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For decades, the running as to who in Asia speaks the best English has tended to involve two main contenders – Singapore and Hong Kong.
Both have a tight historical relationship with English and use it as one of their official languages. Both lay claim to being Asia's leading business hub.
But while English proficiency is surging in Singapore, Hong Kong is falling painfully behind.
Indeed, a new global study by the language group Education First (EF) for the first time puts Singapore in the highest proficiency band, alongside countries like Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands.
The EF English Proficiency Index, which measures skills in non-native English-speaking countries, put Singapore at number 6, the first Asian country ever to enter the top ten.
"The big news is that Singapore for the first time has broken in to the top ten. That's quite remarkable," Minh Tran, research director of EF, the world's largest private educator, said in an interview in Hong Kong.
The study pulled its results from almost one million people in 72 different countries who took a free online English test.
Hong Kong, meanwhile, placed 30th. Five years ago it was ranked 12th. Although the number of sampled countries was fewer back then, Hong Kong actually got a lower score this year than it did in 2011.
Several other Asian countries also beat the former British colony: Malaysia, the Philippines, India and South Korea. In fact, even the French now speak better English than Hongkongers.
How good is your English? Take the test here.
Hong Kong is focused on root learning and repetition. A survey from last year showed that Hong Kong primary school students spend more time doing homework than their counterparts in Singapore. But the number of hours spent both in classrooms and doing homework doesn't create smarter children – quite the opposite. The quality of schooling is more important that the number of hours, Minh Tran said.Minh Tran said the growing gap between Singapore and Hong Kong not only boils down to education, but to smart education.
It might sound like an obvious thing to blame, but you would be surprised by the high number of Hong Kong parents who compel their kids – some from the age of just three or four years old – to spend hour after hour each day immersed in tedious, mind-numbing study instead of going out to play or interacting with other children.
"It's not about drill and kill. It's not about memorizing. It's not about grammar or vocabulary"
"In Hong Kong, children start to learn English in kindergarten and then study for some 12 years. But often when they finish, they can't communicate in English," Minh Tran said.
He explained how he has sat in on English classes in local schools in Hong Kong to observe the system. He has witnessed entire English classes being taught in Cantonese, the native Chinese language of south China.
"This is wrong from so many perspectives", he said, shaking his head. "In Singapore you would not see that."
His advice to parents who wants to boost their kids' English skills is to engage them in a natural English environment. It's better for kids to play with English speaking friends, or watch films and listen to music in English, than to spend hour upon hour doing monotonous copying work.
"It's not about drill and kill. It's not about memorizing. It's not about grammar or vocabulary. These parts are naturally important building parts, but you will get those naturally if you are exposed to the language," he said.
"Just think about your first language – how did you learn that? Not in school, right? You learned it by being exposed to it."
There's also a difference in the quality of teachers, he argues.
"Singaporean teachers are just so much stronger than elsewhere. They are really top-notch. They are being well-paid, and working as a teacher is one most prestigious jobs in the country," he said.
"Before the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, people spoke better English. Now more schools focus on teaching Mandarin"
"In Hong Kong, even if we have the Confucian tradition of respect for your teacher, the profession is not seen as a very desirable job. It's a job you get if you can't get more desirable jobs – banking, consulting, doctor, lawyer."
Some blame Hong Kong's mediocre English skills on the rise of Mandarin, the standard language of mainland China.
"Before the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, people spoke better English. Now more schools focus on teaching Mandarin," said one British PR consultant who was born in Hong Kong. "Maybe it makes sense, but it's shortsighted. With Chinese you can do business in China; with English everywhere."
The Netherlands was ranked number 1 in the EF English Proficiency Index, and was followed by four Nordic countries: Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. Iraq, Libya and Laos came in last.
China was ranked in the low proficiency band, at 39th. Japan has dropped from moderate to low proficiency, coming in at 35th, which "highlights the country's struggle to implement sustainable English education programs," the report said.
The education company concludes in the report that English is a key component of economic competitiveness at both the individual and national levels. Higher English proficiency correlates with higher incomes, better quality of life, more dynamic business environments, greater connectivity and more innovation.
"On the individual level, English has the potential to generate opportunities, strengthen employability, and expand horizons," it said.
That's a message at least the Singaporeans should able to read.
Non-native English speaking countries, 2016 rankings
1 Netherlands
2 Denmark
3 Sweden
4 Norway
5 Finland
6 Singapore
7 Luxembourg
8 Austria
9 Germany
10 Poland
11 Belgium
12 Malaysia
13 Philippines
14 Switzerland
15 Portugal
16 Czech Republic
17 Serbia
18 Hungary
19 Argentina
20 Romania
21 Slovakia
22 India
23 Dominican Republic
24 Bulgaria
25 Spain
26 Bosnia & Herzegovina
27 South Korea
28 Italy
29 France
30 Hong Kong
31 Vietnam
32 Indonesia
33 Taiwan
34 Russia
35 Japan
36 Uruguay
37 Macau
38 Costa Rica
39 China
40 Brazil
41 Ukraine
42 Chile
43 Mexico
44 Morocco
45 Peru
47 Ecuador
48 Pakistan
49 Colombia
50 Panama
51 Turkey
52 Tunisia
53 Guatemala
54 Kazakhstan
55 Egypt
56 Thailand
57 Azerbaijan
58 Sri Lanka
59 Qatar
60 Venezuela
Source: EF English Proficiency Index 2016
How good is your English? Take the test here.


