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(This blog post is re-posted (with slight updates) from a guest post originally published on the Pinup Persuasion blog back in December 2015.)
So many people tell me that they never find anything when they go thrifting… but you have to know WHERE and HOW to look! It also doesn't hurt to go regularly. Some days I score big time, and other times I may walk out with nothing. I thought it would be fun to have you virtually "walk through" the store with me, and see where I like to stop and look, and what I specifically look for.
Here's a typical trip through the thrift store with me:
Here's a typical trip through the thrift store with me:
I start at housewares. I collect Pyrex, so I buzz past there first, just in case… on this particular day, there were two pieces of Pyrex, but they were so dishwasher-damaged that it wasn't worth it. Pass. I haven't had a ton of luck as of late with Pyrex, but I always look. You never know.
Then, I head over to pictures and frames. I collect religious art, so I sometimes find an awesome unexpected gaudy piece for my collection. No such luck today, but there are always a bunch of chunky frames (you can buy these and just pop out the artwork and glass!) that are super cool for brooch display boards and other DIY projects.
Speaking of brooches, I like to wander by the jewelry display case to see what kind of cute brooches or other accessories are available:
At the time, there were a ton of cute holiday brooches available. I already have a couple of super cute Christmas brooches, so I passed. I dream of one day spotting a Bakelite bangle… but it hasn't happened yet!
Next, I wander through the other housewares and decorative items. Today I found an awesome black cat sculptural ceramic piece that I think I'll use to hold business cards at art fairs. Score! Keep your eyes open for cute vintage-y vases and candle holders in this section, too. I once found a pair of super awesome wall-hanging gothic candle sconces in this department, so expect the unexpected!
Next, I stroll past the skirts, just in case. Savers organizes all of their clothing by size, so I've developed a pretty good scanning eye for specific fabrics (I once snagged a Hell Bunny dress for $9.99!), and I seem to have pretty good success at finding pencil skirts in vintage-y wool plaid fabrics. I'm always looking for swing or circle skirts, too. Because I can find skirts at such a low price, I'm not afraid to practice my hemming skills on them. Even if I mess it up, it's much less daunting on a skirt that you only paid a few bucks for.
One of my favorite sections as of late is cardigans! I have discovered that it is best not to put yourself in just one size. I've found awesome sweaters tagged large, medium, AND small, so you never know. If you have the patience, flip through all of them, and pull out anything that catches your eye. You can try them on later and weed out your faves. It's amazing how many designer brands you can find on the rack!
|Ann Taylor LOFT?!
|Banana Republic!
I always look for pin-up-ish cardigans, which means that they have a slightly fitted style to them, which often means sizing down. Lately, I've been scouring for cropped cardigans, as I'm only 5'1" and the cropped style works really great over my vintage repro dresses. Be open minded! I'm always surprised at what works and what doesn't prior to trying them on! Today I found four possible winners that I threw into my cart:
I tried them on, and ended up keeping the black cropped cardigan (always a staple piece that one can use - and I ended up wearing this sweater ALL the time!) and the striped tie-style cardigan:
Normally, I don't go for tie-style cardigans, but I do love me some black and white stripes! I have a black Jenny dress from Pinup Girl Clothing that would be so cute with this! Score!
I have actually built up quite a collection of cardigans from thrifting, both cropped and longer length:
|You can read more about my bedroom storage solutions here.
I keep a running list of what colors I have, so that when I'm out, I can look specifically for colors that I don't have, and don't accidentally re-buy a piece I already own! The best part about thrifting for cardigans is that I typically spend only $5-$10 per sweater, sometimes less if there's a sale or I have a coupon!
Next, I head across the aisle to long-sleeve knits. This section is newer for me. I used to skip over it, until I realized how many awesome boat-neck-style tops I could find for my circle skirts for awesome prices! I usually hunt for specific colors that my wardrobe is lacking, which makes hunting a bit easier. Check out these four options I spotted right away!
On the way to the next section, I pass by coats and skim the options. Today there was a super cool faux fur coat that'd be great for a pinup style! I don't currently need a winter coat, so I passed, but how cool is this?
After that, I head over to my new favorite section: lingerie and nightgowns! I'm on the hunt for awesome vintage nighties and glamorous robes...
So far my collection is quite small. Only two vintage nightgowns. But today I found this awesome long sheer black robe/dressing gown that I am so psyched about! I think I'm going to start lounging around the house in this and pretend I'm Dita Von Teese. :) All I need now are some maribou slippers...
My final stop on the thrifting rounds is belts and accessories. This is a great place to find vintage hair scarves! I have a ridiculous collection right now though, so I instead focus on belts.
Just like cardigans, I'm kind of collecting a whole rainbow of options at the moment. The best part about thrifted belts is that I typically pay $1-2 dollars each, so if they don't hold up, I'm not too sad about it, and I can usually find a replacement fairly easily. Today I spotted three potential options:
But when I tried them on, one was just too worn out, and the other two were too big. Whomp whomp. Even though I didn't get any belts today, I have actually had a LOT of luck finding them in the past!
Check out this collection:
Every single belt in this photo was thrifted!
In the end, I purchased six items: two cardigans (one black cropped, one striped tie-style cropped), a vintage Tupperware canister in green, a ceramic black cat sculpture, the long black sheer robe, and a pale pink nightie. My total was $21. Seriously! Awesome!
...and all of this was just one trip on one week to the thrift store. Every week is different from the rest. You just have to keep going and looking, and you never know what treasures you'll end up with! Some weeks I bring home absolutely nothing, and others are a thrifting vintage-lover's dream!
Let me know what awesome items you've scored while thrifting!
Rock On,
Jen @ Hell Razor
now playing:


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These adorable monkey pens are too adorable! Who says pens have to be boring when you can have monkey-themed pens! Share the love – we think these are perfect as gifts to friends and family as well. The pens write in 0.38 black ink.
Note: We cannot provide specific versions of this product at this time. You will get one randomly while supplies last!
Additional Information

subset: commoncrawl


text: 9 out of 10 Siobhan Derry/Londonderry General Comments Big mug, lovely picture when heated. Nicely packaged however not dishwasher safe. All scores from this user: Was this review helpful? This is helpful This is unhelpful 1 of 2 people found this review helpful Overall rating9.0 Confirmed purchase: 05 December 2016 Published on: 18 January 2017


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I started the day with pineapple and watermelon. So good.
Then get ready for a new recipe! The Chocolate Ice Cream Shake! Made with 4 ingredients: 1 cup plant based ice cream, 1 1/4 cup almond milk, 2 tablespoons almond butter, 2 tablespoons hemp seeds. And added a teaspoon of Phresh Greens.
Afternoon snack was cherries!
Then ate this divine nectarine. So divine.
Then this coconut meat/nut. Straight from the coconut.
Dinner was this feast of brown rice pasta, Prawns/shrimp, broccoli, beans, shallots cooked in olive oil and honey. High in protein.
58 days to book launch!
Love Liana


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You Must Chill
Helping families stay calm and connected.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Grandpas for Sale
The next time you've had just about enough of your father in law (or your own father), drive him down to the Grandpa Store for a trade in.
Today's special:
72 year old chain smoker who will occasionally yell obscenities at your children for no apparent reason.
Suddenly my dad (and his Karaoke habit) doesn't seem quite so bad.
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Jenny Runkel
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In commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, the Department of State's State Library and Archives of Florida presents "Distant Storm: Florida's Role in the Civil War." Part Two, "The Confederacy in 1861-1862," is now live on Florida Memory. The exhibit features original documents and photographs from the collections of the State Library and Archives of Florida, accompanied by a narrative on Florida's role in the Civil War.
Florida entered the Civil War as one of the original seceding states. The second installment of "Distant Storm" begins with Florida's role in the creation of the Confederate government and ends with Florida's role in maintaining the Confederacy through 1862. During this period, Florida began the war at the center of the secession crisis, as Confederate and Union forces confronted each other at Fort Pickens off Pensacola Harbor.
The national focus on Florida soon shifted, however, and Florida was largely forgotten as Union and Confederate armies contested for control of Virginia and Tennessee. Florida regiments left the state to participate in the great battles to the north. The regiments, formed into the Florida brigades of the East and West, became integral units in the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of Tennessee.
Back home, the state contended with economic and governmental problems that accompanied the lengthening war. Governor John Milton contended for control of the executive branch with restless members of the ongoing secession convention and had the unpleasant duty of implementing the Confederate Conscription Act, the first national draft in U.S. history.
Despite Union incursions and an ever-tightening naval blockade, Florida ended 1862 as an intact but increasingly brittle member of the Confederacy. Confederate Floridians grimly hoped that 1863 would bring the South final victory.
Tags: Civil War


