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realitybites (13041)
(email not shown publicly)
Journal of realitybites (13041)
Saturday August 12, 06
I still care about my journal...
I value it. It helped me cope with some very difficult moments in my life. I actually feel a bit saddened that I don't feel as free in my writing any longer. I'm no longer anonymous. It is not that I fear any real repercussions from anything I write. It just seems as if I must monitor myself now--especially because I have others to consider.
But my failure to write about my fears and desires lately has resulted in me stuffing all these emotions. I don't like to talk about things with others. I keep my problems within my small family circle. And there are things I don't even share with them.
I do have a wonderful, new creative outlet at the moment though--COLOURlovers. I am so thrilled with it that I have little desire to spend time at other websites right now.
So for the time being, I will be expressing myself through colour more often than through words.
It feels weird that I no longer feel infatuated with Morrissey. And that I am no longer being insulted by deranged trolls. I am a snake that has shed her skin--thrown out the old and am trying to get used to a new way of being.
I welcome change though. In fact, I crave it. I can't imagine a static life where everything was the same year after year. That is simply too dull of an existence to me. It doesn't mean that I want to live in chaos either. Right now I am enjoying the reality that my world is pretty stress-free right now. And it seems that the good majority of the problems I do have, are created by me.
I am not easy to love--I know this. I have a hard time liking myself sometimes, so why should anyone else like me?
Well, looks like I may have lied a bit. I did write about my feelings after all. Oh, I won't ever let go of my journal completely. My journal is me. It is mine. And no one can take that way from me--not even me. It's a force unto itself.
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|Biosequences .. Software .. Molbio soft .. Network News .. FTP
Assistant/Associate Professor in Plant Breeding/Genetics/Genomics 9 month, 25% Teaching / 75% Research – Tenure-Track Appointment Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota Position Overview The Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota seeks applicants to fill a tenure-track, assistant or associate professor position. The successful candidate will be expected to develop a strong interdisciplinary, internationally-recognized, extramurally-funded research program focusing on the genetics/genomics/breeding of the cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) and its close relatives. About the Department of Horticultural Science The University of Minnesota is a preeminent land-grant research and teaching institution in a major urban area with a large and diverse student body and recognized excellence in agricultural research. The Department of Horticultural Science is a nationally recognized department offering highly ranked programs of study at the undergraduate, Master of Science, Master of Professional Studies, and PhD levels. The Department has many distinguished faculty who have won numerous University, national and international awards for quality teaching, outreach, and published research. The faculty work in a variety of fields including plant breeding, molecular genetics, plant metabolomics, plant stress biology, plant hardiness, postharvest physiology, agroecology, and organic horticulture. The University of Minnesota has centralized analytical services including, among others, the Genomics Center, Center for Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, University Imaging Centers, and the Minnesota Supercomputer Institute. The Department maintains shared instrumentation for microscopy, qRT-PCR, tissue culture, plant growth and field facilities. In addition, the Department is home to a well-equipped modern facility for Plant Metabolomics and related technologies. The Department has a strong faculty commitment to modern plant breeding and genetics of diverse horticultural species. The University of Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station maintains multiple Research and Outreach Centers throughout the state for use by researchers. Duties and responsibilities Research (75%) Research priorities for this position include next generation genetic improvement of the cultivated potato with coordinated efforts to understand the genetic basis for complex agricultural and quality traits of the potato at the molecular and genomic levels; exploring the structure, function and natural diversity of genomes; and creation of new and novel breeding systems that lead to development and commercialization of new cultivars. Essential to this position will be development of collaborative research projects with University of Minnesota researchers and regional plant breeding programs focused on potato with the expectation of developing an awareness of industry needs. The individual will be expected to publish regularly in peer-reviewed journals appropriate to the discipline and to compete successfully for external funding to support their program. Teaching (25%) The successful candidate is expected to have a strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate education, teach coursework in horticulture, and contribute to the department through service on assigned committees. The individual in this position will be expected to teach one course each year in compliance with the College's policy on teaching workload in the Department of Horticultural Science. Additionally, there is an expectation of participation in professional development opportunities supporting teaching and advising. This position is also expected to provide academic mentoring for undergraduate and graduate students in Horticultural Science. Qualifications Minimum: ● Ph.D. or equivalent in a plant science/breeding, molecular genetics/genomics or related field; ● Experience with modern genetic techniques ● Evidence of scholarly productivity and creativity, such as refereed publications, presentations in professional societies, etc. Desired: ● Ability to integrate basic and applied research ● Previous substantive contribution to cultivar development and release ● Demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication ● Evidence of interest and ability to form collaborative partnerships - within and across university disciplines, across national/international institutions, and with private industry ● Evidence of teaching effectiveness ● Evidence of excellence in teaching scholarship ● Evidence of ability and willingness to effectively teach and mentor students from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds at the undergraduate and/or graduate level ● Evidence of ability to secure extramural funding from public and/or private sources Diversity The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds. The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu. To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ from umn.edu or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647). Background Check Information Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment. Application Process: Applications must be submitted online through employment.umn.edu (Search Job Opening 313229, follow application instructions, and attach materials below in online application system). Complete applications must include: ● A cover letter including a general statement of interest in the position ● A statement of research goals and interests ● A statement of teaching goals and interests ● Detailed curriculum vitae with publication list ● Contact information for three references Review of applications will start on November 1, but the position will remain open until filled. Only complete applications will be considered. Please note that during the interview process, applicants will be asked to describe their commitment, experience and approach to teaching and working with students, colleagues and constituents from diverse and underrepresented populations. For specific questions, please contact Dr. Tom Michaels, Search Committee Chair, at michaels from umn.edu (612-624-7711) Chair, Search Committee University of Minnesota - Department of Horticultural Science College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences 305 Alderman Hall 1970 Folwell St. Paul, MN 55108 We invite you to visit our website at http://horticulture.umn.edu Prof. Jerry D. Cohen Department of Horticultural Science University of Minnesota Saint Paul, MN 55108 USA Office phone: 612 624 9212 http://horticulture.umn.edu/directory/faculty/jerry-dcohen

subset: commoncrawl


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I've gone on a lot of adventures in virtual reality, from staring down a Tyrannosaurus rex to scuba diving a shipwreck with a blue whale to sculpting neon colored statues in the air with a magic paint brush.
But by far the most compelling experiences have been games, while piloting a spaceship in an epic dogfight or holding my ground against hordes of zombies. I've also played capture the flag in zero gravity.
With few exceptions, games are the experiences I talk the most about when discussing VR, and I'm not alone. Which is probably why Facebook's Oculus VR division is focusing its marketing muscle on video games for the spring 2019 launch of its $399 Oculus Quest headset.
"It is an audience that is enthusiastic," Hugo Barra Facebook's vice president of VR, said in an interview at the company's Oculus Connect conference in San Jose, California, on Wednesday. Gamers, he said, are "willing to invest both their time and their money."
That doesn't mean there aren't other experiences, of course. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg often says he expects VR will upend the way we use computers, marking a massive shift similar to the way smartphones have changed tech over the past decade.
But Zuckerberg has also said he wants 1 billion people to try VR, and at least 10 million people using each of his company's range of headsets. When it comes to the Quest, Barra said, the team has chosen to focus on gaming.
The company set up mock tennis courts in the San Jose Convention Center, where people can compete in games while wearing the headset. It also set up a large game space where up to six people could split into two teams, competing in an Old West-style shootout while hiding behind various crates and boxes in the room.
Each of the experiences was designed to show off both the Quest's all-in-one, wire-free design and the experiences VR can offer.
But Barra said if you squint a little and think about new technology coming down the pike -- like much lighter headsets, better sensors and the ability to use your full hands in VR rather than rely on controllers -- you can also get a sense of the future Oculus sees.
"You could very quickly see how that becomes a thing that pretty much everyone on the planet will want to have, because it just make their lives better," he said. "You'll have far better entertainment, far better connection with other people, far better communication, far better productivity at work than what you have today. And you actually don't even have to squint that hard."
Here are edited excerpts from our conversation with Barra at Oculus' developer conference shortly after Zuckerberg announced the new Quest headset.
How is the way VR is shaking out different or the same from the way smartphones took off?
Barra: These ecosystems take time to develop. And I think if you were to look back at the smartphone ecosystem, there were things around that you can call a smartphone, like, in maybe 2002. You could certainly see the glimpses of a smartphone with a proper operating system, or at least a way for people to build apps and things that were more than just like a simple HTML web browser.
Yet most people would say that this thing didn't really start taking off until 2007 or 2008. It's kind of easy to forget how much you know happened in those eight years from 2000 to 2008.
So I can't quite place VR in this time frame. I don't know whether we're in 2000, or 2003, or whatever it is. Certainly we're not in 2008. We're at the very, very beginning of this.
You guys said you significantly increased your investment in augmented reality. What did you mean by that?
Barra: It is certainly an area that we're investing significantly. We are going to see an absolute shift in computing paradigm. It's the entire reason why Oculus exists and why it's part of Facebook, is that we all believe that that's going to happen.
So you can only imagine what that means. A company of the size of Facebook, with a CEO with the vision of Mark saying this is the most important thing in the next 10 years.
Sure, and Zuckerberg said before he was working on AR glasses. I guess I always considered you guys as focused on VR. But now I get a sense it's more that you guys will do both.
Barra: You can think of us having multiple product lines going into the future. I think we've made a very clear statement here at Connect that we have our VR product lines, and we're going to keep working with the developer community to make sure that they're all supported across these platforms.
And at some point, you know, there'll be other products.
Where are we with smartphone VR? Samsung didn't mention it this year when unveiling its new phones. And on stage, you showed Oculus Go as an entry-level device, seeming to take the place of smartphone VR. What's going on?
Barra: Drop-in VR or slide-in VR or however you want to call it was a really important entry point for the industry. It gave developers and consumers a really inexpensive tool and vessel to start experimenting and building apps on. It certainly also inspired us to figure out the starting point for what all-in-one VR was.
It was a very important initiative, for all those reasons. But the user base is super engaged. And I get that they didn't talk about it at their event, but this thing is still happening.
In many ways it's still creating awareness for VR. We see a lot of people who try it in our logs, and then are upgrading.
VR is this thing we've been talking about for decades. So you ask, "Have you actually tried it?" "Oh yeah, my friend has a Samsung Gear VR."
So it was a necessary step and I think will continue to be for some time for this industry to keep moving ahead.
Oculus Quest virtual reality headset revealedSee all photos
Oculus Connect: Everything announced at Facebook's annual VR conference.
VR's missing link: You likely haven't bought a VR headset yet and it's beginning to show.


