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New Takeoffs
Real Estate April 11, 2014 00:00
By The Nation
April sales promotion at two LPN condos
LPN Development has launched a special campaign to promote the sale of two condominium projects – Bang Na and Rangsit-Klong 1 – through to the end of this month.
For Lumpini Mega Bang Na, home-buyers will get a discount of Bt400,000 off the normal price of Bt1.59 million when paying a booking fee of Bt4,000.
Meanwhile, those committing to units costing Bt649,000 at Lumpini Township Rangsit-Klong 1 will each get a Fino motorcycle when they sign a contract to buy.
Trust Condo Amata-Chon Buri from QH
Quality Houses has introduced the Bt850-million Trust Condo Amata-Chon Buri project, with prices starting at Bt1.29 million per unit.
The eight-storey condominium will comprise a mix of studio and one-bedroom units with usable space of 23.4 square metres and 29.3 square metres, respectively. The project has 518 units in total.
Each unit is functionally designed with separate living, bedroom, kitchen and dining areas.
Pruksa Campus condo close to MRT
Pruksa Real Estate has introduced its latest condominium – the Chapter One the Campus Lat Phrao Soi 1 – with prices starting from Bt1.9 million per unit.
The eight-storey building has an L-shaped design and comprises 180 units in two types: studios with 23-25.37 square metres of usable space, and one-bedroom condos with between 28.54 and 33.41 square metres of space.
The project is located just 300 metres from the MRT underground system.
Acqua Condominium at Jomtien Beach
The Urban Property Co has introduced the Acqua Condominium, located at Jomtien Beach in Pattaya and with units costing from Bt1.39 million apiece.
The 309-unit project is an eight-storey building designed in modern simplicity-resort style.
There will be three types of unit: studios with 36.5 square metres of usable space; one-bedroom units with 39.5 square metres; and two-bedroom units with 76 square metres.


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Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman died from taking a combination of drugs, including heroin and cocaine, according to the New York City Medical Examiner. Experts say tens of thousands of overdose deaths annually in the United States are due to a mix of drugs.
In addition to heroin and cocaine, Hoffman had taken amphetamines and benzodiazepines, according to ABC News. He was found on February 2 with a needle in his arm. The medical examiner ruled his death accidental.
The addiction treatment medication buprenorphine was found in Hoffman's apartment, along with 50 bags of heroin and a variety of prescription drugs, according to New York City detectives. ABC News reports authorities also found unused syringes and a charred spoon.
According to Dr. Len Paulozzi, a medical epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of overdose deaths in the United States involve a combination of drugs. At least one-fifth also involve alcohol.
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Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival have kindly donated 2 pairs of 3-day tickets to the 2015 festival, which we are able to sell to raise money towards our fabric funds.
These much sought-after tickets originally cost £135 plus booking fee each, and are now sold out elsewhere.
To bid for the tickets:
- please email invernesschurch[a]gmail.com, (replace [a] with @)
- give the full names you wish to have on the tickets
- put "Bellardum tickets" in the subject line.
The top two bids will win a pair of 3-day tickets each (for 6,7 and 8 August). Closing date for entries: Friday 6 March. Contact us for more details.


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Pippa Middleton grabs a cup of coffee as she heads to work on Friday (October 7) in London, England.
The 28-year-old and her sister Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, will be getting the E! True Hollywood Story treatment later this week!
The one-hour special will "tell the tale of the commoner sisters who were launched into the international spotlight after Kate fell in love with a royal."
Make sure to catch E! True Hollywood Story: Kate & Pippa this Wednesday (October 12) at 10pm!


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The Hidden Pond Farm Equine Rescue is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by farm owner Phyllis Marie Elliott. For many years Hidden Pond Farm was a staple in the New England horse show community, training and attending breed shows up and down the coast. After several decades of training and showing, Phyllis found her attention shifting away from prize-winning show horses towards those much less fortunate. Several bouts of research about the horse slaughter industry later and she made the decision that her farm would no longer be a show barn, but rather a sanctuary for horses in need. In 2014 Phyllis launched the Rescue as a simple online fundraising page, raising money for their first rescue trip to a local livestock auction. This simple online fundraiser saw such immense success that the idea to form an official organization was born.
As a Rescue organization we follow a simple mission:
- RESCUE :: The first goal of of the Rescue is to attend kill auctions and save horses, ponies, minis, and mules from slaughter by doing one of two things: buying and bringing them home for rehabilitation or buying and humanely euthanizing those that are too injured or ill to survive. This last act may be difficult to understand but as an animal rescue we are dedicating to alleviating suffering which unfortunately may come in the form of preventing an animal from living out their remaining hours in fear and pain.
- REHAB :: Rescuing horses bound for slaughter is only the first step (not to mention the the least expensive!) Following each rescue we conduct an evaluation of who the horse is and what they will be best suited for in their new life. After identifying these qualities our focus turns to getting them healthy enough to lead that life. This lengthy process can include quarantine, farrier visits, vet visits, training, and lots of emotional TLC.
- REHOME :: After rehabilitation our mission shifts towards the most rewarding part of the job, finding each rescue a loving forever home with a well-matched partner.
- EDUCATE :: Last but certainly not least, as a rescue organization we aim to educate as many people as possible about the alternatives to horse slaughter. We understand that horse owners often end up in positions where owning a horse is no longer feasible for them. When confronted with this situation we want people to know that the quick and easy solution (auction and/or horse sale) is NOT the answer. Our Rescue, along with many others, is here to help. We are a resource, a network community, and - if all else fails - we will provide a new, temporary home and second chance for your horse. If you know of anyone who is considering sending their horse to an easy, cheap auction or horse sale please contact us immediately.
We cannot do this alone, and therefore it is the overarching goal of Hidden Pond Farm Equine Rescue to spread awareness. We do this with the help of our amazing donors and by networking with other animals rescue groups so that we might all work together for a common goal...to save these amazing animals that have carried us through history.
A Letter From Our Founder
Dear concerned readers and horse lovers everywhere,
I have come from a lifetime of horses, handed down through the generations of my family. Each time with love, from my grandfather to my father, my father to his children. My earliest memories of horses began when I was 3 years old, living in East Boston. That's right, I am a born and raised (for a time) city girl. Before I owned them, I loved horses. I used to pretend that I was riding as I watched western movies on TV and sat on the arm rest of our old couch. When I was 7 years old my father took my brother, Frank, and I to a Welsh Pony auction at Suffolk Downs. We drove my father crazy screaming and asking to buy every single pony that came into the sale ring. I don't know if it was because he just wanted us to stop screaming, or if he had planned to buy a pony all along, but buy he did. We left that auction with a $75 yearling pony, 3/4 blind in one eye. His name was Edge Hill Agate, from the famed Edgewood Farm in North Andover, MA.
It was at that point that my love for horses became my life's work. A life filled with love, education, friends, family, travel and a few bumps and bruises along the way. My husband, Bill Elliott, also comes from many generations of horse people, and we have since shared our journey with two daughters and now grandchildren. At our farm in Brentwood, NH, we have hosted summer riding camps, 4-H and became barn parents to many additional children. We have shared our passion as far and wide as we can reach alone. Our love and commitment to our horses is, and has always been, for their entire lives – not simply until they cannot perform anymore. Very rarely have we ever sold one and when we have, more often than not, they ended up right back at home.
During the more recent years of my life I have become very aware of the horses out there who are not as lucky as ours. The economy took a dive and the surplus of horses and homes needed for them just became too high. Some of us have even had the horror of seeing and hearing about many glamorous ex-race horses who, after spending most of their short lives in the media, ended up at slaughter houses. Hard to imagine, I know. So we started by rescuing a few of our own: a talented race horse fresh off the track that needed knee surgery, an unbroken (not even to halter) pony, a few more that have turned into marvelous riding horses for my daughter, Jessica's, riding program.
Bill, Jessica and I love horses to the point of making them our life's work. This journey that is my life has taken a slight turn from the show ring and is now aimed at the livestock auction ring, where our goal is to help as many horses as possible by removing them from the direct danger of equine slaughter to new homes and new lives. We will do this one day at a time and one horse at a time. It started as a love, evolved into a passion, and has built itself into an obsession. I have come from a lifetime of horses and it is time to give back to the creatures that have given us all so much joy. I would ask that you help us, to help them.
With gratitude,


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The WoodCurve Stacked Teacups shelving unit looks like it is about to topple over at any moment. Known for creating high-quality handmade wood furniture that has a haphazard look to it, WoodCurve made this teacup unit replicate something you might find in a messy person's kitchen.
If you are the type of person who enjoys a bit of chaos and finds unique decor to be more exciting than streamlined furnishings, this shelf is definitely for you. It appears that there are four teacup-shaped units balancing precariously on top of each other, however, when you look at the back of the shelves, you will notice that the entire thing is a single solid unit.
Get the look of a jumbled mess without actually having one with the WoodCurve Stacked Teacups.
Precariously Balanced Furniture
More Stats +/-
Multifunctional Slotted Chairs
Horizontal Book Benches
Versatile Slotted Shelving
Modular Box Storage Units
Weather-Inspired Wall Decor
The WoodCurve Stacked Teacups Shelf Looks Ready to Tumble
- By: Gil HaddiNov 29, 2012
References: etsy & wishlist.nu
References: etsy & wishlist.nu


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CBS (9-11 p.m. ET)
When killer bees threaten a Fourth of July picnic, National Bee Center Director Efrem Zimbalist Jr. and pilot Dan Haggerty offer themselves as bait to save the celebrants—and to prove their machismo to their mutual honey, National Bee Center Assistant Tovah Feldshuh. That's only one highlight in this supremely ridiculous TV movie. (Repeat)


