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The Afghan government will not oppose the transfer of five Taliban detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Qatar, a spokesman for President Hamid Karzai said on Sunday.
Spokesman Aimal Faizi told AFP that the prisoners had expressed their willingness to be moved to Qatar, and the Afghan government would not oppose the move as long as the detainees were not "transferred as hostages."
"A delegation (from the) national security council has met with the five prisoners in Guantanamo," Faizi said.
"Our responsibility was to make sure they would not be transferred as hostages."
The Taliban announced at the start of this year that they planned to set up a political office in Qatar, a move seen as a precursor to peace talks with Washington.
At the same time, the hardline Islamists demanded the release of prisoners from the US military detention centre at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. They demanded in negotiations with the US that the prisoners be sent to Qatar.


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Saturday, 29 August 2009
Cuba 50!
Scottish Socialist Party on 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution HERE
Details of the Saturday 12 Sept discussion HERE
Friday, 28 August 2009
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to conduct a public investigation into the impact the proposed closures of schools and nurseries by local authorities has on education policies, class sizes, childrens health and safety, social inclusion, jobs, and whether the process of consulting with parents and wider communities on the provision of education complies with local authorities statutory duties and democratic principles.
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Friday, 21 August 2009
The Glasgow Save Our Schools Campaign, which led the mass movement against school and nursery closures since January, is delighted at the resignation of Margaret Dorarn, chief education officer for the Labour council, given her central role in the closures.
Richie Venton, Glasgow Save Our Schools Campaign organiser, today said:
"The resignation of Margaret Doran from her £120,000-a-year job is a victory for those of us who fought the vicious closures of primaries and nurseries that she was at the heart of.
"The parents, carers and communities of 2,000 children who have been uprooted and dumped in bigger classes, further from home, will have a very simple response to Ms Doran's departure: 'good riddance to bad rubbish!'.
"The statement announcing her decision talks of 'financial challenges facing the council'. Are the thieves falling out?
"Margaret Doran was a critical player in drafting the butchery of our kids' education and community facilities – but under orders from the Chief Axe-man himself, Labour Council leader Stephen Purcell.
"Far from hinting at any disagreement with the elected Labour politicians' closures package, Ms Doran was a strident advocate and defender of them. But the ferocious opposition of parents, carers and communities, led by the Glasgow Save Our Schools Campaign, undoubtedly caused private divisions amongst council leaders and officers on how best to cope with the public fury.
"So when Labour councillors sing hymns of praise for her 'leaving a tremendous legacy' for Glasgow kids' education, it's enough to make you vomit.
"Her 'legacy' includes chaos in the first week of school term, with kids packed into far bigger classes, many of them travelling dangerous and long routes, some teaching staff only hearing where they were to work a day before the new term started, and many parents facing loss of their jobs because they can't juggle between childcare arrangements and working times.
"We celebrate the departure of one butcher of kids' education – the unelected £120,000-a-year bureaucrat – but intend to work for the removal of the bigger butchers – the Labour councillors who rode roughshod over people's needs and wishes."
For more info contact Richie Venton on 07828 278 093 or email firstname.lastname@example.com
Sunday, 16 August 2009
The Banks, the Stock Market, the Bank of England and the Economy:
Is The Crisis Over?
Over the last two weeks there has been lots of telling economic and financial data from which some commentators have drawn the conclusion that the worst of the economic and financial crisis is over. We set out here to examine this data and determine if these commentators are right by looking at the banks, stock markets, the Bank of England and global economies.
The Banks
The four major banks and the wholly state owned Northern Rock reported their results, which were described as mixed, during the business week ending the 7 August 2009. We show these in the table below - all the figures are in billions of pounds sterling.
Barclays HSBC Lloyds RBS* Nthn Rock
Pre Tax Profits 3.0 3.5 -4.0 0.2 -0.7
Write-downs -4.6 -9.6 -13.4 -7.5 -0.5
Banking Profits 1.0 4.2 0.0 5.1 0..0
Profits ex 2.0 -0.7 -4.0 -4.9 -0.7
*RBS Suffered a post-tax loss of £1bn
The points of interest are: only Barclays made a profit when investment banking revenues are excluded; and the revenues from investment banking are a one off. Stock markets have rallied by nearly 50% from their March 2009 lows and the price fluctuations – called volatility – of financial assets have fallen making derivatives easier to trade and reducing daily profit and loss moves. In the credit markets the cost of buying insurance against bankruptcy has also fallen. All these factors have combined to create bumper investment banking profits. Normally stock markets would move no more than 10% over such a time span. But as we show later the sharp rally we have just seen is common in stock market crashes. In the past these have proved to be false dawns – often called sucker rallies - with the market falling again to levels below the previous lows.
The write downs in six months are nearly £36 billion. This money was lost as the value of assets the banks hold and loans to individuals and companies were written off. These losses are not paper losses but have to be matched from the banks capital. These are the losses from the banks exposure to the recession. They will continue dripping losses of this magnitude while the recession lasts and house prices continue to drop. If you add a major market fall and an increase in asset volatility, then on top of these losses will be potentially huge daily losses from derivatives – banks globally have a $700 trillion exposure to these assets. Such a scenario would lead to a similar financial meltdown as we experienced September 2008.
Even without a market correction the banks are likely to all return losses in the second half of 2009. The write-downs are probably underestimated as new rules give the banks leeway in accounting for "difficult to value assets".
The Stock Markets
Stock markets around the world have risen by over 50% (to week ending 7/8/2009) from their low point in March 2009. Stock markets are where companies' ordinary share capital (shares) is traded. They are usually seen as a leading indicator of what is happing in the economy. So does this rally mean that the worst is over for the economy and the banks in particular?
If one looks at the history of severe economic recessions a pattern emerges: after a sharp fall in share values over several months, shares make a partial recovery in the hope that the worst is over only to be disappointed and fall again to reach new lows.
In the 1930s depression shares fell from a high of 380 on the US Dow Jones Average (DJA) to a first low of 199 over two and a half months only to rise 48% to 294 five months later. This proved to be a false dawn as US credit dried up on the back of its banking crisis driving the world into a deep depression. The DJA then fell 89% from its all time high to a low of 41 two and a quarter years later.
Sounds familiar? This time the DJA took one and a half years from the credit crunch breaking to fall 54% from its pre-crash high. It has since rallied 44% to its close on 7/14/2009 of 9435. In the UK the initial fall was of the same magnitude but the rally less pronounced to 34%.
The rally – known as a sucker bear rally – in shares is as we write (17/8/2009) is running out of steam. We are likely to see a sharp fall in shares as the markets wake up to the effect of the "end of credit". This will lead to an increase in the price movements of all financial assets and a big rise in financial volatility. The banks who therefore made gains in the first half of 2009 will suffer steep declines in profits as their exposure to $700 trillion worth of derivatives will create huge losses similar to those they experienced in the autumn of 2008.
Governments would then have to again step into bail out the banks but this time their scope for action is limited by the amount they have spent already and the steps they have to take to find the money to pay for it.
The Bank of England
The Bank of England (BOE) has made two important statements over the last two weeks (3/8/2009 to 16/8/2009). The first was on quantitative easing and 2009's second quarterly report on inflation. These statements revealed more about the state of the economy and the financial system and its future than any vague optimistic comments that have come from government and City' analysts.
On quantitative easing the announced that they would raise the total pot to £175 billion – an increase of £25 billion of which £125 billion of the original £150 billion has been used already. The new unused total of £50 billion would be put to use over the next few months. The £175billion represents 12% of our economy (gross domestic product - GDP) and together with other bailouts will take the total of our money spent by the government and the BOE on saving the banks to £350 billion or nearly 25% of our GDP.
Quantitative easing is a tool where the BOE of England prints money and buys back with this money government and other debt from Banks, Financial and other institutions. The idea is this will give the financial system money that they will then pump into the economy in the form of mortgages and loans to consumers and buinesses. All the evidence points to this not happening and instead the financial sector is hoarding the money as a buffer against further looses on mortgages, loans and derivatives.
The table below bears this out. It shows, in billions of pounds, the average monthly personal debt for 2006 – the last full year before the credit bubble burst, the average for 2009 and the figures for the latest month where data is available - June 2009.
Loans Secured Consumer Mortgages Re-Mortgages
On Homes Loans
June 2009 0.3 0.1 6.2 4.3
2009 1.0 0.1 4.6 4.1
2006 9.2 1.1 16.0 11.5
One can see the massive fall off in credit from 2006 that has driven the UK economy into recession. In June 2009 only mortgages – which account for bottoming out of houses prices - are significantly above the average for 2009 which is way below 2006's average. Of the £125bn of quantitative easing only £1.7 bn has found its way into additional credit!
Why then spend another £50 billion on quantitative easing? The answer can be found in quote from BOE governor Mervyn King in an interview on the recent BOE inflation report. He said that the banking sector was still "in a very bad way" and predicted it would take years to "repair balance sheets" and wean the banks off public support.
In other words quantitative easing is nothing but another bank bail out that we will have to pay for through cuts in public services, wages and jobs and higher taxes. As well as quantitative easing the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds TSB/HBOS have insured over £700 billion of their toxic assets – loans and derivatives – with the UK government, This means we will be liable for further losses which are likely to mount in the second half of the year as we pointed above on the section in banks. The future maximum bill we will be presented with and paid for by us through cuts and higher taxes is unknown.
The Economy
The UK economy and is still in decline only the rate of decline has slowed. Unemploymnet contuses to rise with nearly 20% of 16-24 year olds unemployed. In the US official unemployment has fallen slightly although nearly 250,000 lost their jobs in July. This is mainly because millions have given up looking for work. Those claiming unemployment benefit are 9.4 % of the total US workforce. But the national labour office estimates that nearly 30 million are out of work which is nearly 20% of the national workforce. Consumer confidence continues to fall in the US and inventories of goods are also falling at a rapid rate. This shows that US corporations are unwilling to produce more goods as they no faith that they can be sold. Only government subsidies for the car industry have boosted production slightly.
US corporations' economic results are only being held up by huge cost cutting programmes. Underlying sales are poor and once the one off effect of cost cutting passes their results will start to deteriorate
Outside of China only France and Germany, in Europe, and Japan have managed to stop the decline in their economies. This is mainly because the French and German governments had to spend less on bank bailouts and were able to put funds into stimulating consumer spending and the infrastructure. These economies had also much smaller level of consumer debt and a smaller housing bubble. But the stimulus is likely to be a one off as European banks losses will increase in the second half of the year as exposure to eastern European and emerging market property loans hit their balance sheets. They also have exposure to derivatives and there are likely to be losses in this area in the second half of 2009 and not the windfall profits that accompanied the stock market rally since March of this year. Outside of Germany and France, economies with a large housing bubble have been hit hard – Spain and Ireland primarily.
