text:
One of the key roles in the club is our 'Officials' aka the 'White Shirts' who help officiate at galas, in particular at our own club championships and open meets. Each requires a significant number of officials – our Club Championships alone need 20 who are qualified.
For all those who have been here for a few months or more one of the immediate ways you can give back to the club is to become a qualified Timekeeper or Judge (Level 1). We ask each family to be able to provide someone who can undertake one of these roles.
You don't need any previous experience – these courses are approached in such a way you will be given all the information you need and time to develop your confidence poolside. You're also likely to learn a bit more about the sport to help your swimmer too!
Please register now, using the form below. Given the importance of our officials all costs will be paid by Swim England South East or the club.
Arun Leisure Centre (Felpham) on Wednesday 13th March at 6:30pm.
First stage is qualifying as a Timekeeper – around 2 hours classroom training (on 13th March) and a practical poolside session (dates to be confirmed). We're pleased to have secured this training course locally for ourselves and other nearby clubs.
If you have a swimmer who you need to keep busy at the same time we'll also put on a training session for them, just let us know.
Judge Level 1
Dorothy Stringer High School, Brighton on Sunday 10th March at 9:00am.
Judge 1 builds on the timekeeper course for poolside duties such as Chief Timekeeper and Inspector of Turns. This starts with a classroom briefing and then over a period of time (normally 6 months to a year) practical sessions poolside with a mentor and under the guidance of a referee.
Once your workbook is complete with the necessary experience and some short questions that have been reviewed by a referee then a final poolside assessment will take place.
Although more involved than Timekeeper for those regularly at licenced galas (either our own meets or away) this offers free entry, a great poolside view and sometimes a free lunch thrown in!
If your not already a qualified Timekeeper then you should sign up for both sessions above.
Still not sure?
For more details please ask one of our excising officials or coaches. There is also more information on the British Swimming website: https://www.britishswimming.org/browse-sport/swimming/officials/officials-qualifications-training/
If your interested but the dates do not work for you please let us know and we'll see if there are any other alternatives later this year (although that is likely to mean a bit more travelling).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
At the closing of the polls tomorrow, the Republican Primary elections will be over. So consider the gloating: EW Jackson's Closing Argument Is Essentially That Nick Freitas, Corey Stewart and Their Supporters Hate Each Other's Guts (bluevirginia.us). Ask yourself what it says about us.
Here is a reblog.
Gotta love this closing argument by E.W. Jackson in the Virginia GOP U.S. Senate primary (see video, below). In short, Jackson makes the case that although there are "three good people running," "my two competitors…Nick Freitas, Corey Stewart…they don't like or respect each other; in fact, they quite DISLIKE each other…if either of them wins the nomination, there's going to be bad blood as soon as the election is over."
According to Jackson, "the reality is that Nick and Corey can not STAND each other…the accusations that have been flying back and forth – 'racist', 'never Trumper', 'sanctuary city supporter'…each of them is going to have a hard time supporting the other because so many ugly things have been said." For once, I actually agree with Jackson on something; no doubt that Corey and Nick despise each other.
As an added bonus, Jackson rips into former Lt. Governor Bill Bolling for costing the Cooch/Jackson/Obenshain ticket the 2013 Virginia statewide election (according to Jackson, Bolling went around "bad mouthing the ticket, bad mouthing Ken, getting everybody that he could NOT to vote for our ticket").
Finally, Jackson challenges Virginia Republicans: "Be honest with yourself, do you think that the people who support Nick Freitas are going to enthusiastically behind Corey Stewart? Do you think that the people who support Corey Stewart are going to enthusiastically behind Nick Freitas?" The short answer is, of course they won't. But every Virginia Republican voter can, in Jackson's view, unify behind…yep, him. As I said, you've gotta love this stuff…if you're a Virginia Democrat, that is. 🙂
(from here)
Consider the gloating. Consider the joy of a Democrat in Republican division.
Is E. W. Jackson correct about the strife? Yes. Would he be a better choice than one of the other two candidates? Perhaps, but the argument he makes in this video is not by itself sufficient.
Most likely, either Nick Freitas or Corey Stewart will win the primary. Then we will have a problem. What if we have a sore loser? Then for the sake of family, friends, and countrymen, we will have to ignore that man. We will have to remember the alternative, gloating Democrats. When people take joy in our troubles — an ugly feud — they are not our friends.
So pick your candidate; Nick Freitas, E. W. Jackson, or Corey Stewart; and vote. Then thank the candidates who lost, and get behind the winner, whoever he may be.


text:
White Free Standing Bathtub Marble Tile Floor And Walls White Towel White Finished Bathroom Vanity With Drawers Ball Shape Sconce
Creating a welcoming atmosphere and vibe in an interior space is not that hard at all. Incorporating a perfect combination of colors and stuff all together will helpful in creating a warm atmosphere with inviting and welcoming vibes. White will be the recommended tone to use when trying to create a welcoming atmosphere in any interior décor. Thus it can be combined with luxurious style as well to enhance the décor and the atmosphere of the interior space even further. It will not be boring at all when several splashes of colors and details have been added to the décor properly though.
Aside from being luxurious, the color of white can deliver various effect to boost any style of interior décor. It is considerably timeless as well so that it will be perfect to be combined with luxurious appeal just as a home décor which is welcoming and inviting at the same time in this particular house. The kitchen has a traditional appeal in all white to deliver airy and spacious feeling inside. The eating area has a bit of modern appeal alongside a pendant lamp and modern chairs as well as a round dining table.
Meanwhile, the living area features pure white walls that are considered to be the so-called blank canvas for colorful stuff seen there. The brown leather upholstered sofa is there along with some pillows in blue shades to accentuate the bright white theme of the décor. The animal print rug in turquoise accompanies the Ottoman. In the end, this living space is looking great with color splashes from several decorative elements added to it.
Furthermore, the dining room has a kind of chic feel with the contrasting effect of blue chairs toward the white walls and ceilings. There is a really large mirror covering the entire surface of one side of the wall in gilded frame accent. Overall the combination of bold blue chairs, vintage mirror frame, and modern looking chandelier boost the interest of this white living room décor. More items that include an upholstered chair, large area rug, as well as upholstered headboard can be seen in the master bedroom done in light brown, soft grey and beige for calming effect inside the bedroom itself. Surely white is a nice choice of color to boost any interior decoration style as long as it is incorporated properly alongside various other stuff.
Large Size Vintage Framed Wall Mirror Wooden Flooring Geometrical Print Area Rug Metal Chandelier White Roses White Large Ceramic Vase White Table Blue Chairs White Cushions
Colorful Flowers Wooden Flooring White Top Round Table White Chairs Metal Legs Large White Shade Pendant Lamp White Windows White Kitchen Island
Oatterned Hexagonal Tile Bathroom Floor White Subway Tile Bathroom Wall White Interior Radiator White Toilet
Geometrical Print Area Rug Shiny Side Table Oval White Top Table Books Light Grey Sofa Blue Pilloes White Shade Table Lamp Shiny Base White Curtains
White Kitchen Cabinetries Dark Wooden Flooring White Flowers Stainless Steel Tap
Framed Art Pieces Dark Finished Wooden Flooring White Wooden Wall Panels Penfant Lamp Round White Table Books Animal Skin Rug
White Free Standing Bathtub Marble Tile Floor And Walls White Towel White Finished Bathroom Vanity With Drawers Ball Shape Sconce
White Staircase Dark Wooden Flooring White Round Table Ceiling Lights Pendant Lamp


text:
Some people still build links the old fashioned way – with their own two hands. If you are building links, by hand, avoid these horrible practices at all costs!
1. When signing a blog comment, never use keywords instead of your name
2. Never add lots of website URLs to your forum signature
3. Never add lots of posts to a forum that say nothing but "great post!", "i agree totally" and "yes, that's a good point" – instant banning…
4. Never create two profiles on a forum with the specific intention of asking a question about "XYZ Product", and then answering your own post with a link to XYZ product… especially if its YOUR product
5. Never post a comment on a blog if its not 100% relevant to the topic at hand
6. Observe the rules of posting comments on blogs – you may not even be able to post URLs in the comment, therefore your post could be automatically rejected
7. If in doubt – ask! When you are on another webmasters website, and you're not sure what to put in a comment without looking spammy – ask them. This will speak volumes about your integrity, and any post you make will be approved quicker
8. Never sign up to a forum with the specific intention of posting in an old thread just to market your own stuff
9. If you are selling a product, and someone badmouths you, do not flame the thread – be respectful, and answer any support questions. If you are being searched on Google for the search term "your product+scam", then you are MUCH more likely to come out in the top 10 as being a scammer
10. Do not assume that your signature can be a certain length or include certain characters. You should check the signature rules, as they are usually different to the normal forum rules, and will have a separate section on the forum.


