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Water Quality Tap Water.
The water that we drink in Gauteng comes from the upper Vaal River catchment which includes parts of Mpumalanga and the Free State Provinces.
There are two projects that involve the inter basin transfer of water regarding our water that we drink in Gauteng. The interbasin transfer of water means that water is transferred from one river catchment to another using pipes and pumps. This is where it starts getting really entertaining. The Vaal is the main river in the catchment and into the Driel Barrage further downstream. This power station, known as the Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme, is managed by Eskom and electricity that is produced here goes fed into the national electricity grid. Where So it's stored, when the Driekloof Dam is full water flows over a weir and into the Sterkfontein Dam. Essentially, water from the Kilburn Dam is hereafter pumped underground, over the Drakensberg, and into the Driekloof Dam. Notice that at peak periods when electricity is need, water is dropped from the Driekloof Dam, through the underground hydroelectric turbines, and into the Kilburn Dam. This section of the scheme is used to generate electricity as a hydroelectric power station had been built within the mountains of the Drakensberg. Driel Barrage into a canal which hereafter flows via gravity into the Kilburn Dam. Also, the Sterkfontein Dam has a surface area of 67 square kilometres, an average depth of 93 metres, and a total storage capacity of 262 billion cubic metres. In quiet periods the water is pumped back from the Kilburn Dam and into the Driekloof Dam.
Water is released from the Sterkfontein Dam into the Nuwejaarspruit River, that flows into the Wilge River and into the Vaal Dam, when water is needed in the Vaal River system.
With underground pipelines feeding into the existing dams, phase 2 includes the building of a further 3 dams in Lesotho. Taung Dam and the Lebelo Dam. Mielietuin Dam on the Bushman's River and Jana Dam on the Thukela River which will have 121 pipelines km that feed into the existing scheme, as part of the future plans for water management in South Africa the building of two further dams are planned for the scheme. The water from the Muela Dam therefore travels along a 3327 kilometre long underground pipe and finally flows into the Ash River, near Clarens in South Africa. Loads of info can be found easily on the internet. The Ash River so flows into the Saulspoort Dam. Phase 1A of this project was completed in Phase 1B saw the building of the Mohale Dam as well as an underground transfer tunnel that leads into the Katse Dam. Fact, here the water moves straight through the underground hydroelectric turbines to produce electricity for Lesotho. Plans for the Polihali Dam are underway with construction starting in 2011 and completion in 2019, at an estimated cost of R73 billion. Thereafter the water flows into the Liebenbergsvlei River, the Wilge River and after all into the Vaal Dam.
As it carries along many substances from one place to another, water is a transport medium just like a train.
Let me ask you something. How is tap water cleaned? This cleaning process is called water purification. Remember, there's silt and minerals from the land. It is for this reason that the dirty water needs to be cleaned before Undoubtedly it's supplied to taps. The local authorities supply this water to individual homes, businesses and schools in Gauteng and parts of Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and Free State Provinces. This is the case. When loads of these H2Os join together they form water. By the time water enters the dams it has many 'passengers', both good and bad to humans. You should take this seriously. Water is the train that moves along the tracks and the 'passengers' are these substances that get on and off the train. Water is made up of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom. That's right! Rand Water is the company that cleans the dirty water and after all distributes it to mines, industries and local authorities. Although, loads of substances dissolve in the water, eg, when water falls on the earth's surface from the clouds. Therefore, there're germs that may cause people to get sick if they enter the human body.
Rand Water draws raw water for purification from the Vaal Dam from the Vaal Dam via an intake tower. The raw water is transported through canals and pipelines to Rand Water's purification stations in Vereeniging, where So it's cleaned. With that said, this raw water contains some 'passengers' that can make it unsafe to drink. The raw water enters the middle of a spiral flocculator where slaked lime is added. This is thoroughly mixed in the rapidly moving water. The slaked lime attracts sand, silt and clay particles, some small living organisms, germs and all the 'bad guys' to form 'clumps'.
The water flows slowly into large sedimentation tanks.
The water in the top part of the tank is now cleaner. It flows over the side of the sedimentation tank into the carbonation tank. Ok, and now one of the most important parts. From the slaked lime that was added, when water leaves the sedimentation tank it has a pH of about 105. At this pH level calcium carbonate is deposited in the distribution. Just think for a moment. This protects them from rusting. Anyways, that's called sedimentation. Needless to say, the 'floc' therefore settles to the bottom of the tank to form 'sludge'. The 'sludge' is sucked up by desludging bridges and sent to a sludge deposit site. The pH of the water is now between 0 and This makes the water taste and feel a lot better. I'm sure you heard about this. In order to make the water less alkaline, carbon dioxide is bubbled through the water. This high pH makes the water feel and taste soapy.
It still contains some small living organisms and germs, the pH of the water has now been corrected through carbonation. It flows into closed filter houses where it passes through sand filters. This clean water is pumped through underground pipes to booster pumping stations. As the water flows slowly through these filters all the small living organisms and it's necessary to add chloramine to prevent any other germs, that may get into the water, from growing or multiplying. From the booster pumping stations the water is pumped into reservoirs. These are big, flat beds made up of different sized particles of sand stone. Rand Water consequently sells it to various local authorities that supply homes, schools, businesses and factories with clean water. Of course the water now enters underground pipes.
Where there's a concern about the quality of drinking water in an emergency situation that can't be addressed through central services, hereafter the appropriateness of household treatment going to be evaluated including for sake of example.
Implementation of emergency procedures may reduce numbers of pathogens to levels at which the risk of waterborne disease is largely controlled. Emergency decontamination processes may not always accomplish the extent of disinfection recommended under optimal conditions, particularly with regard to resistant pathogens.
Heavy metals are pollutants that can enter the drinking water system when they seep through soils into groundwater. Arsenic, cadmium and lead are just a few of the heavy metals in the environment at unsafe levels. Besides, while heating the sample to convert to a particulate emission and identifying every metal and its weight, The complicated analysis requires preserving the sample with acid. On top of that, extrapolations are made to determine any metal concentration in every water sample taken. Atomic spectrometry converts every metal in the water sample to a particulate emission that can hereafter be weighed. For instance, heavy metal pollution is usually the result of untreated mine waste but can also result from other industrial processes including the manufacturing and use of pesticides and fertilisers.
The result is an accurate picture of what really is in the water.
Water in these areas may have high metal concentrations because of the combination of naturally occurring deposits and mine waste. Usually, mine operations extract and process these metals in areas with the highest concentrations. Have you heard of something like that before, am I correct? Water samples are usually taken randomly within a contaminated area and offsite to identify the source of contamination and the pathway it travels, into the drinkable groundwater system or away from potable water sources. Then again, high heavy metals concentrations can be naturally occurring. Accurate determination of heavy metal contamination is important to identify cumulative risks to people drinking water derived from these areas. Every geologic formation contains a certain percentage of heavy metal.
Heavy metal water contamination is a difficult expensive problem to address. Besides, an alternative source of drinking water must be used to prevent harmful health effects, until the water is treated to meet standards protective of human health and the environment, So if groundwater is contaminated with heavy metals. Associated operation and maintenance systems are very expensive, as long as large volumes of water must be pumped and treated over long time periods. Generally, most cleanup activities use a pump and treat system where contaminated groundwater is pumped out of the ground, treated with activated carbon to remove contaminants and later replaced into the groundwater system. Whenever decreasing costs, There are some new technologies being developed that actually treat the water in the ground which operate more efficiently and quickly.
Stand a glass of the water on a surface and watch it closely.
There may an excess of some mineral type or chemical in the water, Therefore if the water clears from the top down and a whitish substance settles out on the bottom of the glass. This is much like when you open a fizzy cooldrink! Nonetheless, So it's caused by very small bubbles of air, I'd say in case the whitish colour clears from the bottom up. This is a totally harmless phenomenon. Consequently, stand a glass of the water on a surface and observe it closely. The air is usually dissolved in the water under high pressure but when you open the tap, the pressure is released and the air bubbles to the surface.
The pipes leading to your home or the pipes in your home can be rusting. The rust collects in the pipes when water isn't being used and is hereafter flushed out when you open the tap. Eventually, your geyser may also be rusting. Basically, rust is basically iron oxide, a reddish light brown substance formed when iron metal is exposed to water and air. There's some more information about it on this website. Iron oxide can stain laundry and impart a metallic taste to the water, apart from causing discoloration of the water.
Iron should be dissolved in the water.
They are picked up as river water flows over leaves and roots of plants. Iron is an essential nutrient for the human body and shouldn't cause health problems at the concentrations normally found in drinking water supplies. It turns a reddish brownish colour, when it's exposed to air as you open the tap. Whenever staining of laundry and a metallic taste, The main effects of elevated iron concentrations are discolouration of the water. Certainly, these come from decomposing plant matter. Your water may contain harmless light brown substances called humic compounds. Now pay attention please. This phenomenon is prevalent in the Eastern and Western Cape areas where humic substances come from the fynbos vegetation.
Sometimes microorganisms grow around the particles of soil and these microorganisms may pose a health threat. Chlorine is added to drinking water as a disinfectant to kill microorganisms, particularly those that could cause waterborne diseases.
It can react with other substances in the water to form disinfection byproducts, when chlorine is used for disinfection.
Animal research involving high levels of DBPs found increased formation of cancer, however the explanation to so that's not known. It is chlorine was used as a disinfectant since the late nineteenth century and has virtually wiped out instances of waterborne diseases like typhoid fever, cholera and dysentery in those areas where So it's used. Research into the relationship between DBPs, cancer and similar health risks is ongoing.
The risks of epidemics of waterborne diseases in the absence of chlorinaton far outweigh the risks associated with the possible cancer causing effects of chlorination 'byproducts'. An earthy or musty taste or odour is usually caused by a harmless substance called geosmin. Anyway, algae in rivers and dams produce this at certain times of the year, usually during summer months. Obviously everything possible will be done to minimise both risks. So, it does have a strong smell that the human nose is very sensitive to, the substance is harmless. On top of this, you could detect 1 geosmin teaspoonful in 200 Olympic sized swimming pools!
These organisms can be present in certain rivers and dams and some can be found in some water supply pipes where they can cause corrosion of the inside surface of the pipe. The smell is probably because of a gas called hydrogen sulphide. The human nose can detect very low levels of this gas. Inform your local authority or water provider immediately. Most often a faint smell of rotten eggs does not indicate levels that should be harmful. Close the tap and evacuate the room, So if you notice a sudden strong smell of rotten eggs in your drinking water. That's interesting right, am I correct? High levels of this gas is toxic and shouldn't be inhaled. Go outside and breathe in a lot of fresh air.
These minerals occur naturally and come from the rocks, soils and vegetation that water flows over or through. If your intake is it's purified. That said, if you consume gonna be consumed in the correct amounts. The levels of minerals in drinking water varies from area to area. Shouldn't be harmful. Minerals are important for maintaining a healthy body.
The hardness of water refers to the sum of the concentrations of two harmless minerals.
Can cause other problems, hard water is healthy to drink as long as it provides high levels of minerals. It's a well hard water may also change the taste of water, especially for brewing tea and coffee. Furthermore, it can also form scale deposits in pipes and hot water appliances like kettles. It forms scums and is difficult to lather making washing difficult. The hardness of drinking water around South Africa varies relying upon the rocks and soils of this location that the water comes from, and the treatment process used by the water provider. The greater the concentration of these minerals, the harder the water.
Definitely not for anything else, soft water is great for laundry. Steam irons, and auto batteries. If you are contemplating installing a softener. Water with less than 100 mg/l CaCO3 is generally labeled soft. Now regarding the aforementioned fact… Who will test the effectiveness of the softener, how often will these tests be run; and how will your drinking water quality be affected, There are serious questions it's a good idea to ask. Most South African water providers quote water hardness as mg/lCaCOWater with a degree of calcium carbonate similar to calcium and magnesium that are dissolved in your drinking water tend to settle out when water is heated and evaporates.