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Construction vehicles are grading the dirt on the town center portion of the massive Fancher Creek mixed-use regional shopping center in southeast Fresno, bringing the first signs of life to a long-anticipated project poised to rival River Park.
Developer Ed Kashian of Lance Kashian & Co. said work has started to prepare about 90 acres of land along Clovis Avenue, south of Belmont Avenue to the Fancher Creek canal, for underground utilities and then construction of streets.
The work – at a cost of about $35 million – could take a year.
"Before we build the first building, we're going to have all the streets and all the utilities and everything in place," Kashian said.
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"We're moving a lot of ash and a lot of dirt. There won't be any buildings start until about spring or summer of next year."
Kashian and developer Tom Richards of The Penstar Group in Fresno first proposed the Fancher Creek development project in 2000. It would serve more than 400,000 people in the southeast portion of the city and those living in neighboring communities like Sanger, Reedley and Parlier.
The project's environmental impact report took five to six years to get approved, Kashian says. Another two to three years were spent working on a development agreement with the city of Fresno, which describes the responsibilities of both sides.
Other challenges include lawsuits by Fresno, the city of Clovis and Madera County over traffic and air pollution issues. Then, the recession hit, bringing large development projects and business expansion plans to a halt.
Before we build the first building, we're going to have all the streets and all the utilities and everything in place.
Ed Kashian, developer
When the economy began to recover, Kashian moved forward with his 45-acre Campus Pointe retail and restaurant project at Fresno State. Fancher Creek, meanwhile, underwent a little redesign. A lake, originally proposed as a central feature of the development, was replaced with an open recreational area.
"The Lord decided not to provide us very much rain … so we thought it may not be a good idea to waste water with a lake, so we had to redesign the shopping center," Kashian said.
The town center could have around 970,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, 740 multifamily housing units, a plaza and recreational areas including a 1.5-mile walking trail along the Fancher Creek canal.
The center is one of three commercial components of the Fancher Creek master-planned community. The others include the Fancher Creek Business Park at Belmont and Fowler avenues and the Village Center, a neighborhood retail center at Kings Canyon Road and Fowler Avenue. Both already have tenants.
Fancher Creek Town Center will have around 970,000 square feet of commercial retail space, offices, residential units, recreational areas and a 1.5-mile walking trail along the Fancher Creek canal.
Once the town center infrastructure is complete, the developers will build a transit center and a police station. Senior housing will follow. The rest of the development will be built according to what the market demands.
"We're rebranding the whole area," Kashian said. "It's not known for safety or cleanliness. The city and the transit station, the police station are an integral part of this thing. I want those built before I do anything else."
Fresno City Council Member Sal Quintero, who represents southeast Fresno, said his office has received calls from the public about the Fancher Creek development for years.
"I think it's really going to make folks excited to see some land being moved there," Quintero said. "There's a lot of anticipation to start seeing something happen."
We're really working on it. I've put a lot of money, a lot of time into it. I'm going to get it done.
Ed Kashian
Once construction begins, the rest of the neighborhood will follow with new businesses moving in or renovating their buildings, Quintero said.
Kashian and his team welcome input from residents on what they want to see at Fancher Creek. The company asked for suggestions to fill empty spaces at River Park and got responses that helped drive two popular businesses to town: H&M clothing store and Dave and Buster's restaurant and entertainment business.
"We're really working on it," Kashian said. "I've put a lot of money, a lot of time into it. I'm going to get it done."
BoNhia Lee: 559-441-6495, @bonhialee


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With a hankering to try something new for dinner one night, my friend Lisa and I got very excited upon reading the vegan menu at Taqueria Monterrey in the USF area of Tampa. They are a sister restaurant to Taco Bus, and knowing that affiliation, I had a good feeling about trying this place out.
We walked into the tiny "Monterrey #2" fairly late in the evening, so business was quiet, but the Latin tunes were blasting, bringing me back to my Zumba days. We sat at a booth and requested the vegan menu, which is entirely separate.
With several options to choose from, deciding was challenging. Lisa went with a soy chorizo burrito plate
and I went with a two-taco plate: one with faux-steak strips and the other with soy chorizo.
I was not impressed with the steak strips. They were incredibly bland, which made their texture that much weirder for me without some flavor to mask it. I did not finish them.
The chorizo, on the other hand, was much more flavorful, with a little kick to 'em. They're also more on the drippy-saucy side, which is usually a sign of deliciousness, as well as sexiness (because who doesn't get turned on by taco sauce dribbles?).
Somehow I missed photographing the bottomless bowl of chips and salsa, but I definitely recommend that. The salsa is fresh and chock full o' cilantro, just how I like it!
Would I return to Taqueria Monterrey? For sure. I'll just skip the steak strips.


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Prisma for PC, iOS: This application has given a different style of editing the picture. You can convert your photos into an artistic painting. For making a painting of your photo you need spend money but with the help of this application you can do it for free. If we go for a painter we might wait for long to complete the painting. Why wasting money and time? Just with a simple touch and editing you can make your own painting. So here I am gonna to help you to download Prisma app for windows PC, Prisma for iOS, iPhone, iPad devices and make you to get Prisma APK for android latest version updated.
Prisma for iOS is officially available. You might be thinking if this type of editing is available on PC then it will easier for editing. Then you have come to the right place. Now Download Free Prisma for PC Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7 or Windows XP & also Prisma photo editor for Mac and iOS by following this article.
Download Prisma App for PC Windows (8.1/10/8/7) 32 bit & 64 bit Laptop
Easily download and use Prisma photo editor on PC of Windows 8.1/8/10/7/vista 32/64 bits, Prisma for Mac or iOS and enjoy on the bigger screen of your laptop/PC. Make your images as a painting by yourself. This has better and cool filters for making the picture look great. You can use any style of painting you want.
Key Features of Prisma App for PC, iOS, Android
- Convert your photos into an artistic painting.
- Style the picture to look wonderful and can do in different ways.
- Easy user interface for handling the application.
- Cool filters for making the artistic painting.
- Completely free and after completion it save the photos.
- Made used of neural networks and artificial intelligence.
- Instant sharing is available.
How to Download Prisma for PC Windows 8.1/10/8/7/xp/vista
You might be exited to use Prisma application on PC and you can do this by following the simple procedure. So get ready to Download Prisma for Laptop/PC on Windows, vista 32/64 bits, Mac, iOS, iPhone and Android. For downloading the application on PC or laptops you need an Android emulator.
Download Bluestacks for windows, here I am going to use Bluestacks which is an Android emulator and it will easily install any android applications for PC. Now let us go for the installation procedure.
How to Install Prisma App for PC on Windows 8/8.1/10/7/xp 32 bit, 64 bit & Mac Laptop
- By using the link download setup file of Bluestacks.
- Run and Install Bluestacks from the set up file. (This process takes some time; it depends on the speed of internet.)
- Launch Bluestacks after installation.
- Now in the search box type the name as Prisma and enter it.
- The application is found so click on apps icon.
- Click on Install.
- After installing find the application by going at Android section and click on the option for All apps for viewing the application.
Prisma APK for Android Phone, Download Prisma App free
Prisma photo editing application first released for iOS devices, for android they may release in the late July 2016. Offcial version of Prisma app is available in the Google Play Store, from play store you can find vaious unofficial Prisma apps, so get original app using above given link, you can use that official app on your android mobiles and now follow the steps on how to install Prisma app for android.
- First check mobile data on your android phone.
- Now open interent browser on your android mobile.
- Open Google play store and type 'Prisma' and click on search icon.
- There after it will shows you app, and click on Prisma to start installation.
- Apart from this you can also download another way to download Prisma android app on your phone.
- Here go to get official Prisma APK and start the installation of Prisma.APK file.
- First go to your mobile Settings > Security > Unknown Sources and click on Unknown Sources box.
- Now install Prisma Android APK and start photo editing.
Prisma App for iPad (iOS) iPhone Download Free | Get Prisma Photo Editing App
You can free download official version of Prisma for iPad, iOS, iPhone and for iPod devices. I will give direct download like of Prisma for iOS 8.0, 8.1, 8.1.2, 8.1.3, 8.2, 8.3, Prisma for iOS 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1, 9.3.2 & Prisma for iPad, iPad air 2, iPad mini, Prisma for iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, 6, 6s, 6s Plus devices.
Now you can open the application and you can directly edit the pictures on your PC. If this article has helped you in any way you can tell your experience and you can tell about this to your friends and family. After download Prisma for PC Windows 10/8.1/8/XP/7/vista, Mac, Prisma APK for android free & Prisma for iPad iOS iPhone, you access the application and start converting the pictures in stylish.