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WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center
The Prudential Assurance Company Limited v. Osaro Godwin
Case No. D2005-0934
1. The Parties
The Complainant is The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, domiciled in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, represented by Lovells, France.
The Respondent is Osaro Godwin, domiciled in India.
2. The Domain Name and Registrar
The disputed domain name <prudentialbankplc.com> is registered with Network Solutions, LLC.
3. Procedural History
The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the "Center") on August 31, 2005. On September 2, 2005, the Center transmitted by email to Network Solutions, LLC a request for registrar verification in connection with the domain name at issue. On September 2, 2005, Network Solutions, LLC transmitted by email to the Center its verification response confirming that the Respondent is listed as the registrant and providing the contact details for the administrative, billing, and technical contact. The Center verified that the Complaint satisfied the formal requirements of the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the "Policy"), the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the "Rules"), and the WIPO Supplemental Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the "Supplemental Rules").
In accordance with the Rules, paragraphs 2(a) and 4(a), the Center formally notified the Respondent of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on September 7, 2005. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5(a), the due date for Response was September 27, 2005. The Respondent did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondent's default on September 28, 2005.
The Center appointed Prof. Keita Sato as the sole panelist in this matter on October 11, 2005. The Panel finds that it was properly constituted. The Panel has submitted the Statement of Acceptance and Declaration of Impartiality and Independence, as required by the Center to ensure compliance with the Rules, paragraph 7.
4. Factual Background
The Complainant is The Prudential Assurance Company Limited registered in England and Wales, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential plc. The parent company named Prudential plc was founded in the United Kingdom over one hundred fifty years ago, and is also registered in England and Wales. The Complainant owns registration of the PRUDENTIAL trademark for class 36, including banking in the United Kingdom, and in CTM for classes 35, 36 and 42, including financial service. It operates the website at "www.prudential.co.uk".
The Respondent registered the domain name <prudentialbankplc.com> on November 8, 2004.
The Complainant recently became aware of Respondent's use of the email address "email@example.com". Philip Broadley is currently the Group Finance Director of Prudential plc, and had no knowledge that his name was being used in connection with the email address "firstname.lastname@example.com". The Complainant seeks the transfer of the disputed Domain Name.
5. Parties' Contentions
A. Complainant
In its Complaint, the Complainant argues that the Respondent is linked to the fraud in question in the front section, and alleges that the Domain Name is confusingly similar to the trademark PRUDENTIAL owned by the Complainant, as the disputed Domain Name reproduced the mark in its entirety and the generic words "bank", "plc" and the prefix ".com" are affixed. The Complainant contends that many Internet users would think that the website associated with the Domain Name (and the corresponding email addresses) is in some way connected with the Complainant.
The Complainant further alleges that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the Domain Name, since the Respondent has no trademark registrations in the USA, Canada, France and other 18 major developed countries, and that the Respondent has never been authorized by the Complainant to use any of its trade marks. Moreover, the Complainant argues that the Respondent's use of the Domain Name cannot be considered to be in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services because the Respondent operates a webpage in connection with the Domain Name at issue.
The Complainant also alleges that the Respondent registered the Domain Name at issue in bad faith, since it is inconceivable that the India-based or UK-based Respondent was unaware of the Complainant's rights before his registration of the Domain Name. And the Respondent used the Domain Name at issue in bad faith since it sends many emails with the email address "firstname.lastname@example.com". In addition, the Complainant alleges that the Respondent used the Domain Name in bad faith, because the WHOIS details of the Respondent are false, and that the Respondent is linked to the registration of three other domain names which could potentially be used to commit financial fraud in Nigeria.
For all these reasons, the Complainant requests the Panel to issue a decision ordering that the Domain Name <prudentialbankplc.com> be transferred to the Complainant.
B. Respondent
The Respondent did not reply to the Complainant's contentions.
6. Discussion and Findings
For the Complaint to succeed, the Panel must, under paragraph 4(a) of the Policy, be satisfied:
i) that the domain name registered by the Respondent is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights; and
ii) that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name; and
iii) that the domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith.
A. Identical or Confusingly Similar
The Panel finds that the Domain Name at issue is confusingly similar to a service mark in which the Complainant has rights. As stated above, the Complainant has registered the PRUDENTIAL mark in the United Kingdom for the class which covers banking or financial services. When Internet users see the Domain Name <prudentialbankplc.com>, the word "prudential" is immediately recognizable as the dominant part of the domain name. This dominant part of the domain name is identical to the PRUDENTIAL trademark in which the Complainant has rights. The postfix "plc" used after a British company name indicates that the company is a public limited company, a type of limited company whose shares may be offered for sale to the public. The designation "plc" was introduced in the United Kingdom by the Companies Act 1980, and Internet users will easily recognize that "plc" is a generic abbreviation which indicates a company type (See, Shell International Petroleum Company Limited v. Alfred Donovan, WIPO Case No. D2005-0538). Since the disputed Domain Name consists of the word "prudential" and the generic word "bank", which relates to the services offered by the Complainant under the trademark PRUDENTIAL, followed by "plc", the Panel finds that the domain name is confusingly similar to a trademark in which the Complainant has rights.
B. Rights or Legitimate Interests
On the second question of whether the Respondent has rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name, the Panel finds that the Respondent has no such rights or legitimate interests. It has become frequently accepted by UDRP panels that the burden of proof on this second element shifts to the respondent once a complainant has established a prima facie showing that none of the three circumstances found in paragraph 4(c) of the Policy applies (See, Technologies, Inc. v. International Electronic Communications, Inc., WIPO Case No. D2000-0270, Chanel, Inc v. Estco Technology Group, WIPO Case No. D2000-0413, The Sportsman's Guide, Inc v. Vipercom, WIPO Case No. D2003-0145). In this case, the Complainant provided evidence of its research results showing that there are no trademark registrations or records for PRUDENTIAL BANK. In addition, the silence of the Respondent may be an indication that he has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain name, as many prior UDRP panels have accepted (See, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc v. Adtel Communications, WIPO Case No. D2000-0115, Singapore Airlines limited v. European Travel Network, WIPO Case No. D2000-0641, Bayerische Motoren Weke AG v. Null, WIPO Case No. D2002-0937).
Therefore, the Panel finds that the second requirement of paragraph 4(a) of the Policy is made out.
C. Registered and Used in Bad Faith
The third and last of the requirements found in paragraph 4(a) of the Policy is that the domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith.
Paragraph 4(b) of the Policy states that the following circumstances are evidence of registration and use of a domain name in bad faith:
(i) circumstances indicating that the Respondent has registered or acquired the domain name primarily for the purpose of selling, renting, or otherwise transferring the domain name registration to the Complainant who is the owner of the trademark or service mark or to a competitor of that Complainant, for valuable consideration in excess of documented out-of-pocket costs directly related to the domain name; or
(ii) the Respondent registered the domain name in order to prevent the owner of the trademark or service mark from reflecting the mark in a corresponding domain name, provided that the Respondent has engaged in a pattern of such conduct; or
(iii) the Respondent has registered the domain name primarily for the purpose of disrupting the business of a competitor; or
(iv) by using the domain name, the Respondent has intentionally attempted to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to its website or other online location, by creating a likelihood of confusion with the Complainant's mark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of its website or location or of a product or service on its website or location.
There are a number of factors which indicate that the domain name was registered and used in bad faith. The Respondent has used the domain name to send emails from the email address "firstname.lastname@example.com". As previously established, Phillip Broadley is the Group Finance Director of Prudential plc, the Complainant's parent company. The email address was established through the Respondent's registration and use of the Domain Name. Also, the Respondent operates a website in connection with the disputed Domain Name which is "under construction". The website of the Respondent has been "under construction" since the registration of the domain name. The Panel considers that even a website that is "under construction" can be an indication that the Respondent intentionally attempted to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users by creating a likelihood of confusion with the Complainant's mark as to the source of the website (See, Bancolombia S.A. v. Elpidia Finance Corporation, WIPO Case No. D2000-0545).
A further indication of the Respondent's bad faith is that the WHOIS details, including his address and telephone number, that he provided to the Registrar are false. The use of false contact information in the Respondent's initial registration application is evidence that the Respondent registered the domain name in bad faith (See, Kelemata S.p.A. v. Mr. Bassarab Dungaciu, WIPO Case No. D2003-0849, and its citing cases). In this case, the actual Indian address given for the Respondent is incorrect. Also, it is highly improbable that the Respondent was unaware of the Complainant's rights before his registration of the disputed Domain Name, because the PRUDENTIAL mark is well-known in the United Kingdom, and the Respondent appears to have some connection with the United Kingdom as he had previously provided in an email a British mobile telephone number as a contact detail.
Even though none of the circumstances present in this case falls squarely under the elements listed in paragraph 4(b) of the Policy, the Panel finds that all supported facts taken together demonstrate that the disputed Domain Name was registered and is being used in bad faith.
Therefore, the third requirement of paragraph 4(a) of the Policy is also made out.
7. Decision
For all the foregoing reasons, in accordance with paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders that the domain name, <prudentialbankplc.com> be transferred to the Complainant.
Prof. Keita SATO
Sole Panelist
Date: October 25, 2005

subset: commoncrawl


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One of the UK's leading Demand Response Aggregators – KiWi Power – has partnered with facilities management giant Mitie Energy (a subsidiary of Mitie FM) – which is one of the UK's largest Facilities Management companies – to offer a full suite of Grid Balancing services to Mitie's portfolio of clients. This move will enable Mitie to expand on the range of energy management services it already offers its clients, whilst also helping them to realize energy efficiencies and unlock new revenue streams from existing assets. Part of this includes the implementation of Demand Management and the adoption of Demand Side Response strategies to suit each individual client's requirements. The partnership will expand KiWi's reach across the UK, and enable it to add more clients to its "virtual power plant" portfolio. A knock-on benefit of this partnership is that both organizations will be assisting the Government in its mandate to decarbonise the UK's electricity grid.
This is a promoted article.


text: Kromm 31,543 August 22, 2016 So apparently a full decade after they last tried (when they had two fairly badly received seasons, one of them being a CELEBRITY one), Australia has taken another shot at Survivor. If you can locate the videos (you're on your own with that folks!) discuss Australian Survivor here. Share this post Link to post


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There is an EXPLOSION in the number of testimonies from people all across North America and beyond who are totally transforming their financial situation using the Financial Fitness Program! Here's another excellent article by one of the authors of the FFP. Be sure to give this a read…
If you have a testimony about the green box, please share your story in the comments below.
John Lewis


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This month in the Cornerstone Journal of Sustainable Finance & Banking (JSFB), we consider the extent to which the global markets have been able to absorb the cross-currents of macro, micro and structural factors with a good deal of resilience. In addition, we pay very special attention to "natural capital" this month by highlighting the value of the world's forests and ways in which the capital markets can facilitate their protection.
This month we include articles such as:
The Makings of a Market Correction? by Michael Geraghty
But Not a Drop for Energy? by Cindy Motz
Sunshine in the Garden State by Richard Bookbinder
The Real Value of the Rainforest by Margarita Pirovska PhD
PRI: Focus on Farmland by Titia Sjenitzer
Constructive Dialogue Bears Fruit by Lauren Compere
A Call to Action by James Hulse
Applying The Rainforest Standard ™ to the World's Forests by James Warfield, Walter Behr & Don Melnick
The "China Dream" by Lionel Vairon
Accounting for Timber – Lack of Convergence Illustrates the Differences between Historical Cost & Fair Value Accounting by Janet Pegg
Nestlé: Leading Co. in Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation by Javeira Charad
PureCircle: Replacing Nutritive Sweeteners with PureCircle Stevia to Make a Positive Impact on Carbon by Ajay Chandran
Fibria: A Leader in Sustainability by Marcelo Castelli
Cornerstone Journal of Sustainable Finance, February 2014