The fluoridation of drinking water is still a hotly debated topic in South Africa. No, not yet. These minerals are whitish and accumulate in hot water devices just like kettles, steam irons and showerheads. Indeed this debate had been raging around the globe since the 1950′ Fluoride is currently added to certain drinking water supplies in the UK, US and Canada as a costeffective way to prevent dental cavities. For example, this practice had been rejected in 13 European Union countries.
Some water supply organisations and directorates of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in South Africa have expressed caution about the concept as Surely it's difficult to control fluoride levels when interbasin transfer schemes are involved, and because of the unknown medical and environmental impact. Fluoridation is also fiercely opposed by long period consumption of water borne fluoride may prevent the development of osteoporosis. As a result, the Department of Agriculture is similarly opposed to fluoridation due to possible effects on crop growth.
It is obviously impossible to give one definitive answer for a country as large as South Africa and with so many different sources of drinking water and treatment processes.
The water supplies of dozens of the large towns and cities in South Africa do meet these specifications, and I know it's usually only the smaller water supply systems that have problems in this regard. It can pose the threat of disease being that the presence of pathogenic organisms in the water. There're chemical substances that are naturally dissolved in water normally occur at concentrations that are very low and therefore shouldn't pose a health threat. Which are in line with World Health Organisation standards the water gonna be safe, So in case the water supply meets the latest outh African Bureau of Standards specifications for drinking water quality. Notice, it can hold a risk of chemicalrelated illnesses being that the presence of dissolved substance in the water. Water can basically be harmful in two ways.
In a properly managed drinking water system, disease causing organisms shouldn't be present in your drinking water. There are many diseases caused by waterborne germs. To ensure that drinking water quality specifications are met, a final disinfection step is used in which chlorine and akin disinfectants similar to ozone or 'ultraviolet' light are used to destroy any remaining germs. Monitoring occurs anyway stages of the water purification and supply to ensure that the levels of these germs do not occur at high enough levels to cause disease. Known these include, amongst others, cholera, typhoid fever, infectious hepatitis, dysentery, diarrhoea, gastro enteritis, cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, and bilharzia. Then, these conditions can be very serious. Most germs should've been destroyed throughout the disinfection stage of water purification however a few are difficult to destroy using conventional treatment.
This is a personal decision.
You only need to consider buying a home treatment system are if you have a medical condition that makes you sensitive to components in drinking water or if taste is very important to you. In fact if the devices are not properly maintained, they can actually promote water quality and health problems. Now look. There are many kinds of home types treatment systems available. Normally, every type is designed to remove specific substances from water. Home treatment devices are not needed to make the water safe if it meets drinking water specifications. You may also seek for to use one as an alternative to using an unregulated water supply similar to a borehole or rain tank. Oftentimes some are jug filters and some are in line or point of use devices. It is crucial that you select the right system for your needs, and that you correctly maintain the system to avoid health risks just like bacterial buildup.
Particulate filters remove turbidity, colour, particles, specific inorganic compounds and kind of activated carbon which absorb tastes and odours. By removing chlorine from the water, however the growth of bacteria might be encouraged.
Reverse osmosis units will remove to varying degrees dissolved inorganics like sodium, calcium, nitrates and flouride.
There are a couple of drawbacks to reverse osmosis systems. It isn't healthy to drink water that is should only be used for washing. Of course, organic contaminants similar to pesticides and solvents are also removed. Additionally for every one water volume produced by the system, three volumes are wasted as reject water. Now please pay attention. They do remove nitrates and soften water by removing calcium and magnesium in addition to mercury and iron, ion exchange units do not purify water really.
Distillation units remove some organic and inorganic substances. There is currently no controlling body that regulates home treatment devices in South Africa. Distilled water has a flat taste and is missing lots of the minerals that are found in regular drinking water. You should take it into account. Some salespersons use dramatic visual demonstrations and make claims that are totally incorrect and unfounded. Some organic chemicals pass through the unit with the steam and contaminate the distilled water. Some home treatment device companies use aggressive scare tactics to market their products. Let me tell you something. These minerals should be beneficial for your health.
By frequent contact with drinking water itself, irritations of the skin are rarely caused by chemicals in the water.
Over washing or repeated contact and immersion in water can cause the skin to become chapped as it loses its natural oils and lipids. The loss of the skin's natural oils and lipids makes it more vulnerable to minor irritants that will not usually irritate a normal skin. Accordingly the lower legs, thighs and back are often also affected, the hands are often the first to be affected. This when scratched causes more inflammation setting up a vicious cycle. Keep reading. Whenever weeping and oozing may result which should be complicated by secondary infection, In severe cases. Therefore this may progress to severe itching, at first you may only be aware of a dry chapped sensation. Now let me tell you something. Like parchment paper, the skin would look dry and scaly, with a rough texture and sometimes with dark red areas. You see, this can lead to a lot of skin problems. Sounds familiar, right? The skin may thence develop inflammation called dermatitis or eczema which causes itching.
In urban areas where So there's a regulated water supply system, the answer is no. You therefore put yourself at risk of a potential waterborne disease by consuming bottled water that should be contaminated. Bottled water is only disinfected at source and does not contain a long lasting disinfectant. Microorganisms are free to grow and multiply in the water once it leaves the source, without residual disinfectant present. You do not need to drink bottled water for health reasons. If you are on a very restrictive sodium diet, your doctor may prescribe a certain bottled water has a lower sodium content than your tap water. Bottled water, like any water is prone to contamination by disease causing microorganisms if So it's not properly disinfected. A well-known fact that is. The only reasons you'd better choose bottled water is if you prefer the taste, or if you have a medical condition for which your doctor has prescribed a specific bottled water. Actually, it had been shown that microorganisms grow in the bottles after bottling and while they stand on shop shelves.
There most probably is chlorine in your drinking water, if you have a piped supply of water from a regulated water provider. And therefore the residual chlorine levels at your home will be in the range of 2 and 5 chlorine milligrams per litre, no specifications was set for chlorine levels in South African drinking water. Seriously. And so it's currently the most commonly used disinfectant in water treatment processes worldwide. In South Africa enough chlorine is added to drinking water to ensure that the disinfectant effect lasts right up to your tap. Make sure you drop suggestions about it in the comment section. This practice helps prevent any growth of microorganisms in the network of pipes and reservoirs between the treatment plant and your home. It kills the microorganisms that are present in the water. Chlorine is used as a disinfectant since the late nineteenth century and has virtually wiped out instances of waterborne diseases like typhoid fever, cholera and dysentery in those areas where And so it's used.
Unusually high levels of chlorine can cause a disinfectant type taste and odour.
Chlorine can also react with other substances in the water to form disinfection 'byproducts'. Theses are slender elongated cylindrical organisms that are pink to deep light red in colour. The adult midge resembles small mosquitoes and lay eggs in water which later hatch into the larvae. Research into the relationship between DBPs, cancer and identical health risks is ongoing. The larvae so pupate and emerge as adults from the water. These organisms are commonly known as blood worms. Chironimid larvae. Animal research involving high levels of DBPs found increased formation of cancer, however the key reason for it is not known. They are the larval stage of the midge insect.
Absolutely. South Africa is an exception to many parts of the world, where drinking water would never be wasted on plants. There might be no negative effects on plants, on the contrary they should've been very healthy if all their other needs like nutrients, drainage, light, temperature, pest and disease control are taken care of. In certain countries, there's a separate system for drinking water and water for other uses like washing and gardening. Water that had been treated to a standard fit for human consumption, Surely it's more than adequately safe to use for plants.
Water your garden and plants with tap water and watch them flourish.
Aesthetics and economics, in order to determine whether municipal water is better than municipal water you have to consider facts of health. You'd better not waste it, remember that water is a scarce resource in outh Africa. You need to investigate which supply type best suits your needs, situation and the use to which you look for to put the water. Whenever grouping plants in line with their water needs, watering in the cool of the day, using a watering can where possible, mulching and container gardening, Practice Water Wise gardening methods similar to selecting indigenous plants with ebb tide requirements.
Groundwater is water that occurs underground in certain layers of rock. There is a regular perception that groundwater is pure and not affected by pollution or contamination. Most of us know that there are many different kinds of wells types and boreholes of varying depths and dug by different methods. In many instances in South Africa so it is true and groundwater meets SABS drinking water specifications. Groundwater quality varies greatly from area to area and just like surface water is affected by the activities in the location as water pollutants and contaminants can move from the surface into the ground and reach the groundwater. Groundwater is abstracted from waterbearing or 'watersaturated' layers of rock via boreholes and wells. Water enters wells by flowing upwards from the bottom of the well. Boreholes are smaller and deeper hereafter wells. Water enters boreholes by flowing sideways through the holes of a perforated steel shaft.
Groundwater and surface water may both be polluted in different ways.
You are responsible for maintaining your borehole system, and for monitoring the groundwater quality. Surface waters can be contaminated by municipal sewage, industrial discharge and transportation accidents and rainfall runoff. Not in very high quantities, it can contain many different pollutants. While pollution levels in groundwater change very slowly, the degree of pollution in surface waters can change rapidly. Groundwater, likewise, may contain pollutants similar to arsenic, nitrates, radioactive materials, and high amounts of a few organic chemicals like cleaning fluid. You also need to ensure that the water isn't contaminated after That's a fact, it's abstracted from the ground, for example in reservoirs or storage tanks.
It is however highly unlikely that there is an overall deterioration of drinking water quality. Legislation requires water providers and local authorities involved in drinking water supply to adhere to specifications set by the South African Bureau of Standards. The SABS specifications are based in international guidelines for drinking water quality. Ongoing research and improvements in water treatment technology 'worldwide' results in continually improving processes and monitoring systems. While drinking water quality has actually improved in many parts of South Africa, Contrary to the pervasive belief amongst certain urban populations.
Study these facts to determine if there has really been a deterioration in water quality.
You must bring this to the attention of local authority or water provider if they don't already know, if there had been a deterioration. Some chemicals in water are added during purification to make it suitable for drinking. These may occur naturally, or might be due to pollution. The chemical content of water refers to type an extent of dissolved substances just like minerals, gases, metal salts, chemicals and organic compounds that might be present in water. Apply pressure to ensure that steps are taken to improve water quality or at least stop any further decline. There're routine tests used to evaluate the levels of important compounds in drinking water. These steps may include improved protection of source waters, changes in the treatment process, improved monitoring and the protection and maintenance of the distribution system.
The microbiological content refers to the type and number of microorganisms present in the water. Albeit certain chemicals are necessary in order to make the water drinkable, the aim ain't to load the water with additional substances. It is influenced by the rocks, soils, vegetation and the human activities taking place in the catchment. If there are present it indicates that the water should be contaminated by human or animal wastes. Water quality is so also affected by the treatment process used to purify it for drinking. It is important to understand that water purification aims to remove harmful or offensive substances form the water to make it safe and pleasant to drink in a cost effective way. These microorganisms should be algae, fungi, bacteria, viruses, protozoa and worm or insect larvae. Water is tested for the presence of faecal coliforms or coli, that are bacteria present in the digestive systems of humans and animals. This will vary from area to area. Water quality is first determined by the catchment or water basin that the rivers and dams are situated in.
Legislation in South Africa requires that all water providers and local authorities ensure that drinking water complies with SABS specifications for drinking water, that are depending on international guidelines.
The chemical and microbiological content of drinking water is routinely monitored. Ask your local authority or your local water provider for results of chemical and microbiological analyses performed on the drinking water in your area. Ask for an interpretation of the results so that you can learn the data.


