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If you missed it 6/30/2010
94.1 The Rock welcomes: Saliva with Shaman's Harvest, Core and others to the 2010 Great Aberdeen Pigout next Saturday. Tickets are $10 for one day of the Pigout or $15 for both days. You can get tickets in advance by clicking HERE, CD Exchange, Pauer Sound & the Aberdeen Downtown Assoc office or you can get them at the gate. For the full list of bands coming to the Pigout visit their website by clicking HERE.
Listen for Christmas in July all month long here on 94.1 The Rock. Each weekday morning during the Morning Rokit we'll play a rockin' Christmas track and if you're the 9th caller you'll score the gift of the day. Gifts include brand new CD's (even some that aren't out yet!), t-shirts, meet and greets with bands from the Pig Out and more! It's Christmas in July starting TOMORROW on 94.1 The Rock!
For those new to the blog, we play a game everyday called dibs. Dibs is when you call dibs on the Babe Of The Day in the comment section on Facebook before anyone else does. The dibs starts when I post the blog and ends when someone dibs's the Babe Of The Day. Rusty and I will wait at least an hour before calling dibs unless we deem the babe extremely hot. Ex…if the Babe was Ke$ha, Rusty could call dibs ASAP. Let the dibsing begin!
If you missed The Morning Rokit on 94.1 The Rock this morning, you missed……….
Joke Of The Day
Three drunk guys are sitting behind a couple of nuns at a football game (whose habits partially blocked the view).
In an effort to get the nuns to move, the men decided to badger them.
In a very loud voice, the first guy said, "I think I'm going to move to Utah, I heard there are only 100 nuns living there."
The Second Guy spoke up and said, "I want to go to Montana, there are only 50 nuns there."
The Third Guy said, "Well, I want to go to Idaho, they say there are only 25 Nuns living there."
At that, one of the nuns turned around, looked at the men, and in a very sweet, calm voice said, "Why don't you all go to hell. You won't find any nuns there."
Dumbass Of The Day
Today's FTW
Dollar Tree Stores in Dallas, Texas that are selling American flags with 61 stars on them. Tim Childress bought his new flag at a Dallas area Dollar Tree store and found it had 61 stars. He counted the stars numerous times and then emailed the Dollar Tree's corporate office about the star screw-up.
Martin Crowson, 53, a British soldier who told British military that he had a crippling knee injury, but was forced to pay back nearly $40,000 in benefits after they saw a photo of him riding an alligator at Gatorland in Orlando, Florida. Crowson claimed that because of his injury he could not walk more than 15 yards. But because of the photo and other evidence, including riding camels in Tunisia, Crowson had to pay the money back.
Lee Christie, a burglar in England who mistakenly broke into the home of a wrestler. 280-pound Adam Kalinowski, who wrestles and is fond of all fighting sports, held Christie in a headlock until police arrived. Christie broke in and had taken a laptop about the time Kalinowski arrived home.
Got Twitter? You can follow me HERE
Other stuff for 6/30/10.
It's ok everyone, Breaking Benjamin isn't breaking up. You can go back to your lives now.
Saw this yesterday
Bra's all over the tree's and yard. The sign says "We support you." "Happy birthday Missy." Oh..Missy's 40. I thought I would add a little more embarrassment. From all of us at 94.1 The Rock, happy birthday Missy.
Video Of The Day
Babe Of The Day
Rosario Dawson
*Join myself and Rusty at the Ramkota Convention Center in Aberdeen for 94.1 The Rock's Comedy Night tonight at 9PM, doors/bar open at 8PM. Tickets are $6 in advance at South C Convenience Store, The Wolf Stop and C-Express (available until Noon today) or $7 at the door. This week its Chas Elstner & Tommy Thompson.
*Think you have what it takes to be a guest DJ during The Morning Rokit? Click HERE and sign up for your chance.
*Hey race fans, Hub City Radio has a NASCAR trip you can't miss out on! We're taking a bus to the Kansas Speedway October 1 through the 3 for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series races. Ticket packages start at $619 and include motorcoach transportation, 2 nights lodging with breakfast, tickets to the races and more! For complete details check out hubcityradio.com or call and reserve your spot by calling the Hub City Radio offices at 229-3632 open Monday through Friday 8am till 5pm.
Its Free Beer Friday all day Friday! All that free beer is brought to you by the Airport Cafe.
*Don't forget the All Request Lunch Rush weekdays from 12-1pm. For one full hour you guys control the rock. Can't complain about the music if you don't call in!
*Stump The DJ weekdays at 7:40am. You have your chance to call in and stump the DJ's for your chance at scratch tickets from the South Dakota Lottery. The better the question, the more scratch tickets you could win!
Concert Connection
Check out the Concert Connection page of The Rock Page on hubcityradio.com to find out more information.
*THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY – Country Jamboree USA Including great artists like JoDee Messina, Jack Ingram, Gloriana, American Idol's Danny Gokey and more – Old Swisher Field, Aberdeen, SD – Info Here
**NEXT SATURDAY- Saliva with Shaman's Harvest, Core and others – Great Aberdeen Pigout, Aberdeen, SD – Tickets Here
Brown County Fair tickets are on sale NOW!
*August 19th – Clay Walker & Joe Diffie – The Brown County Fair, Aberdeen, SD – Ticket Locations Here
*August 20th – Jake Owen & Love & Theft – The Brown County Fair, Aberdeen, SD – Ticket Locations Here
*August 21st – Kenny Rogers & Joey+ Rory – The Brown County Fair, Aberdeen, SD – Ticket Locations Here
*October 3 – Rockstar Uproar Tour: Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold, Stone Sour, Halestorm, Hellyeah, Airbourne, Hail The Villain & New Medicine – Fargodome, Fargo, ND – Details Here
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DODEKANISOS SEAWAYS has just released a handy guidebook. This English/Greek authoritative, comprehensive, high-quality 154-page guide acquaints readers with every aspect of each island's beauties and attractions. The guidebook is free of charge and you can acquire your personal copy onboard or alternatively from company's central agencies.
For further information:
tel.: 0030 22410 70590
fax: 0030 22410 70591
e-mail: email@example.com


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On this video interview photographer Marc Silber talks to award-winning photojournalist Ed Kashi on light and color and the change brought on by the digital revolution.
For Kashi photography starts from from interest and curiosity and genuine interest in people. The choice between black and white and color photography, different exposures and other technical aspects are all background to his real passion of transparently documenting the moment.
Silber already interviewed Ed Kashi in the past talking about "Candid Intimacy – the Right Kind of Photojournalism" in a more extensive interview.
You can watch more videos of interesting photographers on our photographer section here on LensVid as well as more interviews by Marc Silber on this page.


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If you've arrived from Diana's blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way around. If you get lost, you'll find the complete list of participating consultants here.
This month we have a number of Close To My Heart Consultants from Ottawa sharing their creations using various CTMH products to help you get over the winter blues.
For me, the first sign of Spring is St Patrick's Day !! Everyone wears green, paints shamrocks on their face, stands in the cold to see the parade and then ends up at the pub for some singalongs and drinking.
I know a little leprechaun, my mischievous and clever 6-yr old nephew. He loooves candy and chocolates, so I made him his very own pot of gold... I decorated the Cut Above Holiday Treat Bag, it's the perfect shade of green.
|St Patty's Day Pot of Gold
Outside on the front
I glued a gold chocolate coin at the bottom of the rainbow. For the bag topper I made a shamrock. and used the white chalk marker (Z1767) to trim the edge of ther leaves. For the stem, I took the striped green washi tape (Z2002) and folded it lengthwise onto itself.
TIP: To make the shamrock, I used the Cricut to cut out 3 hearts out of green Topiary cardstock ( and glued them together using CTMH adhesive dots (Z1903).
|CTMH's adhesive dot is strong
just peel back the protective pink plastic
I took one of the Picture My Life cards with the rainbow, positioned it just so, so you could see it through the window. At the very bottom of the holder, I taped gold dotted washi tape so it looked like gold coins.
|Inside - PML card with rainbow
When I present the treat holder, it will be filled with a bag with gold chocolate coins. I know a little guy who will be happy to get this.
Thank you so much for following along on our Blog Hop today! I hope you are enjoying the lovely artwork… Now it's time to head over to Cyndy's blog and see her artwork! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas! And please leave comments for the other bloggers as you hop through!
And don't forget
Friends don't let friends craft alone.
à bientôt,


