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The One For You by Roni Loren
Did you know there are a crap-ton of AWESOME new releases over the next couple of weeks? You'll want to get your 1-clicking finger ready…
I'm pretty sure I've admitted to y'all before that I have a weakness for sexy recluse heroes. (Extra points awarded for grumpy, sexy recluse heroes) Maybe it's because I'm fairly antisocial and avoid the outside world as much as possible except for when I'm out of food? Maybe it's because I like dogs more than I like most people? I dunno. Regardless, I gobble up every book I can find that includes sexy recluse heroes. So, with that in mind, here's the ULTIMATE list of hot, sexy, recluse heroes in romance today.
Throttle Me by Chelle Bliss
SUPER spoiler-y! Proceed with caution...
Look, I'm not going to rant and rage about this. I'm not one of those crazy Star Wars fanboys/fangirls who bully and berate folks on social media over a film. I have strong opinions, but I have no intention of yucking anyone's yum. So, if you loved TRoS, I'm happy for you. Truly, I am. And truth be told, there were some real high points to TRoS that I really enjoyed. But as someone who grew up on the original films (and thought very little of the prequels, frankly), I think JJ Abrams and Disney did the fans of the series--and some of their characters--a real disservice. Here's why.
Is there any better feeling than finding a book you love, then realizing it's only book 1 in a multi-book series? Binge-reading is real, y'all, and it's no joke. I'm forever looking for my next binge-able series. These are just a few of the great binge-worthy paranormal romance series on the market today. Enjoy!
Semi-Magical by Isabel Jordan
The Bluewater Billionaires series: Why romance readers need to check it out. NOW.
The Bluewater Billionaires is a series of connected standalone romantic comedies about a group of close friends who just happen to be self-made billionaires. Here's why I think all romance readers should be reading this series. (And authors, take note! We want MORE OF THESE THINGS)
HOT NEWS: Special New Releases Alert
Every so often, the planets of Romancelandia align in a perfect storm of awesome new releases from the best authors, all in the same week. In those rare and special moments, romance readers everywhere are gifted with extra speed and strength in their 1-Clicking fingers, increased reading stamina and intense levels of swooning. With that in mind, y'all better strap yourselves in because THIS is one of those special weeks. This is not a drill, people! I repeat: This is not a drill! Get to your e-readers! There's not a moment to spare!!
Stud Muffin by Jiffy Kate
When taboo romance crosses the line
If you've been on Romancelandia Twitter for more than a millisecond in the past week or so, you've heard about the giant kerfuffle regarding author Lucia Franco's book, Balance. I'm not linking to it because a) it was removed from Amazon, and b) I don't want to do anything that might drive sales of the book from other sources because frankly, I don't support it in any way.
Buying gifts for your loved ones is never as easy as you think it will be. There are just too many choices out there! The stores are always a disaster this time of year, and finding good stuff on Amazon can be tricky. So that's why we made this list, folks. You're welcome. Without further ado, here are the best holiday gifts you can easily pick up online for the book nerd in your life. (Or you can buy them for yourself. We don't judge.)
Even though we've done a few Christmas-y lists in the past (here and here), I'll admit that holiday romance isn't really my jam. But that doesn't mean there are LOTS of great holiday romances out there. We've scoured the interwebs, including all the romance super-reader forums, and came up with this list. You're welcome. So grab some cocoa, put on your comfy pants, start a fire, and grab your ereader, 'cause it's 1-clicking time …
Repeat by Kylie Scott
A Lie for a Lie by Helena Hunting
May 2022
Online Writer's Resources
Proofreading Test
Romance novel blurb help
Romance Remedy program
Referral program
Romance author services


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Series of three prints showing actress reacting to a gentleman caller and in various stages of undress. Nicely framed.
Shipping and insurance costs will be added to the price and must be paid for by the buyer. Pennsylvania buyers must pay appropriate local sales tax. International clients are responsible for their VAT and other custom's oriented charges.
Price $850
Sale Price $595
Ref.# 1768
Medium albumen print
Mount unmounted
Photo Date 1890s Print Date 1890s
Dimensions 8-1/2 x 6-1/2 in. (216 x 165 mm)
Photo Country France
Photographer Country France
Email email@example.com
Phone +1-215-518-6962
Contemporary Works / Vintage Works, Ltd.

subset: commoncrawl


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Geschichte | History
How ISS astronauts saw the eclipse
"The International Space Station passed 3 times on Monday through the moon's penumbral shadow. Images of the moon's shadow on Earth, seen from space, acquired by ISS astronauts. Did the International Space Station (ISS) see a total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017? No. According to NASA's EclipseScience, during this eclipse, ISS passed through the […]Weiterlesen | Read More
Deutsche Astronautin für die Internationale Raumstation
"Deutschland auf der Suche nach der Astronautin von Morgen: Die Internationale Raumstation (ISS), der Mond, der Mars – Nicola Baumann hat viele Ideen, wohin ihre nächste Reise gehen könnte. Eine davon könnte in einigen Jahren wahr werden. Für die Deutsche ist die ISS rund 400 Kilometer über der Erde nur noch wenige Schritte entfernt. Zur […]Weiterlesen | Read More
A Visual History of Spacewalks
"Fifty years ago, on June 3, 1965, Ed White performed America's first spacewalk—giving the country a much-needed space boost and a well-loved space hero. The half-century of extravehicular activity (EVA) that has followed is the legacy of White and the other early pioneers. Here is a look at some of the high points. March 18, […]Weiterlesen | Read More
Peggy Whitson nears, but downplays, space record
Article on cbsnews.com – written by William Harwood "Astronaut Peggy Whitson, making her third flight aboard the International Space Station and her second as commander, already is the world's most experienced female spacewalker. In a few days, she will become NASA's most experienced astronaut with more than 534 days aloft. In an interview Wednesday with […]Weiterlesen | Read More
Dr Jeanette J. Epps On Spending Six Months in Space
My Story: Dr Jeanette J. Epps on spending six months in Space She has a PHD in Aerospace Engineering, worked for the CIA in Iraq and once lived 50ft underwater. But in 2018, NASA's Dr Jeanette J. Epps, 46, will undergo her most ambitious mission yet… "Being an astronaut is one of those jobs where […]Weiterlesen | Read More
The last man to walk on the moon
Remembering Apollo 17's Gene Cernan – the last man to walk on the moon By Elizabeth Howell, Seeker – space.com "Gene Cernan, the last human to walk on the moon, died last week at age 82. The naval aviator joined NASA in 1963 and remained with the agency for over a decade, flying three times in space. […]Weiterlesen | Read More


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We debate: Mission Impossible: Fallout vs the top Superhero Franchises in theaters today! Who comes out on top? And is Ethan Hunt just #Batman without a costume?
PLUS: We welcome Adrian Wassel, E-I-C of Vault Comics onto the show to talk about their exciting new comics as part of our Summer Comics Spotlight!
Segment 1:
Michael and Hassan discuss movies coming out, Michael shares his thoughts after seeing Mission Impossible: Fallout, Is Mission Impossible a superhero movie franchise or an action movie franchise? What's the real difference between Ethan Hunt and Batman?
Segment 2:
Is Ethan Hunt a superhero?, Do superheroes have a choice on what missions they take? What are the top superhero film franchises?, What is a franchise?, Are Marvel and DC franchises? Is Star Wars a franchise? M. Night Shyamalan Unbreakable? What is the weakest superhero franchise currently?
Segment 3:
First Summer Spotlight segment, Michael and Hassan interview Adrian Wassel of Vault Comics, How could a publishing company with a Netflix partnership and sold out series fly under the radar?, Adrian explains how Vault Comics landed Michael B Jordan for Failsafe, Comic art among Indie Publishers, Adrian shares how he Vault Comics acquired their quality artists, Future releases from Vault Comics
Segment 4:
Oscars make changes to increase viewership, Oscars introduce new category Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film, Will Black Panther be nominated for Best Picture?, What's the difference between Achievement in Popular Film and Best Picture?, Patrick Stewart returning to Star Trek
Download our Podcast:
Or check out the show any podcasting app for your iOS or Android phone. Just search "Secrets of the Sire" or "Host Michael Dolce" to find us.
Stream our Videos:
And don't forget to go to our Patreon.com/secretsofthesire page and support our show! Listen to us every Wednesday night 8pm ET Talkradio.nyc
NEXT WEEK: Our "Summer Spotlight" continues as we welcome Source Point Press' Kasey Pierce on to talk about their exciting new line of books.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS


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Sahifa fully responsive WordPress News, Magazine, Newspaper, and blog ThemeForest
one of the most versatile website themes in the world.
About Us
Corporate Accounts
Contact Us
Taxi Fare Calculator
About us
M.T.Cabs is a family run business owned and run by Jerry Moloney. Jerry is a former Irish soldier who served his country both at home and abroad as part of the UN Peace Keeping Missions to the Lebanon and Somalia. Upon leaving the army in 1997 Jerry decided to put his driving experience of over 21 years to good use and set up M.T.Cabs.
Since our formation in 1997, we at M.T.Cabs have prided ourselves on providing a quality service to all of our customers.
We are Corporate Account specialists and hold accounts with many companies in the Wicklow area. We were the first company in Wicklow to issue a uniform for our drivers giving them a more professional look.
Over the past 19 years we have grown our workload through a combination of factors mainly our reputation for providing a friendly and punctual and professional service, supplying courtesy telephones in hotels and pubs, our extensive advertising campaigns and also by supporting the local community through sponsorship.
We are now North Wicklow's premier taxi/hackney company.
Enjoy your Taxi ride with M.T. Cabs!
Responsive ThemeForest Wordpress Theme Avada


