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Ottawa Family Portrait Photographer
A Tobaggan/Sledding hill can be a great place to get some cool family portraits and have some fun at the same time.
And the best part is the kids don't have to look at the camera and smile ( either do the adults actually!)
Looking for a fun winter family portrait? Don't be afraid of the cold – dress warmly and you can have a great time
We don't mind lying in the snow to get the portraits you want.


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The number of people with dementia is expected to almost double to 65.7 million by 2030, according to a World Health Organisationreport published on Wednesday.
By 2050 the number of sufferers could be more than three times the current figure of 35.6 million, the UN body said.
The report published with Alzheimer's Disease International estimates the cost of treating and caring for those with the condition at $604 billion (461 billion euros) a year.
Dementia is caused by a variety of brain illnesses that affect memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday activities.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and makes up about 70 percent of cases.
The report said far more effective diagnosis was needed, as even in high income countries only 20 to 50 percent of dementia cases are routinely recognised.
"We need to increase our capacity to detect dementia early and to provide the necessary health and social care," said Oleg Chestnov, assistant director general of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at WHO.
"Much can be done to decrease the burden of dementia. Health-care workers are often not adequately trained to recognise dementia."
Only eight countries worldwide have national programmes in place to address dementia, according to the report "Dementia: a public health priority".
The study also highlights a general lack of information and understanding about the disease, fuelling stigma with the result that people sometimes delay seeking support.
"It is now vital to tackle the poor levels of public awareness and understanding, and to drastically reduce the stigma associated with dementia," said Marc Wortmann, executive director of Alzheimer's Disease International.

subset: commoncrawl


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If we are made aware of any inaccuracies, we will endeavour to make the necessary corrections. The information provided on this site cannot, however, render the owner or service provider liable.
The owner assumes no responsibility for interruptions due to technical problems that might result from use of this site or any other external site which it is linked to.
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For this purpose, please contact us where necessary.


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La Choy Fancy Sliced Water Chestnuts
Product Details
Since 1922, La Choy has delivered Asian-inspired ingredients, helping people prepare quick and delicious meals for their families with confidence. La Choy products give you the confidence you need to bring Asian flavor to your kitchen. Make mealtime easier and add a touch of Asian flavor to your favorite meals with La Choy Sliced Water Chestnuts. Inspired by traditional Asian cuisine, La Choy Sliced Water Chestnuts provide texture and flavor to any meal. Open a can and serve.
- Each 8 Ounce can of La Choy Sliced Water Chestnuts contains 45 calories, 1 gram of protein, and 45 milligrams of sodium per serving.
- La Choy Sliced Water Chestnuts are a fresh and easy way to add flavor and crunch to Asian soups, salads, and meals.
Nutritional Information
Water Chestnuts, Water, Citric Acid.
Allergen Info
Free from Does Not Contain Declaration Obligatory Allergens.
Actual product packaging and materials may contain additional and/or different ingredient, nutritional, or proper usage information than the information displayed on our website. You are responsible ... Read More
Product Reviews
Kroger is not responsible for the content provided in customer ratings and reviews. For more information, visit our Terms and Conditions.


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Oct. 10, 2002 -- People who have a family history of suicide or mental illness are more likely to fall prey to the same problems themselves, according to a new study. Although suicidal behavior has already been shown to run in families, researchers say that may not tell the whole story.
In their study, Danish researchers looked at over 4,200 people aged 9-45 who committed suicide and compared them with more than 80,000 who had not.
They found that people who had a mother, father, or sibling die from suicide were two and a half times more likely to commit suicide themselves compared with those without a similar family history. And people who had a family history of psychiatric illness that required hospital admission had a 50% higher risk of suicide, but only among those who didn't already have a history of mental illness themselves.
The study appears in the Oct. 12 issue of The Lancet.
Researchers say the findings show that a family history of suicide or serious mental illness independently affect the risk of suicide, and the effects are strongest when combined.
Study researcher Ping Qin, from Aarhus University in Denmark, and colleagues say the study suggests a family history of psychiatric illness only increases suicide risk by increasing the risk of developing a mental disorder.
But researchers also say that it's clear that a family history of suicide significantly increases suicide risk, whether or not the individual has a personal or family history of mental illness.
Qin says including the family history in determining suicide risk is important because it can also help identify people vulnerable to mental disorders associated with suicide.
Researchers say the number of suicides linked to family history would likely be even larger if suicides of extended relatives, familial suicide attempts, or other mental disorders that did not result in hospitalization were included in their analysis. -->


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What Mechanics Shops Are Open on Sunday?
The automotive service centers at Walmart and Sears are open on Sundays. While the specific hours vary from location to another, both of these retailers offer auto repair seven days a week.
The services available at Walmart's automotive centers are more limited than those at Sears. At Walmart, consumers can get new tires and batteries installed. Oil changes, fluid tests and other preventive maintenance tasks that are scheduled at regular intervals of mileage on the car are also available. Walmart provides consumers with a slip and a barcode so that they can shop in the associated Walmart store and scan the barcode at readers placed throughout the location to find out whether the car is ready or not.
Sears Auto Services offers a more comprehensive range of maintenance for consumers. In addition to tires, batteries, oil changes and regularly scheduled maintenance, Sears also offers brake repair and installation, work with suspension and steering and inspection and repair of the car's electrical system. While almost every Walmart has an automotive center, not every Sears offers automotive services. However, as of 2015, there are more than 700 Sears automotive locations in the United States. Sears also lets customers book a repair appointment online to minimize waiting times.


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Discount Code: AC100_HN25%
Discount Code: 50-AC1002019
It's so awesome that you have interest in volunteering at AC100. The race could not exist without people like you. At AC100 there are many areas in which we could use help. We'll make sure that you have a great time helping us. Please fill out the form below and we'll get in touch with you as soon as possible.
2011 AC100: Runners on Mt Baden Powell at 9300 ft elevation
1988: The Original First Five 100 Milers Compared in UltraRunning Magazine


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Moray Motor Museum is notable not only for its priceless collection of vintage, classic and veteran motorcycles and cars but also for its historic building which was a grain mill during the reign of the Bishops of Moray in Moravia.
The museum is located in the centre of Elgin, the capital of Morayshire. Thus it's easy accessible and can be a perfect destination point for families with kids, school trips and whoever who wants to spend time with some use.
In addition many vehicles are still working, can be climbed on and off. The part of the collection are model cars and automobilia that make the collection more complete.
The facilities of the museum include free parking, restaurant, disabled access and refreshments.
A visit to the Moray Motor Museum is a great chance to enrich your knowledge of motoring history and see how it was at the beginning of engine evolution.


