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I have always been an independent hiker and backpacker (except in Grizzly country) so when I felt a deep inner need to do an organised hiking and camping weekend it had me questioning myself a bit, or maybe a lot…I don't do organised group trips. However, this one was different; it wasn't just any group hike, it was one organized by one of the strongest and most inspirational women I know…Abbie Barnes.
So with the car packed and fueled up I hit the road early Friday afternoon with the dogs, feeling excited and apprehensive, and mentally cursing the frustrating traffic that I was encountering. I had left early to avoid this kind of mayhem although I'm sure rush hour would have been ten times worse.
A quick stop at a lovely pub in an itty bitty town after three hours of driving gave me the chance to Google for a campsite that wasn't extortionate on price for a tent. Ashe Farm near Taunton fit the bill at £6 a night and was quite a pleasant place to stay, even with the loud music that was thankfully turned off at the 10pm cut-off.
An early morning start (didn't sleep great) had me at the trail head parking lot in Withypool at 8am (a little bit early for the 10am scheduled meet time) so I sat and read for while, waiting for the others to arrive and slowly they trickled in. Abbie was the last to arrive and I was weirdly nervous and shy to meet this amazing lady I had been so inspired by…and I'm not a shy or nervous person around people; while she talked with a couple of the hikers she already knew I sat quietly with the dogs.
The dogs were the best ice breaker as Abbie loves dogs and knew of mine from this blog, and I soon felt a little more at ease, although still strangely nervous.
We were all ready to go and were soon climbing up out of Withypool to the high point of the day which provided spectacular views all around. Everyone was super friendly and we all talked as we climbed through scrubby moorland, and the cameras were out often.
We passed an ancient stone circle that was barely visible and had, sadly, recently been vandalized. There is very little of this kind of ancient history on Exmoor left to see; Exmoor, unlike Dartmoor, is only 14% moorland and many of the ancient histories have been plowed under with farming being a predominant feature of the landscape.
With the stone circle behind us we followed roads and tracks and ended up on the Coast to Coast Two Moors Way, a 100+ mile route from Wembury on the south coast of Devon to Lynmouth on the north coast and looking out over the Bristol Channe towards Wales. We followed this for some time, remaining up high and often passing through sheep fields which were torture for the dogs as I had to keep them leashed for a lot of the time and they just wanted to work.
We descended as we started to hear the sound of water and reached the highlight of the walk. Tarr Steps is an old trapper bridge and according to local legend, the bridge was built by the devil as a place to lay out and take in some rays, but he was eventually run off by a local parson.
We stopped for lunch and were amused by some very brave Chaffinches who wanted to share our food and actually took it out of the hand of one of the other walkers.
Soon we were back walking and were following the banks of the River Barle on a quiet and peaceful stroll back to Withypool.
It was during this time, and at various other times during the day, that Abbie had I discovered just how much we had in common and talking with her was like having a conversation with an old friend. Whether it was backpacking gear, long trails, Vikings or dragons, dogs or other things…we both had the same kind of passion for it. I was beginning to understand why God had made the urge to do this trip so strong in me.
Back at the cars we all headed out for the 40 minute drive to the campsite…a very pretty location alongside the river at Cloud Farm. Sadly there were a lot of people and big tents but we managed to find a spot to fit all our tiny tents together, plus the cars. It was a great communal feel and it was fun to be camping with so many like-minded people.
Everyone made tea or coffee (except me) as Abbie got fuel ready for the campfire, and we all settled in to some easy and laughable conversation.
A quick and quiet walk along the river built up an appetite for dinner. As Abbie got the campfire going we all cooked dinner and everyone learned the very American magic of "pink bunnies" to make smoke move…they'll all remember me for that one for eternity.
A kid screaming close by, and the bright sky kept us all up talking late into the evening but by 10pm we were all retiring to the cozy confines of our tents and sleeping bags.
What a rough night. The child that had been screaming at 10pm last night woke us all at 4am, and again at 5. I was thankful for the ear plugs I had graciously been given but they can only do so much to protect against the well-used vocal chords of an upset 2 year old. I was up at 6:30am, again with the child-alarm going off and I crawled out of my tent into the damp cold of the morning. A heavy dew soaked everything and as soon as I was dressed warmly I started on wiping the tent down to dry.
Everyone else started to stir and made coffee and breakfast as we began to dry out tents pack camp away. We were ready to go around 9am but a flat tire on one of the cars had us a little delayed in leaving, as did the detour a couple of us took when we missed the turn…that's what I get for following others! It was a pretty detour though and didn't add on too much time and we were on the trail by 10am.
Another national trail (the South West Coastal Path) marked the start of this hike as we climbed and descended through the longest stretch of old coastal woodland in the UK. We passed an old spring that looked more like a shrine to the ancient gods and felt like it belonged in Middle Earth…a common theme througout the 13 miles of the day.
While the first few miles were buried within the trees we were occasionally blessed with gaps in the trees. The views over the Bristol Channel were beautiful and clear, and the cliffs and beaches below them almost defied description with their edge-of-two-worlds charm. The blooming purple heather added another dimension to the already-stunning vistas and just gave one sense of peace and tranquility.
I was setting a moderate pace as we rose and fell along the trail, pausing to give others time to catch up. Slowing ones own pace down to not get too far ahead is definitely something I had to be constantly thinking about as I felt my feet speeding up every so often. My former guiding habits as a wrangler kicked in as I constantly turned to make sure we were all still together…a habit I will likely never lose. Of course it is tough to hike and look behind at the same time and I was constantly living up to my well-known clumsiness as I tripped on every rock and shadow. Abbie brought up the rear and no man was left behind.
The only thing to marr the enjoyment of the trail were the sheep ticks…I have never seen so many ticks before. Dog ticks I can just about deal with as they are often easy to remove but these little things were almost impossible to grab a hold of and remove. I was really glad I had been treating the dogs since April, and had given them a boost before this trip. I was constantly seeing ticks crawling on them and pausing to remove them quickly. We still had to stop once to remove more than two dozen ticks that had already taken a bite.
Once out of the cool damp woodland the amount of ticks dropped rapidly and there were few to be seen as we crested the hill and looked along the coastline to Lynton and Lynmouth…and what a sight that was. We were unbelievably lucky with the weather and the turquoise sea below us looked very Mediterranean while mottled with deeper shades of grey-blue beneath the clouds.
A long steep downhill path took us into Lynmouth, a quaint seaside town full of old-world charm and picturesque store fronts and stone cottages. We visited the flood memorial museum that detailed the historical events of the fatal flood of 1952.
A quick stop in the national park center was made as everyone but me and Abbie munched on homemade Cornish pasties and then we headed to an old pub for a proper Devonshire cream tea…and it was amazing.
A nap felt like it was needed but we were pressed for time and we were soon back on the trail, following the Lyn River to Watersmeet where the east and west Lyn rivers meet…surprisingly. We passed the site of the old ginger beer production site that had been washed away in the flood and I felt a calm sense of serentiy beneath the old, gnarled trees that were dressed in the green garb of moss and lichen. Rock overhangs made me want to build a home in some places as the feeling of Middle Earth was strong and the place felt quite magical. It was definitely my favorite stretch of the trail.
While there were still ticks there weren't as many as along the wide track as there had been along the narrow coastal path…or maybe the dogs just didn't brush against the vegetation as much. It was also through here that I had my injury for the trip…never had a trip that didn't involve something. At least this time it was only a slip and an ungraceful landing on my butt with a grazed knee…and another pair of hiking pants ruined by a hole in the knee. That made me more mad than the fall and the bruised knee.
After a few miles we stopped at a bend in the river, and the dogs got to play in the water for a while, chasing unobtainable sticks and cooling off while having fun. Everyone got the chance to see Kye doing her "dunking her head to remove big rocks from the water" thing…it got a few laughs and many comments.
After taking a quick pee break as others got back on the trail I hung back a little. I was starting to feel a little overwhelmed with being with the group (lovely people though they were). The lack of alone space and time that I am so used to while I'm hiking…and why I get out in the first place…was starting to get to me a little. Time alone in nature is my balm.
Abbie hung back to make sure she hadn't lost me, as responsible group leaders do, and it was during this time as we hiked alone that I had the most amazing and important conversation I have had in my adult life with anyone…ever. I now knew exactly why God had put this intense need to do this organized trip in my head and laid it so heavily over my heart that it was almost suffocating.
Sadly our time to talk was too short and we soon arrived at Brendon where we had to leave one of our party behind who was struggling with the length of the hike. (Abbie headed back to pick him up in the car when we were done, we didn't just abandon him).
The last mile or so out of Brendon was a steady uphill climb in the intense sun. We were all suddenly missing the shade of the trees. Someone had also cut back the gorse that lined the trail on one side but the cuttings had been left and made walking for the dogs very difficult and painful. Twice I had to carry a dog, with Abbie helping with the other…definitely much appreciated. Of course both dogs were wet from the river still but damp clothes were actually a blessing on that long, hot climb back to the car.
While I was hot and tired I wasn't really ready for the weekend to be over. A last conversation was had by the group and then we all bid our farewells to each other. I watched everyone depart one by one to their homes in other places, far removed from the peace of Exmoor.
The next morning felt good after a solid night of sleep, albeit with some strange dreams and I headed into Lynmouth to check out the little town some more…and to eat a one of those amazing pasties that had smelled so good on Sunday. I had no plans and I was just going to enjoy some alone time away from work and people and spending some quality time with the dogs. After the amount of ticks I had decided against doing another hike despite my original plans.
Despite a slightly unorthodox approach to hiking and camping for me I had an absolutely amazing time, met some fabulous people and made some amazing memories. I'm really glad I listened to my heart and did this trip and I can highly recommend booking a weekend or day hike with Abbie, especially if you not confident to go alone or you are just getting into hiking.
If you don't know who Abbie Barnes is, follow the links below to check out her Spend More Time in the Wild videos on YouTube and the website…I hope you find her as inpirational as I do.