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Top Eight Acts of Love for Your Heart - Part 1
February is heart month, so woo your heart with easy but essential acts of love.
What are the best vitamin and mineral supplements with a proven track record for strengthening the heart? How important is exercise? How about sleep? Is it possible to manage arterial plaque? We've picked the top seven best things you can do right now to strengthen and love your heart; here are four to get you started.
1. Exercise: Exercise is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy heart and to prevent future heart problems. Not only can it reduce your risk of heart disease, it may even reduce inflammation throughout the years.1 And hey, it's a heck of a lot easier to prevent heart problems than to correct them.
The secret is regular exercise. Getting your heart rate up into a safe but aerobic zone three to five days per week is key. According to the American Heart Association, "For health benefits to the heart, lungs and circulation, perform any moderate-to-vigorous-intensity aerobic activity for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week at 50–85 percent of your maximum heart rate."2 However, if you have heart disease, it is recommended to first consult a physician for advice before beginning. Exercise is my top pick because of all the natural, healthy benefits.
2. Proper Nutrition: Like exercise, proper nutrition is also crucial. That means consuming a balance of fats, proteins and carbs. Proteins and carbs are somewhat self-explanatory. But not just any fat will do—especially if it's coming from a Little Debbie snack cake. The body needs healthy fats called "essential fatty acids" that cannot be produced by the body. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid that is found primarily in the heart-healthy form (EPA & DHA) in specific types of fish: sardines, tuna, herring, salmon and mackerel.
Quick tips for a healthier heart:
- Use olive oil or alternative spreads (unsaturated fats) like grapeseed oil to give bread or potatoes what your taste buds crave.
- Stop eating junk food. Reduced-fat cookies, crackers or chips often have trans-fats! Replace with homemade, whole grain fruit breads and pies.
- Be suspicious of label claims like "reduced-fat" or "low-carb." Instead, read over the label to see if it has trans-fats.
- Eat more whole, raw foods: fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats.
- Keep your protein intake to 10% daily. For a 132-pound woman, that would be about 48 grams of protein. Studies now show that we do not need any more than 10%-12% protein in our diets. That's impossible to do if you eat a 3 oz. serving of meat more than once per day (hint: eat more plant-based foods!).3
- Eat less pre-packaged food. Pre-made foods often contain sodium and who knows what else. If every one of your meals comes out of a can or box, it can add up until you've eaten more of these synthetic, non-organic chemicals than you should. Reducing excess salt, sugar and other odd ball ingredients is heart healthy and can be easily done by limiting how often you eat boxed or canned food.
- Buy lean instead of fatty meats. Limit or remove red meat entirely from your diet (beef, pork and lamb); replace with chicken breast, turkey, fish or veggie dishes.
- Have a bowl of old-fashioned, cook-on-the-stove oatmeal every day for breakfast, with a tablespoon of ground flax and a handful of blueberries. Not only is it the world's healthiest breakfast, it also helps reduce cholesterol and is very good for your heart.
3. Take CoQ10: Co-enzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring compound found everywhere in the body. We produce CoQ10 and it's what gives our bodies energy. As we age, we produce less. And those with heart complications (like heart disease) have been found to have even less.
Anyone can supplement with CoQ10, but for heart patients it's essential. For patients with end-stage heart failure, for example, CoQ10 supplements may be used in conjunction with medication to improve quality of life and reduce symptoms.
In a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 32 heart patients, those who took 60 milligrams of CoQ10 for three months had less fatigue and experienced improvements on a six-minute walk test. Studies also indicate that those with congestive heart failure who take CoQ10 supplements in addition to their medications are less likely to be hospitalized than those who do not take CoQ10.4, 5
4. Manage Blood Pressure: If you have high blood pressure, it is important to treat it. Your heart can't remain healthy and strong if your blood pressure is out of control. First of all, high blood pressure that is not treated leads first to heart disease and next to heart failure or heart attack. As the heart must work harder, the heart muscle can thicken, which demands even more oxygen. The heart is forced to work even harder. Secondly, high blood pressure can lead to plaque build-up in the artery wall that in turn can lead to heart attack. Therefore, if you want to have a strong heart, you need to take care not to damage it. This means making a promise to find ways to manage your blood pressure (hint: lower salt and sugar intake, eat more plant-based foods, take supplements such as CoQ10 and Omega-3s, remove dairy from your diet and avoid trans-fats).
We have four more heart-loving acts for you next week, so stay tuned.
1. Why Aerobic Exercise Is Good For The Heart http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070320073101.htm
2. Physical Activity, AHA Scientific Position http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/94/4/857.full
3. How Much Protein Do I Need? http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/protein.html#How%20much%20protein
4. Coenzyme Q10 in patients with end-stage heart failure awaiting cardiac transplantation: a randomized, placebo-controlled study, Clin Cardiol. 2004 May;27(5):295-9, Scientific Abstract
5. Effect of coenzyme Q10 therapy in patients with congestive heart failure: a long-term multicenter randomized study. Clin Investig. 1993;71(8 Suppl):S134-6, Scientific Abstract http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8241697


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music - waslaw s. beklemicheff
Sunday, September 11, 2016
impressions en haute atmosphere
music - waslaw s. beklemicheff
6 comments:
- Glorious Jail said...
Interesting that savage republic was the music for this at one point,was it live?I'll have to dig for Beklemicheff,sounds intriguing.Speaking of Brackage,do you happen to know the types of paints that he used or that other film makers like him used to paint on film.I think i read that it is some type of coal based paint,but i would like to know exactly.Thank you.
- September 11, 2016 at 1:28 PM
- the art of memory said...
for brakhage, he talks about it (i think) on the criterion set, wikipedia says "In a video interview in 2002, he explained that his cancer was caused by the toxicity of the aniline dyes he had used to paint directly onto film". very sad.
yeah the savage republic was live. i think they did it to get people to show up.... it wasn't like offensive or anything but it kind of added a level to the films that is not there. i was just glad to see his work. can't imagine folks sitting through his longer film silent.... too bad that Beklemicheff didn't show up
- September 11, 2016 at 2:06 PM
- Glorious Jail said...
I actually think Harry Smith is the hardest film maker to watch,and this is coming from a huge fan of Pedro costa,Bela Tarr,Brackhage,Tarkovsky,ect.People have no attention span now,and want spoon feed plots where they aren't challenged to figure out how the film could relate to them.
- September 13, 2016 at 4:36 PM
- the art of memory said...
it is true. always liked the harry smith paintings!
- September 16, 2016 at 10:26 AM
- piotr tkacz said...
thanks so much, I wasn't aware of Sistiaga.
Beklemicheff sounds like a russian name to me. my quick "investigation" gave no results (apart from finding this interesting platform http://www.sejm-wielki.pl/n/Beklemiszew), but could that just be a pseudonym?
and you are right with Köner comparison (if you are into him I have this book "The Cinematic Experience" with an interesting interview with him).
as a way of saying "thank you" for that recommendation I can recommend a movie I've just seen - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0176666/ no drones here but still aurally captivating.
- September 28, 2016 at 1:31 AM
- the art of memory said...
hi piotr,
thanks for the movie link and that book. looking at pdf on line, looks very interesting.
i was wondering if it was a made up name myself.... or maybe it was done by Sistiaga himself. not sure. seems like very mature work, not something by a fly by night artist. hearing it in the theatre, the subtleties were quite amazing, not really audible in the vimeo deal.
hope all is well!
- October 1, 2016 at 12:10 PM


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How to Create a Proper Table Setting?
This article will show you how to create a proper table setting for any semi-formal or formal event. Balance is key.
What is the proper dinner table setting?
When setting a table, there are a few rules that always remain the same. Once the basics are understood, it is easy to build upon them for unusual circumstances.Basic RulesAt any table, the fork go...
Read More »
What is the proper placement for flatware for a table setting?
Knowing proper placement for flatware for a table setting will serve even the most reluctant dinner party hostess. Correct flatware placement can also help guests to feel more confident about reach...
Read More »
Restaurant Table Linen & Attractive Table Setting Ideas?
Using restaurant-quality table linen and table settings can make a domestic table setting look professional and stylish. Restaurants use different types of linen and table settings, so choose a st...
Read More »
Proper Temperature Setting for Saunas?
When you step into a sauna, envelop yourself in its peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. Sit in the relaxing warmth, allowing your spirit to be refreshed, and stay in long enough so that you begin to ...
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text:
From April 2007
The only way, a political poem
The only way
I understand the point of view
and I would really like to help.
I have come up with a simple way
for us to solve the problem.
The problem is the poor people
they are everywhere, we see them
in doorways and under bridges,
there is one in every motion picture.
So I think that we should give them money
that is what they truly need right?
We should continue giving them money
until they have enough to buy that fancy house
that we have always dreamed of
or that Porsche convertible
the one with the red paint.
That is what they really need right?
They need all that fancy stuff,
all that stuff that we don't have,
that stuff that we can live without.
They obviously can't live without it.
Who would be audacious enough
to think that they can?
What kind of horrible beast would not give?
I am not a horrible beast
so I will give them all I have,
and if that is not enough,
I'll take a loan and give them what I don't have,
How else do we solve the problem?


text:
Two major types of dinosaur eggs are recognized: spheroidal and elongated. These types can be further sub-divided based on length/diameter ratios, the thickness of the shell, the type of pores and the surface of the egg (may be ornamented).
The egg structure consists of a series of basic vertical units that grow from particular sites on the surface of the shell.
The organization of these units determines the classification scheme, being either spherulitic or prismatic:
1. Spherulitic egg shells show spherical patterns in the crystalline structure, and they are seen in sauropods and hadrosaurs.
2. Prismatic egg shells grow into spherical crystals only in the lower portion of the shell, while crystals in the upper portion are prisms.
3. Ornithoid eggs (also seen in birds) are generally laid by theropods. In this type only the very bottom part of the shell exists as separate or discrete units (mammilae). The upper and mid-portions of the shell consist of a mass of biocrystalline material with a spongy (squamatic) ultrastructure that comprises a homogeneous layer.How a sauropod from an 18 cm diameter egg could grow to a 30 metre long animal weighing about 20 tones? There are two possible answers:
1. The animal grows throughout its lifecycle, perhaps continuing to grow until death. Many reptiles do a similar thing.
2. The animal undergoes accelerated growth in 5-15 years. Growth patterns from dinosaur bone such as the 'duck-billed' dinosaur Maiasaura indicate it reached adult size in 5 years. Elephants take about 15 years to reach sexual maturity. Maybe sauropods lied in between.
Other dinosaur eggs are often smaller. The smallest eggs are perhaps from the prosauropods. Eggs from South Africa are reported to be only 6.5 cm long and 5.5 cm wide. The shell is only 0.2/0.3 mm (0.02 cm!) thick. Theropod eggs are generally 10-15 cm long, and a couple of millimeters thick. Duckbills (hadrosaurs) also have eggs 10-12 cm long and 7.9 cm wide


