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Taken literally, it seems like a preposterous idea: "I am sound". Must be a metaphor. But it is not. It can be shown that I, genuinely, 'am' sound. In fact, so is anyone who hears. The approach that yields this realisation involves examining the perception of sound as informed by experience. This is an understanding of sound that is very different to a scientifically informed one. The scientific conception of sound is, here, bypassed.
Bypassing a scientifically informed world view does not mean refuting science. It means engaging with another perspective by which a different understanding can be reached. In this article, that perspective is experience. It is a perspective that is always immediately available and it is a perspective that logically, necessarily, precedes the scientific world view. It should be stated, however, that the perspective of experience, its attendant background of consciousness, and its perceptual and cognitive content has long posed a problem for science. One of the great philosophers of the 17th century Gottfried Leibniz, for example, articulated in The Monadology (1714) that perception is "inexplicable by mechanical causes, that is, by figures and motions". More recently the Australian philosopher David Chalmers has labelled the attempt to explain our qualitative phenomenal experiences as the "hard problem of consciousness" (1995, Facing Up to the Problem of Consciousness). To illustrate the gulf between science and experience, consider the experience of the two colours red and orange: there is a qualitative difference that we are intimately aware of, but that cannot be explained, let alone adequately observed, by science.
The examination of the experience of sound produces an understanding of perception that is very different to the scientifically informed one. In the experience of sound, it is impossible to identify an act of perception as something that causes a perceived thing: a percept. In the experience of sound, sound simply and magically appears in consciousness, without any intrinsic awareness that an organ has carried out the sensing. The reciprocal of the absence of an act of perception is that there cannot be any perceiver that engages in that act. Unlike the scientific word view, in the experience of sound there is no subject, no 'self'.
The empirically informed scientific understanding of hearing tells a very different story. It is focused on the mechanism leading to the percept that occurs within the subject: a physical object vibrates, it causes changes in air pressure around it, those changes in pressure travel as waves moving through air, they reach the ear, affect the drum in the inner ear, which in turn translates the signal to the human nervous system, ultimately resulting in a perception. In the scientific understanding a sound is distinct from the person who has a sound-sensing organ; and this sound-sensing organ allows the person to 'sense', or 'perceive', the sound. In the experience of sound, however, none of the above mechanism makes itself known. For example, when one hears a loud unexpected sound one does not become aware of a sudden change in the movement of the ear drum. When asked to point to a sound, the listener will point to the apparent source of the sound, not to the changes in air pressure that lie just outside the ear drum. The physical, biological, neurological act of hearing is largely transparent to the experience of sound. The mechanism of hearing may be scientifically and empirically observable, but in the experience of sound, all that happens is sound simply, magically, 'appears' in consciousness.
Now, consider the comparison of the act of hearing a sound with the act of kicking a ball. Both scenarios have a subject / verb / object.
It might be correct to say "I kick the ball" because I can identify a ball (without it being kicked), I can reproduce the act of kicking (without a ball), and I can identify my foot (without either kicking or a ball).
But it is NOT correct to say "I hear the sound". This is because, firstly; I cannot perceive a sound other than to hear it, and secondly; I cannot hear anything that is not a sound. Simply put the words 'hear' and 'sound' are redundant. I may be able to catch a ball, and kick a box, but I cannot hear a light, nor smell a sound. All I can do to a sound is hear it, and all I can ever hear is sound. It is thus more accurate to say "I hear" or "I am conscious of sound".
To prove this to oneself only requires looking for the separation between hearing and sound. The separation between a ball and kicking is clear; it is demonstrable simply by showing that one can kick something else. But where does hearing stop and sound begin? Conceptually speaking, it might be suggested that the sound stops on one side of the ear drum, and the hearing begins on the other. Yet, as stated above, there is absolutely no evidence of the hearing organ when sound appears in consciousness. In the experience of sound, there is no line between sound and the supposed act of hearing. In fact, the act of hearing doesn't actually seem to exist. All that exists is the awareness of the sound itself. There is apparently no perception, just a percept.
If we take this logic further, it turns out that it is similarly impossible to identify an 'I' or 'self' (the thing that perceives) as separate from the sound itself. In the statement "I hear", where is the line that has 'I' on one side and hearing on the other?
It is easy to direct one's attention to a sound, and focus on it. One can listen to a sound, and start to identify more detail within it … more patterned textures, more detail in its timbre, new component frequencies not noticed before etc. But if one tries to direct one's attention to 'I' it becomes extremely difficult to find anything. It is hard enough to find this 'I', whatever that might be, let alone try to find more detail about it. If you think you have found this 'self' try to focus on it and identify more of its detail in the same way that one can focus on sound and identify more detail in a perceived sound.
Attempt the following: scratch a surface near you. Focus on the sound. Keep focusing on the sound until you start noticing more detail in it. Now, as you keep scratching, try to focus on the 'I'. If you can find an 'I' try to start noticing more detail in it, more information about it. Now switch back to the sound, focus on it, wait until you notice more detail in it. Switch to the 'I' again, focus on it until you find more detail in it. — You will notice that it is very easy to focus on the sound, but practically impossible to focus on an 'I' (that isn't just an idea, or a concept).
The notion that a perceiver cannot be found to accompany a percept (or otherwise) is not new. The lack of any experiential evidence of a 'self' was articulated by 18th century Scottish philosopher David Hume in his A Treatise on Human Nature:
… when I enter most intimately into what I call myself, I always stumble on some particular perception or other, of heat or cold, light or shade, love or hatred, pain or pleasure. I never can catch myself at any time without a perception, and never can observe any thing but the perception.
… If any one, upon serious and unprejudiced reflection thinks he has a different notion of himself, I must confess I call reason no longer with him. All I can allow him is, that he may be in the right as well as I, and that we are essentially different in this particular. He may, perhaps, perceive something simple and continued, which he calls himself; though I am certain there is no such principle in me.
In A Treatise on Human Nature Hume characterises individuals as a 'bundle of different perceptions' in 'perpetual flux' and without a persistent self. Hume's understanding is clearly informed by the observation of experience rather than an 'objective' scientific view. If one observes the experience of sound, and genuinely tries to find evidence of a self doing some hearing, it will not be found. Above, the phrase "I hear a sound" has been corrected to "I am conscious of sound". In the absence of an identifiable 'self', in the experience of sound, the phrase "I am conscious of sound" must further be corrected to the statement: "there is sound".
So how can I say "I am sound"? Outside of my perceptions, what am I? If one was to be deprived of all senses, touch, smell, sight, taste, sound then what would be left? Would there be an 'I' left? Perhaps there would only be an 'I' left that can do nothing else but think? But, from the perspective of experience, is there a 'self' that is responsible for thinking?
In his Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus 20th century Austrian-born philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein argues:
5.631 There is no such thing as the subject that thinks or entertains ideas.
Wittgenstein extends the idea that there is no 'self' evident in perception, to the idea that there is no self, no centre, no subject, present in thinking. This can be understood as an extension of Hume's observations from perception to cognition (cognition is, broadly speaking, what happens in our minds *after* perception). Just as Hume says that there is no evidence of a 'self' in perception, Wittgenstein extends the absence of this 'self' to thinking. Of course, some (including myself) would argue that we do not control thinking, but instead are merely 'aware' of our thinking. In this understanding, thoughts and emotions are perceived just as colours and sounds are perceived: they just magically appear in our consciousness.
If I was deprived of all senses and the ability to think, what is left? Where is the self? Who would I be?
It is at this point in this inquiry that I conclude "I am sound". By that, I mean that I am all of my perceptions, including the awareness of thoughts. There is, here, a critical point that needs to be emphasised: there is no 'outside world'. There is only my world. This point can perhaps best be articulated by saying that there is no 'outside world' that causes these perceptions, rather; my world *is* these perceptions. In Wittgenstein's words:
5.63 I am my world. (The microcosm.)
Inverting Wittgenstein's statement offers a slightly different emphasis: my world is me. What is being challenged is that there is a distinction between a notional 'outside world' and a separated independent 'self' that exists within and acts within this 'outside world'.
5.632 The subject does not belong to the world: rather, it is a limit of the world.
When I become aware of a sound, I am that sound. I am the world that magically appears in my experience.


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Dennis Kucinich on the NDAA and 'War Without End'
Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, perhaps the most consistent advocate of peace in the U.S. Congress, has been forced by gerrymandering into a primary battle. Last week Kucinich made the following statement on the National Defense Authorization Act to the House of Representatives.
Our children deserve a world without end, not war without end.
This bill authorizes permanent warfare anywhere in the world. It gives the president unchecked power to pursue war. It diminishes the role of this Congress. The founders saw Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, which places in the hands of Congress the war power, as essential to a check and balance against the executive abuse of power. This legislation diminishes Congress' role in that regard.
This legislation authorizes the military to indefinitely detain individuals without charge or trial, including the detention of U.S. citizens on U.S. soil. In short, what this bill does is it takes a wrecking ball to the United States Constitution and gives enormous
power to the government or the state. I want friends on both sides of the aisle to understand this; we are giving the state more power over individuals with this bill. It's the wrong direction.
Our children deserve a world without end, not war without end. Our children deserve a world where they know the government will protect them, that it is not going to rule over them by invading their very thoughts and going, as the Patriot Act does, going into their banking records or into their educational records. We have to keep the government out of people's personal lives and stop the government from getting more into war — which gives the government more control over people. This is the time we take a stand for the Constitution and a stand for a government which is smaller — when it comes to matters of war.

subset: commoncrawl


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Posted by Amar on May 9, 2017
Featured Integrations: May 2017
Here at MailChimp, we're passionate about music. In fact, we love music so much that we even started our own internal radio station so we can all live out our secret dream of being a disc jockey for a day. Many of us play in a band or have a musical side project we dedicate our free time to, so we understand how hard it can be to get your voice heard as a musician. This month, we're highlighting integrations to help you generate more ticket and merchandise sales or spread the word about your next performance, album release, or world tour.


