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Lio Krathong-The Latern Festival・Bangkok, Thailand
Along the riverbank, music, dancing and more last until the late hours of the night, creating memories that will undoubtedly last a lifetime.
November 9, 2011
Las Fallas: The Festival of Fire
Literally meaning "the fires" in Valencian, massive dolls or "ninots" constructed from cardboard, wood, paper-machè and plaster statue are created extremely lifelike; usually depicting bawdy, satirical scenes and current events.
Mochitsuki Festival もちつき祭り
One of the most important fall harvest in Japan is rice. From a short grain, a traditional food called Mochi (餅) is made pounded then molded into bite sized mounds to be added to soups, toasted in ovens or covered with Japanese traditional foods; such as anko and natto. The mochi festival has been tagged [...]
Jozenji Street Jazz Festival
Lurk down dark alleys and loiter in building breezeways. Saunter down the street lined with Zelkova tree and when you need a break, enjoy a crepe as the Big Band goes center stage at the park.
東北の秋の祭り Autumn Festivals in TOHOKU JAPAN
日本の秋 Autumn in TOHOKU JAPAN
Autumn is a wonderful time to celebrate Nature's bountiful beauty and feast in Her harvests.
Enjoy the refreshing air of autumn.
Snow Festival 雪祭り
62回雪祭り(札幌北海度) Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan La festival de Nieva The Snow Festival is one of Japan's most famous and most attended festivals; drawing participants from all over the world not only as on-lookers, but also as contestants for various ice and snow sculptor competitions. This year, there were artists from as far away as Finland and [...]
Cherry Blossom Festival
Budding blossoms of the sakura tree are a kind of authentication that Spring has officially arrived. And spring in Japan just isn't complete without O-hanami. O-hanami (お花見) in a literal translation means: "watching the flower". People organize group outings and enjoy the tranquil、yet, intoxicating beauty of delicate white, powdered pink and velvety magenta cherry blossoms. [...]


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Management for Information Professionals, Advanced Certificate
You can complete the fully online advanced certificate in Management for Information Professionals at St. John's University as a stand-alone degree or as a specialization within the Master of Science program in Library and Information Science. The certificate will develop your management and leadership potential, enabling you to take on leadership positions in libraries and information organizations. Our program features a unique focus on social justice, responsibility, and ethics.
This certificate program will help you enhance your skills and expertise in developing and managing strategic partnerships, collaborations, projects, knowledge bases, and new initiatives for a changing work environment. You'll also examine and apply the strategies, processes, and practices used by information organizations and managers to leverage human resources effectively and efficiently. Although the skills you'll gain in this certificate program translate to any type of information environment, the curriculum focuses primarily on business and legal organizations.
You can complete the advanced certificate in one year.
Please note that no federal aid is available to students who complete the certificate as a stand-alone degree.
Admission Requirements
All applicants to the program must meet the requirements for admission into graduate programs in St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. These requirements include:
- A minimum grade point average of 3.0 for the most recent degree earned
- Completion of a master's degree in Library and Information Science (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution
- Two letters of recommendation
- A 300-word statement of professional goals
- Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended
- A resume or curriculum vita
Office of Graduate Admission
[email protected]
Tuition and Financial Aid
Francis Augustine Hyland Memorial Scholarship
The Hyland scholarship is awarded to an academically distinguished applicant enrolled in the Advanced Certificate in Management for Information Professionals. The scholarship, which provides full tuition for one three-credit course in Library and Information Science to a a newly-accepted student, is awarded to certificate students entering in the spring semester.
Career Outcomes
Current employment trends indicate that corporate and business employers increased their library and information science recruiting and job opportunities by 50 percent in 2016. At the same time, employers in other special information organizations expanded their job postings by 20 percent. In keeping with these emerging trends, this Advanced Certificate in Management for Information Professionals will prepare you for a variety of managerial roles and responsibilities. Some examples include: document/data control analyst; business librarian; knowledge consultant; project manager; research librarian/analyst; digital initiatives program manager; communications specialist; library product manager; production and marketing specialist; litigation intelligence analyst; workflow analyst/ programmer; medical librarian; and knowledge curator.
Online Learning
Earn Your Degree Online
Pursue your St. John's degree entirely on your computer. Our fully accredited Online Learning programs allow you to take courses electronically. Log in at your convenience to enter our virtual classrooms, learn from our accomplished faculty, and engage with classmates.
Our online courses offer the same high academic quality that students experience on campus. Professors deliver lectures and post assignments via Blackboard, our electronic course management system. Students use it to attend virtual classes, share documents, take exams, and exchange ideas with faculty and classmates.
A Fully Academic Experience
You also enjoy the outstanding services available to all St. John's students, for example:
- Eligibility for graduate assistantships
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- Access to library collections, career services, mentoring, and other academic resources.
Contact us for more information about online learning at St. John's.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Lasik operation can be a fantastic, life-changing choice for many individuals whose vision is less than perfect. There are several different types of Lasik operations now available, from the original and well recorded treatment to Lasik treatments made with 3 dimensional wavefronts, or done completely with lasers. Each of these variations of the Lasik treatment must be talked about with the physician that is to perform the operation.
Like any surgery, Lasik does have the potential for side effects.
Sometimes reading the horror stories of the results of a Lasik treatment can hinder people from seriously considering such a option. It is likewise true that the large varieties of people who have a effective, trouble-free Lasik surgical treatment tend not to report a in-depth and long story of their experience, unlike those that have actually experienced difficulty later.
However, it is good to understand what the possible adverse effects of the Lasik treatment are, and also the probability that one of these negative effects will happen for a particular patient. Much like any medication we take, each has a possible variety of side effects, however we normally presume that the possibility of a serious adverse effects is little, and we take the medication anyhow. This short article will ideally put concerns of the potential Lasik patient into viewpoint so that they can calmly and thoughtfully contemplate having a Lasik treatment carried out in the future.
More than one million Lasik treatments are carried out in the US every year, according to the FDA. This arm of the national federal government has actually accumulated the following stats for the most typical negative effects of the Lasik treatment. These statistics will also differ by the doctor carrying out the surgical treatment, so make sure to get as much info on the potential Lasik physician as possible.
After Lasik surgery, 1.7 percent of clients experience some glare or sensitivity to light after the operation. This Related Site varies by client, however this sensitivity is specifically obvious when taking a look at a intense light, such as a streetlight when strolling during the night, or other strong light and dark contrast. Another light related adverse effects is a halo around a light, and this occurs in 3.5 percent of Lasik clients.
The new, corrected vision can be noticed rapidly by some Lasik patients, in just a couple of hours after surgical treatment. Many patients that have gone through the Lasik treatment find the change is permanent within a couple of days. In 2.6 percent of customers that have had a Lasik treatment done, there is relentless visual fluctuation within at least a part of their sphere of vision.
Some clients do not get a totally fixed sphere of vision after their Lasik treatment. This occurs with a small number of customers, and the FDA statistics are that just 3 percent of patients have this result. In all or nearly all cases, the physician in charge will carry out an additional Lasik procedure to enhance this.
This detailing of the major long-term negative effects of the Lasik treatment must put any individual scary stories into perspective. Notice that none of the portions are above 3 percent, and this should bring comfort to a lot of potential Lasik customers. It ought to also encourage them to look thoroughly at the Lasik physician's individual record.
There are several various types of Lasik operations now readily available, from the initial and well recorded treatment to Lasik procedures done with three dimensional wavefronts, or done totally with lasers. It is good to know exactly what the possible side effects of the Lasik procedure are, and also the possibility that one of these side impacts will take place for a specific client. my company Many patients that have actually gone through the Lasik procedure discover the modification is irreversible within a couple of days. Some clients do not get a fully remedied sphere of vision after their Lasik treatment.
Stats for Lasik Surgical Treatment Patients
The Lasik operation can be a fantastic, life-changing choice for many individuals whose vision is less than perfect. There are several different types of Lasik operations now available, from the original and well recorded treatment to Lasik treatments made with 3 dimensional wavefronts, or done completely with lasers. Each of these variations of the Lasik treatment must be talked about with the physician that is to perform the operation.


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black outfitfashion 2014fashion bloggerjournal du paolajournaldupaolalifelook of the daymap ropaMexican bloggeroutfitsRomina PaolaRomina Paola Estrada Bernaltravel
Bonito inicio de semana!
El photoshoot duró como 4 horas aproximadamente, pero como fue por la mañana, tuve la tarde libre para pasear, tomar un rico caramel macchiato para relajarme después de tantas horas trabajando, hacer un poco de shopping.
As you know I had a little trip to Monterrey for a photoshoot that I hope to show you soon. When I travel to another city and if a have to work I try to wear something comfortable and perfect for any change of weather or location, that's why I chose a total black outfit. And to cover me for the sun, I just added my black hat and some sunnies.
The photoshoot took about 4 hours, but since it was in the morning, I had the afternoon free to have a walk, have a rich caramel macchiato to relax after working so many hours, and do a little shopping.
I`m wearing: Jeans: C&A, Sweater: CCP, Blazer/Jacket: Map (Liverpool), Hat: Forever21