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Vaccination remains the strongest defense against COVID-19. For more information about where you can schedule a vaccine,
be tested for COVID-19 or learn more about the virus, visit
Our Planned Giving Center is a valuable resource for your charitable gift planning. Wills and bequests provide a means for members of the Missouri Baptist Medical Center community to support programs of their choice well into the future.
Charitable gift annuities and trusts allow the donor to support the Medical Center and receive special tax benefits or other life income incentives. Non-cash gifts such as appreciated stock securities, real estate, and undivided interest in property or life insurance offer the donor tax incentives as well as the opportunity to make a charitable gift.
Planned Giving Center
Note: This will take you to a different website.
We all share a responsibility for the future of our community. At Missouri Baptist, our mission is to improve the health — and quality of life — for every neighbor we serve.
Honor someone special with a gift in their name.
We're going Back to the Eighties for the Missouri Baptist Foundation's biennial signature event, supporting the Missouri Baptist stroke program.
Alissa Nicks, founder of Alissa's Hope, and Dan Schultz, a volunteer with Alissa's Hope, continued the charity's tradition of providing funds for screenings that can save lives, awarding grants to two Missouri Baptist cancer screening programs.
Make a gift of any size and join the thousands who have come before you — and set a noble example for generations to come.
Donate Now
Learn more about our sustained giving programs.
Champions for Care
Planned Giving
Our new search tool will help you choose a doctor or health care provider that is best for you or your family.
Search Now


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Denim & Lace is not accepting new clients.
We will continue to serve previous clients.
Located in the beautiful Fraser Valley between Langley City and Aldergrove, Denim & Lace offers caring and courteous service. Respecting our clients, we strive for a perfect fit and a perfect finish in a timely manner.
Denim & Lace offers a range of services: alterations for wedding and grad dresses, custom sewing for the hard-to-fit, mom-and-daughter coordinating outfits and, to encourage the creative soul, we also offer sewing lessons.
For as little as $14/hour you can learn how to sew! Handmade baby quilts are a wonderful gift for the new mom in your neighbourhood or make a festive table runner in just two 2-hour classes. Grab a couple of friends and get sewing! Private lessons are also available. Please call to arrange a time for your adventure into the world of fabrics and sewing!
Want a prototype sewn? We can do that, too!
"Where ideas and dreams come together"


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Phishing sites that are active for only an hour? Welcome to the new scam world.
Google adds a staggering 9,500 new websites every day to its running list of malicious Internet destinations so the company can warn end users before they visit the sites, a member of the company's security team said.
"These are either innocent websites that have been compromised by malware authors, or others that are built specifically for malware distribution or phishing," Google's Neil Provos wrote in a blog post published on Tuesday to coincide with the five year anniversary of the company's Safe Browsing initiative. "While we flag many sites daily, we strive for high quality and have had only a handful of false positives."
With Google bots scanning huge swaths of the Internet, the company is almost uniquely qualified to know which ones are being used to steal passwords or spread malware that gives attackers remote control of people's computers. In 2007, Google unveiled Safe Browsing as a means to share that awareness with its hundreds of millions of users.
According to Provos, about 600 million people tap in to that awareness through programming interfaces built in to the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari browsers. Some 12 million to 14 million end users also receive warnings when Google search results lead to a site the company believes is malicious. The warnings—which carry bold letters that say "Warning: Visiting this site may harm your computer!"—appear after an end-user has entered or clicked on a URL that leads to a site believed to deliver malware or phishing pages.
Safe Browsing and a similar Microsoft initiative (which provides warnings to Internet Explorer users) have made people more aware of malicious sites, but attackers have adapted. Web addresses for many phishing sites remain active for less than an hour so they can fly under the radar. Many sites pushing malware similarly try to avoid detection by rapidly changing their location using free Web hosting services, dynamic DNS records, and automated generation of new domain names.
Google provides as many as 300 million malware warnings per day to Chrome users. It also sends thousands of notifications per day to Web masters and ISPs to help them keep their sites and networks clean.
Written by Dan Goodin / Courtesy of ArsTechnica


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Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) March 04, 2013
The Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI) at GateWay Community College will be holding its formal grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 7. CEI is a business incubator for early-stage and startup companies, offering business development services, educational programming and management resources.
Speakers will include GateWay Community College President Dr. Eugene Giovannini, Jacob Macias of the Economic Development Administration and CEI Executive Director Jeff Saville. Also featured will be Jasper Welch in one of his first public appearances since being named president and CEO of the National Business Incubation Association.
Another highlight of the ceremony will be the 11 client companies of CEI, which represent various industry segments such as bioscience, clean energy and software.
"Our clients are the reason we exist," said Saville. "What better venue than an open house in front of stakeholders and the general public to showcase these entrepreneurs who have dedicated themselves to positively impacting jobs in the state and the region."
The result of a partnership among the City of Phoenix, the Economic Development Administration and the Maricopa Community Colleges, as well as additional public and private partners, the business incubator helps companies grow and commercialize their business, championing small business job creation for the region.
The center houses more than 30 office, wet lab and light manufacturing spaces, as well as state-of-the-art presentation technology, client server room, and additional collaborative and meeting areas. Clients have access to student research teams and a vast network of mentors and partner organizations as well.
As attendees tour the facility after the ceremony, they will have the opportunity to interact with CEI clients and learn more about each company.
For additional information, visit http://www.ceigateway.com/grandopening.
CEI is located at 275 N. GateWay Drive in Phoenix, at the southeast corner of Van Buren and 38th Street/GateWay Drive.
About CEI
The Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation is a community-based facility at GateWay Community College located in the heart of Discovery Triangle. With funding from the US Economic Development Administration, City of Phoenix and Maricopa Community College District, CEI provides targeted business services and proactive business support to create a systematic link between technology development, compelling markets and opportunities; entrepreneurial and managerial talent development; early stage capital sourcing; and education and training, interns, coaching and business counseling.


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Saturday, 3 November 2012
6 comments:
- Unknown said...
This is gorgeous Jane, I love the image and bright colours :) Well done too on buying your Christmas presents already :)
- 3 November 2012 at 23:28
- Tammy said...
Oh goodness, I hope you didn't spend too much money on my giftS! Money would be just fine! Love your cute card, I think one of my sons must have posed for the card!
- 3 November 2012 at 23:30
- Chrissy said...
What a little cutie Jane, such a cool image, great colouring and papers, love the lime green ribbon.
I love buying pressies too..but saving it all for club night...one stop shop..awesome.
Luv CVHRISSYxx
- 4 November 2012 at 05:49
- Caroline said...
I love the image he is super cute and the layout is gorgeous. Caroline xxx
- 4 November 2012 at 07:17
- Sue said...
Fabulous card Jane, I love the image and gorgeous colours.
I hope you have a good Sunday
- 4 November 2012 at 08:30
- Lisa Minckler said...
I was happily in denial until I read the number of days until Christmas...CRIPES!!! Now full on panic has set in. So glad someone is on the ball. Sounds like you had a blast and I just adore your little cowboy with his little sippy bottle. That is completely precious!
Hugs to you,
- 4 November 2012 at 11:18


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It's almost the half of the year already. Hello May! 🙂 I guess you really lose track of the time especially if your busy. The first half of the year for me had been quite fruitful from finishing my MBA degree to attending family reunions since my uncles from the States came home after a long time to balancing work duties with my events.
Looking forward to many more changes in the coming months, now that I am officially done with my school I'm pondering on where to spend my spare time. Either I would consider teaching as a part time Professor in my Alma Matter to share my knowledge or go back to school and take up another degree or maybe attend more events and build on my online portfolio and pursue my hobby 🙂
Nonetheless, amidst all of these one thing is for sure I would still continue on attending events maybe not as often anymore since I'm also dabbling into other things as of the moment but for sure I would try to spare time for my hobby 🙂 With that being said, let me recount the recent foodie event I attended in Burger King where they introduced their new King 🙂 Read on to find out how it all boiled down 🙂
Continue reading "Burger King launches its Four Cheese Whopper"


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Teen Edgar Jimenez Lugo Sentenced to 3 Years for Mexican Drug-Cartel Killings
Daniel Hernandez, The Vancouver Sun, July 26, 2011
The "boy killer" who for many became a symbol of the lawlessness and social deterioration of Mexican society because of the nation's drug war was sentenced to three years in prison Tuesday for killing four people in Morelos state.
Edgar Jimenez Lugo, alias "El Ponchis," was 14 years old when he was arrested by the Mexican army in December. The teenager admitted before news cameras at the time that he began killing at age 11 and that a cartel paid him $200 a week to do it. He claimed to have beheaded four of his victims.
Three years is the maximum sentence for underage criminals in Morelos state, said Juan Carlos Castro, a Juvenile Court spokesman. However, because of time already served, Jimenez will now spend two years and five months of his sentence behind bars, Castro said.
Jimenez was arrested Dec. 2, 2010, while attempting to board a flight to Tijuana from the city of Cuernavaca, presumably planning to escape to the U.S. after details of his alleged exploits began appearing in Mexican newspapers. He was born in San Diego but grew up in Jiutepec, a small town near Cuernavaca where he was "kind of forgotten," his father, David Jimenez, told the Los Angeles Times last year.
The case shook Mexico. Good schools and good jobs remain out of reach for many young people, leaving up to a million youths drawn to the easy money and dubious street glory of the drug trade, university studies have shown.
The tale of "El Ponchis" was especially chilling. Jimenez was charged with four cartel-related executions–"I cut their throats," he said at the time–as well as carrying illegal weapons and trafficking in cocaine.
The teenager appeared remorseless after his arrest. Even as Jimenez's father attempted to defend his son before reporters last year, the boy responded to a question about his parents by saying, "They're dead."
Jimenez's sentencing came on the same day as violent incidents roiled Mexico amid President Felipe Calderon's 4 1/2-year assault on organized crime.
On Tuesday morning, the body of a missing journalist was found decapitated near the port city of Veracruz, the latest in a growing number of attacks against journalists in Mexico.
Yolanda Ordaz de la Cruz, a police reporter, worked at the same newspaper that employed Miguel Angel Lopez Velasco, a columnist who criticized local politicians. He was killed in an ambush at his home in late June, along with two members of his family.
Veracruz state authorities made an early denial Tuesday that Ordaz was killed for her "journalistic work," hinting at "links to organized crime" but not elaborating.
Also on Tuesday, in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, 17 people were reported killed after a riot in the municipal prison.


