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The Michelin Guide
A history of tyres and tureens, valves and value
Despite its name, the legendary red jacketed tome is not all about rubber, treads and grip-in-the-wet traction. Its raison d'être is all about taste sensations and culinary excellence which transcends everything else in any kitchen.
For many top chefs, whether they admit it or not, a Michelin star is still a much-coveted accolade for anyone aspiring to serve fine food to the top table. For decades the Michelin reviewers have travelled the globe, incognito, dining at some of the world's most high-end establishments in search of those that produce perfection in the culinary world.
Inevitably, the reviewers are criticised for focusing on the expensive and glitzy – a bit harsh when surely quality at this dizzying level has to be paid for. That said, some consider that rather too many fusty hotel restaurants still appear in the list despite modern dining culture becoming less formal and more inventive.
Either way, the Michelin guide provides a glimpse of artistic flair that few of us will ever experience. The flamboyance, ground breaking creativity and relentless obsession for detailed perfection surely add to everyone's pleasure and interest.
The Michelin Guide
First things first. What is the connection between a purveyor of tyres and celebrated gastronomy? The first Michelin Guide was published in 1900 by tyre manufacturer André Michelin, along with his brother Edouard Michelin.
The aim was simple. At a time when the number of cars in France was barely 3,000 they were keen to stimulate demand for automobiles, as well as to get drivers out on the roads more. Of course, it follows that the more cars bought and the more they were driven, the greater the demand for tyres.
The first run of the Michelin Guide was 35,000 copies and included maps, instructions on fixing punctures and changing tyres. Crucially it also featured a list of restaurants and hotels throughout France, and details of mechanical workshops and petrol stations. It was not so much a handy car manual as an invitation to jump in the new car and travel to new destinations.
It was also distributed for free.
With war breaking out in 1914, the guide was paused. In the post-war years the brothers recognised the moment had to come to change their marketing approach. They stopped taking advertising in the guide and instead started charging for it.
The story goes the decision to charge for the guide was taken when André came across a garage where his guides were being used to prop up a work bench. The principle that 'Man only truly respects what he pays for' was immediately adopted.
The guide expanded rapidly and now covers restaurants in 23 countries, with 14 editions sold in 90 countries around the world.
The Michelin ratings
The Michelin star system first appeared in 1926. Five years later, in 1931, the blue cover of the Michelin guide became a bright red and so the template was set. Its star system evolved to feature three distinct categories with criteria for each.
Initially restaurants were awarded a single star if they were considered to be 'fine dining establishments'. The difference in grading was essentially subjective, based on the experience of an expert reviewer, but calculated within strict parameters.
1 Star: A very good restaurant in its category.
2 Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour.
3 Stars: Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.
The reviewers, or inspectors, visit restaurants as regular diners, sometimes more than once, before deciding on the appropriate star rating. They concentrate on the quality and consistency of the food served and the mastery of techniques of the chef. The décor, table setting and ambiance is not strictly under consideration.
Michelin tip
For a taste of Michelin grade cuisine, look at the lunch time options, when you can find menus that are far lighter on the pocket.
Michelin Bib Gourmand
In a move to slightly democratise the guide's image, Michelin came up with a new category for their rating system in 1955. This was the Bib Gourmand and it recognised restaurants offering high quality food at sensible prices. The Bib Gourmand reflects regional and national variations in economic standards and the cost of living, while celebrating value for money dining.
The backlash…
For Michelin it has not always been plain sailing. Many chefs have found rock star fame and fortune and restaurants have been catapulted overnight in to the upper culinary stratosphere on the back of a Michelin star.
But it has not always brought happiness. Indeed some chefs have asked for their Michelin star to be removed on grounds that the expectations created are undeliverable and unsustainable. Others fear that the implications of stellar prices will put off many would-be diners, and the strict criteria of a Michelin reviewer might straightjacket a chef's freedom for creativity in the kitchen.
Nonetheless the iconic Michelin star is an elusive, peerless pinnacle of desirability for many. Some say it is the only rating that matters due to its authenticity and independence, as well as the cachet of the guide's gastronomic credentials. Increasingly others say it is out of touch, forcing restaurants to cater for undercover, mercurial inspectors, not paying diners.
Michelin rated restaurants in France
Today, with 29 restaurants carrying the coveted 3 stars, France has more top rated Michelin restaurants than any country in Europe. Only Japan has the same number.
Many venerable and globally renowned French restaurants have held their star rating for decades. But in recent times there has been change with the Auberge de L'Ill losing its third star after an incredible 51 years. Other seismic change saw Paul Bocuse's L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges demoted two years after his death and 55 years since he was first awarded his third star. Many a gourmand was known to splutter into their lobster bisque.
But in France other legends remain on top, including Guy Savoy, Alain Ducasse and Alain Passard. Elsewhere chefs themselves have become globe trotters, sprinkling their magic fairy dust through kitchens around the world and enhancing their reputations as well as the bank balances of the restaurant owners. Not so different from football superstars.
Find out more about Michelin starred restaurants near you.
What's new in 2020?
A total of 49 restaurants were awarded their first star in the latest Michelin guide. Of these the 2 and 3 star highlights are:
New Three Star Restaurants
New Two Star Restaurants
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Sloppy Flyers lose, and Leighton loses his touch
CHICAGO (AP) — Michael Leighton had become the bearded face of the Philadelphia Flyers with his stellar goaltending in their remarkable playoff run.
But Leighton left his first Stanley Cup finals game early with the look of frustration, leaving his Flyers teammates blaming themselves for the way they protected the ice in front of him.
Leighton gave up five goals on 20 shots and was pulled for Brian Boucher late in the second period, a rough start for the Flyers en route to a 6-5 loss in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals on Saturday night.
"A lot of those goals weren't his fault," forward Scott Hartnell said. "They were going right under the bar. One-timers from the slot. We've got to do a better job getting pucks on sticks and not making our goalies try to make the unbelievable saves all the time."
Boucher actually gave up the winner in this wild, back-and-forth game, when a tough-angle shot by Tomas Kopecky slid around the goalie's stick with 11:35 left and sent the United Center crowd into an earsplitting frenzy.
"We were just too loose in front of the net," coach Peter Laviolette said. "We've got to be better defensively than what we were. We've got to tighten up right in front of goal."
On the same night Phillies ace Roy Halladay gave his sports-crazy city a perfect game to cheer about, Leighton and the Flyers were, well, anything but perfect.
Though the goals weren't all his fault, Leighton lost leads of 1-0, 3-2 and 4-3 before finally being pulled, his incredible shutout streak sure seeming like a long time ago.
Leighton, for his part, didn't sound too disappointed.
"It's like every shot they scored on. I don't think any of them were awful goals or embarrassing goals," he said. "It's just one of those things."
Leighton had not spoken to Laviolette yet when he was interviewed by reporters in the locker room.
"Maybe Peter thought it would shake the team up or 'Boosh' would go in and do a better job," Leighton said. "We seemed to respond a little bit better and play better."
It was Boucher's sprained knee in the conference semifinals that gave Leighton this opportunity in the first place, after being held off the postseason roster while recovering from an ankle injury.
Leighton stepped in to finish the epic 0-3 series comeback against Boston and then spurred the Flyers past Montreal in the conference finals to get here, going 6-1 and turning aside 95 percent of the shots he faced after taking over. That included a career-changing stretch in which he didn't give up a goal for nearly 173 minutes of ice time.
This, though, wasn't the way he hoped to play against the team that once drafted him. This wasn't the way his Flyers teammates wanted to support him in his first Stanley Cup finals game, either.
The Flyers were first to score, but Leighton kept the lead for just 68 seconds. That goal, he said, was the one he regretted the most. He lost the puck for a precious second or two, and upon relocation he saw it was already in the slot — after a heady backhanded pass from Marian Hossa to Troy Brouwer.
By the time he moved across the crease, it was too late.
"It's tough, but we know all around defensively we didn't have a good game," Leighton said. "In order to beat this team we've got to be better defensively, and I've got to be better. I've got to make some saves at key times, and it just didn't go our way."
Dave Bolland's early short-handed score for the Blackhawks was lost in the five-goal flurry of the highest-scoring first period in the finals since 1982, but it loomed large later as another preventable mistake by the Flyers.
Braydon Coburn, part of a solid second unit on Philly's blue line, was bull-rushed by Bolland and lost the puck to give up a costly breakaway that Leighton couldn't stop. That gave the Hawks a 2-1 edge and though the Flyers responded, Leighton and finally Boucher kept surrendering goals.
The Flyers' top line of Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne was on the ice for Bolland's goal, and this trio didn't give them much in this game. Game 2 at the United Center is set for Monday night, and they'll need more then, both on offense and in goal.
"We're looking for a better effort from everybody, from the goalies to the 'D' to us forwards coming back in the slot," Hartnell said.
Kris Versteeg shot his own rebound in off Leighton's shoulder to tie the game at 4. Then came Brouwer's second goal for the Blackhawks, the knockout for Leighton with 4:42 remaining in the middle frame.
Leighton tilted his mask back, skating to the boards and flipping his stick back and forth as he wiped his chin with his blocker and reached for the water bottle. His mouth partially open, Leighton looked a little bewildered as if he were wondering, "How did this happen?" while Laviolette sent Boucher in to relieve him.
"We left too many point-blank opportunities," the coach said afterward. He refused to single out Leighton for the loss.
"Tonight, we lost as a team," he said.