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My most popular headband I ever sold in my Etsy shop was this Shamrock one.
I've tried this "style" of headband at other holidays, but it never works as well as the Shamrock shape and so it remains my one and only non-flower I ever sold!
To make one of your own, you need three different, but close shades of green felt {I used lime green, apple green and Kelly green}. I like to either do lightest to darkest or darkest to lightest, but there are no rules, so pick whatever looks best to you! You'll also need a large rhinestone for your center and a headband as your base. I prefer a wider headband for this particular project to give the shamrock a little 'body.'
In the above photo, you'll see my pattern set. If you're just going to make one headband, you could probably freehand these, but since I make these a lot and I struggle with shamrock shapes in general, I made a proper pattern set. I like to make my patterns on graph paper as it helps me check my proportions and balance. For something like this project you can then use a photocopier to either shrink or enlarge your pattern at an interval two times to get your other two templates.
I have laminated my patterns, and so they can easily withstand pinning them to the felt and cutting around it. When you first cut the felt, it will not look very pretty. Don't fret!
See? A little rough, right? Not to worry. Take your top layer and stack it on top of the middle layer and "clean it up" and then repeat with the bottom layer. Now it should look much prettier!
Hot glue your layers together and add a rhinestone center and then attach it to your headband! Now give to some lucky little lass!

subset: commoncrawl


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One in 50 Canadian children have been diagnosed with Tourette syndrome – or one of its cousins OCD and ADHD – yet the stigma surrounding the unique disorder remains.
For that reason, Victoria is stepping up in the name of awareness with a five-kilometre charity fun walk along Dallas Road this Sunday (April 8), on the 10th anniversary of the Trek for Tourette event. The syndrome is a neurological disorder that produces repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics.
National trek co-ordinator Janet Rumsey has Tourette's, as do her four sons, and has overseen the organization of walks across the country, from B.C. to Newfoundland.
"It's time we as a nation recognize that neurodevelopmental disorders are mainstream and growing rapidly in the frequency of their diagnosis," she said.
We've almost raised $70,000 for #TrekForTourette and and we're still trekking with our last 2 treks this weekend in Victoria, BC and Ottawa, ON! ! Help us get to our donations goal of $100,00! Donate online here https://t.co/fMOa7lCGQu pic.twitter.com/J61UfxX5ii
— Tourette Canada (@TouretteCanada) April 3, 2018
Volunteer-based Tourette Canada relies on the generosity of Canadians to provide services to those living with the disorder, and their families. Founded in 1976, it is the only registered charity that assists individuals affected by Tourette syndrome. Their main goal however, remains creating awareness and understanding through education, advocacy, and research.
Registration for the walk starts at 1 p.m. and the trek heads out from Dallas Road and Cook Street at 2 p.m., heading to Ogden Point and back again. To donate or to get involved visit tourette.ca.


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We just learned about Easter Sunday.
The next time in the church calendar is Pentecost.
The word means 50th day, and the day is 50 days after Easter.
This is the time when churches remember the Holy Spirit coming to the Apostles.
Many churches use rose petals or images of doves to remember the holy spirit coming down, and some even will lower a dove from the ceiling or drop rose petals from the roof.
Other churches remember the day with confirmation, when young people confirm their faith.
The churches are usually decorated in red, the color of fire.
(from: wikipedia - pentecost)
Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jesus Appears on the Road to Emmaus


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Happy Thanksgiving Friends! I hope you all had a wonderful day with family and had the opportunity to reflect on the things you are thankful for.
Not only was this the first Thanksgiving I have ever hosted, it was also the first family get together I have ever hosted for my husbands family! Needless to say, I was putting a little pressure on myself to make sure the meal went off without a hitch. (And I hoped it would taste as good as my moms!). Here is a rundown of how I prepared and roasted the turkey:
The first question I posed was TO BRINE OR NOT TO BRINE? My mom makes fabulous, moist turkey and does not brine it beforehand. But my dad did a brine on the turkey last year, and I remember the bird being really moist. I saw an episode of The Pioneer Woman and thought her brine looked good, so I pushed away my fears and decided to go all in.
What You'll Need for the Brine
3 Cups Apple Cider
2 Gallons Cold Water
4 Tablespoons Fresh Rosemary (Or 2 to 3 Tablespoons Dried Rosemary)
1 & 1/2 Cups Kosher Salt
2 Cups Brown Sugar
3 Tablespoons Peppercorns
The Peels of 3 Large Oranges
First, cut the tops and bottoms off the oranges (so it won't roll around) and cut the peels off.
Add all ingredients into a large pot (stock pots are great!).
Bring this to a boil, then turn off the heat, cover, and let it seep until its cooled to room temp. (Let me tell you, this takes a lot longer than I thought it would! Haha. The Pioneer Woman says that halfway through the cooling process, you can put the pot in the refrigerator to speed it up. I had to do this. First, I got another large pot and poured the brine from one pot to another over and over to let some heat escape. Then I kept the brine in the two pots and put them both in the fridge. I figured it would cool faster that way).
Once the brine has reached room temp, we put the turkey in an oven bag (breast side down) and poured in the brine (there are brining bags out there, we just couldn't find one). We put that in a roasting pot and into the fridge. The Pioneer Woman says you want to brine a turkey for at least 16 hours, although 24 hours is better for larger birds. My turkey only got to brine for about 8 hours, but it was still scrumptious! 1/2 to 2/3 of the way through the brining process, flip the bird over in the bag.
Once you have brined the bird for as long as you want, discard of the brine, rinse the turkey, then soak the turkey in some cold water for about 15-20 minutes (you can do this in a clean sink, a large pot, or do like us and just use another oven bag). After those 15-20 minutes are up, drain the turkey of any water trapped in the cavities, and pat dry with a paper towel.
My family has been roasting their turkey "The Alton Brown Way" for years, and let me tell you - this turkey will come out perfectly roasted and super moist every time.
Here's what you do:
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
After brining the turkey and patting it dry, place the turkey on a roasting rack in a shallow roast pan or cookie sheet, breast side up. Tuck the wings under the turkey so they don't flap about. Get out some foil and fold into a large triangle, large enough to cover the breast of the turkey. Rub some canola oil on the foil to prevent it from sticking to the turkey. Press it against the breast to mold it to the appropriate shape and size. Set the "breast plate" aside for later use and rub some canola oil on the outside of the turkey. Place the turkey/roasting pan in the oven on the bottom rack, feet side in first (and it might be a good idea to add a cup or two of water to the bottom of the pan so the drippings don't burn and make your fire alarm go off). Roast the turkey for 30 minutes at 500 degrees. Once those 30 mins are up, change the temp to 350 degrees, put the breast plate on the turkey and then let it do its thing until the temp of the thickest part of the breast meat reaches 161 degrees. (TIP: get one of those digital meat thermometers that you can put in the turkey before putting it in the oven, and then set the thermometer to go off once the internal temp of the turkey has reached 161 degress. Its so handy!)
When the turkey hits 161 degrees, take it out of the oven, and let it rest (just sit there) for 20-30 minutes (covered in foil to keep in the heat) before you cut into it. If you don't let it rest, the juices will flow right out of the bird when you cut into it, and will make it dry it out.
Here it is! Looks good, no?!
And here is my handsome hubby, ready to carve the turkey!
I'm so happy with how the turkey turned out! I will definitely always roast my turkey the same way. And I'm guessing I will always use the same brine recipe - it worked so good, why change it up?!
Let me know if you give this a try and how it turns out!
I couldn't have made this delicious turkey without the help of The Pioneer Woman, and Alton Brown.
Here is the link to the Pioneer Woman's website with her brine recipe: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/10/my-favorite-turkey-brine/
(Her directions are much more clear, and wittier! lol. And she has some great pics. Also, her recipe calls for bay leaves. I didn't have any, so I didn't use it in my brine).
And here is the link to Alton Brown's roasted turkey recipe on the Food Network website: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/good-eats-roast-turkey-recipe/index.html
(This page also has his brine recipe, which my dad used last year and it was great - although my dad doesn't like Allspice, so he didn't use it. It also mentions some things you can put in the cavity of the turkey to enhance the aromatics. I didn't do this. I just follow his roasting directions).
~ Brianne


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Context: Mat 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
Mat 27:47 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "This man is calling Elijah."
Mat 27:48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink.
Mat 27:49 But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him."
What are the commands of Jesus Christ which we need to obey? In disciple-making, Jesus commanded the following in Matthew 28:20: "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…" What are the commands that we are to follow and teach others as identified by Jesus' use of the imperative mood in the Greek?
This is an anchor post, the purpose of which is to begin a conversation. Please add value by sharing stories, personal experiences, quotes (with sources) and questions for discussion in the comments. (Some comments may be incorporated into the original post.)


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We are pleased to announce the support for Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) for Android. We are also announcing the deprecation of current MQTT push notification service in favor of new GCM push notification service.
Appcelerator Cloud Services (ACS) has been supporting MQTT based push notification service for Android devices. Google released Cloud Messaging Service (GCM) last year that meets customers' most demanding scalability requirements while delivering better battery life and resource usage. GCM also offers new push delivery options and support for Android Rich Notifications, which can deliver images, more text, and drive users to actions like making a phone call, sending an email, opening a web page or playing a song right from the push message. We will add new features only for GCM service going forward.
We are supporting both MQTT and GCM (default) services with Titanium 3.1.2 release but we strongly recommend you to use and migrate to GCM service as we will discontinue MQTT support later this year. You can download the latest ACS Android SDK if you are not a Titanium developer. Please refer to ACS Android push documentations to get started.
Please post your questions on Appcelerator Q&A forum with "ACS" tag or leave your comments on this blog post.