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Paint both the inside and outside of your car door at same time
Designed to enable full and complete painting of door panels, this stand offers 360-degree accessibility for painting inside and out. Mock up a door panel for secure, hands-free painting or jamming to cut worktime in half and preserve the integrity and consistency of the larger job.
Made of lightweight aluminum, the stand itself weighs just 20lbs and can be quickly and conveniently moved to a paint booth or other work area. Despite its lightweight nature, it's designed to offer proportionate weight distribution when hanging door panels' a single bar on one side is used to hang the panel lengthwise across the rest of the stand. The result is a setup that's supported via even distribution, without requiring additional weights.
Mobility is made easy thanks to four swivel casters (two at each end). The entire rack rolls around your shop to make transporting prepped or finished panels easy. When you require the entire rack to remain stationary, simply lock the casters to prevent unwanted rolling. The casters are large enough and the entire structure lightweight enough to roll swiftly over any debris or obstacles that may be on your shop floor.
For complete painting of door panels and peripheral accessories such as side mirrors, an adapter arm with six hooks is also available. This arm attaches to the vertical bar and overhangs the length of the stand to preserve the weight distribution aspect of its design. Mirrors can easily be hung independently from the door panel.
This door stand is proudly made in the United States.
Key Features of the Champ Aluminum Door Stand:
Product options:
Assembly Instructions
By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies to analyze website traffic and improve your experience on our website. Learn More


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July's cover reflects increasing concerns about the impact of plastics and waste.
In this month's edition you can read about the latest shocking findings from a major new report on plastics. Additionally, our Team Rector outlines what we can expect from the 'Vision Refresh' project.
Click here to read our latest parish magazine online or print it at home or pick up a print copy at St George's from the end of June.


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by amandar
We drove up the silent road to the highest height
The street lights turned off it was a dark beautiful night
Our light bicycles ice skated beneath the glowing moon
It was pitch dark we knew we had to get back home soon
We stopped at the hill and looked down the foggy empty road
It was steep and haunting but there was nowhere else to go
She went down first no humans or cars in sight
We were both frozen ghosts in the middle of the night
She let go of the handles and set her arms free
I followed her lead and laughed with pure glee
We became roaming spirits. Fleeing into the darkness ahead
My mind felt free. My body was now completely dead
It was all over in 20 seconds and we reached the bottom
Its a 20 second memory my soul refuses to ever be forgotten
Find more stories like this one bysigning up!


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Tat'yana (ID: 87313)
Date of birth:July 06, 1973
Height:5' 4" (165 cm)
Weight:116 lb (53 kg)
Hair color:light brown
Eyes color:aqua
Religion:Russian Orthodox
Marital status:divorced
Profession:non-productive sphere manager
Occupation:VIP Customer Service Manager
English language:Using dictionary
Others foreign languages:No
Seeks partner:47 - 60 years old
Total photos:10
Bikini photos:0
Hobbies and interests:
I try to keep work-life balance. It is important to me to find time to relax and enjoy life. If my week was very busy I enjoy quiet evenings at home listening to audio books and music, cooking. My passion is painting in water-colors. I like meeting and talking to interesting people, going out with my friends, going to the theater, cinema, exhibitions.
About me:
I would say that I am not perfect having my own weaknesses and strength as any person but I consider myself open for others and new in my life. I am well-balanced, tolerant, initiative and intelligent. I am a good listener and I enjoy communication. I love to be spontaneous, sensual, romantic and tender in the relationships. I have a positive way of life. My self-development is important to me.
Looking For Men Type:
Our world is narrow and I think that love has no special country to be found. I am open to other cultures, mentalities and joining this web site I just expand the limits of the possible. I am rather flexible and changes don't scare me in life. I hope to meet life-loving, responsible, honest, family-oriented man with a good sense of humor. I am looking for harmonious and comfortable relationships
Customer support in Ukraine: +380-67-6290902
Comments or questions: email@example.com or Contact Us
Copyright 2003-2019 © email-orderbrides.com. All rights reserved.


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Saints QB (thumb) to have surgery Wednesday
New Orleans now turns to Teddy Bridgewater as it faces a tough back-to-back with the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys in Weeks 3 and 4. Who will it be? New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton told reporters Wednesday that the team does not plan to place Drew Brees on injured reserve.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino urges Iran to lift stadium ban on women
Iran , the top-ranked team in Asia, hosts Cambodia at the 78,000-capacity Azadi Stadium in Tehran on October 10. Earlier this month, a demonstrator who was facing a possible trial over the stadium ban died after setting herself on fire outside a courthouse.
Koroibete accepts family will be split when Australia face Fiji
Conversions: Ben Volavola. Penalties: Volavola (3). One call that was widely debated was Reece Hodge's apparent shoulder charge on Yato in the 37th minute, a hit that ended the flanker's match. "We have high ambitions in this World Cup", Fiji coach John McKee said. Italy will play Namibia at 5.15pm tomorrow, Ireland and Scotland face off at 7.45pm tomorrow while England clash with Tonga at 10.15pm tomorrow.
Mystics stave off Aces to take 2-0 series lead
Washington leads 1-0. Donne, 30, was selected by the Sky with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft. The No. 1 Washington Mystics are back in the WNBA Semi-Finals with game one tipping off Tuesday night at 8:30 pm ET at Entertainment and Sports Arena.
Panthers QB Newton aggravates foot injury
Rivera's reaction may have been a bit much, but he did just say that he wasn't going to answer any other questions about Newton. "He worked through a lot of the soreness this week, felt pretty good at the end of the week", Rivera said .
Injury latest and expected 4-3-3 line-up against Shakhtar Donetsk
Stones' injury is a blow to City as they bid to keep pace with early Premier League pacesetters Liverpool and as they prepare to begin their Champions League campaign. - ESPN Champions League fantasy: Sign up now! Youngster Eric Garcia, who was on the bench in Ukraine, is an alternative but Guardiola may try switching some other senior players around first.


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Activists Continue to Target UC Animal Researchers
Critter News
California recently passed a law protecting animal researchers from animal activists. The communiqués read, in part: We were inspired by the recent passage of the 2296 bill and the raid of an anarchist infoshop in Oakland. Ralph Freeman has killed cats and kittens in his laboratory at UC Berkeley with no benefit for humans for over twenty years. Frederic Theunissen is responsible for the torture of birds in his laboratory.


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Via Joshua McClain at SportsBlog…
Steve Bartman costumes are all the rage in Chicago this year.
Speaking of SportsBlog, we are still looking for new contributors! If you're interested in in contributing (as much or as little as you want) send an e-mail to admin at sportsblog dot org.
We'll have a new design loaded up in coming days; here's a preview.


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Source: ELLO Media
More than one third (35%) of UK consumers say they only engage with brands they agree with ethically.
When asked how they feel about brands they regularly engage with, 38% say they only use brands that treat them with respect, while 30% believe the brands they use are an "extension of their personality".
Another 30% say they only engage with brands that treat them as more than just a customer.
Consumers were also asked how they feel when a brand engages them personally. 35% say this makes them feel like their loyalty is rewarded, while 34% say it makes them feel valued and 21% that it makes them feel important to the brand.
Alternatively, you can download the Understanding Customer Expectations of Brand Loyalty Programmes report here.


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Royal Challengers Bangalore are struggling to survive in the tournament after three consecutive losses in this season. They drastically lost against Chennai Super Kings by getting bowled out at 70. Overdependency on Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and a vibrant set of players is the biggest drawback for the team. Out of 31 matches in the past three seasons, the franchise managed to win only nine games. They finished their last season in the last position.
There is a saying that individuals can win the matches but it takes a team to win the series. With the defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad by 118 runs, RCB fell to the bottom of the points table with the lowest net run rate. Here are a few changes Virat Kohli can watch out for to repair the flaws in the team and rejuvenate their campaign this year.
- Consistent batting order
The skipper should work on maintaining a balanced batting order, especially the top order. Parthiv Patel is the only permanent player in the three matches and he opened the game with Shimron Hetmeyr in the previous game, Moeen Ali in the second game, and Virat Kohli in the inaugural game. No batsman is given a chance to cement their position in the top order. Virat Kohli is responsible to resolve this issue at the earliest to taste the success in the upcoming games.
- Death over bowling
Finding a death over bowler is the point of urgency for RCB. Though the franchise has quality bowlers, death over bowling is becoming the big question practically. Though Colin De Grandhomme and Umesh Yadav are good death over bowlers, they are known for poor economy rate and it will be a menace during the crucial moments. Tim Southee can be given a chance to prove himself since the team needs a death over specialist badly and Nathan Coulter Niel also joined the squad.
- Lower middle order issues
Shivam Dube is known as the best finisher in the domestic format of cricket and is given a chance based on his performance in the national tournaments. On the grounds of reality, he lacks international experience. Marcus Stoinis missed out the first three matches of the tournament due to his commitments for the national team. He is expected to sustain as a good finisher for the rest of the tournament.


