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2.1 Direct Competitors
Being part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) market, Eu Yan Sang faces direct competition from large chain retailers like Hockhua and neighbourhood medical halls like Yan Chai Tong Medical Hall. They are direct competitors because they compete in the same market sector of TCM retailing and also offer a similar product range.
2.2Indirect Competitors
Indirect competitors will include Western pharmacies like Watson and Guardian, supermarkets carrying healthcare products, various health treatments, like acupuncture, reflexology and health spas. They are indirect competitors because they compete for the same consumer dollar and are able to satisfy the same needs. [pic]
Figure 2.1 Strategic Group Map
Figure 2.2 Perceptual Map
2.3Competitor's Strengths, Weaknesses and their Competitive Strategy
Hockhua is considered part of the strategic group of Eu Yan Sang as they also carry a wide range of products focusing on providing consumers with quality TCM products. Like Eu Yan Sang, they are also a large chain retailer with 41 TCM retail outlets spanning over Singapore, carrying their own in-house products. Both brands also have their own manufacturing factories handling their in-house products. Hockhua started its business in 1986, have 25 years of history and provides more than 3000 different health food products [17].
Hockhua continuously train their employees, to enhance their professional knowledge in order to be able to serve their customers better [18]. They also take up the role of an educator, educating their customers on TCM and their usefulness. This attracts consumers to continue visiting their outlets. Hockhua set up companies to responsible for the import, distribution, management, production, processing and cultivation [17].They create their own in-house products and this helps them to monitor the entire supply chain, from production and processing to retail, helping to ensure quality and also to cut operation costs [19].
The Straits Times reported that Hockhua won Singapore Superbrand award in 2009, this further shows that they achieved recognition for their branding excellence [20]. Hockhua health products are manufactured with rigorous adherence to the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards. Food safety is addressed throughout the whole process, which provides consumers confidence in their products. Hockhua also focuses on research and development for their herbal product, constantly improving the quality of the product at enviable standards and developing new products. In addition, their website is well updated with the latest information, this helps to keep their customers informed and provides sufficient information for consumers interested in TCM products. Although consumers will not use the data as immediate input into their purchase decision, the exposure obtained from the experience will definitely influence their purchase decision if the need arises.
Eu Yan Sang is well known household brand in Asia and are increasing more regionally recognized as it has expanded to Hong Kong, China and Malaysia. They have a long history behind their brand and is widely recognized as a trusted heritage brand. Hockhua however, is not that regionally recognised and only expanded to Malaysia in 2007 [19]. Hence, the Eu Yan Sang brand name has higher brand equity. Consumers may choose Eu Yan Sang over Hockhua in terms of brand equity.
Hockhua's outlets are mostly located in the neighourhood areas, capturing the neighbourhood household market. They have limited outlets in shopping malls and downtown areas, making them more inaccessible to younger customers and tourists. Eu Yan Sang however has their outlets located at areas where most tourists frequent, particularly around Orchard Road's shopping malls, the airport and also Marina Bay Sands [21]. This allows them greater exposure to consumers especially...
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text: Hi Guys. I have an S7 edge sim unlocked but network locked by verizon wireless . And would like to know how and what should do to unlock verizon wireless. I can call, send and receive message but , can't send or receive MMS, and 4G don't work too . And another question , is it possible to change the firmware G935V to G935F ? If yes , how ? Thanks

subset: commoncrawl


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Rosa Pauta, Queens, NY
My name is Rosa Pauta. I am a member of the organization New Immigrant Community Empowerment, and I am a domestic worker. A few months ago, I was looking for work but instead encountered betrayal. I went to an employment agency located on 90th Street and Roosevelt Ave where I was charged $125 for the agency to find me a job. They sent me to the address of a laundromat, where the owner informed me that they had not asked for workers. I called the employee at the agency and in a mocking tone, they said, "How can that be?" Later, I called the agency again and they said it was too late and to return to the office the following day in the morning. I went to the office and because I was there, they said they could send me to another two locations because they would not return the money that I had already paid. On top of that, they told me that I was too old and it was for that reason that the laundromat didn't accept me. But that was a lie because at the agency, aside from me, there were many other people making complaints. Also, the man from the laundromat told me that they were full and that they had not asked for workers. With great difficulty we earn a little money to sustain ourselves and provide for our families. It's not fair to not find a job at the end of the day AND to lose money. For this reason, we are organizing as domestic workers through NICE and others groups to call attention to all of these agencies and to gain better access to dignified job.
Oscar Ramirez, Bronx, NY
My name is Oscar and I work in the restaurant industry in New York City. I am a member of the organization Laundry Workers Center where I am developing my skills. I began to experience abuse when I started to look for work through the use of an employment agency. They told me that if I pay $100.00 for a training they would give me a job, but that never happened. Later, another agency found me a job where I had to give them 75% of my first week's salary on top of the advanced fee I had to pay. I am giving my testimony today because it is important to end with employment agency abuse and the abuse of employers.
Maria de Fatima Mosconi, Queens, NY
My name is Maria, and I am a domestic worker and member of Cidadao Global. I have lived in New York City for over 18 years. I have applied for work through agencies that are not in accordance with professional ethics. We have to pay for applications, usually $20, and we are charged for the jobs we get. In addition, we must pay one week of salary to the agency, whether or not we keep the job. Once, I worked in a home for two weeks. When I refused to give away one week of my salary to the agency, they blacklisted me. Another agency discriminated against me based on my age. I am 60 years old, and they told me right to my face that they do not want anybody over 45 years old. I am sharing my experience and of many other friends because I hope the system will change.
Servando Rodriguez, Staten Island, NY
Servando went to a Brooklyn-based employment agency in 2012 where they found him a job with a plumber. The agency gave him the basic job details over the phone. He signed a contract with the agency and paid a $120 advance fee in cash. When he met the plumber, however, the plumber offered him a much lower salary than what the agency had promised. He therefore did not accept the job. Because he had not found employment through the agency, he was entitled to a refund, but the agency refused to refund him when he asked for it. He went to El Centro del Inmigrante in Staten Island for assistance and was referred to LatinoJustice PRLDEF's Employment Agency Abuse Project. Servando sought to recover his advance fee plus an additional amount to compensate him for the many hours he spent pursuing his case. He went before a small claims court arbitrator in Staten Island in January 2014 to make his case, but, unfortunately, the court did not decide in his favor. Servando will pursue other options to report the agency's conduct. His story shows how advance fees hurt workers. It also shows how it can be difficult for job seekers to hold employment agencies accountable and even more difficult to recover not only a refund, but compensation for the time, energy, and costs involved in seeking justice.
Maria Fretell, Bronx, NY
My name is Maria Fretell and I am a member-leader at NICE. I came to New York nine years ago to provide a better life for my three children who at the time were ages 10, 7, and 4. I came to provide for my children back home in Peru. I was desperate for work because of the day-to-day bills I had to pay here. Any left over money, I would send to my children. I went to a Queens employment agency where they charged me a $70 advance fee and promised me a job — a job I never got. They took advantage of my vulnerable situation, the fact that I had just arrived and didn't know how things worked here. As a result, I didn't complain and was even ashamed to do so, but I knew they took advantage of me. The amount of money they robbed me of might not be significant to others, but for me it was huge and I really needed it. Unfortunately, I don't think this agency even exists anymore.
Narbada Chhetri, Queens, NY
I have lived in New York since 2006. I suffered and struggled in many ways like other workers before joining Adhikaar. When I first arrived, I went to Monarch Human Resource Employment Agency to find a job. I paid $10 for the application form. They said that they would take one week's salary and they would take out my deposit from my salary too, but there was a stipulation that if I leave or get fired they would refund me. They sent me to a job in Long Island but it was not a good fit, and I was fired after a couple of weeks. When I went back for my deposit they refused. I never got my deposit, $243, or 18% of my monthly salary. The money I lost was and is still a lot of money for me. Agencies know who can be their victim and who is in a vulnerable situation so they take advantage of them. They take advance fees and send more than 10 workers to one place at the same time when they know an employer needs only one person. Some employment agencies send workers to fake placements. In our community center we see exploitation, discrimination and dehumanization by employment agencies. On behalf of all of our members at Adhikaar, I would like to call on our elected officials and government agencies to create strong protections for all job seekers and create a just job market.
Ynes Marticorena, Queens, NY
My name is Ynes. I have had a number of experiences with employment agency fraud with agencies in Queens where I've been robbed of approximately $350. What has bothered me most is how agencies treat you. After they defraud you, they make you feel like you have no rights. You feel robbed and stupid because they've taken advantage you. There may be good agencies out there, but unfortunately as a new immigrant you may not know of them or how to access work any other way. We depend on agencies to get work quickly. Agencies know the desperate state of immigrants, and they take advantage of the fact that they are new to the country and don't know how things work or the language. It's important to educate people about their rights with agencies. And it's equally important to take a harder stance with agencies and control their practices more to ensure they follow the laws.