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France could fine Apple, Google $1 million for each smartphone the companies refuse to unlock/
It's not just the U.S. government that wants Apple to help unlock smartphones. Yann Galut, a member of France's Socialist Party, on Friday proposed an amendment to France's laws that could result in Apple being fined €1m (about $1.1 million) if it refuses to unlock an iPhone, according to The Local.
In an interview with Le Parisien, Galut said Apple (and, it must be noted, Google) must be compelled to provide access to content stored on locked devices, or else face fines. According to the publication, French police were unable to access data on eight phones last year during terror investigations.
Galut said the courts would instruct Apple and other device makers to supply an encryption key for the specific device in a criminal investigation. He added that police would not have "a general key" to access data on all phones.


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Remember back when Half-Life 2 launched and everyone was forced onto Steam? Remember how many people hated it? That seems like a lifetime ago, and now most people would not be able to imagine PC gaming without Valve's digital shopfront.
In keeping with bank-balance-destroying tradition, Steam has launched a Christmas sale. Practically every single game on Steam is currently being discounted by a bajillion percent, so if there's anything you missed during the year, then now is a good time to pick it up.
But sales on Steam are like hookers in Greenpoint – there's no lack of them. The really cool news is that there's a big pile of virtual presents sitting under a virtual tree. The Great Gift Pile wants you to dive into it, but you're going to have to work for your presents.
Starting from now and running until 01 January 2012, Steam will be giving you a list of objectives to complete in various games. If you complete an objective (similar in requirement to Achievements) then you get a present from The Great Gift Pile! Hooray! It's easy! Of course, you have to own the games that have objectives for the day, but if you do then you're in luck.
The presents can be one of two things: either a gift like a free game or a coupon for future discounts, or you might get a lump of coal. Save enough lumps of coal and you can trade them for a present instead. You might, however, save all your lumps of coal because each counts as an entry into the Steam Christmas competition.
The Christmas competition is a giveaway in which you could win Valve game packs or titles off your wishlist (see, that's why you needed to compile a wishlist on Steam recently). There is one Grand Prize however, the recipient of which will win EVERY SINGLE GAME ON STEAM. Yes, ALL OF THEM.
You can only enter if you have at least ten titles in your wishlist, so start compiling that list if you haven't already. Then head over to The Great Gift Pile section on Steam and start playing the games required to complete the day's objectives.
Maybe also apologise to friends and family for your conspicuous absence between now and next year.


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General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner has a column in today's Wall Street Journal chronicling the plight of GM, which has lost a lot of money and is closing 12 North American plants. His key point: though GM is doing well in international markets, it suffers at home from key competitive disadvantages. The two domestic disadvantages he cites? Health care costs and litigation:
Litigation now costs the U.S. economy more than $245 billion a year, or more than $845 per person. That's more than 2% of our GDP. No other country has costs anywhere near this level. And the perverse thing is that, in many cases, the majority of courtroom settlements go to the lawyers and other litigation costs, not to the injured parties.


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Anonymous on 08/21/2012
We stayed at the Marriott Long Wharf 1 night, July 16, 2012 and never once thought to check for bedbugs. We have paid dearly for our ignorance because we ended up with bedbug bites (our children as well!) and bringing bedbugs home with us from the Marriott! The expense and emotional trauma has been horrible. We've hired a licensed bedbug detecting dog and pest management company and we hope the bedbugs are gone for good.
We will never stay at the Marriott again! The Marriott claims they did n
ot find any evidence of bedbug "activity" in the room in which we stayed, yet the Marriott refuses to share the inspection report. They will not even tell us if they used a licensed bedbug detecting dog and a professional pest management company. The Marriott also did not inspect the room in which our luggage and belongings were stored.
The bites are painful and itchy and take forever to heal.
No compensation has been offered by the management. Our experience with the Marriott Long Wharf in Boston, MA has been a nightmare.
83 bedbug reports near this address:
|Boston Marriott Longwharf
|0.008 km
|111 Atlantic Ave
|0.226 km
|Hilton Boston Financial District
|0.345 km
|Boston Harbor Hotel
|0.355 km
|28 Atlantic Ave
|0.459 km
|The Langham, Boston
|0.633 km
|Farrington Inn, Boston
|0.633 km
|435 Hanover St
|0.702 km
|Ames Hotel - New Hotel In Boston
|0.757 km
|Fairmont Battery Wharf Boston
|0.789 km
|Club Quarters
|0.824 km
|Omni Parker House
|1.011 km
|1.051 km
|Royal Sonesta Hotel
|1.131 km
|Friend Street Hostel
|1.225 km
|130 Bowdoin St
|1.297 km
|Hyatt Regency Boston
|1.327 km
|4 Longfellow Pl
|1.456 km
|18 Hancock St
|1.467 km
|Residence Inn By Marriott Boston Harbor On Tudor Wharf
|1.637 km
|The Westin Boston Waterfront
|1.658 km
|Holiday Inn Select Boston At Beacon Hill
|1.740 km
|2 Hawthorne Pl
|1.743 km
|606 Congress At Renaissance Boston
|1.818 km
|Doubletree Hotel Boston - Downtown
|1.849 km
|DoubleTree By Hilton Boston - Downtown
|1.864 km
|52 Phillips St
|1.920 km
|1.925 km
|1 Emerson Pl
|1.974 km
|Milner Hotel Boston
|2.004 km
|Clink - The Liberty Hotel
|2.184 km


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While the mainstream media in the US, and particularly in Europe, continue to focus on the doom and gloom of the financial crisis, there is an economic miracle in the making, which to a great degree goes unreported. In a must-reed article Peter C. Glover explains why, particularly in Europe, the failed "green" energy policies are seriously delaying, or even preventing a positive turnaround:
Amidst the doom and gloom headlines presaging dire prognostications for the Western economies in 2012 there is the very real promise of a global economy re-directing miracle in the making. The impact and promise of shale gas and shale oil is probably the good news story as we step into 2012. Not that you would know it, given the media's predilection for bad news.
Only two obstacles stand in the way. First, bad energy policies that do not prioritise cheaper fossil fuels – dumping countless millions out of jobs and into fuel poverty. Second, environmentalist campaigners implacably opposed to any hydrocarbon-fuelled energy development. It threatens their Disney-esque utopian blueprint.
But before we glimpse a rare ray of sunshine amidst the stretching economic gloom, we must first demolish a key widely held myth that is fuelling bad energy policy-making: that oil and gas prices will only go on rising, ultimately rendering their cost comparable to expensive and feeble renewable energy generation. As economist and professor of energy policy Dieter Helm's recent excellent article pointed out, the UK's current bias towards expensive renewables is a direct result of energy secretary Chris Huhne's unwavering faith that the price of fossil fuels can only go on rising.
That's precisely the mistake an incoming Conservative Government made in 1979. Then oil prices peaked at $39 a barrel (the equivalent of $150 today). In the mid-1980s, however, the bottom dropped out of the oil price 'barrel' taking over 25 years to recover. As Helm points out, it is the peak oil and gas brigade – today, a useful ally to the green lobbies – who assume depleting resources based on then known reserves. As Helm says: "Nonsense – and some of it dangerous nonsense".
Helm rightly asserts, "The Earth's crust is riddled with fossil fuels" adding "there is enough oil and gas (and coal too) to fry the planet several times over." And his words echo Huber and Mills' definitive quote on the subject, "Energy supplies – for all practical purposes – are infinite". The issue is not (and never has been) too much or too little of a given resource. It has always been whether prices are too low or too high to make extraction viable. Today, the shale gas and oil "miracle" – or rather man's ingenuity in finding new ways to tap previously unrecoverable resources – has yet again blown a gaping hole in the peak-ist argument; as the end of year figures make only too plain.
Equally, the new EU Energy Roadmap 2050 shows the EU is tenaciously holding onto its green dream in the vain hope that rising oil and gas prices will eventually make renewables commercially viable. But the shale gale is blowing an even greater hole in that hope.
While new processes allow vast new energy resources to permeate the world's shales, the 'biblical' scale of the potential economic turnaround still has a way to go to permeate the mindset of policy-makers. Even so, the shale-fuelled miracle, able to part the sea of gloomy economic forecasts and reveal a path to a much happier 2012, is very real – despite the plague of bureaucrats.
Read the entire article here
In the United States the shale gas/oil revolution has through its own force aleady changed the country´s economic outlook. This development is taking place, not because of some positive action of the present US administration, but despite of its policies. Ironically, it is quite possible that the energy centered economic turnaround, in which Obama has had no role, will in the end help to get him re-elected.
In Europe the outlook is much gloomier. We have to wait for new elections in order to replace the present failed leaders - and hope that the Poles will not allow the dark forces (Russia/Gazprom and greenies) to prevent their way to prosperity.


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One might think initially that this false stonefish (Scorpaenopsis diabolus) is rather well camouflaged....
But then there is that big circular ring of pectoral fin rays it sits on. I mean that must be a bit of a give away right?
In response to that I would point out (on behalf of the aggrieved pseudo-stone) the prevalence in the region of these Fungia corals.
Not so easy now is it? In truth the fin rays and the eyes are the two things I usually notice immediately before my brain clicks into gear and I think "[ah scorpion/stone/devil[delete as appropriate]] fish" but I guess the point here is that eve if visible to prey that ring isn't such an unusual pattern on these reefs.