subset: commoncrawl


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Q&A: Nash Horne on regents, Shared Services and funding
November 14, 2013
Editor's Note: Nash Horne is a communication studies senior from Austin who is currently serving as a non-voting member of the UT System Board of Regents, a position to which he was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry. On Tuesday, the House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations met to hear testimony in the case of Regent Wallace Hall, who is currently under investigation by the state legislature for possible impeachment in the latest turn in the ongoing drama between UT-Austin, the UT System, the state legislature and the Board of Regents. Horne sat down with the Texan on Wednesday to talk about the situation and his time on the board. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and space considerations.
Daily Texan: How would you explain to students what's going on in the Board of Regents right now, both in regard to the House Transparency Committee's investigation of Regent Wallace Hall and the claims that there are threats to President Powers' job from the board?
Nash Horne: I would say that there's three entities involved here: the board, the individual board members and [the] UT System, and each one is playing a role. Obviously, individually, Regent Wallace Hall and his inquiries into UT-Austin have been called into question, which the committee is investigating. And then there's [the] System, which has been involved in this as well, as they are the ones that retain all the records. So all three of these people, not to mention UT-Austin, which is a piece of this as well, those four players together are all involved. The board is the board, and each individual regent is a regent. Everyone is appointed and brought forth with their personal rules of governing.
DT: What do you think are the governing philosophies of each individual regent?
NH: You know, I really couldn't answer that, because I've never personally sat down and asked them what their philosophies are.
DT: You've never asked another regent what their philosophy on education is?
NH: I've never had a personal conversation with another regent about that. The Texas Public Open Meetings Act restricts how often we can converse, because if there's more than two of us [regents] together, we have to convene a formal meeting.
DT: So you've never met individually with any of the other regents?
NH: No, I have not. I've only been to board meetings. But I think the board is looking for a balance: How can we get the highest-quality education to students at the lowest price, and where can we cut things so we can keep the quality but take out some of the frivolous costs that there are? I think that's what [the other regents] are aiming for [in terms of philosophy].
DT: In your opinion, is UT-Austin affordable for a sufficient variety of students?
NH: I would say that I don't have the answer to that question. I would have to go do some research. I think as a board we're trying to move to make it more accessible to people of different backgrounds.
DT: You said earlier that there's a movement on the board toward cutting frivolous costs while making sure that we maintain the quality of education. What in your time as a regent or a student have you seen that you think constitutes frivolous costs?
NH: You know, I'd rather not speak to that. There's certain costs that I know that we talk about frequently as a board and I know the UT system looks into. I know that [Chief Financial Officer] Kevin Hegarty recently came out with a long report from an outside source that talked about [that]. My personal opinion is, if something doesn't have a benefit for students, then why are we doing it? And I think the board comes at it that way as well.
DT: You mentioned Kevin Hegarty's Shared Services Plan. Do you have an opinion on Shared Services?
NH: You know, I really don't. I don't want to speak to that. I haven't read it thoroughly enough.
DT: Going back to the current controversy and the players that you outlined, where does UT-Austin play into this, and is it actually under attack as much as people perceive it as being?
NH: I think that this process [of the transparency committee impeachment proceedings] is a great thing. Because this is how our government was set up, so that we have checks and balances. With that said, I think that this whole process has taken away from the core mission of achieving excellence for students, both on UT-Austin's side, in terms of document requests to Regent Hall, and the legislative side in terms of document requests to UT system. A lot of people don't realize that a lot of the staff at [the] System work tirelessly for our smaller campuses, for instance, a great example is lawyers. UT-Austin has a team of lawyers. But places like UT-Permian Basin [doesn't] have a team of lawyers, so they rely on UT System lawyers. Well, those System lawyers have been drawn away to work on things, document requests and things of that nature, and have put students of those universities away for a second as they work on these document requests. So I think on both sides there's been some time that was lost that should have been put to students.
DT: Going back to the previous question, are UT-Austin leaders justified in feeling attacked by the Board of Regents?
NH: You know, I honestly can say that is a question that President Powers' office and the staff of the president's office can answer for you. I don't think I have an answer for you. All I know is what the press has put out, and I wouldn't want to formulate an opinion on that unless I was there personally.
DT: When this argument first started, it seemed like it was more of a conversation about Jeff Sandefer's "Seven Breakthrough Solutions" for higher education. It now seems that it's become more of a fight for personal reasons than a fight for higher education's values. Where do you see it falling?
NH: You know, I think the best, the most factual evidence we have of where it is, is the fact that we're investigating Regent Hall for potential impeachment. In terms of Jeff Sandefer, I can honestly attest that I have never heard that brought up in a board meeting by any board member since my term. His name has never been brought up, the seven-I-can't-even-tell-you-
DT: Your role is to represent students in the UT System to the Board of Regents. A lot of UT students on campus right now are saying that they stand with President Powers. Do you stand with President Powers?
NH: I have had an excellent education here, and President Powers was the president of the University of Texas at Austin during my time here, and so by that logic, I do [stand with Powers]. He's the president of the university … I attend.
DT: Should more state funding be appropriated to the UT System?
NH: I think that's a question for the legislature, because they are the ones who decide that. I think what we can do at home is see how most effectively we can cut costs.
DT: So if a member of the state legislature is saying, should I up funding to the UT System or should I not, what do you say?
NH: Yeah, absolutely. I would never turn money away.
DT: But do you believe more money should be directed to the UT System?
NH: Should? I don't know if I want to answer that. But would I accept it? Yeah.
DT: What's the ideal outcome from the House transparency committee hearings?
NH: The ideal outcome is, first of all, that it would come to an end in a timely matter. I think the faster we can get past this and back to focusing on students, the better.


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This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Andy Reid, the chubby coach from BYU with the bushy mustache, never would be mistaken for Alex Smith, the skinny quarterback from Utah with the scruffy beard.
Yet now that they're being viewed together with the Kansas City Chiefs, it's becoming apparent that they're practically the same person.
The traits they share are surfacing, with the Chiefs joining the Denver Broncos as the NFL's last two unbeaten teams. It's all rather remarkable, considering the Chiefs went 2-14 last season, while Reid and Smith were becoming expendable with their old teams.
Just look at them now: After Sunday's 24-7 win over Oakland, a performance that Smith labeled "kind of a little bit ugly," the Chiefs (6-0) have the potential of taking a 9-0 record into Denver for an AFC West showdown next month.
For the coach and the QB, this season is not as much about vindication as just taking what worked for them in Philadelphia and San Francisco and applying it to a formerly underachieving franchise. To anyone who knows them well, including Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, Reid and Smith really are a lot alike. They're highly competitive, mixed with a steady, patient demeanor that serves them well.
"They're very even-keeled, no peaks and valleys," Whittingham said. "I think it's a very good match and so far the results have shown that."
Before the Chiefs traded for Smith, Reid consulted with Whittingham, his ex-BYU teammate. Whittingham is known for being immersed in his own work, but he's well aware of Kansas City's success. And Reid is "a closet Ute," by Whittingham's account, supporting his friend's career.
When the Chiefs hired Reid and acquired Smith, they brought together symbols of BYU and Utah success. Reid was an offensive lineman when BYU featured quarterbacks Marc Wilson and Jim McMahon; Smith quarterbacked Utah to a 12-0 season in 2004. Add cornerback Sean Smith, a star of the undefeated Utes of '08, and the Chiefs have links to some of the greatest years in the state's college football history.
In many ways, Reid and the two Smiths (Sean signed as a free agent from Miami) walked into an ideal opportunity in Kansas City. The Chiefs somehow lost 14 games last season with six Pro Bowl players on the roster, so all they needed to become respectable was a qualified coach, a consistent quarterback and another capable corner.
Just about everybody sized them up in the offseason as an 8-8 team, representing marked improvement. Suddenly, they're 6-0. The defense is giving up an NFL-low average of 10.8 points, while ranking fifth in total defense at 306.3 yards.
Alex Smith and the offense are doing their part. His numbers have tailed off the past two weeks, following a 31-7 win over the New York Giants that featured his 288 passing yards and three touchdowns. Yet Reid viewed Smith's lackluster showing (14 of 31, 128 yards) against Oakland as more of a good sign than a negative trend, amid Kansas City's absence of receiving weapons.
"He's taking care of the football," Reid said in the postgame news conference. "When it counts, he makes the play. I appreciate him. We're winning football games, and he's doing a nice job managing it. Everybody feeds off his leadership and ability to manage a football game."
Ah. There's that word again: manager. It's often a cleverly disguised insult, or a euphemism for not being an elite quarterback. That's how Smith was described in San Francisco in 2012 when he took the 49ers to the NFC championship game. He was rising above that label last season, before his concussion resulted in Colin Kaepernick's taking over and leading the team to the Super Bowl.
Reid, meanwhile, was becoming stale in Philadelphia after 14 seasons. The parting probably was healthy for both sides. He seems rejuvenated in Kansas City, and the Chiefs are thriving. They have a knack for finishing games, notably a 26-17 victory at Tennessee that required a fourth-quarter comeback and led Reid to endorse Smith's poise.
"That's their leader out there, and so if you're wavering at all or you don't have the right look in your eye, these guys sense that, they can tell," Reid said.
Clearly, Reid and Smith are not wavering people. That's how they've survived a combined 22 seasons in high-profile NFL jobs. Because of his relationships with Whittingham and former Ute coach Urban Meyer, Reid has followed Smith's career since his Utah years and hoped they'd collaborate someday.
So far, the partnership is working better than he could have imagined.
Twitter: @tribkurt
Collision course
The Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos each could be 9-0 when they meet Nov. 17 in Denver (they also play Dec. 1 in Kansas City). Their upcoming schedules:
Kansas City
Sunday • vs. Houston
Oct. 27 • vs. Cleveland
Nov. 3 • at Buffalo
Nov. 10 • Bye
Sunday • at Indianapolis
Oct. 27 • vs. Washington
Nov. 3 • Bye
Nov. 10 • at San Diego


text: Lego ww2: Second Battle of Kharkov Please Read: This film is non-political and was made for entertainment purposes. Sequel to the First Battle of Kharkov story. It has been several months since Oberlutnant Franz and his men took the factory in the city of Kharkov. Now they have been assigned defensive duties on the outskirts of the city where Soviet forces are massing a large counter offensive to retake the city. Will Franz and his men hold out? Special Thanks to Gerald Jack Beaumler who played the role of Franz in this film, and Roaglaans customs and United Bricks for providing me with the figures and parts to make this film possible! Posted by Jed Hugh Grant War 0 Comment