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"Developing" the Hartselle sandstone formation in Alabama will be a multi-step process that involves mining or in situ extraction, then processing to separate the bitumen. When the bitumen is extracted from the sand and clay, the bitumen is processed into heavy crude oil, which is then transported to a refinery for further processing into petroleum products or exported overseas.
This post is the first in a series that will address bitumen mining, extraction and processing as it will presumably play out in Alabama, based on what is being revealed by companies actively pursuing oil sands mining in Utah and Kentucky.
Each step in the process is fraught with opportunities for contamination of the water, air and surfaces of northwest Alabama. Each step in the process will contribute in some way to the destruction of property values, quality of life, health and the natural beauty of northwest Alabama.
Representatives from MS Industries II, LLC have told the news media and business leaders repeatedly that they will do no fracking. MS Industries II, LLC representatives stated at their open house that they will do no fracking or in situ processing. That's fine.
Fracking isn't, by itself, the issue. In oil sands extraction, the process is known as steam-assisted gravity drilling or cyclic steam stimulation. This might be an issue in the future, but we'll assume for the sake of this post that in situ underground extraction will not be an issue in northwest Alabama.
Here's the thing: MS Industries II, LLC representatives never reveal that there's more to "development" of these "God-given resources" than simply mining and then processing the Hartselle sandstone through their super-duper, top-secret "proprietary" solvent-based system. Getting the oil sands out of the ground doesn't happen magically. And separating the bitumen from the sand and clay doesn't happen through magic, either.
Step One: Surface Mining
The bitumen which is of interest to the fossil fuel industry is found in North Alabama in the Hartselle sandstone formation. There's also an asphaltic limestone that has been mined in the past in northwest Alabama. We'll focus for now on the Hartselle sandstone.
In the land area acquired by MS Industries II, LLC and TMS Newco, LLC most of the Hartselle sandstone is believed to be at or just below the surface.
The first step in the process will involve digging up the earth to get to the Hartselle sandstone formation to get to the oil sands or asphaltic sandstone (or whatever the industry wants to call it on any given day).
Surface mining can be performed in a variety of ways. In the old days, the coal industry called this strip mining. Then the coal industry discovered that strip mining didn't generate a good vibe when proposed to the humans who live in the area that would be affected by the mine. So, to improve the vibe, the fossil fuels industry and its PR team came up with the term surface mining because it seems more benign (and it encompasses a wider-range of activities, like quarrying).
Based on PR photos provided by US Oil Sands, Inc. and Arrakis Oil Recovery, LLC (acquired last year by Archer Petroleum, a Canadian company), the surface mining of the Hartselle sandstone formation in Alabama would involve a series of open pit quarries.
To create these open quarries, all surface vegetation will be excavated away. That means all trees will be cut and/or excavated, all grass, all wildflowers, all "weeds," all the topsoil will be removed. Surface mining involves stripping all vegetation and topsoil away from the surface to get to the desired substance, in this case Hartselle sandstone.
We don't know the size of these quarries because the existing operations in Utah and Kentucky are still in the experimental stage, although US Oil Sands, Inc. in Utah claims to have received all necessary permits based on its experimental quarries and is now moving full-speed ahead as the "first permitted commercial operation in the US."
Here's a screen capture of a company PR photo of an oil sands mine in Kentucky (shown here for purposes of public comment and criticism):
Here's a screen capture of an industry slide showing an 1990s-era oil sands mining project in Wyoming (shown here for purposes of public comment and criticism):
Here's a citizen's video of the test pit at the PR Springs operation in Utah:
The current status of the Kentucky project(s) is more nebulous. One company representative told someone I know that they are currently producing 1,000 barrels a day at their Kentucky facility.
Here's a citizen's video of an Arrakis Oil Recovery LLC mine in Kentucky from 2012:
Back to the northwest Alabama project. If we extrapolate from these photos and videos of what the experimental quarries or pits or surface mining operations look like in Utah and Kentucky we can begin to see how the landscape of northwest Alabama will be changed.
It's well-documented that the presence of surface mining operations and quarries have a direct, negative impact on residential and non-industrial commercial property values. Negative means property values go down. Research on these effects will be summarized in a future post.
Don't believe the word pictures the industry representatives paint for you when they claim that oil sands mining in northwest Alabama will be pretty, safe, and monitored by state environmental regulators.
Digging up the earth never is pretty, it presents numerous opportunities for negative human health and environmental effects, and it won't be monitored in Alabama. If violations ARE detected, enforcement in Alabama is minimal–the small fines imposed are never enough deter future violations. The fines are treated as a cost-of-doing-business.
Once the site has been mined out, there will be a process of reclamation. That comes at the end, whenever the mining site has been fully mined. I'll cover reclamation topics in a future post.
Who knows how long it might be before reclamation of a given mining site begins…..all depends on the size of the mines, the quality of what the mining company finds, how much is there, how fast the mining company digs it up and hauls it out, whether the mining company stays in business long enough to finish the reclamation, whether the bond is sufficient to reclaim if the mining company goes out of business.
I say "mining company" because nothing prevents MS Industries II, LLC from selling their assets to another company before or after they get all the necessary permits. And MS Industries II, LLC is only one of the plethora of companies with an interest in "developing" Alabama's mineral resources.
Step Two: Transport to the Processing Facility
Representatives of MS Industries II, LLC keep saying there will be "no in situ processing." That means the Hartselle sandstone and significant portions of surrounding earth must be transported from the surface mining "quarry" to a processing facility.
This stage of the process will involve two phases:
A. Likely on-site storage for the Hartselle sandstone that has been extracted and is awaiting transport to the processing facility.
B. Transportation on county roads.
On-site Storage of Mined Hartselle Sandstone
It is unlikely that dozers and excavating equipment will load the earth directly into an awaiting dump truck. It is more likely that the Hartselle sandstone and associated topsoil, clay, and other rocks will be piled up at some location around the quarry or open-pit mining site.
When it's dry the particulate matter (dust particles containing everything from fine dust and silica to benzene, arsenic and mercury) will be available for transport by wind to contaminate our air and invade our lungs.
When it rains, the particulate matter, benign and toxic can wash into creeks and wetlands. Because the earth has been disturbed by excavation, some of the heavy metals once safely trapped in the clay and sandstone might be released and available to seep into aquifers and wash into streams. More on these potential effects in later posts.
Transportation of Mined Hartselle Sandstone
Meanwhile, a steady stream of dump trucks and other heavy-duty trucks will be parading in and out of the mining sites carrying loads of Hartselle sandstone and associated dirts and rocks to the processing facility.
Won't it be safe and enjoyable driving to work, school or shopping caught in a never-ending convoy of dump trucks hauling Hartselle sandstone to a processing facility in Spring Valley, Wolf Springs or wherever they put it?
Won't it be enjoyable sitting in your yard while a parade of dump trucks pass by from dawn until dark?
I know that the Shoals cycling community enjoys riding in the rural areas to be mined. I regularly see riders in the area. I don't expect they will get much pleasure dodging dump trucks on their rides. Shoals cyclists: Enjoy the rides while you still can.
Step Three: Bitumen Separation
Once the Hartselle sandstone and other dirts and rocks arrive at the processing facility, they will be piled up for processing, which will require separation.
Again, we know very little about the process that MS Industries II, LLC will use, other than it's "proprietary." Company officials tell us the process is environmentally-friendly and involves some type of solvent.
Bitumen Extraction Patents
US Oil Sands, Inc. and Archer Petroleum both provide details on company websites about their patented technologies for separating bitumen from the soil and clay.
MS Industries II, LLC representatives simply tell us they have a super-duper, top-secret proprietary formula that's safe. Trust us, they say.
Hard to know what the MS Industries II, LLC proprietary formula might be. If you search the patent records for patents on bitumen extraction technologies, you'll find lots of them. Patents are public, by the way. So keeping the patents a secret seems odd, especially since US Oil Sands, Inc. and Archer Petroleum have revealed their patented processes.
What's Left After Processing?
Once the bitumen is separated, the US-version of oil sands processing results in, essentially, two main products: Bitumen which can be further processed into usable forms and "clean" sand.
The bitumen might be processed at the processing facility or at another company's operations elsewhere in northwest Alabama and shipped out as heavy oil by rail or barge to a refinery. Or the bitumen (mined asphalt) might be used locally for asphalt production (a whole different set of issues). Or the bitumen (mined asphalt) might be shipped out by rail or barge. More on what's known about the US-version of bitumen processing in a future post.
"Clean Sand"
The "clean sand" could also be a marketable product for the operator. Depending on the quality of the sand, it might be usable as frac sand for shale and gas fracking operations. Or the sand might be sold to local sand and gravel companies that supply the construction and road building industry.
Summary of the System
So, what we know today is this:
- Hartselle sandstone has to be mined. Surface or near-surface Hartselle sandstone will be removed through surface mining in the nature of open-pit mines like quarries. All surface mining requires removal of all vegetation.
- The mined product must be stored while awaiting transport to the processing site.
- MS Industries II, LLC has a super-duper, top-secret propriety formula that it claims is safe.
- Post-processing we have:
- Bitumen, which requires storage, transport and further processing, or asphaltic rock that might be used locally in asphalt paving.
- "Clean sand" that might be sold to construction, road building suppliers or to frac-sand providers.
- A small percentage (perhaps 5%, based on disclosures by US Oil Sands, Inc. ) of processed effluent which must be disposed of, usually as discharge into a stream or river.
- Damaged land that must be reclaimed into some usable condition. The extent and scope of reclamation is an unknown until regulations are written and permits are issued.
- Since MS Industries II, LLC or TMS Newco, LLC acquired large tracts by warranty deeds, it is unlikely those companies will display a human landowner's stewardship concerns about biodiversity and soil quality. In short, the scope of reclamation on company lands will likely be quite different than reclamation of mined land on leased property.
I will delve more deeply into these topics and processes in future posts.


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Native American Students Helping Preserve Language
Where can you hear 32 Native American languages spoken by more than 600 students in two days? The Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair held at the Sam Noble Museum is where.
More than 70 schools from Oklahoma, Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi and New Mexico participated at the event, which was started nine years ago to provide support to tribes struggling to preserve their languages.
Native American languages are being lost because young Natives aren't being brought up speaking the language and there aren't many tribal elders who are fluent in the languages left to teach them. This year's theme, "Elder Voices, Youth Choices," speaks to how the youth are taking an interest in learning their Native languages. One of the categories invited students to write an essay on the importance of Native languages
"An event like this provides a goal for the students to work toward through the year as they learn their languages," said Mary Linn, curator of Native American Languages at the museum, said in a press release. "It also encourages students and teachers alike when they come together and get a chance to interact with so many others who are learning their Native languages. They can see how important it is to Native people all across the country and how many people are working together to help prevent languages from being lost."
Read More
All participants get a T-shirt and a medal, and the top three in each category get a trophy to display at their home school.
For more information on the event visit the Sam Noble Museum website.