text:
Genesis 33
CHAPTER 33.1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. 2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. 3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. 5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. ▼
▼ with…: Heb. to thee6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. 7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. 8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. ▼
▼ What…: Heb. What is all this band to thee?9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. ▼
▼ keep…: Heb. be that to thee that is thine10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. 11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it. ▼
▼ enough: Heb. all things12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee. 13 And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. 14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. ▼
▼ according…: Heb. according to the foot of the work, etc., and according to the foot of the children15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. ▼
▼ leave: Heb. set, or, place, ▼
▼ What…: Heb. Wherefore is this?16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. 17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. ▼
▼ Succoth: that is, Booths18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan–aram; and pitched his tent before the city. ▼
▼ Shechem: Gr. Sychem19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money. ▼
▼ Hamor: Gr. Emmor, ▼
▼ pieces…: or, lambs20 And he erected there an altar, and called it El–elohe–Israel. ▼
▼ El–elohe–Israel: that is God the God of Israel
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text:
Like completely unexpected.
As I look back on my path... I can't help but think the entire universe conspired to help me meet him.
On paper, he's everything I imagined my ideal partner would be.. He doesn't know this (unless he reads this haha) but sometimes I look at him and wonder if I wished him into existence ... Impossible since he is older than me lol ... but still ....I like to imagine we were crafted to fit.
While I've never wanted a man to "complete me"... I have always wanted a true partner. (Random side note: Shel Silverstein's book, "The Missing Piece" perfectly illustrates this. It's my favoriteeee!)
A relationship where....
...we help one another
...inspire one another to be our best
...we respect one another
...encourage one another
...have each other's best interests at heart
...and we're best friends.
Someone who has my back and does what they say they will do... someone who I can count on.
While I don't want to put any pressure on this new relationship, you guys know that I always do my very best to listen to my gut. My instincts & my intuition tell me to stay the course =)
I, without a doubt, have learned more about myself in the last 6 months...than I have in the last 30 years of my life. As I look back on previous relationships, I can so clearly see the lessons, the reasons they could never work out, and ultimately I am grateful for them because they led me to this point.
This is hard to articulate... but I've realized something a bit astonishing. Something I think I always knew (deep down) but was afraid to admit... so let me see if this makes any sense...
In the past, I was hurt very deeply in a relationship where I felt like I gave my whole heart. When it dissolved, I couldn't imagine that I would ever recover or love that way again. Along came my next relationship...someone who was totally different... kind and patient.... BUT wasn't a perfect fit for me. It was an okay fit. It felt like a "safe choice" where I could avoid getting hurt...because I could never love him deeply, passionately and truly.
However, we all know how that story ends (see my previous blog posts lol). It was unfair to both of us...and I wish I could have spared us both the pain.
But as hard as it was... it makes me appreciate how I feel now about 100 million times more. (And hopefully he feels the same way)
"God blessed the broken road that led my straight to you."
At the end of my last relationship, I started seeing the Christian Counselor my best friend recommended. As we were working through things like forgiveness, my patterns, behaviors, and beliefs... I became slightly obsessed with just becoming BETTER. Everything from my health...my spirituality...current relationships (family, friends etc) ... to future romantic relationships...
I started reading a book that inspired me to take action. Now I feel like I should say... my counselor was against this lol She felt like I needed to take a year to myself, to process everything and focus on me. While I think that is solid advice, I just didn't feel it was right for me.
As I mentioned above... I was basically trying to make the wrong relationship work... Fitting a square peg into a round hole... we just weren't right. In that sense, I felt like I had already spent a couple of years "sitting on my hands."
I wondered if I would ever meet someone that I was truly head over heals crazy about.
My friends know... when I get an idea in my head... I like to ACT on it. IMMEDIATELY. It's how I've ended up painting my entire house in the middle of the night because I got the inspiration to change the walls at 8pm. Or how all of my furniture ends up completely moved around in a single afternoon.
Anywho, this book talks about a concept called "Duty dating." Basically, you go on some dates with guys you might not necessarily have chemistry with to practice... By practice I mean... work on your conversation skills & practice being a lady. During this process, you might end up going on a date with someone you DO have chemistry with.
(Disclaimer: This does NOT mean to go on a bunch of dates and act scandalous.) Does that make sense?
With my current situation, the ONLY way I was going to meet a nice guy was...
- At Target
- At the grocery store
- At the dog park
- ....maybe Home Goods?
Let's be honest... What are the chances of me bumping into a single, handsome, put-together guy...who I have chemistry with... It wasn't looking good.
One of my very dear friends moved to a new town after graduating. Between work and all of her responsibilities she didn't have time or the desire to go out... making it nearly impossible to meet someone. Now, she's happily engaged to a great guy she met on Match.
That got me thinking...
I do everything else online...why not give it a whirl? I thought surely it would take 6 months...maybe a year before I met someone I really clicked with...
Made a profile...which I nearly nearly deleted the next day. I have no reference point for how many messages people typically receive... but it was a bit overwhelming... and... let's just say I got some reallllyyy interesting proposals haha
(An awkward side story: My last relationship was over for months & months before I was ready to make it "Facebook Official." In the meantime, I had just created my Match profile. A girl here in Tampa, who was also on Match, sent me a very kind message warning me that someone created a fake profile with my pics on Match. I was SO caught off guard that I fibbed about it! OH MY! I definitely owe her an apology! Since I was just testing the waters, I didn't expect anyone I knew to see me! haha WHOOPS! )
I decided my main focus was going to be on living my life to the fullest...love or no love...
I saw a very handsome guy pop up. I was intrigued... but didn't want to make the first move.
Thankfully...he saw me and messaged me.
I had a lot going on that week...and wasn't in a huge hurry to waste an evening LOL
I thought it might be fun to share some of our first texts =) Basically... Saturday... Feb 13th... he had dinner reservations... which I declined. I was volunteering at the animal shelter until 9pm... at which point I would be a sweaty mess (not the best scenario for a first impression)... but hey, how 'bout tomorrow? ....
I didn't know what to expect...and while I threw on a dress and some heels... I spent too much time at the dog park to bother fixing my hair or put a lot of effort into my makeup.
We had such a nice dinner... during which he said I barely looked at him. We laugh about that now, but o.m.g I was so nervous. I can't even remember what I babbled about.. What I DO remember though...
A nice dinner. Great company. And never wanting the night to end.
He took me for a nice (but windy) walk through the park after dinner... was so polite, kind, well mannered (my weakness)!
One of the challenges with being a girlboss is feeling like you have to be in charge of EVERYTHING. While I LOVE being a BOSS and running my own business, in my "personal life" ...it's such a relief to trust someone enough to call the shots.
I feel a little crazy saying this...I realize it's SO soon... but because of him...I have this desire to start a family. I've always wanted kids in a very abstract "one day" in a galaxy far, far away kind of way... But now, I've literally almost blurted out..."I want to have your baby" hahah (dear Lord, help me if he reads this LOL)
What I adore about him... He's brilliant. I love his brain and that he is constantly teaching me new things. He's RELIABLE, sincere, open and truthful.
I asked him to grab me strawberries at the store. Normally, I will spend about 5 secs looking at the packages before picking one... but he was considerate enough to look through all of the strawberries and pick the very best one for me (PS they were to die for!)
When he kisses me, it feels electric. I still get butterflies and little hearts in my eyes when I see him.
When all you have to do is look at one another and you both feel warm and cozy inside.
I love that he's willing to try new things with me (like painting portraits of the dogs) or going on both grand and mini adventures alike.
I love that he's a realist...always prepared for what may be around the corner.
I love that we can work as a team...something as simple as doing the dishes together. I feel like we have each other's back.
It's about being happy to be together....even when you wake up and your hair is explosively messy...you look at one another (with bags under your eyes haha) and smile.
I wanted to share something my counselor gave me that was super helpful. I didn't want to jump into a relationship that might not be right for me...so she gave me a list. It's 4 pages long...
You can see it here: Ingredients for a Successful Relationship
Group 1: Deal Breakers & Red Flags
Group 2: Characteristics for Compatibility
(Example: In the past, I overlooked a lack of ambition in my partner (even though that was very important to me... but over time that became a HUGE issue).
Group 3: Things you will have to continually work on in any relationship.
As we started dating, I went through this list and even talked to Rich about some of these things to make sure we were on the same page. Honestly it's a great list of topics to think about and would have saved me a lot of heartache if I had it years ago haha
Our story is so DIFFERENT from what I expected...something I never could have predicted. It just goes to show that God always knows what he's doing - even when we feel lost or clueless. We may not always understand his plan, but over time it becomes joyfully clear.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


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"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart."
Rainer Maria Rilke
"Whenever a warrior decides to do something, he must go all the way, but he must take responsibility for what he does. No matter what he does, he must know first why he is doing it, then he must proceed with his actions without having doubts or remorse about them."
Carlos Castaneda
One might say I was rude, as I tried to multitask by serving her breakfast while I talked on the phone, openly, about her. But the truth is she wouldn't bother to listen. She's pretty oblivious to what goes on around her. She's locked in her mind somewhere and my conversations hold no interest.
"Yes, I'll call." I promised my aunt who also happens to be a dear friend and confidant. We had been discussing my mother's future and by default mine. My aunt had information about a good nursing home and was sensitively advising me that based on my mother's mental decline it may be time - time to make that dreaded decision.
So, today, my heart feels heavy and there is a sorrow that has infused my spirit as I slowly accept the fact that soon I must decide to send my mother away. In spite of my sadness, I feel a strange confidence that I will know what to do when the time comes (when I cannot or will not take care of her anymore), but I'm not ready...yet.
It's been four and half years since my mother has lived with me. It was hard, then it got harder when my mother-in-law moved in too. Many times during this period I have felt as if I was killing my spirit in spite of my attempts at practicing a spirituality that uplifts on all levels. Like all sound spiritual beliefs and practices mine promised peace, heaven on earth and joy - but the price? - SURRENDER!
I couldn't do it. Instead, I went through emotional and spiritual tantrums in response to what I perceived as my devastating fate. I refused to accept that life, as I had known it, was over; that the educated, professional, freedom loving person who I was had to transform into, of all things, a caretaker. I came face to face with a very ugly inner me whose every breath exuded resistance, discontent and rejection of what my life had become.
When there is a military surrender I suppose there is a process that follows - finding out who was killed, who remains, who is injured and rebuilding whatever was destroyed. Maybe it's the same with the spirit. I'm in that process now. I am processing what has died, what remains, what is still hurt and how do I rebuild? The stubborn warrior in me has surrendered; not out of strategy of any kind based on the knowledge that we can't really fight what Is, or perhaps not even out of any spiritual practice, but out of sheer exhaustion. Life has given me no choice - I'm beat.
Funny, now that I accept my life, change lurks around the corner and I probably will have to work at accepting whatever comes next. But for Now, this moment is perfect.
My heart feels heavy and sad today as I ponder my mother's fate and the appropriate timing of our separation. I question my true motives in making this decision but, unlike other times when I process ad-infinitum with prolonged analysis and deep thought, I am trusting. I am certain that it is love - for her and for me - that is providing guidance.
May we all trust in our hearts, and make the best decisions we can. Then, devoid of guilt or regret, carry on.


