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Japan is odd in many ways. Whether it's the products you find in stores (tentacles on a stick, no joke), or the cultural expectation of wearing slippers for particular types of floors (one set for indoors, and another for the bathroom). The oddest thing about Japan, in my opinion, is living here. You are transported to a reality that simultaneously places you in the past and future. Now, I am drawing a comparison between Japan and Canada (or more generally, between North America, and to some extent, Australia and the U.K. - perhaps other countries as well, but I'm drawing from personal experience). Why is Japan like simultaneously living in the past and future? Let me explain.
The Past: So if you think of bygone days, what comes to mind? What are some things that were common and are no longer but a memory? Well, let me give you some examples that are alive and well in Japan. Bicycles. Yes, I'm sure you're aware that bicycles are common in places like China, but were you aware of how common they are in Japan? They are everywhere. Absolutely everywhere. Not just bicycles, but the type of bicycles remind me of travelling back in time to the 1950s. They're the kind of bicycles with baskets in the front and a bell on the handle. I'm not kidding. If you watch a movie from that era, you'll see people happily biking along on exactly the bike I'm talking about. How about trains? Trains used to be a common method of transportation. Guess what? They're everywhere here. Trains, trains, trains! So many different lines! Some of them are older and feel like they're from the 50s, I swear. In more rural areas, the train pulls away from the station with a tug, like pulling on a slack line. You can see the movement jostle everyone in the car.
Okay, okay. So bicycles and trains are a blast from the past. What else? Laundry. Yes, everyone owns a washer, but owning a dryer isn't actually common. Most people buy laundry clips and hang their laundry to dry on a line. It's true. In fact, I just finished hanging my clothes to dry. It's an odd thing having to take your clothes from the washer, and clip them to a string hanging outside your apartment. What year is this?
Remember fax machines? Well they're plentiful here. I use one every single day at work. I can hardly believe it myself. I find it so incredibly old fashioned. What about e-mails? What about computers? What about doing things that save paper? I'm not sure I understand myself. I guess Japan just prefers having hard copies of absolutely everything. So I spend my time filling out forms and dialing numbers. You think they're old, clunky machines? Nope. They're new. Yes, new, small, efficient, fax machines. Oh Japan.
Then we come to the topic of gas stations and convenience stores. You're probably thinking, "Wait, aren't those the same things?" Nope. They most certainly aren't, not in Japan anyway. I know travelling in North America is filled with gas stations and convenience stores being one and the same. Not in Japan. Take a trip back in time when those things were clearly separated. Your local "general" store carried everything you could possibly need in a pinch, and the service was always friendly. If you wanted gas for your automobile, you had to go to a different place, where it was always full service and they offered mechanical work if you needed. Welcome to Japan. In that sense, things are very much like looking back in time. Station attendants happily take care of your every vehicle need, and definitely offer any automotive service required. In fact, because it's Japan, customer service is always taken to another level. At some gas stations, expect the attendant to stop traffic and clear the way for you to leave safely, and in style. Now that's service.
If it isn't classic bicycles, gas stations, fax machines and hanging your laundry to dry, what else is a blast from the past? Simply put, gender roles. Japan is the place where women are exquisitely feminine and all the men wear suits. In fact, they're called "salary men". They work ridiculous hours and are never home with their families. Women graduate college, work as a receptionist for a few years then marry. It's true. They marry young and they have children. Then the men continue to work themselves to the grave, while the women take care of the offspring they've birthed. What's that? Is that the phone? Who's calling? Oh yeah, it's the '50s and they want their stereotypes back.
The Future: Honestly, I'm just going to talk about technology advances. For instance, the machines located in a train station. They can take bills, coins and most of them offer services in English. Then there's the gates. It's this elongated machine which you can either scan your pass through (you can buy a card that will scan electronically through your wallet, no kidding), or you can insert your train ticket into a slot and it will shoot through the other side of the gate. It's pretty amazing. It gets me every time. The city I'm from goes by the honour system. Kind of a huge mistake. In contrast, there's New York City, where you will actually get deported if you don't swipe your metro pass.
How about ATMs? Feel free to dump your change into these machines. That's right, ATMs process change. When you want to withdraw cash, a slot opens and the cash is presented to you in an expeditious and polite manner. (Not to mention the fact that everyone deals in cash. That's right, cash. Another blast from the past.) Or what about the presence of a copy machine/printer in every convenience store? They take USB keys, SD cards...whatever you can slap you files onto and print off. It doesn't matter, these machines will do it.
Japan is also very concerned about the environment. That idea is reflected in some city bus drivers that will actually turn off the bus instead of idling (even while at a red light). Although, I must say that I don't feel like it's helping much (if at all), but the thought is there. One hotel I visited, gave me a key card, which seemed perfectly normal until I got to my room. I attempted to turn on the lights but nothing happened. Then I saw a slot on the wall that asked me to insert my card. As soon as I did, all the lights came on. It blew my mind. They actually thought of a way to conserve energy even if you've left things on, because without the card, nothing would work. So if you go out shopping, and forget to turn the radio off, the tv, the bathroom light - whatever, removing the card would immediately shut it all off. Pretty cool.
I nearly forgot to mention trains again! Yes, there are old fashioned kind of trains, but there is also the shinkansen, also known as the bullet train! Oh my god. Prepare yourself for the most luxurious and comfortable train ride of your life. You have a lot more room than a plane, and yet it feels like you're flying. The train exceeds speeds of 300 km/h and feels like a soft glide just above the ground. If you're standing on the platform and watch the train go by, it rushes by with such speed and sound, that it's sure to surprise you! I grab my heart every time and feel the whirlwind wrap itself around me, like a plane passing you on the street. It's intense!
All in all, Japan really is like living simultaneously in the past and future. All of the technology (save fax machines) are a reminder that they are always ten steps ahead of everyone else. They have the ability to invent and implement everything right here, in their own country. Simple things like talking vending machines that can produce hot and cold beverages (depending on the weather), ice cream, beer and even cigarettes. Some ramen shops have a machine where you purchase your meal ticket before handing it over to the chef. Yes, technology wise they are "streets ahead". However, some things culturally remain rooted in old beliefs and traditions. Whether you're visiting a temple or shrine and witness apprentices wearing traditional clothing, catch a whiff of cigarette smoke from the numerous smokers (some places in Japan allow you to smoke EVERYWHERE), or observe the gender dynamics of a couple - the female wearing ultra feminine, frilly clothing and following behind her well dressed, male partner. Things in Japan are quite different from the rest of the world. Nowhere have I ever seen such a strange dichotomy of the past and future. I suspect that I will never experience this type of surreal reality anywhere else.
11/6/2013 0 Comments
I read an article recently about how movies were horribly inaccurate in regards to in-laws. I attempted to find the article again but unfortunately no luck. I will update if I find it.
Regardless, I just shook my head. Obviously the author of said article has not dated OR they have had the incredibly rare luck of finding mates with decent, genuine in-laws. I am almost entirely convinced that such a thing does not exist.
In the article, the writer mentioned the film "Monster-in-Law" as being ridiculously dramatic but frankly, they are wrong. Okay, fair enough, some of the events are quite over-the-top however not unlikely.
I've had some experience with "in-laws" and let me tell you, I would recommend avoiding the in-laws, forever. There is no real reason to meet in-laws unless you're getting married. I know that might sound rude or something but let's face it, once you're over 21 your parents are not the decision makers. If they are, you have a problem. I'm specifically speaking about mama's boys - stay the hell away from any man who "loves his mommy". That is a waste of time. You will always be second, if not last.
The very first boyfriend I had was a mama's boy. I wish I had known something about that beforehand. I had no idea that one person could have such an influence over someone's life. I know that when I make decisions that the only opinion that matters is my own. I will consider input from my family or very close friends but ultimately I will have to live with the decision.
1/5/2013 0 Comments
TESL Certification
My entire life I've yearned to explore and travel the world. I wanted to do more than travel the world in fact, I wanted to leave it entirely! I desperately dreamed of being an astronaut.
For the past several months (more accurately, for the past several years) I've been seriously considering my options for world travel. Presently I don't have the money to pay for some sort of lavish vacation so I thought to myself there must be some other way. Then it hit me. Maybe I could do what others have done and teach English overseas.
Such a wild thought! I mean, to think of travelling abroad to an unknown country in order to teach English to people who speak a foreign language. It would be nerve wracking to say the least! However it would also be an adventure.
An adventure. I have always imagined going on an adventure. To travel to some sort of distant land and meet strange, new people. To eat unusual food and see fantastic things. It's everything I've dreamed of. Not to mention all the experiences I could gather and use in my writing.
Before my break-up, I never thought it was a legitimate option. Now it doesn't matter. I can be free to do what I like! I really was trapped. Given the option of freedom, I want to fly away to another country and live there instead!
So I registered for a TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) Certification course and it starts in June. I'm very excited. It takes about a month or so to finish and then I can start looking for work! I still haven't decided where I'd like to go yet. Here's a list of some of the countries I'm considering:
- France
- Italy
- Hungary
- Czech Republic
- Slovakia
- Japan
- South Korea
- Belgium
- Austria
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Spain
- Netherlands
- Finland
- Sweden
If I really had to narrow it down, I'd have to say that I'm probably leaning more towards Belgium, France, Italy and Spain. I think the sort of cultures present in those countries might be something I can enjoy. Especially France. Okay, maybe I partially have my mind made up. I just need to do more research.
I would have said Japan was my number one choice however I am all too aware of Japanese culture. It is quite patriarchal, racist and sexist. Not really something I like. I prefer people to be equal. Although I do speak some amount of Japanese. My Japanese is probably just as good as my French. Very basic.
Anyway, I will keep you updated. Especially in June! I can't wait to start!
17/4/2013 0 Comments
I know that I haven't been updating as frequently as I should but due to present circumstances, I've been overwhelmed by a myriad of conflicts.
I thought as a courtesy for my readers and as a cathartic gesture for myself, I would share a little about what's going on in my life presently.
My relationship of over three years has ended. As I've mentioned before on a previous post, "If you love someone, you must let them go". I can say in all honesty that I will always love them but I can also say that we're not meant to be together. At first I had a hard time accepting it but I suppose that's rather normal. Eventually I realized that it was much better to be apart than together. A sad lesson to learn, I suppose but a necessary one. Everyone deserves to be happy, whatever that means. Sometimes that means you have to break up.
I feel lucky in a number of ways. One of them being that I don't hate them. I can truly say that my love for them is unconditional. I also feel lucky that they said what they did and ended things when they realized they didn't love me. I don't want to be in a relationship with someone who doesn't love me. That would be doing a great injustice to both parties involved.
Now that I'm single again I can honestly say I feel like a great weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel like I have my wings back and I'm no longer trapped in a tiny cage. Despite admitting to a few close confidants and the pages of my diary that I was unhappy in my relationship and wanted to leave, I could never seem to admit those feelings to myself. I kept denying them. I wanted to believe I was happy because I loved them. Yet I think we all know that at some point those buried feelings will surface, again and again. I would just take it out in my diary. I looked back on things I'd previously written and I realized how tortured I felt. I never felt loved and perhaps that truly was the case.
If someone is unhappy with themselves, they'll never be happy with someone else. Love or no love, it's not going to make a difference. I desperately wanted to believe that if I loved hard enough that I could make someone happy but I forgot the key to happiness, "Only you can make you happy". Any effort on my part was sadly futile.
My relationship was like living in a barren, arctic wasteland. Every day I sat trapped in an icy cavern and I desperately tried to think of ways to manifest some warmth. I hoped that my own body heat would reverberate back to me, yet I was unaware of the many drafts that sucked out every last bit of heat and only made me colder. Sometimes the wind was so fierce that it howled through the small crevices and sounded like voices, then I didn't feel so alone. Over time, without my acknowledgement, the cavern's structure began to fail. One day the ceiling collapsed and exposed a bright, blue sky. I stared, uncertain. What was out there? I hesitated, comfortable with the familiar. At least I knew the cavern but I could not remember the sky. So I tried to stay. The entire cavern began to collapse around me, surrounding me with rubble. Some pieces hit me, bruising my tender body. Without another thought, I ran. I lifted my head towards the sky and raced for the only exit. I climbed furiously over remnants and finally reached the top. I closed my eyes and jumped. I expected my body to fall briefly before meeting an early demise. Yet I was lifted. Higher and higher, into the brilliant blue firmament and into the reaches of the sun. The warmth enveloped my body and suddenly my memory was restored. Flashes of a life long forgotten pressed on me. I forgot that I could just fly away. For a brief moment I looked down to the cavern. It had been completely destroyed. I had escaped with my life and I was grateful.
2/4/2013 0 Comments
Addicted to Tegan & Sara
It seems these days all I listen to is Tegan & Sara. I bought their latest album, Heartthrob and was pleasantly surprised by their new sound. Their past albums have been typically somber and feature acoustic guitars. This time their music is filled with a neo-80's vibe and captures the essence of being in and out of love. I know it's quite a departure from their original sound but it's still Tegan & Sara, they're just evolving.
Without further ado, here are some of my favourite Tegan & Sara songs! With each music video I've included a few lyrics. The last song is from their latest album, Heartthrob.
22/11/2012 0 Comments
Good Dream, Bad Dream
This morning I woke up from a dream. It was a very lucid dream and when I awoke I was surprised it wasn't real. Then I sat in contemplation wondering what the dream meant. Why did I dream about her? It made me sad. Let me tell you why.
The dream started with me taking a class. I'm not sure where I was taking this class, I could assume it was from the university but honestly that would be misleading. A dream has its own learning halls. Regardless of where, I was taking a class. I feel like it was a writing class and that in itself would be ironic. In real life I'm a writer and apparently in my dreams I am too.
So I was standing outside of the classroom, waiting for the teacher to get there. This made sense to me since all my years in university I usually spent time waiting outside the classroom. (I made a habit of being there early.) So there I am, waiting patiently when I see someone walking towards me. Someone unexpected. I froze and panicked. I thought, I should walk away, turn around, do something to hide my identity. I wasn't prepared to see this person again. Yet I couldn't I do anything, just stand and stare.
They got closer and closer until finally they were right in front of me and oddly enough, smiling. This didn't make sense to me. Since if I were to see this person again, they wouldn't be smiling. Most likely they would do their best to ignore me or worse say something horribly cruel. Instead in my dream, they stood there smiling. So I looked at them questioningly, confused and baffled by their appearance. I managed to make out the words, "I didn't know you were in this class". She smiled back and said, "I tried to tell you". She described an antiquated means of getting in contact through messenger and I was shocked. That was what we would have used before.
I remember being completely and utterly dumbfounded. I never thought in a million years I would see her again nor would she be happy to see me. From there it was just like old times somehow. We reverted back to the way we were. When the classroom opened, we sat down but I had already picked my seat apparently before I knew she was going to be there. I had placed my stuff far away from hers.
The class started and the teacher sat in the middle on top of a desk. (This isn't unusual in some university classes by the way, so the dream was not off base.) She was talking and describing something but I wasn't listening. I was too distracted by my ex-friend's sudden appearance. I still couldn't believe she was there. It didn't make any sense to me. Before I knew it we were starting an activity. We had some sheets of paper with pieces of different stories on them, maybe a song or two. Next thing I know music is playing and the teacher is coming closer to me. She's singing and dancing along and I realize I better participate. I happen to know the lyrics to the song by heart and start dancing alongside, singing as well. The teacher stops after a bit and frowns, pointing to my sheets saying I should have it opened. I blush but feel frustration cloud my mind. I knew the words, I didn't need the paper.
The teacher pointed to a student and started another segment, from a story this time. They were expected to act it out it seems. Between all the commotion my ex-friend, turned friend came over to me and started to laugh with me at the hilarity of this class. It reminded me of high school where we spent creative writing class together making fun of the teacher.
Then the dream ended abruptly, as dreams have a habit of doing. I found myself dazed and disappointed. There was a longing inside of me to have her back as a friend. I was disappointed that it wasn't true. Yet I know it's not possible. Despite the dream's optimism. The friendship seemed to be great when I had it but it ended terribly. It wasn't up to me either. She decided we weren't friends anymore. It was a stupid reason. I hadn't been available to talk with her about her millionth break-up with her long distance boyfriend. Did I mention she called on my father's birthday? Over that, over nothing, she decided to stop being friends. It seemed counter intuitive. I had always been there for her. I had always supported her and helped her any way I could. I felt like something else was the catalyst. Before that I had divulged to her some terrible news I had kept locked up and expected some warm comfort in return. Instead, she didn't want to talk about it or even try to help me. I remember being instantly frustrated and hurt, the "friendship" was like every other "friendship" I had been involved in, not reciprocal.
I would give all of myself in a friendship and never get it in return. It made me think back on what I had with her as superficial. She was incredibly judgemental and lacked compassion or empathy with others. Why would I expect she would treat me differently? I guess I thought we were best friends. It turned out that I was only her friend if I was doing something for her.
As much as I enjoyed seeing her in my dream, in real life I recognize she was well, a bitch if you don't mind me saying. I could never be friends with her again, not after the way she treated me then tossed me aside like I was garbage. She didn't know how to be friends with anyone. Honestly, people don't change that much and she's probably still a diva.
Hence why the dream seemed good but turned out bad. I guess it was similar to the very "friendship" I had with her. All in all, I don't need to be dreaming about people I never want to see again. Do you want to hear something odd? It was just her birthday three days ago.
16/11/2012 0 Comments
Just for Laughs
I had the excellent fortune to attend a Just for Laughs event in my city. In case you were wondering, Just for Laughs hosts comedians to travel to different venues. I was extremely excited since I've seen their events on television numerous times but never had the opportunity to attend an event until now. It was absolutely fantastic. The show featured Last Comic Standing John Heffron along with Godfrey, Canadian comedienne Debra Digiovanni, Jim Breuer, Roman Danylo and Diana Frances. I didn't find out the show's theme until we actually arrived and it turned out to be "The Relationship Edition". Perfect for my partner and I on a night out.
Roman Danylo and Diana Frances opened the night with improv to get everyone started. They were great. With audience suggestions they turned something mundane into something exciting and hilarious. A great way to open a show and get everyone ready to laugh. John Heffron came out next and hosted the show. He did a fantastic opening bit. He discussed the difference between being in a relationship as a man in his early 20's to being a married man at 42. One of the funniest things he mentioned was going out to dinner with his wife. He goes on to say that he didn't expect a performance review. He was quite funny.
Next was Godfrey, an honest and very active comic. He brought the stage to life with hilarious comments on everyday life. He made jokes about everything from the incredibly cold Canadian weather and mitten wearing to Victoria's Secret and American Airlines. I laughed particularly hard while watching him. He really knew how to make people laugh. He was quite a ham.
There was a brief intermission before they continued on to one of the most well known and respected comics, Debra Digiovanni. If you've ever watched Much Music's Video on Trial, you would be familiar with her kind of sardonic humour. Most of her humour is self deprecating, something I truly appreciate. I like when a comic can make fun of themselves. It's too easy to make fun of others. She's really very intelligent and witty. She's the one comic I would love to meet in person. I think she'd be terrific fun.
Last but not least was Jim Breuer. In a way he was similar to John Heffron, in comedy and appearance. He also commented on the inner workings of marriage but extended it to having children. After he was done I couldn't help but be more afraid of the possibility of ever having children. Children are a handful. Regardless, all the comedians were truly on their game. I appreciated every minute. I love to laugh. If Just for Laughs returns, I will be there.
4/10/2012 0 Comments
Love vs. Obsession
I think making a distinction between love and obsession is very important. Many people have the two confused in to one ambiguous amalgam.
Obsession: Obsession can feel like love. Someone experiencing feelings of obsession towards someone else will feel an overwhelming desire to be with them at any capacity. They want to be near them all the time. It is similar to infatuation. Obsession is the advanced stage of infatuation. It starts with a crush. You see someone and you like them. Sometimes what someone calls "love at first sight" is purely a superficial reaction with no real substance. You find them attractive so the crush begins. Following that you try to get closer to them, perhaps not in the traditional sense. You might ask others about them or more commonly these days, Facebook stalk them.
This sort of behaviour continues. Depending on the person, the proximity to the crush can vary. In some instances the obsession can occur with a celebrity, so it would be incredibly difficult to get close to them at any capacity. People who develop obsessions tend to view their crush as better than themselves yet they have a belief that since they "love" them so very much that it makes up for any shortcomings, this is a significant point. If the crush is someone they can interact with it is a different situation. In many cases they attempt to become friends and once that has been accomplished they dream about being more.
For some the closest they get is the "friendship". Some of them claim they've been put in the "friend zone". Just because you're nice to someone doesn't mean they owe you a relationship or anything else for that matter. Being nice should be standard for everyone.
Whatever the relationship between the obsessed and the obsession, it can never be genuine. The obsessed is ultimately selfish. They want that person all to themselves. They become intensely jealous and angry when their crush is involved with anyone they might view as a threat. It doesn't even have to be a romantic threat or a credible one, everyone else is suddenly a threat. Obsessions are ultimately negative and can become dangerous. Although the person experiencing the obsession may feel as though they are the only one who truly loves their crush Love is the wrong word.
Some obsessions can become lethal. It can develop into an unhealthy relationship, stalking or in extreme cases, life threatening. Obsessions are not only bad for the person being obsessed over but they are bad for the person experiencing these extreme emotions. If you feel like any of these feelings ring true for you regardless of the degree of obsession, you need to take a step back and really think about why you feel that way. You don't love them. If it was love it would be mutual.
Love: Love is a beautiful, glorious thing. It is nearly indescribable. It is not like obsession. The most important distinction is that feelings of love are mutual. Love doesn't appear right away. It can develop out of infatuation but it is rare. It is more likely to develop as a tense mix of emotions and confusion into the intoxicating sensation of being loved and loving back.
Another significant difference between love and obsession are the emotions. Obsession will leave someone feeling an odd intensity akin to loathing. Ultimately, it's a mixture of negative emotions. Love is different. Love leaves you feeling free, not trapped, for both parties involved. It's practically a whirlwind of confusion and positive emotions. Love is selfless. Love is easy. Most importantly, love is unconditional. Once you have truly loved someone it is permanent, you will never stop loving them no matter what. Sometimes a break-up can truly define whether you experienced love or not. If you end up hating them and wishing you never met, it was never truly love.
The best indicators of a long lasting relationship are oddly the people closest to you like friends or family. People uninvolved in the relationship are able to have a more objective perspective (dependent on the fact they're not obsessed with you). They can determine the legitimacy and longevity of the relationship. If you're enjoying the rose coloured glasses of a relationship, you might not want to ask. Just enjoy what you have no matter what it is. Nothing lasts forever.
22/9/2012 0 Comments
If You Love Someone
Remember: If you love someone, you must let them go. It's an example of true love. You care so much about someone all that matters to you is their happiness even if it's not with you. If you try to make them stay you'll both feel guilty and it means you don't truly love them. Either way they'll find a way to leave, whether it's emotionally or physically. You can't make someone love you. Letting go may be difficult since there's a danger they'll never return but that's okay, it means it wasn't meant to be. They'll find happiness and so will you, with or without them. Happiness is being you.
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March 2017