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Cretico's goal is to build relationships of trust and reliability. This means that all Cretico members have to comply with the rules governing this relationship, otherwise, in some cases, Cretico is authorized to cancel an account. These rules are defined officially in the Terms of Use, the Privacy Policy and the Guest Refund Policy.
Generally, Cretico is based on the communication through its platform, so a Cretico user should have a specific behavior when contacting with another user through Cretico's secure messaging system.
The content of the messages should always agree to
respect and politeness which are essential to every type of communication, so
any message with offensive and abusive content, should always be reported to
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When a host creates his listing, he has to be careful regarding the information he provides in his listing.
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For any activities taken place out of the platform, such as bookings or cancellations, Cretico has not any liability and obligation for providing help.
We would be happy to help you and answer to your questions, so please, contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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According to Virtuoso, Greece ranked as one of the 10 world's leading destinations for the Summer of 2019 (or for this Summer) on luxury travel network based on future bookings and inclusive of travel in June, July and August.
Europe is a very popular destination amongst travelers not just for cultural reasons, but also because of its diverse gastronomy and high level of (or luxury) services.
Greece ranked fifth this year, one place higher than 2018.
There are plenty of reasons for putting this beautiful Mediterranean country
on your bucket list, however here are the top ones for the trip of a lifetime:
- The History: Western civilization has a lot to thank the Greeks for. Immerse yourself in five millennia of history, culture and world defining events.
Whichever era you may be interested in, Pre-historical, Classical, Roman, Byzantine or modern, there are hundreds of museums, sites and edifices to satisfy your historical and cultural desire. Take our word for it, you will not be disappointed!
- The People & Hospitality: When it comes to hospitality and welcoming people, Greece comes second to none! You have never really experienced true hospitality unless you have visited Greece.
Home to the most kind and inviting people, you will always be warmly welcomed whether it be at a random restaurant, a stranger's family celebration or a slice of mouthwatering watermelon!
- The food: Once you visit Greece, it will not take long before you realize that local culture and any kind of social interaction revolves around food. Success and failure, life and death, happiness and sorrow are all celebrated with great food in ample quantities! Greek cuisine is so diverse and delicious that you are guaranteed a unique gastronomic experience.
Gastronomic Tours in Greece!
Gastronomic Tours in Greece! #GreekFood #Greece #VisitGreece #GastronomicTours #Gastronomy #LoveGreece #GreekCuisine #ArgoTravelGroupΔημοσιεύτηκε από Argo Travel Group στις Τετάρτη, 26 Σεπτεμβρίου 2018
Famous for its organic vegetables, grains, beans and legumes, for its open pasture grass-fed meats and fresh open sea fish and seafood, there is a dish to satisfy every need, vegetarian and vegan included! Must-try food includes fresh-caught seafood, a REAL gyro (pronounced, yee-row) with tzatziki, roasted lamb with potatoes, the traditional cheese named "feta" and local wine if you please (some of the most famous Greek wines are Assyrtiko, Retsina, Agiorgitiko and Vinsanto). Should you want to refresh and rejuvenate yourself the Greek way, try the local iced-coffee, Frappé, served with milk and sugar. Lastly, don't miss the world-famous Greek olives that come in several varieties, sizes and colors! A tip for the uninitiated: if you are offered food, just take it! For starters, you wouldn't want to miss the chance to taste anything homemade, and most importantly you wouldn't want to offend the locals by refusing their offer! Greek hospitality comes at a cost – great quantities of food!
- The Budget-friendliness: You can easily have a nice vacation in Greece with good food and accommodation without breaking the bank. Irrespectively of the negative publicity of the recent past, Greece and its economy has been growing healthier and stronger by the day.
Prices took a hit and haven't fully recovered yet meaning that there are plenty of great deals waiting for you, be it accommodation, food or just good old shopping! Should you take the road less travelled, you will be surprised by how inexpensive your stay in Greece can be.
- The city of Athens: Words cannot fully describe how amazing, cosmopolitan and diverse Athens really is. No trip to Greece would ever be complete without a walk up the Acropolis rock to one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, the famous Parthenon. Sitting atop a rocky hill, the ancient temple devoted to Goddess Athena has been watching over the city of Athens for more than two millennia – definitely worth the hike!
Don't miss the Acropolis Museum resting on the Acropolis foot – you will get a first-hand experience of the Parthenon's architecture and ornated decorations all the while appreciating the excavations beneath your feet through the glass floor! Should you have a flair for shopping, Athens offers plenty shopping options, from small boutiques to mega malls.
- The language: It may all be Greek to you, but you will be surprised to learn that you already speak Greek without even knowing it! Difficult as it may be, Greek words and terminology adorn most western languages, including English of course (about one third of all English words are borrowed from the Greek language).
Tip for the religiously desirous traveler: Did you know that the New Testament was written in Greek?
- The proximity: Location, location, location! Try opening any world map and putting your finger on its center: you are guaranteed to land on Greece! Smack dab among Europe, Asia and Africa, it's easily accessible from anywhere in the world.
Same applies to its numerous little islands that are connected with Athens via ferry boats and hydrofoils, the preferred means of transport amongst locals (special rates apply to Students in most cases)
- The nightlife: Greeks are known for their outgoing character and love to celebrate life, which in return becomes evident in their nightlife. No need to be a party animal to have a good time. You are guaranteed to have plenty of options, regardless of your preferred type of entertainment.
Open-air cinemas, sea-front restaurants, relaxed bars and posh nightclubs, all within a short drive from your hotel. Should you feel adventurous, don't miss on the opportunity to visit "bouzoukia" (pronounced boo-zoo-kia) - large concert halls with live music performances by Greece's finest. Dress your best and expect to be dancing on tables until the wee hours of the morning. If on the other hand you are planning to visit the islands, you'll never be far from a beach bar or a nightclub where you can dance all night to European jams before your sunrise dip in the Mediterranean!
- The islands: You will surprised to find out how different every island is compared to the next one. Be it the architecture, the landscape, the culture, the music, the food, nothing is and feels the same on any two Greek islands!
Whether you are looking for a party island, a cultural trip back in time, a soothing body experience, a gastronomic extravaganza or any kind of alternative activities, there will always be an island to satisfy your needs.
- The beaches: Same applies to Greece's diverse coastline. Some beaches have crystal blue waters, while others are more turquoise in color. You might come across a beach with soft billowy sand, yet another covered in small pebbles or even seashells.
Wherever you go, make sure you bring an underwater camera with you to capture the experience! Don't' forget that the weather is perfect for beach outings from as early as May through as late as October!
Find a great range of accommodation with the best available rates: http://www.realtrip.com/
Are You A Travel Agent: https://www.b2btrips.com/