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FC2 Streamlines FC2 Blog
- 2012/07/19
- 19:45
FC2 Streamlines
Blogging Experience
Thank you for using FC2!
FC2 would like to announce an improvement to Fc2 Blog! In the upcoming days, FC2 Blog will become more streamlined and less cluttered, making your Blogging experience even better.
This will mean that the Thread Feature for Blogs will be removed.
This removal should result in simpler blogging and less spam, making your experience on FC2 all the better.
We thank you for using FC2.
FC2 (fc2.com) is committed to providing the best possible service for users we possibly can.


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From Cambria, Calif. — Ernie Shelton convinced himself that one day he would be celebrated in track and field circles in the same way Roger Bannister and Parry O'Brien are remembered.
Bannister, of course, was the first person to run a four-minute mile, O'Brien the first to put the shot 60 feet.
Shelton, a two-time NCAA champion at USC, believed that he would be the first to clear seven feet in the high jump. Such was his obsession that he had a crossbar mounted in his bedroom — at precisely seven feet off the floor, of course.
"I was the one," he says, "that was supposed to do it."
Others apparently sensed it too.
Shelton notes that after one competition, after he'd cleared 6-11, he sat with a fellow athlete who picked up a napkin. On it the man scrawled two parallel lines about an inch apart.


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Before the revelation of writer Dan Slott's master plan in the last issues of Marvel Comics' "Amazing Spider-Man," fans were abuzz when the writer supposedly sent a public tweet to "Superior Spider-Man" artist Ryan Stegman that looked as though it was meant to be a direct message, referencing a character named Miguel. Speculation ran wild that the new star of "Superior Spider-Man" was actually Miguel O'Hara, better known as Spider-Man 2099.
While fans of "Spider-Man 2099" were no doubt disappointed in the revelation that Miguel O'Hara wouldn't be the star of the new series, Slott has given the briefest glimmer of hope for fans. In an interview with MTV Slott revealed he has plans for Spider-Man 2099 in "Superior Spider-Man."
"This is not a trick. This is not a prank," Slott told MTV. "You will see Miguel O'Hara in 'Superior Spider-Man.'"
Get More: Marvel NOW!, Full Episodes
The last appearance of Miguel O'Hara was in "Timestorm 2009-2099" by writer Brian Reed, which saw a crossover between the 616 and the 2099 universe. The character also had an extended role in "Exiles," although it was later revealed to be an alternate version of the original Spider-Man 2099. The conclusion of "Exiles" saw Miguel retired and living on a beach with an alternate universe version of Mary Jane Watson. The character was also featured in Activision's "Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions" video game. Slott did not specify which version of Miguel O'Hara would appear in "Superior Spider-Man," but hopefully more answers are on the way.
"Superior Spider-Man" #1 by Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman is now in stores.


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Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Meeting my German pen pal Sabrina!
2 comments:
Awwww ♥ You're so cute! This blogpost is truly AMAZING!ReplyDelete
I had so much fun hanging around with you and Noel and I am so glad you enjoyed and liked Simon as much as I did (though I definitely be jealous when you go see him again without me, don't forget my video messages every time haha - though I'm serious about that!!!!)
Thanks for letting me stay at your house and the offer to do so whenever I'm in Dublin ♥ This means a lot to me!
I really can't wait for more fun days/nights in December. Don't forget we have to go to see Simon on December 11 ;) I will totally cancel my hotel night if your offer is still valid to go there and stay at yours :D Otherwise I might just go alone haha
Nevertheless... it was so much fun meeting you! You're one of the nicest and sweetest persons I know and I'm really glad Instagram brought us together by mere coincidence. Or was it even Ireland? ;)
Thanks for being my friend! Now not only my penpal but my real life friend ♥
This makes me want to meet all of my penpals so badly (even more than I already wanted to before, if that's possible ;) ) It's lovely to see that you had such a great time! <3ReplyDelete


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Continuing on from our drive down the PCH, we stumbled upon a small viewing area by the beach where lies hordes of elephant seals. They're pretty much like the typical California sea lions, except they looked funny (and smelled funny) with their big snout of a nose, hence their name.
They laid around most of the time in tightly packed groups like sardines in a can. They moved like them too, which is not much.
Yet despite their lack of movements (and the smell), I was pretty excited. Nothing is more exciting to me than wild animals. Really fat, ungraceful, wild animals, who, by the way, would occasionally sing the song of their people when it suited them. Or yawn… really loudly. I could've stayed there for hours, but alas, it was already late in the afternoon and we still had what? Five hours of driving to go?
And so our journey continues…


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Th E1-2 254 Moody Avenue, North Vancouver Listing #: R2314621
Don't Miss Out! This is the last 2bdrm, 2.5 Bath + media/flex corner townhome at the Morrison. With your own walk-up entrance, generous outdoor space & direct access to underground parking. Radiant in-floor heating throughout. Gorgeous kitchens with high-end integrated Bosch appliances, incl. 9' quartz island, wide-plank white oak hardwood floors, as well as sleek cabinetry that can be customized to your person style w/ 3 designer colour schemes. Located adjacent to Moodyville Park (w/ $2.9M park upgrade coming in 2019) & entrance to the Spirit Trail (walking/cycling trail envisioned to connect from Deep cove to Horseshoe Bay). Just blocks away from Seabus/Lonsdale Quay.
- Bike Room
- In Suite Laundry
- Air Conditioning
- ClthWsh
- Dryr
- Frdg
- Stve
- Dishwasher
- Garage Door Opener
- Heat Recov. Vent.
- Intercom
Site Influences
- Central Location
- Recreation Nearby
- Shopping Nearby
- Ski Hill Nearby
Similar Listings
Listed By: Macdonald Realty / Oakwyn Realty Ltd.
Disclaimer: The data relating to real estate on this web site comes in part from the MLS Reciprocity program of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver or the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. Real estate listings held by participating real estate firms are marked with the MLS Reciprocity logo and detailed information about the listing includes the name of the listing agent. This representation is based in whole or part on data generated by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver or the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board which assumes no responsibility for its accuracy. The materials contained on this page may not be reproduced without the express written consent of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver or the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board.


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If they tell you falling in love will make you happy,
don't believe them,
just listen to them and pass,
falling in love won't make you happy,
staying in love will.
If they tell you, they will give you the World,
just to bribe their way into your heart,
don't argue with them,
Just thank them and pass,
you deserve more.
If they tell you, you are the only one,
Look closely at their face,
Inspect carefully the way they carry their hands
and you will notice the hypocrisy in their smile.
If they lean closely to kiss you,
don't ignore them,
just give them a warm peg,
then excuse yourself cautiously from the whole drama.
This post was created with our nice and easy submission form. Create your post!