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San Diego Fish Report
Lake Poway Fish Report for 5-12-2019
Lake Poway Fish Report for 5-12-2019
Bass Are Still Biting Well
Largemouth Bass
Jesse landed a three pound bass Sunday afternoon (photo). He was casting a crawdad near the fishing pier.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lake Poway Staff
Bass Are Still Biting Well
by Lake Poway Staff
The trout bite has slowed a little but there are still some anglers landing 2 or 3 Tailwalkers.
Bass are still biting well. Big bass are getting hooked on swim baits and artificial worms.
Please release spawning bass, we do not stock bass so the only way to maintain the population is to allow them to spawn
< Previous Report Next Report >
< Previous Report Next Report >
More Reports
Tailwalkers Up To 6 PoundsLake Poway
Violet Pagtakhan of Lakeside and Cora Naval from the Philippines reeled in 7 good-sized Tailwalkers on Saturday. They were trolling...... Read More
Twelve year old Kevin caught a 5 pound Bass from the Fishing Pier Friday. He used a night crawler for...... Read More
www.SanDiegoFishReports.com © 2020. All Rights Reserved.
Website Hosting and Design provided by TECK.net
Website Hosting and Design provided by TECK.net


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Fresh from the launch of our brand new website, our NAVExperts are ready and waiting to transform your business systems and put you firmly on the road to greater productivity and unprecedented growth.
But who are we? And why are we the best bet for any company that's looking to shake up its internal processes?
Our mission
The NAVExperts are on hand to help your organisation work faster and smarter than ever before with the world-class support of Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations.
The latest business management software from Microsoft can be seamlessly integrated into your existing company setup, and even the most stubborn office luddites will find these interfaces intuitive and easy to use. Fully configurable and completely scalable, this software offers financial management, CRM, sales management, project management and much, much more – and best of all, every single important piece of data from across your organisation can be accessed via one platform, delivering top-notch intelligence to all of your team members simultaneously.
Years ago, we were happy to recommend other business management software such as the then-unrivalled Sage – but nowadays, we genuinely believe that Dynamics NAV and Dynamics 365 are two of the best business management systems on the market, and we like to think we have an informed opinion on the matter, seeing as we have nearly 90 years of combined experience in bringing versatile, game-changing solutions to companies that want to utilise the best technology out there.
Our role is to not only help you integrate Microsoft Dynamics NAV or Dynamics 365 into your business, but also ensure you're making the most of its myriad of great features.
Shifting the spotlight to our talented team
So now you know a little more about what our NAVExperts are bringing to the table, but who are the main brains behind the outfit?
These guys are the best at what they do. It's a bold claim, we know – but we can also tell you that our NAVExperts have the knowledge, the experience and the drive for progress that will convince you it's not just a marketing strapline of ours.
For more information on how we can help you leverage the potential of the greatest business management software in the cosmos, contact the NAVExperts today on 01268 724005, or complete our contact form here.


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Have you heard of diVa?
What You Need To Know
How diVa Works
diVa's ergonomic design allows for patient comfort and ease of use.* diVa is the first resurfacing laser of its kind to include High Precision Automation technology.* Using a unique, precision guidance system, in combination with a high accuracy motor, diVa provides a treatment without manual positioning of the handpiece by the operator.
Who is an ideal candidate for the treatment?
Women that have had children or are experiencing menopause may be interested in a resurfacing treatment to improve the quality of their vaginal tissue.
How long does a procedure take?
diVa's ergonomic design allows for patient comfort and ease of use. Each treatment takes 3 to 5 minutes to fractionally resurface the full length of a vaginal canal.
How many treatments are recommended?
Patient procedure package, includes 3 treatments one treatment spaced every 4 weeks apart, followed by 1 treatment every 9 – 12 months.
What do patients experience during the treatment?
Patients will experience a slight pressure against the vaginal wall during laser resurfacing. The treatment is fast with minimal discomfort.* Some patients may experience increased sensitivity near the vaginal opening.*
What do patients experience in the 48 hours following the treatment?
Patients may return to their daily routine with minimal to no discharge, spotting, or discomfort; however, they should avoid sexual intercourse for up to 48 hours.*
Is sedation necessary?
No, the laser resurfacing treatment is fast, easy and completed in an outpatient setting.* Topical anesthetic may be applied to increase patient comfort but is not necessary.*
*Individual results may vary.
Complimentary Consultation


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By: Brandy Black
Every time I sit at a table with a tall vase of flowers that blocks the view of the person across from me, I remember our reception. I remember the three meetings that we had with our florist, each time discussing the small vases and the very specific flowers that we had chosen for the tables. I remember walking around to each table to greet and hug every guest before we sat down to eat and noticing that the vases were TALL with…roses? There was not one single flower in that vase that had been picked by Susan or me.
After all that planning, all that work, all those conversations, we ended up with someone else's flowers. There was nothing to do but laugh. This kept happening. The DJ played the wrong songs, the speeches ran long, the schedule was behind, and the only person who was going through the exact same thing as I was -who was thinking the same things -was Susan. We were watching together as the whole wedding morphed into something else. Those imperfections would have ordinarily ruined the whole night for me -to watch all of my hard work disappear due to incompetence -but instead I realized that I could handle it all with Susan by my side. We shared a secret that no one had. We saw our wedding from the best seats possible, together, alone in a crowded room.
At the end of the night when chaos ensued as the crowd was gathering to wave us goodbye, drunk people meandering around, our best men trying to corral people in one place, Susan turned to me and said "Run."
"But they aren't ready."
And so I grabbed her hand and ran, didn't look back, just ran.


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Events this week:
- Monday through Thursday – Alaska Measures of Progess (AMP) testing for ALL 7th and 8th grade students. Please have students on time to school, get plenty of sleep, and eat a good breakfast.
- Friday – No School for students and staff
Congratulations to 8th grade student, Aidan Whitney, March Chamber Student of the Month!
Congratulations to Hannah Delkerfor being chosen as the Skyview Middle School Masonic Student of the Year! Hannah demonstrates outstanding qualities in 5 areas: Character, Academic Achievement, Extra Curricular Activities, Leadership, and Volunteer work. She was selected from a group of six finalists: Darby McMillian, Aliann Schmidt, Danica Schmidt, Haley Buckbee, and Kortney Birch. Hannah will be recognized at the Masonic Lodge Outstanding Student Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 1 at the Kenai Central High School Auditorium.
Congratulations to staff member Shannon Dwyer… She was chosen as a BP Teacher of Excellence! We appreciate all she does for the students and staff at Skyview Middle School. Thank you Ms. Dwyer!
Track and Field season begins on Monday, April 6. Students who wish to participate can pick up the required sports forms and informational packet from the front office. Please contact Mr. Harro or Mr. Dwyer with questions.


text: By changing the structure of a macrocyclic compound, researchers in Italy have created a more efficient type of reagent for transfection, which is the delivery of DNA or RNA into cells (Org. Lett., DOI: 10.1021/ol801326d). Genetic engineers use transfection reagents to alter a cell's gene expression and protein production. A team led by Francesco Sansone and Rocco Ungaro of the University of Parma reports preliminary studies showing that a formulation containing a calix[4]arene macrocycle delivers DNA more reliably than a commercially available transfection reagent. The team had previously modified the aromatic rings on calix[4]arenes with guanidinium groups, which are known to ferry compounds into cells. The macrocycles bound DNA, but they were inefficient at transfection and toxic to cells. In the team's new calix[4]arenes, the attachment points for the guanidinium moieties are hydroxyl groups, to good effect. The new reagents have low toxicity and efficiently transport DNA into a variety of cells. Traditional viral transfection agents can provoke an immune response, Sansone says. Lipid-based agents don't work in every type of cell, and most are poorly structurally characterized, impeding mechanistic studies aimed at improving them, he adds. The team now hopes to exploit calixarenes' synthetic flexibility to carry out such optimization studies.