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How about the saying THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME. Maybe you have heard HOME IS WHERE YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS. Probably the most famous is HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS. I say that could be switched around to HEART IS WHERE THE HOME IS. A great example of this is having a particularly tough day and walking through your own front door to immediate decompression. As crazy as that sounds I bet just reading this you can remember the exact day that happened and how great being home felt.
It's true that being home is definitely where you find peace. The stress is less at HOME SWEET HOME. It is easy to understand why we have such an emotional connection to our home when we find it necessary to sell. Maybe it is because we have lived there since we got married. It could be we raised our children in this home and it is hard to part with the place they have always called home. One thing is certain, moving cannot take away all the wonderful memories you have made in your home.
I find in so many situations that homeowners decide to sell and then go bonkers trying to get everything in tip top shape to get the most for their home. Why not start now and enjoy your improvements for a couple of years. Updating now can be great for your family to enjoy and be financially rewarding for when you are ready to sell.
There are so many sites that you can research for ideas. Here are a few:
* This Old House
* Weekend Home improvements
* DIY Home Renovation on a Budget
* Inexpensive Home Upgrades
* Home Improvement Ideas for Kitchens
Sitting down with your Realtor could be enlightening to talk about boundaries you should adhere to when investing in your home. Your Realtor can also be a wealth of information with companies you can contact for estimates for those projects you cannot do yourself.
And always remember.....
...."You've got a Friend in Real Estate"
Jarod Tanksley
Brentview Realty 615.373.2814
As I drive around our community, I occasionally notice homes that are for sale by the owners (FSBO). I often wonder if these owners know the ramifications of selling their own homes. I am listing some points to consider and think about. Once you read these points, I think you may agree with me, that working with a professional is best for your protection in what is usually one of the largest financial investments of your lifetime.
:* Selling with a Realtor you will spend a lot less time marketing the sale of your home. The Realtor will handle showings with potential buyers, scheduling professional photographers for pictures that will help aid in the sale of your home, marketing to numerous websites, assisting in the negotiating of an offer to purchase your home and much more.
* You will actually receive more exposure to potential buyers by listing your home for sale with a Realtor because they have access to marketing opportunities that are not available to you, such as the Multiple Listing Service. More importantly, your home will only be viewed by potential buyers that are escorted by your Realtor or other Realtors, ensuring safety and security for your family. The safety and security is the most important point in today's crazy world of scammers and would-be theives. A professional Realtor will have a protective lock-box that insures a digital register of who has entered your home.
* Another benefit to choosing to use a Realtor is that you as the seller will not be putting money out up front. Sales commissions are paid when the sale closes and all contractual obligations are met. Your broker will instruct the closing attorney to handle all of the closing details.
* Be sure you have a plan on where you will move after your home is sold. If you are in the same area, your Realtor can help you find your next home. This is what your Realtor does everyday and he or she knows what is available for sale and available for you and your family to ensure a seamless transition from one home to the next.
* Your Realtor is there to guide you through legal requirements set out according to the sales contract. Occasionally, mistakes are made that wind up costing more than originally planned. Your Realtor will be there to assist in making the sales transaction smooth and as painless as possible. The listing Agent will protect you from the liability of a buyer suing for unknown problems or issues that can occur after the sale.
* One of the most important factors in selling your home is pricing your home correctly. This is something that your Realtor does in many ways by advising you of the selling prices of similar homes in your area and by meeting appraisers that are sent by the buyer's lender to be certain their investment is a wise one. A great percentage of homes sales will require an appraisal and if the home doesn't appraise for the selling price on the contract, Sellers are back to square one to begin again and have usually missed chances to sell to buyers interested when the property was first on the market. EVEN IN A SELLER'S MARKET, APPRAISALS ARE CRITICAL.
Selling your home can be stressful enough without trying to do it yourself. I know being able to talk to a professional about situations that arise is a much needed comfort in selling your home.
REMEMBER...I am here to assist you with all your needs, "You've Got a Friend in Real Estate"
It seems like sooner or later, you will experience selling your home and moving into another. While moving can be disruptive for parents, it can be traumatic for children. Simply because it is usually not their plan but the plan of the parents and in most cases connected to a work/career position.
This is a time when children need that extra attention and should be included in the process to feel more comfortable about the change. Children love familiarity and routine. As parents you need to consider the move. weigh the benefits of the change versus the zone of comfort and know how to assist them in the transition from the children's surroundings, friends and social life.
Whatever the circumstances of a move happen to be, keeping a positive attitude is essential during this time of transition. Everyone in the family is looking for reassurance that everything is going to be okay.
Talking about the move can answer numerous questions that might lead to anxiety. Parents should give as much information as possible to help contribute to an atmosphere of calm and happiness. Of course, you have to answer all questions truthfully and be receptive to both positive and negative reactions.
A move across town affords you the ability to show the new home to your children, however a cross country move may not. Not to worry! In this day of technology you can take movies and pictures and even provide a picture or two of prospective homes and the new schools they will be attending.
Suggestions for a smooth transition:
* Keep information clear and simple
* Explain that packing toys and favorite books is to move them and is not throwing them away
* You can role play with toy trucks and figures to make move seem more on their level.
* If new home is nearby and vacant - make a visit and take a couple of toys each visit.
* Do not make any other big changes like potty training or advancing from a crib to a bed during move.
* Buying new furniture for children's room sounds great but you might want to wait until you are in and settled to make that kind of change.
* Arrange a sitter for younger children on moving day.
Moving with teenagers can add a whole new set of challenges. It can involve severing romantic relationships to re-arranging special events like prom that are already in the planning stages. In some cases an older child might even want to finish the year by living with a relative or close friend. There is the other thought that moving mid year can give students time to meet new friends and become involved before the school year ends. Give a lot of thought and conversation with your child to see which situation works best for your family.
Moving can present many challenges, but many good things also come from a life change like moving. Many times the family becomes bonded and much closer by sharing new experiences. It seems you learn more about each other while going through the change of residences. Preparing for the move and talking about the move seems to be the key.
...."You've got a Friemd in Real Estate"
Brentview Realty


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What am I knitting?December 1, 2015
And sappy cat blogging . . .
Anna Mo knits with chunky spools of wool, utilizing giant needles to produces the three-inch stitches that comprise her blankets, wraps, and now tiny pet beds. The animal-focused textiles mimic the appearance of her human accessories, crafted in bright blue, pink, and orange encasements that are perfect for the upcoming winter. Due to the round shape of the beds they even begin to look like spools of yarn themselves, hollowed out to perfectly snuggle your pooch or kitty.
This is tattoo Tuesday . . .


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Structured Settlement Advance Tx
Are you hoping to get a structured settlement advance in TX? If so, the best place to turn is to us at We Pay More Funding. Having a structured settlement can be a great benefit until you want a large lump sum to make a large purchase. It is understandable to want full access to the funds that you have been awarded, which is where our services come in handy. At We Pay More Funding, we can help provide you with a structured settlement advance that you can do whatever you want with. If you have been awarded a structured settlement, but you want to access your funds right away, you should reach out to us at We Pay More Funding. You will be excited to learn that we can hook you up with the funds you need without charging you ridiculous fees.
Structured Settlement Advance in TX
At We Pay More Funding, we can help those with structured settlements, but we can also provide help to those with annuity payments and lottery winnings. There is not a limit to our capabilities at our one of a kind company. Our staff is more than happy to answer any questions you might have about the services we can provide for you. We are more than happy to cater directly to your individual needs, no matter what they may be. Instead of putting your trust in a less experienced company, turn to our financial experts at We Pay More Funding for the ultimate customer experience. No other financial company will treat you with the same respect and care that we will. You can count on us to be there when you need us the most. Our staff is always just a phone call or email away from being able to serve you.
Benefits of Early Access to a Structured Settlement
Having early access to the funds of your structured settlement can provide you with a boatload of benefits that you might not have considered. For starters, you will be able to make large purchases without having to worry about getting a loan. Those who have a bad credit history know that it can be tough to get a loan once you have made financial mistakes. Banks don't often take structured settlements into consideration when determining whether or not to grant an applicant a loan. If you want to make a purchase that is big, like a house, you will need to have full access to your structured settlement funds.
Cons Associated with Early Access to Structured Settlement Funds
There are very few cons associated with having early access to structured settlement funds. The biggest con is that people tend to overspend when they have access to large sums of money. If you are not responsible when making financial decisions, especially when granted access to large sums of money, you shouldn't consider a structured settlement advance. Another con is that if you spend all of your settlement advances, you will not have any finances to fall back on.Structured Settlement Advance Tx
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Our 15″ Monogrammed Round Acrylic Tray with handles is perfect for the table, bar or entertaining.
Also makes a wonderful home decor accessory for coffee tables, console tables or anywhere a tray can be used.
Make it yours with a three letter monogram, single initial or a name.
Perfect to give as a hostess gift, and a shower or engagement gift for a new couple.
If choosing a three letter monogram, please make sure the last initial is indicated for correct placement. Also, if selecting Block Lettering, indicate if you want all capital letters or upper and lower case.