text:
Our favorite kids subscription boxes of 2018
Our readers nominated their favorite subscription boxes,
Kids love getting surprises in the mail, maybe even more than we do. (Wait, is that possible?)
There are so many subscription boxes for kids of all ages these days: you'd have your hands full deciding between them all. These are the boxes our readers selected as the best of the best for ages 0 to 12, including educational and STEM subscriptions, children's fashion, and even boxes that are just plain fun.
20 Best Monthly Kids Boxes for Ages 12 & Under
If you're looking for a great gift idea or something to treat your child, these subscription boxes are all MSA-reader approved. Here are the best boxes for kids according to real subscribers:
1. OwlCrate Jr
Suggested Age Range: 8 – 12 years, suitable for girls and boys
The Cost: $27.99 a month + shipping. Sign up here!
What you get: OwlCrate has long been a favorite subscription box for books, so we aren't surprised that OwlCrate Jr topped the charts in the kid's category, too! Designed with middle schoolers in mind, each box comes with one new hardcover book and a signed bookplate from the author. Your child will also receive additional items related to the book (and may occasionally receive additional books, too!) Check out our OwlCrate Jr reviews to learn more.
2. kidpik
Suggested Age Range: Girls sizes 4-16.
The Cost: $0.00 and up (Your box is sent to you free including styling, shipping, and returns). Keep and pay for what you like and mail back any unworn items you don't want within 7 days. Per kidpik, the average cost is $12-13 per item including a 30% discount if you keep the entire box.
COUPON: Now through 7/4/2018, use code MSA20 to get $20 off your purchase of $40 or more– just sign up here! (This is additional savings on top of the discount if you keep this whole box, too!)
What you get: Nab a customized collection of trend-savvy clothes personalized for girls! Each box contains 7 high-quality fashion choices of apparel, shoes, and accessories designed to complete beautiful multiple mix and match outfits. For girls sizes 4-16. Check out our kidpik reviews to learn more.
Ships to: US only
3. Amazon STEM Toy Club
Suggested Age Range: There are 3 age range options, with toys suitable for both boys and girls:
- 3-4-year-olds (counting, building, and cause and effect)
- 5-7 year-olds (hands-on experiments and explorations of electricity, earth science, and simple math)
- 8-13-year-olds (more complex projects and experiments based on principals of physics, chemistry, and engineering)
The Cost: $19.99 a month. Sign up here!
What you get: Each month, Amazon will ship you a new age-appropriate toy focused on STEM concepts. You'll receive toys from a variety of different brands and at different price points, but boxes we've received have typically contained toys valued much higher than the $19.99 price point of this box. Check out all of our Amazon STEM Toy Club Reviews to learn more.
4. FabKids
Suggested Age Range: Boys and girls ages 2-16
The Cost: $29.95 membership fee which goes towards any purchase you make. Sign up here!
COUPON: Use this link to get two pairs of shoes for only $9.95 (plus free shipping)!
What you get: Each month your membership lets you pick out an outfit for up to 40% off retail prices, or you can skip any month. All the pieces are really well-made, and the designs are unique to FabKids. Each month they release a new collection! They offer sizes for boys and girls from age 2-16. Check out our FabKids reviews to learn more.
5. Kiwi Crate
Suggested Age Range: 5 – 8 years, suitable for girls and boys
The Cost: $19.95 per month + free shipping
COUPON: Get 40% off + free shipping on your first box of any KiwiCo line. No coupon needed—just sign up here!
What you get: Kiwi Crate (from parent company KiwiCo) arrives every month with all the materials and instructions needed to complete 2-3 crafts centered around a theme, plus additional materials to help educate young learners! Each box includes additional learning resources and activities, too. Check out all of our Kiwi Crate Reviews to learn more.
6. Little Passports Subscription Boxes
Suggested Age Range: Little Passports offers several boxes for different age ranges from 3 to 12:
- Early Explorers (recommended ages 3-5)
- World Edition (recommended ages 6-10)
- USA Edition (recommended ages 7-12)
- Science Expeditions (recommended ages 9+).
The Cost: Boxes range from $14.95 to $21.95 per month, plus shipping. Sign up here!
What you get: Little Passports is a globally-inspired educational subscription for kids of all ages. Most of their boxes focus on exploring different cultures and around the world and within the US and include papercraft projects and reading and other activities– but they also have a box entirely focused on science experiments! Check out all of our Little Passports Reviews to learn more.
7. Candy Club
Suggested Age Range: Suitable for all ages!
The Cost: $29.99 + $8.99 shipping per month. Sign up here!
COUPON: Save $20 Off Your First Month's Membership, no coupon required, just sign up here!
What you get: Candy Club is just pure sugary fun and nostalgia in a box. We think it's fun for families who plan to share the contents, but it's also a sweet treat for lunch boxes and more. You'll get up to three pounds of candy in each box, and their selection includes everything from sweets to sours and even chocolate and trail mix. (Just don't tell your family dentist.) Check out all of our Candy Club Reviews to learn more.
8. Disney Princess Subscription Box
Suggested Age Range: 4 – 9 years
The Cost:
$24.99 + $5 shipping, every other month. Sign up here! This Subscription is now closed
What you get: This is the official Disney Princess Subscription Box! Each magical box is delivered every other month and contains: 4-8 official Disney products (apparel, figurines, fashion accessories and goodies!), a magazine with a princess story and activities, and a DIY activity to transform the shipping box into a playable scene (for example, the box transforms into an elaborate castle that your child can build and then color-in). Check out all of our Disney Princess Box Reviews to learn more.
9. Bookroo
Suggested Age Range: Options for ages 0 – 10 years:
- Board Books (for ages 0-2.5)
- Picture Books (for ages 2.5-6)
- Chapter Books (for ages 7-10)
The Cost: $19.95 a month + shipping. Sign up here!
COUPON: Use code MSA15 to save 15% off your first box!
What you get: Bookroo is a children's literature subscription box with options for various age ranges. They send info about their selections each month, with additional ideas for learning and activities, too. They also let you alternate between picture and board books each month, which is great if you have children in different age groups (although not available for chapter books). Check out all of our Bookroo Reviews to learn more.
10. Kidbox
Suggested Age Range: Baby to Size 14
The Cost: $0.00 + free shipping and returns! Only pay only for the clothes you keep (or pay $98 to keep the entire box). Sign up here!
What you get: Each month, you'll get 6-7 clothing items based on the size and style preferences you select when signing up. If you keep the entire box, Kidbox will make a donation to an organization that helps other children. The best part? You and your kiddo get to pick the charity from their options, which include orgs that help military families, foster kids, and more. Check out our KidBox reviews to learn more.
11. Wonder Crate
Suggested Age Range: Ages 5-8
The Cost: $34.95 per month + $7.00 shipping. Sign up here!
COUPON: Use code WONDER to get 20% off your first box!
What you get: Wonder Crate is a monthly subscription box that promotes social-emotional learning for kids ages 5-8. Learn to manage emotions, embrace challenges, try new things, think positively, and bounce back from failure. Each month a new topic will be explored with a book for kids, fun activities, tips for parents and an online lesson to help your child discover their inner power. Life skills delivered to your door! Check out our Wonder Crate Reviews to learn more.
12. Brick Loot
Suggested Age Range: Ages 6 to 99 years 🙂
The Cost: $27 a month + $6 shipping to the U.S. ($13 a month shipping to Canada and $15 to all other countries)
COUPON: Use code MSA10 to save 10% off of any length subscription. Sign up here!
What you get: Founded by a 9 year old boy, Brick Loot releases themed LEGO boxes each month, containing custom brick kit builds and minifigs, plus additional building accessories. They send a mix of exclusive goodies you can't get anywhere else, and products from other brands. If your kid is brick obsessed, this is a great choice for fun new themes each month that will help grow their collection (and we love that it's supporting a young entrepreneur, too!). Check out all of our Brick Loot Reviews to learn more.
13. Yume Twins
Suggested Age Range: This kawaii box is for all ages (including adults!), but as there can be some small pieces we recommend ages 6+.
The Cost: $35 a month with free shipping. Sign up here!
What you get: YumeTwins is a monthly kawaii surprise packed with 6-8 items ranging from adorable plushies and squishies, collectible keychains and figures, lifestyle goods, and licensed character items from popular Japanese brands. While not targeted specifically at children, we understand why it was nominated by readers: it's just so darn cute! If your child is into Hello Kitty but interested to learn what's beyond just Sanrio characters, this might be a fun box to check out together. Read our Yume Twins Reviews to learn more.
14. Hot Wheels Challenge Accepted Box
Suggested Age Range: Ages 5 – 11 years
The Cost:
$24.99 + $5 shipping (box ships every other month). Sign up here! This subscription is no longer available
What you get: The HotWheels Challenge Accepted Box is an officially licensed box from Pley. Every other month, subscribers receive an early edition car, a new t-shirt, and additional cars and accessories to build with. Grow a HotWheels collection over time and use the pieces to assemble new tracks, with inspiration from the included activity book for new challenges and activities! Check out all of our HotWheels Challenge Accepted Box Reviews to learn more.
15. Koala Crate
Suggested Age Range: Ages 3 – 4 years
The Cost: $19.99 a month
COUPON: Get 40% off + free shipping on your first box of any KiwiCo line. No coupon needed—just sign up here!
What you get: Koala Crate is a toddler aged activity box for kids 3-4 years old. Each month, you'll receive materials and instructions to complete 2 to 3 creative activities together. KiwiCo also makes learning easy and fun by including an in-box magazine with more educational opportunities, a parent's guide, and online DIYs and more. Check out all of our Koala Crate Reviews to learn more.
16. My Petite French Box
Suggested Age Range: Ages 0 – 5 years
The Cost: $125.00 every 2 months + free US shipping.
COUPON: Use code WELCOME to save 10% off your first box! Sign up here.
What you get: My Petite French Box is a bi-monthly subscription box for babies and toddlers. While this is one of the most expensive boxes on this list, it's also unique and would make an amazing gift for an expectant mother. You can expect curated, high-end children's clothing and wellness products from France for ages newborn to 5 years old. Check out our My Petite French Box review here to learn more.
17. STRONG self(ie) BLOOM Box
Suggested Age Range: Girls ages 8-12 years
The Cost: $59.95 per quarter with free US Shipping
COUPON: Use code MSA20 to save 20% off your first box!
What you get: STRONG self(ie) is a quarterly subscription box for teen and tween girls aimed to empower and inspire. In the BLOOM box for ages 8-12, you can expect to receive aspirational, positive products, focused on health, beauty, fun, and more. Each box comes with info for parents, too! Check out our STRONG self(ie) reviews to learn more.
18. Fitted Tot
Suggested Age Range: Children in sizes 3m – 5T
The Cost: $20 styling fee. Pay for whatever items you keep. (The $20 styling fee is a credit toward items you decide to keep when you keep 2+ items!) The average cost per item is $30, and the average cost per box is $180. Sign up here!
COUPON: Use code MSA30 to save 30% off your first month!
What you get: Each box features 5-8 pieces of clothing and accessories chosen based on your child's style profile. Some of the featured brands include boutique brands like Tea, Kapital K, Le Top, Design History, Egg by Susan Lazar, and Joules. You have 5 business days to decide what to keep. If you keep all items you receive an additional 15% off! Check out our Fitted Tot reviews to learn more.
These last two subscriptions are on waitlist at the moment, but they've been popular enough that they warranted a mention:
19. Booster Bricks Club
Suggested Age Range: 4 – 12 years
The Cost: $24.95 a month. This box is currently in waitlist and expected to reopen this summer; join the waitlist here.
What you get: Booster Bricks is an unusual subscription for LEGO bricks and gear. Each month, they send over 250 bricks with 5 "build challenges" that are connected to a new storyline in each box. Inspire your kids to invent something new and use their imagination and creative problem solving skills! According to their FAQ, they use previously owned and sterilized bricks, making this box also interesting for collectors who want to grab some discontinued pieces.
20. Minechest
The Cost: $39.99 per bi-monthly box + free shipping. Sign up here.
What you get: Minechest is the only box for fans of Minecraft, the world-building game that is popular with kids of all ages. Every other month, you'll receive a package of officially licensed Minecraft gear (including some exclusive items). Check out our Minechest Reviews to learn more.
That wraps up our list of the best kid's subscription boxes! Which boxes have your vote?


