROUND so that they can post pictures for you upon your receipt of them
14.) Postage is the responsibility of the participants.
15.) Failing to meet a deadline or not following through with your swap will mean instant termination from participating in future swaps. Life happens and if something comes up that throws the stitcher off schedule, please contact your partner and the moderator so that arrangements and schedules can be arranged. Communication is key! if you do not communicate with your partner and the moderator and fail to meet the deadline after the 8 weeks of a round (6 weeks stitching + 2 weeks "clean up" period) . You will be deleted as a member - no questions asked. Fair and Squares is implementing immediately a ZERO tolerance on all members that fail to mail their exchanges and do not communicate with their moderators and partners.
A word on MAILING your squares: if you have mailed your squares and they have NOT been received within 4 weeks after the clean up period (a total of 12 weeks from the Round beginning) - then a set of replacement squares should be stitched and re-sent to your partner. When you sign up for Fair and Square you are saying that you will replace any sets of squares that go missing. If you refuse to replace the squares - you will be terminated as a member - we are trying to keep the board "Fair and Square".
16.) Extra gifts or goodies are not to be sent (period!); all we're interested in is your lovely stitched squares! If you make something handmade (pincushions, needlecase, whatever crafty) and would like to give a "handmade" item to your partner that is fine. But please remember that this is NOT REQUIRED and in all likliness you WILL NOT receive anything in return. So let's keep it simple - send the squares and maybe a postcard of your state/country/city and leave it at that.
17.) Communication is NECESSARY for all parties applying for membership to this board. You MUST post to the board when you mail your squares and you MUST post to the board when you receive your squares. (Please see Rule #13 for posting also).
18.) Fair and Square offers "Regular" Rounds...which are the numbered rounds. These rounds have no specific theme and rotate on an 8 week timetable (6 weeks to stitch with a 2 week clean up period). Although there is no specific themes - Member Profiles are maintained and you should check you partners profile to see their "likes" and "dislikes" - the design stitched however is ultimately up to the stitcher.
Fair and Square also offers "Holiday Rounds" - which have a theme specific to the chosen holiday. Members may sign up for these "themed" exchanges and stitch squares based on what the theme requires. For example: Christmas would be themed to stitch anything related to CHRISTMAS - stockings, sweets, Christmas Tree, Santa, etc. Holiday Rounds will be offered every now and again prior to an upcoming holiday. They shall be on a 8 week rotation as the numbered rounds (6 weeks to stitch with a 2 week clean up period).NOTE: Member profiles should always be checked to determine Likes and Dislikes of the partner you are paired with, but ultimately what the stitcher decides to stitch is of their own personal decision. When signing up for this exchange please understand that you will not get something that you specifically ask for. Your list of LIKES/DISLIKES are just examples of what you prefer - what you ultimately receive from a stitcher is based on their own personal choice.
**Please check the sidebar for UPCOMING ROUNDS to see what is being offered for you to take part in!
19.) Please note that the moderator may contact you to find out information about your steps taken during the round (did you mail, when did you mail, etc) this is NOT meant to be harassing, merely to make sure we're all on the same page. If you have not mailed you will be contacted at the very least each week until you have mailed your round. Please keep the lines of communication OPEN. If you are going to be late - please contact your moderator AND your partner and give a date that you will mail by.
20.) Please be patient, kind and think about how you are wording things when you post to the board, communicate with each other and communicate with the moderator. Please do not demand a "reply" to the notes you send - a moderator will reply to you just as soon as they can. If you sent an e-mail and have not received a reply WITHIN 48 HRS. Then please resend the e-mail to them, perhaps they didn't get the first one. If you are worried about reciept and reading of the e-mail attach a "read receipt" so that you know it was read. Moderators of Fair and Square are here to serve you in exchanging...but we do have lives outside this board. Please be considerate of our time as well as we will be considerate of yours! Please remember the golden rule, "Do unto others, as you would have done to you".
If you are interested in learning more or to actually sign up for this exchange please click on the sidebar link that says "Join This Exchange" - there it will give you the steps to become a member of the board. ****If these rules seem unattainable or you don't agree with them, you won't follow through with them, then please don't request to join our exchange. Thank you for your interest, we hope you find this exchange interesting and want to join in the fun!


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Program Information
Real-Time Tumor Localization with Kilovoltage Intrafraction Monitoring: First Clinical Implementation for Prostate Intensity Modulated Arc Therapy
J Ng1*, J Booth2, P Poulsen3, T Eade4, F Hegi5, A Kneebone6, Z Kuncic7, P Keall8, (1) University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, (2) Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, ,(3) Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, ,(4) Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, (5) Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, (6) Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, (7) University of Sydney, ,,(8) University of Sydney, Sydney, NSWTH-E-BRA-11 Thursday 1:00:00 PM - 2:50:00 PM Room: Ballroom A
Purpose: We have proposed a novel real-time tumor localization method, kilovoltage (kV) intrafraction monitoring (KIM), in which the intrafraction 3D tumor position is continuously measured during intensity modulated arc therapy (IMAT) by a gantry-mounted kV x-ray imager. This study reports the first clinical implementation of this method in patients with localized prostate cancer.
Methods: In an ethics-approved study, 10 prostate cancer patients with implanted fiducial markers underwent conventionally fractionated IMAT. During treatment, intrafraction prostate motions were tracked using KIM at a rate of 5 or 10Hz. The kV imager acquired 2D projections of the prostate markers. Post-treatment, markers in the images were segmented to obtain 2D positions. 3D positions were reconstructed by maximum likelihood estimation of a 3D probability density function. Trajectories were analyzed to determine the motion type and the percentage of time the prostate was displaced for more than 3mm, 5mm, 7mm and 10mm.
Results: Various prostate trajectories were observed (e.g. continuous target drift, transient excursion, stable target position, persistent excursion, high-frequency excursions and erratic behaviour). Over all patients, 3D displacements exceeding 3mm, 5mm, 7mm and 10mm were observed 5.6%, 2.2%, 0.7% and 0.4% of the time respectively. For individual patients, 3D displacements exceeding 3mm over all fractions ranged from 0.0% to 23.8% and 3D displacements exceeding 5mm ranged from 0.0% to 10.0%. For all patients, the left-right (LR), superior-inferior (SI) and anterior-posterior (AP) standard deviation of systematic setup error was 0.3mm, 0.2mm and 0.2mm, respectively. The LR, SI and AP standard deviation of random error was 0.7mm, 1.1mm and 1.1mm, respectively.
Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that KIM is a clinically viable and objective method for monitoring prostate motion during treatment. KIM only requires a single kV imager, which is commonly available, enabling its widespread implementation.
Contact Email

subset: commoncrawl


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In the web hosting world today, I see four roads that companies are choosing to go down:
- For some it is a great time to explore ways to increase efficiencies in the current economic environment
- For businesses with fast growth, it is worth pausing to put flexible, resource savvy operations in place
- For every business though, it is worth going back to see how they can tap emerging opportunities around cloud and managed services. Because these services are real now.
- You can choose to bury your head in the sand, do nothing and die a slow death
The Dynamic Data Center Toolkit for Hosters helps Microsoft hosting partners realize the top three things and prevents the fourth one.
The Toolkit is an end-to-end prescriptive guidance for creating managed services and partner hosted Cloud offerings using Windows Server 2008 / Hyper-V and System Center. Utilizing the toolkit, hosters can deploy on-demand virtual machine (VM) provisioning, customer portals that provide self-service visibility and management. Something that's unique to us. The momentum is good. We have at least 8 hosters utilizing the toolkit within 4 months of the launch. More adoption is in the works. Check it out at http://dynamicdatacentertoolkit.com/toolkit/.
So what does it mean for ISVs and solution providers? You can essentially get nimble virtualized data centers without the hassles of raising capital and running the operations. As an ISV you can manage the entire software lifecycle - design, development, test, production - for all your customers by stringing together highly available VMs, network and storage on-demand, in a ubiquitous cloud.
As a Solution Provider you can instantiate each customer environment on-demand and you will be able to provide portals to your customers for a 360 degree view of their own infrastructure. This can be a solution you offer or it can be a part of your solution set. Isn't it great to have your customers handling significant support activity, provisioning and monitoring, while you gain bandwidth of your support resources?


