text:
A probabilistic algorithm to process geolocation data
A probabilistic algorithm to process geolocation data - Descarga este documento en PDF. Documentación en PDF para descargar gratis. Disponible también para leer online.
Movement Ecology
, 4:26
First Online: 18 November 2016Received: 02 May 2016Accepted: 04 November 2016
BackgroundThe use of light level loggers geolocators to understand movements and distributions in terrestrial and marine vertebrates, particularly during the non-breeding period, has increased dramatically in recent years. However, inferring positions from light data is not straightforward, often relies on assumptions that are difficult to test, or includes an element of subjectivity.
ResultsWe present an intuitive framework to compute locations from twilight events collected by geolocators from different manufacturers. The procedure uses an iterative forward step selection, weighting each possible position using a set of parameters that can be specifically selected for each analysis.
The approach was tested on data from two wide-ranging seabird species - black-browed albatross Thalassarche melanophris and wandering albatross Diomedea exulans – tracked at Bird Island, South Georgia, during the two most contrasting periods of the year in terms of light regimes solstice and equinox. Using additional information on travel speed, sea surface temperature and land avoidance, our approach was considerably more accurate than the traditional threshold method errors reduced to medians of 185 km and 145 km for solstice and equinox periods, respectively.
ConclusionsThe algorithm computes stable results with uncertainty estimates, including around the equinoxes, and does not require calibration of solar angles. Accuracy can be increased by assimilating information on travel speed and behaviour, as well as environmental data. This framework is available through the open source R package probGLS, and can be applied in a wide range of biologging studies.
KeywordsAnimal tracking Global Location Sensors GLS Method assessment Sea surface temperature Probability sampling probGLS Threshold method AbbreviationsGLSglobal location sensor
GPSglobal positioning system
SSMstate space model
SSTsea surface temperature
Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article doi:10.1186-s40462-016-0091-8 contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Download fulltext PDF
Autor: Benjamin Merkel - Richard A. Phillips - Sébastien Descamps - Nigel G. Yoccoz - Børge Moe - Hallvard Strøm
Fuente: https://link.springer.com/

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hotels in Lyndhurst
Search for Lyndhurst Hotels
Save more with Secret Prices
Get instant savings with Secret Prices
Best Lyndhurst Hotels
Where to stay in LyndhurstWhether you're planning a longer holiday or a weekend getaway, Lyndhurst has the right accommodation for you. There are 10 hotels in Lyndhurst and you can shop for as many as 850 deals for rooms on Hotels.com, some with discounts of up to 60%. We have room prices starting at GBP 17 per night. Here is a breakdown of hotels for each star rating in Lyndhurst as well as in the surrounding area:
- • 14 5-star hotels from GBP 58 per night
- • 261 4-star hotels from GBP 37 per night
- • 246 3-star hotels from GBP 25 per night
- • 12 2-star hotels from GBP 23 per night
How to get to LyndhurstFly into Southampton (SOU), 11.8 mi (19.1 km) from central Lyndhurst. Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.) is the next-closest major airport, 12.4 mi (19.9 km) away.
What to see around LyndhurstFun outings can include a visit to:
- • Bramshaw Golf Club
- • New Forest Golf Club
- • Rufus Stone
- • Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary
- • New Forest
- • Beaulieu National Motor Museum (8.7 mi/13.9 km from the city centre)
- • Southampton Maritime Museum (9.3 mi/15 km from the city centre)
When to visit LyndhurstIf you're starting to plan your holiday, you might be wondering when the best time of year to visit is. Here's a list of seasonal norms to help you arrange your travel schedule:
Seasonal temperatures
- • January-March: 12°F day, 2°F night
- • April-June: 21°F day, 4°F night
- • July-September: 24°F day, 9°F night
- • October-December: 17°F day, 2°F night
- • January-March: 7 inches
- • April-June: 4 inches
- • July-September: 5 inches
- • October-December: 9 inches


text:
Late Friday night through early Saturday morning, we had a terrible accident here at FPC. There was a chemical reaction with some lacquer-soaked rags in a garbage can in the sanctuary, which is still under construction. It caused enough heat to start a small fire, which would have turned into a large one if someone hadn't caught it early Saturday morning. It visibly damaged the floor, the chandelier and the ceiling above it. It destroyed the trash can and everything in it. It also caused soot to settle all over EVERYTHING. It left nothing untouched in the entire building. Quite a handful of the church members got together and cleaned the church as best as possible. Unfortunately, the soot can be very damaging in the long run, so most of the work done by the church men must be started over.
Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."


text:
At Futurz, we not only have a host of jobs across multiple industries but also ensure that you get the most suitable placement as well. We act as a channel between job seekers and our clients.
Our clients get the right candidate and you get the perfect job that you are looking for. Our areas of expertise include a wide range of sectors that include agriculture, aviation, shipping and cargo, banking, information technology, marketing and PR, and supply chain and logistics, to name a few. Check out our areas of expertise to know more about the different sectors that we cater to.
In order to apply for the job, all you have to do is fill in your details on our website and upload your resume. You can look at the list of jobs available with us. If you do not find any job opportunities that match your requirements, you can submit your CV and leave the rest to us.
As soon as you have submitted your CV and other details, our team will assess your capabilities and skill sets and try to match it with the opportunities that comprises of multiple sectors that we specialize in. Once your profile matches our requirements, we will contact you before moving forward and sharing your details with the potential recruiter. If you wish to go forward with the hiring process, the required procedures will be conducted accordingly and you will be notified about the same. In case you have any query before going ahead with the hiring process, you can get in touch with our consultants who will help you out. At Futurz, we ensure that the job seekers, as well as the job providers, are delivered with the perfect solution for all their job related needs.


text:
Segundo de Febrero Exhibit
Presented by Centro Cultural Aztlan at Centro Cultural Aztlan
February 2 - February 28, 2018
Centro Cultural Aztlan has produced and presented the annual Segundo de Febrero exhibit since 1978 in an effort to preserve Mexican American history and culture. This exhibit commemorates the 170th anniversary of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the ending of the U.S. Mexican war, and the redistribution of a border creating a new bicultural citizenry with a new consciousness of Mexican American dual identity, history, culture and traditions. The inspiration for our artists comes from past and present events that result in a visual dialog of Chicano identity and a reflection of the sentiment toward border issues and current events.
Participating artists include:
Rudy Almanza, Karen Faye Alvarez, Richard Arredondo, Rosa Fernandez, Laurel Gibson, Noe Gonzalez Garza, Jeff Hull, Paul Karam, Nancy Klapp, Francisco Lopez, Freddy Lopez, Janie McClinchie, Mathew Eric Mendez, JD Morera, Lupe Muñoz, Alexa Nelipa, Ray Price, Monica Ramirez, Israel Rico, Mary Agnes Rodriguez, Gloria Sanchez Hart, Raul Servin, Victor Tello, Jesse Saucedo Torres, Sheri Stewart Bryant, Angela Swensen, Robert Swensen, Chuy Torres Jr., Angela Weedle, and Dolores Zapata Murff.
The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, is on view throughout the month of February and during the scheduled hours of the On & Off Fredericksburg Road Studio Tour on February 17-18, 2018. Viewing hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
1800 Fredericksburg Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78201
Admission Info:
Phone: 210-432-1896
Parking: personal vehicle
Accessibility Information: Currently, no accessibility information is available for this event.
Connect with this Organization:
Facebook | Twitter | Blog | DONATE
Facebook Comments
Member Reviews
There are currently no reviews/comments for this event. Be the first to add a review/comment , and let folks know what you think!


text:
The fields of nutrition and software development share a lot of parallels.
Both are notoriously difficult to study: Each person, background, situation, confluence of behaviors and goals have an enormous influence on outcomes.
Reductionist extrapolations, and a rough abuse of correlation versus causation, yield meaty headlines that seldom hold up to scrutiny, the fertile soil laid for the likely "counter-intuitive" reversal some time later.
Simple carbohydrates. Test Driven Development. Private offices. Protein. Antioxidants. Fat. Standing desks. Work hours. Telecommuting. Open plan. Functional programming. Red wine. Omega 3s. Relational databases. Work-life balance. Years of experience. Waterfall. Cubicles. NoSQL. Running. Dependency injection. Cardio. Agile. Service-oriented. Generics. Saturated fats. Squats. Glucose.
The simple-carbohydrate rich Japanese diet clearly works for some mixes of genetics and lifestyles, while being seemingly devastating to others. Functional programming works for some programmers and classes of problems, while being detrimental for others.
Of course there are some things that are of obvious, certain merit.
Keep an ideal weight and stay fit. How you achieve those goals are where the advice gets much more iffy, often made with statements of absolute certainty, but founded on ever morphing and unclear findings of dubious merit. We live in nations of people absolutely obsessed with those goals, very few actually achieving them.
Build software that competently solves problems in an optimized timeframe with minimal defects. How you do that varies dramatically by the project, team members, motivations, and technologies. Many of the teams following whole regimes of seeming best practices with best intentions find themselves eclipsed and out of business by competitors doing none of that.
In both fields, people looking for an approach to provide salvation for their problems become really emotionally invested in the idea, because it simply has to be true. They've bound their hopes and goals around it.
The whole Atkins craze, for instance, saw people advocating a dietary approach with such zeal and passion it was irrational, replacing a fanatical rejection of fats that held previously. The idea, it seems, is the more people believe it is universally right, the more real it becomes, the more it will help them out in their own battles. Many have moved on to gluten-obsessed diets.
Test-driven development has similarities. Raucous internet battles over who is right, judging on approach rather than outcomes. Are you a believer, or a Believer?
Your customer doesn't care. They don't care how many tests you have. They don't care how many epics you authored, or that you use Agile development or have loads of code comments or that you work at a standing desk.
They really don't. If you've ever communicated it to them, you might be finding surrogates in the place of the actual outcomes, and that's a very bad sign.
The person who talks about their goals a lot seldom reaches them, and talk has become a substitute for action1.
Does the software solve a problem? Is it good quality? Was it delivered in a timely and cost-effective timeframe? Is the team reactive to changes that are invariable in the real-world?
The only answers to those questions are yes or no. "No, but…" is simply no.
There are teams with loads of tests and lots of talk about code quality approaches, yet they produce abysmal, low-quality code.
There are teams with big talk about Agile who respond to change at a glacial pace, producing solutions in a slow, inefficient manner (which, as an aside, is one fascinating aspect of this industry. There are teams of armies of developers who deliver a couple of basic web apps in a year and celebrate their accomplishment, evangelizing their approach. Yet they exist in a little pond and have no comprehension or measure to see how their productivity actually measures against competitors).
Throwing in with something doesn't grant you the desired outcomes by default.
Whatever approaches you choose to pursue should fit your team, the type of software you are building and within what timeframe, and to optimize productivity and minimize defects. And when someone does something using different inputs and thus different choices, compare on the outcomes and not on the approaches.
If one truly believes their propaganda — whether it's the absolutely importance of generics, the incredible productivity improvements of F# over C#, or the enormous value of TDD — then implement it and eat everyone's lunch.
Put those practices into play and rule the world.
1 – One of the side projects that I've never had the time to pursue, eventually just dropping the whole premise and domain (which was quickly snapped up by someone else), was tewdew. The idea was a social web app that allowed you to post and share goals. Those goals and status updates would remain hidden until your declared deadline, when all would be revealed, and you will have either succeeded, or failed.
The philosophy behind such a tool is that people undermine their own motivations when they reveal their goals early. If you talk about the great new diet and fitness regiment you're starting, for instance, you're essentially attempting to cash in on the results at the outset, diminishing the social rewards on success.


