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As the only BSI-accredited skylight firm in the country, Sunsquare will be demonstrating its entire range of industry-leading rooflights; from our definitive SkyView to our recently developed 30º pitch Pyramid.
Following Sunsquare's largest, most innovative stand to date at Grand Designs Live Birmingham 2014, which involved a suspended overhead structure to demonstrate its rooflights in situ, the Bury St Edmunds-based firm will be in the Grand Build throughout 2-10 May 2015 at Stand B225.
With no other skylight manufacturers opting to exhibit at GDL London 2015, Sunsquare invites you all to visit its stand and discuss your projects and requirements with its senior sales team.
Justin Seldis, managing director, Sunsquare, said: "There's no doubt that 2014 was a momentous year for Sunsquare. Our BSI accreditation helped position us as industry leaders, setting the standard for the quality and durability of skylights in the UK.
"It's therefore fitting that we're the only trailblazers for rooflights present at Grand Designs Live London 2015.
"We're extremely excited to welcome visitors to our stand to demonstrate the contemporary style and industry-leading safety and performance of our skylights.
"As a company we are hoping to be in a position to shout about yet another exciting feather in the cap for Sunsquare in terms of industry performance and reliability."
Grand Design Live has already announced its full line-up of celebrities that will be appearing throughout the nine-day schedule.
With over 500 exhibitors expected across seven different sections and many products never seen before by the general public, there's sure to be plenty of opportunity for inspiration for those looking to improve their home.
Stay tuned to the Sunsquare news section and our social media channels to be in with a chance of winning free tickets to Grand Designs Live London 2015.
Want to find out more?
If you want to know more about this or anything else then get in contact
Call us on +44 (0)1284 723377
Email firstname.lastname@example.com


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ONLINE – As 2015 gets underway, The Canadian Lutheran is looking back over the last year to see which articles published online were our most popular.
Our most popular feature article of 2014 is also one of our most recent. Dr. Karl Persson's "The Shadow of Christmas," exploded in popularity after its December 17 publication. The article reflects on an often-overlooked aspect of the Christmas story—the slaughter of the innocents under Herod.
"How can this be good news?" Persson asks. "Is our faith no more than a clash of kings, where we celebrate how the Chosen One—the Messiah—escaped, with little thought for the innocent victims caught in between? Is the kingdom of God just another 'game of thrones'? What kind of faith can be perverse enough to have such a story as its backdrop? What kind of miracle would it take to redeem such a story? The angels appear to the shepherds, singing, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.' Can we, in good conscience, sing with them?"
Find the answer to these questions in the rest of Persson's article here.
Other well-read articles included a number of movie reviews by Rev. Ted Giese. In a year that saw numerous Christian movies and biblical epics hit the theatres, perhaps it's not surprising that the most popular reviews were Son of God, Noah, and Heaven is for Real.
By far the most well-read series of articles over the past year was coverage of the fire at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton. The seminary suffered a fire on the evening of November 12. A few days later we learned, sadly, that the fire's cause was not accidental. Despite the setback, the seminary community banded together, continuing classes offsite until they were able to return to the building on November 25.
Other articles on major national and international news were also popular. Following June's shooting tragedy in Moncton, the story of a Lutheran pastor ministering to the community attracted a lot of attention. So too Lutheran Church–Canada President Robert Bugbee's call to prayer following October's shooting in Ottawa was widely read and shared online. Reports on the rising persecution of Christians in Iraq as well as continuing coverage of the crisis in Ukraine likewise drew attention in 2014.
Finally, a number of other assorted articles received high-readership over the past year, including the stories "Most Canadian Christians never read the Bible," "Why should I go to Church?," "Brazilian Lutherans' Christmas Carol video goes viral," and "Jesus' 'wife' no more: New evidence suggests fragment a forgery."
Did one of your favourite articles from 2014 not make the list? Let us know in the comments below.

subset: commoncrawl


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While for most people a pet is a source of joy, often becoming a beloved part of the family, there are inevitably some circumstances when, for myriad reasons, pets will need to be rehomed.
Roz Robinson, chief executive of Cat Haven in Shenton Park, said anyone thinking of getting a pet should consider getting an animal from a shelter rather than a pet shop.
"You are getting a healthy animal that has been behaviour-assessed, health- assessed and you know for sure the animal has also been desexed and microchipped," she said. "Cats from Cat Haven also completely comply with the new cat laws."
Pet Rescue director Vickie Davy said her organisation's mission was to lower euthanasia rates by finding new homes for as many rescued pets as possible.
"The idea behind it is to make adoption accessible. People don't have to go out to a shelter, which can be quite confronting."
Ms Davy said people often held the misconception that rescue pets were "damaged goods".
"Rescue pets are just normal cats, dogs, guinea pigs and any other animal that you can have at home. The big advantage of choosing a rescue pet is that the rescue team will help match a pet to your lifestyle and that is really important."
She said most pets became homeless because their owners had a change in circumstances.
"Often it is because the owners get divorced and they have to sell their own home and move into a rental property, or the owners get into financial difficulty, or they get relocated for work. Only 5 per cent of the pets that come in to us are there because they have been abused."
Ms Davy said that if one third of all people who planned to get a pet next year chose to adopt rather than go to a pet shop or breeder, there would be no need to euthanase any homeless pets in that period. "People really can do something to help with this issue and when you adopt a pet, it is like you are giving them a second chance," she said.
Adopting a pet – how it works
M.J. Macpherson, founder and president of Homeless and Abused Animal Rescue Team (HAART), said anyone interested in adopting a pet was asked to fill out a questionnaire. From there, a home check was done to make sure there was proper fencing, somewhere with shade and that the area was safe for the animal.
"For cats, we really try to find indoor-only homes, preferably with cat runs and we encourage people to take out pet insurance if they are able to."
She said when a match was made, the new owner was asked to pay an adoption fee which covered vets and vaccination.
"The animal itself is free but we get people to pay for the vet work that needs to be done before rehoming can take place."
She said people who adopted puppies were offered obedience training and HAART also offered adopters a trial period. "We just want to make sure the match is a right fit."
A selection of Perth's animal rehoming centres:
•Cat Haven, Shenton Park, 9442 3600, cathaven.com.au
•HAART, 0408 489 522, haart.org.au
•Dogs' Refuge Home, Shenton Park, 9381 8166, dogshome.org.au
•SAFE Perth, Joondalup, 0437 870 245, safeperth.com.au
•K9 Dog Rescue, Mandurah, 9581 9005, k9dogrescue.com
•RSPCA Paws Central, Malaga, 9209 9300, rspca.org.au
•Swan Animal Haven, South Guildford, 9279 8485, swananimalhaven.asn.au
Read More –
Finding reward in rescuing pets