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Listing Provided Courtesy ofRE/MAX Equity Group Tour
It's free with no obligation - cancel anytime
An absolutely charming 1926 English style home on one of the best Mt Tabor locations on a dead end, low traffic street at the base of the park & just above the Hawthorne District. This 2700sf 3 bed 2 bath home has been thoroughly renovated to feature an open floorpan with main floor living designed around a stunning backyard view. The main floor master suite also features laundry. The kitchen has an eat-in area and is perfectly updated. [Home Energy Score = 2. HES Report at https://api.greenbuildingregistry.com/report/pdf/R303253-20180515.pdf]
Don't worry! We'll never spam you or sell your details. You can unsubscribe whenever you'd like.
Listing Courtesy ofRE/MAX Equity Group


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Samuel Heath products are available from selected bathroom showrooms and department stores
Concealed Xenon shower flow control rough installation system
- Requires V107-T
- Extension kits avaliable
All shower heads and limited to 3.2g.p.m. All hand showers are limited to 2.2 g.p.m. All lavatory faucets are limited to 1,5 g.p.m.
Xenon concealed shower trim setCode: V100-T2
Contemporary 1/2" shower armCode: V162-A
Xenon single lever lavatory mixer with pop-up wasteCode: V109-AUS
Xenon single lever bidet mixer with pop-up wasteCode: V119-AUS
Xenon tub shower mixerCode: V136-A
Standpipes for tub shower mixersCode: V238-A
Download technical product information. Professional assets may require you to register or login


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At 08:09 PM 10/30/2008, email@example.com wrote: >Hello >It seems I have been here before. Claiming a senior moment, here we >go again. A computer I use in the ham shack has Win 98 on it and >thinks we are now in standard time. How do I fix it (again). Using >IT for tracking. >73 Bob W7LRD I don't think there is a DST fix for Win98, but could you set it to run under UTC ? Dave _______________________________________________ Sent via email@example.com. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
AMSAT Home


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IDS Advocacy Service is a unique Deaf-led confidential service established in 2004 that provides support and information for Deaf people through their first and preferred language of Irish Sign Language (ISL).
The Service aims to empower Deaf people to recognise discrimination and to promote equality and inclusion. The service bridges the gap that exists for Deaf people in accessing public and private services and information which often tend to exclude and isolate Deaf people.
We adhere to the Key Principals: A.R.I.S.E
- Advocate
- Respect
- Information
- Support
- Empowerment
We are currently funded by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG).


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The brain of the system, DTI (DigitalTech Intelligence), as well as the battery pack, are inside the Power Unit, the system's source of power. This is the heart, brain and the "right hand" (this controls the motors and their operating power) of Campagnolo electronic drivetrain.
Once it has received digital signals from the interface, the Power Unit processes them through a special algorithm and translates them into movement of the rear derailleur and derailleur. The DTI, Digital Tech Intelligence, which is housed inside the Power Unit, continuously monitors the signals that arrive from the interface and the rear derailleur and derailleur, thus managing their operation. The Power Unit, along with the interface, also acts as the diagnostic centre of the system, signaling any anomalies in the system through an RGB led and an acoustic buzzer placed in the Power Unit. The electronics of the system are housed inside the Power Unit. This strategic choice allowed us to make the system less vulnerable to external agents (such as oil, water, mud and dust) and make it stable even when subjected to significant vibrations, such as those generated by professional athletes on the road of classic north routes. This way any errors in the system are dramatically limited and the system is guaranteed to function even in extreme conditions, be it weather, be it terrain. In particular, the special case housing the Battery Pack has been produced in a self-extinguishing plastic material (UL94 V?).
WARNING - All connection, installation, removal and adjustment operations of the EPS drivetrain must only be carried out by a Campagnolo Service Center, a Campagnolo Pro Shopor a mechanic specializing in the installation of EPS systems. Any Tampering with or incorrect or incomplete installation of any part of the EPS system will automatically void the warranty.
NOTE FOR SPECIALISED MECHANICS - Please remember that all assembly, disassembly, adjustment and maintenance procedures for the EPS drivetrain are described in the EPS technical manual, which is available in PDF format on our internet site www.campagnolo.com.
Buy Campagnolo Components from Chain Reaction Cycles, the World's Largest Online Bike Store.
If you're not completely satisfied with an item you may return it within 12 months of purchase. We'll give you a full refund if the item hasn't been used or the component hasn't been fitted.More information on returns
Battleship Grey - Olive - Orange


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Room & Pink Jeep Tours Package
See Sedona From A Different Point Of View
Book our best available rate for multiple nights, with a select Pink Jeep Tour for two guests*
Explore Sedona's backcountry and view the vibrant desert landscape any time of the year on an award-winning Pink Jeep tour with one of the best Pink Jeep Tours Packages! Whether you seek an adrenaline-pumping, outdoor adventure or prefer a more relaxing tour to learn about Native American history in Sedona, there are a variety of options to choose from – all of which offer scenic, panoramic views from one of the most beautiful spots in the world. Sit back and enjoy the ride and then retreat back to your fine accommodations at Orchards Inn Sedona hotel. Relax by taking a dip in the outdoor pool, grab a bite to eat at 89Agave Cantina or take a stroll through Uptown Sedona.
Our Pink Jeep Tour Packages include a credit for two guests to enjoy one select Pink Jeep tour. Choose from a variety of tours, such as the following:
- Broken Arrow Tour
- Rock Expedition Tour
- Ancient Ruins Tour
- Diamondback Gulch Tour
Book This Package or call
Two night minimum. Jeep tour credit for two guests. Not valid with any other offer. Included Pink Jeep Tours and availability change seasonally. Pink Jeep Tour credit does not apply to The Grand Canyon Experience Tour or The Wrangler Round Up Jeep and Horseback Tour. Pink Jeep Tours are based on availability and may sell out ahead of time. Blackout dates may apply.


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Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Part 20: The Twelfth Part of Bryyo
Field Access
In this room are many flying bad guys, so take them all out. To the right is a door that is vulnerable to cold, so take it out with an ice missile. Go in and find the Save Station B to save your game. Leave the room, going to the door on the other side of the hall.
The first thing you will see here is a wall panel with a red spot in the middle. Shoot that, and any other red target. The doors will open, so analyze the area within for bonus points. Go up there for a missile expansion pack.
You will soon come to a place where the second Leviathan generator is located. When you program your ship to shoot it down, two anti-aircraft guns defend it. Try and leave the room, and two bad soldiers will come forth from secret doors on either side. Take them out, and go through the doors that they left behind.
Generator Hall South
Face the statue and take the right path. You will see a walk way with some fuel gel cells. Blast the cells, and a green ledge will be revealed. Space jump up to the next level, take out the bad guys, and jump to the other side.
Walk around a corner and take out the laser blasters that bar your way from the door.
South Jungle Court
After walking down the hallway, you will need to take out a gun stuck to the celing. You will eventually find the first anti-aircraft cannon. There will be a lot of guards there, but what you need to do is go underneath the gun itself, and grapple onto the circular controller. When it goes down, you hear an alert, and a fuel gel pack on the side will reveal itself. Take out the fuel cell pack. Do this again and again, taking out guards until the gun self-destructs.
South Jungle Hall
Take the door that once was energy-shielded. There is not much to do here but march down the hall until you get to the next door.
Auxiliary Dynamo
The way is blocked by wires. Close by is a grapple grab, so grab it and a mechanism will go down. Go back to the door where you came in, and you'll see a tube entrance, follow the tube and allow it to take you up, then down on another side. You can also just roll under the wires, but you will get a ship missile expansion pack if you take the ball tube.
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10 Stress Relieving Tips for Caregivers
If you or someone you know is acting as a caregiver to a family member, friend, or client then you are surely aware of the incredible dedication required to provide such services. While caregiving in itself is a rewarding experience, the physical and emotional demand on a single person can quickly become overwhelming. That is why it is so important for caregivers to find time in their busy schedules to relax and unwind,not only for their own good, but also for the good of the ones they are caring for.
Below are 10 helpful suggestions from Caring Home Care for ways you or someone you know can help relieve the stresses of caregiving.
1. Recognize the symptoms of stress.
Recognizing the signs of stress is the first step in taking action to relieve it. Symptoms of stress include headaches, insomnia, depression, eating problems, and much more. Dealing with these symptoms can make it difficult for caregivers to provide the level of service required of them. The first step to taking care of others is to take care of yourself.
2. Accept help from others.
It may often seem like the responsibility of caregiving is a one-person show, and in many respects, it is. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't ask for help. Allowing friends or family to assist with tasks here and there can take a tremendous weight off your shoulders. Often caregivers avoid asking for help, because they're afraid to leave their loved one in someone else's hands. Caring Home Care specializes in providing experienced, qualified care that you can count on – whether you need temporary respite or a longer-term caregiving commitment.
3. Maintain a healthy diet.
The food we put into our bodies can have a greater effect on stress than we may think. It is important that the foods we choose to eat are ones which will promote a healthy lifestyle while still providing the fuel it takes to tackle the 24/7 tasks of caregiving. Leafy greens, nuts, whole grains, and lean meats all provide healthy boosts of energy. Avoid excess caffeine, sugar, and alcohol.
4. Exercise and stay in shape.
Exercising can be beneficial for so many reasons including improving overall health and, of course, relieving stress. By exercising, your body is releasing endorphins into your system that support positive moods and emotion. As well as keeping your body healthy, regular exercise also keeps your brain sharp, according to numerous studies.
5. Break monotonous routines.
Caregiving isn't your average 9-5 workday. It's a 7-day a week 24 hours a day dedication. With a workday like this, it's easy for days to blur together in what can become a repetitive routine. One way to help relieve stress is to shake up your schedule a little. While routine IS important to maintain for continuity, for some people with memory disorders, small changes can be nice way to spice up the week. Try ordering take-out one night instead of cooking or perhaps play a game outdoors if the weather is nice.
6. Take up a hobby.
Exploring a hobby is a beneficial way to help combat the stresses of caregiving. Hobbies like gardening, crafts, and learning to play an instrument can give you valuable personal time to yourself. Letting your loved one get involved could also be a fun activity for them as well. Scrapbooking, for instance, is a wonderful way to preserve and discuss memories together, as well as promote some motor skills.
7. Confide in friends or family.
Often, caregiving is an isolating responsibility. Letting off some steam can be as easy as talking it out. Letting repressed thoughts and feelings pile up can cause anxiety and make you feel overburdened. Having someone simply there to listen to you can provide a great deal of comfort. Invite a friend over for a quick chat or give them a call after a busy day. There's something to be said for laughter being the "best medicine" so seek out those friends with whom you can laugh.
8. Use online resources to stay informed and communicate with other caregivers.
There are many resources available today that are designed specifically to assist caregivers. You can use a forum to talk to other caregivers and discuss specific problems or concerns. If you are feeling stressed or dealing with an issue, odds are no one will understand better than other caregivers.
9. Acknowledge your own self-worth.
Whenever the day just seems too long and you feel like you can't go on, take a minute to remember all the good you've done and how important your role as a caregiver is. By focusing on what you've accomplished instead of what you still need to do, you can raise your self-esteem and lessen worry about whatever needs to be done down the road. Journaling can be a great way to do this – if you aren't a writer, just start with all that you've accomplished in the past month, week, or even day. If someone else showed you that list, wouldn't you give them a pat on the back?
10. Visit www.caringhomecare.com
Caring Home Care has spent over eighteen years building a reputation based on the consistent delivery of superior home health care services. Visit their web site for more information on personal care assistance, respite care, and more. You can also follow Caring Home Care on Twitter @Caring_HomeCare and join our community on Facebook (link: https://www.facebook.com/CaringHomeCareInc).