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The first celebrity crush that I remember wasn't really on a guy. No, it was on a mouse! It was on Mighty Mouse to be exact. Now this was no ordinary mouse. He was a SUPER Mouse- with muscles, lots and lots of hot mouse muscles! He saved the life of many a young nubile mousette from clutches of the evil and villainous cat gangs who had lustful thoughts about our young blond female mouses. And I so wanted to be one of those mousettes. To clarify in case anyone is wondering what on earth I'm talking about, Mighty Mouse was a cartoon that ran during my early formative years. Long before the maniacal Brain of Pinky and the Brain there was *sigh* Mighty Mouse. Now my crush on Mighty Mouse was so strong, I made believe that he lived in our house. My father (not a Mr. Fix-up) for some unbeknownst reason, made a mouse sized hole in the baseboard of my bedroom. I used to give small tours to the young children in our neighbourhood to show them where Mighty Mouse really lived. A few of the younger and more naïve of them actually believed me. I don't remember explaining to my mother why I was showing groups of kids the hole in my baseboard, but I'm sure if I did, she must have looked at me rather oddly.
The next crush I remember was when I was older and could tell the difference between Mice and Men. I think that one would probably have been Bobby Sherman. Now there's a name from the past of people in my age group isn't it? I wasn't the only one let me tell, you who had a crush on young Mr. Sherman. Google him and you will find all kinds of interesting facts. He came to my attention in a show called Here Comes the Brides. It was a story of 3 brothers, the Bolt brothers who owned a lumber mill in the old west. There was a shortage of women and to make all the lonely lumberjacks happy, they sent for women from the East to come and marry the lonely (and no doubt horny) lumber guys. Bobby Sherman played the role of the youngest brother Jeremy. Now when the show first started, he had a stutter and I just found that so darned endearing. By the second season though it was gone and I didn't like the woman he chose for his bride, so being the fickle sort I transferred all my affection to the middle brother, the blond one, Joshua played by David Soul. This was before his Starsky and Hutch days. I was devastated when that show went off the air. Bobby Sherman went on to a music career but I was long over him by then.
Another huge yet short lived celebrity crush was on Illya Kuryakin aka David McCallum from the television show Man From Uncle. Now Napoleon Solo was the suave debonair master spy who always got the woman but my heart belonged to the taciturn Russian spy Ilya. Oooh, that Russian accent. It's so odd to see him these days as Ducky on Navy N.C.I.S. Of course it's even odder to see Napoleon Solo aka Robert Vaughn hawking sleazy lawyers.
As I started getting older, my crush of the moment celebrities started getting manlier – harking back to the old Mighty Mouse and the next one was the studly James T West of Wild Wild West – now I'm talking the television show of the 60's not the Will Smith movie. I loved the whole concept of this show, the time, the setting, the train, the action, the music, Artemis Gordon, Dr. Migelito Loveless – everything. But most of all I loved James T West. I'm sure between this show and Here Come The Brides, my love of a good Western romance was born
Now in case you are thinking all of my crushes were on television stars – nope – I had them on musicians too. Like every other girl my age, I had one on Paul McCartney of the Beatles aka the Cute One. Realizing I was just one of a flock, I tried to transfer the crush to George Harrison, but it just didn't work. This crush didn't last too long though. I mean EVERYONE had a crush on Paul and I've always wanted to be a little different – dating back to the Mighty Mouse days.
My next musician crush was much stronger and lasted much longer and well…was the only crush whose pictures I hung on my wall. Now – knowing my enduring love of all things historical, can anyone guess who the musician in question might have been? He was in a famous band in the 60's. Most people reading this will never have heard of this band (we called them bands in those days) or if they have, it would be in more of a mocking laughter kind of a way, but at the time crushes didn't come any deeper than the one I had on Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Mercy!!!! It was a wild thing! He made my heart sing. He made everything……groovy (yes – believe it or not we really did use the word groovy – *shudder*). You could barely see my beautiful lavender walls, they were so covered in poster of him and the rest of the guys that I glommed from 16 Magazine, Tiger Beat and every other teen girl magazine. Everything about him melted my young teenage heart, his long hair tied back in a ponytail, the costumes they wore, the tricorn hats, the tight pants, the whole aura of the time period, the tight pants. I think that's why even today my most favourite setting in books is Colonial America. In the back of my mind I almost picture every hero looking like Mark Lindsay. His voice as he belted out Hungry *shiver*, or Kicks or Just Like Me
Pause while I again remember
I started getting wierded out though when I began sprouting those little thingies on my chest. Somehow it just seemed odd to be changing my clothes in front of hundreds of staring eyes every evening and I eventually took them down. And then tragedy struck. Mark Lindsay left the band.
Heart sick and depressed, that marked the end of my celebrity crushes for many a year. I met, fell madly in love with and married my husband. The last thing I wanted during those days was a celebrity crush. But eventually they came back. Little ones of short duration which I don't even remember anymore until one day I was struck down by another mad mad celebrity crush. Now everyone who knows me, knows about this one. My everyday friends, many of my on-line friends are all nodding their heads thinking "I know who she means" And I know for a fact I am not alone in this one. Many romance readers past a certain age I am sure have shared the same crush. I am referring of course to none other than (cue up the drum roll one more time please)
Hint: There can be only one; and may it be
Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod.
Good Golly Miss Molly!!!! did I have a crush on Duncan. A loner, a hero, a warrior, a lover, he was Romance Hero come to life and right there week after week in my living room. I watched the show every week. I watched the repeats. I watched the repeats again. I just couldn't get enough of Duncan. I didn't go overboard – not really – and join any groups or fan clubs or anything like that but like Mark Lindsay before him, he was the face of the romance hero. But alas, again my heart was to be broken when they moved the show around the final season and I couldn't find it anymore. I still watched it in reruns but it wasn't quite the same. A couple of years ago I tried watching The Tracker another series starring Adrian Paul – but the magic was gone. While no doobt a vera good looking mon, Adrian Paul is nae Duncan MacLeod.
I found out something fascinating while doing "research" for this blog for all those other Highlander fans I know are out there. They are currently filming another movie. Now the last one that came out in 2000 was terrible. Just terrible. But all the old cast is back. Joe, Mithos etc. Maybe.....finally.....I will have closure.
OH – any my newest crush??? Yep that's right – Sawyer.
So, now you've all had a glimpse into my brain on a boring day at work.
'til later
(as the theme music from the Mighty Mouse cartoon slowly fades into the background)


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So, my suggestion to ladies is to put your foot down and settle only for your choice of a man. Don't wait for any suggested right-types. Go for the man of your dreams and make him stick to you like a glue. On the contrary, like the old Indian tradition, let the girl become the princess and select the best male prince for herself. Now, the tips that I will share with you are princess makeover tips that will teach you for free how to be a guy magnet. 1. Be Feminine: In terms of astrology, I would suggest reading Linda Goodman's Pisces Woman to get terms about what being feminine is all about. Don't ju st get envious of a Pisces girl or offended because your zodiac sign is not the ultrafeminine one. Nobody is perfect, but perfectionism is art and so can be mastered. You can try being feminine by adopting certain behavioural patterns. 2. Don't Run after Men: The first rule of being a boy magnet is not running after every man you find to be a on your "attractive
Get Free Information on Fashion, Beauty, Relationships,Love Astrology Career and Interior Designing! Want to make it big? Astrology can help you without putting a hole in your pocket!


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(AP) An Iraqi man who says he was tortured while detained at the Abu Ghraib prison is suing two U.S. military contractors.
Emad al-Janabi claims in a federal lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles that he was abused for 10 months beginning in September 2003 by employees of CACI International Inc. and L-3 Communications, formerly Titan Corp.
Al-Janabi says his jailers punched him, slammed him into walls, hung him from a bed frame and kept him naked and handcuffed in his cell. He claims contractors conspired to cover up the torture by destroying documents and other information.
Pictures of prisoner abuse by U.S. soldiers at Abu Ghraib ignited international outrage.
This video is from The Associated Press, broadcast May 5, 2008.