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Residential CO2 Alert for iPhoneFree
Free Apes Apps iOS Version 1.0 Full Specs
Publisher's Description
From Apes Apps:
Calculate your residential CO2 emission and see the effects of changing your daily behavior. Touch the icons to input data, touch the traffic lights to see a summary of that item. Your emission is compared with the average emission in your region using reliable data.Sources:International Energy Agency (IEA)Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)International Road Federation (IRF)Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)BPfeatures:Calculates your RESIDENTIAL CO2 EMISSIONDisplays only values you can influence with your daily behaviorCompares your emission with other people (choose one of 144 regions)It contains data of 144 regions to compare your emission per item and your total emission with others.More info: www.apesapps.com
read more +


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Clientside templates for reactive UI – Tim Oxley
Tim Oxley shows us how to harness the browser to do some of the heavy-lifting. See below for full session description and more resources.
Got a taste for it? Be there for the dev track at Web Directions South 2012.
This presentation was recorded at Web Directions Code in Melbourne on May 24 2012.
Session description
Today's web browser is a powerful application platform, challenging the traditional responsibilities of web application server and client. In this session we learn to harness the browser to do some of the heavy-lifting traditionally delegated to the server-side.
Pushing rendering tasks onto the web browser reduces the amount of hand-holding required of a server, minimising network utilisation and lag involved in user interactions. This decouples our views from our server implementation and can improve overall application performance. Your web applications will feel snappy and lightweight, presenting a more pleasant user experience.
We will explore the implications of client-side rendering and the differences between popular client-side templating tools, such as jQuery templates, EJS, Underscore and Handlebars, evaluating compatibility, performance, expressiveness and project health, while comparing statistics and user experience with traditional server-side templating techniques.
Resources referred to in this presentation
- Asynchronous UIs – the future of web user interfaces
- The client-side templating throwdown
- Unless you have a very good reason not to, use Handlebars
- Recommended framework: Ember.js
- Staticloud
- eson – Extended (pluggable) JSON for node
- Learn to say no to clients
- Don't give your clients a CMS
- Just teach them to write JSON, or even better, CSON
- And have them markup their pages using Markdown
- Build tools are your friends, learn to use Make
- And be more like TJ
About Tim Oxley
Tim works primarily on the NodeJS platform, building lightweight data and interconnectivity services for business. Since leaping from Flash's burning carcass, Tim has been honing his skills as a professional JavaScript developer while championing professional programming practices as a consultant in Australia and worldwide.
Great reading, every weekend.
We round up the best writing about the web and send it your way each Friday morning.


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Epps Christian Center Sponsors Thanksgiving Dinner and Appreciation Banquet
Saturday morning, Epps Christian Center began their annual free Thanksgiving meal for disadvantaged people in the community. "We began our meals Saturday and we will serve again on Thanksgiving Day," said Evangelist Sylvia Tisdale.
It is expected that approximately 800 people will enjoy the meals prepared by Evangelist Tisdale. "Aside from preparing meals for my community, we prepared meals for Council on Aging to go to Century and also we partnered with Carver Community Center to help with meals," she said.
Evangelist Tisdale has been serving the community with breakfast every morning for those in need for 12 years. She begins each morning at 2am and makes sure everyone coming in gets a hot meal. When asked how much sleep she gets in total, she replied "at least 4 hours."
Her day continued Saturday evening; an appreciation banquet was given for organizations that served the hurting, homeless and the hungry, "We must do something to encourage our weakest link-the hurting, homeless and the hungry."
The program began with Mrs. Robin Reshard, as Mistress of Ceremony, greeting everyone with her natural humor followed by the Invocation given by Pastor Kenneth Davis.
Guest speaker for the occasion was Mrs. Belle Bear. "Things are made better when you act," she said. She continued to speak about her own challenges growing up as a young Jewish girl in Selma, Alabama. "We have all experienced something difficult. None of us are immune from needing help."
"Why do I get involved? The reason I really volunteer goes to the heart," Bear stated. "Are you doing what you can when you are to make a difference?"
Organizations that received awards were A Will and a Way, ACTs, Appetite for Life, Capstone, Carver Community Center, Center for Independent Living-Disability Resource Center, Community Action, Council on Aging, Escambia-Pensacola Human Relations Commission, EscaRosa Coalition on the Homeless, Favor House, Independence for the Blind, Loaves and Fishes, Lakeview Center, Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc., Pathway for Change, Truth for Youth, Sickle Cell Anemia and Waterfront Rescue Mission.
Read Next- How To Get Help For WP Website


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Never one to take a break from her career, even after returning home from a company promotion in Toronto, Canada, Jessica Alba stopped by the "Honest" office Friday (October 11) to make sure everything was in-line and in good order before enjoying the weekend with her family.
The 32-year-old entrepreneur looked stunning with her beautiful brunette hair down about her shoulders, wearing red shades, a brown leather jacket over a white tee, blue jeans and silvery high tops. She completed her look with two handbags, one tan, and one white, hanging from her arms.
In related news, the mother of two never quits! She is hitting us hard with a substantial list of movie titles, ranging from post-production, all the way to pre-production and rumors, all of which are scheduled for release in 2014.
Movie titles include: "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For," "Stretch" and "Dear Eleanor," in post-production, with "Barely Lethal" and "How to Make Love Like an Englishman" beginning pre-production next year. Stay linked to GossipCenter for the latest on the gorgeous Jessica Alba"s exciting life!