The Japanese economy grew 0.9% in the second quarter of 2009 below the median forecast of 1.0%. This ended 15 months of successive contractions with the sharpest in the previous quarter when the economy shrunk nearly 3%. The growth in quarter two was driven by a $2 trillion government stimulus programme and exports. But the financial markets believe the effect of this will be short lived as the stimulus wears off and the global economy continues to shrink in the third quarter of 2009 leading to a decline in exports. On day the figures were announced (17/8/2009) the Japanese stock market dropped 3%.
China though technically not in recession has seen tens of millions of people made unemployed over the last two years. Only a massive stimulus programme driven by the central government has kept its economy afloat. Nearly $3 trillion of new consumer debt has been created in the first half of 2009. But the government are turning this tap off as they see the first signs of a speculative bubble in property and the stock market. Of course this internal stimulus programme does not help the rest of the world's economy apart for the commodity industries as China is a huge net exporter. And these exports continue to decline as the world's overall economy continues to shrink.
The Future
The global finance system is so contaminated with bad debt and derivatives that we are likely to see years of declining and stagnant economies. Unlike the 1930s the crisis of credit is not a US one but a global one with the banks also geared up to derivatives which can bring the financial system to the point of collapse when the financial markets decline and volatility in financial assets increases as we saw in the Autumn of 2008.
This means governments will have to continue to use our money to bail the system out rather than create jobs and services. The majority of us will pay for these bailouts through public service cuts and tax rises and unemployment.
But there is an alternative which means taking the banks under our control and neutralising their rotting loans and cancelling their destructive derivative contracts. It means a society where resources and wealth are shared to meet human needs. It is the only rationale alternative to the harsh future that capitalism offers us.
Sunday, 2 August 2009
A rash of factory and workplace occupations is spreading across the globe as workers defy the brutal consequences of the recession.
Instead of surrendering to mass redundancies and outright closures – sometimes at a few minutes' notice, often without even redundancy packages – workers are occupying their workplaces as a central method of struggling for justice.
Every example that wins concessions is boosting the belief of other workforces that there is an alternative to just resigning to the butchery in the boardrooms – that belligerent, militant class action can win at least something where workers have nothing to lose.
Currently the sit-in at Vestas wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight is creating a storm of international publicity and sympathy for the 600 workers who face the dole, at the same time as the Labour government recently pledged to create 400,000 new green jobs over 5 years.
The 25 Vestas workers who have staged this factory occupation, supported by a mass rally outside every night, have shown tremendous courage in the face of numerous separate attempts by the bully-boy, anti-union Vestas bosses to evict them.
They tried to starve them out, blocking food supplies being sent in by supporters. They threatened the sack and removal of redundancy payments from the workers staging the sit-in, to intimidate them. They took out an injunction to gain re-possession of the factory – in order to close it and move production to the USA and China! The RMT took up the workers' legal defence and won at least a delay in the possession order being issued – primarily because of the visible display of widespread solidarity outside the factory gates every night and on several demonstrations.
The factory was due to close on 31st July – but the seizure of the factory by workers has just won an indefinite extension of that deadline. Vestas had no union recognition. Some workers joined a union and started organizing others. A group of them established a campaign committee and organised the sit-in from 20th July. This bold action won the active support of hundreds others – Vestas workers, other trade unionists, environmentalists, the local community – on an island where there are no other jobs to go to.
Vestas workers have gone further than any of the other recent factory sit-ins in terms of the demands they are making from their 'campaign headquarters' inside the factory: "Gordon Brown – Nationalise This!" declared the banner from day one.
A statement from the workers' occupation declared, "If the government can spend billions bailing out the banks - and even nationalize them - then surely they can do the same at Vestas".
As well as organizing solidarity for these heroic fighters for jobs and the protection of the environment, we have a duty to learn from workers' experiences of sit-ins as a method of struggle, particularly as redundancies and closures sweep the land like a pandemic.
Vestas is only the latest in a series of workplace occupations in the UK. And Thomas Cook workers in Dublin, members of the TSSA union, have just (31st July) occupied in defiance of job losses through closure of 100 offices.
The recent outbreak of factory take-overs in Britain and Ireland began with Waterford Glass workers occupying the plant on 30th January, in opposition to the employers' announcement of an immediate end to production and 480 job losses.
After 8 weeks' struggle, they reluctantly accepted a deal that saved 176 of the 480 jobs.
But their example fed the appetite of other workers facing savage closures under brutal terms and conditions. On 31st March, over 600 workers at three Visteon (ex Fords) plants in Belfast, Enfield and Basildon occupied and picketed when they were declared redundant at a few minutes' notice, without any redundancy pay and with their pensions frozen. A month later, appropriately on May Day, the workers won enhanced redundancy terms, payments in lieu of notice, and holiday pay.
As Kevin Nolan, UNITE union convener at the Enfield factory put it, "People ended up with a year and a half's worth of salary. That's a victory when you consider Visteon were hiding behind the recession as a way of completely abandoning all responsibility for 600 UK workers and just dumping them."
Prior to that high-profile sit-in, a small group of non-unionised workers at Prisme in Dundee occupied their workplace, encouraged by Waterford Glass workers, (who subsequently visited the Dundee sit-in). They had been sacked without notice and without any redundancy pay. Fifty-one days later, the sit-in beat off the redundancies by establishing a cooperative.
Workplace occupations are not a new form of struggle, of course, but this new wave of sit-ins follows many years of the method receding into the background.
Italian car workers seized their factories in northern Italy in the 1920s. What were dubbed 'sit-won strikes' swept countries like France and the USA in the mid-1930s. Closer to home and to the present, the most famous workplace occupation was the 1971-2 Upper Clyde Shipbuilders (UCS) 'work-in' - in reply to the Tory government's closure of the yards with at least 6,000 redundancies. This triggered a mass movement, saved many of the jobs after the Tories were forced into a U-turn, and was the impetus to at least 200 sit-ins across the UK in the first half of the 1970s.
For a time such audacious actions receded, although Lee Jeans (mostly women) workers in Greenock occupied in 1981; Caterpillar workers in Uddingston in 1986; and Glacier Metal workers in Glasgow won an outright victory after their seven-week occupation in November-December 1996.
Now, as the global capitalist crisis bites, with even more catastrophic closures and cut-backs on jobs looming, this form of struggle could come back into its own.
Sit-ins are a powerful weapon, paralyzing production; psychologically bringing the battle into the bosses' 'own territory'; preventing them from stripping the factory of machinery and equipment that they may want to shift to other production sites, including abroad, in their hunt for subsidies and cheaper labour; preventing bosses from bussing in scabs past picket lines that are hamstrung by anti-union laws and deployment of the police (as seen, for example, at Timex in 1993).
But a sit-in 'with folded arms' can still be defeated, or at best win shoddy concessions far short of the potential victories on the agenda if workers' occupations are accompanied by concerted campaigning outside the sit-in.
When workers facing closures consider a sit-in they should also try to prepare for a campaign of seeking solidarity from fellow workers and local communities – or at least put that into action as soon as they occupy. Such outgoing, concerted campaigning is critical, firstly to help prevent employers evicting them, secondly to enhance the prospects of outright victory for their demands. That was the advice we put into action from day one of the Glacier Metal occupation in 1996. It is clearly what the Vestas workers are ably applying right now.
Touring other workplaces; taking to the streets with leaflets, bucket collections and megaphones to explain the case behind the sit-ins; organizing solidarity mass pickets, rallies and demonstrations – all this and more was done in conquering outright victory for the 1996 Glacier Metal workers sit-in, and is the method being applied at other current occupations to one extent or another.
The other key question that remains is: what do workers demand whilst they occupy their workplace? Of course that depends on what they are fighting against! In the case of Glacier Metal it was mass dismissal of the entire workforce in the drive to smash the union and rip up hard-won conditions. So full re-instatement of every worker, with continuity of terms and conditions, and continued union recognition, were the demands of the sit-in. And that was what was won!
In the case of Visteon, workers occupied to win redundancy payments and protection of their pensions. They won substantial concessions, though they still lost their jobs.
Vestas workers, as stated earlier, have made the most far-reaching demands – and absolutely appropriate ones to the situation, occupying in support of nationalization of the factory. With the need to save jobs and simultaneously save the planet from catastrophic climate change, the best route is public ownership of the UK's only wind turbine factory, as part of the call for public ownership of the energy industry as a means of democratically planning clean, green energy production.
Most occupations arise from closures or mass redundancies. So defense of every job is the starting point. And instead of pouring a fortune from the public purse down the throats of profiteering bosses who are hell-bent on racing across the globe in pursuit of super-profits, workers and their unions shown champion the demand for public ownership of the assets, under democratic working class control, to sustain jobs.
Workplace occupations are not a 'one-size-fits-all' method of struggle, applicable on every single occasion. They should not be turned into a fetish. But they are an enormously powerful weapon of struggle that should be utilized far more widely in the teeth of closures and mass redundancies, and in the vast majority of cases have won huge concessions or outright victories. On the other hand, in some conditions, strikes in the face of closures can sometimes allow the employers to just walk away, leaving whole communities wrecked. And in stark contrast to both, appeals to the employers' good nature to 'change their minds' about closures are a pitifully weak response to the boardroom boot-boys, who will only ever 'change their minds' when they know the alternative is carnage for their reputation and profit levels.
Many workers will increasingly see they have nothing to lose in the teeth of mass redundancies, and a lot to win by taking up the cudgels. As Visteon's UNITE convener Kevin Nolan recently told Labour Research magazine, "We just thought: 'What do we have to lose?' So we just went for it. If anyone else is in the same position I'd say weigh everything up and if you think there's a chance of winning something back or improving your situation by occupying the place, then go for it."
By seizing control of the company assets, including valuable machinery, plus halting production, whilst using the workplace as a huge campaign headquarters, occupations provide workers with an unprecedented platform to take on the bosses who want to heap the crisis they have created on the shoulders of working people.
We have a duty to concretely assist every group of workers who take such action; every victory won is a boost to the generalized struggle to save jobs, not profits, to reverse the tide of closures and cut-backs endured for far too long.