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Nisemonogatari Limited Edition Box Set Blu-ray
About Nisemonogatari Limited Edition Box Set Blu-ray
This limited edition box set of Nisemonogatari contains episodes 1-11 plus a 36-page, full-color booklet.
The sequel to Bakemonogatari!
Crab, snail, monkey, snake, and cat... Supernatural incidents revolving around five girls were solved thanks to Koyomi Araragi. With these mysteries laid to rest, Koyomi Araragi can now begin to live a normal life, or at least so it seems...
His "unusual" life starts when Koyomi wakes up in a ruined school building, captured and chained by Hitagi Senjyogahara. She says, "I will protect you, Araragi!" Exactly what is Senjyogahara up to?! With Koyomi's two younger sisters Karen and Tsukihi (a.k.a the Fire Sisters) now involved, Koyomi once again finds himself tangled with apparitions!
Special Features: Textless Openings and Endings, Trailer Collection.
Spoken Languages: Japanese, English subtitles.
Due to licensing and contract restrictions, this product can be sold and shipped to the US and Canada only. This product cannot be shipped to Japan. All sales are final. It may be returned for an exchange if defective, but unfortunately we are unable to offer refunds.
Ordering Note: All sales for this item are final. It may be returned for an exchange if defective, if a replacement is not available a Gift Card will be issued.
- Publisher: ANIPLEX OF AMERICA
- Media: Blu-ray
- Spoken Language: Japanese
- Subtitle Language: English
- Genre: Mystery, Romance
- Themes: Harem, Supernatural
- Age Rating: 16+
- Run Time: 280
- Release Date: 2/27/2013
- Dimensional Weight: 1
- Region Code: A
Ratings & Reviews
9 reviews
I had just now remembered my problem with this.
by J.D.
I'll only be talking about the product, not the show itself. I had this pre-ordered months ago and when I got them, the inserts were in a subpar condition. They were all wavy and it just is annoying to look at. They weren't straight at all. Everything else was in good condition though.
Pretty good sequel
by Kory
Nisemonogatari focuses more on Koyomi's sisters in this season of the Monogatari series. Nisemonogatari may focus on Koyomi's sisters, but you will see more apparitions and definitely more of Shaft's amazingly done artwork. For you Shinobu lovers, she plays a major role in this season and you will see her a lot. Personally, I don't think Nisemonogatari turned out to be better than Bakemonogatari, but that's a lot to live up to begin with. If your a fan of the series you should definitely add this to your collection because it definitely will not disappoint.
half the price of Japanese Version.
by Hero
Initially, i was debating about importing this Blu-Ray series from japan, until i found out Aniplex sell this series in the USA. I agree that the Dub (HYB version) would be nice to have, but the price is acceptable. each episode is well drawn, and the story is awesome.
people may say the streamed version is good enough (via CrunchyRoll), but if you ever watch the Blu-Ray version, you may learn to disagree. the blu-ray disk version has more details per frame than the streamed footage. they fixed and revised many parts of the video as well. i highly recommend Nisemonogatari (if you can afford it)
Great set for a great show!
by Rohan -
Not sure why this is rated so low... at least in my experience, speaking of the product itself, the box is nice and firm with some cool art on both sides. Everything fits in nicely with just the right amount of free space so it's easy to tuck things in and get things out. Came with some great postcard art and a neat little art book as well!
No issues with the show as far as audio or skipping, watched beginning to end without a hitch. The already beautiful Nisemonogatari in beautiful blu-ray quality is not an experience to miss! Great release!
Nisemonogatari Is A Fine Additon To The Monogatari Series!
by Shenpai -
Piggybacking from my review of Bakemonogatari... Nisemonogatari continues more of Araragi's adventures and shenanigans. This time a more centralized focus on his sisters as well as some Shinobu sprinkled in there. Like a good decent chunk of Shinobu!
If you liked Bakemonogatari and bought that box set then you might as well start saving and collecting the other parts of the series because Monogatari series will be a fine addition to your collection!
Product: Much like the previous box set, it comes with all 11 episodes jam packed into 4 discs! It also comes with some promotional videos and clean cuts of the openings! Unfortunately, there is no commentary with Nise so you'll have to justify if it is worth buying.
Overall, Nisemonogatari is a fine sequel to the ever growing Monogatari universe. If you've gotten Bake, then you must get Nise!
No brushing your sister's teeth.
by Atlas -
As I had stated for my review of the Bakemonogatari box set, this set is really only for the most willing followers of the show. It's a very hefty price but if you love the series, then it should be no problem. That said, the box art is insanely vibrant and the purple really mixes well with the red and pink for a nice twilight-esque color scheme. Highly recommend this series to anyone interested in a supernatural drama.
Great Product
by Logan -
My box set came packaged very well, everything was straight and neat right out of the box. Even through I know what happens I greatly enjoyed the booklet as well. Great Sequel to a great show. The Ararargi Sisters come through nicely and add characterization to the family and we finally get to see some Shinobu action!
If you're a fan its worth the splurge
by Sean -
If you're a fan of the series I think this product is worth the buy. The contents come in great condition and the art is good. If you're contemplating this as a fan I would so go for it as long as you can afford it (Aniplex is pricey, i know).
Monogatari - need we say more
by Neal -
If you know NisiOisiN, you know Monogatari and what to expect. These collections are pricey Aniplex but they have great packaging and special contents.
The Monogatari series is dense and cleverly written, weaving multiple interspersed character arcs and time frames. Watching the series in it's release order can be confusing but does lead to a slow realization of the breadth of story content and connections within.
Watching these characters interact is immensely entertaining. All of them have unique identities and personas that play off of each other. There are classic tropes to be had but characters are multi-faceted and have a level of depth that is lacking in most anime.
Studio Shaft brilliantly handles the animation with the respect and honor the source material deserves. This series should be on any true fans' list.


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We ship as normal throughout the Christmas period. For UK deliveries, place your order by Friday 20th December (3pm) for delivery by the 24th December.
Or for UK Special Delivery, place your order by Monday 23rd December (11am). For more information on our services & opening times, please Click here.
We are still open and dispatching as normal. Please note, due to current conditions there may be up to a 24 hour delay in dispatch times.
Due to COVID-19 we are aware there are some delays with Royal Mail deliveries; whilst most in the UK are still arriving on time, some deliveries may take longer.
This section contains Angel Jewellery from Peter Stone Jewellery, AngelStar and other manufacturers. The crystal angel jewellery is related to angels through their shape and sometimes through their properties.


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Richards Bay Airport CAR RENTAL
location address
Fish Eagle Flight Crescent, 2880 Richards Bay
Phone: +27-112309999
GDS-Code: RCB
opening hours
07:00 - 18:00
08:00 - 10:00
12:00 - 16:00
From the N2, take Richards Bay slipway and turn right towards Richards Bay. Drive straight to the intersection of North Central Arterial and East Central Arterial. Turn left into East Central Arterial. Drive straight until a 3-way stop. Turn right into Nkoninga Street. Drive straight until a 4-way stop. Turn left into Fish Eagle Flight Crescent. Follow the First Car Rental signs.
We are located in the terminal building, please look for First Car Rental signs.
-28.737488, 32.09257
Fish Eagle Flight Crescent, 2880 Richards Bay
Phone: +27-112309999
GDS-Code: RCB
07:00 - 18:00
08:00 - 10:00
12:00 - 16:00
Car rental at Richards Bay Airport is made easy with Sixt rent a car. With affordable rates and premium vehicles we can satisfy your mobility needs. We offer a variety of top quality, top brand vehicles that can accommodate a range of budgets and travel plans. Compact cars and sedans can help you tour around in comfort and style. Or ensure plenty of room and possibility for adventure with an SUV. Whichever model you choose you can feel confident it will be well-maintained and up-to-date as we regularly replace our fleet. Book in advance online or over the phone and include add ons and extras. Upgrade with deals on GPS, additional driver and insurance coverage, child seats, unlimited mileage and more. Please be aware that although we cannot guarantee your reservation for a specific model you will receive an equivalent vehicle in the same car category.
Find our Sixt rent a car counter inside the terminal building of the Richards Bay Airport (RCB). Our team will be ready to greet you and get you hassle free behind the wheel. Once with your keys the city of Richards Bay is only about twenty minutes away from the airport.
Richards Bay is the perfect gateway to both the Zululand and Maputaland. With your car rental you can explore the magical wetlands of the area and spend time on the pristine beaches of the north coast. While local in Richards Bay check out all the art galleries, shopping and dining destinations. Of course with your vehicle you can also venture further afield to other cities or nature preserves for game viewing. Make the most of your time in South Africa with Sixt rent a car at Richards Bay Airport!