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Welcome back to my third learning project blog if you have made it this far. Its nice of you to be joining me on my ASL learning journey.
This week I used two resources, Signing Savvy as well as an app off the iPhone App Store, called ASL. I have been trying to use several different resources, but it is a bit hard considering different resources give different signs for the same words. However, it is still helpful and I have been enjoying the process thus far.
Last week I decided to learn months, days, as well as please, thank you, and you're welcome. Check it out and see my vlog below:
Thought out this week while learning these signs, I discovered that signing months, were is no specific sign, instead you sign the months like you would write them in short. For example: January – you would finger sign J-A-N, however for something short like March or shorter, you would sign the full word, for March you would finger spell M-A-R-C-H.
Near the end of the video, I discuss how there is no real way to sign you're welcome, I learned this from several rescuers on youtube, and they all gave the three ways I show in my video. This is where I realized that youtube is wonderful to learn ASL, so if you are learning it too, search through youtube.
Next week I plan to learn signs to do with people and family, such as, family, parents, mom, dad, sister, brother, child, grandma, grandpa, boy, and girl. I also want to learn come conversation questions, such as 'do you have any sisters/brothers?', 'are you single/married?', 'do you have children', 'where do you work?', and 'where do you live?'. These are good conversation starters, and considering I want to learn how to hold a conversation by the end of the semester, I figured these would be a great place to start.
Join me next week to see my next Vlog on ASL. #learningproject
Via Giphy


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Share good ideas and conversation. Login, Join Us, or Take a Tour!
tacocat · 232 days ago · link · · parent · post: Pubski: July 4, 2018
Mine doesn't have in dash navigation and it doesn't display my texts. It's OK enough. The law is written very vaguely. You could be pulled over for reaching for something on your passenger seat


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Tuesday, 1 June 2010
Penny's Quilt
No, this isn't Penny. This is my daughter Sarah.
Sarah and her boyfriend Olly had dreams of one day owning a campervan. Well, after much debating and deliberating they bought a real beat up old wreck of a VW 1965 Split Screen Campervan. After many months restoration she became a little beauty. She was given the name of Penny!! Probably because she cost quite a few!! Penny is their pride and joy. They decided that after University they were going to take some time out and travel around the UK coast. We parents had our doubts. Those of you old enough and wise enough will know why we had our doubts. She managed to get 5,000 miles and just two days from their journey's end before having to be taken back to the garage to be made well again. Once in The Lake District she decided that she didn't fancy going up those hills and refused to budge. As luck would have it a kindly chap stopped and asked if he could be of help. He was South African and said that his job was ..... restoring campervans!!! Even better was the fact that when he told them what was needed to get her going again it was his turn to be amazed when Olly said he had the spare part in a box of odd bits that he had bought with him. Job done and off they went.
Then came the question. Mum, will you make us a quilt for the journey? Yes, I heard myself reply. They wanted one with campervans on. We set off on a mission then to find a pattern. I cannot remember the name of this pattern but I bought it on the internet and it was for a wall hanging. I cut out and Sarah learned to chain sew as we were up against a tight deadline. The vans are appliqued and should have accessories in the shape of surfboards and barbecues and beachballs but as I said we were up against a deadline and they weren't that bothered about them being there. Phew!! I can honestly say that the only piece of fabric I bought for this quilt was the backing. Everything else came from my stash. The binding was made up using all the leftovers from cutting out the vans. It will not win any prizes in the quilting department as it was simply machine quilted in the ditch with invisible thread. Having kept them warm all around the Country it is holding out reasonably well. One day they will have matching cushions. They are still in a dark place. ( Stop nagging me Oll).
My favourite block - a pink campervan. Well what would you expect of me? One thing that amused me. I loaned the quilt to a local Church that was having a craft display and someone had hung it at the front of the church above the altar. I called the quilt " Run to the Sun" but maybe it was going somewhere even higher.
On Sunday we went for a drive over to Dunster. I have previously shown you Dunster from the coast. This is Dunster Castle and it is a beautiful place. It is a National Trust property and we love to wander around the grounds.
The views are just amazing and it is one of my most favourite of places.
I imagine just simply being able to sit in this spot with my sewing and looking out to sea.
I am very late with klosjes reporting but total now stands at 105.
Happy stitching
Love Shirley.x
20 comments:
That is possibly the coolest and most fabulous quilt EVERReplyDelete
What a fun quilt. When you are that age how can you take life seriously. Thank goodness for their free spirit they make the world go round.ReplyDelete
Sue x
- Anonymous1 June 2010 at 21:45
Just LOVE the campervan quilt! It is probably set to become a contemporary classic!ReplyDelete
- Sarah Sherratt1 June 2010 at 22:29
Mother.....could you find a more horrendous picture of me?!ReplyDelete
p.s. Less blogging....more cushion quilting eh?
Love the story of Penny and The Quilt! You did a fantastic job and really captured the "essence" of Penny. When we were young, we used to go surfing every weekend and our best friend had a blue combi called "Greg". It travelled many miles with many bodies crammed into it and surfboards on the roof - oh the memories!ReplyDelete
Love that Castle. It must be fun to sit and wonder what life was like way back then.
Congratulations on 105!
Dear Sarah,ReplyDelete
I thought you looked quite beautiful in the photo myself you insubordinate child. It is your own fault for not supplying me with a photo of your choice!! ha! One day i will surprise you.xx
What a wonderful post Shirley, my you have been busy. The quilt is fabulous and obviously much loved. If those vans could speak! I always love seeing photos of your surrounds and am wishing myself there as I write.ReplyDelete
You have a gorgeous daughter and the photo was perfect for the post.
Good luck with all your projects and enjoy your sewing!
What a wonderful quilt and the campervan certainly brings back memories for me. When I lived in the UK in 1971 all my Aussie friends were travelling around the UK and the Continent in campervans just like that.ReplyDelete
What a great story and a great quilt! Safe travels to your daughter!ReplyDelete
I had a Volkswagen pop up camper bus! LOVED IT! My kids still remember it. Love the quilt! That's probably the coolest quilt I've ever seen!!!! Ya'll have fun and be safe in your travels! I love your photos!!! XOReplyDelete
Brilliant camper van quilt. Takes me back to the days when we used to drive around the Cornish coast chasing decent surf.ReplyDelete
I'm so jealous :o) My DH and I would love to have a campervan...but I need a new kitchen and double glazing before there is any chance of having a budget for that kind of restoration :o)ReplyDelete
Love your campervan quilt...it is adorable!!
OMG...this VW brought back memories! Had one in a former life and when there was a hill bigger than a gentle incline,it was iffy if the van would get up there.ReplyDelete
I absolutely love the quilt that your insubordinate daughter got...did you design it yourself? it really is a beaut!
Wow! I am sorry, that os one FANTASTIC quilt!!!
Seriously awesome!
I think it should have a permanent place on your blog...
I am not joking!
Now can I please be your lady in waiting and sit next to you as we stitch away enjoying that view?
Oh, my!
thanks for Penny's story! Sarah and Olly did good.
Darling quilt...very clever!ReplyDelete
How cute!!! I love it! I've only made doggy quilts for my kids vehicles....love the idea of having a campervan quilt...They will so put it to good use, I'm sure....Gotta love the free spirit of our young ones, eh! They can move the world if they have to!ReplyDelete
Love that quilt it is so happy and you have to LOVE Penny. I have just shown Lucas and he gave Penny the nod of approval.ReplyDelete
Love your campervan quilt it adorable!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous23 August 2011 at 08:43
Wow!!!! what a great site and i feel happy to post Aussie CampervansReplyDelete
Shirley this is the most awesome quilt I've ever seen ! :D I love it--I think you've just inspired my next project. I love Dunster--well, I love everything about Britain. :) Have a fab weekend...ReplyDelete
Following you in the hopes you make another quilt like this and sell it! LOL