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For Comfort, Style & Privacy: Window Tinting You Can Trust
When comparing window tint companies near Madison, visit a professional installer you can trust. Visit your nearby location to shop a wide variety of high quality tint shades for your home, office, or car. Our window tint is cut specifically for your office, home, or car windows to make sure it's a perfect fit—every single time, and for every window!With our window films, you never need to worry about the bubbling, peeling, or discoloration that often happens with lower-grade films; our films are made to last!Choose to have your window film installed by our professionals and you could get the added security of a lifetime limited warranty. While it's highly unlikely, if your window tint bubbles or fades, give us a call. We're happy to remove and replace your home, office, or car window tint free of charge and at a time that's most convenient for you.
Enjoy a cooler ride with car window tinting
As time goes on, continuous exposure to the sun's rays and heat can cause a vehicle's interior to fade, crack, or peel. LLumar window tint locations give drivers first-rate value and protection. When you tint your car windows, you help protect the interior of your car (and everyone in it) from the sun's distracting glare and harmful rays. Ranging from clear to dark charcoal, your tinting company offers a full line of car window tint shades for you to choose from. Note that the level of darkness you select for your car windows may be limited by the laws in your state. Call or visit today to review the shades that are within your state's legal guidelines!
Home window tint: Save money & protect your furnishings
After installation by one of our expertly trained technicians, your home window tint helps offer your family a defense against the sun's harmful rays and sometimes the prying eyes of potential burglars. Tinting your home's windows could help prevent the sun from causing your floors to fade, your furniture to be damaged, and any treasured artwork to lose its luster!It helps ward off close to 99% of the destructive ultraviolet rays that cause unwanted discoloration and fading in your home. When it's hot outside, even unbearably so, it helps keep your house cooler and more comfortable. Many satisfied customers have reported seeing their energy bills decrease by up to 15% once their home window tint was installed! As an added bonus, LLumar is LEED-certified, which means you could save even more cash through tax credits and incentives from the city or government.
Install commercial window tint for sun control, decoration & safety
When you choose window tinting for your business, you can work in confidence knowing that you're helping to limit the burden on your facility's energy bill, all while conveying an image that's professional and polished. Choose from a wide variety of tint shades, ranging from translucent to deep charcoal. After it's installed by the professionals from your LLumar dealer, you'll see that LLumar's non-reflective window tint offers a consistent look that seamlessly complements the existing style of your building. For companies that could benefit from a shinier exterior to enhance solar heat rejection, but a less reflective interior for added privacy at night, a dual-reflective option is also available. What's more, custom office window tint is for more than the exterior of a building. It can add privacy and style to large conference rooms, bland stairwells, and interior office windows too. Call or visit your LLumar window tint dealer near Madison to get started on your commercial tinting project.
Enjoy first-rate service from your LLumar tinting company
Your window tint installation is fast and hassle-free when you stop by your nearby LLumar company. Depending on the size of the car, home, or business facility, many custom window tint projects can be completed within a few days. A typical tint installation takes an average of 15 minutes per window. For window tinting you can trust, visit a LLumar tinting specialist. From home or business window tinting that needs opaque, mirrored, or color-tinted films, we're here to assist you in selecting the right one for your needs. Schedule your installation today! Call or visit a LLumar installer near Madison to learn more about your window tint options and to get a free quote. Appointments fill up fast!Enhance your view of the world.
Find Nearby LLumar Dealers
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Greensboro, NC, 27409
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Winston-Salem, NC, 27103
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Kannapolis, NC, 28083
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High Quality Window Tint for Homes, Cars & Offices Near Madison
LLumar dealers close to Madison install high quality tint. With window tinting for your car, home, or office, you could save on energy costs, drive in comfort, and live stylishly. For more than half a century, LLumar window tints have offered superior, one-of-a-kind protection from the sun's heat and destructive rays. We're here to help people live comfortably, no matter where they work or play, and no matter what kind of car they drive!When it comes to your estimate and installation, your local window tint company has been hand-picked and certified to the highest service standard. Stop by a LLumar tinting installer near Madison for a simple, fast, and free window tinting estimate today!


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The top search lately is "opt-out Geico". Here's that link:
Before I used that opt-out link, I was getting several Geico mailings a week, my husband too. Now we get one or two a year, I'm guessing, those are mailed to the entire general public, and there's a loophole somewhere that makes it legal to include those of us who've opted out. All I can say is, it's better than before.
Really, when I was a young housewife, all caught up in saving the planet so my progeny could destroy it, our mailbox used to get crammed almost every day with every manner of advertising shit. I complained to the post office, who told me I could contact the sender at whatever address they put on the mailer and they were legally bound to take me off their list. But, I was left to find that contact information – most of them didn't have any contact information. And there were so many – in the days before computer, junk mail was all they had.
I did notice, most had a phone number you could call to advertise with them. Yeah, I know – "Juanita, get a life!" Well, 'scuse my crude-as-usual language, but when something gets up my ass, I shit it out.
It wasn't very fun, that's for sure. When I called a mailer based in Paradise, just 20 minutes up the hill, and repeated what the post office had told me, the man on the other end of the phone called me a "lying little whore" and hung up. The owner of a Chico-based mailer was alot more polite but acted stupid when he told me he could only take me off for three months at a time, then I'd be "right back on it again!" He acted as though he bore no responsibility – "it's those damned computers!"
Others were based across the country, no address. One mailer had a physical address in Connecticut – "The Shopper" or something like that. I sent them a letter and I never got another one of those.
As computers took over for mail the amount of junk dropped off dramatically, but the same standards kept rolling in. The worst is the Market Value Place sent out each Wednesday by daily newspapers across the country. Here's how it works – the weekly mailer is sent out to everybody, non-subscribers as well as subscribers. That way, a newspaper like the Enterprise Record can tell it's advertisers that they will hit not only subscribers but non-subscribers – that's called, "total market saturation." It's made to look like a little tabloid newspaper, with all these slick ads folded up inside. It's like a pile of garbage stuffed into your mail box. You know, I can use newsprint for little chores, wiping greasy pans, or wrapping messy garbage, but the slick stuff is just landfiller. You can't recycle it, it's just plain garbage – I'm guessing most people just walk them from the mail box to the garbage can.
People have complained to me that they've gone out of town and found multiple issues strangling their mailbox when they come home, at the expense of their "real mail." The post office is paid and required to deliver these, and they know MVP's lawyers have sharper teeth than you do.
No, there's no phone number or address or any opt-out information in this pile of dead tree litter. Again, you can't complain to the post office anymore because they are so dependent on junk mailers and congressional bail-outs to keep them in business. Every week it would come and I'd get pissed off again, it was like a little biting fly. I knew it must be produced locally, and then one day, I noticed – the phone number to advertise in this thing is the same number to subscribe to the Enterprise Record.
Ha! Those long summers eating Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys mysteries for breakfast lunch and dinner did not go to waste!
So I called the number, and I said I'd like to get off the mailing list for Market Value Place. The woman who answered put me on hold and never came back. When I called again she said something rude, laughed like the kind of night dweller that works newspaper circulation, and hung up with a flourish.
That was during my much-chronicled adventures with the Sustainability Task Force. The city had this group, they got $taff time, I figured it might be worth a try to go to them. After I explained the situation to them, I was shocked how little they cared. All I wanted was for the rag to include opt-out information – which was the law, according to the post office. The city lawyer, old Lori Bark-bark-barker, said she couldn't find any such law! I asked her if she called the Chico Postmaster – no was all she said. One member, BT Chapman, warned the group, they shouldn't piss off the newspaper!
At least city staffer Linda Herman took me seriously – she worked with me to get the Enterprise Record to dedicate one of their staffers to taking opt-out requests. They will actually remove your name now, and it's good for a few years. When I started getting them again last year, all I had to do was contact dedicated staffer Jenny Jurdana, at firstname.lastname@example.com, and she took me right off again. I assume that's been working for everybody, cause I haven't had any complaints.
But, I'll tell you what – it puts the paper in a tight position – False Advertising, and even kind of fraud, really. They tell these clients that they will get "total market saturation" – how's that work if people can just take their name off the list. I can see how if that got around it might cause them some problems, so no, they still don't have opt-out information on the rag itself, which is illegal, and furthermore, dishonest, double-dealing, and deceitful.
Keep fighting folks!


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You'll Heart our Updated Cardiology Panels
Published on
We are pleased to offer three new cardiology testing panels. Our comprehensive cardiology and pan cardiomyopathy panels are designed to cover a large number of inherited cardiac disorders, while the sudden cardiac arrest panel focuses on genes known to heighten risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). In addition, we've increased the number of genes tested in many of our other panels to increase clinical sensitivity.
Inherited heart diseases are phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous and impair either the function or structure of the heart or both. The comprehensive cardiology panel tests 164 genes. It can detect a variety of heart diseases, broadly classified as cardiac arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies. Due to the number of genes tested, the clinical sensitivity of the panel varies depending on disease type.
Cardiac Arrhythmias and Cardiomyopathies
Cardiac arrhythmias are characterized by an irregular heartbeat, while cardiomyopathies are defined as disorders of the heart muscle. Both can be passed on through multiple modes of inheritance. Most cardiac-related genes are associated with autosomal dominant disorders, but others are inherited in an autosomal recessive or X-linked fashion. Charron et al. suggested that a pan cardiomyopathy panel could help with differential diagnosis and prognostic stratification for patients with cardiomyopathies. Therapeutic options are available to delay or prevent disease progression, making early detection critical even in asymptomatic individuals (Charron et al. 2010). PreventionGenetics offers testing for cardiomyopathies in the new 82-gene Pan Cardiomyopathy Panel, or specific disorders may be tested individually. The Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Panels have been recently updated and now include 47 and 38 genes, respectively. PreventionGenetics also offers a separate test for arrhythmia disorders with the Comprehensive Cardiac Arrhythmia Panel.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Although most SCA cases (70% to 80%) are attributed to coronary heart disease, 10% to 15% are associated with nonischemic cardiomyopathy disease, and approximately 5% are caused by arrhythmic disorders with no structural heart defects (Chugh et al. 2008). For individuals with a family history of SCA, genetic testing can be a vital part of assessing risk and determining if preventive measures to lower the likelihood of SCA should be taken (Refaat et al. 2015). The Sudden Cardiac Arrest panel offered by PreventionGenetics tests 49 genes related to experiencing a higher genetic risk of SCA. The panel has a clinical sensitivity of 10% to 30%, depending on family history and the associated cardiac disorder phenotype (Hertz et al. 2015; McGorrian et al. 2013).
Cardiology Testing at PreventionGenetics
PreventionGenetics offers a comprehensive menu of cardiac-related panels:
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy/Dysplasia
Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
Comprehensive Cardiac Arrhythmia
Left Ventricular Noncompaction
Marfan Syndrome and Related Aortopathies
View all of our tests for Cardiovascular Disorders.
Getting the test right is at the heart of what we do. Read more about the quality and distinguishing features of PreventionGenetics.
Charron, P. et al. 2010. European Heart Journal. 31: 2715-26. PubMed ID: 20823110
Chugh S.S. et al. 2008. Progress in Cardiovasuclar Diseases. 51: 213-28. PubMed ID: 19026856
Hertz C. L. et al. 2015 Europace. 17: 350-7. PubMed ID: 25345827
McGorrian C. et al. 2013. Europace. 15: 1050-8. PubMed ID: 23382499
Refaat M.M. 2015. Current Cardiology Reports. 17: 606. PubMed ID: 26026997


