text:
I was determined to not write about how the Washington metropolitan area dealt with its first snowfall: the story has been written often enough that the area does not deal well with the white stuff. I also decided that I did not want to be one of the sad statistics, so after the school-work drop-offs, I stayed indoors, watched as the snow started to fall and waited to hear if I would need to make a run back to either or both places to do pick up.
Today's Washington Post (see Petula Dvorak's piece on working parents snowed under) flagged one issue that has bothered me a lot about how these 'emergency' situations are dealt with, not just here in the DC/MD/VA area, but in general. During our recent stint abroad, on the bucolic isle of Barbados, the main things that had parents scurrying were water or electricity outages. News would often come on radio that area A or school B had no water or was without power and that children needed to be collected early. Good, if you heard the message, I often thought. But what if you did not? Were the schools set up to call or contact all parents or responsible adult and even if they did what would happen if no one could go to collect the children? There, the problem was excessive heat or simple lack of water–touching on whether children or workers could survive. When it snows here, it's not clear that the need to move children or close offices has anything to do with difficulties of sustaining life.
Being in the fortunate position of not working for anyone but yourself, especially, from home, means that you can more easily drop what you are doing to deal with such instances. Not always, though. But, there is an expectation that you can. This expectation is not specific to any gender, but quite general. If you can deal with the sudden need to collect, then what? The interruption may not be temporary and many will know how they have to refocus or reorganize to get back to whatever was in hand. We take it for granted that we can do it, but for those who cannot it is the start of some dire experience.
If your employer has allowed you to go, has the firm also allowed you to stay away for the rest of the day? Not everyone can transfer their office work to work at home. Those of us who are professionals forget often that the workforce has many people who work in process industries, or work shifts, or cannot leave for a range of reasons. This is a conundrum that many do not understand. In the same way that an employer, no matter all the sympathetic words about work-life balance, often balks at the notion of your not being present. Face-time and effective work are not the same, but yet many managers cannot distinguish and their need to see staff, or have them at their beck and call, will always be a barrier.
But, the world has become structured around the work and school days, and things that break that pattern cause more than a little chaos. Train and bus schedules may not be flexible. Everyone heading for the highways early often means a longer and more arduous drive home. I long understood the decision taken by some school districts to be cautious and close early, so that they could organize in a calmer way. Needing to mobilize the school bus system in an emergency cannot be easy an cannot be fun.
We all know about the inconvenience that comes because we have to change our routines, but it's one of the burdens to accept for having become so civilized and developed that we are not just living in a small locale, but have our activities spread over large geographical areas. I've never heard anyone suggest that the thing to do is unravel the complex world that we have spent years building. So, we live with what we have created.


text:
3 days, 11 hours, 34 minutes and — as of right now — 19 seconds until the NORAD Santa Tracker becomes active. For more than half a century, the NORAD Santa Tracker has been tracking and disseminating Santa's exact location as he leaves the North Pole and journeys around the world delivering presents on Christmas Eve. It's labeled as entertainment, but I beg to differ. Here's the web site so you can bookmark it: http://www.noradsanta.org/en/
I love the Santa Tracker. First, a countdown like that always reminds me of the Louis Prima song, "Five Months, Two Weeks, Two Days." So much so in fact, that I can't not say the time remaining just like Louis does in his song. And that's always worth a smile. Second, I love the Santa Tracker because of the technology it employs and its no-cost-is-too-great-for-the-U.S.-taxpayer philosophy (bouncing radar beams all over the globe? Are you kidding me? No wonder we're on the edge of the fiscal cliff!). But I love the Santa Tracker most of all, because it reminds me of all the years I would use the Santa Tracker on Christmas Eve to report Santa's exact location when I was doing weather broadcasts on the radio here in Houston for KUHF-FM. Typically the Gulf Coast weather was non-eventful, and that would allow me to devote the entire weathercast, twice an hour, to Santa's precise location.
I couldn't help but think of when I was a kid and watched the Santa Tracker on TV — I was riveted to the whole process of tracking Santa by radar. It was like, "Santa doesn't know it, but we know where he is!"
Do kids still think this is cool? When I was doing those radio reports I tried to make them as "official" as I could, hoping that there was some little boy or little girl riveted to the report just as I was 40 years ago.
What's that, you say? The Santa Tracker doesn't go back that far? Oh, indeed it does! All the way back to the black and white days of 1955. And, as the story goes, it all started with a wrong phone number placed by Sears in a Colorado Springs newspaper. The advertisement promised that childern could talk to Santa, but instead of ringing at the local Sears Department Store, the phone rang just up the road at the Colorado Springs' Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD). The officer on duty told his staff to provide Santa's enroute location to the children who called, and the tradition that is now 57 years old began. Three years after that, CONAD was replaced by NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command).
Back in the day, calls were fielded by actual CONAD and NORAD personnel, but I'm sure you're not surprised to learn those calls today are handled by volunteers. And these volunteers are busier than ever with more than 70,000 phone calls and 12,000 emails from 200 countries. Today, the NORAD folks use Google Analytics to anticipate staffing needs and schedule the volunteers accordingly. And if that sounds high tech, consider that last year the NORAD folks had more than 100,000 Twitter followers and nearly a million Facebook fans. Twitter is slightly down this year (96,000) and Facebook is holding about steady (1,071,503), but you can boost those numbers yourself by clicking here for Twitter and here for Facebook.
I'm not in the radio business any more, but I look back on those days and I can easily say that Christmas Eve was my favorite night of the year to work. I felt like I was part of something really big. Not only was I tied into the NORAD tracking system, but I was inserting myself into the magic of Christmas for the little ones of Southeast Texas who happened to be listening to the radio on Christmas Eve. How great is that?
This year it looks like Santa will be battling frigid temperatures and even a monster snow storm in the middle of the United States. Nothing, I'm sure, he can't handle.
3 days, 11 hours, 10 minutes, 8 seconds…

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Dragonflies and Damselflies
This event occurred in the past.
Map | Find Parking
Members of the public (and includes children), are welcome to this meeting of the Lake County Audubon Society when Maria Garrison speaks on the topic of "Dragonflies and Damselflies, Natural History of Odonata." Through macro and micro photography, come explore the captivating world of local dragonfly and damselfly fauna including their anatomy, life history, behaviors and diversity. Marla Garrison is a biology faculty member at McHenry County College and she sits on the Executive Council of the Dragonfly Society of the Americas.


text:
16″ tubes in stock!
Yes, we know it is insanely cold outside. But freezing temperatures can't stop this crew! 16″ tubes are now in stock. And if you don't have any 16″ shells, you can always 1) order some from us, or 2) use them to store your skinny friends. Get yours today.


text:
A few of us at SA Baxter are automotive nuts to say the least. Imagine our surprise when we encountered this post over at Core77. The care and hand-crafted effort put forth into each and every Porsche badge is something near and dear to our hearts. We think you'll find the detail and focus of the craftsmanship to be absolutely fascinating.
Month: November 2012
Taking it All in at Designing Greenwich
We recently had the pleasure of attending Connecticut Cottages & Gardens' inaugural Designing Greenwich event. The curated group of Exhibitors were top-notch – hand selected by Tony Ingrao, whom we took a couple of moments to chat with. We had the pleasure of meeting Marianne Howatson, the CEO of Cottages & Gardens along with Pamela Eldridge, Publisher of Hamptons Cottages & Gardens.
We very much enjoyed the Presentation from Rosencrans Baldwin, President of Donghia, Inc. Crans is an engaging (and very funny) speaker. His thoughts on the direction of the Design Industry were both humbling, enlightening, and encouraging. We took away a few very interesting insights which will certainly benefit our clients. Thank you Crans. And thank you to the Cottages & Gardens Team!
What's Shipping? Why these Hand-Hammered Lovelies…
Nothing makes a statement like door knobs with a hand-hammered finish. These beauties, Door Knob Style DK-1019, are finished in Antique Nickel.
What's That You Say? Listen to Your Metal in Style…Frends Modern Headphones
Metallics are very much in vogue in the fashion world. We are loving the idea of these headphones by Frends.
The headphones (Layla) and large headphones (Taylor) really tickle our fancy. The available finishes are gold, rose gold, and silver.
How would these look in Antiqued finishes? Hmmmmm…
Via design-milk.com
NYDC Shows off our Project-Ready Hardware
We are flattered to have our soon-to-be launched Project-Ready hardware featured on the New York Design Center's website splash page.
A few Designers and Developers have already taken a sneak peek at our new collection in-person. Feel free to contact us for your own sneak peek and inquire about Pre-Orders, which are already being taken.


text:
This muscle re-education program is designed to improve dynamic control of the shoulder blades to optimize movement. Exercises should be performed in a smooth, controlled and precise manner with emphasis on perfect movement. Initial goal should be 3 sets of 12 reps with the ultimate goal of 3 sets of 20 reps, if form is deteriorating stop and rest.
At home shoulder care program