subset: commoncrawl


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Respectable citizen Andy Sturdevant has generously provided me space in his weekly The Stroll column on MinnPost to rant about an area near and dear to my heart, the Loring Greenway. This figment incarnate of Al Hofstede's imagination is not interesting, but it is highly livable and walkable and spurred a degree of private investment unmatched by any other single piece of infrastructure within the city limits, with the possible exception of Nicollet Mall. For these reasons I believe it to be worthy of emulation, as I finally get around to arguing in my MinnPost piece. As a special bonus to those who tolerate a feed subscription to Getting Around Mpls blog, here is a map I made quick of potential Loring Greenway emulators:
Thanks Andy and MinnPost!


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Tours Now Available at Masterpiece Southland Meadows
"We have started showing our suites in our Masterpiece Southland Meadows Project that is scheduled to open in October. We offer a lovely life for seniors looking for a little support; 3 delicious meals, outstanding care options and active lifestyle. So far there has been a good reception and we have already reserved half of the 21 private suites. There are still plenty of great suites available and we encourage you to call and book your own personalized tour. You will be very impressed with this new project as it is so different from anything else in the City, and rental pricing is very competitive (no purchase), you may even save some dollars!... and our pricing is all inclusive. Please visit our Masterpiece Southland Meadows accomodation page for details or arrange a tour by calling me at +1 (403) 612-3500.
Tim Garforth-Bles, Masterpiece President and CEO


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Globe Theater
141 N. Broad Street,
1 person favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fox West Coast Theatres
Previous Names: Fox Globe Theater
Nearby Theaters
What a surprise the somewhat isolated town of Globe, Arizona was! The main highway had by-passed the old downtown and Broad Street, but it was busy with cars, people, stores and shops.
The Globe Theater's facade is not original, but the sign and marquee appeared to be from the 1940's or 1950's.
In July 2005, theater sustained heavy damage from a fire in the building next door and is now closed.
Recent comments (view all 24 comments)
Recently, I posted a an old theater that was in Globe a long time ago, the Alden Theater. Please submit any photos you have of the Alden. Thanks.
My 2005 photograph of the GLOBE View link
After the devastating fire, Globe-Miami's own Globe Theater is being rebuilt. The theater will be built over the lot of the building next store that was the Trust/Hotel building. The new GLOBE will be built with four screens and stadium seating. A brick face will surround the theater using some of the original bricks from the Hotel. The marquee is being spruced up a bit; the original marquee was changed in the 1960's-1970, but is being put back to the original design with neon lignting all around the historic sign. After the restoration of the marquee, the marquee will be place on the corner of Broad and Cedar Streets. This an exiciting move forward for this historic small-town community.
Does anyone have any other Globe Theater photos?
I only have two (neither exactly great.) The theater was one of the things I wanted to get more shots of, but fate intervened. There are a couple of small pics (not mine) on this page: [url]http://www.roadsidepeek.com/roadusa/southwest/arizona/aztheater/index.htm[/url], including one from 1945 that shows what the marquee looked like then. Much more ornate than the one I knew….
My pics (the thumbnails are clickable to get the full-sized photo):
The Pioneer Hotel where the fire started is the tall building to the left as you face the theater.
The entrance to the theater: the metal columns and wall skin around the poster were made of native copper (Globe's a copper-mining town.) I love walking into a theater through a hallway like this. It really makes you feel as if you're entering some hidden palace. You can see the box office on the left.
And this is the architect's rendering of what the new theater will look like:
It fits the look of downtown, but, to me, it looks more like a storefront than a theater. I'm glad they saved the marquee, though.
I would be interested in buying any original anitque photos of the Globe Theater or any other theaters in Globe or Miami. Please email or call 602-723-5035.
Close up of the GLOBE sign and marquee before the fire.
Please contact me with any Globe or Miami Arizona photos, postcards, business directories, yearbooks, signage, keys, letterheads, advertising, programs from football games theaters plays. Please contact me at or by phone at 602-723-5035.
This page has some pictures of the theater after the fire:
The Globe can be seen on the left in this 1941 photo:
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.


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Which Busy Boards for toddlers are best?
Keeping a toddler occupied can be exhausting. With their constantly growing and changing preferences and likes, offering options that keep them thinking is your best option. A growingly popular toy for toddlers is the busy board. Complete with latches, buckles, toys, buttons and more, busy boards can keep your toddler engaged for hours.
The best busy board for toddlers is the VTech Latches and Doors Busy Board. It has all the components your toddler could want to keep their little hands busy.
What to know before you buy a busy board for toddlers
Giving your toddler a busy board is more than keeping them quietly occupied. Busy boards serve an important purpose in many aspects of your child's development.
As for sensory play, you can't get better than a busy board. As they develop their sensory awareness, they learn how to interact with and experience the world. While they develop their sensory attributes, a busy board also builds your child's fine motor skills.
Fine motor skills are how your child learns to physically engage in the world. A busy board helps your child work on these small movements between their hands and fingers so they can move on to tackling things like zippers and buttons.
Aside from physical development, a busy board can lead your child through their mental development. It promotes imagination and lets them practice problem-solving skills. It can also build their memory as they learn how to work the components of the busy board.
Socially, your child will benefit from a busy board, as well. It's a calming activity that can reduce anxiety and promote communication as they work through the problems. The more your child solves the busy board problems, the more their self-esteem will grow, giving them the confidence to face new problems at school or in their friend group.
While there are many sensory play toys you can buy your toddler, a busy board should be at the top of your list. Before you buy a busy board, keep these things in mind:
Busy boards are typically made from either wood, plastic or fabric. The wood and plastic busy boards are durable, but may not be as portable. The fabric busy boards are often designed to be taken with you.
If you're planning a trip during which your toddler will have to sit in a car or on a plane for hours at a time, a busy board is a great distraction. Consider how portable your busy board is. While a solid wood busy board might work well at home, it may be cumbersome to travel with.
Loose pieces
Some busy boards have loose pieces. These can provide additional sensory play, but they can easily get lost. You should also keep your child's age in mind, as loose pieces could present a choking hazard if your child is young.
Toddlers are known to be destructive, so you should look for a busy board that can withstand it. Plastic busy boards and plastic components are more likely to break than wooden ones and those with electronics can stop working. Think long-term about how the busy board withstands your toddler.
Busy boards come in a variety of sizes. The smaller ones are great for travel. Medium-sized busy boards or those that come in a larger design are a good option for at-home use. There are also larger busy boards that can be installed on your wall. These are not portable, but can provide the most activity for your toddler.
What to look for in a quality busy board for toddlers
Real-life skill practice
A quality busy board should have components that allow your toddler to explore real-life skills. Look for things like zippers, buttons and snaps. The best busy boards for toddlers will combine these real-life skill components with others that demand problem-solving skills.
Engaging design
It's challenging to keep your toddler engaged with an activity. The design of your busy board can make a big difference. Get a busy board that has exciting colors or one that's designed to look like their favorite animal.
Because a toddler's attention span is short, you'll want a busy board that has plenty of variety. Aside from a variety of components and activities, an array of textures and colors can keep them interested in their busy board longer.
Varying skill level
Ideally, your busy board will occupy your child for years. To make that happen, you'll need a busy board that has components for a variety of skill levels. While your child may not be interested in some of the trickier components now, it will provide them with a puzzle later on.
How much you can expect to spend on a busy board for toddlers
No matter what your price range is, there's a busy board for you. For $20-$40, you can find a smaller busy board. These are perfect for road trips and flights. If you can spend around $100, you'll find a larger busy board made from more quality materials and featuring more components. At this price range, you can buy a handmade board, too. If you want a wall installation busy board, expect to pay at least $150.
Busy board for toddlers FAQ
Are busy boards good for toddlers?
A. Yes! Busy boards can play an important part in your child's development physically, mentally and socially. It will support their fine motor skill development and problem-solving skills. Busy boards can also help your child practice real-life skills, like zippers or buckles.
What's a good age for a busy board?
A. If your baby is at least 6 months old, you're ready for a busy board. A busy board will likely keep your child engaged for a couple of years, at least until they're 3 years old. After that, they may begin to lose interest in the puzzles they've already solved.
What should be on a busy board?
A. There are some standard components you'll see on a busy board: zippers, buttons, locks, etc. That being said, anything can be on a busy board. If there's a component that will fit on your busy board and it entertains your child, consider adding it.
What's the best busy board for toddlers to buy?
Top busy board for toddlers
VTech Latches and Doors Busy Board
What you need to know: The VTech Latches and Doors Busy Board is the best option because it combines a variety of components with bright colors to keep your toddler interested.
What you'll love: It plays music like the "ABC Alphabet" song to help your child learn and stay engaged.
What you should consider: This is not the busy board for you if you're looking for a quiet toy for your toddler.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top busy board for toddlers for the money
Melissa and Doug Latches Busy Board
What you need to know: If your child is obsessed with locks and closures, this is the busy board for them.
What you'll love: This is a quiet busy board that will keep your child busy as they work on their problem-solving skills with the latches.
What you should consider: This is best for toddlers who are at least 2 years old and up, according to reviewers.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Bed Bath and Beyond, Kohl's and Buy Buy Baby.
Worth checking out
Classic Busy Board Learning Binder
What you need to know: Primarily made of fabric, a Classic Busy Board Learning Binder provides your toddler with the real-life skill practice they'll need to engage with the world.
What you'll love: This busy board is designed to be portable, so it's perfect for travel.
What you should consider: This may not hold your toddler's attention as long as a busy board with latches and locks.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Kasey Van Dyke writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.