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Saitama is directly connected to Tokyo, and can be reached with ease. If you are looking for something a little more hands on during your trip to Japan, then why not try a train simulator, learn how to grow a Bonsai tree, or climb a mountain. Here are five suggestions for a one day trip to Saitama Prefecture:
1. Eat loads of candy in Kawagoe
(image by flickr.com)
Kawagoe, which enjoyed great prosperity and was beloved by the Tokugawa shoguns for over 400 years, has a comfortable familiarity and a dignified Japanese elegance born from its long history. Let's introduce three areas to focus on for first-timers. The Ichibangai area is an area whose Kurazukuri Street is a notable spot of Kawagoe which has been selected as one of "Japan's Top 100 Beautiful Historic Features". The area which centers on the symbolic The Bell of Time is Edo Era merchant culture in itself. On holidays, rickshaws go back and forth through the town filled with tourist activity, and it is as if you have gotten lost in a castle town from a samurai flick. In Kashiya Yokocho (Confectionary Row), up to 20 classic small-time candy shops line the alley which is popular for its nostalgic air and friendliness. The Kawagoe specialty of "daikokubashira" has a length of 95 cm and is Japan's longest candy. It has quite the impact as a souvenir. There is also the liveliest event of the year in the form of the Kawagoe Festival which takes place in the fall. From all over the area, floats come out from their storehouses and compete with each other in gorgeous style. The lushly green Kita-in area includes Kita-in Temple which was patronized by the Tokugawa family. Within the open temple grounds, Senba Tosho-gu Shrine, one of Japan's 3 Great Tosho-gu shrines, was established, and inside the shrine, there is also "Iemitsu Tokugawa's birth room" which was recognized as an Important Cultural Property. The 500 Rakan statues which were created in one part of the temple have humorous expressions to cheer up visitors. The Honmaru Palace area has Kawagoe Castle which has been chosen as one of "Japan's Top 100 Famous Castles". Honmaru Palace, the only surviving building of the former castle, still retains its bold appearance and has an enormous entrance hall where a long corridor stretches out from side to side with a great hall with personality opening up to you. During good weather, how about sitting out on the open veranda while imagining the lives of the feudal lords of the time? Elsewhere, there are other buildings such as Miyoshino Shrine and Hikawa Shrine which evoke Japanese culture.
Admission: Free
- Guidebook from Planetyze about Kawagoe
- Reviews from TripAdvisor about Kawagoe
- Tours of Kawagoe
2. Climb the treasure trove in Nagatoro
(image by flickr.com)
Nagatoro is famous as a longtime tourist destination within Saitama Prefecture. Along with it being a popular spot for every season, there are plenty of things to enjoy throughout the year such as the temples and shrines and a steam engine. Spring is the season of cherry blossoms, and in Nagatoro, which has been selected as one of "Japan's Top 100 Places for Cherry Blossoms", there are about 3000 cherry trees planted there with 3 good times to visit.
The first time is late March with the Ohte-no-Sakura cherry tree which is a 100-year-old weeping cherry tree whose width goes up to 16 meters making it a local natural monument. The second time is early April on Kita Sakura-dori where a tunnel of 600 cherry trees runs for 2.5 km from Nagatoro Station to Higuchi Station two stations away. And the third time is from mid-April to late April with the cherry trees on the side streets. 500 trees of 31 different species of double-flowered cherries can be enjoyed and during the season, there is also evening illumination. In the summer, river activities are synonymous with the season. Rafting down the rapids, cruising down the river and people of all ages enjoying river activities, you can fully enjoy Mother Nature while viewing the sedimentary rock for 1 kilometer that has been recognized as a National Natural Monument. Then there is autumn which is famous for its colors. The trees across from the sedimentary rock provide a natural beauty of color with their reds and golds. Also, seven flowers of autumn are each planted at 7 different temples so that The Seven-Flower Temples Tour in which all of the temples are seen has been considered a secret hit with the tourists.
Winter is the season for hatsumode at Hodosan (Treasure Trove Climb) Shrine. The name is said to have originated from the phrase "Climb the treasure trove", and many visitors come since the history of the hatsumode there has been good. As well, going up to the peak of Mt. Hodo by ropeway, you will be greeted by colorful flowers, and from the peak, you can get a panoramic view of Chichibu. Recently, pamphlets in foreign languages and Wi-Fi have been provided, and the area has become a spot that can be toured easily by foreign tourists.
Admission: Free
- Guidebook from Planetyze about Nagatoro
- Reviews from TripAdvisor about Nagatoro
- Tours of Nagatoro
3. Enjoy a blanket of moss phlox
(image by flickr.com)
Hitsujiyama Park is located at the base of Mt. Bukoh of Chichibu City in the back of Saitama Prefecture. The north and south sides of the park are known as Misubarashi Hill and Shibazakura Hill respectively. The planting of moss phlox began in the year 2000, and with the number of flowers growing each year, even the mass media has started to pay attention. In 2014, 570,000 people visited the site which has become the tourist spot for Chichibu in spring. Moss phlox (shibazakura) is a perennial which originally came from North America. Its blossoms resemble those of the cherry (sakura) but spread across the ground like grass (shiba) which gives it its Japanese name. Since the colors, which can range through dark & light pink, white, violet and blue, and shape of the petals differ, there are many ways to enjoy view the flowers whether looking at them one-by-one up close or admiring the pink carpet from a distance. The peak time of mid-April to mid-May is also the time of the Shibazakura Festival where many people enjoy the specialty products of Chichibu and comfort food such as miso potatoes being sold.
Hitsujiyama Park is famous for its moss phlox, but it is also the most famous spot in Chichibu for its cherry blossoms. About 1000 cherry trees of different species compete for beauty in the park. Misubarashi Hill where the cherries are planted doesn't try to shut out the blue sky but uses the contrast between it and the cherry blossoms to symbolize a Japanese spring. Hitsujiyama (Sheep Mountain) was named after the fact that the area once had Saitama Prefecture's sheep breeding farms. Even now within the park, there is a petting farm which has sheep, and elsewhere there is the Wanpaku Plaza for the athletically-minded, along with the Mt. Bukoh Museum and a museum showing the works of Shiko Munakata.
Admission: Free
- Guidebook from Planetyze about Hitsujiyama Park
- Reviews from TripAdvisor about Hitsujiyama Park
- Tours of Hitsujiyama Park
4. Learn everything about the art of Bonsai
(image by flickr.com)
Bonsai involves growing plants in small containers and having their branches and leaves shaped to express nature. Brought over from China in the Heian Era, it became actively enjoyed in the Edo Era. Bonsai, which takes time and effort, is known as a hobby for people like the elderly, but for the past several years, it has also received attention overseas and bonsai culture has been rising in popularity. In addition, it has also become a cute statement in terms of interior design starting from the small pots, and in recent years, it has become a hit with young women.
The Bonsai Art Museum began displaying bonsai from its opening in 2010. Omiya has a Bonsai Village, and so the museum was established by the village. Aside from a display of bonsai, the museum also provides a plethora of information pertaining to the art such as displays of the pots and stones used for the art, paintings such as ukiyo-e which have depicted bonsai, and historical information related to bonsai.
Furthermore, in the large bonsai garden that is in the museum, pine that is a staple for bonsai is displayed through approximately 50 exhibits, shaped into trees such as maple. The time spent leisurely viewing the bonsai from Azumaya in the center of the garden and getting a sense of nature is one of the charms of this Japanese traditional culture. How about starting your knowledge of bonsai from this occasion? As well, around the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, there are 9 bonsai gardens in operation which make up the Bonsai Village. If you have become interested in bonsai after a visit to the museum, then it would be great to visit these gardens by all means.
Admission: Adult: ¥ 300 / Child: ¥ 100
- Guidebook from Planetyze about Omiya Bonsai Art Museum
- Reviews from TripAdvisor about Omiya Bonsai Art Museum
- Tours of Omiya Bonsai Art Museum
5. Try out a steam engine driving simulator
(image by flickr.com)
The Railway Museum is famous for its excellent permanent display. The main exhibition is in the History Zone which makes up about half of the entire museum. There is an atrium up to the 3rd floor where 36 of Japan's railway trains are displayed in chronological order. There are steam locomotives and Bullet Trains, and from April 2015, prewar electric engines have also made an appearance. An even greater feeling for the trains of that time can be felt with the recreation of features from those days such as platforms and schedule boards. You can sightsee from inside the trains, look down on the trains from above and see them from various angles through the passage of time. In the Entrance Zone on the 2nd floor, there is the huge railroad diorama that is said to be the largest in Japan. You can get a full view of stations, bridges, tunnels and other railway fixtures along with up to 20 trains in operation. In the commentaries that occur 8 times a day for 10 minutes each, the lighting is adjusted so that you can see the diorama through a day's morning, afternoon and night.
There are 2 rides that require numbered tickets. The D51 steam engine driving simulator is aimed for junior high school students and older. Gauges such as the speedometer operate in tandem with the operation of the train, and there is even vibration. It's a simulation where you can even try tossing coal into the fire chamber. If you are familiar with the construction of a steam engine, then you must try it at least once. Operation of the mini-trains is for Grade 1 elementary school students and older. The mini-trains can hold 3 people and run a loop on a 300-meter railroad track. There are 10 types of train including the Narita Express and an electric engine. An actual railway system is faithfully recreated. You can also try other simulators without needing a reservation, try being railway staff, and design your own trains. Even if you are not a train fan, this is a museum which you can still fully enjoy.
Admission: Adult: ¥ 1,000 / Child: ¥ 500
- Guidebook from Planetyze about The Railway Museum
- Reviews from TripAdvisor about The Railway Museum
- Tours of The Railway Museum
Need help planning your trip to Saitama ?
If you are interested to know more and save your time during your trip to Saitama, You can send a message to our local guides to get a customized itinerary and quotation for an unforgettable experience.
In the TripleLights website you can find the best professional guides all over Japan to help you plan your trip. Check our local guides for Saitama