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How to use the recipe shortcode/builder with WordPress 5.x
Kale Pro and Elara Pro have a recipe card feature that works by clicking a "carrot" button in the editor, which then launches a form where you can fill out the recipe fields.
WordPress 5+ introduces a new content creation experience, called the Gutenberg editor. Try it out and read more about it by going here: https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/
The Gutenberg editor which comes default with WordPress 5+ replaces the old editor. This hides (disables) the Kale Pro / Elara Pro "carrot" recipe card builder button.
In order to keep using the recipe card builder while we work on incorporating the recipe card into the new editor, we recommend that you use the familiar Classic Editor.
Please note, WordPress support for the Classic Editor plugin will remain in WordPress through 2021.
Installing and Activating the Classic Editor
The Classic Editor plugin restores the previous WordPress editor and the Edit Post screen.
To install, visit your plugins page and click the "Install Now" button next to "Classic Editor". After the plugin finishes installing, click "Activate".
After that, please go to the Settings > Writing screen and set the following options:
- Default editor for all users: Classic Editor
- Allow users to switch editors: Yes
For more details on reverting back to the classic editor, you can also review these resources:
- https://gogutenberg.com/disable-gutenberg/
- https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-disable-gutenberg-and-keep-the-classic-editor-in-wordpress/
After Updating to WordPress 5.x


text: Pujo contribution or Chaanda (as we fondly call this concept) is always an issue with the average Bengali. Be it in India or in USA, Bengalis have the feeling that this is an unjust extortion in the name of a festival that we all like to attend. It should be free for all of us. Where the organizers get their funds is not for us to bother about. Since, most of the Pujo organizers make it a point to ensure that each and every attendee pays their contribution, we'd like to get away with the minimum amount that helps us to claim a stake in the festival. But the Pujo organizers these days are smart, they make the contribution amount quite obvious by displaying it in bold font. To justify the specified amount, the organizers will cite different components of the cost incurred to hold a festival of this magnitude, like goat meat, Mumbai and Kolkata performers – etc etc. This cartoon raises a legitimate question – why not an a-la carte system for Pujor Chanda? Sounds fair to me!


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Thursday, Dec. 13
Walking Tour of the Inns. 4-8 p.m. starting from two points – the Del Marcos Hotel, 225 W. Baristo Road, or the Palm Springs Art Museum, 100 N. Museum Drive. The forecast is for rain, but if you've lived here long enough you know how random that is. And it could be over and done with by the time this starts. One Facebook reader said to be sure to stop at the Korakia Pensione, 257 S. Patencio Road.
Village Fest. There will be additional foot traffic from the weekly festival, which runs along Palm Canyon between Baristo and Amado Roads starting at 6 p.m. May be the perfect place to find that holiday gift.
Celtic Woman. Two holiday performances, 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Pechanga Casino Resort in Temecula. This musical ensemble features five female artists. They have appeared on PBS several times, and have sold more than 50 million albums.
Friday, Dec. 14
Coachella Valley Symphony. Featured cellist Pauline Schiff will play "Gabriel Faure's Elégie in C Minor" for cello and orchestra at 7 p.m. at Sun City Palm Desert's Sierra Ballroom.
A Broadway Christmas. Hear the holiday songs of Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Tormé from Broadway talent at 8 p.m. at the Annenberg Theater. Listen to Tony and Emmy award winner James Tormé band American Idol's David Hernandez.
Moody Blues. This storied band performs at 9 p.m. at The Show at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage.
Dirty Little Showtunes. The show has been extended through Dec. 29, and the songs have been altered to reflect the holiday season. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. on Sundays. Too much fun looking at gay life and love at The Commissary in Rancho Mirage.
Saturday, Dec. 15
Great Santa Run. This time you'll be all dressed up and have somewhere to go. Every entrant receives a Santa outfit. The 4-kilometer run/walk begins at 10:15 a.m at the Civic Center Park in Palm Desert. Entertainment follows featuring Chris Burke, who is best known for playing Corky on "Life Goes On". Glee's Lauren Potter, who plays Becky, will also be there.
Linda Gerard Record Release Party. Linda sings starting at 10 pm. at The Amigo Room of the Ace Hotel. Linda is the singing hostess of the hotel's Sissy Bingo. Her career spans 50 years including standby appearances for Barbara Streisand and Mimi Hines in "Funny Girl".
Palm Springs Historical Society Yard Sale. Runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 221 S. Palm Canyon Drive.
Sunday, Dec. 16
Check out brunch at Le Vallauris, which was just recognized as one of the top 100 restaurants in the country by Open Table based on consumer reviews.
Palm Springs Art Museum. A cross-section of photographic images depict historical moments and travel albums from the 19th and 20th centuries. Opens Dec. 16 and runs through March 28, 2013.
Take a Drive
Mannheim Steamroller founder Chip Davis will assist the Joshua Tree Philharmonic in bringing a distinctive brand of holiday music. This community orchestra will play the holiday arrangements made famous by Mannheim Steamroller. Performances are 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 13-15, at the Hi-Desert Cultural Center's Black Box Theater.


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Hair Techniques and Styles is a practical certificate course that covers creative updo & styling looks for special events. A strong focus is placed on proper blow drying techniques, how to use a variety of tools and on how to create a variety of fabulous looks for many potential clients.
This certificate is especially popular with Makeup Artists looking to add to their freelance skill set for the bridal market.
Please note that this program is non vocational and does not require approval under the Private Career College Act, 2005.


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What A Good Life!
The Good Life: Thoughts on Maintaining the Christian Life While Keeping it Fun can now be found on Amazon.
It has been a time of several peaks and a few valleys but I have finally gotten the work completed. I love the title because I think we as Christians do have " the good life" when we live upright, yet remember to be balanced and enjoy life along the way. (The title also represents the theme of the book.) 🙂
I hope you visit the Amazon page and do share how you are sure you are living "the good life"!
Posted in: Christianity


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Security staff pack more punch with top managers
Responsibility for IT security appears to be devolving away from the IT department, according to research to be published at this week's RSA Security Conference in Vienna.
Responsibility for IT security appears to be devolving away from the IT department, according to research to be published at this week's RSA Security Conference in Vienna.
A survey of 4,200 IT security professionals worldwide was conducted by IDC and security certification body ISC2.
Among European security professionals the research revealed that 25% report to the IT department, and a further 25% report to a separate information security department.
For the first time the survey has found security professionals reporting directly to the board of directors (7%), with a further 16% reporting to the executive management team. Others reported to finance, operations, risk management departments and even to independent consultants.
The research also found IT security professionals were earning between £35,000 and £60,000.
More than 33% of IT security professionals felt their influence on executive management would increase over the next 12 months, as security and compliance issues increasingly enter board agendas.
The trend is putting pressure on IT security professionals to develop business and communication skills alongside their technical expertise, said Sarah Bohne, director at ISC2.
"The information security community is starting to realise that the only way they are going to be successful and get the budgets they need is if they speak to owners using business language and business terms. There is a new level of awareness about that," she said.
The research showed that selling security to top management and dealing with internal company politics were among the most time-consuming areas of security professionals' jobs.
Despite this, ISC2 said employers were failing to give security professionals the training in softer
business and communications skills they need to liaise with colleagues.
Most security professionals in the UK are highly educated, with 41% having a masters degree or equivalent. Twenty five per cent said it was their company's policy to only employ professionally certified security staff.
Although security budgets have risen annually in Europe, most security staff predicted their budgets would remain static next year.


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Blogger and coach, Tara Sophia Mohr, has done a lovely thing and organized over 30 bloggers to post about The Girl Effect on the same day. Many of you probably saw the original Girl Effect video in 2008, which laid out the connection between educating girls in the "developing" world and reducing poverty and HIV/AIDS. It's a powerful message that they've shared again in a new video (posted below).
I was hesitant to promote the Girl Effect, just like I was when I wrote about it in 2008, because it is produced by the Nike Foundation. I'm still not clear on the extent Nike has improved its sweatshop situation. Some reports make it sound like things are better, others say it is the same. I'm guessing it's somewhere in between.
That said, the message of the video - educating girls can change the world - is an important one. If you'd like to be a part of spreading the word, post about The Girl Effect on your blog before Universal Children's Day (Nov. 20), and add a link to your post on Tara's site.
You can also donate to organizations and projects that facilitate girls' going to school like UNICEF, Room to Read, and Three Cups of Tea author, Greg Mortenson's, Central Asia Institute.
What are some of your favorite NGO's and projects helping girls go to, and stay in school?


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Aretha Franklin In Good Condition After Surgery; No Performances Until May 2011
The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, 68, who had surgery on today for an illness, is doing good after surgery. The surgery in question will not be revealed, however the singer has canceled a number of performances at the request of her doctor.
Aretha Franklin's most known hits are "Respect," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," "Think," "Do Right Woman" and "Chain of Fools."
Aretha Franklin's biggest album to date is "Amazing Grace" which sold over two million copies in the U.S. alone. The album "Amazing Grace" also received Double Platinum certification.
The surgery follows after Aretha Franklin broke two ribs in August.
Meanwhile, the singer has been ordered not to perform until May 2011.
Get well.