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Taste of the Prairie Gift Box
Do you or someone you know LOVE CHEESE? Our Taste of the Prairie Gift Box features 4 of our best selling cheeses. Order this Gift Box and you will receive one cut of the following cheeses:
- Feather Ridge
- Farmstead Gouda
- Kickapoo
- Jake's Wheel
We will ship it to you in our insulated shippers. Be sure to take into consideration that FedEx Ground will deliver to the following states within 2 days: AR, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MO, NJ, NY, OH, PA, when shipping to states other than those listed, please select FedEx 2Day, Priority Overnight, or First Overnight at check out, to assure your cheese arrives at the proper temperature.
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Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Once-Upon-A-Christmas Pineapple Upside Down Cake
I don't know as either title does this cake justice. I also wonder about posting about a food that appears to be for Christmas. Obviously (I think...) I'd planned to post this one shortly after the holidays because I used up my peppermint candy canes in it. And there was the red and white theme -- candy canes, marshmallows, cherries.
The original recipe came from my Betty Crocker cookbook. Betty Crocker has been my "friend" for many years. Safe, simple and dependable. That is, until I step up and start adding whatever I can find. You've heard the saying... "everything but the kitchen sink".
So, if this recipe were to be properly named, listing all the ingredients, it might be called
That's just too wordy, so I'm sticking to OUAC-Pineapple Upside-Down Cake.
1-1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup granulated white sugar
1/3 cup shortening
3/4 cup milk (any)
1 large egg
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
2/3 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
2 six-inch peppermint candy canes
7 large marshmallows
20-ounce can sliced pineapple
8 maraschino cherries (stems removed)
1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Blend flour, white sugar, shortening, milk, baking powder, salt and egg for thirty seconds. Mix on low mixer setting for three minutes. Set aside.
3. Melt butter in oven in the pan you'll be using to make the upside-down cake. (I used a 7-inch x 11-inch x 1.5-inch glass pan.) Remove from oven.
4. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly on melted butter, then top with walnuts.
5. Crush candy canes. Small chunks are best. I put mine in a plastic bag and whacked them gently with a small hammer. Sprinkle evenly over butter-brown sugar mixture.
7. Arrange pineapple slices evenly in pan. It may be necessary to cut at least one in half to make the fit.
8. Place a maraschino cherry in the center of each pineapple ring.
9. Pour batter carefully over top of all the other ingredients in the pan.
10. Bake 45 - 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Wherever you live in the world, no matter what language you speak, you can now read my blog. Blogspot has added a translation Gadget. Isn't that the coolest thing? Look up near the top right hand side and you'll see what I mean. If you have any kind of a blog, "Translate" is a good Gadget to add.
One of my favorite food blogs is Bam's Kitchen. In a recent posting she added a video on How to Peel a Head of Garlic in less than 10 seconds. No muss, no fuss, no stinky fingers, this is perfect for those of you who crave fresh garlic.
LIKE Step by Step in the Kitchen on Facebook. I'll be posting extra notes and photos there.
4 comments:
I just put your website in simplified Chinese but much tastier and easier to read in English. I have to see if I can add this in wordpress. My dad is turning 88 this month and pineapple upside down cake is his favorite. Very interesting with the marshmallows and peppermint.ReplyDeleteReplies
You know how it is, BAM... You find things in the back of the cupboard, something is leftover in the frig! Toss anything into a basic pineapple/cherry upside down cake recipe and you get an interesting twist. What else does your dad like that you can use to up the ante? Isn't Translate the coolest feature. I'm sure Wordpress must have some such thing, or they soon will. Always good to hear from you.Delete
- AnonymousMay 8, 2012 at 10:47 AM
This is such a fantastic twist on the usual upside pineapple cake - I do like your wordy title for sure :DReplyDelete
Are you sure this is only a Christmas delicacy? I mean I can do without mint and I do feel a craving for this which may not be able to wait till December :P
Beautiful cake my friend!
Choc Chip UruReplies
I had a feeling the title would appeal to you, CCU. I have to apologize for my slight imitation of your style (& length), but please take it as the sincerest form of flattery that it is meant to be. Christmas is just a word and pineapple upside down cake is definitely appropriate anytime of year. Thanks for your comment and I'll be heading over to see what fun stuff you've written about.Delete


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Date: Sunday June 16 2019
Time: 8:00am
GPS Location: -34.01223,18.40524 or click here for OpenStreetMap.
Runners must collect their race numbers between 6.30am and 7.30am on 16 June at the start of the race, at Constantia Nek. Race numbers not collected by 7.30am on 16 June will be re-allocated. Prize-giving will take place at 10.00am.
Note: The entry fee includes a compulsory fee of R86.00 required by SANParks. There is no additional fee for entering on-line.
The race has been reclassified as a Mountain Race and therefore no ASA licences need to be displayed. Club colours are optional.
No entries permitted on the day unfortunately.
Click here for Additional information
On-line registration for the Table Mountain Race 2019 has closed


text: The factory Efficiency, quality, flexibility https://www.minimaid.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Minimaid%20production%20movie.mp4 Private label productionis our business The difference is in the details A paper plate might look simple, but there is an entire science behind every one. Choosing the right and sustainable raw material, optimizing production, customizing pack-size and carton, monitoring the whole value chain for traceability – these are just a few key points in our process of presenting tailormade solutions to our customers. Dealing with us is easy and efficient, our flexibility and attention to details has made us the trusted supplier of many internationally known companies. 1. Material selection All of our wood fiber based raw material comes from sustainable and responsibly managed forests that actually have bigger net growth than what is annually harvested. All raw material is also traceable and third party certified by either FSC or Pefc. The preferred carton board quality is selected from a wide spread of alternatives. All to match our customers' needs. 2. Production With a production capacity of more than 1 billion plates per year and an output of 5 million plates a day, we can flexibly handle both small and large accounts. The production is highly automated, guaranteeing constant efficiency. Working by the principles of Lean, we strive to improve and excel every day. 3. Customization We customize: Plate size Pack-size Label design and application Cartons and display solutions Logistics We havecustomersall over Europe We offer very short delivery times. Norway 2 days Lithuania 2 days Germany 3 days Spain 6 days UK 7 days ABOUT US About Us The factory Products Green Gold Paper Plates Factory We are in Finland Contact OTHERS Code of conduct Arbetsansökan / Työhakemus / Job


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Colourful Elephant Suncatchers
Choose from our three different two-toned elephant suncatchers. Perfect addition of colour to your home.
Three styles to choose from:
Style 1: Two-Toned Blue and Yellow
Style 2: Two-Toned Red and Purple
Style 3: Two-Toned Green and Pink
Approx Size: 9.8cm W x 26.5cm L (Including Loop for hanging, and dangling pebbles.)
Holistic Products Ireland


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Archive - Conference Papers
Turkey's Way to "Fortress Europe": Two Sides, Two Challenges
Ahmet Cemal Erturk
Since the evolution of the Justice and Home Affairs and rise of new security threats such as terrorism, European Union slowly became marginalized and formed a very contrasting system to control the illegal immigration which is so strict, composed of very hard measures and clearly controversial to the civilian, in other words "soft" principles of the Union pillars. In the current literature, this evolution of the Union is called as the "Fortress Europe".On the other hand, there is Turkey, an increasingly well economic actor and a long lasting partner, candidate for the European Union. What is significant for Turkey in the area of migration security is that given the latest events in the Middle East and Turkey's geographical location, Turkey tends to be a "safe haven" for illegal migrants mainly coming from the vast areas of Middle and Far East which European Union tries to hold. Moreover, given the latest events and discourse of Turkish politicians, Turkish immigration policy will probably continue to open the gates for these migrants for various reasons. However, Turkey still has a mountain to climb to promote its candidacy status to become a member state of the EU and also has to ensure that Union acquis over Justice and Home Affairs is very well transmitted to the country rules. So, the question is then: Is Turkey a real candidate for the "Fortress Europe" given the above circumstances?Related to the first question, for a long time, Turkey plays a role of being a kind of "buffer zone" for the EU to prevent a significant amount of illegal immigrants to travel directly from Middle/Far East to the EU. The second question: Have the EU enough capacity to give up on this "Turkish buffer zone" and include Turkey into the "Fortress Europe"?
The abstracts and papers on this website reflect the views and opinions of the author(s). UACES cannot be held responsible for the opinions of others. Conference papers are works-in-progress - they should not be cited without the author's permission.


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Many years ago, the US government partnered with the Illuminati with hopes of creating a secret army that would operate under complete secrecy to perform whatever task they wanted. The US needed their funding to be secret and the Illuminati needed the military resources and manpower. Their shakey alliance was unsettling on both sides. Their motives and objectives were unclear, but they agreed to go halfsies on the world's most expensive experiment and remain out of each other's business. They initiated a program called Project: Universal Warrior. It's sole purpose was to develop the ultimate strategical, super handsome, mega-awesome human with a superior intellect. They interviewed the world's greatest heroes and stole their DNA. After years of research, many trials, and many errors, they finally were able to genetically engineer the perfect specimen. They labeled him… Bruce McClane. There were dozens of these genetically enhanced humans housed in a secret facility, deep underground, in Arizona. After all the other creations failed to compare to Bruce McClane, the Illuminati decided to dispose of them. Many of the creations escaped before the government could destroy them to eliminate all the evidence. Some were still good people and some were really bad people.
From conception, Bruce was training. Mastering 3 languages, Jiu Jitsu, meditation, and swimming before leaving the womb. Crowds gathered to hear Bruce read them bedtime stories and watch him wrestle his twin during the ultrasound sessions. There was only room for 1 to continue growing… they listened to Bruce tell his twin, "This womb ain't big enough for the both of us." Bruce cut his twin's cord and pushed him out early. It is still unknown who birthed Bruce. After he was born, his mother vanished. Bruce's loneliness was ignored so that he could focus on his training.
As Bruce McClane got older, he realized he didn't want to be a government tool. He wanted to travel the world, meet a beautiful woman, settle down, and practice being a badass in every way. So Bruce immediately focused on potty training so he could conquer these goals without being hindered by his diaper.
As Bruce grew up, he had many adversities – unlike some sissy heroes. Since he didn't have any resources, Bruce took what he needed. He managed to get a reputation on the streets as a guy who could get things done… but when he turned 5, he was caught, and put into foster care. Since Bruce was so incredibly good looking, smart, and charming, he was adopted immediately. His adopted parents were amazing people who taught him morals and ethics. He started to understand what love was and cherished his parents. When Bruce was 7, his parents were killed outside the opera house in the alley. And although Bruce tracked down their killer and exacted his own Justice, it didn't fill the void in his enormous, hard, cold heart. He grew up poor and homeless and decided to learn as many skills as he could. Bruce McClane's skill sets include at least 10,000 hours practicing each of these disciplines; strategy, ninjery, construction, barista, gymnast, farmer, escape artist, artist, mime, photographer, comedian, firearms master, swimming, engineering, medical, chemistry, physics, botany, exorcism, telepathy, master of psychology, body building, sewing/knitting, master assassin, and ventriloquism. He also owns many, many businesses.
After seeking new forms of entertainment, Bruce fell in love with shark wrestling. One day, a shark was unwilling to accept defeat, and he sucker punched Bruce which started a shark frenzy. Outnumbered, Bruce had to retreat back to land. After a long battle on the streets of LA, Bruce pulled out his guns and shot the gang banging sharks, ending the battle once and for all. After the prolonged holding of his breath and all the ferocious growling, Bruce's voice-box was permanently affected – which made his voice terrifying to his enemies, but alluring to women. His whereabouts have remained secret, as to protect him from the hordes of women trying to get familiar… Also to prevent his enemies from doing terrible things to him.
Bruce McClane's love life has been intense and cyclical. He eventually found a woman who could tame his fierce heart. They fell in love and he decided to settle down and cruise the world with her. She was coerced by his enemies, however, and she ended up drowning in an elevator after Bruce destroyed a very important, priceless, historical building.
After suffering his loss, Bruce gave up all of his material things to become a man for the people. There was no better way to serve and protect the people, than to become a detective. Bruce traveled the world helping folks solve crimes. In the process, he learned many cultures and met many other heroes and villains. After making alliances and enemies all over the universe, he decided to settle down in a small, quiet town called San Diego in the state of California.
For the last 30 years, Bruce McClane has mastered his detecting abilities to become the WORLD'S GREATEST detective which is an impressive feat for a 28 year old man. Due to modern technology, we have the opportunity to watch and enjoy the adventures of McClane with his lackadaisical sidekick, Jack Magnum. Not much is known about Bruce's sidekick because Bruce never cared. The town had tried to get rid of Magnum at the same time that Bruce needed a servant. Magnum asked Bruce to be his master in hopes that he could pick up on some of his skills… Magnum has been following McClane ever since.
After learning the Great, Bruce McClane was in San Diego, the community asked him to become a detective and clean their troubled streets. Being extremely qualified for the position, Bruce was immediately hired. And this is where we pick up on Bruce McClane's legendary story.
List of Villains:
Dr. Dray Seusenpepper – An evil self proclaimed genius. He has a knack for saying and doing stupid things, but he always seems to get away with it. He is either a brilliant mastermind, or a lucky idiot. It's very hard to tell, especially because he is demented and finds entertainment in having a good battle with Magnum and McClane. It's his purpose and his obsession.
One of McClane's greatest adversaries, were the fake feminists, aka, Femis. They hated that Bruce McClane was rugged and handsome and fit what they perceived to be a stereotypical male. They were perpetually offended and triggered and they became enraged if anyone, especially Bruce McClane, called them out for double standards.
The Screepz
Not much is known about the Screepz at this point in time. The Screepz are randomly targeted victims of a neurotoxin, which affects their frontal lobe. The toxin blocks their sense of reason and makes them extremely volatile. They are filled with extreme rage and left with intermittent bouts of adrenaline surges. Their inability to reason, lack of empathy and language, and abnormal strength makes them extremely dangerous. Their attacks and movements are vicious and random. They must be restrained, killed, or rendered unconscious or they will not stop.
Whoever is creating the Screepz must have access to dangerous unknown chemicals and a deranged mind. Screepz seem to follow Magnum and McClane.