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Preston Oates topic page
9:19 am on Friday June 20, 2014
In tow truck shooting, Preston Oates sentenced to 26 years
Nearly thre-and-a-half years after Carlos Olivera was slain in a towing dispute, Preston Oates has been convicted.
3:23 am on Friday August 30, 2013
In tow-truck slaying, Oates' appeal dismissed, case will head to trial
The trial of a former Bluffton tow-truck driver accused of manslaughter can now head to a jury.
6:05 am on Tuesday August 6, 2013
In tow truck shooting, a $1.7 million settlement ahead of criminal case
A civil case over the Christmas Eve shooting of Carlos Alberto Olivera by tow truck driver Preston Oates in 2010 has resulted in a $1.7 million settlement.
12:32 am on Wednesday March 14, 2012
In Bluffton tow truck slaying, a new test of the Castle Doctrine (Update: Appeals court)
Update March 14: At a hearing, Judge Markley Dennis, Jr. stood by his decision to deny an immunity request for the accused Preston Oates. It now sounds that Oates' defense team plans to appeal to the South Carolina Court of Appeals, there is a 10...
10:16 am on Saturday December 24, 2011
One year since the Christmas Eve slaying of Carlos Olivera
It's been a full year since Carlos Alberto Olivera's Christmas Eve 2010 shooting death by Pro Tow owner Preston Oates, and WSAV 3 has caught up with the Olivera family on how they're coping with the tragedy with the anniversary. Watch the video up...
4:32 am on Friday September 2, 2011
Man charged in Bluffton tow truck slaying released on bond, family reacts
We missed this one earlier in the week, but a Bluffton tow truck driver charged with shooting a man to death on Christmas Eve has been released from prison on bond. If you missed any of this story you can catch up here. Now the family of the victim...
2:37 pm on Thursday September 1, 2011
In Bluffton tow truck slaying, accused Oates granted bail - on a condition
Update September 1: The Island Packet reports that Oates has been released on a $200,000 bond. First reporting July 29: Six months after Preston Oates was arrested after the Christmas Eve shooting of Carlos Alberto Olivera over a booted vehicle in...
2:37 am on Wednesday May 11, 2011
Towing rules move forward for Beaufort County: Boots out and more; here's a glimpse
Flickr user photo.anger Safeguard or unnecessary hinderance? Depends on who you ask. Following in the wake of the Christmas Eve shooting of a Bluffton man whose car was booted by a controversial towing company, new rules and regulations are...
2:33 am on Tuesday May 3, 2011
No easy consensus in proposed Beaufort County tow truck rules (update: getting there)
Flickr user quinnanya Much of the debate focuses on the practice of booting — which doesn't remove cars from hazard areas. Update May 3: Slowly, but seemingly surely, the general proposal talked about for months (see below) is inching forwards. At a...
3:05 am on Friday April 22, 2011
Tow truck driver from Christmas Eve shooting charged with attempted escape (update: more details)
Update April 22, indictment: After being indicted on charges of voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime earlier this month, Preston Oates has now been indicted on two more charges. The tow truck...


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The following guest post is by Seth Priebatsch, Chief Ninja and CEO of LevelUp.
There are a lot of people who believe innovation is dead. And I'm not going to sugar-coat anything, some of their arguments are solid. Just listen to academic Robert Gordon or big-time entrepreneurs Peter Thiel and Max Levchin, and you might even be convinced yourself. But don't be. Because while the arguments might appeal to the crotchety old man in each of us, they're dead wrong.
The reasoning of innovation pessimists goes something like this: innovations of the past-- like the toilet, refrigeration, and the polio vaccine-- solved massive problems and changed the world. But innovations of today-- like
While these arguments seem well-founded (we haven't yet solved global warming and somebody really ought get on it), they're missing the point. Innovation isn't broken, it's just different. Rather than tackling today's problems head-on, as previous generations have done, we're choosing to rebuild the infrastructures that will enable future innovations to take on these problems. Why? Because the problems are actually quite literally too big to tackle head on. First we need better tools, then we can begin to attempt to solve the problems. So, the innovation of our generation is around building those tools, not their end result. I call this infrastructural innovation. It may be more subtle, but it's no less grand than innovation of the past.
Before we delve into those innovations, a natural question arises: why don't we have the foundations in place to go after modern problems? Because the problems we face today are scaling with population growth (i.e. exponentially). Issues like global warming, overcrowded cities, and the growing demand for energy are getting increasingly harder to fix as population growth magnifies the scope of these problems. But, most of the infrastructures we use to fix these problems are built to scale linearly. At the time these infrastructures were built, this made sense. Need more education? Build another school. Need more power? Build another power plant. But today, the growth of problems is outpacing this linear methodology. We face a situation where we have problems scaling exponentially and an ability to solve these problems growing linearly, causing an infrastructural innovation gap.
Our generation's version of putting a man on the moon is to close that infrastructural innovation gap, to come up with the new infrastructures that will ultimately equip us to innovate more quickly, and give us a fighting shot at solving global warming, oil dependence and fending off the alien invasion currently slated for 2037.
Here are three examples of where infrastructural innovators are hard at work:
The need for better quality education is growing faster than our ability to effectively supply it. Our generation is working to close this gap by rebuilding the education infrastructure with organizations like inBloom, which provide the technology schools need to quickly analyze a student's' performance and respond with personalized learning. There's a lot of debate around whether a technology can educate students better than teachers, but I think that's the wrong question. The better question is, "Do we really believe the system we use today can scale well enough to educate 7 billion people?" No! It's absurd to believe teachers can provide individualized learning for every student as classroom sizes grow exponentially. And this is why we're starting to feel the effects of being on the wrong end of the structural innovation gap. We simply aren't providing a quality education fast enough. Does that mean InBloom is as massive an innovation as a toilet? Maybe not, but with it increasing education quality, it guarantees us more toilets in the future.
We need to make it easier to make the things we make. With our centralized manufacturing infrastructure, developing anything involves serious capital and time, a process that's holding us back from innovating as quickly as we need to be. Improvements in this infrastructure are in the process of being made by a group of engineering professors from MIT, Harvard and UPenn, who are working to develop computer technology that will enable anyone to quickly and easily produce a customized, functioning robot for manufacturing. The group envisions a future where robots can be created by an average person in a matter of hours, rather than by specialized engineers in a matter of years. By de-centralizing access to manufacturing and simplifying the process, we're giving ourselves a chance to innovate at the same rate as population and bridge the innovation gap.
The payment infrastructure has come a long way since bartering, but it's still holding us back from being able to innovate as quickly as we need to. In its current state, our payment infrastructure has tremendous points of friction: high credit card processing fees for merchants, poor access to banking needs globally, and the anti-competitive duopoly of Mastercard and
The shift in this infrastructure is currently being powered, at least in some part, by mobile payments. Innovations like m-pesa, which allow people in Kenya to exchange money using only their cell phones, have transformed local economies that previously had little access to banks, making it far easier for anyone who comes up with an idea to instantly partake in the global economy. Mobile payments may not be the complete solution to fixing our payment infrastructure, but it has already proven to be a part of the solution. By allowing for commerce to more easily occur, we're building the foundation for a better functioning economy that will have the resources to bridge the innovation gap.
So, when you look at exactly what our generation has been doing-- rebuilding our ability as a society to innovate-- it's pretty easy to see that innovation is far from dead, it's just different than the kind of innovation than we've seen in the past. Tackling these infrastructures that will enable us to innovate more rapidly is no small task, but it's necessary for us to be able to fix the infrastructural innovation gap and enable innovation to scale with the problems that are growing with our population.
So, to all the innovators out there-- keep creating with one eye towards scale and one eye towards the future. And to all the naysayers-- be patient. By the time you retire to your beach houses on South Beach, we'll have built the infrastructures needed to close the innovation gap and will be able to tackle the massive problems we face today, and the even bigger one's we'll be facing then too.
Seth Priebatsch founded his first web start-up at the age of 12. It failed gloriously. He launched his second startup in high school, which did much better, but by college he was ready to build something even bigger. After completing his freshman year at Princeton, Seth took a "leave-of-absence" to found SCVNGR, now parent company of mobile payment network LevelUp.


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|Approx. 4 1/2" tall, googly eyes, brads, eyelet, gold wire
|Inside of tag
|Approx. 4 1/2" tall, googly eyes, brads, eyelet, gold wire
|Inside of tag
It's darling! Love how you turned the digi into a svg and a ornament too! Great job!ReplyDelete
Hey, girl! You have him noted as $5 in your post....should be snowman #5?? He's cute as heck, and I love that you cut him out in SCAL! Woot! Woot!ReplyDelete
Oh wow! This is amazing! So beautiful and Christmassy and truly stunning!
Thanks for your lovely comment on my blog for my card ... the Holly paper is from Kaisercraft P560 Happy ... I just had the little strip left on the bottom with the name. On the other side of it is the green with faint Christmas words. It is lovely paper.
your card is sooooo cute. I love it.ReplyDelete
TOO CUTE AND SO CLEVER!ReplyDelete
He really is wonderful, Cely. Love the metallic and those buttons are so cute. Super job, as always ;- ) Have an icee drink and stay cool!ReplyDelete
Tooooo cute Cely! Another Awesome creation! I love how you even put an eyelet at the top to make it an ornament if you want.....that fits the challenge so perfectly! I don't know anything about SVG - but it sure sounds like fun! I have a Cricut - can I use the files you give as freebies in my cricket?ReplyDelete
That snowman card is just too cute!
I hardly ever buy berries in the store because they are way too expensive, but I love them, especially blueberries and marion berries, which are almost impossible to find in a store anyhow. Fortunately we grow several fruits in our garden, but it's not really enough to keep us stocked through the winter, so I usually do a little u-pick at local farms too so we can freeze them for year-round. For some reason I find that I actually enjoy it so it doesn't feel like work. Come January I always am so happy to have frozen berries for a crisp, pancakes or over a little yogurt or ice cream.
The magnets are in this post here: http://mkandthecrew.blogspot.com/2011/07/berry-fun-project.html I'm working on a raspberry one for him too because that's up next on the berry salad.
Soooo sweet Cely! I love the colours you've chosen and the metallic look!ReplyDelete
What a delightful tag and such a sweet snowman :o)
Jackie xx
What a cute card. Loved it.ReplyDelete
Hi, Cely! This is sooooo cute! Never seen any snowman so blue and too cute. Thanks for sharing your ornament card and leaving a sweet comment in my blog :)ReplyDelete
What an adorable idea for a tree ornament or tag...or tag that can be used after as a tree ornament lol. Love all that wonderful foil on it and that great sentiment on the back. Thanks for joining us at Digistamps4Joy Christmas in July Challenge ~ Charlene DS4J DTReplyDelete
this is so cute. thanks for joining us at simply Create this weekReplyDelete
We're so glad you joined Digistamps 4 Joy in our Christmas in July Challenge. Thanks for entering!
luv n huggz
Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. Your comment will be posted within the day.