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Public Opinion One-Year Out
Snyder is doing as good or better than Granholm and Engler
Lansing, Mich. – With one year to go before the 2014 elections, polling data shows that Governor Snyder is in as good or a better position than Governor's Granholm and Engler at a similar point ahead of their first re-election campaign, according to historical analysis of past polling conducted by Marketing Resource Group (MRG). The analysis also shows that there is certainly room for improvement for Governor Snyder.
"Governor Snyder's job approval is higher, more people believe the state is headed in the right direction and they are more optimistic the economy will be better one year from now than in a similar timeframe under both Governors Engler and Granholm," said Tom Shields, president of Marketing Resource Group, Inc. "Snyder only trails the past two Governors in personal popularity. Some of the contentious issues of his first term have appeared to have polarized the Michigan voters."
In September of 1993, Engler's job approval was 49 percent and Granholm's September 2005 job approval was 55 percent. Snyder's job approval stands at 56 percent one year out from the 2014 election.
And though most Michigan voters have a favorable view of Governor Snyder (49 percent favorable and 42 percent unfavorable), Snyder trails both Granholm and Engler in overall personal popularity and the negative impressions of him are higher than either of the previous two Governors at this time in their first term in office. The favorable and unfavorable numbers one year out for Engler were 58 percent favorable and 35 percent unfavorable. In September 2005, Granholm was 54 percent favorable and 38 percent unfavorable.
The analysis also points out that the Governor may have a built in advantage in the campaign, as every Michigan Governor since 1962 has won re-election after her first term in office. Governor Snyder could also benefit from running during the middle of President Obama's second term. Historically, a state candidate from the political party opposite of the current President tends to benefit from the "failed expectations" the voters have of the current President. Governor Engler's first election was during President Clinton's first term, and Governor Granholm's re-election was during the first term of George W. Bush.
Click here to read the full analysis.
The October Michigan poll was conducted jointly by MRG and Mitchell Research and Communications. The polling in 1993 and 2005 was conducted by MRG.
Conducted October 6-10, 2013
(N=600 Likely Voters)
Live Telephone Interviewers
MOE + or – 4% at 95% Level of Confidence
77% Landline – 23% Cell Phone
About Marketing Resource Group, Inc.
Lansing, Michigan-based Marketing Resource Group, Inc. is an award-winning PR firm representing corporate, association, nonprofit, and private clients with interests in Michigan. MRG offers expertise in public affairs, communications, political campaign management, and public opinion survey research. For more than thirty years, MRG has conducted its bi-annual omnibus Michigan Poll™, tracking the pulse of Michigan voters on key statewide public policy and political issues. MRG is the only Michigan public opinion survey research firm that maintains nearly 30 years of trend analyses of voter attitudes related to state and national leaders, political parties, and the political and economic climate in Michigan.
Follow MRG on Twitter and Facebook.
About Mitchell Research and Communications
Mitchell Research and Communications, Inc. is a Michigan based, national full-service firm specializing in public affairs, market research and political polling, political consulting, crisis management and legislative advocacy. The firm also provides voter identification and GOTV programs. The company has worked for corporate, association, political, governmental and media clients for more than 25 years. It has been the pollster for television stations and newspapers in Michigan, California, Missouri, Florida, and South Carolina. It's main office and telephone center is based in East Lansing, Michigan.