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Freeman becomes NFL's highest paid RB.
The Atlanta Falcons have reportedlyreportedly agreed to terms on a five-year contract extension with Devonta Freeman that will make him the highest paid running back in the NFL.
Freeman, who was scheduled to make just $1.79 million this season in the last year of his rookie contract, will now rake in over $8 million annually as part of the 5-year $41.25 million extension.
The 25-year old, 2x pro bowler, is entering his fourth season in the NFL, coming off a 2016 campaign where he led the Falcons with 1,541 yards from scrimmage, including 13 touchdowns.
He released the following statement, via the Atlanta Falcons,
"This is where I've always wanted to be," Freeman said. "I want to thank Mr. Blank, Thomas and Coach (Dan) Quinn for all of their support. I feel extremely blessed, but the work and grind are just beginning."
Freeman and the Falcons will kickoff their first preseason game tomorrow night against the Miami Dolphins
Check out some of the expert reactions to Atlanta's latest move below.


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Ultra-fast broadband network heading to Essex
Ultra-fast broadband provider Gigaclear is installing its pure fibre cable network as part of the £7.5m Superfast Essex Rural Challenge Project. The project, which has just commenced, will bring ultra-fast broadband to more than 4,500 homes and businesses in the east of Epping Forest District, providing internet speeds up to 1,000 times faster than currently available in the area.
Members of the Superfast Essex team including Essex County Councillor Penny Channer, Deputy Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Waste and Recycling, and Epping Forest District Council representatives, including Councillor Alan Lion, Portfolio Holder responsible for Technology and Support Services, joined Gigaclear to mark the occasion as diggers began to create a track for the fibre network in Ashlyns Lane, Moreton.
Homes and businesses in 18 parishes will have access to Gigaclear's ultra-fast service as a result of the Rural Challenge Project. Parts of Abbess Beauchamp and Berners Roding, Bobbingworth, Fyfield, High Ongar, Moreton, Ongar, Stanford Rivers and Willingale are expected to be included in the first phase of work taking place between now and May 2016, however, the timescales for each area remain subject to change.
The Superfast Essex Rural Challenge Project contract was awarded to Gigaclear in June 2015. The pilot project was designed to test an alternative way of bringing faster connectivity to rural areas which were until now not included within the Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) roll-out. The main BDUK project in Essex, which is being implemented by BT, is on track to provide 116,000 premises with access to super-fast speeds of 24Mbps and above by 2019, using Fibre-to-the-Cabinet technology. Gigaclear will invest £5.5m in the Rural Challenge Project, which equates to more than £2.00 for every £1.00 of state aid. It will be combined with £2 public funding from Essex County Council, BDUK and Epping Forest District Council.
Cllr Channer, who is also the Chairman of the Superfast Essex Steering Board, said: "It is great to see the plans for our rural pilot project starting to come to life. This will make a tremendous difference to residents and businesses in this area. Well done to the team for their continuing hard work to keep everything on track. I look forward to seeing the results."
Matthew Hare, Chief Executive at Gigaclear, added: "By installing a new Fibre-to-the-Premises network we are giving residents and businesses in the Epping Forest District internet speeds that will transform their online experience, meaning working from home, running a business, studying, being entertained and play will now be possible for all. Living in a rural area doesn't mean you have to tolerate bad broadband, and we're here working with the Superfast Essex team and Epping Forest District Council to future-proof communications within the Epping Forest District."
"Gigaclear's pure fibre service will deliver internet speeds of up to 1000Mbps, 40 times faster than the UK average, for everyone connected."
Cllr Lion continued: "Today is a milestone for the area. Installing this ultra-fast technology from Gigaclear will make a momentous change to the work and home lives of residents when the network goes live. We're excited for the possibilities this creates and looking forward to seeing these rural communities thrive as a result."
Local events are being held by Gigaclear and Superfast Essex as part of the roll-out to provide further information to those who will have access to the service. Residents and businesses will have the opportunity to ask questions about the project and have their broadband questions answered.


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Far away from human settlement, when the weather is good, stars, planets and the Milky Way shimmer with incredible clarity in clear, dark night skies
Earlier this month the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) observatory in the Elqui Valley of northern Chile's Andean mountains was designated the first International Dark Sky Sanctuary by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), a non-profit organisation based in Tuscon, Arizona in the US.
The night sky has inspired our art and literature since early civilisation. Being cut off from that source by light pollution is to be deprived of something essential to our humanity
Dark skies are increasingly rare: as the human population becomes more and more urbanised, man-made lights obscure our view of the stars and other celestial features.
"About two thirds of human population today live under light polluted skies, not dark enough to see the Milky Way," says Babak Tafreshi, director of The World at Night (TWAN), an international organisation that curates and exhibits astrophotographs.
"Most city skies today are virtually empty of stars. Watching the spectacular arch of the Milky Way rising over the horizon sounds like a scene of science fiction to many kids and young people raised in urban areas."
Dr John Barentine, program manager at the IDA adds: "The night sky has inspired our art and literature since early civilisation. Being cut off from that source by light pollution is to be deprived of something essential to our humanity."
And some experts point out light pollution can disrupt the navigational ability of animals including turtles, fish and butterflies.
The best views of stars and other celestial features require a sky that is both dark and clear.
This usually means remoteness from artificial lights and good weather, although natural light can at times obscure a view of the stars: "You won't see many stars in a clear full moon night, nor in a summer night of high latitude regions where the polar twilight prevents total darkness," explains Tafreshi.
Barentine says that arid environments offer some of the best dark and clear skies, but adds: "People shouldn't overlook the skies wherever they happen to live. On any clear night there's much to see in the night sky, even for city-dwellers."
Some of the world's most astonishing night skies are over places that are very remote and hard to reach, while other sites are astrotourism hotspots encompassing national parks and observatories.
Here are 10 of the best places on Earth for a view of the night sky at its most magnificent.
1. The Sahara
Stretching for 3,500,000 sq miles (9,000,000 sq km) – equating 10% of the African continent – the Sahara is the world's largest hot desert. This extreme, hot and dry environment and the remoteness from civilisation of the desert's interior make for some of the most spectacular views of the stars on Earth.
2. Namibia
Namibia is home to a growing industry in astrotourism, with the Namib Desert's extremely dry weather and pristine skies perfect for the activity. The desert, one of the world's oldest and largest, features a number of "telescope farms", says Tafreshi. "The landscape is ideal for stargazing. Looking around you can see a 360-degree panorama of the horizon."
3. The Empty Quarter, Arabian Peninsula
The Empty Quarter in the south-eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula is one of the largest continuous deserts in the world, covering an area of about 250,000 sq miles (650,000 sq km). As its name suggest, the desert is almost empty of people.
4. Atacama Desert, Chile
Pristine night skies hang above most areas of the Atacama Desert, says Tafreshi. The world's most arid desert, located in Chile and small parts of Peru, Bolivia and Argentina, is also home to several astronomical observatories. "Atacama beats many other dark sky places by being high and dry and clear for so many nights per year. Walking on the desert between the scattered rocks and boulders on the pale red dust feels like being on Mars but under the Earth sky."
5. La Palma, Canary Islands
The volcanic island of La Palma Island, part of Spain's Canary Islands archipelago is a popular destination with astrotourists for its astonishingly clear skies. In 2002 the entire island was named a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Biosphere Reserve.
6. Himalayas
The "crystal clear skies of high hiking treks and Himalayan villages" are among the world's best, according to Tafreshi. The Himalayan mountain range in Asia is the world's highest, and includes Mount Everest, which at over 29,035ft (8,850m) above sea level is the tallest mountain on Earth.
7. Volcanoes of Hawaii
Hawaii's high volcanoes are home to several well-known observatories. The volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, both more than 4,000m above sea level, are among the island's volcanoes most famous for their views of starry skies.
8. Western Australia
Photographs of the west of Australia's Outback taken by satellite reveal just how dark the region is, says Tafreshi. "The many National Parks in the area are favourite places for stargazing," he says. "The southern hemisphere sky is even more eye-catching than the northern view due to the Milky Way bright central area rising overhead."
9. The Alps
"The last remaining natural night sky in Western Europe is in the Alps," says Tafreshi. This is due to low population, preserved areas and the mountain range's high altitude. "One of my favourites has been Tyrol region in Austria [where it's] easy to see the pristine night sky."
10. Wyoming, US
"There are many wonderfully dark places here in the American West, which is where I'm originally from," says Barentine.
"Many of these sites are parks and similarly protected areas such as nature preserves. National parks in the US and elsewhere are often fantastic places to experience authentically dark night skies, since they tend to be relatively far from cities and relatively undeveloped in terms of installations of artificial lighting."
Sparsely populated Wyoming, home to Yellowstone National Park, is one such state known for offering stunning views of night skies.
You can follow Michelle Douglass and BBC Earth on Twitter.