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GUEST COLUMN: Laws that restrict development protect citizens
By KENT LILLIE
Where do my rights end and another's begin? Given the point of view expressed in your Aug. 19 editorial regarding Sandestin, "Struggling over free enterprise," would you agree that since I own a car that can travel 140 mph, I should be allowed to drive at that speed through a school zone? That's comparable to what you advocate with respect to development in Sandestin and Walton County's enforcement of the law. When a landowner develops real property in the state of Florida, very specific federal, state and local laws must be obeyed in order to protect the property rights of the many and to guard against irresponsible development and its possible negative impacts on stormwater mitigation, property erosion, road compaction, etc. Without those laws we are left with chaos, which is exactly what would happen in Sandestin if the county were to overturn long-existing laws, as you continue to advocate. In this case, the authority is the state-issued Development of Regional Impact (DRI) designation, which is administrated by the county and clearly requires that there be no fewer than 1,031 acres of open space in Sandestin. According to the county's analysis, Sandestin is deficient of that requirement by 72 acres. In a nine-hour public hearing conducted June 6 by the Walton County Commission, developers were given more than adequate time to present their case for development. The four commissioners attending voted appropriately and unanimously to hold the development firm to the DRI requirement. Currently there are approximately 4,600 residences in Sandestin, some 400 undeveloped home sites and a number of very robust commercial enterprises — and we are already suffering from infrastructure challenges, including stormwater management and road and beach compaction. Development of Osprey Pointe and the requested diminishment of a lake that is a crucial part of our stormwater mitigation could have been the proverbial straw that broke our infrastructure's back, to the detriment of thousands of owners. Had the county not followed the law, the result would not only be potentially devastating to the lifestyle and property value of existing Sandestin property owners and commercial enterprises but to the region as well. So we were delighted to learn that Walton County has now given, as your editorial put it, its "thumbs down" decision on Osprey Pointe (and all future development) until and unless developers meet the minimum requirements of the DRI or successfully implement the only appropriate remedy, which is a Notice of Proposed Change to that document. The Walton County Commission, attorney and land development professionals should be commended for following the law and holding all developers accountable rather than criticized, as this newspaper continues to do. I suggest that your editorial staff take the time to appropriately review its position on this matter and understand that this ruling, in supporting a clearly stated 30-year-old requirement, does not unfairly restrict the developer but rather protects the thousands of people who have invested well over 2 billion of their dollars in Sandestin. This is not new regulation or overregulation by any definition. Finally, I also feel compelled to comment on your Aug. 19 editorial's last paragraph, which says that individual enterprise "seems to us the surest path out of the gloom of the Great Recession." Your writer must not live along the Emerald Coast and certainly not in Walton County, where we are enjoying a boom economy with record tourism, the lowest unemployment rate in the state (3.4 percent) and generally increased property values and construction activity!
Kent Lillie is a former president of the Sandestin Owners Association. He lives in Sandestin.


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Starwood Preferred Guest has announced the properties that are changing award categories, effective March 1, 2016. It's not terribly painful, with about 12% of properties going up a category and 8% going down. But, there are some pretty good properties getting more expensive soon.
The announcement was posted on InsideFlyer Thursday night but due to some travel delays yesterday I didn't get a chance to analyze the list until this morning. The key here is that these changes go into effect on March 1, 2016. We have 9 days to book awards at those properties where the rates are going up. As a quick refresher, here are the redemption amounts for the different categories:
- Category 1: 3,000 points
- Category 2: 4,000 points
- Category 3: 7,000 points
- Category 4: 10,000 points
- Category 5: 12,000-16,000 points
- Category 6: 20,000-25,000 points
- Category 7: 30,000-35,000 points
Some of the highlighted properties that are moving categories:
Properties Going Up in Category
- The Westin San Francisco and Le Meridien San Francisco both go from Category 5 to 6
- The Sheraton Universal goes from Category 4 to 5 (ouch for families visiting Universal Studios)
- The Westin Beaver Creek goes from Category 5 to 6. Skiers and Mommy Points will be sad.
- The W Washington, DC goes from Category 5 to 6.
- The Walt Disney World Swan goes from Category 4 to 5. It's sister property the Dolphin appears to be staying a 4 and is just fine for families as well.
- The Sheraton and Westin Maui both go from 5 to 6.
- The W New Orleans and Westin Copley Place, Boston both seem like unreasonable jumps from 5 to 6.
- The Westin New York Grand Central goes from 5 to 6. Well located, that's a shame.
- Westin Austin Downtown moves from 5 to 6.
- The Equinox, a property we thoroughly enjoyed, goes from 5 to 6. Probably worth it given their normal rates.
- Le Meridien Munich goes from 4 to 5. We're planning a stay there later this year, so I need to get that wrapped up!
- Le Meridien Barcelona goes from 5 to 6. We loved that hotel many years ago, but 20-25K points a night seems like a bit of a stretch.
- The Park Lane Hotel in London goes from 5 to 6.
- Westin Grand Cayman goes from 5 to 6.
Properties Going Down in Category
- Le Meridien Bora Bora drops from Category 7 to 6.
- St. Regis Bangkok drops from Category 6 to 5.
- Westin Athens Astir Palace drops from Category 6 to 5. We stayed at the sister property Arion last year. Both are nice, within short walking distance and I would absolutely choose the cheaper points option.
- Sheraton Palace Hotel in Moscow drops from Category 5 to 4.
- Most of the Istanbul hotels are dropping a category.
You can see the full list on SPG's website.
All in all, there are notable properties in the US and Europe going up but not much of interest in the US that's getting cheaper to redeem points at.
Your obvious strategy is to book any properties going up a category before the end of February. If you already have awards booked for a property that's dropping down, call SPG on or after March 1st to have the reservation adjusted and the difference in points refunded to your account.
I guess this could have been worse given that hotel occupancy has stayed high over the past year. No new categories or increases in the points per category. Other chains have had more painful changes as of late. You should still be cautious hoarding Starpoints given the upcoming Marriott merger and uncertainty surrounding the program that causes.


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If you are tired with the same look of your wall and need a change, but still not the right time to paint your entire house, well then this trick would do - Designer Wall - Highlight one wall with a contrasting color to complement the rest of the color theme in the room, which immediately gives an alluring look in a day.
Bored with your sitting area? Updating is easier than you might think, and it won't cost you an arm and leg. Let's say, we don't even have to replace our beloved old sofa. Here this classic beige sofa is modernized just by changing the accent pieces. Those bright pink cushions which I once thought was a wrong buy is now lying in my sofa and making it right in every possible way. Bring in more colors and change the mood every season.
This wall hanging which I bought in Limeroad recently is now an eye-catcher in my hall.
Lighting is very important to bring out the ambiance. Make sure to hang the right choice of light fittings that suits the mood and style of that particular room. Lamp shades are always a classic choice to spruce up your living room and bedroom.
Tip # 3
Tip # 10
Finally, whatever the theme is, always keep it simple. Try to avoid clutters and too many styles reflected in your space. Remember not alone bricks and walls can create a home but your love and affection makes it a beautiful and a cozy place to live in.
Churn out your ideas and get ready to turn your valuable asset – house - into the most beautiful heaven on earth.


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This artwork (Artist's watercolour on rag paper) was built around the bunch of cherries, adding the deep blues of the plate and the copper browns of the jug for emphasis. Details and price available on request..
FRUIT AND BERRIES OF AUTUMN. Still life painted in watercolours on paper.contemporary art, floral artwork, Fruit, Original Artwork., painting, Signed by the Artist, Still life, Uncategorized, watercolour
The locally made vase was the focal point for this large watercolour, that I filled with berries, ivy leaves and "supported" on a colourful cloth, prior to painting. Artist's wtercolours and rag watercolour paper were used in this work, which is available.
Apple, a versatile fruit. Watercolour on paper.Acrylic painting, Anne D'Alton's Artworks, contemporary art, Fabulous Art Classes & Courses in Brittany, W.France., Fruit, Original Artwork., painting, Signed by the Artist, Still life, Uncategorized, watercolour
Commissioned by an orchard owner. Both of us were very pleased with this work. Now in a Private Collection.


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This is a Canadian test required mainly for permanent immigration and Canadian citizenship. This is completely computer based test unlike IELTS which is paper and pen exam. Its format is entirely different from IELTS.
Reading module offers four options on computer to choose an answer unlike IELTS which asks an examine true/false/ not gives, use options A/B/C, and write one, two or three words to answer correctly.
Listening module is again choosing options on computer unlike IELTS. You get earphones for listening conversation unlike IELTS where one hears conversation on speakers (in Canada and many developed countries.
Writing module needs two letters to be typed on computer.
Speaking is also before a computer to be recorded in the same computer instead with a person as in IELTS.
Our professional coaching and books make it way easy for you to pass CELPIP in minimum time.


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- This event has passed.
Seasonal Spring Farmers Market Cooking Class
June 4, 2017 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm$60
We'll be buying produce from Armstrong, Iron Creek, Geneva Lakes, Growing Home, Radical Root, Sandbox Organics, River Valley Kitchen, and Oriana's Farms at the Logan Square market to create a lovely 4 course meal together! Which means lunch will be provided. You'll also get a nice recipe booklet of everything we made. The class is at noon, but if you want to meet at the market at 10:30, we can shop together, and carpool back. Hope to see you in the morning!
This is very hands on, and so space is quite limited. The class, lunch, and recipe book is an all inclusive (no tax, no tip!) $60, and if you're interested in making a reservation, you can click here.
That said, here's a preview of what we'll likely be making:
Glazed Asparagus with Almond, Black Olive, and Saffron Aioli
We'll likely be buying our asparagus from Geneva Lakes Produce, glazing it in a slightly sweet and acidic olive oil glaze with herbs, and topping it with some diced cured black olive, slivered and toasted almonds, and a nice saffron aioli.
Persian Cucumber Pirikara
We can likely get Persian cucumbers from Iron Creek Farms, and will use a Japanese salt rolling technique to slightly pickle and soften them a bit. Then we'll toss them with sesame oil, and togarashi chile to create the classic cucumber pirikara dish from Japan.
Fingerling Potato Salad with Sorrel Pesto and Walnuts
We'll roast fingerling potatoes from Iron Creek Farms, chill them, and toss them with a pesto made with fresh sorrel from Armstrong Farms. Last week Sandbox Organics had some nice chive blossoms we could use as a garnish as well!
A classic potato salad with the fresh untamed flavors of spring.
Spring Onion and Green Garlic Stuffed Shiitake Mushrooms
We'll fill shiitake mushrooms with MORE shiitake mushrooms, courtesy of River Valley Kitchen, as well as some spring onions from Iron Creek Farm, and Green Garlic from Growing Home Organics.
Also, a touch of ginger, sesame, and tamari.
This makes for fantastic party food, and is found in many a Japanese izakaya.
Almond Cake with Strawberry Rhubarb Compote
I have an excellent recipe for a gluten free almond cake that I use quite frequently, and it is lovely when paired with a strawberry-rhubarb compote. Both the strawberries and rhubarb can often be found at Oriana's Farm.
This menu is likely what we will be making, but is subject to some changes based on availability.
The class is at noon, and if you are interested in meeting me at the Logan Square Farmers Market at 10:30 to go shopping with us, you can write me to let me know when you make your reservation.
Once again, the class, lunch, and recipe book are $60, and you can make reservations here.
Hope to see you then!