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"Youth in Revolt" stars Michael Cera as a hyper-intelligent 16-year-old virgin desperate to escape his bubble of a boring life. If that description sounds familiar, it's because the "Arrested Development" star has done this routine before. But he does it well, and this charming romantic comedy offers no exception. In fact, Miguel Arteta's direction and the details of the role allow Cera to slightly expand his range. There are hints of a versatile actor here, but the framework sticks to a familiar pattern.
Adapted from C.D. Payne's hit book, "Youth in Revolt" revolves around Nick Twisp (Cera), who spends his time drifting between his non-supportive parents (Steve Buscemi and Jean Smart) while fawning over Frank Sinatra and foreign film. During a fleeting vacation in the woods, he meets his soulmate, Sheeni (Portia Doubleday), another artsy character who demands that Nick turn "bad" in order to win her heart. As a result, he creates a chain-smoking, liberated alter ego named Francois, stirring up trouble with comically violent results. The movie takes this cue to become the "Fight Club" of the "Superbad" set. Whether or not that description settles with you, "Youth in Revolt" contains enough zany amusements to sustain it through some of the rockier moments. Arteta uses a variety of animated sequences and clever music cues to bring us inside Twisp's world (much as the book used fragments of his journal), so anything goes.
Still, "Youth in Revolt" is less a major laugh fest than a string of unique gags superimposed on the typical coming-of-age comedy dynamic. The dialogue often sounds too clean and sophisticated, and Cera's transition into a free-falling risk taker never seems fully believable. But it ends on a surprisingly bittersweet note, leading to a genuinely likable climax that blends with the eccentric atmosphere preceding it. Arteta ably guides the plot through its vignette-style progression, using Cera's deadpan voiceover as the principal tone-setter. The movie lives inside the head of its conflicted lead and makes us care about his crazy universe, but it lacks the final step that would give it a lasting impression. Rather than defeat or combine with the Francois persona, Nick merely turns his back on it. In the end, audiences are looking at the same Cera they already knew. The accidental secret of "Youth in Revolt," then, is that it ultimately embraces tradition.
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Forum Messenger Backpack
Available in Saddle Brown only. Made in Italy.
21″ high x 4″ wide x 14″ long
Floto Italian Saddle Leather
2 Front Cargo Pockets – 5″ high x 6″ wide x 1.5″ long
Inside Zip Compartment and Zip Pocket
Outside Zip Pocket
Adjustable Shoulder Straps
Stainless Steel Hardware
Floto Stripe Canvas Interior
Weight 2.6 Pounds
We promise to deliver quality and value in every product. If you are not 100% satisfied, please let us know and we'll make it right.
The Forum Messenger Backpack is built for generations of reliable use. Designed and constructed in Italy from 100% Floto Italian saddle leather exterior. The canvas lined interior includes a zip compartment, a zip pocket and a convenient phone pocket. Deluxe leather top carry handle, all-leather adjustable shoulder straps, and stainless steel hardware ensure long-term durability. Two front cargo pockets and a flap-over can hold a variety of business items.
This messenger backpack is a handy bag for your small items such as notebooks, gadgets and personal and business essentials. It's more practical than carrying a briefcase. You can throw your gym clothes in it or get tweets off all while carrying it. It's certainly something to consider for off-duty, or for a more casual office environment, where suits are not mandatory. The Forum Messenger Backpack comes in Saddle Brown only, which is going to age like a fine leathery wine.
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Quote:DoctorJ said:that is the purpose of conscious life: to save the universe. If we can figure out how to control gravity, we can keep the universe from expanding too fast. We can save stellar evolution.
Quote:DoctorJ said:arent we all?
Quote:fireworks_god said:I still don't grasp the thought of nothing beyond our universe... our universe is expanding into what? It still fucks with my head SO fucking much to think about..... perhaps there are other "levels" that this universe is merely a part of, or something... otherwise, I remain confused...
Quote:Source said:There must be at least one more spacial dimension into which the universe is curving (and expanding?) as evidenced by the 'fact' that light bends around gravity. Light follows the curve of the universe into the fourth spacial dimension!
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Modern Cleaning Concept
Founded in 1998 under the Distinction Plus banner, Modern is an eco-friendly housekeeping company that offers a wide range of cleaning services to commercial and industrial building owners, as well as public building managers.
With a vast experience in housekeeping, Modern understands the reality and the challenges that contractors face in maintaining their place of business. That is why we created a housekeeping program that meets all of your needs, as well as stringent environmental standards. Our goal is to exceed your expectations in terms of commercial maintenance and relieve you from all maintenance tasks so that you can focus on the essentials and achieve success.
Carpet Cleaning
When it comes to providing a safe work environment for your employees and providing a clean place of business for clients, a clean carpet is of utmost importance.
More about Carpet Cleaning
Complete Housekeeping Services
Modern offers a complete housekeeping solution for businesses of all sizes and we have developed a commercial maintenance concept that meets the highest environmental standards.
More about Complete Housekeeping Services
Floor Waxing and Stripping
Whatever type of business you operate, Modern offers a cleaning service that adapts to all types of environments, such as: building lobbies, cafeterias, schools, hospitals, factories, laboratories, airports, government buildings and courthouses.
More about Floor Waxing and Stripping
Window Cleaning
Whether you have a single-story building or an office tower, we have the expertise to carry out a tailored cleaning solution that will exceed your expectations.
More about Window Cleaning
Don't hesitate to contact us for a Free Estimate!