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I started this blog to talk about my fiction, but this week there's a 99c Countdown deal on the nonfiction book I wrote with superstar author Catherine Ryan Hyde, HOW TO BE A WRITER IN THE E-AGE: A SELF-HELP GUIDE, and I wanted to spread the word.
I was honored that she wanted to write a book with me. It gave a great boost to my career. We began writing it before I had found my current publisher, and my career was at a low point after my first publisher went under and my magazine work dried up.
I did have a successful blog, but that hadn't yet started to pay off. Unfortunately, it gave me enough of an online presence that I made a good target for the sad little people who troll the Interwebz looking for ways to ruin somebody's day.
When Catherine and I first published HOW TO BE A WRITER, we had both recently been attacked by the nasty trolls who swarm an author's buy page with one-star "reviews" that have nothing to do with the book and everything to do with the trolls' weird agendas.
Catherine Ryan Hyde Interviews Anne R. Allen
Catherine: Unfortunately, the Internet can be a nasty and disagreeable place. You watched me learn that the hard way. And supported me during that time. Then you were subjected to a similar disaster. A blogger is so "out there" on the Interwebz, where everything you say can and will be taken out of context, misconstrued, then used against you. How did you cope? How did it change you? Any advice to others?
Anne: Yes, I had my first experience with Internet bullies when I wrote what I thought was a completely innocuous post encouraging the non-Internet savvy older reader to write Amazon reviews of their favorite books. Because it had been prompted by an elderly lady who thought a two star review was a rave, I aimed it at grandmothers. First I called it "Amazon Reviews for Grandmas" but decided that wasn't hooky enough. So I called it "Amazon Reviews: 12 Things Everybody and his Grandmother Needs to Know."
Turned out to be the best header ever for getting traffic (over 50K hits) but unfortunately it got the wrong kind. Well, some of the wrong kind. 90% of the response was positive, but the other 10%—totally psycho!
The negative stories went viral and spiraled away from reality like the old game of "telephone." I was telling book bloggers how to do their job! I was a self-published moron who had beaten up a little old lady for giving me a 2-star review!! I was making reviewers wear evening gowns!!! (BTW, I'm not self-published, and I've never met the lady—a friend of the friend who asked me to write the post. And when I compared Amazon to other online shopping sites and said, "You don't give a pair of jeans one star because it's not an evening gown," I was NOT issuing orders from the fashion police. These people should see how I dress.)
But I learned that truth never gets in the way of rageaholics. They trashed my Amazon buy page with bogus one star reviews (most have since been removed.) They voted up the 2-star review so it was the first thing people read. A barrage of hate mail told me I'd never be reviewed in this Internet again. I actually got death threats. Some Bozo found out where I lived, described my house, and told me he was watching me and he had a gun. And I've got to admit I'm still scared to query a book reviewer I don't know for fear it will be one who heard the poisonous stories and thinks I'm a little old lady-basher.
What did I learn? The Internet is like a big, dangerous city. Yes, it's sparkly and exciting, but don't expect everybody to be sane and/or sober. And sometimes you step in dog doo.
My advice:
Catherine: This will border on shameless plug, but you and I have a book coming out just about now, the co-authored HOW TO BE A WRITER IN THE E-AGE: A SELF-HELP GUIDE. A popular blog is a great way to draw attention to a book release. This seems to me like an excellent example of how a successful blog can be a boon to authors. Care to count the ways "Writing about Writing. Mostly" has helped your career?
Anne: First, I should say that my blog is now called "Anne R. Allen's Blog…with Ruth Harris. I initially called it "Anne R. Allen's Blog: Writing about Writing. Mostly", but moved the tag down last August when the wonderful Ruth Harris joined the blog as a permanent every-fourth-Sunday guest.
This is lets me make an important point. As a blogging teacher, I always emphasize the importance of putting your name in your header. A reader wanting to find your blog is going to Google your name, not a cutsie title they probably don't remember or may never have heard. If you're an author trying to build platform, it's really important to remember your own name is your brand, and your social media presence should be all about establishing your brand.
As far as how my blog has helped me as an author: it got the attention of several agents and two publishers. Those publishers now publish six of my books. That has all happened in less than a year, so I'd say blogging has been very good to me. But I've been blogging for three years, so I don't want to tell people a blog will lead to instant publication. It certainly can help, though.
But I should point out a blog is NOT a place to sell books. That's important to remember. A blog is a place to make friends. It's your little home on the Internet where people can stop by and have a conversation.
Catherine: Will you explain to my readers the concept of "slow blogging," why it works for you (and many others) and how it makes you feel when you read advice insisting that one must blog every freaking day?
Anne: This is one of my most important messages to all authors out there: Don't listen to the "boot camp" types out there who say you have to blog 24/7! Anybody who tells you to forget pesky things like family, friends, job and sleep…and that silly little book you're working on—is a doofus.
The Slow Blog movement is like the "slow food" movement (the opposite of McBurgerish face-filling.) It teaches that tech is our servant, not the other way around. Mindless, endless blogging is not going to help your career. Once a week is fine. Once a month is fine. Only blog if you have something to say. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Think quality not quantity. My blogpost on the Slow Blog Manifesto is here.
Catherine: I find myself feeling close to the people (like you, for example, but others I've never met) who follow my blog and leave comments regularly. What about you? How many of your blog followers feel like friends? Any stories that stand out?
Anne: Oh, I love my blog followers! I wish I could have a big party and meet them all in person. They're such a diverse group—people I might not meet in real life. From a religious stay-at-home mom to a nihilist extreme martial arts fighter. A lot are much younger than I am, but on the Web, we're kind of all the same age. I don't want to mention names, because I might leave somebody out—and I feel close to so many. But I've got to say that they've got me reading their books—many in genres I wouldn't normally read. I think commenting on blogs gets readers as much as having a blog of your own—my commenters sure got my attention.
Catherine: I try to give this opportunity to each of my blogger interviewees. We tend to feel a bit guilty blowing our own horns on the Internet. So I wave The Wand of No Shame over your head. Will you brag on yourself a little, and tell my readers the honors and recognition you and your blog have received?
Anne: OK, this is me tooting my horn. Last month our blog was one of fifteen finalists for the Best Publishing Industry blog in the Association of American Publishers/Goodreads awards. That was awesome. I'm so grateful to everybody who voted for us. The blog was also a finalist in several other big blog contests.
Early on in my blogging career my blog was named "Blog of the Week" by a couple of marketers in Washington DC and the same week a Canadian food blogger announced my blog was the best place to learn the basics of blogging—that was nice.
But I think the most exciting honor I got was after I'd only been blogging for a few months: uberblogger Nathan Bransford—who was then an agent at Curtis Brown—chose me to be a guest poster on his blog. My feet hardly touched the ground for weeks.
Catherine: Now that your blog is so successful, you must get a lot of contact from authors and others who would like to benefit from your blog's big following and good reputation. So I'll ask a similar question to the one I ask book review bloggers, who are solicited by authors all the time: What is an example (or some examples) of the best and worst approaches you have received?
Anne: Oooh—This is an important subject. People are so clueless about approaching bloggers. Asking to guest post or interview on a top-rated blog is asking for a huge favor, but most people do not get this.
Our blog averages 15,000 hits a month on four posts. (Update: by 2015, the number of hits grew to over 100,000.) That means each post has to get 3500 hits—in an ever more saturated market. A guest needs to have a big following or offer something unique and cutting-edge to say. Otherwise, they're going to lower our ratings. That's why we don't take many guests. The bloggers who get on are either already bestselling novelists—like you and Lawrence Block and Elizabeth S. Craig/Riley Adams, or they're long–time followers who've made good and have an inspiring and unique success story to tell. Also, we like author-friendly, positive posts full of useful information, not "buy my book" ads or boot-camp stuff.
The most clueless queries are from people who should know better: editors or other service providers who want free advertising, or publicists who want free exposure for their client's book. They're usually high-handed and rude about it: dictating their rules to ME as if they're doing me a favor.
What these people are doing is like walking up to a stranger on the street and demanding a hand-out.
I wrote a blogpost recently on guest blogger etiquette, hoping to cut down on the clueless requests—nobody likes to have to reject people, even rude ones. But one of the comments—on that very post—consisted of a query letter from a college kid who pretty much broke every rule in the post. You can read my "How to Be a Good Blog Guest" post here.
Catherine: What real-life opportunities have been extended to you, and what experiences have you had in the non-virtual world, that you felt were a direct result of your blog?
Anne: When I started the blog, I pretty much thought my career as a fiction writer was over. My publisher had gone out of business and the comic mysteries I write were being dismissed as part of the "chick lit fad" that had been declared dead.
But because of the blog, I was approached by a number of publishers who liked my humor and voice. One wanted to re-publish my backlist, and another wanted to take a chance on my new ones. It's been an exhausting nine months, but now all six of the books are published—three only as ebooks, but they'll all be in paper by Christmas.
Even before I was approached by publishers, the blog gave me a chance to be myself in a way I was often afraid to do in real life. I grew up at a time when women weren't supposed to be smart, so I developed a habit of dumbing myself down to please people that has plagued me for a lifetime.
But I let my brain loose in the blog and discovered that being a "smarty-pants" could have positive results. It made me brave enough to do it in the real world. A number of acquaintances disappeared, but I also started meeting people who were more like the ones who comment on my blog: people whose lives encompass more than shopping and TV and kvetching about work. I started to feel an intellectual freedom I hadn't felt since I was an undergraduate at Bryn Mawr.
Catherine: Will you recommend a few other book-and-author related blogs that you think are worth visiting?
Anne: The number one blog every writer should check in on periodically is Victoria Strauss's Writer Beware. She's a tireless watchdog who tells writers about scams and unethical stuff we need to know about to protect ourselves. Other must-reads are Nathan Bransford's Blog, and Jane Friedman's. Also, all creative people can benefit from reading social media guru Kristen Lamb. Her blog is funny and informative and she's started a Facebook-type site for artists and writers called MyWANA that looks as if it will be fantastic for networking.
Anne: What is the most inspiring piece of advice you received when you were an aspiring writer?
A famous author named Catherine Ryan Hyde said, "If you have a fall-back position, you tend to fall back." That's when I decided to cut back on my day job and give this writing thing my all. I'm not getting rich, but I'm not falling back, either.