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|Bob Hill firstname.lastname@example.com
|"All States Members (including ex officio members)"
|Ben Queree
|Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 12:38 PM
|Complaint relating to Removal of Part (d)
Members will recall that last Tuesday 7th June during question time I asked an Oral Question of Senator Ozouf in relation to my complaint against a senior officer. On four occasions Senator Ozouf stated that the Investigator had found no substance to my complaint. The question arose from the removal of part (d) of the Napier Terms of Reference. My attached letter of complaint to Senator Le Sueur will set the scene, also attached is Senator Ozouf's letter in which he has summarised the Investigator's findings. The third letter is from Mr Power in which he states that he regarded the failure to be informed of the changed Terms of Reference as an act of deception.
As one can see from my allegations only a small number of people had to be interviewed. The key people being myself, Senator Le Sueur, Mr Power and most certainly Mr Napier and the Officer, Mr Richardson. One should note that the cost of the investigation was a little over £6000. The report has apparently only been seen by Senator Ozouf whose letter claims to be a summary of the Investigator's response to each of the allegations
I spent around two hours with the investigator and provided the key documents including a copy of an email from Mr Napier in relation to his discussion with Mr Richardson about the Terms of Reference. Mr Napier states " I can confirm that I did not feel constrained in any way by its removal, although I do recollect a comment I made, to the effect that I did not want to participate in setting my own Terms of Reference. In other words, I remember expressing the view that the decision to change the terms was not one which I should personally make or participate in, though I had no objection to the amendment being made by those who were instructing me and I was entirely happy working with the amended terms"
When one reads Mr Napier's comments it is difficult to understand how anyone can come to the conclusion that part (d) was not removed particularly as it does not appear in the Final Napier Report. It is also difficult to understand how anyone can form any contrary view when two of the key witnesses, Mr Napier and Mr Power were never interviewed. (That fact was confirmed by Senator Ozouf during question time). I don't know whether Senator Le Sueur was interviewed but given that part (d) was removed or not proceeded with (by a mutual understanding!!!!) the document he was given to sign was not an accurate one and the subsequent presentation of R39/2010 was only partly accurate because the Terms of Reference had been amended. It is now claimed that the absence of part (d) was an administrative error, it will be for Members to come to their own conclusions however Senator Ozouf states that allegations 6 & 7 were proven. Therefore his statement to Members that the Investigator had found no substance to my complaint is incorrect and should be rectified.
In Senator Ozouf's letter it is claimed that Mr Richardson did not "instruct" Mr Napier to remove part (d) but he concluded that a mutual understanding developed between Mr Richardson and Mr Napier not to proceed with part(d) as it was not relevant. Such a claim is nonsense. The fact is as a result of that " mutual understanding " part (d) was removed as stated by Mr Napier this is substantiated by its absence, without any explanation in the Final Report. Whatever excuses are offered it cannot be disputed that Part (d) does not appear in the Terms of Reference in the Napier Final Report. It cannot be disputed that even if there was a "mutual understanding between Mr Napier and Mr Richardson not proceed with Part (d) It was not within the gift of Mr Richardson to take such action without consulting myself and Senator Le Sueur. If we had agreed then it was imperative that Mr Power and all other witnesses were notified that as a result of a "mutual understanding with Mr Richardson, Mr Napier was not proceeding with part (d). Also both myself and Senator Le Sueur should have been informed as per our agreement.
I met the Investigator and was of the view that he was experienced and quickly grasped the situation. I do not believe that he was so incompetent to form the views attributed to him particularly as he did not interview Mr Napier but had thewritten account of the removal of part(d).
I believe that the removal of part (d) was to deflect Mr Napier away from digging too deep. however his findings must have disappointed certain people because he found that those involved with the former Police Chief Officer'ssuspension had acted untoward. If our Government is to have any credibility it must be transparent and its Ministers and all its Officers must act with propriety without fear or favour. The evidence to hand proves there was a conspiracy to remove Mr Power. Those responsible have been shown to have acted in an untoward manner probably believing that they were either above reproach or no one would bother to scrutinise and if anyone did, there would be Ministers and Civil Servants who would make life difficult for those who tried to expose the truth. They have been proven to be wrong.
Complaint against Mr John Richardson
- He instructed Mr Napier to remove part (d) without discussing the matter with you or me.
- He failed to inform you or me of the decision
- He failed to inform Mr Power of the decision.
- On 9th April 2010 he submitted documentation to the Council of Ministers which included part (d) of the Terms of Reference when part (d) had been removed.
- On 13th April he submitted documentation to you which included part (d) of the Terms of Reference when he knew that part (d) had been removed.
- On 13th April whilst responsible for the submission of the Mr Napier's appointment, CV and Terms of Reference to the Greffier for publication, the second page containing part (d) and part (e) was not included in the submission
- Following the presentation of R39/2010 on 14th he failed to correct the document so that the full Terms of Reference were accurately reported.
From: Bob Hill Sent: 01 March 2010 12:01 To: Terry Le Sueur Subject: FW: Power enquiry
-----Original Message----- From: Terry Le Sueur Sent: 01 March 2010 08:46 To: Bob Hill Subject: Power enquiry
The cover-up continues...................to be exposed!............BY BLOGGERS!


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Holiday Cookie Exchange
Friday, December 9th at 7:00pm
Cardiobarre (next to Trader Joes)
2975 "B" Cochran Street, Simi Valley, CA 93065
Here's the scoop:
Bring 7 dozen cookies/bars of the same variety and go home with 6 different dozen cookies. You will have some amazing assorted holiday cookie plates to give out as gifts! (Spend a few hours in the kitchen vs. a few days!) We will use 1 dozen as samples to share with each other with some organic fair trade coffee and apple cider. Yum!
Make sure to include 6 copies of your detailed recipe with instructions. We really hope you can make it. Please follow the ingredient guidelines. RSVP to firstname.lastname@example.com and let us know your cookie variety. Be creative! (We don't want to end up with multiple versions of the same cookie.)
WAPF Ingredient Guidelines: Please use all sprouted/soaked flours (nut flours and nuts soaked/sprouted if possible), pastured dairy, natural sugars (maple syrup, stevia, coconut sugars, honey, sucanat, rapadura, etc…) aluminum free baking powder, sea salt, pastured eggs, pure vanilla, organic fruits and nuts, soy free chocolate, etc…
DO NOT USE: refined flours or sugars, soy, table salt, imitation flavorings/extracts, or conventional dairy/eggs. We want to know that ALL the ingredients are WAPF-friendly so you can enjoy or give away these cookies with confidence, knowing the quality and nutrients represent your commitment to a traditional foods lifestyle.
Coming in January 2012
Third Thursday Restaurant Reviews
Do you ever feel like you just need a night off from cooking, but there's really nowhere worthwhile to eat? So do we! So beginning in January, you will be invited to meet up with us at a pre-determined restaurant (organic, grass fed, local/sustainable, etc...) to do a review from a WAPF perspective. You can tentatively mark your calendars for the Third Thursday of each month, 7:00pm for a night out with other real foodies to share some good food and help scout out worthwhile restaurants! We will keep it budget minded and it will be for adults only. If you have any suggestions for restaurants e-mail them to us at email@example.com More information to follow.


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As we all know, the use of air admittance valves (AAV) has been a hot topic. In Appendix E, "Special Design Plumbing Systems" (E.8), the National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC)/2009 allows the installation of AAVs when the system is designed by a licensed design professional.
The following are two excerpts from the New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D- 119 et seq.) pertaining to the use of new products in construction:
N.J.S.A 52:27D-120.a, Purpose, states: "To encourage innovation and economy in construction and to provide requirements for construction and construction materials consistent with nationally recognized standards."
N.J.S.A. 52:27D-120.d states: "To eliminate restrictive, obsolete, and conflicting and unnecessary construction regulations that tend to unnecessarily increase construction costs or retard the use of new materials, products or methods of construction, or provide preferential treatment to types or classes of materials or products or methods of construction."
The International Code Council (ICC) Evaluation Service (ES) report PMG-1025 was recently revised (July 27, 2012) and now specifies that AAVs that are in compliance with the listed standards are deemed to be in compliance with the NSPC/ 2009 and 2012. The standards are: ASSE 1050-2009, Performance Requirements for Stack Air Admittance Valves for Sanitary Drainage Systems, ASSE 1051-2009, Performance Requirements for Individual and Branch Type Air Admittance Valves of Sanitary Drainage Systems – Fixture and Branch Devices and NSF Standard 14-2010, Plastic Piping System Components and Related Materials.
N.J.A.C 5:23-3.7, Municipal approvals of alternate materials, equipment, or methods of construction, requires the enforcing agency to approve materials, equipment, or methods of construction that are approved by ICC ES reports. Therefore, AAVs that comply with the standards listed in the ICC ES report are permitted to be used in one- or two-family dwellings and Class III structures without a design professional's seal. This does not apply to any Class I and Class II commercial projects, which require a design professional's seal under the Building Design Services Act.
AAVs must be furnished and installed in compliance with NSPC Appendix E.8, the ICC ES report, and the manufacturer's installation instructions.
Thomas C. Pitcherello
Code Assistance Unit
(609) 984-7609
Construction Code Communicator, Volume 24, Number 3, Fall 2012 (PDF)


text: Danny Sullivan Originally uploaded by dannysullivan I've been remiss, dear readers. Last month I said I was going to do a series of posts about my favorite Internet marketing podcasts. Consider this post the second in the series...and I'll try to do them more often. I've been listening to the Daily SearchCast for several years but it has recently become more like the … [Read more...]