text:
Here's a very peculiar case of a 63yr male with acute vertical diplopia, more pronounced when looking down which makes him feel dizzy and unstable all the time especially when looking downwards. He came to my office 7 days after the beginning of his symptoms.
The only thing I've noticed was skew deviation discovered at cross cover test with the hyperphoria of the right eye and hypophoria of the left eye.
I've asked for MRI which disclosed a punktiform lesion at mesencephalon.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A recent survey done for Farm Not Factories #PigsinChain campaign found that 73% of the 60 British high street supermarkets & food chains sell pork from factory farms. The vast majority of these don't offer a single high welfare alternative. Pigs reared in factory farms (an intensive farming system that is permitted under the Red […]
Tag Archives | Sainsbury's
#PigsInChain : Most British High Street Supermarkets & Food Chains Sell Pork From Factory Farms
Sainsbury's opens the UK's first ever Meat-Free Butchers
Just in time for World Meat Free Week, Sainsbury's has announced it is opening the UK's first ever Meat-Free Butchers in Bethnal Green Road, London. The Meat-Free Butchers pop-up, selling plant-based alternatives to the traditional meaty sausages, burgers, mince and more, will be open 21st-23rd Jun. At first glance, the three day pop-up shop will […]
Sainsbury's Introduces a Meat-Alternative Section Into Its Meat, Fish and Poultry Aisles
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Sainsbury's Love Your Veg – Bumper Vegan & Vegetarian Launch
Following the launch of Naturli' plant-based mince and burgers in the meat aisle last month, Sainsbury's has also launched over 20 meat-free options including seven new Sainsbury's Love Your Veg! ready meals and four redeveloped Sainsbury's' favourites which are now vegan. These new and innovative plant-based products are now available in-store and online, which are set […]
Sainsbury's Starts Selling Vegan Meat Alternative In Meat Aisle
As of today, Sainsbury's is starting to sell vegan meat in the meat aisles of 400 stores. The plant-based mince and burgers from Danish brand Naturli' will be the first meat alternative in the UK to be sold alongside meat products. While many vegans and vegetarians might not be keen on visiting the meat aisles, […]
Spicy Pulled Jackfruit Wrap Added To Sainsbury's Vegan Sandwich Range
To mark British Sandwich Week, Sainsbury's is launching a new collection of summer sarnies to feast on during the sunnier months. The new offering expands Sainsbury's vegan sandwich range which launched in January, with the supermarket now selling seven vegan sandwiches and wraps. Sainsbury's has seen the vegan options fly off the shelves since launching […]
25 Vegan & Vegetarian Pizza Recipes
Making your own pizza is fun, easy and so much healthier than ordering a takeaway. It is an ideal dish to prepare when you want to get the kids involved or if you are having a few friends around for a casual dinner. While a basic pizza dough will generally form the base, you can […]
10 Meat Free Sandwiches & Wraps For British Sandwich Week
This week is British Sandwich Week, a celebration of the nation's favourite food-on-the-go. Surprisingly, if you are looking to buy meat free sandwiches on your lunch break, the choice amongst British supermarkets and high street chains is quite poor. In fact, the new #MeatFreeLunch campaign by Eating Better found that, despite our growing appetite for meat free options, only 4% of shop sandwiches are […]
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What is Afternoon Live's email address?
What is Afternoon Live's address?
KATU Studios
2153 NE Sandy Blvd.
Portland, OR 97232
I have a great idea for an Afternoon Live guest. How can I submit it?
Just send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com, fax us at 503-231-4626 or mail us at:
Story Idea
Afternoon Live
2153 NE Sandy Blvd.
Portland, OR 97232
Be specific why would this make great TV? What's visual about it? And why would other Afternoon Live viewers want to know more? Also please let us know contact phone numbers or emails so we can easily get in touch with the right person.
How can I purchase a video tape of Afternoon Live?
You'll need to contact one of the local dubbing services:
Moba Media 503-223-1677
Portland Media Monitor 503-591-5600
Please note, these businesses do charge a fee.
How can I be in the Afternoon Live audience?
We have a live audience on Fridays and it's FREE! All we ask of you is an hour and a half of your day (1:30pm-3:00pm) and your enthusiasm. Call 503-231-4610 or send an email to email@example.com. Let us know a Friday or two that work for you along with how many people would like to attend. We'll call you back to confirm. We also place your name on a list, so there's no need for tickets. Just sign in when you arrive.
How can my non-profit organization get a free 30 second on-air announcement?
On Fridays we invite non-profit organizations, schools and charity groups to air a FREE 30-second promotional announcement on our show in exchange for bringing 15 people to sit in our studio audience. If you're interested please call our Afternoon Live at 503-231-4610 or email email@example.com for more information.
Where do I park when I come to Afternoon Live?
The studios are located at 2153 N.E. Sandy Blvd. and you can park anywhere along most of the nearby streets just be aware a few blocks are marked "30-minute parking." Also, do not park in the paved lot to the west of KATU. It's a monthly "pay-to-park" lot and you will be towed.
What time should I arrive to see Afternoon Live?
Audience members should arrive by 1:30pm. Suggested dress: business casual attire. Please no costumes.
Are there age restrictions to being in the Afternoon Live audience?
Anyone can come to the Afternoon Live audience, however we ask that if you bring children they're old enough to sit through an hour-long, live television show without being disruptive. Please be aware that our show is given a TV rating of PG and we cannot guarantee the content of the show will be appropriate for all children.