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What is DVD?
DVD, also known as "Digital Versatile Disc" or "Digital Video Disc," is an optical disc storage media format. Its main uses are video and data storage. DVDs are of the same dimensions as compact discs (CDs) but store more than six times as much data.
What is Wii?
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of both. As of December 31, 2008 the Wii leads the generation over the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in worldwide sales.Related Guides
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July 16, 2010 --Every birthday is special, but when you make it to 100 - you have to celebrate big, and that's what Alberta Green did Friday night.
She celebrated how far she and technology have come by taking a horse and carriage to her party at Hermon Baptist Church.
Green has been a member there for 62 years.
When asked about her secret to long life, she said she doesn't take credit for that - it's the Lord's blessing.


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The Fab Life (Kihanna #1) by Mercy AmareIt's the life I was born to live: billionaire's daughters, living amongst the rich & famous. But my mom kept me a secret from my dad. Until now.
I am so out of my league. Fancy parties, expensive cars, and a private school for the elite… It sounds like a dream. But everything is not as perfect as it seems on the outside. Here, the secrets are dirty, and the lies comes easy.
Welcome to my fab life.
First line:
Life often takes us by surprise. But my life just got a nuclear bomb dropped on it, with a note from my mother that simply says "good luck."----------
ARC from author----------
Publication date:
July 27, 2013----------
4 stars out of 5----------
Mercy has created a stunning opening to her new series centering around Kihanna Foster. Excuse me, I mean Kihanna Evers. Kihanna has just learned that her father is the CEO of Staying Connected, which is basically the Facebook/Twitter of the real world. Now, she is being whisked away from her life as a "poor" person (while Kihanna and her mother might not have lived in luxury, they were well-off) into the extravagant life with the famous.
Kihanna has lots of spunk. She's tough and independent which allows her to stand up for herself. But, she also has a vulnerable side which makes her very relatable. She stands up to her step-mother by wearing all goth clothes instead of a fancy dress to her first family brunch. She has to put up with her pervy step-brother. Okay, well maybe he's not so bad. Toby is funny and protective, but it is really creepy when your step-brother checks you out. But despite having to put up with her step-mom, step-brother, and egotistical famous people, Kihanna loves that fact that she's getting to know her father.
I'm not quite sure what's up with the love interests. There seems to be like 5 people interested in her. But the two main ones are best friends Ty and Gabe. Ty seems to be sweet and caring, but Kihanna not quite sure what to expect from him. Gabe seems to know her better than her own boyfriend (Ty) and he's sweet and caring. I'm not quite sure I trust Courtney, Kihanna's new best friend. There's just something about her.........
I have a love-hate relationship with Mercy's cliffhanger endings. Seriously they are the best/worst. I'm one of those people who loves the torture and anticipation that a cliffhanger leaves.
The Fab Life is a fabulous (pardon the pun) book about staying true to yourself when your life is changing too fast for you to stop it.
PS. Don't forget to drop by and check out the guest post from Mercy for The Fab Life Blog Tour on Monday, July 29.


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This year for Halloween I decided to be Harley Quinn. I choose her because she has always been my favorite villain since I was a child and because October was Domestic Violence Awareness month. "The number of America troops killed in Afghanistan and Iraq between 2001-2012 was 6,488. The number f America women who were murdered by current or ex male partners during the same time was 11,766. That's nearly double the amount of causalities lost during war." (-Huffpost article: 30 shocking Domestic Violence Stats) Around 3 women are murdered daily because of domestic violence. Women with disabilities are 40% more likely to experience partner violence. Black women experience partner violence at rates 35% higher than white women. Every minute 20 people are victims of partner violence. 1 in 4 women will be victims of severe violence by their partners in their lifetimes. 40-45% of the women in physically abusive relationships will also be raped during the relationship.
I wanted to close the month with my favorite character because I grew up reading those comics and watching the cartoon and this couple is one example of me seeing abuse and toxic relationships being romanticized as a child. So since becoming an adult and truly finding my own feminism I've realized how many things I watched in media, saw in my own life, and took in as a small child that perpetuated Rape Culture and made abuse or domestic violence out to be a joke. And it all leaves its impact. So now I am left unlearning all the things I was taught about what love meant. Now I am left trying to figure out what constitutes respect and safety in relationships. All while navigating the dating world as a 20 something woman of color. Which is scary! From a one night stand to a long-term relationship women routinely are killed and abused and many never make it out alive.
I remember once that I posted something about Rihanna on Facebook and a friend commented saying she didn't like her because Rih kept going back to the man who beat her. To which I promptly responded by saying that that was the reason I didn't like HIM. Chris Brown was the one that did wrong. He was the one who abused and manipulated another person. Yet still because of the male privilege that he holds, he was not only able to maintain a career after doing something so horrible, but was able to maintain most of his female audience. Similarly, Amber Heard can have photographic evidence of Johnny Depp's abuse and people can still make excuses or say that Amber should have left a long time ago. Since my previous Blog post was about rape culture I decided to make this one about why a lot of women stay. Because we as a society, need to end the victim blaming and understand how abusive relationships work.
1. A lot of domestic violence victims have already been victims of another form of abuse. Meaning not only are they more likely to stay or keep going back to the abuser because it feels familiar, but they feel this is what they deserve. (see next point)
2. Abuse is formed on manipulation. You manipulate someone by controlling how they think and how they feel. Abusers tell victims that they have no worth, that no one else will love them, that no one will believe them and that it was something they did wrong
3. Abusers deflect attention/accountability off of them & onto the victims. This way no matter what they do the victim will automatically blame their own actions and not those of the abusers
4. Many abusers have also been abused and back to accountability, they blame their past experiences for their current actions. They use those experiences to make their victims feel sorry for them. So you will hear things like "I can't help that i'm like this, I was abused as a child." Even tho being abused isn't an excuse to hurt others.
5. Oftentimes we lack the resources/programs/support to properly help most of these women. You could get a woman out of a situation but without proper support she could easily go back or fall back into the same lifestyle with another man.
6. Financial security can also play a role in how long she will stay. Many women without help would rather stay & have a financially secure life then leave and be homeless. Because once you have nothing in a society run on class systems then its hard to ever dig yourself out. Along with this many abusers dont allow their victims to work so that they have full control over all finances and so that the victim will feel that she can not make it in the world without him with no job experience.
7. Once children are involved its harder to leave and find support or stability. Single mothers are very often stigmatized and further oppressed especially if they are mothers of color.
8. A lot of the abuse you see as an outsider isn't the full extent of the suffering that is happening. Or the manipulation that the victim has gone through. By the time most of us realize what is happening to the victim the abuser fully has her under his control, therefore leaving for her would require love, care, support, patience, and resources from those on the outside.
Women shouldn't hold responsibility in escaping abuse. Men should be held accountable for abuse.
Watch the ways in which you with your thought patterns contribute to rape culture and victim blaming.