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Please use the form below to alert us of concerns of questionable accounting or auditing matters, fraud, breaches of ethics policies, or conflicts of interest perpetrated by an employee, board member, volunteer, vendor, contractor, grantee, or other individual doing business with Health Forward Foundation. Please download the full whistleblower policy for more details.
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Brimstone Recreation manages over 19,000 acres of Appalachian Tennessee wilderness with ATV trails for all skill levels. In addition to ATV/SXS trails, Brimstone also has an array of lodging available including RVs, Cabins, houses, and trailers.
Huntsville is an ATV friendly town so once you arrive, you can ride on back roads to and from the campgrounds and the trails. You may also rent ATV/SXS, canoes, kayaks, and inner tubes for your outdoor enjoyment on New River.
Brimstone Recreation, LLC is located in Huntsville, TN and has become nationally recognized as the "go to" for ATV riders and outdoor enthusiasts.
With over 300 miles of trails at Brimstone as well as close proximity to the North Cumberland Wilderness Management Area, you are sure to have hours and hours of fun on these Tennessee ATV trails.
Don't Forget To Pin It For Later
Before you read all about Brimstone, I want to invite you join us over on Facebook on our ATV Trails Near Me page where we share videos, funny ATV mishaps, and other information about ATV trails all over the US.
Speaking of tips, here are just a few ATV accessories to think about if you are new to ATV riding or even if you are a pro. We all like new toys, don't we?
ATV Accessories To Consider
In the meantime, here's a quick list of some of the very basic essential riding gear and accessories you need for a great time on the trail.
ATV Helmets– Choosing a good helmet can actually be quite complex. Obviously you want a an ATV helmet that is comfortable, but also safe and well rated. The helmets listed below are all top rated ATV helmet brands such as Bell or AGV and they are all DOT approved. Read our Comprehensive Guide to choosing the Best ATV Helmets.
ATV Goggles- Sure I'm an eye doctor's wife, but you don't have to be married to an eye doctor to know you need to protect your eyes on the trail. Mud, rocks, and even ATV parts can be slung at high rates of speed on the trail. Even the smallest object penetrating the eyes at a high speed can lead to serious damage. Don't skip this very important ATV accessory.
ATV Gloves– Again, this is more than just comfort. The very second time my husband and I hit the trails, we were stuck in the mud for a long time. Having good hand protection when you are having to work out in the elements can really come in handy. 😉
ATV Boots– You know I'm gonna talk about your shoes. At a minimum you want to wear a sturdy hiking shoe or boot. I recommend a sturdy waterproof boot like our favorite Salomon Ultra 3 GTX for men and these Salomon's for women.
Below is quick reference chart for your to compare prices on these important ATV accessories.
|ATV Accessory
|J & P Cycles
|ATV Helmets
|Check Price
|Check Price
|Check Price
|ATV Goggles
|Check Price
|Check Price
|Check Price
|ATV Gloves
|Check Price
|Check Price
|Check Price
|ATV Boots
|Check Price
|Check Price
|Check Price
Brimstone Recreation ATV Permit Fees & ATV Rentals
ATV Permits
The Brimstone Permit is required and will give you access to miles of trails and outdoor adventure. A valid land use permit is required for everyone riding the trails including passengers.
For complete details and regulations go here. Permits can be purchased online here.
Shop MotoSport for all your dirt bike, ATV, and motorcycle needs!
|Permit Duration
|Adult Permit
|Child Permit
|1 Day
|2 Days
|3 Days
|4 Days
Daily ATV Rental Rates
Brimstone Recreation has onsite ATV and SXS rentals for your convenience so don't let not owning an ATV keep you from experiencing this amazing "Disneyland" for outdoor enthusiasts.
There is a $500 damage deposit required on all rentals.
Daily rentals are from 9:00 am-5:00 pm. Rentals include helmets and ATV wash.
For your convenience, the following chart has the most recent published rates, but visit their website for complete details.
|ATV Type
|Base Rate
*There is an error in the addition on the Brimstone Recreation page. We have added correctly the prices they have listed. Pricing may vary at the time of your booking.
ATV Trail Markings
- Green– Easiest trails range from old logging roads to gravel roads. Designed for beginners or those looking to relax.
- Blue– Similar to easy trails, but with some ruts, washouts, steep climbs, and deep mud
- Red– These trails are for the more experienced riders and need to be ridden cautiously. Brimstone says,
"Great for riders looking to be challenged! Not for the faint at heart."
Brimstone Recreation Events
Brimstone Recreation has two major annual events that bring in thousands of ATV/OHV enthusiasts from all over the country.
Brimstone Paragon: This is Brimstone's premier fall event and is held every September.
Thousands of OHV enthusiasts flock to Brimstone every September for races, thousands of dollars in prize giveaways, big name nightly concerts, and loads of fun.
Brimstone Paragon 2018 will be held on September 28-30, 2018 and features The LACS, Everette, Chris Lane, Daughtry, and Big and Rich.
Brimstone White Knuckle Event: Brimstone Recreation's Spring White Knuckle Event is equally as impressive with stunt shows, obstacle courses, drag racing events, karaoke, vendors showing off their latest gear, and so much more.
All of this finished off with great nightly entertainment and concerts.
Lodging near Brimstone Recreation
Brimstone Retreats is the official lodging location for the Brimstone Recreation. They have cabin and RV rentals.
All lodging is supplied with everything you need for an amazing stay and easy access to the trails.
You can book your lodging at Brimstone here.
The campground allows access to Trail #1 as well as many of the other Brimstone trails.
There is electric and water as well as a dump station. Primitive tent camping also available.
The local hotels are limited in the Huntsville area, but you can find a list of the closest hotels here.
In the nearby town of Caryville, there is a Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Inn, but this is ~ 30 minutes from Brimstone.
Dining Near Brimstone Recreation
The following home cooking small town restaurants make the top lists and have the best reviews in the area.
Raezack's Grill & Deli –7 minutes from Brimstone
Local down home cooking with great reviews from visitors as well
Phillip's Drive Inn– 13 minutes from Brimstone Located in the town of Oneida, TN- Serves Pizza & Desserts
Preston's Steakhouse– 16 minutes from Brimstone Family restaurant serving steaks, burgers, and pizza's.
For more reviews of area restaurants, go here.
Attractions Near Brimstone Recreation
We doubt you will have much time or desire for anything beyond riding while blazing the trails at Brimstone Recreations, but just in case, here are a few of the other fun things you can do in the area.
Blaze More Trails in North Cumberland WMA
If the 300 miles of trails at Brimstone aren't enough for you, then take your wheels for a spin in the nearby North Cumberland WMA on the Royal Blue and Sundquist riding trails.
These trails are located about 30 minutes (Royal Blue) to one hour (Sundquist) east of Brimstone, but could certainly be included in a road trip to the area.
Visit Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
This is definitely one to add to the list while in Brimstone. Only 23 minutes away, this large recreation area is part of the national park system.
There are gorges, vistas, rivers, and hikes to be enjoyed.
Want to go white water rafting? Ok! Horseback riding? You got it! Visit a historic mine? They have that too!
Definitely plan on a day or two to visit this beautiful national recreation area.
Camping is also available in the area so it could certainly be added to your time in Brimstone or even be a base camp if you don't mind driving a bit.
As you can see, there is so much to do during a visit to Brimstone Recreation that you can easily fill up a long weekend or a whole week, but even a day blazing the trails would be worth your time!
You Might Also Be Interested In These Other ATV Trail Guides
- 8 Thrilling ATV Trails In Tennessee
- Northeast Tennessee's Doe Mountain Recreation Area & ATV Trail System
- Take a ride on the wild side with an ATV Ride at Bluff Mountain Adventures Pigeon Forge, TN
- 13 Adrenaline Rushing ATV Trails In Virginia You Need To Ride
- Hatfield-McCoy Trails: The Only Feud Still Raging Is Which ATV Trail In West Virginia To Ride First
- Think Florida is only for beach lovers? Think again! These 15 Florida ATV Parks & Trails Will Scratch Any Outdoor Enthusiast's Itch!


