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In My Experience by An Over Scheduling Mom & Banana Chocolate ChipMuffins
It's not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves, that will make them successful human beings.
Ann Landers
So, I don't normally do this.
I know I am going to piss people off. I might even piss off my friends and family. L
But I have to say something. I feel like I have to stand up for myself and others like me.
DISCLAIMER*** This is from my experience only. Nothing discussed here has been proven or is considered right by anyone other than myself. It is just my experience which therefore has led me to this path of becoming an evil parent that over schedules my children ;)
I have read article after article about the negatives of over scheduling our children. They will get stressed out and "they need free time to just be children."
Apparently kids that play soccer AND dance aren't having fun and aren't being children. Jeeze where do those poor kids even find the time to be stressed?
I hear and read all the pros of scheduling our kids and the cons of over scheduling our kids. There are way more cons out there. It is like we have to apologize to the world for teaching our kids the art of time management. It is just like when we decided to use cloth diapers. I had to defend my decision or justify it to almost everyone I met!!!
Making a conscience effort to make less waste, spend less money and use less harmful chemicals on our baby's bum led to being ostracized by new & old friends. For example, when HBear was 9 months old we went to library group for babies. We had just moved here and I was hoping to meet some new Mommies. When the ladies got to talking about diapers and I mentioned cloth… Well let's just say I didn't make any new friends.
Ninja and I talked about raising kids waaaaay before we had kids. We really thought about things. We have revisited some of the same issues repeatedly and some even recently LOL.
I do NOT want to put my likes, dislikes, fears and dreams onto my children.
With that being said… I am a scheduler, a planner, a multitasker. I think this is an asset. I don't think this just comes naturally. I think that it takes practice and skill. I hope to help my girls become organized and scheduled. I feel this will help them become successful in all aspects of their lives… And I want my girls to be successful in life, to be happy. In whatever it is they want to do, from janitor to musician, to pilot, to Dr. From plumber to mechanic to dance teacher to politician. As long as they do it to the best of their ability and they are happy.
This fall the girls are busy, HBear is in Yoga, Swimming, Acro Jazz, Guitar, the Gifted Program, Broadway and Brownies.
SBean is in Music, Soccer, Strong Start and Swimming.
There are some things I find to be a necessity in life. We live between 2 lakes. I think it is necessary to learn how to swim. PLUS as my LunchBesty made me realize, lifeguards are needed everywhere. If you are a good swimmer and carry it through until the end, you can get a job anywhere you live. Bonus!
What it all comes down to is…
Being involved.
Involved with school, activities, friends, work... having ties and responsibilities to something and someone else other than just yourself. It is about enjoying all the opportunities that are out there and having the confidence to take advantage of the opportunities presented to you. Of course I believe studying is important. HBear does "homework" every night. I made her a journal of opened ended creative questions. She writes a little bit every evening. However, everything in life needs balance and I hope that by introducing her to music, art, sports, and meditation that she will be able to have likes and a life outside of the fictitious world of her books.
I was an active kid. I formed bonds. I felt like I belonged. I gained confidence and I wasn't really angry at the world because I felt there were opportunities for me in it. In this day and age with suicide on the rise and girls on social networks disrespecting themselves, I want my girls to feel like a bigger part of the picture.
Some people may think that it easier to just put the kids into activities and drop them off.
Ask any hockey mom up at 5 AM on the weekends if that is easier. Ask the dance moms that sits in the studio hours upon hours a week. That sew sequins on bodysuits after the kids are in bed, the dishes are done, and lunches for the next day are made. Ask her if it's easier!
Yes, it is hard to be in the van all the time, driving kids to activities. Yes, it is crazy expensive. Yes, I have to learn about sashays, back walkovers, the breast stroke, the Brownie Promise, the lyrics to every Julie Andrews musical, what a fret is, how to feather kick a ball, AND the ABC's of yoga poses but to me it is worth it.
So to sum it up...
1. Activites = good. Pushing your kids to be the best = bad. Just because my kids are in scheduled activities does not mean I expect them to be the best or excel at these programs. Do I think HBear is going to be a Broadway Star? No. Does she think she is? No. Does she have a blast learning songs from Peter Pan and The Sound of Music? You bet!
2. If the kids show a dislike for the activity, they do not have to go back into it. But, they have to finish it. We do not end an activity in the middle, you must see it through until the end. This is a fact of life and everyone should learn that responsibility is yours and yours alone.
3. I always make sure they are smiling! Last year HBear barely smiled throughout dance class. I sat down and talked to her about it. She said it wasn't fun anymore. She missed her old teacher but liked her dance friends. We all chose to move our girls to a new studio that provided the girls with their favorite teacher and a new fun program. If she doesn't like it at the end of the year, we can try something new :)
4. You know your kids best. Pick what will work for them. Perhaps your child is shy. Perhaps, acting class would help him or her come out of their shell. Perhaps your child loves to play badminton in the backyard. Perhaps some tennis lessons are in order :) Your child is just like you, you like to socialize with people with similar interests... find those groups for your kids. Help them make good friends early on and develop ties to them throughout the years.
5. There is no better relationship than the ones made in your very own home. Although we are very scheduled, our weekends are free. They are free for family. We are done our activities early enough in the evening to get in take home reading... together and have some cuddle time :)
6. I also participate in activities. I believe that if the girls and their friends know me, they will be less likely to get into trouble later on. My Mom volunteered in all my activities and whenever we were about to do something stupid, even my friends said "what would Kathy say?" LOL Other parents knew my Mom. Their kids were allowed at our house. They told my parents if they saw me doing something I shouldn't have been doing. Already when I go to school I hear kids yell "Hi Mrs. M!" They respect me and know me. They will be less likely to treat my daughter badly if they feel like they know her and her family.
7. Busy minds are happy minds! I believe that by keeping active and social, there will less time to breed doubt and get into trouble. I found even when I used to smoke as a teenager… it was when I was bored. By staying active you keep boredom out of their lives and hopefully keep them out of trouble and making bad decisions. I would do anything that I think might have the slightest chance of keeping my girls healthy in mind, body and spirit.
8. Being involved in different activities allows your kids to fail. Obviously they can't be good at everything LOL so by going into a program that they may find fun but may not be very good at will teach kids. It will teach them how to practice, fail, and gain the confidence to take the time and get better at something. In the end this will give them pride and a sense of accomplishment.
9. I am not judging you. If this is not your belief and you choose to raise your children differently, I don't necessarily think your kids are headed for a needle and jail LOL. In fact, I knew kids that were involved that still got into trouble later in life. I also have wonderful friends that weren't really involved in after school activities at all and became happy, contributing adults with wonderful families of their own. I am not saying that I am right. I am saying that when I take a step back and look at the people I grew up with, I can loosely categorize them and see a trend. Through the wonderful use of critical thinking and extrapolation, I believe my theory to true. I guess my kids are the true experiment LOL.
10. Keep in mind... We did this to ourselves. Our kids are growing up in a world that is fast paced and scheduled. We need to prepare them for this. Yes, I remember playing outside by myself... It sucked. Maybe you remember it differently than me but I remember whining to my Mom that I was bored and her and her friends would all laugh and tell me to go outside and play. Parenting is no longer like this. We over parent, over compensate and over schedule. This is the way it is in 2015. There is a book telling us how to do everything! An article weighing out every parenting style. Everyone is watching and everyone is commenting. We can't go backwards so the only thing we can do is equip our children with the necessary tools to live the best life they can.
So that when they grow up they too can fuck up their kids lives like we have :)
Last week SBean and I made muffins! I am so happy she is old enough to start actively participating in the kitchen :) Ninja and SBean are signed up to take a cooking class together next month! They don't get to spend much 1 on 1 time together and I am super excited they get to hang out together. It will definitely be... interesting BAHAHAHA
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Adapted from Gather for Bread
½ cup margarine
¾ cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup mashed banana, about 3 small or 2 medium
1 cup chocolate chips
2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar
Preheat oven to 350. Grease muffin tins or line with cupcake liners.
Mix together butter and sugar until creamy.
Beat in egg and vanilla.
Mix in mashed banana and sour cream until well blended.
Add flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon until well combined.
***SBean turned on the mixer at the highest speed LOL the flour FLEW everywhere. It was wonderful watching her reaction to the mess LOL
Stir in chocolate chips.
Spoon batter into prepared muffin tin. Fill almost to the top. This will make for nice rounded tops. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Bake for about 21 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
Until next time, HoneyBears & SydneyBeans at 9/29/2015 0 comments
Labels: banana muffins, Schedule


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Many people have complained that there is not enough post-Teshuva support among Kiruv organizations. In fact, that was one of the driving forces of Beyond BT. Rabbi Shaya Karlinsky recently wrote:
My formula is that for every dollar devoted to getting someone interested in Torah, ten dollars should be devoted to nurturing and developing that interest, educating and supporting the individual towards the goal of becoming a well-adjusted, knowledgeable Torah Jew.
Some people feel that the task of BT support is more appropriate in the communities, particularly the Shuls. Obviously every Shul is not suited for BT support, but with Shuls with BT members there is a wealth of knowledge and support available within the context of the mainstream community.
In general, do you think we should encourage BTs to join and daven at mainstream Shuls as soon as practical, or do you think they should stay in primarily BT environments?
Do you think Shuls are suitable places for supporting BTs or do you think we should try to raise more money for Kiruv organizations for that task?