text:
Don't imagine it any other way. Payroll Fraud is genuine as noted by Payroll services Australia. As per the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, it is the main wellspring of accounting fraud and representative burglary. Look at these insights: Payroll Fraud happens in 27 percent of all small business.
Payroll fraud happens about twice as frequently (14.2 percent) in little associations with under 100 workers than in substantial ones (7.6 percent). The normal occurrence of payroll fraud keeps going around 36 months. That is three years of paying phantom workers or overpaying existing ones.
Avoid payroll fraud: Set up controls
Payroll fraud is not preventable, but rather is catchable.…


text:
Friday, June 12, 2009
Interview with the Ultimate Budget Fashionista: Kathryn Finney
"The Budget Fashionista" Kathryn Finney (see photo) has turned her blog into a media company and widely popular brand. The shopping expert extraordinaire has been profiled by The New York Times and other top tier media outlets across the country, spoken at conferences like SXSW Interactive and authored an Amazon best-selling book.
She took some time out of her busy schedule to speak with Fabulously Frugal about how she created a brand from a blog, her frugal tips for fashionistas (she abides by them, too) and her upcoming projects.
What prompted you to start The Budget Fashionista? What was your inspiration?
"The Budget Fashionista was started from a love of fashion and a lack of cash. My inspiration was really being broke after an amazingly "fabulous" wedding and trying to figure out how I was going to pay my bills and live the life I wanted to live. My husband works in tech and mentioned that I should look into starting a blog because I loved to write and loved to shop."
You've turned The Budget Fashionista into a brand -- books, podcasts, speaking opportunities, TV appearances, etc. Did it originally start just as a website and take off from there? How were you able to turn yourself and your advice into a lifestyle brand?
"When I first started The Budget Fashionista, I had no clue that it would get this big. In 2003, blogging was very new and even Google was pretty new. In fact Amazon hadn't even turned a profit yet and most people thought that the internet was not a viable business model.
"The Budget Fashionista gained traction by staying true to who we, and most importantly, who I am- a real woman with real budget issues. By being myself and not trying to be something or someone else, I was able to build a successful brand and a sustainable business."
Do you follow your own advice when you shop? What are some of your favorite Budget Fashionista tips that are particularly applicable given these tough economic times?
"Again, being a sustainable brand is about truth and I don't think The Budget Fashionista would be as successful as it is if I was rocking $3,000 Carlos Falchi handbags. I do shop on a budget; I love the Salvation Army and Goodwill, and I cut coupons. I am known for being the queen of coupons. The tip I use most is the cost per wear- which is the price of an item divided by the number of times you think you'll wear it in a given period. So if something costs $100 and you wear 100 times in a year, you're cost per wear is $1. I try to shoot for a cost per wear of under $3. This forces you to focus on value not just price. Who cares if you got something for $5- if you never wear it you just wasted $5."
What advice do you have for young, fashion-forward individuals that will allow them to look and feel fabulous without breaking the bank?
"Sample sales. Sample Sales. Even Intermix has sample sales at the Met Pavillion on 18th. Check out The Budget Fashionista for a list of the hottest sample sales and then when you're finished head to the outlets or to shop in NYC like Gabays.
"Really style is NOT about what you wear but how you wear it."
Any upcoming projects, books, etc. in the works that Fabulously Frugal can share with readers?
"The new book is coming out hopefully in 2010 and lots of TV. I really have a lot of fun doing TV cause I am originally from the Midwest and we love to chat."
2 comments:
Kathryn is Awesome and TBF is the bomb.. How did you score an interview with her?ReplyDelete
In my budgeting tech I do make sure to shop online, and finding deals and codes before jumping to that. I love my fashion collection from Boston Proper and CouponerStore.com/Boston Proper Coupon Codes always give great savings to me. Fashion in frugality!ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Wight Locations is a self catering holiday lettings company based on the island in Seaview with over 130 properties on the Island. Our experienced team have visited all the properties and so are able to advise and find the best match suitable for our guests' requirements. Check out our website for full property information, pictures, map locations and guests comments or call our friendly team for a brochure, advice or to make the booking for you. The website Blog also is updated regularly with information and events that our guests may find useful and interesting about the Island.
ICE Points for Ethical Shopping
Shop with us an earn points to spend with a range of ethical retailers.
Isle of Wight Cheese
Check out our friendly local cheese maker!
River Cottage
Lots of foodie info from Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, and you can buy some of his excellent cookery books!
British Asparagus
All you could ever want to know about this succulent seasonal spear!
Wight Link
Toing and froing across the Solent!
Borough Market
The most renowned food market in London with an astounding range of British and international produce. We really recommend you pay it a visit!
National Farmers Retail and markets Association – Promoting local food, representing and supporting Farmers growers and producers.
South East England Development Agency – Generously supported Farmer Jacks New Farm Shop!
Eat Seasonably
Lots of info about growing and eating what is in season.
Arreton Old Village
The home of Farmer Jack's!
Will Steward
Grower - Apse Heath - Isle of Wight
The Steward family have been growing at Apse Heath since 1922, a total of 88 years. Having studied and worked as an engineer for over 10 years Will now feels its time to head back to his agricultural roots.
Although currently still working as a full time engineer Will manages to find the time to tend to his cucumbers. His aim is to move back into full time vegetable production, gradually increasing the acreage of the family farm he puts over and expanding the range of produce he grows to include both summer and winter vegetables. "It's a real privilege now to be taking my turn so that we can be fully productive for our 100 year anniversary in 12 years time."
Will's cucumbers are in season from July until the first frosts fall at the beginning of autumn. They have what he describes as a "delicate slightly sweet taste with a texture similar to that of a melon and very refreshing".


text:
1. Pride
Why was the first offering to God, and that God accepted, a living creature, a sheep ? (I don't speak of the gifts that pagan people usually gave to self-made deities.)
This is the story of Abel and Cain in Genesis, chapter 4.
v3: "Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD."
v4: "And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. "
v5: "And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering; but unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect."
Cain had two reasons to be sure his offering would be honored by God; he was the firstborn and he valued his offering as of greatest value than that of his brother because he had to work harder than Abel to produce it since it is more difficult to be a plowman than a shepherd. Cain was twice proud in advance of his domination over his smaller brother. And the result was he was not agreed by God. Why was that ??
There are a few causes to God's decision, all dependent from one another. The first is that man could not be proud of the result of working as a plowman because God had cursed the earth as is said in Genesis 3/17: " ... cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life." Man cannot put his pride into working the ground for a living because, as a result from the curse, he could not anymore only eat fruits but had to plant and harvest as said in v18-19 : "Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
Because of the fall, man could not use God's creation to sustain himself as all the animals but he had to work for it. The earth was cursed but only in relation to man's life. Then, man could not put his pride in the result of his working the land because this work had resulted of the curse.
Add that to the error in believing that being the firstborn would give him pre-eminence over his younger brother without proving that he was worth of it, as in the case of Essav and Yaakov for instance, and one may understand that Cain was full of unjustified pride which did result in God rejecting his offer.
On the contrary, Abel was neither proud of himself nor of what he was offering because cattle grow alone without substantial work and it is the direct result of the creation goodness. Then, you might ask how God did prefer in the end the sacrifice of a living creature, a sheep to the 'fruits of the ground' ? The simple answer is because when man kills an animal to eat it, or to offer it to God, he asserts that, first he does not value life in and for itself but as a mean to prove that God, as the Creator, can do what He wants with what He has created and that man is first and foremost His instrument and not his own master, his own goal but God's creation as everything else, and then, that God agrees that man can use His creation, and values the strength man has to deploy in killing the animal, in order to please Him and to make a living with something that had not been cursed but blessed as good.
The moral aspect in conclusion of this explanation is that man cannot take pride in what he does to success in his life when using what God has created, both that is cursed or not. Pride is the primary obstacle of being agreed by God as His children and being loved by Him. Man has not to be proud of what he creates because at the beginning, he uses tools and laws that were all created by God. Pride in being who one is has no place in the life of an honorable man; pride is outlawed from the start no matter what comes afterward.
2. Order out of Chaos
The world we live in is not void of laws, laws that have reached the emergence of life and consciousness, laws that are at the origin of stars, light, heat, pure water, fresh air, beautiful flowers, rocks, trees and animals. The universe has an aim, which we would be fools to pretend to know but as much fools as not to appreciate for what it is, good. Still in Genesis, God said numerously that what He had done was good and any normally constituted person cannot but approve that qualification of what is. There is an intimate order in the world and this order has a purpose, at least in giving birth to who we are, conscious beings able to appreciate the beauty and the perfection of life. There is an immanent order from which we beneficiate daily and that we can use to grow a tremendous society of happy beings, at least in theory, but no one can deny the ability exists.
Well, not exactly no one because there are people who walk in the steps of the 'Angel of death' and deny this evidence because they do not want to consider themselves as indebted to anyone else than themselves. There are people who consider themselves as their own masters, as the supreme rulers of anything that they can exert their power upon, that put their pride before any gratitude, that are traitors to the creation and the Creator.
Those evil stringed entities thus deny any underlying order and consider the universe as born from chaos in which they would set their own rules to be the sole masters of every existence, every rock, plant and being. They thus pretend that, since there is no inherent order, they are destined to create their own order, and not only but, in that they see traces of order, they pretend they are entitled to destroy. They are the 'Lion Pride' as would have said Joseph Ehrlich, they are the destroyers, they are the children of Evil, they are the conquerors, the Nazis, the creators of all the systems that they devise to rule over humanity, all the "isms" from capitalism to communism through Christianism and Zionism, Buddhism, Islamism, Manichaeism, all of them fit their desire, every one of them is useful to pretend that they are the creators of humanity, of life. All of psychology, economy, sociology, history, psychiatry, biology ... are destined to fit their purpose of creating a world of their own, a world that does not recognize its natural godly origin and destiny.
3. How death is good to 'them'
Well, let's say in short why all the "isms" are evil. Although every "ism" has some truth in it, it can be used by the NWO because every "ism" is the result of man's thought, every "ism" is the child of man's pride to invent who he is by himself. Every "ism" is idolatry albeit hidden by its intent to be universal and 'not for profit'. Every "ism" is excluding many other "isms" and the net rewards of these oppositions are wars and deaths, and every possible suffering in the middle. All those "isms" are the greatest culprits of the fall of humanity, well, not the fall since there has never been such a rise to speak of a fall !! The advocates of these "isms" justify all the means to achieve their aims including death and suffering which are in their satanic views necessary to fulfill their will. In such a spirit, collateral damage is more useful to them than the main destruction they inflict in the course of the New World Order that they want before all. Mengele's suffering was more central to Hitler's war than conquering Poland. Cancer causing products are more important than sending troops to die in Vietnam. Forbidding a vegetable garden is more vital to them than taking down the twin towers and the 3000 dead that went by it. They need to destroy the roots humanity has with itself before effectively killing people.
NB: I sincerely regret that I don't write a better english !!