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Coaching, on the other hand, efficiently and effectively transfers job knowledge to the trainee. The time and effort required to set up a coaching program pays off through an accelerated learning curve and a reduction in risks and mistakes that may result in injuries, lost production and increased maintenance.
But how do you develop an effective coaching program? The following information will help you get your program up and running.
Look for a combination of skillsWhile the most obvious prerequisite for a coach is job proficiency, expertise doesn't guarantee that an individual will be an effective teacher. You can give coaches support and training to learn their new role, but you can't give them the necessary personal characteristics. To be successful, coaches should be:
- Good communicators and good listeners who are open to questions.
- Excited about the coaching opportunity and willing to put in the extra time and effort to make the program a success.
- Relaxed and easy-going — a little humor goes a long way toward helping trainees stay comfortable and open to learning.
- Straight shooters who take all questions seriously, admit what they don't know and make the effort to find out.
- Adaptable and willing to change a lesson to match a trainee's needs and circumstances.
- Open-minded and interested in what the trainee has to say, even when they disagree.
- Dedicated to success — refusing to take shortcuts or quit when the job gets tough.
Coaching the coachWhile having the right personality is important, it doesn't mean someone is born to coach. Let your coaches go to workshops and seminars to learn how to teach adults and have a chance to practice their coaching skills. Then, once you've implemented your formal coaching program, you'll have assurance that your coach:
- Knows the job he's teaching.
- Wants to teach.
- Provides complete, consistent information to each trainee.
- Presents the information in a logical, easy-to-learn order.
- Can evaluate and take steps to improve the trainee's performance.
Understand adult learning stylesIn general, adults are responsible for their own learning, and a good coaching program must incorporate principles of adult learning. Adults learners:
- Want to use new knowledge and skills soon after learning them.
- Enjoy situations that require problem-solving.
- Learn better when actively participating in the learning process.
- Want to relate new material to their own experiences.
- Learn best if they can proceed at their own pace.
- Are more motivated when the content is relevant to their immediate interests and concerns.
- Like immediate feedback.
Use specific learning objectivesIn sports, the coach conveys team strategy to the players. An on-the-job coach should also develop precise and measurable objectives to keep the program on target and to standardize training for other coaches at different times or locations.
A learning objective should have these three elements:
- Performance must be observable. Employees must be able to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Performance must be measurable. The objective should define the acceptable performance.
- Conditions in which performance is to occur must be stated. Objectives should describe the important conditions under which the individual will demonstrate competence.
A few coaching tipsEvery learning situation is different, but coaching will be more effective if the coach:
- Schedules coaching sessions in advance, reviews training materials and objectives, and makes sure tools and equipment are available.
- Forms a good relationship with the trainee by communicating the training program's goals and finding out what the trainee's experiences, strengths, weaknesses and expectations are.
- Uses active listening skills by focusing on what the trainee says and how he says it, rephrasing the trainee's comments to clarify the meaning, and asking open ended questions to evaluate the trainee's understanding.
- Breaks the job into separate tasks that can be taught in a logical order.
- Clearly demonstrates each task and asks the trainee to explain each step before trying to do it.
- Provides continuous feedback based on the training program's objectives, remains positive by always suggesting a method to improve weak performance and asks the trainee to evaluate his own performance.
- Gives the trainee the chance to correct mistakes and practice doing the tasks correctly.
- Progresses to the next step only when the trainee is ready to move on.
- Frequently reviews previous steps so the trainee learns the complete job.
Evaluate your programThe coach will be the first person to objectively evaluate the trainee's performance. During the process, the coach should consider whether the trainee:
- Asks questions to indicate he's trying to learn.
- Answers questions asked of him.
- Can describe how to perform the tasks he's learning.
- Can demonstrate how to do each task.
- Can perform the job on his own.


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Welcome, D. K. What is your book about?
The Promise is the story of a dirty homicide detective named Roman Stefan. Roman makes a promise to his ailing father to give up his criminal ways. He's having a difficult time with changing, because Roman liked being dirty. He is assigned an active case of a murdered prostitute, because the previous investigators never found any leads to the woman's killers. When Roman is offered a bribe to lose the evidence he has found, he must struggle with his inner demons whether to take the money or keep the promise he'd made to his father.
What inspired you to write this particular story?
I was looking to write a mystery that was different from my Joe Hooks series (Lost Hours, Darkest Hours). There's quite a bit of action in that series. In The Promise, I've tone down the action and focused more on what made Roman Stefan the way he is today. There's a number of flashbacks of Roman's childhood and with each glimps, hopefully readers can see why he does what he does.
How much of a story do you have in mind before you start writing it?
I usually have the ending worked out at the start and then write the story to match the conclusion. Of course, by the time I reach the end, new elements had been added to the story that I'd never considered. New characters may be brought in. It's really a fun process for me.
Did you do any research for the book? If so, how did you do it?
I did quite a bit of research for The Promise. As I mentioned before, there are flashbacks. I had to make sure that scenery, music, language, and clothing fit the appropriate period. The hardest time I had was finding information about a particular firestation in the 80′s. I wanted to give the actual firehouse number. It wasn't as easy as you may think. I used the internet heavily and a lot of personal experiences to bring life to the story.
Are you writing to reach a particular kind of reader?
To be honest, I write what I like to read. I love mysteries, thrillers, paranormal and fantasy. But I do love it when readers say they enjoy my books. I hope my stories appeal to everyone.
Does writing come easy for you?
The story comes easily to me, it's the execution of writing the story that takes a little work.
How long did it take you to write your book?
It really depends on how much research is required for a story. Well, that and how much fun I have writing it. The longest it has taken me was about 18 months. That book was The Friday House. It's my wordiest book. Is wordiest a word by the way?
Yes, wordiest is a word. Have you written any other books?
I've currently written 8, XIII, Lost Hours, Darkest Hours, The Promise, Crossroads: An Anthology, Tease, The Friday House & Taurus Moon: Relic Hunter.
What writer influenced you the most? Dean Koontz.
Something about his writing really appeals to me and wants to make me a better writer.
What advice you would give to an aspiring author?
Writers are not born, they are made. If you want to be a writer, don't judge your own skill by another's standard. Write and keep writing you will improve with time.
Where can people learn more about your books?
All my books are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, or you can check out my website: http://www.dkgaston.blogspot.com/
Thank you for the interview.
Thank you for answering my questions, D. K.!


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Sunday, April 28
Sign up NOW for mysurvey and get rewarded.
I joined this site about a month ago and have been very pleased with the surveys and reward point system.
Give it a try. If you aren't happy you can always opt out but my bet is you will stick around.
MySurvey.com is a group of consumers from throughout the United States who influence future products and services by volunteering to participate in consumer research.
By sharing your opinions about products and services, you are rewarded with Reward Points to redeem for cash and merchandise.
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Tag Archives: cranberries
Ready for the Holidays – Magnificent Christmas Décor Home Tour
Posted on December 16, 2013 by Better Decorating Bible
Christmas is just around the corner – can you believe it!? It feels like yesterday that I was recovering from last years Christmas madness. So many family get togethers, events, parties, gifts, decorating, it seems like the Christmas chaos is … Continue reading →
DIY Friday: Smells of the Season – Easy Christmas Potpourri Mix
Posted on December 14, 2012 by Better Decorating Bible
Give your home a heavenly holiday smell this season with an easy evergreen, cinnamon, orange, and spice stove top potpourri mix. This lovely aroma lingers throughout your home and greets your guests with the most wonderful scents of the season. … Continue reading →


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Army propagandist admits to smear campaign against journalists
The co-owner of an information operations firm hired by the US government to flood foreign nations with pro-American propaganda has admitted to orchestrating a smear campaign aimed at journalists critical of the company.
Camille Chidiac, a part owner of Leonie Industries and the company's former president, issued a statement on Thursday confirming that he was behind a poorly constructed attempt at discrediting two USA Today reporters that wrote about his company's controversial operations abroad, particularly in Afghanistan where the American military has conducted combat operations for over a decade now. In his explanation, Chidiac admits to his actions and apologizes for misrepresenting the journalists that exposed his company's questionable and costly actions overseas.In February, Tom Vanden Brook and Ray Locker co-authored an article for the national publication that shined a light on Leonie Industries. In their exposé, the journalists explained that "Contractors like Leonie plant unattributed broadcasts, plaster the countryside in war zones with billboards, stage concerts and drop leaflets with the intent of bending the will of civilians and combatants to U.S. aims," all while on the payroll of Uncle Sam."Leonie Industries has Army contracts that could surpass $130 million; the Army has already paid them more than $90 million," the reporters noted in their article.Shortly after their article "U.S. 'info ops' programs dubious, costly" was published, websites, Twitter accounts and Wikipedia entries were created in the names of Brook and Locker presumably to discredit the reporters. At the time, a Web expert speaking of the smear campaign to New York Magazine explained, "The person who's behind this, we can give them a lot of credit here and assume they're very sophisticated about reputation attacks" and that "This is the work of somebody who knows what they're doing. They have some experience of covering their tracks. This is probably not the first time they've done something like this."The practice was condemned by Rep. Hank Johnson (D-CA), who earlier this month asked Congress to consider investigating "the disturbing possibility that a federal defense contractor that specializes in information and psychological operations may have targeted American journalists."Now nearly three months after the former head of the propaganda company tried to take on American journalists, Chidiac is saying he's sorry."I take full responsibility for having some of the discussion forums opened and reproducing their previously published USA TODAY articles on them," Chidiac writes in a statement released on Thursday through his attorney."I recognize and deeply regret that my actions have caused concerns for Leonie and the U.S. military. This was never my intention. As an immediate corrective action, I am in the process of completely divesting my remaining minority ownership from Leonie."After the fake Internet sites were exposed, Locker called it "something I've never experienced in 30 years." The Pentagon has repeatedly denied any involvement in the smear campaign. Had the Defense Department been linked, however, it may have put the DoD in direct violation of a federal law that prohibits production of propaganda for domestic consumption. US Congressmen Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Adam Smith (D-WA) introduced "The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012" (H.R. 5736) on Capitol Hill earlier this month, which, if approved, would have allowed the federal government to manufacture and distribute propaganda domestically. It was approved by the House but the communications director for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand told reporters with Buzzfeed on Thursday that the amendment has since been struck down.


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Thru the Bible - Questions & Answerswith Dr. J. Vernon McGee
Questions & Answers 3054 Saturday, April 24, 2021
1) Can you deal with the idea of temptation in Luke 11:4 and James 1:13? 2) "Why Four Gospels?" part 1 3) The Gospel for the religious man 4) The Gospel for the strong man 5) The Gospel for the perfect man 6) The Gospel for the wretched man
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A summary of Dr. J. Vernon McGee's teaching of Revelation heard on THRU the BIBLE, this companion gets to the heart of Bible passages and is intended to stir your own thinking, prayer, and study. After every lesson, several questions are listed for your personal consideration or, if you're reading with a group, for your discussion. Read it with your Bible open and your heart ready to go deeper as the Lord leads you through His Word. More titles are available at TTB.org/booklets.