text: Does anyone know the cause of this line that keeps showing up in my Tomato logs: Code: Oct 9 17:35:01 router user.info init[1]: VPN_LOG_NOTE: 73: VPN Client 1 already running... I am running an OpenVPN client and a PPTP server on my E3000 running Toastman 7500. I have OpenVPN's log level set to zero with a --verb 0 directive. But, I don't think this is the OpenVPN client logging something. It seems that the router is continually trying to restart the VPN client? Thanks for any insight.


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ThreadSMS Lite
ThreadSMS Liteis a chat-style (threaded) texting (SMS) tool for Symbian S60. You can read and write SMS in a cool user interface like MSN, Yahoo, ICQ Messenger...It gives users a handy follow up screen to track the sent and received SMS messages to and from one particular contact. · Support new languages: Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Czech...Read more


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Edith Head's costume for Grace Kelly in Rear Window directed by Alfred Hitchcock, 1954 via
Edith Head's costume for Grace Kelly in Rear Window directed by Alfred Hitchcock, 1954 via
Edith Head (1897 – 1981) was an American costume designer who won a record eight Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, starting with The Heiress (1949) and ending with The Sting (1973).
Born and raised in California, Head managed to get a job as a costume sketch artist at Paramount Pictures, without any relevant training. She first acquired notability for Dorothy Lamour's trademark sarong dress, and then became a household name after the Academy Awards created a new category of Costume Designer in 1948. Head was considered exceptional for her close working relationships with her subjects, with whom she consulted extensively, and these included virtually every top female star in Hollywood.
After 43 years she left Paramount for Universal, possibly because of her successful partnership with Alfred Hitchcock, and also adapted her skills for television.
Edith Head 1930s
Edith Head's costume for Anna May Wong in Dangerous to Know directed by Robert Florey, 1938.
Grace Kelly wearing her Oscar dress by Edith Head. Photograph by Philippe Halsman.
Edith Head's costume for Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd directed by Billy Wilder 1950.
Audrey Hepburn (with Edith Head in the background) puts on her tiara and necklace while on the set of Roman Holiday, 1952.
Hitchcock and Head on the set of Family Plot (1976).


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FOUR K PRODUCTIONS LAUNCHES IN LOS ANGELES AS NEW PRODUCER OF ORIGINAL BROADCAST CONTENT IN THE 4K FORMAT: Slate of Original Programs Currently in Development -- Company Founder and Creative Consultants Have Decades of Experience In Motion Picture and TV Advertising, Marketing, and Promotion; Wayne Threatt is New Company's Corporate Strategic Consultant
Four K Productions LLC has been launched in Los Angeles as a new production company specializing in the development, production, and distribution of original broadcast content shot and post-produced in the 4K/UltraHD format. The company has secured initial financial backers, and has already completed its first production, "MIX: LA." The new company also has a slate of original programs currently in development. The announcements were made today by company Founder/President Kevin Williamson.
To view clips from "MIX: LA," please see: http://wdrv.it/17gK2sa
Four K is currently seeking distribution partnerships for its original content with 4K television and cable networks located in Europe and Asia, as well as with 2K compatible TV networks and within the digital and steaming space in the United States. Additionally, the company is holding discussions with major 4K television manufacturers in Asia about potential future distribution arrangements.
Concurrent with the formation of the new company, Williamson has also announced that longtime entertainment industry marketing and advertising executives Dean Blagg and Martin Gueulette will serve Four K Productions as Creative Consultants. Blagg and Gueulette are experienced within the areas of movie trailers, TV promos, motion graphics, print advertising, and cross-platform marketing campaigns, having worked with every major motion picture studio and television network for nearly three decades.
Four K Productions is also working with Wayne Threatt, a strategic advisor and investment professional with extensive financing experience in institutional private equity and venture capital, as its Corporate Strategic Consultant. In addition, Threatt is also a digital image processing industry veteran, who has fashioned numerous strategic partnerships in the U.S., Europe, and Asia
"We have nailed down the 4K work flow, and we consider ourselves adept in the creation and production of original 4K content," Williamson said. "We are committed to this new and emerging technology, and realize that we are among very few competitors who really understand how this format works. In addition to producing our own content, we are also seeking to co-produce programming with partners, and we are also open to financing interesting new 4K projects that are pitched to us from the outside."
Add Blagg and Gueulette, "After having worked in long-form editorial with Digital Kitchen, Kevin saw the future as being the 4K format, and approached us to help him launch this amazing new company. We are huge proponents of the 4K format -- it simply looks incredible. We are convinced the marketplace for this new format is just around the bend. It's coming. You just can't go wrong with the quality of this content."
Through its association with Blagg's company TAO Post Studios, Four K Productions has access to full-service 4K post production technology and services. These include audio and video editorial, DaVinci Resolve color correction, 5.1 surround sound mixing, 4K mastering, and 3D motion graphics.
About Original Four K Productions Programs in Development:
** "MIX": Four K Productions has just completed production of a 21-minute pilot for a series entitled "MIX." The show captures the essence of the modern day "Mixology Movement." The series focuses on the preparation, ingredients and the making of signature mixed drinks offered to customers at popular bars, nightclubs, restaurants and saloons across the United States. The pilot episode was shot at three locations in Los Angeles. To view clips, please see: http://wdrv.it/17gK2sa
** "Travel Show with Phil Keoghan": Four K is developing a show hosted by "The Amazing Race's" Phil Keoghan, which will explore exotic locations by land, sea and air.
** "Car Shows:" Four K is working on a series of automobile-themed programs featuring celebrities showing off their favorite vehicles, as well as an exclusive tour inside the Petersen Automobile Museum based in Los Angeles.
** "Napa Valley Wine Tour:" Four K is also developing a program that will explore both the classic and historic Napa Valley, as well as investigate the modern techniques being used by wine makers in the area today.
** "The Range:" Hosted by comedian Bil Dwyer, this show presents a look at golf courses across the country.
** "Professor Hill's Magic Chair:" Designed for kids, this show takes an educational slant on entertainment.
** "Los Angeles by Helicopter:" A look at the City of Angels from above the clouds. This show will present Southern California by air as it's never been seen before. Four K Productions' flyover will encompass points of interest from the Hollywood sign to beautiful Avalon on Catalina Island and beyond.
** "Joshua Tree National Park:" Joshua Tree is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. This show will take viewers on a tour of the park's wonders. The series will include historically relevant information narrated by Jon Bailey, one of Hollywood's greatest voice artists.
** "Penske Wynn Museum, Las Vegas:" This special will present an unparalleled collection of Maseratis and Ferraris at the fabulous Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, all filmed in jaw dropping 4K.
About Kevin Williamson:
Prior to launching Four K Productions, Kevin Williamson has been a noted movie trailer editor for many years. He held in-house editorial posts with such prominent trailer companies as Creative Domain, Digital Kitchen, Kaleidoscope, Craig Murray Productions, Seiniger Advertising, Dazu, and Skip Film, among others.
During the course of his career, Williamson has edited promotional trailers for such hit films as "Monsters, Inc.," "The Grinch," "Man on Fire," "Alexander," "I Am Legend," "Matchstick Men," and many others.
About Dean Blagg and Martin Gueulette:
Dean Blagg is Managing Partner and Creative Director with the motion picture advertising agency TAO Creative. He is also the President of the state-of-the-art postproduction facility, TAO Post Studios. Both companies are located in Los Angeles, CA.
Blagg is an award-winning editor/producer, with over 25 years of experience in movie marketing. He has been responsible for such theatrical trailer, television, and home entertainment campaigns as those promoting such hit motion pictures and TV series as "Godzilla," "Spider-Man," "Super Bad," "Iron Man," "Step Brothers," Breaking Bad," "Terminator 4," "Seinfeld," "Justified," "21 Jump Street," "Resident Evil: Retribution," "Evil Dead," and the recently released, "Insidious: Chapter 2."
Martin Gueulette is a veteran movie marketer and the winner of dozens of Key Art and Clio Awards. Prior to starting his own company VOX Associates, Gueulette was a partner in the boutique marketing company IKON Creative Services. He later served as a Creative Director with both Creative Domain and Aspect Ratio, two of the most prominent motion picture advertising agencies in Hollywood.
Gueulette has overseen, and is credited with having created, some of the most memorable and successful theatrical print campaigns of all time. These include those behind the hit motion pictures "Spider-Man 1, 2, and 3," "Casino Royale," "Batman Begins," "The Smurfs," "Django Unchained," and dozens more. He is renowned for smart marketing strategies which are married with outstanding creative execution.
About Wayne Threatt:
Wayne Threatt is a strategic advisor and investment professional with extensive financing experience in institutional private equity and venture capital. In addition, Threatt is also a digital image processing industry veteran, who has fashioned numerous strategic partnerships in the U.S., Europe, and Asia
About Four K Productions LLC:
Founded in Los Angeles in 2013, Four K Productions is a production company specializing in the development, production and distribution of both original content shot in the 4K format, as well as a co-producer and financial partner in the production of 4K content.
Helmed by Kevin Williamson, with Dean Blagg and Martin Gueulette serving as Creative Consultants, and Wayne Threatt as Corporate Strategic Consultant, Four K Productions is located at 955 South Carrillo Drive, Suite # 205, Los Angeles, CA, 90048. The phone is 323/930-8550, and the website is www.fourkproductions.com