text:
Dr. Rajan Suri
Suri Consulting and Seminars, LLC
Edgerton, WI
Rajan Suri is one of only 10 people to be inducted into the Industry Week 2010 Manufacturing Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who embody the best of U.S. manufacturing. Thanks to their leadership, vision, talent, work ethic and innovative ideas, the 10 members of this year's Hall of Fame class have both created new manufacturing organizations and made existing ones more productive, more efficient, more competitive and more profitable.
Suri was honored for the development of the Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) strategy and his long-standing efforts in helping U.S. manufacturers stay competitive in the global marketplace.
Others in the 2010 Hall of Fame include Michael Dell (Founder of Dell Computer), Donald Fites (Former CEO of Caterpillar) and Rich Teerlink (past Chairman/CEO of Harley-Davidson).
Last year, the 2009 Hall of Fame included Steve Jobs (of Apple Computer), Lee Iacocca (former head of Chrysler) and Jack Welch (former head of GE and famous for Six Sigma efforts).
For more information:
Industry Week writeup on Rajan Suri
Dr. Rajan Suri
Suri Consulting and Seminars, LLC
Edgerton, WI


text:
Film Screening: Chasing Ice followed by Q&A
You are invited to attend a screening by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the Emmy-winning documentary, Chasing Ice.
The movie chronicles the multi-year effort of scientists and photographers to capture time-lapse images of changing Arctic ice systems. Changing ice landscapes are the first visible bellwethers of accelerating climate change. This screening will follow our Full Committee hearing on July 11 at 10am in 2318 Rayburn House Office Building, entitled "Earth's Thermometers: Glacial and Ice Sheet Melt in a Changing Climate."
There will be a Q&A period after the screening with Dr. W. Tad Pfeffer, Fellow, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, who was a scientific expert for the film, and Dr. Twila Moon, Research Scientist from the National Snow and Ice Data Center's Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences.Both the hearing and screening are free and open to the public.


text:
My mom has what we believe to be a star pine tree in her back yard. It is about 40 years old (started in a 5 gallon redwood bucket by my grandmother in the very early 70's) During a recent Rain/wind storm the top 6 ft of the tree (which stands about 40 ft tall or more) broke off. Will the tree continue to grow with the top gone? Does anyone have any recommendations for what should be done to the "new" top? Should we trim all the branches on top to re-sculpt it more like a top? Any information, insight would be a big help.
Thank you in advance.


text:
aloe conditioner with lavender and rosemary travel size
A clean, rich, natural and soothing botanical hair conditioner that will leave your hair soft and manageable. Our botanical hair conditioner is enriched with prebiotic.
Squeeze enough to cover hair into hands. Spread evenly over hair and work into the ends. Rinse thoroughly after 2-3 minutes.
Our botanical aloe ferox hair conditioner is gentle on hair and made from natural and naturally derived ingredients greater than 99.5%.
No Parabens
No SLS or SLES
No synthetics
No GMO's
Botanicals - aloe ferox, rapeseed / canola oil, lavender, morrocan cedar and geranuim oil.
Suitable for vegans.
Suitable for all hair types, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Discontinue in case of sensitivity. Store in a cool place away from children.
Size: 1.69 fl. oz / 50 ml - Travel size
Aqua (Water), Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Inulin, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Potassium Sorbate, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Seed Oil, Cedrus Atlantica (Moroccan Cedar) Wood Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid,Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate, Citric Acid. Essential oil components: Linalool, Citronellol


text:
The American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) is dedicated to the goal of strengthening the mathematical capabilities of our nation's youth. We believe that one way to meet this goal is to identify, recognize and reward excellence in mathematics through a series of national contests called:
- the American Mathematics Contest 8 (AMC 8),
- the American Mathematics Contest 10 (AMC 10),
- the American Mathematics Contest 12 (AMC 12),
- the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), and
- the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO).
American Mathematics Contest 8 (AMC 8)
The AMC 8 is a 25 question, 40 minute multiple choice examination based on junior high school (middle school) mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem solving skills. The examination provides an opportunity to apply the concepts taught at the junior high level to problems which range from easy to difficult and cover a wide range of applications. Many problems are designed to challenge students and to offer problem solving experiences beyond those provided in most junior high school mathematics classes. Calculators are allowed. High scoring students are invited to participate in the AMC 10.
American Mathematics Contest 10 & 12
The AMC 10 and 12 are 25 question, 75 minute multiple choice examinations in secondary school mathematics containing problems which can be understood and solved with pre-calculus concepts. Calculators are allowed.
American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME)
The AIME is an intermediate examination between the AMC 10 or AMC 12 and the USAMO. All students who took the AMC 12 and achieved a score of 100 or more out of a possible 150 are invited to take the AIME. All students who take the AMC 10 and have a score of 120 or are in the top 1% also qualify for the AIME.
United States of America Mathematics Olympiad (USAMO)
The USAMO provides a means of identifying and encouraging the most creative secondary mathematics students in the country. It serves to indicate the talent of those who may become leaders in the mathematical sciences of the next generation. The USAMO is part of a worldwide system of national mathematics competitions, a movement in which both educators and research mathematicians are engaged in recognizing and celebrating the imagination and resourcefulness of our youth.


text:
William Wordsworth (April 7, 1770 - April
23, 1850) was an English Romantic poet who, along with Samuel
Taylor Coleridge, helped usher in the Romantic Age in English
Wordsworth, Coleridge and the other Romantic poets engaged in creating poetry that emphasized feeling and intuition over reason and thinking.
They envisioned poetry and art as mediators between nature and man.
In his preface to Coleridge's Lyrical Ballads,
Wordsworth wrote that good poetry is "the spontaneous overflow of
powerful feelings."
Wordsworth, himself, is characteristically known for his sense of man's spiritual connection to nature. I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud is a perfect example of his identifying with nature and expression of emotion.
To appreciate the Romantic aspects of Wordsworth's poem it would be helpful to review the tenets of British Romanticism.
These would include the connection between nature and the supernatural; the shift from faith in reason to faith in the senses, feelings and imagination; from interest in urban society to interest in the rural and natural; from the scientific and dull to the mystical and infinite; and most significantly, intuition and the belief in importance of the individual.
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud is one of Wordsworth's most beloved poems because of its simple, yet beautiful rhythms and rhymes, as well as its sentimental musings. His noble and expressive poetic style profoundly influenced both contemporary and future thought and literature.
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils,
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:-
A Poet could not but be gay
In such a jocund company!
I gazed-and gazed-but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought;
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills
And dances with the daffodils.
Wordsworth Quotes
The Arts and Personal Development
Lord Byron's Romantic Poem 'The Tear'