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The Being and Becoming of Mind
(Vidya and Avidya)
|by Dr. Varanasi Ramabrahmam
Upanishads contain descriptions of the SELF and many ways of meditation on the Self, known as Vidya or Upasana . The knowledge other than that of the Self is termed as Avidya by the Upanishadic Seers. According to their definition Avidya consists of all sciences, arts, skills, learning- of languages and other disciplines and art-forms.
Isaavaasyoopanishat counsels to make use of both Vidya and Avidya while meditating on the Self to attain calmness within and warns that using only one of them leads to darkness- the Upanishadic term for ignorance (sloka 9). Eleventh sloka of this Upanishad gives us the proper way of meditating on the Self,
Vidyaam chaavidyam cha yastadvedoobhyam saha
Avidyaya a mr tyum teertvaa vidyayaa 'mritam asnute
This means that one must contemplate on and be aware of the Self by using both Avidya and Vidya. Through Avidya one crosses mortality and by Vidya one attains immortality. Immortality is release from births and deaths i.e., from the rise and set of egoistic mind (mithyaaham). Egoistic mind and self-consciousness are responsible for all the disturbances the individual experiences and suffers. Thus knowledge about both Vidya and Avidya is necessary for one to meditate on the Self and live as Self in and with calmness.
The antahkaranas are responsible for us to get, revel on, entangled in and come out of, the perceived and external world and also for acquiring knowledge and make active the in-built tendencies- i.e., the arishadvargas. All this knowing or mental activity which is named as Tamas (ignorance), blocks the SEER (sat) and makes one view only the seen (jagat). Hence all this activity of antahkaranas with perceived or external world and respective experiences, is Ajnana in Upanishadic terms.
The term Ajnana herein is used not at all to belittle any of the acquired knowledge or their eminence but only to point out that Truth, Self, Pure Consciousness or Prajnaam outlives rather transcends all these perceptions, intellectual operations, self-consciousness, experiences and their recollections by Being, manifesting as and in, causing, maintaining and observing the origin, becoming and cessation of all these mental functions carried out by antahkaranas - and is the Ultimate Jnaana.
Mind as activities of antahkaranas is like a boat in the river of consciousness and the self-consciousness of the person is the individual traveling in the boat. The boat helps the person to move on in the course of the life and at the end the river, the boat and the individual together merge in the sea of pure consciousness. Thus meditation is a travel on the mind-boat by the meditator to reach the Self, the Divinity and BE IT. After this merger with the Divinity no trace of the meditator or the meditative tool (the mind) are left (remain). Only object-free meditation goes on-which is nothing but the Blissful State of the Self is continuously experienced which sets in and maintains calmness of mind.
An individual by his samskaara gets attracted to the use of one of the antahkaranas as meditating tool and proceeds on with meditation. Different meditative techniques are available to suit the temperament and mental make up and mental preparedness of the individual.
Natural Sciences define Time as (a) Movement, (b) Change and (c) Becoming. A school of thought equated time with movement. Thus all movements of matter or energy are Time. Change is time, means that all changes of phases of matter or changes of form of energy are Time. The third definition of Time as Becoming is useful for our mediation purpose. A plant growing into a tree or a girl developing into a woman are Becomings.
All natural processes within and without the organisms involving changes and exchanges of matter and energy are becomings and hence are Time. It must be noted that plant becoming tree or girl becoming woman are irreversible processes. These becomings are linear and are uni-directional. But some natural processes are reversible and happen both in forward and backward directions. All mental processes are examples of this kind of becomings. Let us consider the case of one becoming angry. This becoming angry is a transient phase of mind- which has beginning, being and cessation. Vedanta says any phenomenon which has a becoming and an end is 'unreal'. After anger subsides one is peaceful. Thus we can see Peace or Calmness is the normal state of mind, the natural state of human being. Anger and all such emotions are unnatural or excited states of the mind and are Becomings of human-Being. The excited states arise, dwell in and cease to be in human-Being. All mental disturbances the functions – the learnings, acquiring of knowledges, recollections of knowledges - are transient and reversible 'Becomings' of and in the human-being. This means that mental functions originate, exist and cease to be to the eternally observing Energy – Presence – the Atman, the Seer, Saakshi or Witness.
This Energy-Presence is the SELF or Brahman or Atman or Prajnanam and is present always. This is the revelation and the essence of Upanishadic Teachings. It is interesting to note that BEING, PURE CONSCIOUSNESS AND BLISS are the characteristics of the Self described in the Upanishads, the Sat, Chit and Ananda. Being is a present continuous form of the verb 'to be' and Becoming, the present continuous form of 'to become' – and both are present continuous forms, the becoming being the physical and psychological manifestation of the Being. The natural state of human-being is BEING, the present continuous form of 'to be' and not becoming, the present continuous form of 'to become' – which is limited by past – i.e.., the memories, the aches, the fears, the future – the anxieties, the fears and the imaginations. But normal state of a human being is a combination of series of Being and Becoming or Peace and Disturbance or Past and Future or alternates between all these and seldom is Being, the natural present continuous state. One becomes something when one cognizes an object or uses an antahkarana or the mind, else when mind ceases to cognize one comes back to or is in the natural state of Being. Becoming is an super-position and causes disturbance on this Being and makes one live in the unreal state of some becoming.
Mind, in the form of antahkaranas, is responsible for human-being getting transformed into a human- becoming. Luckily this transformation is transitory and reversible. These transformations of mind worry ordinary people. But the realized souls are always aware of the transitory nature of these transformations and the simultaneous presence of the two present continuous forms – the Being and the Becoming, which are consciousnsess and awareness – and ARE always BEINGS. They only view the becomings in the form of vasanas and jagat occurring within and without and are not concerned or touched by these 'unreal' happenings.
As mentioned above, Upanishads talk about Mithyaham or virtual Self or maya. The virtual Self is the reflected Sat and is made up of the same stuff as Sat. This virtual Self is the first Becoming in the individual and is responsible and is contained in all mental functions, - which are its own transformations. Virtual self always – transforms itself as antahkaranas resulting in the perceptions and experiences (vasanas) which are viewed by and are aware to the Self in the different conscious states. The various transformations of the virtual Self as various antahkaranas to perform various mental functions and back to itself are the forward and backward i.e., reversible becomings (vivartanam). These becomings constitute the mental Times and thoughts and the feeling of passage of Time in the individual and identifies the individual to the body, psychology, gender, social status etc, the form and structure of ego and self-consciousness).
If these becomings – the thoughts, feelings, intellectual functions, perceptions, experiences, understandings, urges, instincts, institutions, tendencies – all cease to happen or the virtual Self undergoes no transformations then it is Unoccupied Awareness, Bliss, Peace, Silence, Eternity and hence Timelessness. Thought-ego- and feelings-free consciousness their transcendence in the form of calmness and peace is experienced within and is observed by the Self as Prajnanam or Seer. Self as Seer is always present and is eternal or Timeless or Transcending is a present continuous BEING.
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New Glen Moray Elgin Heritage Collection
Dec 16, 2016, 08:00 ET
12 Year Old, 15 Year Old and 18 Year Old Single Malts
Three flawless whiskies. Unmistakably Glen Moray
"Sweet and rich with an incredible complexity and depth,"
- Graham Coull, Glen Moray Master Distiller
ELGIN, Scotland, Dec. 16, 2016 /CNW/ - Glen Moray proudly presents its prestigious Elgin Heritage Range with three stunning Single Malts that encapsulate affordable luxury: the elegant 12 year old, the satisfying 15 year old and the decadent 18-year-old. Carefully matured in the finest American oak casks, the 12 and 18 year olds marry rich summer fruits with mellow vanilla sweetness. Every sip is one to savour. Adding diversity to the range, the 15 year old brings together two distinct cask styles - sherry and American oak - under the watchful eye of our Master Distiller. The result is an exquisitely complex whisky with a hint of spice that boasts heady dried fruits and rich dark chocolate. Impeccably Speyside.
To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:
(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/449355/Glen_Moray.jpg )
For further information: please contact BARDINET: Raphaele DELERUE, GLEN MORAY Brand Manager, [email protected], +33-5-56-35-84-85


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How Has the Economy Fared Under Obama?
A quick primer on the last eight years.
By Dwyer Gunn
(Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the regional and state breakdown of its October jobs report (the national report, which put unemployment at 4.9 percent, was released earlier in the month).
In general, the news was good: Between October of 2015 and October of 2016, unemployment decreased in seven states, increased in five states, and was stable elsewhere. During the same period, 31 states (and Washington, D.C.) added jobs, two states lost jobs, and 17 states remained stable.
(Map: Economic Policy Institute)
The chart to the left, courtesy of the Economic Policy Institute, a liberal think tank, illustrates how state unemployment rates compare to pre-Recession levels.
One of the great ironies of the 2016 presidential campaign is that the United States is actually in much better shape economically than it was when President Barack Obama took office in 2009 in the midst of a disastrous financial crisis and deep recession. Earlier this year, after an extended period of wage stagnation for most American workers, the Census Bureau reported that real household income increased by 5.2 percent in 2015, the first increase on record since 2007.
But the Census Bureau report also highlighted a grimmer finding: Most Americans, particularly low- and middle-income Americans, still haven't reached pre-Recession income levels.
As the Obama administration winds to a close and a new administration takes office—one promising to deliver big increases in gross domestic product (GDP) growth and employment—we thought it was time to take stock of both the country's long, slow recovery and the government interventions that sparked that recovery (or didn't, depending on who you ask).
(Note: this timeline is an extremely consolidated version of events and focuses primarily on actions taken by the Bush and Obama administrations; for a more detailed discussion, see this comprehensive timeline from the St. Louis Fed.)
The bursting of the housing bubble leads to skyrocketing default rates on so-called subprime mortgages (high-interest loans given to borrowers with less-than-stellar credit). A string of subprime lenders declare bankruptcy in 2007. Ratings agencies begin to downgrade subprime mortgage lenders, as well as bonds and securities backed by subprime mortgages.
Notwithstanding the turmoil in the financial sector, unemployment rates in the U.S. actually remain at or below 5 percent for all of 2007, and the U.S. doesn't officially enter a recession until December of 2007.
The meltdown picks up steam. Bank of America announces plans to acquire Countrywide Financial, a struggling mortgage lender, and J.P. Morgan announces plans to purchase Bear Stearns. The Federal Reserve takes a number of steps to stabilize the financial system. Meanwhile:
- In February, Congress passes the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, which largely consists of about $120 billion of tax rebates for Americans.
- In July, the U.S. passes the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, which establishes the Federal Housing Financing Agency and is intended to shore up government-sponsored lenders Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
- In September, with the presidential election campaign in full swing, the financial system teeters on the edge of total collapse. On September 7th, the newly established FHFA takes over Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. On September 15th, Bank of America announces plans to purchase Merrill Lynch; Lehman Brothers files for bankruptcy. On September 16th, American International Group accepts a massive government bailout.
- In October, Congress passes the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which grants the Department of the Treasury the authority to provide up to $250 billion of capital to troubled financial institutions (under the Troubled Assets Relief Program, i.e. TARP). Throughout the remainder of 2008, the Treasury purchases capital in a number of financial institutions under the TARP program.
- On November 4th, 2008, Obama and Joe Biden defeat John McCain and Sarah Palin in the presidential election. On November 18th, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler testify before Congress requesting that TARP funds be made available to American automakers.
- On December 19th, the Department of the Treasury authorizes $13.4 billion in loans for General Motors and $4.0 billion for Chrysler.
Unemployment in the U.S. continues to rise throughout the year. By December of 2008, the U.S. unemployment rate is at 7.3 percent. Real GDP declines by 0.8 percent.
On February 17th, the U.S. passes the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, an $800 billion economic stimulus package consisting of direct government spending and tax cuts. The stimulus remains controversial — many liberal economists and politicians argue it was too small; conservatives say it was ineffective and a waste of government spending. Most economists, however, can agree that it at least helped stop the bleeding. On February 18th, Obama announces the creation of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, which allows for refinancing of certain Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages.
In March, the U.S. government takes over GM and Chrysler, effectively "bailing out" the auto industry. In May, the U.S. passes the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, intended to reduce foreclosures. Throughout 2009, the Department of the Treasury continues to purchase assets under TARP.
Unemployment continues to rise throughout most of 2009, peaking at 10 percent in October of 2009. In December of 2009, unemployment falls to 9.9 percent. The economy's official "trough" (and the end of the recession) occurs in June of 2009, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.
In July of 2010, Obama signs the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which is designed to prevent another financial meltdown.
In December of 2010, the U.S. passes an $858 billion package of tax cuts. Unemployment remains above 9 percent for all of 2010, before slowly beginning to inch down in 2011.
(Chart: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
The chart to the left, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, illustrates the slow, painful economic recovery that took place over a period of several years, between 2008 and 2016. It's not until October of 2014 that the unemployment rate finally dips below 6 percent, returning to 2008 levels.
The financial crisis of 2007–08 and ensuing recession were, without a doubt, the greatest economic challenges this country has faced since the Great Depression. Perhaps not surprisingly given the extent of the crisis, the recovery has been slow, and the effects of the crisis still linger, no doubt compounded by additional economic forces — automation, globalization, and inequality, to name just a few. But it's worth remembering, as a new administration gears up for tax cuts and infrastructure spending, just how far we've come over the last eight years.