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Up until the end of March I owned 5,452 shares in gardening company William Sinclair Holdings with the share certificate in the custody of my broker. For several months, the total value of the shareholding had been steady at around £520.
However, when I checked it at the start of February I found that the value had plummeted to £0. I called my broker who told me that William Sinclair had delisted from the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market (Aim) on 1 February with no prior notice. They also told me that the company was in administration.
I contacted the administrators who told me in no uncertain terms that shareholders would get nothing. In the light of this shabby treatment, do you think anything could be done so that I can get some compensation?
When a company goes into administration, its debts are higher than its assets and it can no longer trade viably as a business.
Administrators are called in to try to get the best value they can for the assets and to repay creditors. Also, the costs of winding a company up, which can be considerable, have to be met.
Only if there is any money left after that will shareholders see any return. However, this is highly unlikely.
In terms of redress, you have to consider from whom this might be paid: the company has gone bust so there is no money to be able to pay out; the directors have limited liabilities; and there is no government scheme to protect investors against individual investments in companies such as this. Share investors sign up to the risk and reward relationship that you could profit, but could also lose money.
The risk of total loss is much reduced by investing in shares in companies listed on the London Stock Exchange's main market, such as shares in companies in the FTSE 100 Index of the UK's biggest companies, rather than shares in Aim companies.


text:
Has any show had such a complete turnaround like Homeland has this season? It has been unafraid to raise the stakes to the highest possible degree throughout the season, and yet, all of it has connected intimately with the overall idea of (as Dar Adal says in the promo for the finale) questions of "moral clarity." In "Krieg Nichy Lieb" (roughly translated to something to "War not Love"), Homeland is also seeming to consider the idea that maybe the bad guys win; and maybe that's because the good guys let them. Hit the jump for why,"there was a Taliban flag hanging over my head. I can't let that go."
"Krieg Nicht Lieb" was tense as all hell, which has been Homeland's trademark all season (in escalating fashion). "Krieg Nicht Lieb" stripped the story down to just Carrie and Quinn (and a little bit of Max) in Quinn's hunt for Haqqani. No Martha or fucking Dennis, or Saul or Lockhart (at least, not much of him). It was a chess match between Carrie and Quinn, but also, an emotional plea and a vendetta. And it was masterfully done.
Homeland has prepped up for explosive moments all season, so when Lockhart told Carrie that there was something going on he didn't know about — with many meetings happening in DC, on the heels of the President breaking diplomatic ties with Pakistan — the assumption might have been some kind of air attack (much like Carrie was involved with at the start of the season). Instead, it ended up being something far more subversive, far murkier, and far more damning. In the final frame we saw our old shad-ster, Dar Adal, in the car with Haqqani as Haqqani waved to his adoring admirers. What. The. Fuck?!?
It makes a lot of things fall into place, including Dar's personal appeal to Quinn to not set out on this mission. But let's back up: "Krieg Nicht Lieb" also introduced us to Quinn at his most badass (with his cheekbones in sharper relief than ever). He had his "spy who loved me" moment with a German woman, escaped from his own compatriots (and having to wound them, but not fatally), and in short order built a bomb, planned and executed a riot to plant said bomb, and was ready to detonate it from a rooftop in a potential suicide mission to get revenge on Haqqani.
Carrie messed it all up in the most frustrating of ways, and yet, that final frame showed us why it had to happen like it did. Killing Haqqani is not that simple — Dar Adal and the U.S. are somehow involved with him being alive. That's a much darker and surely far less satisfying point for this season to conclude on, but it's also a lot richer, and I applaud Homeland for going there instead of the resolution being yet another bomb.
Carrie's part in all of this was completely against type, though, which was an interesting turn for her character. For once, she wasn't the rogue running around pissing people off, she was in the Saul role. She was playing nice with Lockhart and Khan, and was doing everything she could to stop Quinn from killing himself on his mission to take out Haqqani. Even Carrie's emotional wall was breached at the news of the death of her father, so much so that she actually asked to see Franny, and showed real love and compassion towards her. What. The. Fuck?!?
But it felt right. Hasn't Quinn played that same role for Carrie in the past? But it was also important that Carrie not just let Haqqani literally pass her by without her reacting somehow. Her trigger point was thinking of Aayan, but it could have any one of Haqqani's many sins. In that moment, she was carried way — like Quinn, and like the others — to want to take him out, consequences be damned. But Khan, her valuable frenemy, stops her. One the one hand, he does so to save his own hide (even though he seems to want Haqqani gone), and on the other he does so to alert her to something far more disconcerting: Dar Adal, and the U.S.'s involvement. If Haqqani is killed, there are many more to take his place. But what of the machine that allows Haqqani and those like him to rise and prosper in the first place?
"Krieg Nicht Lieb" was tense, complicated, emotional, and a great balance of plot and character development. It also solidifies the fact that Homeland has succeeded in returning from the dead in a way no one could have expected. Next week's finale should reveal what all of this has been building towards, and how those red herrings and false leads connect to the bigger picture. Homeland looks like it's going to end on the same kind of dark, complicated note that its first series was built on: that there is not black and white, only shades of grey.
Episode Rating: A
Musings and Miscellanea:
— "Our people come before the mission" – Dar Adal in a previously on (to remind everyone he was still around).
— "All I want is to get [Quinn] home" – Carrie.
— Quinn has never looked hotter than when he was about to press that remote detonator, hah. His emotion after he held back because Carrie said she can't lose him was intense.
— I liked the factoid that Quinn has pretended to retire a hundred times before. It made his quest for Haqqani less of a tragic suicide mission, and more of a "ok, relax. He's got this."
— "We lost" – Carrie. Not yet …
— Happy to see Aayan's plot brought back in a meaningful way.
— TIL: C4 smells like almonds.
— As stealthy as Quinn is, he really didn't think hard enough about leaving a water mark for Carrie to see. Also was surprised his German lady friend let Carrie in to the apartment, where she could have easily run around and found Quinn (which would have been such a Carrie thing to do).
— Carrie standing on the truck and telling Quinn not to press the button was reminiscent of several things from Homeland's pass, including Brody and Saul.
— Seriously, Franny could not look any more like Brody, it's kind of crazy.
— "She was a financial analysis, she dealt with spreadsheets, and you brought her here" – Max, making sure that though Fara is gone, she is not forgotten.
— Quinn's plan to bait Haqqani by leaking the Aayan video was brilliant.
— "I don't want to lose you. I can't lose you Quinn" – Carrie. I'm not shipping any more than their friendship, but this was a lovely moment.