text:
3 hours ago, Soviet forces moved across the German border. British forces in the area are rushing to prepare for the oncoming red tide. In front, the screening forces are desperately trying to buy time for their units to organize. – BBC News Correspondent Edward Brown
The game was British screening forces vs. a Soviet column, with the Soviets trying to get off the board a quickly as possible and the British trying to stop them. I was the screening force, so while I had fewer forces, I also had surprise on my side.
The British forces consisted of Scorpion x5, Swingfire x2, Chieftain Mk. 10 x3, Fox x1, and Artillery strike x1.
Soviet forces were: T-72 x10, BMP-1 x10, ZSU-23-4 x2, BMD-1 x3, BRDM-1 x2, Pre-game barrages x5, and Mig-21 with rocket pods x1.
The Soviets would start on one end of the board, and drive forward trying to reach the other end as fast as possible. The British would set up hidden, until revealed by the Soviets, or the British fired.
Pre-game barrages of the Soviets only destroy a Scorpion in the town and pin another Scorpion down.
As Soviet forces move on to the board, the British artillery strike hits and kills 3 T-72s, 2 BMD's, and pins a BMP.
Soviet forces are cautious, and spread out into the forest to hunt for enemies that may be lying in wait. While they do find enemies, they are wasting valuable time.
A BMP is confronted by two Scorpions, and the Scorpions fire ineffectively at the surprised BMP.
Reinforcements move to attack the Scorpions and take one out.
The Scorpions in return kill the last remaining BMD, but the second Scorpion is knocked out by BMP fire. The first (small) victory goes to the Soviets!
The Soviet advance continues and a Chieftain fires on the enemy column approaching but is taken out by a Malyutka ATGM.
Parallel to the advancing Soviet column, a Chieftain and two Swingfires appear and attack the Soviets, destroying a T-72.
In revenge the combined Soviet fire kills one of the Swingfires and the Chieftain on the ridge.
The Soviet advance continues by knocking out the other Swingfire. The Soviets then pass the halfway mark on the board making their way towards the town.
A Scorpion is revealed and fires, but misses its shot at the leading BMP.
The Soviets move into the town and knock out the Scorpion that shot at the BMP.
The Fox and a second Scorpion appear and take out a BRDM-1, and a BMP. The burning hull of the BMP now prevents the Soviets from crossing the bridge until it can be pushed away.
The Fox and Scorpion quickly have the tables turned on them and are knocked out by Soviet fire.
The last remaining Chieftain fires from the church, where it has been waiting. The shot goes true and kills a T-72.
One of the ZSU-23-4's bulldozes the burning BMP off the bridge to clear it, while the BMP's ford the stream.
The Chieftain is finally destroyed after 2 rounds of ineffective Soviet shooting at it.
At this point it was realized that the Mig had not been used, but it was to late to do anything about it. With the last British units destroyed the Soviets were free to move off the board.
All told the game took about 2 hours to play and I had a great time playing. Unfortunately the game ended a tie, as the British did not kill enough and delay the Soviets for long enough and the Soviets did not move off the board fast enough to call it a victory.
Reasons for Soviet defeat: the Soviets spent to much concentrating on one target and stoping the advance because of it. They should have tasked some units to killing it and continued to move the rest of the column ahead.
Reasons for British defeat: as usual for me, my bad rolling got in my way. I failed to kill anything in my ambushes, which would have tipped the game in my favor. My other problem was not building a concentrated group of firepower, as every time I would attack, I would fire, and then get destroyed by the tons of Soviets around. The other thing that would have helped would be waiting for the enemy column to pass and then attacking with the Swingfires and Chieftain. I could have killed my opponents command tank and won.
While the Soviet drive has been slowed by our brave boys, the Soviet momentum is still present. British troops will be prepared, but not as much as they wished. Good luck to you lads from everyone at home, and God save the Queen! – BBC News Correspondent Edward Brown
Until next time,
– MinisMuse


text:
Having a meeting or offsite in Collingwood? Then consider a scavenger hunt. We've just added a Collingwood scavenger hunt page to our website where you can see photos and sample … Continue reading
Author Archives: Andrew Long
New! Geocaching Scavenger Hunt Add-Ons
Interested in Geocaching? Want to add a new and unique element to your scavenger hunt? Try out our new Geocaching Scavenger Hunt add-ons. This is a great way to make … Continue reading
New locations, maps and photos!
We have been hard at work organizing our website so it is easier to navigate. Check out our searchable locations map. Check out our new locations pages for: Bloor-Yorkville The … Continue reading
Selfie Day Scavenger Hunt – June 21
June 21 is Selfie Day! Since our scavenger hunts involve taking a lot of photos, why not challenge your group to an all-selfie photo scavenger hunt?
Granville Island Scavenger Hunt
We've just created a new web page for our Granville Island Scavenger Hunt. There you can see a description of the hunt, a map showing the hunt area and some … Continue reading


text:
So, without delay, here are 3 important things employers need to remember to mention to nanny candidates.
- Our house is being heavily renovated. You can't see the house number, but we are the joint with the huge construction dumpster in the front driveway.
- You know we said we had 2 kids under 2? Well, we forgot to mention their 13-year-old half-sibling who lives with us 75% of the time. But you won't have to do anything for him. No, really!
- We really want a nanny who speaks spanish. Did we mention that?
And, just for any employers who say they once worked as a nanny, here's a tip. Tell us all the details over the phone when we ask. Don't wait until we are face to face to tell us how you were a nanny at the age of 12. Because any career nanny will find it hard to not snigger at you when you say that, and we can cover the sniggering with a cough much better over the phone than in person.
So I go forth tomorrow to 2 other interviews. Wonder what new craziness they will bring into my life?


text:
$2,195 3 bed 5207 Santa Ana St, Cudahy CA, 90201
Previously Listed $2,195 3 bed
5207 Santa Ana St, Cudahy, 90201
Commute to Downtown Cudahy
This apartment is in Cudahy. Nearby parks include Cudahy Park, Clara Park and Pritchard Field.
5207 Santa Ana St has a Walk Score of 46 out of 100. This location is a Car-Dependent neighborhood so most errands require a car.
Fully Remodeled 3bd/1Ba House in Cudahy Must See!!! - Beautiful updated 3 bedroom home in Cudahy with one car garage. Great location only half a block from Park Avenue Elementary, Cudahy Library and Cudahy Park. Every aspect of this unit has been renovated. The kitchen features new dark cabinets, granite counters and new stainless steel appliances. Appliances include stainless dishwasher, range and microhood. Washer and dryer hookups in the unit! Bathroom is brand new, with new fiberglass tub and dark granite vanity. New windows throughout. Pet friendly.
Easy online rental application process. Hurry won't last!
First Showing: Sun June 4th at 2pm. Stop By and Preview
Address: 5209 Santa Ana St. - Unit #4 Cudahy, CA 90201
Date Available: 06/01/2017
Units Available: 1
Lease Term 1 Year
Rent $2195.00
Security Deposit $2195.00
Parking: Garage 1 space
Application Fee: $25.00 per person over age 18+
Pet Ok with Pet Deposit $250.00
(Small Dogs ok under 20lbs)
Rental Application Click link below:
Pets allowed:
Owner/manager tools | Report bad listing | From showmetherent.com
Cudahy, California, 90201
Most errands require a car.
About your score
Explore how far you can travel by car, bus, bike and foot from 5207 Santa Ana St.
Bus lines:
611 Metro Local Line
0.2 mi
260 Metro Local Line
0.5 mi
258 Metro Local Line
0.6 mi
111 Metro Local Line
0.6 mi
762 Metro Rapid Line
0.6 mi
View all Cudahy apartments on a map.
Search for homes in Cudahy or find a Cudahy real estate agent who knows walkable neighborhoods. Links will open on our partner site Redfin.com.
5207 Santa Ana St is in the city of Cudahy, CA. Cudahy has an average Walk Score of 63 and has 23,805 residents.Learn More About Cudahy