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The article I chose on virtual reality gaming highlights many social impacts on individuals. I believe going in the direction of communicating the harmful effects from the immersion in virtual reality would be the most impact-full and visually interesting. The two main effects I would focus on would be addiction and escapism as I believe these are the strongest two present within the article.
One idea that I have had is to portray contrasting "realities" of an individual side by side, one real life and one virtual. In the real life section of the image I want feelings of despair, depression and isolation to be present. I imagine a gloomy room slightly trashed with rubbish all over the place. I've had trouble picturing how I would compose the virtual half of the image seeing as it has to be photo-real. A possibility would be to emulate the concept of the zombie survival games DayZ or H1Z1, with the subject shown in a apocalyptic woodland scenario with zombies seen in the background. I think the use of a blueish tint to this part of the image would imitate the colouring used within computer monitors, emphasising the virtual representation.
Another idea that I have come up with to present the idea is seeing the subject leaving behind his reality to escape into the virtual world. The way I pictured this idea was to be positioned behind the subject at their computer desk and witness the lack of care for their real environment. Again, the use of rubbish, such as takeaway wrappers, and scattered clothing would be beneficial in illustrating this perspective. For lighting I imagine it being poorly lit, either by the subject's computer screens or a dim lamp.
These are my two strongest ideas at the moment, I am still trying to fine-tune others as well as these to get a better understanding of where I see this project going.


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Summer Trends
Bright Colored Clothing is Among Summer Fashion Trends
June 1, 2017
Filed under Entertainment
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Summer is soon approaching, and with that comes clothing trends that everyone wants to rock. Fashionable accessories, bright colored clothing, and swimsuits worn by our favorite celebrities are bound to be sold out everywhere.
"I love wearing anything flowy and bright colored; I feel like it really brings out my tan," said senior Victoria Rizzo.
During the hot summer months, it's a given that many students chose to wear more revealing clothing. To deal with the Florida sun, many opt for shorts and sleeveless tops.
"Once school is out I put away all my jeans and hoodies for the summer, it makes a lot more room for me to buy new summer clothes," sophomore Jade Hanson said.
One specific trend going viral already is the one-piece bathing suits. Retailers such as Forever 21 have started the trend by adding appealing designs or by simply modifying the suit to make it more scandalous. No longer are they just for pre-teens adjusting to puberty, but now everyone wants one. These bathing suits usually are accompanied by a pair of sunglasses and sandals.
"I really like the one-piece bathing suit trend, because I won a free bathing suit," junior Brianna Costa said.


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..Welcome to DNBuster's Place.. Thanks for stopping by! I am a GRANDMA so my social media WILL have pictures of my grandbabies, Mr. Peanut and Mr Monkey. I am a BIGTIME sweepstaker.. Click tabs below to follow via social media:) Please feel free to explore my blog and let me know what ya think via email!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Review~ Eat Your Peas, Mom
Book Description
A delightful book to give Mom to prove you DID listen to her advice, wit, and wisdom. If you want a special way to celebrate your mother, look no more! Eat Your Peas® Mom is a 3-minute read with a forever message. Upon opening this little package, her heart will smile through the pages filled with affirmation, appreciation, and gratitude expressed for all the ways she loves and cares for you. Each page is artfully hand-illustrated for a charming and homespun feel. It's a perfect keepsake and reminder for Mom to hold onto forever.
Review~ I really enjoyed this book! It was full of great wit and wisdom! It didn't take much time to read but the words will stick with me for a long time! Its a book filled with wonderful illustrated pages that are filled with lovely words for any mother and how important moms really are to everyone! This would make a great book for mother's day!
disclosure: I received this book from Booksneeze in exchange for my review!
Thank you BookSneeze!
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My dear daughter needs a photoprinter for beginning DSLR class. She's shooting with a Sony A200, 18-70mm lens. PC platform. Can any of you give a recomendation or two for a reasonable photo printer w/ 8x10 max size?
Looks like she uses Mac at the college and we have PC's at home. My understanding it's Cannon or epson. Does one work better for PC's? A few in class mentioned epson nx series but they are using Mac's at home.
If you can help me with the # of color cartridges, I'd appreciate.
of course, this is on a shoe string budget. She's already broke the bank (mine)
Thank you in advance, Brian


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[rev_slider studio]
The Studio
At Origin Photos, we offer more than professional photography. Our photography captures the moments you will cherish for years to come.
Our professional photographers know exactly how to bring out the unique personalities of each individual, creating a photographic record that can be shared and displayed. The Origin Photos team does more than take photographs; we make memories that last a lifetime.
And since we understand how important our clients are, we had designed our own studio location where we can meet and talk about your upcoming wedding day or that special day with your family.
At Origin Photos we understand how much our clients value the way we take time to learn about them. We love getting to know people because we believe that every person has a story to tell. And WE LOVE STORIES. Come and share yours with us!
[one_third last="true"]
If you have a general inquiry about our services, we would love to hear from you and learn more about you and your photography needs. Please use the following form to send us a message and for directions to the Studio.
Currently working in the studio:
Filippo Barbarotto
Alessandro Barbarotto
Daniel Romero
Nadia Santise
What's Next…
[hr top="true"]


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Person trapped between car, building Wednesday
Person trapped between car, building Wednesday
OMAHA, Neb. —
Medics responded to a report of a trapped person near South 72nd Street and Rose Blumkin Drive around 8:20 p.m. Wednesday.
According to the Omaha Police Department, a delivery truck was backing up to unload and didn't see a person who was there trying to help direct the truck. The person got trapped and injured between the truck and building at Russel Stovers.
The injured person was transported in critical condition to Nebraska Medical Center.
No information has been released on the cause of the incident.
Check back for updates.


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Hopefully by now you're well aware of how we can help you grow your software business through our Lead Generation and Consultancy Services.
But did you know that's only one aspect of the services we can offer here at Terry Forsey Consulting?
Once you've grown your business and made it a success, you might be planning your exit. Maybe you're considering selling the business, perhaps retiring to sunnier climes and enjoying the fruits of your labour.
We can help you here too, because that's a time you need to speak to an expert who's been there, done that, bought – and then successfully sold again – the proverbial t-shirt!
Drawing on my many years of experience in the field, we've created our new five-minute guide, which is a good place to start.
There are many things you need to consider when you reach the point of selling your business, and you need somebody experienced in the industry to guide you through the entire process.
Our new 5 Minute Guide to 'Selling your Software Business' covers the important points from planning and getting organised, right through to establishing what it is worth, and ultimately announcing the sale.
The guide also details what you should look for in the expert who will help you through this exciting but stressful time.
For more information on selling your software business, please download our new 5 Minute Guide to Selling your Software Business, or for further information contact us to arrange a free no obligation consultation.


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World heritage
Bernd Wegener is chief executive Officer.
Bernd Wegener, DVM
Bernd Wegener. DVM, has extensive managerial experience from diverse areas of responsibility in the pharmaceutical industry and relevant associations. After holding positions at Boehringer Ingelheim KG, Degussa Pharmagruppe, Marion Merrell Dow GmbH and Henning Berlin GmbH, he was Founder and Chairman of the Board of the B•R•A•H•M•S Group from 1994 to May 2010. Dr Wegener is also a member of the Board of the German Federal Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (BPI) as well as being a member of the board of various associations and supervisory boards.