subset: commoncrawl


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CHARLESTON, S.C. – Cuts to the campus police budget and a culture of paranoia forced the Board of Trustees to approve a revolutionary idea: letting College of Charleston students protect themselves.
It is now officially legal for students to carry personal weapons on campus. An email announcing the change to students put the ideal ratio at nine guns for every 10 students on campus to match the national gun ownership rate.
Campus Safety claims this will increase accountability and lead to a decline in crime throughout the peninsula.
"If everyone has a gun, it's like no one has a gun. It cancels out," said a Campus Safety representative. "Anyone who fires a weapon will have at least ten others firing right back at them."
The College has placed the students' safety in their own hands, and they are encouraged to instantly retaliate against anyone they see firing a weapon.
"With the students' safety in their own hands, I think everyone feels safer already," said Annie Oakley, newly-appointed chair of the Students in Arms Sub-Committee of Campus Safety. "College students are notorious for their prudence and emotional stability; it's common knowledge."
But not all students are embracing their new responsibility.
"When I complained to Campus Safety that I was scared of getting shot, they told me to make sure I shoot first," whined Bob Baez of the student organization Farewell to Arms. "Then they gave me coupons for bulletproof armor from the bookstore." Even with a coupon, some students maintain that it is cheaper to rent armor from Amazon.
However, Campus Safety is not ignorant of these concerns. Recent emails to students included locations of free practice targets, tactical maps of campus and instructions for spotting a shooter when everyone you see is holding a gun.
As an additional safety measure, all of the cobblestone pavement around campus will be evened out or repaired to prevent accidents. "Otherwise we'd all be literally shooting ourselves in the foot," Oakley said.
"Think of it as a vaccination: If the solution to disease is more of the disease, then the solution to gun violence is more guns," argued Oakley.
We can expect to see several changes to campus culture as the College provides incentives for bearing arms and students adjust to finally feeling safe.
Incentives for carrying visible firearms include discount parking passes and permission to smoke cigarettes on campus once more. In addition, Clyde has changed his surname from "the Cougar" to "Chestnut Brown" to encourage students to embrace the changes with spirit.
The student population itself is expected to change as well. "This could be the magic fix to our woeful boy-girl ratio," said admissions clerk Buddy Roosevelt. "Already we're getting more applications from young men who care about exercising their second amendment rights."
Greek life on campus has fully embraced the new guidelines. "I won these babies at our charity raffle earlier," said Dennis Truman of Pi Kappa Phi, posing like a cowboy with his new SIG P226's, each with Clyde the Cougar's face on the handle.
Members of Kappa Alpha Theta were seen sanding and painting old shotguns rather than coolers for an upcoming event.
"I don't see how this could possibly go wrong, and I expect to see other campuses adopting similar policies in the future," said a college official.
*All words published by His Excellency, The Swamp Fox, are meant to be taken in jest.
**This article first appeared in the October 2015 issue of The Yard