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The Chinook School Division is proud to serve nearly 6,000 students in 62 schools, with over 1,000 collegial and student centered teachers and support staff. We are a vibrant and progressive school division located within Saskatchewan's great Southwest.
We are known for our geographical wonders, our friendly communities, and our innovation and leadership in education. Located within our Division are the Cypress Hills and Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Parks, the Great Sand Hills, Scotty the T-Rex, and the Grasslands National Park. The Southwest offers its residents outstanding educational opportunities, excellent health care, shopping, and first class cultural and recreational facilities. Historical sites across the region will take you back to Chief Sitting Bull, the forming of the North West Mounted Police and the building of Fort Walsh. This is only part of the story, because the history of this area goes back ten thousand years, and each visit presents you with a new adventure. Our area's economy is based primarily on manufacturing, agriculture, and petroleum. Our Division's aim is to continue to be an educational leader in the province providing unique opportunities, services and support to all children in southwestern Saskatchewan. Our educational community believes and values collegiality, professional growth, authentic partnerships, and assessment for learning where improving student learning opportunities is paramount.


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Neural Computation
January 1993, Vol. 5, No. 1, Pages 61-74
(doi: 10.1162/neco.19188.8.131.52)
© 1993 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Three-Dimensional Object Recognition Using an Unsupervised BCM Network: The Usefulness of Distinguishing Features
Article PDF (831.51 KB)
We propose an object recognition scheme based on a method for feature extraction from gray level images that corresponds to recent statistical theory, called projection pursuit, and is derived from a biologically motivated feature extracting neuron. To evaluate the performance of this method we use a set of very detailed psychophysical three-dimensional object recognition experiments (Bülthoff and Edelman 1992).


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Air France has a deal on flights to Brussels today from multiple locations, including San Francisco, DC, and Chicago. The deal is good for flights leaving late October all the way through March 2018. As always, the Flight Deal has the details. I subscribe to the Flight Deals tweets and …Read More »
Brussels Air to Fly All-Female Crew on Saturday
Brussels Air is flying an all-female crew on Saturday in recognition of International Women's Day. The crew will be aboard the 10:30am Brussels-JFK route. From USA Today: The carrier says the initiative was spearheaded by its female pilots and flight attendants, "who have been playing an important at the airline …Read More »


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2-day course
DISC will open opportunities for you and your company. In this two-day course, participants will be provided with an in-depth understanding of DISC behavioral profiles and the entire range of DISC reports. This program will take participants from understanding the basics of DISC through the many different profiles and opportunities for application to improve employee communication, teamwork, conflict management and more...Learn more ›
Full-day course
This course will teach managers how to bring out the best in each employee. Everything DiSC® Management increases effectiveness using personalized learning to help managers develop their management styles, improve communication and increase employee engagement. Participants will learn how to read employees styles and adapt their styles to manage more effectively.Learn more ›
Full-day course
This course will help you build better relationships — one relationship at a time. It can be beneficial to everyone in an organization, regardless of title or role, to improve the quality of the workplace. Participants will be able to understand and appreciate the styles of the people they work with. The result is more effective and productive working relationships.Learn more ›
Everything DiSC Workplace® Certification will help you see the many ways you can use DiSC® throughout your organization and give you the confidence to make it a part of your company's culture in building better working relationships! Everything DiSC Workplace® Certification is an online course that combines self-directed learning and live virtual sessions, allowing the flexibility you need with your busy schedules.Learn more ›
Full-day course
As organizations rely more on teams to innovate, individual approaches to group processes is the bottom line on creating high-performance teams. DiSC Team Dimensions helps individuals work from their strengths by identifying their most natural team role. It helps team members understand the importance of each role and furthers their appreciation of each individual's contribution. The five roles are Creator, Advancer, Refiner, Executor, and Flexer - CARE.Learn more ›
THE FIVE BEHAVIORS OF A COHESIVE TEAM™ is an assessment-based learning experience that helps individuals and organizations reveal what it takes to build a cohesive and effective team in the most effective way possible. Powered by Everything DiSC®, understand how a profile can help participants understand their own DiSC® styles. Bringing together everyone's personalities and preferences to form a cohesive, productive team takes work, but the payoff can be huge.Learn more ›
5-week Online course
As a facilitator, you can influence whether a team sees an uncomfortable moment through or misses out on the opportunity to grow. The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team™ is different. Sessions can get heated. Participants can become emotional. The team leader can be defensive. Timelines and scripts can get thrown out the window. You're in a position to influence whether a team sees an uncomfortable moment through or misses out on the opportunity to grow.Learn more ›
Full-day course
Everything DiSC® Work of Leaders approaches leadership as a one-to-many relationship, as opposed to the one-to-one relationship of management. It focuses on tangible steps directed at leading a group or organization toward desired outcomes. Consistently thought-provoking, Work of Leaders stimulates fresh conversations and perspectives. It's an opportunity for leaders at all levels of learning to reflect on how they approach each step of their work.Learn more ›
Full-day course
This profile and program is designed to help people assess their time-management effectiveness and create a personal plan for improving their skills in key areas. Become able to accomplish more each day, meet project deadlines, serve more internal and external customers without adding to staff, equipment or office spaces. The self assessment used is a profile entitled, "Time Mastery" provides people with a self-directed assessment of their time management effectiveness.Learn more ›
Full-day course
Alice Dendinger, renowned speaker and consultant, will facilitate this program as a one-day learning and transformation experience using the most approachable, competent, and effective way possible to take your team to the next level of performance. THE FIVE BEHAVIORS OF A COHESIVE TEAM™ model helps individuals and organizations reveal what it takes to build a truly cohesive and effective team.Learn more ›


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ROKA Sports Women's Viper Elite Swim Skin - Black Tosca
Cicilan 0%
3 Bln 1.333.000/Bln
6 Bln 666.500/Bln
12 Bln 333.250/Bln<
The ROKA Sports Women's Viper Elite Swim Skin is the best value swim skin for the money. Built to bring high performance at a more accessible price point, the Viper Elite compresses your body and streamlines your shape in the water, reducing form drag. The lightweight feel and hydrophobic Teflon® coating offer excellent compression and in-water performance.
Fabric & Fit
- Viper Elite fabric with very tight fit for sleek performance.
- Premium knit fabric from a leading Italian manufacturer.
- Swimskins are meant to be worn on top of a race top/bottom or a race suit only for the swim portion of the race; they are very specific, high-performance garments not meant to be worn alone like traditional swimwear.
- Swimskins should fit snugly but comfortably without inhibiting your breathing or arm movement; fit may feel different while swimming vs. on land, so make sure to try the suit in the water.
- Your race kit will affect the fit slightly, so please be sure to try them on and swim in them with your race kit or another suit underneath.
Features & Benefits
- Women's swim skin.
- USAT and WTC legal.
- Teflon® hydrophobic coating:
- Reduces drag and repels water.
- Prevents your swimskin from taking on excess water for a lighter, faster fit.
- High-performance bonded seams:
- High-tech, ultra-low-drag bonded seam constriction.
- NASA tested this construction mothod with Speedo® in 2008 and found it to be faster than conventional flatlock stitching.
- Lighter with a superior stretch and recovery for more durability, water-resistance, and comfort.
- Low drag zipper and autolocking slider:
- Premium, low-profile zipper tape from YKK that has been tested by Speedo® and NASA to be faster than traditional coil zippers.
- Special autolocking slider from YKK that makes dangling fabric lanyards totally obsolete.
- Slider locks down and won't open while you're swimming.
- Flip up the zip slider for a quick transition.


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Pogo Personnel ServicesCorporate Branding
Debby Munoz has been in the business of helping people find jobs for over 25 years. In those 25 years she has worked tirelessly to build several successful businesses. It's no exaggeration to say Mrs. Munoz knows what she is doing.
When it was time for Debby to brand her next successful venture, she came to Coley. We've partnered with Debby on previous projects and have always had great results. Debby's return business is a testament to that.
Coley worked with the POGO team to create a full design system consisting of everything from the name of the company (Pogo, People On the GO), the corporate identity, and a full marketing package.