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Monetary Planning
A small business loan makes it potential for many up and coming companies to stay alive. Relying on the soundness of the enterprise, the credit history and a number of other other elements the maximum quantity of mortgage offered is determined. So, if you think that you simply want a bit large amount for your corporation then the secured loans would be the smartest thing to go for.
Moreover, business loans may also be taken to salvage or increase an present enterprise. Lots of the instances, a small business startup mortgage will be extremely troublesome to acquire, mainly as a result of banks don't wish to take a risk of lending money to an individual who exhibits no potential.
However, for not so big monetary requirements and for the non-homeowners the unsecured loans are excellent. This can persuade the lender to release small business credit score in your enterprise. They are also referred to as payday loans and most of those quick lenders is not going to even need any form of credit score test.
The anticipated increase in girls-owned companies, therefore, brings a couple of large want for enterprise loans for women. This can be a government company that invests in new, small businesses. To banks, small business lending is the very best-risk lending that they normally do, simply because small businesses historically have had a higher failure charge.
Business loans for women provide women the option of buying inventory to be bought in a retail business. Each of these loans has the potential to learn your business in a wide range of methods and the usefulness of every loan is determined by the type of enterprise you personal.


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Just about everyone has to travel somewhere at some point in their lives. While some business or pleasure traveling can be enjoyable, some journeys can be boring, dangerous, expensive and full of hassle. This article contains some tips to make your travel experience better, and help you avoid some of the common pit falls.
While travelling with friends and family is a great way to make memories, try travelling alone sometimes. You will find that all the activities you experience will seem just as vivid and memorable when you travel solo, and the freedom to do whatever YOU want do will seem incredibly liberating!
If you will be driving to your destination, fill a family member or friend in on your destination and planned route to get there. If something were to happen to you while driving, this person would be able to alert officials of your intended destination and the roads you would have been traveling on.
Take time each day to alleviate stress while traveling or vacationing and you will thank yourself for it when you get back home. With all the chaos, jet-lag, partying and other excitement of travel comes a whole lot of stress on your mind and body. By the time most vacations are over, another one is needed to recover so taking a few minutes each day to rejuvenate will make it easier for you to resume your normal life when it's all over.
Bring an empty water bottle. We all know that bringing a full bottle of water through security is a big no-no. If you don't want to be stuck paying a premium for bottled beverages after security, bring along your own empty bottle to fill at a water fountain. If the tap water is less than appealing to you, bring a single serve packet of drink mix to add to the bottle.
If you will be traveling to a foreign country where English is not the primary language, please make the effort to learn at least a few basic phrases, and make sure your pronunciation is as close as possible to the real thing. If you start out in THEIR language, most non-English speakers will quickly realize that you don't actually speak their tongue, and will meet you more than halfway in a helpful attempt to communicate. Starting out in English, on the other hand, sends the message that they need to communicate on your terms, which is impolite.
If you are traveling overseas, you may want to consult a health practitioner about what vaccinations are recommended. Different areas of the world have different diseases and you always want to be prepared for what you are walking into. There are plenty of vaccinations out there that can keep you safe.
The next time you need to travel somewhere, be it a quick local trip with your family, a business trip or a long distance journey abroad, consider referring back to the tips in this article. By utilising some of the ideas and advice mentioned, your travelling adventure could be cheaper, easier and safer.


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Talented Indie rapper, Falz aka "Falz the Bahd Guy" releases the Official visuals to 'How Far' featuring Sir Dauda. It comes off 'Wazup Guy: The Album' which dropped a few months ago.
A much-needed conscious rap tune especially at this time Nigeria is marking her 54th Independence.
Falz - How Far Ft. Sir Dauda (6.1 MiB, 1,430 hits)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxSiSqQwUtc]


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Hotel Le Concorde Quebec
1225 Cours du Général-de Montcalm
Québec (QC) G1R 4W6
Get your stay at the best price by booking directly with us!
The renowned Quebec Summer Festival is back this year from July 5 to July 15 2018!
Located on the Plaines of Abraham, The Bell stage will be hosting major international artists such as: Imagine Dragons, Mariah Carey, Kygo, Blink-182, Eric Lapointe and much more!
The other stages of the festival will be featuring world music in a more intimate atmosphere.
Take part in this festive event that reunites thousands of people. Hotel Le Concorde Quebec is located in short walking distance from the major stages. So get your passes and join in!


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On Tuesday after work I headed over to the Amnesty International office in NYC for their event on human rights for sex workers and trafficked people. I had studied a lot about human trafficking in the past, but this event was different than I expected and really brought controversial topics to the surface and created great meaningful discussion.
The guest speaker of the evening was Melissa Sontag Broudo, a staff attorney with the Sex Workers Project at the Urban Justice Center in New York City. Melissa chose to highlight 3 main areas: 1)the national sex workers' right movement, 2) trafficking vs. sex work, and 3) decriminalization.
Melissa spoke about her experience in her career with her clients. She attended law school to help bring justice to these workers-whether voluntary or involuntary. One particular case showed how unfair the judicial system can be when it comes to your rights; or simply between what is right and wrong. One woman was forced into selling herself for money by her husband. She was abused and threatened as he forced her onto the streets or sold her himself. Finally, the police stepped in. The husband ran, but the woman was left alone with a criminal record for being a "sex worker" even though it was not voluntary. Melissa works to get this record withdrawn so that this woman, who ever chose any of this for her life, can move on from this horrific experience and be given a second chance at life.
Situations like this one happen each and every day. It goes back to the idea of not being put in jail for violent crimes. Once you are put into prison for crimes such as drugs, alcohol, or sex work–if there wasn't violence related to them, you often come out a more dangerous person because of what you experience while in jail. This is particularly shocking when women like the one from the above story are punished for something they had very little or no control over. On top of that, law enforcement often doesn't take sex trafficking as seriously. Many women are abused by police officers or harassed due to the thought that they "deserve" what they got or made the decision to be in that position. Media is an outlet that doesn't help with this negative image given to victims.
Melissa expressed her concern on how the human rights response is currently negative. This is where controversy entered the room. One solution addressed was to make voluntary sex work legal. This is already available in a few brothels in Nevada. First, police officers need to be properly trained on how to handle trafficking. Right now the Vice department is arresting voluntary prostitutes. This is taking the attention away from those who are being trafficked, and it also causes a problem with those arrested being able to move forward with their lives. If sex workers who were working voluntarily were able to do so legally they could potentially become allies. This could cause them to be less afraid to come forward and report when they do see something illegal or forced. They are the ones who are behind the scenes in most cases witnessing people who really do need help. However, they feel unable to step up and say anything because they would then be arrested.
As the current legislation runs right no it's even possible for someone to be arrested for prostitution with the means being their possession of a condom. It is easy for enforcement to obtain a warrant and look for evidence of prostitution-condoms count as this. Which is ridiculous because anything making healthy sex practices less promoted is a sad reality we are left to think about. This causes anyone with a history or a certain look to easily be approached and put into this unfortunate situation.
One solution that has been implemented was closing down adult services on Craigslist. However, this did very little to solve anything. Like most problems, closing dow one medium only pushes people to move to an even less safe medium.
While listening to Melissa, I was reminded of my friend from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was writing a novel and including a woman he met earlier in his life who had chosen to enter into prostitution in order to put her brothers through school. They went on to become doctors, but she was left with a negative label for the rest of her life. This friend of mine wanted to show that a woman who enters into this lifestyle should never be judged harshly or abused my law enforcement or the clients who are coming to her. They are the ones who are giving it means to continue and not coming up with better solutions for her to have a different life, but instead allowing the practice to continue in a less safe way.
And so the controversial debate erupted into the Q&A session–is it OK to sell your body for money or not?
Melissa answered in her opinion on how there will always be a market for prostitution. It's up to us to find the least harmful and safest way. For example, the brothels in Nevada run with health cards, weekly check-ups, and a health background check.
So what is the right answer? Is the best solution to make prostitution legal? Are there ways to legalize it but still enforce safe practices? Is there a better solution all together? If we legalize it how can we stop the spread of disease? How can law enforcement be better trained to deal with trafficking?
Please check out current projects such as GEMS and the Polaris Project and see their efforts in ending human trafficking.
For additional information on Melissa's cause visit sexworkersproject.org


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'SNL's Earthquake News Report Has Fun With Absurd and Unfortunate Names
As Charles Dickens knew, names carry weight. So what happens when you have a truly unfortunate name? And what then happens when, on the very day you're trying to change your name, an earthquake hits and you become an item on the local news?
That's the scenario set up in Saturday Night Live's "Earthquake News Report" sketch, in which an earthquake strikes Sacramento and damages the local Social Security Administration building, with particular damage to the name change office. Because of the government shutdown, there were more people in the office than usual, and because of the earthquake, they all wound up on local television.
Not only did Donald McRonald and Mark Peanus escape with their lives and their old names, but so did Holden Tudiks, Bill Kosbie, Mario Pardi, Ty Neadik, and more. To make matters worse, one of the heroes of the day was a man named Alan Hitler. After he requested the news use an initial rather than his name, the chyron below read "A. Hitler." It's a straightforward concept, but it's still funny. No one loves Holden Tudiks more than his parents.
Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, get Streamail for more entertainment, and subscribe here for our YouTube channel to get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun.