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2-Bedroom Premier
Ideal for both short and long stays, the luxurious apartment offers privacy and comfort with its spacious living, dining and kitchen areas that are spread across two floors, complimentary Internet access, air-conditioning and daily housekeeping services. A queen-size bed and single beds provide ample room for up to four guests.
Lower floor
Upper floor


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This little one was such a trooper with the wind and outfit changes….this age is sort of nice….. you put them down and they stay there. 🙂
Tag Archives: Los Angeles Modeling Portfolio
Taylor | Los Angeles Kids Headshots | Modeling Portfolio
Sweet Taylor…can't believe she was only 3….so sweet and polite…loved working with her. Taylor you will be a star!! oxox


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Maria S.
Scott is the greatest realtor! He made our experience of buying our first home fun and easy! He has extensive knowledge about home buying/selling and was always responsive to our questions or concerns. He has an amazing expertise on everything you want to know about santa monica/westside- even showed us some shortcuts in our own neighborhood! Scott is extremely organized and responds to emails/phone calls immediately. He made buying our house a great experience! We would very highly recommend Scott to anyone buying or selling!
Maria Scremin December 1, 2015


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Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans is set to miss West Brom's trip to Premier League leaders Manchester City.
Evans, 30, has been the subject of intense transfer speculation during the January window.
Evans and team-mate Hal Robson-Kanu have hamstring problems and will be assessed.
Baggies' boss Alan Pardew also has other players nursing injuries following the FA Cup win at Liverpool on Saturday night but he refused to name them.
Loanee Daniel Sturridge could make his debut at the Etihad, although fellow new signing Ali Gabr in unlikely to be involved.
Manchester City welcome West Brom tomorrow evening (Wednesday, January 31), kick-off 8pm.


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The Public Theater to Celebrate Toshi Reagon at Joe's Pub, 1/19-26
This month, The Public Theater will honor composer, musician and songwriter Toshi Reagon with five concerts at Joe's Pub and a special engagement during the Public's annual Under the Radar festival. Reagon will be joined by her band BIGLovely, featuring Judith Casselberry, Adam Widoff, Robert Burke, Fred Cash, Stephanie McKay and Marcelle Davies Lashley. Tickets are on sale now at www.joespub.com.
The first concert is January 19 at 8:00 PM during UTR in The Public's Martinson Theater where Reagon will perform Sacred Stories, a retrospective of the composer's opera repertory. The evening features selections from Robert Wilson's The Temptation of St Anthony and Zinnias: The Life of Clementine Hunter, as well as Lines, an opera commissioned by Joe's Pub in 2011 as part of its inaugural New York Voices series. Sacred Stories includes twelve guest vocalists and the BIGLovely Orchestra.
From January 22 - January 26 at 9:00 PM, the celebrations continue at Joe's Pub where Reagon will perform five more shows as part of her 30th Annual Birthday Concerts with BIGLovely. The Joe's Pub shows will include music written by Reagon while a 2013 Fellow with Brooklyn Philharmonic, an all-women line up of BIGLovely (this show will benefit the Atsraea Foundation) and special guests such as Nona Hendryx, sketch artist Michael Arthur and Lizz Wright. Reagon's mother Bernice Johnson Reagon will help close the week with a sold-out performance of their Sacred Music Show.
"We are thrilled to celebrate Toshi's career and success at Joe's Pub and Under the Radar," said Joe's Pub director Shanta Thake. "Her history and music are deeply rooted in the music of the Civil Rights movement, and she continues to use her voice to promote equality in all of its myriad forms. It's only fitting that these concerts begin on Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend."
Toshi Reagon has been described by Vibe magazine as "one helluva rock'n'roller-coaster ride" and by PopMatters as "a treasure." She is widely recognized as one of the best practitioners of progressive American music, skillfully combining rock, folk, blues, traditional sacred music forms, soul and rhythm and blues with her signature vocals, guitar and powerful lyrics. For more information on Toshi Reagon, visit www.toshireagon.com.
Toshi Reagon & BIGLovely Anniversary Celebrations:
Sun, Jan 19 at 8:00 PM
Toshi Reagon & BIGLovely at Under the Radar
The Public's Martinson Theater
Sacred Stories: Featuring Selections from the Temptation of St Anthony, Zinnias: The Life of Clementine Hunter and Lines
BIGLovely Orchestra: Toshi Reagon, Guitar/Vocals; Fred Cash, Bass; Adam Widoff, Guitar; Robert Burke, Drums; Juliette Jones, Violin; Marika Hughes, Cello
Guest Vocalists: Stephanie Battle, Helga Davis, Carla Duren, Randy Jeter, Karma Mayet Johnson, Marcelle Davies Lashley, Josette Newsam Marchak, Stephanie McKay, Carl Hancock Rux, Jason C Walker, Christalyn Wright and Imani Uzuri
Wed, Jan 22
Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely: 30th Anniversary Concerts
Joe's Pub at The Public
All Women All The Time: All Women version of BIGLovely
Special Guests: Allison Miller, Ganessa James, Alex Nolan, Elena Canlas, Marcelle Davies Lashley, Judith Casselberry and Stephanie McKay. This show will benefit the Astraea Lesbian Foundation For Justice.
Thurs, Jan 23
Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely: 30th Anniversary Concerts
Joe's Pub at The Public
The String Project
Special Guests: Juliette Jones and Caley Monohan-Ward
Fri, Jan 24
Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely: 30th Anniversary Concerts
Joe's Pub at The Public
Special Guest: Nona Hendryx and Visual Artist Michael Arthur Drawing Live
Sat, Jan 25
Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely: 30th Anniversary Concerts
Joe's Pub at The Public
Special Guest: Lizz Wright
Sun, Jan 26 at 8:00 PM
Toshi Reagon & BIGLovely Sacred Music Show with Bernice Johnson Reagon
Joe's Pub at The Public
Special Guests: Josette Newsam Marchak and Jason C. Walker
Visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows and to book tickets, or call 212-967-7555, or visit in person at The Taub Box Office at The Public Theater (1 PM to 6 PM) located at 425 Lafayette Street, NYC.
ABOUT JOE'S PUB AT THE PUBLIC: Named for Public Theater founder Joe Papp, Joe's Pub debuted in 1998 and plays a vital role in The Public's mission of supporting young artists while providing established artists with an intimate space to perform and develop new work. In 2013, Joe's Pub celebrates 15 years of the best in live music and performance nightly, continuing its commitment to diversity, production values, community and artistic freedom. It received a top-to-bottom renovation in 2011, leading to improved sightlines, expanded seating capacity and a new menu from acclaimed Chef Andrew Carmellini. With its intimate atmosphere and superior acoustics, Joe's Pub presents talent from all over the world as part of The Public's programming downtown at its Astor Place home, hosting approximately 800 shows and serving over 100,000 audience members annually. www.joespub.com
ABOUT The Public Theater AT ASTOR PLACE: Under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, The Public Theater is the only theater in New York that produces Shakespeare and the classics, musicals, contemporary and experimental pieces in equal measure. The Public continues the work of its visionary founder, Joe Papp, by acting as an advocate for the theater as an essential cultural force, and leading and framing dialogue on some of the most important issues of our day. Creating theater for one of the largest and most diverse audience bases in New York City for nearly 60 years, today the Company engages audiences in a variety of venues-including its landmark downtown home at Astor Place, which houses five theaters and Joe's Pub; the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, home to its beloved, free Shakespeare in the Park; and the Mobile Unit, which tours Shakespearean productions for underserved audiences throughout New York City's five boroughs. The Public's wide range of programming includes free Shakespeare in the Park, the bedrock of the Company's dedication to making theater accessible to all, new and experimental stagings at The Public at Astor Place, and a range of artist and audience development initiatives including its Public Forum series, which brings together theater artists and professionals from a variety of disciplines for discussions that shed light on social issues explored in Public productions. The Public Theater is located on property owned by the City of New York and receives annual support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. The LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust provides leadership support for The Public Theater's year-round activities. www.publictheater