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Sheila Witt joins Twist Marketing™ as Account Services Manager
Veteran new business development specialist will be based at agency's Calgary office.
Twist Marketing™ is pleased to announce the hiring of Sheila Witt to help further develop its growing portfolio of regional and national accounts.
"Ms. Witt brings nearly 20 years of media experience in all aspects of television production, radio, print and out-of-home advertising," explains Managing Director, Catherine Proulx. "Sheila comes to us from Pattison Outdoor where she held the position of Senior Account Executive. At Pattison, she was instrumental in acquiring numerous, large corporate and retail accounts. We look forward to Sheila continuing her successful track record of new business development at Twist Marketing™."
"I am excited by my new challenge at Twist Marketing™ and look forward to working with the team to further develop their already extensive client base and services," says Witt. "I feel fortunate to be joining such a respected group of professionals within the branding, engagement and communications industry, who pride themselves on creating and delivering top quality services."
Ms. Witt holds a Communication and Media Studies/Radio and Television Arts diploma from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. She will service Twist Marketing™'s regional and national clients from the agency's Calgary office.
Twist Marketing™, a leader in branding, engagement and communications, has been serving North American clients for more than 10 years. Organizations trust Twist Marketing™ to deliver business results, not just business exposure. They do this by challenging convention and providing a unique combination of strategic insight, creative ideas and innovative solutions that work. www.twistmarketing.com


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Close Ties provides an intimate look at a rites of passage ceremony that connects teenage boys with male role models. The ceremony at this New Orleans barbershop was created by Dr. Andre Perry and Wilbert "Chill" Wilson as a way to strengthen communities struggling with crime, poverty and alarming high school drop out rates. Cultural traditions have been the cornerstone of African American communities for centuries. Close Ties examines the impact of this new tradition and shows us how tying a necktie --- an act associated with men who embody professionalism and prestige --- can inspire high school boys to commit to a life of achievement and success.
Dr. Perry and barber "Chill" Wilson saw the need for a program in New Orleans and created the tie-tying ceremony as a solution to consistently low academic performance by Black male students. The statistics show that many of these boys never graduate from high school and of those that do, most do not obtain a college degree. In New Orleans, city leaders, policy experts and scholars are working together to find solutions that will reverse the statistics and help more Black males become college graduates and community leaders.
The youth participating in this tie-tying ceremony are boys selected from several schools in New Orleans. The aim of the event --- to bring a rites of passage ceremony to the community that encourages self-actualization, college attendance and professionalism among urban males. During the event, the boys participate in a tie-tying demonstration, where role models from around the city instruct the youngsters on how to create distinguishing knots with their neckwear. Each of the boys also receives the opportunity to get professional grooming with a haircut and a shoe-shine. The final component of the event is one-on-one mentorship that each student receives from a male role model from the community. The ceremony, which celebrates the transition from boyhood to manhood, goes far beyond the intricacies of tie-tying by using the silk garment as a starting point for discussions on academic and professional achievement.
For these youngsters, learning how to tie a tie is not just about dressing well, it is about becoming a successful adult. And as they make the transition to adulthood, they each must decide what manhood means to them. For one student, manhood is about reaching a stage in life when you can make something of yourself. For another, it means keeping your word, taking care of your family, and putting others before yourself. And for another student, manhood is about fearing God.
The tie-tying ceremony is held in the barbershop because it is a special place where men can discuss freely and openly about what is going on in the community. A routine visit to the barbershop is just one of the many traditions that abound in New Orleans. Barbershops like "Chill's", are cultural epicenters that bring together men from all walks of life --- the bus driver sits next to the attorney who sits next to the college student who sits next to the security guard --- all with the goal of getting a fresh hair cut. And as with any tradition, one of the most crucial components is to pass on knowledge and history to the next generation.
According to Dr. Perry, "Teaching a boy how to tie a tie requires a closeness that is often the missing ingredient in transforming boys to men." Mentorship and involvement in the boys' lives makes tie-tying more than a ceremony. This rites of passage event is fostered and supported by a group of influential New Orleans residents who participate as mentors. They are lawyers, doctors, teachers, journalists and other Black professionals who take pride in giving back to the community. Close Ties documents the mentors and the youth during and after the ceremony, where we see the men encourage and support the boys' academic and career endeavors. The development of these mentoring relationships creates a lasting impact, one felt by students, parents, teachers and the community as a whole.
© Park Triangle Productions, LLC 2013


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By Jano Tantongco
A convicted rapist from Huntington Station has been arrested in connection with the 2013 murder of Sarah Strobel, a Walt Whitman High School graduate, Suffolk police said Wednesday.
Suffolk County Homicide Squad detectives charged 28-year-old Fernando Romualdo with second-degree murder, and arraigned him on Wednesday. Romualdo pled not guilty, according to court records.
Romualdo is serving time upstate at Mohawk Correctional Facility for a second degree rape conviction. According to the state's Department of Corrections and Community Supervision database, Romualdo is serving a maximum sentence of three years at Mohawk.
As of Wednesday night, he was being held without bail at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead.
Strobel was 23 years old when she was found dead at the Froehlich Farm Nature Preserve in Huntington on Oct. 3, 2013.
In response to the arrest, Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone issued a statement Wednesday.
"Sarah Strobel's murder deeply affected the Huntington Station community, but if there is any solace in her tragic death, it is that she helped crystallize the community into banding together and working with the town on measures to improve the quality of life in the Station," Petrone said. "Those improvements will be her lasting legacy."


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In my teen years, I read a YA novel whose protagonist embarked upon a crash "steak and water diet" to lose weight for an upcoming rendezvous with a dreamy pen pal. One day nothing but steak, the next day nothing but water. Not satisfied with her progress, she upped the ante to one day steak, two days water. She did lose weight, but also became frantic, dizzy, and emotionally volatile, and developed a sallow complexion. And the dreamy pen pal turned out to be a jerk. (Later she adopts more normal eating habits and a healthier relationship with food, and gains more self-respect.)
In our modern world, this crazee teen girl diet-to-get-a-guy behavior is now called "biohacking" by wealthy Silicon Valley techdudes who insist that fasting is manly and techno and productive. There is euphoria! There is energy! There is weight loss! N.B.: weight loss is not dieting. Energy is not dizziness. Euphoria is not emotional volatility.
I used to donate money to my local food bank but now I am going to forward this article to them and suggest that they share with their patrons the Good News that what they thought was hunger is in fact On Trend! They are biohacking! If your young child complains about going to bed without dinner, tell him or her that brave Silicon Valley CEOs are voluntarily going SEVEN DAYS with only water, coffee, and black tea as sustenance! To be sure, they are breaking their fast (get it? break-fast? So THAT's where that word comes from, lol!) only at upscale sushi restaurants, and your child should be sure to do the same. Don't let your child put anything boring in its mouth anymore. If your child wants a bagel, take it to NYC for a bagel. Bagels in San Francisco just suck. Ramen? Off you go to Tokyo!
In fact, you may think, why not make a business out of your hunger? You have biohacking expertise galore! Some of these CEOs have been "inundated with requests from people seeking advice…on how to get started." Lord knows the poor CEOs are busy enough already making the world better through technology and biohacking their own bodies; do they have time to instruct their fellow men in the art of not eating? No doubt their noble natures would compel them to make time to share the Good News but "no one makes money when people don't eat."
There are, however, plenty of people who want to be seen not eating. In this America becoming great again of ours, the techno elites have discovered true hunger artistry, as it were, and as they succeed, they are brought only the food they like to eat, when they want to eat it. The rest of us can only gaze at the spectacle in astonishment.