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Half Moon Bra
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A Komodo Dragon Drawing
Our thanks to young Caldey for sending into us a superb illustration of a Komodo dragon, the largest living lizard in the world today, with some individuals attaining lengths of around 3 metres and weighing as much as 75 kilogrammes.
An Illustration of a Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
Picture Credit: Caldey
"Land Crocodile"
When first described by Europeans in the early years of the 20th century, this large lizard was thought to be a form of "land crocodile". Scientist now know that the Komodo dragon is a member of the monitor lizard family, although how it evolved is a bit of a mystery. As it is restricted to a handful of islands in the Indonesian archipelago, it had been thought that a lack of other large carnivores in its habitat enabled this lizard to reach such a large size. However, some scientists now think that the Komodo dragon is part of a long line of large, ground dwelling monitor lizards that inhabited south-eastern Asia and Australia for several million years. If this is the case the Komodo dragon represents the last of this evolutionary line, "a dead clade walking". Listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, its range has contracted due to human activity, but it has protected status within Indonesia and there are controversial plans to reduce the human population on Komodo by forcing villagers to locate elsewhere in order to protect this species.
Our thanks to Caldey for providing us with such a super Komodo dragon drawing.


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I am a straight, crossdressing male into bondage. That's NOT my problem. Recently, I began seeing a professional Dominatrix for forced crossdressing, among other things. She was great, but our last session ended abruptly when She told me that She wanted to start dildo training me. I was all for it, but I asked Her, politely, if She could use my dildo. In no uncertain terms, She said no.
I then asked, politely, if She would wash Her dildo in bleach in front of me so that I would know it was clean. She ended the session right then and there, and She told me not to contact Her again.
Was I out of line? I signed a "contract" with Her that said I would not "top from the bottom," but She has several other slaves who She probably uses that dildo on and I just wanted to know for sure that the dido was clean. I know I won't be seeing Her again, but it would be nice to know if you thought I was out of line. She reads your column.
-Superior Her Ends Edgy Session Hastily
Why did this woman tell you to gather your panties and go?
That's hard for me to say, SHEESH, as I'm not a mind reader. But I see two possible explanations: One, she is unwilling to pause, step out of her role, and renegotiate a scene that's already underway, in which case you are well rid of her. Or, two, you're an insufferable controlling twat, and you managed to annoy the fuck out of her and she kicked your ass to the curb.
I might be inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt and declare you the wronged party here, SHEESH, but your having carried this dispute into a column that you know she reads tips me over to her side. By writing to me, you're not just seeking the last word, SHEESH, but hoping to have the satisfaction of seeing this woman dressed down in public. So while you were careful to submissively capitalize all those third-person pronouns—as if She Herself were God Himself—your letter leads me to believe that in person, as in print, you're a disrespectful, controlling, and manipulative piece of shit.
In other words, SHEESH, I suspect that your beef about the cleanliness of that dildo wasn't your infraction, but the last fucking straw.
I'm having an interesting dilemma.
I'm a 20-year-old female and a junior in college. For the past few years, I've been working on becoming a journalist. But I've found myself less and less interested (and passionate) about it as time goes on. And I think I'd rather be a fetish model.
For the past year, I've been a submissive in a D/s relationship with my boyfriend. I love him VERY much, and he is more respectful toward me than any other man I've been with. Lately, we've been toying with the idea of creating a fetish-modeling website. I do not want to be shot nude or have sex on camera, but I LOVE the idea of bondage photos and pursuing this as a career, and so does he.
From the photos I've done so far, I'm pretty sure this could pay off AND be more personally satisfying than a job at a newspaper. But I'm nervous about what my family and friends will say when they realize I'm never going write for the Washington Post or the New York Times.
-Kinky Coed
Journalism or fetish modeling, journalism or fetish modeling—gee, which career is right for you?
Um, KC? If you bothered to read either of the newspapers you cite as possible future places of employment, you would know that times are tough at daily newspapers. The internet ate their business model—so long, lucrative classified ads! hello "citizen journalists"!—and right now, it's all layoffs and buyouts all the time at daily and weekly newspapers. If you care so little about journalism that you're tempted to make a career of posting bondage pictures to a website instead, KC, then don't go into journalism. Leave the few jobs that remain at newspapers to people who have some passion for the field.
So it's fetish modeling for you, right? Not so fast, kinkster. Porn companies, large and small, are experiencing similar financial difficulties. Just as many people are willing to write for free online, many millions of people are willing to post everything from "tasteful" fetish shots to hardcore porn online for free. So while there may be a handful of people out there who'll pay to see you tied up, you're probably not going to make enough money as a fetish model to support yourself.
So you might want to think of some other line of work, something with more job security and better long-term prospects—perhaps banking or real estate?
I have a bigot in the family. My brother's mother-in-law is scared this country is "on its way" to legalizing same-sex marriage, which is "against what her Bible tells [her]." Debating the issue with her is no use, because it always comes back to her religious beliefs. She doesn't dislike gays, and she's said that if gay marriage becomes legal she'll help me find a husband.
Outside of the marriage issue, she shows no prejudice. As a gay man, I find her views on marriage reprehensible, but I'm conflicted about how to deal with her in the future. I see her half a dozen times each year on holidays, the same time I typically see my nieces and nephews. I don't want her bigotry to impose on my right and desire to spend time with these kids as their uncle. On the other hand, I can't just sit there and be quiet.
-Battling Bigots In Brooklyn
Anyone looking for proof that the United States is "on its way toward legalizing same-sex marriage," despite recent setbacks, only has to look to the numbers of people—gay and straight—who poured into streets over the last two weeks to protest the bigotry of the Mormon Church and its assault on minority rights and individual liberty. (Oh, Canada: While we scream and yell about being the land of the free, you quietly live it. I love how my boyfriend magically becomes my husband when we visit Canada, without anyone else's marriage being threatened. Here's hoping that one day soon the United States will recognize the legal marriages of all Canadian citizens, gay and straight.)
Okay, BBIB, my favorite sign at the protest I attended in New York City last week—well, after "Jesus Had Two Daddies," "Use Your Magic (Underpants) for Good, Not Evil," and "Thou Shalt Not Fuck with Us"—was this: "No More Mr. Nice Gay." If anyone caught me on Anderson Cooper 360º later that same night, you saw me refusing to play Mr. Nice Gay in a conversation with lying right-wing überbigot Tony Perkins. (Looking to get involved in the fight? Jointheimpact.com is a good place to start.)
But while I'm down with the whole no more Mr. Nice Gay thing, BBIB, I see no need to go postal on your brother's MIL. She's not Tony Perkins; she's a human being. And it sounds like her affection for you is already on a collision course with her bigotry. Stand firm, continually emphasize that there's a difference between civil marriage rights and religious marriage rites. Polls show that many Americans have already come around on this issue. Thanks to the work you've already done, BBIB, it sounds like your brother's MIL will be next.