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after a journey in Florence, waiting for the train to return at home, i taken this photo. i wish that it represents the idea of the travel
Partenza P9042184_F di 'bigpapo' © AngeloWalter Brandi, su Flickr
after a journey in Florence, waiting for the train to return at home, i taken this photo. i wish that it represents the idea of the travel
Partenza P9042184_F di 'bigpapo' © AngeloWalter Brandi, su Flickr
Last edited by bigpapo; 23rd October 2011 at 02:16 PM.
I see from the EXIF data on the image, that the shutter speed was 1/25th.
I think there is a bit of movement blur around the edges of the woman walking away from us and I wonder if the image would have been stronger if she had been sharp? Perhaps you wanted to to introduce this slight blur.
I like the idea of the image and the composition.
Yes I agree with Donald. The destination board and middle distance seems to be sharper than the foreground.
I think I would prefer it to be the other way, with a sharp foreground (woman and posts) fading into the distance.
thanks for your comments.
i have taken this photo "at the fly" so the result is not optimal, but i like the sense of movement.
hi bigpapo,
i am new to all this but would actually say that i prefer it the way it is. the woman being blurred adds to the fact that she is walking away, like fading out of memory. it adds a melancholic feel to it i think. the monochrome gives it a nice touch. very nice shot.
Its a great idea. I dont mind the movement of the woman, in fact slightly more movement might help further!
However, the burnt out centre of the shot spoils it for me; It is the focal point, but there is nothing there and whilst it doesnt need to be in focus, the track leading into the distance, I feel would just add to the feel of 'travel and journey' but it is just too bright for my liking.
You might also get away with a slight crop off both sides to take the eye closer into the woman, but leaving the frame of the gate which is great. (Also takes out the sharp '10' on the board).
Just my tu'pence for what its (not) worth!
My thoughts mirror Ian's. I like the soft focus-emphasizes the ambiguity and imprecise perceptions of strangers. I would have loved to seen a less exposed image to minimize the blown area centrally, and dont think the increased silhouetting of the foreground figures would have compromised too much. But all so easy in retrospect. Nice concept attempt


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Be the first to review this product
We originally made one of these straps on special request from the current guitar player of punk legends The Adolescents, Dan Root. He wanted a strap that was the same colors of their seminal 1981 Frontier Records release "The Blue Album". Just google image search to see a pic of the record and you'll see how we had fun interpreting the album artwork into this super sweet pop art guitar strap!
This guitar strap has a timeless classic vintage look to it. It is very mod and reminds us of Speed Racer and Racer X. The basic design is based on the Ernie Ball type of guitar strap that dates way back to the 60's, but our version is vinyl, and improved by the long offset racing stripe that runs the length of the strap. The end tabs are made of 3 layers of auto, couch and marine upholstery vinyl and the inside piece is made with a super- strong, fiberglass reinforced, vegan power pad material that lets you rock cruelty free. The back tab has 3 hand-tooled stainless steel rivets holding it together. So strong and oh it looks so good! No leather guitar straps here!
It's a great boyfriend or girlfriend gift idea for the musician in your life. Compare this vinyl vegan guitar strap to knockoff companies who have copied our racing-stripe recently and feel even better about what you get for what you pay here, plus, you'll know your strap is a Couch, made in USA, Cruelty-Free, vegan sweatshop free and worn by the best musicians in the world.


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Quality Assurance and Safeguarding Manager- Kent A Salary up to £40,000 + terrific benefitsAn "Outstanding" rated Independent Fostering Agency require a Quality Assurance and Safeguarding Manager to join their flourishing team to support and guide foster carers across the Kent area. This is a fixed term Contract with the possibility of going permeant.
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The designer has shown her work at New York Fashion Week
The countdown to the CMH Fashion Week Bridal Show and Finale Runway Show is on. We're profiling the designers whose work you will see-and giving you a sneak peek of what will walk the runway. The bridal show is Oct. 11, and the finale Oct. 12; tickets are available at CMHFashionWeek.com. Today, meet Lubna Najjar.
Lubna Najjar of Lubna Designs – Lubna Designs is inspired by the woman's body with a sense of Middle Eastern culture formality and an understanding of the correlation of the science of fabric and how it moves when you move. With clients from coast to coast, she hosts trunk shows in Columbus and Amman. http://lubnadesigns.com
CMH Fashion Week: Meet the Designers
Name: Lubna Najjar
Age: 27
Residence: Downtown and Blacklick, Ohio.
Credentials: I am the owner and founder of Lubna Designs, Inc.Bachelor's from Kent State University. Master's in business fromFranklin University. Trunk shows, local features, New York Fashion Week 2013 (25 piece Silk Midnight collection).
My story: OriginallyPalestinian, I grew up in Jordan and Ohio.Passionate about science and art and how garments are structured to frame a woman's body. Business-minded and inspired by colors and fabric makes. I'm a family person, and when I say I'm going to do something, I do it.
Personal style: Chic, elegant, professional, formal and conservative
Style icon: Coco Chanel and Jackie O
Favorite designers: Donna Karan, Zuhair Murad, Oscar de la Renta, Rachel Zoe and Armani
Favorite three pieces in your closet right now: Armani cape, a Lubna Designsseasonalmaxi dress, Alice + Olivia trousers
True style is… a way of life through expression and reputation.
This collection: This collection is handmade with fabric from Jordan, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. With embellishments and hard work, this collection shares a couple pieces that walked the runway for Lubna Designs at New York Fashion Week 2013.
Are items shown in this collection for sale? If so, what are the price points? Yes! At lubnadesigns.com. And they rangefrom$50-$2500.
Do you do custom work? If so, what are the price points? Yes!Ready wear $50-175 and custom from $80-2500.
Personal website and/or contact info: LubnaDesigns.com and email@example.comfirstname.lastname@example.com
Photos courtesyScott Cunningham


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Our Services
Vehicle Purchasing Service | $699
Buying a new or used car? We'll be your personal car shopper and take care of everything from research all the way through to insurance.
There is no time limit and we won't increase your rate based on the amount of time we spend with you. We want to ensure you receive the right vehicle and the best possible service. Reach out to us, book your free Needs Analysis and learn the true value we provide.
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Use one service, or combine a few. Services can be combined at any time throughout the process. Combine two or more services to save 10%. If you choose to upgrade, the entire Vehicle Purchasing Service package above is $699 (a savings of $97). If you deal with us, we'll make sure you don't pay dealership fees, which could save you hundreds!
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Need an oil change or a service appointment? We'll pick your car up on our trailer, take it to the appointment and bring it back by the end of the day*.
Vehicle Selling Consultant | $499
Convenient ways to pay