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|Land Cruisers 80 series
1989-1997 - Updated 0-00-5
|Land Cruiser 100 series
1998- current - Updated 0-00-05
|Land Cruiser 70 series
1984-current - Updated 0-00-05
|Hilux trucks & Surfs
1979-current - Updated 0-00-05
|Land Cruisers 60 series
1980-1989 - Updated 0-00-05
|Tacoma trucks & 4Runners
1996-2004 - Updated 0-00-05
|Land Cruisers 55 series
1967-1979 - Updated 0-00-05
|Click on the links below to visit the page dedicated to each model Toyota.
|Land Cruiser 40 series
1960-1984 - Updated 0-00-05
|The military versions of the civilian Toyota Land Cruiser, Tacoma and Hilux 4x4s have been used by military
forces all over the world, in Asia, South America and the Middle East, for more than 50 years. The types of
military that use these machines range from the modern and sophisticated Australian military, to the archaic
and now defeated Taliban government of Afghanistan. Originally, I had thought the U.S. military did not
currently use military Toyotas, but I have since been corrected. Japan donated a number of Land Cruiser
75s to the U.S. military for the 1st Gulf War effort and they were used in a variety of functions at U.S.
military bases all over the world. Apparently, even a Land Cruiser 80 was used by General Norman
Schwarzkopf. The Land Cruiser and Hilux is still used extensively today by American and other military
forces in the Middle East. Even the American built Toyota Tacoma was used in combat by American special
forces in Afghanistan. Many of these Tacomas were literally purchased off of the showroom floor in the
U.S. and pressed into combat service in Afghanistan after minor modifications, still sporting their shiny
factory paint jobs and aluminum wheels! Below you'll see pictures of all these mentioned military Toyotas
and more.
Toyota 4x4s were also commonly used as fire trucks. You'll see a common fire truck design pattern carried
over 3 generations of Land Cruisers. These very specially designed Land Cruisers were originally designed
as fire trucks for the crowded cities of Japan, but they have been found scattered all over the world,
including in Africa on game ranges. Currently, many military and civilian police organizations all over the
world use Toyota 4X4s as well.
For pictures of other types of commercially and privately used Toyotas, including my own heavily modified
1989 Toyota 4x4 truck, be sure to visit my Home Page. For photos and information on Toyota 4x4s not
sold in the U.S., check out my Foreign Toyota Page.
Brian McCamish
Gresham, Oregon USA
Many of the pictures you'll see of U.S. military Land Cruiser 70 and 80 series were personally taken by SSgt.
Randy Ellison, USMC. Much thanks goes to him for sending me these pictures.
Every effort has been made to prevent any classified or sensitive information on vehicles, military equipment or
personnel from being shown on this page. However is anything questionable is found, please Email me so that I
can remove it.
|Land Cruisers BJ & 25 series
1950-1959 - Updated 0-00-05
|Toyota FQ-10 / FQ-15 / HQ-15
195? - 196? - Updated 0-00-05
|Now including Police and Fire Toyota 4x4s
|Copyright © 2003-2007 Brian McCamish, All Rights Reserved - Only content that is specifically owned by me
is copyright to me. Much of the content on this page is owned by others and is therefore copyright to the original owners.
Note about the photos on this site:
Every effort has been made not to include other's photos without the proper permission and credits, however, if you see any photos which belong
to you and that I don't have permission to use, I apologize. If you send me an Email, I will remove the photos immediately or give proper credit,
which ever you wish. Please notify me immediately if you suspect that any classified or military sensitive content is on this page.
|Last Update: May 3, 2006
|Please Note:
A number of photos were lost during a recent website upgrade.
I will try to recover and post these pictures as time allows. Thanks.


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In July 2021, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced a new direction for enterprise cloud services called the Joint Warfighter Cloud Capability (JWCC). It will provide the DoD with enterprise cloud solutions and hyper-scale cloud services through a new multivendor IDIQ contract.
When fully executed, the JWCC will lead to a multivendor enterprise cloud that spans DoD across all security levels. The JWCC will allow the DoD mission to achieve the multicloud benefits realized by a large majority of enterprise organizations that have embraced multicloud as a core strategy. Multicloud provides better mission fit within architectures, offers broader innovations for future missions, better resilience from single source failures, and economic benefits from competitive options. Due to the massive increase in multicloud use, industry standards and solutions now allow for easy migration, portability, virtual networking, management, and governance of multicloud environments to break down any barriers to adoption.
Oracle Cloud is uniquely engineered as a next-generation cloud architecture. It brings new levels of security to cloud operations and faster networks with a wide array of high-performance compute and storage. It is designed for multicloud operations and is priced for better economics. Oracle, as one of the leading hyperscale cloud providers, has worldwide presence and dedicated operational regions for DoD missions. Oracle will support JWCC by providing cloud services dedicated to meet a variety of DoD warfighter missions that can be made available in accordance with the DoD's projected JWCC timelines. Oracle Cloud will support the DoD need for enterprise cloud under JWCC to include, for example:
Beyond these cutting-edge technical capabilities, the Oracle platform also offers a practical benefit for DoD: Oracle Cloud is a known quantity across government operations. Today, Oracle Cloud is already in use across multiple federal agencies and is available via major government contract vehicles. With decades of commitment to the federal government, Oracle's extensive public sector and national security expertise not only demonstrates that Oracle is qualified for the high-security requirements of government, it also reinforces that Oracle Cloud technology is critical for optimized mission outcomes.
From dedicated, unclassified FedRAMP and DISA-authorized regions, to Secret and Top Secret regions and tactical edge solutions, Oracle Cloud will support JWCC with innovative cloud capability.
Oracle Cloud is built to eliminate outside and inside security threats inherent to most existing cloud solutions, freeing resources while safeguarding sensitive data. Natively secure capabilities, such as tenant and virtualized networking isolation, compartmentalization within a tenancy, and maximum-security zones ensure that Oracle Cloud delivers consistent security, identity, and access management. Oracle Cloud was designed with automated, always-on, and architected-in security (PDF).
Oracle Cloud's commitment to open source, open standards, and open data formats expedites data movement, allowing unprecedented freedom for application migration and streamlined development. Oracle Cloud supports all standards-based data formats such as Graph, Spatial, Relational, In-Memory, JSON, XML, and NoSQL/Key Value. Oracle Cloud also has support for data services ranging from data science, data integration and migration, to SQL anywhere, serverless functions, Kafka compliant services, and Spark stream processing of objects in data lakes.
With a legacy of running large-scale workloads while managing and protecting critical data assets, Oracle Cloud leverages its data expertise to provide secure and open creation, publication, protection, and management of data at all echelons. For intensive compute and analytic workload requirements Oracle Cloud offers HPC with native RDMA, bare-metal compute, GPU compute, high I/O storage, and low-latency networks to deliver performance and scale for the most data- and process-intensive workloads. Oracle Cloud also offers Exadata Cloud Services and Oracle Autonomous Database, which provide data processing for worldwide mission-critical databases needing millions of IOPS and high transaction rates with stringent uptimes and the highest security.
Oracle Cloud's many features, from a robust marketplace ecosystem of third-party technology partners to embedded AI and machine learning, all come with predictable low pricing and comprehensive service-level agreements. Oracle offers flexible invoicing that only charges for actual usage of IaaS and PaaS cloud services, which will enable DoD to manage its budget through controlled expenditures.
Unique to Oracle Cloud are Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) services for the JWCC program. Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications support DoD mission readiness with the most complete, connected SaaS suite. By delivering a modern user experience and continuous innovation, Oracle is committed to DoD's success with quarterly updates across the entire mission: finance, human resources, supply chain, manufacturing, projects, procurement, maintenance, and service.
DoD organizations are looking to be more responsive to mission needs by quickly providing new, interoperable solutions to warfighters at the edge and then rapidly improving over time. Cloud native development tools in Oracle Cloud accelerate that process with familiar, open source tools and processes for developers.
In the rapidly changing environment warfighters face, interoperability is key. This means that each individual cloud provider within the entire multicloud network should ideally be built to embrace multicloud and openness. Oracle Cloud was designed to embrace multicloud by:
DoD has identified data analytics as a key component of JWCC, and in a world where every device can be a data source, it makes sense to prioritize generating insights from heavy volumes of data. Oracle Cloud provides a broad range of analytic services that are true multicloud platforms. Oracle Cloud provides data science and ML training, predictive modeling, data visualization, AI-powered insights, trending, and reporting on data that resides in any data source, including open source databases, other cloud offerings, and on-premises data stores.
The military's tactical cloud initiative processes data on the edge, enabling warfighters to get critical information in near-real time. Oracle's Roving Edge Infrastructure supports secure encrypted mission workloads at the edge that are compatible with cloud workloads. This enables warfighters to build in the cloud and deploy to the edge. The service operates even without any communication with Oracle Cloud. If communications are available, data can be synced between the edge and the cloud. Oracle Cloud edge services also provide scaling for growth, high performance compute, GPU processing, and platform software for data management, edge analytics, stream processing, and mission applications in tactical rugged environments.
To learn more, discover Oracle's multicloud offerings for federal and Oracle's solutions for federal government at www.oracle.com/federal.