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The European Commission has urged governments across Europe to harmonise online administration systems into a single ICT framework to make it easier for businesses to work across the region. Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, said that the European Union has provided the ability to travel, trade and work across the region, but that more needs to be done to streamline these systems.
"There are obstacles for businesses looking to operate cross-border," she said. "None of this makes sense in the digital age. We are imposing extra barriers on businesses who want to expand within the single market. To date, e-government, which should be part of the solution, has been part of the problem."
"National e-government systems have developed in isolation, creating new digital borders where physical ones have long since disappeared." Kroes said that these e-government systems are fragmenting the EU rather than unifying it.
She gave the example of students having the legal right to enroll at any university across the EU yet not being able to do it online because national electronic ID systems are not recognised abroad—even though paper ID systems are. Kroes added that a lack of joined-up systems hinders citizens and businesses, and costs public authorities money.
"Remember that electronic procurement can bring significant savings for governments. Online forms can be processed at a fraction of the cost," she said.
UNPAN Europe


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Vin de Cru...french for "Vintage Wine' is a weekly exposé and audioblog focusing on exclusive VinVillageRadio guest interviews featuring high-profile, in-depth discussions with the "who's who" in wine and food. Please read, listen and enjoy!
WineFairy chats with Juan and Nola Palomar of Dominio Buenavista & Veleta Wines; Alec Lindsay on WineGlass App; and wine blogger & reviewer, Fredric Koeppel
Click HERE for Segment-1
Click HERE for Segment-2
lynn krielow chamberlain is an independent wine and food journalist and host of the "Wine and Dine" radio show heard on VinVillageRadio broadcast on wsRadio, the world-wide leader in internet talk-radio with over a million listeners a month!
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Our pets all have their favorite dinner time treats but can you be sure that they are getting everything they need from their preferred diet?
No matter what stage of life your pooch is at, your dog deserves to be fighting fit. So, ensure they get a diet with the right nutrients and plenty of exercise for a long and healthy life.
Your cat needs the right nutrients as well as plenty of exercise to stay in tip-top condition. Plus, it's important their kidneys are properly taken care of, regardless of their age.
Fear not! Animed Direct has created this short video to help owners worried that their dog is overweight. Simply watch the video and learn a useful technique to help you understand more about your dogs weight and whether it's appropriate or not.
Worry no more! If you're concerned that your cat is heavier than they should be, simply watch the above video created by Animed Direct. It'll help you learn a useful technique to understand more about your kitty's weight and whether it's appropriate.
Here at the Pawfect Fitness Bootcamp we have all the health intel you'll ever need for your pet. From bone health to biscuits - you'll be an expert in no time!


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The Fight to Save Our Oranges
The Food Journal
February 26, 2015
Orange juice has been an American breakfast staple for decades, adding a much-needed pop of color (and vitamin C) to the neutral hues of cereals and pancakes typically found at the morning table. Of the 170.9 million boxes of citrus harvested in Florida during the 2011-2012 growing season, 90 percent was processed into juice.
Oranges, and orange juice in particular, is big business – the on-tree value of the 2011-2013 Florida crop is estimated $1.35 billion – and extremely important to growers and consumers, alike. But in recent years, the orange juice market has faced some significant hurdles, from the decline of breakfast eaters to the rise of anti-sugar campaigns encouraging people to drink less juice. Now, the industry is facing its biggest challenge yet as they fight a plant epidemic known as "citrus greening."
What Is Citrus Greening?
"Citrus Greening" is the familiar name for a disease called "Huanglongbing" or just "HLB." The disease was found in south Florida in 2005 and has since been found in all 32 commercial citrus producing counties. It has also been found in Asia, Africa, South America, and also in North America in the states of California, Arizona and Texas.
Citrus Greening is a constellation of symptoms caused by a bacterial infection of the plant vascular system. The bacteria spreads from tree to tree by a specific flying insect called the Asian Citrus Psyllid. Early symptoms include vein yellowing and asymmetrical chlorosis, which is an insufficient production of chlorophyll, the green pigment found in plants that is necessary for photosynthesis. Leaves can appear small and upright and appear to be suffering from mineral deficiencies – a condition called "blotchy mottle." Sometimes poorly developed root symptoms are observed. Also, affected trees produce less fruit, and the fruit may be smaller and even appear lopsided or misshapen. The fruit oftentimes drop from the tree and are unusable, and those remaining on the tree can develop increased levels of bitter compounds.
How Is Citrus Greening Being Treated?
To date there is no cure. Since the disease is insect vectored, it is almost impossible to control the spread from infected groves. Many groves are just abandoned while some groves burn trees. Others implement an advanced nutrition program applying trace nutrients to the leaves or to the roots, which in some cases has helped infected trees maintain yields.
Antibiotics and other known drugs or compounds that are safe for human consumption are also being tested for their ability to suppress the bacteria. A number of promising compounds have been identified and are already approved for use on food crops. They could be tested on actual field trees soon but remain expensive and impractical solutions.
Another approach to treatment is through development of new rootstocks. Citrus trees are propagated as a scion (trunk and branches) grafted onto a rootstock. Different rootstocks impart important traits on the scion – think of it as the different way different roots "biochemically-talk" to the branches. Seventeen rootstocks have been identified by the University of Florida that seem to tolerate the HLB infection well, and these are all being tested throughout the state.
"Many approaches have been used to slow or in some cases maybe reverse disease progression. These include nutrition adjustments, insect management, and even the potential use of antibiotics. The biggest issue is the inability to treat a grove of thousands of trees and do so at a realistic cost. Other treatments, such as thermal tents where the temperature of the tree is elevated, show some promise but are unworkable over 60 million trees," says Dr. Kevin M. Folta, Professor and Chairman, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Meanwhile, Folta says researchers at the University of Florida are testing growing citrus in massive screen houses because high-production trees might generate a good crop in a protected environment. And there are different production expectations in play. Instead of growing trees for decades, maybe the next model will grow densely-planted compact trees for a few years, push production, and then replace them with new trees.
How Do Genetic Solutions Fit In To All Of This?
Additional solutions are being sought on many levels, says Folta, from straight up nutrient management to changing the way citrus is grown entirely. For example, new genetics are helping breed trees that don't get the disease or show symptoms at all. In "transgenic citrus," trees have a gene added to confer resistance or tolerance to the disease. In fact, there is a gene from spinach that seems to help the tree grow fine with infection.
"The genes from spinach should not have any effect on the normal growth of the citrus plants. The genes are just providing resistance/tolerance against citrus greening, so the trees can survive and be healthy. The field trials we have in place will confirm this," says Dr. Erik Mirkov, a Professor with Texas A&M AgriLife Research, and a faculty member in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology in Weslaco, Texas at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center. Mirkov discovered and developed the spinach gene therapy in his lab.
There are other genes that have been installed to help the trees grow or fight infection as well. But opponents of GMOs may not like these options. However, the general consensus amongst researchers around the world who are aware of this disease feel that the ultimate solution will be through applying genetics and biotechnology, says Mirkov.
"The use of genetics and biotechnology in modern breeding methods is becoming more prevalent in the food supply. It will be our job to keep looking for ways to provide consumers with education and assurances that the technology results in foods that are no different from those produced by other breeding methods," says Mirkov.
Folta adds, "These genetic solutions are all very promising, but there are some big hurdles to overcome in terms of consumer acceptance and massive deregulation. There is a big effort already to question the safety and efficacy of these products even though no fruit have ever been consumed, and they simply contain a gene product that is eaten in any spinach salad," says Folta.
Mirkov says that the regulatory process is in place and ongoing and will not be an issue provided they perform the rigorous tests towards obtaining the data required. The agencies (EPA, FDA, and USDA) are working well with them, he says, in the deregulation process.
"As we go forward, biotechnology is only to become more important as agriculture strives to deal with new pests and diseases, and overall, increases the amount of food available to feed a growing world population in a sustainable manner," says Mirkov.
What Does All This Mean For Farmers?
The citrus crop is down 20 percent this year – and every year it gets worse. Fruits are smaller, there are fewer of them, and the disease affects certain varieties more than others. The crisis has cost a billion dollars at least and probably in the neighborhood of 3,000 jobs over 10 years.
"Trees are expensive to replace, and revenue is lost during that time. The high cost of nutrient management and insect control are also factors detracting from a grower's bottom line. New trees take four to five years to become productive, but those trees are not fully productive for a few more years after that. The disease is slow, and infected trees show symptoms after several years and remain productive through the decline, albeit at lower levels," says Folta.
Andrew Meadows, Director of Communications for Florida Citrus Mutual, adds that caretaking costs per acre have increased from about $500 before HLB to about $2,000. In other words, production costs have gone through the roof.
Dr. MaryLou Polek, Vice President Science & Technology, Citrus Research Board adds, "Well-managed groves that were provided a good fertilization regime from the start can resist infection better than a poorly managed grove. Strong, healthy trees produce high quality fruit and profitable yields. Poorly managed groves will require greater input to remain profitable. Production costs do increase due to increased insecticide applications, increased survey and monitoring. Growers need to be educated on how to identify the psyllid vector and disease symptoms, so that the disease and the vector can be detected early, and mitigation efforts are minimized. Growers should also be committed to treat when necessary and fertilize regularly to maintain tree health." (see our full interview with Dr. MaryLou Polek here.)
What Should Consumers Know?
Polek says the greatest threat to citrus growers are residential or backyard trees; the interface between production citrus and residential areas are in greatest danger. Backyard trees can be a source of inoculum (known infected trees), and insect control is limited, so the psyllid vector can very easily thrive in backyard trees.
"As they feed, they acquire the bacterium. When they fly into an adjacent orchard and feed on healthy production trees, they will transfer the deadly bacterium. Homeowners could be part of the solution by taking care of their trees and allowing Department of Agriculture inspectors entry to their properties to inspect and possibly treat their trees," says Polek.
Consumers also need to keep up demand for citrus products, steer away from boutique luxury juices with unsubstantiated health claims and keep consuming healthy citrus juice products. When they can, they should urge action from politicians and drive more research in the public sector in this area, says Folta.
"Consumers are encouraged to become more attached to their farmers and farming in general. We need to remind them that there are farming families down the interstate that are really going through some massive challenges. We're trying to spread that message, especially so that they'll understand our genetic solutions if they prove safe and effective," says Folta.
"Nobody knows how long it will take to recover, but we are still a $10.8 billion industry supporting 62,000 jobs. We plan on weathering this storm and being here for a long time," says Meadows. "How can the consuming public help growers face this issue? Buy Florida orange juice."
Interview on Citrus Greening with Dr. MaryLou Polek, Vice President Science & Technology, Citrus Research Board
What causes Citrus Greening?
Gram-negative bacteria have been associated with huanglongbing (HLB), also known as yellow shoot disease and citrus greening. To date, no one has been able to maintain a pure culture of these bacteria in the laboratory making it difficult to study. Three species have been identified, each named for the geographical location where they were detected: Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas – China, India), Ca. Liberibacter aficanus (CLaf – Africa), and Ca. Liberibacter americanus (CLam – South America/Brazil). The term Candidatus is Latin for a candidate species, one that has not been cultured. These bacteria are always associated with phloem tissue of their host plant. Ca. L. asiaticus is the species that is currently responsible for HLB in the United States.
Is there a cure for it? If not, what do you have to do when trees or groves become infected?
There is no known cure for this disease; nor are there any known resistant varieties or cultivars. Because the causal agent resides within the vascular system (phloem) of the plant, methods to destroy the bacteria would also be detrimental to the plant. In Brazil, they recommend a three prong response that includes the removal of inoculum (known infected trees), continuous applications of pesticides to control the insect vector, and planting and replanting with certified, disease-free nursery stock. Florida is pursuing a process called thermotherapy in which a huge tent is placed over a tree in a grove to raise the temperature within the tent to a level that is lethal to the bacteria. There are variations in this method including using steam heat to fill the tent for a short period of time or long durations of solar heat.
If you have to destroy an entire grove do you have to treat the soil before replanting?
If the disease is detected early, there is no need to destroy an entire grove. Soil does not require treatment prior to replanting since the bacteria requires the phloem environment to survive. The bacteria does reside in the roots of a plant, so it would be advisable to be sure when you remove a tree, you remove the roots as well.
If you have to replant, how long does it take before the trees produce oranges?
Just like any new planting, it depends on the variety, climatic conditions. Typically young trees will produce fruit three to five years after planting. Citrus is a perennial, woody plant and requires several years to mature, unlike an annual crop such as tomatoes.
How much does all this cost a grower/family? What kind of investment do they have to make in time and money?
Well-managed groves that were provided a good fertilization regime from the start can resist infection better than a poorly managed grove. Strong, healthy trees produce high quality fruit and profitable yields. Poorly managed groves will require greater input to remain profitable. Production costs do increase due to increased insecticide applications, increased survey and monitoring. Growers need to be educated on how to identify the psyllid vector and disease symptoms, so that the disease and the vector can be detected early and mitigation efforts are minimized. Growers should also be committed to treat when necessary and fertilize regularly to maintain tree health.
How much of the Florida crop is impacted, and how long will it take to recover?
Scientists believe that 100 percent of all citrus groves in Florida contain infected trees. The Florida industry went from about a million acres to about 500,000 acres since the detection of greening and the canker eradication program. The crop estimate for this year is 1,300,000 boxes. The time for recovery is unknown at this time. Smaller, low efficiency processing plants have closed and jobs have been lost. There has been an increase in pre-harvest fruit drop which decreases yield, and there is less fruit to be processed into juice.
What options seem the most promising for a future cure?
The most promising option for California is the development of early detection methods and the removal of diseased trees before visual symptoms appear. Breeders are very busy screening citrus varieties and citrus relatives for disease resistance and/or tolerance; but this is for the long term. Antimicrobials are being developed and evaluated in Florida. Engineers are improving thermotherapy methods in which steam heat is applied to field trees to kill populations of bacteria within the tree. This method seems to increase the productivity/life expectancy of trees for about three years. A new technology called RNAi is being delivered into trees by using a plant virus that naturally infects citrus, called citrus tristeza virus (CTV). CTV will release small molecules of RNA that interfere will normal cell processes such as vital enzyme production.
What do you most want consumers to know about the industry, what it needs and what it is doing?
The greatest threat to citrus growers are residential or backyard trees; the interface between production citrus and residential areas are in greatest danger. Backyard trees can be a source of inoculum. Insect control is limited so the psyllid vector can very easily thrive in backyard trees. As they feed, they acquire the bacterium. When they fly into an adjacent orchard and feed on healthy production trees, they will transfer the deadly bacterium. Homeowners could be part of the solution by taking care of their trees and allowing Department of Agriculture inspectors entry to their properties to inspect and possibly treat their trees.
What other areas in the U.S. and around the world face this problem?
All citrus production areas worldwide are in danger because of this disease. It was first identified in China and India in the early 20th century. It is also present in South Africa, Vietnam, Eastern Asia, South America, Central America, and Mexico. The disease was first identified in Florida in 2005 and has spread throughout the southwest United States into Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, and a single tree in California that has been removed.
How can the consuming public help growers facing this issue?
Continue to buy citrus and citrus products! If they want to plant a citrus tree in their yard, they should buy plants from a certified nursery where plants are inspected regularly and started from a disease-free source. They should never share budwood or graft onto their trees using material from their "friend." Hobbyists or immigrant communities often unknowingly bring infected material from infected areas. perhaps because they moved from Florida and brought their potted citrus trees or packed budwood in their suitcase from their homeland. Once these get into the environment, hungry psyllids can feed on these infected trees and transmit the bacteria to production trees.