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Curl Keeper® Tweek™ is the first ever hairspray in a cream form for curly hair. This revolutionary product is a great way to fine tune your curly hairstyle. Using Tweek™ will allow you to bring back the bounce to curly hair, so plan "B" days turn into plan "A" days. Tweek™ is a styling cream that does for curly hair what hairspray does for straight hair. It is a very versatile product as it can be used for several different applications. No two curly heads are the same, so "Tweeking" your curly hairstyle back to life can easily be adjusted. Hat-headed or bed-headed flat spots are such an aggravation that some people wash their clean curls just to restyle them. Tweek™ will restore curly hair for days and days after it is styled. Use on wet hair (last to apply before drying) to speed up the drying process and increase your hold factor, or after the hair is dry you can use it to create more volume in your finished style by applying a pea size to your fingertips and then massaging into the roots in the area where you'd like to see more volume.
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Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'insane'.
Found 3 results
Trying to help everyone that plays EFT PT 2 (advanced)
AndrewBruno posted a topic in General game forumAdvanced Tips and Tricks /Guide / Tutorial/ How to Stay Alive. Advanced Looting Guide: You might have already seen good players and good streamers already be looting this way and using the following to loot even faster however it takes a lot of practice and repetition and micro while in raid. Right click, then left click equip everything you can't ctrl + left click from dead body to your character. This works for all body armor, helmets, headsets, face gear, eye wear, primary, sling, holster, tact rigs, and backpacks. Also, right before looting you free look toward any direction hold it then press f to loot and you will be able to see that direction through the transparent window of the inventory screen also upon pressing tab back to raid after looting your character has a chance (not sure if bug) to snap his weapon system to the direction that you were free look holding before looting. This will save your life more times than you think especially while looting healing searching etc. Position: At the moment veteran EFT Players will use process of elimination since they can always assume where everyone might be and can be the moment they spawn in, in relation to the time in raid, their spawn location and what side of the map they spawn in. For example, a 2man team can literally lockdown the entire half of the boiler spawn in customs if they spawn in one of the spawns closest to the shortcut (callout) do the porter potty jump, one person holds and kills everyone trying to jump the wall after them and everybody going through shortcut, the other holds and kills everyone trying to make it past gas station from checkpoint etc. Until open world comes whoever can get to these kinds of positions and 5 mans literally being able to cut the map in half for example the spawn closest to loot cave on woods. One person can hold the right wall 2 people on spine and two people in or around scav ambush is literally one of the hardest things to fight against esp. if they are equipped with M4s and/ dvls or rsass's. Basically, if you don't make it to these kinds of positions you will mostly die even if every pmc on the map knows that there's a team doing these strategies their positional advantage will usually be way to good. If your solo and face this and don't bring anything in with range may the Tarkov gods be with you friend…. Understanding the Greed Meta: I swear it feels like 90% of player base is only bringing in a hatchet and obviously running to resort on shoreline, dorms on custom, safe on factory and marked circle on woods. Using this to your advantage and literally racing them there to set up and ambushes and kill them all as they come because usually fully geared squads do this to is probably best way to get insane amounts of loot fast just by A. Waiting for them to come to you or B. Let them loot and sort between all the loot at these loot hotspots and do all that work for you while you watch cool eft on phone until you and or team sees them leaving for extract and if your reading this far you know that you should probably have all four corners of resort locked down for this to happen then all you do is kill them dump your insured your gear and wipe their body and then just extract on every map. I understand that these loot hot spots cause a lot pvh but that's just part of the game and always will be until there's some kind system in place that will stray away from using a hatchet 1000 raids in row because yes seeing double digit hatchling on shoreline now a days is in solely my opinion a little to faraway from the pvp part of game buts it's understandable. Make the game even more harder then it is.. This next part is definitely not I repeat not recommended for anyone that plays casual or is comfortable with their skill level and just wants to stay where they are at in the game. Even though Tarkov is in my opinion one of the hardest games to "get gud" making as hard as it can be will only help you be better at 1. Killing 2. Healing 3. Make money. 4. Eliminate bad habits from other games and/or fail-safe devices currently in the game 5. Loot Faster/ Smarter 6. Extract More/ Die Less. If you practice and practice 100's and maybe even 1000 raids with literally a stock vepr or 74u shooting scavs and killing pmcs with cheap ammo will create an insane amount of discipline knowing that you won't be able to engage squads together on your own and will force you to kill one, reposition, kill another one reposition. Not only will you have to 1. Learn how to aim and when not to engage and to engage depending on xyz etc. but you are forced to start being "creative" which is just one of the best things in this game and it usually works. For example, usually squads will have a mixture of different gear and weapons and learning the best way to play with your squads xyz setup will let wipe fort ops core m4 60 rd. meta players all day. Here are more scenarios:4-man Squad, 3 Suppressed 1 Loud If your going to be loud in a suppressed squad you should have the kahunas to be able to handle your if need be but usually the loud man will FO in front or be at a different angle from the other 3 that should be able to handle pretty much anything they will encounter without the loud man and or can "use" the loud man if needed or wanted. Here's how. Obviously loud man should have the best map knowledge and be scouting the popular routes from the meta and just know how to maneuver through a map with out being etc. etc. however having him being loud and being the first to engage if he needs to or be able to callout where every other pmc on the map is based on distance from enemy gunshots, sneaking to vantage points and being able to make a lot noise and make at least 90% of players playing this at the moment them turn their heads and pull off there angles that they are holding from possible good positions as well is all it takes for your suppressed brothers in arms to easy shoot every body in the back of the head and wipe everyone on the map. If anyone would like a "what to do in this scenario" "when xyz starts to happen" we can work at making one of those too:} 5man Loud 60 rnd primaries with random crappy secondary's. Bringing 2 guns might sound like its against the "meta" but omg it so easy to do this. Here's how. Bring extra ammo for primary weapon and a cheap toz or pistol for secondary. Now if you can obviously tell that your in a raid where everyone is pushing through the map aggressively you can "reenact" a firefight that will make everyone else on map think the following... A. everyone is using the same primary so everyone shooting the primary most likely will sound like one person as long as everyone can try and limit to shooting individually at a time. Then after every one has individually shot about half a mag of for example "forced pvp" guns like loud m4s or a squad with loud rsass's: O switch to your secondary "scav type weapons" and starting shooting those. Then be quiet after that, switch, reload primary and have fun looting squads that all rush to their deaths because you just spray them down while they are sprinting because they are going to think that one fully kitted dude with an m4 just died to a bunch of scavs. Don't be surprised if you get a raging friend request after ;] Save money, get good with using cheap meds. Not much else to say on this besides you should already be on a level that is getting shot at less anyways if reading this far... Looting Faster and Smarter. The easiest thing in this game is when looting a weapon crate to tell if a gun is in there or not because single slot items will show up on both side of a weapon stash space "most" of the time. Not that it has been said hopefully you'll keep your eye for it :} Second advanced tip... Pay attention to experience gained when looting a dead body or any pretty much anything for that matter. I might look like I don't loot that much when playing with other people but just by tapping on a dead body or a jacket or dresser and looking at the xp received in the bottom right will let you know instantly whether or not something is good and rare is inside. Not sure if this was devs plan or not I don't know... Last thing, try a raid or a couple raids with out a secure container. Sounds crazy and dumb but here's why. Let's say you spawn in bid red warehouse in the customs zone and you find .2 bitcoin in the safe up there. Not being able to put it your imaginary container that some fits somewhere inside your pants and can't be when you dead will instantly force you to play 1. Smarter 2. Increase Focus. 3. Take safer routes. 4. Force you to take engagements you know you can win 5. Increase creatively Take the whole gamma container thing as a take or leave it kind of thing and please don't baby rage about if you don't believe me then try it. Anyways I'm once again tired and will see you guys out there even you keep continuing to kill me ;} Take care. Part 3. Coming soon. :} Also these post have been a collaboration from everyone of our slayers out there doing this over and over day in and day out and thank you everyone I have met and has helped me and everyone like me as well Im glad we are only able to attract good people with kind hearts and I will still do everything I can to it back to you guys <3
Scav Update
Dr4g0NStyl3 posted a topic in Allgemeines SpielforumMahlzeit. Kommt es mir nur so vor ist es wirklich so. Ich weis das die Scav's nen update bekommen haben aber mir kommt es so vor als ob sie nen Wallhack und Aimbot laufen haben. Ich meine ich sitze seit ca 10 min regungslos in der Ecke da ich überall schritte höre. Aufeinmal spingt nen Scav um die Ecke drückt mir direkt und ich bin weg. Das ist auch nicht nur einmal passiert oder man killt nen Scav und es scheint das der gesamt Server plötzlich auf der Suche nach dir ist egal wer da noch so rum rennt. Habe einen Scav erschossen und es dauerte keine 10 sekunden dann war ich umzingelt.
Level difficulties and game modes
EliMaxwell posted a topic in QuestionsWhy are all levels Hard or Insane? Will this change with the full release? Is there a chance you will be releasing a PVP game mode where you wont lose anything?


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Here, we're all about celebrating The Big Oops (as in, oops I spent three years in law school and XX years as an attorney), The Big Aha (as in, aha! it's time to do something else in addition to lawyering), and The Big WTF?! (as in, WTF now?) and honoring you!
Whether you:
- Left the law decades ago;
- Have conquered the attorney world but now seek a life without billables;
- Totally bucked the advice of the office of career services your 3L year without a second thought;
- Were laid off in the recession and replied, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"; or
- Were politely asked to leave because you spent office hours doing something completely unrelated to your caseload
You're already a member of The Ex-Lawyers Club. Hooray for you!
For those of you who:
- Are a weekend (and week night!) warrior;
- Have hopscotched back and forth between lawyering and something else for years; or
- Are still in law school but can't see yourself main-lining Westlaw/Lexis for the rest of your life
We love you, too, and welcome you with open arms!


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When it comes to choosing a location for your next steak dinner, online reviews are your best friend. And when you walk out the door after your meal, you get to contribute to that collection of reviews and tell the world about your own experience. But if you really want it to have an impact, think carefully about your steakhouse review before you write it. Here are some tips:
1. Be as honest as possible
A lot of people actually hold back with the write steakhouse reviews – usually because they don't want to hurt anybody's feelings. It's the same reason AirBnb customers have a hard time criticizing their hosts – they're aware that people are trying to run a business, and they don't want to make it more difficult for them. But the reality is that people need an honest assessment of your experience. If a steakhouse isn't delivering where it counts, or striving to make it right, people need to know there are better options out there. Most people don't visit the steakhouse all that often. When they go, they want to make it count.
2. Don't be too emotional
If you want your review to have an impact on those who read it, avoid getting too "sloppy" or emotional. Everybody knows that a person's mood can have a big impact on their dining experience. Plus, sometimes things just don't go well, for whatever reason. If your steakhouse reviews is particular unforgiving – or particularly over the moon with enthusiasm – people are statistically less likely to take it seriously. That doesn't mean you should hide your true impressions about the steakhouse, or "dumb down" what you want to say. Instead, try to write honestly about the nature of your experience. If there were pros and cons, describe them as objectively as possible. If the experience was really bad, explain why. And if it was one of your best steakhouse experiences ever, tell the world you'll be going back.
3. Keep it fairly short
The length of your steakhouse review is a balancing act. You don't want it to be so short that it looks like you didn't put any effort into it. On the other hand, you don't want it to be so long that people feel like they're reading a novel. Think about your overall impressions of the experience and try to condense them into a one or two concentrated paragraphs. These are the types of reviews that tend of have the most impact.
Saying what you want to say
Online reviews are a wonderful thing for any aficionado steak, because they give you an instant impression as to whether or not a given steakhouse really has the goods. But wading through badly written reviews just makes it more difficult to determine the quality of a steakhouse. Whether you want to say something good or bad about a steakhouse – or a combination of the two – it will have far more impact if you take some time to write a thoughtful review. Remember – you're adding to the permanent reputation of this steakhouse. Make it count!