text:
Discussion of " Economic Aspects of Mitigating Pipeline Corrosion: Task Force Report of Committee on Pipeline Planning, Pipeline Division by Committee on Pipeline Location of the Pipeline Division, ASCE"
See related content
by DataNotAvailable,
Serial Information: Journal of the Pipeline Division, 1964, Vol. 90, Issue 2, Pg. 77-77
Document Type: Discussion & Closure
Services: Buy this book/Buy this article
Return to search


text:
Upon arrival, this is what we saw: A charming barn (1 of 5, no less) filled to the rafters with antique Scandinavian furniture.
We met the lovely owners Janet Fram & Børge Hermansen who bring over the antiques from their other home; Denmark.
This is unpacking day at the farm!
Have a look at some of the pieces, which come from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and sometimes Finland. Many of them have original painted finishes from the 1800's, while others are raw pine awaiting restoration and a coat of wax.
Here we are comparing the size of several sideboards and moving a small painted dresser to see its size relative to an armoire.
A lovely painted cabinet in the main store:
And finally, what do you think of the "art" on the grounds of the inn where we stayed? (The small gold statues were about as tall as I am!)
Happy Autumn!


text:
More than half of those diagnosed with cancer will undergo chemotherapy. For some it works and for others, their cancer is not as responsive. It can take months to find out which group someone may be in. But now a simple blood test may give patients and doctors the answer.
BREAKING NEWS ABC shows live and on-demand -- Download the WATCH ABC app!


text:
It's that wintry time of year to go out and search for the perfect Christmas tree, and I'm very picky about my yuletide lumber. When I lived in New York City, me and a few of my friends ran the biggest Christmas tree operation in New York, out in the Woodside section of Queens along Queens Boulevard. So I know my trees. I decided to start this Christmas tree quest at Sheridan Nursery which is run by the Dixon Family. Above is Mark Dixon who runs the joint along with his family.
I run across a shopper checking out wreaths and she is shy because she is not "dressed well for a picture."
They have some nice trees here, Balsams from Canada and Fraser Firs from North Carolina. Sizes up to ten feet. Impressive, but I'm in the holiday mood for something a little more exotic.
Inside the store they have some flocked trees, the kind that are painted to look like they have snow on them. I prefer a more natural look.
Sheridan Nursery is a professional setup, I buy a lot of plants there in the spring and they have all the latest gadgets to wrap your tree so you can pop it on the roof of your car and take it home. But I didn't find my tree and we move on.
My next stop is the Hoerr Nursery where they have horticulturists and certified arborist's on staff. These trees above are healthy looking full trees, but they only have Fraser Firs. The greenhouse they have them in keeps them nice and fresh, but it is a little sterile. These trees are hanging from the ceiling by ropes and I get the feeling I'm in a meat locker and I expect Rocky to show up and start beating the snot out of a tree. I expected more of a variety from an operation as huge as Hoerr's.
They did have these little Charlie Brown trees that are actually planted in these little pots that you can keep outdoors. These little trees remind me of one of my favorite Christmas tree selling stories. At our operation in New York, we started to drop the prices on the last couple days before Christmas, kind of like the stock market crashing on Christmas trees. The Russian Orthodox Church would celebrate Christmas on January 1 so there were always of few of those folks coming out on December 23 or 24 and looking to get a great deal, sometimes looking for too good a deal. So as I haggled with the guy over a fair price for trees, his wife would be selecting the one she wanted. I then would grab the tree she chose and put it over my knee with my saw in the middle of the tree and threaten to turn it into a Charlie Brown tree and cut it in half, she would freak out as if I was threatening her child and instantly tell her husband to fork over the money. Ah...such pleasant festive holiday memories.
One thing Hoerr's did have is an abundance of decorations, they even call it their Designer Collection. Wreaths, birch twigs, bough bunches, porch pots, cinnamon cones, berried juniper and on and on.
They also had some beautiful flowers including these lush red Poinsetta's.
There is no shortage of indoor decorations, lights and ornaments at Hoerr's. Nothing says Christmas like an indoor Christmas gazebo.
Another flocked tree and I have the temptation to change flocked to a very similar word. And who is that creepy Charles Dickens character sneaking into the picture.
These wreaths numerically represent how many trees I have. Two stops and no tree yet. I need some inspiration.
Jimmy's Bar on Farmington Road is the Church not only for holiday inspiration, but also for an imperial pint of Guinness.
I get a warm welcome and a cold beer from bartender, Kristen.
Of all the bars I have been in, there is no better decorated bar for the Christmas season than Jimmy's.
This year Jimmy Spears has outdone himself. These pictures don't do the place justice with all the intricate decorations. The jukebox is even synced to some of the Christmas lights. And after Christmas Jimmy goes a few steps further for New Year's Eve. You owe it to yourself to check it out. It'll put you in an instant good mood. I now have my inspiration and the bartender recommends a place for a tree...
Nena's Hardware on Forrest Hill is my destination.
Okay, we're off to a good start with this Clark Griswold-like 15 foot mammoth tree, but it's a little to big for my place.
Rodkym, one of the workers helps mount a tree on top of a car.
And here are the happy tree owners.
I believe I have found my Holy Grail! Check out this forest of Scotch Pine Trees.
Look at this beautiful closeup shot. Scotch Pines are the best Christmas tree. Long three inch soft needles, clustered and thick with a great spread. Green and bluish tones. These trees remain soft for a good month with proper watering and when the needles do dry out they don't fall off the tree. Keep your trees watered well and put a couple aspirin in your water, it helps the moisture work its way into the tree and it prevents your tree from getting a Holiday hangover. The biggest Scotch Pine I ever saw was about 80 feet tall in Rockefeller Center and it had a 500 pound star on top.
This is Jan Wolosek, the master Arborist who grew this tree from seed. He lives at his tree farm in Wisconsin Rapids. This guy knows what he is doing. For 25 years he has spent the month of December selling his trees in Peoria. My tree took over six years to grow and multiple times throughout the year he trims, shears and shapes his trees to get the perfect tree, and now it is mine.
Merry Christmas!
Bonus Art From Jaws The Cabbie!
Jaws the Cabbie sent in this art to accompany his comment about the Uncle Si Chia Pet. Ha! Nice work, Jaws!


text:
IntroductionAsset can be real or financial, like shares and bonds are called financial assets, asset like plant and machinery are called real assets. Real assets can be valued easily but there is no easy way to predict the prices of share and bonds.
The unpredictable nature of the security prices is, in fact, a logical and necessary consequence efficient capital markets.
Concepts of ValueThere are many concepts of value that are used for different purposes,
- Book value-Assets are recorded at historical cost, and they are depreciated over years. Book value may include intangible assets at acquisition cost minus amortized value.
- Replacement value-Ignore the benefits of intangibles and utility of existing assets.
- Liquidation value-If company sold its assets it would be liquidation value.
- Going concern value
- Market value-Price which the asset or security is being sold or brought in the market.
Features of a BondA bond is a long-term debt instrument or securities issued by the government do not have any risk default.
The main features of a bond are
- Face value.
- Interest rate.
- Maturity.
- Redemption value.
- Market value.
(1).Bonds with maturity.
(2).Pure discount bonds.
(3).Perpetual bonds.
(1).Bonds with Maturity
Issue bonds that specify the interest rate and the maturity period.
- Value of bond with maturity
B0=INT X [(1/Kd)-(1/Kd(1+Kd)n] Bn/(1+Kd)n
Bond Value = Present value of interest + Present value of maturity value
- Yield to Maturity
Kd= INT/ B0
(2).Pure Discount Bonds
Bonds do not carry an explicit rate of interest, it provides for the payment of a lump sum amount at a future date.
- B0 = M / (1+Kd)n
(3).Perpetual Bonds
Also called consols, has an indefinite life and therefore, it has no maturity value.
- B0 = INT / Kd


text:
No matter what you're facing,
I promise there's a bright side if you determine to find it.
Whether you're facing a hospital room, a stressful job, or even a too-quiet house,
you can find a bright side today.
It may take some creativity.
But, it's there.
Light is in that darkness.
Think about this:
A candle that shines in a dark room may think "There is no light here," as it looks around in every direction;
but to the rest of the darkness the candle is the light.
So, today, no matter how dark the day seems,
no matter how dreary,
remember this:
There is a bright side to every dark place when we take Jesus there.
Because when we take Jesus, we become the bright side.
Take Him with you today........
and shine.
Suddenly, the darkness of a room will be filled with His light,
and the glow of His love will create the bright side to an otherwise not-so-bright day.
Let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matt. 5:16
For God, who said, "Let light shine
out of darkness,"
made his light shine in our hearts to
give us the light of the knowledge of
God's glory displayed in the face of
II Cor. 4:6


text:
This takes place in new moon
Bella Swan yeah we have all heard of her it was always Jacob or Edward but what if there was some one else. Please read about a different bella love story
There will be twist and turns surprises and things you wouldn't expect. Bella is strapped in tight for this wicked roller-coaster
slytherin1108 Dec 05, 2016
they just rushed into it. maybe they should have had a date first, yeah they are meant to be, but still, they could have taken it slow.