subset: commoncrawl


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66,960 steps... that how many steps it takes to explore the Dallas Market Center and to find the best gifts and home items to bring back to The Happy Sol in New London, Minnesota.
Stacey and I just got back from Dallas Texas with a mission to find the best selection of gift items possible for our customers. We scoured through showrooms and vendor set ups , traveled down halls and saw thousands of new items.
While at the Mart we also saw home trends that we liked... and a few that surprised us too. We liked the beautiful refurbished signs in muted earth tones, floor pillow poofs, natural fabrics,succulence, and could not believe the amount of Unicorns we saw... everything from Unicorn decor to Unicorn poop.
We had fun purchasing new products and lines too, lines like, Jack Black, a men's face and hair care product that works great and smells amazing! We also enjoying buying items like the new bee's wax line "Joan's a Keeper", cheater reading glasses that are fashionable and functional, an incredible new soap line with natural sponges and amazing scents, beautiful Christmas decor, an inspirational jewelry line we are excited about, "My Saint, My Hero", new sassy cards, and so much more! We also stocked up on some of our favorites like "Archipelago", "Sugarboo", Barr & Co", "Faceplant, Bamboo Pajamas" and of-course fun new items from "Blue Q".
While we shopped, we also kept in mind our new project in our store creating a fresh new look! We are always thinking of fun girlfriends gifts, stocking stuffers and hard to buy for men! We are constantly on the look out for something fun and fresh for West Central Minnesota! We are excited to share our new finds & fresh look soon!


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The company was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos.
For the fiscal year ending 2015, the company increased revenues by 20% to $107 Billion. They also had a profitable year with net income coming in at $596 Million. This is significant as the previous year, the company showed a loss on its bottom line.
Amazon's logo has an interesting distinction. There is an arrow that starts with the letter A and ends with the letter Z. This represents the fact the company sells every product from A to Z. Some may argue that Amazon does not carry every product, but most will agree it covers most products on the market.
In archive.org, where snapshots of a company's website can be viewed, in 1996, it shows a fraction of the number of categories and products available. Of course, this makes sense as a company is expected to expand over time. To see this, enter Amazon.com in the search box from Archive.org and select some of the earlier dates.
How the Company Started
Jeff Bezos did not want to miss out on capitalizing on the internet trend. In 1995, he introduced to the world Amazon.com. The company started out in Bezos' garage. Bezos initially decided on the top five categories being sold on the internet and felt the most profitable at the time was selling books. He entered into an agreement with Ingram and was able to secure selling the books at wholesale.
The move was not without its controversy and Amazon was sued by Barnes and Nobles, which was settled out of court. The suit contested Amazon's claim of being the world's largest bookstore. Barnes and Nobles asserted that Amazon was more of a book broker.
Bezos hit his parents up for the initial cash, knowing that there was a great chance for loss. His father didn't even know what the internet was. But, he believed in his son and both parents agreed to give him seed money. This was in the order of a few hundred thousand dollars.
The company obtained private venture capital until the company registered for its Initial Public Offering (IPO).
Initial Problems
Growing quickly draws attention for big players. As mentioned previously, Barnes and Nobles jumped on the chance to bring down Amazon's efforts by suing the company. WalMart also joined in an intellectual suit when Amazon scalped several of its top brass. This suit was also settled out of court.
In the past several years, Amazon has responded to the Nexus affiliate laws, which taxes purchases of affiliates within those states, by restricting and removing affiliate partner relationships. An affiliate relationship exists when a vendor, such as Amazon, allows any person accepted into their partner program to earn commissions on sales from its partners. In many cases, the affiliates exist where there are distribution centers which states feel they have the right to tax. Amazon disagrees with this and has been fighting this for quite some time. The current solution for them is to simply ban affiliates in those states.
To this day, the company is criticized for treating employees poorly and not paying them fair wages. Claims made state that the company makes them work in harsh conditions and are penalized if they don't meet targets.
Critics of the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program state that Amazon undercuts the bestsellers. These claims state that Amazon uses data mining to find the products that do the best and then finds suppliers willing to give volume discounts then offers products at a lower price.
Why it Works
Amazon created an environment where anyone can buy just about any product whenever they want. They offer fast (and often free) shipping, and they back any purchase with a return policy. Amazon also allows third-party sellers to sell products via its Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program. This gives sellers the opportunity to send products to Amazon's warehouses (located in several places) along with shipping materials. Amazon handles the selling and distribution of the products. Amazon is compensated for its efforts using a tiered model for payment.
Amazon also has an associates program (affiliate) where anyone accepted into the program can sell Amazon's products for a commission. This widens Amazon's reach exponentially. The commissions are paid on a tiered structure where sellers who sell more are rewarded with higher commissions.
Amazon has also given a voice to self-publishers. Before allowing them (for free) to sell on their platform, independent sellers were looked upon as the black sheep of the publishing industry. They were the brunt of jokes by the top publishing houses. Today, Amazon has leveled the playing field and made it possible for self-publishers to not only publish, but to excel on its platform. The move has made the big publishing houses scramble.
The company is not afraid to try new programs. It has several programs for customers including Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, etc., all with the goal of helping customers get more out of Amazon's products and services for less money.
Amazon is great at converting customers. When people visit Amazon, they do so with one purpose, i.e., to buy. Even if customers do not buy the original product they came to the site for, the chances of them buying something else is high.
Anyone who has been online for an extended period will know about Amazon. Even when Amazon is not advertising directly, browsers are likely to see products that are being sold with the Amazon logo. This constant reminder solidifies the brand.
As mentioned before, Amazon has an army of affiliates. Anyone who has implemented an affiliate program knows that this is a tremendous way to get sales with little effort. The effort falls on the affiliate. They provide traffic to Amazon at the affiliates' cost.
Amazon is one of the first to offer customers the ability to rate products and services. Although the system is criticized as being rigged, it still allows customers to see if others purchasing products on Amazon were happy with their purchases.
Customers can issue a one- to five-star rating as well as leave comments on what they liked or didn't like about products they purchased. Critics argue that competitors and people planted by the sellers taint the ratings. Amazon maintains that it works hard to keep the integrity of the system intact.
Lessons Learned by Amazon
- If you want to succeed in something, hire people who have succeeded with that same something, right? Actually, Jeff Bezos has taken an opposite approach. He hired people who have failed at other companies with initiatives he is interested in incorporating at Amazon. His feeling is that these people analyzed what they did wrong and are in a position to not let it happen again.
- Bezos is noted as stating, "We are stubborn on vision. We are flexible in details…" His resolve in making Amazon successful is unwavering to this day.
- Amazon management is not afraid to try new initiatives. Even if they don't believe they will work, they feel it should be tried. This can be seen largely through all the new programs that are offered on Amazon.com.
- Bezos believes in not reinventing the wheel. He is very keen on what his competitors are doing and is not afraid to incorporate concepts that have worked for them. At the very least, there is something you can learn from competitors.
How Other Businesses Can Learn from This
Sacrifice profits in the short term, even if they are guaranteed. If there is an initiative that is for the long term which can bring it much greater profits, this is something always to take advantage of.
Amazon is a firm believer of reinvesting profits to grow the business.


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14 Jul Preventive Services
Often times, people do not seek medical attention until it is too late. Seeking help for preventive services can be tough to convince potential patients to do. Using social media can be an effective tool for encouraging preventive services. At Prescription PR, we will help you use social media to promote your practice, as well as help your patients.
Whatever your medical practice specializes in, it is important to engage your patients in taking preventive methods, as this will be beneficial to both you and your patients in the long run. Because many people nowadays are frequent users of social media, you can use social media to promote awareness of different illnesses, and the different methods to prevent these illnesses from happening in the first place. Social media can encourage doctors to stay in touch and stay connected to their patients. This enriches the relationship between doctor and patient, by allowing them to stay connected even when they are not together.
At Prescription PR, we encourage our clients to use social media to stay connected with their patients. To promote the idea of preventive services, we not only care about our clients but their patients as well. Using reputation management, we can keep track of patient reviews. By making sure that your patients are satisfied with your services, this will encourage them to keep coming back to you.
We at Prescription PR care about you and your patients, and we want the best for all of you. Promoting preventive services through social media and reputation management will benefit everybody. Preventing illnesses from happening before they begin is always important, as it is better to start this before it is too late. If you can encourage your patients to seek preventive services through social media, as well as talking about them in person, your patients will thank you later.