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The experienced and skilled lawyers at Bain Law represent many clients in many different real estate transactions. Our legal representation can assist you in making sure that each and every real estate transaction goes smoothly and in your best interests.
Buying and Selling Real Estate
We represent purchasers and sellers through many different types of sales and purchases in various types of real estate. We guide our clients in all realms of real estate, ranging from residential, industrial, commercial and office areas.
When purchasing property and homes, there many things that you should take into account before making the decision to purchase. Many real estate terms can be confusing, difficult to understand or overwhelming. For this reason, it is essential that you have all the information you need about a property and a skilled lawyer on your side.
Some important items to consider when purchasing real estate:
- Title
- Special Warranty Deed
- General Warranty Deed
- Property Value
- Liens
- Quit Claim Deed
Drafting and Reviewing Leases
We represent and assist landlords in negotiating, drafting and closing lease transactions for office, industrial and commercial areas. Whether you are the lessee or lessor, it's vital that you completely understand all of the elements in your commercial lease, including its terms and conditions, renewal options and related expenses. Our commercial leasing attorneys can draft or review the lease, negotiate on your behalf for more advantageous terms, perform cost-benefit analyses and advocate during any lease related litigation.
Before you sign a commercial lease on an office, retail store, industrial space, shopping center warehouse or other types of business real estate, talk to one of our commercial leasing attorneys. Our skilled trial attorneys collaborate with top experts in the field to achieve the most favorable outcomes for our clients.


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Delish editors handpick every product we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.
Rice Krispies * Chocolate Caramel Squares Recipe
New! You can now save recipes. It's free!
Kellogg's* Rice Krispies*
Yields: 48
c. golden corn syrup
c. granulated sugar
5 c. Kellogg's * Rice Krispies * Cocoa cereal
1 c. butter
c. packed brown sugar
2 c. chopped pecans or pecan halves (200 g)
2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips (350 g pkg)
- In large saucepan or Dutch oven over low heat, heat corn syrup and granulated sugar until bubbly. Stir in cereal until well coated. Press into buttered 33 x 23 cm (13" x 9") pan.
- In medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar. Stir constantly until mixture bubbles; cook for about 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir until smooth. Spread evenly over cereal base in pan.
- Sprinkle pecans over top; press lightly into caramel layer.
- In medium saucepan over low heat (stirring often), or in microwave on High for 2 minutes, melt chocolate chips. Stir until smooth. Spread carefully over pecans. Let cool. Cut into squares.
More From Recipes


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Call it a Christmas miracle or simply a case of a cat whose sense of smell was dulled by seasonal ice and snow, but Meow-Meow is back in the arms of his loving family once again! The sweater-wearing black cat vanished on the evening of December 22nd but made it back to his Halifax, Nova Scotia home just in time for the opening of holiday gifts.
Chantelle Rideout, Meow-Meow's owner, had dressed the black cat in a seasonally-themed sweater Sunday evening as she and her family went out to turn off their Christmas lights. That's when they noticed Meow-Meow was missing. "We just ran outside to turn off the Christmas lights," explained Rideout to a CBC News reporter, "and he must have snuck out." said owner Chantelle Rideout.
As seven-month-old Meow-Meow is an indoor cat, the thought of him outside on a winter night with stormy weather in the forecast filled Rideout with trepidation. When he wasn't back by Monday morning, Rideout was ready to push the panic button.
Instead, she pushed the social media button: local media outlets were contacted and appeals were placed on Kijiji and Twitter, the key being a photo of Meow-Meow wearing his festive red & green Peanuts-themed Christmas sweater. "We're hoping, a little bit, for a Christmas miracle and that he makes it home by Christmas," said Rideout. Though almost all black barring a few snow white hairs on his chinny-chin-chin, Meow-Meow would certainly stand out thanks to his seasonal sartorial splendor.
This story has a happy ending, thankfully, as Meow-Meow managed to get back to home base on his own, health and sweater intact. "3 am on Christmas morning, and we found meow-meow!," tweeted Rideout. "Thanks everyone for your help and kindness!" (via CBC)


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Ever since its inception, the voluntary "six strikes" Copyright Alert System has been one of the most controversial in the film industry… but maybe not for the reasons you think. In effect, the policy was meant to give pirates six warnings before throttling their download speeds or blocking their access to torrent sites, but many filmmakers believe it doesn't go nearly far enough.
DON'T MISS: The next Apple device I want Google to dominate
TorrentFreak reports that a new organization called the Internet Security Task Force (ISTF) was established in April, consisting of several small studios that want the "six strikes" policy revoked altogether and replaced with something that could actually make an impact.
"We've always known the Copyright Alert System (CAS) was ineffective, as it allows people to steal six movies from us before they get an educational leaflet. But now we have the data to prove that it's a sham," says Millennium Films President Mark Gill.
"On our film 'Expendables 3,' which has been illegally viewed more than 60 million times, the CAS only allowed 0.3% of our infringement notices through to their customers. The other 99.7% of the time, the notices went in the trash."
As TorrentFreak notes, the ISPs and copyright holders have agreed to only send a limited number of warning per month under the CAS, so once they've hit their cap, any future warnings from studios are not forwarded to the infringing parties. Regardless of where you land on the subject of piracy, it's painfully obvious that the CAS is an ineffectual policy (to say the least).
"As for its laughable six strikes policy, would any American retailer wait for someone to rob them six times before handing them an educational leaflet? Of course not, they call the cops the first time around," adds Voltage Pictures CEO Nicolas Chartier.
Can the Internet Security Task Force stop piracy once and for all? With a name as ridiculous as "Internet Security Task Force," I'm going to go out on a limb and say "definitely not."


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Blogging The Institutes
Excerpts taken from Institutes of the Christian Religion (1541 Edition) by John Calvin
Translation by Robert White
Chapter 1: The knowledge of God
The believing heart does not haphazardly forge for itself some kind of god. Rather it looks to him who is the true and only God. It does not ascribe to him whatever qualities it pleases but is content to take him as he shows himself to be: it is always careful not to depart from God's will through headstrong pride. Knowing him thus, and understanding that he governs all things by his providence, it confidently accepts him as guardian and protector, and thus entrusts itself to his keeping, since it knows him to be the author of all that is good.
A contrite heart doesn't work to construct a god acceptable to its own liking. On the contrary it willingly accepts the testimony of Scripture of who God is, of what it tells us is pleasing and acceptable to Him. A believing heart is a trusting heart. God's providence over all creation and world events gives Christians security and comfort. This faith helps believers overcome sufferings and trials. They are ordained by God for His purposes and our eternal good (Rom 8:28 ESV). Continue reading