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Jail officials in California have been given permission to force-feed hunger strikers who are entering their seventh week of a statewide protest against prison conditions. The order strikes out directives recently signed by some prisoners that they be allowed to die.
US District Court Judge Thelton E Henderson, responding to a request by state authorities, ruled that California prison doctors may force-feed selected inmates who are near death, even if they had previously signed orders asking not to be resuscitated.
About 136 California inmates are taking part in a hunger strike that began on 8 July demanding an end to a policy of housing inmates believed to be associated with gangs in near-isolation for years. Up to 69 of the striking inmates have refused food continuously since the strike began. This is the second time prisoners have launched a hunger strike to protest against the state's practice of housing some inmates for years in its four security housing units. About 4,500 prisoners were housed in the units when the strike began, officials said. State officials say the units are needed to stem the influence of prison gangs and administrators have characterised the hunger strike as a power grab by gang leaders. Prior to the judge's decision on Monday, California policy prohibited force-feeding of inmates on a hunger strike if they had signed medical orders refusing resuscitation in the event they lost consciousness or experienced heart failure. But officials went to court to seek permission to ignore these "do-not-resuscitate" orders for inmates who signed them during the hunger strike or just prior to it, citing concerns about possible coercion.
Henderson wrote in his order that in view of those concerns, a directive signed by such inmates would be "deemed not valid".
A lawyer for some of the hunger strikers said she was not aware of inmates being coerced. "They're exaggerating this," said inmate advocate Carol Strickman, adding that the state should not ignore inmates' wishes in such matters of life and death. "As much as I don't want to see anybody die, some people were choosing to sign those requests and some were not."
Joyce Hayhoe, a spokeswoman for the federal receiver in charge of medical care in the prisons, said Monday's request to invalidate the more recent do-not-resuscitate orders was not made on an emergency basis and that no one was force-fed on Monday as a result. "Inmates can deteriorate rather quickly when they have starved themselves for this long period of time so we wanted to make sure we had the order in place ... for us to be able to save their lives," Hayhoe said.
Hayhoe said she had talked to two inmates at Corcoran state prison who refused food or medical care because they were afraid other prisoners would find out if they didn't.
The force-feeding process, which prison officials call "refeeding," could include starting intravenous fluids or putting feeding tubes through the nose and into the stomach.
Jules Lobel, president of the Centre for Constitutional Rights, represents 10 inmates suing to end prolonged solitary confinement at Pelican Bay State Prison. He said force-feeding "violates international law to the extent that it involves somebody who doesn't give their consent".
Lobel said prison officials should look for alternatives, including providing inmates with a liquid diet of fruit and vegetable drinks as they have requested, or negotiating with inmates over their demands.
However Lobel said he would not seek to overturn Henderson's order.
Prison officials said on Monday that inmates were free to consume a liquid diet but would be counted as having ended their hunger strike if they consumed anything more than water, vitamins and electrolytes.
The most high-profile case of force-feeding prisoners has involved several dozen terrorism suspects held at Guantánamo Bay who had nasal tubes inserted.
Other federal judges have turned down bids by the Guantánamo inmates to stop the force-feeding. US District Judge Rosemary M Collyer said in a ruling last month that numerous courts had deemed it the the government's duty to prevent suicide and to provide lifesaving nutritional and medical care to people in custody.
California keeps about 3,600 inmates in what are known as security housing units, some because of crimes they committed in prison and others for indefinite terms if they are determined to be leaders of prison gangs.


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HD-88L 8x8 HDMI Matrix HDTV Routing Switcher
Description :
The HD-88L is a professional 8x8 HDMI matrix HDTV routing switch. Supporting (8) HDMI Inputs and (8) HDMI and (1) Preview Outputs (same as Output #01). The HD-88G is based on HDMI standards and supports full resolution HDMI video with embedded EDID. With a signal bandwidth of 340Mhz, there is no signal degradation. High definition digital signals can be selected and distributed from any of the (8) Inputs to any of the (8) Outputs in any combination. The switcher is certified as being fully CEC and HDCP 1.3 compliant, full HD HDMI V1.4a 3D formats with RoHS, CE, FCC certifications and data rates up to 6.75 Gbps. HD-88L supports UXGA/WUXGA/DVI 1920x1200 resolutions to any HD display. Supports high resolution HDMI sources routed to HDMI displays, monitors, projector or audio receivers. The EDID management can be selected between (7) different modes. Control is provided via front panel push buttons, IR remote, RS-232 or TCP/IP (not a web-browser). A RS232 Windows GUI interface is provided for matrix routing control (Windows only).
Availability: instock
Product Features


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Publix makes a guarantee to customers, saying if the scanned price of an item exceeds the shelf or advertised price, you get it for free.
It's known as the "Publix Promise."
Janet Feldman, 57, of Davie says she has used that promise for nearly a year to get more than 300 free rotisserie chickens from South Florida stores because the birds didn't measure up to the weight on labels.
Feldman drives from store to store in search of underweight chickens that she can get for free after bringing it to the attention of store managers.
"I'm known as the Chicken Lady," she said.
Now Publix is taking action over the puny poultry.
"Publix delis have been informed to weigh rotisserie chickens that seem underweight and price them appropriately, or use those chickens in other deli recipes," said Publix spokeswoman Nicole Krauss.
Rotisserie chickens have not usually been weighed because they've always come in from the supplier over 2 pounds — at least until last winter, Krauss said.
The grocer got smaller chickens than usual after two harsh storms up north, she said. The supplier, in Atlanta, had trouble getting propane to heat the chicken houses, and the birds eat less when they're cold.
Krauss called it an isolated issue that has been resolved.
Nevertheless, tactics like Feldman's whip bargain-hunting super savers into a frenzy. Some say Feldman is violating the spirit of the Publix policy, putting its customer-friendly ways in jeopardy.
"I feel it's taking advantage of the promise," said Mary Pat Pankoke, a Parkland resident who teaches coupon classes around South Florida and also writes about savings on CouponClasses.com. "I don't feel that's what Publix's intention was with the promise. Publix is great store to shop at, and that's abusing it."
Others say Publix should sell properly labeled products and Feldman is doing nothing wrong.
"It's not unethical. She's following Publix's rules," said Jodi Furman of Lake Worth, who also writes about savings on LiveFabuLESS.com. "People might say she's exploiting the situation, but she's just following the rules. As a consumer, you want to get what you're promised."
Furman acknowledges that hundreds of free chickens sounds "a bit excessive." But "she would not get a single free chicken if they all weighed at least 32 ounces."
Feldman gets the free food by selecting the boniest birds in the deli case and weighing them on scales in the produce department. She then buys them and goes to the service desk to request a refund for each package of underweight chicken.
Managers refund the $7.39 purchase price and give her the goods for free, as outlined in the grocery's policy on Publix.com.
On her best day, Feldman said, she bagged 47 chickens from 11 stores across Broward County, including some in Davie, Hollywood, Plantation, Margate, Tamarac and Fort Lauderdale.
"I could pick them blindfolded," she said. "I haven't paid for chicken in almost a year."
Feldman says she works with local animal rescue organizations and uses the meat to feed cats and dogs. She used to buy up to 30 chickens a week, she said.
After discovering Publix birds were underweight, she complained to managers and to Publix headquarters in Lakeland, Feldman said.
"They promised they would do something," she said.


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Lately I've been hearing Ta-Nehisi Coates' name everywhere. It started when his book, Between the World and Me, blew up after it was published in 2015. Everybody had an opinion about it, and most of them were good. Every bookish person I know, bloggers, podcasters, and…what do you call those things again? The ones who you eat burritos with sometimes, and every now and again when you're quietly reading a book somewhere, they're also reading a book quietly nearby? Also the name of a sitcom from the nineties that was funny when you were a kid, but now when you go back and watch it it's reaaaaaally homophobic and of its time…nope, can't think of it. I'm sure it'll come to me eventually. Anywho! Every bookish person I know was gushing (what a gross word) about this guy and how important his book is, and more importantly, how good it is. And I see it everywhere. New copies of it are still on the front display shelf of my favourite book store, two years later. That's gotta mean something.
But because I'm the type of person that I am, and because I buy books as often as most people buy food, I've been waiting to find it used and marked down a little in price. The math isn't hard. I buy cheaper, used books, I get more books. The more books I get, the happier I am. Simple. But try as I might (and trust me, I've been looking) Between the World and Me is nowhere to be found. It's been two years now and I haven't come across it once. For a book that's sold as much as this one has, that's bananas. That means that almost everybody that bought it (at least where I live) got enough out of it, connected with it enough, to want to keep it. That's incredible. (Either that or they all hated it enough to want to watch it burn themselves. I can't say for sure which one, but I think the former is a pretty safe bet).
So when I came across this memoir in the used section, I snatched it up. I couldn't wait. Finally, something of his that I could buy with a clean conscience. After two years of waiting I'd get to see what the hype was about.
And honestly? It didn't disappoint. I had crazy high expectations for this (see above overly long intro) and I still finished off liking it more than I thought I would. This dude has a hypnotic rhythm to his writing, a lyrical, melodic style that carries you through so quickly that every time I ran up against the end of the chapter I was surprised. He's a beautiful writer, with a voice all his own. The subject matter was fascinating (coming of age stories always get me, especially when they give insight to a lifestyle and culture that differs this much from the one that I was raised in), but even if it had been about different species of potatoes I still would have stuck with it for the writing alone.
If there was one thing that caught me up while reading this, popped me out of the story every now and again, it was that this book is so specifically set, so deep into the culture and the time that he's writing about, that I missed a lot of the references. We grew up in different decades, different cultures, across a whole continent from one another. That's a lot of space, a lot of distance. I'm not complaining, a window into a different life is the whole reason I read memoirs, I just thought I'd give you a wee heads up so you'd expect it. Unless you're really attuned to the language and pop-culture of the eighties in Baltimore, you're probably gonna have a time or two where you're left scratching your head. Which is fine, it's part of what reading is about. And hey, maybe you'll learn a thing or two. Reading! Hurray!
So I think I get it now, why all those people kept their books. I've read a decent amount of memoirs in my time, but this one left a deeper impression than most. It's pretty fresh on the mind, but I'm willing to bet that in the next few weeks and months it'll still be rattling around in there, calling my attention. Or maybe not, it's hard to know which books will still have an impact on you months or years from now. Either way, I bought a full-price copy of Between the World and Me yesterday, and I don't feel bad about it at all.
For people who like coming of age stories, people who are interested in Baltimore in the eighties, a window into the lives of people living among the crack boom and uncertainty and violence of that decade, or people that just like to read interesting stories, written beautifully. If you haven't read anything by this guy, you should really get out there and pick something up.
PS. His run on Black Panther is really dope. People have been having mixed reactions to it, calling it boring or whatever, but I think most of them just need to relax a little. It's only two trade paperbacks in at the moment and it's a bit of a slow burn. I have faith in this guy, and so should you. Just give it a little more time to bloom before you abandon it.
PPS. Friends.