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Almond Cream Cake
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 1/2 cups grânulâted sugâr
- 3 cups câke flour* (345 grâms) spooned & meâsured cârefully
- 1/2 teâspoon sâlt
- 2 teâspoons bâking powder
- 1 cup milk 2% milkfât
- 1 teâspoon âlmond extrâct
- 3/4 cup egg whites plus 3 tâblespoons*
- Frosting:
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tâblespoons white flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 teâspoons âlmond extrâct
- 2 cups butter softened
- 2 cups grânulâted sugâr
- Sliced âlmonds ând whole âlmonds for decorâting
- Using â stând mixer, beât the egg whites with the whisk âttâchment until they âre stiff ând form peâks. This mây tâke â minute or two. Pour the egg whites into ânother bowl ând plâce them in the refrigerâtor until you're reâdy to âdd them to the bâtter.
- Using the sâme bowl thât you used to beât the egg whites, plâce the softened butter in ând creâm the butter for âbout 2 minutes (using the beâter blâde âttâchmenuntil it is white in âppeârânce.
- âdd the sugâr to the butter ând beât until fluffy (âbout ânother 1-2 minutes).
- In â smâll bowl, combine the flour (meâsured cârefully*), sâlt ând bâking powder. Set âside.
- In ânother bowl, combine the milk ând âlmond extrâct.
- âdd the flour mixture to the butter/sugâr mixture âlternâtely with the milk.
- âdd the stiffly beâten eggs to the câke bâtter. Fold the egg whites in gently. Do not overmix ât this point. If you do, your câke will become more dense.
- Greâse ând flour 2 9" round câke pâns. Pour the câke bâtter equâlly into the prepâred câke pâns.
- Bâke the câkes ât 350 degrees for 25-27 minutes or until the top bounces bâck when you touch it.
- âllow the câkes to cool for 10 minutes, then loosen the edges ând remove them from the pâns to â wire râck, âllowing them to cool completely.
- While the câkes âre cooling, prepâre the frosting. In â sâucepân, whisk the flour into the milk over medium-low heât until it thickens. Stir it constântly, lowering the heât to low if needed. The consistency should be very thick, like mâshed potâtoes. This step took âbout 12-15 minutes.
- Remove the pân from the heât ând set the pân in â bowl of ice for 5-10 minutes to quicken the cooling process. The temperâture of the mixture should be ât room temperâture.
- Stir in the âlmond extrâct.
- If you hâve â food processor, process the white sugâr for â minute or so so thât the grânules become finer.
- While the mixture is cooling, creâm together the butter ând processed sugâr using â stând mixer with the whisk âttâchment until light ând fluffy. Do this for 5 minutes until the sugâr is completely creâmed ând there is no grâininess left.
- âdd the cooled flour mixture ând beât it until it âll combines ând looks like whipped creâm. This will tâke âbout ânother 3-5 minutes of beâting. Keep scrâping the sides of the bowl while the mixture is beâting together so thât everything gets well incorporâted. Once the mixture hâs the texture of fluffy whipped creâm, you âre reâdy to ice the câke.
- Once the câkes âre cool, plâce one câke on â câke plâte. Spreâd frosting on top of thât lâyer, then plâce the other câke on top of the frosted câke. Use the remâinder of the frosting to frost the top ând sides of the câke.
- Decorâte the sides ând top with sliced ând whole âlmonds, âs the picture shows, if desired.
Source: https://www.tastesoflizzyt.com/almond-cream-cake/