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NESREA, NEPZA Partner on Environmental Protection
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) have formulated a framework to enhance environmental compliance and protection.
The framework, which is being fine-tuned to smoothen grey areas, will have the two federal agencies forge a common front in the discharge of their respective duties.
Speaking at the occasion, the DG of NESREA said the meeting was carefully structured to draw the attention of NEPZA to natural environmental laws, compliance and the need to ensure environmental sustainability in the operations of business concerns and industry within the various free zones.
The DG explained that it was difficult to make genuine economic progress without ensuring that development occurred in harmony with nature.
He informed NEPZA that it was necessary to create a platform for better relationship to avoid incidents arising from poor environmental management.
Responding, Jime expressed worry over the consequences of environmental pollution which he said was not in the interest of anybody and lamented the dearth of information regarding the operation of certain local laws in the Free Trade Zones.
He also informed NESREA that the Free Trade Zones were created to protect investors, adding that local laws did not apply to avoid local interferences but that the common laws applied.
Source: Daily Trust


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CAMP O'CONNOR is a free, merit-based summer program for middle school students with a mission to educate, encourage and inspire the next generation of leaders through a greater understanding of, and participation in, our democracy.
Watch the Camp O'Connor video to see the highlights of this unique and special experience.
The five-day summer program (June 10-14) provides incoming 7th and 8th graders with a unique, educational civics experience combined with leadership development.
The 2019 CAMP O'CONNOR application will close March 1, 2019. Don't wait, apply today at CampOConnor.org!


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I was coding up a class template a little while ago and I came across an error while debugging:
error: invalid conversion from âstd::basic_string<char>*â to âcharâ [-fpermissive]
It was in the code
template <typename T>
void ArrayList<T>::insert(const T& x,
unsigned int i)
if (i >= m_max)
cout << endl << "PANIC! Cannot insert file into un-indexed location! "
<< endl;
if (m_size > m_max - 1)
// Declare Varaibles
T *p;
*p = new T [m_max * 2]; // 129
for (unsigned int j = 0; j < m_size; j++)
p[j] = m_data[j];
m_data = p;
m_max *= 2;
// Deallocate Memory
delete [] p;
p = NULL;
for (unsigned int j = m_size; j > i; j--)
m_data[j] = m_data[j - 1];
m_data[i] = x;
At line 129 the debugger failed because an string is defined as an array of characters. So, to work this I'd have to say:
p = new T[value_defined_elsewhere][m_max * 2];
However, as this class template is also meant to be used for non-array types I have to wonder how I should go about fixing the error.
Any suggestions?


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FCEs are intense evaluations that assess a patient's flexibility, strength, endurance, and ability to perform a wide range of functional tasks. They are designed to find the safe limits of a patient's abilities and compare those abilities with the requirements of their job to determine their return to work status.
Patients should wear loose comfortable clothing and sneakers for the FCE as they will be doing a wide range of tasks, including walking, lifting, standing, bending, reaching, etc. The evaluation is comprehensive and may last up to 4-5 hours. FCEs may also be performed during and after the Work Hardening and Work Conditioning programs to determine current abilities and return to work status.
A FCE will assess needs for:
- Program care for either work hardening or work conditioning
- Intervention and treatment planning; further PT/OT needs
- Job Placement following injury or illness
- Recommendations for work modifications or determination of work ability
- Useful in return to work/case closure
A FCE is defined as a systematic method of measuring an individual's ability to perform meaningful tasks on a safe and dependable basis. The purpose is to collect information about the functional limitations of a person with medical impairment. A FCE is appropriate for a patient who has been off work with or without restrictions and ready to be released for full duty.
What to Expect
Upon completing a FCE and determining appropriate program care you will begin. A treatment plan is then developed exclusively for you and scheduled out for the duration of your stay. Upon completion of your program an exit FCE is scheduled and a follow-up visit with your physician to determine potential return to work.
Time and Duration of Treatment
Your doctor will prescribe both the frequency and duration of care. Most treatments are 5 days per week, extending over a period of 4 to 6 weeks. Most work hardening sessions will take 7 hours per day and work conditioning sessions 4 to 7 hours per day.
Be prepared to stay for the length of time prescribed for either program to which you are assigned. Work hardening / conditioning commences at 7:30AM. Absences will only be excused if approved by the Programs Coordinator; more than 3 unexcused absences will be regarded as non-compliance and may result in discharge from the program. It is best to wear loose-fitting clothing and as your conditioning improves, you will be encouraged to wear clothing typically worn by you at your place of employment.


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Choosing the right printing service is critical for any business, especially when you have a lot of marketing collateral that needs to be printed out throughout the year. You want to make sure you are working with someone who best fits your needs in terms of knowledge, quality and output. When confronted with a myriad of potential suppliers, how do you pick the right one? Take a look at the following steps that should be taken to establish a healthy, long-term relationship with the print shop of your choice.
Take out time to see the work of your proposed print shop. Thoroughly go through their complete portfolio so that you can assess the level of quality and the kind of service you will be dealing with in the future. Take a look at the fliers and brochures, posters and banners and any other marketing materials they have produced.
You want to feel certain that your printer shop (and the team involved) offers all the latest information regarding how your business can benefit from the most high-quality and cost-efficient printing. The printing staff should be able to guide you on the right materials to achieve the results you want. Make sure your proposed printer keeps up with the latest technology since printing has gone through many changes.
Find out if the printing shop of your choice can meet your deadlines and budget. You need to feel confident that the company has the correct equipment and the team is capable of understanding and acting on your needs at a price that is affordable.
At the end of the day, you may require someone who offers more than just a printing service. A lot of printers offer valuable services like graphic design, direct mail, digital and web solutions – all of which your business might need in the near future. Go through the services offered by the printing shop of your choice as you could end up economizing your money, saving time using just one company.
If you are serious about building up a partnership with your printer then inquire about some of the names of their clients who will be happy to answer your questions if you contacted them personally. If you are going to be using someone's services frequently then you want to know if they can deliver exactly what you expect of them.
A customer should always investigate the printing company's length of time in business since longevity indicates reliability and experience. The longer the company has been in business, the better.
If what you are looking for is quality, diversity and affordable rates, contact us today to schedule an appointment with the best printer in NYC!