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General Reservation Information
You can book or inquire about
- a room or Casita reservation
- a car rental
- an English speaking private driver/naturalist guide with a van
- or simply ask for more information
To Email a Request CLICK HERE
Let us know
- which date(s) you'd like (please use the format 12th Dec 2017 not 12/12/17)
- if you'd like a car rental (2WD or 4WD, small/medium/large, manual or automatic and start and end date)
- if you'd like an English speaking private driver/naturalist guide with a van let us know date(s)
- or simply ask for more information on any subject e.g. how long is a bit of string (string theory), how do we feel about what happened in Crimea, can we advise on which bit of DNA to snip on your high school CRISPR/Cas 9 machine
If you have urgent requests (bookings for next 48 hours) please call us directly +506-2430-2929 at any time. We are happy to help! Note we are not always connected umbilically to the internet.
Some light reading (sometimes known as fine print) follows to keep you amused as you go through the frustrating experience of figuring out a new country for your vacation. Need trip ideas try this page on for size.
If you are a Costa Rica resident
Ask us about leaving your car in our secure parqueo while you skip back to Trumpolandia, Canada, UK, Germany etc etc. Car is free for up to 2 weeks, space is limited. Also check with us about our special residents rate (with cedula) - does not include the airport taxi FYI. Email Berni here: Pura Vida Hotel
Our Special Pura Vida "NO WORRIES" Guarantees
- We do not pre-charge ANYTHING on a credit card. You do not have a confirmed reservation until you receive a CONFIRMATION email from us with a confirmation number. Any questions just email us 24 hours a day - happy to help!
- We have a 48 hour cancellation policy ("Wot a delightful policy!", gasped Mrs Jones) so we have a chance to rent the room/casita you guaranteed. If you are a no-show we will charge your first night, so do please be sure to cancel the reservation promptly if your travel plans change.
- If you are arriving on your first night in Costa Rica and your flight is canceled or diverted or otherwise distracted, you will not be charged for the first room night for airlines that you can't control - no worries and Pura Vida! ("Gee willikers!", Mrs Jones who hails from Calgary exclaimed, "no more worries about that one, eh!").
Life is too short to worry 'bout such things.
What Is Included/Free International Arrival Airport Pickup etc
- Web site rates are double occupancy plus 13% sales tax (rest of info in ROOMS page)
- Your booking includes an excellent breakfast (or a "breakfast to go" for early exits at any time)
- a San Jose International airport pickup (for International arrivals only) - Taxis back to the airport are available usually within 2 minutes and cost about $9 to $11 (taxis are here within 2 minutes usually at any time of day or night).
NOTE: our environment is not suitable for young children e.g. 2 large rambunctious dogs, orchids, advanced irony etc. so, we are sorry but we can't accept children 7 or under although we have made exceptions for super kids with ingenious parents and notes from their teachers.
Dinners & Late Arrivals
The Pura Vida Hotel is a small renovated hotel, your casitas in the delightful gardens and a tasty private restaurant - as we buy what we cook each night, we need advance reservations - you will find information here. If we do not have enough people for dinner on a particular night, we may cancel and refer you out to a good local restaurant. We can create special menus for groups. We do need to know any special dietary needs such as "vegetarian", "no red meat", "no nuts" (except the management), "nothing grown anaerobically" . . . we've seen it all :-). Our 3 course dinner is $39/person plus tax - dinner is at 7pm and not available every night.
If you have a group of 6 or more, ask us about our 5 course gourmet tasting menu from your personal chef, Chef Nhi - featuring indigenous foods, cooked lightly in a creative menu and including a wine for each course at $68/person plus tax. We do not do dietary restrictions for these special menus. There will be no squishy unidentifiable things to worry about.
For those who need a dinner and don't want to go out we can provide a late meal or snack but we need reservations by the previous day - just let us know if you have any dietary requests such as "vegetarian" or "no cilantro". Cost is $17 and ranges from sandwich/salad to pasta to veggy plates and depends on what we have that day fresh. Usually served/boxed for arrivals after 8pm.
There are no restaurants within walking distance nor any high end restaurants. Otherwise there are a host of rubbishy restaurants in Alajuela and three we like - Jalapenos (Mexican run by a super nice Colombian from New York), Snr Patacone (same owner 2 doors down Colombian 'fast food") and Carnes y Parillas (excellent parrillada grill)) - all are a short taxi ride from here and an easy taxi return.
If your flight leaves early, we'll be up with you to hand you your "breakfast to go" and call you a taxi at any time you like . . . 4am if you need it - just let us know the night before. Taxis are here in 2 minutes. The International airport is 10 minutes away. You do not need any more than 2 1/2 hours at the airport for your departure. We are the best option for your last night (well OK IMHO :-). NOTE: we have 2 domestic airlines - SANSA is next to the International Airport and NATURE AIR is inside the main SJO terminal
If you can't occasionally laugh at or with us or yourself, please think about the Hampton Inn. At the Pura Vida Hotel you can expect clean and nicely decorated rooms or casitas, coffee makers, comfy pillows, a beautiful tropical garden, welcoming hosts and helpful staff all delivered with a slightly off kilter British sense of humor. When visiting places we do not know about we like some help getting around in a language we speak. Be happy to help you with this stuff! Type A personalities may find our little country frustrating but, before letting it get to you, check out the smiles on the kids walking to school every morning.
Car rentals are available at competitive prices - request quotes for an:
- Economy 2WD - the Toyota Yaris
- Small 4WD - the Terrios BEGO
- Medium 4WD - the Toyota RAV4
- Larger 4WD - the Toyota Prado Landcruiser
- Van - the 12 OR 15 passenger Toyota Hiace
Manual transmission on smaller cars can save you money. We have worked with Toyota now since our first rental in 1983 with flawless results. When checking car rentals make sure cars can be delivered and picked up here and that the cars are late model - no more than 1 or 2 years old - as you don't want to spend a day of your vacation chasing car issues. A GPS should be offered when the car is delivered (optional) but best to book ahead.
We can provide a quote from Toyota Car Rental who also delivers to your breakfast table. To request a quote, please let us know the following:
- 2WD or 4WD? (email us your route if you are not sure and we can advise)
- manual or automatic transmission?
- size e.g.
- small (e.g. Toyota Yaris 2WD or Terrios 4WD),
- medium (e.g. Toyota RAV4), or
- large (e.g. Toyota Prado Land Cruiser)
- 12 passenger van?
- the date you would like it delivered to the hotel and the date you want it picked up?
One way rentals also available.
Some Pura Vida Extras with Toyota Rent a Car: our guests now get 1 extra driver at no cost, free delivery and pickup anywhere in the area, no drop off fees for one way rentals (if you drop at a Toyota office in country). Our guests have been so reliable that Toyota will no longer require a hold on your credit card when you take full insurance except for the amount of the rental. This deposit is often over $1000 so now all of your card remains available to you for your trip.
- Ask that rentacars be delivered to the hotel the morning after your arrival at the breakfast table and picked up on your last night if you like. You can hand us the keys and your bill can be faxed to the hotel that night. In the morning we call you a taxi at any time - it is usually here in 2 or 3 minutes.
- For all quotes in Costa Rica make sure they include the mandatory basic insurance (a government requirement for all rentals - all insurance in Costa Rica is provided by the government run INS agency). The above price can be reduced a little if you take CDW coverage on your credit card. Check with your card company if your credit card covers CDW in Costa Rica.
- At the end of the rental you can just leave the car in our parking lot, leave the keys with us and all will be taken care of (no messing with car rental desks for early exits). Alternately you can drop the car near the airport or almost anywhere else - just let us know where if it is not a Toyota office.
- If you want to remove the deductible (amount depends on car rented) and do full insurance you can decide what to do at the time the car is delivered. The English speaking agent delivering the car can help you with any insurance options.
- There is another option for so called "full insurance" - if you have an American Express card, ask them about their "premium car insurance" program. You may save yourself about $180 on an average 9 day car rental full insurance - you have to have Amex cover you ahead of arriving in Costa Rica. Between 70 and 80% of our guests opt for full insurance. Be aware there are some limits and issues. Should you have an accident the amount of the damage will be carried on your Amex card while they sort out the details.
We can book local reliable drivers we know well - they are knowledgeable "Ticos" and speak fluent English. They can take you to anywhere in the country in private vans. They operate on your schedule and we can find ways to "turn transfers into tours". Email us the request ahead of your arrival and we'll have a knowledgeable Costa Rican driver with excellent English, a great attitude and a late model, insured, air conditioned van ready for a trip of your choice at breakfast your first day.
This is a great way to start a trip with "a local perspective sitting in the drivers seat" while you start your relaxing vacation. Check our TOURING menu for more info (like you needed more :-)).
Recommended: on your first day as an "A Trip to Poas and La Paz Waterfall". Email us for a quote or use the reservation form.


text: Hello, I'm a web developer who has a 1/3 ownership stake in a business that is developing web-based productivity software. Two other individuals each have a 1/3 share (they're business people / investors). I am working for equity alone but the other owners have unrealistic expectations about development timelines. I also have a full-time job that typically requires more than 40 hours a week, leaving only weekends to work on the project. The other owners knew this when I signed on, but they keep pushing me to meet unrealistic deadlines. They are not software developers and do not understand the complexity involved. I simply cannot work 60-70 hours per week to meet their deadlines. I have all the signed paperwork showing that I'm a 1/3 owner. So what happens if our disagreements become so tense that I'm no longer willing to work on the project? If I were to stop work completely, what are the repercussions? If they have to pay another developer to finish the work, and the project becomes a financial success, how can I count on accurate accounting of profit (and my share of it)? What are some ways that they could try to push me out of the partnership or otherwise seek retribution for my unwillingness to cooperate with their unrealistic expectations? I've never taken on an equity-only project before because I was worried about things like this. It's much more complicated than simply working for a fee.


text:
Matt is a New Brunswick-based artist who enjoys creating and experimenting with various media including photography, music, writing and their various combinations. Feel free to contact him by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com or follow him on Twitter at @m_j_c73
About Matt
6 Responses to "About Matt"
Elaine Bateman November 30, 2011 at 10:33 am #
Hi Matt,
It's Elaine at Shift. We'd love to play your song today on the show. Please give me a call at 632-7722.
Joan Green November 30, 2011 at 1:48 pm #
Is this the boy I taught in Geary? Love your song! My husband and I are involved in the No Shale Gas movement so we find your song very inspiring. It will definitely lift the spirits of those who are struggling against great odds in order to stop this industry. Thanks for your contribution!!
Keep up your great work,
Joan Green
Shane Fox November 30, 2011 at 6:07 pm #
Hey Matt! I stumbled upon your blog, while listening to your shale gas song. (Very cool by the way) I just wanted to let you know I will be reading more!! I love it. And Connor is a budding writer who won an award at school last year for his writing. I'll tune him in too. Thanks for the good reads!!
Peggy December 4, 2011 at 2:23 am #
HI Matt
The coalseam gas is also an issue here in Australia especially here in Queensland. Our mineral laws are the same as Canada's and lots of farming folk are having their lands ruined by exploration for minerals and coal seam gas. Liked the song by the way it was great.
Your Aunt, Peggy


text:
Distance Education Course: An introduction to Christian Counseling with the goal of promoting a deeper understanding of Christian Counseling
Course Description: Other counseling approaches will also be reviewed including Brief Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. The course will explore the foundation of Christian Counseling, developing a Therapeutic Relationship, the process of Christian Counseling and major uses of Christian Counseling. In addition, skills will be developed around how to support individuals and families who experience a range of problems.
Prerequisite: DEGS3102 Introduction to Psychology
Course Textbook:
Competent Christian Counseling, Volume One : Foundations and Practice of Compassionate Soul Care, Timothy Clinton and George Ohlschlager. ISBN: 1578565170
Instructor: Tina Strutt
Biography: Tina Strutt is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and an ordained minister with the PAOC. Tina currently lives in Sudbury, Ontario with her husband and three children. Tina has developed a private counselling practice that has been running strong since 2006. Her specialties include pre-marital, marriage and family, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, grief and loss and a variety of personal life transitional issues. Tina loves to hang with her family, run long distance, read suspense novels, and get a great shopping deal!
Tina's higher education history includes Trinity Western University, Providence University College and Seminary, Summit Pacific College and Master's College and Seminary. Her experience includes student development, small groups, counselling, and teaching. She created and directed the Counselling Foundations Program at Summit Pacific College in BC for eight years, equipping students for pastoral counselling ministry and preparing them for further counselling education at an MA level.
BTH from Master's College and Seminary
MA in Counselling from Providence University College and Seminary.
Course Costs
|IT Fees
|$ 36.00
|$ 696.00
|Textbook Sales (inc GST)
|$ 44.50
|CoursePak Text (inc GST)
|$ 26.25
|$ 30.00
|$ 832.75
For more information about this course please contact IBOLT