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Viral Campaigns: How ALSA Won Big by Enabling Others to Create Content
The big social media story of 2014 so far has been the ubiquitous ALS ice bucket challenge. It's significant for several reasons. For one, donations to the ALSA topped $100 million (up from $2.7 million in the same time period in 2013). Interesting from a marketing perspective is just how big it caught on. This can probably be attributed to the viral design of the challenge (in-built invitations with a time limit), and to the celebrity involvement. Everybody who's anybody, from Bush to Bieber, has dumped ice on their head and donated to ALS.
The coolest thing about the challenge (other than the ice) was that it enabled celebs and friends to make their own fun content. It provided a simple, limited framework, and allowed them to be creative with it. And some of the celebrity ice bucket challenge videos were pretty damn creative. (See, perhaps, Dave Grohl's Carrie homage.) The content celebs created allowed them to (1) flaunt their creativity, (2) associate themselves with a good cause, and (3) gave a current and relevant reason to make contact with fans.
Can I do something like this for my brand?
Similar things have already been done on smaller scales, with less celebrity involvement. And we're certain to see some copycat attempts in the coming months. But can your brand get big doing a similar thing?
Probably not. Celebs are less likely to associate themselves with a for-profit brand without getting paid. ALS works because it's a noble cause. Unless you're working for a high-profile social, environmental or medical organization, we doubt you'll convince presidents, tech billionaires and pop singers to suffer for your pleasure.
However, you might be able to profit from this nugget: if you can give people a framework that enables them to produce cool stuff for you, you could enjoy some modest (or even major) success.
I just doubt many people will sign on for the McDonalds Hot Coffee Bucket challenge…
Who was the mastermind behind the ALS ice bucket challenge?
Nobody, really. That's what's both awesome and totally frustrating about it. The ice bucket challenge was already a thing, with people dumping ice on their heads and challenging others to donate; it's just that one version that gave money to the ALSA caught on, and the ALSA jumped on the opportunity. Often, amazing marketing is less about planning and design, and more about agile response to possible opportunities.
Photo: Andrey Smirnov/Dollar Photo Club.


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No I havnt given up windsurfing just yet...just adjusting my schedule a bit to accommodate some new goals. During this off season, I will be concentrating a bit more on my architectural career vs windsurfing. I'm hoping to knock off a few off the ARE exams this winter and over the next 2 winters (and leaving the summers for windsurfing) so that I can become a registered architect.
Yes, there is more to life than windsurfing...something I never thought Id say!
Nonetheless, I was super exited to pick up my new ML10 formula board a few weeks ago at the Lab in northern Californian. Its always a fun trip up to see the maestro Zajicek and his lab in full action.
There are various states of formula boards and slalom boards in mid construction. Blanks of foam perched on the wall, waiting to become a finished product; boards vacuum wrapped to the rocker table halfway to their life and finally sitting their on the main table was the lightest formula board Ive picked up... 7.8 kg of pure craftsmanship.
Honestly Id rather give my $ to no one else knowing the hard work and dedication that goes into building a custom board. Seeing the other repairs he does to production boards, I noticed the inconsistencies, sub par work and materials that go into production boards and ask myself if its really worth it. Sure, it might be cheaper but Ive learned the lesson before...no one wants to blow out a fin box in the middle of a regatta or have their foot go right through the deck of the board. When you buy a ML board, you know its going to be exactly like the one produced before it and exactly like the one produced after it. You cant say that with a production board!
I only managed 2 sessions in very light winds on the new board before leaving for the holidays . It did seem to pop up on a plane sooner than my old 160 and go pretty damn fast but its going to take some adjusting to find the sweet spot in terms of angle and speed.
My goals this season are simple: Improve my upwind angle.
Something Ive been struggling with for several seasons. I gave up quite a few positions at the Worlds and even losing the US Nationals because I couldn't match my competitors angle upwind.
Furthermore, Im going to be putting some different sails into the quiver this year to see how it helps the program. Ill stick with what I know works well- the north 10.0 and will be trying out the NP evo2 10.7. Not much traveling on the agenda this season so Ill leave the 12.0 out of the equation and concentrate on racing in SF.
So if you dont hear much from me over the next few months, its not because I'm not thinking about windsurfing every moment just like you but rather the mechanical, plumbing and electrical codes are currently taking up their spots on the top of my brain.
In the meantime you can follow what sessions I do get at http://twitter.com/usa4
Also, some gear still for sale: north sails 12,3, 11, 10, 9, 8, 6.3, 5.8, north masts 550, 520, HPL booms, F2 105l and 125l slalom boards
Contact me at bodnersp @ gmail.com


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Why do a more epic version?
Because we, the characters who starred in the original book, want more magic, action, drama and mayhem. Hey, we're readers too, and we want our story to be as epic as possible.
So without further ado, we bring you—drumroll please—the more epic version of Curse Breaker: Enchanted!
We hope you enjoy it!
— the cast of Curse Breaker: Enchanted (both versions)
P.S. We went to hilarious lengths to bring you this preview. We're not kidding. Check out our exploits.


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"A multinational police force last week arrested eight men on suspicion of running a secret online store called "The Farmer's Market" that sold more than $1 million worth of narcotics, including LSD, ecstasy, fentanyl, mescaline, ketamine, DMT, and high-end marijuana.
"According to a 66-page, 12-count indictment that was unsealed last Monday, The Farmer's Market provided a fully functional e-commerce experience, including a storefront, order forms, online forums, customer service, and various payment methods for the different sources of supply."
Tor-hidden online narcotics store, 'The Farmer's Market', brought down in multinational sting, by Lisa Vaas, Naked Security, April 23, 2012
And I thought I was making that up. Well, it's more drug smuggling than e-commerce in Electricland. But still… What will those crazy kids think up next? I'm afraid to find out.


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Children's brand Akid and new commerce and editorial site, Mini Mode, have teamed up to create limited edition sneakers. FN was on the scene as Akid and Mini Mode launched its emoji-laden kids' kicks at Babesta in New York City on Wednesday night for a sneak peek ahead of the official release.
The collaboration features Akid's signature high-top silhouette in premium soft canvas in two colorways, light blue and mustard, featuring emoji-inspired patchwork.
Mini Mode seemed to be a perfect fit for the partnership, as creators Maria Benetos and Colleen Crivello take the time to curate their site specifically for chic moms, as well as feature product ideas for babies, toddlers and tweens.
This partnership follows another first for Akid, which was its summer debut of its first-ever sandal style, the Aston.
Since launching in March 2014, Akid has had continued success. From collaborations with Mara & Mine to North West among its famous fans, the brand can be found in top boutiques and department stores such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Babesta, Kitson and more. As the brand grows, founder Ashleigh Dempster told FN to expect more fun events in the future.
The Akid x Mini Mode kiddie chic shoes are available now and sold exclusively online at akidbrand.com.


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Episode #3 European Escort and Arab Client's Love Story in Bangkok
Third episode After returning home, he was missing Kim badly. He was waiting for another chance to go Bangkok. He visited Bangkok to take some excellent picture this time for his travel magazine, but there he found someone extraordinary in his life. This is a story of an unusual relationship and it also the story that rediscovered the innocence of love. This story brings forth a massive social message. Even being educated person and living in the 21st century has never relieved us from the old social stigmas. It revolves around a fantastic love story of two innocent hearts that will make you believe in the real magic of love again. Abbas and Kim were wholly made for each other as they both are perfect to fulfill each other's desires, dream, and passion. They met through the agency profile first, but things were going far more than that now. Kim is a stunningly beautiful escort of Europeanescortbangkok.com and Abbas just fall for her after viewing her profile, and after two meeting he found the deep love for Kim. She is a passionate girl, and she can do anything for her clients. They first met in the hotel room of Abbas as he hired her through the agency authority. Abbas found that Kim is much beautiful than her profile picture by their first meeting. She is exceptionally hot. This time again, he hired her for a dinner date. He was so impressed by on the previous night, and he booked her for next night too. He was chosen Kim over the other girls, as she was immensely beautiful and hot. He was also looking for someone who is new in this profession and experience. She was just perfect to fall into his category, and he has got satisfaction and peace of mind with her previously. She reached the restaurant at night, and they started chatting with each other. Again the man found more love with his escort. She was an understanding, obedient, smart and educated companion for him. She listened to all the sad stories of Abbas patiently and took the responsibility to help Abbas to forget all his pain. Abbas booked the extra session of meeting with Kim with some extra tips. Things started getting interesting when they met again on that rainy night in a sea side restaurant. It was very much romantic and dreamy night for them. They spent lots and lots of time by chatting, having drinks, they danced and wrapped up the session with satisfactory physical intimacy. It was a romantic dinner date and night out for the couple. They spent the evening together, and Abbas told her that it is going impossibly for him to imagine even one day without Kim and also proposed her for marriage. Kim was not ready for marriage and such things at that time. She was waiting incredibly for a successful career in a modeling industry and was enjoying her freedom in a new city, far from the religious and social bindings of her own country. They met at the Oceanside restaurant and beautiful circumstances, cozy corner and the view of the night sea were so mesmerizing for both of them. They spent a cuddling and romantic time thereby kissing or by holding a hand. They also danced with the romantic music there and enjoyed the food with some pegs of vodka. After a well-spent evening, they went to the hotel room of Abbas and then spent another sizzling night. Abbas never had that much satisfaction physically and mentally that he got from Kim. He found his true love in Kim but it was impossible for him at that time to express his appreciation as he was engaged with someone and he belongs from an orthodox family. He lost his beloved wife, but his family has arranged for another girl for him, who he did not love. This was an arranged relationship and organized by his family and parents, but he was not happy with the girl even she was unable to fulfill the sexual desire of Abbas. But the fact was Abbas became a secret lover of Kim as she was tremendously beautiful, intelligent and bold. Their analytical and sharply perceptive mind refused them to be submissive to each other. But strange is the way of their destiny that an unusual love story blossomed between these two hearts. Nevertheless, Abbas always dreamed of having a happy family always but over the years and with failed relationships, and the death of his beloved wife, his dream faded away. The reason for his love failure is his passionate work and his pain of losing some precious in life, but finally, he got the answer to all of his issues and found his love from with a big thank to his work only. Abbas is six years older than Kim, very much handsome and fair in look. He was the man who makes every woman gasp as he walks down the room. He was not just very much wealthy but very much well behaved, and he earned all his money by his creative and smart mind and hard work. They had enjoyed the evening each other with lots of love and fun and enjoyed the delicious sea foods also. They found many things every day between them on that evening and started loving each other's companionship. They enjoyed a satisfactory evening by dancing, by viewing the sea and so on. It was not a love at first sight for Kim, but Abbas has started feeling something different since the second time they were together at this dinner date. They did not have the full blown physical intimacy from the on that night. The second time when they met, they just talked for all the seven hours by touching and holding hand with each other. Abbas was only an engaged man then, and it was difficult for him to propose Kim for marriage and brought her with him. He needed some time to understand his feeling for Kim and to take the most significant decision of life.
Read all Episodes Here!
For Russian escort Models in Bangkok, Get in Touch Here!