text:
You're ready to get started - what now?
Why you've figured OUT of Once you SHOULD Invest, at The Next STEP IS Learning How. We'll BREAK INTO TWO Parts that Question. Of First, We'll Talk the About How you CAN Structure your Financial Life to the make IT Possible to Invest. The Then , we'll delve into the mechanics of investing, such as opening a brokerage or mutual fund account.
What is investing?
Any time you invest, you're devoting your own time, resources, or effort to achieve a greater goal. You can invest your weekends in a good cause, invest your intelligence in your job, or invest your time in a relationship. Just as you undertake each of these expecting good results, you invest your money in a stock, bond, or mutual fund because you think its value will appreciate over time.
Investing money involves putting that money into some form of "security" -. A fancy word for anything that is "secured" by other assets Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and certificates of deposit are all types of securities.
Anything the else the with AS, there are MANY Different Approaches to Investing -. Which some of you've Probably Seen ON TV late-night the A Well-Dressed, wildly Positive (though Somewhat whiny) Young the man in Front of SITS lazily Waving Palm fronds , shaking his head about how incredibly easy it is to amass vast wealth -!!!? in no time at all Well, hey That sounds fine But if it were so easy, would not everyone who saw the same pitch be rich And how come you always have to send in money to learn those wealth-building secrets?
We suggest you take the $ 25 you'd spend on the hardcover EZ Secrets to Untold Billions book and the $ 500 you would shell out for the EZ Seminar, and invest it yourself - after you've learned the basics here.
First, douse your debt
After learning why investing is a smart thing to do, you're probably itching to take the next step. You want to drop everything and start investing right now. But hold on! Would you start running a marathon without first stretching? Would you pour syrup on the plate before the pancakes are done? Having dazzled you with the power of compounded returns, we want to make sure that same principle's not working against you. Before you start investing, you've got to get rid of your high-interest debt.
At The Very Same Principle of Compounding that Helps your Investments Grow CAN Quickly the Transform A Dollar of Debt Total INTO A FEW Hundred Dollars. Does IT the make Sense to the try to the Save Money the even AS your Debts are multiplying like Bunnies? No Way. Although is some kinds of Debt Total may be low-interest or tax- advantageous (such as your mortgage), you'll want to free yourself from the high-interest stuff before you begin to invest.
Every dollar you can put toward investing will work for you. And every dollar of yours kept out of the pockets of financial professionals or full-service brokers is also creating value for you.
Pay yourself first
To become a successful investor, make investing a part of your daily life. That's not as great a stretch as it may sound. After all, you make decisions that affect your finances every day, whether you're ordering a $ 7 glass of wine with dinner or getting a home equity loan to pay down credit card debt.
We're not suggesting that you obsess over every penny you throw into a wishing well. (Please do not embarrass your mother by diving in after it.) If you pay yourself first, you will not have to.
You already pay the companies behind your credit card, gas, water, electric, cable, and phone bills every month, right? Why not add yourself to the list? Heck, put yourself right at the top. Set aside a chunk of money to save or invest when you first get your paycheck, and you can happily forget about it for the rest of the month.
The Motley Fool recommends that you save as much as possible; 10% of your annual income (total, not take-home) is a good goal Depending on your obligations, you may be able to save more or less The more you save.. , the more wealth you create -. but anything is better than nothing Even a few dollars saved now will be worth more than lots of dollars saved later.
With online banking and brokerage services, it's easier than ever to set up automatic monthly transfers between your checking account and a savings account or investing vehicle of your choice. You'll be surprised how easy it is to live on a little less money each month - in fact, you probably will not even notice the difference.
Do not hesitate to be flexible about your savings. If you find yourself truly pinched for pennies once all the bills are paid, perhaps you're paying yourself too much. Perhaps you're not yet in a position to start paying yourself at all . That's perfectly OK -! but as soon as you can feasibly start saving, jump right in The earlier you start, the better.
Active and passive strategies
The two main methods of investing in stocks are called active and passive management, and the difference between them has nothing to do with how much time you spend on the couch (or the exercise bike). Active investors (or their brokers or fund managers) pick their own stocks, bonds, and other investments. Passive investors let their holdings follow an index created by some third party.
When most people talk about stock investing, they mean active investing. It may sound like the superior strategy, but active investing is not always all it's cracked up to be. Over the long haul, most actively managed stock mutual funds have underperformed the S & P 500 index, the most popular and prominent benchmark for index funds.
In that light, you can understand why some people want an alternative to "active" management. Many people who just want a return roughly equal to that of a major stock index prefer passive investing. Beyond the S & P 500, you can find passive investments in many indexes, including the Russell 2000 for small-cap stocks, the Wilshire 5000 for the broad market as a whole, and various international indexes as well.
Investing versus speculating
Right about now, you may be thinking about that brother-in-law who "made a killing" in options. Or maybe you're reminiscing about the Nevada vacation when your one lucky quarter magically drew out 700 more with the pull of a slot -machine lever. Why put your money in slow-and-steady investment vehicles that merely promise double-digit returns, when you could have near-instant riches? With compounding, you have to wait patiently for years for your riches to accumulate. What if you want it all now?
Granted, there's nothing exhilarating about predictability Matching the performance of the S & P 500 will not make you the life of the party But neither will the far more common tales about how you lost your savings on some speculative gamble -.. Nor a recounting of your subsequent adventures in bankruptcy court.
You do not need a card dealer, dour strangers, or Wayne Newton background muzak to gamble. Plenty of stock market gamblers do an admirable job of losing their money on seemingly legitimate pursuits. At The Motley Fool, we believe investors "gamble" every time they commit money to something they do not understand.
Suppose you overhear your best friend's dentist's nanny talking about a company called Huge Fruit at a cocktail party. "This thing is gonna go through the roof in the next few months," she says in a stage whisper. If you call your broker the first thing the next morning to place an order for 100 shares, you've just gambled.
Do you know what Huge Fruit does? Are you familiar with its competition (Heavy Melon)? What were its earnings last quarter? There are a lot of questions you should ask about a "hot" company before you throw your hard-earned cash at it. A little knowledge could help keep you from losing a lot of money.
Remember, every dollar that you speculate with and lose is a dollar that's not working to create long-term wealth for you. Speculation promises to give you everything you want right now, but rarely delivers. In contrast, patience all but guarantees those goals down the road.
Planning and setting goals
Investing is like a long car trip:. A lot of planning goes into it Before you start, you've got to ask yourself:
· The Where are you going? (The What are your Financial Goals?)
· How Long at The TRIP IS? (The What IS your Investing "Time Horizon"?)
· The What you SHOULD Pack? (Investments Will you the What of the type of the make?)
· How much Gas Will you need? (How much Money Will you need to REACH your Goals? How much you devote to CAN A Regular Investing Plan?)
· By Will you need to STOP along at The Way? (The Do you have have Short-Term Financial Needs?)
· How do you Plan Long Staying ON? (OFF by Will you need to Live at The Investment in later The years?)
Running out of gas, stopping frequently to visit restrooms, and driving without sleep (this is the last of the travel analogy, we promise) can ruin your trip. So can saving too little money, investing erratically, or doing nothing at all.
Do not let yourself get away with fuzzy answers, either Investing demands hard numbers -. Get used to them You'll need to pin down exactly how much it'll cost to send a child to college, or how much you '. ll need to live on in retirement. It can be liberating to see exactly what you need to reach your destination, and that precision helps you stay accountable to yourself along the way.
Not worry the Do - do you have have to do Not All at The Math Yourself. Online Interactive Calculators Help you CAN Figure your Future at The Money Needs More specific CAN BE you, you are at The More LIKELY SET and to Achieve Reasonable Goals..
How stock trading works
You've whipped your finances into shape You've set concrete financial goals Now you're ready to learn how to start making your investments If you use a mutual fund, the process is pretty easy:... Contact the fund company and ask to open an account. But with stocks, things get a little trickier.
Stocks trade on exchanges. In the US, the major exchanges are the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the American Stock Exchange (AMEX), and the Nasdaq Stock Market. While there are differences in the way the various exchanges handle trades, buying and selling shares on any of them involves a similar process.
Exchanges bring together buyers and sellers. The price that buyers are willing to pay for shares is called the "bid," while the price sellers are willing to accept to sell their shares is the "ask" price. The difference between these two prices is called the "spread." Usually, the spread goes into the pockets of the exchange professionals who handle trades.
The amount of spread will vary, depending on the volume of shares traded. For heavily traded stocks, competition will make spreads quite small. Thinly traded stocks may carry a large spread, in order to compensate exchange professionals for the risk they take.
Investors can set their own bid or ask prices, too, by placing orders to sell or buy only at a specific price. (These are called "limit" orders.) Exchange professionals keep a close eye on these "open" orders, executing them when conditions are met, and using them to gauge demand for the stock.
Brokerage accounts are the most common way to buy stocks. You can either use one of the many way-too-expensive full-service (or full-price) brokers, or execute your trades through a discount broker. Learn more about how to pick one in our Broker Center, where you can compare brokers and open an account.
The perils of margin
When you use a brokerage account, you can have a cash account or a margin account The former lets you trade only with money you actually have The latter -.. And right about now, you should be hearing alarm bells and warning sirens - lets you purchase stocks with borrowed money Margin accounts can increase your returns -. but they'll also increase your risk.
Brokers, who have a vested interest in enticing customers to use margin, like to say that such accounts increase your "buying power." But in reality, buying on margin only enhances your "borrowing power." You'll have to pay all that margin money back at some point - forget that at your peril.
Brokers make a good part of their money by collecting interest on margin loans. And since margin gives investors more (borrowed) money with which to buy stocks, it generates greater commission fees for those same brokers. The broker has total control over the collateral for the loan, including the ability to step in and force you to sell stock if it thinks you're in danger of defaulting on its loan for brokers, margin is a cash cow;. for investors, it's a double-edged sword.
Dividend reinvestment plans (DRPs) and direct investment plans (DIPs)
Not yet ready to open a brokerage account? These plans offer another, steadier way to buy stock. Lovingly known by many investors as Drips, they allow shareholders to purchase stock directly from a company, with only minimal costs or commissions. Not every company offers such plans, but they're great for people who can only invest small amounts of money at regular intervals.
Summing up
All right, Fool - you've got a rough idea of what you want to do with your finances, how much money you'll need, and how much time you have to reach that goal And you now know how to start investing. your money in the market. For your next step, it's time to start thinking about exactly what you should invest in, and the kind of returns you can reasonably expect.


text:
Today i cut and bypassed all polluted and corrupted traces/vias, and i installed a new CR2032 3V battery. The KLM-367 is inthe synth again, and works as expected.
So far i just tested the programming and recalling of a sound, even after powering off. All good! Hurray!
Thank you, Scott Rider aka oldcrow!
Next: calibration (sigh)


text:
Thanks to FluTrackers for tweeting about this development. Via Xinhua: Beijing, neighbors move to contain flu outbreak.
Beijing and neighboring regions are taking measures to contain the winter flu outbreak, as various viruses put pressure on medical resources.
Flu infections this winter are 71 percent above the average for the same period in the previous three years, with child cases rising sharply. Influenza virus B, as well as H1N1 and H3N2, subtypes of influenza virus A, are among the most widespread, said Wang Quanyi, with the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
He said the lack of significant precipitation since late October and large temperature differences between day and night have contributed to the spread in Beijing.
The city has encouraged children and the elderly to be vaccinated and to date, 1.3 million of them have been, 90,000 more than the whole of last winter.
Health authorities released a list of 147 hospitals with pediatric services, with a total daily reception capacity of 20,000 child outpatients, so that parents know where to take their sick children, instead of swarming into already crowded top hospitals.
The outbreak has greatly increased workload of pediatricians, many of whom have become sick themselves.
In Haihe Hospital, Tianjin Municipality, all the three doctors asked for sick leave, leading to suspension of pediatric clinics from Monday.
The services were not resumed until Thursday, when two pediatricians from elsewhere were seconded to the hospital.
Neighboring Hebei Province has a shortage of flu medicine such as oseltamivir phosphate, as residents have stocked up after hearing of "special effects."
"I finally paid a pharmacy double to buy the medicine, as the hospital and several other pharmacies had already run out," said a man in the provincial capital of Shijiazhuang who bought oseltamivir phosphate for his pregnant wife on prescription.
Provincial health authorities are pursuing new stocks of medicines.
Zhou Chunhua, a pharmacist with Hebei Medical University, said there was no need to overreact, as most patients recover in seven days through their own immune systems.
Wang with the Beijing disease prevention and control center said the flu outbreak in Beijing had reached its peak and would ease in the next two weeks.
Flu cases in the last week of 2017 increased by 20.7 percent from the previous week in Beijing, and dropped by 5.76 percent in the first week of 2018.
"Considering schools and kindergartens will soon have their winter vacation and Chinese Lunar New Year holidays, the spread situation will be further eased," he said.