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|Converging mediations of space in computer games and spatial navigation systems
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|Chris Chesher
|As computer games become more 'realistic', reality is becoming more like computer games. The ways that space is simulated in games and mediated in actual space are commingled. This suggests that a significant change in the ways that space is socially produced is taking place. Lefebvre's [7] critical account of social space has become complicated with the emergence of digital media. Lefebvre analysed the social production of space as 'perceived', 'conceived' and 'lived' spaces. With digital mediation, these three kinds of space are becoming more closely connected. Live information systems such as satellite navigation and smart phones are making abstracted spaces available in everyday encounters with space. The semiotic conventions and practices by which metadata (about speed cameras, shopping) are laid against a perceived space have been borrowed heavily from games.
|A tool for characterizing the experience of play
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|Brigid Costello; Ernest Edmonds
|We survey six theories that characterize the pleasurable aspects of a play experience and synthesize these to develop a new framework. This new play framework contains thirteen categories; creation, exploration, discovery, difficulty, competition, danger, captivation, sensation, sympathy, simulation, fantasy, camaraderie and subversion. The methods of using this framework as a tool to aid in the design of playful interactive experiences are then discussed.
|assimilate: situated collaborative storytelling system
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|Damian Hills
|The assimilate system is an online collaborative environment that allows participants to visually construct narratives in a 3D virtual space. Using an expressive and physical touch table interface, up to four participants can collaboratively narrate an ongoing story using online media obtained through an internet keyword search.
|B.J.'s family: a survey of First Person Shooters and their avatars
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|Michael Hitchens
|The First Person Shooter (FPS) is a popular game form, with examples appearing on many different platforms. Gameplay in the FPS is focused through the avatar, all the player's interaction with the world is mediated by the avatar. While there has been extensive study of the FPS genre, this has tended to focus on particular games, or at best a limited set of examples. In order to provide a wider context for such work this paper surveys 499 separate FPS titles, across a range of platforms. The distribution of releases over platform and time are examined. Given the importance of the avatar, basic characteristics of avatars within the sample are documented, including race, gender and background, and how these vary across platform and time.
|Games for a better life: effects of playing Wii games on the well-being of seniors in a long-term care facility
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|Younbo Jung; Koay Jing Li; Ng Sihui Janissa; Wong Li Chieh Gladys; Kwan Min Lee
|In the current study, we examined the impact of playing Nintendo Wii games on the psychological and physical well-being of seniors in a long-term care facility. A six week-long intervention was held in SASCO Senior Citizens' Home, a long-term care facility in Singapore. Forty five residents aged between 56 and 92 years old participated in the longitudinal field experiment. Results showed that playing Wii games had a positive impact on the overall well-being of the elderly, compared to a control group that played traditional board games. Implications for future applications of Wii in interventions for the elderly are discussed.
|Improving player spatial abilities for 3D challenges
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|Keith Nesbitt; Ken Sutton; Joshua Wilson; Geoff Hookham
|In this paper, we describe the development of tutorial levels for navigation challenges requiring a 3D mini-map. Navigation in 3D game worlds is a common challenge for players, and it often forms a significant part of the game play in RPG and Adventure games. Navigation of the game world is typically supported by a mini-map which provides a 2D, top-down view of the game world. This mini-map might also display the position of key landmarks along with the position of the player's avatar and any other relevant actors in the game. In contrast to these 2D min-maps we have been developing a 3D mini-map to support game play that requires navigation in a 3D world. However, even understanding connectivity and structure in a simple 3D mini-map requires the player possess some complex abilities in terms of mental rotation and translation between 3D and 2D. Acquiring these skills is fortunately well studied in psychology and we draw on outcomes from this field to develop progressive challenges that can act as tutorial levels for players. The intention is to allow players to gradually learn how to interpret the 3D mini-map before advancing to more difficult levels in the game. This work encompasses two important aspects. First it draws on findings from cognitive psychology to support the design of spatial challenges in computer games and secondly it considers how computer games can be used in an educational capacity to help improve spatial abilities.
|PLAI: staged encounters in computer-mediated environments
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|Bronwin Patrickson
|In response to the ongoing debate about the role of stories in games:
whether they suit the form, whether they are a primary focus, a mere backdrop
or at worst an intrusion, this paper proposes a new term to describe both the
medium and form of computer-mediated game-play: Plai, defined in terms of
staged encounters in computer-mediated environments.
Traditionally the word story (or content) is understood to be a noun: A retelling of events after the facts. In interactive environments, however, stories are not just told. They are also actively created. They are verbs, actions, as well as noun, objects. Plai emerges out of that paradox. Efforts to reinterpret the word 'story' to include co-creative encounters and improvised gameplay have met with resistance, no doubt because 'story' comes pre-loaded with associations from other media. A survey of current terms reveals the need for a new term to more accurately describe playful, interactive and often dramatic encounters in our interactive, convergent and soon to be ubiquitous media-scape.
Just as web 2.0 media is both consumed and made, so plai is both noun and verb. Plai has evolved in response to social network media, which stands poised to become a portal to a variety of media platforms. Social media is not necessarily a game, nor does it necessarily provide authored stories. Social media is, however, playful.
Generative systems also propel users in to a process of creative discovery. In environments where narrative can emerge as a result of game-play plai reflects the spontaneous creation of dramatic, interactive storytelling, or encounter, free of set plots. In the realm of emergent narrative what is encountered is less about story and more about storified experience.
In computer-mediated environments plai is staged and bound by rules, yet it is also improvised, co-created and open. Computer games offer plai and players plai.
Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. To copy otherwise, to republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee.
|A development environment using behavior patterns to facilitate building 3D/VR applications
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|Bram Pellens; Frederic Kleinermann; Olga De Troyer
|High expectations and the increasing complexity of behavior in the domain of interactive 3D/VR applications demand for a better support at design time. Current development tools do not provide any high-level design facilities; developers usually are forced to directly program the behavior. This paper discusses an approach and framework that facilitates modeling behavior in interactive 3D/VR applications, at a level higher than programming. The approach is utilizing a graphical notation in combination with the concept of generative design patterns. By adopting the approach, the specification of complex behavior in interactive 3D/VR applications is facilitated because the specification is done at a higher level of abstraction than coding. This also facilitates communication between different stakeholders in the project, and code generation is supported as well. An example is presented to illustrate the approach. The paper ends with an overview of the tool that has been developed to support our approach.
|Developing an agent-based training simulation using game and virtual reality software: experience report
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|Debbie Richards; John Porte
|This paper reports our usage of game and virtual reality technology to build a risk training simulation inhabited by agents. We describe the design and issues in the development of the Risk Management Module using UrealEd 3.0 game toolkit and the BOrder Security System using Vizard so that others with similar goals might be informed by our experiences.
|Illuminati: the game of conspiracy: a close reading
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|Malcolm Ryan
|Illuminati is a humorous game of conspiracy and political intrigue. Designed by Steve Jackson in 1981, it has proven to be enduringly popular through many years of revision and republication. In this paper we examine its latest incarnation, Deluxe Illuminati, and closely analyse its operation in terms of the MDA framework of Hunicke, LeBlanc and Zubek [8]. Five general-purpose game-dynamic patterns are discovered that might serve in the understanding and design of other games.
|Exergame development using the dual flow model
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|Jeff Sinclair; Philip Hingston; Martin Masek
|Exergaming, the merger of exercise and video games, tries to use the engaging experience of playing a video game to help people achieve their exercise requirements. To guide the design of such games the dual flow model, an extension of the theory of flow to both mental and physical experience, has been proposed. This paper presents the development of an exergame system designed to demonstrate the validity of the dual flow model, along with initial results from a pilot trial. The results show that such a game system can be used to deliver the required exercise across a range of participants.
|Models for Interactive Narrative actions
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|Ulrike Spierling
|In Interactive Storytelling, authors need to conceive events in an indirect way, which differs from traditional storytelling that assumes to pre-define a linear order of narrated events. Actions of characters are to be described including the whole acting situation as conditions before and after the action. This concept is compared with narrative theory and illustrated by a practical authoring example. The goal is to find general conceptual models and a vocabulary for authors in Interactive Narrative.
|Ludic dystopias: power, politics and play
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|Rowan Tulloch
|This paper is a close reading of the first-person shooter video game Bioshock. I analyse Bioshock within a heritage of dystopian media forms. I explore the commonalities between this particular dystopic vision and those that have preceded it in book and film. Following the rich tradition of reading dystopias as reflecting the cultural zeitgeist and fears of the era they were created, I look at the political and social concerns Bioshock embodies such as the dehumanising effects of technology and the danger of corporate domination. I argue that it is in its ludic mechanisms that Bioshock reveals the most about our current anxieties. I demonstrate that this game deconstructs its own mediation to offer a broad political critique of contemporary society.
|Thoughts on adjusting perceived difficulty in games
|| BIBA | Full-Text
|Anthony Youssef; Stephen Cossell
|Many game designers face the challenge of providing their players with a balance between challenge and experience. If a game is too difficult the player may not get to experience the complete game. If the game is too easy, the player may get to experience the complete game, but they may also feel "short changed" by the experience. This paper gives possible methods to gauge a player's skill and proposes ways to personalise a gamer's difficulty, and therefore experience, of a game.


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Highlights from the FILTHY DIRTY ART SHOW at Venus Envy. Donald K Photography +Design prints are on sale now. The Exhibit runs through until Jan 31, 2016
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Perennials and annuals aren't the only plants that provide texture, color and aroma in the garden. Use shrubs throughout your yard or even as a border for a look that stuns all year long.
These 6 flowering shrubs create wonderful pops of color with low-maintenance care.
6 Shrubs that Bloom Beautifully:
1. Hydrangea paniculata
One of the easiest hydrangeas to grow, the white flower clusters of this shrub add a refreshing note of color to any landscape. The flowers are held upright on sturdy stems and contrast nicely with the green foliage. Varieties range in size, from 3' high all the way to tree-like 15-20'. Grow in partial or full sun.
2. Butterfly bush
Masses of purple blossoms make this shrub a true show-stealer. This fast-growing shrub fills the air with a fruit scent and attracts butterflies from summer to autumn. Plant in partial shade to full sun and water regularly until established.
3. Viburnum
Viburnums explode with clusters of white or pink flowers in early spring and the leaves turn purple to red in fall. Plant viburnum as a hedge for privacy or in garden beds. Prune immediately after it flowers. Grow in partial or full sun.
4. Shrub rose
Shrub roses take the best of the hardiest rose species, and combine those traits with repeat blooming and diverse flower forms, colors and fragrances. Some shrub roses may grow tall, with vigorous, far-reaching canes; others stay compact.
Recent rose breeding has focused on developing hardier shrub roses for landscaping that need little to no maintenance. Plant shrubs in full sun and feed regularly with a fertilizer made specifically for roses.
5. Spirea
Spirea have small leaves and twiggy branches, but are recognized for their large size and giant blooms. A member of the rose family, these easy-to-care-for shrubs are beautiful and fast growing. These shrubs will flower abundantly in sunny spots. Spirea are drought-tolerant plants once established.
6. Summersweet
Also known as pepper bush, this ornamental shrub has spicy-smelling white flowers.
This low-maintenance plant has dark green foliage that turns yellow or orange during autumn for multiple seasons of spectacular color. Plant summersweet in a location where it will receive partial to full sun and where it'll have plenty of room to grow.
Product Checklist:
- Shovel
- Watering can or garden hose
- Shrubs
- Fertilizer formulated for specific type of plants (such as roses)