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Published on
Star Trek Beyond is the third movie in the rebooted Star Trek franchise that started with an origin story in 2009's Star Trek and was followed by Star Trek: Into Darkness. They were apparently both successful enough to warrant another sequel. I have just seen this movie even if has been available for months now on Blu-Ray. I'm mentioning this because it illustrates how much of a "must see" I consider these movies. Unlike Star Wars, the Star Trek franchise is a much more low-key endeavor. One that doesn't pull you on board the hype train.
Another thing plaguing the rebooted Star Trek franchise is it's memorability. I only remember small bits from the previous two movies. Certain elements, like Spock and Uhura being a couple, were new to me upon watching this movie. Luckily the characters themselves are carbon copies of the original series so it's easy for to dive back in having seen all of the movies featuring the original cast.
Star Trek Beyond has the crew of the Starship Enterprise end up scattered on an unknown planet after an attack. With no means of contacting the Federation or each other, they must try to escape from this planet and prevent the evil warlord Krall from destroying a nearby Starbase named Yorktown and starting a galactic war.
The original Star Trek movies were always kind of polarizing: they were either very good or atrociously bad. They took chances which did not always pay off, but when they did both the makers and audiences were rewarded. These new Star Trek movies take fewer chances and tinker hardly with the formula. The results are always watchable and to a certain degree entertaining, but also very decent.
And with decent I actually mean boring.
The end product might be OK, but there's nothing new on the horizon. For a series about boldly going where no man has gone before, Star Trek is firmly stationary in its ideas. They travel a bit through space, come upon an alien threat, end up in some nasty situations which they overcome and defeat the bad guy saving the day and the universe. Star Trek Beyond is no different.
Director Justin Lin, mostly known for his Fast & Furious movies, takes over from J.J. Abrams. Having pushed stunts that can be done with a car to the limit, he now gets the opportunity to do the same with space ships. Star Trek Beyond has plenty of action sequences in which a lot of stuff blows up. Even in Space. Lin is a no hold barred director, making the story second fiddle. Trek was always more philosophical compared to Wars, but it feels as if they have to compete with them and decide to do so by making this an action fest. The result is a movie with striking visuals, but a rather serious problem when it comes to plausibility.
Since the beginning of Star Trek Scotty has always been running around the engine rooms fixing things. Plugging a jiggamatiz into a warpcore or something like that in order to save the day. In reality, a bird in a plane engine can cause the whole thing to go down. We saw that in the movie Sully about the plane that landed on the Hudson. In Star Trek Beyond it's seemingly possible to fly a ship that has been stripped of 50% of its elements. It's unintentionally funny to hear Scotty explain how they can do some quick fixes and get the wreck up and running again. Talking about Scotty: if you're in need of a drinking game, just take a shot every time he calls a female character "Lassie". Passing out drunk guaranteed.
Star Trek Beyond is an entertaining but forgettable movie. In two or three years I will probably be writing a review on the fourth Star Trek movie and will be having a hard time recollecting this one. This movie will probably only be remembered as the one with Sabotage by The Beastie Boys on the soundtrack. A shame, because this franchise has potential but the people behind have be as bold as they claim their characters to be.


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Ron Levine and Terry Bossert Serve on Panel Examining State Attorney General Investigations at Shale Insight 2017 on Sept. 27
White Collar Group Chair Ronald H. Levine and Shale Resource Group Co-Chair Terry R. Bossert served as a panelist and moderator, respectively, on a panel discussion on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at Shale Insight Conference 2017 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA. The panel, "Managing Attorney General Investigations: Increased State Environmental Enforcement and How You Can Survive," took place from 11:00 am ET - 12:15 pm ET.
Given the current administration's apparent de-emphasis on enforcement, and states adopting their own positions relating to climate change issues, it is expected that the attorneys general (AG) of some states, their environmental units, and their counterparts at state departments of environmental protection will seek to fill the vacuum by increasing regulatory and enforcement efforts. While the level of enforcement scrutiny will vary by state and by AG party affiliation, state AGs can ignore these areas only at their peril.
The panel of criminal and civil environmental enforcement experts, including Mr. Levine, Molly Corey, Assistant Attorney General from the Ohio AG Office and Jeff Landry, the Attorney General for the State of Louisiana, discussed the current state of environmental enforcement in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia; took attendees through a state environmental investigation, and discussed ways to navigate such an investigation to minimize financial, business, and reputation risks.
The annual conference for the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC), Shale Insight 2017 offers participants interaction with industry-leading CEOs, elected officials and thought leaders, all of whom play a critical role in crafting the public policy and technical landscape that defines shale gas development around the world. Panel discussions, networking sessions, and keynote presentations provide attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors unprecedented access to the industry's most influential leaders and innovators. Learn More.


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Data Hoards, Time to Backup!
In a perfect world, we would not have system failures, data corruption and situations where data was simply deleted. The golden age of computing is upon us where people have generated a tremendous amount of data doing everyday things such as taking photos, collecting a music library of MP3s, or simply downloading stuff from the internet. Some data we may value more than others, but as bad habits go we usually keep everything until we get the message "YOUR SYSTEM IS FULL". It's natural that we all hoard data – some we are aware of and some we simply don't know where it came from. It somehow got stored on our hard drives by way of downloading and or after we just installed something on our computers. Either case, the data will sit there growing and growing.
We all know that this is not a perfect world and our computers will fail, heck we may decide to delete a bunch of folders not realizing what we may want was in there. Time to do backups!
There is a plethora of backup devices today at your local Best Buy, Staples, and online stores. They come in forms of ready to backup external USB drives starting at under $100bucks, USB memory sticks that have lots of storage space, SD and MicroSD cards. All these can be purchased and ready to back up your data at just about any large retail store.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are the device-less backup services that can simply back up your data over the internet—all securely of course. You probably have heard of iCloud that came with the iPhone you just purchase, you may have heard of GoogleDrive, Carbonite, Mozy Pro, and even ITAnywhere Vault! All these are backup services that can back up just about any type of data you have generated on your computers and devices. You just need to simply install some small software package from them and begin the count down. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ! Backup sequence has started. Besides making it easy, pricing is also great as well. Cost can range anywhere between a few bucks a month to $30 and up for more storage and recovery features. There are business grade options as well if you are running a small business.
In the end, we ask all ask the basic question: what is your data worth to you? The simple answer is that all data is worth everything when we need it. Go ahead spend a few bucks and have a piece of mind that you have a copy of this data secured somewhere. Do cheap out and don't forget to back up because it's going to cost you a lot more than just money in the long run.