text:
Oppo F1s Tips & Tricks
Oppo has launched a new smartphone Oppo F1s recently. It comes with 5.5-inch IPS display with 267 PI and 1280 x 720 pixels as its resolution. The device comes with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box. The device has 13 MP rear camera and 16 MP front camera with beauty Plus Mode and f/2.2 aperture. If you have purchased this device then here are few tips & tricks of the same that can help you in exploring your device with ease.
Oppo F1s Tips, Tricks, FAQ's Userful options, Hidden options and everything that you want to know about the smartphone.
How to Insert SIM card on your device?
To insert SIM card, remove the SIM ejector tray and place the SIM card on their respective slots and push tray back. You have successfully inserted the SIM card on your device. It is a dual SIM smartphone and supports dual standby. The SIM card supported by the device is dual Nano SIM card along with a dedicated memory card slot.
How to share Mobile Data using Oppo F1S?
To share the data on your device, open the settings and tap on other wireless connections and tap on Personal Hotspot. In the new window, toggle the button adjacent to enable your personal hotspot to use it on your device. You can change the device name and password in the Name and password setting column.
How to enable battery percentage on Oppo F1s?
To enable the battery percentage on Oppo F1s, open the settings and tap on Notifitctaion and status bar. In the new window, toggle the button adjacent to battery percentage to enable that on your device.
How to Add Fingeprint on Oppo F1s?
To Add fingerprint on your device, open the settings and tap on Fingerprint and password. In the new window, tap on Add fingeprint option, and place your finger on the touch area to add it on your device. Before you add fingerprint you need to set password for your device which may be pin or pattern.
What are the Screen-Off Gestures available on your Oppo F1s?
Screen-off gestures are helpful to use custom gestures on the screen for quick operations. The quick search options include Double tap to wake up, draw O to start the camera, draw v to turn on the flashlight and music Control option( you need to draw "<" and ">" to change the music when display its Off). There is an add gesture option where you can manually assign the function to the desired gesture.
How to capture Screenshot on Oppo F1s?
There are two ways in which you can capture the screenshot on your device.
Method 1: In the method, you need to press the power button and volume down button to capture the screenshot.
Method 2: This is the gesture method of capturing the screenshot and must be enabled on your device. To enable this open the settings and tap on Gesture & motion. In the new window, yap on Quick gesture and toggle the button adjacent to gesture screenshot to enable that on your device. Once the option is live you need to swipe three fingers from up or down to capture the screenshot.
How to Enable One Handed Mode on Oppo F1s?
One Handed Mode enabled to reduce the screensize and makes your device easy to use with a single hand. To use this option, open the settings and tap on Gesture & Motion. Further, click on Quick gesture and toggle Single-handed operation to enable that on your device. Now you need to swipe from bottom left or right corner toward the center of the screen to launch One-handed Mode.
Does the device support NFC?
No the device doesn't support NFC on it.
Does the device support OTG?
Yes the device does support USB OTG on it and helps in transferring the data from device to drive and vice-versa. To use this option, open the settings and tap on additional settings. Further head over to the bottom of the screen and toggle the button adjacent to OTG connection. If the OTG drive is not in use then it will trun off automatically after 10 mins.
How to reset Oppo F1s smartphone?
To reset your device, open the Settings and tap on Additional Settings. In the new window click on Backup and reset option which is at the bottom of the screen. Further tap on Factory data reset and click on Remove all contents and setting. If you have set any password for you device the you need to enter that to proceed further. Now click on erase everything option, the data is wiped from your phone and makes its fresh for use.
What are the camera options available on the device?
The device comes with 13 MP rear camera with LED flash and 16 Front camera. The features of the camera include 1/3″ sensor size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, panorama, HDR and Video Recording at 720p and 1080p @30fps. It also comes with an inbuilt beauty Mode where you can set the fairness level manually.
The device comes with a default theme store on it where you need to download themes from the store and apply them on your wall. To use this open the Theme Store app from your Home screen and click on the theme that you want to use. Now tap on the download button which is at the bottom of the screen and tap on apply. The Theme is successfully changed on your Oppo F1s.
Battery Options on Oppo F1s
Power Saving Modes & Uses
Power Saving Mode is used to improve the battery life during low battery condition. To use that on your device you need to open the setting and tap on battery option. In the new window, toggle the button adjacent to Low Power Mode to apply that on your device. This option can also be enabled from the Notification Panel directly.
Enable Battery percentage option
To enable battery percentage, open the settings and tap on Notification and Status Bar. In the new window, toggle the button adjacent to battery percentage to enable that on your device.
What is Lock Screen magazine and How to enable that on your Oppo F1s?
Oppo F1s comes with lock screen magazine option where the wallpaper changes automatically. To use this option, open the settings and tap on Wallpaper and Lock screen Magazine. In the new window, tap on Lock Screen magazine and toggle the off button to enable that on your device.
Developer Mode
To enable the developer mode on your Oppo F1s, open the settings and tap on About Phone. In the new window, tap on build Number for about 7 times to enable that on your device.
Does the device support Jio 4G Connectivity?
Yes, the device does support Jio 4G connectivity on it.
Does the device support VoLTE?
Oppo F1s support VoLTE on SIM card Slot 1.
Is your smartphone Water Resistant?
The device isn't water resistant and might get damaged when thrown in water or rain.
How much RAM is available when no apps are running on device?
The device comes with 4 GB of RAM and around 1.9 GB of free RAM is available when no apps are running on the device.
Storage on Oppo F1s
The device comes with 64 GB as its internal storage and around 54 GB of free space is available on the device out of the Box.
What are the connectivity options available on the device?
The device comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, Micro USB Type 2.0, FM Radio, 2G/3G/4G Network are the connectivity features available on the device.
What are the Sensors available on Oppo F1s?
Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity and Compass are the sensors available on the device and helps in automating the device.
Hidden Codes of Oppo F1s
IMEI Info
To check the IMEI number on your device, you need to enter *#06# on your dail screen.
SAR Information
SAR Information can be check by dialing *#07# on your Phone Screen.
These are the general Tips & Tricks of Oppo F1s smartphone. If you have any other query related to the device, then post in the comment section below or you can tweet us @1howtothing.


text:
Heather Tom Reunites With Shemar Moore on Criminal Minds
The Young and the Restless
fan favorites
Scroll to Continue
Recommended Articles
are together again, just not in Genoa City, kids.
The Bold and the Beautiful
phenom has nabbed a guest starring role on Moore's
Criminal Minds
. The actress will play Connie, a mother whose child goes missing. Tom's episode is slated to air Oct. 19.
Criminal Minds airs Wednesdays at 9 pm EST on CBS.


text:
Usually, we don't tend to think or talk about toilets too much. It's just something you use to get the job done, right? However, you still spend a portion of your day using it, so it requires some attention.
Also, whether you enjoy talking about toilets or not, if you're looking to buy one, there are some things you need to think about. Is it comfortable? Will it take too much space in your bathroom? Is it eco-friendly? Is it easy to keep clean?
Don't worry, our guide will help you answer all of these questions. Stick around to learn more about three of the best available two-piece toilets in the market.
American Standard
H2Option Siphonic Dual Flush Elongated Toilet
We start out strong with this dual flush toilet from American Standard. The elongated design means it is a little longer than its rivals, at 29.8" deep. It is 15" wide and 29.5" from top to bottom. The seat has a height of 15", which may be comfortable, but unfortunately is not ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant.
The H2Option Dual-Flush System helps you save water, while still giving you the option of discharging a higher volume of water, if needed. The light flush spends 1 gallon per flush (GPF) and is recommended for liquid wastes, while the heavier flush unleashes a mighty 1.6 GPF. The heavy flush can handle 1000 grams of solid waste in a single discharge, but the lighter one is not bad, either, rated at 400 grams of waste. The buttons themselves have a texturized engraving, making them easy to tell apart, even for disabled individuals.
The water is discharged not only directly into the bowl, but also all around the rim through a pressure system, unloading the water at specific points. This makes for a nice flush that cleans the toilet well.
Another nice detail is that the level of water does not rise while flushing, thanks to the jet siphon system. This helps to keep the whole surface clean.
The toilet is also easy to install, with a lot of pre-assembled components. It has a quiet flush and provides a nice experience overall, the only downside perhaps being the 1 minute it takes to refill the tank. It comes in 3 finishes.
Stealth is an adequate name for this toilet, as it keeps everything to a minimum. Let's start with its size, which is pretty standard: it measures 28.9×18.8×31 inches. At 17" tall, the seat complies with ADA standards.
But the flush is the interesting part. This toilet wastes a measly 0.8 gallons of water per flush. It is the lowest of the three on this list, and probably one of the lowest you can find out there.
The question is, how does it fare in waste disposal with such little water? Surprisingly well, in fact. For most purposes, it will handle the job just fine. The water is flushed directly to the bowl, and also to the rim, performing a good cleaning task.
However, keep in mind that this system is not miraculous. If there is too much waste to dispose of, or if you throw too much toilet paper in there, it might get clogged. A second flush usually takes care of the issue, though.
Not only does the Stealth toilet save water, but it is also lightning fast to refill the tank: this gets done in about 10 seconds. Both flush and refill are pretty quiet, which live up to this toilet's name. It is available in white only.
Drake 2-Piece Single Flush Elongated Toilet
Finally, let's take a look at TOTO's Drake elongated model. This is the shortest toilet on the list, only 28 inches deep. Its width and height are 19.5 and 30.5 inches, respectively. The seat is quite tall, at 19 inches, making it also ADA compliant.
Now, flushing is the main thing you buy a toilet for, and that is where the Drake shines. Let's get the bad thing out of the way first: it spends a bit more water than its competition, at 1.6 GPF. It is the same volume of water as the heavy flush for the American Standard model, but with the Drake, you don't have a light flush option.
The good part is that, with the same amount of water, this TOTO toilet has one of the best flushes we've found, taking care of almost anything you throw into it. And it is still impressive, because 1.6 gallons of water isn't a whole lot, either. Let's find out how.
The Drake boasts a proprietary G-Max flushing system, which comprises a wider flush valve for more efficient waste disposal. We found it near impossible to clog, even with huge amounts of waste and toilet paper.
Besides getting rid of waste, the flushing system also does a great job cleaning the toilet bowl. We reckon you probably won't need to use the toilet cleaner often.
And in spite of the powerful flush, the Drake is really quiet too. Altogether, it is one of the best-designed flushing systems in the market. This toilet comes in 5 finishes.
We've looked at three excellent toilets in this guide. You'd probably be well served with either one. However, our top pick is the TOTO Drake. It has a 19-inch high, ADA compliant seat, and its design will fit most bathrooms. But it is the amazing flush system that makes it stand out. You get a clean, clog-free toilet at only 1.6 GPF, which isn't that much when you consider the superior flushing power.
On the other end of the scale, we have the Niagara Stealth. You should go for this one if you want a quiet toilet that uses a minimal amount of water. Beware of blockage issues, though. Finally, for the most versatile solution we recommend the American Standard 2887.216. The dual flush system gives you the choice to spend more or less water. Unfortunately, it is the only toilet out of the three that does not have an ADA-compliant seat.