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What's it like to be a graduate student researcher and an instructor at the same time? It can be a rewarding experience, with both students and teachers gaining new insights. It can also be an exhausting, harrowing, seemingly endless path lined with stacks upon stacks of paper. Some grad students excitedly embrace the opportunity to teach, whereas others reluctantly accept the role as an obligatory leg of their academic journey. Just as motivations for becoming a grad student instructor vary, so do experiences—and the highs and lows along the spectrum of pleasure and pain. But, in the end, is it worth it?
The time instructors spend lecturing and interacting in classrooms is apparent to students. They see the PowerPoint presentations, take the quizzes administered to them, and ask questions about the subject matter being covered. That's all students have to be concerned about for those 60- or 90-minute periods. But what's less evident is the additional time grad student instructors spend behind the scenes—preparing for class and grading—that comprises a surprisingly large chunk of time and commitment.
It's very helpful when a professor already has a previous version of a presentation or quiz that just needs to be updated or revised. Otherwise, it takes time to create a brand new one. For quizzes, it's also time-consuming to devise new, fair grading rubrics. Although a grad student instructor may remember or be fairly familiar with the subject matter, the particulars often aren't entirely fresh in his or her mind, in which case there's further necessary preparation to improve upon a presentation or quiz, and to adequately brush up in order to effectively answer detailed questions. Students typically expect prompt answers in class or over email, but it takes time to check references and research materials.
Grad student instructors can expect a daily grind of hauling loads of students' work and exams back to the office, long hours answering questions in office hours and via email (often repetitions of the same questions), and wearisome nights spent grading. Piles upon piles are hauled back and forth—sometimes passed amongst several TAs who are divvying up the work. And the bigger the stack, the more time is taken away from one's own research. Anxiety mounts as precious time otherwise spent performing experiments or researching literature slips through the proverbial hourglass—or beaker.
So, given all the time-consuming challenges grad student instructors face, what are the high points? Is it really worth enduring these grueling tasks while simultaneously pursuing an advanced science degree?
Watching students grow in their understanding, and seeing that some students really care and excel in class are truly rewarding outcomes. Students who stick around after class and into office hours to hear the long, detailed explanations make it worthwhile. There's sometimes a symbiotic relationship where either the student or instructor loves to talk and the other needs to listen and learn. Students then continue to apply their newfound understanding—not only in class but outside, in their greater logical approach and rationale. These aha moments may stand out to a grad student instructor in the questions students are asking. There may be a mental shift, genuine interest, and fascination regarding the subject matter. Witnessing these moments make all the juggling worthwhile.
Yet students aren't the only ones who stand to learn. Teaching is a great education. Verbally explaining an entire pathway or model to a large audience forces a teacher to fully understand the material as well as the surrounding set of knowledge. This leads to a metacognitive analysis, pinpoints critical weaknesses in understanding to be reinforced, and greatly deepens the teacher's expertise. This process complements a grad student's own studies and research. After all, what are researchers doing but continuously learning?
So, back to the original question: Is being a grad student instructor really worth the exhausting and tedious work? It's frustrating at times—especially when it seems some students are only gunning for a grade. But consider the students who are genuinely excited about the class, mastering the subject matter, and sharpening their scientific skills. They fuel feelings of fulfillment. When I'm writing letters of recommendations for particularly stellar students and lauding their merits and achievements (*shedding of sentimental tear*), I think it's fully worthwhile. But it's really up to each individual grad student to decide whether teaching is his or her cup of tea—or coffee. Lots of coffee.
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Mike has a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of California, Riverside, a M.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from San Francisco State University, and a B.A. in English from the University of California, Berkeley.


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Creativity: such a subjective term that causes quite a problem of definition. Reading through Punya Mishra, Danah Henriksen & the Deep-Play Research Group's article entitled "A NEW approach to defining and measuring creativity: Rethinking Technology & Creativity in the 21st century," had me questioning and wondering why it is so difficult to define what is "creativity" or what being creative actually looks like. "A creative solution is NEW, i.e. it is Novel, Effective and Whole or creativity is a goal driven process of developing solutions that are Novel, Effective and Whole," (Mishra, et. al., 2013, p. 11).
To further understand and define creativity, I interviewed my friend Shane Konte who is an artist (and in my opinion, all around creative person) who currently resides in Portland, OR, a major hub for creativity, art and talent. Through our conversation I found out that Shane has always had a knack for being creative and that he felt that it was something that was innate, passed on through genetics. His mother, to this day, is "crafty," and does a lot of sewing. During his high school career, he won several Scholastic Art competitions and as a young adult he has been drawing, tattooing and now currently painting as part of his income.
I asked Shane how he would define creativity and he said this: "I think creativity is being able to come up with ideas that aren't the mainstream and apply it in ways that are unique and captivating to other people." And when I asked him what inspires him to be creative he said, "I like doing things that other people haven't done and I like finding ways to do things that other people have done but do them in a different way. I like the fact that I am able to create things because it makes people happy. When I do my paintings it's very rewarding to know that I made something that was unique and one of a kind, and that someone smiles when they see it — they really cherish it."
Shane also states that to be creative, you should be open to every idea you come up with. "I would even say in an entrepreneur type-approach, just seek new ideas. Even if the first idea out of your mouth is not something that would be successful or be turned into something – that idea could always spark and grow into another idea that could be the success or solution to something that you're looking for. So, I think creativity comes down to not necessarily questioning yourself, but also being confident. In order to express yourself in a creative manner you have to be confident because you're probably pushing the norms in a lot of ways,"he said. "You have to be ready for people to judge you and say 'no, I'm not okay with that.' That can be a real personal thing. So just having the confidence and encouraging your students (for example) to speak up and have new ideas and be open-minded to those ideas, because everyone has good ideas and they come from somewhere."
His final tips or advice to people who feel like they lack creativity, such as myself was to: "basically allow yourself to be open, allow yourself to be confident, and encourage others to do the same." He also said, "take a risk and don't second guess yourself. Keep it simple. Take the dive and try something out because that's the only way something is going to change and things will go anywhere."
I normally don't ask Shane about his creativity or what inspires him, I usually just look at his work in awe and tell him that "I wish I could do that!" This assignment inspired me to think about my classroom and how I can take his advice to heart. His points about brainstorming ideas and being more open-minded to them is something I'd like to incorporate.
In my professional life, I think that I normally second-guess my initial thought process and I don't have a lot of confidence in the ideas that I come up with. I want to turn that mentality around and push myself to take on a new idea for my class and test it out. The worst thing that can happen is that it flops and we are back to ground-zero and I have to re-teach the topic (or unit).
In my personal life, I'd like to try picking up a new artistic hobby — maybe drawing or painting and just push myself to create the first thing that comes to mind and not second-guess it. Just let it flow and be open to others' opinions after creation rather than be my harshest critic and scrap the creative process entirely.
Check out Shane's work here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HairyMonkeyBoy
Mishra, P., Henriksen, D., & the Deep-Play Research Group (2013) A NEW approach to defining and measuring creativity. Tech Trends (57) 5, p. 5-13.


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One of the best places to make healthy connections is right next door. Being a good neighbor isn't just a thoughtful thing to do for someone else; it's a gesture that pays you back again and again== with feelings of greater security, reduced stress, a stronger community and more, like:
- Socializing. It only takes a few seconds to talk to a neighbor on your way to your car. Chatting over the fence post really is an enjoyable, life-affirming thing to do.
- Security. Being friendly with your neighbors encourages them to keep an eye on you and your property. And that helps you feel safer and more relaxed in your own home.
- Sharing. When you're chummy with your neighbors, you can share all sorts of resources. You can borrow tools, take turns bringing in the trashcans, have joint dinners and share babysitting/ pet duties.
- Community. Knowing the people who live around you can increase your feelings of solidarity and connectedness. Even when you live alone, you can still be part of a community that will look out for your well-being and lend a helping hand when you need it.
When you make the effort to be a good neighbor, your neighbors do the same for you – creating a tribe of friendly acquaintances who can keep an eye on your property, jump-start your car and even baby sit your kids from time to time. Here are some simple ways to get to know your neighbors better, whether you're new to the block, or you've lived there for years.
- Smile and be friendly. The next time you see one of your neighbors, greet them in some polite way. Smile, nod, wave or say hello. You don't have to be BFFs with everyone on the block, but don't be a curmudgeon either.
- Introduce yourself. It's never too late to walk up and shake hands with a neighbor, even if you've lived side-by-side for years and never spoken.
- Trade contact info. Make it a point to exchange phone numbers and email addresses with the people around you.
- Get outside more. If you live in a safe area, try to spend more time outdoors. Going for a walk is a great way to meet your neighbors and get a general idea of who lives where. It can also make you feel more comfortable with your surroundings.
- Have fun together. Want to know your neighbors better? Throw a block party. Host a game night. Walk your dogs together. Toss some burgers on the grill and have your neighbors bring sides. You'll find a whole community of friendly people just beyond your front door. Reach out and enjoy them!