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For your special events in Bellagio!
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We have a range of experiences available for you to enjoy during your time with us! Our favorites are: private cooking classes in our lovely Nene Kitchen space, private dinner/lunch, wine tasting, yoga or meditation workshops and private lessons of painting or sculpture with a well know artist in our charming Nene 4You space for special events in Bellagio on Lake Como….. many other opportunity on request!
Contact us and we will customize your wishes!
Have a look at our last images of Nenè Space 4You events in Bellagio…
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Friday was a day for touristing around the city. And we went hard. We went everywhere that we hadd wanted to hit up, including:
- Hafnarhúsið – the Reykjavik Art Museum by the old harbour. It was bizarre and cool with a very eclectic collection. I may have broken every museum rule ever and put a western Emmet mini fig onto a Lego replica of Hallgrímskirkja.
- Hallgrímskirkja – this time, we went inside. It is definitely an impressive structure and has art in the entry (a small show, ending soon I believe) unlike any other art I've seen in a church before.
- Sólfar – The Sun Voyager, out by the sea. We sat on the rocks a bit down from this for awhile. Just looking at the mountains and the ocean. In awe of where we were.
- Harpa – Yep, we went into this too. This building is seriously cool, very hive like. And somehow, even bigger on the inside.
- Nexus – Of course I went to Reykjavik's comic shop. It skewed super American rather than Euro comics, but it was weird seeing the itty bitty collection of single issues. And it was yet another place where I was mistaken for a (short) local and I accidentally gaped at the speaker instead of telling them I had no clue what they just said to me. Jetlag, man. Also worth note, they had a huuuge Ms. Marvel picture on one of their windows.
Most of our Friday food came from places recommended to us by Auður. And they were all excellent.
- Prikið – for breakfast. It seemed like it was mostly locals inside, and the place is apparently known for it's hangover cure. It's modeled after a 1950s diner and is apparently the oldest café in the city. And they had seriously huge portions.
- Reykjavik Roasters – This was the best coffee I had in Reykjavik. The beans are roasted there! Auður says on colder days she'll generally stop there during tours in colder weather, and will often see members of the previous day's tour back there again.
- Snaps – Yet another one of Auður's recommendations. Seriously, she gives the best places to go. We waited for our table at the bar downstairs. I had a Yellow (lemony) G&T and then ordered a smoked arctic char open sandwich for dinner. Not something I would usually go for, but I was curious about the combination of smoked fish, potatoes and apples. It was pretty good, but also too big of a portion for me. I guess I can't eat as much as a nation where I swear everyone is at least 6 foot tall.
Worst hashtag or best hashtag? It's definitely the best goal to have when travelling anywhere, but especially abroad. We took it upon ourselves to crack open Grapevine, the English language local newspaper. The center spread included a map of some bar suggestions. So we decided to take them up on one, thus beginning our saga of partying like a local.
- Dillon Whiskey Bar – Dillon is a place both my friend and I agreed we would be regulars at at home. Sort of metal (mostly metal) and with more than a few locals. I was immediately greeted by one in particular (The Viking) who tested my BS tolerance instantly. But he charmed his way back into talking to me and making out with me while my friend befriended a group of nearly 20 American dudes who were there for a bachelor party. At some point The Viking went out for a smoke and never returned so we headed out with The Americans to…
- Lebowski – Yeah, it's a themed bar. And yeah there are a lot of white russian options (I didn't partake since I'd already had gin and beer.) And it was frankly, weird. There was a bowling alley lane on the wall, some seats behind the bar and then a dance floor beyond that. I think there's a diner in there somewhere too, but it may have been too late at night for that. One of The Americans was buying us drinks (thank you, kind stranger) and my friend somehow spotted The Viking outside with his friends smoking. So she basically demanded that he come in and find me. Which for some reason, being scolded by an American girl that he didn't know had an impact on him, so he did come in with his friends. After some more drinks, dancing and me watching conversations happening over my head in Icelandic (height + language barrier = me either bobbing my head back and forth like a tennis match or me staring straight forward and tuning out the noise) we left The Americans and headed to another bar to continue on with our evening. Just to be clear, I think we left Dillon around midnight.
- Dio – At least I think the name was Dio. We apparently saw the proprietor earlier that evening, all dappered out. By the time we got there the focus seemed to be on playing a lot of music from Mad Decent. And then through the course of us being there dissolved to the top 40 hits we were dancing to in college. More viking smooching, plus some "oh my god I love this song" shouting. There were a few attempts to leave that never came to fruition. And by the time we rolled out of there, it was a staggering 4:30 a.m.
My goal of partying like a local? Definitely accomplished. Also, shout out to the nice girls who were with us + the guys. They were the best. Bonus pro-tip, apparently the Phallogical Museum only takes cash? Which is <i>slightly</i> ridiculous seeing as locals don't even have cash.
Part 3 : Game of Thrones, coming soon!
Part 1


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Student Outstanding Achievement Recreation
Standard SOAR program category A offers:
- Physical activity
- Homework help
- Educational game time
- Character building
- Option of enrichment clubs (such as Foreign language and Arts and crafts)
- There is an additional $3 per class per week fee for enrichment classes in category B Karate, Piano & Zumba are considered category B
The Cost of SOAR
The regular cost of Standard SOAR program per quarter is $160
If 30 students are pre-registered, the price will go lower.
$30 deposit required.
Payment Options: *Cash Only, *Cash & Sell chocolates *Cash & Help
Not all parents are able to pick up their children right after school and help them with homework. That is why we encourage other parents, who have children in the school who know or are willing to learn the curriculum to come alongside fellow parents within the school community as homework helpers for the children.
If you have any questions you may email the SOAR coordinator at
Notice of Intent to Submit an Application for 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program (After School Programs)
In accordance with the application instructions from the California Dept. of Education, the San Diego County Office of Education submits a public notice to the community of National City of San Diego County Office of Education's intent to submit an application for a 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Programs grant for public schools to be served in the aforementioned areas.


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The story dice are a beautifully simple idea for starting a story with 9 random ingredients, courtesy of 9 dice. Shake, rattle, roll - and tell!
The proprietary version retails for at least $16.99 in Singapore. My home-made version uses larger dice (22mm) and I've colour-coded them - this not only makes them prettier (in my opinion!) than the original all-white ones, but teachers will appreciate that the colours identify the four core ingredients of story-making: Purple (Characters) Green (Settings) Red (Crisis) and Yellow (Events)
Instant fun!
I've had the icon labels professionally printed (by the company that produces my books, Stories for Moral Education) so they won't fade or peel off easily.
The dice are only available ($18) to participants attending my workshops or performances (that is why there is no postage option!) and they are offered solely as a service to teachers/parents keen to promote the art of storytelling in their classrooms and homes. Do let me know if you'd like a set, and I'll make sure I bring one for you to your workshop or performance.
copyright © Roger Jenkins Pte Ltd designed with Webplus8 | feedback


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Excellent band from Sweden consisting of Armagedda members. LIK plays black metal with lots of folk and rock influences; the music reminds me of Storm but with more dark rock mixed in. The only downside of all releases is their extremely short length; that aside LIK comes highly recommended to all fans of blackened music!
download [256kbps]
2005 - Besvärtade Strofer
download [320kbps]
2007 - Lekamen Illusionen Kallet
download [320kbps]


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I have not been doing much jewelry photographing, but I have been making pieces. This is a the second lariat I made based on Leslie Frazier's Trumpet Flower Necklace in the Aug/Sept 2012 Beadwork
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Yellow flowers
2 comments:
Hello,from Sweden-after the veery long break:-))ReplyDelete
Your yellow Flower is astonishingly miraculous.It has attracted my attention at once and tempted me to put my first comment,here in Your Blog: wonderful way of stitching-great idea-reminding all those best beading times,in which I could admire the variety of floral patterns.
Thank You for the impression and that feeling.
best Greets-Halinka-
- AnonymousAugust 13, 2013 at 6:11 PM
The colors you selected for this lariat are fantastic. Bold and delicate.ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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We're here to help. Contact us about the application process and we'll guide you through all the options available to you.
Candidate selection
We seek international applicants with strong academic and leadership backgrounds that are going to thrive in our unique international program. Students are selected based on how they fit with our program: we look for applicants from diverse backgrounds who have a passion for their studies, desire to put themselves out of their comfort zone and demonstrate a commitment to the Goodman MBA community.
Admission requirements
- Four year bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited university
- B/75 per cent academic average in last two years of study (Canadian equivalent)
- Minimum English Language Proficiency score: Please be advised that the MBA (ISP) program does NOT accept English Language test waivers.
- TOEFL: IBT 88, with minimum 21 on Speaking and 21 on Writing
- IELTS (Academic): 6.5 (no section under 6.0)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic): 60 (No other subtest below 60)
- OR successful completion of the following language programs.
- Brock's Intensive English Language Program (IELP) Level 5.
- ESC (Language School Pathway) completion of the UCTP.
- ILAC (Language School Pathway) completion of University Pathway level III (12 weeks)
- ILSC (Language School Pathway) completion of Level A2.
- Work experience is preferred but is not required.
Upgrading: If you need to upgrade your academic average or your English ability, consider one of our certificate options.


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Very strong predicted job growth makes this an excellent time to pursue a career as a medical laboratory technician. These positions involve working in a clinical setting to conduct lab tests and procedures, and are obtainable after a certificate or associate's degree program and on-the-job-training. If you have an acute attention to detail and are interested in science and medicine, this might be the right career for you.
Essential Information
Medical lab technicians conduct lab tests and procedures, usually under the supervision of more experienced professionals. Duties may include matching blood for transfusions, counting white blood cells, and determining the concentration of prescription drugs in a patient's blood sample. Most are trained through certificate or associate's degree programs offered by community colleges and vocational schools. These programs generally require a year or two to complete and include classroom work, labs and practical training. Graduates may be eligible to apply for certification from professional organizations.
|Required Education
|Certificate or associate's degree program in medical laboratory sciences
|Other Requirements
|Optional certification
|Projected Job Growth (2014-2024)*
|18% for medical and clinical laboratory technicians
|Median Salary (2015)*
|$38,970 for medical and clinical laboratory technicians
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Find schools that offer these popular programs
Educational Requirements for a Medical Lab Technician
Although the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that medical lab technicians may be trained on the job, the Bureau also reports that most receive formal education through a certificate or associate's degree program (www.bls.gov). The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) approves these educational programs, which are generally offered by junior colleges and vocational schools (www.naacls.org). Those who complete these programs generally go on to work for healthcare laboratory facilities.
Admissions for Postsecondary Programs
Prospective candidates must earn their high school diploma or its equivalent prior to applying. Some programs recommend that applicants complete mathematics and science courses while in high school. This may include algebra, biology and chemistry.
While certificate programs in medical laboratory sciences generally last one year, associate's degree programs may take 1-2 years to complete. Both programs typically begin by introducing students to medical laboratory equipment and data analysis. Students may also be required to take sequences of courses in histology, microbiology and biochemistry. These classes may delve into topics ranging from cell tissues to parasites and viruses.
In addition, programs might explore topics in phlebotomy, hematology and immune hematology. Students may learn techniques for examining bodily fluids and using lab equipment to search for problems with samples. Programs also include clinical practicums, which may include on-the-job training in urinalysis and mycology.
Once training is complete, students are eligible to earn certifications offered by credentialing organizations, such as the American Medical Technologists and the American Society for Clinical Pathology. Certification generally requires passing a qualifying examination. Credentialing organizations may provide exam preparation material via their websites. Once certified, these professionals may need to complete continuing education requirements.
Employment Projections and Salary
The BLS reports that medical and clinical laboratory technicians earned a median annual salary of $38,970 in May, 2015 and employment opportunities for these technicians are expected to increase by 18% from 2014-2024. This much-faster-than-average job growth was attributed to the need for diagnostic services among the country's growing elderly population.
Medical laboratory technicians work in clinical environments and conduct necessary lab procedures such as blood work. Qualifications for this career typically include a 1-2 year training program and fulfillment of the certification requirements.