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Last fully redesigned for the 2014 model year, the Toyota Highlander received styling and drivetrain updates for 2017, including a new grille and an available V-6 engine that's more powerful and works with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. Our test model, an uplevel Limited trim with all-wheel drive, while not base-price, had the updated V-6 drivetrain and an as-tested price of $44,514, including a $940 destination charge.
Exterior and Styling
The Highlander's 2014 redesign gave the SUV a tougher look, and the changes for 2017 take that design theme even further. The updated front end has a huge trapezoid grille with chrome bars that replace the old snoutlike design, but the SUV's overall shape remains the same.
The Toyota Highlander's competitors in our Challenge — the redesigned 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, 2017 Honda Pilot and all-new 2018 Volkswagen Atlas — are all bigger on the outside, some significantly so, and the Toyota's smaller size can be felt in the cabin.
Limited trim design cues include smoked headlights, 19-inch chrome wheels and chrome roof rails.
How It Drives
Many modern three-row SUVs drive like big cars, but the Highlander isn't one of them, even with drivetrain updates for 2017.
The Highlander has a firmer, busier ride than the Traverse, which benefits from a longer wheelbase that helps smooth out the ride, as well as comfort-oriented suspension tuning. The Highlander is also louder on the highway than the Chevrolet, with a persistent whistling sound at highway speeds. While the Traverse and Atlas have light, precise steering, the Highlander's is more vague — especially when starting a turn — and lacks feedback.
That said, the Toyota Highlander's suspension handles the SUV's mass well; it doesn't feel top-heavy or unstable through sweeping corners.
V-6-powered Highlanders get the new eight-speed automatic. I liked the V-6 drivetrain in the previous Highlander, which used a six-speed automatic. Even though the new transmission helps the SUV get better EPA-estimated gas mileage, the driving experience suffers.
The biggest problem with the new drivetrain is how sluggish the SUV feels when accelerating from a stop. It's very gradual — even when you press the gas pedal a good bit — like the transmission is in too high a gear. Only at midrange speeds does the drivetrain wake up and deliver stronger acceleration. Moving the console gear selector to the S position instead of Drive improves responsiveness a little.
Most trim levels with the V-6 have an auto stop-start system that shuts off the engine when you come to a stop, then restarts it smoothly when it's time to go again. The system includes a timer in the gauge cluster screen that keeps track of how long the engine has been off. I like how the stop-start system won't turn the engine off if you're pressing lightly on the brake pedal, as in stop-and-go traffic.
With its EPA-estimated 20/26/22 mpg city/highway/combined fuel economy on regular gas, our all-wheel-drive Highlander Limited's gas mileage estimates were the best of the four V-6-powered SUVs in the Three-Row SUV Challenge, though the difference between best and worst combined mpg was just 3 mpg. The all-wheel-drive Pilot was a close second to the Highlander with its 19/26/22 mpg estimate, followed by the front-wheel-drive Traverse's 18/27/21 mpg rating. The all-wheel-drive Atlas, meanwhile, has an estimated fuel economy of 17/23/19 mpg.
The Inside
The Toyota Highlander's interior carries over much the same from the 2016 model. Even though materials are consistently good in the first and second rows, an area where some brands like to use lower-grade trim, the overall design looks dated in the face of newer competitors like the Traverse and Atlas.
The cabin does have some elements that set it apart, including a wide device tray at the bottom of the dashboard that also includes a cord organizer. It's one of those things with obvious appeal considering how many people tote smartphones, but you won't see something like it in other three-row SUVs. The storage bin between the front seats is among the largest in the class, with enough room to hold a laptop or purse.
The front bucket seats are comfortable and the Limited's driver's seat features an adjustable bottom cushion extension that lets you vary thigh support, which I appreciated. Of the four SUVs we tested, the Toyota Highlander was the only one with ventilated front seats in addition to the heated seats they all had.
The Toyota Highlander is, however, missing two popular features common among its competitors: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. The Limited's 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system does include navigation and Bluetooth streaming audio, and it was easy to pair my iPhone using Bluetooth. Though the system is easy to use overall, the touchscreen's graphics are basic compared with the Atlas' high-resolution screen.
The optional second-row bucket seats slide forward and back quite a distance. Even though the seats themselves are comfortable, they're close to the floor, resulting in a less-than-ideal seating position.
It's a good thing there's so much second-row seat travel, because adults who dare sit in the third row rear seat will need as much space as possible for their legs. With its low seat cushion and knees-up position, the Highlander's third-row seat is considerably less comfortable than the Traverse's or Atlas', and its third-row comfort rating was worst of the four SUVs in the Challenge. The third row's backrest does recline quite a bit, however.
The Toyota Highlander's cargo storage was also judged worst. With just 13.8 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row, it'd be hard to pack for a family trip if all three rows of seats are needed.
The 2017 Toyota Highlander received the highest rating possible in all Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crashworthiness tests, and its standard forward-collision automatic emergency braking system also earned the highest rating. Its headlight performance was deemed acceptable, which is IIHS' second-best rating. Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the SUV a five-star overall rating based on its crash-test performance and rollover resistance.
Other standard active safety features include lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights.
Value in Its Class
The mid-cycle updates to the 2017 Toyota Highlander might have been enough at a different time, but in the face of redesigned and all-new competitors that do a better job meeting family needs, it comes up short. Part of the reason is the new V-6 powertrain and its drivability issues, but this SUV is also hurt by characteristics that are hard or impossible to change without a full redesign — like its smallish cabin and cargo area.
Cars.com's Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com's long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don't accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com's advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.


text:
This item is by Royal China and consists of a creamer and a covered sugar bowl in the Minerve Rose pattern. The sugar bowl is 3" tall with the cover on, 4 1/4" in diameter, with a 2 1/8" base. The creamer is 6 1/2" spout to handle, 4 " in diameter, with a 2 1/2" base. Both pieces have a platinum band on the upper rim, and are decorated with pink rose buds and blossoms with leaves and stems. The creamer has a raised "T" on the bottom and the sugar is unmarked. There are no chips, cracks, wear, or use stains on either piece. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or to make an offer.
Antiques, Collectibles


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All Logiic employees adhere to a strict code of conduct that prioritizes client trading over own book activity.
Logiic fosters an entrepreneurial, innovative and strong team-oriented culture.
The best strategy in the world is meaningless if profits cannot be traded or risks hedged properly in illiquid markets/assets.
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We are a leading financial global technology firm, founded by engineers, researchers and financial market analysts that specialize in algorithm trading.READ MORE
In 2004, Logiic was founded. We started trading in equity markets using proprietary algorithmic trading systems to buy/sell according to present market indicators.READ MORE
We only trade in the most liquid instruments / asset classes on the market, crypto currency and mining for valuable digital currency.READ MORE


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MRF Recycling Plant
Nathan Way, SE28
Don't you wonder what happens to all your recycling once it goes into that blue-topped bin? It just doesn't feel right that it all goes in one bin, unsorted. How do they do it? I had imagined a little team of Ooompa Loompas sorting it all out, then wondered whether they used convicts from Belmarsh (complete with stripy outfits and balls & chains around their ankles…) Someone told me that they shipped it all to China – you know the sort of rumours that go round.
Then I heard that you could put your name down to go on a tour around the MRF plant (Materials Recycling Facility) and – well – who could resist? It took over a year for my name to turn up on the list, but it really is worth doing.
It is actually like some alternate universe version of the chocolate factory – what Willy Wonka would have built if he was into waste management. As you go in, the are lorries bringing the contents of Greenwich's blue bins – a gigantic mountain of the stuff every day. The sheer size of that mountain is extraordinary – and a sobering thought.
First of all it's fed into a terrifying-looking machine called a bag-splitter. This is something out of a cartoon – giant revolving knives ripping and shredding the sacks that we put our stuff into and loosening the contents. The sort of thing that Roger Rabbit would be straining with hands, feet and ears to avoid being pushed into by Judge Doom.
It all then goes into what looks like a gigantic tumble dryer, a Trommel Screen – it's full of gusts of air which blows out all the loose paper and light bits of plastic, sending the heavier stuff along on a conveyor belt past a massive magnet, which picks up all the ferrous metal – tin cans etc. The heavy stuff goes onto the Ballistic Separator (I forgot to say that all the machines have James Bond villain-type names) which sorts out aluminium – which is bounced off the magnet into another box. All that's left is glass and plastic.
Next comes the Piercer-Crusher Unit (see what I mean about the names) which does exactly that – pierces the plastic and crushes the glass, which is sieved out into vats below. The plastic goes onto a 21st Century piece of kit which identifies densities of plastic using infra-red beams.
Anything that's left over trundles along on a conveyor belt for the only humans in the place to check over manually. Frankly there's not much left. Everything gets baled up and sold – which helps to keep the costs down. Another thing that keeps down rates is that the plant takes in recycling from other boroughs at commercial rates.
And what does it go to?
Cardboard – corrugated card for packaging
Newspaper – reused as newspaper
Other paper – recycled as – you've guessed it – paper
Metals – can be many things such as aeroplane and car parts
Glass – crushed and used for road building in South East London
Plastics – fleece fabric, CD cases, work surfaces and, in a pleasingly cyclical twist, wheelie bins
After you've handed in your hard hat and come back for a cup of tea and a biscuit the guy talks about all the new moves and things they're planning and answers questions, more candidly than I had expected. We were given nice notebooks made out of recycled paper, pencils made out of old CDs and a splendid pencil sharpener in the shape of a wheelie bin which is the envy of all who see it.
I heartily recommend a visit – a most unusual day out – but utterly fascinating. You'll have to wait – stick your name on the list and you will get there eventually. The place doesn't smell, by the way – that's mixed dry recyclables for you. It's quite dusty – you come out wanting a shower – but not horrid.
You can put your name on the list by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com