text:
Now this is what I think of when I think of "shoegaze." That's a term that gets applied to some really noisy bands, like My Bloody Valentine, but I always felt it applied better to bands like this with a mumbly, low-key singer, you know, just standing there staring at his shoes.
There's some Britpop in here, too ("Disney World") and plenty of resemblance to Belle & Sebastian (also "Disney World") (though it's worth noting that their first album came out two years after this album).
[Okay, I can't mention Belle & Sebastian, who I love, without thinking of this clip.]
Anyway, back to Blind Mr. Jones, who would end their career with this, their second album. Consider the ratings of these 10 tracks: seven Likes and three Mehs. That pretty much says it all. Well, it pretty much says it all if you also include my first couple of paragraphs. It's shoegaze-y and solidly listenable from start to finish. Very enjoyable but rarely transcendent. Which seems appropriate for shoegaze.
Like: "Hey," "Disney World," "Viva Fisher," "Drop For Days," "Surfer Baby," "Please Me," "Mesa"
Meh: "See You Again," "Big Plane," "What's Going On"
Song Notes: After the jump Continue reading


text:
According to a popular Danish study done on twins:
25% of how long we live is due to genetics, and 75% is due to lifestyle and choices
According to a common sense analysis done by Emily:
100% of how long we live is due to what God's plan is for your life
Our days are numbered. We don't know how many we will have or what they will look like. We have all kinds of control and none at the same time. We can choose to live heathfully and responsibly and do our best to have a long, disease-free life. However, there are always elements beyond our control, and there is a God who has a sovereign plan that is likely different than our own. This time last year we were mourning the death of my mother-in-law after a short fight with a rare form of cancer. This tragedy was not in our plans. So the question is, what is the point of living a healthy lifestyle when we could be in a car accident next week or get a rare cancer diagnosis a year from now? Here are my thoughts on the matter:
Thought 1–We are given one life to live. We know that there is a certain degree of cause and effect when it comes to our decisions and our health. If we choose to smoke, then we will likely have lungs that are functioning inefficiently. If we choose to eat excessively, we will likely gain weight, have knee problems and heart disease. If we choose to drink ourselves silly, then our livers will likely complain somewhere along the line. My point is that if we make certain decisions, there is a good chance that we will suffer the consequences. When we are in the midst of suffering these consequences, it is much harder to live a life that is enjoyable and purposeful. I am not saying it is impossible, but much time, energy, and money then goes to healthcare instead of doing the things you love. Therefore, the one life that you have to live loses years of quality living.
Thought 2–A little moderation goes a long way. Too often we live lives of extremes. Some like to dedicate their time and energy to training for an Ironman. Others think that if they can't run, than they shouldn't exercise at all. There is something to be said for living an active, sustainable life; one where it's not all or nothing. This goes for most areas in life, but for our purposes here, especially eating and exercise. It stresses me out to think about eating perfectly and making sure I get my 30-60 minutes of exercise every day for the rest of my life. Missing a day of exercise is ok. Eating some birthday cake is just fine.
Thought 3–Our bodies are the most intricate and amazing creation ever made. It's ability to heal itself, endure stress, and grow strong is something that we often take for granted. If you are given a Rolls Royce, I bet you will take good care of it: take it in for service check-ups, drive responsibly and put the best gas in it. My point is this: if you see your body as the priceless treasure that it is, then you will take care of it. You are an amazing, one-of-a-kind creation!
It is good to think about these things. Why do you make the choices that you make? Do you recognize that God is the one that gives us life and he is also the one that can end it in an instant? This life is a gift; a treasure. Don't take it for granted, and cherish the moments that you have. Live life well and enjoy it!
|Cherish life! Our days are numbered.


text:
Well, we survived the first week of kindergarten. Actually, we more than survived the first week, we rocked it! M absolutely LOVES kindergarten. He was a little nervous the night before, but once he woke up on Monday morning, he was totally ready. He was vastly more efficient than I had expected him to be at such an early hour. All in all, I believe he was moving faster than I was - I don't know where he gets his energy.
|Taken just seconds before I uttered my first, "M, it's time to get ready for kindergarten."
|A breakfast for champions - complete with stuffed armadillo onlooker.
I'm pretty certain I stood out as a rookie parent of an elementary school student. For starters, we got to school at 7:10...school doesn't start until 7:45. Also, I was the parent who was a complete stalkerazzi. I'm not just referring to the posed pictures in our front yard. There's also the pictures of M in the car, the pictures of M walking up to the school, the pictures of M opening the door, the pictures of M milling about the hallway because we got there so early, the pictures of M walking down the hallway to the classroom, the pictures of M putting his supplies away, and so on and so forth. For his sake, and mine, I really hope I'm not such a prolific photographer when he's in junior high, let alone high school. Well, I doubt that will happen, hopefully, at least, I'll be a bit more discreet.
|I think by now he was trying to ditch me.
|See, he's not even looking at the camera anymore.
|I'm pretty sure he's pretending not to know me.
When I picked him up the first day, and every day thereafter, he had a smile on his face and reported to me that he had had a fun time at school. Though he hasn't learned everyone's names yet, I get the sense that he's fitting in and playing with the other kids. He really enjoys his teacher and he's done a pretty decent job of filling us in on what he did during the course of the day.
The biggest difference, though, is that he is T-I-R-E-D at the end of the day. Next week should be very interesting. This week the kindergarteners only went to school for half the day (7:45-11:45), whereas next week the kids will be there for the full seven hours. I hope M can hold up. It goes without saying that I was completely and utterly relieved when I found out that the kindergarteners would be able to have an afternoon snack - especially since they eat "lunch" at 10:50. Up until last week, all the information I had received indicated that the kindergarteners would NOT be allowed a snack. I had visions of M leading a rogue group of kindergarten rebels who, after ousting the teachers (I'm sure a defenestration would be involved), go rampaging through the school in search of goldfish or Teddy Grahams. Hopefully the snack will give him the energy to last the full day and will curb his desire to lead an uprising.
On that note, I will leave you with some more pictures from the first day. We woke the kids up extra, extra early in order to take some pictures in the front yard. L wasn't terribly pleased about having to get up before the sun, but she did a pretty good job of hamming it up during the pictures.
This is one of my favorites. I was explaining to M that his school mascot is the Gator. Then, after having to explain what a mascot is (it's not that easy), I encouraged him to make a Gator Face for the camera. Apparently this Gator growls.


text:
When traveling, it is sometimes good to go off the beaten track and look at things that aren't on most tourist's checklists. However, monuments and landmarks are usually extremely popular for a reason and when it comes to the world's best museums, it is more often than not because they are filled with unique and scintillating artifacts and exhibitions.
Here are the 15 most visited on the planet.
15. National Gallery of Art — Washington, DC, USA
Focus: Classical Art
Annual Attendance: 3.9 million
Established in 1937, this museum resides in the American capital where it showcases some of the best artwork known to man. Predominantly housing renaissance art from Europe and America, it consists of two buildings with the West building holding historical works and the East being the showing off contemporary and more modern pieces. Artists including da Vinci, Jackson Pollock, Monet, and Manet all feature amongst its walls as well as having exhibition space for visiting works. In 2014 it recorded an attendance of 3.9 million people throughout the year.
14. National Museum of American History — Washington, DC, USA
Focus: American History
Annual Attendance: 4.0 million
Another museum in the American capital, this one attracted marginally more than its near neighbor the National Gallery of Art as it saw 4.0 million people through its doors in 2014. A Smithsonian Institute museum, it is free to enter and holds items of social, historical and political importance to the country such as Civil War artifacts and the original flag that inspired the national anthem.
13. Shanghai Science and Technology Museum — Shanghai, China
Focus: Science and Technology
Annual Attendance: 4.2 Million
One of the relatively newer museums on this list, having opened in 2001, it is dedicated to Science and contains Asia's largest educational science cinema with around 10,000 showings per year. With exhibitions ranging from the technological side of science, including space and robotics, right through to the more natural, such as spiders and human biology, it is little wonder that this has become a huge hit, attracting 4.2 million visitors in 2014.
12. American Museum of Natural History — New York, NY, USA
Focus: Natural History
Annual Attendance: 5.0 Million
One of the largest museums in the world, consisting of 27 interconnected buildings that have 45 permanent exhibition spaces, this is truly an impressive spectacle. Just across from Central Park, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, 5.0 million people went to see its collection of dinosaur bones (including an awesome T-Rex), the Hayden Planetarium and its shows on Ocean life in 2014.
11. Natural History Museum — London, UK
Focus: Natural History
Annual Attendance: 5.4 Million
An iconic Romanesque building that opened in 1881, it has long been one of the world's most popular museums and has the bones of elephants, dinosaurs, and whales all within its walls. The legendary diplodocus 'Dippy' has stood in its main entrance hall since 1979 but has been in the museum for over 100 years until last year when it was sent on tour and now an equally magnificent blue whale welcomes visitors. In 2009 it opened working laboratory's for scientists to learn more about the exhibits and it brought in 5.4 million visitors to see what it had on offer in 2014.
10. National Palace Museum (Taiwan) — Taipei, Taiwan
Focus: Classical Chinese History
Annual Attendance: 5.4 Million
Taiwan has a vivid and thrilling historical legacy after its split from mainland China and this is represented in the near 700,000 works of Chinese art and artifacts that are held in the stunning National Palace. Because of this political split, it shares a history with the Palace museum in Beijing but holds paintings, jades, ceramics, bronzes, rare books, and calligraphy untouched by the cultural revolution that affected much of China's pieces in the 1960s. Because of this, it brought in 5.4 million visitors in 2014.
9. Tate Modern — London UK
Focus: Modern Art
Annual Attendance: 5.8 Million
A seven-floor gallery that overlooks the River Thames, the Tate Modern building was originally the Bankside Power Station until it went out of use in 1981. When the swathes of modern and contemporary art moved in in 2000, the chimney stacks and exterior were kept as they were in the 20th century and have now become closely associated with the Gallery. One of the largest museums of contemporary and modern art in the world, 5.8 million people visited in 2014.
8. Vatican Museums — Vatican
Focus: Religous Art and Scripture
Annual Attendance: 6.2 Million
A complex of museums and galleries, the Vatican Museums date back to the 1700s and hold religious artifacts, art, and sculptures from across the globe including pieces from Egypt, sculptures from the Roman era, a collection of 15th-17th-century tapestries and the world renowned Sistine Chapel. In 2014, 6.2 million people visited the Vatican Museums which was a sharp increase from 2013.
7. The Metropolitan Museum of Art — New York, NY, USA
Focus: Classical Art
Annual Attendance: 6.3 Million
The largest art gallery in the United States, The Met has over 2 million pieces. Art spanning over 5000 years of human endeavor is collected under one roof from Egypt, Europe, and America and encompasses classics to modern art in what is one of the most impressive collections of work the world has to offer which is probably why 6.3 million people visited in 2014.
6. The National Gallery — London, UK
Focus: Classical Art
Annual Attendance: 6.4 Million
The largest art gallery in the United Kingdom sits just off of Trafalgar Square and offers free entry to see some of Western art's most important pieces including those by Velázquez, JMW Turner, and Vincent Van Gough. 6.4 million visitors went to see the collection of over 2,300 paintings in 2014.
5. British Museum — London, UK
Focus: World History & Culture
Annual Attendance: 6.7 Million
The first national public museum in the world, it has always been free to visit and is where some of the most important artifacts, in relation to global history, permanently reside. Take for example the Rosetta stone which was used to help translate Egyptian Hieroglyphs or the Elgin marbles from the ruins of the Greek Parthenon. The museum itself has become a sight to behold when in the year 2000, renovations were completed to the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court which is a glass domed inner courtyard of epic beauty and proportion. Being Britain's most visited museum it saw 6.7 million visitors through its doors in 2014.
4. National Air and Space Museum — Washington, DC, USA
Focus: Aviation
Annual Attendance: 6.7 Million
Focused on human flight, this museum is the largest collection of such artifacts and has a sister site in Virginia. A free museum that holds images of the first aircraft as well as the actual Discovery space shuttle. 6.7 million went to the DC sight in 2014 but if you combine it with its Virgina site as well, that figure goes up to 8 million.
3. National Museum of Natural History — Washington, DC, USA
Focus: Natural History
Annual Attendance: 7.3 Million
Natural science specimens galore are what the Nation Museum of Natural History is known for and with 30 million pinned insects, 4.5 million pressed plants, 7 million fish, and 400,000 photographs, you can see why. Opened in 1910, the museum is America's most visited with 7.3 million visitors in 2014.
2. National Museum of China — Beijing, China
Focus: Chinese History
Annual Attendance: 7.6 Million
The youngest of the museums on this list, the National Museum of China came about when the pre-existing National Museum of Chinese History and the National Museum of Chinese Revolution merged to form just the one museum. Spanning ancient Chinese history, through to Mao's revolution and to present day, it contains artifacts such as the jade dragon from 6000-5000 BC, and the flag raised by Mao Zedong at the Proclamation of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
1. The Louvre — Paris, France
Focus: Classical Art
Annual Attendance: 9.3 Million
Well known for its glass pyramid that punctures the sky, The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world with annual attendances hitting around the 9.3 million mark. With around 70,000 pieces of art in its 650,000 square feet of gallery space, it is one of the largest museums in the world and thus holds many artistic masterpieces.