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8 Thus the Lord God showed me: Behold, a basket of summer fruit. 2 And He said, "Amos, what do you see?"
So I said, "A basket of summer fruit."
Then the Lord said to me:
a"The end has come upon My people Israel;
bI will not pass by them anymore.
3 And cthe songs of the temple
Shall be wailing in that day,"
Says the Lord God—
"Many dead bodies everywhere,
dThey shall be thrown out in silence."
4 Hear this, you who 1swallow up the needy,
And make the poor of the land fail,
"When will the New Moon be past,
That we may sell grain?
And ethe Sabbath,
That we may 2trade wheat?
fMaking the ephah small and the shekel large,
Falsifying the scales by gdeceit,
6 That we may buy the poor for hsilver,
And the needy for a pair of sandals—
Even sell the bad wheat?"
7 The Lord has sworn by ithe pride of Jacob:
"Surely jI will never forget any of their works.
8 kShall the land not tremble for this,
And everyone mourn who dwells in it?
All of it shall swell like 3the River,
Heave and subside
lLike the River of Egypt.
9 "And it shall come to pass in that day," says the Lord God,
m"That I will make the sun go down at noon,
And I will darken the earth in 4broad daylight;
10 I will turn your feasts into nmourning,
oAnd all your songs into lamentation;
pI will bring sackcloth on every waist,
And baldness on every head;
I will make it like mourning for an only son,
And its end like a bitter day.
11 "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord God,
"That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But qof hearing the words of the Lord.
12 They shall wander from sea to sea,
And from north to east;
They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord,
But shall rnot find it.
13 "In that day the fair virgins
And strong young men
Shall faint from thirst.
14 Those who sswear by tthe 5sin of Samaria,
Who say,
'As your god lives, O Dan!'
And, 'As the way of uBeersheba lives!'
They shall fall and never rise again."
About The New King James Version
The New King James Version is a total update of the 1611 King James Version, also known as the "Authorized Version." Every attempt has been made to maintain the beauty of the original version while updating the English grammar to contemporary style and usage. The result is much better "readability." It is noteworthy that the NKJV is one of the few modern translations still based on the "Western" or "Byzantine" manuscript tradition. This makes the New King James Version an invaluable aid to comparative English Bible study.
New King James Version
All Rights reserved
The text of the New King James Version (NKJV) may be quoted or reprinted without prior written permission with the following qualifications: (1) up to and including 1,000 verses may be quoted in printed form as long as the verses quoted amount to less than 50% of a complete book of the Bible and make up less than 50% of the total work in which they are quoted; (2) all NKJV quotations must conform accurately to the NKJV text.
Any use of the NKJV text must include a proper acknowledgment as follows:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version.
However, when quotations from the NKJV text are used in church bulletins, orders of service, Sunday School lessons, church newsletters and similar works in the course of religious instruction or services at a place of worship or other religious assembly, the notice "NKJV" may be used at the end of each quotation.
For quotation requests not covered by the above guidelines, write to Thomas Nelson Publishers, Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000.
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text:
Population: 27,970,600
Countries: Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg
Currency: Euro
Languages: Dutch, French, German, Luxembourgish,
Key retailers: 12Game.com, Bart Smit, Bol.com, Carrefour, Collishop.be, Colruyt, Cora, DelHaize, Dixons, Dreamland, Dynabyte, FNAC, Free Record Shop, Fun, Gamemania, Intertoys, Makro, Mediamarkt/Saturn, Music Store, Smartoys, Supra Center, Traffic, V&D, Wehkamp
Distributors: ABC Soft, BEMs, Big Ben, CLD Distribution, DIES, EBS-Benelux, Favour Games, Gameworld, Hermans Retail, Home Entertainment Group, Horelec, Micromedia, MMS, PB Projects/Saltoo, Rigu Sound, VSN
Population: 25,218,000
Countries: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden
Currencies: Euro, Danish Krone, Norwegian Krone, Swedish Krona
Languages: Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian
Key retailers: Antilla, Bilka, Blockbuster, CDON, Citymarket, Coop, Discshop, Elkjp, F-Group, GAME, GameStop, Mediamarket, OnOff, Spaceworld, Stereostudio, Top Toy, Webhallen
Distributors: Also, Amo, Bergsala, Game Outlet, Koch Media, Massemedia, MPX.no, Nordic Games Supply, Nordisk Film, Panvision, PH/Elap Distribution, Plan 1, Platekompaniet, SIBA, Wendros
Both the Benelux and Nordic games markets are victims of their own diversity.
The former is comprised of three neighbouring countries (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg), while the latter is less of a recognised entity and more of an umbrella term given to an area of Northern Europe.
Naturally, this means that when it comes to publishing, distributing and retailing video games complications arise when targeting such a broad range of consumers, languages and cultures.
The main characteristic of our territory is that we have to deal with a wildly multi-lingual market: Dutch in the Netherlands and Belgium, French and German in both Belgium and Luxembourg," says CLD Distribution CEO Jacques Leboutte.
We also have to cope with a lot of different retailers – particularly in Belgium and Luxembourg – on a quite tiny market of around 25m people."
Leboutte says varying tastes within these small markets doesn't help either, anecdotally highlighting how southern Belgium's appetite for manga-based titles like Dragon Ball is in complete contrast to that of their northern neighbours.
In fact, according to GfK figures, the biggest game overall in Nordic countries was Call of Duty. But in Sweden, World of Warcaft and Kinect were the biggest sellers.
Rising to the challenge
Firms in these regions are used to such intricacies but the economic decline of the last few years have made things much more difficult. Businesses have been forced to find new strategies that will help them grow, or at least stay afloat.
The video games industry in Europe faced some hard financial challenges during 2010, and Benelux was no exception," says Michel van Elmpt, managing director of publisher Easy Interactive.
It was a tough year for the whole industry, with many companies bringing in lower turnovers in our home region. Alongside the financial pressures, the lack of new consoles on the market and the handhelds nearing the end of their lifecycles definitely caused a depressed level of consumer interest."
Because of the falling sales, retailers and distributors are being more selective on the games they stock.
As the market declines, there has been less room for B and C titles," says Hans Large, general manager for Koch Media in Benelux. There is a strong focus on triple-A titles and franchises, with budget games performing well. The segment in-between is under pressure."
Leboutte agrees: The market is challenging for publishers, distributors and wholesalers.
With the number of SKUs required often double or even triple that of France or the UK, it's important to have a relevant logistic organisation and a fine-tuning commercial team.
You need the right products in the right quantities in order to function in this market."
Publishers have to be just as careful in this increasingly competitive environment, working even closer with the High Street to secure product space.
The majority of retailers have been able to lower their stock positions thanks to publishers adjusting their minimum orders. This helped to sustain the market and improve margins," says van Elmpt.
Distributors have to be more discriminating, which means that publishers like us have to be more strategic with above-the-line spends."
Despite this, there was impressive growth among retailers over the past year in Benelux. Gamemania opened more than 50 new shops in the Netherlands, while Belgian chain Smartoys opened its 25th shop.
Lost in translation
It's a similar story in the Nordic regions: Denmark and the Scandinavian trio of Norway, Finland and Sweden. While the industry has felt the strain of recession, careful planning has ensured that many titles still return a tidy profit.
Retailers focus more on strong titles, as well as budget and pre-owned games," says Martin Sirc, GM of Koch Media's Nordic office. Any titles in-between tend to suffer and often fail to get listed everywhere.
The Nordic market consists of four different languages which further complicates things – just try fitting a four-language blurb on the back of a DS game."
When working in a market that is considerably more fragmented than that of the UK, strategy becomes key and margins for error grow smaller. But the games industry in Benelux and Nordic is so accustomed to juggling consumer tastes and trends that economic troubles are just another challenge, rather than a burden.


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Some of you may remember that my previous blog (Moonlighting Foodie) was, obvs, all about food… Well, La Belle Hibou will be about many things, including food as well. And what better time of year than the holidays to talk about food!
Recently, a friend of mine asked me to give her some advice and tips about cooking a Thanksgiving meal. Needless to say, this took top priority in my day! Here are a few of those tips for the essential elements to your turkey dinner this week!
Turkey: the most important part of the meal, but usually the easiest!
- FRESH TURKEY – if financially possible, always buy a fresh turkey, not previously frozen, one or two days before you cook it. Keep it in the fridge until showtime.
- You can either brine the turkey, which involves soaking the turkey overnight (12 hours +) in heavily salted water, or right before showtime, you can slather the turkey in lots of butter. The benefits to brining the turkey are it seasons the meat all the way through and doesn't require a lot of salting right before putting it in the oven, and it also tenderizes the meat. Brining is definitely the best recommendation for seasoned tender turkey. If you don't have time to brine the turkey, you can always take lots of chilled SALTED butter and 'lotion up' the turkey skin, especially the breasts and legs. Be sure to get the butter underneath the skin as well wherever possible and LOTS OF BUTTER in the cavity. There should be a nice buttery coating all over the turkey when you are done. This will make for very crispy skin when it's cooked.
- Even if you aren't stuffing your turkey, you should add large onion pieces (or even large apple pieces) into the cavity of the turkey, enough to just about fill the cavity. This little trick helps hold moisture inside the turkey.
- Another awesome turkey cooking secret that my family uses is a turkey bag. THEY REALLY WORK!!! After you either brine or butter your turkey, take a turkey bag and add a tablespoon of flour to the inside of the bag. Inflate the bag a bit, hold the open end of the bag shut, and shake the flour around the bag so that there's a light dusting of flour inside. Then, have someone help you place the turkey inside the bag (it's best with 2 people… less messy). After the turkey is in the bag, add 2 or three sticks of celery, some pieces of onion and two or three carrot sticks into the bag – this also helps keep the turkey moist. Seal up the bag with the little ties from the turkey bag box, and pierce a few holes into the bag as per the instructions on the turkey bag box. GUARANTEED DELICIOUS MOIST TURKEY EVERY TIME!!!!
Dressing: For stove top dressing, my recommendation is always Mrs. Cubbison's Cubed Dressing. This is a brand you can find at any grocery store. I also recommend substituting BEER (preferably a blonde lager or nutty stout) for the chicken broth that the dressing calls for. This gives the dressing a very tangy kick to the flavor. Just follow the rest of the instructions for the dressing, and leave out any ingredients you may not like. I personally always add chopped black olives, a little bit of chopped celery, and chopped onions. And of course, BEER.
Mashed Potatoes: I think the best mashed potatoes are made with lots of UNSALTED butter (you should add a little bit of salt on your own, not depend on salted butter) and either CREAM (my preference) or milk. In my experience, the best mashing potatoes are either yukon gold or red potatoes, but regular russet potatoes work too, since most of the flavor comes from the butter and cream/milk. Just be sure to boil the potatoes really well, and let them cool before you add the butter and cream/milk. Once they've cooled off, use an electric hand mixer to whip them and smooth them out. Add the butter (depending on how many potatoes you use, I would use the butter liberally but within reason, think 3/4 stick to 1.5 sticks). Then add the cream/milk a little at a time – you don't want potato soup… Too much cream/milk can be disastrous. Not enough cream/milk is too starchy. Whip them with the hand mixer, and you cannot go wrong. For some kicky potatoes, try adding additional flavors like freshly grated horseradish (you can get a piece of horseradish from Whole Foods), freshly minced garlic or wasabi (you can buy some wasabi paste at Whole Foods too). JUST A LITTLE BIT! You don't want to lose the flavor of the potatoes/butter/cream or milk by overpowering them with the additional ingredient. Any additional kicky ingredient should be added VERY LIGHTLY… for just subtle flavor.
Best of luck, and most of all, Happy Thanksgiving!
Bon Appetite!