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East Poultney in Rutland County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)
Site of Oldest Union Church in America
Location. 43° 31.64′ N, 73° 12.092′ W. Marker is in East Poultney, Vermont, in Rutland County. Marker is on Town Hill Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Located across the road from the East Poultney Cemetery. Marker is in this post office area: East Poultney VT 05741, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Poultney Civil War Monument (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Horace Greeley - George Jones (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jeffrey Brace (approx. ¼ mile away); Middletown Springs War Memorial (approx. 5.1 miles away); A. W. Gray & Sons (approx. 5.2 miles away); Civil War Memorial (approx. 5.6 miles away); Matthew Lyon (approx. 5.6 miles away); James Hope (approx. 5.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in East Poultney.
Categories. • Churches & Religion •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on November 2, 2012, by John Arsenault of Middletown Springs, Vermont. This page has been viewed 364 times since then and 3 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 2, 2012, by John Arsenault of Middletown Springs, Vermont. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.


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Kliph Cam #1 - Race For The Prize, Greek Theater
by theflaminglips
Wayne thought it would be a good idea to tape a small video camera to my shirt the other evening so I could film our entrance through the screen from my perspective. That didn't work out too well because it was pitch black back there, but I forgot I had the video camera on and accidentally recorded a couple of songs. This is "Race For The Prize." It makes me nauseous to watch it, but Wayne was tickled by it, so I uploaded it. I like how the mic on the camera can't handle the volume and squishes it down to sound almost like a disco remix. I recorded the entrance a few nights later when there was a bit of light and that will be coming soon, but here's this for now. I hope you enjoy it.
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upcoming tour dates
Sep 1
Prato, Italy
Piazza Duomo


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Alloy Showcase
Alloy Showcase
NoteThe default limit for the
com.liferay.faces.util.uploadedFileMaxSize context-param is 104857600 bytes (100MB). But in order to support that limit, it may be necessary to set
<Connector maxPostSize=104857600"> in tomcat/conf/server.xml since the default value is only 2097152 bytes (2MB).
alloy:inputFileInputFile is a UIInput component that renders an
<input> element with
type="file". Since it extends HtmlInputFile, it supports all the features of h:inputFile and also supports multi-file uploads, instant-Ajax, preview, upload progress, and validation.
General UsageBy default, one file can be uploaded as a non-Ajax (full-page) postback.
Source Code
Liferay Faces Alloy 3.0.1 + Liferay Faces Bridge Implementation 4.1.0 + Showcase Common 3.0.1 + Liferay Faces Util 3.1.0 + Mojarra 2.2.17


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How can McCain help you?
We work closely with schools around the country and understand the challenges faced by busy caterers. We understand the need for go-to school food solutions that save time, money and resource but that also consistently deliver high standard school meals that comply with the School Food Plan. That's why we produce great tasting food solutions with school caterers in mind.
The McCain 'Chef Solutions' range is perfect for school food providers who are faced with providing tasty and nutritious food, served in a quick time frame and that will be loved by pupils too. Many of our products in this range, called 'Simply' have not been prepared with oil and are naturally low in fat and salt but still have a full potato taste you would expect from McCain. These 'Simply' products offers the ultimate flexibility, and can be used as an accompaniment or an ingredient for everything from cakes to Shepherd's pie. Let us help you serve products that will nourish pupils, enabling them to learn productively and will keep them coming back for more.


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Acer's Liquid Jade Primo is currently available from Microsoft's UK store for £199 - £250 cheaper than its original retail price.
It's currently unknown whether the drastic drop is an aggressive promotion or a pricing error on Microsoft's part. While the handset bundle is also currently on sale in the United States (for $449, a $200 savings), the price reduction isn't as hefty as what's being offered by Microsoft Store UK at this time.
If you choose to purchase the Acer Liquid Jade Primo, you'll be getting your hands on Acer's latest Windows 10 Mobile flagship and a range of accessories alongside it. Included inside the box is a dock, keyboard, and mouse – all useable with the Continuum-ready handset.
If you're considering the handset at this bargain price, make sure to take a look at our full review!
Thanks, Michael W., for the tip!
This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy for more details.


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"Undercovers," a glossy drama about married caterers moonlighting as spies, was positioned by NBC as more than just a glittery entry in its fall lineup when it premiered last September. The series featured two black leads — a rarity in prime-time network TV — and was the centerpiece of the network's aggressive campaign touting its commitment to boosting diversity.
NBC trumpeted "Undercovers" as a response to opponents of the network's merger with cable giant Comcast who contended NBC had a historically poor record when it came to placing African Americans in front of and behind the camera. But despite heavy promotion, "Undercovers" never caught on with viewers and was canceled by early November, leaving some observers to speculate that NBC's push for more minority presence would wither.
Network honchos were reassuring. Then-diversity chief Paula Madison maintained in a February radio interview with noted sociologist Michael Eric Dyson that Comcast's NBCUniversal was committed to increasing diversity "in all facets of our business.…Those commitments are in writing, and they are on file with the FCC. There is no likelihood that we would revert. We're not going to put shows on the air that are devoid of diversity."
But little more than six months after the approval of the merger by the Federal Communications Commission, and three months after Madison retired, some of NBCUniversal's units have come under fire as advocates claim that the company is not honoring promises that helped pave the way for the merger's approval.