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Long before the arrival of the babyliss some women with smoother or indefinite hair already had their tricks to get curls: the bobs. Even with so much technology, this is still a very convenient option, as it does not require large appliances or huge investments, does not cause great damage to the hair and still guarantees a beautiful and natural result.
But to put it into practice you have to know how to make curls with bobs so that they look good in the way you expect. Sleep Styler Rollers are the revolutionary new way of curling your hair naturally as seen on TV show "Shark Tank". Even before the end of the show that day the stocks had already gone.
The idea is so simple and viral that the inventors received orders form all over the world where the show was live on the television. Sleep Styler Rollers are only available on the official site of the product. There you can chose between offers and sizes, as well as taking advantage of a 30 days money back guarantee if not 100% satisfied with the results. Therefore, there is nothing to lose, except a strait boring hairstyle!
How to curl your hair with Sleep Styler Rollers
Making curls with Sleep Styler Rollers is easier than it looks and also brings no harmful effects to the hair than using babyliss, for example. All you have to do is chose the desired size rollers and start separating the strands of your hair. Smaller size rollers, small curls. Larger size rollers, bigger curls.
With a separate strand, completely untwist the hair and position the roller on the tip of the strand, working from top to bottom (root). Then begin wrapping the strand over the roller, so that all hair is concentrated around the Sleep Styler Rollers.
Once you reach the desired curls position, fasten with a band and let the hair dry naturally. Then, loose one by one to form the curls you desired so much!
While rollers are a practical way to get curly hair, you need to be careful and avoid any problem with the health of your hair. DO NOT use hair dryer when using Sleep Styler Rollers. Use towel to dry your hair around 80% before using the rollers.
- Choose the size of the strand
For starters, it is crucial to choose the size of hair strands you want to curl. Larger strands are more natural, while smaller strands are perfect for anyone who seeks as much definition as possible.
This decision also has to do with the length of your hair, since it relates to the chosen rollers size. For wider curls, you need larger rollers, but if you have short hair, you may not be able to wrap the strands properly. In this case, the ideal is to bet on a roller of small size to achieve a more natural effect.
- Set the ideal size curls
Another point to consider is that you should set the ideal size curls. If you simply wrap the whole hair strand, the curls will start right after the roots, which is also great.
However, many people prefer curls located more towards the ends of the hair, mixing the smoothest area with those with more volume. So, it is important to define from which length you want the curls to appear, as this will determine how much you should wrap the strands around the rollers.
- Use different directions
A common mistake amongst curlers is to make curls only in one direction. However, if you notice carefully all naturally curly hair spreads in all directions.
Therefore, when using Sleep Styler Rollers you should consider this and wrap the strands in the rollers in different directions. One of the strands should be rolled in a clockwise direction while the other in a counterclockwise direction, for example. This creates more dimension and more natural look for your hair.