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We accept
When deciding if you need to take your car to a mechanic use 4 of your senses: what you feel, hear, see and smell. Do you feel anything unusual? Does you steering wheel shake? Do you feel a vibration? Do you hear anything unusual? Are there clunking noises or squeaking sounds? Do you hear a noise when turning? Do you see anything unusual? Are any of your dashboard lights on? Do you see fluid in your driveway or on the street? Finally, do you smell something strange? There could be a gas or oil odor, or even the smell of something burning. This is not meant to include everything but it does give you some things to think about. The other thing I would tell you is to go with your gut. If it doesn't seem right, get it checked out. You can always stop by or call for an appointment and our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you. Our experience technicians are all ASE Certified and here to help. call us
What is an evaporator core and how much does it cost to replace? Did you know that, scientifically, an air conditioner does not cool the air? It is the evaporator that actually removes the heat from the air so that when you feel the air blowing, it is cool. Replacing the evaporator core is a very labor intensive process. In most cars the entire dashboard must be removed, as you can see in the above photo. But you don't have to worry because we are here to help. Give us a call and we will have your air conditioning working at peak performance and you will have cool air again


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"What's Galentine's Day?" you may ask. As Leslie Knope put it in the hit TV show, Parks and Recreation, "Oh it's only the best day of the year! Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and boyfriends at home, and we come and kick-it, breakfast style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It's like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas."
I love the idea of setting aside a day to celebrate the love you have with your best gal pals. We place so much emphasis on Valentine's Day, but why not spread the love? Your friends are by your side through every relationship and break-up! I've put together some great ideas for how you can spend Galentine's Day:
This is the classic Leslie Knope-style Galentine's Day. Spend the morning at your favorite brunch spot, and be sure to take some time praising each other!
Ladies Night
Go out with your besties and paint the town red! Your boyfriend doesn't like to dance? You can count on your girlfriends to hit to floor with you!
Dessert and Champagne
Have all the girls over for variety of desserts and bubbly! Check out this recipe for a Raspberry Napoleon.
Parks and Recreation Marathon
There is nothing better than going over to your friend's house and just chilling together. Make it a pajama night and laugh the night away.