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Europe Antiques, Collectibles and Decorations Shop
Henk&Heidi Wassenaar, Lisse Netherlands
Vintage Bronze - Metal Boulle Bracket Clock with Flower Decor, from circa 1950.
This wonderful clock is in good condition and mechanism is cleaned.
Dimensions are: total w. bracket 17.5in x w 7.5in.
The Express shipping costs from Europe to USA (store to door in 4days) are $60 with tracking and trace.
We appreciate your interest in our goods and are looking forward to the opportunity of serving you.
15 other shoppers have this item in their Cart or Wish List
Will post to Worldwide.
THANK YOU FOR VISIT Eur. Antiques, Collectibles and Decoration Shop, the place to be if you are looking for something special


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Black Jacquard Silk Wild Rag
Item # 102909
- Black Jacquard Silk Wild Rag
- Item # 102909
Oops, item currently is out of stock.
$34.99 Online Price
Additional Information
Product Features & Description
Your outfit isn't complete without a western wild rag! This silk wild rag features an all-over black, jacquard design. Rag measures approx. 33" x 33". Imported.
- 100% silk wild rag
- All over black jacquard design
- Get an authentic western look wearing our wild rag.
- Wrap around your neck or tie in front


text:
The scene repeats itself over and over again every weekend–perhaps even in your church. It's worship time, and the band is rockin'. The congregation is completely caught up in the worship experience. Eschewing hymnals as old-fashioned, the words are projected on 2 large screens above the stage. As the worship leader looks out over the […]
Lessons: DVD & Online
- Subscription site
- NEW! Worship Leading Skills
- The Musicademy Portfolio
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- Singing (Harmony & BVs)
- Playing By Ear
- Worship Team Workshops
- Worship Backing Tracks
- The MultiTrack Player
- Sound Tech & PA Training
Subscription Site
And other bits…
Get over 40 FREE lessons now!
Want to learn Guitar, Bass, Keys, Drums, Vocals, Orchestral Instruments or Sound Tech?
Click here to access over 40 FREE worship music lessons.
Members Area Sign in here for the members area.
Sign up for our Worship Newsletter
Latest Free Videos
Free Guitar Lesson – Lead Me To The Cross
NEW Worship Backing Band MultiTrack Player with looping, jumping, key & tempo change
Playing hymns on keyboard – How Great Thou Art – video lesson
Worship guitar lesson – Substitute chords in C
Worship bass lesson – In Christ Alone
Free lesson – learn to sing the harmony part to Beautiful One


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Private room in guesthouse
Adley House Room 14
Adley House Room 14
2 guests
1 bedroom
1 bed
1 private bath
2 guests
1 bedroom
1 bed
1 private bath
Built in 1905 by Sidney Herbert Adley, during the "Ostrich feather boom period" (1886 to 1914) this magnificent sandstone Victorian mansion is situated on an acre of land in a quiet up market residential area with in walking distance from the town centre and Oudtshoorn's famous restaurants.
Relax in our manicured English gardens and pools, bird watching and enjoying the "Old'e world charm
Air Conditioning
Cable TV
Sleeping arrangements
Bedroom 1
2 single beds
House Rules
No pets
No smoking, parties, or events
Check-in time is 2PM - 10PM and check out out by 10AM
No reviews (yet)
This host has 8 reviews for other properties.View other reviews
We're here to help your trip go smoothly. Every reservation is covered by Airbnb's Guest Refund Policy.
Passionate about tourism and love meeting new people
Response rate: 100%
Response time: within a day
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The neighbourhood
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Personal details of Actor Manoj Bharathiraja
Manoj K. Bharathi (born September 11, 1976 as Manoj Bharathiraja) is a Tamil film actor. He has starred in several films, and is most noted as the son of director Bharathiraja.
Before becoming an actor in the Tamil film industry, Manoj worked as an assistant director. He did a course in Theatre arts at the University of South Florida.
He made his acting debut in the 1999 Tamil film Taj Mahal, directed by his father himself alongside Riya Sen, who made her debut as well. Subsequently Manoj appeared in films like Samuthiram alongside Sarath Kumar and Murali[disambiguation needed and Kadal Pookkal, directed by his father, sharing screen space with Murali once again. The films, though became box office failures, received much critical acclaim, especially the latter, for which Bharathiraja was awarded the National Film Award for Best Screenplay. He then enacted the lead role in Saran's Alli Arjuna alongside Richa Pallod, before starring in low budget productions, Varushamellam Vasantham and Pallavan, which all failed to achieve commercial success. Later, he starred in Sathyaraj's Maha Nadigan in a cameo role and did a negative role in the Telugu film Lemon.
He worked as an assistant to his father in films like Bommalattam and noted filmmaker Mani Ratnam in Bombay. From 2008 til 2010, he worked as an assistant to director S. Shankar in his forthcoming magnum opus Enthiran. Since 2007 it has been reported that Manoj was set to remake his father's Sigappu Rojakkal, but the film still remains in pre-production. In 2012, his father signed him up to replace Ameer in his production, Annakodiyum Kodiveeranum, as antagonist,thus marking a return to films after a seven year sabbatical.


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BLACK WEALTH THROUGH BLACK ENTREPRENEURSHIP. By Robert L. Wallace. Duncan and Duncan. 288 pages. $17.95.
ROBERT L. WALLACE has written an immensely useful guide for the young black man or woman who is considering starting a business.
He writes with power and passion about what he thinks it takes for black Americans to gain entry to the business world and succeed.


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"Desperately disappointing" is how Peter Greenaway was describing the contemporary corpse of film to a luncheon audience of Canadian filmmakers, producers, broadcasters, distributors and their international guests.
The iconoclastic British director went on to say that the death of cinema really occurred on September 31, 1983, with the invention of the "zapper"—the television remote control—and that these days, children are "born with the buttons in their mouths."
This was before Greenaway went on to talk about his own movie, Nightwatching, screening at the festival.
Oh yes, the rhetoric of the provocateur—it's what film festivals were made for, even if the paradoxical occasionally goes off-road into the hypocritical. We're spending our days watching movies and talking about movies and that's what's important. With so many international entries on our screens, it really feels as if the stories of the world are being told to us every night of the week.
This year's festival is notably light on Hollywood, which is not necessarily a bad thing. What we miss in glamour and star appearances we make up for in homegrown and co-pro pictures, ones we probably won't get to see later on in the multiplexes.
The question is, do we go and see the new French romantic comedy Hunting and Gathering, starring Amelie's Audrey Tautou, or Paolo Barzman's Emotional Arithmetic, a film about holocaust survivors reuniting 40 years later in Quebec, starring Christopher Plummer, Max Von Sydow and Susan Sarandon?
It's a tough call, but unlike some past years, the Canadian film is a very good bet.
The sheer quality, not to mention quantity, of Canadian production finding its way onto screens at this year's festival is startling. The first seven films I saw were Canadian or Canadian co-productions. Even Greenaway's picture was a six-country co-pro, with our flag proudly displayed in the credits as being one of them.
And though Greenaway is probably the most lauded director to be working with Canadian money on his project, his film wasn't my favourite of the bunch. That would be Jeremy Podeswa's Fugitive Pieces, a deeply moving adaptation of the Anne Michaels novel: the story of Jakob, a Jewish boy who in the 1940s is spirited away from his home in Poland to Greece and eventually to Canada. As an adult he becomes a teacher and writer, but can't let go of the ghosts of the past, his family and sister who were taken away by the Nazis. Dark, sad but not despairing, Fugitive Pieces, vaults onto my list of the best movies of the year.
The big local star of the festival has to be Chaz Thorne, with his feature directorial debut, the ghoulish Windsor-shot comedy Just Buried and his script for Poor Boy's Game, the gritty Clement Virgo-directed story of a young, white ex-con boxer in Halifax, originally locked up for having savagely beaten a black man, now re-entering a community taut with racial and class animosity. Of the two, Poor Boy's Game was the one that really resonated with me, at least partly because it was such a thrill to see a film set in a recognizable Halifax, not a town whose problems are glossed over with a quaint, "We Love the Past" touristy charm. It's a fictional drama, but it is also courageous art, and Thorne should be proud of that. I also predict leading man Rossif Sutherland will have a career to compare with older half-brother Kiefer...he has that star thing that demands your attention while he's on screen.
Other notable Canadian entries were The Stone Angel (a three-hanky weepie, rooted in another sterling Ellen Burstyn performance), Shake Hands With The Devil (Roy Dupuis is The Man) and The Tracey Fragments. (No, actually, Ellen Page is The Man.)
And, as usual, the documentaries have really impressed. Though they remain unseen by me, I've heard good things about Canadian docs The Bodybuilder and I and Willard: The Hermit of Gully Lake. Of the docs I did catch, it was Zoo that left me most unsettled. Phrases that I'd never expected to see sharing space in a blurb I'd write, "extraordinarily beautiful" and "true story of death by bestiality." But there they are.
Finally, the Danish horror pic, Room 205, scared the shit right outta of me. It felt really good.
The Atlantic Film Festival runs until September 22.


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Pizza D.O.C. was shown on the WTTW show Check Please a while ago. I became quite excited to try this place when on the show the host mentioned that the oven came from Italy. I had had pizza in an Italian brick oven in New York City at a place called Little Frankies. The pizza at Little Frankies was a revelation to me. The extremely thin crust, the tart, Italian spiced sauce, just great. Here is the review I wrote of Little Frankies
[Quote] Little Frankie's' Pizza in lower Manhattan (village?), on Second Avenue between 5th and 6th. Oven is made of bricks imported from Italy. The oven was built by 3rd generation oven builder from Naples, Italy. Opens at 11:30am till at least 9pm.
Had two pizzas that I VERY VERY much enjoyed.
Margherita - just a roasted tomato sauce w/garlic, no cheese, very thin crust w/crunch. The tomato sauce was heavenly, almost had a smoke flavor to it.
Traditional - same incredible sauce, w/a light touch of cheese, nothing like a typical cheese drenched pizza. This was very good, but I really enjoyed the Margherita.[/Quote]
Went this evening to Pizza D.O.C., spur of the moment with a friend of mine. We both had a pizza. My bud had the Pizza Bascaiola and I a Margherita pizza w/no cheese as that is the way I had had it at Little Frankies.
What a disappointment on numerous counts.
First the mushrooms used were canned buttons. Canned?!?! Unforgivable in both our books.
Crust? Sure at the very edge of the pizza, but most of the crust seemed to be a soft, mushy uncooked mess of dough on both pizzas.
Sausage was mediocre, kind of a Dominos processed sausage taste to it.
Sauce was unmemorable, nothing at all like my memory of Little Frankies.
I know the bar I had set in my mind was quite high for Pizza D.O.C. and I realistically was expecting D.O.C. to fall short, but only barely, not to the pits like I experienced.
Pizza D.O.C.
2251 W. Lawrence Ave (just east of Western Ave)