text:
jeez...i cant believe its been a year that i have been writing this blog.
as a reminder of its raison d'etre...here is my first post:
Once I heard this preposition/adjective combo, I instantly liked it……it sounded like the answer to an puzzling riddle. But really….it's much simpler than that. It's where you will find the reverse gear in this beautiful car, I affectionately called, 'senor blanco'. Not only was this the first car that made me proud to drive…but also the first ANYTHING that I bought from the profits of my art. I sold the biggest and most elaborate body of work that I had ever created. Letting it go was made much easier when this is what came in return. Underfirst serves as a bookmark to past, present and future inspiration.
GOD i miss that car....
Friday, January 15, 2010
underfirst is 1...
Posted by ...under first at 6:02 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
The instant you step in the room, you can feel it. You know what I'm talking about — you feel it every time you show up at a business networking event. You can tell no one's really listening to what you're saying; they're only thinking about whether you'll become a future client or if they're wasting their time and should move onto the next guy.
I hate hearing I "need" to show up at these events and hand out a million business cards just to make myself known. That's not good networking for introverts. Why? That type of interaction is annoying even for extroverts. For introverts, it's downright painful. Here's how you can build a strong network instead:
1. Industry-Based Twitter Chats
If you're searching for a shortcut to get your name and image in front of more impressive people in your industry, look for Twitter chats happening in your niche.
A few years ago, I started a website about personal finance. I didn't know any influencers in the space, so I looked up Twitter chats where people showed up to discuss personal finance and put it in my calendar to participate every week. Each chat usually lasts for one hour, but the beauty of it is you can talk to exactly who you want to talk to and ignore the rest.
Things move really fast during this hour, but if you show up regularly and contribute to the conversation, influencers will start to notice you and take you seriously. If you ask me, this is a way better result than forcing yourself through weekly networking events.
2. If You Go to a Live Event, Make It a Workshop
Workshops are amazing. Not only do you walk away with a valuable skill and problem solved, but you can experience more in-depth conversations than you could ever hope for in a generic networking event. Plus, since we usually go into workshops for the purpose of learning instead of networking to find new clients, our guards are down, allowing us to have deeper, more meaningful conversations.
We don't care so much about showing off how "perfect" our businesses are. Instead, we care more about getting to know the person sitting next to us. Because of this, we make better, more lasting connections than in a networking event, where everyone's got their guard up and is just hoping to walk out with new business.
3. Pitch Yourself as a Podcast Guest
Confession: I've only been on two to three podcasts at this point. But you know what? The people who've reached out to me after hearing my episodes are amazing. They often say my story inspired them, reply to my weekly emails and tell me what's going on in their world. They genuinely feel like they know me, because they've heard me talk candidly and openly — and not about small-talk items — for 30 minutes to an hour.
In this situation, you really only need to have one conversation with one person, which makes it perfect for introverts. Once that's over, and the episode goes live, you're literally talking to thousands of people without spending all the uncomfortable time at networking events that require you to individually talk to the same number of people. Absolutely perfect, if you ask me.
Networking for Introverts Can Have Big Results
It goes against "common" wisdom, but I'd say an introvert's dislike of small talk with strangers actually makes them better networkers. As an introvert myself, I actively avoid the small-talk networking events and find ways to go "straight for the kill" in making meaningful connections with the people who matter.
If you're an introverted entrepreneur, what are some ways you've found to shortcut traditional networking advice and build a strong network for yourself? Let me know in the comments — I'd love to hear your tips, too.


text:
Exchange 2003 introduced the Recovery Store Group to allow on-line restores of mailbox databases to aid in the recovery of deleted messages or deleted mailboxes, but there are still three situations where an offline recovery of Exchange databases is still a necessity in Exchange 2003, public folder data recovery (lost/deleted messages), recovery of a mailbox when the user account has been deleted, or the mailbox is no longer on the same server where the backup to be restored was taken.
The second situation is the one I encounter most often and the subject of this posting. An Exchange 2003 Recovery Storage Group will not allow you to export the data from a mailbox database if the original Active Directory user account has been deleted. This is because of the RSG's dependency on the msExchMailboxGUID. Note that the third situation is related to the msExchOrigMDB. Microsoft does an excellent job of describing these scenarios in How to use Recovery Storage Groups in Exchange Server 2003. Also important to note that these restrictions do not apply to Exchange 2007 and from what I understand Exchange 2010 as well.
So if I am going to invest my time in building a recovery server can I use for something besides recovering single mailboxes? Sure, glad you asked! Recovery servers are great for learning and practicing disaster recovery steps in general. After all the best time to learn disaster recovery procedures is not in the middle of a disaster, right? Not only can you practice Exchange database restore and dial tone recovery, you can also practice Active Directory recovery as the recovery server will be built into its own forest and domain.
The other benefit is testing your backups. Believe it or not just because the data wrote to the tape successfully doesn't mean it will restore successfully. I speak from experience here. I once did a recovery that required us to go back 22 backups before we found one that would restore and mount due to poor tape quality. So it's never a bad idea to pull a tape and restore it to your offline server from time to time and make sure it works.
I find that virtual machines with enough storage to handle the database(s) to be recovered work very well for this situation. The nice part of is you can make a backup copy of the image and use it for testing hotfixes, upgrades, and a whole host of other lab functions and do it on a tight budget.
So here's what you need to do. Note these are high level steps; the exact steps will vary depending on your situation and need. This also assumes a single server for Active Directory and Exchange.
- Build a new domain controller in a new forest and domain. I like to use a DNS name of exrecovery.local or the like.
- Assign an IP address that is routable to your backup server.
- Configuring forwarding or zone transfers between your production and recovery DNS servers. This is to ensure your backup server can locate it.
- Install the backup software agent; ensure the backup server can connect with proper credentials.
- Assign an IP address that is routable to your backup server.
- Install Exchange 2003
- Prepare the Forest and Domain for Exchange 2003 using setup.exe /forestprep and setup.exe /domainprep
- Install Exchange in a new organization using the same name as your production organization.
- Make sure your recovery Administrative Group has the same name as the production admin group. Note that you can create several Admin Groups within a single recovery server then as long as the organization is set to native mode you can move the server to the appropriate group for recovery purposes.
- Create a new Storage Group using the same name as the production storage group. Create a new Mailbox Store using the same name as the production mailbox store.
- Be certain to check the "This database can be overwritten by a restore" box on the mailbox store properties.
- Apply the same level of service packs and updates as your production organization to both the operating system and Exchange 2003.
- Prepare the Forest and Domain for Exchange 2003 using setup.exe /forestprep and setup.exe /domainprep
- Restore the database(s)
- From your backup application, mount and catalog the appropriate tape and select your database(s) to be restored.
- In your backup application's console go to the Exchange Restore section (I'm assuming Backup Exec, but all backup software will have something very similar) and select to redirect the restore. In the redirect enter the name to your recovery server. If you will not be restoring any additional logs from incremental backups select the mount database upon completion option, otherwise select this option after the last incremental back has been restored. VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: It is critical that you make sure to redirect the restore. If you miss this step the restore will attempt to overwrite your production database. In which case you be learning a database recovery that you didn't plan on!
- After the restore completes your database(s) should be mounted and just about ready for use.
- From your backup application, mount and catalog the appropriate tape and select your database(s) to be restored.
- Recovering the mailbox
- After the mailbox store has been mounted navigate to the Mailboxes container in Exchange System Manager. Right-click and select Run Cleanup Agent. This will cause the restored mailboxes to appear with a red X next to it.
- Create a user account in your recovery domain. Be sure to use the same display name, first name, and last name as the mailbox you are recovering.
- In the Mailboxes container in Exchange System Manager, right-click the mailbox to be recovered then select Connect to connect the mailbox to the user account you just created. Note that if you use a different display name, first name, or last name the reconnected mailbox will display that name in ESM.
- Export the mailbox to a PST using EXMERGE. Remember Microsoft doesn't support Outlook on the same server as Exchange 2003 in a production environment, but since this isn't production feel free to try it. Just remember it isn't supported!
- After the mailbox store has been mounted navigate to the Mailboxes container in Exchange System Manager. Right-click and select Run Cleanup Agent. This will cause the restored mailboxes to appear with a red X next to it.
More information on Exchange


text:
Earlier this summer I was blessed with the opportunity to be apart of one of my best friend's weddings! I was a bridesmaid for Alyssa & Josh's wedding, and I couldn't have had a nicer time! They decided to get hitched up in Canada on lake Mazinaw which has special significance to Alyssa's family. It was about a 10 hour drive for me to get up there but every single minute or travel was worth it! I can't explain how it feels to watch one of your childhood friends get married. I have known Lys since the sixth grade, and even since middle school she had told me how in love with Josh she was. (Who says no one marries their middle school crush?!). It was years until they finally got together- but now I am so happy they did! They are truly a wonderful couple and balance each other perfectly. All you want for a best friend is for her to be happy- mission accomplished :) I truly feel blessed to have been able to be witness to the ceremony and able to support them in this important occasion in their lives!
The whole wedding weekend was great fun! It started with a girls night in Toronto, then rehearsal dinner the next day- and finally following up with the wedding on Saturday and a small reception after! I unfortunately only have pictures from girls night and the reception! And none from the formal reception a few weekends ago in Rochester :(
One thing I really enjoyed aside from the general merriment of the wedding- was getting to see my girlfriends from high school. Alyssa and I are also best friends with Danielle and Meagan- and lucky us she asked all of us to be bridesmaids! Needless to say, girls night was really great!
Thanks again Lys and Josh to having me be apart of your wedding! I wish you a long and happy marriage full of love and laughter! Love you both!
xo Danielle


text:
Danish artist Nadia Plesner has been sued for a sum of 5000 Euros a day for depicting what Louis Vuitton is calling an infringement of their intellectual property. You can read an unofficial English Translation of the Court Order here. (PDF)
Here is a copy of the work in question, with apologies to the artist.
Here is an image of the Bag, with no apologies whatsoever.