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Gay Cam Sites That Take PayPal
PayPal is the most popular payment method online and for good reason. PayPal is safe, secure, and discreet. When looking for sex cams, it is no surprise that many users prefer cam sites that accept PayPal, to sites where they would have to use a credit card. These are the 5 best gay adult chat sites where you can pay for credits and tokens with your PayPal account.
CameraBoys is the number one gay cam site. It has a plentiful selection of male webcam models from around the world, with both muscular and twinkish men. What sets CameraBoys apart, is the clear dedication to excellence. The site doesn't let just any boy with a camera sign up, they have to be professionals, skilled in the art of teasing and pleasing. PayPal will be directly visible when you click to add credits.
CameraBoys has free chat rooms where you can get to know the guys better. You can talk to them and ask them about the kinks you want performed. As a premium site, there is no nudity in the free chat rooms. If you want to get sexual with one of the guys, you are going to have to invite him into a private show.
Private shows average between $2.20 and $3.30 a minute, which is inclusive of cam2cam but not 2 way audio. 2 way audio usually costs an extra $1.10 a minute, but some rooms charge more while others don't charge at all for it.
There are usually approximately 100 male webcam rooms on CameraBoys. It is an exclusively gay site, so you won't see any women. There are a couple of transgenders, but usually in a room with another man.
Customer support - FAQ, email, live chat, phone.
Flirt4Free has the largest selection of professional male webcam models out of any cam site. The selection is large, varied, and has the cheapest cam2cam rooms you can find online. You can tell that Flirt4Free took their time with recruiting. The guys are all hunks of various body shapes, colors, and talents. PayPal can be found directly on the Flirt4Free payment page.
Flirt4Free has many free chat rooms available, for you to flirt with the men you are watching. It is recommended that you inquire with regards to the type of show you want. While nudity is permitted in the free chat rooms, most of the models prefer getting sexual in the more intimate paid shows.
Flirt4Free has multi-user shows and private shows. While private shows are always inclusive of cam2cam, multi-user shows only have cam2cam if you initiated the show. 2 way audio is included in privates, but not multi-user shows. Multi-user shows start for as low as $0.50 a minute, while private shows start at $3.00. The really expensive guys can charge up to $12.00 a minute.
Flirt4Free often has close to 150 homosexual webcam models online, meaning that they have the biggest selection. The site has dedicated girls and transgender categories, but they will never overlap with the men you want to see.
Customer support - FAQ, email, live chat, phone.
An exclusively gay cam site, Supermen is a cheap webcam option with a healthy selection of husky men. While there might not be that many models online, those that are there are varied in shape and size, giving you something to look at. While the site doesn't have any HD, the prices which continuously drop due to the loyalty program, make the site super attractive. In the payment page, you will need to click to change biller. You will then see PayPal.
There are many clearly labelled free chat rooms on Supermen. You can use these rooms to talk to the models and to get to know them better before you watch them perform for you. There isn't much nudity in the free chat rooms, as the men aren't meant to get nude for free at all.
Private shows on Supermen are inclusive of cam2cam and 2way audio, though the models will see you in the same resolution you see them. These shows average between $1.98 and $3.00 a minute at the lowest level of the loyalty tier. Each level you rise will award you with bigger amounts of free credits, making the site cheaper overall.
Supermen used to be more popular with the gay community, but it seems that their numbers have been experiencing shrinkage. There are usually around 30 guys online to choose from.
Customer support - FAQ, email.
Overall, LiveJasmin is our favorite cam site. That being said, when it comes to men, they just aren't as good as when searching for other categories. When you filter for the boys cams, you will notice that it displays all the transgender cams as well. We don't have anything against the trans community, but generally if you are looking for male gay cams, you aren't looking for a transgender woman. PayPal is listed on the payments page, right below the option to choose another payment type.
LiveJasmin is replete with many free chat rooms, for you to talk to the models and discuss your expectations for what you would want to see in a paid show. LiveJasmin is arguably the most premium cam site there is. You won't find much nudity at all on the site, unless you intend to pay for it.
Private shows on the site are inclusive of cam2cam, but 2 way audio costs extra if available. A private show will cost you an average of $3.30 a minute, should you choose to turn on your microphone. The key difference, and why you shouldn't mind paying for audio, is that it's guaranteed to work when you pay for it. On other sites, you never know if the model will really be able to hear until the show starts.
When you are looking at the boys category, you will need to select gay, otherwise, you will also see all the aforementioned trans models. When looking at just the gays, you will usually find around 100 online.
Customer support - FAQ, email, live chat, phone.
BongaCams is Europe's most popular freemium cam site. The site is filled with gratuitous nudity, with more than a few men sitting with their cocks out. The models on the site are primarily amateurs, but that doesn't mean they won't give you an enjoyable show. The majority of the models are European men, mostly from Russia. PayPal is listed under the available payment options on the BongaCams payment page.
BongaCams is composed of free chat rooms, where users tip for requests. Many users prefer staying in the free rooms indefinitely, without ever going into a private show. You can even activate your webcam in the free chat rooms, and the guys you are watching can watch you too.
While you don't have to do a private show, you will need to if you want any privacy. You will find that other users will often hop in on the bandwagon and will try get attention from the guy you are tipping. All the rooms on the site have a set price of $3.00 a minute for private shows. Turning on your webcam in the free chat depends on the model.
BongaCams usually has over 100 male webcam models online, though not all of them are as attractive as on the other sites. These are often the next door neighbor type of guys. There are a few buff guys that work out, but they aren't as dedicated to the task at hand.
Customer support - FAQ, email, live chat, phone.
When looking for male webcam hosts, you clearly realize that there just aren't as many men broadcasting as women.
While the selection of men is generally smaller, it doesn't mean that their quality is any smaller. Between the sites, you can find bears, twinks, wolves, matures, and more. You might have to search a little harder to fulfill specific kinks, but you should be able to fulfill all your darkest desires.
Overall, the real choice falls between CameraBoys and Flirt4Free. The two of them offer the best experience for gay cans, by leaps and bounds.
We recommend making accounts on both of them, on Flirt4Free to take advantage of the cheap rooms and on CameraBoys to take advantage of the cam2cam on mobile feature, that isn't available on Flirt4Free. Do note that even if cam2cam is available on mobile, we still recommend doing it on a desktop more, as the experience is better and it actually costs extra to cam2cam on mobile, usually another $1.10 a minute.


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ROI (Return on Investment) is a measurement few companies know about and seldom measure. If you were to ask, most have no answer because the ROI calculation is only for the items the company considers assets.
If you see your employees as an expense, you will treat them as an expense, cutting costs, and they will feel like a burden. If you see your employees as an asset, you will treat them as an asset, investing in them, and they will feel like a useful and desirable thing.
Invest in your employees, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Measure your investment, measure your return, and you will know which to keep and which to discard. Then, have the leadership courage to take action, invest more into those in whose return is exceptional, and discard those in which your return is mediocre.
Exceptional measuring is key to successful, exceptional management. Create department measures, employee measures, and management measures.
Source: Leo Hamblin: Attitude Reflects Leadership
This well-organized and concise guide is filled with easily accessible and relevant topics for busy executives who want timely answers. From the beginning section on insights, which covers leadership styles and blind spots to an intriguing topic on the advantages of disadvantages, Agno fluidly moves to strategies in developing visions and goals and innovations for shifting perspectives.
The personal development section has ways of becoming a better leader, developing interactional skills, and managing office politics. It leads into the business development section on introducing a new labor model, achieving sustainable growth, and branding. The section on teams and collaboration rounds out the book with tips on managing productivity and morale, building trust, and coaching. Agno's extensive knowledge of the business environment makes this a reference book worth studying over and over again.


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Monthly Archives: July 2009
Don't Trust Love
This week's mashup combines a new favorite of mine with an old classic. Not only does 3OH!3′s "Don't Trust Me" have some pretty slammin' beats, it also degrades women AND Helen Keller. Everything a growing boy needs. Haddaway's "What is Love" is decidedly one of the most awesome 90′s club jams, spawning forth and even […] Continue reading
Ultramix Summer 2009
Alright, so it's been a few months since my last DJ post, and I bet you kids are thinking, "Whatever happened to Trust Hustlers?" Well I moved to Baltimore and I'm minus two hustlers, so I figured now would be a good time to invent a new brand. Introducing… Now with 48% more nudity! This […] Continue reading


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The founders of the mobile Brewbar in The Midlands of England have created a custom contraption for Aeropress brewing that is one part pure functionality and one part Willy Wonka theatrics.
This is the second version of the custom machine designed by Bart Kerswell and Ben Collier. It responds to the fact that the Brewbar, which is outfitted for espresso drinks and Aeropress coffees, was getting backed up on Aeropress orders, resulting in coffees being rushed out to quickly and sore arms.
(related: South Korea's Cafe Dreamy May Be the Strangest and Coolest Cafe in the World)
"We initially started off selling Aeropress coffee from our geodesic dome but got arm aches from pressing so many coffees," Kerswell tells Daily Coffee News.
The Mark 2 version of the two-unit brew station involved adding gas struts with a set pressure that Kerwell says treats the Aeropress somewhat like an espresso machine set to 9 bar. A system of cogs and levers allows Kerswell and Collier free hands to attend to other activities at the bar.
(related: What Happens when a Hungarian Roaster Geeks Out on a Moka Pot for Months)
The machine is also designed to create attention and promote more black coffee drinks, Kerwell says. "We have nothing against milk-based drinks — we do have an espresso machine in our van too," he says. "We wanted the coffee to shine and not be hidden in the milk, and we feel that coffee as a whole in the UK is still very much milk-based. People will often opt for latte, which is a really shame when there are amazing brew techniques.
The Brewbar can currently be found traveling throughout The Midlands, and Kerswell told Daily Coffee News they may be looking into a brick-and-mortar retail shop.
Here is the Brewbar's Mark 2 Machine in action:
Nick Brown
Nick Brown is the editor of Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine.
2 Comments
I bought an aeropress two months ago and have been using it consistently three times a day. Now I know why I have a sore arm/ shoulder .