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I 'discovered' Sean McGowan about 18 months ago at a previous show promoted by my teen, and since then I've been keeping up with what he 's been doing via social media, keeping an eye out for tour dates, and listening to his new songs on Spotify and such, but it's not really the same as seeing someone 'live'. Admittedly, I could have seen him last summer but chickened out , fearing I'd be the only old person at the gig. I think I've got over this attitude now,and I'm determined that if I want to see someone perform, I will, whatever age the rest of the crowd.
|Sean McGowan
|George Gadd
As an added bonus to the evening, I got to eventually see local George Gadd perform a complete set - despite my best intents, previous occasions haven't worked out for a variety of reasons. Also on the bill was Ajay Henry, someone I've heard of on the local pub/open mic circuit but not actually heard before. His sound is a little different to the others' - nearer to 'pop' than their angsty, Billy Bragg-style folk punk - but he fitted in well.
The venue was a new one for me; J T Soar - an ex-fruit and veg warehouse converted into practice and performance space, and entered by an anonymous grey door - there really ought to be a 1920s Chicago speak-easy waiting behind it, but we can't have everything.


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When it comes to your individual retirement account, you have lots of options. The Internal Revenue Service puts few restrictions on the types of investments you can put in your IRA, but if safety is your primary concern, an IRA share account at a National Credit Union Administration member institution is a good option. An IRA share account is an individual retirement account that holds credit union shares exclusively.
Share Account
An IRA share account at a credit union is similar to holding a passbook savings account in your IRA at a bank. The primary difference is in terminology. Unlike most banks, which are for-profit corporations owned by private investors, credit unions are non-profit organizations owned by their members. Banks offer deposit accounts, such as passbook savings accounts. Credit unions offer share accounts which fulfill essentially the same function, but there is a significant difference in terminology. When a credit union members don't make a deposits, they buy shares. While deposits at a bank might earn interest, shares at a credit union earn dividends.
Share IRA
All IRAs are custodial or trust accounts. When you open an IRA share account, your credit union acts as the IRA custodian. You can use a share account for either a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. All of the same benefits that are available to any other IRA, such as tax-deferred growth of investments, are available with a IRA share account. All the same IRA restrictions, such as early withdrawal penalties, apply to IRA share accounts.
NCUA Insurance
Share accounts at credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration for up to the maximum allowed by law. As of 2012 the maximum amount was $250,000 per ownership account type per depositor. IRA share accounts represent a different ownership account type than regular share accounts, so you could have up to $250,000 in your regular account and an additional $250,000 in your IRS share account at the same credit union, and both accounts would be fully insured by the NCUA.
Credit union shares are among the safest investments you can put into your IRA because of the federal insurance provided by the NCUA. No insured savings have ever been lost by members of a NCUA member credit union. Because share accounts are considered to be demand deposits, interest rates offered on these accounts are usually low, comparable to rates paid by passbook savings accounts at banks. Credit unions typically also offer certificates of deposit that provide the same level of safety with a higher yield than a share account. If you are willing to assume additional risk you might obtain greater returns by investing your IRA dollars in other types of securities, such as stocks, bonds or mutual funds.
Video of the Day
References (5)
- National Credit Union Administration: Your Insured Funds
- Internal Revenue Service: Publication 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements
- State of Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions: Differences between Banks, Credit Unions and Savings Institutions
- MyCreditUnion.gov: Credit Union and Bank Interest Rate Comparison
- PrimeSource Credit Union: IRA Share Account


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If you are looking for up-to-date figures on polymer capacity and demand in Europe, this report is a must for you.
This 2015 report will tell you how the European polymer industry is performing and what it will mean for your business. The European polymer...
Read More
Available formats:
Publication Year: 2015
Edition: 13.0


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My blogging has been slacking these past few days, it was just too nice out over the weekend to be stuck inside on the computer. I started walking again, long walks around my neighbourhood with the pups and it felt great. Starting from my house it's a total of 4.5km around my subdivision, I've been doing that twice a day, taking turns with each dogs, cause its just too hard to walk all 3 by myself. I can handle two at a time, but you add the third one in, and its total chaos. I didn't think my small chihuahua would make the 4.5km hike, but she actually did pretty well. Yes, I do walk the dogs in a dress and flats, you never know who you might bump into (and I usually do run into someone I know), I just didn't bring the purse with me hehe. What did everyone else do this weekend, hopefully enjoyed the sun, the warmth and the cool springtime breeze.
Dress- Small shop in downtown London
Purse- Phillip Lim for Target
Necklace- c/o Cocoa Jewelry
Cardi- Smart Set
Flats- WalMart- in stores now


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India's Fast-Food Market Set to Bulge
India's growing appetite for pizzas, burgers and French fries served with a side of rapid urbanization is set to swell the size of the country's fast-food market to double its current size by 2016.
According to a report published by Crisil, the Indian unit of Standard & Poor's rating agency published Tuesday, the fast -food segment will be worth 70 billion rupees ($1.1 billion) in three years, largely driven by a surge in growth in the market share in smaller cities across the country.
Global fast-food giant McDonald's set up its first store here in 1996 paving the way for many international chains, which have adapted their menus to local tastes.
For several years the chains were mostly confined to bigger cities and metros. However, with rising disposable income, changing lifestyles and eating patterns, Western-style fast-food chains are now penetrating at a faster pace into smaller cities, the report said.
Annual spending on fast-foods, such as burgers and pizzas, by middle-class households in these smaller cities is expected to surge by 150% to 3,750 rupees a family over the next three years, compared to 60% growth in metros and other big cities, the report said.
"This quantum jump in urban areas will be propelled by the increase in nuclear families and working women, steady growth in incomes, greater accessibility," said Prasad Koparkar, senior director at Crisil, in the report.
In value terms, sales of pizzas, burgers and sandwiches account for about 80% of the domestic fast-food sales.
Global brands currently have an aggregate market share of about 63% of the fast-food restaurants segment.
The move to localize the fast-food options – McDonald's here does not serve beef or pork in line with religious customs in the country - has paid rich dividends to the global companies and helped them increase their customer base here.
Growth in sales of high-fat fast-foods has also expanded the population's waistlines. India's National Diabetes, Obesity & Cholesterol Foundation based in New Delhi says on its website that with the improved economic situation in the country, obesity rates are showing a marked upward trend in adults.
A study of school children conducted by the foundation in Delhi in 2011, found that between a quarter and a third of them were eating fast food, such as pizzas and burgers, more than two to three times a week.
With the U.S. fast-food market becoming increasingly crowded, many chains are looking to emerging economies for long-term expansion. Pizza company Dominos' fastest-growing market is India, where it has several hundred outlets. The chain has one fifth of the market share in the Indian fast-food segment, while sandwich company Subway and McDonald's have just over 10% each.
Over the next three years, new store additions by fast-food companies selling Western-style food will increase by 16%-18% annually -- nearly half of those will be in smaller cities, the Crisil report said.
"Large players have already established a strong brand and are better-placed to take advantage of the lower lease rentals and limited competition that smaller cities offer," the report said.
Currently these cities account for only a quarter of total stores.
Like India Real Time on Facebook here and follow us on Twitter @WSJIndia.


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tutorials & features
Bluefish444 Thunderbolt™ Drivers Certified With Sonnet Technologies' Thunderbolt Expansion Products
High quality, portable SDI I/workflow solution for AVID Media Composer 6 Users running Apple OSX
Last Updated: April 11, 2013 3:53 pm GMT
(S. Melbourne, Australia--April 11, 2013) Bluefish444, manufacturer of the industry's highest-quality uncompressed 4K/2K/HD/SD SDI video cards, announced today that it has certified the Sonnet Echo™ Express Pro Thunderbolt™ Expansion Chassis for use with its forthcoming Apple OSX plug in for AVID's Media Composer 6.
Bluefish444 Create and Epoch video cards neatly fit within the full length PCIe express chassis of the Sonnet Echo™ Express Pro providing a unique high quality, portable HD SDI I/O workflow solution for AVID Media Composer 6 users running Apple OSX.
The forthcoming Bluefish444 Apple OSX plug in to AVID Media Composer 6 works flawlessly with the Sonnet Echo™ Express Pro and Create|3D Ultra video card to capture, preview and master HD SDI.
"Thunderbolt™ high-speed data transfer is simultaneously lowering the cost of HD SDI I/O workflows and making HD SDI I/O a much more portable solution with use in the field now more common place. Sonnet's Echo™ Express Pro is helping to make that possible and more over, it worked straight out of the box with Create | 3D Ultra", said Craige Mott, Managing Director of Bluefish444.
"We are very pleased that the Bluefish 444 Create and Epoch video cards are now fully compatible with our Echo Express Pro Thunderbolt Expansion Chassis", said Greg LaPorte, VP sales and marketing, Sonnet Technologies. "This ultra portable and powerful combination has been highly anticipated by many customers worldwide, increasing their productivity and allowing them to meet stringent deadlines even when in the field."
The Bluefish444 Apple OSX plug in to Avid Media Composer 6, compatible with the Sonnet Echo™ Express Pro Thunderbolt™ Expansion Chassis will be freely available from the Bluefish444 website in Q4 2012.
About Bluefish444:
Bluefish444 is the manufacturer of the industry's highest-quality uncompressed 4K/2K/HD/SD video cards for the Windows, Mac OS X and Linux operating systems. Its video cards are used in broadcast, feature film and post-production markets for editing, animation, compositing, color correction, restoration, digital intermediate, 3D and IPTV applications.
Bluefish444 cards have been used on award-winning feature films, commercials, music videos and sports events worldwide. Bluefish444's range of video cards are incorporated in video servers, encoders, decoders and character generator solutions by numerous 3rd party OEM manufacturers, in addition to other niche & mainstream applications.
Founded in 1998, Bluefish444 is a division and brand name of Bluefish Technologies Pty Ltd., which is based in S. Melbourne, Australia. Its products are distributed via an extensive sales channel of OEMs, dealers, and system integrators globally. For further information, visit
About Sonnet Technologies:
Sonnet Technologies Inc. is a leader in providing storage systems, media readers, expansion cards, and Thunderbolt™ technology PCIe expansion products for professional users of Mac®, Windows®, and UNIX® systems in the film, video, and broadcast industries. Sonnet's line of Thunderbolt expansion products enables the use of video capture and editing, audio interface, RAID controller, and other high-performance PCIe cards with mini, portable, and all-in-one computers. The company's storage product line features a range of high-performance, cost-effective, and reliable desktop and rackmount RAID storage solutions ranging from two- and four-drive portable units, to eight- and 16-drive desktop attached storage with advanced RAID controllers, to 16-drive, 16-port, 8Gb Fibre Channel shared storage systems that are expandable to 384TB. Celebrating 27 years in business, Sonnet has pioneered and brought to market numerous innovative solutions that enhance the performance and connectivity of Mac, Windows, and other industry-standard computers. More information on Sonnet and its products is available at
More News From Bluefish444 »
© 2019
All Rights Reserved