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Uliantsev, Timofei
Ul'iantsev, Timofei Ivanovich
(also T. I. Otradnev). Born 1888 in Dmitrovsk District, Orel Province; died July 28, 1919, in the city of Lenkoran', in what is now the Azerbaijan SSR. Participant in the October Revolution of 1917 and in the Civil War and Military Intervention of 1918–20. Member of the Communist Party from 1911.
The son of a poor peasant, Ul'iantsev was a fitter by trade. He was drafted into the navy in 1909. In 1910 he graduated from a school for mine specialists. Ul'iantsev served with the Baltic Fleet and in 1913 and 1914 led the Bolshevik organization on the cruiser Rossiia. In 1915 he became a member of the Chief Marine Collective of the Kronstadt Bolshevik military organization. In the same year he was tranferred to the First Baltic Fleet Reserve. In early 1916 he was arrested and sentenced to eight years at hard labor.
Freed during the February Bourgeois-Democratic Revolution of 1917, Ul'iantsev served as deputy chairman of the Kronstadt party committee, as a delegate to the Seventh (April) All-Russian Conference of the RSDLP(B), and as a member of the Central Committee of the Baltic Fleet (Tsentrobalt). He took part in the October Armed Uprising in Petrograd and played an instrumental role in the organization of food appropriation detachments. In January 1918 he became a member of the All-Russian Collegium for the Formation of the Red Army. Commissioned a military commissar in the Donbas, Ul'iantsev took part in the suppression of the Kaledin Revolt. In the summer of 1918 he was appointed military commissar in charge of the organization of the Red Army in Stavropol' Province, and in late 1918 he was made chairman of the Astrakhan military field tribunal.
In May 1919, Ul'iantsev was sent to Lenkoran' to lead an uprising that had broken out against the interventionists and the Musavatists. Ul'iantsev was killed in battle during the siege of Lenkoran' by the counterrevolutionary forces.


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Free Delivery
to UK Mainland
Mon - Fri: 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-12pm
This Machine will be fully PDI'd prior to delivery to Husqvarnas exact Pre Delivery Inspection checklist, ensuring you receive a working machine.
Powerful and yet a very comfortable to use brushcutter for maximum efficiency and minimal strain on your body. Is simple to operate and has the lowest vibration rates in its class.
Displacement - 25.4cc
Power Output - 1.0kw/1.3bhp
Weight - 5.1kg
Warranty - 1 year Professional/2 year Domestic
Standard Cutting Head - Nylon Head and 4 point Metal Blade
Fuel pump - Fuel pump designed for easy starting.
Combi-guard - The cutting attachment combi-guard can be used with either a grass blade or a trimmer head.
Grass bevel gear - Bevel gear designed with high torque and the cutting equipment parallell to the ground for best cutting performance
Auto return stop switch - When the machine is turned off, the stop button automatically returns to start position for trouble free start.
Tap 'n Go trimmer head - Twin line cutting system with Tap 'n Go for quick line feed.
Offset handle bar - Angled handlebar and comfort handles provides excellent grip and working position.
High offset post - High offset post increases freedom of movement when working on slopes.
Intuitive controls - The choke and purge are easy to reach and understand.
X-Torq® engine - The X-Torq® engine design increases torque over a wider rpm range providing maximum cutting power.
Balance 55 - Ergonomic harness that distribute the load optimally between your shoulders, chest and back. Comes with shock absorbing hip pad.
Stand alone starter - The stand alone starter makes it easy to change starter cord if needed.
LowVib® - Effective anti-vibration dampeners absorb vibration, sparing the user's arms and hands.
Metal skid plate - Durable metal skid plate protects the engine and fuel tank.
- Our own Winchester Garden Machinery semi synthetic two stroke oil approved for use in this machine
- 1 Litre two stroke mixing bottles with measuring points for 25/1, 32/1, 40/1 & 50/1 mixing ratios. (50/1 required on this machine)
- Spare Oregon 2.4mm Starline to fit this machine. 15m in length ideal for a straight refill of head, longer lengths are available on request. Please call for prices.
Free Delivery
to UK Mainland
Spares Department
In 1969
By SagePay


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A blog name generator can do a lot of things for your blog which will be discussed here.
Naming a blog is the first thing that every blogger needs to do. This is very important to name your blog in a way that it matches with your blog's topics.
But, the problem arises when you can't come up with a nice blog name yourself. So, what can you do when you can't name your blog well?
A decent blog (domain) name generator may be a great solution to your problem! Yes, this type of tool is very effective at the time of naming a blog.
In this blog post, I'll introduce some of the good blog name generator tools that are capable of producing relevant blog names for your blog. From the options, you could easily choose one for the final selection.
Read the following blog posts too:
How to come up with a blog name fast and easily?
15 Blog making recipes for a better blog.
Step-by-by SEO training for ranking your posts on top of SERPs.
These 30+ plagiarism checker tools are too good to check plagiarism.
Amateur blogs can be better by following these 17 steps
Naming your blog with Panabee
Panabee is a great tool for generating blog names. So, when you need to name your blog, then you can use this nice site.
There is a blank box on the homepage of the site where you'll have to put the idea for your blog's name. You can drop your idea in 2 words. Suppose that you wanna have some ideas for a blog name that will be for "blog idea", then you should just put the words in the box.
After putting the words, you'll have to hit the "SEARCH" button. It'll show a list of so many names. Now, your task is to check all the ideas.
As the domain names are unique, you can't purchase one which has been already bought by anyone else. You could see both the available and the purchased domain names.
NameStation blog name generator
NameStation has awesome features in naming a blog. Visiting the site will show you a blank box where you need to write down your idea name for your blog.
After dropping the name, you'll have to tap the "Get Name Suggestions" button. This will take you to the next page which shows the most important words.
At this point, you'll need to check whether the most important words are okay or not.
Thesaurus Domain name generator
This site is found with Dictionary.com and you can easily get hundreds of blog name ideas from it. You can go through two types of versions like definitions and synonyms.
Naming a blog with Domainsbot
Domainsbot serves with its very best services when it comes to giving blog name ideas. This tool also works like the previously mentioned tools. So first of all, you'll have to visit the site of Domainsbot and then type your idea or other domain names in the blank box which will then come up with different ideas. You'll just need a few minutes to get many blog name ideas.
To use this site, you'll have to sing up for an account. After signing up, you can check for many blog name ideas. This site is a secured place for getting blog names. So why not give it a try?
DomainFellow is a fabulous site for giving you tons of blog names. This site offers extension and category choice so that you can go for much more matching results of your search. There are different query styles too in the site which will make your search well.
Wordoid blog name generator
Wordroid offers some things new with its services. This tool offers the beginning or middle or the ending choice of your blog name. You can also leave the box blank to give the blog name generation solely on the tool. Another exciting benefit of the tool is that it supports multiple languages. You can also choose your preferred length of your blog name in this tool.
Namechk serves well, but I don't like the site because of so many popup ads on the homepage. by writing a keyword in the checking box, you could see many available options of the keyword. So you can check this site for having a great experience.
I've found this tool very useful in generating blog names. It supports searching for blog names with primary as well as secondary word. It also offers two additional options for allowing hyphens and rhymes. So I think that giving all your preferences using the options is a great way of getting a creative name for your blog.
This site also offers a fun way to have blog name ideas where from you could select a nice name for your blog name. There are many options in the tool so you should leverage all the options and find a better name for your blog.
Domainr is a simple site that can take you to the world finding great domain names. So you shouldn't miss this sleek site when you go for finding a blog name.
This site offers both choosing and typing options which could then show you great blog name ideas by combining the inputs. So you should also check this site for obtaining several blog name ideas.


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[No room for downstairs personnel]
Where are the leaders?
I don't mean the hopeless hapless clueless bureaucrats that label themselves such.
I mean the kind that opposes the following:
Every time again, when something goes horribly wrong in society, it turns out there are few to blame, if any, after careful search and much (self- and friends-)exculpation. It appears as if (read: when) all societal structures, regulatory and oversight structures in particular, are just set up to spread accountability. So that when all are accountable, none are accountable.
Quod non! However, the meek, that shall be eternally butchered in hell for their inaction against Evil (i.e., bureaucracy and its drone executioners), their complacency and their numbness. Is the latter a definition of blindness to the real world?
E.g., in the world of temp staffing, in particular re freelancers, contractors, external consultants. Some department has a need, however inexact the requirements for the solution. The in-charge must deal with HR, and Procurement (in all their shades and clourings, and many other departments probably too), to get a slot filled. HR and Procurement have NO clue whatsoever, are only marginally capable of posting a check box list from some outdated, never-have-been-valid longlist of randomly assembled requirements.
Candidates apply. The ones that check all the boxes (currently, often automatedly, shutting out even more interpretation), get the job. The ones that fulfill the original need, don't. All now must be satisfied for procedure was followed – to death. The problem owner isn't since (s)he gets only the dull, the procedure-fitting, not the original, the fresh, the new, that could actually create (new, innovative) solutions to the ill-defined problem. The true candidate isn't because (s)he'll never be able to deliver the real solutions.
How can you comment when HR and Procurement just did their jobs ..? When in fact, they didn't. But theirs was not a lofty goal or objectives, theirs was just the mincemeat targetlets. Operation successful; patient died.
And don't start on the financial sector… And every business failure in between.
Or do we first need to revert to common sense in principle-level target setting, over just the quarterly figurelets..? This may not catch on quick enough to prevent the mob from raiding the regents' houses… (as here (Dutch)).
So, where are the leaders that call this crap for what it is, fire all those that refused to think, and instate and require direct comms wherever possible …?