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A week before Christmas, new start-up OnePlus announced plans to build "the perfect phone at a disruptive price", saying that users should "never settle" for anything less. OnePlus invited smartphone users to participate in an open and ongoing discussion about what they valued and disliked in handsets, and the company has now revealed a little more about what it has lined up.
In a series of posts on its Facebook page, the company revealed that its first handset, to be called the OnePlus One, "will be built using only the best components and 2014 flagship specs, both inside and out", and that it will see international availability in the second quarter of this year.
"Features are meaningless. They mean nothing to users," says OnePlus, quoting Kim Goodwin, author of Designing for the Digital Age. "A coherent product user interface is the product to users." With that in mind, the OnePlus One will feature the hugely popular CyanogenMod interface, which the company says "provides a light, fast and secure Android experience." OnePlus will modify some elements of CyanogenMod, although it did not specify which customizations it will apply.
No details were released about just what specs this thing will be packing, but 9-band LTE support (1/3/4/7/17/38/39/40/41) is promised. The design hasn't yet been revealed either, but OnePlus says: "We're confident our phone is more attractive than just about any phone on the market."
The company also says it is taking a more holistic approach to keeping its users happy. Providing more "thoughtful design and service" than the competition will be a key component of the OnePlus offering, in addition to leading industrial design and build quality, even though "this might be disadvantageous for us in the short run", the company says.
There's still a lot we don't know about the OnePlus One but, frankly, we can't wait to find out more.
Source: OnePlus Facebook via BGR | images via OnePlus


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Vancouver, WA
Christ Gospel Church of Vancouver
Please call for locations: (360) 836-9307 & (503) 502-4110
|Service Times
|Sunday Sunday School
|Regular Service
|Tuesday Prayer
|6:30-7:00 p.m.
|Tuesday Bible Study
|7:00-8:00 p.m.
|Marriage StudyGroup
|3rd Saturday of every month at 6:00 p.m.
That glorious invitation has given us our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to be part of a large group that loves God and wants to grow each day in the stature of the perfect man Jesus Christ. Thanking God who gave us a living hope (1 Peter 1: 3-4). Aware that hope is not an illusion and that a firm belief, is faith, which is projected into the future.
God in his great mercy to open doors for the Mighty message to the wife reaches the Northwest. This is for anyone who wants to grow morally and spiritually so that in eternity future can be part of the wife of Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, God has given us the privilege and opportunity at this time to listen and obey what the Bible details so that we can achieve it. (2 Tim. 3: 16-17).
Recall that in the marriage of the Lamb will be invited, to virgins but there is only one who will marry him and dwell in the New Town forever. (Rev.19: 7-8).
Today God has opened a door in the city of Vancouver Washington for the "Message of the Bride" can be shared with those who yearn to study the Word of God to know their Creator in a profound way while learning to know themselves the light of the Word the many reasons why we struggle in our spiritual career since the Supreme calling is great.
According to what we are seeing and hearing what is happening in this world we realize that the Lord will soon return for those who have been preparing, washing their spiritual garments each day, giving a true testament to good fruit; which undoubtedly shows spiritual maturity.
To invite you to be part of this group of people who have chosen an inheritance the new Jerusalem.
Pastors Oscar and Lupita Miguel
Iglesia del Evangelio de Cristo de Vancouver es una organización independiente afiliada con Cristo Evangelio Iglesias International, Inc.


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- Sales
- Lettings
- Planning
- Farm & Land Sales
- New Homes & Development
- Professional Services
- Carbon
- About
- Contact
Welsh Bridge, Frankwell
Shrewsbury SY3 8LG
Hogstow Hall, Minsterley SY5 0HZ
The Estates Office,
20 Salop Road,
Oswestry SY11 2NU
1 Berriew Street,
Welshpool SY21 7SQ
1 Great Oak Street
Llanidloes SY18 6EQ
Clare joined Roger Parry and Partners in July 2010 after finishing a course in Rural Enterprise and Land Management at Harper Adams University College, having previously worked at a firm in Cheshire on her placement year. She became a qualified rural practice Chartered Surveyor (RICS) in 2012 and she also qualified as a Fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (FAAV). In 2018 she was promoted to Associate and also opened our new Llanidloes office. Clare is also a RICS Registered Valuer.
Clare deals with the Residential Sales from the Welshpool and Llanidloes offices and is also able to advise clients in Basic Payment Scheme and Grants in Wales and England, Glastir, Countryside Stewardship, Commercial property, Sales and Letting of Rural, Planning, Valuations, Landlord and Tenant matters and Compulsory Purchase. Clare works with our clients from the Llanidloes, Welshpool and Minsterley Offices for Basic Payment Scheme advice, both in Wales and England.
Clare grew up on a dairy farm near Llanidloes in Mid Wales and was a very active member of Montgomeryshire Young Farmers Club and still acts as Club Leader. Through YFC she has travelled to farms in Texas and Argentina, and was selected for the 2019 Agri Academy Business and Innovation group set up by the Welsh Govenment and Farming Connect where she has met with industry leaders and visited farms in south west England, the Netherlands and north Wales. She is also Secretary for the Upper Severn Grassland Society.


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Trust us to move your project forward
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Geotechnical site investigations, slope stability, earthwork designs, plate load tests, basement impact assessments, in-situ geotechnical testing, coal mining risk assessment.
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Site investigation, risk assessment, de-risking sites, validation, coal mining assessment, basement impact assessment–contamination, remediation design and validation.
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Flood risk assessment, SuDS assessment and design, soakaway testing, river modelling, fluvial geomorphology, geographical information systems.
Land Drilling
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Specialist remediation contracting, site clearance, ground improvements, bulk earthworks, soil stabilisation, pilling mat installation, remediation strategy, site enabling works.
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Hide Forgot
Because the clock doesn't pass through the times 2:00-2:59
on the first day of daylight savings time, jobs (such as my
daily backups!) that are scheduled to begin anytime in this
one hour window are skipped.
Arguably this is correct in the sense that these times don't
exist, but if this behavior is to be considerd "normal",
then the man page should warn users about this.
Your suggestion has been passed on to a developer for further review.
I have reviewed the Single Unix Specification definition of crontab
(it doesn't talk about cron specifically, but the crontab definition
talks about the crontab format as well) and there is no indication
that cron should magically re-schedule jobs that are scheduled for a
non-existant time. Indeed, it is not clear what the right thing to
do would be if cron tried to shuffle the schedules.
I have reclassified this bug report as a documentation bug report
and we'll change the man page to explicitly mention that cron will
not run jobs during times that do not exist, such as during daylight
savings time conversions.
Man page updated with this information in vixie-cron-3.0.1-32
Following up on this, in RedHat 7.3, the cron manpage makes no mention of
daylight saving time. It is not clear whether some jobs may be run twice or not
at all.


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How Do You Become a Mobile Home Trailer Mover?
To become a mobile home trailer mover, obtain a Class A commercial driver's license, or CDL. This licensure allows a driver to drive a commercial motor vehicle hauling the weight of a mobile home.
To obtain a CDL, start by passing a written test and background check to get a Commercial Learner's Permit. This document allows the holder to practice driving a commercial motor vehicle when accompanied by someone who has a current CDL. A CDL applicant must have his learner's permit for at least 14 days. After this period, he is eligible to take the skills test, which includes vehicle inspection, basic controls, and road driving portions.
There are two types of commercial driver's licenses: Class A and Class B. Class A licenses allow carriers to drive tractor trailers on the interstate. Class B licenses offer a wider variety of careers. Not only can Class B drivers drive tractor trailers, they are qualified to haul specialty cargo, deliver furniture, drive cement or concrete trucks, become a self-employed truck driver, or even become a truck driver training instructor. However, Class A licenses offer the added benefit of being able to tow weights in excess of 10,000 pounds; cargo must be under 10,000 pounds for those with Class B licenses.


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3D printing is stuck firmly in the hobbyist world: It's overly expensive, not at all practical, produces items of limited utility, and requires far too much time and effort. Yet it's also so utterly transformative that the experience is other-worldly. Other-timely, really, since it's obvious that this is how many daily objects will be produced in just a few years. My 3D … [Read more...] about Thoughts on the Modern Miracle of 3D Printing
AIO Robotics
Adding a Second Ethernet Port to an Intel NUC via Mini PCIe
As I mentioned in my previous post about Raspberry Pi power monitoring, I recently built a VMware vSphere "datacenter" from three Intel NUC mini PC's. One limit of the NUC is that it has just one Ethernet port. But there's a Mini PCIe slot inside the fourth-generation NUC that can be used to add a second Ethernet NIC! Here's my story. A Bit About the Intel NUC … [Read more...] about Adding a Second Ethernet Port to an Intel NUC via Mini PCIe
Having Trouble Keeping Your Cool? You Need Some AC Infinity Fans!
I have a lot of storage. No surprise, given my background, but all those storage devices sure can heat things up, especially when you keep them in a closed cabinet like I do! That's why I'm pleased by the new fan setup I just installed and thought I would share it with you. The Problem With Heat Computers need protection from overheating, especially mechanical bits like … [Read more...] about Having Trouble Keeping Your Cool? You Need Some AC Infinity Fans!