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Thank you to everyone sending me well wishes, I'm still struggling to shake this flu and feeling rather flat and tired.
I have however dragged the sewing machine to the kitchen table for the school holidays to potter away on projects while the boys are home and playing. Its pretty fun, they come up and check out what I'm doing, remove pins and so forth for me before wondering away to resume their games. And I get to sit and pretend Im being productive. Excuse my round puffy face, my sinuses are blocked. But in the aim of keeping it real - here is me, no make up on a home day. The way these school holidays are shaping up there may well be a lot of those.
I finished Henry's raggedy quilt for his birthday which I'm really pleased with, so cuddly. I had just the right amount of woolen blanket as the wadding which was perfect. In fact I had just the right amount of everything, which is always a pleasant surprise.
I'm currently making a new Waldorf doll for him. His was one I bought to test the workmanship against mine and the tricott was a much poorer quality. He has a hole on his nose, so I decided it was time I make him one of my dolls, filled with my stitches and love. It has always bothered me I didn't, then I scolded myself for being silly as someone else made it lovingly, but now I feel warm and fuzzy that I'm making a special doll just for him. Does that paragraph make sense? It does to me, but that's not always saying a lot!
Grant on the other hand thinks I'm completely nuts on my theory's about dolls and Henry knowing I didn't make it for him so he doesn't love it as much as the other boys love theirs. But he is a good natured fellow and just lets me go, with only the occasional quizzically raised eyebrow.
Bits and bobs are still happening around the cottage, The power has been up graded and a new box put out side. We just installed a split system this morning which will be awesome. We can finally package up the one in the window and pop it away for the extension. I will get double the amount of light into the lounge and be able to open the window and let a breeze in again, Im SO excited especially with this flu, fresh air is best.
Well, Im going to try and have a nap to find some energy to start an assignment.
Much love,


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Slim Power Bank 8800 The Slim Power Bank 8800 is your perfect on-the-go accessory. Small yet powerful, this power bank can fit in your pocket, purse, travel bag, etc... Packing a punch at 8000mAh, the Slim Power Bank 8800 can keep all of your portable electronics charged with no problem. Featuring an aluminum body, this power bank is more durable than the rest and available in a variety of colors. AS LOW AS $19.02 Phonesoap Did you know your phone has 18 times more bacteria than a public restroom? With the Phonesoap charger and sanitizer your life is going to become a lot more germ free. Phonesoap is the first of its kind as it sanitizes your phone while it charges. With it's simple minimalistic design, you can make a clean and clear statement without the mess. Keep one of these in your office or at home to ensure that you stay clean and bacteria-free. Phonesoap can also clean your keys, credit cards, jewelry and much more. As seen on TV's Mythbusters and Shark Tank. AS LOW AS $61.67 External Phone Fill Light External LED fill light for smartphone photography. Features on/off switch and 3 brightness settings. Also works as pocket spot light. Mounts to any minijack port. Packaged in box. AS LOW AS $4.99 TECH LOOKBOOK 2016/17 91
My Products 2016-2017
To see the actual publication please follow the link above


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The first time I … drove abroad
I took to driving abroad like a duck2water.
When I went on a camping holiday in France last year I was not looking forward to driving abroad. Worries of going the wrong way around roundabouts, driving up the wrong lane of les autoroutes and hitting baguette carrying pedestrians haunted my mind in the run up to the trip. Before I even hit French soil there was the question of whether my M-reg Micra would make it up the steep slope to the ferry.
However, the worry was all for nothing. Despite minor navigation troubles, I sailed along the French roads with ease and came back with the car, and my pride, still safely intact.
How do you find driving abroad?
[Image © nafmo via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence]
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|No comment
> Les Paul
> Gibson Les Paul Standard
> 2005 Gibson Les Paul Standard-wine Red
For sale is my 2005 Gibson Les Paul Standard in wine red. The guitar is in great condition, but does have a few small dings on the backside of the guitar from regular playing. Nothing through the paint and very minimal. So small they won't show in photos. There have been no breaks, cracks, or repairs. The guitar plays and sounds great. It has the true Les Paul tone, opposed to Les Pauls made after 2007 which are chambered. Like most Les Pauls it has a maple top with a slight flame and mahogany back and neck. All parts are original. Build date is Jan.24, 2005.
The guitar comes with the original hardshell case, documentation, as well as the original cream pickguard. Gibson included the pickguard so the end-user could choose whether or not they wanted it mounted. The pickguard was never mounted, so no holes have been drilled.
Shipping to the US 48 only.
User Comment
No comment
(bought amounts latest0)Bought notesNo one bought this product


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Wallpapers Box
True High Definition Wallpapers Revolution !
Wheat Green Fields High Definition Wallpapers
Amazing Wheat Green Field, Blue Sky, Free Your Mind And Spirit, Widescreen High Definition Backgrounds, Cool, Mind Blowing Beautiful HD Good Computer Wallpapers.
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Let's give the holidays a makeover... (19008, Broomall, PA)
I have absolutely no family in town...and work keeps me how do i get laid tonight leaving to go visit. I can not be the only one. So, lets get a decent room and just enjoy the hell out of each other for the entire holidays. Heck we can even play house and leave for work and return to each other and wild inventve sex. But you gotta promise me no headaches during our time together. LoL. Bring in the new year sexually full, then we part ways and be done. Come on...you know you wanna...as a matter of fact this post is the answer to your dreams. Me, professional black female, bbw. You, older than 40...and that is seriously all that matters to me. not into drugs but enjoy a good drink
I want someone who is fun and loves to hang out in the country.Come join me by the campfire on a moonlight night to watch the stars.
I Still Dream, Do You ???? (Broomall, 19008, PA , Delaware Valley)
If more things made perfect sense. I get laid tonight the monotony of life to be the most overwhelming. I should be grateful to have a job, and to have my basic needs met. I should probably be working more on self improvment then on dragging someone else into my silly head. But my thoughts float elsewhere. uq


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Site has been used for numerous movies and TV shows
Runners come and go at the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship, but one star of the show remains true every year. Kualoa Ranch.
The 4,000-acre working cattle ranch on the northeast coast of the island of Oahu, Hawaii, is the lure that keeps bringing more than 2,000 runners from around the world to the race every year.
This year's event is scheduled for November 24, and runners from 10 countries and 36 different states are registered to take on the unique challenge that only Kualoa Ranch can offer.
"The XTERRA half-marathon course at Kualoa is a pretty challenging and technically demanding race," said Polina Babkina, a Honolulu resident who placed third at the 2012 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship. "The course is also one of the most beautiful and amazing courses I've ever run. The race sends runners maneuvering through the forest, crossing over streams, and across some relentless up-hills. The terrain is rugged and technical at times, but the scenery is breathtaking throughout the whole race."
Part of the allure is the mystery of Kualoa Ranch. The trails are normally closed to the public, and only a handful of races are allowed there each year. In essence, there is no "home course advantage" because no runners are allowed to practice on the trails.
The beauty of Kualoa Ranch may often be closed to the public, but it has certainly been put on display on the big screen. Hit movies such as Jurassic Park, Godzilla, Battleship, Pearl Harbor, 50 First Dates and others have featured Kualoa Ranch as a prominent backdrop. Hawaii-based television shows LOST and Hawaii Five-O also filmed regularly at the Ranch.
As for the race itself, the 21-kilometer championship course takes runners on wild adventure that includes narrow single track along the top of a mountain, dirt roads, cow pastures, stream crossings, tropical forests, and passes alongside some of the remaining movie production sets.
Oregon's Max King, who has won the race at Kualoa Ranch four times in his career, said: "The scenery of the course easily stands out as one of the main draws to the Kualoa course. Not only that, but it's a challenging half-marathon that still requires a good amount of speed training to do well. It's got everything a good trail race should have."
Babkina did the race for the first time last year, and said she could not help but notice the sights along the course, even though she was racing at a fast pace with the leaders.
"Even though I tried to pay attention on rugged trail road, it was hard not to notice spectacular views from the top of the hills," she said. "Kualoa Ranch is an area of Oahu that's very rich in nature. There is no doubt the XTERRA half-marathon course is one of the most scenic races I've ever competed in."