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On 27th June 2019 Lord Blunkett asked the Government "what is their estimate of the likely reduction in spend by higher education institutions in England on student teaching and contact time were the recommendations of the independent panel report to the Review into Post-18 Education and Funding implemented." The Bishop of Chichester, Rt Revd Martin Warner, asked a follow up question:
The Lord Bishop of Chichester: My Lords, any reduction in higher education funding is likely to have a particular impact not merely on teaching and student contact time but on the very future of smaller institutions, such as the Cathedrals Group universities. Does the Minister agree that, as the Government consider reforms, they need to take into account, first, the effect of those reforms on the diversity of the sector and, secondly, their impact on particular localities? Chichester, for example, is the only university in West Sussex. A threat to its funding would seriously damage its contribution to the regeneration of the disadvantaged coastal areas that it serves.
Viscount Younger of Leckie: The right reverend Prelate is right, in that we want to reach out to all areas of the country, including Chichester, and both small and big providers. The Augar report comes, of course, on the back of the Higher Education and Research Act, through which we seek to encourage high-quality provision and greater competition, to ensure that students and the taxpayer receive value for money and that students receive a good experience from the courses they undertake.
via Parliament.uk


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We encourage Denton High tennis players to participate in tennis tournaments outside of the regular school schedule.
Denton High School senior Alex Clerihew was the #1 seed in the Racquet Pro Clear Lake Champ Major Zone (CMZ) held in Houston on September 8 & 9. Clerihew made it to the finals in the main draw but unfortunately lost in the finals to Juan Pablo Robles of Richmond, Texas. Juan Pablo is a college player at Prairieview A&M and just recently moved back to the states from Columbia where he also played tennis. The guy was very, very good. Alex lost 6-2, 6-2 after defeating three other players: 6-1,6-0; 6-3,6-0; and 6-2,7-5. It was a very fun tournament with some amazing players. The competition just keeps getting better and better. Very good for tennis!


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Since our founding in 2000, we've produced tens of thousands of marketing resources. (So many that even our editors have a hard time keeping up!) That's why we've set up our resource page so you can search, refine, and find exactly what you're looking for. Start by filtering our full library to make your results more relevant. Or, enter a search term first to pinpoint just what you need.
CONTENT TYPE: Article | TOPIC: Metrics & Measurement
Transitioning to GA4 may seem like a daunting task. But the earlier you start, the easier it will be. Follow this action plan.
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Although it's impossible to give an absolute value to abstract concepts such as loyalty, there are metrics that can indicate customers' willingness to return to your company. Here's what to track.
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The ability to measure the impact of marketing efforts—both accurately and meaningfully—is a top skill in the smart marketer's arsenal. But, getting a handle on analytics can sometimes feel complicated and frustrating (we know!). Sponsored by Cvent.
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Advertising is a B2B e-commerce marketer's best friend—but it can stab you in the back if you don't measure the return correctly. Here are six mistakes to watch out for.
Convincing ourselves that our customer engagement tactics are working may feel great, but it isn't always helpful. That's why you should avoid relying too much on these three metrics.
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Collecting data is easy. Knowing how to analyze and best use that data to inform your marketing efforts... isn't. Join this free webinar to learn how to choose and track the best KPIs for your organization, and increase your ROI using the power of data—the right way. Sponsored by Vidyard.
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How important is it to have a privacy-centered strategy in 2022? We chat with Hubspot's Kipp Bodnar about the state of data privacy, first-party data, becoming a more human-focused marketer, and more.
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B2B marketers are moving away from third-party data and embracing first-party customer data. But what processes do you need in place to make the switch—and effectively drive marketing? Sponsored by Bounteous and Acquia.
CONTENT TYPE: Infographic | TOPIC: Metrics & Measurement
This infographic looks at six KPIs that provide valuable and actionable insights: customer acquisition cost, customer retention rate, MQL to SQL conversion rate, return on investment, website traffic, and customer lifetime value.
Today's Web analytics tools can deliver everything from page heat maps to purchase probabilities. Focusing largely on Google Analytics, this infographic explores how website measurement has evolved.
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A RevOps department is only as effective as its unification of metrics—and it really should be the marketing department that takes that leap, argues this article.
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Watch the Minecart Quest trailer here: https://youtu.be/w9dpgk7cvR4
Embark on a challenging minecart adventure to collect rare artifacts guarded by deadly traps! It will be a perilous journey and only the bravest of adventurers will be able to make it through this quest alive! Explore ever-changing environments from the overgrown jungles and spider-filled caves to volcanoes full of boiling lava, all in search of undiscovered treasures. Some of which may cause falling rocks, giant boulders and other traps to become activated, so watch out!
– Intense fast-paced action!
– Different every play through!
– Simple to learn, difficult to master!
– Collect gems and exceptionally rare artifacts!
– Avoid obstacles, enemies and other traps you may encounter!
– Choose your path wisely! Some are more dangerous, some are more rewarding.
– Challenge yourself as you go for your high score, furthest distance, or most artifacts collected!
– No annoying ads, pop ups or in game purchases to deal with.
– Endless minecart fun!
Minecart Quest on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MinecartQuest/
Minecart Quest on Twitter https://twitter.com/MinecartQuest
Phone: read phone status and identity
Photos/Media/Files: modify or delete the contents of your USB storage. Read the contents of your USB storage.
These permissions are in regards to the screenshot function within the game which allows you to capture a screenshot and save it to your USB storage . If you wish to do so.
(c) 2015 Justin Messner. All rights reserved.
To Download Minecart Quest App For PC,users need to install an Android Emulator like Xeplayer.With Xeplayer,you can Download Minecart Quest App for PC version on your Windows 7,8,10 and Laptop.
Guide for Play & Download Minecart Quest on PC,Laptop.
1.Download and Install XePlayer Android Emulator.Click "Download XePlayer" to download.
2.Run XePlayer Android Emulator and login Google Play Store.
3.Open Google Play Store and search Minecart Quest and download,
or import the apk file from your PC Into XePlayer to install it.
4.Install Minecart Quest for PC.Now you can play Minecart Quest on PC.Have Fun!


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9114 Wiles Road
Coral Springs, FL 33067
Frequently Asked Questions
Kids Martial Arts
Will Martial Arts make my kid violent?
No way! In fact, martial arts makes kids calmer and more respectful than ever. Martial arts always has been about peace, and it always will be.
Can my child get injured with Martial Arts?
As a parent, I'm sure you've seen that kids can get injured doing just about anything. Martial arts is no different, however we take safety very seriously here. Yes, injuries do sometimes happen. But we do everything in our power to avoid them. We do special exercises and stretches to make your child's body limber and flexible.
My child isn't athletic. Can they still participate in Martial Arts if
they're not athletic?
Absolutely. Martial Arts teaches kids to be coordinated, flexible and strong. Kids who don't naturally have these qualities develop them. Kids who do have these qualities grow them even more.
Are these Martial Arts classes fun?
Yes! After all, these are children we're dealing with here. And kids love their fun. We do a variety of games and activities that have kids howling with laughter, and constantly smiling. We work hard here - but we play just as hard.
Q: "Are both group & private classes available?"
Most of our members enjoy the group setting, but private sessions are available too, depending on instructor availability.
Q: "What type of classes do you offer? (Group or private?)"
Both! Most members opt for group classes, but feel free to ask any of our instructors for more info on private sessions.
Q: "Will my class be in a group or 1-on-1?"
Most likely you'll be in a group class. However we gladly offer private classes for those that are interested. Feel free to ask any of our instructors for more info on private classes!
Q: "How many people are in a group class?"
At peak times, there's between 15-30. Some times have more, some less. But we make sure to have enough instructors to match the class size. That way you always get the attention you need.
Krav Maga
Q: What exactly is Krav Maga?
A: Krav Maga is the official self-defense and fighting system of the Israeli Defense Forces and U.S. law enforcement agencies. It emphasizes easy-to-learn techniques that have been tested in real, life-threatening confrontations. While there is nothing flashy about the system, it is highly effective, nonetheless.
Q: What if I don't have any martial arts experience?
A: No worries. You don't need any martial arts experience to start training in Krav Maga. That's our job to train you in contact combat. The system is designed to take people with no previous experience and bring them to a level of proficiency fairly quickly.
Q: How do I know if Krav Maga is for me?
A: Ask yourself what you are looking for. Do you want street self-defense dealing with much larger attackers, multiple attackers, guns or knives? If so, Krav Maga is for you. But if you're not sure, give it a try to find out. Chances are you'll love what it does for your body and mind' and you'll develop excellent self-defense skills.
Q: Is Krav Maga for men only?
A: Not at all. Krav Maga is taught to men and women who seek the best in self-defense and fitness training.
Q: Are the classes hard and should I get in shape first?
A: Yes, the classes are challenging and can be physically demanding but no, you do not need to get in shape first. Krav Maga is designed for everyone, regardless of fitness level. In fact, taking classes is the best way to get into shape. Our class format is created to push students but also allow them to progress and reach their goals at a pace they feel comfortable with.
Q: Is there a ranking system for Krav Maga?
A: Yes, although belts are not worn in class, there are 6 levels in the Krav Maga system. Students start in level 1 as a beginner and progress to higher levels as they demonstrate their proficiency. Students must test to prove their competency and advance to the next level.