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The Branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Rivers State have described the Governor Nyesom Wike era as the years of abundance and growth for the legal profession in the state.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by leaders of the NBA in Rivers State to the Government House Port Harcourt on friday , Chairman of the NBA Port Harcourt Branch, Mr Sylvester Adaka noted that the Justice Sector has hadits best run under the leadership of Governor Wike.
He said: "The justice sector in Rivers State has never had it so good . The tenure of Governor Wike will go down in history as the years of abundance for the Justice Sector".
He thanked the Rivers State Governor for the projects and programmes in the Justice Sector, which have improved law practice.
"Under the leadership of Governor Wike, justice sector has become more vibrant. Only recently, three lawyers were elevated to the position of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in the state ", he said.
The Rivers lawyers appealed to the State Government for the allocation of land for the establishment of a Lawyers Housing Scheme.
They also requested for the support of the State Government in the construction of NBA Secretariat in other branches in the state.
Responding, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike assured lawyers in the state that his administration will continue to promote the rule of law.
He assured lawyers that his administration will sustain cooperation with them to avert a situation where the justice sector is compromised.
Governor Wike urged lawyers to speak out against societal ills for the protection of the nation's democracy and the rule of law.
The announced the donation of buses to three new NBA Branches in Rivers State and support for other branches of the NBA for the construction of secretariats.


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Just in from Savas Beatie is the unedited galley proof of Six Days in September: A Novel of Lee's Army in Maryland, 1862, by Alexander B. Rossino. (It appears that this is a new edition of the work previously published in 2015.) Novels are problematic subjects for a preview, since the typical features of notes, bibliography, maps, prefaces, and conclusions aren't present. The subject matter is self-explanatory, thanks again to the post-colon subtitle. A flip-through reveals that this story is focused on the Confederate angle, and focuses on familiar "real life" players with a smattering of what I'm guessing are narrative-propelling, representative fictional characters.
The book is impressively blurbed, with James McPherson calling it a "page turner" that "provides the most vivid description…of the desperate plight of Southern forces" during these events; Scott Hartwig notes that it "provides the best that historical fiction has to offer"; and Tom Clemens calls it "an insightful look" and "a great read!"
Alexander B. Rossino is a resident of Boonsboro, MD. He is the author of Hitler Strikes Poland: Blitzkrieg, Ideology, and Atrocity.


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There's Something for Everyone in These Family-Friendly Pampanga Resortsby Danna Peña
Only about an hour and a half away from Manila, the province of Pampanga is a top pick of traveling families for its accessibility, selection of impressive Pampanga hotels, and countless bonding activities.
Besides being known as a foodie's haven (fun fact: Pampanga is dubbed as the "Culinary Capital of the Philippines"), it is also home to several popular tourist attractions flocked by locals and foreign tourists alike. Nestled in Central Luzon, the province is bordered by provinces like Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, and Zambales. Sought-after tourist attractions in Pampanga include the famous Mount Pinatubo, The Sandbox, Pradera Wake Park, and Nayong Filipino, to name a few.
So if you're planning a family getaway—whether you're after a quiet staycation or an excursion to Pampanga's awesome sights—we've handpicked the best kid-friendly Pampanga hotels that the whole family can enjoy.
1. Prado Farms
With a purpose to instill mindfulness and eco-friendliness in its guests, Prado Farms is a great place to visit for the young ones. The family-owned business is home to an organic farm, eco-lodges, a retreat center, and spacious pathways for biking and strolling. During your family's stay, satisfy your tastebuds with their delicious Kapampangan food that's organically-grown from their farm. You can also enjoy a dip in the pool with the kids and spend time appreciating the farm's repurposed art installation. Prado Farms is a pet-friendly resort, so can also tag your furry friends along for a complete family bonding experience.
Prado Farms
Km 94-95 Jose Abad Santos Highway
Prado Siongco, Lubao
(0998) 804 5395
2. Midori Clark Hotel Pampanga
Midori Clark Hotel and Casino is a luxury Pampanga hotel with a vast area of 9,900 square meters. The establishment is separated into two individual structures (one for the hotel and the other for its casino) that are linked by a sky bridge on its second level. What's unique about this hotel is how it offers the convenience of city living while providing cozy and private spaces for family bonding time. The hotel's spacious rooms are surrounded by a lush green landscape that serve as a breath of fresh air. While the kids have fun wading in the pool, you and your partner can lounge on the lovely cabanas nearby while sipping on a drink. Besides their world-class service, other impressive features of Midori Clark Hotel include a well-equipped fitness center and their Chan Spa.
Midori Clark Hotel and Casino
Kalayaan St., C.M. Recto Avenue, Clark Freeport Zone
(045) 308 8888 / (045) 308 8888
3. Widus Hotel and Casino
If a family staycation is much-needed, Widus Hotel and Casino is a prime choice. Constantly lauded by various travel websites such as Tripadvisor, it boasts elegance, comfort, and luxury that make for a wonderful family stay. Have a gastronomic adventure with the kids by trying their international cuisine from their several food and beverage outlets. Widus Hotel and Casino is also designed with a modern tropical concept—its selection of rooms provide refreshing views of the pool and garden. If you've still got a bit of work to do, you can visit their convenient business center with high-speed WiFi and calling services.
Widus Hotel and Casino
5400 Manuel A. Roxas Highway, Clark Pampanga
Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City
(045) 499 1000
4. Park Inn by Radisson Clark
Awarded by Tripadvisor with their 2018 Certificate of Excellence, Park Inn by Radisson Clark is an excellent pick for all kinds of travelers. Bring the whole fam with you for a welcoming Pampanga stay that's less than eight kilometers from the Clark International Airport and only 5 minutes away from the SM City Clark Mall complex. Not to mention that this Pampanga hotel's chic furnishings has a modern and vibrant look that's perfect for snapping some family photos. Have some fun under the sun by taking a dip in their adult and children's pools, or work up a sweat in their well-equipped gym. Do you fear being disconnected from work? Fear not, because the hotel has high-speed internet to help you fulfill your responsibilities.
Park Inn by Radisson Clark
SM City Clark, Manual A. Roxas Avenue
Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City
(045) 598 7000
5. Quest Hotel Clark
While Quest Hotel Clark provides a stylish family stay with its impeccably clean rooms and modern interiors, the 4-star luxury hotel won't break the bank. Crafting an elegant mix of business and leisure, it provides all your work and entertainment needs in one place—perfect for the "family person" with an on-the-go lifestyle! Book a stay with the entire fam and make memories by hanging out by the outdoor pool, gorging on delicious food, and lazing about in their cozy rooms. A fan of golf? Swing it out at the Mimosa Golf Course, which is located right across the hotel. Quest Hotel Clark also offers conference facilities, work rooms, and free high-speed WiFi in case you need to get things done.
Quest Hotel Clark
Mimosa Drive, Filinvest Mimosa + Leisure City
Clark Freeport Zone, Philippines, 2023
(045) 599 8000 / (045) 236 5040
6. Marriott Hotel Clark
Planning that luxurious vacation you and your children deserve? Marriott Hotel Clark will greet you with superb rooms and amenities to make that dream a reality. Newly opened on September 14, Marriott Hotel Clark is a 16-story five-star hotel with world-class restaurants. Its 16th floor will be home to "Smokey Moto", a Korean-Japanese restaurant with a splendid view of the Mimosa Golf Course that will provide you and the kids an excellent dining experience. Feel at home with their stellar amenities such as the pool, full service spa, and fitness center. The hotel will also provide high-speed internet access and meeting rooms for your work needs.
Marriott Hotel Clark
5400 Manuel A. Roxas Highway, Clark Freeport Zone, Mabalacat
(045) 598 5000
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10th Annual Bootlegger's "BOO-ery"
Join us for a SPOOKTACULAR time at Bootlegger's Brewery's Fullerton Tasting Room for our 10th Annual Bootlegger's "BOO-ery" Halloween Party on Friday October 25th! First 200 guests receive a complimentary Bootlegger's Brewery pint glass.
Early bird tickets now available, pick up yours today before we sell out!
COSTUMES ENCOURAGED. A costume contest w/cash prizes (1st $100, 2nd $50 and 3rd place $25 to the winners) Winners will be announced at around 11:30PM. Must be 21 or older to purchase tickets.


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Rich Aries – Site Selection and Lease Negotiation
Rich has been with Signworld for over 25 years.
Rich is a licensed Commercial Real Estate Broker who specializes in tenant representation for commercial leases. He handles all the needs of new Signworld Owners from locating the site, negotiating the deal, reading and reviewing the leases, and giving any help needed through the years.