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This post was inspired by House of Humble's 10 good things post. I absolutely love their blog and love this reminder to appreciate the good things in your day. I can be one to forget to pay attention to the little things and let stress and uncertainty totally take over. This is a fun way to spend a little time appreciating daily joys.
Having home cooked leftovers for lunch always makes me happy! (Recipe found on Pinterest)
A pile of new handmade toys to add to my shop. It's always so rewarding to see my hard work and love turn into something more than an idea.
Today's totally cloud free blue sky after days of clouds and haze.
Making progress on a blanket I've been crocheting.
Coffee and letter writing to pen pals.
Working hard to accomplish my goals.
A sweet reminder appreciate the day.


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Today was my turn to teach the little mom-taught preschool group I do with a bunch of girlfriends. The theme for the month is art. And I've always wanted to try dying pasta. So, I googled it and a short time later had a marvelous collection of bright noodles...
This was so easy.
All you need is:
Plastic baggies you can seal closed
Dry pasta in different shapes
Food coloringRubbing alcohol
Simply throw a bunch of dry pasta in a baggie, add about a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol (more or less depending on how much pasta you put in the bag...I tended to dump too much alcohol in and then it was all too runny, but it dried. Just took longer), drops of food coloring (how much depends on how bright you want your pasta) and then seal it and smoosh it around, without breaking up the pasta.
Then you spread it out on a baking sheet to dry. The rubbing alcohol helps it dry faster.
I just used the pasta I had on hand. We dyed small shells, big bowties, rigatoni, macaroni and the teeny tiny ditalini that ended up looking like small beads. I might use it to try making jewelry with Zoe. It should be easy for her to string onto some cording.
My 6 yo, Sam was home "sick" from school yesterday. He has a cold, but I think he probably would have been fine at school. But I let him stay home and have a nap and veg out. He and Zoe also helped dye the pasta. They loved it! It was fun for them to pick some food coloring and see the pasta change color.
Then this morning the preschool kids had fun gluing the pasta to cardboard....
One little girl was sick, so I'm planning on taking a Pasta Collage Kit over to her.
First we used tacky glue and the kids dipped the pasta shapes into it and then tried to put them on the cardboard. Mmmmm, no, this didn't work too well. You would think it wouldn't be too hard for them to dip and stick. But they ended up with hands covered in glue. I mean really covered. And then they started trying to pick it off.
So, then I tried watering down some glue and we used sponge brushes to spread the glue on and then they stuck the pasta into the glue or sprinkled it on like glitter.
Here's Zoe's cute little cousin attempting the brush technique...
Yep. The brush definitely worked better. But next time I would simply use Elmer's Glue. It would be runny enough and easier to work with than that thick tacky glue.
And here is Zoe proudly displaying her Pasta Collage (she started feeling kind of crummy toward the end of the project so she stopped working on it, but after this picture she wanted to get busy again and put a lot more pasta on it! Yeah. It's really covered now.)....
I like to give the kids a lot of unstructured play time. So, I cleared off our big coffee table and covered it with lots of big wood blocks and little toy animals, food, people and parts. They had a grand time creating little worlds with the bits and pieces.
We also read some books and talked about the illustrations.
We read I Got Two Dogs, A Vistor for Bear and Sailor Moo. As I was holding Sailor Moon up I said, "Is this art?" and one child said, "No. It's a cow."
When I began reading A Visitor for Bear, I realized the kids probably didn't know what a visitor really was. So, I explained it was someone who comes to see you. The little boy in the group (Yes. There's only one...luckily being outnumbered by girls hasn't seemed to bother him yet) spoke up, "I don't like..." and here I thought he was going to say he doesn't like visitors. Nope.
"I don't like people to put me in jail I'm going to be spiderman for Christmas."
"I mean Halloween."
Don't you just love the random nature of small children?


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Editor for Lomography City Guide New York needed!7 9 Share Tweet
Are you a hardcore New York Lomographer with experience as an editor and writer, who knows the ins-and-out of the Big Apple and has dreamt about doing something with all that knowledge? If you answered with a yes, yes, yes and yes – then you may have what it takes to become the editor of the Lomography City Guide New York, our official guide to New York and how it should be seen.
Inspired by the pages of the original Lomography City Guide Vienna, New York's version will be a 250 page city guide packed with New York's finest tips and Lomographs. As the editor, you'll be responsible for the complete content of the city guide which includes setting the locations (LomoLocations), gathering photos and tips, directing the call for online submissions from the worldwide Lomography community, contributing your own tips and photos and working closely with the project graphic designer.
This is an amazing opportunity to be part of an exciting project from start to finish and work directly with the Lomography team on making the Lomographers' bible to New York City reality!!
Send resumes, cover letters and work samples to firstname.lastname@example.com.
written by alexandrak on 2011-03-07 #news #call-out #new-york-city #city-guide #editor


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Amid fears consumers will lose out, Hargreaves Lansdown has said it won't facilitate the sale of annuities by pensioners to investors. Prior to April last year, retirees were obliged to use their pension savings to buy the insurance products that pay a set income for the rest of their life. The requirement was scrapped after pensioners all too often ended ...Read More »
Tag Archives: Government
Campaigners urge Government to slash costly EU red tape
EU directives drive up the cost and effort of buying motor insurance, selling a property or getting a mortgage and should be dropped to help ordinary Britons reap the financial benefits of Brexit. New research from specialist car insurer Sheilas' Wheels shows young female motorists are paying out as much as £221 extra on insurance each year because of an ...Read More »
Apple Says it Will Fight a Government Order to Unlock the San Bernardino Shooter's iPhone
[unable to retrieve full-text content] Apple says it has no intention of complying with a federal magistrate's order to unlock the cell phone used by the San Bernardino shooters, calling the back door system requested by the court "too dangerous to create." Read more… GawkerRead More »
U. S. Government To Remove Cholesterol Warnings From Food Packaging
The United States government is set to remove cholesterol warnings from food packaging. The decision was prompted by the The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which advised that cholesterol is no longer a "nutrient of concern." The findings will likely draw controversy, as the same committee has supported the warnings for nearly four decades. The committee's recommendation is included in the ...Read More »
Jonathan Gruber: Former ObamaCare Adviser Wants Government To 'Tax Fat People By Body Weight'
As February 14 approaches, more and more people will scramble to sign up for the right healthcare program in accordance to ObamaCare. The Inquisitr has kept up with the latest news pertaining to the Affordable Healthcare Act in general, not just for this year's enrollment. Reportedly, it would be best for people to seek assistance in filing taxes this year ...Read More »
Palestine's Unity government holds meeting in Gaza
Ed AdamczykGAZA CITY , Gaza, Oct. 9 (UPI) — The "Unity government" Cabinet of Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah met in Gaza Thursday, with officials traveling from the West Bank to attend. Top News – UPI.comRead More »
Hong Kong government and protesters agree to negotiate
Ed AdamczykHONG KONG, Oct. 7 (UPI) — Pro-democracy protesters and government officials in Hong Kong agreed to begin formal talks Tuesday, as dissidents admitted their exhaustion. Top News – UPI.comRead More »
Liberian journalists critical of government licenses
Ed AdamczykMONROVIA , Liberia, Oct. 6 (UPI) — Liberia's journalists' union has told the government to stop constraining the press and concentrate on fighting the Ebola virus. Top News – UPI.comRead More »
Tesla's Profitability Hasn't Stopped the Government Handouts
A Tesla Motors Model S charging at a public parking garage. Tesla Motors, the fast growing electric car company, just received yet another handout from the government. The gift comes in a form of a $ 34.7 million tax break from the state of California to increase the company's production capacity, and it isn't the first set of subsidies that ...Read More »
European Financial Crisis: Greeks Infecting Themselves With HIV To Get Government Benefits
The European financial crisis has yielded another frightening unexpected result. The World Health Organization has issued a report called "Review of Social Determinants and the Health Divide in the WHO European Region" which shows that there is a trend in Greece where citizens are infecting themselves with HIV in order to gain access to 700 Euros a month in governmental ...Read More »


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Posts Tagged artist
Concert Love
Posted by hooplahicktx in Uncategorized on August 23, 2012
I get to see my favorite band this weekend. So excited. While this isn't my favorite venue this is my favorite living band. It's a loud venue with poor ventilation in a not so well lit area of town. Now, it could have changed since I last ventured down there, & that is my great prayer because I AM going. Again, they're my favorite band!
Rock on friends!
Where have you gone just because you love someone/something & you don't like the place itself?


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Yuu Haruna just moved into town and love to be on twitter. Out on his way to buy dinner he bumps into a mysterious girl, Fuuka Akitsuki, who breaks his phone thinking he was trying to take a picture of her panties. How will his new life change now?
Category: School Life, Shoujo
Status: Ongoing