text:
Anthony Goytia, whose yearly income is only $12,000 as a Walmart associate.
When Anthony Goytia sits down with his wife and three children for Thanksgiving dinner in East Los Angeles, he's going to be chewing out of one side of his mouth. With every bite he takes of his meal, provided by a local food pantry, he will be thinking of his employer.
Anthony makes about $12,000 a year working nearly full-time as an "associate" for Walmart. With worldwide revenues totaling $443.9 billion in 2012, Walmart tops the Fortune 500 list, yet Anthony can't afford the $20-a-month premiums on the insurance plan Walmart provides. So, when his molar started to make him moan this October, a root canal operation wasn't an option.
That's not all. To scrape by, he's taken out payday loans just to pay-off other payday loans. When his car radiator busted earlier this fall he began bicycling 13 miles a day to and from work, because he couldn't afford the repair bill. Anthony even sells his plasma at $55 a pop and participates in clinical treatments for his psoriasis in order to earn extra cash and feed his kids.
"My mother taught me how to stretch meals with potatoes," he told me, but canned tuna and ramen noodles are the staple foods in Anthony's household.
Anthony is not alone. He is one of the hundreds of thousands of Walmart associates who earn wages that leave them surfing the poverty line. The pay is so abysmal that one Walmart manager in Canton, Ohio, recently asked employees to contribute to a holiday food drive for its own staff.
In contrast to Anthony and tens of thousands like him, Walmart executives will be sitting down to plush meals with their families in the wealthy enclaves surrounding Bentonville, Arkansas, near the retailer's corporate headquarters. Mike Duke, who this week announced he is stepping down as the company's CEO, will now get to tuck into a $113 million retirement package—that's 6,000 times what the average Walmart employee has in his or her 401(k) account.
Mike and his family say they are very grateful for all the blessings God has bestowed upon them. In an interview appearing in Celebrate Arkansas this month, Mike's wife Susan said her family lives by Luke 12:48: "To whom much has been given, much will be expected; for whom much has been entrusted, much more will be asked."
Through their local church, Susan said she and her husband support numerous charities including The Jesus Film Project—which sponsors screenings of the 1979 movie Jesus—and Feed My Children. As Anthony bikes to work his 12-hour shift at Walmart this Black Friday, he will be hoping for just that: to feed his children.
"We're approaching the season of giving," said Reverend Holly Beaumont, the organizing director for Interfaith Worker Justice New Mexico, in a conference call that included many community and religious leaders who have joined a campaign for a living wage of $25,000 a year at Walmart. "But charity can never replace justice and when it does it becomes a sin."
"It sickens me," added Sarah Halverson, pastor at Fairview Community Church in Costa Mesa, California, "that Walmart is using the image of Christ to make money and they refuse to share that money with their employees."
On Black Friday last year, protests from associates like Anthony broke out at Walmarts nationwide.
At first, Walmart dismissed the rallies and strikes, labeling them "made-for-TV events" in a press release while asserting that the number of AWOL associates was "more than 60 percent less" than Black Friday the year before. But, much like Anthony's toothache, the calls for reform at Walmart have refused to dissipate and now they are starting to cause the retail giant financial and PR pain.
On November 18, the National Labor Relations Board ruled in favor of 117 employees who were terminated for participating in strikes and protests against their employer. Unless an independent settlement is reached, the decision will likely see Walmart reinstating and providing financial compensation to make up for the lost wages of the renegade associates it let go.
The strikes are back again this year. Walkouts ahead of this year's Christmas shopping bonanza have taken place at Walmart outlets this month in Los Angeles, Dallas, Sacramento, Miami, Seattle, Chicago, and, on Tuesday, in Washington, DC.
"Going on strike wasn't an easy decision for me," said Anthony, who in addition to walking out on November 6, also took part in a sit-down protest on Cezar Chavez Boulevard in LA that led to his arrest. "My ability to pay rent and feed my family is at stake. I want Walmart to look me and my kids in the face."
Kalpona Akter, who worked in a Dhaka sweatshop as a child and now heads the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity.
Dorian Warren, a labor analyst at Columbia University, argues that the labor battles at Walmart this holiday season could impact the fate of America's future economy. He compares the strikes shaking the mega-outlet with post-WWII labor battles that rattled General Motors, which was then America's largest employer, as Walmart is today.
"Walmart is the embodiment of everything that is wrong with America's economy today, just as General Motors was back then," he said. In November 1945, approximately a quarter-million members of the United Automobile Workers union walked off the job, starting a strike that would lead to a 17.5-percent wage increase at GM plants by the following March and inspire strikes in other sectors—coal, oil, steel—that helped ensure more Americans got a slice of the post-war boom.
Today, as the stock market dances upon record bluffs, the median US household income is 8.3 percent lower than what it was before the 2008 Wall Street crash, according to the latest census data. The bulk of jobs recovered in this recession have been low-wage service sector jobs, like those Walmart. With 1.3 million associates under its thumb, what happens at Walmart could have implications far beyond the sliding glass entryways of the box stores.
Striking Walmart associates are not only going up against the world's largest company but also one the globe's shadiest. A report released Wednesday from the Center for Media Justice accuses the retailer of collecting personal electronic data on 145 million American consumers, tracking online purchases and using shoppers smartphones to monitor their movements in Walmart superstores. The Center for Corporate Policy, earlier this week, cited Walmart as one of a number of corporations that have engaged in espionage, noting that the company has tailed activists seeking to raise wages.
Meanwhile, Walmart is under fire from environmental groups for emitting 21 million metric tons of heat-trapping greenhouse gases per year, while Mike and other execs are under investigation from the Justice Department and the Securities Exchange Commission for bribing officials in Mexico. Amid growing labor unrest in Bangladesh, garment workers, too, are shaking their fists at the retailer.
"We want the same thing workers in this country want," said Kalpona Akter who worked in a Dhaka sweatshop as a child and now heads the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity. "We want dignity. We want a decent wage, a living wage, and we want safe working conditions." Many garment factories in Bangladesh are "death traps," Kalpona said.
She is among a number of labor leaders calling on the Walmart to compensate the families of the 117 garment workers who burned to death in the Tarzeen factory while filling clothing orders for the retailer and other US retailers one year ago, and for Walmart to sign an international labor practice agreement that will raise pay and safety standards at its suppliers. So far, however, said Kalpona, "Walmart has given us nothing to be thankful for."


text:
ACTIVE AFFILIATES are those who sign up under you for free, then upgrade to being a paid affiliate. Those who sign up but don't upgrade within the first 72 hours are called inactive affiliates and who are unlikely to ever upgrade.
These are people you DON'T invest a lot of time on. You can send them out your monthly ezine but that's as far as invested time should go.
Those who have paid to upgrade from free or just looking stage are the ones you should have regular contact in.
When I mention contact, I don't mean contact to sell more things to them, but to offer support, advise, training etc. because these are the ones that will follow you to the ends of the earth if you ask them to, if you treat them right.
Over the past 12 months I have been testing various options and theories of Affiliates who sign up for free and then become paid upgrade affiliates.
My findings although not scientific by any means has shown me that in order for ACTIVE AFFILIATES to create direct sales, they must have the right affiliate program to promote.
I've explained previously that a great affiliate program is one that is an absolute necessity, a program that will force the buyer to have to start over again if they left your services i.e. web hosting, autoresponders.
According to the search engines there are over 2 million Affiliate Programs for web hosting and over 1 Million for autoresponder affiliate programs. What about domain name affiliate programs, can you think of any others?I'm sure you can! Think necessity.
My findings also identified that a great affiliate program MUST be free to join. This gives the prospective buyer the opportunity to test-drive the product before they buy.
OK, now down to the nitty gritty - where and how do you get ACTIVE AFFILIATES?
There are essentially two ways, they are:
1. Promote, promote, promote - anywhere, everywhere that affiliates hang out looking for a bargain.
2. Get a professional to do it for you
Options one is the most commonly used way to find and ascertain ACTIVE AFFILIATES but my findings have shown me that this is not cost effective and is all time consuming. If you are new to the Internet, which most people are, trying to find a niche market, can be very difficult. Then you have to factor the cost of the promotions, set-up costs and time involved.
In testing this method over a period of 6 months a total of 17 people sign up as affiliate's and two out of the 17 people then upgraded to paid members.
Option two and not the most common or conventional way was to hire someone who could guarantee upgrades. This you might think is the more expensive option, when in actual fact for the purpose of my testing actually worked out to be a lot cheaper. The provider handled all the work and the affiliate had to qualified twice before actually joining the program all I had to do was wait.
I brought a package that guaranteed 100 signup in 60 days. I got 174 sign ups in less than 60 days. 81 of these signups upgraded to paid affiliates that equates to just over 40% conversion rate.
I try to stay neutral in all my endeavours but I believe that for those who want to Generate More Income in ANY affiliate program, option two is definitely the way to go. I was so impressed by this type of service I decided to buy one for myself.
To your online Success!
About the Author: Gillian Tarawhiti, is Founder and CEO of Community Training Centre, an Internet Marketing firm providing Online Training and Support to the new and not so new netpreneurs. Gillian is also the author of eBay Billion Dollar Goldmine and the creator of the Multiple Ripple Effect System, ® 2004 Permission is granted to reprint this article in print or on your web site so long as the paragraph above is included and contact information is provided to www.millionairerippleeffect.com">http://www.millionairerippleeffect.com