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Get the Link to This Publication
You can copy and paste this link into any site, or bookmark it online or offline with any service.
- Done
- Details
- Description
- Published by:
- Kyoko Nakayoshi
- Published:
- 10/17/2012
- Specs:
Pamphlet / 8.25" x 10.75"4 pages Half-Fold
- Category:
- Crafts & Hobbies
- Tags:
This is a knitting pattern to make Fallen Leaf Shawl using Jamieson's of Shetland Cobweb yarn.
This triangular shawlette is worked from the centre outwards. The ruffled edging is crochet, which is made by first casting off loosely then four double-trebles are worked into each stitch. This method creates dense and delicate ruffles that work for most of the lace yarn. If longer ruffles are desired, work extra rows of single double-treble (dtr) into each stitches. You can also use knitted ruffle edge instead by increasing the number of stitches by 3-4 times and work in stocking stitch.
For detailed information about the pattern, please check the actual page from my site (could not put everything due to word limit in this area). http://cottonandcloud.com/item.php?item_id=120&category_id=26


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SANAA, Yemen — A pair of suicide bombings killed at least 45 people in Yemen's southern city of Aden on Monday, security officials said.
They said the bombings targeted young men seeking to join the army.
One suicide car bomber targeted a line outside an army recruitment center, killing at least 20. A second bomber on foot detonated his explosive vest among a group of recruits waiting outside the home of an army commander, killing at least 25.
Scores of others were wounded, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.
A news agency linked to ISIS said the group was behind the attack.
Yemen has for nearly two years been gripped by a war pitting the internationally recognized government against Shiite rebels who control the capital, Saana, and are allied with forces loyal to a former president.
The country is also home to active al-Qaeda and ISIS affiliates.
Monday's blasts underline the precarious security situation in Aden, the country's main port on the Arabian Sea, several months after government forces and allied militiamen backed by a Saudi-led coalition retook the city from the Shiite rebels, also known as the Houthis.
The city has in recent months seen a series of suicide bombings and assassinations mainly targeting army and security forces. Contributing further to the instability in Aden is recent the eviction of northern Yemenis, the work of suspected separatists who seek an independent south.


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Components To Observe When Engaging A Real Estate Agent.
A real estate agent is an authorized proficient who regularly goes about as a middle person between the purchaser and the merchant in real estate exchanges. This accordingly implies the real estate agent consults for the benefit of the purchaser and the merchant of the real estate property. There are different popular real estate firms which outfits its clients with a wide arrangement of real estate organizations. In any case there are different tips that should be mulled over while enrolling a real estate expert. The foremost tip to consider is the reputability of the real estate agent.
This infers one should consider acquiring a conspicuous real estate agent that is known for the colossal idea of things and organizations they outfit their client's with. Another important factor to consider is the credentials of the real estate agent. Thusly the real estate agent should have gone to real estate training and meanwhile they should have capabilities, for instance, accreditations which show that they are trained real estate agents. A real estate agent should also have a license as this is a very important tool in any real estate transaction.
This is a result of the fact that there are different individuals who may veil themselves as real estate agents then they end up getting away with people's money. Therefore it is important to ensure that the real estate agent is licensed. The real estate agent ought to likewise know about the nearby encompassing which the customer wishes to buy the property. This is because when a real estate agent is conversant with the local area then they should be able to give their client the best advice on whether or not to purchase a piece of property within that local area.
Experience is additionally critical when hoping to contract a real estate agent. Along these lines the real estate agent ought to have a huge involvement in offering distinctive kinds of real estate properties and the experience is frequently obtained over a critical timeframe. Therefore it is important to hire a real estate agent who has an experience over a number of years as opposed to an individual who is fresh from training school. A professional real estate agent should also be aggressive in their work. When you visit our page, you will discover more on real estate.
This implies they ought to be fast in distinguishing new properties that are available to be purchased inside the region and they ought to likewise attempt and see whether it inside the set spending plan of their client's. This will ensure that you don't leave behind an incredible open door for the new properties and offers.
Support: read this post here


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Finland raises VAT registration threshold
- Feb 11, 2015 | Richard Asquith
The new Finnish 2015 budget has raised the annual VAT registration threshold for resident businesses from €8,500 to €10,000.
VAT registration threshold on non-resident entrepreneurs
The threshold does not apply to foreign, non-resident traders from the EU or any other country. They are still required to register with the Finnish authorities if they are providing taxable supplies that trigger a foreign VAT registration. This includes: importing goods into Finland from outside the EU; holding warehouse stocks.
For sellers to consumers via the internet, there is a special EU distance selling VAT threshold regime. This enables e-commerce merchants to initially sell under the domestic VAT number, charging the VAT rate of their home country. Once they go over Finland's distance selling threshold, €35,000 annual sales to Finnish consumers, they must register for Finnish VAT and report to the tax office.


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If you've come looking for sleeping bliss, then Dream is for you. This soothing blend calms your mind and relaxes your body for a deep, refreshing slumber.
The Dream blend is crafted with cannabinoids and terpenoids that calm your body and ease you into a more restful sleep. Coast combines Linalool and Myrcene, which are known for their calming and sedative effects, to allow your thoughts to slow down and your stress to melt away. Supplemental compounds like Terpinolene and Beta Caryophyllene enhance the sedative effect and promote terpenoid absorption, providing a fuller, deeper night's rest.