text: Feel like I haven't posted here in a long time and my future self will probably hate me for it. So here's me. Updating myself about where I am now. Saturday. Woke up, watched project runway and cried cos one of the designer is not showing at Fashion Week. Thinking if I should dust off the layer of dust on my sewing machine and create something. Feel like I've been on an automated work, sleep, work, sleep train that I don't know what is my life's purpose anymore. There's got to be more to life (wasn't this a song?). Anyway, I'm going to eat something. So hungry. #takenoniphone8 #notmine November 11, 2017 at 08:47AM from Instagram: http://ift.tt/2zuym8c


text:
Co-Moderator, MS Forum
Usually with a power chair you need a van with a ramp, and some way to get the chair into the van. Then you need to figure out if you want to drive from the chair (the driver's seat is removeable), or if you want to transfer from the chair to the driver's seat. If you want to transfer, then a different configuration is necessary to make that happen.
The vans that accommodate power chairs are low to the ground, so you have to have clearance from the road to the van. If you're in the city, or driving mainly on paved roads, there isn't a problem. But if you're in the country (like I am), driving on dirt or gravel, the low van means you "bottom out" all the time -- hit the road with the bottom of the van, not a good thing!
Or there are structures you can buy that hook on to the back of the car, like "boat hitches", that you'd drive your chair onto, and strap it down. But then you'd need to be able to get to the front of your car on your own "power" (like, with crutches or walker). And the chair is out there in the rain, snow, whatever other elements, getting dirty and dented from road debris. I know they'll try to offer you covers, which help, but that is a consideration.
The scooters are easy to take apart and re-assemble, but still heavy, especially the battery part. So you'd need to be sure you could even lift that into the car. And then make sure that all the parts will fit!
Don't expect a LOT of help from the car company. Usually you have to have applied for that when you bought the car..and it's only around $1,000 anyway. I don't know what the MS Society may offer.
If I were in your situation, I'd probably go with a scooter, for now (I'd consider the 4 wheel kind, though; they're much more stable). You can always move to a power chair later.
pokey79 said...thanks uppity...............who would have thought so much was involved...barb
So I'm really confined -- really can't go anywhere by myself. When I was able to walk, some, I could use forearm crutches to get to my trunk and unload my manual chair. But I can't do that anymore, so when I want to go somewhere I either have to have someone go with me, or plan for someone to meet me at the other end to unload my chair for me. And then there is the issue of bathrooms -- I can't go anywhere by myself that will take more than 2-3 hours, becuase that's about how long I can manage to not be near a bathroom... So it's pretty confining.
I hope you can work out something that will suit you!
Uppitycats is right, with a power chair you will need to have a van with a ramp. You also have to consider, if you are going to be using it in your home, are your doors wide enough to accomadate it? If you go with a scooter a 4 wheel is much more stable. There are small lifts out there that can be installed in a trunk, it raises up, swings out and hooks to the scooter to lift it into your trunk. Of course then you still have the problem of getting from the trunk to the door. If you have a pick-up truck the same lift can be used over the side so that you can get in the truck and operate the lift controls from inside. Have you considered a small powered chair. It looks like a manual chair and is about the same size, but comes with a motor. These do weigh a lot, so you would need help to get it in and out of your car. My biggest problem was trying to find a chair that would go through the doors in my house so I got a custom light weight chair. I too am dependent on someone else to take me places, because of the epilepsy I had to give up my driving priviledges.
Lots of things to consider, don't rush into anything because most insurance co. put a limit on how often they will pay for chairs and the like.
Gentle hugs
I can't go from experience because I don't need a chair myself, but there has been alot of talk about chairs on another site I visit. I have read that insurance companies don't replace chairs very easily, so everyone is right on here. Ask to "use" both types of chairs in your house, and travels, make sure it is convenient, works where you need it and can be transported. Also make sure the chair has some type of cushioning to avoid pressure sores, you don't want to deal with that too. Someone of the other site has a scooter (I believe) that also leans back a bit which helps with comfort. Also find out how long it takes to charge the battery and how much time passes before you need to replace the battery and the cost of same.
Seems like an awful lot to think about, take your time Barb, you don't want any regrets when it is too late, and tell the salesman he if cared about his clients he wouldn't put pressure on you towards either, but lay out the pros and cons of each, lend you each and let you make the decision as to what works for your needs.
Good luck


text:
Tong Wang came all the way from China to study at the International School of Management in Dortmund. The 27-year-old has finished her bachelor's degree in Advertising at Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, gained working experience e.g. at Men's Health in China and is now studying M.Sc. International Business in her second semester.
What made you decide to study in Germany?
Compared to China the cost in Germany is affordable. I decided to study M.Sc. International Business because the whole course is taught in English and also because I'm interested in Business.
What did your family and friends think of your decision to study abroad?
They thought I was brave and they supported me. They know that it's not hard for me to adapt to a new city or country. I'm trying to live like a native.
What do you enjoy most about your experience abroad and how does it help your career?
I enjoy a lot the free discussion we can have in class. I also think that this helps me to think from a different angle.
Looking back: What was the biggest challenge for you in Germany?
That is still the language and the bureaucracy. For example signing a contract in Germany is a normal thing – unlike China.
What is the biggest difference between Germany and your home country?
I think it's the way how people work: In Germany it takes longer time to get one thing done than in China. When you want to open a bank account, sometimes have to wait until 10 to 15 days to get the card and the code, but in China you can get it in 30 mins.
How do you spend your free time aside your studies?
I love travelling and cooking.


text: So today I decided to buy the yellow Groom Cles at my local LV boutique in Salzburg, Austria. The boutique is rather small, yet overstaffed: 3 sa and one store manager for that tiny boutique. Anyway, I enter the boutique and ask for the cles, the very nice SA shows it to me, and we start talking a bit about the Groom line, the upcoming Azur line etc. Suddenly we are interrupted by another sa who asks me if I'd like some champagne or mineral water. No joke! I politely refused and the asked the other sa to wrap the Cles up, as I wanted to buy it. Then suddenly I remembered that I am wearing my LV Monogram belt, and that I could get it heat stamped right now. I ask the sa, if that's is possible, and she says sure. I give her the belt, she disappears with it, while I wait at the counter. Then the champagne sa comes again and asks me a second time if I wanted anything to drink. I refuse another time, because I'd feel really silly drinking champagne at the LV store like I was J.Lo. She then asks me to follow her to some seats, and to wait there for my belt, she also enquired if I needed a parking ticket. At that time I feel really odd, because they treat me like a celebrity, which I am not at all. Finally the sa emerges with my heat stamped belt, puts it in an envelope and puts that in the shopping bag. She was also so friendly to give me two! catalogues and mentions that there is a heat stamping event coming soon. I am however not interested in that and proceed to leave the boutique. All 3 sas and the manager thank me for my purchase and say good-bye, while the sa that assisted me all the time, follows me to the door and opens it for me. The staff may wanted to be nice to me, but I think they overdid it. I was really glad to leave the boutique, because it felt so ridiculous. What do you girls say about that?


text:
Sinopec to Buy Chevron's South Africa Assets for $900 Million
BEIJING— China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. SNP -1.63% said it would acquire controlling stakes in Chevron Corp.'s CVX -1.58% businesses in South Africa and Botswana, in a roughly $900 million deal that underscores the ambition of China's struggling oil companies to earn more money abroad as profits shrink at home.
The Chinese company, better known as Sinopec, said Wednesday it will acquire a 75% stake in Chevron's South Africa assets including a Cape Town refinery and hundreds of gas stations. The other 25% will be owned by local shareholders as required by South African regulations.
Sinopec will acquire all of Chevron's Botswana subsidiary.
The deal, if completed, would mark a significant foray into Africa by China's largest refiner, which is seeking new markets to sell gasoline, diesel and other products as growth at home slows. The state-controlled Chinese company said it planned to invest in technological upgrades for the businesses if the deal was approved, although it didn't provide details.
For Chevron, the deal with Sinopec would be part of a broader strategic rethink to sell down billions of dollars of assets world-wide. The San Ramon, Calif., company has already been paring back its Asia operations, and some observers had been expecting the deal's announcement this week.
"We believe the deal makes broad commercial sense for Chevron," said analysts at BMI Research in a note this week ahead of the deal.
Chevron confirmed the deal and said it selected Sinopec as "the preferred bidder" for the assets due to its better offer and "the strategic value this investment offers to their longer-term strategy in Africa."
Despite its relatively modest size, the deal will likely catch the eyes of investment bankers and energy executives globally, many of whom have been eagerly awaiting signs that China's oil companies were returning to global deal making after a hiatus. An anticorruption campaign by China's president, Xi Jinping, has targeted graft in the oil industry in particular, which bankers and executives in China say contributed to fewer overseas deals in recent years.
At the same time, Sinopec says it must increasingly seek profit outside its home market. Falling diesel demand in China has contributed to a vast glut of supply, which has eaten away at refining margins that Sinopec relies on for profit.
Overseas deals help it to hedge its bets on China's economy as it increasingly shifts to rely more on services and other less-energy intensive sectors for growth.
BMI Research said the South African deal provided a good chance for Sinopec to expand its revenue streams. Oil storage tanks in South Africa included in the deal would also help it improve its burgeoning global trading operations through arbitrage and other opportunities.
Under the deal, Sinopec said it would retain the Caltex brand for the Chevron gas stations included in the deal for "five to six years" before it rebranded them.
Write to Brian Spegele at email@example.com
Appeared in the March 23, 2017, print edition as 'Chevron Sells Assets In Africa To Sinopec.'