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We build high quality gaming websites and tools to empower the everyday gamer. We are as passionate about games as we are of building software around them – hopefully it shows!
Get updates about all of our projects and an in-depth look at our development process over at our blog.
@JoelBesada · Engineering & Design
@Boberober · Engineering & Design
If you have any questions, suggestions or business inquiries, please don't hesitate to contact us either on Twitter at @MinMaxGG or by email at email@example.com.


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Facebook exposed private photos from up to 6.8 million users to apps that weren't supposed to see them, the company said today. These apps were authorized to see a limited set of users' photos, but a bug allowed them to see pictures they weren't granted access to. These included photos from people's stories as well as photos that people uploaded but never posted (because Facebook saved a copy anyway).The Verge – https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/14/18140771/facebook-photo-exposure-leak-bug-millions-users-disclosed
I'm less and less active on Facebook. I stopped cross posting a long time ago. I deleted Facebook from my iPhone (but had to re-install it in order to be able to use a feature of Gurushots which depends on Facebook authentication, something that I hate).


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Mike Oldfield
"Tubular Bells III"
Don't let anybody who think that the first "Tubular Bells" (1973) was boring and unimaginative tell you that "Tubular Bells III" is an unnecessary album. In stead you should listen to us who found the first "Tubular Bells" to be imaginative and fun. Mike Oldfield released "Tubular Bells II" six years ago, an album that stuck very close to the the variations of the themes from the original. It was an interesting experience, even though I must admit it hasn't been played much since then. This time the album starts in the same way, but already after 5 minutes Oldfield reaches a guitarclimax that makes us wonder what will come next. And then he moves away from the original scheme, he makes completely new instrumental tracks, and in the middle of the album we get the pop-ditty "Man In The Rain" wich he just as well could've called "Moonlight Shadows II." Sometimes we hear echoes from "Tubular Bells" but they have to fight against new age themes. Even though a few years stay on Ibiza has resulted in more dance friendly rythm tracks, this album comes out as nothing more than the self-pompous and unexciting music Oldfield has made in the past 20 years. Let us who liked the original tell you that "Tubular Bells III" is a totally unnecessary album.
Mike Oldfield Tubular.net


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Legal Framework
Resolution no. 18478
Temporary prohibition of short selling in shares issued by Banca Carige S.p.A., pursuant to Article 23 of the Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council no. 236 of 14 March 2012
HAVING REGARD TO Law no. 216 of June 7, 1974, as subsequently amended and integrated;
HAVING REGARD TO Regulation (EU) no. 236/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of March 14, 2012;
HAVING REGARD TO Article 4-ter(2) of Legislative Decree no. 58 of February 24, 1998, according to which Consob is appointed with the task to implement the measures and exercise the functions and powers provided by Regulation (EU) no. 236/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of March 14, 2012 with reference to shares, among others;
HAVING REGARD TO Article 12 of Regulation (EU) no. 236/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of March 14, 2012, imposing restrictions on uncovered short sales in shares;
HAVING REGARD TO Article 23 of the above-mentioned Regulation (EU) no. 236/2012, which defines the power to temporarily restrict short selling of financial instruments in the case of a significant fall in price;
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT the relevant threshold in the case of the Banca Carige share is equal to 10%;
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT the fall of the price of Banca Carige share during February 26, 2013 compared to the closing price on the previous trading day was greater than 10%;
CONSIDERING THAT the information background does not completely validate the above-mentioned price fluctuation and, therefore, downward speculation phenomena shall not be excluded;
1. The prohibition of short selling in Banca Carige shares (ISIN code: IT0003211601) on the MTA, a regulated market organised and managed by Borsa Italiana S.p.A., under Article 23 of the above-mentioned Regulation, taking effect from 13:20 of February 26, 2013 until the end of the trading day of February 27, 2013.
2. It is clarified that, pursuant to Article 23(3), the above-mentioned prohibition does not apply to the activity of market making, as defined by Article 2(1)(k) of the aforementioned Regulation.
This resolution is transmitted to ESMA and published on the Consob website.
Rome, 26 February 2013
Giuseppe Vegas


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Marketing Day: MarTech agenda released, Instagram launches Topic Channels & more
Here's our recap of what happened in online marketing today, as reported on Marketing Land and other places across the web.
Debra Mastaler on June 28, 2018 at 4:10 pm | Reading time: 3 minutes
Here's our recap of what happened in online marketing today, as reported on MarTech and other places across the web.
From Marketing Land:
- Here's your exclusive sneak peek at the MarTech agenda
Jun 28, 2018 by Marketing Land
Your success as a marketing technologist requires that you live and breathe at the intersection of marketing, technology and management. As you struggle with how to select, implement and utilize to transform your organization.
- It's time for the brand promise to evolve. Again.
Jun 28, 2018 by John Nardone
Contributor John Nardone explains how being an empathetic marketer can help you with everything from managing data to conceiving of dynamite creative.
- Facebook starts showing all ads a Page is running
Jun 28, 2018 by Amy Gesenhues
Facebook Pages now include an "Info & Ads" section listing all ads a Page has run across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Facebook's partner networks.
- Twitter's new Ad Transparency Center shows all ads shown in past 7 days
Jun 28, 2018 by Amy Gesenhues
As part of its initiative to be more transparent, Twitter will show billing information, ad spend and targeting data for US political ads.
- Report: Stores still critical in consumer purchase journey, above TV and social
Jun 28, 2018 by Greg Sterling
Study from Blis found that in-store browsing was the number one way consumers discovered new products.
- Neura and In Loco are launching new efforts to tap the real world for targeting
Jun 28, 2018 by Barry Levine
These startups are pointing to ways in which the Internet of Things, data mashups and predictive inferences are helping marketers move beyond online indicators.
- Forrester issues first Wave report on Experience Optimization
Jun 28, 2018 by Barry Levine
Adobe takes top ranking for platforms that combine testing, behavioral targeting and recommendation engines.
- Instagram launches Topic Channels in Explore, video chat in Direct & new camera effects
Jun 28, 2018 by Amy Gesenhues
Instagram is now rolling out updates first announced at Facebook's F8 Developers Conference in May.
- Google is retiring the AdWords & DoubleClick brands in a major rebranding aimed at simplification
Jun 28, 2018 by Ginny Marvin
Welcome to Google Ads, Google Marketing Platform, and Google Ad Manager.
- Twitter now removing 214% more spammy accounts YoY as it ramps up efforts against bad actors
Jun 27, 2018 by Amy Gesenhues
After announcing it acquired Smyte to help improve safety initiatives, Twitter outlined new ways it is fighting malicious content and spam.
Recent Headlines From MarTech, Our Sister Site Dedicated To Marketing Technology:
- Is third-party data targeting more effective than contextual targeting?
Jun 28, 2018 by Barry Levine
A new report from performance marketing agency Roast and ad platform Teads tested whether the costs of user data targeting and of complying with GDPR are worth it.
- Supreme Court reversal on state sales tax deals major blow to e-commerce businesses
Jun 28, 2018 by Robin Kurzer
With its decision on South Dakota v. Wayfair, the court paved the way for states to introduce legislation that will require e-tailers to collect sales tax.
Online Marketing News From Around The Web:
- 5 Ways Brands Can Use IGTV to Distribute Killer Long-Form Content, Tubular Insights
- 7 Advanced Facebook Advertising Tips to Improve Your Campaigns, Social Media Examiner
- Customer Lifecycle Marketing: The Complete Guide, Alexa
- Faster Isn't Better, Except When It Comes to Email Review & Approval Processes, Litmus
- Has GDPR shut the door to consumers in the EU?, Smart Insights
- How to Find Great Freelance Writers, Vertical Measures
- What are the benefits of multi-touch attribution?, Econsultancy
- Yet another massive Facebook fail: Quiz app leaked data on ~120M users for years, Techcrunch
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily MarTech. Staff authors are listed here.


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TAWERA Mediterranean & Caribbean charter yacht
If you have any questions about the TAWERA information page below please contact us.
Luxury sailing yacht TAWERA (ex Catalyst) is a yacht of elegance and comfort, yet also gracious sailing performance. She was designed by Ron Holland to sail impressively and perform well on the water. Consequently, she is shaped with long straight lines and low sleek topsides. She boasts a modern rig which is complimented with high- tech sails. TAWERA's sailing performance is every bit as stunning as her interior comfort and accommodation. She features an impeccably crafted (by Alloy Yachts of New Zealand) interior of teak, soft leather and graceful curves ensures a restful and refined atmosphere. Her interior design and layout provides plenty of choices for either relaxing or entertaining. TAWERA offers a wide selection of watersports equipment for summer fun and enjoyment.
TAWERA Specifications
|Mediterranean & Caribbean charter yacht/1995
|20.67' / 6
|91.86' [28m]
|Max Speed:
|12 knots
|235hp MTU
|Cruise Speed:
|10 knots
Yacht Accommodation
Luxury sailing yacht TAWERA (ex Catalyst) provides for comfortable accommodation for 6 charter guests in 3 cabins. There is a master cabin and two further twin cabins. All of the cabins have their own en-suites.
Amenities and Extras
Luxury sailing yacht TAWERA offers the following equipment and amenities: Zodiac tender with 40 hp O/B, Snorkelling and fishing equipment, Kneeboard, Donut, barbecue, Television, video and stereo.
TAWERA Disclaimer:
The luxury yacht TAWERA displayed on this page is merely informational and she is not necessarily available for yacht charter or for sale, nor is she represented or marketed in anyway by CharterWorld. This web page and the superyacht information contained herein is not contractual. All yacht specifications and informations are displayed in good faith but CharterWorld does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the current accuracy, completeness, validity, or usefulness of any superyacht information and/or images displayed. All boat information is subject to change without prior notice and may not be current.