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Last week, I posted on Foody Friday this amazing looking pizza. It's from a lovely new restaurant in Bournemouth called The Stable. Their tagline is Pizza, Pie's and Cider. Granted, I've never tried their Pie's or Cider, but believe me, I have tried their pizza.
So today I thought I'd give you a little review/recommendation of this quality restaurant.
So to start off, I'll go with all the positives. First and foremost, their food is just insane. Good quality and good price. You can really tell their food is made from scratch and is well worth the price.
The service in The Stable is second to none. All the waiters are happy, friendly and always there to help. Especially for people who have never been to the restaurant before, they're great at giving advice and helping you navigate the menu.
This amazing Garlic Pizza Bread above was just incredible. When we ordered it, we didn't expect it to be quite this big. When it arrived, It was still steaming and was dripping in garlic oil!
Then for the pizza below, you would've seen me talking about this is my last Foody Friday! Probably one of my favourite pizzas!
Now I really only have one negative about the restaurant. It looks half done.
The actual place itself, the restaurant actually looks like it's not yet finished. With wooden flooring and walls, it still has that feel of an incomplete construction.
I have a feeling they're probably aiming for that 'rustic' look. But I just feel it's a little underdone.
Overall, a real quality restaurant that is a credit to Bournemouth. If you're from here or visiting Bournemouth, it is definitely worth a visit!
| Harrison |


text: Dear All, I have created a Tropaeolum wiki page: http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/… And added images that Bill Dijk shared with one of the images list last year of Tropaeolum azureum and T. brachyceras and images my husband took of my T. tricolor. Even though Jim Forrest sent me seeds of T. azureum I never had any luck with them so whenever I look at Bill's picture I just sigh....But I purchased a T. brachyceras from Telos and enjoyed it very much this winter and one of my all time favorite plants is T. tricolor which Jana Ulmer shared with me from ones that Wayne Roderick shared with the California Horticultural Society. I had first seen it at one of his two times a year open houses when his bulbs are on display and thought it very charming. Two years ago I purchase a T. incisum from Telos. Diana has a way with words and her description of this one made it sound so appealing. "This rare Tropaeolum is worth growing for the leaves alone, which are deeply incised and so incredibly glaucous that they appear to be a blue/purple color. The yellow to orange flowers are equally lovely." She had said it was from Chile so I expected it to be a winter grower and had just about given up on it when it finally came up last year late February. I'd describe the leaves as appearing silver and they are very attractive, but mine never bloomed. When I asked her about it she told me that she had thought it was from Chile, but on relooking at her notes from Watson and Flores seed saw that it was really an Alpine plant from Argentina where it had warm to hot dry summers and snow and heavy frost in winter. She wasn't sure how it would respond to our wet winters. I haven't been quite sure what it needs. I gave it occasional water when dormant and took it in the greenhouse when we had extended rainfall this winter and with this treatment it has sprouted much later than last year, only just recently. Alberto can you give me any advice about what it needs? I'd grow it for the leaves alone, but would love to have it flower and I don't want to lose it. Thanks for any help. Mary Sue Mary Sue Ittner California's North Coast Wet mild winters with occasional frost Dry mild summers


text: Penthouse in Roda Golf with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a large solarium with fabulous views over the golf course, accessed by comfortable stairs from the balcony outside the living room. The apartment has never been occupied and is sold totally empty to furnish to your liking. Pre-installation of a/c, central heating and with electric shutters. Beautiful surroundings with gardens and a community pool, also includes a parking space with storage, with an elevator from basement to the top floor.


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Sometimes you need to make an outfit festive immediately so you can attend some holiday function. Sometimes you just want to jazz it up for a night out on the town! Often times I find myself wanting to look and feel Christmas-y for the holidays, but don't have the time to do elaborate things to myself, my clothing, or accessories.
So here's five easy ways to make an outfit festive with very little effort!
Pin on a holiday brooch
The easiest way that I have found to add festive cheer in a hurry is find a couple of holiday brooches and just wear them. Many don't even have to match your outfit, because strange color combinations are common for Christmas. Purple and blue? Happens all the time! Red and green often look funny together, but are a Christmas staple!
Holiday brooches can be found everywhere this time of year, including Target and thrift stores. My local store seems to save them until after Thanksgiving and then puts out a truckload of festive brooches. I managed to pick up four in one visit!
Add some sparkle somewhere unexpected
There are some places where a person expects to see a little bling. The ears, for instance, by way of earrings. But put a little something that shines in a new place, and it's sure to draw attention.Try putting a pin on a hat or beret. Matching pins? Bam, new shoe clips!
Pin a scarf in place with some bling. Pop some earrings into your collar. Get creative! A little bling can go a long way to looking festive.
Use ribbon to brighten
I see no shame in reusing things for a different purpose. It's eco-friendly. So I have no shame in taking a ribbon that came on something nice I bought and putting it in my hair. It's the reuse part of reduce, reuse, and recycle. It's also a perk of the holidays, when no one thinks you're weird because you walk around with ribbons in your hair.
So tie one around a bun, thread it through a braid, or tie it around a ponytail. Here, I used it a bit like a headband, and there was just enough for a sweet bow. Ribbons come on everything this season, so try to get creative and use one in a new way!
Borrow Christmas decorations
This one may be slightly cheating, but anything goes when you're in a hurry. I have been known to pin a Christmas bow in my hair last minute because I was desperate. Forgive that this one is a little squashed!
Think of the bow as a hair flower. How would you put in a hair flower? And then do so with the bow. But don't just stick to bows! Got a plastic poinsettia? Pull off a bud and pin it in your hair! You can affix tinsel to a collar, or again, in your hair. The beauty of the "ugly" Christmas sweater trend is that nothing is too bizarre. If people don't like it, then they'll just think you're wearing it ironically. So go crazy! Wear jingle bells!
Finally, break out the glitter
There comes a time when a lady is desperate. Then, it's time to break out the glitter, the sparkle. Take everything shiny that you own and throw it on. Sequins? Glitter eyeshadow? Bobbles and sparkles? Embrace it!
If you're ever worried about being too shiny (when there is no such thing during the holidays), try this: Before you leave the house, take one thing off. A piece of jewelry, or perhaps an accessory. That way no one can say you have too much on, because you could have been wearing more.
That's it! Those are my tips for easy ways to make an outfit festive for the holidays! Do you have any other quick tips for the season? Share them in the comments below!


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The Nissan Frontier will officially hit the production line, according to the Japanese automaker. They also confirmed that the mid-size pickup truck will be assembled at the Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant in Mississippi. Despite this confirmation, the automaker did not say when the production will begin, but this is a sign that change is on its way.
Vice President of Manufacturing at the Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant, Steve Marsh, said that their employees in Canton are excited to build the next generation Frontier, considering it to be one of the best pickup trucks in America.
We have not received many details from Nissan with regards to the pickup's new design. But if we remember correctly, back in 2014, the Frontier Diesel Runner Concept was introduced and it indicates the possibility of a diesel engine in the lineup. If that pushes through, the Frontier will probably be equipped with a Cummins-sourced 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel that can give out as much as 200 horsepower (149 kilowatts) and more than 350 pound-feet (474 Newton-metres) of torque.
Looking at today's trend, it seems like the mid-size pickup segment is booming in the United States. Some of the Nissan Frontier's competitors would be the Chevrolet Colorado, Toyota Tacoma, and the Ford Ranger. However, we cannot really say that these models will compete against the Frontier because the current model dates back to 2005, and it does not have modern features that the other brands can flaunt.
Having said that, the current Frontier's platform might be dangerous to driver safety. In fact, the Frontier had the worst performance during a recent test done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, as it had to do a round of crash tests. It got a marginal score (a level above the lowest grade) in the agency's small-overlap crash test. The pickup also did not have a front crash prevention system, and the headlights were poorly rated as well. In today's standards, the outgoing Frontier will definitely not protect the driver from a serious car crash.
What we find interesting is the fact that Nissan is still developing a next generation Frontier, after the company found a loss of interest from buyers. For instance, sales from January to August 2017 are down by 18.9 percent, selling only 50,097 units compared to last year's 61,792. That's not much compared to Chevrolet selling 71,763 units of the Colorado and the Toyota Tacoma selling more than double at 129,362 units.
Currently, the Nissan Canton plant is in charge of building models like Murano, Titan, Titan XD, NV Cargo and NV Passenger. There are about 6,400 employees who work there and they deliver around 450,000 vehicles annually.


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Recently the Edinburgh Creative Team took a little field trip across the road from our office to Ocean Terminal shopping centre. But scouting for New Year's bargains wasn't our aim. Instead we visited a Virtual Reality Arcade called E-VR. Billed as the future of entertainment, VR has been around for a while now but seems yet to find a niche beyond gaming. We were curious to find out what the latest technology, trends and applications are as well as having a play with the latest games.
VR Language Learning
Gaming is naturally the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about VR but the possibilities go far beyond that. The team at E-VR have been developing and new VR application called Loqui that offers VR language learning. The application claims to offer a new way to brush up your Spanish or Mandarin in a natural and intuitive way. And when you see how the app works it's hard to argue with this conclusion.
Instead of learning in an abstract environment imagine dropping right into a Spanish marketplace, hearing Spanish spoken around you, seeing Spanish written on signs and then learning by hearing people around you speak. Loqui is an exciting first step into creating a learning environment that could help thousands of eager students whether at school, college or at any age. All it needs is the right level of investment from a future thinking organisation.
Great Customer Experience
The research and thinking that go into an app like Loqui applies equally to any VR experience and as you'd expect good content and UX are key factors for success. The fewer barriers there are for people getting started interacting with the VR world the better. If it isn't obvious how to move, to touch or pick up objects or if the world doesn't react to the player then you are going to lose people's attention within seconds. And despite what you might expect games that allow people to go at their own pace and explore are often the most popular.
This is borne out by the success of Job Simulator. On the face of it spending your leisure time pretending to do menial tasks in an office sounds like sheer madness. But I defy anyone not to enjoy throwing things at Boss Bot and mindlessly making cups of coffee while trying to get that elusive promotion. The joy of Job Simulator is that you can interact with absolutely everything around you and you can do anything or nothing. There are prompts and tasks, but you can ignore them at will.
What's next for VR
Despite suffering somewhat from being an innovation buzzword VR has the potential to solve a wide range of problems across industries unrelated to gaming. An area ripe for VR application is education in museums, zoos and art galleries. The tourism industry hasn't picked it up as readily as you might expect but with people in China and Dubai eagerly embracing the technology the possibilities for shopping experiences are exciting. The financial industry too has been surprisingly receptive to the idea of the technology for visualisation of complex data.
But as our host at E-VR said, "talking about VR is like singing about dancing". In other words, to understand the possibilities you actually have to experience it yourself.
For any doubters out there, I can recommend Richie's Plank Experience billed as a psychological experience to test your mettle around heights. Surely, I wouldn't be fooled by this I thought, calmly looking at the cartoony graphics of a city street around me. But as soon as I hit the button on the elevator, a sliver of the outside world just visible through a crack in the doors showing the ground slipping away, I felt my confidence wane. The elevator doors opened… onto… nothing. I felt my hands get sweaty. Fighting panic, I took a small step out onto thin air before freaking out and hitting escape from the game. I still feel a bit sick thinking about it.
So, there you go. As far as your brain is concerned VR is just R.
The possibilities are endless.
Ready for another?
Innovation vs creative technology
Is Your CX Broken? The CX Challenge
Building bots and saving lives