text:
Are you feeling it? Feeling the BERN? I think he's going to win the Super Bowl. In other news, the Denver Broncos are, purportedly, the shoe-in for this years presidential election. WOO HOO! FREE FOOTBALL FOR EVERYONE. That's their platform. Personally, it seems a little unrealistic to me. I mean, for sure it's a bit racist. Half the world thinks […]more still →
Posts Tagged liberty
My Ex! What does it mean? It means that at some point we committed to each other. We trusted each other. We liked each other; perhaps we loved each other. Now, now our relationship is something different. Perhaps that part of you that you gave to me you now give to another? Maybe you keep it for yourself? Maybe it […]more still →
Thanksgiving huh? I'm thankful for so much. I do sometimes get overwhelmed by ceremony. These traditions and rituals in which we partake sometimes seem contrived and redundant. What's wrong with sushi on thanksgiving? Is it wrong to crave bacon with my gravy? But these traditions are sometimes what force us to address the idiosyncracies of family and gleen those extra […]more still →


text:
Woot!Posted in check it out
I find this via Alison Kent's blog.
TV Squad has a schedule of shows for 2008.
So go see if your shows have any episodes left, or see what's new this year.
This entry was posted on Monday, January 14, 2008 and is filed under check it out . You can leave a response and follow any responses to this entry through the Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) .


text:
Sylva's decommit knocked UMass down three notches in 247 Sports MAC recruiting rankings.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Recruiting 2014-- Jason Sylva VI
Jason Sylva, listed as a "soft commit" to the Minutemen flipped to Western Michigan after a visit.
Posted by UMass74 at 7:20 AM
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
In her new book, Run Your First Marathon,Grete Waitz, nine-time winner of the New York City marathon, points out one of the wonderful draws of the marathon. "No matter who we are," she writes, "at some point we are all first-time marathoners. All of us share that. That's the beauty of the race — Olympians and all-comers share the same event."
There is one vast difference between the first-time marathoner and the experienced veteran: The first-timer may think he or she can run the 26.2-mile distance but doesn't know it. When I ran my first marathon in 1989, although I had carefully prepared according to a standard marathon training plan, I didn't believe I could do it until I got beyond the 24-mile point and still felt intact. When the finish line passed beneath my feet, I could sense my brain processing a new belief and erasing an old one. I realized something deep down didn't believe I could run 26.2 miles. Finishing the Big Sur marathon had proved otherwise. It was, at that point, the most powerful experience in my life. All sorts of imagined limits began to melt away.
The problem with running 26.2 miles, all at once, is how a blinding number of small details come into play. The following 15 tips are designed to help you avoid many of the usual pitfalls that plague beginner runners making their first attempt at what is considered the classic challenge of endurance sports.
1. If you are new to running and new to the marathon, consider committing yourself to at least one year of the running lifestyle. I've known people who have taken up group training programs that promise to see you cross the finish line in as little as 12 weeks, despite little or no exercise background. A participant may stop smoking (for example), do the group workouts, barely survive the race (walking much of it), then, within an hour of finishing, pull out a fresh pack of smokes. It's all over. Sports psychologist Dr. Denis Waitley has stated it takes a minimum of a year to truly ingrain a new habit, and a fitness lifestyle is worth this amount of time. So plan your marathon within the scope of the year, or at the end of it, and make being a runner a year-round project that envelopes the race.
2. Get a thorough checkup before you begin. You've likely heard this suggestion as often as you've heard flight attendants talk to you about seatbelts, but it's incredibly important. Even if you're in reasonably good shape, training for a marathon is a stressful process. Tell your doctor what you plan to do and have him or her check you out to make certain it's safe to proceed.
3. If you're battling obesity, consult with a dietitian, a doctor and a coach. It's great that you want to burn off a lot of weight, weight that could render severe harm to your health and well-being. However, you may need to take a cautious preliminary journey before you begin a marathon program. The stress on joints, for one thing, is a complication obesity has in regards to running. Never fear, though, because ultimately a long, smart mix of dieting and exercise can prepare your body to successfully conquer a marathon training plan and accompanying race. Check out specific coach/doctor/dietician services, like www.trismarter.com, which can give you access to thorough evaluations of your diet and can prescribe a safe path toward life as an endurance athlete.
4.Use a quality training plan. Get a good coach if you can afford it, or join a local running club and talk to the coach about your marathon goal. In fact, many running clubs organize group training plans and workouts around nearby marathons. Failing a coach, the bookstore is loaded with excellent books on the marathon. As referenced previously, Run Your First Marathon, Grete Waitz's new book (Skyhorse Publishing, $17.95) is one of the newest volumes to hit the shelves. Waitz lays out a plan that will take you from gentle run/walks to the completing the marathon distance.
5. As you begin your training, make yourself accountable. This tip is for the aspiring marathoner who has trouble with procrastination. Procrastination and marathon training do not go hand in hand. Running a marathon isn't like a final exam: You can't cram for it. Being ready for a marathon requires you to slowly, consistently and thoroughly prepare your body for the race. The week before your race should be a taper week, meaning you cut back mileage by a ton and save up energy for the race. So if you do tend toward procrastination, a coach is almost a necessity. Or a training partner with whom you meet for major workouts (like long runs). Essentially, you need to have someone expecting you to show up and get the primary training taken care of, week after week.
6. Make nutrition an integral part of your program. Six-time Hawaii Ironman World Champion Mark Allen has said he believes nutrition is the weak link when it comes to the training programs of many endurance athletes. Allen believes that intertwining intelligent training with an intelligent, nutritious diet is key not only for overall health, but also for performance. Spend time around a lot of runners, and more than once you'll hear that the reason they like running is: "I can eat whatever I want." True, marathon training can burn off the worst of junk food diets, but ultimately you'll be making a sacrifice. You don't see F15 pilots fueling their jets with moonshine. Consider your body a high-octane machine, and feed it the good stuff: plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish make a wise start.
7.Drink on the run. When performing runs of an hour or more, it's important to hydrate with water and/or sports drinks. Make sure your routes pass by water fountains or places you can stash sports drinks, or do as the ultrarunners do and carry them with you via a belt pack (available at running stores).
8. Pace yourself. Pace is the key to effective training and successful racing. Your training plan should guide you to running at a proper pace or heart-rate intensity. Going too fast will blow the purpose of the workout (to train a specific energy system) and expose your body to the kind of stress that can lead to breakdown. Going too fast in the first half of a marathon almost always leads to a disastrous race. (This is so important that we'll mention it again.)
9. Schedule your long runs with groups at a similar level. Some runners love to perform their long runs in a solitary mode, by themselves where they can focus on their pace and enjoy the silence. Most marathoners, however, prefer to make long runs a social occasion. When runs climb up toward and beyond the two-hour mark, a group run (provided the pace is right for you) makes for an optimal workout.
10.Crosstrain for strength. Running may well be the most effective exercise for getting your heart and cardiovascular system into super shape, but when it comes to the muscular and skeletal systems, it lacks harmony. Adding one or two workouts a week that attend to core strength and flexibility will help you stay balanced. Consider tapping your gym membership for a strength class, purchasing a DVD or go online. For a great core routine to get started, go to www.coachkengrace.com/SportsCore.htm.
11.Log your training. The power of a detailed logbook ritual is that it dials your concentration into each and every workout and delivers a satisfaction in the accumulation of training miles. It also lives on as a record of what worked for you (and what didn't work).
12. Training for and running a marathon takes a long, disciplined approach. We touched on this earlier, but it's so important it requires another mention. The great runners in the world didn't become great overnight. Their running is the product of thousands and thousands of miles accumulated over months and years. It's often said that it takes 10 years of consistent training to fully develop running talent, and this especially applies to the marathon. Your first marathon is but one step in this direction (assuming you want to be a lifelong runner).
13. Throw in a few shorter races in your marathon buildup. Racing 5Ks, 8Ks and 10Ks may be in your training plan from the start, and for good reason: Short races give you something fun to train toward and make terrific speed workouts for the first-time marathoner.
14.Acknowledge and treat aches and pains. Veteran runners have learned the hard way the importance of paying attention to even minor tweaks and pains that arise within the feet, legs, hips and back. Some of these pains may just be bumps in the road as your body adapts to the stress of running; others may be precursors to injuries, injuries capable of stalling or even stopping your training. Take nothing lightly. Seek a sports doctor's advice if you hear alarm bells go off. First-aid includes ice and massage, and perhaps a fresh pair of running shoes. Exchange a running workout or two with a bike ride or swim, giving the body a chance to catch up.<
15. The race. Here are a few bits and pieces that can make all the difference on race day. First, be sure you take it easy during the two or three days before the gun goes off. This doesn't simply mean a proper taper, but that you should avoid spending a lot of time walking around or standing, and try and minimize general life stress. If travel is in the mix to get to your destination race city, give yourself plenty of time to get there, deal with registration, figure out where to be (and when) come race morning, and ensure you have the right foods and drinks available for a pre-race breakfast. Bring clothes suitable for the possible weather conditions you may face. If it's chilly, wear a long-sleeve top that can be disposed of after the opening miles of the marathon, as your body warms up and the sun rises into the sky. Wear proper shoes. Avoid racing flats in your first marathon (if not all of them). Use a training shoe you trust. Clip your toenails the night before the race, not the morning of (to avoid irritation), and be sure to double-knot your laces. If it's a big marathon, don't stress out about how crowded the first mile or two is. Try and get through these with as little wasted energy as possible. You're tapered and charged with adrenaline; take these into account when you settle into your pace. It's best to go too slow at first than to go too fast.


text:
Cherry Tea is a dark red beverage with an intense fruity flavour whose colour resembles ripe cherries and it can be enjoyed hot or cold. The delightful cherry scent is often blended with other aromas which results in savory and exotic mixtures.
Cherry Tea Brewing
Regarding cherry tea, the brewing time can vary, but the standard procedure entails a five-minute steeping process. Consequently, you will rejoice in the lovely cherry aroma of your amazingly enticing and enjoyable beverage.
Health Benefits of Cherry Tea
Cherry Tea is a beneficial fruity beverage with numerous health benefits. Cherry fruits are renowned for their delightfully refreshing flavour and delicious sweet taste, but they are also packed with nutrients, vitamins and minerals that essentially contribute to our wellbeing. These fruits are rich in antioxidants which protect our body from free radicals and thus lower the risk of cancer and various neurological diseases, but they also delay the aging process.
Cherries also contain melatonin, an antioxidant with calming effects on the brain, which helps releave irritability, insomnia and headaches, thus improving the quality of sleep. The countless health benefits of cherry tea also include anti-inflammatory properties and could potentially prove effective against pain caused by diseases or injuries.
Cherry fruits are low in calories, but they contain vitamin C which unfortunately entices you to consume approximately 180 calories more a day. This could possibly result in the accumulation of some extra weight if consumed for large periods of time. Therefore, adjust your dietary plan accordingly.
Side effects of Cherry Tea
Cherry Tea contains extracts from the cherries which can induce an allergic reaction to people sensitive to these fruits, but it is generally side-effect-free.
You can enjoy a savory cup of cherry tea at any given time of the day in order to boost your overall energy level and metabolism. The full flavour of succulent fresh cherries along with a delectable and lingering aftertaste will enchant you. Cherry tea is without doubt a delightful juicy drink with an exotic character.