text:
Mobile: 602-430-4272
Office : 480-794-1694
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Address: 18281 N. Pima Road Suite # C - 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Sold Date: 09-13-2018
Courtesy of: HomeSmart
This charming ranch nestled in a great interior location in the highly sought after Willo Historic District will welcome you from the moment you pull up. The rich & warm colors of the freshly painted ext & lush but easy to maintain landscape is so inviting. Spacious 3BR 2BA w/tile t/o includes an en-suite Master BR w/a roomy walk-in closet, a huge window overlooking the refreshing pool & outdoor frpl, plus a separate door to the yard. The updated kitchen w/beautiful cabinets & S/S appliances will inspire you (there's a stub for gas cooking if you prefer). The generous 2CG w/electric & water already running to it could be turned into a casita, art studio, home office, flex entertain area, etc. You will meet neighbors & make friends as you stroll the lovely tree-lined streets. Walk to the...


text:
Sabine didn't come out on top on either of the District 15-3A showdowns at Troup on Friday night. But they did give Troup all it wanted – twice – and set the stage for what might be a pair of incredible rematches the next time the schools meet.
Sabine's boys challenged the Tigers and came up short, 62-52, just a couple of hours after the Lady Cardinals lost a 50-48 heartbreaker. Both Sabine teams were to host West Rusk Tuesday night, after the print deadline for this issue of the News Herald. They'll both be on the road Friday at Arp.
Troup 62, Sabine 52 (boys): The Tigers were red-hot, shooting 61 percent from the field. Troup also somehow avoided being called for fouls: the Tigers only had one in the entire first half, and just three with 1:20 left in the game.
Troup led 30-22 at halftime before Sabine (14-6) roared back in the third quarter. But after missing a shot at the end of the third that would've gotten them within one (43-42), Sabine allowed Troup to get on a roll and stretch its lead to 13 in the fourth. The Cardinals were unable to get a lot closer.
Eylan Goodwyn had a rough first half but bounced back in a big way, scoring 22 in the second, including 15 of Sabine's 18 in the third. Will Shawn finished with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. Tray Oliver had six points. Nate Willis had four. Hunter Grotemat and Glenn George each had two. Grotemat had four rebounds and two assists.
It was the first district loss for the Cardinals. Both Troup teams visit Sabine on Tuesday, Jan. 30.
Troup 50, Sabine 48 (girls): Sabine led the Lady Tigers almost the entire game, allowing Troup to pass them up late in the contest. It was also the first loss for the Lady Cardinals in district play.
Kristen Stuart again led SHS with 24 points. Genesis Willett chipped in 10. Gracie Taylor scored five. Sarah Davis had four. Miranda Cook added three and Mikinzi Cantrell had two.
Special Sections