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Stop in our Rosemary Beach Shop this holiday weekend for something special to add to your 4th of July celebration! Happy [almost] Independence Day!
Monthly Archives: June 2010
Paige featured in VIE this month
[our friend Stephanie Nichols appears on the cover of this summer's VIE magazine in a great story about her stylish clothing boutique, Deja-vu]
Our blog readers who don't live near or visit the beautiful part of Walton County, Florida that we call home might not be familiar with VIE magazine. According to the magazine's website "VIE is a French word meaning 'life' or 'way of living.' VIE sets itself apart as a Northwest Florida regional, high-gloss publication focusing on human interest stories and celebrating the 'people and places' " in the area roughly between Apalachicola and Pensacola. The first time we picked up a copy of VIE we were immediately impressed with its quality of content, photography and just what an overall good looking magazine it is!
We're honored this month because Tracery's very own Paige Schnell is featured in a great piece that focuses not only on Paige and her family but also Tracery's work in general. The article appears below and you can click [here] to read this summer's entire issue of VIE from cover to cover online. Enjoy!
[click to enlarge each image] Images courtesy Vie, text by Eleanor Lynn Nesmith, photography by Jean Allsopp, Michael Granberry, Sheila Goode]


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- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are automated resume parsers that allow hiring managers to filter, rank, and track applicants.
- In many cases there's no telling whether your resume gets seen by a real person or instead joins the 75% that are filtered out right from the start.
- But there are clues that can help you tell when it's likely that a robot will read your resume first.
Until recently resumes have shared a common purpose: to persuade a human reader.
Entire industries have been constructed around designing resumes to catch a human eye and to convince that human brain that you are right for the job.
No more.
With the advent of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) nowadays the first person to read your resume isn't a person at all.
You're dealing with robo-readers, if you will.
To snag some gigs in today's job market it's no longer sufficient to tickle a human's sensibilities. Your resume needs to be designed to Wow the Robot.
Resume-reading robots manage the influx of resumes created by online job applications
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are automated resume parsers that allow hiring managers to filter, rank, and track applicants through the hiring process.
They are increasingly necessary to manage the influx of resumes created by online job applications: Today, the average corporate opening attracts a staggering 250 applicants, yet typically only about 50% of them even meet the basic job requirements — and of course only 1 can actually get it.
ATS also make it easier for businesses to comply with the Internet Applicant Rule, a law passed in 2006 requiring employers to keep track of information on their hires and protects against race- or gender- profiling.
As a result some 95% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS, and they are increasingly used for small businesses.
They're good for employers but can frustrate job seekers
That's all well and good — for the employer.
But for the job-seeker, dealing with an ATS system can be frustrating. Many complain about the "resume black hole": after you hit "submit," that elegant summary of your life's work disappears into oblivion.
In many cases there's no telling whether it ever gets seen by a real person or instead joins the 75% that are filtered out right from the start.
There is a ton of great advice and tools for optimizing your resume for an ATS. But before you sink the time and energy into crafting a robo-ready resume, how can you tell if you're dealing with an ATS in the first place?
Here are some tried and true guidelines to determining whether you're dealing with real humans, or resume-reading-robots.
Signs you're dealing with a resume-reading robot
- You applied by pressing a "one-click" or "easy apply" button. You'll find these on job sites like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Ziprecruiter, and Monster. Beware: that button hooks you up straight to the job board's in-house ATS.
- You're presented with "knockout questions" when applying — a few short questions (usually multiple choice or yes-no, but occasionally short answer) that are meant to filter out candidates immediately. These are popular built-in features of many ATSs.
- You find yourself filling out redundant text fields describing your work experience, relevant skills, etc. You may be tempted to say "see resume." Resist this temptation! The robot will search through this field looking for keyword matches — and won't listen to your "see resume" advice.
- You're working with a recruiter or recruiting agency. At least 75% of recruiters use ATS systems to match candidates with jobs.
- You're applying for a large company (>100 employees). The larger the company, the more likely they are using an ATS.
- Have a look at the company's careers/jobs page. Many will be branded with the ATS provider's logo, or will redirect you to a site hosted by an ATS provider (just google the domain name).
- You can also mouse-over the "Apply" button and note the url that pops up at the bottom of the page – if the company is using an ATS, you should see it there.
Signs you're dealing with a human
- The job posting asks you to send your resume to an email address. This will likely be reviewed by a person. But it might be slow! Consider optimizing your message and timing your email to maximize the chance that it's read.
- It's a small business or startup. ATS are expensive, and although they can drastically improve efficiency, lots of smaller companies still do recruiting manually. This means they're likely overwhelmed, and your primary goal should be to make their life easier. Sometimes this means getting your resume to an inbox that isn't so cluttered with other, similar resumes (hint: it might not be the one they tell you to use).
There you have it: with these tips you have become a robot-detector — and can fine-tune your job-search strategy accordingly.
Miles Hatfield, M.A., is a science writer, researcher, and co-founder of JobBindr, a career management platform revolutionizing the job search process.


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You will rarely come across the blue color variety of amber. But such an exotic coloration does exist. The mines that lie across the Dominican Republic and Santiago are found processing the Blue amber. The latter happens to include hydrocarbons. The presence of hydrocarbon does the trick by shifting the ultraviolet light of the sun. The frequency of the light which is shifted gradually diminishes and this decrease leads to the blue coloration of the glowing amber. Polycyclic hydrocarbons are made to undergo the process of thermal polymerization. This particular process leads to the production of this so-called rare variety of amber.
High in esthetical value
It is fine that you are aware of the scientific principle that guides the making of blue amber. But you should also be aware of the enhanced artistic value of this rare variety. The luminescent blue goes a long way towards enhancing the esthetical value of this particular type of amber. Just think of donning a blue pendant or a cabochon of the similar color. The latter can be used for accessorizing a milk-white dress. The contrastive statement will certainly make you stand out in the crowd.
A unique piece of jewelry
At the end of the day, you will not mind being the proud possessor of this special blue variety of gemstone. That's because it is hard to find the same. It pays to possess something that is rarely available. In this context, you will be interested in taking note of an interesting piece of statistic. The annual output of high-quality amber (of the blue type) is a hundred kilos, while the grade that is poor in quality is produced around eight hundred kilos. The figure speaks volumes of the rare availability. So, if you are lucky enough to lay your hands on the exotic piece, do make it a point to flaunt the same. The beads in blue will accentuate your bold Bohemian aura, in a big way.
Craft it wisely
It is important that you make sensible use of the blue colored gemstones, in a proper way. For instance, you can add to the flair by giving it a metallic crafting. Just consider the following option. A blue colored pendant attached to a beading string will not look as great as that which has been attached to a silver chain. Likewise, if you can afford the price, you can have the luminescent blue stone set in a platinum band. The combination will undoubtedly boost your natural flair and beauty.
Feel good and look nice
The stone not only helps you to look good but also makes you feel active, energized and lots stronger than before. The gemstone is loaded with healing properties. If you go back in time, to the distant past, you will find that people were accustomed to using amber, as a therapeutic option. The stone is hailed as a naturally efficient healer and also as an energizer. So, besides looking great and attractive, you can also feel the spontaneous inflow of energy. Moreover, if you find yourself, in pain, discomfort, and distress, the amber ensures you of calming effects, without having to use drugs and the other therapeutic medications.