text:
Assistance animals
The following assistance animals can travel for free on all public transport services:
- Guide dogs
- Hearing dogs
- Guide or hearing dogs in training.
Handlers must have a valid ticket for travel, such as a Vision Impaired Travel Pass.
For more information including eligibility, see Assistance Animal Pass, Animals on public transport and Accessible transport.


text:
I am so excited about my new collection of designer wall clocks.
I have been working hard for many months designing and producing this new collection. A slightly different direction for my art. But I'm all about creating one-off statement pieces so I thought that this would translate well into stunning, original wall clocks.
This new collection of contemporary wall clocks will be available to purchase from www.originalabstractpaintings.com from early May 2017.
In the meantime, you can see them first by visiting me on the Henley Arts Trail from Saturday 29 April until Monday 1 May 2017.
I'm exhibiting my new collection with Twyford Studios at Venue 25 (the URC Hall in Twyford). Visit my exhibition page to download more information about the Henley Arts Trail and our venue.
If you can't make the exhibition then here is a little teaser video to keep you going until early May. :-)
I would love your feedback on my new collection of wall clocks so please comment below.
Jayne Leighton Herd is a professional fine artist & designer known particularly for her abstract paintings on canvas and on plexiglass. Jayne also undertakes commissions for bespoke art for both individual and commercial clients.


text:
Considering that I usually use a cold shot when blow drying and let my hair to air dry most of the times, the frizz factor in my hair is obviously a bit too insane at times. For those crazy mane days, I resort to my trusty James Brown Frizz Calm Serum which is the brain child of British celebrity Hairstylist James Brown who I loved watching on The Great British Hairdresser by the way!
It's like a light, non-sticky liquid of which I only use an almond sized amount to spread through hair before and after blow drying. Because it contains red seaweed extract instead of silicone, it's not heavy feeling or artificially slippery on the hair if you know what I mean, just leaving hair feeling naturally healthy.
The consistency of it is just perfect to tame unruly hair and keep them in place whilst hydrating them slightly. I much prefer it to similar anti-frizz serums that you get in drug stores (Hello John Frieda!) which are impossible to work with for me due to how thick, gel based and gloopy they are.
This absorbs into the hair quite well whilst calming them down without being greasy or weighing hair down. Nothing's more annoying than trying to create voluminious hair with a heavy product making it limp. I wouldn't say it particularly helps in adding any extra shine so I'd still rely on other products for that matter.
Also, I found it to enhance the natural waves/curls in my hair while I didn't intend it to, leading me to assume that it would work great on those with curly, unmanageable hair for extra definition.
A 50ml bottle available for an affordable £7.14, I believe it's a must-have Spring/Summer essential.


text:
Thank you to all the fantastic clients I had the pleasure of working with in 2017!
Clients who are seeing the benefits of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, whether in their home, work life or general outlook, often talk about friends or loved ones that might also benefit. With this in mind in 2018 I'll be offering discounts for referrals that lead to an initial consultation.
Refer a friend and receive 15% off for both of you (£9 off a standard £60 or session)*
Refer 2 friends 30% for you and 15% for your friend (£18 off a standard £60 session)*
Refer 3 Friends 50% for you and 15% for your friend (£30 off a standard £60 session)*
Giving to others not only helps them but gives us a boost of happy chemicals too!
So this year why not spread the word about the benefits of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and refer a friend helping to earn both of you a discounted session.
*Terms and Conditions
Discount applied after paid IC with new client
After 3 referrals offer restarts
Referral offer may be withdrawn at owners discretion
Referrals cannot be exchanged for money
Discounts should be used within 6 months
Ben Gaskell MA HPD SFH SUP DSFH MNCH (Reg.) CNHC-Reg is a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist working with clients who suffer from anxiety, stress, low mood and phobias. Based in both Deansgate, Central Manchester and the Stretford area of Greater Manchester he serves the local and surrounding areas of Urmston, Didsbury, Sale, Chorlton, Hale, Altrincham and Trafford. Further details can be found on 'getting here' or my 'contact' page. For more information on how Ben at Greater Manchester Hypnotherapy can help you please call 07756 932 702 or email [email protected].