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SEAL BEACH, CA. – The Olson Company, the leading developer of in-town urban living, announces plans for two new residential communities in the Los Angeles area. Closing on two plots in the areas of Westchester and El Segundo for the planned communities of "Gateway Walk" and "Pacific Walk", Olson plans to complete construction by 2012.
Olson Homes plans to create a 14 unit single family detached residential community in Westchester, with homes between 1,800 and 1,821 sq. ft., featuring 3 bedrooms with additional loft space, 2.5 baths, and 2 car garages. The new El Segundo community will consist of 12 attached townhomes, ranging in size from 1,597 to 1,622 sq. ft., with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and 2 car side-by-side or tandem garages.
Expected to be completed in 2012, both new home communities will offer desirable commutes to the nearby employment centers in the South Bay – including Los Angeles, Hawthorn, Manhattan Beach, and Marina Del Rey, as well as close proximity to the nearby beaches, and many retail, dining and entertainment options. With simultaneous construction, potential home owners interested in the South Bay will have the choice of townhome or single family detached living.
The homes, built to exceed LEED green living standards, will include energy efficient amenities including Energy Star appliances; water efficient and lead-free faucets; highly water efficient toilets; auto shut-off motion sensors in all baths, space saving tank-less water heaters, and built-in recycle bins, among many other features.
"Olson Homes looks forward to building competitively priced homes in the Westchester and El Segundo communities, our fourth and fifth communities in the South Bay area," said Steve Olson, Chairman/CEO of The Olson Company. "The new communities will create jobs and fill a need for affordable housing in the area, as well as further underscore our commitment to building in 'walkable' areas."
The Olson Company's numerous successful urban living developments across Southern California over the last 22 years reflect its commitment to the homebuyer as top priority. With its notable homeowner satisfaction, The Olson Company has garnered prestigious Eliant Awards in six categories in 2010, including a number one ranking for the "Design Selection" experience, and second for delivering an incredible experience during the Purchase, Construction, and Customer Service phases, and ranked second for "Overall Quality" and "Sales from Referrals." The Olson Company believes in "livability," and implements a thoughtful and detail-oriented approach from concept through execution. As part of their unique approach to providing these communities, The Olson Company understands all that goes into buying a new home and provides tailored services to support the needs of homebuyers, such as financial education and continued support services.
To learn more about Olson Homes please visit www.OlsonHomes.com.
About The Olson Company
Established in 1988, The Olson Company and the Olson Homes brand are nationally recognized for creating unique in-town neighborhoods in urban communities throughout California. Headquartered in Seal Beach, California, The Olson Company has successfully partnered with governmental agencies and private landowners to create innovative housing solutions designed to fulfill the lifestyle needs of today's buyer. The company works diligently with community and neighborhood groups to build a high level of awareness and broad-range community consensus around its neighborhoods. The Olson Company was awarded the prestigious "Builder of the Year" award by Professional Builder Magazine and the National Association of Home Builders.


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Prep preview / Cheer
Cheer It will be a successful cheer season if…? "There is no if," coach Savannah Turner said. "They will be successful in everything they do.… Continue reading
Prep preview / Tennis
The South Whidbey tennis team lost the bulk of last year's varsity team to graduation, so the Falcons will turn to new faces to compete… Continue reading
Prep preview / Volleyball
After reaching the state tournament two years in a row, South Whidbey volleyball coach Mandy Jones believes the Falcons have the firepower to make it… Continue reading
Prep preview / Cross country
The South Whidbey High School cross country team is consistently among the Washington's best. The Falcon girls have qualified for the state meet 27 times… Continue reading
Prep preview / Soccer
The young South Whidbey soccer team is on the rise. The Falcons had only one senior and one junior last year when they used a… Continue reading
Prep preview / Football
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Shooters take aim at archery camp
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Huskies sign Muzzy / Baseball
2016 South Whidbey High School graduate Ricky Muzzy recently signed a letter of intent to play baseball for the University of Washington. The past two… Continue reading
Anderson, Merritt win Useless Bay Ladies Invitational / Golf
Dianne Anderson and Cindy Merritt led the field at the Useless Bay Golf and Country Club Ladies Invitational Aug. 7 and 8. Anderson and Merritt… Continue reading
Islanders take 2nd in Crossfire tournament / Soccer
The U16 boys South Whidbey Islanders finished second in the Crossfire Select Soccer Tournament July 27-29 in Redmond. The Islanders, coached by Ben Rusch, won… Continue reading
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South Whidbey runners finished among the leaders at the Race the Reserve Saturday, Aug. 11, in Coupeville. The Whidbey Island Triathlon, Whidbey Island Marathon and… Continue reading
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British Soccer Camp presented by Challenger Sports made a stop at Langley this week, and coaches Danni Rigby and Owin Whelan liked what they saw.… Continue reading
WIAA considering changing classification system
The makeup of South Whidbey High School's new athletic home, the North Sound Conference, may have a short shelf life. This fall, six area schools… Continue reading
Bromme bounces back from training accident
Five years ago, Coupeville's Christina Bromme was run over by a truck. Last weekend, she ran across the finish line of the Whidbey Island Triathlon.… Continue reading
Photos from the Whidbey Island Triathlon
Attached are some shots of the 22nd annual Whidbey Island Triathlon from Saturday, July 28, in Langley. The competitors swam a half mile in Goss… Continue reading
Whidbey runners dominate triathlon
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Praia, Sep 11 (Inforpress) – On Monday, the sea washed and destroyed the breakwater that separated the beach from the villas on the seafront in Cidade Velha, in the municipality of Ribeira Grande de Santiago, causing damage to restaurants and bars located nearby.
The waves, according to the testimony of people who lives in that location, began at about six in the morning to beat with great force, ending up destroying the walls of protection and flooding the more habitable zone.
According to Esmeralda, a local resident who spoke in declarations to Inforpress, already on Sunday night to Monday the high waves began, but only yesterday morning after increasing of fury managed to break down the protection wall entering near the villas, bars and restaurants in this area.
"The force of the sea caused damage to the floor and some restaurants and bars, while we residents had to take everything we had at the house sill, because if we did not go everything to the sea. We are already accustomed to the rise of the sea on this slope, but never like this morning", she said.