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Asian Tribune is published by E-LANKA MEDIA(PVT)Ltd. Vol. 20 No. 78
Seven killed in Pakistan bomb blast
[b]Seven killed in Pakistan bomb blast [/b]
By Iqbal Hussain Khan Yousafzai – Reporting from Islamabad
[b]Islamabad, 20 March, (Asiantribune.com):[/b] At least seven persons including six security officials were killed in a bomb blast on Sunday in Dera Ismail Khan, some 300 kilometers from the capital Islamabad.
The bomb was planted on Dera-Bannu Road by unknown miscreants and was blown up with a remote control device as a police vehicle was passing near it. Four other by-standers were also injured in the explosion. The injured have been admitted in a local hospital.
"It was a remote-controlled bomb," district police officer Daar Ali Khattak said.
The police van was badly damaged in the blast, he said.


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We've seen Taylor Swift-themed racers in the past, but this is the first time we've seen the singer serve as inspiration for an NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car.
Courtney Force is set to close out the 2017 season in style, as her Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car will sport a special one-off paint scheme at the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., according to USA TODAY Sports.
To promote Swift's upcoming album, "Reputation," which will be released Friday by John Force Racing partner Big Machine Records, Force's dragster will be adorned in the artwork from the record.
"I've had an incredible experience working with our partners, Advance Auto Parts and Big Machine Records, this season and am honored to drive the special Taylor Swift ("Reputation") car for our final race in Pomona," Force said. "My team and I are always playing her songs to get in the zone and prepare to battle it out against the boys on race day."
As the most successful Funny Car driver in NHRA history, Force is well known for her talent behind the wheel, but the "Reputation" project helped highlight some of her abilities outside the car. The 29-year-old racer reportedly was actively involved in the design of the paint scheme, brainstorming ways the album cover could be showcased on a dragster.


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Fans of Team Queso, get ready for a new adventure. The club is proud to introduce Kius, who will be the manager of the division, thus begins the recruitment phase.
The internal league BrawlConQueso has already been organised, here you will be able to showcase your talents and join Arena Quesito. Not only that but also Arena Quesito is going to introduce a new Brawl Stars roster to start competing as soon as leagues are announced, in EU or LATAM. In addition, Team Queso will organise the Brawl Stars QuesoCup, a tournament that will be broadcasted on the club's Twitch channel.
Manager of the Division
Team Queso proudly introduces Jesús 'Kius' Merino as the Brawl Stars manager. He is an engineer and is 31 years old, he hails from Barcelona. He is joining the club eager to keep on playing Brawl Stars as much as possible: 'From the very first moment I started playing there was like a mutual bond, something that had not happened to me with any other game. I spent many hours playing without realising it, it is a game with so much potential, and I see no limitations'.
Kius saw the game's potential as soon as it came out and not only has he played it, but he has also organised leagues like the Brawl Cup and even the BS World Cup. Now he will put that ambition and knowledge of the game to good use while surrounded by cheese. Welcome to your new home!
You can follow him on his Youtube channel, where he uploads Brawl Stars videos daily:
Roster of Arena Quesito
Among the first tasks of Kius is that of being responsible for making the first selection of players for Arena Quesito. The club is securing a roster of players able and ready to participate in any league that comes out in EU or LATAM.
Recruitment in BrawlConQueso
As it happened before with Clash Royale, there are already internal leagues with promotion (and relegation) system to reach the BrawlConQueso clan, from where the future professional Brawl Stars players of Team Queso may come out.
Don't forget that players like Soking or Cuchii Cuu, today world-renowned in the Clash Royale competitive scene, started in a clan similar to BrawlConQueso. What are you waiting for?
Brawl Stars QuesoCup
Team Queso wants to promote the game and become a point of reference, as they did with Clash Royale. The club has organised the Brawl Stars QuesoCup, a tournament with at least 1500$ 'prizepool', that will broadcast on the club's Twitch channel.
A partir de la próxima semana tendréis todos los detalles en un anuncio con más información y las instrucciones sobre cómo apuntarse. Se seleccionarán de entre los registrados las 8 candidaturas más consistentes y, junto con Arena Quesito y BrawlConQueso, formarán los diez equipos participantes. Si estáis pensando en crear vuestro equipo, es el momento.
There will be more details next week in an announcement with the full information and application instructions. The 8 most solid candidates will be chosen, and in addition to Arena Quesito and BrawlConQueso, they will make up the 10 participating teams. If you are thinking of creating your team, it is time.
The objective is to give a glimpse of what the competitive scene of Brawl Stars could be. The tournament will follow a BO5 format that will explore all the different modes available in the game, the teams will face each other and the top 8 will qualify for the final playoffs.
Alvaro845 is reliving his youth, with a feeling similar to when he started Clash Royale and the ambition to create something just as great: 'We've been monitoring the game since it came out and paying a lot of attention to how the community was responding. We're going to start from scratch, do things very well and have fun playing Brawl Stars'.


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Friday, December 14, 2007
Guest Blogging @ Jens Gym
Jen trains Crossfit and although I don't use that method to stay in shape, my kettlebell training has conditioned me in a way to do or try almost any physical activity with confidence. How lucky am I?
12 comments:
Great blog post over there, Tracy. I've heard a lot about Cross Fit, and even thought about trying it. What are your thoughts on it? Jen
- December 14, 2007 at 5:45:00 PM PST
- Jen's Gym at Crossfit Watertown, CT said...
Hey Jenn, I'm not an "only Crossfit will work Kinda person". I believe in functional movement. I love Kettlebells. Ever since the frist day I picked one up I know it was a friendship that would last forever. I say if something gets you moving and fit with functionality go for it, give it a try!
If Tracy came to a Crossfit workout she would kickass and take names!
- December 15, 2007 at 5:12:00 AM PST
- Tracy Reifkind said...
As you know I have many thoughts! But, my main priority these past few years has been results...results for what? Fat loss, muscular definition and conditioning. Kettlebells do that for me, better than any other method of training, along with convenience, variety, and prgressiveness. Blah, blah, blah!
But.... this next year will be different for me...I'll be writing a blog post about my thoughts and plans about my training for 2008!
- December 15, 2007 at 7:14:00 AM PST
- Tracy Reifkind said...
As I just mentioned in my previous comment response, I'm looking forward to broadening my physical training this next year. I'll be training for my level 2 RKC which includes pull-ups and pistols, amongst other things!
Maybe a little Crossfit could fit into my schedule!
- December 15, 2007 at 7:17:00 AM PST
- Lauren Brooks said...
Nice arms! They are ripped!
- December 15, 2007 at 5:32:00 PM PST
- Aaron Friday said...
Tracy, you've got some serious veins poking out of your forearms.
- December 17, 2007 at 5:46:00 PM PST
- Tracy Reifkind said...
I can't wait until June!!!! Pistols and pull-ups!!! I love having something to "train for".
- December 18, 2007 at 4:20:00 AM PST
- Tracy Reifkind said...
Isn't it cool? The last time I needed an IV...no problem!
- December 18, 2007 at 4:22:00 AM PST
- Anthony C said...
i've been reading your blog for a while and i haven't seen any progress photos until i went to jenn's blog today (which i have also been reading for a while). reading your blog is one thing. those pictures were amazing. amazing. congratulations. so inspirational...
- December 18, 2007 at 10:14:00 AM PST
- Tracy Reifkind said...
I have been meaning to post more before, and transitional, photos, the hard part is that up until recently I didn't have a digital camera, and I don't know how to use the scanner!!! I'm going to solve that problem soon....like before the first of the year.
Thanks for the compliment!
- December 20, 2007 at 11:38:00 AM PST
- Unknown said...
post having meaningful information about it.
Prom Dresses 2016
- August 15, 2016 at 10:58:00 PM PDT
- Unknown said...
thanks for the information to read.
Online Expense Tracking
- August 16, 2016 at 3:04:00 AM PDT


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V477 Cygni / V477 Cyg - UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Light curves and phase diagrams of the EA type eclipsing binary V477 Cygni / V477 Cyg.
A primary minimum was observed with the 2" Titan at Somerby Observatory on September 12 2018. The 576 images were unfiltered.
The following time of minimum was calculated in Peranso; HJD 2458374.435574 +- 0.000031.
A previous series of observations had been made with the now decommissioned Bradford Robotic Telescope (BRT - website no longer available). The 59 images taken between 2014 October 18 and 2015 December 4, through a three colour green filter, generated the following light curve and phase diagram. The secondary minimum occurs at phase 0.3 due to the eccentricity of the orbits of the system.
Combining both the above sets of data leads to the following light curve and phase diagram, the BRT observations are in red and the Somerby observations are in black.
The following diagram is a close up of a single phase.
The catalogued period for this star is 2.3469906d (GCVS and AAVSO VSX) and 2.3469793d (Kreiner). (Accessed 2018 September 14.)
There is considerable o-c activity in this system (Kreiner). This is due to the apsidal rotation of the highly eccentric orbits, see, eg, Deǧirmenci et al 2003.
[This page updated 2018 September 14]