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We all know the Catholic Church is a fraud everywhere, and in many ways. It's nice to see they were caught with their financial pants down, instead of the other kind.
"Religious organizations in Norway can apply for and receive money based on their membership. The Catholic Church received a total of NOK 105.4 million in 2014 after having registered 65,500 new members between 2010 and 2014. Of that, fully 56,500 members were registered using methods that are a matter of dispute."
I first read this info on Hemant Mehta's website, The Friendly Atheist.
Article Highlights-
*The diocese in Oslo was raided last February.
*Biship Bernt Eidsvig & the diocese's finance director were charged with fraud amounting to as much as NOK 50 million.
*The church is charged with scanning telephone catalogues for Polish and Spanish names, tracking down their resident registration numbers in Norway and then logging them as members of the church without their knowledge.
I used an online currency calculator to convert NOK Norwegian Kroner to dollars, and got 50million Kroners is roughly 6.3 million US $.
Views: 201
Me either. I do like reading the occasional reminder that they sometimes get caught.
Can we hope someone in holy orders will actually GO TO JAIL as a result of this???
I hope so!
Oh, is this the same band of charlatans that's gotten away with running their scams for over 2000 years now? And the ones who claim not only the moral high ground but "infallibility" when telling people how they should behave? They are pioneers of marketing though - when the big payoff only comes post-mortem, consumer complaints are effectively minimized.
That's right -- it's a perfect scam to promise a payoff that involves nothing tangible, that requires no evidence, that arrives only after you die, not to your heirs but to you, magically, untestably, unfalsifiably.
I don't get tired of sharing DarkMatter2525's video, "If Heaven Really Existed"; in that three-minute story the characters feel and act counterintuitively because they don't merely hope for heaven, but confidently believe in it. (The protagonist is delighted to learn he has an incurable brain tumor, but quickly turns angry when he learns he might have to wait up to a year before it kills him: "This is outrageous! Medical science, what a joke! You've got pills to make my penis grow, but where's the pill to make my tumor grow?!" And there's more.)
ROFL Thanks for the video, Grinning Cat.
When are they going to be accused of conspiracy to commit ... well, probably about half of the crimes in any given set of legal codes?
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IFA Alexandra Financial Management has secured more than £6,000 from global financial adviser body the Million Dollar Round Table to support its charity work for orphans in Africa.
AFM is heavily involved with Lionsraw, a Stockton-based foundation that takes fans to international football tournaments in exchange for charitable work while on the trip.
In 2010, Lionsraw took over 150 fans to the South Africa World Cup and built an orphanage, sports changing rooms in a village, a pre-school and toilet blocks in Durban and ran football coaching sessions for thousands of children.
AFM managing director Neil Flint, who took part in the 2010 trip, has brought in just over £6,000 from the MDRT Foundation for Lionsraw. Flint says: "The MDRT has strict criteria for its giving foundation and I am delighted to have obtained this grant, which will help us build new toilets for the 200 pupils of a local school."


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I told you before that Noah seems had a sort of thing like water phobia. So when my sister asked me to bring our kiddo to swim, I was so hesitate in fear that we couldn't enjoy the day. last time I brought Noah here, we did nothing but to stare everyone swimming in front of us.
But that fear has finally ended.
That morning I asked hubby to drove us there (to teejay) and he agreed and after one hour of a really smooth journey, we arrived here at 11am. After we bought tickets i saw noah couldn't hide the axcitement smirk when he saw the pool.
Soon after we settled a cool place to stay (below the trees, hihi) Noah walked to the pool and started to touch his feet into the water. I was surprised because he still wearing his brown jeans and shirt so i had to brought him back and changed his clothes. Oh my. What surprised me more, he didn't seem afraid. I didn't see the dread face that he always showed when he saw a large amount of water. He really enjoyed the water play, he even asked me to bring him again. I think playing beach when I took him bath is really works!
I got my period so I didn't swim. I asked my mom to take my picture but its out of focus, hihi... But still, credit for her.


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The purpose of the other blog, was to have a playground to experiment, in creating a new layout or design for this blog. I'm kinda bored with it already, and I want something new and fun. I created the secret blog, to come up with some ideas, and experiment. I didn't want to try it out on this blog, so I set up the other one to try out things. However I still feel limited, in what I can do. I think I am going to have to go into HTML territory, to really get, what I'm trying to achieve, and well I really don't want to... or well don't know if I can anymore. I haven't done that kinda stuff, since like freshman year, in high school, and I really don't remember that much about it.
Anyway, I don't want anyone felling left out, like they are shut out, from some secrets I'm holding back... because that's not happening. However this has shown me I have a lot of secret readers, who don't say a thing, but tell me, they read whenever I do manage to post...it's left me with a hmm.
Since people are pulling out the emails, to contact me about the secret blog, y'all can email me, with some ideas, on what I could do, as far as my blog goes. I want something that allows me to have a little more freedom, with my layout, and where I can put things, yet still captures me.


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Kostas Gur artwork is available exclusively from D2020 Social Enterprise, in a significantly limited edition of only 22 copies per photograph, of which only 20 copies are available for sale, which ensures the scarcity and the time value of each copy.
The sale of the artwork by a social cooperative enterprise in Thrace is a conscious choice of Kostas Gur that part of the proceeds should be earmarked to support the development and social initiatives of D2020 in the prefecture of Evros in Greece.
For this purpose and in order to achieve the highest possible print quality of the artwork, D2020 works with the best metal printing labs in Greece and the United States of America.
D2020 Social Cooperative Enterprise
Agias Paraskevis 36
GR68300, Didymoteicho


text: I have a mac g4 1.25 and a pc laptop(only because it was cheaper) -i know i'm a traitor and a bum, but if anyone can tell me how i can access my mac with my laptop through th internet, i could use the knowledge. I have a wireless router and access through the local network is possible, but can i do it from other computers that are online? Like gotomypc kinda? I always work away from the mac and I need to get files from it when I am away? Can it be done?


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Photo: I am a little bored with muffins, so when I found this recipe for pancake squares, I was like, yesssssssss. Too easy, too quick, and very yummy. They are light and fluffy like pancakes, but square like brownies. I, of course, embellished with the spices. I was very concerned that little boys would hate them but, instead, they couldn't get enough! I won't make them all the time, but they are definitely in the rotation!
I know that I can't speak for every mother out there, but it is probably safe to say that most of us didn't walk into this gig with the intention of being "The Yeller." That mom who is constantly screeching over this or that. I certainly had the intent of being the serene mom, finding patience each and every time instead of raising my voice in anguish.
My mother wasn't a yeller. Hers was a lower sort of anger, the way of the mothers before her, where the knees would bend and the eyes would narrow while the hand was faster than a lightning strike and stronger than a strongman's. "Little girl, if you don't…" Oh my goodness, my heart just skipped a beat.
Father was a lecturer. Sit us down and talk talk talk talk talk talk talk… "and don't you know that" talk talk blah blah blah "and you'd better look at me when I'm talking to you," bllllaaaaddidyblahblahblah…. He'd raise his voice for emphasis. Sometimes slam his fist on a desk. He'd have made a good Congressman…
it felt like they lasted for hours. They probably lasted 20 minutes. He'd get to his beer and run out of steam. I'd yawn and heave my shoulders and he'd let me go.
I have somehow combined the two, and I have added a bit of my own. That bit is yelling. I don't mean to, but I admit to it.
In my defense, the boys have been off the chain this week:
First, Minor has figured out how to effectively push Major's buttons. He can look at his brother and do the following (and I'm gonna adjust the dialog for their blog names):
Minor: "Major, are you a Bay-jor?"
Major: "No! I'm a Major!"
Minor: "Well, I think you're a Bay-jor!"
Major: "NO NO NO! I'm a MAJOR! A MAJOR!!!!!"
and round and around they go. It can be at any time for any reason. They can be at the dinner table, and Minor will get a smile and a look, and Major will just start whining.
I say to my eldest, "Don't give him the satisfaction! If you don't show him that it bothers you, he'll leave you alone!"
My eldest regards me coolly, the way that a 4 year-old who knows everything regards his mother, and then he nods his head in required acknowledgement.
All week, dear reader. All week. I tell him, "just ignore him!" "Don't react to him!" "if you do that, he'll keep saying it!" Have you ever been in a wind storm and you shout at the top of your lungs and you know the sound is hitting your ears and your ears only?
It isn't just the name game, either. Minor has been chasing his brother outside and slamming his motorcycle into his. This, of course, sets Major into a rage like no other. No peace for the Mama, inside or out.
So I try to ignore it, praying they find a justice that works for them. Sibling justice. It's a thing. Nope… too young for that. The torture continues.
When they aren't at all-out war, they are simply running a-muck like they ain't got no damn sense. Today, the boys made a game of throwing their toy matchbox cars at the playroom glass.
Thank you Jesus, none of the windows broke!
There was also climbing on furniture, jumping on furniture, throwing toys at each other, whining for any and all reasons…
So I was a yeller this week. I didn't want to be. I didn't set out to be. But I was.
I'm not a Sanctimommy. This isn't a post where I tell you my enlightened reasons why yelling never works and it only harms and whatever such nonsense gets suburban women lots of followers and book deals. I will tell you that, though sometimes effective, yelling really didn't make me feel any better. It got their attention, and sometimes that is needed when the house becomes a circus, but that's about it. I imparted few lessons this week.
I am resigning myself to a few things: "Boys will be boys" is a real and actual thing. They will be competitive, they will be obnoxious, they will be destructive and I am going to spend too much of my life energies trying to reign them in. Time after time, day after day. It freaking sucks.
I am also resigning myself to the probability that I will never be the mother I want to be. I will forever lack the patience or wisdom to be the kind of mommy that the internet says I could or should be. I guess my Quiet Thoughts are on the fact that Motherhood has ugly weeks. There are weeks when I'm not going to be the world's best mother. I'm not even going to be their best mother. Maybe the secret that Sanctimommies don't want to tell you is that I think my sons also know that they weren't the world's best kids this week. Hell, they weren't even my best kids this week. We all, in our own ways, fed into the chaos.
I could choose to spend some time feeling guilty…
but the boys are getting into their next fight, so I have to referee. So it goes. This too shall pass. Or so they claim.
Who are you today, dear reader? Who do you want to be tomorrow? If someone were to write your biography, what would the first sentence be? I'm sure someone would write about me: "She was the most impatient woman whoever lived but, where her expectations for everyone she ever met were impossibly high, they were nothing compared to what she expected of herself." Good thing? Maybe. Probably not. History will tell (or, most likely, forget). In the meantime, my dear reader, I wish you dry weather if you live in the mid-west. I wish you (reasonable!) rain if you live on the west coast. I wish you a little relief from the heat if you live in the north east with me. I wish you chilled wine, crispy veggies, and slow cooked barbecue. I guess barbecue should probably be served with beer. GOOD beer! None of that IPA nonsense!
I wish you a game of chess under an old tree. I wish you time to listen to a commencement speech. I wish you a hearty handshake and an awesome opportunity. I wish you love and joy, and the wisdom of knowing that you are, without question, loved beyond measure.
Until Monday, take care.