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The early San inhabitants
Early archaeological evidence tells us that the San inhabited the Richtersveld area thousands of years ago. They hunted game (mountain zebra and klipspringer) and gathered berries and herbs. Arrowheads made of stone and plant resin have been found around Eksteenfontein. Then the first Khoekhoen or pastoral people moved to these regions from Botswana some 2 000 years ago. Like the San, they were hunter-gatherers, and only slaughtered animals on rare ceremonial occasions. The Nama speaking herders in the Richtersveld, therefore, are said to be descendents from these first pastoralists and the San.
Large scatterings of tools, pottery and ostrich eggshells with ornate designs and shell beads have been found in the area. Recently pots with ears and pointy bottoms have been unearthed here in Eksteenfontein, some in excellent condition. We are told that they are 1 000 years old and it is thought that the inhabitants brewed herb beer and kept milk in these vessels, propping them up in the rich red desert sands.
Useful contacts
- Richtersveld National Park - Information Office
Contact this office to arrange activities in the National Park, including hiking, 4x4 and water sports.
- World Heritage Site administrative office
The administrative office for the Richtersveld World Heritage Site no longer directly arrange hiking, 4x4 driving, cycling and accommodation. Contact the Eksteenfontein tourism information centre - they can aso advise on the best route to take depending on your specific interests.
- Eksteenfontein Information Centre
The information centre takes bookings for Rooiberg, Kom Rus 'n Bietjie and the World Heritage Site. Can arrange a range of activities from hiking to cultural tours.
- Kuboes Cultural Groups
Johanna can arrange a variety of cultural events in the heartland of Nama culture
- Jakob Diergaardt
Local tour guide
- See the Nama Stap
Lena can arrange for visitors to see and parttake in a traditional Nama stap dance
- Horse riding or donkey cart trips
- Lekkersing Stone Mine
Visit a very unusual sandstone quarry.
- Lekkersing Municipal Office
A good first contact for the Lekkersing area, incl stone mine, the Nama stap, horse riding and camping.
- Sanddrift Information
Story telling, see the Nama stap or listen to the Basotho Stars sing. Guides to see the Petroglyphs.


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Tim Peake
26 October 2016Add to My Folder
During his visit to the National Space station, Tim described the first time he looked out of the window of the International Space Station, how he achieved his dream of becoming an astronaut and his hopes for the future of space exploration. Watch the interview in full with your class and get inspired!
© Univesity of Leicester
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A Tactic of Warfare
Contrary to propaganda proffered by the State Department, terrorism is not a belief system; it is, rather, a tactic of warfare. Sometimes used offensively by states in suppressing dissent or in subduing populations, sometimes used defensively by those being suppressed or subdued, terrorism is an effective means of making one's determination known. As a systematic tactic that employs collective fear as a lever in political conflict, terrorism is deployed in both spectacular and spectral ways, usually in conjunction with other means of psychological warfare.
Genocide and other extreme extensions of conflict between societies rely on the justifications developed to carry out this warfare, and indeed are natural extensions of commercial philosophy. I thought about the connections between commercialization, terrorism, and psychological warfare recently when listening to a talk by the director of the Indigenous Peoples Council on Biocolonialism, who was addressing the formidable task of fighting the commercialization of life and the attendant threat to indigenous cultures worldwide from the corporate states that control the media and international institutions guiding such protocols as the Convention on Biological Diversity.
By chance, I happened to notice a news item the same day about the United States government deploying financial warfare against the whistleblower organization Wikileaks for exposing US war crimes in Central Asia, and recalled how financial warfare was likewise used in the mid 1980s to undermine the former Republic of Yugoslavia. While these hostile acts do not constitute terrorism, they nevertheless are terrifying, and contribute to the destabilizing effect of globalization—the ongoing commercialization project of states and corporations benefiting from the theft of what the rest of us need to live. In that context, it is not surprising that some of the victims resort to terror as a defense.


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A special audit report on the performance of Sri Lanka's diplomatic service will be released shortly, Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe said.
He said his Department is currently working on the document and the Department officials would be sent to diplomatic missions of Sri Lanka overseas to collect the necessary information. He was addressing an awareness programme for Parliamentary Journalists conducted by the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) together with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy at Waters Edge in Battaramulla yesterday.
"There is a general opinion in the country that our diplomatic service is highly inefficient.
In 2017 alone, the country has spent Rs.8.3 billion to maintain the offices of our diplomatic missions. The inefficiency in them is a problem of the performance of individuals appointed to those missions. What have they done to promote the image of the country or to promote trade or tourism? What have they given to the country in return? There has been no such assessment up to now.
No statistics are available," the Auditor General said.
He said his Department has paid attention to produce sector-wise audit reports and the report on diplomatic service would be the first among them. Similarly, he said a report on Agrarian Services would also be produced in the time to come.
"The Agrarian Services Department has 300 odd branches country wide. However, most of them are inactive.
These are the closest units to the farmers. When asked as to what programme they have to revive this network, the relevant authorities went blank," he added.
The Auditor General also lamented the inordinate delay in passing the National Audit Bill in Parliament, adding that the Audit Commission is idling for almost three years due to the absence of legal provisions.
He added that the Auditor General was not given the powers to audit the companies coming under the Corporations from the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, and therefore a lot of subsidiary companies of the CEB and may other companies such as Sri Lanka Telecom evade Government audit.
However, he pointed out provisions to audit such companies have been made in the Audit Bill, thus rectifying the loopholes of the 19th Amendment.
The Auditor General was also of the opinion that financial discipline of public institutions sharply deteriorated during the past administration due to arbitrary actions and decisions of a few individuals.
"The entire institutional structure collapsed as certain individuals had full control of them.
They changed the system per their whims and fancies. Offenders did not get any punishment for their wrong doings and instead got promotions setting bad a precedent. At the end, financial discipline was completely ruined," he noted.
Observing that currently there is no procedure to impose punishment on public officials who breach the disciplinary code, he highlighted the need for a stronger mechanism to deal with offenses similar to that of former President Secretary Lalith Weeratunga's 'Sil Redi' case.
He pointed out if the law on breaking financial regulations was implemented tightly, half of the public officials would have to be in jail today.
He pointed out over spending as well as under spending of an allocation is against the law.