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As fond as I am of finding and responding to messages in bottles, I am not the best at listening to or responding to voice messages on my phone. I know, I know. That's bad of me…
But it seems I am not alone in this bad habit!
In late January, 2017, Vince Stango (cool name, hey?) was walking along the beach in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, when he spotted a bottle with paper inside.
The message is interesting…according to Asbury Park Press, it reads: "Found the bottle? Read this note? I'm Stuart, if you wish, call or mail me. Speak or mail soon. England Stuart."
At first, I thought that meant the sender's first name was England, and his surname was Stuart. But, on closer inspection, the phone number in the message definitely includes England's country code, 44. We are looking for someone named Stuart, who lives in England.
Vince Stango says he has called the number and left a message explaining his find. But here we are, almost two weeks later, and he hasn't received a reply! So, I'm sending this post out into the world to help reach Stuart who may, like myself, be simply terrible at listening to and responding to voice messages, much as we both seem to enjoy messages in bottles…
So there you go! Please spread this message to reach Stuart. Vince is waiting to hear back!


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Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge
Think you know who wins the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs this year? Lock in your picks and you could be one of the 30 prize winners.
What Scouts Say: "Good left-footed attacking player who's good around the box ... Can beat guys 1-v-1 and has the ability to score goals ... Good finisher ... Can strike a great ball with his left ... Great speed and quickness ... Pretty technical with both feet, but left foot particularly good ... Played mainly as point striker in a 4-3-3 but likely to be used as an outside midfielder or winger in MLS ... Good around the 18-yard box and finds himself in good spots on the field ... Work rate is good, but for MLS he's going to need to get stronger but also stronger on the ball ... He'll need to be able to hold off guys better ... Has improved in his defensive gave during his college career ... Has speed to get in behind defenses ... Rhythmic type player in sense that if game is going well, so is he."
Posted a spectacular freshman campaign as team's leader in goals and points...earned second team all-Freshman honors by Soccer America and second team all-MPSF recognition...led the MPSF in scoring with 10 goals and 23 points...the goal total ranks in a tie for the second highest single-season mark in program history while ranking third in points in a season...scored one of the biggest goals in Hornet history in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against UCLA...connected on an equalizing goal in the 75th minute from nearly 30 yards out to tie the match at 1-1...he totaled two goals in a game on three occasions which included both Sacramento State goals in a 2-1 upset of then No. 15 San Francisco...appeared in all 21 matches, making 18 starts.
A 2009 graduate of Napa HS in Napa, Calif...was a four-year letterwinner for the Indians...three-time all-Monticello Empire League and all-Napa County...2008 Napa County Player of the Year after scoring 42 goals, leading Napa to a 15-9-2 record and the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs...scored 108 goals during the final three years of his career...also a standout on the football field, being named Napa County Special Teams Player of the Year after converting on 39-of-41 PAT's, five field goals and registering 23 touchbacks...also earned all-league honors in golf...
CLUB: Competed for Davis Legacy '91 at the club level...led the Legacy to the Disney Soccer Showcase championship in 2009, while earning tournament MVP honors.
Parents are Sal and Antonia Alvarez...majoring in business administration.
Think you know who wins the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs this year? Lock in your picks and you could be one of the 30 prize winners.


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A panic-stricken worm sits on a hook surrounded by hundreds of hungry fish about to partake in a feeding frenzy.
Many years ago, I had a project that required a plethora of fish. They were all hand drawn and took a considerable amount of time to produce. Though they were only line-art fish, there was a little cross-hatch shading for each.
A short while after they were all done, the source files went missing and I ended up with only low-resolution versions. I had written these files off, thinking I would never see them again, but recently, while looking for some other information backed up on CD (yes, that long ago but at least they weren't on floppy), I came across the original files and knew I had to put them to good use.
My computer struggled to process so many fish (roughly 200 I believe) in one image and I actually had to work on half at a time and then merge them once flattened.
I gave each fish a little colour and introduced them to a very nervous worm on a hook.
The featured image is an enlarged cropped section of the complete image. I added this because when the full image is reduced, a lot of the detail is lost. I've included the full version here at screen resolution, but the high resolution version is available on Redbubble.
I've also made some small animations of the individual fish. There are ten groups of twenty and a swimming angelfish included. Ok, this page is getting rather busy.


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I'm tired.
So very, very tired.
Another long day of shooting.
Wish you were there.
art, politics, religion: discuss
From here:
Atwill asserts that Christianity did not really begin as a religion, but a sophisticated government project, a kind of propaganda exercise used to pacify the subjects of the Roman Empire. "Jewish sects in Palestine at the time, who were waiting for a prophesied warrior Messiah, were a constant source of violent insurrection during the first century," he explains. "When the Romans had exhausted conventional means of quashing rebellion, they switched to psychological warfare. They surmised that the way to stop the spread of zealous Jewish missionary activity was to create a competing belief system. That's when the 'peaceful' Messiah story was invented. Instead of inspiring warfare, this Messiah urged turn-the-other-cheek pacifism and encouraged Jews to 'give onto Caesar' and pay their taxes to Rome."
Seen here.


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Dancer and Allegra are off to a new home!
When we were first here we gladly took on a couple of miniature horses from Margo, a neighbour to the west of us. Margo and Clarence's property adjoins ours.
For some time we had been thinking of finding a better home for Dancer and Allegra especially as 'sizing down' was important to us being able to live here for many more years.
Margo will keep Allegra but has found a great new place for Dancer. Margo has been a breeder of miniature horse for many years.
So when I wrote yesterday in a reply to your responses: "The morning calls for other things to be done, more details later ,…" this is what was going on.
Some pictures to remember.


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If you were born on Saturday 23rd June, 1962 then Singin' in the Rain by Mint Royale was the #1 song in the UK on your 46th birthday. The song went to number one on June 14th 2008 and stayed at the top of the charts for 2 weeks.
Click 'Copy tracklist' below and then paste the list to your favourite social media site to compare sound tracks with your friends.
#1 songs on my birthday - 23rd June
My birthday! (1962): 'Good Luck Charm' by Elvis Presley
1st birthday (1963): 'I Like It' by Gerry & The Pacemakers
2nd birthday (1964): 'You're My World (Il Mio Mondo)' by Cilla Black
3rd birthday (1965): 'Crying in the Chapel' by Elvis Presley
4th birthday (1966): 'Strangers in the Night' by Frank Sinatra
5th birthday (1967): 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' by Procol Harum
6th birthday (1968): 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' by The Rolling Stones
7th birthday (1969): 'The Ballad of John and Yoko' by The Beatles
8th birthday (1970): 'In the Summertime' by Mungo Jerry
9th birthday (1971): 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep' by Middle of the Road
10th birthday (1972): 'Vincent' by Don McLean
11th birthday (1973): 'Rubber Bullets' by 10cc
12th birthday (1974): 'Always Yours' by Gary Glitter
13th birthday (1975): 'Whispering Grass' by Windsor Davies and Don Estelle
14th birthday (1976): 'The Combine Harvester (Brand New Key)' by The Wurzels
15th birthday (1977): 'Lucille' by Kenny Rogers
16th birthday (1978): 'You're the One That I Want' by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
17th birthday (1979): 'Ring My Bell' by Anita Ward
18th birthday (1980): 'Crying' by Don McLean
19th birthday (1981): 'Being with You' by Smokey Robinson
20th birthday (1982): 'Goody Two Shoes' by Adam Ant
21st birthday (1983): 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police
22nd birthday (1984): 'Two Tribes' by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
23rd birthday (1985): 'You'll Never Walk Alone' by The Crowd
24th birthday (1986): 'Spirit in the Sky' by Doctor and the Medics
25th birthday (1987): 'Star Trekkin'' by The Firm
26th birthday (1988): 'Doctorin' the Tardis' by The Timelords
27th birthday (1989): 'Sealed with a Kiss' by Jason Donovan
28th birthday (1990): 'Sacrifice / Healing Hands' by Elton John
29th birthday (1991): 'I Wanna Sex You Up' by Color Me Badd
30th birthday (1992): 'Abba-esque (EP)' by Erasure
31st birthday (1993): '(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You' by UB40
32nd birthday (1994): 'Love Is All Around' by Wet Wet Wet
33rd birthday (1995): 'Unchained Melody' by Robson Green & Jerome Flynn
34th birthday (1996): 'Killing Me Softly' by Fugees
35th birthday (1997): 'MMMBop' by Hanson
36th birthday (1998): '3 Lions '98' by Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds
37th birthday (1999): 'Bring It All Back' by S Club 7
38th birthday (2000): 'It Feels So Good' by Sonique
39th birthday (2001): 'Angel' by Shaggy
40th birthday (2002): 'A Little Less Conversation' by Elvis Presley vs. JXL
41st birthday (2003): 'Bring Me to Life' by Evanescence
42nd birthday (2004): 'I Don't Wanna Know' by Mario Winans
43rd birthday (2005): 'Axel F' by Crazy Frog
44th birthday (2006): 'Maneater' by Nelly Furtado
45th birthday (2007): 'Umbrella' by Rihanna
46th birthday (2008): 'Singin' in the Rain' by Mint Royale
47th birthday (2009): 'Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)' by Pixie Lott
48th birthday (2010): 'Shout for England ' by Dizzee Rascal, James Corden
49th birthday (2011): 'Changed the Way You Kiss Me' by Example
50th birthday (2012): 'Call My Name' by Cheryl
51st birthday (2013): 'Blurred Lines' by Robin Thicke
52nd birthday (2014): 'Ghost' by Ella Henderson
53rd birthday (2015): 'Want to Want Me' by Jason Derulo
54th birthday (2016): 'One Dance' by Drake
55th birthday (2017): 'Despacito (Remix)' by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee
56th birthday (2018): 'I'll Be There' by Jess Glynne
57th birthday (2019): 'I Don't Care' by Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber
58th birthday (2020): 'Rockstar' by DaBaby
59th birthday (2021): 'Good 4 U' by Olivia Rodrigo
60th birthday (2022): 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' by Encanto - Cast
Visit https://MyBirthdayHits.com to find the soundtrack to your life.
Create a new playlist in Spotify then click 'Copy playlist' and paste into your new Spotify playlist. Some tracks may contain explicit lyrics and Spotify will highlight these with an [E].