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Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Undercover: Memoirs of an American Secret Agent
Chapter Analysis of Undercover: Memoirs of an American Secret Agent
Click on a plot link to find similar books!
Plot & ThemesWar/Cloak & Dagger story? - Spying for secrets War/Spying - Yes Period of greatest activity? - 1950+
Subject of BiographyGender - Male Profession/status: - spy Ethnicity - White Nationality - American
SettingHow much descriptions of surroundings? - 8 () City? - Yes City: - Washington D.C. Misc setting - resort/hotel Century: - 1960's-1970's
Writing StyleIf this is a kid's book: - Age 16-Adult How much dialogue in bio? - significantly more dialog than descript How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 76%-100% of book
Books with storylines, themes & endings like Undercover: Memoirs of an American Secret Agent
|Spy Dust: Two Masters of Disguise Reveal the Tools and Operations that Helped Win the Cold War by Antonio and Jonna Mendez
|I Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the US Army by Kayla Williams
|Blood Brothers by Michael Weisskopf
|In Retrospect by Robert McNamara
|See No Evil by Robert Baer


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Group to map the wrecks of L.I. Sound
A Connecticut team will develop a database that pinpoints shipwrecks on the estuary's seabed
A Connecticut team will develop a database that pinpoints shipwrecks on the estuary's seabed
Heritage Consultants, of Newington, Conn., has received a $25,000 state grant to conduct a research study documenting the locations of historic and modern day shipwrecks in the Connecticut waters of Long Island Sound.
Read the other story in this package: Search for wrecks: L.I. Sound and beyond
Last December the group received permission from the state to move forward with the project.
"We're going to scour old newspapers, boat insurance logs and miscellaneous other documents in order to find out where shipwrecks are located," says Cathy Labadia, president and principal investigator of Heritage Consultants. "We will then put the information we gather into a geographic information system — an informational database that's linked to a digital map — which will pinpoint the location of the wrecks."
The purpose of the research is to assist the state Department of Environmental Protection, which helps plan underwater projects, in knowing where shipwrecks are located, Labadia says. "For instance, if a company proposes the route for a new underwater natural gas pipeline, the DEP will be able to reference our database and know if a historic shipwreck is in the way."
Since relying on sources like newspaper reports and insurance logs isn't always completely accurate, each case will have varying degrees of preciseness. "Maybe next year we'll receive more funding and be able to use sonar equipment and have divers verify our locations," Labadia says.
The staff at Heritage Consultants has worked on a number of federal, state, municipal and private sector historic preservation projects in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. Heritage Consultants staff has also worked closely on projects with groups such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Labadia and her team have begun assembling a list of possible resources for their work, such as the Mystic Seaport, the National Archives and the Connecticut State Library. Labadia says they hope to complete the project by the end of the summer of 2007.
"We don't know yet what we're getting ourselves into, but we hope that the results will be useful and that the process will be fun," she says.


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Turn base as needed to move product into dispensing brush. For each first application, rest brush on cuticles to soften and melt product. Brush onto cuticle and nail bed. Allow to sink in or massage in gently. Made with: kukui nut, hazelnut, cocoa, mowrah, macadamia, plant derived emulsifiers (caprylic, capric and stearic glycerides, cetearyl wheat straw glycosides & cetearyl alcohol), lanolin, carnauba wax, lavender essential oil, dulse and chamomile plant extracts, rosemary oil extract, vitamin E, preservative complex (diazolidinyl urea & iodopropynyl butylcarbamate). (Hand photo © Tetiana Zbrodko | Dreamstime.com)
This stuff is great - my cuticles looked better after one application!
Submitted by: GG on 01/18/2017 12:08:33 AM


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NEW YORK, April 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digital Arts Media Network, Inc. (OTCMKTS:DATI), a specialized tech accelerator leveraging the Public Accelerator-Incubator (PAI) model, announced today, that DATI has activated its venture with truCrowd, Inc. (owner and operator of www.truCrowd.com) by moving forward with the joint venture's first transaction – to be announced after the Form C is filed with the SEC through EDGAR. DATI will also begin facilitating the onboarding process for qualifying issuers (startup companies) seeking to raise an additional $1M utilizing truCrowd's SEC registered, FINRA member crowdfunding portal; a platform that DATI now holds an equity stake in.
The previously announced venture between DATI and truCrowd gives truCrowd the ability to onboard more companies at a faster pace, while remaining discerning as to which companies list on the truCrowd crowdfunding platform. DATI is actively seeking to partner with exceptional companies or startup ideas; standing ready to fund or facilitate funding for a qualifying startup's onboarding expense and/or marketing campaign on truCrowd. This process also helps to ensure that those startups believed to be viable and well-funded opportunities, are ultimately added to DATI's growing partnership portfolio.
"Our primary function as a PAI (Pubic Accelerator-Incubator), is to expedite capital formation for startups, accelerate liquidity for investors, and provide disenfranchised investors access to the caliber of tech startups, normally only reserved for the rich," said Digital Arts Media Network CEO, Ajene Watson. "truCrowd aligns perfectly with this mantra and ties directly in with our end-to-end service offerings. We anticipate that we'll facilitate roughly a dozen high-valued, high-growth, startup opportunities that will prove our business model and ultimately contribute nicely to our portfolio of startup companies."
Management also plans to recruit those new issuers on the crowdfunding platform, to join DATI's Angels+ program as the second part of the startup's capital formation process. Other capital fundraising options such as Reg A, Reg. G, S1, and potentially SEC compliant TGEs (Token Generated Events) will be explored thereafter, as the legal landscape for these types of offerings are constantly evolving.
ABOUT Digital Arts Media Network, Inc.
Digital Arts Media Network, Inc. (OTCMKTS:DATI) is the first company to utilize the Public Accelerator-Incubator (PAI) model, with the intent to follow the global success of accelerators and incubators around the world, adding niche opportunities to both the microcap and startup communities. As a PAI, Digital Arts Media Network will develop and acquire innovations that solve problems through digital platforms and other electronic applications.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DigitalArtsDATI
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/digital-arts-media-network
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DigitalArtsMediaNetworkDATI/
Medium: https://medium.com/@DigArtsMedNet
ABOUT truCrowd, Inc. (owner and operator of truCrowd.com)
Located in the heart of the financial district of downtown Chicago, truCrowd is a FINRA member equity crowdfunding portal operating under Regulation Crowdfunding (Title III of JOBS ACT); connecting startups and emerging businesses with non-accredited and accredited investors. Built on the belief that not all businesses and investors are alike, we pride ourselves on delivering a personalized and professional funding experience through industry-leading technology.
Website: www.truCrowd.com
Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors that could cause the Company's actual operating results to be materially different from any historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements that explicitly describe these risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements that contain terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "expect," "intends," "intend," "anticipate," "anticipates," "plans," "plan," to be uncertain and forward-looking.
Public Relations Answering Center
(866) 298-7691 Ext. 53


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Commercial passenger vehicle reforms
On 1 December 2017, the Northern Territory Government introduced a regulatory model to accommodate point-to-point ridesharing transport services, while ensuring a level playing field for the current Commercial Passenger Vehicle (CPV) industry.
The outcomes from the regulatory model address the following key issues:
- safety
- service standards
- levelling the playing field for the existing CPV industry
- enforcement.
For more detailed information on the regulatory model, view the overview of the new regulatory model.
Reforms in progress
Reforms completed
- Taxi and minibus security camera specifications
- Codes of conduct
- Courtesy vehicle category partial deregulation
- Communications and dispatch network conditions
- Darwin taxi ballot
- Electronic payment surcharges
- Prepaid taxi fares
- Vehicle maintenance standards
- Key Performance Indicator standards – Taxi industry
- Ridesharing transport services
- Taxi fare review
- Licence fees
Last updated: 24 December 2019
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Fan of extreme and long tours? On rough roads, over stony tracks out in the wild, too? Tarmac, offroad, stones and sand: These are the challenges the new BMW R 1200 GS Adventure is longing to master with its easy and agile handling. A machine for those who want to test their limits and go beyond them. Or to put it briefly: A motorcycle for riders who are seeking real adventure and don't want to miss out on a great deal of riding pleasure in the process.Conquer any type of terrain on an enduro which meets all your practical needs. Two standard-fitted ride modes – "Rain" and "Road" – are available at the press of a button and offer two completely different, finely tuned riding experiences. It's like having two motorcycles in one. Further riding modes are also available as an option.A 30 litre fuel tank combined with the engine's optimised fuel efficiency really make you "unstoppable" on and off the road making unwanted stops a thing of the past. In addition the standard level of equipment has been improved to include an on-board computer. This enables perfect navigation and provides the rider with useful data such as fuel level, speed and fuel consumption.This travel enduro is rounded off by a newly integrated compartment above the tank which allows you to keep small items within reach at all times.The R 1200 GS Adventure responds dynamically in any situation thanks to the legendary 125 Nm of flat-twin torque and 125 bhp delivered by the new, water-cooled 2-cylinder 4-stroke engine. The R 1200 GS is also characterised by its unmistakable design, further improved seating comfort, wind and weather protection and by its muscular presence.
Renting price includes:
Not included:


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The Windows Installer team has unleashed the beta program for Windows Installer 4.5 on Microsoft Connect. Anyone interested can sign up, provided they have a Windows Live ID tied to Microsoft Connect - there is no survey to fill out. "Windows Installer 4.5 will provide targeted features for multi-package products and advanced servicing. Windows Installer 4.5 will be delivered down level to Windows XP SP2 and above. This down level update will include the operating system independent features and fixes from the Windows Vista only release, Windows Installer 4.0." There is supposed to be a draft paper entitled "Agility Trends in Package Software" which discusses the problems the team is targeting with the Windows Installer 4.5 release but at the time of posting the link seems to be dead.
Link: Program Details & Application Link
View: Agility Trends in Package Software
News source: Windows Installer Blog


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One to One Private Classes
If working in a group isn't your thing then you can book a 1-1 day instead!
Price does not include silver clay. You are welcome to bring clay or purchase it on the day.
One to One Private Class details
Jointly we can create and agree the contents of the day prior to your arrival, we will work through any troublesome techniques and iron out any confidence issues you may be currently experiencing.
Student reviews
1 review for One to One Private Classes
I booked Leigh for a one to one on a dreary day in November so that she could support me in making some beautiful gifts for friends at Christmas. It turned into a great day: Leigh hared her skills clearly and generously and I was able to make a variety of pieces which were good enough to give as gifts. It was an all-round great idea: I had a day that was great for my well-being and at the same time I got loads of my Christmas list ticked off too. I love Leigh!
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