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When it comes to progressive thought - go to Tampa. Jacksonville, been held hostage by a Mayor that is deeply rooted in both Oil and Concrete. The man is heir apparent to his fathers fortune as the head of Gate Petroleum and Gate Concrete Products. When he took office 6 years ago, he looked like the all American business man from the big city. What we got was 6 years of misguided leadership and an acute inability to capitalize on myriad opportunities.
When the news hit that Mayor John Peyton, wanted to finish the port expansion as a job inducing economic package, things didn't sound so bad. Then we all saw the details. Horrid.
Indeed Peyton and Company want to raid the City's Jacksonville Transportation Authority of it's sole dedicated funding source. Currently JTA enjoys the benefit of knowing that it will receive 1/2 cent from every sales dollar in the County-City.
Under the Peyton scheme, the Better Jacksonville Plan, a massive infrastructure improvement program started under previous mayor Delaney, would see some projects shelved until 2019. Worse, the BJP called for a $100 Million dollar set aside for mass transit right-of-way. Apparently it wasn't for anything more as no one in City Government understood there were far cheaper modes then a $26 Million dollar a mile BRT project. The "Just like rail only Cheaper," mantra had taken hold at the City Hall on Duval Street. Everyone just "knew" that rail or LRT would be far more expensive then our 25 odd mile BRT system.
Peyton shut down those voices of descent and is now after another $100 Million dollar set aside, this time, for massive highway projects in the Port of Gold. Refusal to meet with anyone with a more rail-centric point of view, he is now hard at work convincing the city council that the highway program is the quickest route to more jobs.
How this will effect our Light Rail/Streetcar and Commuter Rail Studies is yet to be seen, but it doesn't bode well for any transit at a time when JTA is all about becoming regional.
The end of the Peyton Plan will be to cut JTA back to beggar status. Bus improvements which are long overdue and sorely needed are going to be trashed. Schedules will be slashed and some runs will be discontinued. The stepchild of the City, our many-million-dollar monorail, called the Jacksonville Skyway, is going to linger and fade as promised extensions and betterment's are buried under the pavement. Their $100 Million will be spent on land deals that will cashier into collateral for BRT grants, for a bus system without funds.
Finally, the result will be a fist full of new roadways at JaxPort. Big, wide Florida type roads, to move trucks that burn lots of diesel fuel. The railroads are going to be left to fend for themselves to get Port access to the new Trans Pacific TRI-PAC terminals. Already the Zoo Parkway at JaxPort is perhaps the prettiest road in North Florida, and why not? It serves as an address for the Gate Corporation.
For the complete news article click:
Better Jacksonville Plan transportation projects to travel more slowly
Cash isn't coming in as quickly, so work can't move as quickly
By DAVID HUNT, The Times-Union
Better Jacksonville Plan transportation projects likely will be delayed as the city tries to make a legislative detour around a financial roadblock
A gasoline tax set to expire in eight years might be extended until 2039 to help drum up cash. Peyton also is asking Jacksonville Transportation Authority to restructure an agreement that has had the JTA collecting revenues from a half-cent sales tax that's been on the books for two decades.
City officials think both moves would help finance $50 million in ongoing Better Jacksonville projects. That announcement was coupled with Peyton's call for the city to finance another $50 million in new spending to help move heavy trucks in and out of Jacksonville's growing deepwater cargo ports.
Together, the projects were sold as a $100 million stimulus...
The city wants to restructure how much JTA gets from a half-cent sales tax that replaced Jacksonville's toll-booth revenue in 1988, money that has been used for the authority's operating expenses and road projects. The City Council also will be asked to extend through 2039 a 6-cents-a-gallon gasoline tax that was set to expire in 2016.
Peyton credited the Better Jacksonville Plan with generating more than $1 billion in regional economic impact since its inception. Around $250 million in road projects should finish on schedule, he said. Monday's issue was finding a way to get the remaining 17 road projects out of the conceptual phase.
Peyton credited the Better Jacksonville Plan with generating more than $1 billion in regional economic impact since its inception. Around $250 million in road projects should finish on schedule, he said. Monday's issue was finding a way to get the remaining 17 road projects out of the conceptual phase.
Peyton said keeping the Better Jacksonville Plan moving is critical to the region's economy because the projects provide construction jobs. City Council President Ronnie Fussell agreed.
"We can't stop," Fussell said. "These jobs are tied to keeping the majority of households alive."
Too many original Better Jacksonville road projects were trimmed during a revisit of the plan in 2005 to think about further cuts, Peyton said.
"We can't stop," Fussell said. "These jobs are tied to keeping the majority of households alive."
Too many original Better Jacksonville road projects were trimmed during a revisit of the plan in 2005 to think about further cuts, Peyton said.
The Executive Director of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Michael Blaylock, says he's on board to help the city. "Everybody is hunkering down", he said as many in the crowd wondered why he would sign off on the impending Transit crisis this will create.
Blaylock's dilemma is easy to understand when one recognises the folly of being one of a handful of cities on earth with a highway agency operating and planning our mass transit. Thus the name of this Blog, Jacksonville Transit, "as-if" we were smart enough to split off the highway boys from the strap hangers. Fat chance if this is rubber stamped by the City Council early next year. Peyton is marching our city into it's very own, modern day, Permian-Triassic extinction.
Port of Gold
Port of Jacksonville
jacksonville transportation authority
political corruption


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Konbit Sides Politcal Party
Senator Joseph Lambert - Who is Joseph Lambert?
Here is a photo of Haitian Senator Joseph Lambert presiding over the Senate. Who is Joseph Lambert? Here is a short biography of Senator Joseph Lambert...
Joseph Lambert is an agronomist, graduate of the Faculté d'Agronomie de Damien and former director of the Ecole Moyenne de l'Agriculture.
Joseph Lambert loves politics. He tried and faild many times but he tried again. Lambert is a former Depute of the 45th législature.
After being depute, he became an ASEC for the communal section of Cap-Rouge before being elected Senator of the Republic in 2006 under the banner of his new Political party Konbit Sidès. He was reelected Senator again in 2015 and his political party became known as Konbit National.
Joseph Lambert became the president of the Senate both times that he was elected Senator.


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Fantastic Flame Screensaver
|Free to try
|Op. System:
|WinXP, WinVista, WinVista x64, Win7 x32, Win7 x64, Win2000, Windows2000, Windows2003, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Vista Ultimate x64, Win98, WinME, WinNT 4.x, Win95, Windows Vista Starter, Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Home Basic x64, Windows Vista Home Premium x64, Windows Vista Business x64, Windows Vista
|Last updated:
|File size:
|Laconic Software
Editor's review Fantastic Flame Screensaver
You can use this ingenious flame screensaver for setting your desktop blazing. When you use this Screensaver each item on your desktop will appear to catch on fire, glowing and emitting a smoke effect. Its major features are it has many flaming backgrounds i.e. Zodiac signs, movie and game posters, etc; it contains many fire sounds and also allows you to set your favorite music for playing in background; it also has many different colorful flame styles i.e. Propane, Metallic Ice, Copper Oxide, Orchid and many others; you can capture a picture as well as you can adjust the fire parameters, turn on and off flame sound and music, load flame styles and backgrounds by using ENTER key; its Preferences window allows you to adjust the flame palette, speed, spires length and flame intensity, wind direction, and flame fadeout on exit while the Fantastic Flame Agent feature enables you to launch Fantastic Flame Screensaver anytime you want by double-clicking on a small flame icon in the System Tray or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+F hotkey.
Fantastic Flame Screensaver screenshots gallery
Blogger comments
For your desktop, an amazing, ingenious flame is waiting to burn on. This screensaver will make your desktop look elegant and imaginative, especially in the winter season when snow falls all around your home, and you sit inside in front of your computer screen watching a blazing flame to warm your imaginations and emotions. The flame is available in variety of looks with different astonishingly wonderful sounds. This flame sound can be turned off and on after your heart. Launch the screensaver on your desktop and give your desktop an emotional, warm, romantic and meaningful touch with Fantastic Flame Screensaver.


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Romeo Juliet
Tamil Romance 02h 23m
Director :Lakshman
Cast :Jayam Ravi, Hansika Motwani, Poonam Bajwa
Aishwarya (Hansika Motwani) falls in love with Karthik (Jayam Ravi) assuming that he is rich. But, once she realizes that he is just an ordinary gym instructor, she leaves him and wants to get together with a rich man Arjun (Vamsi Krishna). With Karthik standing in her way and threatening to break her relationship with the millionaire, Aishwarya, is now forced to find a suitable girl for Karthik. Aishu finds hot Nisha (Poonam Bajwa) for Karthik. Aishu soon gets disturbed with the rich lifestyle given by Arjun.