text: Powerball: Saturday's winning Powerball numbers were: 31-33-38-49-55; Powerball: 39; Power Play: 3. Estimated jackpot: $15 million. Dakota Cash: Saturday's winning Dakota Cash numbers were: 7-14-25-30-34. Estimated jackpot: $91,364. Wild Card: Saturday's winning Wild Card numbers were: 3-8-21-30-31; Wild Card: Ace of Spades. Estimated jackpot: $100,000. Hot Lotto: Saturday's winning Hot Lotto numbers were: 12-20-24-27-29; Hot Ball: 3. Estimated jackpot: $3.59 million. Visit our Web site, aberdeennews.com, for the latest lottery numbers and results.


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Robert Knight, a senior fellow for the American Civil Rights Union, offers his informed opinion on what lies ahead for those who disagree with SCOTUS's ruling regarding same-sex marriage: an end to their religious freedom.
Even before the U.S. Supreme Court announced the previously unknown constitutional "right" to impose same-sex "marriage" on all 50 states, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was readying its next volley.
For two decades, the ACLU has cited the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) as a defense of religious liberty in various worthy and some not-so-worthy cases. No more.
The ACLU has decided that the unalienable right to religious freedom embodied in the First Amendment must give way to newly coined claims by newly empowered groups.
In a Washington Post column, ACLU Deputy Director Louise Melling called on Congress to make RFRA essentially toothless. Of course, that's not the way she put. Here's her signature sentence: "It's time for Congress to amend the RFRA so that it cannot be used as a defense for discrimination. Religious freedom will be undermined only if we continue to tolerate and enable abuses in its name."
. . .
Not missing a beat, atheist activist Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation has uncorked yet another call for the Pentagon to weed out conservative Christians. In a Daily Kos posting, he wrote that chaplains who teach biblical marriage "don't belong in the military. At this stage, the only honorable thing that these losers can do is to fold up their uniforms, turn in their papers, and get the hell out of the American military chaplaincy. If they are unwilling or too cowardly to do so, then the Department of Defense must expeditiously cleanse itself of the intolerant filth that insists on lingering in the ranks of our armed forces."
Given that this is what passes for tolerance, it's not surprising that the ACLU and others on the left want to render meaningless the free exercise of religion guarantee of the First Amendment and any federal and state laws that fortify religious freedom.
Deploying the language of inevitability, such as "being on the wrong side of history," they seek to persuade the vast majority of Americans that resistance is futile.
Are they right? The answer will depend on a vigorous, renewed fight for liberty in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
For the full article, please visit The Washington Times.


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I was walking back to my seat hands shaking, legs heavy as concrete, heart racing. It reminded me of exactly how I felt just moments before jumping out of a plane two years ago. I just gave a speech to 15 of my classmates sharing extremely intimate details of my life. I had six minutes to convey my story to them and that is exactly what I did. If there is something I am good at, it is using vividly descriptive words to paint an elaborate scene to make the person listening believe they were there too.
"Alright so we are all dealt our own hand of shit that we have to deal with in life. " It was the perfect way to start it off. I had broken the ice and gotten them to laugh. "You have had yours and I have had mine. While what you have gone through, might be different from mine, whatever it is has held you back from having exactly what you want in life. I share this with you today so that you can see that whatever it is that you think has such a hold on you doesn't have to. You can have exactly what you want in life."
As I spoke I made eye contact around the room. There was not a sound from anyone as their eyes were fixated on me and slightly leaning forward in their seats hanging on for each detail I would soon reveal. It was beyond empowering as my voice brought the words on paper to life. The six minutes came to an end as I left my past on the stage. I had just shared with them the first time I had a panic attack. For a very long time I struggled with depression. I thought it had this consuming hold on me that I would never be able to break free from. I thought I would have to live life by its' terms just waiting for when it would strike next. I always saw happiness as a temporary thing too afraid to fully enjoy it because I was so scared of losing it again. I was living out of fear. No more though. Through my studies on behavior modification I have learned that we do certain behaviors because they serve us in someway. I never saw it like that before. I had always put myself in the victim position, not willing to look at the role I played in it. So yes, while it may have served me in the past it no longer serves me today. While we all have our ups and downs naturally, I choose to no longer fall into those patterns of the past.
As I walked back to my seat, I felt revived. Before my speech I walked up there scared. I was second-guessing if I should really say what I came to say. Should I take the leap and just see what happens?
Well I jumped after all and it was spectacular.
Whatever is holding you back, whether it is something from the past or the present, I invite you to let it go. Write it down and burn it. Share it with a group of close friends or in my case a group of complete strangers. Notice the sensations that arise in your body: fast heart beat, shallow breathing, sweating, etc. Stay with the physical sensations and before you know it they will start to lesson. If you stay in the presence of your body, it takes away the power of your thoughts. Our mind is a very powerful thing and can make any experience seem much worse than it actually is.
So let it go. Yes, just like that.
If you are ready to let it go you will. If you are not yet ready to, ask yourself, "How are these negative thoughts serving me in this moment?"
Each and everyone of you inspire me everyday to fully embrace my beautiful imperfections. My hope is that little by little you are able to see the beauty in yours as well.
Peace + love,


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Posts Tagged 'Solyndra
Obama Wasted Our Money for Political Gain
On August 2nd the House released an investigative report on Solyndra, the failed solar energy company, which shows beyond a doubt the Obama administration abused taxpayer dollars for political gain.
Solyndra received a $535 million loan, straight from our pocket, as part of Obama's "green jobs" strategy. Indeed, Solyndra was considered one of the jewels in Obama's green recovery crown. When Obama visited the plant in 2010, he highlighted Solyndra as an example of the "right thing to do for the economy," claiming the plant would employ at least 1,000 high paying jobs.
As is so often the case with lofty oratory, the reality never lived up to the rhetoric.
First, the Obama administration pressured federal reviewers to sign off on Solyndra despite misgivings about the viability of the company and of the government's loan model. Emails released by the investigators show the Office of Management and Budget responding to White House requests by saying "We would prefer to have sufficient time to do our due diligence reviews." The loan was ultimately approved, clearly under political duress as an OMB staffer remarked "given the time pressure we are under to sign off on Solyndra, we don't have time to change the model."
Solyndra's CEO at the time hailed the "Bank of Washington" for coming to their aid.
It quickly became clear that Solyndra was in peril as it began to miss payments on the loan. A government analysis warned that the company would run out of money in September of 2011 and recommended that the government simply cut its losses. Instead, the government chose to restructure the loan, ultimately wasting MORE of our tax dollars than if they had simply allowed Solyndra to fail.
The investigators released emails which clearly indicate the decision to restructure the loan – which inexplicably put taxpayers LAST to recoup losses – was made for political reasons. One government analyst remarked that a Solyndra failure "would likely be very embarrassing for DOE and the Administration." Another commented that she was "vastly confused by DOE's decision to negotiate away their senior position in this transaction."
The final insult came when White House Chief of Staff Jack Yew, perhaps sensing that Solyndra was beyond saving, decided to wash his hands of any further involvement in the Solyndra restructuring. Let me say that again to be sure it sinks in:
Despite the administration's self-proclaimed "quite active interest" in securing the loan for Solyndra, just months before it failed, the White House distanced itself from any further decision making.
No doubt so that when it finally failed, they could blame it on OMB / DOE / Bush (which is exactly what they tried to do).
Still undetermined is exactly what role Obama bundler Robert Kaiser played in securing Solyndra's loan in the first place. Emails show Kaiser "advised associates" on how to secure federal assistance for Solyndra. As it turns out, Kaiser's family also had a "substantial" financial stake in Solyndra. Coincidence?
This is an example of Chicago Politics at its finest. We have a choice in 2012. Are you voting for four more years of cronyism and abuse of our wallets? "Bank of Washington" my ass… it's the Bank of We the People. I say we shut the damn doors. #ABO2012
The black cloud of the Obama 3
Obama's troubles are beginning to pile up…and the timing couldn't be more perfect for Republicans coming into the 2012 elections(and I'm not even talking about this miserable economy). 3 very shady newsworthy scandals involving the Obama White House are slowly creeping into the news. Of course, they aren't in the news as much as they should be but people are beginning to know some of the criminal activity that makes up the day to day schedule of this White House. I thought I would do a brief summary of the 3 "biggies" and do follow up posts when new details are learned.
So…here goes
1. Fast and Furious: Most everyone is familiar with this one. It's the ATF "sting" operation in which assault weapons were knowingly sold to violent Mexican drug cartel members with the intent of tracking these guns into Mexico to catch higher ups in the cartel world. The problem is that most of these assault weapons have disappeared into the underworld of Mexican crime and are showing up at violent crime scenes…including the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. This little scandal involves the ATF, FBI, DEA, Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security…..all under the watchful eye of the Department of Justice. I do not believe that Obama will be implicated in this one because Eric Holder is the front-man and Obama will be protected at all cost. Just my opinion.
2. Solyndra: This one has been getting a lot of press lately. Solyndra is a California based company that makes solar panels. Obama made it the poster-child for his green jobs initiative and publicly touted it's huge potential to not only advance the movement towards solar power but also the benefit of creating more jobs. So..what's the problem you ask? Solyndra was doomed from the beginning and was in serious financial trouble before the White House granted it a $535 million loan guarantee (through the Stimulus legislation). The problem with Solyndra is that it's new solar panels (which are cylindrical and supposedly lighter and easier to install) are very expensive to make and thus are more expensive to buy so consumers are continuing to buy the cheaper flat panels….which work just as well. Solyndra was never ever ever going to be profitable and the White House was warned about this but still continued to push for stimulus money. Solyndra filed for bankruptcy on September 6th…leaving the American taxpayer with a $535 million dollar tab. Oh….and one more thing….the primary shareholder in Solyndra is The George Kaiser Family Foundation. George Kaiser is a rather large campaign fundraiser for Obama and has visited the White House 16 times since 2009. What a coincidence.
3. Lightsquared: So far…there has been very little press about this one and details are still emerging. Lightsquared is a company that is involved in the broadband connectivity network. Their product would make it easier and faster for people to connect to wireless networks. The company is owned by the hedge fund Harbinger Capital. This hedge fund is headed by billionaire Philip Falcone who happens to be a huge donor to Democratic senatorial campaigns as well as to Obama's campaign. Shortly after he made large donations to Democratic senatorial campaigns, the FCC granted the company a waiver to build their national 4g wireless network cheaply….which is a highly unusual move for the FCC. What a coincidence. Numerous people are crying foul but the bigger scandal here is something a little more criminal than big donor favoritism. The Pentagon is very concerned about Lightsquared's new broadband network because the GPS system that it uses would interfere with the same system that the military uses to help it with missile tracking (among other things). The Pentagon sent Air Force General William Shelton to testify at a closed door meeting about their concerns. Just a few days ago, General Shelton revealed to House strategic forces subcommittee staffers that the White House tried to "encourage" him to say things in his testimony that would be beneficial to the Lightsquared project. The General was not too happy about being asked to change his testimony on the request of the White House. This one is much more than a "pay to play" scandal. This one is flat-out criminal and involves witness tampering. This has been getting some media coverage but not very much. It is my opinion that this one is the worst of the 3 scandals for Obama but time will tell whether he will suffer politically. I'm betting that there are many more "Solyndra's" and "Lightsquared's" out there but we'll never know with our politically biased media.
There's one thing that's for sure with this crooked administration….
You can take Obama out of Chicago, but you can't take Chicago out of Obama.