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2019 Australian Training Awards winners announced in Brisbane
Australia's training system TAFE needs to be revamped in order to prepare for the future of work
Free TAFE short course for late stage apprentices
FREE COURSE: TAFE is offering late stage apprentices and early trades people the chance to upskill for free from now until December. HVIA
Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) is one of four peak automotive industry bodies that have partnered to offer the Automotive Industry Ambassador Program for late stage apprentices and early trades people.
The free short course will provide leadership and communication skills to attendees.
The five-part workshop will commence on Wednesday, October 9 and will continue every second Wednesday until December.
The program will be delivered by TAFE Queensland SkillsTech to late stage apprentices and early trades people employed by member companies of the Heavy Vehicle Industry Association, The Construction & Mining Equipment Industry Group, MTA Queensland and the Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers.
Seats are limited to a maximum of two late stage apprentices/early tradespeople per member company.
Nominations must be received by TAFE Queensland SkillsTech by Friday, October 4. You can download the nomination form here.
The five-day program promises to provide apprentices with the skills to:
- Communicate effectively with clients and colleagues
- Manage small teams
- Negotiate effectively
Implement more efficient and effective workplace processes
The units of competency are:
- BSBLDR403 – Lead team effectiveness
- BSBLDR402 – Lead effective workplace relationships
- BSBSMGT402 – Implement operational plan
- BSBLDR401 – Communicate effectively as a workplace leader
My family are all tradies – I know TAFE isn't what it used to be and I know why
I come from a family of tradies.
My dad was a brickie. His dad was in the building game. As far as the eye can see in our family tree, on my dad's side, are brickies, chippies, gyprockers, a sparkie or two, labourers, mechanics and builders. All blokes, of course. We're talking about history here.
My three brothers are tradies, or once were tradies. Two of my three sons went through vocational training. My middle son went to TAFE when training to be a chef, and went again a decade later when he made the switch to become a carpenter.
My youngest son was a mechanic for a few years before doing a teaching degree and working with challenging teens.
My eldest son owns a cafe and employs apprentices working their way through TAFE.
I went to TAFE years ago to learn typing and shorthand as a cadet journalist. I went again with two of my sisters some time later for a semester of learning how to do basic sewing. Why I did that is lost in the mists of time. I'm rubbish at anything crafty. Possibly, I was there because I was the only one with a driver's licence.
All I can remember is sitting in the back of the class where everyone else seemed proficient, and being banned from using sewing machines by myself because my threading skills were crap and I snapped way too many needles.
The other thing I remember clearly from that time is the first name of the woman who tried to teach us how to sew, and the pained expression and little sigh she gave every time I put my hand up for help. That's not a complaint, by the way. I would have had a pained expression if I'd been trying to teach me.
Anyway, the TAFE colleges where I live – or "tech" colleges as I think of them, which gives the game away about how old I am – have always been significant institutions, because so many people around here attended them.
I live in a neighbourhood of tradies of a certain vintage. It's close to the beach and we're all on our seventh, eighth or tenth houses after buying land young years ago when there was land available that was reasonable to buy, and building and selling, building and selling until we own the ones we're in. The great Australian dream.
The ratio of utes to homes around here is very high. And not just the pretty pretend utes whose owners spend too much of their weekends buffing and polishing them to a dazzling sheen, and bark orders to their kids about dirty shoes and sticky fingers.
No. I'm talking about proper utes, where a few bangs and dings from wheelbarrows, ladders and tools of trade thrown in the tray after a hard day on the job are a badge of honour. Those utes drive around here with a fine layer of dust and a bit of mud on the wheels. Their blokey owners give a smile and a nod and a fingers-up wave while their hands remain on the wheel, as a way of acknowledging they know you're a local.
They sling boards on the back when the surf's up. In summer salt-crusted towels join the crap in the tray or the crap around a passenger's feet.
Every so often these real-ute tradie owners will hose their utes down but the interiors remain true tradie – dust on the dash, food wrappers and empty drink containers on the floor, pens and bits of paper here and there, sometimes ciggies, and a glovebox that could contain anything, from sticking plaster to measuring tape, car records to ticket stubs from a 1989 AC/DC concert, or tax documents that should have been lodged three years ago.
Being a tradie where I live means having control of your life, running your own race, having the ability to work hard and reap the profits of that. It also means being able to be flexible with your work hours and time – like when the surf's up or a new baby is born.
For the past few months the federal and NSW governments, among others, have been talking up vocational training. The Business Council of Australia has been talking up vocational training. Everyone's been talking up vocational training because we have, according to them, a skills shortage, and industries crying out for skilled workers.
But the way these spruikers of vocational training have been doing it is insulting to anyone with half a brain who's watched, despairing, as governments of all stripes, over years, have trashed that education sector, or where the sector itself has kicked own goals.
"We have to address the cultural and financial bias that treats VET (vocational education training) like a second class citizen," said Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott (a high school classmate of mine).
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian weighed in with: "We want universities and VET to be thought of in the same sentence for workers looking to prepare themselves for the high value jobs of the future."
This week NSW Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, Dr Geoff Lee, a former TAFE teacher and university lecturer, repeated the "cultural bias" refrain, saying there was a "cultural bias towards university", as if the problem with falling TAFE enrolments is an attitudinal thing alone, and we, the people, are snobs.
How about we frame it this way.
The public lost confidence in the vocational sector when governments supported the introduction of private colleges for "competition", when that led to extraordinary rorting of the system and students, and when "diplomas" and "certificates" were thrown around like confetti but didn't lead to jobs or careers.
How about some honesty about NSW TAFE "reforms" resulting in wholesale closure of regional TAFE colleges, the collapse of courses on offer, the sacking of staff and a dramatic jump in course costs for students, many of whom once saw TAFE as a way to get ahead, often after difficult childhoods where their schooling took a battering?
And what about the $600 million NSW TAFE IT system debacle that left thousands of students – my son included – unable to get final results that were needed before they could start work as licensed tradies.
The "cultural bias" towards university, or against TAFE, didn't exist in my neck of the woods before vocational training was disrespected and plundered, internally and externally, over a long period. The TAFE college in Gosford, where I grew up, was on the hill as a prominent and respected local institution.
If vocational training is going to offer a great pathway again for young people into well-paying tradie careers – and particularly young people who deserve a break – how about our leaders be honest about who actually showed the bias that caused the mess.
Hundreds of TAFE teachers to strike over pay deal
Hundreds of TAFE teachers and tutors will walk off the job for 24 hours following an ongoing dispute over a new pay deal with the Queensland government.
About 800 TAFE Queensland union members from the Queensland Teachers' Union and Together union will strike on Wednesday, with classes expected to be cancelled across the state.
It comes after TAFE teachers and tutors held a two-hour stop-work meeting on July 30.
The current enterprise agreement expired on June 30.
Negotiations for the new agreement began in March.
QTU president Kevin Bates said progress had been made on claims from the two unions, which share coverage of education staff at TAFE Queensland.
However, "two key issues" remained unresolved, he said.
These were ensuring Queensland salaries were comparable with teachers and tutors interstate and measures to address gender employment inequity.
The Queensland government's wages policy restricts pay rises in the public sector to 2.5 per cent a year, however, the QTU has previously sought an increase of 4.5 per cent.
Mr Bates said the salary of TAFE tutors in Queensland was among the lowest in the country.
He said: "2.5 per cent does not deliver a change in our relative position with the other states and territories – it means it needs to be more than that."
Salaries for Queensland tutors ranged from $52,000 to $60,000, while pay packets in most other states started at $61,000 and went as high as $76,000, Mr Bates said.
"TAFE teacher salaries in Queensland remain under $100,000 while interstate colleagues extend up to a maximum of $145,000 in Tasmania, $120,000 in New South Wales and $113,000 in Victoria," he said.
Mr Bates said women were also over-represented in "precarious" and part-time employment, which had a career-long impact on their earnings and retirement savings.
Almost 71 per cent of casual TAFE Queensland educators were women, while 56.4 per cent were temporary employees.
More than half of permanent TAFE Queensland educators were men.
The QTU is asking for annual progression through the salary scale regardless of hours worked and shared access by both parents to parental leave entitlements.
A spokeswoman for Training Minister Shannon Fentiman declined to comment as negotiations were ongoing.
Scott Morrison's TAFE for the rich
The Coalition Government's policies have starved TAFE in favour of private-sector VET training, effectively making it an educational option only for the rich., writes Leisa Woodman.
Affordable, practical education through Technical and Further Education (TAFE) is part of the Australian consciousness in a way that many may not even realise.
Quality materials and competent workmanship have long been taken for granted in our society, and Australians have for generations been creatively stimulated by the secure knowledge that their educational journey is never over.
Even if one had been coerced into an unsuitable degree, or dropped out of high school, there was still a way back into learning through TAFE.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has mysteriously declared he wants to "raise the status" of TAFE courses in Australia, saying they are "as good as uni". He has revealed that "reform" of the vocational education sector would be at the forefront of the agenda at the Council of Australian Governments meeting in Cairns. Australians should rightly demand of the Prime Minister, whether this plan for reform is going to address how TAFE has morphed in recent years into what one teacher termed, "education for the rich".
The full fees payable for many diplomas are now comparable to university fees. While each student is allowed two chances at accessing government-subsidised study before having to pay the full fees, even these subsidised courses cost many thousands of dollars. Fees are payable upfront in the case of certificates, that don't allow deferred Vocational Educational and Training (VET) loans. What working-class person has thousands sitting around handy? According to the TAFE educator, students manage to pay these fees if "they have benefactors".
TAFE proudly advertises that students can access fees by instalment, but when a student enquires about this scheme, they are informed they must allow for $80 to $90 left in their bank after repaying their fortnightly fee contribution, which could be $70 dollars or more. A simple calculation reveals this is impossible if living out of home, on any government payment.
To make matters worse, many TAFE diplomas now have prerequisites for entry — meaning a student may exhaust their two subsidised courses by the time they get to the course they really want to do.
Fees also differ wildly from one state to the next. A Diploma of Building and Construction costs $37,168 at TAFE South Australia, but under Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews' progressive TAFE policy, is free to the unemployed in Victoria. One can imagine the few remaining prospective students not excluded by the cost being perturbed by the instability and so, it seems, student numbers are down across campuses.
There is a chance for the Federal Government to address a real problem. Many employers in technical fields, such as pathology, are now asking for university degrees for no reason other than that so many have them. The result of people choosing universities, who probably should have attended TAFE institutions, is that degrees have lost their value in the labour market. Some entry positions now, in reality, favour a master's degree, which, mostly uncovered by Austudy, is also only accessible to the rich.
To attract students back to TAFE, employers must begin to see education as a set of suitable skills, rather than a spending competition. However, this is an ethos directly in competition with the goals of our present Coalition Government.
It has long been the policy of the Coalition to effectively "starve" TAFE in favour of the private sector of VET training, ripping out $3 billion in funding in the past six years. One suspects that Morrison's plan to raise the status of TAFE will simply be a language project designed to justify the now prohibitive costs at disastrously underfunded campuses.
TAFE cannot be revitalised with words. Only a sustained injection of funds to TAFE can end predatory Registered Training Organisations and restore technical education to its rightful place in assisting Australians from all backgrounds to gain, diversify and upgrade their skills easily throughout their lives.
Scott Morrison was asked what he thought of a role playing exercise as part of the Respecting Relationships program, he said that's why he sends his kids to private school. Has the new PM just revealed he doesn't value public education? @LiciaHeath thinks so. #TheDrum #auspol pic.twitter.com/XYqubhrSEr
— ABC The Drum (@ABCthedrum) September 3, 2018
You can follow Leisa Woodman on Twitter @LeisaWoodman.
@GladysB and @ScottMorrisonMP seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet. After years of funding cuts & neglect, why the sudden interest in TAFE?
What exactly have they got planned for our public TAFE system? #StopTAFECuts https://twitter.com/TAFEeducation/status/1162174463489609728 …
"I have always had a vision universities & TAFEs have to work much more closely together & the diversification of our economy & … having that fed back to me from the companies I am meeting" I am intrigued
@GladysB. Which companies? #edubusiness
University debt and limited job prospects mean learning a trade at TAFE is better for income, report finds
The earning capacity of many young Australians would be significantly higher if they learned a trade instead of going to university, a new report has found.
Key points:
- The Grattan Institute looks at the earning capacity of university students and those young people who learn a trade
- It finds for some people, particularly young men with lower ATAR scores, vocational occupations result in higher earnings
- The report comes as the vocational education industry is reporting a 43 per cent drop in trade-based enrolments
- One commentator says the idea that university is the only option often comes from parents
The Grattan Institute report found that for men, particularly those who scored lower ATARs at school, vocational qualifications in engineering, construction and commerce resulted in higher average earnings than a degree qualification.
The number of students enrolling in university has swelled by more than one-third over the past decade, with more students with lower ATARs and those from diverse backgrounds now attending.
That increase has come at the expense of vocational education, with the number of students taking up a place in those trades-based courses down 43 per cent in the past five years.
The Federal Government made the issue a key focus of COAG talks last week amid concerns about critical skills shortages. It has also commissioned a review of post-secondary school pathways.
Grattan's higher education program director Andrew Norton said some university graduates were struggling to get jobs, especially if they studied generalist degrees in humanities and science.
This was particularly the case for students with lower ATARs.
"This report is looking at the concern that some low ATAR students, who have been increasing in numbers at university, would have been better off in vocational education," Mr Norton said.
"The report finds that is true in some cases, particularly for young men.
"We find that there is a high risk that they won't get the financial benefits of higher education that higher ATAR students would get, and that they would do well in a range of vocational occupations such as engineering and trades related [to] construction and some commerce type degrees."
But Mr Norton said the picture was different for women.
"By contrast, lower ATAR women who go into nursing and teaching degrees have pretty good employment outcomes, very high rates of professional employment, and we think they'll end up earning a lot more than the women who go into vocational education," he said.
Students growing up with university as only option
Nineteen-year-old Liam Mills enrolled in a university degree earlier this year but left in favour of a TAFE course. He's now studying web development at Hornsby TAFE in northern Sydney.
"I prefer a much more hands-on approach, so sitting in a lecture wasn't really doing it for me," he said.
"I much prefer being behind the computer."
Mr Mills said he had grown up with the idea that going to university was the only option.
"My choice to go to university was mainly based on what a lot of my friends were doing at the time," he said.
"It was kind of the plan I'd always had basically from starting high school, [but] by the time I got there I realised it wasn't exactly what I wanted."
Many parents still believe university is the 'right route'
The decline in those taking up vocational training comes despite national skills shortages in many of the trades that are predicted to soon become more critical.
It is estimated Australia will need up to a million workers with vocational qualifications by 2023.
The decline in vocational students will be a focus of National Skills Week later this month.
The event's founder Brian Wexham said he believed change needed to come from parents.
"We're faced with this challenge that many, many parents still believe that the right route for their child is to go to university and they will get a more fulfilling and better career, and for some that is true, but of course it's not true for everyone," he said.
"A lot of students are practical learners, they're not academically inclined.
"And frankly I think universities have got a lot to answer for, because they encourage people to go there even if it might not be suitable for them.
"It's been widely reported that some universities have accepted ATARs of 50, and frankly all they're doing is enrolling somebody who's probably destined to fail, and all they end up doing is having a HECS bill, but if you're an apprentice you get paid to learn."
Universities have defended their graduates' employment outcomes in the light of the Grattan report.
Universities Australia chief Catriona Jackson said a low ATAR can be a sign of disruption during a student's Year 12 studies, or which postcode they came from.
"It doesn't predict the destiny of every student, and the vast majority of students who enter university go on to successfully complete their studies," she said.
On graduate jobs and salaries, she said: "University graduates earn up to $1 million more over their lifetimes on average and are 2.5 times less likely to be unemployed than those without a higher qualification.
"Nine in 10 university graduates are in full-time work three years after graduation, and four out of five undergraduates work in professional or managerial roles.
"And the median salary of university graduates three years on from finishing their studies is $70,000."
Improvements to TAFE top of COAG agenda
Improving the nation's vocational system is at the top of the agenda at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Far North Queensland. The nation's leaders were met by a group of protestors on Friday as they came together for the first time since the federal election in May. The leaders are expected to consider the recommendations of a recent review that identified a spate of challenges in the education and training sector. The Australian Industry group called for reforms to ensure there were enough skilled Australians to support the government's $100 billion infrastructure pipeline. The group also raised concerns about a growing skills shortage and a struggling training system. Image: News Corp Australia