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Tickets & Pricing
July 20, 2017 to January 1, 2018
Brooklyn Historical Society
Truman Capote's Brooklyn: The Lost Photographs of David Attie
In the spring of 1958 a young photographer named David Attie was led through the streets of Brooklyn Heights and to the Brooklyn waterfront by an unexpected guide—33-year-old Truman Capote. The images Attie took that day were to illustrate Capote's essay for Holiday magazine about his life in Brooklyn. Decades later, these largely unseen photographs are being exhibited for the first time.


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Yukoners make fur trapping a family affair
'It's become a really great part of our life,' Lisa Preto says
Lisa Preto grew up in Whitehorse, but had no real experience with trapping or remote back country travel until her partner Andy, relatively new to the Yukon at the time, became enthused by the idea of working a trapline.
"He's very energetic with the things he's interested in," Lisa told CBC News.
It wasn't long before Andy was assisting on a trapline and honing his skills. Now the couple work two of their own traplines — one near their home in Haines Junction, the other near their cabin in Mayo.
They get help (of a sort) from their children, Rose, 4, and two-year-old Sylvia. As often as possible, the Pretos bring the girls along on the snowy winter trail to check the traps.
"Just being outside in the sled, they're looking around at stuff, feeling the crunch of snow on their mitts, rolling around in it," Lisa said.
"We hope that as our kids get bigger that they'll want to spend more time out there, and they'll learn more practical skills."
The Pretos trap beavers, lynx and martens, selling many of the pelts at auction. Lisa also makes fur accessories such as parka ruffs and headbands to sell locally and online.
Lisa knows that not everyone understands the appeal of trapping. Even relatives and friends were a bit baffled by the couple's enthusiasm when they got started, she said.
The Pretos don't mind explaining themselves.
"It's become a really great part of our life," Lisa said.
"People come with their opinions of trapping, they think that we're just out there killing animals. But I think the more time you spend outside in the natural world, the more you care about it."
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We welcome your corporate and/or personal transportation needs. On or off Staten Island, you can count on Newport Car Service.
Set Up a New Account
To establish a new account please call: 718-720-4444.
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text: Those who know me well know I have a few obsessions. Shoes, Michael Buble, Heston's Feasts, ridiculously priced designer duds that I can neither afford or fit into, and dumplings. Possibly the latter is why I don't fit in said designer clothes, Oh well. I'm more obsessed with dumplings than the clothes! (more…)


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And, then there are bananas. I despise bananas with the white, hot, burning passion of a thousand suns. If a banana goes in my mouth, it must come back out - sometimes, and quite unfortunately, a little bit involuntarily. My stepmom tried to "hide" some bananas in a frozen jello dish once. Well, I'm here to tell you, when a frozen banana goes in your mouth, it thaws out just like cryogenic magic. My father-in-law tried to hide a little, tiny bit of banana in a bowl of fruit salad at a family gathering. As fate would have it, I got it. And, I knew it. And, everyone could see it chewed up and spit on my plate.
It is absolutely the texture of the vile thing that I can't stand - I love banana bread (because all the mush has been cooked out). Elizabeth got a banana milkshake at Sonic one time and needed me to get it started up the straw for her. Well, some of it came through the straw, as it was bound to do, and it was like a thousand little loogies in my mouth - it was a horrifying experience. She has to get her own milkshake started now, or wait for it to melt until it's not too thick - either way. It really doesn't matter to me.
Well, a year or so ago Spencer decided he didn't like bananas anymore. And, as Shawn says, when it comes to all foods, I put my foot down about trying it. Spinach? Have a bite! Green beans? Have a bite! Sweet potatoes? Have a bite! Shepherd's pie? Have a bite! Bananas? No. You're good. You can throw it away.
So. Here's the point of this entire post: Yesterday morning Shawn grabbed a banana on the way out the door. Spencer looked back and said, "I want a banana, too." Then he ate it. I have never felt so betrayed.


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America's public K-12 education system isn't making the grade.
It's not adequately preparing our students to succeed in college or the modern workforce. It's not delivering the skilled workers that businesses need to drive stronger economic growth. It's not helping advance America's ability to compete and lead in the global economy. In short, it's setting our nation up to fail.
Although there are exceptions, American public schools are generally producing fewer students with the skills they need for long-term success. Proficiency in fundamental disciplines is slipping.
Among the 34 leading industrialized countries, the United States ranks 14th in reading literacy, 17th in science and a dismal 25th in math. It should surprise no one that we've fallen from No. 1 in the world in the percentage of young adults with college degrees to No. 10.
The jobs of the 21st century are also becoming more specialized and technical. In fact, there are 3 million jobs going unfilled in this country because there aren't enough qualified candidates.
Ninety percent of the jobs in the fastest-growing occupations require postsecondary education and training. And by 2020, there will be 120 million high-skilled and high wage jobs. If we don't have the workers to fill them, we will risk our economic leadership in the world.
This is a looming national crisis that requires urgent action — and it must begin at the most fundamental level: K-12 education.
We believe that one major answer to this challenge is in our grasp — the Common Core State Standards. Common Core is a leading effort spearheaded by state leaders on both ends of the political spectrum with input from teachers, parents, school administrators and experts.
Common Core is an elevated set of standards — not a curriculum. It focuses on the building blocks of learning, such as reading and math, and is designed to be applicable in the real world — namely, college or career.
One of the key attributes of Common Core is nationwide clarity and consistency. Under our current system, the United States is a patchwork of disparate state standards and uneven expectations. An A in one state may be equivalent to a C in another. But states that opt into Common Core adopt a consistent set of goals that puts them on equal footing. So far, 45 states and the District of Columbia have opted in, which helps provide clarity for students, parents, and teachers across the country.
Common Core is also on par with international standards. Currently, our young people are being outperformed by students in countries like South Korea, Finland, Canada, Poland and Australia. The initiative aims to solve this problem by raising our educational standards, enabling Americans to compete with global peers.
This common-sense initiative has earned the bipartisan support of state lawmakers. It also has the backing of the broader business community. Business leaders not only want to see U.S. students poised for personal success, we want to see them equipped with the skills to be productive employees and strong contributors to our economy.
Our future is on the line. We urge governors and state legislators not to squander this opportunity to turn America's education system around.
Thomas J. Donohue is president and chief executive of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. John Engler is president of the Business Roundtable. These essays were distributed by the McClatchy-Tribune News Service.


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# 9821
Each month the CDC holds a Grand Rounds web presentation that focuses on a single health-related issue. In the past I've highlighted their broadcasts on such diverse topics as Multidrug-Resistant Gonorrhea, Electronic Health Records, and Sodium Reduction . . . to name a few.
Next week the CDC will broadcast a new Grand Rounds on a topic near and dear to this former first responder's heart:
Addressing Preparedness Challenges for Children in Public Health Emergencies
Webcast Links
Windows Media:
Captions are only available on the Windows Media links. The webcast links are only active during the date and time of the session, but all sessions are archived for future viewing.
Tuesday, March 17 at 1pm EST.
Public health emergencies can happen at any time, anywhere. Natural disasters, epidemics, and terrorist attacks that have occurred in recent years have underscored the importance of local, state, and federal public health systems in preparing for potential health threats. Public health emergencies, such as Hurricane Katrina, the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, and 9/11 have shown that children have different needs than adults, and require special attention, such as pediatric-focused care. However, responses to past events also show that the unique needs of children have not been adequately addressed in the planning process.
Incorporating the needs of children into emergency preparedness planning is critical. A child's age and size may require the use of different medications or equipment for medical care, but availability of these pediatric resources is often limited. Clinicians accustomed to performing certain procedures on adults often do not feel comfortable performing these same procedures on a child – posing dilemmas for individual responders during times of emergency.
This session of Grand Rounds will discuss strategies to address the unique vulnerabilities of children in every stage of emergency planning. Presenters will also highlight the strong progress that has been made in pediatric disaster readiness as well as the collaboration that is still needed between public health professionals and pediatric care providers to improve the outcomes for children during emergencies.
Presented By:
Georgina Peacock, MD, MPH
Director, Division of Human Development and Disability
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, CDC
"Meeting the Needs of Children in Public Health Disasters"
Michael R. Anderson, MD, MBA
Chief Medical Officer, University Hospitals
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
"Preparing Hospitals to Provide Pediatric Care during Disasters"
Esther Chernak, MD, MPH
Director, Center for Public Health Readiness and Communication
Associate Research Professor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health
Drexel University School of Public Health
"Integrating Community Pediatric Practices into Disaster Preparedness"
Nicole Lurie, MD, MSPH
Rear Admiral, U. S. Public Health Service
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
"Strengthening Resilience in Pediatric and At-Risk Populations"
To access and view earlier Grand Rounds presentations (going back to 2009), direct your browser to:
Resources paid for by your tax dollars, and highly recommended.