text:
The principal objective of Arthritis Australia is to promote the livelihood of people living with Arthritis by providing a range of services throughout the community. Arthritis Australia has established the Ease of Use Trade Mark Programme (EOU Certification Program) to recognise organisations that design products and packaging that do not inhibit or cause injury or discomfort to people living with Arthritis and/or a disability.
The EOU Certification Program is a comprehensive scheme to allow all consumers to identify user-friend products and packaging.
The EOU Certification Program evaluates the usability of products, based on a number of criteria that are determined on a case by case basis, to evaluate the usability of products or packaging.
The EOU Certification Program is intended to:
- establish a common language and standard of measurement of the usability of products and packaging;
- promote ergonomic product and packaging design;
- raise awareness of Arthritis in Australia;
- reduce the incidence of injury caused to consumers from using hard to open products or packaging;
- provide recognition for manufacturers and brand owners to have developed user friendly products and packaging; and
- increase availability and purchasing of easy to use products resulting in: decreased pain and discomfort for people with Arthritis, increased feeling of independence for people with Arthritis and increased funding for programs and research that benefit people with Arthritis.


text:
For Charitable Donation requests please email The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe donation request
Local Special Offers
Sign up here to receive email updates on the resort's offers, news and events.
Click here to contact our Concierge
Social Media
Hotel Videos
Lake Club
Three Bedroom Residence
Two Bedroom Slopeside Residence
Located mid-mountain and just 15 minutes away from the pristine Lake Tahoe, this luxury resort provides a family-friendly destination in all seasons. Interlacing the local Tahoe surroundings throughout its interior and amenities, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe provides guests an inviting oasis for relaxation after their adventure-filled days on the slopes or at the lake. Reconnect the mind and body with the signature Journey through the Forest treatment at our luxurious spa. Explore nearby shopping and dining in the Village at Northstar California Resort and historic downtown Truckee.
- Ski-in/Ski-out location on Northstar California offering world-class grooming and snowmaking, with mountain concierge services and an active après ski experience
- Exclusive Lake Club access on North Shore of Lake Tahoe, with private boat pier and partnership with MasterCraft boats for water activities
- Luxurious guestrooms, suites and residences with in-room gas fire places and floor-to-ceiling windows
- A 17,000 sq ft slope-side spa with treatments themed around water and woods
- Extraordinary North Lake Tahoe dining in Manzanita featuring artfully crafted cuisine, combining classical techniques and a modern culinary philosophy
- Village at Northstar California accessed from the hotel by an intermountain gondola. 9,000 sq ft ice skating rink surrounded by cozy fire pits and a variety of options for shopping, dining and entertainment.
Honors & Awards
AAA Five Diamond
Forbes Four Star
Readers' Choice Award, Condé Nast Traveler
"The World's Best Hotels", Travel+Leisure
"America's Best Lake Hotels", Travel+Leisure
"Best Hotels in the USA" & "Best Hotel in Lake Tahoe", U.S. News
"Restaurant Best of Award of Excellence", Wine Spectator
Guest Room Features & Amenities
153 Deluxe Guest Rooms (450 square feet)
16 Executive Suites (800 to 1,395 square feet, one or two bedrooms)
The Ritz-Carlton Suite (1,900 to 2,600 square feet, one or two bedrooms)
Residential Suites (1,600 to 2,600 square feet; two, three or four bedrooms)
Guest Room Details:
- Furnishings with rich, warm woods and textured fabrics reflecting Northern California contemporary mountain design
- 400 thread count linens with goose-down comforters
- Asprey bath amenities
- Lighted make-up mirror and hair dryer
- Fireplaces in each our luxury hotel's guest rooms and suites
- LCD flat-panel television in guest room
- iPod docking station
- High-speed wired and wireless Internet
- Spacious work desk with dual-line phone
- Voicemail with customizable greeting
- Spacious closets with safe
- Two Ritz-Carlton signature terry bathrobes
- King bed or two queen beds
- In-room gourmet coffee and tea presentations
- Iron and ironing board
- Daily housekeeping attention and turndown service
- Same day laundry and dry cleaning services
- Complimentary overnight shoeshine
Property Features & Amenities
Lake Club:
Lake Club, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is designed for resort guests to enjoy the amenities of the beautiful Lake during the summer. Designed by renowned local architect Clare Walton, the Lake Club introduces an exceptional level of luxury service and amenities to the North Shore and features an elegant, multi-level dining and bar facility with panoramic views of the lake. Lake Club allows guests to access an expansive lawn that extends to the water's edge, direct beach access, and a private boat pier offering a myriad of summer recreational activities and water sports.
Lake Club, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, is now available for intimate wedding ceremonies and events year-round. For information regarding reserving intimate weddings and year-round events at Lake Club, please contact the Hotel Sales Office at 530-562-3002.
In the summer months, Lake Club features:
- A contemporary building with a 650 square-foot indoor gathering area and bar, a 600 square-foot ground-floor dining terrace, a 950 square-foot upper-level dining deck and a 2,000 square-foot expansive lawn area with panoramic views of the lake
- Direct beach access to Lake Tahoe
- Private boat pier with buoys to launch water sports and recreational activities including boating, kayaking and stand-up paddle boards
- Access to a myriad of summer recreation including wave runners, luxury boat rentals, parasailing, waterskiing, wake surfing, charter fishing, and Formula yacht
- An outdoor whirlpool and fire pit
- Modern showers and changing facilities
- Storage facilities to house kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, etc.
Club Level:
For resort guests seeking a heightened level of privacy and service, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe luxury hotel features The Ritz-Carlton Club level. Guests have private access to The Ritz-Carlton Club level, a rejuvenating retreat for guests to enjoy private check-in check-out, five food and beverage presentations daily as well as the services of a dedicated concierge.
The Ritz-Carlton Spa and Fitness Center:
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe hotel features a 17,000-square-foot spa and fitness center with 17 treatment rooms, ladies' and gentlemen's lounge areas with sauna, steam and whirlpool. Two outdoor swimming pools allow guests the option of swimming laps or relaxing slope side by the pool. The fitness center, with state-of-the-art weight training and cardiovascular equipment, also offers a variety of exercise classes.
Meeting Space:
Over 15,000 square feet of state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor function space, including two ballrooms, 6,600 and 3,200 square feet, breakout meeting rooms, board room and vast indoor/outdoor function space with panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and picturesque mountain landscape from our luxury hotel's wrap-around outdoor balcony.
Located 15 minutes from Lake Tahoe, 45 minutes from the Reno, Nevada airport, two hours from Sacramento and four hours from San Francisco.
Additional features:
- Manzanita, featuring seasonally-inspired California cuisine
- Valet parking
- In-room dining
- Twice-daily housekeeping service
- Lobby Lounge bar with floor-to-ceiling windows
Hotel Policies
Resort Fee
$55 Daily Resort Fee
Amenities and services included in the resort fee are:
- Wireless high-speed internet access in guestroom and public areas
- Shuttle transportation to and from Truckee in the winter or a North Shore Beach and Lake Club in the summer
- 24-hour access to state-of-the-art fitness center with select group exercise classes
- Mountain Concierge and Ski/Golf Valet services and overnight storage
- Seasonal welcome beverage from 12-6 p.m. daily
- In-room S'mores kit
Rollaway beds
$75 per day, per rollaway (based upon availability)
Pet Policy
Pet-friendly rooms are available upon request. A $20 per night pet fee with a one-time $170 non-refundable pet cleaning fee will be charged upon check-in per stay. Fees are subject to daily occupancy tax in civic fee. While there is no weight limit, no more than two pets may occupy any guest room or suite. Your guest room will be located on the second or third floor to allow for ease of entry and exit with your pet.
With the exception of documented service animals, pets are not allowed in any public area where food and beverage is served in accordance with the requirements of the State of California. Please note this includes The Living Room, which is our Lake Tahoe luxury hotel's main lobby.
Check-in: 5 p.m.
Check-out: 11 a.m.
- Main entrance
- Registration desk
- Accessible guest rooms have a 32 inch wide opening
- Route to accessible guest rooms is accessible
- Restaurants and lounges
- Meeting spaces
- Pool entrances
- Spa entrance
- Fitness center entrance
- Business center entrance
- Self-operating lifts or sloped entry
- Pathway to registration desk
- Service animals allowed for persons with disabilities