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Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Storm Corrosion - Storm Corrosion (2012)
The long awaited collaboration between a pair of musical geniuses has finally come to fruition. When the news hit that Opeth mainman Mikael Akerfeldt and Porcupine Tree mastermind Steven Wilson were set to record an album together (originally including Mike Portnoy), the metal world salivated, speculating about the sound and scope of such an endeavor. Performing under the moniker of Storm Corrosion, the dynamic duo of progressive music are ready to put the questions to an end. With the release of their self titled debut, Akerfeldt and Wilson hold nothing back.
Serving as the first single from the album, "Dragging Ropes" is a drawn out affair that fades in with strings and synths. With a more ambient soundscape than either of their main bands would project, it allows for a not too drastic departure from those acts. While each has his own vocal style and delivery, Wilson and Akefeldt come together seamlessly. The track barely gets to a simmer in its ten minute run time, and this is in the best way possible. Vocal cannons, layered guitars, keyboards, and light percussion inhabit the entire piece, building into a beautiful frenzy of activity. It all plays out in a light, but strangely eerie way. The title track follows, with a bounty of flutes and acoustic guitars in tow. Wilson lays down his delicate vocal melody, as only he can. The winding, fluttering guitar parts become entwined in one another, forming a perfect harmony of smooth sound. The light tapping of drums is minimal, but effective. As the track descends into madness, a crying, whining air raid siren of mixed noise, a lone guitar cuts through to bring you back to the main path. Wilson's vocals return, restoring peace and calm as the track floats to a close.
A pulsing bass line leads "Hag," which, in the early stages, is about as minimalist as one could expect from a duo this dynamic. Wilson provides the vocals again, accompanied shortly after by sweet piano keys. You may find yourself falling into a short, psychedelic trance as a result of the haunting synths to come next. Akerfeldt's signature guitar playing comes through nicely, with a short burst of distorted riffs and rattling drums. Don't be fooled, this isn't a descent into death metal of any sort, but rather an outburst of avant experimentation. Clocking in under five minutes, "Happy" is easily the shortest track on the album. With little more than acoustic guitars and electronic noise coming in and out over, there isn't much to hang your hat on. Wilson's voice fits perfectly in all the airy instrumentation, though with an approach as stripped down as this one, it would be nearly impossible not to mesh well. The piece seems somewhat incomplete, as if one elements never made it to the final cut.
Finally giving a dose of structured tempo, "Lock Owl" begins with an acoustic piece that may elicit a nod of approval. Coming together as a true band piece, all of the role players are involved. From a low, rumbling bass line, to the synthesizers that have occupied many an Opeth tune, to a host of sound effects and electronic additions, every singular element forms a mass of sound. The tingling of a bell welcomes the second half, a more evil sounding affair... accompanied by a basic clap chorus. It seems a strange addition, truthfully. Things fall apart, and build up again from the beginning. As the album closes, "Ljudet Innan" is the final offering to be displayed. After a short vocal passage, the mjusic returns to what amounts to nothingness. Light guitars and keys are all you get, building and fading over and over. Light chorus vocals peak through but not enough to make a full impact. Even the short bursts from Wilson fail to resonate for long. Light kick/cymbal/snare combos seem distant. And after ten minutes, everything just fades away.
This album has been years in the making, waiting for a synchronized break in their schedules to finally piece this together. So, after sitting through this six track, 47 minute opus, you almost have to wonder what took so long. Yes, the music is beautifully crafted, and richly organic, something that jazz combos can boast of day in and day out. It must have been a smooth writing process, just letting each instrument flow from within, piling one on top of another. And while it would be unfair to expect "The Incident 2" or "Heritage, Too," it seems as though combining two men of such talent and creativity would result in a more involved piece of music. But while its members may be older, Storm Corrosion is young. And, hopefully, this album is only the beginning.
Official Site - http://www.stormcorrosion.com/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Storm-Corrosion/187831801312141?ref=ts
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First Visit with the Pediatric Dentist in San Luis Obispo
Routine pediatric care will set your child on a path to enjoying good oral health and wellbeing now and throughout life. With that in mind, our office in San Luis Obispo is delighted to meet the comprehensive dental needs of patients from birth to age 18. We promise to offer compassionate service in an office that feels modern and comfortable. Giving your son or daughter a positive experience is the number one priority of both Dr. Forester and his team.
Your Child's First Dental Exam
Your child's first visit should come not too long after he or she has started developing teeth. Depending on how advanced your child's smile is when we first see him or her, we're primarily looking for any developmental issues that need to be nipped in the bud early on. Otherwise, we just want to spend some time getting to know your child.
As your little one grows, we recommend bringing them to see us at least twice a year. During these visits, your little one will receive a thorough dental cleaning. Regular cleanings are essential for young patients. Because they're just learning to brush, kids are incredibly vulnerable to decay and other issues. But with routine cleanings, we can provide your son or daughter with extra protection. Dr. Forester will also complete a full visual exam of each tooth during your child's checkups and we may take X-rays, but we won't need to do this at every appointment.
At the end of your child's visits, we'll talk to you about the results and recommend additional care if necessary. If you have questions about the treatment plan we recommend, don't hesitate to let us know. We want you to feel comfortable with the plan we recommend for your child.
Call Your San Luis Obispo Pediatric Dentist Today!
Call Coastal Pediatric Dentistry today to schedule a checkup for your child. Our office is happy to serve patients in and around San Luis Obispo.


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NSOM Interactive Tutorials
Unique NSOM Reflection Mode
Imaging opaque specimens by the NSOM method requires the application of a reflection configuration, such as the oblique collection or oblique illumination mode. This tutorial presents a unique (and more difficult) configuration for NSOM imaging of opaque specimens, which can produce exceptional results. The technique requires passing an optical fiber probe through holes drilled in the center of the objective lens elements, for delivery of near-field illumination.
Oblique collection mode relies upon illuminating the specimen obliquely from the far field, and collecting the reflected light through the NSOM probe situated in the near field. In oblique illumination mode, the specimen is illuminated through the probe in the near field, with collection occurring either through a far-field objective or through the same fiber probe.
Presented in the tutorial window is a cutaway illustration of the objective configuration described previously, in which an optical fiber NSOM probe is inserted through small holes that have been drilled through the center of the lens system. Light coupled into the optical fiber exits at the probe tip, which is positioned in the specimen near-field, and is partially reflected from the surface of the specimen. The reflected component can then be collected in the far-field by the objective. The center-most of the three sliders located beneath the specimen in the tutorial window adjusts the Tip-Specimen Separation within a range of 5 to 543 nanometers. Note that as the fiber is lowered closer to the specimen, more light (illustrated by the more intense color) is collected by the objective.
The Wavelength slider can be utilized to vary the illumination wavelength, which is reflected in the tutorial by a color change. In practice, the utilization of shorter wavelengths produces a slight increase in resolution, although a much larger resolution improvement would result from positioning the tip closer to the specimen. The right-hand slider, labeled Applet Speed, can be employed to alter the speed of the light passage through the virtual system.
Contributing Authors
Jeremy R. Cummings, Matthew J. Parry-Hill, Thomas J. Fellers, and Michael W. Davidson - National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, 1800 East Paul Dirac Dr., The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32310.
Questions or comments? Send us an email.
© 1998-2019 by Michael W. Davidson and The Florida State University. All Rights Reserved. No images, graphics, scripts, or applets may be reproduced or used in any manner without permission from the copyright holders. Use of this website means you agree to all of the Legal Terms and Conditions set forth by the owners.
This website is maintained by our


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Hello Dolls,
I'm loving the light colored shades. I tend to wear a lot of dark colors and I hardly wear colors in the lighter side on the color spectrum. Im actually digging' the combination of this shades and I', specially loving the blush shades. The top is from a new an upcoming fashion store (might only be in souther cali) "Qrew." The coat is from missguided.com and the jeans are from hotmiamistyles.com. The heels are obviously from Lola.
Till Monday,
Xo Cari


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Thursday, March 13, 2014
Thursday with Unity
38 comments:
Lovely card using the sketch and color combo for this month's challenge, Stephanie. The new sentiment set looks fun as well!ReplyDelete
Beautiful card Stephanie. Love the new challenges colors.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 13, 2014 at 11:52 AM
I love the buttons added to the honeycomb & stripes patterns. Very pretty. Hugs~PattiReplyDelete
Lovely card. Great take on the sketch.ReplyDelete
Lovely card!! xx JolandeReplyDelete
lovely card Stephanie :)ReplyDelete
Cute card, I love the buttons :)ReplyDelete
Your card certainly cheered me -- love the button touch!ReplyDelete
Great CAS card! Love the little cluster of buttons!ReplyDelete
Super cute card and he addition of the button is nice. I have a ton of buttons, but I never pull them out? I need to :) thanks for the inspiration!ReplyDelete
Great card! Love the little buttons :)ReplyDelete
These colors are just luscious and your card is adorable!ReplyDelete
What a beautiful and simple card!!! Congrats on the guest spot!!ReplyDelete
super cuteReplyDelete
Cheery sentiment is perfect with your cheery card! Your card is right on with the sketch and colors. So cute, Stephanie!ReplyDelete
Very cheery--I like the colors and patterns.ReplyDelete
Your card is so pretty with those beautiful colors and the sweet button detail!ReplyDelete
Great job in following the sketch. The card looks very fun and cheery.ReplyDelete
I love the contrast with the papers . A great card & showcase for the sentiment!ReplyDelete
Loving the mix of papers and how those buttons set off your sentiment. A wonderful card and take on the Challenge.ReplyDelete
Love your card! I completely agree that you can never have too many sentiment stamps =) The more you have, the better chance you have of stamping the right thing in your card if it calls for something just a little different.ReplyDelete
Stephanie this is such a beautiful card!ReplyDelete
Such pretty colors. They make such a lovely card.ReplyDelete
Fun card! I like the patterned papers.ReplyDelete
Love you take on the sketch...great detailsReplyDelete
This is amazing!!!!ReplyDelete
Love this card! Love these new sentiments!ReplyDelete
Lovely card Stephanie and the placement of these three buttons is so effective!ReplyDelete
Lovely cheery card.ReplyDelete
Super cute card!ReplyDelete
Just simply love it! :)ReplyDelete
Beautiful card! Thanks for the inspiration.ReplyDelete
Beautiful card!ReplyDelete
Such a nice design with the new stamp and sweet colors. Makes me "have to" get those round stamps now. :)ReplyDelete
Lovely colors and beautiful card!!!ReplyDelete
jwoolbright at gmail dot com
Great card. Fun mix of patterns.ReplyDelete
So pretty Stephanie! I love these colors together as well,and I love the details and the dp combo! Thank you so much for sharing with us!ReplyDelete