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Monument Valley is a magical national park with breath-taking hikes to discover! From hikes with teardrop arches and self-guided hikes to overnight treks on Hunt's Mesa there are many incredible hikes in Monument Valley to choose from! As Oljato-Monument Valley is in Navajo county we are merely visitors to their sacred land. Therefore, to protect this special landscape there is only one official Monument Valley hike you can do without a guide. The other hikes in Monument Valley require a guide. Whilst the Wildcat Trail is an epic hike in monument valley that you can do without a guide, there are many more incredible guided hikes in Monument Valley. Here are four of the best hikes in Monument Valley as well as a bonus hike which is closeby! Pack your hiking boots and let's explore Monument Valley by its sandy trails.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
- Where is Monument Valley?
- How much does it cost to hike in Monument Valley?
- Why do I need to take a guided tour hike in monument valley?
- List of Hikes in Monument Valley
- Map of Hikes in Monument Valley
- Companies offering Guided Hikes in Monument Valley
- Best time of year to hike in Monument Valley
- Best time of day to hike in Monument Valley
- What should I bring on my Monument Valley Hike?
- Things to do in Monument Valley
- Where to stay in Monument Valley
Where is Monument Valley?
Monument Valley is a beautiful national park in the American South West. The park is part of the Navajo nation and is officially called Oljato-Monument Valley or Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Monument Valley is in Utah and Arizona.
[hmapsprem id=33]
How much does it cost to hike in Monument Valley?
The various hikes in Monument Valley has various costs.
To enter Monument Valley, you will need to pay a $20 entrance fee. This is per vehicle (up to 4 people) and is valid for 2 days. Regardless of which Monument Valley hike you choose, you will have to pay the entrance fee.
There is one hike which is included in your Monument Valley entrance fee. The Wildcat Trail is the best hike in Monument Valley to do without a guide. You simply park up at the visitor centre, then you can walk to the Wildcat Trailhead. The Wildcat Trail is an easy 3mile hike around some of the most iconic buttes in the American South West.
If you don't fancy hiking the Wildcat Trail and would prefer to explore a different part of Monument Valley, you will have to take a guided trek. The guided treks in Monument Valley have various fees dependent on company, length of tour etc. For example, the hike to Teardrop Arch costs around $80 per person but the overnight hike and stay on Hunt's Mesa can cost around $400 per person. Yikes! If you are on a budget Wildcat Trail is the cheapest hike you can do in Monument Valley. Yet if you are looking to discover the real Monument Valley away from the noisy visitor centre, booking a guided hike is worth it.
Why do I need to take a guided tour hike in Monument Valley?
Adventurous hikers may not be used to taking a guided hiking tour. Some of us love to go out into nature, armed with a map and see what we can discover! Therefore, avid hikers may be frustrated at having to pay and take a hiking tour in Monument Valley. However, it is important to understand a few things before getting annoyed.
- Monument Valley is part of the Navajo nation. This is a semi-autonomous state with their own laws. This is their home and we are guests.
- Monument Valley is a sacred place to the Navajo people. By ensuring guest take part on a guided tour, they can protect their holy landscape as visitors know how to behave. For example, it is forbidden to climb the mesas in Monument Valley.
- Tourism is a major source of income for the Navajo people. By taking part in a guided hiking tour in Monument Valley you are providing locals with employment.
List of Hikes in Monument Valley
Monument Valley Hike 1: Wildcat Trail Hike
Wildcat Trail is the best hike in Monument Valley to do without a guide. It is a 3-mile circular hike in Monument Valley which starts by the visitor centre, takes you around the West Mitten Butte and back. This Monument Valley hike is particularly beautiful at sunrise and sunset.
You just need to get your permit at the visitor centre before starting the hike. Sign in for free at the visitor centre, state the time and how many are in your party and then you can hike!
It takes around 2 hours to complete and is very easy to navigate. This was our highlight when we visited Monument Valley.
Monument Valley Hike 2: Hunt's Mesa Hike
Hunt's Mesa is the tallest part of Monument Valley. Hikers will enjoy the two-hour hike to the summit of Hunt's Mesa at 6,370 feet (1,942 m). To reach the start of the Hunt's Mesa Trail, you will have to access it through the Navajo town of Kayenta with your tour guide. You may not go on Hunt's Mesa without a tour guide.
The Hunt's Mesa hike can be done as a day hike or as an overnight stay. The day hike takes around 7 hours and the overnight hike around 18 hours. This is the only overnight stay hike in Monument Valley. If you choose to stay over, your guide will bring tents, sleeping bags and an evening meal. From the summit of Hunt's Mesa you will be treated to a spectacular view of Monument Valley. This must be one of the best Instagram spots in Monument Valley!
Another great Instagram spot in Utah can be found in Zion on Angel's Landing!
Monument Valley Hike 3: Teardrop Arch Hike
Teardrop Arch is a great hike in Monument Valley for photography lovers.
The guided hike to Teardrop Arch takes around 2-2.5 hours. When you reach the natural arch, take plenty of photos of the wonderful view. The arch frames surrounding mesas and buttes wonderfully making for excellent photos. This is not a very popular hike in Monument Valley meaning you may have a hiking tour guide all to yourself!
Monument Valley Hike 4: Mystery Valley (Anasazis Trail)
Mystery Valley is a sacred place with buckets of history. The 6-hour hike in Mystery Valley takes you under sandstone arches, past ancient ruins and through labyrinth canyons. You can see remains of the Anasazis who lived there through painted walls and old dwellings. This is an amazing hike in Monument Valley, it is also very popular so make sure you book this hike in Monument Valley in advance.
If you like canyon hikes, check out this canyon hike in Utah! The Wire Pass day hike is a great hike to do whilst you are the American South-West. We did that canyon hike before visiting Monument Valley.
Bonus Hike: Mexican Hat Hike
Okay so Mexican Hat hike is not technically in Monument Valley. It is just 26 miles north-West of the Monument Valley visitor centre.
Mexican Hat rock is, as you may have already guessed, a rock in the shape of a Mexican Sombrero. What you may not know is that there is a trail to the rock! This is a great hike you can do without a tour guide. Mexican Rock is located 3 miles north of the village of Mexican Rock. A 'scenic' route goes from the village to the rock.
Backcountry Hikes in Monument Valley
There are several backcountry hikes to explore in the Navajo nation. Just makes sure you do your research and purchase a permit before embarking on one. Further information regarding backcountry hikes in Navajo nation can be found by clicking on the link.
Map of Hikes in Monument Valley
Here is a map of the various trails in Monument Valley to help you decide where to hike in Monument Valley.
Companies offering guided hikes in Monument Valley
Have you decided which hike in Monument Valley you want to go on? Now you know, unless it is the Wildcat Trail, it is time to find the perfect tour company. These are the tours listed on the Monument Valley official website who offer guided hikes in Monument Valley. I have heard very good things of Navajo Spirit tours and they seem to have great reviews on TripAdvisor. You should look at reviews on TripAdvisor before booking your guided trek in Monument Valley.
Hunt's Mesa Hiking Tour Guides
Fancy hiking on Hunt's Mesa? Here are five Hunt's Mesa Hiking Tours to choose from:
- Monument Valley Safari Hunt's Mesa Hiking Tour
- Navajo Spirit Tours Hunt's Mesa Hiking Tour
- Majestic Monument Valley Hunt's Mesa Hiking Tour
- Dineh Bekeyah Tours Hunt's Mesa Hiking Tour
- Emonument Valley Hunt's Mesa Hiking Tour
Teardrop Arch Hiking Tour Guides
Would you like to hike to Teardrop Arch in Monument Valley? Here are four Teardrop Arch Hiking Tours to choose from.
- Navajo Spirit Tour Teardrop Arch Hiking Tour
- Monument Valley Safari Teardrop Arch Hiking Tour
- Dineh Bekeyah Tours Teardrop Arch Hiking Tour
- Three Sisters Navajajo Guided Tours Teardrop Arch Hiking Tour
Mystery Valley Hiking Tour Guide
Would you like to hike in the Mystery Valley? Most tours take visitors around in vehicles but Emonument Valley offers a Mystery Valley Hiking tour.
Best time of year to hike in Monument Valley
The best time of year to hike in Monument Valley is spring or fall. It can get very hot in summer with temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius (85 degrees Fahrenheit). Given the dry heat this can make for uncomfortable hiking conditions.
In winter it can get very cold! Did you know it frequently snows in Monument Valley in winter?! When we were there in November there was a thin blanket of snow. As the plateau is very exposed it was very chilly and windy when we got out at the visitor centre. We wrapped up warm and walk the Wildcat trail but it was still fairly cold.
If you are visiting Monument Valley in summer, see if you can start your Monument Valley hike early or alternative later in the day. If you are visiting Monument Valley in winter make sure you wrap up on your hike in Monument Valley!
Best time of day to hike in Monument Valley
Depending on the Monument Valley hike you choose, you may not have a choice what time of day your hike will be taking place. If you are doing a self-guided hike such as the Wildcat Trail, hiking at sunset or sunrise is quite spectacular.
What should I bring on my Monument Valley Hike?
WATER! Bring lots of water with you! When you are hiking in deserts, always have plenty of water, don't go in slot canyons if it looks like rain and don't go alone. You can find more safety tips for hiking in deserts in our how not to die in Death Valley guide! Oh and also bring your camera as it is a pretty spectacular place to visit!
Things to do in Monument Valley
Aside from hiking there are plenty of other things to do in and around Monument Valley!
Upon arrival head into the Monument Valley Visitor centre. The Monument Valley visitor centre is open 7 days a week and houses an array of fascinating exhibitons, an interesting gift shop and a restaurant. There are also restrooms which are useful before starting your Monument Valley hike!
If you don't fancy hiking in Monument Valley there is a scenic self-drive loop. This is a dirt road which takes you past beautiful mesas and buttes as well as to several epic viewpoints.
Any Forrest Gump fan cannot pass on the chance to visit Forrest Gump point! The Forrest Gump point lies just north of the visitor centre and offers epic views of the desert landforms. This is the point where Forrest Gump stops his running across America. Someone has even drapped some shoes over the sign. Surely this is a pilgrimage site for any runners!? Regardless of whether you like running or not, you will probably do plenty of running whilst getting a photo here. The photo point is in the centre of the road so you will inevitably have to run out of the way of passing cars!
Depending on how much time you have, you could visit Gooseneck State Park or go on one of the various San Juan river hikes (just make sure you have a permit first). There is also a wonderful place to stay, relax and enjoy the iconic landscape at Desert Rose Inn. This makes for a great rest day if you are visiting Monument Valley as part of a longer USA road trip.
Where to stay in Monument Valley
In terms of where to stay in Monument Valley, there are only two hotels within the actual park. These two hotels in Monument Valley are the View and Gouldings Lodge. Both hotels can fill up fairly quickly in high season though so book as far in advance as you can. Alternatively, you can find more (and cheaper accommodation) in the nearby towns of Kayenta, Mexican Hat and Bluff. There are also plenty of places to stay in Moab which is further north.
We choose to stay in Desert Rose Inn in Bluff as they have an amazing pool with wonderful views of the desert! What a great place to relax after hiking in Monument Valley!
Have you been inspired to hike in Monument Valley?
Have you been inspired to bring your hiking boots to Monument Valley? Which Monument Valley hike do you like the sound of? Have we missed any Monument Valley hikes? Let us know in the comments below!