text:
By MamaLiberty
7 Improvised Defense Weapons That Could Save Your Life is presented(evidently) in all seriousness. There isn't a single word in the entire article worth your time or attention. In fact, relying on this kind of advice can very easily get you seriously injured or dead.
Of course you should always be prepared to fight with everything/anything you've got, even if it is only tooth and nails… but why would you intentionally leave yourself so limited and vulnerable?
First, there isn't a word in the article about situational awareness, or any of the other important parts of avoiding confrontation and attack! The scene presented here is of two assailants approaching you in a dark parking lot. You are alone and one of the probable attackers has a knife.
So, the advice is that you prepare (ahead of time, thank goodness) to use your keys, a pen, a credit card… to inflict as much damage as possible on the attacker. On the guy with a knife? Yeah sure, that will work out wonderfully. The knife is longer than the keys or credit card, remember, and MUCH sharper. Any knife is an effective weapon that can inflict a great deal of serious damage to your body very quickly. Do you really want to get close enough to the knife to have any chance in hell to use the keys or anything like them, even if you could possibly use them effectively? The guy with the knife isn't going to stand there and LET you poke him in the eye with a pen.
The assumption in the article is clear. You are in a big city and totally unarmed with anything rationally useful with which to defend yourself. Guns are not even mentioned, even in the hands of the aggressors. I think that's a very dangerous assumption to make. YOU may not want to carry a gun if it is "illegal," but you can be very sure that the attackers have no such scruples. They don't care about the law, remember. They are willing to injure or kill you to take what they want from you. Sometimes what they want is your death. Are you willing to trust that they don't?
So, what would be better advice for the person coming out of work late, into a dark parking lot in the city?
First, don't be that person. Don't be there. Yes, I know that's not possible for a lot of people, but it is the obvious first answer. Think long and hard about why you would put yourself into that position; why you are living in a big city to start with, especially one where you are reduced to such pitiful attempts to save your own life or those you love.
We are hearing more and more about attacks against large groups of people using various weapons, including cars and trucks – and that's a very different thing than a thug or two in a dark parking lot. Self defense in those cases is almost always limited to simply not BEING there to start with.
But that's a discussion for another time.
OK, so you can't move and have to work in a city where you are not "allowed" to have any rational self defense weapon. Why would you come out into a dark parking lot, garage or street ALONE? Make a deal with other employees, security guards, a spouse or a friend to be there to walk out with you. The criminals want easy, weak and preferably frightened victims, so they are unlikely to confront you if you are not alone. I can only imagine the terror of being alone somewhere actual self defense is "against the law." Why would you put yourself into that situation?
Next, as you and your companions exit the building, put your heads on a swivel and scan your surroundings. (Read it, and do some serious practice. This is vital!)You don't need to become paranoid with this, but you certainly don't want to allow idle conversation, iPhones or anything else to distract you from actually seeing what is going on around you. If the criminals lurking in the nearby ally see you and those with you as being alert, unafraid and aware of the surroundings, they will most likely slink away to find a more vulnerable victim.
But don't be complacent in other situations, where you think there "is no real crime." There is no place on earth where the risk of attack of some sort is zero. Life is dangerous, and though the absolute numbers of people evil enough to attack you may be small, even in the big city, it is not zero other places. And the evil ones can be anywhere. So the rational response is to understand that, prepare the best you can to avoid them, and to confront them if necessary with the best tools possible so that you can continue your life as much as possible undamaged.
Avoid confrontation, stay away from dangerous people and environments when possible. Develop a solid survival attitude, be willing to do whatever it takes to stay alive . Don't go out into the dark alone. Buy a gun and learn how to use it well, along with everything else necessary for rational self defense. The gun is not magic, and will not help if you think that's all you need. But it is a very important, valuable tool for those who have the right attitude and training. It's up to you.
I had to shoot a man to save my life once. You can read about it, and then send for the book I wrote on it. "I Am NOT A Victim" will be sent to anyone who requests it in email. Contact information is at the bottom of the page linked above. And then, you might be interested to learn just why I carry a gun… everywhere, and all the time. Read about that here.
Think about it. Are you actually willing to trust your life to a set of keys or a ball point pen?


text:
Friday, September 17, 2004
XM Audio Component
I was looking into getting a component XM Radio, and I only found one. Polk is coming out with their XRt12 tuner, wich is an A/V component that plays XM radio. This is advertised as a high end device.
I am not sure that this is worth the $329.95 price. I am not sure about how good the quality will be, especially since the source audio is inherently low quality (MPEG). This would just the same a playing an MP3 on a high end audio system.
I think that a better solution would be to buy a Delphi SkyFi Receiver with TOSLINK Digital Output,
especially since you can get this for $149.99. I would assume that
this would have the same sound quality as the Polk system, especially
since I assume that the MPEG decoders are comparible.
Labels: Electronics
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Saturday, August 13, 2011
I'm glad everything is doing good despite my busy schedule. I'm on the process of balancing my life and work. So far, it's good. My officemates, boyfriend, family and friends have been very supportive and that makes me the happiest person in the planet. I thank God for everything. I also promise to update my blog very often and to visit your blogs too my fellow bloggers. pinky promise! Have a happy weekend!
Posted by Jing Ocay at 9:42 PM
6 comments:
- Cherie said...
bagay mo talaga ang shorts jing! cute pink top too :)
- August 14, 2011 at 1:52 PM
- Pinch of thoughts said...
you're so thin na ading! very good look as always!
- August 15, 2011 at 8:28 AM
- Noelle Chantal said...
Looking great, Jing! Love the tan bag and the blazer matched with shorts looks great on you. :)
Goodluck with work and everything!
- August 15, 2011 at 2:13 PM
- Mom Daughter Style said...
oh my gosh Jing, parang sumobra ka na yata ng sexy ngayon!
- August 15, 2011 at 8:46 PM
- 00000 said...
Looking great girl! Goodluck sa new work! I'll let you know pag na try ko na yung Hainanese chicken recipe na pinost mo! ^____^
- August 15, 2011 at 9:47 PM
- Dressing Up For Me said...
Uy, blooming si Jing. ;) Pretty kaayo ka with the pink top. I´m glad that you´re doing great with work, family and lovelife. Lisod baya na i-balance.
By the way, I didn´t know that they don´t celebrate fiestas in Manila nowadays. I think naa man dagway pero barrio- barrio lang. ;)
- August 17, 2011 at 9:56 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Brooks' Charity Honored by Hearing Foundation
Garth Brooks' Teammates for Kids Foundation is among the organizations to be honored by the Starkey Hearing Foundation on Aug. 20 in St. Paul, Minn. Brooks will attend the gala, and Trisha Yearwood will perform. Other participating celebrities include Wayne Gretzky, Donny Osmond, Michael Bolton, Paul Williams, Marlee Matlin and many others. The Starkey Hearing Foundation hopes to raise $3 million to promote hearing health awareness, to provide hearing aids to the underprivileged and to support hearing research and education.