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By 3 Marthas. This popular sized bib is one of our best sellers! It has an easy velcro closure and is double-sided – the front is giant waffle pique and the back is thick, cotton terry. The thickness of these bibs keeps babies' clothes clean and the terry back can be used for wiping babies' mouths and any other "mishaps" that may occur.
* denotes a required field in order to submit order successfully.
** Please indicate in the specific requests box below which thread color you would like to appear on the specific part of the monogram/font you are selecting. Be as specific as possible to ensure accuracy of your order.


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Miglia Technology on Wednesday released EvolutionTV 2.5, an update that enables users to pause, rewind and fast-forward live TV. In addition, a third party DVD burning tool called MovieGate has been added. European users can also now access and synchronize recordings with the online TV guide tvtv.
The software works with Migliais EvolutionTV hardware, which plugs into a Mac via USB 2.0 and can record video from cable, satellite, antenna or other sources. This update is free for current users; the full package is US$249. Mac OS X v10.3, a 1GHz G4 processor and 256MB of RAM are required.


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Hi Sweet Friends!
Hope you all had a Wonderful time with family
during Christmas.
I took a few days off of blogging and the computer just
to rest and be with family. We have had a good time and
enjoyeded a few fun activities with some friends.
This was how our tree looked Christmas morning brimming
with love goodies for hubby, daughter and myself.
I must admit, I am spoiled! My hubby
loves giving...its a gift that he has and even
though times have been hard, he still wanted to give.
Makes me love him so...
I also could NOT resist showing you some fun pictures.
This year hubby made sure all 3 of our kitties got a gift
CATNIP toys!!! YUM
They go WILD over it. We took many pictures of there
FUN. It is amazing what affect this herb has on cats.
We laughed quite a bit too.
It truely is a RARE moment to capture all 3 within such
close proximity. They of course, were checking
out each other's CATNIP toy.
Chloe also fell in love with a PEACOCK feather. She
would go sit by it, indicating she wanted us to play with her.
The 3 kitties, Tiger, Chloe and Punkin all got their toys before
we opened our gifts. How much fun it is to see them
frolicking and so playful!
YUMMMY!!! lol
Hope you enjoyed your visit!
Wishing you all a HAPPY NEW Year!


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new regular hours
Monday Tuesday Wednesday
7am - midnight
Thursday Friday Saturday
7am - 2am
10am - midnight
$4 glasses of house wine & margaritas
$1 off all beer (beer over $3.00)
Large appetizers $5.00 (4-7 pm)
Breakfast until 5PM!
$9 Mini pitchers of mimosas or $2 glasses
$9 Gastronomer - Fajita chicken, bacon, provolone cheese, avocado, and house-made Sambal mayo.
$14 Margarita Pitchers/ $16 Spicy ($4 by the glass)
$5 Mexi-Meal Tecate/Modelo and a shot of well tequila
$9 Swarovski - Smoked Turkey, Roast Beef, Havarti, Shaved Onions and Roasted Garlic Mayo
$2.50 Dos XX pints
$7 Cool Hand Luke - Rustic Made To Order Egg Salad with Crisp Celery and Caramelized Onions (Vegetarian)
$1 off all Classy Tall Boys
$9 Goodfella - Italian Marinated Chicken, Provolone, Sliced Cucumber, Sprouts and Roasted Garlic Mayo
$1 off All schooners
$8.75 Dagwood - Ham, Bacon, Swiss, Sautéed Poblanos, Onion and Dijon Honey Mustard
House made tortilla chips with house roasted salsa.
Fajita seasoned marinated grilled chicken breast served on a bed of mixed greens, avocado, chopped black olives, shredded Cheddar, corn tortilla strips, chunky pico de gallo, and sour cream.
Vegetarian? Go with sautéed fajita-seasoned portobello mushrooms instead of chicken.
Marinated grilled chicken breast atop crispy romaine. Tossed with shaved parmesan cheese, croutons, and house-made Caesar dressing.
Mixed greens tossed with your choice of dressing, chopped tomatoes, black olives, shredded Cheddar, crumbled Blue cheese. Topped with sliced ham, turkey, hard boiled egg and avocado.
Blue Cheese, Ranch, Italian, Honey Mustard, Caesar, Russian, Fat-Free Raspberry Vinaigrette.
~ All salads come dressed unless you request otherwise~
BLT loaded with bacon, shredded iceberg lettuce, and our roasted garlic mayo.Served on your choice of white, wheat or rye bread.
Ham, turkey, bacon, Swiss cheese, and our house-made spicy mustard. Served on your choice of white, wheat or rye bread.
Smoked turkey, Havarti, sprouts, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, with our house-made honey mustard. Served on your choice of white, wheat or rye bread.
Hot roast beef & melted brie cheese, sprouts, shredded iceberg lettuce, sliced tomatoes, onions, and house-made spicy mustard. Served on pumpernickel rye.
Sliced ham, Genoa salami, spicy capicola ham, Provolone cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and our house-made pepper relish. Served on a hoagie roll.
Havarti cheese, Italian marinated artichokes, black olives, poblanos, and cucumber. Topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sprouts, avocado, and our roasted garlic mayo. Served on your choice of white, wheat or rye bread.
Vegan? Substitute hummus in place of cheese and mayo for no charge
Smoked turkey, bacon, Swiss cheese, fried avocado, lettuce, tomato, onion, sprouts, and our house-made green goddess mayo. Served on your choice of white, wheat or rye bread.
Chunky chicken, celery and onion tossed in mayonnaise, with Havarti Cheese, lettuce, tomato and crispy fried avocado. Served on your choice of white, wheat or rye bread.
Roast beef, bacon, queso, sliced tomato, shredded lettuce, shaved onion. Served on a hoagie roll.
Havarti, Provolone, American, tomato, green goddess mayo. Served on your choice of white, wheat or rye bread.
Fajita seasoned marinated chicken breast, bacon, sautéed poblanos, onions, Swiss cheese, avocado, sliced tomato, shredded lettuce, and house-made Sambal mayo. Served on a hoagie roll.
Hot peppered pastrami, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and house-made Thousand Island dressing. Served on pumpernickel rye bread.
Corned beef, sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing, and Swiss cheese. Served on pumpernickel rye bread.
Roast beef, Provolone, sautéed poblanos & onions. Served on a hoagie roll.
Add cherry peppers .50
Add sautéed mushrooms 1.00
Italian marinated chicken breast, provolone cheese, poblanos, black olives, sliced tomato, sliced onion, shredded lettuce, sprouts, pepper relish. Served on a hoagie roll.
Sourdough sandwich with two eggs, American cheese, and either ham and bacon or tomato and avocado.
Toasted bread bowl with spin dip coating, ham and bacon (or spinach and mushrooms), sautéed onion, tomato, cheddar and two yolky bois.
Crem brulee french toast with real northern maple syrup.
Hash browns smothered in cheddar, onions, jalapeno and chili, topped with two eggs your way.
Two eggs your way with toast, bacon, and hash browns.
Choice of one breakfast sandwich and a whiskey coffee
Queso $1.50
Avocado $1.50
Bacon $1.25
Cheese $1.25
Cherry peppers .50
sautéed mushrooms 2.00
Side pickles 1.00
Dressing, spicy mustard & mayos .50
To-Go Yellowbird hot sauce .50
Substitutions may incur an additional charge. A take out charge is applied to take-out orders. Orders may require one hour notice, especially during peak hours.
"The Usual" side salad has mixed greens, tomato, carrot, cucumber, croutons and sprouts and is dressed with your choice of dressing.
Creamy peanut butter with strawberry jelly.
1/2 sandwich with chips
Toasty, melty American cheese.
1/2 sandwich with chips
Large To-go orders in excess of 10 items will be charged a 10% service fee and require a minimum of an hour's notice . During busy times of service this time may be extended.
To cover the cost of our eco-friendly to go containers, we also charge a to-go fee for every 4 items ordered.
Our family-run business was established in 2011 to promote unpretentious food and brew while delivering quality to the neighborhood. While creating the vision for our establishment, we were excited to incorporate some of the nostalgia of one of our favorite hometown bars. With our hats tipped to Tucson, Arizona, we are working to create our own niche in East Austin. Located in an old Tejano night club, Gourmands is comfortably positioned on Webberville Road. The quirks of the building give you a glimpse of the past, with cracked black granite tile on the walls, cast glitter sprinkles on the doorways, and a distinct left lean to the room. It's not a perfect building, and its character is one of a kind.
Sit back and indulge your inner gastronomer while devouring a fat sandwich paired with soup in our locally made bread bowls. Our attention to quality is shown as we make our soups from scratch, slice all meats and cheese, fry house potato chips and garnish sandwiches with our pickled cucumber, carrot, onion and jalapeno mix.Enjoy a 32oz schooner of beer, or anything else from our full bar, which offers local and international brews, liquors, and wines. We hope you enjoy every minute of your stay. Come in refined, depart a Gourmand.