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Search the Community
Found 1 result
vibrant soundbridge UK Soundbridge users - contact group?
Jon posted a topic in VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGEHello All, I was fitted with Soundbridge about 1 year ago - I Love it! As I just broke one of the small clips in my Matt Black Samba cover I had to swich back to the shiny black one that came with the processor. It made me realise that I am lucky to have two (black) options - none of the other covers I received in the package are much use to me (see photo) and it made me think that if there were a UK contact group for this them we could possibly help one another. Particularly - possibly - exchanging some covers !! Thus - I would love to hear from you if you are in UK and have Vibrant Sound bridge and perhaps - if there is interest we can make a sub forum on this site - or something. Best Regards, Jon


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In mid-June, when computer maker Dell announced it had earned $3 million in revenue from using Twitter, a popular micro-blogging site, the Internet and blogosphere were all atwitter about the news. Finally, proof that social media had the potential to not only increase traffic but also sales. Though as Dell was quick to mention, it took 18 months to make that first million via Twitter, albeit only six to earn the last.
The Nauti-Dog Company
(Click for larger image).
While Dell is a large corporation, with revenues of more than $61 billion in 2008 alone, smaller businesses — significantly smaller businesses — can also benefit from using Twitter as well as other forms of social media, such as Facebook and MySpace; blogs, particularly community blogs aimed at entrepreneurs, like The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, which features hundreds of small business owners every week; and sites like Help a Reporter Out (HARO), which links businesses with journalists for free. (Think of it as PR 2.0.)
That's because unlike traditional PR and advertising, which can be costly, the main cost associated with social media is time, not cash (though this may be changing, thanks in part to success stories like Dell's). And any business willing to spend some time on social media/networking sites, building a community or fan base, can benefit.
That's the beauty of social networking. It levels the playing field and provides small business owners another platform or medium to leverage from a marketing perspective, said Scott Bradley, a social media strategist who runs the blog Networking Effectively. Social media also fosters closer and better company-customer/prospective customer interaction – call it Word-of-Mouth 2.0 – than do the more traditional print advertising and PR he said.
To find out how small businesses are using social networking sites and tools to market themselves and to build better relationships with their customers, I spoke with three retail businesses: The James Store, a 63-year-old clothing boutique located in Granville, Ohio; The Nauti-Dog Company, a small two-year-old retail dog-apparel business; and hoodiepeople.com, a startup e-commerce retailer selling premium branded hooded sweatshirts. While their products and audience may differ from yours, their tips and advice regarding social media can be applied to any business.
To hear what these businesses/experts had to say — and learn valuable tips and tricks that can help you use social media to market your small business and connect with customers — read my article, "Social Network Marketing Meets Small Business," which appears on SmallBusinessComputing.com.
Have your own advice re how social media can help you market your business? Leave me a comment.


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Please enjoy our last release by the wolfgirl liberation titled 'The Lighthouse' [ET26]
'The Lighthouse' realm consists of highly emotional strings arrangements, resonant sounds, brilliant use of field recordings and exploratory acoustic and electronic ambient instruments. There's an evolving hope in all tracks despite the obvious ominous ambience. For example in the track 'Planet Earth I Love You' a certain amount of time and effort are required before the fragmented rays of light can be visible and help us to escape to a relieving land.
the wolfgirl liberation comes from the United Kingdom and started composing music at the end of the 90's. His distinctive sound comprises of contradictory elements such as breakbeat rhythm patterns, magnificently emotional string arrangements and meticulously crafted field recordings. His goal is the music will take us on journeys and through places. "In my music there is always hope, an escape. If we were just to climb over that wall we would be somewhere new." he says. "However dark it gets there is always an exit. We are only ever visiting."


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McDonald's Nasi Lemak Burger Is Finally Coming Back
The wildly popular burger — which abruptly disappeared from the fast food chain's menu last month — is making its return at the end of August.
Burger fans were left high and dry after McDonald's suddenly stopped the sale of its much sought-after Nasi Lemak Burger a mere two weeks after it made its debut before National Day.
The burgers ran out as the fast food chain could not replenish its supply quickly enough to keep up with the "overwhelming demand".
Why the ensuing uproar? Well, the 'mod Sin' creation was a decent-tasting and rather clever patriotic riff on a traditional plate of nasi lemak.
It featured a chicken thigh patty marinated with coconut milk, spices and coated with crushed cornflakes, as well as a sunny side up egg, onions and a slick of sambal nestling between semolina buns.
Apparently, those who were most upset by the item's premature departure were people who didn't even get to try it yet. "I was waiting for the long queues to die down before visiting [McDonald's], but they took it off the menu before I could do so!" lamented our pal.
In its absence, many nasi lemak burger copycats have rode on its coattails with their own versions of the creation — including French patisserie Antoinette, mod Asian restaurant The Quarters and Southern American eatery The Beast.
The Beast's Nasi Lemak Burger with Spam Fries.
But get ready to sink your teeth into the original again. Nearly a month after it vanished, the locally-themed burger will finally be back on the menu.
A reliable source (who requested not to be named) has confidently told us that the Nasi Lemak Burger, and its buddies Chendol McFlurry and Bandung McFizz, will make a reappearance at the end of August at all McDonald's outlets.
Whether it still proves popular with the fickle crowd after such a long absence remains to be seen. The burger costs from $5.95 a la carte, cheaper than its rivals' more atas renditions.
We spoke to a rep for McDonald's, who declined to confirm — or deny — the Nasi Lemak Burger's comeback. But all we can say with certainty is: wait for it.
More updates coming soon.


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Allow synonyms for keywords by providing comma-separated strings.
Imagine a shortmark to reach, say salesforce.com. I might want to specify the keyword "sales" but I might also want it to match "sale". It would be great if I could just say
sale,sales in the keyword field.
1 vote
Matt shared this idea
under review · Adminjaden (Owner, Shortmarks) responded
I hadn't thought of that. Thanks for the suggestion.


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Kwame Sefa-Boatchie
December 26, 2012 • 0 Comments
Kwame Sefa-Boatchie
How long have you been away from Ghana?
4 years
What is your profession? Profession, if qualified.
A factory worker.
Did you gain any vocation qualification before returning to Ghana?
Which country did you return from?
United Kingdom
What prompted you to return?
I over stayed my visa requirement and got caught up with law and then was returned back home. I got assistance from IOM's AVR Scheme.
Have you had any challenges since returning back, i.e. reintegration, finding a job, accommodation etc.?
Upon my return I got some financial help through the IOM's AVR programme. I used wisely by investing the money a furnishing business. Through hard work and with some support from my wife I we have acquired another shop. So as at now, we are operating two furnishing shops. I do travel to China and Dubai to buy some of my stock, so yes, I am very happy with life back here. When I arrived, I had some challenges with finding decent accommodation, but I rented a room to start off with and with time my wife and I have been able to build our home.
Any advice and suggestions for potential returnees?
I will encourage all Ghanaians, who are in abroad to return and not to have the fear of coming back home, because they have not "made it†yet, therefore, they cannot take the initiative of coming. My story really illustrate, if one is determined, everything is possible. My life back in the UK was nothing to write home about, but since I have return, I am managing and happy with the little I have. My other advice for anyone who wishes to return to Ghana is, one to invest in a viable business and to get a local partner who has the "local know howâ€. I was lucky enough to find that persone, in my wife. Which I will say, she has been of great support in all aspect of my life and also for those returning to have be patient as it will take time before adjusting.
What would have made your return easier/smoother?
I wish I had a bit more money. Either than that, I am fine with how I have managed so far.


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Switch out your traditional carriage style garage door with the new overhead garage door. After all, a new garage door installation is a great option to get the benefits of improved energy-efficiency and charming style.
Whether your wooden garage door is crumbling or rotted or your vinyl garage door is not efficient more to keep your place warm enough, overhead garage door installation is a great and excellent option for improving the appurtenance, look, and functionality of garage door. Among the huge variety of materials, styles, and performance strength available today, new garage door installation is the easiest and simplest way to make your place comfortable. Contact a professional garage door company to get more details about overhead garage doors. You may think that how is the best and local garage door installers near me, browser the Google, Yahoo, or any other good search engine to find out the most suitable option for you.
Nowadays, overhead garage doors are available in a variety of designs and styles. From traditional paneled garage doors to the carriage house garage doors, you can choose anything which brings out the best in your home. The garage door with glass windows is an ideal option for letting the natural light in and make a great style statement due to the architectural looks. Among the single and double spaced options available, the selections for a particular garage door is practically limitless. Professional garage door technicians may be able to provide valuable suggestions about which type of garage door is best according to your needs and budget.
Other important considerations when it concerns installing a new garage door includes material strength, functionality, and energy efficiency. Modern insulated overhead garage doors are a great option for you if you want to reduce the energy bills. They help you to keep your place cool and warn by keeping energy bills down and make your garage door comfortable even during extreme weather. Materials of garage door bring a major difference in the look, style, and durability of the new garage door. Wooden garage doors look excellent but they have the trend to rotting and wear and tear due to certain climate conditions. Vinyl is a lightweight, durable, and strong option but needs low maintenance. Metal garage doors can be heavy and operated with the help of a garage door opener due to its weight.
Consult with garage door technician to get more specifications about the strength, performance, pros, and cons of vinyl, wood, and steel garage door materials.
Remember, overhead garage door installation is best left to the professional garage door contractor. Professional garage door specialists can help you ensure that your garage door is installed properly to enhance the performance and beauty of the garage door. Call a professional overhead garage door technician now to fulfill your dreams of the new garage door.