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The Cheapest Way To Buy Elephone P3000
by Jan 7, 2015 4:01 pm1
Elephone is a quite fast growing Chinese manufacturer, which offers great devices at the bargain price. This time, the company – Elephone P3000.
This device packs quite plain and simple design, which does not stand out from the crowd too much, yet looks great. There is a speaker on the front along with the front facing shooter, which has 5mp. Also, there are nicely lit three capacitive buttons on the bottom. All of this sits around a good looking and sharp 5 inches 720p screen.
If you take a look at the back, things become more interesting as there is a fingerprint scanner, which sits under the 13mp camera with the LED flash.
As far as specs go, the device has a MTK6582 chip, which is Quad Core and clocked at 1.3GHz. Also, Mali-400 MP helps handling the graphic tasks. In addition, there is 1 GB of Ram and 8 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded via Micro SD slot. What is more, it has a wifi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS and other connectivity. On top of that it has a 4G network support (FDD-LTE 800/1800/2100/2600MHz) All of this is is run by Android 4.4 Kitkat and the device is powered by 3150mAh battery, which is really beefy considering the screen size of 5 inches and only a 720p resolution.
We summarise some of the main features of the device:
Elephone P3000 5.0 inch Android 4.4 4G Phablet
145 x 72 x 8.9 mm / 5.7 x 2.8 x 0.4 inches in size
Support micro SD (T-Flash) 128G
SIM+micro SIM card, dual standby
Support Fingerprint Identification
FM/MP3/MP4/Bluetooth/GPS Function Supported
With the price of $164.50 it looks to be a great offer. But what is more important, you can get Elephone P3000 for as low as $143.99 from Gearbest as GizmoChina offers a ELEPPCN coupon code, which is for a discounted price.
[socialpoll id="2243981″]


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Peep the sneaky kid from Friday Photobombs on The Chive.
I bought a Heineken at Comiskey when I was 18, but that's barely beer so it shouldn't even count. My Dad was not amused because he was a school administrator in the CPSD, so I drank it while I wandered the stadium. I was in college and just happy to have a brew.
I know exactly what this kid is feeling and it is awesome.
6 hours ago


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Early Learning Partnerships
A timeline of the first five years of the partnership between Thrive by Five Washington and Department of Early Learning
Invitation to Apply for a Scholarship and Stipend
A letter from Governor Chris Gregoire to Superintendent Randy Dorn and DEL Director Bette Hyde outlining her expectations and timeline to bring a proposal forward that would ensure all Washington children have the benefit of early childhood education.
A PowerPoint presentation given by DEL Director Bette Hyde to the South Washington Prekindergarten Institute (ESD 105) on August 5, 2009.
Letter from Superintendent Randy Dorn and DEL Director Bette Hyde announcing Kelli Bohanon will serve as the director of early learning for OSPI, as well as manager of the Head Start State Collaboration Office (HSSCO) at DEL.
Head Start-State Collaboration Office
2012 Head Start, Early Head Start and Early Childhood Education and Assistance Washington State Profile
Provides an overview of public early childhood education programs in Washington state.
Infant/Toddler Systems and Services
Department OF Early Learning (DEL) Infant & Toddler Systems & Services Outcome Map, Three Year Plan (2010-2013).
Department OF Early Learning (DEL) Infant & Toddler Systems & Services Outcome Map, Three Year Plan 2010-2013, Partnerships & Mobilization Detail.
Infant toddler Early Intervention Program Presentation.
DEL Infant & Toddler "Layer Cake" of Outcome-Based Planning and Evaluation Components.
Timeline for DEL Infant & Toddler Outcome-Based Planning and Evaluation.
System-Level Infant & Toddler Systems and Services Outcome Map, Three Year Plan (2010-2013).
Statewide webinar on DEL's strategy for improving the quality of care for infants and toddlers and their families.
Characteristics of children age birth to three in Washington State presentation by Washington KIDS COUNT.
More than 70 representatives from across the state to think across four infant toddler related perspectives: policy, practice, research and the experience of parents.
Professional Development Consortium
A list of those invited to participate in the Professional Development Consortium.
Legislative Updates
Professional Development Consortium Handouts
Professional Development Consortium Meeting Documents
- Meeting Agenda
- Professional Development Consortium Map of Work
- Guidance for Tasks
- Timeline and Work Plan
- Criteria for Product Design and Development
Steering Committee Meeting Minutes


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Yucaipa Swim Team Annual Volunteer Obligation Policy
4 hours per calendar year and 9 hours per (age group) home meet. Age-Group families must volunteer an annual 4 hours participating in activities listed below. This is separate from the 9 hours required for each Age Group Home Meet. These hours are an annual commitment and will not be prorated should you take time off or leave the team. If your family fails to fulfill your requirement you will be assessed a $50 per hour fee for the balance remaining at the end of the calendar year. This amount will be invoiced in the January billing cycle or on the day your swimmer leaves the program.
These are preapproved opportunities to meet your annual 4 hour volunteer obligation:
❖ Transporting EZ Ups to and from away meets.
❖ Serving on a committee - Fundraising, Parties, Parades.
❖ Office Supply Donations (must be authorized by Administrator)
❖ YST social events such as parties, banquets, swimmer appreciation nights etc.
❖ Participation in various Yucaipa community service projects and events.
❖ Any hours volunteered over the required 9 hours at home meet.
❖ All other hours are to be pre-approved by the Team Administrator and two board members.
Home Meet Volunteer Requirements
In order to run an age-group home meet properly it is mandatory for all families to volunteer a minimum of 9 hours.
You can anticipate a minimum of one home meet per short course and long course season. Your family is required to volunteer regardless of whether or not your swimmer(s) participate in the meet. There are many volunteer opportunities at home meets, including opportunities before the meet days. Any time over the 9 hours will be put towards the family's yearly 4 hours. Failure to complete these hours will result in your account being charged $50 per hour . Accounts will be automatically charged within a 2 month billing cycle post-meet. Any hours worked at a Masters or Paralympic meet will be put towards the family's annual hours. Masters swimmers are required to work 2 hours at Masters Home Meet and participate in the annual swim-a-thon fundraiser. Failure to meet this requirement will result an automatic charge of $50 per hour not worked. Masters can serve at another meet with prior notice to team administrator.
Away Meet Volunteering
Your family is required to provide a volunteer timer at all away meets that your swimmer(s) participates in. This time is not included in your annual volunteer hours. A list of timing chair assignments will be emailed to you prior to the meet. If you are unable to work your assigned time it is YOUR responsibility to find someone to time for you.
The penalties for failing to meet the timing requirement are:
First offense : Written warning (email)
Second offense : $50 fine
Third offense : Suspension of meet privileges
Hours for these volunteer opportunities will be determined by the hours worked unless otherwise stated.
A volunteer sign-up sheet MUST be available at the event and completed by the volunteer(s) for credit to be given. Sign-in and out legibly at the time of service, include swimmers name to insure you hours are recorded.
If you are working an event and there is no sign-up sheet, please ask for it.


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More than one 150 people packed a loft space in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood this past weekend for Seattle Living Room Shows only secret event for the...
Live Review: Celebrating Presidents Day the right way with POTUSA
SMI Radio Ep.46 On Demand: Global Heat / Bob Tomberg (MANW) and Jessica Latshaw
Capitol Hill Block Party 2012: Allen Stone 'Soulidifies' his reputation (Photo Slideshow)
SMI Radio Ep. 41 On Demand: Musical Tribute to Judy Roth, Barbara Davis Roth and Jan Arthur Roth
Roger Fisher and Friends keep "Love Alive" during the holiday season (Video)
Tuff Gong International to release Stedman's hit 'Free Your Mind'
SMI (Seattle Music Insider) updated their cover photo.
5 days ago
Photo: Abby Williamson ... See MoreSee Less
2 weeks ago
Live music on tap courtesy of Do206 concertcalendar.seattlemusicinsider.com ... See MoreSee Less
SMI (Seattle Music Insider) updated their cover photo.
2 weeks ago
#internationalclashday Tune in to KEXP and celebrate! (Photo: Pennie Smith) ... See MoreSee Less
3 weeks ago
It is an understatement to say that I am #honored to once again host the live-stream for this year's Raise a Record Gala: Melodic Caring Project event on March 23 at The legendary Neptune Theatre Levi Ware and Stephanie Ware have been an endless source of inspiration to me in terms of making a positive difference and impact in the world. I met them in 2011 when they were streaming shows in living rooms for Seattle Secret Shows - Bringing music to those battling and lifting spirits. The young RockStar Warriors who I have met have touched me deeply and inspired my own work for our project WeRideWhy. I met Ashley Berg 5 years ago at The Triple Door when@Melodic Caring Project was streaming Brett Dennen That was a special show. Brett dedicated a song to every RockStar. that night. Little did I know at the time how deeply she would touch my life and that we would be able to share her the story of her cancer battle for WeRideWhy. Ashley was a RockStar too. She and her daughter used to watch the streams together at home. More on all of this SMI (Seattle Music Insider) and WeRideWhycoming soon! Thank you Levi and Stephanie for all you do. I love you both and I love all of the RockStars who all show us a better way to be in the world. ... See MoreSee Less
4 weeks ago
Thunderpussy started off 2019 with a major show at Showbox Presents and also a major band change. Read more about both here: ... See MoreSee Less
Thunderpussy: New Year, New BeginningsIt may be 2019, but that doesn't mean we can't look back fondly on the raging party Thunderpussy threw on New Year's Eve. With the bliss, though, comes some sadness. Since the band's performan...
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The theme of the event was How Do You Blue? I loved their collection, specially their variety of patterns in pants and their colored shorts. It was a fun-filled event with good music and refreshments. They also had a photo booth section where you could pose with the super tall models which was pretty cool. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I was thrilled to meet my favourite Dubai based bloggers Teresa Karpinska and Tala Samman.
I wore my neon shirt and accesorised a little different to give it a different look! I dragged my friend Megha with me who was great company. (:
If you visit The Dubai Mall you should surely visit the store, they have great stuff!


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but busy busy busy all the same.
We had a happy time chattering away in the beauty and temptation that surrounded us.
and reminding me of a WONDROUS day spent with a special new friend
BTW ~ If you like the Liberty label on the box behind
you can find my tutorial for them here
It was very irresistible to me
|There she is ..... Sweet B in her bee cardi
You may have noticed that my shops are closed at the moment
I'll be doing some 'shop~keeping' this week
and then I'll be back open for business.