text:
Posts: 337
Karma: 1278650
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: UK
Device: kobo Aura
This year i would like to read 50 (managed 100 in 2015) have to reduce to 50 cos i am studying this year and also want to remember to fill this in - prob more like 75 this year
Currently Reading:- Fire touched - Patricia Briggs
Finished :-
51: Frost Burned - Patricia Briggs
50: River Marked - Patricia Briggs
49: Silver Borne - Patricia Briggs
48: Bone Crossed - Patricia Briggs
47: Iron Kissed - Patricia Briggs
46: Blood Bound - Patricia Briggs
45: Moon Called - Patricia Briggs
44: Dead Heat - Patricia Briggs
43: Fair Game - Patricia Briggs
42: Hunting Ground - Patricia Briggs
41: Cry Wolf - Patricia Briggs
40: Alpha and Omega - Patricia Briggs
39: How to get a (Love) Life - Rosie Blake
38: Keep me posted - Lisa Beazley
37: Nowhere Child - Rachel Abbott
36: Stranger Child - Rachel Abbott
35: Sleep Tight - Rachel Abbott
34: The Back Road - Rachel Abbott
33: After you - Jojo Moyes
32: Me Before You - Jojo Moyes
31: Only the Innocent - Rachel Abbott
30: Half Wild - Sally Green
29: Half Lost - Sally Green
28: Half Bad - Sally Green
27: Glass Sword - Victoria Aveyard
26: Red Queen - Victoria Aveyard
25: Finding Audrey - Sophie Kinsella
24: In the blood - lisa unger
23: Necessary Lies - Diane Chamberlain
22: The First Lie - Diane Chamberlain
21: Deceptions - Kelley Armstrong
20: Visions - Kelley Armstrong
19: Omens - Kelley Armstrong
18: You had me at hello - Mhari McFarlane
17: Kill me again - Rachel Abbott
16: Dead to me - Kelley Armstrong
15: Saving Grace - Jane Green
14: The Hobbit J R Tolkein
13: Promises to Keep - Jane Green
12: Dangerous - Jessie Keane
11: Family Picture - Jane Green
10: Recalculating - Jennifer Weiner
9: Where There's Smoke - Jodi Picoult
8: Leaving Time - Jodi Picoult
7: You Don't Know Me - Sophie Bennett
6: The Book of You - Claire Kendal
5: Red Queen - Philippa Gregory
4: The White Queen - Philippa Gregory
3: Afraid - Mandasue Heller
2: Certain Girls - Jennifer Weiner
1: Good In Bed - Jennifer Weiner
Last edited by bookaho!ic; 07-17-2016 at 08:41 AM.
Posts: 198
Karma: 919588
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Hong Kong & Ningbo
Device: Aura, AuraHD, AuraH2O, GloHD, Mini, DXG, PW123, Voyage, NookSTG
Signing up for 30 books
First time participant here. Last year pledged to read 30 books on Goodreads, ended up reading 39 (or 41 if I split a box set). Pledging to read 30 again this year so that I am not giving myself any pressure. I like the way the folks have laid out their information in here, which is why I am joinning.
Posts: 93
Karma: 886
Join Date: Apr 2005
Device: Moon+ Reader Pro on Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge International version
Mine, Mine, Mine!!!
No Goal, just like 2015.
Running Total: 51
1. The Tar-Aiym Krang by Alan Dean Foster 1-1-2016
2. Orphan Star by Alan Dean Foster 1-3-2016
3. The End of the Matter by Alan Dean Foster 1-5-2016
4. Flinx in Flux by Alan Dean Foster 1-9-2016
5. Mid-Flinx by Alan Dean Foster 1-13-2016
6. Reunion by Alan Dean Foster 1-17-2016
7. Flinx's Folly by Alan Dean Foster 1-20-2016
8. Sliding Scales by Alan Dean Foster 1-26-2016
9. Bloodhype by Alan Dean Foster 2-7-2016
10. Trouble Magnet by Alan Dean Foster 2-14-2016
11. Patrimony by Alan Dean Foster 2-17-2016
12. Flinx Transcendent by Alan Dean Foster 2-22-2016
13. Nor Crystal Tears by Alan Dean Foster 2-29-2016
14. Phylogenisis Alan Dean Foster 3-16-2016
15. Dirge by Alan Dean Foster 3-20-2016
16. Diuturnity's Dawn by Alan Dean Foster 3-25-2016
17. Alliance of Equals e-ARC by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller 03-28-2016
18. Death's Bright Day e-ARC by David Drake 4-7-2016
19. Visitor by C. J. Cherryh 4-10-2016
20. Hammerfall by C. J. Cherryh 4-16-2016
21. Forge of Heaven by C. J. Cherryh 4-21-2016
22. Hunter of Worlds by C. J. Cherryh 4-26-2016
23. Brothers of Earth by C. J. Cherryh 5-1-2016
24. Orion by Ben Bova 5-4-2016
25. The General Book 1: The Forge by David Drake 5/7/2016
26. The General Book 2: The Hammer by David Drake 5/8/2016
27. The General Book 3: The Anvil by David Drake 5/10/2016
28. The General Book 4: The Steel by David Drake 5/11/2016
29. The General Book 5: The Sword by David Drake 5/13/2016
30. The General Book 6: The Chosen by David Drake 5/22/2016
31. The General Book 7: The Reformer by David Drake 5/25/2016
32. The General Book 8: The Tyrant by David Drake 5/28/2016
33. The General Book 9: The Heretic by David Drake 5/31/2016
34. The General Book 10: The Savior by David Drake 6/6/2016
35. The Nightmare Stacks by Charles Stross 7/6/2016
36. The Long Cosmos by Stephen Baxter & Terry Pratchett 7/16/2016
37. Robert Asprin's Myth-Fits by Jody Lynn Nye 8/2/2016
38. Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller 8/13/2016
39. Warspite by Christopher Nutall 8/23/2016
40. A Savage War of Peace by Christopher Nutall 8/30/2016
41. A Small Colonial War by Christopher Nutall 9/3/2016
42. Vanguard by Christopher Nutall 9/5/2016
43. Fear God and Dread Naught by Christopher Nutall 9/8/2016
44. The Tenth Planet by Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Dean Wesley Smith 9/10/2016
45. Oblivion by Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Dean Wesley Smith 9/14/2016
46. The Final Assault Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Dean Wesley Smith 9/16/2016
47. Shadow of Victory eArc by David Weber 9/29/2016
48. The Retrieval Artist by Kristine Kathryn Rusch 9/29/2016
49. Safety Tests by Kristine Kathryn Rusch 9/30/2016
50. Telzey Amberdon by James H. Schmitz 10/13/2016
51. TnT: Telzey and Trigger by James H. Schmitz 10/21/2016
Last edited by gsparks2; 10-26-2016 at 08:47 AM.
Posts: 496
Karma: 2904924
Join Date: Oct 2013
Device: Kindle Oasis, Kobo Clara HD
Last edited by Waylander; 01-07-2017 at 08:28 AM.
Posts: 2,847
Karma: 6788037
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago
Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S
Goal-Read at least 10 books a month, in different genres
Books read in 2016
Lights Out by Ted Koppel
One Second After by William R. Forstchen
Put a Ring on It by Beth Kendrick
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
Ashley Bell by Dean Koontz
Fodor's Cuba
December 2015 Harlequin Blaze (4 short books)
Room by Emma Donoghue
Currently reading:
$2.00 A Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America by Kathryn Edin
Some Kind of Wonderful by Jill Shalvis
Last edited by Sydney's Mom; 01-27-2016 at 03:07 PM.
Plan B Is Now In Force
Posts: 1,851
Karma: 5606007
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Surebleak
Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2
Reserving a spot.
I fulfilled my goal of at least a hundred books last year, but was lax about maintaining my list here. I'll try to be better about that.
Posts: 306
Karma: 4508151
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Scandinavia
Device: Oasis 1&2 and others
Goal for 2016, starting a bit late with the statistics, is 100 books plus short stories. One goal is to read the Discworld series, and maybe Ringworld, and the second goal is to try some new genres. And hopefully read at least some from the TBR collection.
I managed to clear out my TBR pile from a little over 600 to 212 in June! Took a couple of days, but worth it!
Books read March 1st ->
1-4. SciFi, Extinction Point series, books 1-4, Paul Anthony Jones
5. Cozy, The Death Card, Dianne Harman
6. Cozy, Murder and Brandy Boy, Dianne Harman
7. Cozy, Murder At the B&B, Dianne Harman
7. True crime, Shannon - Betrayed a birth, Rose Martin
9. Cozy, A body at brunch, Elizabth Spann Craig
10. SciFi, Ringworld, Larry Niven
11. SciFicoll, Neutron Star, Larry Niven
12. SciFi, Protector, Larry Niven
13. SciFi short stories and novelettes (8 to 102pp) total 11, Larry Niven
14. SciFi, A Gift from Earth, Larry Niven
15 SciFi short stories and novelettes) total 7, Larry Niven
16 SciFi, world of ptavvs, Larry Niven
17 SciFi, integral trees, Larry Niven
18. SciFi, Limits, Larry Niven
19. SciFi, Ringworld Engineers, Larry Niven
20. SciFi, Patchwork Girl, Larry Niven
21. SciFi, Ribgworld Throne, Larry Niven
22. SciFi, Ringworld's Children, Larry Niven
23. SciFi, A World Out of Time, Larry Niven
24. SciFi anthology, The Best of Galaxy's edge
25. Cozy, Withc is when the hammer fell, Adele Abbott
26. Cozy, Witch is when my heart broke, Adele Abbott
27. Dystop., Resurrecting Home, A. American
28. Dystop., Enforcing home, A. American
29. Magaz., Asimov's Science Fiction, Analog SciFi & Fact
30. Fiction anthology, Alt.History 102
31. SciFi, Oasis, Dima Zales
32. SciFi, Limbo, Dima Zales
33. Cozy, Trouble at the kennel, Dianne Harman
34. AltHistory, In the presence of mine enemies, Harry Turtledove
35. Mystery, Murder at Ashgrove House, Margaret Addison
36. Paranormal romance, Night Fall, Cherry Adair
37. Paranormal romance, Night Secrets, Cherry Adair
38. Paranormal romance, Night Shadow, Cherry Adair
39. Mystery, Murder at Dareswick Hall, Margaret Addison
40. True, I am Jezebel a former JW breaks her silence, Jezebel
41. Mystery, Murder at Sedgwick Court, Margaret Addison
42. Suspense, While my eyes were closed, Linda Green
43. SciFi anthology, Visions of the Future
44. Suspense, Flashback, Michael Palmen
45. Mystery, Murder at Renards, Margaret Addison
46. Magazine, Asimov's SciFi & Analog SciFi&Fact
47. Fantasy, The Charmed Sphere, Catherine Asaro
48. SciFi anthology, First Contact: Digital SciFi Anthology
49. Mystery, Murder in the Servants' Hall, Margaret Addison
50. SciFi anthology, Therefore I Am
51. Dystopian, EHuman Dawn, Nicole Sallak Anderson
52. Cozy, Witch is when I said goodbye, Adele Abbott
53. SciFi anthology, Pressure Suite
54. SciFi anthology, Heir Apparent
55. Crime, Ett litet snedsprång, Denise Rudberg
56. Crime, Två gånger är en vana, Denise Rudberg
57. Dystopian, Delirium, Lauren Oliver
58-59. Dystopian, Hana & Annabel & Raven, novelettes & short, Lauren Oliver
60. Dystopian, Pandemonium , Lauren Oliver
61. Fantasy?, Etiquette Espionage, Gail Carriger
62. Fantasy?, Curtsies Conspiracies, Gail Carriger
63. ParanormalRomance, Burning Lamp, Amanda Quick
64. ParanRom, Quicksilver, Amanda Quick
65. Fantasy, Manners & Mutiny, Gail Carriger
66. Trash, Late for the wedding, Amanda Quick
67. Crime, Bara tre kan leka så, Denise Rudberg
68. Crime, När klockan slår fem, Denise Rudberg
69. Magazines: Storm, Analog, Asimov's
70. Crime, Murder by burger, Biff Mitchell
71. True, Swimming with sharks, Joris Luyendijk
72. Cozy, Witch is when stuff got serious, Adele Abbott
73. Mystery, Bless the bride, Rhys Bowen
74. Mystery, Paragon Walk, Anne Perry
75. Mystery, Resurrection Row, Anne Perry
76. Mystery, Rutland Place, Anne Perry
77. CrimeAnthology, Dangeeous Women, Otto Penzler
78. Ned, Joelle Charbonneau
79. The Program, Suzanne Young
80. White Odyssey, Darrell Bain
81. The Cater Street Hangman, Anne Perry
82. Cal lander Square, Anne Perry
TBR -46 +31, 241 books to go....
Last edited by June; 07-17-2016 at 02:16 PM.
Cantankerous Contrarian
Posts: 92
Karma: 500010
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, US
Device: Marvin, iPad Pro 12.9", iPhone 8 Plus
2016 Reading Challenge for a Newb
I am just starting to get into the Mobile Read forums and what a gem they are.
I feel bad-- you guys are like serious reading rock stars. I wish I had more time to read-- thought i was doing great with my Reading List on Goodreads. Ha.
Reading Goal/Goodreads Reading Goal
I want to read 35 books. I have already read 26.
Update: Made it. I set a pretty low goal but I am still proud of it as I only read 20 last year.
The List of Read Books:
What I am currently reading/listening to:
(Have a lot going at once)
I could probably bump this up to around 50 or 60 but with the upcoming semester I'm not sure.
Last edited by sydmalicious; 06-02-2016 at 01:59 AM. Reason: Forgot three books
Posts: 911
Karma: 9155462
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Tampa, FL
Device: See signature
Books Read: 011
Books Bought: 007
01.Ghost in the Wires - Kevin Mitnick (4/5)
02.Nomad - Matthew Mather (4/5)
03.Sanctuary- Matthew Mather (3/5)
04.Wrath of Lions - David Dalglish (5/5)
05.Blood of Gods - David Dalglish (4/5)
06.Tier One - Andrews & Wilson (4/5)
07.Blood on the Tracks - Barbara Nickless (3/5)
08.Right to Kill - Andrew Peterson
09.A Death in Sweden - Kevin Wignall (4/5)
10.Moving Day - Jonathan Stone (2/5)
11.Circle of Bones - Christine Kling (5/5)
Last edited by Quake1028; 02-03-2017 at 08:19 AM.
|Thread Tools
|Search this Thread
|Similar Threads
|Thread Starter
|Last Post
|The 2016 Annual Reading Challenge Discussion Thread
|Reading Recommendations
|The 2014 Annual Reading Challenge Discussion Thread!
|Reading Recommendations
|The 2012 Annual Reading Challenge - Discussion Thread!
|Reading Recommendations
|The 2012 Annual Reading Challenge List Thread!
|Reading Recommendations


text:
Percolator Coffee Maker, Percolators Coffee Pot & Coffee Percolators
Drinking a warm cup of coffee every morning has always been a normal part of the lives of the working
population. But even those people who just stay at home also enjoy coffee any time of the day. Coffee definitely
has a special effect to the body that people cannot get enough of. Unfortunately, finding the best cup of tasty and
aromatic coffee might be a little tricky.
Coffee shops all over the country offer commercialized flavors and
they can be quite expensive too. That is why people now buy different types of coffee machines for their
homes. One of these machines that have been used for a long time now is the coffee
percolator. But before buying a percolator coffee pot, there are different things that a consumer must
take not of.
Choosing the type of coffee percolator is very important since the types vary according to how the consumer
plans to operate it. First, there is a stove top coffee percolator. This is the same type used by many people in
the past but new versions offer a more sophisticated design. Stove top coffee percolators actually make use of live
heat to brew the coffee which produces wonderful tasting coffee. But this may actually be a disadvantage for some
since the correct size of the flame must be enough to prevent over-brewing of the coffee. Another type is the
electric percolator coffee pot.
This is one of the most common ones being sold today. The advantage of this type is the convenience. Electric
types usually shut off immediately after the coffee has been brewed to prevent having that bitter taste. There are
also models wherein the machine immediately switches to 'keep warm' mode to keep the coffee's temperature hot
without over-brewing. The third type is the microwave percolator. Although this uses less electricity than the
electric type, the results are not very consistent and careful monitoring must be done to achieve great tasting
coffee without errors.
Of course, the appearance of a kitchen appliance always plays an important role in the process of choosing the
correct one for the home. Although different brands offer varying designs when it comes to their coffee pot
percolator, consumers must choose a design that is easy on the eye and will look good on the counter. Most models
today are actually utilizing stainless steel bodies that have been buffed to appear very shiny. This makes it
easier to clean since stainless steel is very convenient to maintain. Choose a design with special functions like a
stay cool handle and a sturdy base.
Buyers should also take note of the amount of coffee that a percolator can make in a single batch. This will
save a consumer time when a single batch will already be enough for the family. A coffee pot percolator may be
capable of brewing 6 cups, 8 cups or more. There are even percolators that can brew 50 cups of coffee which is
perfect for office settings.
When a consumer picks out a model of coffee percolators from a wide variety of choices, it is important to
choose something based on personal preference.