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The Carer's Support Grant for 2017 will be paid on Thursday 1 June.
This grant is an annual payment to carers from the Department of Social Protection. Carers can use it in whatever way they choose. You can use it to pay for respite care if you wish, but you do not have to do so.
In 2017 the grant is €1,700. It is paid automatically to carers who get Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance. If you are not getting one of these payments and you did not get the grant last year, you should fill in an application form (pdf).


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I adore Spearmint Baby. Her blog is for the most part all about decorating nurserys and children's rooms. Her ideas are beautiful as is her own home. I am beside myself excited that we made her blog! Check it out!!!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Madison's Nursery Featured at Spearmint Baby!!!
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Oscars organizers have withdrawn a best song nomination from a composer because he emailed voting members to highlight his candidacy, which is strictly banned for Academy executives.
"Alone Yet Not Alone," from the film of the same name, was something of a surprise inclusion in the five-strong shortlist for best original song unveiled by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on January 16.
But the Academy decided Tuesday night to rescind the nomination after finding that the song's composer, Bruce Broughton, had emailed voting members "to make them aware of his submission during the nominations voting period."
Broughton, who wrote the song with lyricist Dennis Spiegel, is a former Academy governor and current member of its music branch executive committee.
"No matter how well-intentioned the communication, using one's position as a former governor and current executive committee member to personally promote one's own Oscar submission creates the appearance of an unfair advantage," said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs in a statement Wednesday.
The song was up against nominees from four far more high-profile movies: "Happy" from "Despicable Me 2;" "Let It Go" from "Frozen;" "The Moon Song" from "Her;" and "Ordinary Love," by U2, from "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom."
The Oscars, the climax of Hollywood's annual awards season, will be held on March 2.
[Image via Agence France-Presse]


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Post # 1
- bundays
- 4 years ago
- Wedding: June 2016
Hey bees,
So I've gotten to the point where I've started trying on dresses — and asking about the bustles that ones I like would have.
I've never seen this particular one before, and I thought I would share. The seamstress called it a butterfly bustle — a mix of overs and unders. Im sure it has been done be for but it was neat nonetheless.


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An Evening Of Elegance Tickets
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Details of An Evening Of Elegance and the Ticket Luck value
An Evening of Elegance tickets promise an evening that celebrates musical and cultural heritage of Jamaica. Join the stars who gather together for an enjoyable evening, as Jamaica celebrates its 50th year of Independence. The concert keeping in line with its name "An Evening of Elegance" offers what it suggests.
The much awaited event is authorized by Jamaica 50 Secretariat, Ministry of Youth & Culture in Jamaica. For those who want to join the celebrations and be part of the memorable evening get An Evening of Elegance tickets, before they are sold out. The event is scheduled on Sunday 5th August, 2012. The evening starts at 7:30 p.m. The venue for the event is the Sony Theater for Performing Arts in downtown Toronto, Canada.
The artists who will honor the stage and make the evening a cherished experience are well-known names. Myrna Hague, internationally known as "Jamaica's First Lady of Jazz", with her distinctive voice and confident presence will grace the stage. The revered Jazz icon will be sharing her musical masterpieces on the event. Another popular name of Jamaican music industry, Karen Smith acknowledged for her vocal artistry and known to bring the spirit of Jamaica alive with her unique blend of jazz, pop and reggae is part of the star-studded lineup of performances. The versatile singer is recognized for her smooth sophistication and for always giving a memorable performance. Every time she takes stage she lives up to her reputation and An Evening of Elegance will be no exception. Get ready to see the best of her music.
Among other distinguished personalities adding to the charm of the evening are Ernie Smith and AJ Brown. Ernie Smith, the reggae pop singer, who made a mark with his reggae classics, was the first Jamaican musician to win an international award. His contribution to Jamaican music is undeniable. To recognize his work, Jamaican government honored him with the Badge of Honor for commendable service in the field of popular music. Along with him, Jamaica's greatest vocal talents AJ Brown will also be performing. One of the leading choral groups in the Caribbean, who are known for their versatility, The University Singers will be there to add their music brilliance.
The amazing line-up of performances with music co-ordination of the evening is given by none other, but the multi-talented musical icon Marjorie Whylie. That is sure to make the evening a fascinating experience. Marjorie Whulie is known as Jamaica's foremost woman musician/performer of jazz and traditional music.
The host of the evening announced is known as "King of Comedy", Oliver Samuels. Oliver Samuels has been awarded with national honor of Order of Distinction. An Evening of Elegance will feature an expression of music, culture and humor from the greats of the industry. It will be a journey down the memory lane, remembering the struggles and cherishing the achievements that added up to make the 50 years of Jamaica's history. While celebrating the past, it is also the best time for Jamaicans to recommit and work for a better vision and better times.
All the funds collected from "An evening of elegance" will be given to "The Ananda Alert organization". It is a charity organization established by Betty Ann Blaine, a Jamaican human rights campaigner. The organization works for immediate national emergency alert notification and search for every child missing from their homes in Jamaica.
An Evening of Elegance is also being broadcasted via global internet for Jamaican families and friends in the other Canadian provinces, UK, USA and the Caribbean. The broadcast of the event is an opportunity to reconnect with Jamaica's culture and history.
To see the well-known artists perform at a gathering that marks 50 years of history is not an everyday affair. For those of you who can be part of it must get An Evening of Elegance tickets in order to see the event live.
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Gates open 0900 flying starts 1000 look forward to seeing you!
Club Meetings
Last Tuesday of the Month at The Bell Buckland Dinham. May to Sept at the Flying Field weather permitting. Next Meeting Tuesday 24th April 2018.
Annual General Meeting Tuesday 20th November 2018 commencing at 19:30 at The Bell Inn Buckland Dinham.
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Meat and livestock markets in West and Central Africa
TypeNews Item
AccessibilityOpen Access
MetadataShow full item record
CTA. 1998. Meat and livestock markets in West and Central Africa. Spore 74. CTA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Permanent link to cite or share this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10568/49035
External link to download this item: http://spore.cta.int/images/stories/pdf/old/spore74.pdf
Marchés bétail-viande en Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre, a new quarterly newsletter Production: CRETES BP 1965 Yaoundé Cameroon
This new quarterly newsletter, entitled 'Marchés bétail-viande en Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre', is the offshoot of work undertaken by the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture in West and Central Africa (CMA-AOC) in the domain of regional livestock. It draws on a network of national contacts (in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo), who gather information on several market indicators. The newsletter carries a wealth of useful information for public and private decision-makers (supply and prices of livestock, meat prices, news exchange) allowing them to keep in close touch with regional and European markets. Each issue also carries a feature article, examining in depth a specific topic, such as foreign trade policy or poultry production. Production: CRETES BP 1965 Yaoundé Cameroon
SubjectsANIMAL PRODUCTION AND HEALTH;
RegionsWEST AFRICA; CENTRAL AFRICA; AFRICA
- CTA Spore (English) [5135]


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Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Happy (hick..hick...hickup) New Year!!!
11 comments :
Great post... I do believe I have done tipsy beading on occasion... I'll often look at a piece in day light and wonder how I could possibly have thought that the colours I used actually went together!ReplyDelete
Will have to find some gum drop beads!Replies
Yes you can have that happen! LOL check out Beadstalkers and Bello Modo for the gumdrop beads. I love them!Delete
Wow you have been busy! If that's what tipsy beading does for you, I think I had better pour myself a glass lol!ReplyDelete
Happy New Year Kristen and family!
Kerrie xReplies
Well when you are inspired it is so easy to play like this!!!!Delete
- AnonymousJanuary 2, 2013 at 11:41 AM
I'm thoroughly amazed! You accomplished quite a lot with your tipsy beading! Your garden bracelet and the necklace are my favorites. You've used my favorite colors! I can't tell from the photo, so I'm curious to know if the necklace was crocheted or if a Dutch spiral stitch was used.ReplyDeleteReplies
It is a russian spiral stitch and yes sometimes I think it is good to look at the beads in a different frame of mind because I would have not put them together before.Delete
I think I posted earrings made on a whiskey and Deadwood night on my blog once. They weren't half bad!ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing your tipsy journey. i don't think I could manage with seed beads in that condition!
Tipsy beading, love it! Some days, it may be the only way to go, lol. Nice results. :-)ReplyDelete
Umm ok when we meet I want to do some Tipsy beading with you ok! I love what you made and those are my colors too.ReplyDelete
Spiked drink, spiked beads! LOLOLOL! Love you girl and loved the post too!!!! You did some pretty awesome work with those spikes and gumdrops. Loving that gumdrop garden!ReplyDelete
Cracking me up...ReplyDelete


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I would say that everyone in their right mind likes cats, but that would be biased. However, I've heard that women are less likely to deny liking cats than men are (since dogs are considered a more "macho" pet for some reason).
Not the same person as ^ Im a girl and I like dogs more siberian huskies rock