text:
I am a member of a generation in the United States that does not, luckily, immediately associate Vietnam with war. My parents are a different story. I remember hearing from my mother about her classmates and their receipt of their draft letters – how so many often remarked, 'if only my mother had me a day later.' I also remember my family friends being some of the first travelers granted visas to Vietnam after the ceasefire.
I went to Vietnam in January 2010, meeting up with my parents during the winter holidays when I was teaching in China. I will say this – whatever your feelings on Vietnam and the war, give the country, and it's people, a chance. It's a beautiful place.
My parents arranged the trip in Vietnam (and our continuation into Cambodia) through a travel company we've used since called Sita. While there were a few inter-country flights, we also had a decent amount of driving to see the countryside.
All told, our itinerary in Vietnam was:
- Hanoi
- Halong Bay
- Hue
- Hoi An
- Danang
- Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)
Of where we traveled in Vietnam, I would say I much preferred Hoi An and Hue than either of the major cities.
We arrived in Hanoi (in the North) and one of our first excursions was to Halong Bay, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
I would almost say the boat ride out to the Thien Cung Cave was more enjoyable and beautiful than the caves themselves:
The actual cave was, rather than appreciated for it's natural beauty, turned into a light show with fluorescent lights illuminating the stalagmites and stalactites, with the artifice of having a 'dragon' living within. It was a lot of unnecessary pomp and pageantry for a location I'm sure looked lovely naturally.
My personal opinion: if you're heading out to Halong Bay, opt for a cruise around the bay rather than a tour which includes the caves; you'd be wasting your time and money.
From Hanoi, we moved on to Hue. Hue was an interesting place for a number of reasons, not in the least because it was the imperial capital and has the ghosts of palaces within and around it.
Perhaps it's because I've grown up Irish and in an (extended) family of funeral directors, but I've always been fascinated by time and things (or dynasties) rising and collapsing, crumbling under our fingers. We all are, to an extent and I could really feel it there in Hue, amid the ruins.
I really don't remember spending that much time in Hue, so I think we must've only passed through to walk amid the ruins before continuing on to Hoi An.
If you don't know a lot about the history of Vietnam before the war, here's a little factoid – they were, for a long time, French IndoChina. Thus, a lot of Vietnamese food is bread or baguette heavy. Blame (or thank) the French. I feel like when it comes to baguettes and bread products you have to thank the French, but colonisation, not so much.
Hoi An deserves more attention so I'll give that it's own post over the next few days, for now, though. Go to Vietnam. You won't regret it.


text:
Hospital Nursing and 30-Day Readmissions Among Medicare Patients With Heart Failure, Acute Myocardial Infarction, and Pneumonia
Readmissions for the same illness within 30 days after a hospital stay cost Medicare $15 billion annually. Nurses in the hospital are in frontline positions to promote optimal care that could reduce readmissions.
These researchers sought to understand how the nurse work environment, staffing levels, and nurse education affects 30-day readmission for Medicare patients with heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, and pneumonia. Readmission for these three conditions often are preventable, and new legislation will reduce Medicare payments to hospitals that have higher-than-expected readmission rates. Researchers randomly sampled all licensed nurses working in 412 hospitals in California, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Nearly one-third of the hospitals had good work environments, another third had poor work conditions, and the remainder were mixed. Comparing the good with the poor, good work environment hospitals had lower odds of 30-day readmission for heart failure (7%), myocardial infarction (6%), and pneumonia (10%).
Nurse education (average proportion of BSN-prepared nurses was 39%), generally was not associated with readmission except for pneumonia where 10 percent more nurses with BSNs lowered odds of readmission by 3 percent.
More nurses working in hospitals with good work environments were confident that their patients were able to manage their own care when discharged (59% versus 48%).
"One potentially effective means of reducing overall readmissions may come through improving the organization and delivery of hospital nursing services," they write.


text:
Name of Your Broker
Policy Number
Name of Policy Holder*
Home Phone*
Work Phone
Primary Contact Person
Where should we contact you? HomeWork
Best time to contact you? MorningAfternoonEvening
Date of Loss or Accident*
Province: OntarioAlbertaBritish ColumbiaManitobaNewfoundlandNew BrunswickNova ScotiaPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewan
Please provide as much detail as possible regarding the claim in the space provided below. A representative will contact you shortly.
Police Contacted? YesNo
Officer's Name
Officer's Badge Number
Officer's Report Number


text:
Handmade Pottery Dinner Set, 4 Piece - Chowder
Each set includes: 1 - Dinner Plate 1 - Salad Plate 1 - Dinner Bowl 1 - Camp Mug Color: Chowder, tri-tone creamy white and slate gray. MADE TO ORDER: CURRENT PROCESSING TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 8 WEEKS. QUANTITY ORDERED, ORDERS IN QUE AND WEATHER MAY AFFECT LEAD TIME. WE DO HAVE SOME COLORS IN STOCK, OR NEAR COMPLETION SO IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF SOMETHING QUICKLY, JUST ASK! Measures: Dinner Plate - 10" wide, 1.5" high Salad Plate - 8" wide, 1.5" high Dinner Bowl - 3.75" wide, 5.75" high Camp Mug - 5" wide (at handle), 3.5" high, 12 oz. We collaborate in the creation of all of our pottery, with a commitment to durability, function & enjoyment. Our glazes are unique and made by us. All of our pieces are: -Lead Free -Food Safe -Dishwasher, Microwave & Oven Safe This piece would make a wonderful gift for yourself or someone you know. Shipping USPS Priority Mail. Please note that actual colors may vary from what you see on your screen depending on you monitor settings. Some glazes also look significantly different in different types of light. Please let us know if you need any further information.


text:
1 of 2
Photo by Jeremy M. Lange
Click for larger image • The Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant
2 of 2
Photo by Jeremy M. Lange
Click for larger image • The Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant (also known as the Wading River Nuclear Power Plant) was a $6 billion General Electric nuclear boiling water reactor located in East Shoreham, N.Y., that was closed by protests in 1989 without generating any commercial electrical power.
A Nuclear Family Vacation: Travels in the World of Atomic Weaponry
By Nathan Hodge and Sharon Weinberger
Bloomsbury USA, 240 pp.
In January 2007, the Board of Directors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the hands of its Doomsday Clockperhaps the most widely recognized symbol of the Cold Warforward two minutes, indicating its belief that that the new age of terrorism and the growing dangers of global warming have sent mankind galloping ever faster down the road to the apocalypse. Like duck-and-cover drills, fallout shelters and KGB spies, the Doomsday Clock probably isn't something that many of us think about much anymore, nearly two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The days of living in perpetual fear of thermonuclear war and mutual assured destruction are hard to rememberfor those of us who remember them at all.
But as welcome as it was, the end of the Cold War in 1991 left the 60,000 people who once worked at the 14 sites of the U.S. nuclear weapons complex uncertain of what their roles would be in the new world of nuclear nonproliferation. "What happens when a war ends, but the warriors don't go home?" ask Nathan Hodge and Sharon Weinberger in A Nuclear Family Vacation: Travels in the World of Atomic Weaponry. In 2005, the husband-and-wife team of Washington, D.C., journalists embarked on a road trip through the test sites and design labs of 10 states and five countries (Russia, Kazakhstan and Iran among them) to investigate how global attitudes toward the bomb have changedor not. Nuclear tourism: There's an idea.
As macabre as it seems, Hodge and Weinberger point out that the concept of nuclear tourism is nothing new. Families once gathered at picnics to watch mushroom clouds explode over the lunar landscape of the Nevada desert, and the reentry of a test ICBM into the placid waters of the Pacific still draws a diverse crowd in the Marshall Islands. The wide scope of the authors' journey, however, highlights one key thing: No one who works with the nuclear arsenal can say with any clarity what its purpose is. Asked, for instance, what he saw as the objective of future American nuclear strategy, Gerold Yonas (once the chief scientist for Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative, a.k.a. "Star Wars") provides only shadowy, Strangelovian replies. "The nature of complex, wicked problems is they tend to involve people," he said. "We tend to be complicated and wicked." And then: "That's the nature of a wicked problem: You don't ever come up with solutions."
Even for the most staunch anti-nuclear activist, it's difficult to read A Nuclear Family Vacation, though, and not come away with some sympathy for the people who spent their lives laboring behind barbed-wire fences in the literally subterranean world of nuclear weapons, hoping their work would one day secure peace. The careers of atomic scientists, like those at New Mexico's Los Alamos National Laboratory, who worked on designs for everything from the hydrogen bomb to the W54 SADM "backpack nuke," were once limited only by the darkness of their dreams. Now the same physicists are relegated to the science of technical maintenance, leaving many of them in various states of despair. "The students who grew up in the '80s or '90s are graduating today," notes Los Alamos weapons designer James Mercer-Smith. "I don't think they have any notion of why deterrence really does matter to them and their children."
The authors' trip to the Esfahan Uranium Conversion Facility in Iran, an oil-rich nation that does not have the capacity to refine its own oil, brings up the frustrating double-bind many countries face in regards to the energy crisis: It's possible to lessen oil dependence with nuclear energy, but with nuclear energy come the materials and know-how to produce atomic weapons. Similarly, the people of the Marshall Islands are economically dependent on the $15 million annual "rent" paid to the country by the United States, but they understandably despise America for using their Kwajalein Atoll for target practice. The world of atomic weaponry is defined by ambivalence.
With such a wealth of characters, locations and controversial politics on the table, one would assume that A Nuclear Family Vacation would be an engrossing read from the start. Sadly, it isn't. Instead of weaving the tortuous history of nuclear proliferation and disarmament into a vivid travelogue, in the manner of Sarah Vowell or Tony Horwitz, the "road trip" aspect of the story comes across as a pretext for a very dense, complex historical lecture. Scenes and dialogue are sparse. There are also some noticeable holes in the itineraryif Hodge and Weinberger could get into Iran, why not India or Pakistan ... or both? Moreover, the dual authorship of the book means the reader learns little to nothing about the people who are taking the trip. The subject is so important that one ultimately wishes the authors had delivered it in a more accessible manner.
If it's hard to remember how hot the Cold War felt, it's similarly hard to forget that the U.S. is barreling through the fifth year of a war it started under the false premise of finding weapons of mass destruction, and that a military confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program seems perilously closer every day. Though it fails to cohere into an engaging narrative, A Nuclear Family Vacation asks the reader to pay close attention to the American government's lack of consistent leadership on nuclear policy. It couldn't come at a better time. With the presidential election approaching, we can only hope the next administration understands the political complexities surrounding the nuclear arsenal better than the last. A president who could pronounce the word "nuclear" might be a good place to start. And if you're looking for Dick Cheney's "undisclosed location," it's in Pennsylvania.