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A lot of people budget nowadays. Whether by a family, couple, or single person, budgets help to monitor how/where household income is spent.
What's in your budget? If you're like most "budgeters" things like food, mortgage or rent (if applicable), utilities, vehicle fuel/maintenance, as well as cleaning supplies are on your budget list.
When something is outside your budget, at least for the moment, one has to decide whether that item is really needed. If yes, something else will need to be reduced or eliminated. Easier said than done, right?
But there's another kind of budget I want us to think about: it's our words budget. What about our words? What about those everyday words and phrases we've been saying for ever so long? Do they need changing, or even elimination? Can our words be budgeted, to speak positively, eliminating what's negative-even harmful?
Words are important to all of us. We either encourage or discourage with what we say. We either lift up or tear down with what comes out of our mouth. No one makes us say what we do; it's our choice. Every time.
You may or may not have a financial budget to monitor where your money goes-how it gets spent. But everyone can budget what comes out of their mouth. Perhaps it's time to think about prioritizing what you say, leaving off words which are unhealthy for you. I'm including myself in this as well, as I need to improve in this area.
What are some ways you know to reduce, change, eliminate, or improve your "word" budget. What would you recommend others do that, if you've already done this, worked for you? Remember, what helps/helped you can help someone else.


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First up, our 100kW HCJB transmitter! We vacuumed out and wiped down the different compartments of the transmitter, changed the water in the cooling system, replaced the weatherstripping on the doors of the modulator cabinet, and visually inspected for any damage.
Next up, our two 250kW Thomson transmitters! We opened up the transmitters, cleaned all the different compartments, and visually inspected for any damage.
It was helpful to have the manpower necessary to complete these tasks in one day. We are looking forward to the day when all of those raising support to join the team here on Guam, so we can keep up to date with these tasks that help ensure the reliability that we strive for!


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Hide Forgot
From Bugzilla Helper:
User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686 (x86_64); en-US; rv:1.7.12) Gecko/20050922 Fedora/1.0.7-1.1.fc4 Firefox/1.0.7
Description of problem:
I have a dual core AMD64 and occasionaly when I boot it, maybe once a week, the boot process hangs at the line "Initializing hardware"
It then prints "Disabling IRQ 225"
and then, after something like 30 seconds it again prints
kernel panic - not syncing: bad locking
Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
How reproducible:
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Happens occasionally during boot
Additional info:
is there any call trace along with that panic ?
No, that's all there is. It just stops )-:
do you have the word 'quiet' on your boot command line ? If so, remove that, and
it should print something more informational.
(You'll get a ton of other messages too, but hopefully the useful ones will be
onscreen just before the hang)
No, I don't have the quiet parameter, the kernel just fails to panic properly
)-: I do realise there isn't much to go on here...
This is a mass-update to all currently open kernel bugs.
A new kernel update has been released (Version: 2.6.15-1.1830_FC4)
based upon a new upstream kernel release.
Please retest against this new kernel, as a large number of patches
go into each upstream release, possibly including changes that
may address this problem.
This bug has been placed in NEEDINFO_REPORTER state.
Due to the large volume of inactive bugs in bugzilla, if this bug is
still in this state in two weeks time, it will be closed.
Should this bug still be relevant after this period, the reporter
can reopen the bug at any time. Any other users on the Cc: list
of this bug can request that the bug be reopened by adding a
comment to the bug.
If this bug is a problem preventing you from installing the
release this version is filed against, please see bug 169613.
Thank you.
Closing per previous comment.


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Gold Book Camp (Extemp)…
I just wanted to thank you so much for everything that you did to make extemp and debate camp happen this year. I had an absolute blast at extemp camp and I hope that you are going to continue to have those every year. The entire experience of debate camp just seems to get better and better each time I come and I look forward to having many more great experiences there over the next couple of years. Again I just want to thank for all the time and effort that you have put in to making all of this come together.
Shane Baumgardner, Colorado
1st Place Extemper in the Nation 2009
I came to camp convinced that I could never do extemp in competition. I left the camp convinced that I not only can, I will.
George Nye, Washington
Cody and Ryan are wonderful teachers!
David Cecil-Few, Colorado
When I went to Extemp camp, I wasn't planning to compete in Extemp speaking this year. Now I definitely am! Great info, great coaching, great camp! 100% worth it!
Catherine Jones, Washington
Ryan and Cody could probably make car washing exciting, and they did a great job energizing the students. We came to camp with two students, one uncommitted to extemp and one reluctantly committed. We left with two enthusiastic committed students ready to start filling the boxes.
Katherine van der Vaart, Virginia
Extemp Camp was an amazing experience. When I learned it was to be the first Extemp Camp ever done by Training Minds, I was very nervous about it. But after it was over, I was totally blown away by the amazing job Cody and Ryan did. I learned so very much and would strongly recommend it to anyone. Thank you all for the great work you did!
Danielle Namour, Florida


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We're a great team at Fuzzique, so it's understandable you want to be a part of it. If you are incredibly passionate, want to NURTURE your career and SCULPT your craft then we would LOVE to hear from you.
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For Time:
75 Power Snatches (75/55)
Post WOD
50 Band Pull Aparts
50 Banded Good Mornings
400 m sled walk
Tip of the Day
Not every hero WOD is meant to be an hour long. Each hero has a desired stimulus and time frame. Today is meant to be fast. Some of the top athletes can do this workout unbroken. How far can you go before dropping the bar?
*In honor and memory of Randy Simmons.
Randy Simmons, 51, a 27 year LAPD veteran and SWAT team member was killed February 7 in the line of duty. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Simmons' wife and two children.


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Microsoft Azure Machine Learning is designed for applied machine learning. Use best-in-class algorithms and a simple drag-and-drop interface—and go from idea to deployment in a matter of clicks. Now you can build, test, and deploy predictive analytics solutions on your data faster, and with the peace of mind provided by enterprise-grade security.
Machine Learning helps you make better decisions
By cnsweb|2018-04-12T10:00:25+00:00April 12th, 2018|Uncategorized|Comments Off on Machine Learning helps you make better decisions


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Top 6 Dark Pokemon Cards: Team Rocket Expansion
The Team Rocket Set
Like many kids, I didn't even know how to play the TCG, I just enjoyed collecting and trading the cards. As an adult, I can better appreciate the strategic aspects of the game, and still love to scour through cards and find the best of the best.
Recently, I stumbled upon the Team Rocket expansion, which features several "Dark" Pokemon. Not to be confused with the actual element Dark, Dark Pokemon typically demonstrate great power but low HP. Read on to discover the six deadliest Dark cards of Team Rocket!
Pokemon TCG Quizview quiz statistics
Evolution Stages
Basic Pokemon can be played from your hand as you like.
Stage 1 Pokemon are evolutions that must be played on a corresponding Basic Pokemon.
Stage 2 Pokemon are further evolutions to be played on corresponding Stage 1 Pokemon.
6. Dark Muk
Typical of his kind, Muk has low Hit Points but some impressive abilities:
- Sticky Goo (Poke-Power) Adds 2 energy to an opponent's Retreat Cost, making it difficult to flee.
- Sludge Punch (2 energy) Does a mild 20 damage and Poisons your opponent. Not the strongest move, but the poison will rack on some hurt, and the low cost lets you strike quickly.
A Stage 1, Dark Muk can come into play quickly and envenom foes before they have a chance to fight back. Just keep him away from Psychic opponents.
5. Dark Raichu
Another Stage 1, Dark Raichu joins with more HP than most Dark Pokemon, 70. He accesses a single formidable technique:
- Surprise Thunder (3 energy) Shocks for 30, then you flip a coin. If Heads, you flip again. Get another Heads, and all Pokemon on your opponent's Bench take 20 damage, if Tails, they take 10.
30 damage with a chance to deal 10 or 20 to the Bench? Heck yes. As a bonus, Dark Raichu only needs one energy to retreat if things get dicey.
4. Dark Slowbro
Yet another Stage 1, Dark Slowbro tempts most players (despite low HP) with his interesting Poke-Power:
- Reel In (Poke-Power) Lets you add up to 3 Pokemon from your discard pile to your hand, letting you refresh your roster with fallen creatures.
- Fickle Attack (2 energy) Scores an impressive 40 damage, but does nothing if you lose the coin flip.
Slowbro's energy-efficient move and great power landed him a spot in many decks.
3. Dark Jolteon
Dark Jolteon may possess only 50 HP (terrible for a Stage 1), but he's got 2 great attacks and a low Retreat Cost.
- Lightning Flash (1 energy) Works wonders for 1 energy. You deal 20 damage, and if your opponent attacks next turn, they must flip a coin. A Tails negates that attack!
- Thunder Attack (3 energy) Inflicts 30 damage, and if you win a coin flip, Paralyzes your opponent. However, if you land Tails, you'll take 10 damage.
Each of Dark Jolteon's attacks has a 50% chance to prevent your opponent from attacking the next turn, and you only need one energy to start piling on the damage.
2. Dark Gyarados
Dark Gyarados comes with 70 HP, not bad for a Stage 1 Dark Pokemon. He's weak to Grass, but enjoys a resistance to Fighting.
- Final Beam (Poke-Power) Deals massive damage when Gyarados perishes. When it feints, if you land Heads on a coin flip, Gyarados unleashes 20 damage for each Water energy it had. However, keep in mind Gyarados must be free from status conditions for the power to work.
- Ice Beam (3 energy) Seizes 30 damage and has half a chance to Paralyze your opponent.
Dark Gyarados has plenty of abilities that made him one of Pokemon's best early cards.
1. Dark Dragonite
Dark Dragonite may possess only 70 HP (awful for a Stage 2 Pokemon), but his other qualities more than compensate.
- Summon Minions (Poke-Power) Simply lets you refill your Bench by adding 2 Basic Pokemon from your deck to it.
- Giant Tail (4 energy) Smashes a whopping 70 damage, but has a 50% chance to do nothing.
Throw in no weakness and a resistance to Fighting (useful for a Normal Pokemon, who tend to be weak to the type), and you've got one behemoth of a Pokemon.
Your favorite Dark Pokemon is..
Your Vote
Hopefully today's list highlighted some awesome Pokemon and let old fans revisit classic cards.
As a kid seeing "Dark" in front of a Pokemon's name engraved it into our minds, and with luck we'll see more Dark cards released in the future.
For now, feel free to vote for your favorite, and I'll see you at our next expansion countdown: the Gym Heroes set!
Questions & Answers
No comments yet.