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June 23, 2014 1 min read
"Koli El Hashem" is a song full of power and a cry out to the Creator, his words accurately describe the cry of the hostages and pleading finishes "הוציאה ממסגר נפשי." "I felt the need to spread this tehillim as a prayer for the hostages. Currently still unknown about the boys dear, I pray they return to the bosom of their families and faults them for passage" to admit the name "real soon, Amen" – says Gil Ben-Chaim, composer and performer of the song.
Click PLAY below to hear the song
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- Formula: C9H11NO2
- Molecular weight: 165.1891
- IUPAC Standard InChIKey: COLNVLDHVKWLRT-MRVPVSSYSA-N
- CAS Registry Number: 63-91-2
- Chemical structure:
This structure is also available as a 2d Mol file or as a computed 3d SD file
The 3d structure may be viewed using Java or Javascript.
- Stereoisomers:
- Other names: L-Phenylalanine; Alanine, phenyl-, L-; «alpha»-Amino-«beta»-phenylpropionic acid; «alpha»-Aminohydrocinnamic acid; «beta»-Phenyl-«alpha»-alanine; «beta»-Phenyl-L-alanine; «beta»-Phenylalanine; (-)-«beta»-Phenylalanine; (S)-Phenylalanine; Antibiotic FN 1636; Benzenepropanoic acid, «alpha»-amino-, (S)-; L-Antibiotic FN 1636; Phenyl-«alpha»-alanine; 3-Phenyl-L-alanine; 3-Phenylalanine; «beta»-Phenyl-«alpha»-alanine, L-; Alanine, phenyl-; Alanine, 3-phenyl-; Hydrocinnamic acid, «alpha»-amino-; L-«beta»-Phenylalanine; L-Alanine, phenyl-; (S)-«alpha»-Aminobenzenepropanoic acid; PAL; (S)-2-Amino-3-phenylpropanoic acid; (S)-2-Amino-3-phenylpropionic acid; L-Alanine, 3-phenyl-; NSC 79477; (-)-Phenylalanine
- Permanent link for this species. Use this link for bookmarking this species for future reference.
- Information on this page:
- Other data available:
- Options:
Data at NIST subscription sites:
NIST subscription sites provide data under the NIST Standard Reference Data Program, but require an annual fee to access. The purpose of the fee is to recover costs associated with the development of data collections included in such sites. Your institution may already be a subscriber. Follow the links above to find out more about the data in these sites and their terms of usage.
Go To: Top
- Data from NIST Standard Reference Database 69: NIST Chemistry WebBook
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) uses its best efforts to deliver a high quality copy of the Database and to verify that the data contained therein have been selected on the basis of sound scientific judgment. However, NIST makes no warranties to that effect, and NIST shall not be liable for any damage that may result from errors or omissions in the Database.
- Customer support for NIST Standard Reference Data products.


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The website for the CFA Society of Poland has moved.
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Please update your bookmarks.
A Member of the CFA Institute Global Network of Societies
CFA Society of Poland is one of the youngest member societies of CFA Institute. It was established on April 14th, 2004 under the name of Polish Association of Investment Professionals (PAIP), by about 50 members. Society was registered by CFA Institute as member society number 131 on December 1st, 2004. Following general policy of the other member societies, the name PAIP was changed by members to CFA Society of Poland on March, 17, 2005.
Currently we have over 400 members (data as of end of June 2015). We observe growing interest in getting CFA designation in Poland in last few years.
Our mission:
CFA Society of Poland is governed by the Board of Directors that comprises
people with significant experience in the relevant activities, including
representatives of the leading Polish and international companies and
CFA Institute is a global, nonprofit member organization of financial analysts, portfolio managers, and other investment professionals.
To learn how to join us, please click
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Agricultural News
Good Harvests and Ample Stockpiles Drive International Food Prices DownThu, 09 Oct 2014 14:19:42 CDT
Food markets are more stable and prices for most agricultural commodities are sharply lower than they have been in recent years, according to the latest edition of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations biannual Food Outlook report and a new update to the Organization's monthly Food Price Index, both released Thursday. Bumper harvests and abundant stockpiles are key factors helping drive down international cereal prices, according to the report.
World wheat production in 2014 is forecast to reach a new record, it says.
For coarse grains, prospects for near-record production levels, combined with already-high inventories point to a very comfortable world supply and demand balance in 2014/15, especially for maize.
While rice outputs could decline slightly this year, stockpiles remain "huge" and are sufficient to cover over one-third of projected consumption during the 2015-16 period.
All told, world cereal production in 2014 is anticipated to reach 2 523 million tonnes (2.5 billion tonnes) an upward revision of 65 million tonnes from FAO's initial forecast in May. World cereal stocks should hit their highest level in 15 years by the end of the cropping season in 2015.
Global output of oilseeds is also forecast to exceed last season's record due to further expansion of soybean production.
Meanwhile, world production of cassava looks to be on track to achieving another record high, driven by sustained growth in Africa, where the tuber is a strategic crop for food security and poverty alleviation.
Today's Food Outlook anticipates that world sugar production will increase in 2015-16, as well.
Meat production is set to grow moderately in 2014, but not enough to ease prices from their current high levels, while milk production continues to grow steadily in many countries.
Production of fish is also on the rise, driven largely by aquaculture and less-than-expected El Niño impacts.
Price drops across the board - almost
The FAO Food Price Index (FPI), also released today, has registered its sixth consecutive monthly drop the longest period of continuous decline in the value of the index since the late 1990s averaging 191.5 points in September 2014.
Among the FPI sub-indices, sugar and dairy fell most sharply, followed by cereals and oils, while meat remained firm (more).
Although meat prices remain high they could be stabilizing: the September Meat Price index remains 22 points up versus the same time last year, a historic high, but registered only a slight increase over August (0.3 of a point) after months of steady hikes.
High meat prices and large trade volumes for products in the animal protein category, including meat, dairy and fish, mean that the global food import bill that is, the aggregate amount that all countries spend on imported foodstuffs will surpass $1 trillion again this year, for the fifth year in a row.
The FAO FPI is a trade-weighted index that measures prices of five major food commodities on international markets.
While price trends for these commodities at the macro level are a useful indicator of global trends and can signal when consumer food prices might be at risk, they are not always directly mirrored in national, regional and local markets.
Regional differences highlighted in second report
To help spot food price spikes affecting consumers in the developing world, particularly in low-income food-deficit countries (LIFDCs), FAO recently launched a new website that reports abnormally high prices of staple foods in markets in 85 different countries.
Additionally, the Organization produces a quarterly report, Crop Prospects and Food Situation, that focuses on developments affecting food security in developing countries and LIFDCs.
The latest edition, published today alongside Food Outlook and the October FPI, highlights a number of hot-spots of particular concern.
The Ebola virus disease outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone has disrupted markets, farming activities and livelihoods, seriously affecting the food security of large numbers of people, it says. And irregular rains in several areas of the Sahelian belt will result in mixed production prospects.
Food crop production in the Central African Republic is up from 2013's sharply reduced output, but still remains well below average due to the impact of widespread civil insecurity, the report adds.
In Eastern Africa, the overall food security situation is improving as harvesting has started in several countries. But while food prices in the region are generally stable or declining, they are at record high levels in Somalia and the Sudan.
Meanwhile, drought conditions in Central America have significantly reduced the 2014 main first season harvest in key producing countries.
Drought conditions have also been a problem in the Near East, leading to a below-average cereal harvest for the region, while the conflicts in Syria and Iraq continue to significantly degrade food security.
Click here for FAO's biannual Food Outlook report.
Click here for FAO's monthly Food Price Index report.
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Belmont Abbey
The BENEDICTINE Monks of Belmont welcome groups and individuals, men and women, for residential and day retreats. There is a Programme of Retreats and Conferences organised by the Retreatmaster on a wide range of themes. Individuals are welcome to the Hedley Lodge Guesthouse for a restful stay and can share in the Divine Office and Mass celebrated in the Abbey Church.
There is also a Programme of Day Events, offering days of recollection and study days particularly for those in the Archdiocese.
Contact: The Retreatmaster
Belmont Abbey
Ruckhall Lane
Tel: 01432 374712
For those interested in staying for a quiet few days in the Guesthouse, contact Hedley Lodge, Tel: (01432) 374747
Sunday Mass – 4.00pm (Vigil), 8.30am, 9.30am (Conventual Mass), 11.00am (Family Mass)
Holyday Mass – 7.00pm (Vigil), 8.00am, 12.00noon
Reconciliation – Saturday 10.00am – 10.30am


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If you are someone who has access to a backyard or recently starting to get into the idea of playing adventurous then shooting and hunting is one of the best things you can do. Although, we would not recommend that you start hunting right off the bat, there are still things that you can do once you have learned air rifles. When it comes to air rifles, it is important that you keep in mind a couple of things before you invest in one. Doing your research on the subject of air rifles is the best way of going about it.
If you step into a store for fire arms, it can be a very overwhelming experience, make sure that you have a set list of requirements first. Look up air rifle reviews or other things, if you aren't aware of how air rifles work. With that said, following are a couple of things to keep in mind while investing in an air rifle, check them out below.
Going in with a set budget will help you in narrowing down your options a lot. This will also help you in sticking to the best kind within your budget. So make sure that you always set a perfect budget.
Another thing that you should keep in mind while looking for an air rifle is to ensure the type that will work for you. There are many variants, each has a different mechanism as compared to the others; so you should make sure you have some basic knowledge about the variety that exists, it will help you in making the best possible selection.
Try It Out First
Before you invest in one, we would recommend that you try them out. Most big hunting or air rifle stores have a small area of shooting range where you could try their rifles out.


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A super-stylish restaurant and bar in Knightsbridge, Osh is a buzzy spot that riffs on the cuisines of ancient Silk Road countries like India, Uzbekistan and Persia. The venue is buzzy and bright, with glittering chandeliers, deep blue walls and bright orange accents in almost every room; the menu is suitably eclectic. Lots of ingredients you've never heard of appear in sizzling small plates, cold market-fresh veg dishes and smoky shashlik skewers (which are grilled in an open kitchen).
No dishes disappointed. There was some lovely sesame bread to start, with delicious whipped tarragon butter, then a plate of perfectly cooked rabbit wrapped in rolls of cabbage leaf that had been sprinkled lightly with truffle.'Osh', the signature Uzbek pilau rice dish from which this restaurant gets its name, was a mass of silky, smoky lamb with fleshy tomatoes and some tangy pieces of radish that spiked through the fatty, rich flavours of the rice.
Desserts were just as excellent: a super-sweet slice of honey cake, and some salted pistachio eclairs. I could go on about the honeyed, tender beef fillet shashlik or the pompoms of featherweight rock shrimp tempura, but I'll leave some things as a nice surprise.
Service was efficient, but not very informative – the only real negative. When we asked what the 'hacelim' sauce that came with the crispy aubergines was, the response was that it's 'very special'. In fairness, it totally was.