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Tai Chi Institute USA is pleased to present our August 2015 ~Student of the Month~ Paul Corty
Paul started in a group class and has continued to deepen and expand his skills through private instruction in our Shaolin Warrior Combat Training program. Paul is a superb athlete, a quick study with the added advantage of laser focus and determination. It is a pleasure working with Paul who is also an accomplished musician.
I currently live in Beachwood, OH, and I am going to be a senior this year at Beachwood High School. My lessons with Sifu Edward Niam have given me confidence in my ability to defend myself if the need arises, and have helped my sense of balance to grow. I like to dabble in the field of Yoga, to help center myself and balance my energy, and my lessons in self defense can be beneficial to the energy and determination that Yoga can require.
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Good morning everyone and happy start of the week! I hope everyone enjoyed a great week-end. Time for a change, but only once as today we'll get low! Low on heels but not flat otherwise I'd recommend you another blog for sure! This title also made me think of several great songs so I've decided to add them to the usual gallery of shoes; let me know if you like such initiative 🙂
You can see two big categories of low heels: block heels and kitten heels. I've tried to get some examples of both and as you can see this style of heel is also very popular with booties.
Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz – Get Low
Dillon Francis & DJ Snake – Get Low
Hardwell & SICK INDIVIDUALS – Get Low


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I saw my therapist today.
My daughter moved into the dorms for her first year in college yesterday. We talked about that for a while. It is bittersweet. I am very happy for her, but it does feel different with an empty room. I got shaky when I was moving her in. I don't think it was the lifting, but anxiety. There were so many people.
Once we got all of her stuff in her room, I said goodbye. My husband and son took her shopping for a few last things, and had lunch in the cafeteria. I would not have been able to eat.
I told therapist about the shaking. I was still doing it today. In the room my son was telling me to breathe in my nose and out my mouth to try to help. He is sweet. I told her when I came home from the last visit I was unsure how I felt. We had talked about the past, growing up, and it was uncomfortable. She asked me what I needed and I said some acknowledgement that parts sucked. The unpredictability.
I tried to be invisible and would do what I was told at home and keep a low profile, and stay away from home when i could. I told her i got into trouble with drugs and my boyfriend, but my parents were too preoccupied to notice or care. She thought that would upset me, that i went unnoticed, but it was my plan.
At one point I told my therapist I was "pulling back". I guess I was dissociating. I was there but numb to any emotions.
i mentioned how once my mom was talking about my niece, saying really nice things. She brought up my daughter, for some reason, saying she is not the same or something. I said, i know and was agreeing with her, and said that my daughter is really good, but she is different. Then my mother said, " well, I thought you were good, too." It really bothered me because I thought she was insinuating my daughter might be up to something she isn't. My therapist said, " I don't know what to say to that. There are so many levels." And it came out of the blue when my mom said it.
This is so hard. My father is gone. My mom has changed some, for the better.
My therapist said, parents do what they can for their children, unless they are sociopaths, and that mine did not know how to do things differently, is that fair? I squirmed with that. Not the sociopath part. I know they did things the way they thought was the best. I don't understand how they could think some things were okay to do, let alone good. if I can get past this it might be a breakthrough.
My dad once discouraged me from therapy, because he said you talk about the past and it makes you sad. As far as i know he had never had any therapy and I shrugged it off, but here I am. Talking about the past and feeling sad.


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Reedsville 2nd at Big East tournament
MISHICOT — When the finals of the Big East Conference tournament started at 3 p.m. Saturday and all the wrestlers lined up, it had the look of a dual meet.
As each of the finalists for each weight class shook hands it was Reedsville, which sent 11 wrestlers to the championship match, leaving Mishicot with three conference champions.
Isaac Roffers won the title at 160 pounds, as did Panthers teammates Daniel Kocourek (170) and Zenaido Capetillo Cruz (285).
"I'm really proud of my team," Capetillo Cruz said. "I knew that they could do it and I'm just really happy for them."
Reedsville finished second as a team behind Random Lake 260.5-250, which had eight finalists and six champions.
Roffers, though, wants to see more from the team moving forward starting with next week's WIAA Division 3 regional at Brillion.
Should Reedsville advance to Team Sectionals, they could face Random Lake which bested the Panthers in six of the seven championship matches featuring the two schools.
"It's pretty good but I fell like every time we (face Random Lake) we choke so obviously we need to do more before we'd get to team sectionals if we make it and we got to be able to beat that team," Roffers said.
Of the three victors, Roffers was the most confident he'd end up where he did.
"I didn't really expect anything else," Roffers said. "Coming into February this is exactly what you have to do."
As for the championship match itself, Roffers knew he could win having defeated Cedar Grove-Belgium's Garret Davies last year in the final in a 9-2 decision.
This time, with time running out in the first period Roffers put Davies on his back.
"I saw the chance with 13 seconds left to put him on his back so that was pretty fun," Roffers said. "It was a long week, wrestling 9 matches in five days so it was a nice to get it over with pretty early."
For Kocourek, the title was a little bit of redemption against his championship opponent, Random Lake's Levi Kohn.
"I never beat him before so getting revenge, getting a win back and getting a second conference title felt good," Kocourek said.
Kocourek beat Kohn via a 6-2 decision.
"It was a tough match, I gave up an early take down but stuck with it and got the win," Kocourek said.
While both Kocourek and Roffers won conference before, Capetillo Cruz picked up his first championship.
"It was my first conference title so I'm pretty happy with it," Capetillo Cruz said.
The senior, who won the championship match by pinfall in the third period, nearly got pinned himself at the end of the first.
"I was trying to roll back but my left knee kind of gave out and I landed on my back but I started fighting like hell to get out," Capetillo Cruz said.
The area's other finalists came from Mishicot, which had both Dylon Becker (126) and Jacob Luckow (132) take second.
Neither wrestler was all that thrilled to take second.
"Right now I have a lot to improve on after that match but it gives me a good outlook for the rest of the season," Becker said. "I wish the outcome at the end would have been different but I wrestled hard, it gives me something to work forward to."
Luckow, a senior, finished second in conference for a third time.
"I'm glad I could make it to the finals, I'm just a step short," Luckow said.
Also from the area was Manitowoc Lutheran/Roncalli co-op, which was led by Colton Swetlik (182).
Swetlik lost his first match before winning his next three, all by pinfall, to take third.
Tom Dombeck can be reached at 920-686-2965, email@example.com or follow on Twitter at @Tom_Dombeck
Team scores: Random Lake 260.5, Reedsville 250, Cedar Grove-Belgium 148, Mishicot 115, Oostburg 102, Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah/Howards Grove 97.5, Manitowoc Lutheran/Roncalli 24, Ozaukee 22.
REED: 106: Jordan Ingalls, second place, 1-1, 1 pin. 113: Nick Griffey, second place, 0-1. 120: Landon Kasper, second place, 1-1. 126: Josh Schuh, third place, 3-1, 3 pins. 132: Marie Wedepohl, fifth place, 0-2. 138: Gabe Pedahel, fourth place, 1-3, 1 pin. 145: Brandon Stelzer, second place, 1-1. 152: Andy Spatchek, 2-1, 1 pin. 160: Isaac Roffers, first place, 2-0. 170: Daniel Kocourek, first place, 2-0. 182: Riley Kasper, second place, 2-1, 1 pin. 195: Mike Griffey, second place, 1-1. 220: Cole Knier, second place, 1-1. 285: Zenaido Capetillo Cruz, first place, 2-0, 2 pins.
MISH: 126: Dylon Becker, second place, 1-1. 132: Jacob Luckow, second place, 1-1, 1 pin. 145: Sawyer Young, third place, 3-1, 2 pins. 152: Max Hrubecky, fourth place, 2-2, 1 pin. 160: Jack Ribley, fifth place, 0-2. 170: Kyle Tesarik, third place, 2-1, 2 pins. 182: Jeremiah Cain, 0-2. 195: Austin Lambrecht, fourth place, 0-2. 220: Frank Koepelle, fourth place, 1-2. 285: Cole Kraynik, third place, 2-1, 1 pin.
LUTH/RONC: 138: Naysen Sparks, fifth place, 0-2. 152: Tanner Jost, 0-2. 182: Colton Swetlik, third place, 3-1, 3 pins.


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24 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
I have an '87 Chevy 3/4 4x4 long bed. I just put a 4in suspension lift on it and now the front driveshaft is a quarter of an inch above the exhaust pipe where it crosses over to the drivers side. It is still factory single exhaust. Is the shaft going to move enough to hit my exhaust pipe? Or should I just stay on the street until I convert it to dual exhaust.