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Minister of the Environment, Dr. Denis Lowe (FP)
The environmental and economic devastation wrought by Hurricane Ivan has been deemed a "testimony" of the region's??vulnerability to natural hazards, and as such a call has been made for more equitable?? distribution of resources under the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
It has come from Minister of the Environment, Dr. Denis Lowe, who said that notwithstanding??the presence of facilities to assist the region in better accessing and utilising them, access to funds and supplies had "always been difficult".
"The need for an equitable means of distributing the resources available under the GEF Trust Fund is recognised and appreciated. However, the conditions of access and utilisation should reflect the same consideration to the special circumstances of [Small Island Developing States] (SIDS), enshrined in the relevant Conventions," the minister suggested.
His comments came during a recent address to a Sub-regional Workshop for GEF Focal Points in the Caribbean, at the Accra Beach Hotel.
Noting that Barbados, like many other countries of the world, was "completely committed to the pursuit of a Green Economy," Dr. Lowe stressed that while the setting of such policy objectives was inescapable in the development process of SIDS, they were extremely difficult to realise.
??"The challenge of exercising due diligence with regard to environmental considerations is??further complicated by??the smallness of??our economic base; the variety and high cost of the services?? necessary to maintain our standard of living; and our vulnerability to external economic shocks," the Environmental Minister declared.
"We note that the recent, mid-term, Resource Allocation Framework had revealed several of the concerns expressed by SIDS over the duration of its implementation. We trust that the ongoing effort to formulate a revised allocation system in the next cycle will be more considerate of SIDS' issues and those of the Least Developed Country Community," he concluded.
The two-day workshop seeks to enable countries to participate effectively in the GEF in order to address their global habitat priorities within the context of sustainable expansion efforts. It is also a forum for regional GEF Focal Points to learn about new directions and progress in GEF; interact with GEF partners; discuss follow-up actions and share knowledge and best practices from country and regional perspectives.
Barbados'?? GEF Operational?? Focal Point officer is?? Rickardo?? Ward, Project Manager with the Ministry of the Environment, who also serves as Council representative and Chair of the GEF Caribbean Constituency, for 2009- 2010.??Counsellor with the Barbados Mission in Washington, Donna Forde, serves as the island's Political Focal Point.
The GEF, established in 1994 under the aegis of the United Nations Environment programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank, seeks to assist in protection of global ecosystems and to promote environmentally sound and sustainable economic advancement.


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ANTIC Interview 384 – Fandal: Atari programer and archivist
Fandal: Atari programer and archivist Frantisek Houra is better known to the Atari community as Fandal. He's an Atari computer programmer and long-time archivist of European Atari software. He has created many original Atari games and conversions from other platforms: including Fruity Pete, Mashed Turtles, Crescent Solitaire, and Diamondz. This interview took place on August


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Canada 2011
April 2011
Friday April 22nd 2011
On a Thursday evening, I was gripped by a sudden urge to travel. It happens sometimes. I checked out flight prices, but it was Easter weekend and everywhere in Europe was absurdly overpriced. I looked down a list of flight prices, scrolling to ever higher prices in search of somewhere that was even remotely both affordable and interesting. And then I spotted a flight to Canada, for a very reasonable sum, leaving the next morning. Before I even knew what I was doing, I'd gone and bought the tickets.
And so only a matter of hours later I was touching down in Toronto, on a cold overcast April day. I headed into the city with no plan at all. One of the first things I caught sight of was naturally the CN Tower, once the tallest structure in the world. I went up and watched night fall over the city.
Saturday April 23rd 2011
The most common way for me to be out and about early in the morning is if I've been out all night. But I was suddenly and unexpectedly five time zones west of my usual habitat so I got up at 6am and headed out into the city. The day started grey and drizzly, and I slightly regretted leaving behind London during its hottest April ever. But the clouds started to break up and the sun eventually appeared.
I wandered randomly and ended up at City Hall, which looked like some kind of alien launchpad. Temperatures were now soaring, almost to the high standards that I'd left behind in London, so I decided to head out to the Toronto Islands.
Saturday April 23rd 2011
I walked down Bay Street and found my way to the ferry terminal. The boat shuttled across to the islands in a few minutes, and in hot sunshine I went walking. I didn't get very far before I reached a small cafe, so I bought a coffee and sat on a nearby rocky beach, watching high clouds drift over Toronto. I wanted to walk out onto a small headland for a better view, but as I did, a giant Canada Goose suddenly reared up in front of me, flapped his wings and hissed. I backed off, a bit surprised. I waited until he'd calmed down and then tried again, skirting the edge of what I thought might be his territory. But he jumped up again. I thought about braving it and pushing on, but had visions of "Traveller killed in freak goose incident" headlines and decided the views from the beach were OK.
I walked over to the far shore of the islands, and it felt like a very peaceful place compared to the city. It was still early season and most things were closed, so all I could do was relax and watch the green waters of Lake Ontario churning in the wind. On a pier on the outer shore was a sign like you often find in touristy places, indicating the distances from here to various places. It was a bit sparse, though. The only places indicated were Niagara Falls and the North Pole.
I wandered through the islands back to the main ferry terminal and found that the queues for the return boats were immense. It looked like it would take hours to get on board, so I headed to a quieter ferry terminal, two miles away at the other end of the island. It was a long walk and I got there just after a ferry had left. It was an hour until the next one, and there was nothing to do but watch sunbeams over the city until the boat came in.
Sunday April 24th 2011
I got up early again the next day, planning to go to Niagara. But I got lost on the way to the subway station, ended up walking all the way to Union Station, and missing the train by five minutes. It was Easter Sunday, and few trains or buses were running. It was raining anyway, so I decided to leave Niagara for the next day. I walked out through the empty streets of Toronto, quiet in the drizzle, and the only people around were homeless, unhinged, or both. I ended up in a Tim Hortons, a place I had never heard of before arriving here but which was on every street corner. Their business is in providing disgustingly sugary snacks. I bought a coffee and a doughnut, and felt slightly nauseous after I'd finished. 20 minutes later I had bizarre cravings for another one. I decided Tim Hortons was a dangerous place and left.
By 11am the streets were getting a little bit busier. I wanted to check out some contemporary art, so I walked a long walk from the centre of the city out to the western districts, where I found the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art. A gallery with a coffee-inspired acronym - it had to be good. But it was closed for a new installation to be constructed, so I trudged back into the city.
By now it was hot and sunny again, and I was annoyed not to be at Niagara. I hoped the weather would stay fine the next day.
Monday April 25th 2011
The next morning I managed to get to Union station in time for the train to Niagara Falls. I still almost got into trouble with a streetcar that stopped short of its normal destination and left me a few minutes away, but I got on the train with a couple of minutes to spare.
The train was going to New York. Ontario sped past outside the window, as the bright blue sunshine that had started the day ebbed away and left behind high grey cloud. We passed through towns called Aldershot and Grimsby, and eventually we pulled into Niagara Falls station.
The grey clouds were descending. I walked out of the station, into an empty town. I was coming to one of the most touristy places in the world, but it looked like not many people arrive by train and walk two and a half miles down to the falls. I reached the cliffs above the wide green Niagara River and walked south. Small icebergs in the river floated north.
I didn't expect much of the falls. I wasn't even sure why I was going there. I've seen some of the biggest and widest falls the world has to offer, and these ones would surely pale in comparison. But then I walked round a corned, and in the distance saw a wall of water thundering over a cliff, and it was breathtaking. I walked on down the road. Spots of rain were starting to fall. I passed the international bridge and wondered if I should pop over to the US while I was here, but I thought that my battered and frayed passport might make it much more hassle than it was worth. I decided to stay in Canada.
The rain got heavier. By the time I reached the falls it was utterly grim, and at the lip of the falls it was even more grim as the spray competed with the rain and made everything twice as wet. I briefly retreated inside a ghastly tourist complex, had a nauseating Tim Hortons doughnut and a coffee, and then decided that whether it was raining or not, I had to get out of there. I walked up into Niagara Falls town. Giant hotels and casinos lined the streets. I was thinking of going up an observation tower, but the top of it was in the clouds. I walked randomly until I got to a place downstream of the falls where I could look over the rushing river with the massive horseshoe bite taken out of it.
The rain eased off and I walked back to the falls. In spite of the horrible commercialisation and the horrible numbers of tourists, they were impressive. I watched the water powering over the precipice for a while, wondering why humans like waterfalls enough to build grotesque tourist empires next to them.
Then the rain started falling again, and I headed back up to the station. Clouds clung to the sides of the river valley, and icebergs drifted by. The bus back to Toronto fought its way through the downpour and at one point the driver had to ask a passenger to wipe the condensation off his front window. Wet to the skin, I trudged back to where I was staying.
Tuesday April 26th 2011
It rained almost continuously the next day. I'd planned to explore some outdoor places, but in the end the rain battered down relentlessly and I spent most of the day in cafes waiting for breaks in the weather.
I found a food market, in which there was a spectacular choice of maple syrup. What is sold as maple syrup in the UK must be mostly flavouring, or else I was getting severely ripped off here, because the tiniest plastic bottle of the stuff here was as much as a big jar in the UK. I bought some anyway, having been advised by a friend to get hold of the dark stuff that you don't get anywhere else.
I bought some food and coffee in the market, relieved to have broken my severe Tim Hortons addiction that had blown up over the past few days. And then I walked back towards my hostel for the last time, through the sodden streets and the crowds of umbrellas. A thick fog brewed up and when I got to the airport for my flight home I could hardly see the planes on the runway.
Tuesday April 26th 2011
I was playing around with an intervalometer quite a bit while I was in Toronto. Here's the result:


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Cloud+ 2018 dates and location announced
By Paul Ragusa
Updated Wed April 18, 2018
We here at Security Systems News are excited to announce the dates and location for Cloud+ 2018, which will be held in beautiful Delray Beach, Fla., on September 5-6. The conference will take place at the Delray Beach Marriott—an intimate, Mediterranean-style hotel located on the Gold Coast at the corner of A1A - Ocean Boulevard and famed Atlantic Avenue, located directly across the street from the beach. This is also the same location where we host our TechSec Solutions conference each year.
Last year's Cloud+ education program received high marks from attendees, and we are hard at work putting together another top-notch program that makes Cloud+ the education destination for those who are pioneering within the cloud community.
Click here for more info on the conference, the location and to see last year's program and speakers, who are the "who's who" of the industry. And stay tuned for more on the show, including announcements of the keynote speaker and full education program.