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Please complete the registration form below to indicate which CC Roadshow you will be attending.
Credits—Image: Screen capture of Australia from OpenStreetMap, CC BY-SA 2.0 Generic. Font: 'Rawengulk' by GLuk, SIL Open Font 1.1. Icons: 'Remix', 'Noncommercial', 'Attribution', 'Share Alike', 'Copy' and 'No Derivative Works' icons by Creative Commons Corporation, CC BY 3.0 Unported.


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Yahoo is having a midlife crisis. Today, the company announced that it's seeking strategic alternatives (i.e. - looking to sell some or all of its properties) in an attempt to generate more cash and please shareholders.
"The Board also believes that exploring additional strategic alternatives, in parallel to the execution of the management plan, is in the best interest of our shareholders," said Yahoo's Chairman of the Board Maynard Webb in a statement.
This is just the latest in a string of nightmares for Yahoo: A lawsuit filed earlier this week calls out Yahoo's controversial performance review system that forces managers to rank every employee on a scale of 1 to 5. The company also reportedly failed to grow its advertising revenue during a period where Google and Facebook both experienced explosive growth. Yahoo has fucked up so many times, we even put together our own list of the best ones.
Yahoo CEO and documented Zamboni-lover Marissa Mayer pledged to continue marching her failed business plan forward. "Today, we're announcing a strategic plan that we strongly believe will enable us to accelerate Yahoo's transformation," she said in a statement. "This is a strong plan calling for bold shifts in products and in resources."
What happens next to Yahoo is anyone's guess. Let's just hope it involves more sweet, sweet Zamboni action.
Contact the author at email@example.com.


text: 达达兔影院提供《云端》高清中字BD1280在线播放,《云端》迅雷资源,云端高清在线观看,云端完整高清未删减版,云端HD1280/HD1080p/BD720P/BD1080P//百度云蓝光高清版/在线观看Nora Arnezeder (Safe House), Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment), Justin Chatwin (Shameless), Tomiwa Edun (The Hour) and Laura Fraser (Breaking Bad) have been cast in Crackle's upcoming sci-thriller In the Cloud., from Imperative Entertainment and Automatik. Production is underway in London and Manchester, England, on the 90-minute feature expected to release in December on the streaming network.In the Cloud takes place in the near future after dozens of people are killed in attacks by a serial terrorist bomber. It focuses on two estranged tech geniuses who come together to create a cutting-edge technology to thwart future attacks, but in the race to do so they inadvertently create an AI so powerful it might change the very meaning of life and death for the future of humanity.Byrne plays Doc Wolff, an old-school New York City transplant and the brilliant mind behind the most advanced privately funded neuroscience research lab in the United Kingdom. Chatwin portrays Hale, a neuroscientist and a brash anarchist pragmatist. Edun plays Theo Jones, a brooding genius with a checkered past. Arnezeder is Z, a hardware tech guru and Hale's girlfriend. Fraser is Ms. Mary, a grant representative for the Exer Foundation, which funds Doc Wolff's lab.


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OLED TVs have the best refresh rate and response time currently on the market. OLED TVs have around a 120+ Hz refresh rate and 0.2–2 ms response time.
Other TVs like LED and QLED can have similar refresh rates but often increase response time, which is not ideal. If a TV has a high refresh rate and a high response time, then it can look less clear during motion on the screen. A combination of a higher refresh rate and lower response time is best for optimal motion handling. Since OLED has a high refresh rate and low response time, they are best overall compared to other types of TVs.
If you need help choosing the best OLED TV, below are some of My OLED TV Recommendations.
Refresh Rate of an OLED TV
The refresh rate of OLED displays is usually 120 Hz but can reach higher in newer models, which is fast enough for most cases.
Refresh rate is the number of times the display can redraw the screen. Refresh rate is measured in hertz (Hz), which is defined as one cycle per second. For example, 60 Hz would refresh the screen 60 times a second. A reasonable refresh rate is anywhere from 144 Hz to 240 Hz and above.
Response Time of an OLED TV
OLED TVs have a response time of around 0.2 ms for 80% of color transition and 2-3 ms for the remaining color. It's best to have 6 ms or less response time for displays, and OLED TVs exceed that, making them one of the best types of displays regarding response time.
Response time is the time it takes a display to change from one color to another. The timing of this is usually determined by going back and forth between white and black. The timing is measured in milliseconds, with lower being better.
The higher response time a display has, the more blurring you'll notice in fast-motion scenes like in sports and video games.
|Very Good
Are OLED Displays Good for Video Games?
OLED displays have an excellent response time and refresh rate for video games, making them one of the best types of displays for playing games.
Displays with a low response time and high refresh rate (120+ Hz) are recommended to have the best experience, so this is a perfect type of TV for your needs.
Most TVs will have a "Game Mode" option or equivalent, making your display use its highest response time, input latency, and refresh rate.
Keep in mind that your computer or game console must handle a high refresh rate to support using a high refresh rate display. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S both support a 120 Hz refresh rate.
Learn more about OLED TVs in my article: Ultimate Guide to OLED TVs.
Find OLED TVs on Amazon (affiliate link).
LG C1 OLED (Best)
This is an exceptional TV for any use, whether for movies, games, sports, or as a PC monitor.
Fast refresh rates reduce motion blur and make animations smoother.
This TV has wide viewing angles, perfect for many people watching TV together (like most OLED TVs).
It has an extreme contrast ratio capable of producing pitch-black scenes without suffering from blooming.
A negative to this TV is that it might not be bright enough for bright/sunny rooms, which is common among most OLED TVs.
This has the fastest response time for smooth fast-moving content, great for games or sports.
The LG C1 OLED also supports very low input lag and variable refresh rate, both of which are also needed for gaming.
It's superb for HDR content due to its extreme contrast ratio and wide color gamut.
Check the latest price of the LG C1 OLED on Amazon (affiliate link).LG C1 OLED Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
Sony A80J OLED
This TV has superb picture quality with an extreme contrast ratio, perfect for your home theater room.
The Sony A80J OLED has excellent color out of the box, so there's no need for color calibration.
A negative to this TV is that it might not be bright enough for bright/sunny rooms. This is common among most OLED TVs.
This TV has Google TV built-in, allowing you to watch from most of your streaming services quickly and smoothly.
The Sony A80J OLED has very low input lag and quick response time, both of which are excellent for sports and gaming.
Check the latest price of the Sony A80J OLED on Amazon (affiliate link).Sony A80J OLED Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
LG C2 Evo OLED
The LG C2 evo OLED TV has self-lit OLED pixels with superior image quality, extreme contrast, perfect blacks, and over a billion colors.
This TV is excellent for gaming with Nvidia G-Sync, FreeSync Premium, and variable refresh rates.
These new OLED models can now work well in brightly-lit rooms with their brightness booster and a9 processor.
Check the latest price of the LG C2 evo OLED TV on Amazon (affiliate link).LG 65-Inch Class OLED evo C2 Series Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link


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Opening Prayer - Strategy Team - 15 June 2016
Mary Beth Stein shared this prayer with the team:
Holy One, for the longest time we have prayed, "Your kingdom come,"
and often we have wanted it to come in a supernatural way that did not ask too much of us.
We have longed for your reign but imagined it elsewhere,
not recognizing that it truly is a gift you have already given
- - but a gift that calls forth all our own gifts to receive it as fully as you intend.
Let your kingdom come into our hearts and into our hands,
and help us to activate it in our lives through the choices we make and the relationships we enter.
May our own self-transcendence cause us to grow in freedom,
and from the place of freedom may we choose to live in compassion and love.
(Judy Cannato: Field of Compassion: How the New Cosmology is Transforming Spiritual Life, p95.)
Did the Woman Say?
by Frances Croake Frank
Did the woman say,
When she held him for the first time in the dark of a stable,
After the pain and the bleeding and the crying,
'This is my body, this is my blood'?
Did the woman say,
When she held him for the last time in the dark rain on a hilltop,
After the pain and the bleeding and the dying,
'This is my body, this is my blood'?
Well that she said it to him then,
For dry old men,
brocaded robes belying barrenness
Ordain that she not say it for him now.
Quoted in the essay Mary, the Virgin Priest? by Professor Tina Beattie, on the website Women Priests - the Case for Ordaining Women in the Roman Catholic Church
Opening Prayer - Strategy Team meeting - 11 May 2016
Suggested by Ed Shreurs
Out of the night that covers me,
A Statement of Faith
Composed by Christina Reymer for the Strategy Team meeting on 27 April 2016
We believe in God, creating all that is.
We believe in the Spirit of God,
Opening Prayer - Strategy Team Meeting - 30 March 2016
In the name of
the Creator with whom we share divinity,
the redeemer with whom we share humanity, and the Holy Spirit
who unsettles and inspires us.
God of Surprises,
you call us
from the narrowness of our traditions
to new ways of being church
from the captivities of our culture
to creative witness for justice
from the smallness of our horizons
to the bigness of your vision.
Clear the way in us, your people,
that we might call others
to freedom and renewed faith
and that all might know the beauty and power and danger of the gospel,
especially through the ministerial witness
of women and men who,
with their many gifts,
bring healing to a suffering church and people.
[Drawn from a prayer written by Gwen Cashmore and Joan Puls in 1992. It is based on 'Hanta Yo', a Lakota Sioux invocation meaning 'Clear the Way';Used for the Prayer Service for Women's Ordination on the 17th Annual World Day of Prayer - 25 March 2011 as created by Women's Ordination Worldwide, Liturgy Committee]