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Norfolk Coast Self Catering cottage, 123 Beach Road, Scratby, sleeps 4
Areas: Norfolk Coast
Booking through:
01244 352 197
Sleeps a maximum of: 4
Pricing From: £238.00
This mid-terrace ground floor chalet is set on a holiday park in Scratsby near Hemsby and sleeps four people in two bedrooms.
123 Beach Road is a mid-terrace ground floor chalet set on a holiday park in Scratsby near Hemsby. The cottage sleeps four people in two bedrooms which are a double and a single room with a pull-out stacker bed. There is also a bathroom and an open plan living area with a kitchen, dining area and a sitting area with an electric fire.
Outside there is a shared lawned area and there is a swimming pool on-site. Set within walking distance of a beach, 123 Beach Road is a fantastic choice for a family looking for a seaside getaway.
Linen provided
Towels provided
Single Beds
Double Beds
Twin Beds
Electric panel heaters with electric fire
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge,TV with Freeview, DVD, selection of books and games
Fuel and power inc in rent
Bed linen and towels inc in rent
Parking in site car park 50 metres from property
Shared use of communal lawned grounds and on-site heated swimming pool (open May to Sep)
Sorry, no pets and no smoking
Shops 2 mins walk, pub 10 mins walk
Beach 5 mins walk
Note: Scratby village has several chalet and caravan parks
Guests staying at Beach Road Chalet Park can use the facilities that are available in the other parks (some facilities will be at additional cost)
Note: Electricity is provided by a coin meter, £1 coins are inserted into the meter which can be reused, instructions are provided
Get an Ordnance Survey map covering the Scratby area.
Nearest AttractionsHeritage Rated from 1- 5 (low-exceptional) on historic interest
Caister Roman Fort - 1.7 miles (Roman Site)
Caister Castle - 1.9 miles (Castle)
Caister Castle Car Collection - 1.9 miles (Museum)
Caister-on-Sea, Holy Trinity Church - 2 miles (Historic Church)
Elizabethan House Museum - 5.1 miles (Historic Building)
Great Yarmouth Row Houses and Greyfriars Cloister - 5.2 miles (Historic Building)
Time and Tide Museum, Great Yarmouth - 5.3 miles (Museum)
Repps, St Peter's Church - 5.5 miles (Historic Church)
Horsey Windpump - 5.7 miles (Historic Building)
Horsey, All Saints Church - 5.7 miles (Historic Church)
Nearest Alternative Cottages
Scratby, Norfolk
Sleeps: 4
Stay from: £234.00 - 1161.00
Scratby, Norfolk
Sleeps: 4
Stay from: £255.00 - 1340.00
Scratby, Norfolk
Sleeps: 5
Stay from: £255.00 - 1331.00
Details of facilities are believed correct at time of publication, but may be subject to change by the cottage proprietor. Up-to-the-minute facility listings will be always presented during the booking process for your approval.
UK Self Catering
England - Scotland - Wales
Popular Locations
Devon - Cornwall - Lake District - Highlands - North Wales - South West Wales


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Research has found a group of genes that could slow down the development of diseases like multiple sclerosis and cancer.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh were able to identify genetic "brakes", which explain why people develop diseases in different ways.
It is hoped the discovery, which is published in the Nature Genetics journal, can be used to create new treatments to target weak spots in the gene structure and slow down or stop such illnesses.
It was previously thought that a group of "master" genes was responsible for controlling the growth of cells, but this new study has found that there are actually hundreds of genes that interact with each other.
It is the variations in the network which is thought to be responsible for the growth of diseases.
Professor David Hume, of the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute, who led the study, said: "This study has effectively shown us where the brakes are which could slow down or stop diseases like cancer and multiple sclerosis.
"We believe this could lead to treatments and cures for many diseases of the immune system."
Copyright © Press Association 2009
University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute
Category => News
Category => Procurement


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Never Give Up
Never give up. Once you give up it's over. When you give up you automatically fail.
You can't give up on your goals. Believe in yourself and believe that you can and will succeed. Keep trying. Keep stretching yourself by doing different things to achieve your goals. Most people never achieve their goals because they often quit just when they're on the verge of reaching their dream.
Let's face it if you give up - it's over and nothing changes.
Those who quit always fail.
Those who succeed never give up.
I know some of you will say: "Ron, I haven't given up. I've been trying for years and nothing has changed. I keep trying and nothing works. I simply can't go on anymore."
Succeeding isn't about doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for a different result. That's insanity.
By never giving up, you continue striving toward your goals but you have to always try something different in order to get a different result. Always look for a solution.
And in today's blog I'll show you how and why you need to stay committed to your goal why you should never give up and how to keep the momentum going so you reach or surpass your goals.
Read on and enjoy!
Tend Your Garden
Negative thoughts can and will destroy your life!
A mind filled with negative thoughts will make you feel miserable, inadequate and will lead you to failure after failure no matter how hard you try to succeed.
If you have a pattern of negative thinking you'll be in debt and end up in destructive or negative relationships. If you want to succeed, enjoy happiness and live a life of abundance, and prosperity - you have to eliminate any negative thinking, and negative beliefs.
You'll also have to replace those negative thoughts with positive thoughts that allow you to succeed and enjoy life. While this may sound challenging, it's a lot easier than you think and in today's blog I'm going to outline just how you can eliminate negative thinking and begin creating the life you want in a few simple steps.
What does it take to live a successful life?
It takes balance and organization.
It implies you're following your passion.
It means you spend time doing things you enjoy.
It forces you to focus on what's truly important...
... making sure you achieve what you need to achieve!
Here's a simple tip to help you change your focus to help make your life as successful as it can possibly be....
2015 is fast coming to a close, we're in August already. Man! Where did the time go? If you're like me, August is a month of litmus testing to see how far I am with the goals I've set and celebrate the small successes and the experiences so far.
When you sit down to look at your list ask yourself, am I still doing what I love? Am I passionate about it? Does my Sunday night feel just like your Friday night? If the answer is not, then NOW is the time to stretch yourself and make a change – a change for you.
It doesn't have to be a major change; you can take small steps, but now is the time to start moving and acting upon it. The only thing you need to ask yourself now is, Why not?
Purchase STRETCHYOURSELF
CONNECT with the STRETCHYOURSELF Community and get INSPIRED with some of the best material, webinars, and workshops to bring the value you deserve in your relationships in business and life!
April 2019
our services
Entheos Consulting Group, LLC


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An unreliable web host is something that no one wants, you want people to be able to come to your site whenever possible. This is just one of the various reasons why selecting a good web hosting company is very important. The tips in this article can guide you in finding the web host right for you.
Beware web hosting companies with frequent outages. Web hosts that experience down time and make excuses for outages do not ring reliable and do not have a back up plan. In addition, it's not professional to leave outage problems unaddressed. Don't make any agreements with such a company.
When choosing a web host, pick a company that is located within your niche's country. For example, if your business website is geared towards UK residents, be sure that your data server is close to your audience.
A lot of hosts require you to create a backup of your website. A regular back-up procedure is essential, not only so that you comply with the terms of your contract, but so that your data is safe in the event of an unforeseen issue. If the server is somehow compromised, you are still able to retain your data.
To maximize your profits for your website, look closely at the web hosting companies that are vying for your business. Website hosting costs vary from $2 to $50 a month or more, and many times, the cheaper services have better reliability. While a more expensive web host might provide you more bandwidth, you still might suffer the same amount of site outages or downtime.
It's often the case that hosting services are actually a middle step provider getting their services from a larger host. These companies are in the business of buying bulk server space from a large host, and making money by leasing it to end-users. Research where your site will be hosted at and ensure that you are being given the best price among the different services that rely on the same server.
Look for a web hosting that has won lots of awards. This method is great for judging a host's support and service. While these may be faked, many sites have awards that were voted on by many visitors. Multiple awards suggest it is a hosting company you want to use. Any site with many awards that were voted on by fans is someone you definitely want to consider going with.
There's plenty of reasons to select a great web host. The single biggest problem associated with hosting is downtime, where your visitors are unable to access your site. By using the information from this article, you'll know how to select a great, reliable web hosting service.