text:
1. Pertorika
Pertorika's new music video just may be the loveliest water coloured story ever told. There is something so graceful about this bands style; every guitar lick, vocal harmony and piano flourish is delicately placed in the song with care and thought. Beautiful melodies, a gentle, unique singing voice and emotive sound make for a beautiful, soothing experience.
2. Sou and Max
Sou Max is singer/songwriter Sou, and drummer Max. The pair perform indie/folk/pop music and boy, is it mesmerising. It's always impressive when an act can create such an emotive performance with minimal instrumentation, and the combination of Sou's haunting, powerful voice alongside goosebump-inducing softer moments is perfection.
Get the latest release here: https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/wake-up-single/1383619677
3. Futsutsuka
A possible scenario upon clicking on this video:
First thoughts: 'KAWAII!!!' 'SO CUTE!!!'
Second thoughts: Wow, they're a really tight band!
This band contains: a whole lot of pop/rock goodness, uber amounts of girl power, straight up coolness and a bad ass guitar solo.
Oh, and their hair looks perfect after so much head banging. I need to uncover their secret.
4. Jerry Mera
The heart and soul of the music community in Tokyo - Jerry Mera is a LEGEND.
It's virtually impossible not to feel inspired after seeing Jerry perform on stage. Whether he's jamming out with a rock band, singing and playing an acoustic guitar or sharing the stage with many a musician from all over the world, his groove and enthusiasm is infectious!
5. Aimer
Aimer is a pop singer and lyricist. She collaborated with a whole bunch of different producers on her last album 'Daydream' and along with her distinctive, husky voice, the result was magic. Her music really fits in many different pockets, with the opening track 'Daydream' being heavier (in a "Michelle Branch 'girl with a guitar' era" kind of way), morphing into softer, more etherial moments as well as slick, acoustic tracks like the one below.
3 Singer/songwriter/kick ass girls share their tips for pursuing a creative career overseas
Ever thought moving overseas to follow your dream was too out there?
Think again my friend.
Listen to what these 3 uber cool, creative, talented ladies have to say about making it happen.
Name: Natalia Natchan
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Current City: Tokyo
What you're doing: I'm currently in a modelling agency, but my main focus is youtube, and I'm currently collaborating with so many different artists/producers to put out some original music as well :)
HOLLY: Moving overseas is a huge shake up! What was the catalyst for making the move?
NATALIA: I had always had an interest in Japanese culture from a young age, and I think I had always been preparing to move here one day.
That being said, I feel like Japan is a pretty easy place to live on your own. Everything is so convenient!
HOLLY: What opportunities have you had overseas that wouldn't have been possible in your own country?
NATALIA: A lot of it has to do with the fact that I was living in a small town in the states, but living in Tokyo has made it so much easier to meet people in the same industry as I am. And being a foreigner, there is a really small community of other foreigners doing the same thing, so you meet a lot of people who can give you advice/help you out on a project/introduce you to more artists.
I've also been able to meet so many different types of people from all different walks of life. I don't think my worldview would be the same if I had just stayed in Missouri forever.
HOLLY: How do you handle negativity?
NATALIA: I'm at a point where I'm so focused on trying to stop being negative towards myself, that I don't even notice other peoples opinions of me.
In the end I think we all have insecurities, and the things that people say don't really have anything to do with me, it's just about how those people feel about themselves on the inside. Knowing that people will talk regardless of what I'm doing really helps.
HOLLY: What has living abroad taught you about yourself?
NATALIA: Is this a real question??? like.. I could write a book about this.
I guess I'll just say the most cliche thing, but you can really do anything you put your mind to.
There are ways to do ANYTHING. It's just a matter of becoming somebody who doesn't crumble when something doesn't go perfectly. Like if you fail, get back up and try a different approach.
HOLLY: What is the #1 piece of advice you'd give to an aspiring artist who is thinking of moving overseas?
I didn't do this in my first 2 years here, and I was a mess. Around March of this year, I wrote down all of my goals and how to accomplish them, and I've done more in the past 8 months than in my first 2 years here. Having a plan and writing down your goals is so important.
3 items that always go in your carry-on luggage:
Name: Leah Martin-Brown
Hometown: Burleigh Heads, Queensland, Australia
Current City: Los Angeles, California, USA
What you're doing: Performing, writing and working hard in a rock and roll band.
HOLLY: Moving overseas is a huge shake up! What was the catalyst for making the move?
LEAH: I was at a point in my life that I wasn't sure what I was going to do next with my music and didn't know how I was going to move to the next level. I received an email from an A&R company in Los Angeles offering me the opportunity to move there for a while and potentially build a professional career over in the US provided things worked out. Almost four years later and I am still here!
HOLLY: What opportunities have you had overseas that wouldn't have been possible in your own country?
LEAH: I have had the ability to work with some incredible people who would not have been accessible in Australia purely because they are based in the United States. I have been able to share the stage with some insane musicians who, again, would nearly impossible to access otherwise.
HOLLY: How do you handle negativity?
LEAH: It used to really get on top of me but I've figured out a way to deal with it constructively by asking myself the following questions:
1. Is it constructive?
2. Does the person/negative thing impact me in any serious way?
3. Do I actually give a f%^k?
I find it tends to help haha.
HOLLY: What has living abroad taught you about yourself?
LEAH: Living abroad has definitely taught me how to enjoy my own company and also how to adapt to new situations quickly. I'm also much better at approaching people and beginning conversations!
HOLLY: What is the #1 piece of advice you'd give to an aspiring artist who is thinking of moving overseas?
LEAH: DO IT! If its what you want to do and you have the opportunity, find a way. If it means borrowing money, selling your car- whatever. Just do it!
3 items that always go in your carry-on luggage:
Name: Kate Beck
Hometown: Los Angeles
Current City: Tokyo
What you're doing: Playing shows around Tokyo, finishing up my EP, and session singing (and a little bit of lyric writing and narration) for commercial projects out here in Tokyo.
KATE: First of all, thanks so much for having me Holly! I'm a big fan of yours and I love that you're encouraging this community of female musicians! Unfortunately the music scene/industry here in Tokyo is very male-dominated, so I'm always so grateful to connect with other female musicians and lend support any way I can.
HOLLY: Thanks Kate! :) Thanks for jumping on board and doing this interview, I'm a big fan of your work and you inspire me loads!
HOLLY: Moving overseas is a huge shake up! What was the catalyst for making the move?
Yes, moving overseas is a huge step! I became really interested in traveling and learning about other parts of the world as a teen back in California, and in University I studied World Religions (and music!) and got to go abroad a couple times. I just had this endless curiosity about how other people lived, so I became sure I wanted to spend some time after graduation living and working abroad. English teaching is a great way to do that, and I'm also ethnically half-Japanese, so I settled on teaching English in Japan. I taught on the JET program at a high school in Tokyo for 2 years. In the meantime I spent nights playing at open mics and eventually shows, joining an amazing community of expat and Japanese musicians in Tokyo, and in the last year have transitioned to doing music full-time.
HOLLY: What opportunities have you had overseas that wouldn't have been possible in your own country?
KATE: Well, on a personal level, I had so much less fear to put myself out there and play a lot of shows because I had less to loose, less people I knew watching me. Because I felt free to make mistakes, I took on challenges I'd probably never have dared face back home (for instance playing live shows regularly—always had crippling stage fright haha—or even stepping into a recording booth to record vocals for a commercial for the first time). I had a lot of room to grow and push myself without the fear of failure that I'm sure we all know too well.
Interestingly, there's a market in Tokyo for Western pop songs for commercials, TV shows, etc, as well as English narration for those commercials or as educational material. There's a smaller pool of English-speaking singers/narrators, so I've been lucky enough to slip into the recording industry here without the kind of competition I would have had in Los Angeles.
The third thing is definitely community—being "foreigners" and expats can be an isolating experience sometimes, so I think the music community I've found here (made up of lots of expats and also Japanese natives!, amateur to professional to just listener) sticks together with a strong sense of solidarity because of this. There's so much love and genuine support amongst each other, playing shows together, promoting each other on their social media sites, going to see each other play live, wearing each other's band shirts, etc. It's a really positive energy and has made 100% of a difference in my journey as a musician.
HOLLY: How do you handle negativity?
KATE: Luckily people here are pretty positive and at least polite, so I rarely get rude comments or outright negativity about my music, but sometimes being a musician feels like an uphill battle—lots of work that you don't always see the fruits of. There are definitely moments of self-doubt, or I'll have a bad show, or I'm stuck in writer's block, or I haven't had a gig in a while. I guess the best way to fight negativity is to find inspiration. For me, going to other musicians' shows is hugely inspiring, just watching people do what they do on stage and also watching audiences being transported and getting lost together in the moment. I always leave shows or open mics feeling hugely inspired about the transcendent power of music, and it makes me forget about any negative thoughts, and resolve to work harder and push through any tough times.
HOLLY: What has living abroad taught you about yourself?
KATE: I've learned how much I value where I come from! That sounds funny, but being so enchanted with the idea of different places probably made me take a lot of things about my home for granted. Being curious and open to new ideas and ways of life is so important, but so is knowing and appreciating where you came from, especially as an artist!
HOLLY: What is the #1 piece of advice you'd give to an aspiring artist who is thinking of moving overseas?
KATE: Ah, so many things, but #1 is find a community where you're going (assuming you make that leap! Which I hope you do if you want to!). Search for open mics or meetup groups, on google, ask around, however, and meet other musicians. I bet you'll find support, encouragement, and a chance to learn the ropes from the people who've been doing it longer than you. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there as much as you can—play any chance you can and also go to other people's shows, ask a lot of questions, watch and listen!
3 items that always go in your carry-on luggage:
Keep dreaming big, working hard and don't give up, Holly xoxo
Hands up if you've ever heard these statements (or said them yourself).
'I want to be a musician but I've got to have a back up plan.'
'My son is working hard at music but he'll have to have a back up plan of course.'
'A career in music is unrealistic.'
'I'm a poor musician'
'I'm DESTINED to be a struggling musician'
WHOA WHOA WHOA. Stop right there! Lets regroup.
I'll be honest, I've heard those statements many times.
I've had them said to me.
I may have even believed one or two in the past.
But they're not true, and here's why.
An entrepreneur, tech student or even law student's ambitions are generally met with approval from others where as artistic pursuits are often met with 'you better learn how to make a good cup of coffee if you want to go down that road'. (I cannot make an excellent cup of coffee).
A lot of musicians are programmed from a young age that there has to be struggle, there has to be a job that you hate before 'making it' and that you're somehow more authentic if you are a 'struggling' musician.
In reality - anyone who is chasing their dreams in any oversaturated industry is going to need a plan and a strategy. We're all in the same boat.
Looking at the options.
...but you do need a plan which takes every part of your life into consideration - your happiness, health and finances to think of a few.
...but if in effect what you want to do is run your own business, you need to learn a lot of non musical skills or have the resources to hire those that do. (I'm talking marketing, tax, design, etc).
...because there are a lot of paths you can go down as a singer/songwriter/instrumentalist. I've had the pleasure of working as a full time musician in Japan and have friends that are doing the same in various parts of the world.
Other paths include playing in a tribute band (some of these gigs are seriously cool), working as a session musician (for other original musicians or companies), producing or engineering (freelance or at a radio station). These are all very real, very attainable jobs.
I hope at the very least I've given you a couple of things to consider when thinking about your musical future.
Let me know what you think below!
Keep dreaming, working hard to reach your goals and enjoying life.
I didn't expect to be writing this post. I thought about deleting my previous post and just getting on with it instead of being open about why I've had a big change of heart (how blooming whimsical). Life is a funny, funny thing.
I hope you enjoy hearing about this part of my journey x
For those of you who don't know; a couple of months ago, I decided that I didn't want to play gigs anymore. I realised that recently, I always felt super nervous and stressed leading up to a gig.
I've been writing songs since I was 12. Sad songs, songs about heartbreak and disaster. I used to NEED to pour my heart out on a piece of paper. But I don't anymore. I've changed.
A couple of years ago, I started learning about the law of attraction and reading a lot of self help books. I started viewing the world with a more positive lens. There's truth in the fact that, we forget the people that hurt us, it's the negative feelings that can linger. I felt like every time I played a gig, I was visiting negative town.