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Topics include Things to Do, Dining Scene & more!
Telephone / Fax: There are 8 digits (not including country code 86 and city code Beijing 10, Guangzhou 20, Shanghai 21, Chongqing 23, Nanjing 25, Chengdu 27, Chengdu 28, Xi'an 29, Hangzhou 571, Lijiang 888, etc)
For example +86 10 6552 9988 is a complete Beijing phone number.
When people call Chinese number from overseas, they should dial + country code city code phone number ( +86 10 6552 9988)
When people call within Mainland China, they should dial 0 city code phone number ( 010 6552 9988). No country code needed).
Mobile Phone: There are 11 digits (not including country code 86). Start with 13, 15, 18.
For example +86 139 1099 8888 is a complete mobile phone number.
When people call Chinese number from overseas, they should dial + country code phone number (+86 139 1099 8888)
When people call within Mainland China, they should just dial mobile phone number (139 1099 8888). No country code needed.
Some phone numbers are printed without the initial China country code / city code.
Rates are considerable lower than roaming with your current carrier.
Purchase a prepaid SIM card from China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom. China Mobile adopts home grown 3G technology TD-SCDMA and China Telecom adopts 3G CDMA 2000. Both 3G are rarely compatible with overseas mobile phone models. China Mobile works on most phone models with its 2G network. It has good coverage and voice quality but very slow intertnet speed. However, China Unicom adopts worldwide 3G WCDMA which is compatible with overseas mobile phone models. To use your mobile phone with high speed data, you may consider buying China Unicom Prepaid 3G sim card.
How to choose China Uicom Prepaid 3G sim card? There are many types of different packages including nationwide packages and local packages. If you trave accross Mainland China, you may consider buying nationwide packages (including data heavy 66A - 300MB, 96A -300mb, 126A - 400MB, 156A - 500MB, 186A - 650MB, 226A - 750MB & 286A - 950MB set or voice heavy 66B, 96B, 126B, 156B, 186B, 226B & 286B set). If you travel only in one city, you may consider buy local packages which has better value.
Where to buy China Uicom Prepaid 3G sim card?
A. Buy from China Unicom Stores. Advantage: Cheaper directly from them and no premium. Disadvantage: Required to register with your Passport, may wait in line, may encounter language barrier, no after sales support.
B. Buy from airport vendors. Advantage: convenient. Disadvantage: pay premium. May required to register with your Passport, no after sales support.
C. Buy from online vendors. Advantage: convenient. get mobile phone number before leaving home. after sales support available. Not required to register with your Passport. Disadvantage: pay premium.
How to top up: You can top up at China Unicom stores. It is easy. Don't suggest you buy recharge vouchers since there are many different types of recharge vouchers and you may buy the wrong ones.
Please note that your phone should be UNLOCKED. If bought contract free, it should be UNLOCKED. If bought on contract, your phone may be locked to your carrier. You should check with your carrier if locked or not. Your carrier may charge you small fee unlocking your phone. Most 4G phone models (including Verizon, Sprint, etc) are also compatible.
Most prepaid sim cards have international calls disabled unless you top up certain amount of money (200 Yuan for China Unicom) and then call China Unicom 10010 to enable international call.
China Unicom 10193 International call rate:
Hongkong, Canada, Singapore, USA - CNY0.39 per minute
Macao, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, India CNY0.69 per minute
Australia, Japan, Russia, Indonesia, New Zealand CNY1.99
Germany, France, Brazil, Holland CNY2.99
Call China Mobile 10086 to enable international call.
China Mobile 12593 International call rate:
Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States, Canada CNY0.39 per minute
Taiwan, Macau CNY0.70 per minute
Japn, South Korea CNY1.00 per minute
UK, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand, Philippine, Indonesia, CNY1.50 per minute
Other Countries or areas CNY4.60 per minute
If International call is not abel to enabled on your phone, you can easily find them at newspaper kiosks. People call them IP card (IP Ka). Of all IP cards, 17900 IP card is of highest voice quality. There are regular face value 50 Chinese yuan & 100 Chinese yuan. Most time you can buy at half price.
17900 International call rate:
USA,Canada, Hongkong,Singapore CNY0.30 per minute
South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia,Russia CNY0.30 per minute
Macau, Taiwan CNY0.30 per minute
UK, France, Germany, Japan, Finland, Australia, Hungary, Indonesia, Vietnam CNY0.30 per minute
Other Countries or areas CNY0.30 per minute
Please note you are not able to use International call cards individually but have to use them on Chinese telephone or Mobile phones. Local call rate applied.
Always look out for a phone or phones sitting on the counter. You can make local or international calls on these phones. You normally hand the proprietor the phone number. He dials for you and then hands you the phone. There is a gadget fixed to the phone which times your call. You pay accordingly. The cost of the calls from these phones can be very reasonable. Sometimes these "call centres" can be just 2 phones sitting on a window sill as in so many hutongs in Beijing. There is one such centre in Wangfujing with just the simple word "Telephone" on the doorway. When you enter, it is just a small table on which are sitting two phones attended usually by a young lady. You can also purchase phone cards from these places too. If you are travelling in far flung regions in China, these phones are most useful. These phones are usually bright red or bright blue in colour.
00 ( zero zero ) is the International Access Code to dial out from "within" Mainland China.
86 ( eight six ) is the International Telephone Country Code for Mainland China.


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This is a duplicate idea, please promote the original idea here:
http://ideas.omniture.com/t5/Omniture-Idea-Exchang e/Totals-in-Calculated-Metric-Columns/idi-p/60
SiteCatalyst cannot sum any calculated metrics, but why? Why was SiteCatalyst designed to not calculate these? I would like Omniture to allow SiteCatalyst to total calc metrics to avoid having to always pull the data into Excel (which is time consuming and annoying).
This has been a feature request to Omniture for years now, and Omniture always states that this is on their roadmap, but many releases have went out since, and still this feature does not exist.
Please Omniture, let us sum calculated metrics!
Thank you.
This is already an existing idea. Please vote for it here:
http://ideas.omniture.com/t5/Omniture-Idea-Exchange/Totals-in-Calculated-Metric-Columns/id i-p/60
Thanks Adam! I tried searching for this idea, since I was assumed it would be posted already, but I was unable to locate it.
This was implemented in the last release of Adobe Analytics.
You must be a registered user to add a comment. If you've already registered, sign in. Otherwise, register and sign in.


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If you come visit Site Strategics this month, it might seem a little scruffy around here.
We're actually a really neat bunch (figuratively and literally) – but a few of our peeps are growing out their facial hair in honor of "No-Shave November".
'Staching Cash for a Good Cause
No-Shave November is a whimsical way to grow awareness by growing hair. Cancer treatments are notorious for taking away hair, and No-Shave November wants to provide a visible reminder that people continually need help in their fight against the disease. The idea is to take all the money you would spend on shaving, haircuts, waxing, etc. and donate it educate people about cancer prevention.
Things Are a Little Hairy Around Here
Operations Manager Matt Roberts is at the "itchy" stage of stubble, but he's determined to see his hirsute pursuit through to the end. "I actually found out about this through social media," says Roberts. "And who knows – if I like it, I may go all 'Duck Dynasty'. Although, my fiancée might have something to say about that!"
President Erin Sparks is a big proponent of No-Shave November; and personally supports a "No Shave – Not Here, All Year" position. (He's a permanent beard guy.) Still – he is all for anyone on his staff who wants to join the ranks of the rakish by sporting a beard, mustache, goatee or hairy legs for that matter.
"I'm all about finding ways for my staff to contribute on a community level," says Sparks. "Besides, beards are awesome."


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In 2009, I was diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer called Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Blue Tumors. The tumors were many and widespread throughout my abdomen, the biggest being the size of a grapefruit. At 19 years young, doctors were giving me less than a 20% chance of survival, and I was even encouraged to go the hospice route and forgo all treatments. From the moment the doctors said, "…you have cancer", I was and have been overwhelmed by a truly amazing amount of… peace.
Through countless rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, multiple surgeries, bone marrow transplant, and so many other procedures, I was given the gift of being labeled with "no evidence of disease" by my doctors. Although I would go on to battle cancer twice more, making me a three-time cancer survivor, I knew that God was, is, and always would be there for me.
These past 8 years house both the most wonderful and horrific memories of my life. To say every single day I'm alive is a blessing is simply an understatement, and there are no words to express how truly awesome it feels to be given the gift of life.
I held and am still holding steadfast to His love, and I'm looking forward to carrying out my dreams here on earth. Dreams of spending as much time possible with my family and friends, living and loving every day with my wife and best friend, curating great design of all kinds and being able to make a living doing it, blogging all of our hopes and dreams that will come to fruition, and blessing others in any and as many ways as I can. Truly: health, wealth, and happiness.
I never want to become ungrateful for this life I have been given, or bored with the everyday. I welcome all of the days ahead, both ordinary and exciting. My hope is that my story will help others to be thankful for today, however boring and/or ordinary it is. It is a gift, and it's worth being grateful for.
If you'd like to read more about my story, please visit my CaringBridge site.