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In order to protect our patients, staff and community, and reduce the risk of spread of the Coronavirus/COVID-19, Clear Sound Audiology is asking patients to reschedule appointments for those who:
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Objectives: Today I will make connections between characters and themes in a text.
Daily Agenda Slideshow
- 5-word vocabulary check (graphic organizer & instructions) on Wednesday, 10/9
- Keep bringing your readers' workshop book to class!
- Read the poem "Wild Boy of the Road"
- How does the boy act?
- What does he say?
- What do others say about him?
- How can we represent information visually?
- Character web
- Draw pictures that represent each part of the character
- Draw a picture of the character with descriptive words surrounding the character
- Make a chart...
- Discuss with your group: What is a theme of the poem?
- Then, individually, choose a theme and create a visual representation of that theme in your notebook. (See list above for ideas!)
- When finished, read your readers' workshop book!
Daily Agenda Slideshow


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Excellence in Scholarship and Learning
Magic and Divination in the Old Testament
Solomon Nigosian, Ph.D., is Research Associate at the University of Toronto, Victoria College, specializing in Biblical and Near Eastern Religions. His numerous books include From Ancient Writings to Sacred Texts: The Old Testament and the Apocrypha, The Zoroastrian Faith: Tradition and Modern Research, Islam: Its History Teaching and Practices, and World Religions: A Historical Approach, 4th ed. Dr. Nigosian is the recipient of numerous honours and awards.
Humans, since time immemorial, have tried to discover and influence
the will of spirits and deities that they believed to be in charge
of their lives. As a result, all cultures have produced certain
special individuals thought to be closely in touch with the powers
of the supernatural world. Was this true of ancient Israel? If so,
who were the occult experts and what techniques were used by them?
This study explores the many practices and rituals associated with magic and divination among the ancient Israelites as documented in the Old Testament. Seeking omens and consulting seers and diviners were widely practiced, though in the biblical text such activities are roundly condemned. Solomon Nigosian's scholarly work is written in language that makes it absorbing reading for both the biblical scholar and the layperson.
|Hardback ISBN:
|Hardback Price:
|£45.00 / $69.50
|Release Date:
|August 2008
|Page Extent / Format:
|156 pp. / 229 x 152 mm
The Biblical View: A Survey
Magical Activities
Divinatory Techniques
Magicians Seers and Diviners
An Assessment
Index of Biblical References
Index of Authors
General Index
This short monograph is a welcome contribution to an exciting research area, that is, the study of magic in ancient religions. Whereas studies of Jewish religion in the Second Temple or late antique periods can profit from a relatively rich set of literary and archaeological data (although often struggling with great difficulties of interpretation), Nigosian has decided to explore a range of biblical material (contained in the OT) that is not covered by most other works and is excluded from almost any other source of evidence.
The Catholic Biblical Quarterly
In order to provide biblical students
and others with basic information, Nigosian (biblical and Near Eastern
religions, U. of Toronto-Victoria College) assembles, classifies,
and critically examines Old Testament evidence for the occult functionaries
and their activities in ancient Israelite religion. Among his topics
are exorcising demons, cleromancy (casting lots), and necromancers.
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Once a loved one is laid to rest, healing continues by creating a special place to visit, beginning with a lasting tribute to him or her. Family and friends for years to come can commemorate important occasions, pay their respects and feel connected.
From flat memorials and upright monuments to mausoleums and columbariums, there are many options for permanent memorialization, so our staff can assist you in selecting one that suits both your style and budget.
McNabb Funeral Home | Gregg Funeral Home | Gregg-Weston Funeral Home | Gregg Langford-Bookout Funeral Home
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Clancy Plant, the service provider of all plant and transport requirements to The Clancy Group, has renewed its long-standing vehicle agreement with ŠKODA UK.
The new contract has already delivered 11 vehicles and will see a further mix of 20 Octavia, Rapid Spaceback and Superb models added to the fleet this year.
ŠKODA currently provides nearly a fifth of Clancy Plant's 400-strong fleet, which is used to support the company's six nationwide offices and 2,500 employees across The Clancy Group.
Founded in 1962, Clancy Plant is a leading force in the construction industry that focuses on the service provision of plant, transport and traffic management. With a wide-ranging workforce spread across the country, the deciding factors when choosing new fleet vehicles are reliability, Whole Life Costs and keeping overheads as low as possible for drivers.
The balance of favour was tipped in ŠKODA's direction due to the low p11d values attributed to the model range and competitive Whole Life Costs. The Rapid Spaceback diesel starts at £16,900 with a BIK of just 22% and the Octavia hatch is available from £20,395 with a BIK rate of 23%. The Superb offers comfort, style and practicality and is highly affordable from just £22,725 with a BIK rate of 23%.
A key addition to the Clancy Plant fleet for 2017 has been the Rapid Spaceback, which was facelifted earlier this year. The compact car has received new lighting systems to ensure even greater safety and passengers can always be online thanks to an available WLAN hotspot that helps keep businesses connected on the road. Truly living up to its name, interior design changes haven't impacted the impressive 415 litre capacity boot space.
David Janes, Head of Sales & Corporate Accounts at Clancy Plant, commented: "We have a long-standing relationship with ŠKODA that has stretched almost a decade. With such a large workforce, we need a fleet that we can rely on and the comfort of knowing that support is on hand when needed – and that is what ŠKODA has consistently delivered for us.
"Feedback from our drivers about what they are driving and any problems that arise is extremely important, and one of the main reasons that we keep coming back to ŠKODA is the positive response to the cars. They perform extremely well and our driver's running costs are kept low."
David adds: "We are currently test-driving the new Kodiaq, and it certainly measures up in terms of performance and practicality. I can see it being an attractive option for our senior team in the future."
Henry Williams, Head of Fleet at ŠKODA UK, said: "It has been a pleasure working with Clancy Plant over the years, and I am glad that our cars continue to be a strong draw for the company. The vastness and variety of the fleet that they run presents an exciting challenge for us to provide the best mix of models that combine a desirable drive and affordable option for drivers. I look forward to many more years working together."
ŠKODA fleet provides a range of car configurations to suit any business. From the compact Citigo, to the spacious Rapid to the versatile new Octavia range; and now ŠKODA offers the whole package with an impressive SUV line-up with the newly launched Kodiaq and upcoming compact SUV, the Karoq.


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here, and it was the perfect little favor bag for a thank you I was planning to give out. These were originally made for a wedding reception...or something. I just loved them. I grabbed these little glassine bags and downloaded the template. Instead of feeding the bag directly through the printer, I printed it on cardstock first, then taped the four corners over where it had printed on the cardstock and hit print again. It worked well and there was no guessing.
I bought some pralines at a local Mexican food restaurant and then passed them out. Fine, maybe I ate one. Red and White Striped Baker's Twine (Google Affiliate Ad)


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Block Strategy For Jee Main To Outline A Drawing
For a sample such women's school was arranged on the following bases: it has to consist under protection Maria Aleksandrovna's empress and be called as her name - Mariinsky women's school, submitting to the Main Council. The next management of school was entrusted, to destination to the monarchic, special trustee; and for direct supervision over training of maidens the chief and the chief supervisor from the statement of the monarchess were appointed; appointment of the other pedagogical personnel was approved by the trustee.
N. Vysotsky reminds of what objectives has to achieve the classical school – to bring up vigorous a body and spirit, the young people quite ready to perception of sciences got by the good moral beginnings in higher educational institutions.
Institute education gave that corresponded to an ideal of the young lady of that time; it began to attract parents landowners who, living in the estates, had no opportunity to bring up the daughters agrees with this ideal. The nobility became on the means to found women's institutes in the different provincial centers, and all of them came to the same department in what there were institutes capital. Only thanks to women's institutes, at us long time was supported and female education extended.
Paying special attention to formation in girls of feminity and education in all of them of qualities which are components of this broad concept, society as a result had good mothers, wives, as they say, keepers of the family center who not only perfectly coped with the duties, but also the cosiness and heat in the houses created, gave love to all his inhabitants.


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Hard Drive and Data Back Up – Why and How
Note – Proformance PC offers remote and travel computer repair services. We have a wide stretch service area spreading through the Midwest around Union Grove, WI including, but not limited to: Burlington, Elkhorn, Waterford, Sturtevant, Racine, Kenosha, Kansasville, Raymond, and all surrounding counties.
The hard drive crash nightmare – You don't know what happened, but your computer isn't running properly and EVERYTHING that meant ANYTHING to you on your computer is GONE. Your family photos, your term paper, that big report due to your boss first thing tomorrow morning, your Grandma's best recipe.. It's all gone! The panic begins.
Causes of Data Loss: Hardware Failures (hard drive crash, etc.), Viruses and software bugs, natural disasters, and human errors.
In this technology dependent day and age, we tend to take for granted how easily everything stored on our technology platforms can be lost. If lost, it can take a lot of time, effort and tears to recover it. Even worse yet, there is no guarantee of recovery. If your computer or laptop was stolen, damaged or misplaced – would you lose important documents, photos, files and music forever? Or would you have it covered?
To avoid losing everything – there are some simple steps you can take to protect your stored data.
The most important and most obvious protection: BACK UP YOUR DATA. Backing up your data is an important piece of the data protection puzzle. Having several copies of your data ensures that if ONE copy of that data is lost or destroyed, it is not the "end of the world" so to speak. However, it is crucial that you have your data properly backed up. Like the main hard drive, backups can also falter. Proformance PC can help you be sure you have the ultimate back up protection if and when that crash happens. Some back up methods include the following:
External Hard Drives
External hard drives are one of the simplest ways to back up your files. It is important to get an external hard drive adequate for your specific needs. Do some research or talk to your Proformance PC expert to learn the best solution for you. Please note however that the external hard drive is not 100% fail proof. These tools carry the same risks as your computer: theft, damage, fire, etc. You should keep your external hard drive in a safe, secure place AWAY from your computer for added protection such as a fire proof safe or a locked drawer or box at a completely different location.
With external hard drives you can either back up your files manually or automatically. If there are only specific items that you need backed up, you can copy them directly to your external hard drive. If you have a large amount of items to back up and continue to use/update these folders, files, and documents often – you may want to opt for automatic back up to the external hard drive. It can be easy to forget to update the external when doing quick updates, whereas automatic backups can ensure you keep up to date with the most recent version of your folders and documents.
Online File Back Ups
You may keep your files backed up regularly on your external hard drive, but still lose all your data. Not Good. It's a good idea to have multiple back up methods. You can back up your documents, files, folders, etc online in"cloud storage". When you store any data in a cloud, it is saved to servers online vs. an actual hard drive. This provides a security from risks like theft and accidental or intentional damage.
Once again you can choose to manually back up certain data within a cloud based storage or you can set auto back up methods.
Trust Proformance PC to secure your files and data. Give us a call today and we can remote in or travel to you to make sure your system is secure – Or stop into our local computer shop in Union Grove and we can help!