text:
We know this. We recognize the need for a solid education, a stable home, and parents who are present and involved in the lives of their children.
But too often we think of parenting in generic terms, and thereby minimize the distinctive contribution of a father to a family.
How important is fatherhood?
Sometimes, you don't know how important something is until it's missing.
A few years ago, my wife and I were caught up in the popular television drama, Lost. The intriguing storyline and compelling characters had us coming back every week to see what would take place next.
Midway through the series, I was struck by how many of the main characters had "daddy issues." Much of the ongoing struggle and personal conflict was traced back to the characters' unresolved issues with their fathers – some who'd been present (and bad) and others who were absent.
Most disturbing was how, in some cases, the anger toward fathers led to patricide. Lost presented a frightening picture of what can take place when the biblical vision of fatherhood is missing. Suffering, anger, pain and violence followed a father's abdication of responsibility.
Flash forward a few years, and I'm sitting in my living room with a group of college students. We're talking about the subject matter for a new book I am writing – a work of fiction that teaches theological truth in story form. As I talk with them about the main character, a young college student struggling with big questions about Christianity, they advise me.
There needs to be a dad problem.
I was puzzled. But they insisted.
If you want this book to resonate with lots of guys, the dad needs to be absent. College students will relate.
There needs to be a dad problem.
Those of us who seek to proclaim the gospel today cannot ignore the massive implications of a distorted vision of fatherhood – fathers who have failed or fathers who have left. Due to fickle fathers and distant dads, our culture's view of God has been massively affected by the failures of our fathers.
And yet, the gospel becomes all the sweeter when it gains a foothold in the heart of someone longing for a Father who never fails. A Father whose gracious love for His creation led Him to reveal Himself as our Creator and Redeemer. In the gospel, we encounter a Son who was abandoned that we might be accepted, cast out that we might be brought in, crucified that we might be raised.
Jonathan Edwards understands the pain of fatherlessness. He also understands the sweetness of the gospel. His book, Left, is a raw and riveting series of reflections on life in the wake of parental abandonment.
If you are fatherless, you'll resonate.
If you are like me and you've been blessed with an earthly father who faithfully models our heavenly Father, you will find this book to be a window into how best to minister and serve our friends from broken families.
Here is a book that gives us a taste of a particular kind of pain, a pain felt by those who are seeking to remember what's good and forget what's bad, cherish the true and discard the false, love and forgive…and hope again.
– adapted from my foreword to Jonathan Edwards' book, Left: The Struggle to Make Sense of Life When a Parent Leaves. Available in print and on Kindle.


text:
I am so honored to have been able to work on another Clash Royale project with Golden Wolf Animation: www.goldenwolf.tv
Special thanks to Cyril Jedor for helping me out on the backgrounds (we were responsible for all the backgrounds)! Check out his amazing work here: www.artstation.com/cyriljedor
And even more thanks goes to Sammy Moore for bringing me aboard on this amazing trip :)
I'll post more soon, with process images and such!!!
📺 YouTube: youtube.com/c/TimKaminski
📷 Instagram: randomspirits


text:
Soft Boiled Eggs on Toast
DiY, soft boiled eggs over toast, the perfect comfort food breakfast.
- Duration
- Cook Time
- Prep Time
- 1 plus ServingsServings
- eggs
- bread for toast
Boil water in a small pot; place an egg on a spoon and gently place in the boiling water to prevent cracking. Cook egg for 3 minutes and then run under cold water. Meanwhile, toast 2 pieces of bread and when golden brown spread with salted butter. Cut the toast into little squares and place in bottom of bowl. Crack the egg in the center by using a spoon and scoop out the egg yolk and white unto the toasted bread. Mix well so all the bread gets coated with the egg. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!


text:
Hi everybody 🙂 Back with a new post this time – Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm Review. Having forayed into various personal care products for skin care ranging from lip balms to body butters, from moisturizers to lotions, Nivea is a brand that needs no introduction to an Indian user. Having tried Nivea smooth sensation moisturizing souffle and emerging satisfied with it, I was naturally gung-ho about its range of lip balms. I tired a tinted lip balm earlier from its range of lip balm- Nivea fruity shine cherry and was okay with it if not on cloud nine. For a change, I wanted to shift to a non-tinted lip balm and since I had a nice experience with Nivea so why not get one from the same? 🙂
To rejuvenate my lips from the vagaries of Delhi's perishing winters, I purchased Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm after reading ample rave reviews of the same online. It's been over two weeks of using this lip balm so that calls for a blow-by-blow evaluation of it. Doesn't it? 🙂 Anyway, let's begin with the Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm Review and see whether it deserves a 'yay' or a 'nay' 🙂
Price of Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm : Rs.100/- for 4.8 g
Directions for use:Apply on lips as often as desired.
Ingredients : Not mentioned.
Shelf life : 2 years
Color : white
Smell : Mild, pleasant and sweet.
What Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm claims
Provides long-lasting care and protection. Effectively help protect your lips from drying in any weather. Leaves the lips soft and smooth.
My experience with Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm Review
Packed in a traditional 'lipstick-style' packaging that is, with a blue-colored cap and a retractable tube inside, the packaging of Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm is hygienic, easy to carry, henceforth, travel-friendly. Since the cap is quite sturdy, it won't fall off easily. So, it is spillage-free. In terms of overall packaging, I find it up to the mark.
The texture is creamy and since the aroma is mild as well as pleasant, if you close your eyes while applying it, you'll feel as if you are daubing vanilla chunks on your lips 🙂 Just resist the temptation to lick it 🙂 Naturally, Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm glides effortlessly on your lips. It doesn't feel very greasy or heavy unless you swipe it a number of times. In fact, two-three swipes are more than sufficient to elicit a good coverage. The staying power is praiseworthy. It stayed well in place while keeping my lips moisturised for at least 3 hours that too during Delhi's perishing winters. I think it has the ability to keep those lips which are in dire need of moisturization well-hydrated for long that is, it is suitable for dry and parched/extremely dry lips.
As far as its tint is concerned,Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm is completely non-tinted/colorless. So, it won't hide/cover/conceal any sort of pigmentation-minor or major. If flaunting pink lips is your agenda, then this balm won't be of much use to you but if your priority is to hydrate your lips then this lip balm can fulfill that need or exigency depending on your lips 🙂
After a few days of usage, my lips have softened a lot in spite of not being chapped. More importantly, even after 3 hours, my lips feel well-moisturized for at least the next half an hour. However, please do not get carried away while using it. When swiped a lot, it may leave a white cast on your lips.
Given the price and quantity, Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm works exceedingly well to hydrate chapped lips and soften them overtime.
Also read
Lakme Lip Love Lip Care Peach Lip Balm Review
Emami Vasocare Sinful Chocolate Lip Moisturizer Review
Chapstick Classic Cherry Lip Balm Review
Good about Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm
- Well priced
- Easily available
- Excellent moisturization ability
- Long-lasting staying power
- Regular usage treats chapped lips
- Softens lips
- Suitable for use during harsh winters
Bad about Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm
- No tint or color imparted
- If swiped in excess, can leave a white layer/cast on lips. That's temporary though!
- Ingredients' list isn't furnished.
Availability : Easy
Fashion and Beauty Rating : 4.5/5