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The police logs stated that a man looked outside and saw 30 naked people in his back yard.
We are full of people who don't want to wear their underwear in public and there must be a reason.
Was the event organized? Was there liquor? Was there a raffle? Was there a silent auction? Was there a silent auction? Was there a band?
Did they roast hot dogs? Was there a best undressed award? So many questions.
I hope this doesn't ruin bird watching.
— Chuck Dial, Red Bluff


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Deaths in Dundalk - Friday, 20th July to Monday 23rd July
Rest in Peace
Rest in Peace
The death has occurred of Philomena (Mena) O'Hagan (née Browne) of Cherryvale, Bay Estate, Dundalk, Louth
Peacefully, in the tender care of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, surrounded by her family. Beloved mother of Emanuel and Sandra. She will be sadly missed by her loving son, daughter, son-in-law Niall, daughter-in-law Maria, grandchildren Tiernan, Eoghan, Oisín, Leona, Chelsea and Jack, brothers Joseph, Tommy, Teddy and John, sister Mary, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
Removal on Monday at 10.15am, to St. Nicholas' Church, Bridge Street, arriving for Funeral Mass at 11am. Burial afterwards in St. Patrick's Cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
The death has occurred of Brendan Gaughran of "Iosef Naofa" Mc Swiney Street, Dundalk, Louth
Peacefully at home, 20th July 2018. Brendan very dearly loved husband and Anam Cara of Mary (née Mullally) and son of the late Joe and Mary and brother of the late Bernie, Paddy, Joe, Marie and Sheila. He will be greatly missed by his wife, sisters Kitty Cawood (Bradford) and Eithne Hannon (Dublin), brothers in law, Kevin Cawood, Michael Hannon, and Philip Mullally, nephews, nieces, cousins, the Mullally family and a wide circle of very loyal friends.
Reposing at Mc Geoughs Funeral Home from 12 noon on Sunday with removal at 4.45pm to St. Joseph's Redemptorist Church arriving for evening prayers at 5pm. Funeral Mass on Monday at 11am, followed by burial in St Patrick's Cemetery.
House Strictly private at all times.
May He Rest In Peace.
The death has occurred of Alf Dwyer of Mount Avenue, Dundalk, Louth / Cork City, Cork
Peacefully in Louth County Hospital. 21st July 2018. Alf much loved by his wife Elma, children Harry, John, Michael, Valerie and Geraldine, his precious grandchildren Myles, Kerry, Nicky, Kate, Ella, Dylan, Josie, Josh, Biba, Larry, Sally, Bella and Ralph, his sister Teresa Leetch, sons-in-law Gary Keating and Conor Griffin, daughters-in-law Geraldine, Natasha and Karen, his extended family and his many friends.
Reposing at his home from 3pm to 8pm on Sunday, house private at all other times. Removal on Monday morning to Church of the Holy Redeemer, arriving for Funeral Mass at 12 noon, followed by burial in St Fursey's Cemetery, Haggardstown.
Family Flowers only donations if desired to Louth Specialist Palliative Care Service.
May He Rest In Peace.
The death has occurred of Michael Brennan of Tullygoan, Corcreaghy, Dundalk, Louth
The death has occurred of Michael Brennan, Tullygoan, Corcreaghy, Dundalk, Co. Louth peacefully at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Co. Louth Saturday 21st July 2018. Predeceased by his parents Michael and Theresa and brother Nicholas. Deeply regretted and sadly missed by his brothers Noel, Tom, Aidan, Francis, Enda and Paul, sisters Marian, Caroline, Martina, aunt Bridie Russell, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, grand-nephews, grand-nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Reposing at his residence on Monday (23rd) and Tuesday (24th) from 10am to 9pm. Removal on Wednesday (25th) morning arriving to St. Enda's Church, Killanny for Requiem Mass at 11am. Burial afterward in adjoining Cemetery.
Enquiries to Deery's Funeral Directors, Carrickmacross 042-9661225.
May His Gentle Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.


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April 21, 2006
The Black Keys - Chulahoma
Chulahoma is a brand new 6 song ep from the Akron, OH two-piece The Black Keys on the Fat Possum label. All songs were written by the late Junior Kimbrough the first artist to record for Fat Possum. Kimbrough was friend of the late R.L. Burnside - another Fat Possum label mate who sadly passed away earlier this year. The Keys stripped down drum and guitar sound pays excellent homage to this North Mississippi Hill Country sound that seems to finally be finding it's place.
Download: Meet Me in the City
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Why Hamilton? A small tight community, beautiful campus, great air quality, fantastic tree selection, unreal water taste, functioning internet and lack of racism.
Favorite Past Sports Memory: I took my Tufts opponent to the Bagel Grove after my first ever collegiate match.
Who is your role model and what's their relationship to you? My role model is our assistant coach Dan "The Lawyer" Jonas. As a mentor and confidant none stand compared to DTL in quality and experience.


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Hollister Creative is a social impact marketing agency.
We help socially conscious companies, schools and nonprofits become more successful and impactful.
We assess your needs and develop a practical action plan to achieve your goals
We wield the power of professional design to captivate your audience
We research, write and edit to make your text clear and compelling
If your organization stands for something, we make it stand out
Immediately responsive and accommodating
"It was a real pleasure to work with the Hollister Creative team on this project. In addition to their skills in graphic design, copy and layout, team members were immediately responsive and accommodating in making last-minute changes and meeting deadlines. The Women 100 logo and the booklet produced by Hollister Creative are colorful and classy. Both are receiving rave reviews and will help Vision 2020 describe our ambitious national plans for the year 2020!"


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On the heels of China's, Japan's, Brazil's, and Europe's Services PMI weakness (and US Manufacturing PMI and ISM weakness), Markit's US Services PMI printed 55.1 (missing exectations of 55.6) and dropping to its lowest since June. This catch-down to Manufacturing weakness suggests the mid-year bounce is well and truly dead as even Markit admits, "it remains unclear as to whether growth will weaken further as we move into Q4." Additionally, after its exuberant spike to 10 year highs in July, ISM Services continued to drop back (to 56.9 missing expectations) .
Services (blue) appear to catching down to Manufacturing (red) in the ISM and PMI surveys...
After spiking to 10-year-highs in July, ISM Services continues to slide back to reality. Even after adjustements ISM Services is ugly...
While employment rose modesly; prices paid, inventory sentiment, and business activity tumbled...
But New Orders crashed... most since Lehman
Just remember:
So hope is what we are waiting for.. that could be a problem.
On the inflation front, average prices charged decline for the second month running, which represented the first back-to-back declines in output charges since the survey began six years ago.
Looking ahead, service providers are optimistic about the business outlook, but the degree of positive sentiment dipped to its second-lowest since June 2012
The US economic growth slowed in the third quarter according the PMI surveys, down to around 2.2%. But this largely represents a payback after growth rebounded in the second quarter, suggesting that the economy is settling down to a moderate rate of growth in line with its long term average.
Hiring also remains relatively robust, albeit down from earlier in the year, again suggesting that the economy has shifted down a gear but remains in good health.
At the moment it remains unclear as to whether growth will weaken further as we move into the fourth quarter. However, with inflationary pressures waning, policymakers may have some breathing space to gauge the extent of any slowdown. Lower fuel costs helped push average prices charged for goods and services dropping at steepest rate for nearly five years.
The bounce in Q2 is over...
Charts: Bloomberg