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Video: We're Fast & Furious
By: Ashlee Wilson | Fri 31 Mar 2017, 15:27
We love F&F so much, we had to...
We're completely mad about Fast & Furious! So mad that we had to keep ourselves busy until the Fast & Furious pop-up channel started.
Watch the videos to see what happened:
Lucily we will be able to catch all seven movies on the Fast & Furious pop-up channel 109 from 1 to 6 April on DStv, or binge watch them all on DStv Now and DStv Catch Up Plus.


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Here comes the big question I want every youth to consider: At What Point Are You Truly Ready For Marriage?
The best age to get married is when you're really ready for marriage, this may be at 23 or 40. And again it's not about having but about the will to provide; making your dependant's or partner's security, happiness and comfort a priority. Trying to try, going the extra mile.
Truth is the resources to take care of a family will never come once, you cannot save it somewhere. You cannot have all your family would need for a lifetime at once. It is in stages, needs and priorities change with time and circumstances.
Our prayer is to be with someone who'd find contentment in little without losing the zeal to be greater and better. Someone who'd want to see us grow as much as we want for ourselves.
Nothing beats a partner that loves and is committed to your growth. Behind every successful person is probably a great fan and supporter.
That said fact remains that to love you need to care, to care you need to have some tangible and intangible resources, to get the tangible ones you'd need to up your game. The general well-being of your partner or dependants should motivate you to push harder and make better life changing decisions and actions.
If and when you find that someone that's worth keeping, don't take them for granted; not everyone is replaceable. You'll never find the right one, you'll never find a good one. You'll never be prepared for it, it's growth it will be new you have to grow in and into it. You'll only find someone whose flaws you can put up with.


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It's a rainy day prefacing a long weekend here in Ottawa, and though I have a to-do list as long as my arm to get done before end of day, allow me to procrastinate just a little bit and share with you some of the gems I've read lately. Perfect leisurely patio reads for the rest of the weekend? Maybe.
The Prettiest Girl at the Party
If you're interested at all in the inner workings of the news media, you may have noticed all the talk about Jill Abramson's departure from the New York Times this week. More than any other article I've read, this piece by Rachel Sklar really resonated with me. Beautifully written, it tapped into some of the ideas that so many people struggle with when leaving a job; whether by choice, or when the choice is made for you. Some of my favourite bits:
Abramson was let go in this way not because of a failure of business or journalism — the point of the enterprise, lest we forget! — but because Arthur Sulzberger is himself a bad manager, and managed this situation spectacularly badly.
Your power does not come from luck. Your power comes from you, and what you invest in it every day, in the work and the sweat and the giving a damn. That is what you carry around with you, even as you walk out of your fancy top job for the last time. That is what you carry into the next thing, and there will be a next thing, because you are good and because that's what you do. That is your capital.
"Dive bars are inherently patient places." I very much wish that this patient place was in my neighbourhood, too.
Often, when looking in a box of diplomatic records, he would find a single sheet of paper, slipped in between the others that described the rough outlines of a document that appeared to be missing.
Storytelling Is a Magical, Ruthless Discipline
Zadie Smith on storytelling, at the Moth Ball Gala earlier this month (via The Li.st on Medium). In a time where so many people call themselves "storytellers" (I'm looking at you, marketing communications), it was nice to look at storytelling in a different light.
Storytelling is a magical, ruthless discipline. The people who tell stories are often tempted to create a hierarchy in their lives, in which stories come before everything else, including people.
The New Playlist for Productive Work
I'm going to stop procrastinating now, and turn up some Super Mario Brothers to get things done. Until next time.