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Yes, you can!
That has to be the shortest post in blogging history!
Tempted as I am to set a new record, I really can't leave it there.
If, like me you've been nutting away at this thing for what seems like years and probably is, there will have been times when you wonder if it really is possible.
When I start to think like that I look at the numbers. It is a numbers game. According to the latest statistics, globally, there are 1,574,313,184 internet users. Asia has the most at 650,361,843. Europe is next then North America with 246,822,936 online.
How many of those do you need in order to give up your job? 1000, 2000? 5000 is .00002% of the people online in North America. With 5000 customers at only $20 you would have an income of $100,000.
So, you really don't have to grab much of the online population to make decent money.
However, what's the percentage of those users who are also trying to make an income, your competition? I don't know!
When I get to thinking about that aspect of it I look in the Yellow Pages. Go on take a look. The Yellow Pages is usually two volumes, if you live in a reasonably sized area and pretty thick too. Check out vets, plumbers, electricians you'll find hundreds of them and they must all be making a living and paying for Yellow Pages ads which aren't cheap! OK, one aspect of the Yellow Pages is location within the larger area but the larger area, a decent size city is what, maybe a couple of million. A pinhead in comparison to the internet!
What if you had a $97 product for your 5000 customers? That's $485,000. $97 products aren't that unusual and plenty of them get sold. Frank Kern just released Mass Control 2.0. I believe there were 500 copies, I know there were at least 500 copies, it cost $1997, that's $998,500 from only 500 sales.
Now I know we're not all Frank Kerns but we don't have to be. Do you see what I'm getting at. The numbers, it's a number's game. you only have to capture a small, heck, a minute, part of the online population to make substantial returns.
Easier said than done, I know but then isn't everything?
Obviously you need to do a lot of stuff to get there but before you get to do all that stuff you have to believe it's possible.
That's been the point of this, I'm not there yet, I'm starting to do OK but I really believe it's possible if only because of the numbers.
My biggest failing is I keep wanting to learn something new and I get distracted. Unfortunately that was the nature of my job, I had to keep learning and getting certified on the latest OS or network gear, it's become ingrained and I have to resist it and get on with what I'm doing at the time.
Surprisingly, whenever I focus and see a project through it's usually successful.
So, here's my advice, FOCUS and PERSISTENCE, don't give up and believe it's achievable, believe in the numbers.
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Basic Forum Tutorial
on Wed Jun 07, 2017 1:58 am
For anyone without experience roleplaying on or using forums, this tutorial will cover the very basics of BBCode and some general pointers on how to write more lengthy, detailed roleplay responses. To see the information below, click on the numbered sentence.
BBCode Basics:
- 1. You can apply bold, italic, underline and strike throughs to your text:
- Code:
To make your text bold, put [b] [/b] tags around your text [b]like this.[/b]
- Code:
To make your text italic, put [i] [/i] tags around your text [i]like this.[/i]
- Code:
To make your text underlined, put [u] [/u] tags around your text [u]like this.[/u]
- Code:
To put a strike through your text, put [strike] [/strike] tags around your text [strike]like this.[/strike]
This is struck through text.
- 2. You can change where your text is aligned to - left, center, right, or justified:
- Code:
To make your text left aligned (like the default), put [left] [/left] tags around it [left]like this.[/left]
This text is aligned to the right side of the post.
- Code:
To make your text right aligned, put [right] [/right] tags around it [right]like this.[/right]
This text is aligned to the center of the post.
- Code:
To make your text centered, put [center] [/center] tags around it [center]like this.[/center]
This text is justified in the post, which means it has the same amount of space on the left and the right. It doesn't usually look any different from left aligned text, and may only have a different appearance when you have an entire paragraph or more of text.
- Code:
To make your text justified, put [justify] [/justify] tags around it [justify]like this.[/justify]
- 3. You can make the text bigger or smaller, or change the color:
- Code:
To make your text bigger or smaller, put [size=#] [/size] tags around it, [size=18]like this.[/size]
- Code:
To change the color of your text, put [color=hex code] [/color] tags around it, [color=#FF0000]like this.[/color]
- 4. You can also insert images and links:
- Code:
To insert an image, right click on the picture and select 'Copy image address'. Then, paste it in between two [img] [/img] tags, like this: [img]http://i.imgur.com/trvfeR2.png[/img]
- Code:
To insert a link, first copy the link you want to insert (it can be found in the url bar at the top of your browser). Then, format it like this: [url=http://i.imgur.com/trvfeR2.png]this links to an image[/url].
- 5. Finally, you can make lists of items:
- Code:
To make a bullet list, you'll need to put your tags like this. First a [list] tag, and then a [*] tag in front of each item in the list, and finally a [/list] tag. Like this: [list][*]The first item in the list.
[*]The second item in the list.[/list]
- This is a bullet list.
- It can have as many list items as you want.
- Make sure you put a tag in front of each item.
- If you don't, the list will break.
- Hit enter between each new list item, too.
- Code:
You can also make a numbered list with a similar format. This time, the first tag will be [list=1], then a [*] tag in front of each item, and end with a [/list] tag. Like this: [list=1][*]The first item in the list.
[*]The second item in the list.[/list]
- This is a numbered list.
- It works the same as a bullet list.
- But it puts a number before each item.
- Don't forget to hit enter between new items.
- 6. You can also combine tags in lots of different ways:
- Code:
For instance, you can make text that is bold, italic, and bigger than normal, [b][i][size=18]like this.[/size][/i][/b]
Putting those tags together looks like this.You can combine tags to do almost anything you need them to do.
- Code:
Or you can make right-aligned red text, with a link in it, [right][color=#FF0000]by doing [url=http://reunitedroleplayers.board-directory.net/forum]this.[/url][/color][/right]
Re: Basic Forum Tutorial
on Wed Jun 07, 2017 4:53 am
Writing Tips:
- 1. Do your best to use proper grammar and punctuation:
While mistakes are easy to make, it helps to put a bit of extra effort into things like grammar when you're typing roleplay replies on a forum. This even includes simple things - always start your sentences with a capital letter and end them with some form of punctuation, capitalize the first person pronoun I, put quotation marks (" ") around your dialogue, and other similar things. Nobody expects you to be perfect, but do your best.
- 2. Check your spelling:
Another instance where mistakes are forgivable and nobody expects perfection, but it helps to put in some extra effort. Remember that spell check is your friend, but it can't always help you - for instance, spell check is unlikely to alert you if you confused different forms of their/they're/there. Therefore, make sure you proofread your posts for any obvious errors in addition to using a spell checker. (Google Chrome has one built in - it'll underline words red if they're spelled wrong.)
- 3. Pick a person and tense and stick with it:
On VFK, roleplay is typically done in first person, present tense. "I go to the store." On forums, it's suggested to use either third person, past tense ("She went to the store.") or first person, past tense ("I went to the store."). Whichever you choose, the most important thing is that you stay consistent. If you decide to write in third person, don't start using first person in the middle of your post.
- 4. Add some extra detail into your replies:
VFK is very visual based, with rooms serving as aids that tell you where objects are and where you are in the room. However, on a forum, you have to describe those things for yourself. Detail is good, but don't use too much - it's good to describe the color and appearance of objects, but you don't need to go into detail about something like the wood grain on a table unless it's important to the story.
- 5. Never control someone else's character without permission:
While it can be fun to rush ahead in the roleplay to get to the good parts, it's really important that you don't control anyone else's character. Never say that a character that belongs to somebody else did something, or went somewhere, or said something unless they've given you out of character permission to do so. This especially applies to things like fighting - it's okay to say you tried to bite someone's shoulder, but you can't decide whether or not you actually did.
- 6. You can't succeed at everything:
Along the same lines, remember that nobody is perfect and you can't succeed or win at everything you do. Therefore, neither can your characters. Sometimes you'll fail to catch a piece of prey, or lose in a fight, or not get a training move correct right away, and that's okay. Failing isn't bad, it's just an opportunity to learn. So when you're roleplaying, make sure you don't always do that thing you tried to do. It adds some realism and gives you the opportunity to motivate your character to try harder.
- 7. In character stays in character:
Do your best not to cross the lines between in character and out of character. Just because you know the name of somebody's character, doesn't mean your character knows it! Sometimes your character has to learn things in character even if you already know them. Similarly, just because your character is in a fight with somebody else's doesn't mean you should start a fight with that person. Leave the drama to the characters.
- 8. Try to make your replies a bit longer:
Obviously there isn't always a whole lot to do or say in a certain part of a roleplay, but you should still try your hardest to make your replies more than a couple of sentences long. It's generally suggested to have at least one paragraph for a roleplay reply on a forum - that's around 4-6 sentences. Less is okay if you can't think of anything to add, but it strengthens your writing skills to aim for more.
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MBBS in China – Change Your Life. Start Here.
Worship of God through service to mankind.
China has gained expertise in its traditional medicine and allow students to pursue MBBS in China at a very low tuition fee and has opened its application for MBBS in China 2018.
China, world's largest populated country, gives a tremendous significance to medicine by putting technology in medical science. Being, strongest economy worldwide, China has medical universities among which some of them represent best Medical University Abroad. Medical universities in China offers the graduate degree as bachelor of surgery and bachelor of medicine. Five years of studying MBBS syllabus in China made students expertise and a successful certified physician.
China has MCI Approved Medical Colleges which are also accredited by various international medical councils, known for their best education. Chinese medical association is one of the oldest non-governmental medical association in China established by medical professionals aiming to maintain medical ethics and uphold social integrity. The association later results in the nation's largest contribution to the medical education in China, medical exchanges, and training. Choosing china for an advanced medical career is a wise option for those who aim at pursuing MBBS from abroad due to the high growth rate in the medical academy in China. MBBS in China is known for its traditional medical transformation by the use of modern techniques. Developing and innovating medicine in a complicated structure is a big challenge and China has set all countries behind in developing new life science innovations.
Major Life Science Achievements of China.
- AI medical assistance introduced by China which can monitor the diagnosis.
- A rise in medical robotics increases a feather in the hat of Chinese medical innovation.
- The powerful base for R&D and its infrastructure.
- Development of Intellectual property rights protection.
- Maintain the integration of global trade, drug regulation, and IP.
Medical education in China becomes the priority for massive folks in China as well as for international people to come in and grab the world's best healthcare education in China. MBBS in China gives well-respected status to physicians in the social society moreover, the medical system in China follows the British medical structure with a time period of 5 years in total.
MBBS syllabus in China is popularly known for its structural diversity and practicality down the line with a great exposure to renowned hospitals in China which attracts the national as well as international students in huge number and became one of the great budget-friendly options. There is a simple and symmetric process for MBBS admissions in China for the students coming from abroad and wish to study MBBS in China.China medical universities list ranking is re-access on yearly basis on their performance.
MCI approved medical universities in China
Out of 3470 medical universities in for MBBS in China 45 universities are approved by the Medical Council of India and are listed below
Analysis of studying factors of MBBS in china Indian students seek to pursue medical education abroad when they are left with no other option after disqualifying from NEET. Moreover, top universities in China for MBBS offer great advantages for the students who wish to pursue MBBS in China. Let's have a short lookout
- No gratuity or donation is permitted in Chinese Medical University for MBBS in China.
- Cost of studying MBBS in China is comparatively low to other developed nations as almost 90% of the medical universities in China are run by the government.
- Chinese medical Universities are approved by WHO and are recognized by many other international medical councils.
- No language barrier is there in Chinese MBBS syllabus, English is commonly and widely accepted in almost every Medical University.
- Being a neighboring country, south China has similar weather conditions as of India.
- China is the most populated country in the world and accordingly, the hospitals have enough facilities for beds to have a large inflow of patients at a single time.
- Post-graduation options from other countries are also available for students.
- Living cost in China is extremely low as compared to all other countries.
- Students will get diverse cross-cultural experience, as students came across the globe to learn traditional medicine of China which is now popularly known as MBBS in China infused with modern and Technological techniques.
- Application of MBBS course in China is directly accepted after 12th
- University provides USMLE
Disadvantages of studying MBBS in china
Besides the advantages, every country or everything has certain disadvantages as well. Chinese medical universities are giving world-class benefits to the world but still has certain deformities with its related courses of medicine. Have a look at some of them
- Students with no choices left rather than to learn Mandarin (Chinese language) which is included in their course as HSK-4 group to maintain feasibility in day to day interaction with the patients in China.
- Learning HSK level 2 for MBBS IN CHINA is mandatory to students for the basic understanding of Chinese language as the faculty does not sound affluent in English accent.
- It has been advised to students to select the university wisely, as not every university is MCI approved and provided quality education.
- Chinese medical universities are getting a large number of students across the globe and therefore the passing percentage of FMGE is getting degraded year by year (15% only) because all MCI approved universities are providing c- grade education.
- MBBS admission in China becomes tough and is not highly advisory by MBBS Experts to Indian students who are willing to appear for MCI screening test but are not confident enough to pass it.
- Medical universities in China are restricted to perform practical on non-living mannequins which are not appreciated by Indian alumni's who have completed MBBS in China.
- As China has 5 years of MBBS program which is incapable of cultivating best results out of the total population in China.
Admission Procedure for MBBS in China
The procedure to get admission in top MBBS college in China is just simple steps away-
Step-1 Application Form
Students should download the application form given on university's website.
Step-2 Necessary Documents
- 2 Passport size photographs.
- High-school and intermediate mark sheets and passing certificates.
- 11th and 12th certificates from the council board of education.
- Copy of valid Passport.
- Extra-curricular activities certificates.
- All the documents must be attested properly.
Step-3 Inspection of documents
The universities in respect to the process of admission submit the necessary documents to international student's committee of admission for the required inspection.
Step-4 Fee submission
Students are now required to pay the administration fee in advance (depending on the university) with regard to the MBBS admission in China. It also includes processing fee, admission fee, and application fee.
Step-5 Destination fee
A student can process the transaction of the fee to MBBS in China or in India, whichever to be processed fast.
Step-6 Formalities
Once the fee is done, we send you the copy of your admission letter from the respective university. after that, the documents need to be submitted to the ministry of education in China for the issue of JW202 form which is required in visa proceedings.
Step-7 Visa proceedings for MBBS in China
- After all, formalities are done, student need to apply for the visa, following documents are required for visa application-
- Passport size photographs
- A valid copy of passport
- JW202 as issued by the ministry of education in China.
Top Chinese Medical colleges Suggested by us
|Enrolment size
|Capital Medical University
|China Medical University
|Chongqing Medical University
|Dalian Medical University
|Fudan University
|Guangxi Medical University
|Hua Zhong University of Science and Technology
|Jiangsu University
|Jilin University
|Jinan University
|Nanjing Medical University
|Shandong University
|Sichuan University
|Southern Medical University
|Tianjin Medical University
|Wenzhou Medical University
|Xi'an Jiao Tong University
|Xinjiang Medical University
|Zhejiang Medical University
|Anhui Medical University
|Beihua University
|China Three Gorges University
|Fujian Medical University
|Guangzhou Medical University
|Harbin Medical University
|Hebei Medical University
|Kunming Medical University
|Liaoning Medical University
|Luzhou Medical University
|Nantong University
|Ningbo University
|Name of the University
|Eligibility Criteria
|Total Fees
|China Medical University
|6 Years
|Jilin University
|6 Years
|Dalian Medical University
|6 Years
FMGE passing percentage in China?
It has been recorded from last 4 years that MBBS in China is not able to get good FMGE results for the students studying MBBS in China. In past 3 years, MBBS graduates in China had been able to deliver 5-6% FMGE result only, which is constantly low as compared to other countries. It has now become the most concerned issue from the point of Indian students who spent big amount to study MBBS in China and won't get practice in India after completing MBBS course in China. The number of students moving China to pursue MBBS course is increasing year by year.
FMGE passing ratio from last 3 yrs
- 2014 – Out of 3935 MBBS graduates from China, only 353 students would able to make it clear.
- 2015 – Out of 3535 students appeared for FMGE and only 275 were passed.
- It has been known for the years that the passing percentage criteria of MCI are 20-24%
What is the mode of teaching in medical education in China?
China is a diverse country in spite of a majority of the population speaking Mandarin but there is a good exposure to inter-cultural goals. And the majority of the universities have English mode of teaching specializations in the medical field.
How much time a student visa should take and what's the procedure of the same?
As everybody knows, Chinese people are hard-working and punctual. They care for the career of students and don't take much time for the visa proceedings. students who wish to pursue MBBS in China will go in the category of X1 VISA which is for students who stays in China for more than 6 months for advanced or higher studies. The processing time for a visa is 4-7 days for the students.
Is language course being compulsory for students wishing to pursue MBBS in China?
As far as admissions in Medical education in China is concerned, every Medical University in China made a mandatory benchmark for international students to learn Chinese language course HSK-4 level and before admission student must have a basic understanding of HSK-2 level so that they a have a proper understanding of mandarin accent.
Is there any guarantee that students would clear the medical screening tests like USMLE, PLAB, MCI etc after completion MBBS in China?
There is no such principle as surety of getting passed in Medical screening tests, it also depends on the performance of students how dedicatedly they prepare themselves for screening tests. Indeed, we guarantee that all students are eligible and can appear for screening tests without any hindrance.
About china
People's Republic of China, popularly known as China, is an East Asian country having a title of the most populous nation in the world. China is the third largest country by area with more than 15000 km of coastline.
Capital – Beijing
Population – 1.4 billion
Area – 9600000 square kilometers.
President – Xi Jinping
The language spoke – Standard Chinese
Religion – Chinese folk religion (73%), 15.8% Buddhism, 2% Christianity, 0.4% Islam, 7% other religious organizations
Rivers – Yellow, Yangtze, Heilong, Pearl, Liohe, Haihe, Lancang, Quiangtang
Currency – Renminbi (Yuan)
Television system – PAL,China central television station (CCTV) and English news channels are also available in many satellites
Political system – National People Congress
Ruling party – Communist party of China
Country code – (+86)
Beijing, the capital city of the country is enriched in historical artifacts and sites like Tiananmen square and forbidden city palace. One of the four oldest civilizations in the world is in China with the great engineering completion projects like The Great Wall, Grand Canal, Karez around 2000 years back.
Climatic information, China
China offers various sites territories to visit throughout the year, from the perspective of the students it is the climatically favorable country to study and the climate of south China is almost similar to India, as Cis a neighbouring country to India. China has a range of temperature and rainfall zones that vary throughout the year. Indian Students who wish to Pursue medicine in China can easily adjust to Chinese climate, it is almost similar to that of India.
Generally, China has 5 climatic zones
Cold Temperature Zone-Harbin
Mid-Temperature Zone-Jilin Liaoning, Xinjiang warm-temperature zone- Jinan, Qingdao, Xian.
Subtropical and Tropical Zone- Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, southern Taiwan, Guangdong.
Average temperature: Beijing
Religion and ethnic groups in China
China is a rich and diverse country from the perspective of ethnicity. The largest ethnic group in China that makes up to 90% of Chinese population is Han Chinese. The main ethnic minorities in China are-
|Ethnic minorities in China
|Population in millions
The main religion that is followed in China is Buddhism. Many Chinese people follow the religion but some of them follows Taoism, Folklore, Confucianism.
Cost of living during MBBS in China
China has been the prominent study destination for many international students. The living costs vary according to your geographical preference in China. Mostly students who want to Pursue Medical education in China live in Beijing due to the availability of top medical colleges for MBBS in China. Generally, Shanghai is one of the costliest city in China which has a living standard like of western countries. Food cost is too normal for students in China. Usually, international students spend around $4000 USD for accommodation and $2000 on other expenses.
Average living costs in China goes like-
Beijing – To live in such an expensive city in China and to cover all the expenses you need $700-$800 USD/month.
Shanghai – The average monthly expenditure that an average student need is $650-$780 USD.
Accommodation – You can also find several affordable home options in the expensive cities like Shanghai or Beijing. The basic low-cost option for MBBS in China are also available as
Rental flats – It usually costs between $300-1000 the USA per month, depending on the area or locality in the city.
Student residence – This option is way most cheap for students wants to pursue the costliest program like MBBS in China. It can easily available in the range of $200-$440 USD. However, every student residence apartments need certain deposit amount i.e. $300-$400 USD and electricity/gas- $500 USD.
Hostel – For international student's Chinese medical universities has made certain arrangements in the university campuses. Or students can also take daily basis packages in the universities hostel. It starts from $15 USD per night.
Indian food availability during MBBS in China
In China, if you preferred lesser cosmopolitan cities to study or to live in like Guangzhou, Xi'an etc. you will not find the required resources to cook or to but Indian food due to less availability of Indian stores there.
Cities like Beijing, Shanghai there are many departmental stores that have been opened up from where you can get enough Indian food material. It's better to get your raw materials for food from India most preferably spices that will go to help you a lot, as the 98% of Chinese population don't speak English. You would find difficulty in finding Indian food in some specific cities.
Travelling details
China is a neighboring country to India so its don't take much time to fly from India to China. You can get a round trip only at 18,000INR from India to China and from China to India. MBBS Experts are there to accompany you in your departure time and will assist you if asked. Some cheap and direct flights that make your journey from India to China safe and comfortable are-
- China Eastern
- Air China
- China Southern
- Air India
- Shandong airlines.
Network operators for MBBS in China
The 3 major networks that are operating in China are-
- China telecom corporation
- China Unicom
- China Mobile.
These operators of China are on the 2nd, 3rd rank worldwide. The system of these operators works on CDMA and GSM mobile system. Students can also carry their mobile phone SIM card from India and get it port to any of these operators. These telecom operators that function in China are exclusively Chinese. Internet connectivity in any of these networks is cheap and also allows smooth international calling, Video calling etc.