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The walk was much the same as yesterdays, lots of hills, beautiful scenery, but the best part was the minimal pain from my feet. 2 paracetamol and 2 ibuprofen before starting is the trick- and it meant I could smile all day.
We got slightly off track on a couple of footpaths, resorting us to ask the farmers and other ramblers (I'm getting to know the walking lingo now) to confirm where we were on the map.
We wrote home and then slipped into our sleeping bags by 9pm- out of phone signal left to an early night. Having really enjoyed today and not hating my feet on every step made a huge difference and so for the first time in a few days, I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Where guess what!? I'll be walking.


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Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
Her past is a secret, but Taney Tyrell is haunted by the future. Brilliant new novel about a girl with the gift of the second sight, by Irish author Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick.
12+ January £14.99/£8.99 256pp HB/TPB 216 x 135mm 978 1 4440 0191 4/978 1 84255 678 8 Territories: World Rights: Orion e
Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick is an award-winning children's book author and illustrator. She lives in Dublin.
'A fast-paced novel, full of surprises' Irish Times
'I absolutely loved this book! Mary-Louise Fitzpatrick's writing is brilliant – succint and humorous with just the right amount of description' The Bookbag
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A great choice for backside touring or aspiring big-line skiers, these powder boards are built for all-mountain exploration. Named as a tribute to the late, great Doug Coombs, who spent years tweaking this design. The Coomback 114 take the attributes of the 104 and adjsuts the taper, rocker and sidewalls to give it solid edge hold to rail in firmer snow. The tip shaping has a powder-influenced design that's easier to steer in soft and unpredictable snow. The profile of the tips is long and low with K2's All Terrain Rocker for smooth, surfy planing in light, deep snow.
- Triaxial braided fir core with torsion box.
- Hybritech sidewalls (a blend of sidewall and cap construction) combines power and performance with the lightweight characteristics and smooth turn initiation of cap construction.
- Powder tip is predictable in soft snow provides easy turn initiation in variable snow. It strikes a balance between maximizing float while reducing tip deflection. Tips have a gentle arc and transition into the side cut of the ski.
- All Terrain rocker and medium to low camber are designed for versatility and a consistent feel in all conditions.
- Grommets in the tip and tail.
- Tail profile is flat with a slight rise for precision. Shape is plungeable for building snow anchors.
- Designed for off-piste and soft snow climates; 90% ungroomed, 10% groomed riding.
Tech specs
Tech specs
|Ideal for
|Freeride and freeskiing
|Snow conditions
Sandwich and combination construction is generally used for big freeride-style skis while the lighter structural cap type of construction is more commonly found on cross-country skis.
|Rocker/camber profile
|Rocker tip
|Dimension (all lengths)
|Turning radius
|Bindings included
|Made in


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WASHINGTON (CBS.MW)-- Bell Atlantic and Vodafone AirTouch will divest a large chunk of their combined wireless assets to assuage antitrust worries created by proposed partnership and merger plans, the Justice Department announced Monday evening.
The agreement clears the way for the formation of a coast-to-coast wireless network. One of the companies will sell its wireless assets in each of 96 geographic areas where the two would have an overlap. The Justice Department said the divestiture package is the largest ever.
Bell Atlantic BEL, -1.78% which is set to merge with GTE GTE, +0.41% agreed in September to enter into a partnership with Vodafone VOD, -1.71% essentially combining the three firms' U.S. wireless businesses.
The government said the consent decree announced Monday replaces an earlier agreement between the Justice Department, Bell Atlantic and GTE. Sixty-two of the areas were identified in the original divestiture package, with 34 added to account for Vodafone's role in the combination, the government said.
"Without the required divestitures, competition would likely have been reduced, causing higher prices or lower quality wireless telephone services for potentially millions of current and future subscribers," said Justice Department antitrust division chief Joel I. Klein.
Bell Atlantic said the deal will create the largest U.S. wireless company, serving over 21 million proportionate wireless and 3.5 million paging customers in markets covering more than 90 percent of the population.


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+26 26 0
Creative People Have Better Connected Brains
A new study reports highly creative people appear to have more connections between their brain hemispheres.Continue Reading http://neurosciencenews.com
Bayesian Inference and Testing of Group Differences in Brain Networks [full open access]Network data are increasingly collected along with other variables of interest. Our motivation is drawn from neurophysiology studies measuring brain connectivity networks for a sample of individuals along with their membership to a low or high creative reasoning group.
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The Source has released a preview image of the dustjacket for the collected "Justice" mini-series. Poison Ivy is up there in the distance - with spinach leaf swimcap in tow. It's a beautiful cover and everyone is sooo serious. Except the Joker...of course. Clayface seems to be mocking Black Canary as well.
Written by Alex Ross and Jim Krueger; Art by Alex Ross and Doug Braithwaite; Cover by Alex Ross
The spectactular 12-issue series by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger and Doug Braithwaite is collected in this amazing, oversized, slipcased Absolute edition. The members of the Justice League of America are about to learn they aren't the only ones who can band together toward a common goal. The greatest criminal masterminds of our time appear to be acting in concert — but with a surprising plan that seeks to achieve more good than the JLA ever could!
This Absolute edition features a new cover by Ross, plus sketchbook a section with previously unseen artwork and more!