So about three weeks ago, I released a song and decided to make it my 'last Holly Terrens show'.
Done and dusted.
A week later, I got a message asking me what time I wanted a soundcheck. Hilariously, I had completely forgotten that 4 months ago back in July, I'd agreed to play a show at Papera in Shinjuku (which I played last night).
I felt those same nerves leading up to the gig and when I arrived to the venue, no one spoke English which was really strange. There were no westerners there at all! Something felt a bit off, so I double checked the event.
The event was on a Sunday night. It was Friday. I was there two days early! I have never been two days early to anything before!
As I made my way back home, I thought 'ok, you've got two days to really get your head in the game'. I decided to ONLY think positively about the gig, my abilities and everything else.
Last night was one of my favourite gig experiences. I met two people who told me they'd seen me play previously at a different venue and came to hear me again. Hearing that was just so incredibly humbling, thank you.
I don't know what the future holds but I am believing more that I do belong on that stage sharing my songs.
Thank you so much to the people who have always supported my journey. Your kind words, comments on social media and encouragement will stay with me forever.
This is something I've thought long and hard about. I have two shows coming up this week, one in Roppongi (Tokyo) and one to release my brand new song in Matsudo City (Chiba). Never say never but....
These will be my last two 'Holly Terrens' shows.
As some of you have noticed, this year I've started focusing more on my youtube channel - I will be continuing to do so with my cover videos and vlogs. I also realised just how much I love teaching and will be throwing more music and songwriting tips and tricks your way! Basically, expect to see more of me on the interwebs!
I'm so grateful to everyone who has supported my journey - thank you. I will still be releasing new original music online from time to time as well as collaborating with other artists. I still love creating - that will never stop!
When I'm feeling run down, I always end up spending more time mindlessly scrolling through social media or watching Netflix than I do actively chasing my dreams. It's great to wind down after a busy day (or week!), but feeling exhausted is a big dream killer!
When it comes to eating healthy, I like to weigh up my time vs money. When I'm working a lot or just feeling a little run down, I'll make the convenient + super healthy (and therefore a little more expensive) food purchases. When I'm less busy, I'll spend more time in the kitchen thoughtfully preparing healthy meals.
Listen to your body. You don't ALWAYS have to go for a 40 minute run or do an intense fitness class. When I'm feeling a little rundown, I aim to do just 10 mins of stretches in the morning and living in Tokyo means I do a lot of incidental walking throughout the day. It's about habit.
People become strangely opinionated about little life choices when they don't see what is going on under the surface, just don't worry about it. Feeling under the weather and have to keep working? If you can afford it, $12 on a cold pressed juice is not silly. Need to clear your head because you're trying to focus on study and got personal stuff going on? Taking some time out to have coffee with a friend might be just what you need.
How many people do you know that are all work and no reward? There's always a reason why they can't eat healthy or take an hour out to relax. It's too expensive, theres not enough time. I used to feel like that too, until I realised I didn't need a lot of money and I could in fact make the time.
Here are my fave things to do on a tight time and money budget:
Pick a few favourite quotes and mantras and make sure you look at them, or even say them aloud each day! I love reading Louise Hay, Miranda Kerr's book and watching my fave YouTubers too!
Now that you're feeling energetic, happy and healthy; it's time to get to work!
Never underestimate the power of working at something, just a little bit, every day. Keep it balanced and stay focused. Are you spending all your time practicing and not enough time getting out there meeting people? Is your energy so concentrated on the 'hustle' that you're not sharpening your skills every day and becoming the best you could be?
What is your definition of success?
What do you want to achieve this month? Within the next 6 months? Within the next 2 years?
Be as clear and detailed as possible so you can celebrate both the big and small wins along your journey.
A goal without a plan is just a wish - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Enjoy! x
Please leave a comment and tell me what you think of these ideas! Any further tips of your own? Please share!
Thank you so much for checking out my blog today. I also make music and vlogs in Japan which you can check out here
I'm more commonly known as a singer/songwriter/pianist these days, but I used to study classical flute. Like, proper study. Anyone reading this from school (especially primary school) will probably remember me as the kid in band. So when I was taking the exam for my Associate Diploma, I felt an appropriate amount of nerves, but I was also so damn prepared that in many ways, it was a breeze.
I was prepared because of the large amount of exercises I practiced on a daily basis. Because my teacher told me to practice difficult passages in a variety of different rhythms - forwards and backwards. Because she had me visualize a Baroque court when I was playing Bach like Debussy (mmm classical French music). Because I left no stone unturned.
When I started seriously getting into the popular music side of things - writing songs, recording, playing shows; I got so caught up in the 'freedom' and 'creativity' aspect that I lost sight of how important focused and consistent practice is.
If I'm to compare studying a classical instrument to being a singer/songwriter, I believe they each have completely different sets of challenges. Their common denominator though, is practice.
Firstly, I think everyone is different and I'm sharing this blog as a token of my own thoughts from my own experiences.
I've found it necessary to practice more than just the obvious: singing. writing songs. playing piano.
I've found it necessary to also practice things like combat negative feelings. This requires a strategy.
If you ever experience self doubt, nerves, fear or any other unpleasant emotion that can creep up before a performance, song/album release or just out of the blue (N.B. you're far from alone); then pre-empt these and have a strategy in place to fight them.
So in light of that, my daily practice now looks a little like this:
20 mins - vocal exercises
20 mins - piano exercises
10 mins - stretching
10 mins - meditation
You may find you end up spending more time on each, but on most days, this is pretty achievable, right? You don't even have to do it all in one hit!
This is where it's important to step it up a notch. Pre-empt those unpleasant feelings and fight fight fight!
Firstly, on the performance side of things, this is where I like to bring in the 'one man show'. Play your set to one lucky person. This is much scarier than playing to a bunch of people. (Unless it's Ric's Bar on a Tuesday night and you're playing to seven friends whose eye colours you can make out from the stage).
This should do two things:
1. Boost your confidence.
2. Make you very quickly aware of the things you want to sharpen.
Make sure you've timed your set so you can relax when it's time for the gig!
I feel like this can be the harder battle, and the one people tend to talk about less.
I still experience negative feelings before I release music or play an important show. I'd like to say that I've found a way to get rid of them but that wouldn't be true. What I can truthfully say, is that I've found a way to not let those feelings overrun me.
The picture above was taken right before one of my favourite gigs. I'm here with my lovely, talented friend and make up artist and we're wearing Athan Jon.
I was SO nervous before this show because I wasn't sure what people would think of this type of outrageous fashion at a local rock show in Brisbane. But then the next time I did something similar, I was less nervous. I still get nervous whenever I do something new. But then the new becomes familiar. What a great pattern to repeat.
Sounds easy in theory, but I know it's harder in practice. Remember, it's a muscle that can be trained.
Here are some things I recommend to fight negativity. Call upon these when you need them:
1. Hang out with a friend who you have fun with and uplifts you. You know the difference between procrastinating and spending some quality time with someone to take a break and gain perspective. Don't feel guilty about doing this.
2. Keep a notebook with quotes from people you admire.
3. Keep a notebook and write down the times where you've felt at your best - it may be after a good performance, it may be a comment someone left you on social media. When someone leaves me a comment saying they can relate to a song I wrote or that I've brightened their day, I remember that for me, being a singer/songwriter is about sharing with others. This activity can shift my mindset in a heartbeat.
4. Setting a daily mantra in the morning and repeating it whenever negative thoughts arise.
Negative thoughts are tricky and there's no quick fix. These are some of the things I do to nip them in the bud when they arise - hope they'll help you!
What do you all do? Share your tips below!
DAY TRip from tokyo - Mt takao
I love my life in Tokyo but the more days I spend on a train surrounded by concrete high rises, the more I crave nature.
"Enter Mt Takao"
What I loved most about this place, is that there is something for everyone - a cable car for those just wanting to take in the sights, beautiful temples and shrines for those wanting a cultural experience, a beautiful looking waterfall and the Inariyama trail - a good ol' hiking path.
We opted for the waterfall trail and then took the Inariyama trail by accident. (note: the signs are in English...don't ask how we got this confused) so it wasn't the relaxing walk we intended to do...
However! Here are my personal pro's and con's to this trail:
* It was much quieter and when we did pass people, we always exchanged a 'konnichiwa'
* I now know this was a sign of mutual respect for entering the climb of pain
* Birds were singing which was just lovely
* It eventually links up with trail 6, the waterfall trail.
* I felt bad ass walking up a river crossing.
* There's a lookout that is quite nice
* Not a relaxing stroll.
* Begins up a hill of many stairs. Hill continues.
* A lot of the other people had walking poles. We could have benefited from this also.
* If you are catching the train home in peak hour, standing is not fun afterwards
* Not scenic compared to some of the other trails
The way down was a completely different experience. This mountain has got some serious temples and shrines. Seeing these beautiful buildings and monuments has got to be one of my highlights in Japan so far.
Unlike the Inariyama trail, these paved paths were filled with tourists, families and couples there to enjoy a relaxing afternoon.
If you've never taken a cable car. Come here just to do that. It's seriously cool and fun. (I recommend listening to 'how to save a life' by the Fray in anticipation)
I also made a vlog of our mountain journey which you can check out here.
Take the Keio Line to Takaosanguchi station. It takes under an hour from Shinjuku station.
Any more questions? Have you been here before? Comment me below!
The Fashion behind my Music Video for NOT THE SAME by designer Jonathan Pampling/Athan JoN
I thought about naming this blog post 'the blood, sweat and tears that went on behind the scenes of creating Not The Same' because it certainly wasn't a straight road from A to B.
I had a very clear vision of what I wanted - many people thought I was channelling Lady Gaga but I was actually drawing inspiration from Japanese shironuri fashion - in particular, the artist and fashion icon Minori. I wanted to wear a dream like, etherial costume that would kind of blend into the forest.
I also wanted to find an absolutely stunning dress for the shots inside...ala J'Aton Couture.
I spent days of dedicated, focused music video dress shopping and kept coming back empty handed feeling like I'd simply wasted a whole lot of time.
So I went to Spotlight, (THE material/arts and crafts store for all you peeps not from Australia), bought a bunch of material and hassled the staff for sewing tips. I had never sewed in my life but I was completely prepared to do it!
Just as my sewing career was about to kick off (sarcasm with a hint of 'we'll never know'), my friend told me about a really cool vintage store that I should check out so the next day I headed to Tum Vintage and found SO many amazing things! More material plus an absolutely beautiful silver floor length dress that I decided would be perfect.
I met the owner aka amazing fashion designer and dress maker Jonathan Pampling and told him what I was doing, showed him my inspiration pics and told him that I'd bought a bunch of material.
To cut a long story short, the material ended up in the incredibly capable hands of Athan and became the amazing piece in the pic above.
The silver floor length gown? Ta da! Athan upcycled it, making this amazing purple dress. I'm still in awe of the fact of the length of the train - no material was added! Just very strategic cutting.
I'm so glad I decided not to settle for something store bought. When I was preparing to sew, I actually cut up one of my vintage dresses at home that I quite liked - if quick unpicking a beloved dress to try your hand at sewing for art is not an act of faith, I don't know what is!
I truly believe in the law of attraction. It might sound strange, but I believe that shifting my mindset and taking greater action is what led me further in the right direction. Not only did my vision become clearer but I met someone who 'got' what I was doing right away (very different story at Spotlight), who's work I absolutely admire and who continues to inspire me.
Keep working, dreaming, planning and being brave x
You can check out the vid here
I'm Holly! Songwriter, singer, writer and musician.
May 2018


text:
Yan-Jiang Wang, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology
Department of Neurology, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University, China
Professor Wang is the director of department of neurology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, China
His clinical and research interest is in Alzheimer's disease and cerebral vascular diseases. His group dedicates to identify risk factors and develop novel therapeutic targets, drugs and approaches for Alzheimer's disease. He has published over 60 papers in the international referred journals such as Molecular Psychiatry, PNAS, Nature Reviews Neurology, Neurology and Journal of Neuroscience.Professor Wang is the vice president of Youth Committee of Chinese Association of Neurology, and panel member of the Chinese Association of Dementia and Cognitive Disorders.