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Monday was a good day for exotic players with my www.pick4win.com selections as I had 7 Listed Winners, 6 Exactas, 5 Doubles, 4 Trifectas, and 3 Pick 3's. Money was there for the taking if you played the right exotic wagers.
For Wednesday I have the card on www.pick4win.com available for purchase, which is dominated by 2 yr old races.
For today's Free Saratoga Pick ~
Race 3 – #4 Mr Rodriguez – thinking the horse is special since he's named for his trainer, won 1st out for fun back in May, returns fresh today with very fast works for Rudy who usually works them slow so he is very live, should be the speed of the speed crushing them wire to wire.
The very best of luck!
Want to make even more money with pick4win.com winning horse picks? RPM has over 100 Horse Racing Systems, Horse Racing Books, Software, Horse Racing DVD/Cd's, that can help maximize profit at the track and with bankroll management. Click Here!


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Daily tips and tricks to help you achieve your travel goals
Hello, I'm Debra! My husband once remarked, "I think you love planning vacations more than the actual vacation!" Wise words, and maybe a little bit true.
I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and grew up taking family vacations to Disneyland. Now I love to share my love of all things Disney with my husband and two kids. We take trips to Disneyland at least once a year, made it over to the East coast in 2016 to introduce the kids to Disney World, and even sprung for annual passes to Disneyland in 2017.
Now, my goal is to spend the ultimate year of Disney coming up in 2019-2020: Premier Passes, which allow you to visit parks on both coasts in one year. And they ain't cheap. One pass is over $1500! But, you know, Star Wars Galaxy's Edge is coming, and we have to be there for that!
While Disney is great, I do acknowledge that there are other places to explore, taking the family to places like Hawaii, New York City, Washington, DC, Costa Rica, and Yellowstone. I have a bucket list to visit every state in the US, and only have three more states to cross off. (Did someone say Alaska cruise?!) We also have our future travel sights set on other international destinations like Europe, New Zealand, and Cuba. This year, my daughter entered 4th grade, so we will be taking advantage of the free National Parks pass that is offered to every 4th grader in the country.
So I invite you to come along on my journey to achieve my travel goals and maybe you can learn how to achieve yours as well!
Find what you're looking for here...
Follow along as we earn Disney gift cards, watch our savings percentage grow, and reach our goal of $6000


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The Benefits of Giving Employee Awards
It's no secret, the success of any business or company depends upon the individuals who works very hard to achieve its goals. The truth is, these workers can make any business or company grows, and at the same time they can make the business fail. It is very important that the company gives employee awards to those people who works very hard. Workplace enthusiasm is very important and every owner or manager of the company should how to generate one. If you want to stimulate workplace enthusiasm, then you need to give employee awards or employee recognition. You need to make sure that you are not the only one who feels motivated but your employees as well. If you do a research on the Internet, you will find out that there are different kinds of employee awards.
There are some company owners and managers who think that making their employees work much harder is a very difficult task. Well, the truth is, motivating employees is an easy task. If you want your employees to feel motivated and wanted them to work harder, then give them an award or recognition. According to studies, workers leave their jobs after feeling a lot of pressure from the company and there is no reward or recognition given. The best companies out there knows how to value their workers by giving awards and recognition.
People get tired when they don't like their jobs. If it is your goal to achieve consistent business growth, then you must make an effort to motivate not only yourself but also your employees – give them awards and recognition. You should focus on creating a very good and healthy environment and this can be done by giving rewards and recognition. A pleasant working environment can undoubtedly motivate your workers. Research also say that businesses or companies that give employee awards or recognition to their best-performing workers enjoy a significantly high employment performance.
Greater effectiveness can lead to business growth and this can be achieved if your company has a high employment performance. It's really up to you what rewards or recognitions you are going to give to your employees – be it in financial or non-financial form. What matters most is that you are able to express your gratitude to them by giving them awards and recognition. If your company doesn't have enough money to provide financial rewards, then it's not a problem. You can still give certificates, plaque, or engraved awards.
If you think that your employee did a very outstanding job, then acknowledge his or her efforts and give him or her an award. It is very important that you motivate your workers if you want to stay on top of the game. Create a happy working environment.
Quotes: Get More Information


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A special engine has been shipped from the US by a firm and donated to a Daventry school.
Earlier this week, Cummins – one of the industry partners of Daventry UTC – donated a brand new learning resource which both the UTC and Cummins would like to share with the local community.
The Cummins K2000E is a V16 engine with a displacement of 50.25 litres and capable of producing 2,000hp.
Students at Daventry UTC are now able to experience first-hand such engineering.
The engine has been specially adapted to allow to see its internal components in order to provide a better understanding of how engines work and the science and engineering behind it.
David Edmondson, the UTC principal said: "We are extremely grateful for Cummins to supply us with this unique and priceless learning resource.
"Cummins take a very active role as an industry partner of our UTC, they spend a lot of their time with our students making sure that they are career-ready after their studies at our UTC.
"Many of our students are now applying for apprenticeships in their local factory.
"We have now got this huge engine which Cummins has shipped for us all the way from America, making it quite a logistical challenge."
Daventry UTC says it wants to use the engine to promote STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – in the community by being able to apply theory into practice.
The UTC is preparing an Open Event for Tuesday, November 24 from 4pm to 6pm where the Cummins engine will be officially unveiled to the public. Visitors will be able to meet Cummins employees who will be there to share many interesting facts about the engine, engineering and to answer any questions about future careers.


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Brushy Pointe Overlook is a $109,000 property on a 1.00 acre lot located in Houston, AL.
Great Lot in a gated subdivision with under ground utilities on Smith Lake. Lot has beautiful views of Smith Lake with a Rock Shoreline on Deep Year Around Water on the Main Body of Brushy Creek. Smith Lake is one of the cleanest lakes in the United States with great boating and fishing. Build your dream home here and make this Your Happy Place.
|Exterior Features
Water Property
Other Restrictions
Deed Restrictions
Lake Smith
|Land Type
Single Family
|Water Source
|Property Type
|Property Sub Type
|Elementary School
double springs elementary
|Middle School
double springs middle
|High School
double springs hs
The Peninsula Lewis Smth Lake
Based on information from the North Alabama Multiple Listing Service® , last updated 01/16/2019 at 06:52pm MST. All data, including all measurements and calculations of area, is obtained from various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MLS. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information. Listing information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed by the MLS or this website.


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Janey Lynn Motel is a pet friendly hotel in Bedford, PA, that has been serving the community since 2002. We offer comfortable lodging to all of our guests, from locals to families on vacation, with clean and well-kept rooms and plenty of features to keep you satisfied with your stay. Our rooms have a wide variety of amenities, from free Wifi, HBO, cable and pets are allowed in carriers. Our friendly staff is on hand to answer your questions about the motel, room or amenities and knowledgeable with the area to help you find restaurants, shops or attractions. When you want a clean, comfortable and convenient place to stay in Bedford, PA, call on Janey Lynn Motel, we look forward to meeting you!
Write a review!


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Friday, 5 March 2010
John's Latest Progress Report
Love to you all, Jo
12 comments:
- Anonymous5 March 2010 at 23:57
Oh, Jo, that's wonderful news! Thanks so much for sharing. Take care and God bless,ReplyDelete
Love, Carol & Rob
I have often thought, Jo, that you should have a blog. How interesting would that be?ReplyDelete
I'm so happy to hear that your hubby is doing well enough for a crossword! That is huge!
Please tell him that we are eagerly awaiting his return!
I've been so outta the loop with my blogs and just found out he had surgery. Thank you for giving us an update, Jo. Wishing you both well. :)ReplyDelete
Good news, thank you. :-)ReplyDelete
That is good news!!! So glad to hear it...I will be looking forward to further news of John's full recovery.ReplyDelete
Yes! Jo's Blog! That would be great!
That's what we want to hear. Progress. You are probably weary and will be better too when things are back to normal. Best wishes to both of you.ReplyDelete
Thanks for the update! Glad to hear John is on the mend; wanting to read and do crosswords does sound like recovery! :) ♥ReplyDelete
Thanks for letting us know Jo - take care and (((((hugs))))to both of youReplyDelete
Jo, this is the first posting I was looking to find today. I've been away from the computer since early yesterday. So happy to hear that he's doing well and getting back into the joys of feeding his brain :)ReplyDelete
Bless you and thank you for keeping us updated. We'd love to have your voice in blog land...hope you do get used to it ♥
Take care of you.
So glad to know John is improving and will be coming home soon.ReplyDelete
I will continue to send good thoughts, carrying wishes for his recovery, up the east coast of North America, across the North Atlantic and over to you and John.
that is great news Jo, give him all our best wishes for a speedy recovery and hope to see him in Lewis over the summer months. Love Iain, Carol & Family xReplyDelete
Wonderful news! Thanks Jo for giving the updates. You've done a great job blogging and may just have to start your own now! Again, my best to John.ReplyDelete
Hello - thanks for dropping by to leave a comment. Your comments are much appreciated even if I don't always reply. They will appear as soon as they have been moderated.
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Who collected the most rubber bands to make the biggest rubber band ball in the world? And where is it? These are the kinds of things I wonder about.
According to Wikipedia, Joel Waul holds the Guinness World Record for the largest rubber band ball. It weighs in at 9,400 lbs and is over 8 feet tall. It was purchased by Ripleys Believe It Or Not.
The previous record holders were Steve Milton and John Bain.
One last item regarding big balls: In my rubber band ball research I found a most hilarious stream of comments on the wonderful website "Roadside America." (Which if you are not familiar is a great resource for all the wacky and weird roadside attractions worth seeing across America.) The stream starts around 2000 with an entry about a corner store owner in the Mission in S.F. who was constructing a rubber band ball in his shop. Two pages chronicle visitors interactions with this rubber band ball builder over a 10 year period. It is a good read. Starting with "We stumbled upon the rubber band ball (covered up with blankets and an american flag) while trying to buy beer..."


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A Leyland-based firm has enjoyed a VIP trip to Singapore and Malaysia alongside Prime Minister David Cameron and some of the UK's most high profile ministers.
Graham James, director of Flexcrete Technologies Limited was invited on the Northern Powerhouse Trade Mission organised by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).
Flexcrete Technologies has been exporting the company's products for some 30 years.
It enjoys a thriving export business with international agents and distributors in 65 countries worldwide and export sales accounting for some 50 per cent of its revenues.
The Trade Mission was organised by UKTI for Northern companies to gain insights into two of South East Asia's most vibrant markets, Singapore and Malaysia.
Graham said: "This has been a wonderful opportunity for us to build contacts with new and existing distributors in South East Asia, as economic growth and development is expected to exceed the global average for the foreseeable future.
"We have been exporting for some 30 years now and we're pleased to say that our export business is very strong.
"Taking South Asia as an example, our coatings have been used at Hong Kong International Airport and a recent project has seen the use of Flexcrete products to help improve the water supply system in Brunei."
For the last three years, Flexcrete has been hailed as one of the North West's leading exporters.
It has been awarded the prestigious title of 'Export Champion' by UKTI.