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A warning from God to proud, false shepherds September 10, 2015Posted by Tantumblogo in Basics, Bible, catachesis, different religion, episcopate, error, foolishness, General Catholic, Papa, priests, scandals, secularism, self-serving, Society, the return, the struggle for the Church.
From Ezechiel chapter XXXIV. I add some comments for context, but I think the text largely self-explanatory.
Background – the Jews were constantly falling into heresy and idolatry through their associating with members of foreign, satanic religions (an interesting commentary on ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue, no?). They intermarried and under various influences embraced the barbaric, demonic practices of the religions of Ba'al and other false gods. This included sacrificing their own infant children to a supposed god of fertility, burning them to death in the arms of a brass idol heated to terrific temperature by fires lit for the purpose (shades of our rampant abortion, today). After several hundred years of disasters, prophetic warnings, and God literally begging his people to stop, He finally had enough and allowed the Assyrians under Nebuchadnezzar to crush them. Some of the worst fates were reserved for the priests and Levites who had not only tolerated this heresy but often taken part in them, as well.
I'll let the great prophet Ezechiel take it from there:
1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 Son of man, prophesy concerning the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to the shepherds: Thus saith the Lord God: *Wo to the shepherds of Israel, that fed themselves: should not the flocks be fed by the shepherds?
3 You eat the milk, and you clothed yourselves with the wool, and you killed that which was fat: but my flock you did not feed. [Seeking to serve themselves and please the powers of the world, they allowed their flock to starve, spiritually. That was a significant factor, according to the inspired Word of God, in the Israeli's falling into idolatry and even apostasy]
4 The weak you have not strengthened, and that which was sick you have not healed; that which was broken you have not bound up, and that which was driven away you have not brought again, neither have you sought that which was lost: but you ruled over them with rigour, and with a high hand. [They enforced cold, man-made laws that did not instill a love of God in souls but just a rigorous following of rules. But most of all, they left people in ignorance and false practice, afraid of displeasing men rather than God by telling people to stop their wicked ways. The parallels to today should be readily apparent]
5 And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became the prey of all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.
6 My sheep have wandered in every mountain, and in every high hill; and my flocks were scattered upon the face of the earth, and there was none that sought them; there was none, I say, that sought them. [How many millions have wandered from the Church during the reign of the false "spirit of Vatican II?" It must be in the hundreds of millions by now, with tens of millions pouring out of the Church and into the sects (esp. in Latin America), seeking even the fake, moldy bread of protestantism to the dust and ashes they have been "fed" by so many wayward shepherds in the Church. And yet these shepherds proclaim the leftism and worldliness they offer a banquet, pretending it is a gourmet feast, as the spiritual skeletons drag themselves away seeking something, anything to fill themselves with]
7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
8 As I live, saith the Lord God, forasmuch as my flocks have been made a spoil, and my sheep are become a prey to all the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd; for my shepherds did not seek after my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flocks:
9 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
10 Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I myself come upon the shepherds, I will require my flock at their hand, and I will cause them to cease from feeding the flock any more; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more: and I will deliver my flock from their mouth, and it shall no more be meat for them.
[And yet we must have hope, for Our Lord will not leave us abandoned if we remain faithful……]
11 For thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I myself will seek my sheep, and will visit them.
12 As the shepherd visiteth his flock, in the day when he shall be in the midst of his sheep that were scattered; so will I visit my sheep, and will deliver them out of all the places where they have been scattered, in the cloudy and dark day.
13 And I will bring them out from the peoples, and will gather them out of the countries, and will bring them to their own land; and I will feed them in the mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the habitations of the land:
14 I will feed them in the most fruitful pastures, and their pastures shall be in the high mountains of Israel; there shall they rest on the green grass, and be fed in fat pastures upon the mountains of Israel.
15 I will feed my sheep: and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God
16 I will seek that which was lost; and that which was driven away, I will bring again; and I will bind up that which was broken, and I will strengthen that which was weak, and that which was fat and strong I will preserve: and I will feed them in judgment.
17 And as for you, O my flocks, thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, of rams and of he-goats. [According to Fr. George Leo Haydock, who compiled this excellent study bible: "The crimes of the pastors do not excuse the flock." This is a most excellent warning. I know many good souls who piously hope that the fact that so many souls are left ignorant of many aspects of the Faith will excuse them from their sins. And it might, for some. But much of the moral law is plainly evident from the natural law (such as not killing your own offspring), and the natural law is given to all who have the faculty of reason, or can be plainly arrived at by anyone with a modicum of discernment. In such areas, proclaiming ignorance of the law may be no defense.]
18 Was it not enough for you to feed upon good pastures? but you must also tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures: and when you drank the clearest water, you troubled the rest with your feet. [A warning for those who destroy or waste the great spiritual gifts they are given, lay or clerical. But this is especially intended for the false shepherds, the wolves in sheep's clothing]
19 And my sheep were fed with that which you had trodden with your feet; and they drank what your feet had troubled.
20 Therefore, thus saith the Lord God to you: Behold, I myself will judge between the fat cattle and the lean.
21 Because you thrusted with sides and shoulders, and struck all the weak cattle with your horns, till they were scattered abroad.
22 I will save my flock, and it shall be no more a spoil; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.
23 *And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd……..
———–End Quote———–
Obviously, this Scripture from the Old Testament has to do with the fall of Israel, their subsequent chastisement by God, and the coming of the Messiah. But we must keep in mind that so many Old Testament texts, and especially the prophetic ones like this, are types not only of the New Testament but also for the New Covenant. That is to say, while this hard rebuff and chastisement from God was certainly intended for the Levites and priests of the Old Covenant day, they also apply to the priests and bishops of the New Covenant. Christ will come again. And I fear Our Blessed Lord's telling question "Yet the Son of Man, when he cometh, shall He find, think you, faith on the earth?" (Lk xviii:18) was rhetorical. I think Our Lord was telling us that there would not be much faith in those coming days.
Let us not be among the sheep of the flock who wander away due to wayward pastors! Let us always remain faithful to Holy Mother Church, no matter how deranged those appointed to shepherd souls may become. I like Saint Corbinian Bear's phrase: nail your foot to the floor in front of your favorite pew and die there. I know we sometimes have to find parishes that best meet our spiritual needs, and those of our family, but you get the point.
Pray fervently for our pastors! To those to whom much have been given, much will be required! (Lk xii:48)! But one major reason for the lack of leadership in the Church could be lack of prayers by the faithful on their behalf. Absolutely pray for good pastors, but also pray, perhaps even more, for the conversion of those who are not so good.
- 1. Guest - September 11, 2015
I'm scared to follow them because they are heretics. I'm scared to not follow them because I don't want to die a schismatic.
- 2. Liz - September 11, 2015
Guest….my fear too!!!
Sorry comments are closed for this entry


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Hello everyone.
I need to be in Helsinki in June, does anyone know of the cheapest way to get there?
I have researched flights and the cheapoest I can find is with Air Berlin £133 return from London. Last year I went to Oslo for the weekend and the flights were £15 return from London. Is there a train or bus I can get from Oslo to Helsinki?
Any help or information would be greatly appreciated!
Happy travels, Chloe


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Today, Crytek announced the closure of five of their seven studios, refocusing the company on "premium IPs" and CryEngine. Roberts Space Industries, the developers of Star Citizen, aren't worried. They're using a modified version of the CryEngine, but say the closures will not have an impact on their game.
The studio said they do not rely upon Crytek for anything at this point and the company's focus is on the upcoming single player version of the game, the first part of which is titles Squadron 42.


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Not at all alarmed, I rolled to face the window, and opened my eyes to the curtain fluttering in a steady breeze. And there was the source of such a soft and not-quite plaintive song: it was only the wind, wending its constant low whistling in through the slight gap I'd left open for air last night.
A change in the weather, and my not-quite disappointment that my reverse lullaby was only slightly less than human.
Time to get up.
It stayed with me all day, that almost-melody, my soft comfort, my pillowed memory.
|Wind From the Sea, by Andrew Wyeth


text: GR: "Each of the five crab judges in Fish Out of Water have different tastes and personalities. Some like just skips and some like just distance. Knowing these differences will help you secure a well-rounded from each of the crabs. High scores across the board are hard to achieve, but topping your friends on the leaderboard is worth it."


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Posted on 05 April 2016
The sustainable cotton market is facing an uncertain future according to new research commissioned by Pesticides Action Network (PAN) UK, Solidaridad and WWF. While production of more sustainable cotton has never been higher, and is projected* to account for 13% for global supply for 2015, company buying ('uptake') is lagging behind.
The three organisations are calling on major brands and retailers to make and realise commitments to sourcing 100% more sustainable cotton by 2020 or sooner.
Despite at least 12 global companies committing to source 100% more sustainable cotton, only 17% of all sustainable cotton is sold as such. The remaining 83% gets no recognition and is sold as conventional cotton.
"Buying more sustainable cotton has never been easier", said Richard Holland, Director, WWF's Market Transformation Initiative. "Leading companies like IKEA and H&M are showing it's possible to use 100% more sustainable cotton in their products within a couple of years."
Cotton is grown in around 80 countries worldwide and is a key raw material for the textile industry, accounting for around 32% of all fibres used. Sustainability issues include the widespread use of pesticides, with 6.2% of global pesticide sales associated with cotton production, and intensive water use, with 73% of global production currently dependent on irrigation.
A number of sustainable cotton standards have been developed in the last 30 years, starting with Organic cotton in the 1980s, followed by Fairtrade in 2004, Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) in 2005 and the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) in 2009. All provide guidance and support for farmers and seek to reassure consumers and retailers that the products they buy are being produced using sustainable farming methods.
While many cotton farmers are driven into debt by the cost of pesticides and fertilisers, sustainable cotton production has the potential to lift farmers out of poverty by providing a more stable income and improving working conditions.
PAN UK, Solidaridad and WWF have commissioned further research to assess and compare global textile companies' policies and purchase of more sustainable cotton with first results of a benchmark undertaken in partnership with Rank a Brand expected in June 2016.
* Data on actual (sustainable) cotton production in 2015 are not yet available.