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Para en Español, hace click aqui.
D'Lux Real Estate Services and D'Lux EB-5 offers our clientele a one-stop shop for your investment and immigration needs, such as the array of legal services, financial or lending business and insurance upon specific cases and throughout the business connections — all of that to complement our Real Estate services.
Please note we are NOT attorneys or financial advisors, nor are we giving you any legal of financial advise, the below is as a reference to the immigration process, please consult to your attorney, CPA and legally certified professional before making any decision.
D'Lux EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
Under this program the investor is a candidate to apply and obtain one of the 10,000 EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visas available to foreign nationals investing $500,000 or $1,000,000 in a project in the United States that creates 10-20 new American jobs and meets certain criteria.
We take the time and sources to find the right project where you can receive a Green Card, allowing you to live and work anywhere in the United States. The applicant's family that apply following certain conditions (spouse and unmarried children under 21), are eligible to apply for a green card as well (permanent residence).
D´Lux EB-5 invites foreign national investors to become lawful, permanent residents of the United States! The projects we select have expedite process and have no long Waiting Lists. We also work with investors in NON-EB-5 projects to get a higher ROI, shall the American residency not be in the loop.
If you like to know more about the EB-5, please fill the form and we will contact you
Why Invest with D'Lux EB-5?
Because we help you Capitalize your future and investment. Every family wants to open doors of opportunity for their children for success and fulfillment. The D'Lux EB-5 investment programs that we find for you are one of the safest and most direct paths to helping your family achieve a better life in the United States.
The Regional Center
- Is an entity, organization or agency that has been approved as such by the USCIS; The Pilot Program with the coinciding federally designated Regional Centers was approved by Congress under Section 610© of the Appropriations Act of 1993.
- Focuses on a specific geographic area within the United States.
- Seeks to promote economic growth through increased export sales, improved regional productivity, creation of new jobs, and increased domestic capital investment.
- Facilitates the pooling of capital of multiple EB-5 investors.
- Investors can take credit for jobs created directly as well as indirectly from their investment in the Regional Center. Indirect job creation may be demonstrated using any reasonable approved methodology. Indirect jobs are considered to be full time jobs under the statue.
- Congress gave the USCIS discretion to give priority to EB-5 applications filed in conjunction with a Regional Center. D'Lux EB-5 offers many types of investments that meet the requirements for the Regional Center Program. Business enterprises must be located in the geographic areas of the Regional Centers. EB-5 applicants' investments have limited management requirements and may meet the job creation requirements of the law using "indirect employment" based upon approved methodologies.
The Regional Center is a very powerful tool that allows for greater leeway in demonstrating job creation proof. Regional Centers are allowed to utilize both direct and indirect job creation to support the investor's requirement for a minimum of ten new American jobs created. Simply stated, a Regional Center has greater flexibility in demonstrating job creation within the new commercial enterprise than a direct investment for an EB-5 applicant to prove their requisite job creation.
How to get the EB-5
- Complete the Investment Documents that we will provide you.
- The investment is still at $500,000 plus administrative costs. The American government raised it to $900,000 starting November 2019.
- Supply information to the Immigration Law Firm/Project Legal Department.
- The Immigration Attorney will prepare the complete EB-5 application package and submit it to the Department of Immigration.
- The Department of Immigration will eventually approve your documents and return your approval for a Temporary Green Card. Please request our timeline for visual understanding. Your Temporary Green Card will be valid for the next 24 months. Before the 24 months expire, you will apply for the Permanent Green Card.
- After five years, your EB-5 investment will be returned or relocated, as per you negotiations, thereafter you may apply for USA Citizenship.
- There are no restrictions on where the applicant may live in the USA.


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Monroe College has a long history of proven programs that increase college access, affordability, and attainment for first-generation and other students who are often under-served and under-represented on college campuses across the country.
We are proud to be recognized for our strong outcomes, especially for low-income students from New York City. Our bachelor's degree graduation rate is among the highest in the country for students receiving Pell (1), and our Presidential Partnership Program is among the most effective programs in New York State for low-income students and undocumented students (2).
We have been recognized in the New York Times as a leader in social mobility (3), moving students up the income ladder from where they started with their family, and been ranked as a regional or national leader in a number of categories by U.S News & World Report.


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Chuy is now making airwaves in North Carolina as the Tex-Mex restaurant announced that they will open a new branch in the East Coast. The new branch will be situated in Parkside Town Commons in Cary, North Carolina, including the branch to the restaurants already owned by the company in 15 different states. It is expected that the new branch of Chuy's – the fourth in North Carolina – will be opened on March 2016. The first Chuys in the region was established in November 2013. The sales on the opening of the new Chuy's will be given to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle of Raleigh as the official charity partner of the restaurant.
Read more about this here: Tex-Mex from Austin going over well on East Coast


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This guitar workshop is a powerful learning tool that will help you to extend your stockpile of licks and fills and develop your improvisational skills. The combination of musical notation and guitar tablature in this book together with backing tracks on the CD gives you the opportunity to learn eight of Thin Lizzy's tracks note for note and then jam with a professional session band. The track listing reflects some of Thin Lizzy's most popular recordings, providing something for guitarists to have fun with and improvise with, as well as something to aspire to.
Features the following tracks: "Don't Believe A Word", "Waiting For An Alibi", "Sill In Love With You", "The Boys Are Back In Town", "Whisky In The Jar", "Jailbreak", "Rosalie" and "Emerald".
The first eight tracks on the CD are full length backing tracks recorded minus lead guitar. The remaining tracks feature the backing tracks with the lead guitar added. Although many of you will have all the original tracks in your own collection, we have provided them in the package for your reference. The "JAM WITH..." series allows you to accurately recreate the original, or to use the transcriptions in this book in conjunction with the backing tracks as a basis for your own improvisation.
A mere six months after their original meeting, Kim and Stuart formed Total Accuracy. They produced full-band CD backing tracks of original blues and rock styles for guitarists to practice and improvise over. This was later expanded to include classic rock, pop and blues songs, coming complete with full guitar tablature and two versions of each song on the CD. One is complete with the guitar part - to hear what it should sound like - and one professional backing track where the guitar is missing, so you can fill it in.
Total Accuracy has gone on to become the world's best producer of backing track CDs for guitarists, winning awards and becoming the market leader in just eight short years.
"Five Stars! Excellent"
Guitar World USA
"Invaluable, they can practically guarantee progress"
Guitarist Magazine
"The hottest new guitar tuition package in years"
The Guitar Magazine
"Superb, ideal for beginners or advanced players"
Total Guitar Magazine


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This month, St. Paul's Episcopal Church celebrates its 325th anniversary, making it the oldest church in Baltimore. I was honored to have been commissioned to create a commemorative illustration and redesign their website. Congratulations, Old St. Paul's!
Refinery Illustrations
In 2014, Domino Sugar commissioned the above illustration as its holiday card for neighbors in South Baltimore. It was with great pride that the following year, two more ASR Group holiday illustrations were created for refineries in Crockett, California, and Yonkers, New York. Each illustration was later recolored and adapted for screen printable for merchandise […]
Love for Baltimore
i still have no words. maybe later.
Maryland Postcard
Fun facts about our state on the reverse. Printed and distributed to schoolchildren visiting their state capital.
Government House Letterhead
This is a two-color illustration used for letterhead and envelopes representing the Government House Foundation.
Empower Maryland Stadium Banner
Between Ravens Stadium and Camden Yards, there is this: enjoyed by tailgaters year-round.


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This cut through the inane banter on Nick Grimshaw's Breakfast Show this morning like a ice-blue blade through rancid butter. Desolate, chilling. Bleakness filtered through forgotten council estates and crumbling tower blocks. Sirens wailing. Neosoul. Nostalgia for an age when it was perceived there was not so much of a need to be nostalgic. Painting a portrait of paranoia and alternate realities.
I wanna turn those blue lights into strobe lights
Not blue flashing lights, maybe fairy lights
Those blue lights into strobe lights
Maybe even fairy lights, not blue flashing lights
In my age, we would have called this Curtis Mayfield or Patrik Fitzgerald and a slew of sensitive young white male critics would have lined up to sing its praises.
Spooky. Electrifying. Why should you be made to feel like you have a guilty conscience when you have done nothing wrong? In my world, every time I see a message stating I have a new emil or text message I feel a frisson of fear run down my body that it will be bad news, an awakening (and that I deserve it, too). In other worlds, every time you hear the sirens wailing you involuntarily check your step and look for a shadow clsoe by to step into. Why do we behave this way? There is no need. Why are we made to feel this way? There is no need, really.
Relax. We can never relax.
What have you done?
(Into strobe lights) There's no need to run
(Not blue flashing lights)If you've done nothing wrong
Blue lights should just pass you by (maybe even fairy lights)
In the company of Calvin fucking Harris and Shawn fucking Mendes and 5 fucking Seconds of Summer, this song from Jorja Smith is both unexpected and startling – a minor revolution, a slice of unwanted reality. So refreshing and so chilling.
What have you done?
(Into strobe lights) There's no need to run
(Not blue flashing lights) If you done nothing wrong
Blue lights should just pass you by hmm (maybe even fairy lights)
It makes me check my speedometer.