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Parental Leave, Worldwide
A recent article in The Wall Street Journal describes a debate in Sweden over whether fathers should be required by the government to take a minimum of 3 months off, instead of the current two months, after the birth of their children.
"Even if a father decides to take a more modest leave than allowed, he must take at least two months before the child is 8 years old to receive the government benefits," reports the Journal's Jens Hansergard.
Advocates for the generous leave policies point to more equality in child-rearing duties.They also say, were it not for those policies, women would be at a significant disadvantage in the workforce.
Opponents of the plan say that the government has no place dictating what should be the decision of individual families.
However the decision shakes out, dads in Sweden are getting extensive, first-hand experience in the hard work involved with staying home.


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This baby is so sweet. She doesn't cry much and when she does it's because she wants to be held, fed, or put to bed. Such a reasonable lass! She is a delight. She is so different from her sister. We go places. We do things. She doesn't cry. I'm not losing my mind. It's a whole new world. Nothing against Annalise but THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. If only I could guarantee they'd all be like Karina, I'd have ten more.
*Thanks to the Hillyards who, in addition to taking the forthcoming birthday photos, also brought sushi.*
It didn't work out so well.


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The day I went to Macau from Hongkong, customs was packed and I waited for close to 2 hours to clear the customs. Realized it was the mainland Chinese holiday. Totally packed.
And I did a ridiculous thing. In Macau, I tried to use my Hongkong Octopus card to board the bus. And I forgot to change money. I thought it was the same currency.
Now I know.
Anyway Macau people isn't really very friendly. So I figured my way around.
Reaching the port, Bus 3 to the tourism areas.
Senado Square (Largo do Senado)
The Senado Square is a paved area in the center of Macau enclosed by the buildings of the Leal Senado, the General Post Office, and St. Dominic's Church. The square is paved in the traditional Portuguese pavement. The main road of Macau's historic centre, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro passes through the square. The square is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Historic Centre of Macau".
This is a place to be visited with your spouse because it gives off such a spanish feel. Totally romantic.
Egg tarts which I did not like.
My fav food there. 'Steamboat' with curry sauce. Delicious!
Cheong Fun - the simple way.
And the fast selling BBQ Pork and chicken and beef, which was really addictive.
Tau Huay. Water with lots of sugar.
Pork Bun. Which was nice!
Everyone was recommending this fresh milk dessert. The taste was too strong for me.
Ruins of St. Paul's.Built from 1582 to 1602 by the Jesuits, the cathedral was the largest Catholic church in Asia at the time, and the royalty of Europe vied with each other to bestow upon the cathedral the best gifts. With the decline in importance of Macau, which was overtaken as the main port for the Pearl River Delta by Hong Kong, the cathedral's fortunes similarly ebbed, and it was destroyed by a fire during a typhoon in 1835.
Museum of Macau.
The place I can stay there for hours. Macau Fisherman Wharf.
The wind. The atmosphere. The structures. Love!
Its a mixture of Greek and Spain architecture.