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As a small business owner, you need to use your money wisely and there are a lot of things you have to invest.
When it comes to digital marketing, Email marketing software is one of them.
However, there is probably more than a hundred software in the market. How are you supposed to know which is good? and more importantly, how are you supposed to know which is good for your business?
The answer is pretty simple. The best way is to test them by yourself.
It sounds a lot of works, right?
But the good news is that you don't have to do it one by one by yourself as I have already done that for you.
Below are the ones I have tested and I think that these are best email marketing software for small businesses in 2019.
I assure that, after you finish reading this article, you will find it easier to choose the one that fits your email marketing needs.
Table of Contents
- Factors I considered before recommending these email marketing software
- 8 Best Email Marketing Software for Small Businesses
- So which email marketing software is right for you?
- If you own an ecommerce business…
- If you are a blogger…
- If you sell emotion-driven products like food or clothing or consumer products people use in their everyday life…
- If you sell a software as a service product…
- If you need CRM that helps you manage pipelines…
- If you are just starting out and want to test how email marketing software can help you small business…
- If you are serious about email marketing and want to use software that you will not soon outgrow…
- Summary
- Over to you
- Subscribe to Our SoftwareWise Blog
Factors I considered before recommending these email marketing software
1. Price
There are a lot of things small businesses have to invest already. Email marketing software should not cost you an arm and a leg.
2. Ease of use
Recommended software should have good user experience and user interface.
3. Deliverability
Deliverability is actually one of the most important things. Regardless of features, it's useless if emails don't reach
4. Features
Nowadays, Email marketing software is not used for sending email campaigns anymore. At least, they should also have
5. Integration Ecosystem
There's no one size fits all; each software should play well with others.
8 Best Email Marketing Software for Small Businesses
1. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is one of my favorite and I'm currently using it for some of my & client sites. It's feature-packed and starts from as low as $9 a month (if paid yearly).
ActiveCampaign is best known for its automation feature; you can automate emails (and SMS for some countries) based on users' behaviors and demographics. Its email builder is also intuitive and easy to use.
Apart from Automation and basic email marketing, other notable features that make ActiveCampaign to be more than just an email marketing softwares are subscription forms, site tracking, lead scoring, basic CRM, Facebook audience syncing and site messaging.
ActiveCampaign also has one of the largest integration ecosystems in the market.
In my opinion, ActiveCampaign is suitable for businesses that want to leverage the power of data and need more than just a basic email marketing feature.
And if you look at its pricing page, you will see that ActiveCampaign is not just built for small businesses but also for enterprises. So it can grow as you grow and you will not outgrow it easily.
If you want to learn more about it you can request a demo or try it for free for 14 days with no credit card required.
2. Mailerlite
Mailerlite, as stated in its name, is a lightweight email marketing software.
In my opinion, two best things about Mailerlite are its ease of use (as its founder is a UX/UI Designer) and its pricing (you can start using it for free for up to 1,000 subscribers and after that, if you want to upgrade, it's still a lot less expensive compared to other competitive software).
Mailerlite's downside is its features. As you can see from its homepage, its slogan is "Advanced Email Marketing Made Simple".
If you just want a software that helps you deliver messages to your audiences via email, Mailerlite is one of the options you should consider. But if you want to use advance features like site tracking, complex automation system, it may not be the best option for you.
You can start using it for free for up to 1,000 subscribers. After that, its plan starts from $10 per month ($7 per month if paid annually).
3. SendinBlue
SendinBlue is the only option in this article that helps you deliver both (email) marketing messages and transactional (email) messages.
Wise Guide
Transactional (email) messages are messages sent to users after they perform some specific actions like purchasing products, resetting password or account activation.
Its business model is also unique (compared to other email marketing software) as it won't charge you based on how much users you have in the database but it charges you based on emails you send to users.
Based on my past experience (a few years back, I used SendinBlue for almost a year), I think that SendinBlue is feature rich and not expensive. If you have a lot of contact but you don't email with them often or if you owns an eCommerce site or SaaS (software as a service) that needs both marketing emails and transactional emails, SendinBlue is definitely worth consideration.
You can start using it for free if you send less than 300 emails per day. If you need more than that, it starts from $25 per month with 40,000 email sending limit per month.
4. Drip
Drip positions itself as a ECRM (ecommerce Customer Relationship Management) platform which simply implies that if you do ecommerce and you use email to sell products or services, Drip is the one for you.
Drip's main features are site tracking, email campaign, marketing automation and personalization.
What I like the most about Drip is its workflow builder and analytics & reporting which is pretty straightforward and easy to use (we found it easier and less confusing than a comparable software like ActiveCampaign).
Wise Guide
Workflow builder helps you see your automation workflow visually making it easier for you to set triggers and actions.
If you want an email marketing software that focuses on bringing in more customers (and more money), Drip is the one for you.
You can start using Drip for free for 14 days and after that, it starts from $49 per month.
P.S. this may sound expensive to get started but if Drip can help boost your sales, you will soon realize that it's worth investing.
5. MailChimp
Here comes, MailChimp, the most famous email marketing software in the market.
What I like about MailChimp is its good user experience and user interface. Another good thing about MailChimp is that you can buy Facebook Ads, Instagram Ads and Google Remarketing Ads directly from MailChimp (This feature is a unique one that other software in this article don't have).
What I don't like about MailChimp is it treats an identical contact in different segments as different people (for example, if you have 1,000 identical contacts in 2 segments, you will have to pay the price of 2,000 contacts) and its automation feature which is very basic.
Furthermore, as MailChimp is widely used, its deliverability could be an issue (the more people use MailChimp, the more difficult for them to manage their ip reputation). Based on my experience, emails sent from MailChimp are likely to be categorized as promotion in gmail.
Despite these pitfalls, I still think that MailChimp is a good email marketing software for people who just starting out.
You can start using it for free for up to 2,000 subscribers with 12,000 email sending limits per month.
6. ConvertKit
ConvertKit is probably one of the newest email marketing software in the market but it's being used by a lot of content creators (because ConvertKit was specifically built for them).
What makes ConvertKit different than others are that, firstly, it focuses on creators; their software will only be built to serve only creators, not ecommerce, SMEs, publishers or others. Secondly, it believes in authenticity. It means that you can't send fancy emails with big images, colorful buttons and other attractive visuals. You will be allowed to send only emails in plain texts with limited design.
This doesn't sound good but, in my opinion, ConvertKit will be really powerful in the hand of the right one (creators) as this shows how focused it is.
If you are a professional content creator, ConvertKit's ease of use and focuses will help you make the best out of email marketing.
You can start using ConvertKit for free for 14 days and after that, it starts from $29 per month.
7. GetResponse
GetResponse is one of the oldest email marketing software in the market.
Apart from its basic email marketing feature, it also has advanced features like automation, site tracking, lead scoring, basic CRM, landing pages and, a unique feature that other email marketing software doesn't offer, Webinar.
In my opinion, GetResponse is good for small businesses as even in max plan (one of its higher plans), you can add only up to 5 users and businesses that use webinar as part of their sales processes (i.e. coaches or software-as-a-service businesses).
It's also worth mentioning that Getresponse has offices in 6 countries (Poland, USA, Canada, Russia, Brazil and Malaysia) so regardless of your timezone, you will definitely get fast support.
You can start using GetResponse for free for 30 days and after that, it starts from $12.30 per month for its annual plan.
8. HubSpot
HubSpot is not just an email marketing software but it positions itself as a complete Inbound Marketing Software for small businesses and enterprises. Nevertheless, if you just need a good email marketing software that will grow with you, HubSpot Marketing Hub (starter plan) could be a good option for you.
Apart from its email marketing feature, it also provides features like form creation, ad management (for Facebook Ads & Instagram Ads), conversational bot (which helps you do lead qualification, meeting booking and others).
HubSpot also provides one of the best free CRM software in the market so, after you convert of qualify your leads, you can use its CRM to develop and maintain relationships with your customers.
One of its major drawbacks is that it can be very expensive for small businesses once your contact list gets larger and you need more advance features from HubSpot.
HubSpot Marketing Hub (with email marketing feature) starts from $50 per month for up to 1,000 subscribers. If you need more advance features like marketing automation, landing page, video hosting & management and others, its professional plan starts from $800 per month.
So which email marketing software is right for you?
If you own an ecommerce business…
Your main goal is to sell your product so you need an email marketing software that helps you sell the right product to the right person at the right time; in other words, software you are going to use must be good at personalization and automation.
So if you own an ecommerce business, the best email marketing software for you are Drip or ActiveCampaign.
If you are a blogger…
You build authority by providing values to your audiences through content so you need an email marketing software that helps you convert them to be your subscribers and communicate with them in an authentic way.
The best email marketing software for a blogger like you is ConvertKit. If
If you sell emotion-driven products like food or clothing or consumer products people use in their everyday life…
Social media plays an important role in your business because your products are related to visual and interaction.
Your email marketing software should be seamlessly integrated with social media like Facebook or Instagram i.e. if your potential customers abandon their shopping cart, software you use should be able to sync custom audience to social network so that you can do remarketing ads to them.
The best email marketing software for emotion-driven and consumer products are MailChimp as you can buy ads (Facebook Ads, Instagram Ads and Google Ads directly from the platform). Alternatively, you can use ActiveCampaign or Drip as they offer a feature that integrates the software with Facebook custom audience.
If you sell a software as a service product…
You will definitely need a transactional email service that sends emails to greet your new users or reset user password. Plus, It's likely that you will also need to have email onboarding sequences.
Sendinblue, which provides both marketing and transactional email services, could be a good option for you. Alternatively, you can use MailChimp for marketing emails and Mandrill (owned by MailChimp) for Transactional emails.
If you need CRM that helps you manage pipelines…
CRM & Pipelines make your sales process more efficient as they help you track stages of your clients and keep past records of your interactions.
And it's even more powerful if your CRM & Pipelines are synced with email marketing system (like you use marketing emails and automated emails to qualified your leads and once they are ready to be sold to, they will be added to CRM & pipelines).
ActiveCampaign, GetResponse
If you are just starting out and want to test how email marketing software can help you small business…
Mailerlite, Sendinblue or MailChimpare probably the ones you should try.
Once you surpass its free tier (300 emails sent per day for Sendinblue, 1,000 subscribers for Mailerlite and 2,000 subscribers for MailChimp), you can later evaluate whether you outgrow them or not. If it still works well for your business, then don't switch but if it's not, you can then look for alternatives.
If you are serious about email marketing and want to use software that you will not soon outgrow…
Go for software like ActiveCampaign, GetResponse, Drip or HubSpot.
Of course, you need to make an initial investment but it's not always a bad thing. When you invest in something, it's likely that you will commit yourself to it so the chance of you being succeeded in email marketing will also be higher.
Wise Guide
In regards to the last two options, there is no right or wrong. I think it's a matter of choice. We all have different preferences & conditions. It's best if you choose what you think works best for you.
If you are unsure how to pick software for your business, this article that discusses 7 Factors to consider when choosing software for business could be of help.
Over to you
Have you already decided which email marketing software you will go for? or are there any other options that are good for small businesses but are not included in the list? Do let me and other SoftwareWise's readers know in the comment!