text:
These limited edition totoro-style ocarinas are made in Chepstow, where the river Wye meets the Severn estuary. They are hand made using a keyed plaster mould; clay is rolled to thickness, pressed into the mould. Next each one is individually sculpted to correct moulding errors. The voicing is formed and they are tuned and sanded before firing. Post firing each ocarina is sanded again and fine adjustments made to the tuning before being shipped to Cardiff, where artist Aimee Taylor carefully hand paints each one.
They are tuned in E flat with a Mellow, deep tone and a low breath requirement. Each one is 11cm high to work equally well as a display piece.
Each ocarina is painted to order and the choice of finish is left in your hands. You can choose the expression and back decoration from those offered below, or request your own features.
Matte or glossy.
There is one of these ocarinas remaining, beyond which no more will be made.
Each ocarina costs £90, shipping to the UK is £10 tracked. To USA is £12 untracked or, £16 tracked. On items sent untracked should the item become lost in the post I am not liable, however I have sent many items this way without one problem.
Please ask for other countries. Painting takes 2 to 3 weeks.
To order, please email firstname.lastname@example.com including your desired painted options and paypal email address.


text:
The rapidly growing world of Fashion is continuously attracting new and emerging talent towards itself. These unique talents of India in the India Fashion Industry are renewing and making effective use of their creative energy for which only Indian Fashion is today known all over the world. Indian fashion Industry is open to anyone who is creative and has some innovative and unique ideas.
India is the land of diversities, splendors, rich colors and exciting flavors. India is also known for its unique culture, tradition and Mythology. India is the country which stands out of the crowd of all the developing countries because of its rapid growth and development.
Fashion industry in India is also one of the most developing industries which made India to show off its unique and innovative talent in the Fashion Industry to all over the world. People all over the world love to wear Indian clothes designed by Indian Fashion Designers. Their unique ideas and designs have attracted people all over the world.
India fashion becoming reaching all over the world
India being a highly specialized fashionable country is a demand of whole world. Today not only the local people of India but also people all over the world are going crazy and eagerly waiting for the Indian designer clothing by the top fashion designers of India.
Fashion in India is found in almost everything. From the past few decades, The Indian Fashion and Indian Fashion Designers are both on the top rank and still maintaining its position. Most of the western culture and western fashion industries love to follow the Indian Fashion Designers and Indian Fashion. Many of the US fashion designing companies are also taking Indian Fashions and transforming it for their western audiences accordingly to their demand and taste.
Their Fashion World is increasing day by day because of Indian Fashion designers and Fashion in India. Their spiritual quest for perfection plays a role in their choices of beautifully colored, dramatic and flowing garments.
Various talented and innovative minded fashion Designers of India like Manish Arora, Ritu Beri, Manish Malhotra, Ravi Bajaj, Neeta Lulla, Tarun Tahlani and many more are leading the way and redefining the Indian Fashion day by day. Indian fashion is basically expressed through beautifully designed Indian clothing. Fashion in India also spread its bright, rich colors and flavors through uniquely designed Indian jewelry, handbags, footwear, and various other cool accessories for fashionable world of today.


text:
Car thermo mug: reviews
Modern man spends most of his time driving. It happens that there is not always an opportunity to drop in and grab something. To solve this problem, home appliance manufacturers have developed an automotive hot mantle with heating.
What is an automotive thermo mug
This device allows you to make any hot drink in the car. It looks like an ordinary metal mug with a slightly narrowed bottom. This form allows you to place the thermo mug in the built-in cup holder. At the same time, it will hold securely, and the driver may not worry that a hot drink will be spilled.
The thermometer has a comfortable handle and a sealed cover. That is, it can not only boil water, but also keep the warmth of the drink for a long time. This is a kind of thermos with heating.
The car thermomug works from the lighter. At the same time, energy consumption for boiling and heat preservation is quite insignificant.
What can be brewed in thermocup
Recently among drivers the most popular device is the automotive thermo mug. User reviews confirm the convenience of this device. According to customers, the thermo mug is simply indispensable in the autumn-winter season. So, the driver can make coffee or tea at a free moment and have a snack. This is very convenient, because you do not need to look for stalls or cafes, where you can buy a hot drink.
For young parents who spend a lot of time behind the wheel, it's also very convenient to use a car thermo mug. Mom's comments refer to the practicality of this device. So, young parents at any second can boil water to dilute the mixture or prepare a milk mash. Thanks to a hot mug it is much easier to feed a baby during a long trip.
The preparation of hot drinks and mixtures is not the only convenience for which a thermo mug is bought. Feedback from users of this invention indicates that many use it for brewing instant vermicelli or instant soup. Thus, the car thermo mug allows not only to warm up in cold weather, but also to have a bite with a hot dish.
And, of course, using a thermo mug, it's important not to forget to replenish stocks of sugar, coffee, tea and water.
How does it work
To prepare a hot drink in the machine, you need to pour the required volume of water into the hot mug, close it tightly and connect it to the cigarette lighter. Usually the cable entry is under the handle of the device. After about 10 minutes, the water in the mug becomes hot. At this point, you can add sugar, coffee or tea.
The ability to retain the warmth of the drink for a long time is an important feature, because of which the thermo mug is valued. The drivers' comments serve as a confirmation. So, during the trip you can take your time and drink hot tea or coffee in small sips while stopping at traffic lights.
It is important to note that all automotive thermo mugs are safe. So, in order to avoid overloading the network, the heating mechanism does not bring the water to a boil. The liquid heats up only to seventy degrees.
Thermocup Contigo
Today, automotive thermo mugs are produced by many different companies. All of them differ in appearance, materials and price. The most qualitative and stylish among the customers is the Thermo mug Contigo. The reviews specifically note its affordable cost.
American Contigo mugs differ from the analogues of other famous brands with a unique design. So, the manufacturer produces products in different colors. Therefore, the driver can choose a thermo mug, which will be combined as much as possible with his car. All the mugs of this brand are made of high quality materials that perfectly withstand the heat.
Contigo hot mugs have double walls made of stainless steel. This design provides long-term storage of heat. In addition, the mugs are equipped with an automatic locking system. That is, the fluid flows only when you press a special button. Such a system reliably protects from accidental drops of a hot beverage.
In addition to the bright appearance of the mug has a lot of other advantages:
- good insulation, which allows you to keep the temperature of hot liquid 4, and cold - 12 hours;
- water tightness;
- the ability to use not only in the car, but also in the office, on the street, in the gym, in nature;
- a convenient form, thanks to which the mug is comfortable to hold in hands;
- impact resistance;
- environmental friendliness of materials.
Safety of use is one of the most important features of the Contigo thermo mug. The feedback from the owners of this line shows that they appreciated the convenience of using the automatic opening system. Thanks to this design the thermo mug can be used next to children, documents and equipment.
Mug Bergner
Cheaper, but not less quality thermo mugs are produced under the Bergner brand. They have an interesting design and are available in different colors. As for the design, the Bergner thermo mugs perfectly keep the temperature of cold and hot drinks. Their body is made of stainless steel, complemented by silicone inserts.
Practicality, quality and low cost - these parameters are provided by the Bergner thermo mug. Customer feedback emphasizes the ergonomics of the products. So, the lid is easy to open, and no additional effort is required, as is the case with a thermos bottle. The driver can open the mug with one hand. Even during driving, you can drink coffee through a special hole.
General reviews about thermomugs
The opinions of the users about the automotive thermo mugs are different. Most of them are positive. Drivers confirm the convenience of this device and use it practical every day. But there are people who were not satisfied with the first time with a cigarette lighter from the cigarette lighter. Reviews of the negative plan are related to personal preferences and some inconveniences. According to such users, it is more convenient to brew coffee or tea at home and carry it with you in a conventional thermos. In addition, not everyone has the patience to wait for the water to warm up. This is the only drawback that a thermo mug has.
Reviews also relate to the fragility of mugs of some manufacturers. Those who bought the cheapest models, they used very little. They broke down very quickly. Best served by an expensive branded thermo mug. Reviews of owners of devices of world famous manufacturers are only positive. The only problem they sometimes face is the need to replace the lid or the opening device.


text:
Oakworth School of Motoring
The Home of Expert Driving Tuition
Think Oakworth SoM for first class customer focused driving tuition and gain safe driving for life. Oakworth school of motoring is an independent driving school established in 2008, located in Oakworth, Keighley, West Yorkshire delivering driving tuition in the following areas Keighley, Haworth, Skipton, Bingley and all surrounding areas.
Oakworth delivers quality driving tuition at fantastic prices with the focus been upon quality. Our key word is commitment from our instructors and students, with the combination of commitment and our bespoke lessons utilising DVSA approved literature we are able to produce high pass rates for our students.
History of Oakworth School of Motoring
Instruction with no distractions
Quality and value
The future
Recent Posts / View All Posts
We aim to help you to pass quick, pass first time within a minimum number of lessons
while learning to drive safely for life
Oakworth School Of Motoring offers a friendly reliable service, delivered by quality fully qualified advanced driving instructors.