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CHINA'S DOLLAR MILLSTONE, Part 1
Breaking free from dollar hegemony
By Henry C K Liu
The vast expansion of US-led globalized trade since the Cold War ended in 1991 had been fueled by unsustainable serial debt bubbles built on dollar hegemony, which came into existence on a global scale with the emergence of deregulated global financial markets that made cross-border flow of funds routine since the 1990s.
Dollar hegemony is a geopolitically constructed peculiarity through which critical commodities, the most notable being oil, are denominated in fiat dollars, not backed by gold or other species since then president Richard Nixon took the US dollar off gold in 1971. The recycling of petro-dollars into other dollar assets is the price the US has extracted from oil-producing countries for US tolerance of the oil-exporting cartel since 1973. After that, everyone accepts dollars because dollars can buy oil, and every economy needs oil. Dollar hegemony separates the trade value of every currency from direct connection to the productivity of the issuing economy to link it directly to the size of dollar reserves held by the issuing central bank. Dollar hegemony enables the US to own indirectly but essentially the entire global economy by requiring its wealth to be denominated in fiat dollars that the US can print at will with little in the way of monetary penalties.
World trade is now a game in which the US produces fiat dollars of uncertain exchange value and zero intrinsic value, and the rest of the world produces goods and services that fiat dollars can buy at "market prices" quoted in dollars. Such market prices are no longer based on mark-ups over production costs set by socio-economic conditions in the producing countries. They are kept artificially low to compensate for the effect of overcapacity in the global economy created by a combination of overinvestment and weak demand due to low wages in every economy.
Such low market prices in turn push further down already low wages to further cut cost in an unending race to the bottom. The higher the production volume above market demand, the lower the unit market price of a product must go in order to increase sales volume to keep revenue from falling. Lower market prices require lower production costs which in turn push wages lower. Lower wages in turn further reduce demand.
To prevent loss of revenue from falling prices, producers must produce at still higher volume, thus further lowering market prices and wages in a downward spiral. Export economies are forced to compete for market share in the global market by lowering both domestic wages and the exchange rate of their currencies. Lower exchange rates push up the market price of commodities which must be compensated for by even lower wages. The adverse effects of dollar hegemony on wages apply not only to the emerging export economies but also to the importing US economy. Workers all over the world are oppressed victims of dollar hegemony, which turns the labor theory of value up-side-down.
In a global market operating under dollar hegemony, the world's interlinked economies no longer trade to capture Ricardian comparative advantage. The theory of comparative advantage as espoused by British economist David Ricardo (1772-1823) asserts that trade can benefit all participating nations, even those that command no absolute advantage, because such nations can still benefit from specializing in producing products with the lowest opportunity cost, which is measured by how much production of another good needs to be reduced to increase production by one additional unit of that good.
This theory reflected British national opinion at the 19th century when free trade benefited Britain more than its trade partners. However, in today's globalized trade when factors of production such as capital, credit, technology, management, information, branding, distribution and sales are mobile across national borders and can generate profit much greater than manufacturing, the theory of comparative advantage has a hard time holding up against measurable data.
Under dollar hegemony, exporting nations compete in the global market to capture needed dollars to service dollar-denominated foreign capital and debt, to pay for imported energy, raw material and capital goods, to pay intellectual property fees and information technology fees. Moreover, their central banks must accumulate dollar reserves to ward off speculative attacks on the value of their currencies in world currency markets. The higher the market pressure to devalue a particular currency, the more dollar reserves its central bank must hold. Only the Federal Reserve, the US central bank, is exempt from this pressure to accumulate dollars because it can issue theoretically unlimited additional dollars at will with monetary immunity. The dollar is merely a Federal Reserve note, no more, no less.
Dollar hegemony has created a built-in support for a strong dollar that in turn forces the world's other central banks to acquire and hold more dollar reserves, making the dollar stronger, fueling a massive global debt bubble denominated in dollars as the US becomes the world's largest debtor nation. Yet a strong dollar, while viewed by US authorities as in the US national interest, in reality drives the defacement of all fiat currencies that operate as derivative currencies of the dollar, in turn driving the current commodity-led inflation. When the dollar falls against the euro, it does not mean the euro is rising in purchasing power. It only means the dollar is losing purchasing power faster than the euro. A strong dollar does not always mean high dollar exchange rates. It means only that the dollars will stay firmly anchored as the prime reserve currency for international trade even as it falls in exchange value against other trading currencies.
In recent decades, central banks of all governments, led by the US Federal Reserve during Alan Greenspan's watch, had bought economic growth with loose money to feed debt bubbles and to contain inflation with "structural unemployment", which has been defined as up to 6% of the workforce, to keep the labor market from being inflationary. Central banking has mutated from being an institution to safeguard the value of money so as to ensure wages from full employment do not lose purchasing power into one with a perverted mandate to promote and preserve dollar hegemony by releasing debt bubbles denominated in fiat dollars. (See Critique of Central Banking, Asia Times Online, November 6, 2002.)
Despite all the talk about globalization as an irresistible trend of progress, the priority for the United States in the final analysis has been to advance its superpower economic objectives, not its obligations as the center of the global monetary system. This superpower economic objective includes the global expansion of US economic dominance through dollar hegemony, reducing all domestic economies, including that of the US, to be merely local units of a global empire. Thus when the US asserts that a healthy and strong economy in Europe, Japan and even Russia and China, all former enemies, is part of the Pax Americana, it is essentially declaring a neocolonial claim on these economies.
The concept of "stakeholder" in the global geopolitical-economic order advanced by Robert B Zoellick, former US deputy secretary of state and now president of the World Bank, is a solicitation from the US to emerging economic powerhouses to support this Pax Americana. The device for accomplishing this neo-imperialism is a coordinated monetary policy managed by a global system of central banking, first adopted in the US in 1913 to allow a financial elite to gain monetary control of the US national economy, and after the Cold War, to allow the US as the sole remaining superpower controlled by a financial oligarchy to gain monetary control of the entire global economy.
With the help of supranational institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of International Settlements, the US aims to negate national economic sovereignty with globalization of unregulated trade conducted under dollar hegemony. Unregulated trade globalization in the 21st century aims to neutralize national economic sovereignty to preempt national development financed by sovereign credit. Trade through export has become the sole operative path for national economic growth in a political world order of sovereign nation states that has existed since the Treaty of Westphalia of 1648. No national domestic economy can henceforth prosper without first adding to the prosperity of US-controlled global economy denominated in dollars.
Holy Dollar Empire
Echoing the Holy Roman Empire, the global economy has been operating as a global Holy Dollar Empire with the Federal Reserve as the Holy Dollar Emperor. Similar to the Holy Roman Empire, which disintegrated from the rise of Lutheran nationalism, this Holy Dollar Empire will eventually disintegrate from progressive centrifugal forces of a new populist economic nationalism. This new nationalism is not to be confused with regressive trade protectionism. The formation of the new Group of Five (G5 - China, Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa) in the 2008 Group of Eight Summit in Tokyo (G8 - the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Russia and the European Union) is a sign of this new trend of progressive economic nationalism. The 2008 US presidential election may herald in a new populism in US history to reform the structure of US debt capitalism.
In his speech to the G5 leaders, China's President Hu Jintao said: "It is necessary to take into full account the issue of food security in tackling the challenges in energy, climate change and other fields." Apart from calling for the setting up of an UN-led international co-operation mechanism and a global food-security safeguard system, Hu said all countries should strengthen cooperation in grain reserves, a process of proven success in China but not recommended by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, which views such scheme as a distortion of trade.
Liberation from this Holy Dollar Empire of dollar hegemony can only come from sovereign nations withdrawing from the global central banking regime to return to a national banking regime within a world order of sovereign nation states to put monetary policy back in its proper role of supporting national development goals, rather than sacrificing national development to support global dollar hegemony through wage-suppressing export-led growth.


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"Have you not reserved a blessing for me?" — Genesis/Breishit 27:34
"…Rebecca, mother of Jacob and Esau." –Genesis/Breishit 28:5
These two verses tie, in my estimation, in the competition for "most heart-rending verse in the Torah."
1) A child plaintively begging a parent for a blessing, after learning that another sibling has been blessed, seems to me to need no further comment.
2) The second verse caught my attention when I read this comment in the Stone edition*:
Em yaakov v'esau. Mother of Jacob and Esau. The verse repeats the obvious….it was as the loving mother of both that she wanted Jacob sent away, in order to avert bloodshed between them (Tur).
Tur, BTW, the chumash's bibliography explains, is the "Code of Jewish law composed by R' Yaakov, the son of the Rosh (c. 1275-c.1340). The Arba Turim [literally, "four rows"] (which is its full title) is composed for four parts…" (For more on this source, check out this image map and further explanation from the University of Calgary).
*For complete citations and additional sources, please see Source Materials.
Click on the "WeeklyTorah" tag for more resources on the weekly portion throughout the year, or on a portion name for parashah-specific notes. (The series began with Numbers; posts for Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus are being drafted, week-by-week.) You can also zero-in on particular types of "Opening the Book" posts by clicking Language and Translation, Something to Notice, a Path to Follow, or Great Source in the tag cloud.
The "Opening the Book" series is presented in cooperation with the independent, cross-community Jewish Study Center and with Kol Isha, an open group pursuing spirituality from a woman's perspective at Temple Micah (Reform). "A Song Every Day" is an independent blog, however, and all views, mistakes, etc. are the author's.


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Why would you do another film version of August Strindberg's play Miss Julie? And why would you go see it? The last version (an aversion?) I saw was an excruciating film by Mike Figgis starring Saffron Burrows and Peter Mullan. The reason to film Miss Julie may be because your name is Liv Ullmann. The Ingmar Bergman actress and sometime director has assemble, I think, a good cast. Written in 1888, Miss Julie was what Strindberg called naturalist theatre. The play takes place during one afternoon in the kitchen of a Swedish Count's estate. Ullmann has opened the play a bit and transposed it to Ireland. While the Count is away, his daughter, Miss Julie (Jessica Chastain), has set out to seduce her father's valet, John (Colin Farrell). The other character is the cook and John's fiancée, Kathleen (Samantha Morton), who quietly witnesses what is happening. John resentfully follows Julie's order to drink with him or to dance with him, but can also be very protective of her, until they go too far and have to live with the consequences. Ullmann follows the text without unnecessary stylish embellishments. Chastain paints a harsh portrait of a spoiled aristocrat, who later becomes so vulnerable and fragile. I found Colin Farrell flawless as valet John. John is a labyrinth of emotions and motivations. The character can go from shy and sweet to angry, to manipulative and uncaring. It's all clearly articulated without ever been overstated by Farrell. And Samantha Morton is instinctively intense and nervous as Kathleen. Unless you are a theatre historian, Miss Julie does not have the same meaning for today's film audiences as it did when it was created, and Strindberg's intentions can, I think, be put aside for a new appreciation of this masterpiece.
Rémi-Serge Gratton
Miss Julie


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A couple of weeks ago i visited my favourite cosmetics boutique.Everytime i go there i want to buy everything!!They have an exquisite selection of the most coveted brands!Plus they have excellent customer service,Katerina and Eirene are very sweet and more than happy to help you.Another plus for me is that the boutique is owned by a young girl(Katerina) that took a big risk in the middle of the economic crisis and that's another reason that i want to support her!The name of the boutique?BEAUTYSTORE!
First of all Rodial!The dragon's blood line(the one that Angelina Jolie swears by!).I really want to try the mask and the face mist.Well if i'm being honest i want to try the entire line but it's a bit pricey!(But someday..)
Next is the Beauty Sleep Concentrate from Neal's Yard Remedies.Katerina informed me that it's an all organics brand with no nasty chemicals and this is their best selling product.She gave me some samples that i'm very excited to try!
Next stop: the Laura Mercier stand!!Dear Santa can i have everything from their face and body range please??I have been so good this year!!
I have a lot of powders in my collection,but as soon as i finish some of them i will run and buy this one, the mineral foundation in a loose powder form,i've got my eyes set on this for a long time now!It gives such an incredible finish on the skin!
I bought their Tinted Moisturizer in the oil free version but i also want the illuminating one.
Also from Laura Mercier i want their Metallic Creme Eye Colour in Burnished Copper( the one that Pixiwoos use all the time).
I love this colour!!!
I'm hoping that Santa will bring me a couple of these beauties!!What's your wish list for Christmas?Do you prefer giving or receiving gifts??
BeautyStore : Prox. Koromila 47 Thessaloniki. Link
* Not a sponsored post,i'm not affiliated with the store.