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I met with FANTASY author, Melissa E. Beckwith, today and had a lovely chat with her. I got to know a bit about the author behind 'The Empress of Ventra: The Sword of Rhiannon: Book One'. It's always nice pull back the veil and understand the mind behind the book. As in every interview, 'Kelly' was written by me, Kelly Blanchard, and 'Melissa' was written by Melissa E. Beckwith. Enjoy the interview!
The door chimed when Kelly opened it and stepped into the coffee shop. She looked around and saw a young woman sitting at a table with a laptop in front of her. Kelly smiled but didn't go to her right away. Instead, she went to the counter and ordered some hot chocolate.
Once she received it, she turned to the table and went to it. "Melissa Beckwith?" Kelly raised her brows then held out her hand to shake. "I'm Kelly. Thanks for meeting with me." She saw down at the table across from Melissa. "How are you doing today?"
Melissa took a slow sip from her strong coffee. "I write full-time now that the kids are out of the house. I'm lucky enough to have a wonderful husband who pays the bills and let's me just worry about my writing." Melissa's lips curved into a huge smile at the thought of her husband of almost thirty years.
"That is fantastic! You are truly blessed." Kelly grinned at her and wrapped her hands around her mug. "So, when did you first become interested in writing?"
Melissa cocked her head to one side, her long, brown hair falling over her shoulder. With a nostalgic look on her face, she answered, "I started telling stores as far back as I can remember. Even before I learned how to read, I "wrote" stories in the form of picture books." Melissa chuckled softly, "I went through a lot of crayons."
Kelly's grin grew. "I was like that too! Did pictures because I didn't know how to write, but had so many stories in my head!" She shook her head, still smiling, remembering those memories, but then she focused on Melissa once more. "Now a lot of writers have had a love for writing since they were children, but it wasn't until years later that they actually became serious about writing. Was that the case for you? Was there a specific time when you suddenly just woke up and decided, 'I am going to be a writer!' Or did you know since you were a child that you were going to be a writer?" Kelly tilted her head to a side as she watched Melissa.
Melissa looked over Kelly's shoulder with an unfocused look in her blue eyes. She finally spoke. "I always wanted to be a writer. When I was young I told everyone that I was going to be an author when I grew up. But some how when children start to grow up they lose that abandon and start getting self conscience." Melissa looked at Kelly, a serious expression on her face. "I was not encouraged as a child to write, in fact I was discouraged. In my family, people didn't do that sort of thing seriously. So I grew up, got married right out of high school and had three kids right away. I just got busy raising kids and didn't write much."
Melissa took another sip of her coffee and looked down at the floor as if she were wrestling with a decision. Finally she took a deep breath, apparently making a choice and started to speak to Kelly again. "I have bi-polar, and it has haunted my life for a very long time. So much of my life was spend in deep despair." Melissa peered deeper into Kelly's eyes, wanting to say the right words. "Last summer was one of those times. However, I just finally made the decision that I would get serious about my writing once and for all. I had these two finished novels waiting to be edited and published, and darn it, that was what I was going to do. I pushed aside my crippling self-doubt and just went for it!"
Kelly nodded as she listened to Melissa, and she leaned forward, locking eyes with her. "I am really sorry your family wasn't supportive of your dreams, but I am glad you circled back round to it, and have managed to write and publish a book." She smiled at her then sat back once more. "So, tell me about your book. What is it about?"
Melissa leaned back in her chair and took another drink of her hot coffee, her smile returning to her face. "The Empress of Ventra is really about self discovery and overcoming self-doubt….with a little thread of romance thrown in, just to keep things interesting." Melissa laughed and looked out the window. The sun had hesitantly come out and started to melt the light snow that was clinging to the ground. She looked back over to Kelly. "Rhiannon Kossi had questions about her past. The answers she received took her to another world and changed her life forever. Suffering from vivid nightmares, she is sure that she's been lied to about her childhood. Seeking the answers to long forgotten questions, she is mysteriously taken from her quiet, simple life on a Montana cattle ranch and thrust into a new, violent world where she is forced to either fight or die. In her quest for answers to her past Rhiannon must accept hard truths that will forever change the course of her life…that is, if she can stay alive."
Kelly stared for a long moment. "Wow. That sounds…rather complex." Then she smiled. "But interesting all the same. I want to ask more about the story and the characters, but I'm afraid if I do, it'd probably spoil it for the readers." Kelly frowned. That was the part of her job she hated, but then she smiled again. "So, Melissa, how did you come up with the idea for this book? What inspired it?"
Melissa threw her head back and laughed, a couple people near the two looked over for a second but then went back to their conversations. "I had a dream!" Melissa smiled and nodded her head. "It was a very long time ago, about 1999 or maybe 2000. I had a dream of a woman who gets sucked into another world and has to to all sort of things to stay a live. Of course over about 16 years I finally polished up the story and wrote it down."
Kelly grinned when she heard this. "Don't you just love it when stories come to you in dreams? It's crazy! You said this was over 16 or so years ago? And you stuck with it all this time? Good for you! Now, there are a lot of other writers who have become discouraged because it is taking them years, maybe decades to write their story. Since you have experience with that, what advice would you give them to persevere?" Kelly remembered her hot chocolate and drank so more. She was so drawn into the conversation, she had forgotten about it.
Melissa scratched an itch on her nose and cocked her head to the side again while she thought. "Well, I spend most of that time learning about the craft of writing," she said slowly. "It's not as easy as it seems to produce a quality, marketable story. So I would tell new writers to educate themselves as much as they can on the craft of writing well. Also, read A LOT in the genres you want to write in. Study the tropes and what readers want." Melissa stopped and took a sip of her coffee, then started up again. "And don't give up. It takes a long time to learn all this stuff and become good at it. I would advise all writers to just keep writing everyday. Give yourself little goals, like 100 words a day, then when you easily meet that goal everyday your self-confidence will grow. Also, network, talk to other writers. Writing can be a lonely job, but when you find others who share you passion it's not so bad, then. You can learn a lot from your fellow writers. Just don't give up. Never give up. It's never too late. Finish that manuscript, even if you think it's garbage, do it anyway. Always finish. That is another way to build self-confidence."
Kelly nodded, grateful for her words. "Very true. Thank you." However, she glimpsed at the clock on the wall and saw the time. She looked back at Melissa. "Our time's almost up. Have about ten minutes left, so a few more questions. What was your favorite thing about your story as you wrote it?"
Melissa fidgeted a little in her seat trying to get comfortable. "Well, it was very refreshing to write about a strong woman. I have never considered myself anything resembling strong of independent, so it's been fun writing Rhiannon." Melissa laughed. "I guess she's like my alter ego. Also, it gets more into it in the second book, The War of the Gypsy, but it was quiet refreshing to create a kingdom in which women ruled and men had to follow."
Kelly smiled. "That is refreshing to see. I'm glad you've completed it and published it. That wasn't easy, and you have done well. Unfortunately though, our time has come to an end, and I have elsewhere to be." She rose to her feet and reached her hand out to shake Melissa. "However, it was wonderful to meet you and to hear about your story. Keep writing, okay? And keep publishing. You've got this." She smiled warmly at her.
"Thank you, Kelly for spending time with me this morning." Melissa grabbed Kelly's warm hand and shook it. She smiled up at the woman. "Be careful out there, there are some crazy drivers in Indiana!" Melissa laughed.
Kelly chuckled. "Ah, my dad grew up in Indiana, so I'm a bit familiar with it. You have a good day, Melissa! Take care!" With a wave and a smile, Kelly headed out.
Melissa waved and had a content, happy look on her face.
Melissa E. Beckwith's novel, 'The Empress of Ventra: The Sword of Rhiannon: Book One' can be found on Amazon here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Empress-Ventra-Rhiannon-Fantasy-Romantic-ebook/dp/B01NBNZ6VJ
Social Media
Website: http://www.melissaebeckwith.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/M_E_Beckwith
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelissaEBeckwith/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/M_E_Beckwith/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-e-beckwith-Author
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/109438403164764731559


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How To Correct Photos Using Adobe Photo Shop?
With the number of pictures that we take everyday, sooner or later we run into problems with hazy pictures, hot spots (the spots in the picture that are too bright), red eyes, backlights, over/under exposures or bad composition. However, thanks to modern day softwares - like Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Elements - the worst pictures can sometimes be saved from being deleted.
Let's take the most common mistakes in photography and see how they can be fixed one by one.
Fixing backlighted photos
Have you ever ended up with a photo which is too dark, for example, when the sun is behind the person in the photo or the sky is way too bright in a building's photograph making it appear darker? This is called backlighting and often causes problems in pictures. The Levels command can easily fix this discrepancy in your photos.
- Open Your Picture and Select Image - Adjustments - Levels.
- The levels dialogue box consists of a channel menu, a histogram, an input side bar and an output slider bar. The input slider bar is used to correct the brightness and contrast of images, while the output slider bar is used to set the tonal range of the image.
- Now without going too much into details, in the resulting palette, just carefully move the centre marker on the slide adjuster (LEFT) until the subject is light to suit your tastes. You may also compress the sliders slightly in from both the left and right.
- Since every picture is different, you'll need to see for yourself what works the best. However, the lighten shadows and the darken highlights sliders (the white and black arrows) are useful for adjusting the brightness of the light and dark areas in the picture, whilst the centre slider (the Midtone Contrast) is used to improve the picture's contrast.
Too bright spots
I have a photo of a silver necklace, which has bright flash spots on it. How do I reduce the brightness without making the picture appear dull and grey? This is actually easier done than said.
- Choose Select > Colour Range.
- In the dialogue box that opens up, use the pull-down and set "Highlights" or set the fuzziness slider very low say at four or eight, depending on your picture. This should select only the brightest of the bright spots and you'll see dots sparkling.
- Create a New Adjustment Layer with Sub-menu Brightness/Contrast.
- To create an Adjustment Layer - Click the New Adjustment Layer button at the bottom of the Layers palette, and choose the layer type you want to create. Choose Layer > New Adjustment Layer, and choose an option from the submenu.
- Now move the output slider back towards the dark side and see if the image improves. You can also experiment with a 'LEVELS' adjustment layer.
Photos in haze
If the pictures look hazy because of smoke or mist, you can easily fix this problem as well.
After opening your image in the editor, locate the Sharpen tools in the Filters and choose Unsharp Mask.
There are three settings here to work with:
determines how much to increase the contrast of pixels. We're working with subtle highlights here, so for most cases you won't want to boost this by more than 20-30 per cent.
is used to identify how many pixels around edges to sharpen. For sharpening contrast in the localised fashion we're working with here, a number between 40-70 seems to work well depending on the image, because you can really make the edges stand out.
determines how far pixels must be from the surrounding area in order to be considered an edge. By leaving the threshold at 0 the entire image is sharpened. Increasing this number to anything greater than 0 seems to make the effect useless for what we're doing here.
What you will notice with this technique is that for example, the trees will have more edges to them or the doorway of your home will jump out a little more, whilst the original image was flat. It takes some experimentation to get it right, so don't give up on the first try.
Red eyes
When you use flash to take a picture, people or animals in the dark environment, your subjects can end up with red eyes. This effect is quite a common hitch and fixing it is not difficult.
- Open up the image with the red eyes in Photoshop.
- Press Ctrl + SpaceBar together and click on the image window to maximise the window to 150 per cent.
- Create a new, empty layer in your document. Click the New Layer button or New Layer Set button in the Layers palette.
- From the toolbox, select the paintbrush tool. Set the brush to a medium-soft edge and a size slightly larger than the problem eye area.
- Set your paint (foreground) colour to black by pressing the 'Switch Foreground & Background' arrow or 'X'.
- Whilst ensuring that the new layer is selected, click on each eye and paint over the eye reflections. You may need to click a few times with the paintbrush to cover the entire problem area.
- At this point the eye will look strange because there is no "glint" of light reflection in the eye. We will add the glint next.
- Create a new, empty layer above all other layers in your document. Click and hold and drag it to the top.
- Set your paintbrush to a very small, hard brush. Usually you should not need more than three to five pixels.
- Set your paint colour to white.
- Make note of where the glints should appear in the original photo and click once with the paintbrush directly over each eye glint in the original. Viola!
Blurred images
If you have a slightly out of focus image, than you may adjust the brightness and contrast to make it appear sharper. However, this technique won't work for a very blurred image. To sharpen that, you'll have to shoot the photo again.
- Open your image with File - Open.
- Select Image - Adjustments - Brightness / Contrast.
- Set Brightness to 20. Click preview to view the effect without closing the dialogue box.
- Set Contrast to 40.
- In most cases, setting the contrast to twice of the brightness values you entered will produce the best results.
- Click Ok.
In future, if i need it then i will definitely try this one.
I want to share this one with you..
Almost 4 or 5 days before, I have faced the issue of the pictures loss from my camera. I was searching over internet and then got a recovery software, Digital camera photo recovery software which recovered my all lost images as well as media card's file.