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New Executive Chef at Heritage Collection Marlborough Vintners Hotel.
23 May 2017
Damian Oehlrich has joined Heritage Collection Marlborough Vintners Hotel as the new executive chef.
He started his career as a chef working at Lawson's Dry Hills winery for chef Chris Gibb. Since then, he has worked for a variety of restaurants and lodges around New Zealand, England and Scotland, but says Marlborough will always be home.
"It's a great place to live, we have everything for an outdoors lifestyle and to work with the best in the hospitality business at the historic Marlborough Vintners Hotel is an exciting prospect," says Damian.
In 2003, he won an Interislander scholarship and cash award for excellence in cookery, as well as completing a Certificate in Cookery (Level 3) and passing with distinction at the London City and Guilds Cookery exams.
He's also been in the spotlight as a semi-finalist on the 2016 Series 3: Marae Kai Masters, placing third out of 12 teams. He's come a long way since he taught himself how to make his first chocolate éclair from scratch aged seven!
"Cooking has been my constant passion," says Damian, "but, for five years, I took a break from the kitchen and worked in social services teaching cooking skills to people recovering from mental health disorders and later working for a year with 14-17 year olds who were at risk of heading down the wrong path. It was rewarding, and at the end my passion for cooking was even greater."
Damian is excited about the new stage in his career at Heritage Collection Marlborough Vintners Hotel and is looking forward to all the region has to offer, including world-class produce and wine, as well as the great outdoors for fishing and leisure sports.
As a keen gardener at home, Damian is looking forward to utilising the hotel's own vegetable garden, orchard and olive grove and indulging his passion for local produce.
"We saw what Damian could do when he did a temporary assignment for us in the past, so it's great to have him back to our kitchen and I look forward to watching him build on our culinary," says Travis Moriarty, general manager of Heritage Collection Marlborough Vintners Hotel.
Heritage Collection Marlborough Vintners Hotel, Blenheim is set on Rapaura Road and is surrounded by Marlborough's internationally acclaimed vineyards.
The hotel consists of a main lodge which houses the Vintners Room Restaurant overlooking a tranquil rose garden, open daily, and the Barrel Hall function venue.
Designed by respected architect Anton Tritt, the six acre property is sited to fully embrace the stunning Marlborough vineyard setting.
The hotel is perfect for a weekend retreat to sample the gastronomic pleasures of this abundant region and can cater for banquets, conferences and weddings for up to 120 people.
The property has spacious self-contained one bedroom suites dotted about pleasant grounds overlooking the vines, complete with en-suite bathroom with under floor heating, a lovely lounge to laze about in, and a patio to catch the winter sun and views sipping some excellent local wine.


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Urgent advice is being sent out to international tourists planning to travel to Italy. This advice is also valid for Italians moving around the country during the peak holiday season during the month in August.
"Be aware! Make a Difference" is the campaign that was launched at a press conference held by Italian State Railways (FS) and Polfer, the Italian railways police organization. The purpose of this alarming advice is alert naïve travelers to the danger of being cheated at any given opportunity in mass transit areas at major railway stations and on trains.
Brochures in eight languages (Italian, English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese) with effective graphics that are easy to understand have been produced as well as specific posters located in the more important railway stations and on trains. These will provide passengers with essential tips on how to prevent unpleasant incidents while moving around the country by rail.
Stickers bearing messages will be distributed and cartoons showing tactics thieves use will be shown on monitors in the main railway stations; the stickers will appear on self-service ticket vendor machines, on Frecciarossa trains (the fast and usually nonstop trains of FS), at ticket offices, and in Freccia Clubs (the special areas for Feccia Club card holders). The alert signs will be published in the free monthly corporate press magazine "La Freccia" through augmented reality technology on Smartphones. Passengers can avoid being the victims of theft and fraud by taking the precautions indicated in the above materials.
Over the first 7 months of the current year, 1,437 thefts occurred in railway stations, 2,045 on trains. 182 FS employees were assaulted while carrying out inspections and safeguarding passengers. An overall number of 795 people were arrested by police authorities, and 7,425 reported to judicial authorities.
"Through the 'Be aware! Make a Difference' initiative," explained Franco Fiumara, General Director of Gruppo FS Italiane Corporate Security, "We aim to provide our customers [with] information illustrating how ill-intentioned individuals act in order to take advantage of travelers' absent-mindedness. Security and personal safety when travelling by train and in stations begin with small but significant precautions. We intend to raise the awareness of travelers to ensure they pay more conscious attention to individuals trying to approach them using tricks of the trade and, therefore, take more care of their belonging[s]. These precautions and the intense work carried out by Gruppo FS Italiane Corporate Security staff and Railway police officers [should] ensure customers a more tranquil, serene, and safer journey."
"Through this campaign," affirmed Claudio Caroselli, Director of the Railway Police Department, "We want to raise the awareness of travelers, especially those from countries other than Italy who often trust the very individuals wishing to take advantage of such trust, at times pretending to be porters, ticket office or information office staff, and end up scamming or stealing from them. Making railway passengers more aware can lead to effective cooperation and, therefore, ensure that the prevention and repression measures taken every day by Railway police are more effective."
- Be aware of typical pickpocket-working environments (railway halls and lobbies, ticket offices, self-service areas, train arrival/departure platforms). Thieves often prefer crowded conditions.
- Be aware of your surroundings while using the self-ticketing dispensers. Prepare your purchase money beforehand, away from prying eyes.
- Beware of beggars. It could be a distraction tactic while an accomplice organizes the stealing of luggage.
- Always keep a watchful eye on your luggage while in your seat and on board a train.
- Pay very close attention to your valuables, even when kept inside a jacket pocket hanging at your side when sitting on a train.
- Do not leave any valuable items unattended on the table in front of your seat while stowing your luggage. No ticket? No departure! It is mandatory to travel with a valid ticket. Purchase a train ticket to honor your travel, not simply because of potential control.
- Do not acquire services from individuals not in possession of a valid license. Never entrust your luggage to strangers.
- Do not purchase food items from illegal vendors. Such items could endanger your health.


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Best Albums of 2009
Rather than compiling a huge list at the end of the year, not having enough time to do a good job, and simply throwing something together really fast, I'm going to start compiling my thoughts on albums over the whole year - month by month.
March Edition
The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
This album had a lot to live up to. The Decemberists have long waxed towards the epic - consider some of their Loooooong songs. So, when I heard that The Hazards of Love was one big long epic story of love, deception, treachery, suffering etc . . . my curiosity and anticipation was piqued. Lyrically, I was not disappointed. It is Decemberists to the core. Soncially, I liked a lot of what I heard. However, there were some serious disappointments. 1. A few songs feature female lead vocals. I have nothing against female vocals per se, but its just not the Decemberists to me. If that was the entire album, I probably wouldn't buy it. My palatte for the Decemberists is very much oriented towards Colin Meloy's vox. 2. Since the album is one long story, there are quite a few melodies and refrains that are recycled throughout the album. While holding the album together sonically, there are a few sections that got a bit stale. "Didn't I just listen to this a few minutes ago?" Top tracks include The Hazards of Love 1, A Bower Scene, Annan Water [download mp3] and The Hazards of Love 4.
Dent May and his Magnificent Ukulele - The Good Feeling Music of Dent May
This album came out in February, but I didn't find it until now. Holy out of left field Batman! Dent May sounds something like a combination of a Time-Life best-of collection of "Your Favorite 1950's Jukebox Ballads" with lots of Ukulele. I can't get it out of my head. Check out the following videos for a glimpse at his uber-dorky fashion styling: "Howard" video, "Oh, Paris!" video, "Meet me in the Garden" video. Top tracks include Howard, God Loves you Michael Chang [download mp3], and You Can't Force a Dance Party.
Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
I took my Ph.D. comprehensive exams with a lot of Great Lake Swimmers playing softly in the background on my iPod. This new release is a bit more up beat and rawkus, if you could ever consider the Great Lake Swimmers "rawkus." Good indie-acoustic-folky goodness. Top tracks include Palmistry [download mp3], Pulling on a Line, and Unison Falling into Harmony.
Common Market - The Winter's End [EP]
According to their press releases, this album signals things looking up for Common Market. Last year's LP Tobacco Road was dark, brooding and raw in its accounts of poverty, domestic abuse, etc . . . The cold dark winter though has come to an end for RA Scion. There are some great horns on this 5 song EP and well worth checking out. Check out all 5 tracks, including Slow Down Moses [download mp3]
Death Cab for Cutie - Open Door [EP]
What a treat! 4 more songs from the sutdio sessions that brought us last year's Narrow Stairs. One of the tracks, Little Bribes, has been kicking around for a while on solo Ben Gibbard under the monicer "Big Casino." The tracks are all great, but try out A Diamond and a Tether [download mp3]
Vetiver - Tight Knit
I'm not totally sold on this band yet. It is promising though - some good folky acoustic indie-rock. We'll see if it grows on me. Top tracks include Everyday and Through the Front Door.
Peter, Bjorn and John - Living Thing
I really liked Writer's Block (2006). I didn't like Seaside Rock. The Swedish bands lastest is ok and worth a couple listens to see if it sticks for you. The jury is still out for me. Top tracks are . . . well . . . I'm not sure. Try I Want You! Also - Nothing to Worry about has one of the best videos ever made!
Running LP List
- J. Tillman - Vacilando Territory Blues (January)
- The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love (March)
- Andrew Bird - Noble Beast (January)
- Dent May and his Magnificent Ukuele - The Good Feeling Music of Dent May (March)
- The Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels (March)
- Say Hi - Oohs & Aahs (February)
- Coconut Records - Davy (January)
- The Appleseed Cast - Sagarmatha (February)
- Peter, Bjorn and John - Living Thing (March)
- Vetiver - Tight Knit (March)
- General Elektriks - Good City for Dreamers (February)
- Ben Kweller - Changing Horses (January)
Running EP List