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Sometimes I do feel a bit jealous to the people working with pastry products, like cakes and such – there seems to be an endless amount of decoration possibilities and shapes to choose from. Well, finally I found something super cute for bread baking, too. A new bread pan!
Let's call it an early birthday present, though it was surprisingly affordable. Actually the package contained three different shapes, so there's something to show off later, too. And luckily they seem to work. First I was worried, 'cause the ends of the pan (it's like a tube) are so loose, but now I think it's good that there's a way for the dough to expand properly.
Might be posting some more close-up pictures of the actual pan/pans later on, too. I'm really happy with them!
I also printed out a ticket to Finland today! In just one and a half weeks I ought to be there. Hope all the snow melts by then, since I'm already so used to having flowers everywhere..
And sourdough is building well, will be baking baguettes with it next week.
Wikipedia: seeing definition: inasmuch as —often used with "'as"' or "'that"'. →


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About "Society of Educational Council"
Since its
inception in 2011 Society of Educational Council has provided
youngsters, especially students a platform for all round development of
their creativity, ability and at the same time come to par with the
changing times and become better adjusted to meet the challenges posed
by the ever demanding world at the large.
Mathematics is the body of knowledge centered on such concepts as quantity,
structure, space, and change, and also the academic discipline that studies
Through the use of abstraction and logical reasoning, mathematics evolved from
counting, calculation, measurement, and the systematic study of the shapes and
motions of physical objects. Knowledge and use of basic mathematics have always
been an inherent and integral part of individual and group life.
Many a times fear of mathematics or simply "maths-phobia" is somehow over-riding, and becomes almost irrational. But "Mathematical Genius Award" is for all the
bravos who can simply fight the battle of numbers and signs to be the genius!!
The "Mathematical Genius Award" is
organized by Non-Governmental
organization "Society of Educational Council".
The Common platform of this test may spark the competitive spirit in them and
boost their confidence.
Copyrights � Mathematical Genius 2009


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Race: McCall Trail Running Classic 40M
Runner: Rich L
Race Date: 07/14/2018
Location: McCall, Idaho
Results: 13:42:05
Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1703148410
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- This was a true mountain race, which is exactly what I was hoping for!
- The RDs and all of the crew were amazing – it really had a family feel to it and that the racers were a part of the extended family.
- The terrain and views throughout the course – wow!
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn't do it for you
There is nothing I didn't like about this race.
Weird factor – What's the weirdest thing about this race?
The goats! The Buckhorn aid station is so remote that they use goats to bring in the supplies. Everyone gets their picture taken with a goat. They are super docile and friendly.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
There was so much to love about this race. One of the things that really stood out for me was the descent off of Jug Handle Mountain. It was a steep granite boulder/talus field – the rock was grippy and the views were epic. I love boulder hopping!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
- Train for heat and elevation if you can.
- Train on rocky terrain.
- There is nothing too steep but quite a bit of long grinds.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
- The heat and elevation took a harder toll on me than I anticipated.
- Had I known I would have spent more time training on very rocky trails.
- Don't quit! I learned in the Army that you can get through just about anything if you just hang in there. However, my quads blew just before the Buckhorn aid station and I was ready to throw in the towel. With encouragement from some awesome volunteers and those crazy goats I realized that I could literally walk the rest of the way and still make the cutoff so that's what I did!
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
- The elevation plus heat is challenging.
- There is a fair amount of off trail travel and there is not a whole lot of the trail that is very smooth or even.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Very beautiful!
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Very tough!
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Organization was great!
Competition – Is there a strong field?
It's a small race – there were only 40 entrants. It didn't feel competitive to me but maybe I'm just not tuned into that.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
For the time being there is not much competition for getting a spot. McCall is a mountain resort town so there are a lot of great places to stay. They had a big field reserved for camping just off the Jug Mountain Ranch where the race is held. I made the ~7.5 hour drive over then camped. You could also take a quick flight to Boise then have a 1.5 hour drive to McCall.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what's available or when?
More or less standard racing fare. One station had bacon, which is awesome (unless you are vegetarian!). They also had salt tabs, which I belatedly took advantage of.
Weather and typical race conditions
I think it's typically pretty dry and hot over there although I heard they had a brief thunderstorm last year. It's very similar to Teanaway.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you'd recommend for the next guy?
All of the finishers got some kind of medallion. The winners were long gone by the time I crossed the finish line so I have no idea what they got. 🙂
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
It's not super spectator friendly because most of the course is pretty remote.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
Five stars for sure! Despite having some problems on the course I had a great time. I learned some great lessons out there that are only going to make me better going forward.
I am definitely going back next year and it would be great having more Seattle folks make the trek!


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Northwest United Uniform
Northwest United is proud to be an Adidas partner! all our players and coaches are part of the Adidas family, and the brand helps us represent our red, black and white colors! We are also very lucky to have Soccer City help provide orders and apparel for our club!
For the 2020-2021 season, the club will be entering a new uniform cycle. Our uniform cycle changes every two years, and with the quality of Adidas uniform, it means they will last! See below for the breakdown of what players will be required to wear next season. Prices are shown below for both required and individual items.
Northwest United is Proud to Partner with Soccer City for All Our Soccer Needs!
Soccer City help provide all of our club uniform and apparel. As well as the required uniform above, you can also order a number of additional items for players, as well as parents and families!
Hats, hoodies, blankets and other training items can be found on the Soccer City website under youth clubs and NWU.


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Because here's something else no-one had told me: having a baby would be uncanny. There exists an industry built around doling out advice to new or expectant parents, both practical and emotional: How do I change a nappy? What if I fuck up my kids? Do babies wear pyjamas? What if they grow up to be Hitler? What is colic? What if I don't love them? All useful (and all things I've worried about) but none of it tackles that weird, initial miracle: a person is segueing into a reality. Someone who did not exist is emerging from nothingness into existence, into the flesh-and-blood world, literally muscling into their portion of the world's space. I'd always thought the notion rather trite, that pre-birth is somehow connected with the post-death, that life is a brief sidetrack on a cosmic Grand Prix. And yet here I was, assailed by what felt a little like grief, crying in the afternoon for someone who I didn't even know yet, someone who technically didn't even exist.
An odd form of love. Or, rather, the last few months have made clear to me just how odd love can be. We are all of us essentially genitals which emerge from our forebears' genitals and subsequently go on to produce new genitals of our own. Human history is essentially an endless strip of William Morris wallpaper patterned with cocks and fannies. And not just the people who you see walking round every day, nor also those who came before us and those who are yet to come, but everything we have – the buildings, the roads, the thoughts, the technology, the wars, everything – is all woven through that pattern of men and women. It feels like another fairly banal observation, but it's actually startling, when you fully appraise it – when having a baby makes you fully appraised of it. It feels like there must have been a mistake; someone has made a galactic error.
I don't know where it came from, this odd love. You began as an idea, a conversation; then your presence announced itself quietly as a pink line on a pissed-on stick of plastic; you grew gradually; and now here you are, a kicking, wriggling, sonogramable, undeniable person. And with this slow transmutation - which has taken place against the backdrop of the humdrum, the routine, the everyday - the corridor of a future has opened up, of your future. It has caught me off-guard, how excited I am to see which doors you will try and which routes you'll choose and how powerful my hope is that I can follow you for a very long time.
And finally there's books. Like a lot of parents, to begin with I secretly decided that your upbringing should consist of a recreation of those aspects of my own which I hold dearest – I have bought you, amongst a great many others, Mog, Funnybones,Paddington and a thick stack of Ladybird books – and correct those of which I am least fond (no spanking, no church). The methodology lying behind this is fairly selfish on my part, and I can already feel it beginning to fall by the wayside the realer you become. But books will remain. If anyone ever wants his or her faith in the world restoring, they should visit the picture books section of a branch of Waterstones and discover the almighty industriousness that goes into the simple task of trying to make children happy.
I could go on, but I won't. I just wanted to get some of this down, to have some of it in front of me, to try to help myself understand what it is that is happening. But also to have something of these feelings on record. Both for myself and for you, for the future, for those moments when you encounter the strong feelings of doubt or failure or insignificance which await you, when it might be helpful or reassuring to know that even the merest rumour of your existence was enough to populate your parents' lives with joy and meaning and a powerful, daunting love.
I'm sorry it's turned out that you've got a father who, way back when, was so syrupy and twee he did things like write a blog post to his unborn daughter. And I'm sorry for writing about genitals.


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A fresh morning brings much happiness to our life. We all start our new day with a pleasant morning. It is also the best time to make someone happy and refreshed. It's upto you that whom you want to make joyful and charming. It is also upto you that how you will do this for your loved one every morning. That loved one can be your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, male friend, a female friend, brother, sister, etc. Sending good morning quotes with kiss images is one of the most convenient ways to make anyone happy. These pictures will fill his/her day with lots of positivity. These good morning love images for both her and him will also inspire them to work hard and love more.
We'll start with him. So, here are some romantic good morning images for him which will help you a lot in doing this all.
Good Morning Images for Him:
Morning is the best time to impress someone. And sending good morning images with love to your boyfriend or hubby will also make them aware of your respect towards them. These romantic good morning photos for him will also make their day better than before. You can send these images to anybody whether he is your friend or husband. So, here are some of the cutest good morning images which you can share with your love:
Good Morning Pics for Him:
Good morning photos are one of the best ways to show your love and care towards your loved one. Don't hesitate to tell them that how much you love them. Don't miss a single chance to make them happy. You can make them feel special in the morning by sending them lovely good morning images. These images will bring charming smiles on their faces. Tell him that what he meant to you, and what importance he holds in your life. So, here are some of the best good morning pics for him:
Good Morning Images for Her:
Sending good morning images to her will make her feel special, and these images will make her realize that how much you love her. Send these adorable good morning images to your girlfriend, wife, or female friend in the morning before she wakes up. She will become more romantic after receiving your images. These images will also improve your in-between relationship. So, here are some of the best good morning pictures for her which will help you a lot in impressing her every morning:
Good Morning Pics for Her:
Tell your soulmate that how much you love her. Tell her that your every morning starts with her thoughts, and ends upto her thoughts. Express your love towards her with these good morning images. These images will help you a lot in sharing your every feeling which is inside your heart. Here are some good morning pictures which you can share with your partner:
Good morning pics for her will bring lots of romance in your life, and if you want that your day should start with lots of happiness and romance, then you can send these romantic good morning pictures to her. These images will make her feel loved. She will think that how much you love her. Show her that no one can love her more than you in this entire world.
So, these were some of the best good morning pictures for him and her which you can share with all your loved ones. Make them blissful every morning.