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40 Cobras a Surefire Way to Get Your Government's AttentionSeth Abramovitch · 12/05/11 12:00AM
An angry snake charmer from India named Hakkal had his "99 percent" moment when bureaucrats at the Government Land Registry Office refused to process his land-request application. So Hakkal took matters into his own hands: He dumped three sacks full of 40 venomous snakes, including cobras, into the office. The scene was captured in the video above, and shows government workers shooing away the hissing snakes with fabric as the deadly reptiles slid onto chairs and desks. And miraculously — unlike the OWS protests — no one was bitten! [newsfeed.time.com via Telegraph]


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South Sarasota County embracing its 2nd act
FULL-CIRCLE: Post-recession rebound afoot for building boom's onetime epicenter
South Sarasota County, an epicenter of the residential building boom five years ago, came to a virtual standstill in terms of growth and development for years after the Great Recession hit.
Property values plummeted. Construction jobs vanished. Subdivisions were left unfinished.
Now, South County -- home to the region's largest city in North Port -- is seeing a slow but steady resurgence in its new housing market and, as a result, its prospects for new businesses and jobs. There are early indications that what had been one of the fastest-growing areas in the state could be on its way to coming full-circle.
Residential building permits are on the rise -- coming in at multiples of their recession-time pace -- and with them the launch of Southwest Florida's largest residential project in years. Next will come the rooftops, amidst a resurgence in the value of new residential construction that already had risen by about 65 percent by midsummer.
As they see more potential customers, more retailers and other businesses are expected to materialize. North Port already is seeing a spate of new national names -- Sports Authority, TJ Maxx and Ross -- recognition of its arrival on retailers' radar and an expectation of more growth.
"Everybody sees signs of renewal in the housing market," said County Commissioner Christine Robinson. whose district spans the South County. "I'm seeing signs all over."
Weary South County residents, economic developers and business people are glad to see the change.
"The economy is slow, as we all know," said Alan Lane, North Port's economic development manager. "But the signs are that we are not retreating. The housing market is one of the indicators. It's something to celebrate."
By the numbers
Perhaps the most visible indicator so far for South Sarasota County's prospects is Grand Palm, Neal Communities' latest development.
Lakewood Ranch-based developer Pat Neal has smaller neighborhoods underway, such as Sawgrass in Venice and Arlington Cove in Englewood. But the developer's recent launch of Grand Palm -- a 1,999-home community to be built at River Road and Center Road -- has been widely heralded as the most tangible sign that the local home building industry is in recovery mode and that South County is again the preferred turf.
"The size and scope of Grand Palm is really the lead," said Alan Anderson, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association Manatee-Sarasota. "I hope this is the catalyst for South County. Some projects approved in years past may start to get going out of the ground again."
Residential building permits are the strongest numerical indicator that the housing market is making a comeback.
Last fall, North Port issued five residential building permits each month. By February, that number was up to 16. By March, it was 24. Since then, at a traditionally slower time of year, the monthly count has ranged from 15 to 22.
The total value of new home construction in North Port this year as of midsummer came to $28.6 million, a 65 percent increase from same 2011 time frame.
North Port also may see more traction in its housing market thanks to CNN and Money Magazine, which recently ranked the city as the second most-affordable place to live in the United States, citing last year's median home price of $86,000. (Spring, Texas, which had a median price of $98,214, took the top spot).
Other areas of South County are showing similar life.
So far this year, Venice has issued at least 80 residential building permits compared with 74 for all of last year. As of July, new home construction totalled $17.1 million, up about 45 percent.
Sarasota County also has seen an uptick in permits. As of midsummer, it had issued 405, primarily from Palmer Ranch in Osprey and areas farther south. That is up 61 percent from the same time in 2011. In the same comparison, the total value of new home construction was $129.9 million vs. $78.1 million.
Retail resurgence
Like others who closely monitor the progress in the construction industry, Mary Dougherty-Slapp is encouraged by the permit figures.
"Those are good numbers," said the executive director of the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange, which mostly represents the commercial construction industry. They presage what might be a rebound for the exchange's members, Dougherty-Slapp said.
"Commercial follows rooftops," Dougherty-Slapp said.
Lane, the North Port economic development director, says the resurgence in retail already is underway.
He points to Benderson Development Co.'s CocoPlum Village Shops at 17179 Tamiami Trail, which has locked in tenants such as Hobby Lobby, Sports Authority and Panera Bread.
When the 340,000-square-foot complex is completed by later this year, it is likely to have created 300 to 400 jobs, Lane predicted.
Peter Bartolotta, executive director of the private, nonprofit North Port Economic Development Corp., sees enormous potential in the 104-square-mile city for new and relocated businesses, especially in health care and other sectors that could offer high-paying jobs.
"We've got land to grow and expand," Bartolotta said. "We're getting interest from people around the country."
The University of South Florida's satellite campus and Sarasota Memorial Hospital's satellite hospital in North Port are now enhancing North Port's marketability, Bartolotta said.
"The wheels are in motion" for two major enterprises that could bring millions in new construction to North Port, said Bartolotta, who said he must keep the proprietary details confidential for now. He hopes to make a public announcement in a few weeks.
Robinson, the Sarasota County commissioner, said she welcomes the signs of growth and is relieved that so far it has not approached the blistering pace during the boom.
"A gradual rise is a sustainable rise," Robinson said. "That's what I would rather see than a rocket, rather than uncontrollable growth."


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Guess what I still don't have–wait for it–that's right, a TV. And adding insult to injury I just found out that this Tuesday will be a special two-hour Amazing Race 7 episode. Okay, so I got a chance to catch up on posting photos and shit, but c'mon! Two weeks is way to long to be without. Yes, I admit it, I am addicted to TV. There, I said it.
1 Comment »
You'll survive. For crying out loud, get a grip on yourself!
#1 by christian — March 28, 2005 @ 9:23 am
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It's only the beginning now
…a pathway yet unknown
At times the sound of other steps
…sometimes we walk alone
The best beginnings of our lives
May sometimes end in sorrow
But even on our darkest days
The sun will shine tomorrow.
So we must do our very best
Whatever life may bring
And look beyond the winter chill
To smell the breath of spring.
Into each life will always come
A time to start anew
A new beginning for each heart
As fresh as morning dew.
Although the cares of life are great
And hands are bowed so low
The storms of life will leave behind
The wonder of a rainbow.
The years will never take away
Our chance to start anew
It's only the beginning now
So dreams can still come true.
– New Beginnings by Gertrude B. McClain
You can call it a hiatus if you want.
Blogging doesn't come naturally to me. I love to write. I am overly analytical, and I love to get my creative juices flowing through the act of writing. Writing a consistent blog even enabled me to view the world from a different angle as I was constantly looking for inspiration. What lessons am I gaining from day to day life? Thoughts that ordinarily might spark a conversation suddenly had me taking notes for a future blog post.
I'm not going to list the dozens of reasons (excuses) that I quit writing. I will say it became difficult to write without a clear focus. I was also writing before as a way to cope with a life unemployed. And I was practicing developing a brand and an audience. Suddenly online marketing and search engine optimization became important to me. Content creation became the driving force, more so than creativity or writing from the heart.
It ceased being fun.
In the meantime, I got into another relationship, started working full time again, and ended up leaving the aforementioned relationship. Oh, and took some time to make a few mistakes, and lose a grandfather. Life hasn't been easy. But when is it ever easy?
So why have I decided to resume blogging?
I guess simply as an outlet.
I could give several reasons. But basically my mind is so active I need to do something to occupy it. Writing is as positive an outlet as anything I've done in the past, so why NOT resurrect an old hobby that was both enjoyable and provided an opportunity for growth.
So I am resuming the blog to talk about whatever I want to talk about. I don't care who reads it, or if anyone reads it. Knowing me, you can expect the following:
- Baseball opinion essays
- Bible discussion (theology, history, apologetics)
- Book reviews (anything I read)
- Psychology discussions (addiction, relationships, depression, etc.)
As always, I will include pieces of poetry, infographics, links, and plenty of photographs. Try to at least make it appealing to the eye. If I maintain writing consistently, the blog should take shape all on its own.
Time and inspiration will determine the quantity and quality of my writing. I'm putting that in God's hands. I won't be doing advertising on the blog, and will respond to any comments as I am able.
My priority as of today (April 13, 2014), is simply to reawaken a creative side of me that I've ignored for too long. Content, followers, likes and views are the ego's poison to bloggers.