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Name: Dominic Cobb, aka "Dom"
Gender: Male
Age: Late thirties or early forties
Fandom: Inception
Journal: aperion_oneiros
Typist: Matrix Refugee
Quick Biography
Dominic Cobb, also known as The Extractor or Dom, is the main protagonist of the film, Inception. Cobb is a master in the art of extraction, which consists of stealing
his mark's ideas by infiltrating their dreams and stealing valuable information from them. He is well known in the black market because of his level of expertise in the field of extraction. Cobb was implicated by his wife Mal in her death in a letter she filed with their attorney; as a consequence he's a wanted fugitive who can never return to his home. He is portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. His Totem is a spinning top which formerly belonged to his wife, Mallorie Cobb. He uses a Beretta Px4 Storm consistently throughout the film, also using a suppressed Blaser R93 LRS2 sniper rifle during the third level of The Fischer Inception Job.
Dominic Cobb was once a gifted Architect under the mentorship of Miles. The two were close friends and Miles did not object when Dom became involved with his daughter Mal. Mal and Dom loved each other dearly and, after having a dream of the couple growing old together, Dom asked her to marry him. The two had two children. Mal was also fascinated by Dream-Sharing and the power of the subconscious, but it appears she also was among the first to realize the inherent danger of it. It was for this reason she invented the use of totems to determine dreams and reality, using a metal spinning top.
During an experiment in Dream-Sharing, Dom insisted on going deeper into the different layers of dreams. This resulted in the two becoming trapped in Limbo, unconstructed dream space. The two spent around fifty years building a city around them, with many buildings created from memories of their past. At first complacent with their position as gods, Dom's patience with Limbo waned over the decades and he soon sought a way to escape. Mal, however, found the only way she could stand Limbo was to forget about reality. She placed her totem in a hidden safe, symbolizing her locking away the memory that Limbo was not real. In desperation, Dom broke into her hidden safe and performed inception, the artificial implantation of an idea into another's subconscious. He spun the spinning top, knowing that in the dream world it would not topple. This became a subconscious reminder to Mal of the truth: Limbo was not real and death was the only escape. Together, Dom led Mal to a set of train tracks and waited, with their heads on the tracks, till a train came and killed them. The two woke up, having spent only a short amount of time asleep.
But the damage of Dom's actions eventually caught up with him. Even in the real world, Mal continued to believe she was sleeping. She saw her children as projections and rejected Dom's reasoning. She began harboring suicidal thoughts as she sought to free herself from her dream, but was unable to do it alone. In her mind she felt it would be cowardly to leave Dom behind in the dream world and loved him too dearly to move on without him. Despite her beliefs, three separate psychiatrists declared her sane.
On the anniversary of their wedding, Dom came to their tradition hotel room to find it in a disheveled state. Noticing an open window, Dom looked outside to see Mal ready to jump off the opposite ledge. Dom attempts to calm Mal and convince her to come inside, but Mal replies that Dom has to jump or will be arrested for her murder because Mal had left evidence falsely accusing Dom of being abusive and making death threats against her. She admitted her action were made so that he would be more willing to jump with her and less guilty for leaving behind their children, as they would be taken into foster care if he lived anyway. Growing increasingly desperate, Dom begged Mal to accept her reality, but was unable to convince her. She dropped peacefully from the roof and her evidence made Dom the prime suspect in her apparent murder. On the advice of his lawyer, Dom fled the United States, regretfully leaving behind his children who taken in by their grandparents. He would be haunted by the memory of that day from then on, regretting that he did not say goodbye or even see their faces before leaving.
In exile, Dom found the only available work for someone of his skills was illegal. He became a professional extractor, partnering extensively with point man Arthur and forging a competent reputation and large network of allies in the criminal world. His work became hindered, however, as Dom projection of Mal began acting in increasingly unpredictable ways. This projection was a manifestation of Dom perception of Mal in her final years: vengeful, violent yet loving, that was empowered by his intense feelings of guilt and self-hatred: his own subconscious wish to be punished. She became Dom's tormentor, reminding him of his lost wife, dearly missed children, playing on his growing doubts about reality and foiling his extractions. As Mal grew more powerful, her actions grew more bold and violent, forcing herself into Dom's plans and becoming impossible for him to ignore or control.
As Mal's power grew, Dom began feeling it was too dangerous for him to design dreams anymore, as Mal would undoubtedly know the dream as well, making it easier for her to find them and foil the plan. This required him to rely on other Architects, severely limiting his flexibility.
Physical Abilities
It's questionable if one's physical abilities carry over into the dream-world, but I would guess he's a pretty decent shot. Clever at planning mind heists and maneuvering the white-collar criminal world.
Superhuman Abilities
If dream-sharing can be considered super-human, then he's likely the most or at least one of the most talented architects in his field.
Unusual or Magical Possessions
Will be arriving with his totem in his pocket and will be carrying a PASIV device, but it will be non-functioning/damaged/looks like a train ran over it
About average height and build, with dishwater-blond hair (often worn slicked back, which gives him a 1940's-ish look) and grey-blue eyes set in a perpetual squint. Often seen with a stubbly Van Dyke beard, which adds a few years to his face (which otherwise looks younger than his years). His face often has a thoughtful look about it as if he's peering off into the distance. Typically dresses in what could be termed a business casual style (open-collared dress shirts and slacks)
Calculating and introspective, with a meticulous mind. Generally works well with others, aside from getting irritated when his grasp on a situation is called into question and is the natural leader of his team, but tends to keep people outside of it at somewhat of a distance, due to the nature of his work and the oddness of it (to say nothing of the fact that working in corporate espionage and stealing from people's minds will not generally endear you toward most people).
- Family: Mallorie "Mal" Cobb (wife, deceased), Stephen Miles (father in law), Phillippa and James (kids)
- Lovers:
- Score card (People they snogged without dating):
- Friends:
- Enemies: Various business conglomerates that he's stolen information from (i.e. Cobol Engineering)
- Allies: his team
- Affiliations (to a particular group, of origin, or not):
RP Canon
Cobb awakened on the shore of the pond one late winter day, face down on the snow. He likely would have ended up with an even worse case of hypothermia if he hadn't been fished out by Graverobber (nearly mistaking him for one of Eames's weirder forgeries), who brought him into the Mansion and helped him thaw out. Later that day, he encountered Helen (M2), discovering she is, for all intents and purposes a fellow Architect. He encountered Ines in the kitchen and managed to parry her jabs (he took her for a very odd projection). In the library, he met with Sherehazade and chatted with her on the nature of inspiration (and found her rather attractive…this could get interesting). Pandora showed him the futility of leaving the bounds of the Mansion: using her gift of flight, she carried him as far as she could before the night waned (and he fell somewhat charmingly asleep in her arms). On meeting 11-12 and discovering the youth's nature, he started to have some serious doubts about Helen's sanity, but it isn't enough to diminish his respect for her. He also revealed his talent to Zillah Katz, promising to show her exactly what he does, as soon as he gets the smashed PASIV device repaired. He also had an interesting conversation with Saetan, on the nature of dreams and dream-shaping,


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music fridayFriday, March 09, 2012
I listened to this album in the car this morning and now I keep singing it.
My singing, meh, well not so hot. D's even informed me of this, thus shattering my 'I should be a K-Pop star' dream.
So, since this is all I can sing, this is all I can think of for this music Friday!