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Milk Light Ambient Light
- Description
There are many ways of firing the right ambience around the home. Some may reflect this in the design of the house, whereas others may focus more on the décor.
When it comes to finding the perfect ambience, what light is being used can also be another huge factor to consider.
GiftLab understands that more and more people are looking at fresh and original ideas when it comes to creating an ambient atmosphere, which is why it's proud to offer the innovative Milk Light.
The Milk Light takes its inspiration from the classic milk bottle design of yesteryear and is made from polycarbonate, cork and an LED and can offer up to six hours following a charge.
The charging of the Milk Light is straightforward and includes a micro-USB charging cable.
The dimensions of the Milk Light 20 x 7.5 x 7.5 cm meaning it can be placed anywhere in the home and still look great.
Create a Relaxing Atmosphere in the Home
After a hard day's work, we want to return to a home that offers a relaxing vibe, and the Milk Light is more than capable of producing a light that is welcoming.
As the Milk Light is so affordable, you can use one or several Milk Lights to create the perfect look.
The Right Gift for Retro Fans
People simply love to reminisce, and this is often showcased in the décor.
If you have a friend or family member that can't get enough of what the past has to offer, then why not give the gift of a milk light.
Its retro-inspired design will be adored by nostalgia lovers, while still offering a practical and cost-effective source of light.
A Perfect Night Light
Some people may be looking for something to help read a book at night, whereas others may be looking for a solution for the children's bedroom.
The Milk Light looks great in any room and can be placed anywhere to ensure the perfect brightness is achieved every time.
The Milk Light also ensures that children are never anxious at night, as there's always a reliable light source to hand.
Ideal for Coffee Shops
It's not only the home that can benefit from the charm of a Milk Light, as it's unique and retro-inspired design looks great in any coffee shop.
Its bohemian style fits in perfectly with the rustic look of coffee shops, while its milk bottle design ensures that there is context to the design.
The Milk Light is just an example of some of the original and novel gifts available from GiftLab.
Regardless of whether you're searching for a present for a coffee lover, or just looking for a gift that offers something a little different, then why not browse the extensive range of gifts available at GiftLab today.


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wave journal of a surfer girl
"The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul." - Wyland
14 February 2009
Everybody Out of the Water!
What a beautiful spot. I wish we'd made it down there. Next time.
But surfing murky water at dusk, not such a good idea. And the
sharks nets
offer false security.
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Pentax 10-17mm SMC DA f3.5-4.5 ED (IF) Fisheye zoom
Available on backorder
Pentax smc DA 10-17 mm / 3,5~4,5 ED (IF) Fisheye zoom
Mounted on the PENTAX series of digital SLRs, the DA Fish-Eye 10-17mm lens will capture fish-eye imagery with a 180 degree angle of view and a focal length of 10mm as well as super wide-angle performance. Capture images with an expanded perspective including creative deformation of subjects and sharp pan focus that extends throughout the entire frame.
The image circle in DA-series lenses is designed to perfectly match the 23.5mm x 15.7mm size of the CCD used in PENTAX digital SLRs to optimize camera performance. The new design also contributes to a drastic reduction in size, weight and production cost, compared to 35mm-format counterparts with similar specifications.
Lens construction: 10 elements in 8 groups
Angle of view: 180°-100° (when used with *istD-Series camera body)
Minimum aperture: F22 – F32
Minimum focusing distance: 0.14m
Maximum magnification: 0.23X – 0.39X
Lens mount: PENTAX KAF mount
Aperture control: Automatic
Metering system: TTL open-aperture metering
Number of diaphragm blades: 6
Filter size: n/a
Dimensions (diameter x length): 68 x 71.5mm Weight: 320g
There are no reviews yet.


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I fell off the WordPress wagon for four months after being on it for four months before that. Now that I've been back for a month, stats are relatively the same. Even with new content and likes, it still maintains an average of 1,000 views from 450 people. Taking that four month hiatus has made me a better reviewer and writer. I now avoid the word not. There are so many other words than the word not. Nothing, rather, and antonyms like fast for slow.
While I make my blog available in the feed to anyone that wants to read or like it, all my traffic seems to come from Google. Its interesting because at first during the original four months, my blog struggled to get on Google's good side. All the hits came from Bing or Yahoo, which are one in the same now. Odd that Yahoo would now be served by Bing's engine, but whatever. I still prefer Bing and Yahoo's search from a statistical perspective because they show the keywords used to find my site.
As for the pages people look at, the homepage and a game design article that I threw together. I might have to do more game design articles, because I do program for games, but I opt to avoid talking about them. The reviews are going no where though, but I do get offers from time to time to review for other websites. Game developers, publicists and publishers still send me their games even if I never review them.
There are just too many games to review with too little reward if its the design articles, top tens and anomalies that get the views from Google. An hour spent on a 1,450 word review on top of a few hours playing a game. Its legitimate work when I should just crank out a let's play and call it a day.


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Infrared Cameras and the World Series
Infrared Cameras Debut in Baseball Telecast for World Series [Video]
By John Matson | October 20, 2011
With one out in the top of the ninth inning of last night's World Series game 1, Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre stepped to the plate. Down by one run with an elite power hitter at bat, Texas looked for a moment to have a chance of getting back into the game.
That chance was squandered when Beltre swung at the first pitch from St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Motte, a 96-mile-per-hour fastball, pounding the ball down into the ground. As the ball bounced toward third base, Beltre hopped around the plate, as if the ball had hit his foot and was therefore foul. Fox Sports announcer Joe Buck thought it was foul, too. The umpire thought otherwise, and as Beltre stood waiting for a foul call that never came, Cardinals third baseman Daniel Descalso threw him out at first base. Motte then induced right fielder Nelson Cruz to fly out, sealing the victory for St. Louis.
Thanks to infrared cameras Fox debuted out for the game, television viewers—but not the umpires—soon learned that Beltre was no faker. The ball really did graze his left foot [see video of the play below], as evidenced by a fleeting thermal signature from friction between the ball and the toe of his cleats.Read the full article here.


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No 51/52
$30-40Bn Needed To Sustain/Develop Iraqs Oil Industry, Says CFR/Baker Report
US policy towards a post-Saddam Husain Iraq should be informed by a realistic assessment of how the country will attract the estimated $30-40bn in new investment it needs to rehabilitate active wells and to develop new fields. This is one of the observations in a Report of an Independent Working Group Cosponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations (CRF) and the James A Baker...
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You may purchase access to entire MEES digital archives by subscribing. This subscription gives you access to all the content of MEES digital archives up to 1978!


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Two and a half years after launching its first paid ads, Pinterest is finally ready to compete head-on with Google, Facebook, Snap Inc. and others for big brand dollars.
Specifically, the San Francisco-based player has spent a couple of years building a measurement and data tool, search-like targeting and video ads to make the case for bigger brand budgets. But Pinterest's ad business has been slower than others to catch on—it reportedly made $300 million in 2016—partly because its 150 million monthly users are small potatoes to behemoths like Google or Facebook.
"I think people have crossed into a threshold where they're really paying attention and seeing us as a platform where they need to invest in the same way that they have to invest on Google and Facebook—I didn't feel that a year ago," said Tim Kendall, Pinterest's president.
Adweek talked to Kendall about the virtual pin board's video, measurement and ad plans for 2017 and why more brands are buying into the site's advertising.
Adweek: You've been president of Pinterest for about 10 months and have made a number of acquisitions, hires and new features. What can we expect for 2017?
Tim Kendall: The eye-opening point that you're going to hear from us all year is, "We're a mass reach play." A marketer tends to think, "If I want mass reach with my customer, I go to Facebook with their 1.7 billion users or I go to Instagram because they have 600 million users." But if you think about the major CPGs and retailers, the audience that drives all the decision-making are women, 25 to 54. If you want to reach those people, we reach 80 percent of what Facebook reaches every month. And we reach more of that segment than Instagram, Snap or Twitter.


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Fujifilm 14x40 Techno-Stabi Binoculars provides the kind of stabilization needed for its high 14x magnification and is a joy to use handheld. In easy conditions with 7 or 8x binoculars, it is relatively simple to get large, steady images up close and personal. But as magnification increases, this becomes a more difficult task. Eventually the smaller field of view and more pronounced shake of a large optic can render big binoculars a very frustrating affair.
But the Techno-Stabi's whopping 5° of stabilization in every direction makes it actually useful in such situations as tracking a moving subject while on a moving platform yourself. It is also great for observing from airplanes, helicopters, or boats, and as a completely waterproofed unit it can be used effectively anywhere.
Beyond its stabilizing capacity, the 14x40 Techno-Stabi TS has Fujinon's EBC multi-coatings on every optical surface and also has phase-coated BAK4 roof prisms for great brightness and contrast. The Techno-Stabi accepts DC and AC power sources in addition to the 4 AA batteries normally used.
|Prism Type
|14 x
|Objective Lens Diameter
|40 mm
|Angle of View
|4.0° (actual)
|Field of View
|210.0' @ 1000 yd / 70.0 m @ 1000 m
|Minimum Focus Distance
|16.4' / 5 m
|Exit Pupil Diameter
|2.9 mm
|Eye Relief
|13 mm
|Interpupillary Adjustment
|60 to 70 mm / 2.4 to 2.8"
|Dioptric Correction
|Stabilization Freedom
|Tripod Mount
|7.3 x 3.4 x 5.8" / 18.5 x 8.6 x 14.7 cm
|2.71 lb / 1.23 kg
|Packaging Info
|Package Weight
|8.71 lb
|Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
|13.9 x 13.0 x 6.4"


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France: Plane evacuated at Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) as man onboard with knife arrested August 15
Plane evacuated at Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) as man reported with knife onboard arrested August 15; no casualties reported, with flight delays possible over the coming hours
Passengers evacuated a plane onto the tarmac at Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) on the evening (local time) of Thursday, August 15, after a man reportedly brought a knife onboard the plane and sought to carry out an attack. Police have arrested the man, who was not previously known to counterterrorism authorities. No casualties were reported in the incident.
A heightened security presence and consequent flight delays are possible at ORY over the coming hours.
Individuals traveling via ORY are advised to monitor developments, report suspicious objects and behavior to airport authorities, and confirm flight reservations. Contact your airline for more information regarding potential flight delays.
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