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- Find a Solicitor
- Caroline Casagranda
Caroline Casagranda
Partner, Probate, Tax and Trusts
+44 (0)118 951 6932
- Wills
- Probate and estate administration
- Powers of Attorney
- Trusts and estate planning
- College of Law (Chester), LPC (Distinction)
- Manchester Metropolitan University, LLB (Hons)
- Member, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
- Member, Private Client Section, Law Society
- Associate Member, Solicitors for the Elderly
- Administering an estate with a net value in excess of £2 million, including drafting a deed of variation to achieve a substantial Inheritance Tax saving.
- Advising on an Intestacy and the complexities of locating beneficiaries all over Europe, the US and Australia.
- Administering an Estate that included several rental properties and assisting with complex rearrangements between family members.
- Advising residuary beneficiaries in relation to tax issues, including calculating inheritance tax liabilities where there is an interaction of the grossing-up and abatement rules, advising on Re Benham grossing requirements and negotiations with HM Revenue and Customs.
- Assisting and liaising with the Dispute Resolution team in aspects of contested probates, including applications to prove a disputed copy of a Will where the original had been destroyed, an application to Court on behalf of minor beneficiaries of an Intestate Estate and drafting Wills for a client in the midst of a disputed Trust application.
- Drafting Wills to include trusts to meet a variety of estate planning needs for families and their dependents.
- Assisting with Emergency or Death Bed Wills for clients that require urgent assistance and advice.
- Wright v Gater [2011] EWHC 2881 (Ch) assisting Jonathan Gater with this application to Court under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958 for a post-death variation which would eliminate Inheritance Tax and defer entitlement to capital.
Caroline Casagranda's practice includes wills, probate and estate administration, as well as Lasting Powers of Attorney and a range of tax planning. Casagranda is described as "very personable." Chambers HNW Guide
Caroline Casagranda advises individuals and families on tax planning, wills, probate and estate administration matters. A client enthuses: "I can't speak highly enough of Caroline. She is warm, patient and presents information in a way that her audience can understand." Chambers UK Guide
"Blandy & Blandy LLP's 'polite, sensitive and efficient' team includes Graham Benwell, joint managing partners Jonathan Gater and Philip D'Arcy, and Caroline." The Legal 500
"Caroline was very helpful, very understanding and patient with us. A truly lovely lady."
"I have used the services of Blandy & Blandy on several occasions during the past 25 years and on each occasion I have been well satisfied with the level of service provided."
"What I recall significantly is your gentle approach at a difficult time."
"My thanks to you for the way in which you have guided us through this sad process."
"Caroline Casagranda was extremely helpful and friendly and was a great help at an unhappy time."
"As usual, dealt with in a very professional manner. Caroline greatly assisted in some nuances to my amended Will."
"We were particularly keen to use your firm because I met Caroline at an Alzheimer's/Dementia education session. We found the service to be Dementia aware."
"We were entirely satisfied with the service at Blandy & Blandy and we were very pleased to have used the firm. Caroline was very understanding and patient with us."
"Thank you very much for the efficient and sensitive way this matter has been handled, for which the whole family is most grateful."
"Her practice includes wills, probate and estate administration, as well as Lasting Powers of Attorney and a range of tax planning." Chambers HNW Guide
Caroline Casagranda is a partner in our Probate Tax & Trusts team, which spans our Reading, Henley-on-Thames and London offices.
She specialises in wills, probate and estate administration of taxable and non-taxable estates, Lasting Powers of Attorney and tax planning for a wide range of clients.
Caroline's expertise is recognised in both The Legal 500 and Chambers HNW Guide, with clients describing her as "very professional", "down to earth and genuine" "warm" and "patient". She is also an associate member of both Solicitors for the Elderly and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
After completing her legal training in Maidenhead, Caroline joined Blandy & Blandy LLP in 2003 upon qualification. She became a partner in 2014.
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Haley & Justin | Kentlake Class of 2017 | Highschool Sweethearts |Kent WA Senior Photographer
Since Haley is my very first Senior Rep, I am so lucky to be able to do a couple of sessions for her and she is all about nature! She loves the trees! So does her boyfriend, Justin! We went to Game Farm Park in Auburn WA and documented this moment in their lives.


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United Way to host third Children's Book Drive
More than 70,000 books collected last year.
BOISE, Idaho —United Way of Treasure Valley will host its third annual Children's Book Drive, seeking to collect thousands of new and gently used books and distribute them to children throughout the valley.
The United Way Children's Book Drive will run April 10-14, following a kick-off event on Saturday, April 1, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Boise.
The Barnes & Noble event will include fun activities for children and families, including face painting and story time with therapy dogs.
In 2016, United Way of Treasure Valley collected more than 70,000 new and used books during the Children's Book Drive. With the help of nearly 500 volunteers, United Way and nonprofit partner Book It Forward Idaho cleaned, sorted and distributed the books to schools, early learning centers, after-school programs and many more.
Companies and organizations across the Treasure Valley partnered with United Way to host book drives for their employees and customers. Companies interested in partnering with United Way for this year's Children's Book Drive are encouraged to call the United Way office at (208) 336-1070.
"We look forward to the Children's Book Drive each year because it gives everyone in the Treasure Valley an opportunity to change a child's life," said Nora Carpenter, CEO and president of United Way of Treasure Valley. "Whether someone has a box of children's books collecting dust in a closest or they want to buy some new books and donate them, each book can make a difference for our community's kids."
According to Book It Forward Idaho, only about one in 300 Idaho children in low-income households own books.
United Way hosts the Children's Book Drive in April to help get books to local kids before schools end for the summer. Research shows that a lack of reading materials is one contributor to 'summer learning loss.'
During the summer, low-income students often regress by more than two months in reading achievement while their middle-class peers make slight gains, research shows. This gap compounds each year during a child's schooling.
According to the Idaho Department of Education, 81 percent of low-income kindergarteners were reading at grade level in the spring of 2013. When they returned to school in the fall, only 56 percent were reading at grade level.
"Many children in the Treasure Valley and across Idaho do not have books to call their own," said Idaho First Lady Lori Otter, her third year as spokesperson for the United Way Children's Book Drive. "The Children's Book Drive gives each one of us the opportunity to help a child by donating a new or gently used children's book to United Way."
Book drop-off sites throughout the valley
Many Treasure Valley residents will be able to bring books directly to their workplace, as dozens of companies have agreed to host donation boxes. People interested in donating can also drop off new or gently used books at any U.S. Bank or Albertsons store throughout the Treasure Valley, April 10-14.
For a complete list of drop-off locations, click here.
Sponsors and Partners
United Way of Treasure Valley is facilitating the Children's Book Drive in conjunction with United Way organizations in Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Lewiston and Coeur d'Alene.
Local sponsors include Albertsons, U.S. Bank, The River 94.9, 107.1 K-Hits, Channel 6 On Your Side, Book It Forward Idaho, Easter Seals Goodwill, Idaho Statesman, West Valley Medical Center and the Sundance Company.


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Source: From Netgalley and Mira in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.
Night Study by Maria V. Snyder
Series: Souldfinders #2, Study #5
Publisher: Mira
Publication Date: January 26, 2016
Goodreads Synopsis:
Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia are safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear.
Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he's quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he's been keeping secrets from Valek...secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander's mysterious plans, they realize it's far more sinister that they could have ever imagined.
I am ashamed at how long it took me to get to this book from my Netgalley pile and that it took me so long to finish it. I really loved the Poison Study series and I liked the first in the Soulfinders series as well, and what I enjoy about them is how much world building there continues to be through the series even once you are well into it. The only problem though, is the same thing, there is so much detail about the people, places, thought processes that it can feel like you are trudging through. So if you aren't in the mood to read or for this type of story it can be a rough one. All that being said, I did enjoy this book quite a bit. I love Yelena and Valek, they are adorable together and the twists throughout the book involving them were wonderful. The other characters, while they lend to the overall story just don't always hit the mark, but the story overall was great. I love the politics in these books and the magic and the love these characters have for each other. It is a band of misfits and they come together to do great things.
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one. My recommendation though, if you find a lot of detail too much or you are looking for a light read, this isn't it. There is a lot to take in all the time and not many parts you can just skim through (if that is how you read). There are little hints and secrets everywhere and they come together beautifully when the books wrap up.