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|Photo: © childsdesign
If you've been lucky enough to have been given lots of Easter eggs but are now getting a little tired of eating them as just chocolate, here's an idea to help consume them in a different way.
Tiffin is a sweet treat that requires no baking and is quick and easy to make.
It is often made with digestive biscuits but as we like to experiment with flavours, we used ginger nuts instead.
A generous addition of moist and chewy dried apricots add a little tang and added texture.
View recipe


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A Birder's Guide to Everything
X-Men: Apocalypse
Slow West
All the Wilderness
The Congress
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Romeo & Juliet
Let Me In
The Road
Actor Kodi Smit-McPhee first made his mark on audiences at the tender age of 11, playing the son of a troubled family in the drama [[Feature~V358719~Romulus, My Father~romulusmyfather]]. Having met with such early success, the young actor then signed on to play the son of [[Performer~P50903~Viggo Mortensen~viggomortensen]] in the post-apocalyptic film [[Feature~V417956~The Road~theroad]], based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by [[Performer~P318338~Cormac McCarthy~cormacmccarthy]]. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
Copyright © 2019 FANDANGO MOVIES.


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The Rovers extended their roving as far as the westernmost reaches of the Nentir Vale, traveling to the remote town of Winterhaven. Having heard that Lord Padraig was in need of strong sword arms, they were eager to reach the small fortified town and put their skills to use. Veesha, newly healed from her wounds, informed her companions that she had business of her own to attend to, but that she would rejoin them at Winterhaven after she had attended to her own affairs.
On the journey, the Rovers were joined by Lysh Strayheart, a wandering dragoborn sworn to the service of Bahamut, dragon god of justice and valor. Witnessing his prowess in battle, and learning of his lifelong mission to root out evil wherever it lurked, the Rovers invited Lysh to join them in their journeys. Lysh, an oprhan who had long traveled the world alone, eagerly accepted, and soon became fast friends with the irrepressible Knives Smugbottom.
Arriving in Winterhaven, the group quickly sought out Lord Padraig, and accepted a commission to eliminate a band of kobolds that had been wreaking havoc along the trade routes recently. That same evening at Wrafton's Inn, the party acquired a few choice rumors. Shalzar Hellwhisper, sitting at the bar, overheard a crusty old farmer named Eilian talking about a missing man named Douven Staul, who had disappeared after going in search of an old burial site. Lysh struck up a conversation with a scholarly man named Valrthun, who was quite interested in hearing about the dragonborn's life and travels. As the evening wore on, Valthrun offered to assist the party by showing them some of the local maps of the area that he possesed, if they would visit him in the morning.
And so it was that Lysh and Knives found themselves knocking on Valthrun's tower. Valthrun raised an eyebrow at the sight of the halfling, but wisely kept Knives occupied with a tasty apple. He was as good as his word, and his geographic knowledge and helpful maps Lysh and Knives to better plot their route to the site of kobold activity.
The morning passed uneventfully, the Rovers traveling with alert eyes at first, but slowly letting down their guard as the monotony of the day wore on them. Suddenly, ferocious battle cries were heard, and a pack of kobolds rushed from hiding!
Lysh quickly found himself swarmed by "distant relations," but his many years of wandering alone had allowed him to train heavily in techniques of fighting multiple opponents. His axe cut a wide swathe through the kobolds, as Jerronand Shalzar staunchly held the line, longsword and scythe sweeping this way and that.
Knives, ever bold and nearly impossible to catch, launched himself straight for the wyrmpriest directing the battle. His tiny blades drove the shaman back, robbing the other kobolds of his bolstering presence. The halfling's momentum was checked, however, when a kobold skirmisher rushed from behind, his spear tearing a gash across his shoulder. Now trapped between two foes, Knives appeared to have bitten off more than he could chew.
Without warning, a roar interrupted the halfling's certain demise. Lysh had broken through the press of kobolds, and now crashed against the spear-wielding skirmisher, his greataxe making deadly arcs through the air. Jerron and Shalzar held the other kobolds at bay, Jerron's longsword slashing out with blinding speed, cutting down any foe who dared take his attention from the deadly swordsman.
With the skirmisher now fully distracted by Lysh, Knives struck with ruthless efficiency, grabbing the kobold's head from behind and yanking his dagger across the creature's throat. In short order, the party annihilated the remaining kobolds, leaving only one badly wounded ambusher alive.
"I have questions for you," Shalzar whispered, hoisting the kobold with one hand. "If you do not answer, I will give you to him."
Shalzar nodded at Lysh, whose axe still dripped with the blood of the kobold's friends. Lysh growled a few threatening phrases in the Draconic language, and the kobold began to weep with terror.
The kobold informed the party that the main force of his kin were encamped not far away, and that, although there was a guard posted, they had not entrenched themselves with their usual traps. After a little more intimidation, Shalzar released the prisoner, who quickly scampered away.
Cautiously approaching the kobold stronghold, situated in a cave behind a waterfall, the party was able to easily spot the guards, thanks to Knives' keen skill at detection. Unfortunately, few of them were as stealthy in their approach as Knives, and the alarm was quickly sounded. A fierce battle ensued, during which the Rovers came face-to-face with the infamous Irontooth, a large goblin with a hideously large fang protuding from his lower jaw.
The party was hard-pressed in the battle; it took all of the healing powers of Shalzar and Lysh to keep the Rovers standing. In the end, however, the Rovers emerged victorious, striking down Irontooth as he called out for aid from "Orcus and Kalarel."
Orcus, Demon Prince of the Undead, was well known to Shalzar, whose goddess was the fiend's implacable foe. The name of Kalarel remained a mystery, however, and as the party gathered up the plunder, including a set of superb dwarven chainmail and a chest full of gold, they could not help but wonder who this Kalarel was, and why he was employing a goblin to lead kobolds.
Party Treasure:
420 gp (plus an additional 100gp from Lord Padraig upon the party's return to Winterhaven)
+1 dwarven chain mail


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Why Won't The Zune PlayForSure?
In the Yet-another-bad-Zune-decision department, it turns out the Zune won't play music or video sold under Microsoft's own PlaysForSure program, which includes music from Napster, Rhapsody, Yahoo! Unlimited, Movielink, Cinemanow, MTV URGE, or any other form of DRM. Zune will use its one music store with its own DRM format, completely incompatible with the other DRM format Microsoft has been pushing for years.
Seems kind of boneheaded. There are so many problems this will cause:
- Microsoft becomes a hypocrite, after years of knocking the iPod for only working with iTunes, doing the same damn thing.
- Microsoft is making things harder for the Zune, removing a possible selling point.
- Microsoft is making things harder for PlaysForSure stores, since they don't work with what is predicted to be a very popular device.
- Microsoft is making things more confusing for consumers, who now need to understand there are two types of protected WMA files, one from Microsoft for Microsoft, and one from Microsoft for everybody else.
Once again, here we've got DRM making music even less valuable, in ways that are completely unnecessary.
Coverage at:
Boing Boing
One thing to note: You could always use a program to rip out the copy protection from DRM files, like FairUse4WM. Even though Microsoft found a way to disable the first version, it seems like it only took days to circumvent that patch as well. And iTunes files have long been able to be cracked.
UPDATE: Boing Boing says Microsoft is sending takedown notices to sites hosting FairUse4Wm. They also point out that Microsoft's notices are not legally accurate. Read on.


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- Home
- Anime
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
- Eien no Melody - Eternal Melody
Eien no Melody
|Original / Romaji Lyrics
|English Translation
Kokoro ni anata ga iru
Suki to ienakute mo
Anata ga kokoro ni iru
In my heart you are here
Even without saying you love me
You are here in my heart
Hora umaretate no power
Subete wo tsutsunde kagayaku
Look, the newly born power
Covering everything, shining brightly
Yume wa hateshi nai tte
Kidzuita no wa koi wo shite kara
My dreams have no limits
I have realized that because I am in love
Issho ni oyogitai no
Donna dekigoto ni mo
Maketari shinai you ni
I want to swim together with you
Whatever happens to us
I'll be sure not to give up
Sono atatakai kuuki
Kizu tsuita hibi ga toketeku
That warm atmosphere around us
The days of being hurt are melting away
Kaze ni tadayou tane ga
Mebuku you na anata no egao
Drifting in the wind the seed
Will sprout like your smiling face
Daremo ga hitori
Semete ai kanjiaetara
Ikite yukeru ashita e to
Everybody is alone
When at least our feelings of love meet
I can go on to tomorrow
Towa ni dare no mune ni mo
Hibikiwataru mahou no merodi
Eternally whoever's heart it is in
It will resound loudly, the magical melody
Yume wa suki to otteru to
Anata no me ga oshiete kureta
I will chase after my dreams with love
Your deep eyes told me to do that
Contributed by Alex Glover <[email protected]>
See an error in these lyrics? Let us know here!
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My Little Pony Ties
Lyrics copyright to their respective owners or translators. No copyright infringment is intended or implied.
Layout and other content copyright Anime Lyrics dot Com / Anime Globe Productions
This is some text here