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(Oficial Music Video):
I'm not really a fan of Country anymore. I don't like today's Country music; it's either too twangy or too pop-ish I prefer stuff from the 90's and early 2000's.
Tought I'd share a few of my favorites with you. I love Shania Twain, so basically any song by her
"Man! I Feel Like A Woman" (Official Music Video)
"That Don't Impress Me Much"
I also really like The Dixie Chicks
"Traveling Soldier"
I sang "Traveling Solider" at karaoke the other night (I'm sure it was horrible) I wish I could sing, but I can't. I a lot of people in my family can sing. I'm really jealous
My Uncle has a Doctorate in Music, he taught the lead singer of The Dixie Chicks, Natalie Maines
"Not Ready To Make Nice" (Official Music Video)
"Goodbye Earl" (Official Music Video)
I like Trisha Yearwood too.
"She's In Love With The Boy" (Official Music Video)
"How Do I Live"
"Wild One" (Official Music Video)
Title of this post comes from "Wild One" by Trisha Yearwood. I figured it would be a very fitting title...cause well, do I really need to explain; I mean come on...


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Biolin Scientific
Who We Are
Biolin Scientific is a leading Nordic instrumentation company with roots in Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Our customers include companies working with pharmaceuticals, energy, chemicals, and advanced materials, as well as academic and governmental research institutes. Our precision instruments help discover better drugs faster, develop better solutions for energy and materials, and perform research at the frontiers of science and technology.
What We Do
Biolin Scientific proprietary systems are based on nanotechnology and advanced measurement techniques. They have earned leadership in several industries through our commitment to scientific excellence and continuous product development.
Our commitment to customer service and application support is a key feature of our operations. We focus on working together with customers and building long-standing relations. Today, Biolin Scientific provides products and services in more than 70 countries around the world.
Visit Website: www.biolinscientific.com
Biolin Scientific Workshop
From Question to Answer with QSense
Tuesday 9 May 2017 in Room 1,000 from 1pm – 2pm
There is no cost to attend the workshop
(Delegates will have a chance to pick up lunch before the session)
In our efforts to push the area of biosensing forward, we strive to constantly collect new information to deepen our understanding of key aspects such as molecular interactions, immobilization and interfacial properties. Knowing what we don't know is only the beginning. Thereafter follows the experimental design, running the measurements, the data analysis and the interpretation of the results. In the pursuit of scientific breakthroughs, we want to spend our time wisely. We want to minimize the time spent looking for answers, and maximize the information output of the time we have invested in the lab and in the data analysis. By monitoring surface interaction processes and interfacial phenomena at the nanoscale in real time, QSense offers a solution that efficiently helps you increase your insights of these aspects in your research, and helps you quickly move from question to answer.
In this workshop, we will demonstrate three different examples where we rapidly expand our understanding of the system under study. Starting with a knowledge gap, we will take you through the experimental design, the data collection and the data analysis all the way to the results interpretation where we will unveil the answer, which fills original knowledge gap.
Visit Website: www.biolinscientific.com


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Learn meditation and other practices by attending the retreats we host around the world.
Our retreats welcome anyone who is interested in learning about practical spirituality, regardless of their race, gender, background, religious or political affiliations, or any other factor. Previous retreats have brought together students from countries all over the world, from every conceivable religion and belief, in an atmosphere of mutual respect and harmony.
Our 2017 retreat was filled to capacity and was a great event. We are already beginning to prepare for 2018 retreats.
Sign up for our newsletter to be informed of retreat news.


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Taylor Swift & Lorde: Shopping Duo at Rag & Bone!
Taylor Swift keeps it fierce with a red belt while doing some shopping at Rag & Bone on Sunday (February 23) in Los Angeles.
The 24-year-old singer was joined by her close gal pal Lorde, who kept it sporty with Nike socks.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Taylor Swift
"Bare feet in the sand on a Saturday.." Taylor wrote on Instagram the day before with a pic of herself and Lorde. Check out the pic below!
Earlier in the week, Taylor donned her favorite star sweater while heading to the gym.
30+ pictures inside of Taylor Swift and Lorde shopping together at rag & bone…
Posted to: Lorde, Taylor Swift


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This is one of my favorite summer soups! Cold and refreshing, light and tasty. This will serve 4-6, or in our case, it was sufficient for several meals. My friend Katie serves it with the most delicious little cheesey scones, but I made this basil garlic bread this week and the combo is heavenly!
3 medium cucumbers
3 cups chicken broth
3 cups sour cream
3 T. cider vinegar
2 t. salt
1 clove garlic*Peel and seed cucumbers. Cut in chunks and puree in blender, along with the broth, in small batches. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in remaining ingredients. Chill for at least four hours. Serve with optional toppings: chopped tomatoes, chopped green onions, chopped avocado, cilantro, slivered and toasted almonds.
*I used three cloves of mashed roasted garlic instead.
(My friend Katie gave me this recipe. She serves it with the most delicious little cheesey scones!)
1 cup fresh basil (hard packed)
6 garlic cloves (peeled)
1/4 cup olive oil
1-1/4 cup lukewarm water
6 garlic cloves (peeled)
1/4 cup olive oil
1-1/4 cup lukewarm water
2 t. sugar
2-1/4 t. active dry yeast
1 t. salt
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flourChop basil leaves and garlic finely, or place in a food processor and chop finely. Do not turn into a liquid. Add olive oil slowly. Set aside. In another bowl add lukewarm water and sugar, sprinkle yeast on top of water. Set aside to activate the yeast; about 5 minutes. Add yeast to basil mixture and mix. Add flour 1 cup at a time till dough is smooth. Place dough on a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes. Place dough into a greased bowl. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap. Let rise till dough doubles in size. Punch down dough. Form dough into a loaf and place in a greased pan. Cover let dough double in size. Place loaf in a 350 F oven for 30-35 minutes. Remove and cool on a wire rack.
(This recipe is from the cookingbread.com website.)


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Police in Humberside have charged two men in connection with a bank robbery in Hathersage.
On Tuesday, March 03 Jordan Lee Christopher Lydon (23) of Clee Road, Cleethorpes and Michael Francis Lydon (50) of Donnington Street, Grimsby were charged with three counts of conspiring to commit robbery. The charge also relates to a robbery at TSB Bank in Bridlington.
They were charged in connection with the robbery at the Hathersage branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland that took place on 20 February, 2014, and an attempt burglary at the Darley Dale branch in August 2014.
The men appeared at Beverley Magistrates Court yesterday (Wednesday, March 04) and was remanded in custody to appear at Hull Crown Court on Wednesday, March 18.
Anyone with any further information in relation to the incidents in Derbyshire is asked to contact DC Laura Weston on 101.
To report crime anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Do you need a quick answer to a general question? Then we recommend you visit the national Ask The Police web site.