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Just de-lurking :)
Hi there! I'm Marsha. Diagnosed T2 in 2004. Re-diagnosed T1 in January 2012. I am managing my DM using the Omnipod insulin pump w/Humalog and a low carb diet. A1c in November was 11. February 8.3. Most recent at the end of May was 6. I look forward to getting to know everyone :)
25 replies
Hello Marsha! What great numbers! I just started on the pump in March and in a couple of days will get my most recent A1C. Before the pump is was 10.9 (horrible) but I'm hoping to atleast be in the single-digit range when I get my results. Keep up the good work
It doesn't give me those options with my iPhone :)
Thanks for the welcome troublemaker! I am doing well thank you. I felt so horrible before my correct diagnosis that I forgot what good felt like. The correct diagnosis and insulin pump have truly been a godsend for me :)
You know marsha you can reply to people directly under their postings. (Like I am doing now) It makes the replies easier to understand when posted below the post to which you are replying.
Note the "reply" link beneath each posting.
You can also edit your own posts in case you want to change it or correct a misspelling or other gaffe. Next to the "reply" link you'll see an "Edit" link on a response you have posted. You click on the edit link and then when the edit program comes up it will be all in blue background with white letters. Click in the text box again and it will revert to editable text. If you don't click while the blue background is visible, and start typing it will wipe out the entire reply you are posting and you'll need to start over again. (Did that before — didn't like it).
I pray this is helpful.
Wait never mind. Figured it out!
Oh I love my iPhone! It's just that every forum's app is just a little different. Thanks for the hint!
hey marsha i'm tori it's nice to meet you.
i'm type two diabetic since december 2008.
so what's it like being a diabetic?
i'm allright with it.
but i hope they find a cure for diabetics soon.
Welcome Marsha to DC, great numbers on your last A1c
I teach jr high-high school Social Studies at an Alternative/ED(emotionally disturbed) school. We serve our local city as well as all of our county schools. There are about 70 students total. 10 of those are elementary which I don't teach. 2 adults in each class. 6-12 students per class. Our goal is to help kids that just can't make it in mainstream education :)
Well the only reason I waited was I belong to a couple of other forums and that keeps me busy. I waited until summer break. I'm a teacher :) So now lots of time on my hands. Until August that is. Thanks for all the warm welcomes! Oh I'm a Buckeye by the way. In case there are any more Bucknuts out there :)
OH yes! I grew up in "the Buckeye" Marsha! Grew up on a dairy and grain farm about 1 hr Sw of Toledo OH. I am another "no good, useless nuts". I now live in Las Vegas. but most of my family of origin is living in and around Holgate OH. I plan to return there with my new girlfriend for a family reunion July 8.
Glad they figured out what type you are. Great A1c. Carb counting seems to work out after you get the hang of it. Hope you enjoy dipping your toe into the DC waters. Should be much more fun than just lurking on the fringes.
De-lurking! I love it! I may have to steal that. I'm a T2, but I'd like to be friends, too!
Sure I would like to be friends :) i have transitioned great now that I know what is going on with me, my PCP referred me to a GREAT Endo, and learning carb counting etc.
Thanks for the welcome!!
Next Discussion: Glucose Meters »


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Very nice!
Great work
Fractals straight-out-of-software tend to show no real work, no sense of crafting or creation by the artist. The work you have put into your collection is astonishing!
I love this ❤
Phenomenal workmanship! Truly a supreme work of art! Your art makes me feel good! Absolutely breathtaking! I pray that you will get many sells. May God bless you in all that you do in life. Karen Showell
Some much to see in the colors, transparencies, and the design. It's awe inspiring.
Very Nice!!!
Congratulation on sale announcement and great.
Congratulations on your sale!
Stupendous imagination, NB! Color combination and background are just fabulous. Congrats on sale. F/L.
A truly beautiful work of art.
beautiful ... it's springing to life, out of the cage and free to fly
Great work.
WOW ! What fantastic use of fractals and colour. This one just shouts "movement". I really am impressed by this.....Peter
Congratulations on your sale!
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Congrats on your sale!!
Wow simply amazing! L/F
Stunning! Congrats on your sale!
Stunning work. Congrats on your sale.
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January 20th, 2019
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text:
Polenta has come a long way since Grandma cooked it, since the three bears and Oliver Twist ate it, and since the day I avoided it.
Grandma was at the stove stirring something in a large pot. From that pot popped bubbles of vapor that gave the kitchen air a clear aroma. She was making polenta. I was not excited because she wanted me to eat it.
When she was done, she plopped a lump of the yellow cornmeal gruel onto a board that almost spanned the kitchen table. Grandma then ladled a large dollop of red gravy which she smushed into its middle. Grandpa pulled his chair closer. Grandma turned to me, standing at her open door with one foot outside.
Waving her gravy-laden spoon toward the board and motioning with the other hand, she spoke, "Ed-a- wood. Come in. Come in. Mangia. Hav-a some pullenda. "Tsa gooder for you."
I tried it once, but it was too dry and tasteless. Adding more gravy didn't help. As the polenta dried, its edges hardened, and I broke a small piece to dip in the gravy. That was a little better. To sit at the table was not for me. I had more important things to do.
Mom said that polenta was the porridge that Goldilocks and the three bears enjoyed.
"You should taste it, Edward. It really is good."
Sure, the bears ate it. So did the Italians. There was nothing else in those dark days in Italy after World War I. It was peasant's food of little or no nutritional value. The cornmeal lacked niacin and as a result, outbreaks of pellagra … confusion, intestinal symptoms, skin rash, sometimes death … occurred throughout much of Europe. It was one of the many reasons the immigrants left.
"It's gruel, Mom."
"It's not gruel. It's polenta, porridge."
The gruel of a previous century had a bad rap. It was boiled in milk or water. Inmates of prisons and other institutions were forced to eat it. Gruel was made famous by Dickens' Oliver Twist, the little orphan boy in the workhouse who was so hungry he asked for seconds.
History was of no matter when it came to Grandpa's love of polenta. He pulled up to the table, spooned large dollops into his plate, used the same spoon to ladle more gravy from the pan, took a hunk of Italian bread, usually the heel, and slurped up his meal while he read the local Italian newspaper, The Echo, aloud. I wondered if it brought back memories of his youth.
Polenta has come a long way since those peasant days of the immigrants, since Grandma cooked it, since the three bears and Oliver Twist ate it, and since the day I avoided it.
It is now a tasty offering in many restaurants; not runny, lumpy or tasteless. Ricotta in the mix helps its texture and moisture. It is prepared in any number of ways — fried, squares served at cocktail parties, with mushrooms, rabe, arugula, etc.
I like it. I pay for it.
I wonder what Grandpa would say if he saw the price of a dish of his pullenda today?
— Ed Iannuccilli, a retired physician and now a writer, can be reached at email@example.com.


text:
Crazy in New York: A Big Bet to Build a Leading Financial Services Ecosystem
Equinix opens its NY6 data center to serve the world's largest financial, media and enterprise companies in the New York metropolitan area.
Making Sure Crime Doesn't Pay
Security is not solely about where the data actually sits. It really depends on how much planning – and technology – goes into protecting the systems and information.
More Than Space and Power: Gartner Report Says It's Time to Rethink Colocation
Colocation has evolved into much more than simply space to put your IT and a place to plug it all in - That's a key point of a recent Gartner report.
Meet The Innovators: Some of the Latest Thinking on Equinix Forum
From making Pandora listeners happy, to meeting demand for network connectivity in Texas, here's some of the latest thinking and innovation on Equinix Forum.
Equinix's Knuff Talks Trading in New Book of Tech Leader Insights
Equinix's John Knuff talks company strategy, the data center's key role in markets and what keeps him up at night in a new book of interviews with tech leaders.
Just Hubbing It: Why the Global Financial Industry Is Converging on Equinix
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Views from the fiscal cloud – FS trends in 2013
We anticipate that much of the shifts that have rocked the last year will carry through 2013, a year that will be defined by the ability to adapt to the transformations and transitions of a quickly morphing financial services landscape.


text:
A reader has a complicated relationship with her ex and her credit cards.
Question: I just inherited some money from my grandmother — $9,000 to be exact. That shouldn't stress me out, but it does. What do I do with it?
I know what to do first, thanks to reading Debt.com and some other websites. So I paid off $3,000 I was carrying on my personal credit cards. That saves me a lot in interest and leaves me with $6,000. Now all that's left is:
- $5,000 on my $10,000 car loan, at $500 a month
- $7,500 in collections, from a business Visa card.
What's in collections is from a failed business partnership with my slimy ex-boyfriend. (Like a dummy, I put everything in my name on a business Visa card.) I originally owed more than $13,000 but begged and pleaded to get that down to $7,500, which I need to start paying $1,000 a month starting in March.
I'm wondering: Is it better to just pay off my car loan and use that extra $500 per month to to pay off that credit card bill? Or should I try to pay the AmEx off faster because it's a delinquency being reported on my credit?
—Nicole in Wisconsin
Howard Dvorkin CPA answers…
Sometimes, complicated questions have simple answers. This is one of those times, Nicole.
Take the cash and try to settle the Visa business card.
Why? Because card issuers are often willing to negotiate. How much depends on many factors, but if they can get some money now, that can trump more money later.
Call your issuer and offer an immediate $2,500 to settle the entire balance of $7,500 — and see what they come back with. If you can save thousands later by paying hundreds more now, that's a great deal.
Here's where it get complicated
What if your issuer refuses to negotiate on the remaining balance? Then you need to learn the answer to this question…
Is your account being assessed interest?
You have what's called a charged-off account, Nicole. Typically, those aren't assessed interest. If that's true here, then pay off your car. Why? Because you'll save the remaining interest on your car loan. That's money in your pocket, not the lender's.
However, if your card issuer is indeed charging you interest, then apply your lump sum to the outstanding balance — even if your issuer refuses to discount the remaining balance.
That's because of the way interest works in car loans versus credit cards. For car loans, much like mortgages, your earliest payments are mostly interest instead of principal. (There's a name for this kind of loan, called the Rule of 78s.)
Thus, applying your lump sum to the remaining balance on your car loan won't save you much in interest as it would on an interest-charging business card balance in collections.
So that's the short and simple, as well as the long and complex. Good luck, Nicole. Tell me what happens.
Have a debt question?
Email your question to firstname.lastname@example.com and Howard Dvorkin will review it. Dvorkin is a CPA, chairman of Debt.com, and author of two personal finance books, Credit Hell: How to Dig Yourself Out of Debt and Power Up: Taking Charge of Your Financial Destiny.
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Article last modified on December 4, 2018 Published by Debt.com, LLC . Mobile users may also access the AMP Version: Ask The Expert: Which Should I Pay Off First? My Credit Card Or My Car Loan? - AMP.