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Elvenking – The Pagan Manifesto
Release Date: May 27, 2014
Of all bands out there, hardly any can come close to showing the amount of growth and evolution as the Italian folk/power metal band Elvenking. Boasting a unique and powerful sound since their very beginning in 1997, the band stands taller and stronger than ever seventeen years later with the release of The Pagan Manifesto. With eight full length albums under their belt full of fairy tales, Paganism, and love, the band has returned with their best release yet, with just enough experimentation and familiar old style, that all fans of the band can enjoy.
It begins with a great intro track, setting the stage for the record in a way that we haven't seen from this band in years. Although it's very mellow, mostly flute and acoustic guitar, it pulls in a dramatic vibe through added sound effects. When the electric guitars and violin come in, the intro track flows seamlessly into the opening song "King of the Elves" which sits impressively at over twelve minutes and features a guest appearance by Amanda Somerville (Avantasia, Kiske/Somerville). While I am always a sucker for bands that fittingly use their band name in their music, this song is a pretty amazing song aside from the cleverness. Intriguing time signature movements, layered atmospheric elements and chanting, mixed with the overall drive and gallop from drums and bass lines make the song fly by. At first listen, it's a wonderful way to introduce the evolution of Elvenking, while still reminding old fans why they fell in love with the band in the first place.
"Elvenlegions" follows immediately, and was the introduction to the new album as the first single. It's a very catchy song, and a nice rally tune for all of the fans out there, with a fan club aptly called The Elvenlegions. While it makes sense in a way why this would be released as the single, there are definitely better songs on the album. Tracks like "Moonbeam Stone Circle" and "Twilight of Magic" instantly come to mind, as I have listened to this album for more than a week solid and can't get enough of either. These two songs in particular are catchy, but feature beautiful lyrics and wonderful orchestration. Both songs prove that the album needs to be listened to through a great sound system to truly hear all that is going on. Don't sell yourself short with laptop speakers or cheap headphones here.
After the touchingly beautiful "Towards the Shores" fades out from it's ballad-like sound, "Pagan Revolution" begins with a bang and proves to be a true folk metal tune. The violin work really takes the lead and pushes the song along nicely with a more muted distorted guitar. The lyrics unleash about pagan pride, appreciating mother nature, and the freedom to be who you want to be. Of course, those messages are common themes throughout the album, fittingly so given the album title.
Like all great things however, The Pagan Manifesto must too come to an end. "Witches Gather" closes the album, as another long tune at just under nine minutes. This song features many different vocal styles, though off-putting at first, it all seems to mesh well together as the song moves on. The experimentation here is well done and well appreciated, especially since the band met a lot of backlash for doing similar things on 2007's The Scythe.
The Pagan Manifesto is no Heathenreel and it's no Era, it's no sequel or continuation of either. It's an entirely new being on its own, proving that the band has grown so much just within the past couple of years. From the production, to the orchestration, to the guitar solos, literally everything about this album is a step up from previous works. If you're looking for great hooks and melodies, folk instrumentation, and awe-inspiring choruses this is definitely an album for you. The Pagan Manifesto is Elvenking's most powerful album yet, but with the growth that they have shown, I am very excited to see where they can go from here.
Rating: 9/10


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The American Chemical Society's Reactions group just released a new Everyday Chemistry video about the addictive hot sauce Sriracha. While consumers and retailers alike know that the hot sauce is flying off of store shelves, how many know that its chemical properties are as much to credit as the sauce's recipe?
Capsaicin is the chemical cause of the body and brain's reaction to this spicy condiment and does more than just ignite your taste buds.
Watch the video and read NPR's blog on the chemistry behind the sauce that is deemed "good on everything".
To learn about flavor analysis and food testing visit our food and beverage testing page.


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i took zantac can i take pepto
Can Zantac cause Insomnia? - Posts about.
i took zantac can i take peptoHi Ladies, I am 9 weeks pregnant and I have TERRIBLE gas pain and I have to get some relief! My Dr. is out of the office this week. What is safe to take during pregnancy?
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i took zantac can i take peptozantac | Acid Reflux QA | Acid Reflux FAQ
of her top teeth (I think). I see white behind her gum and she is just miserable. She won't eat, she won't take her zantac, she can't sleep, and she is just not
it came to the WD'S but some comfort meds do help, like Benadryl for sleep and I took OTC zantac which helped with stomach problems and Imodium but you will feel
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For more information about: zantac visit the Acide Reflux Disease and GERD site AcidRefluxDiseaseGERD.com today. Q: Zantac?????I am dying of the worst heartburn


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An enormous land mass stretching from Europe to America, Russia currently competes with the US for terrorizing smaller countries.
It's as hard to sum up Russia or generalize about it, as it is to cross it. The biggest country in the world. Facing east, facing west. Advanced and modern, yet often backward and poor. Friendly people, with cruel, mean rulers and an army of awful bureaucrats and horrors in uniforms. Little wonder that not many travelers go – tourism is still a fraction of what it could be, constrained by poor infrastructure, a tricky, expensive visa regime, a lack of hotels, and ignorance abroad about what the country really has to offer.
This is a shame, because most people who visit Russia like it, if not for the same reasons they like other places. There is a lot more variety in the sites than you would expect – the south has sandy beaches and hot summers, for example, and there are lots of small quiet towns as well as the massive, fast cities like Moscow and St Petersburg. For the few tourists who see the countryside, it has a charm that is all its own.
Perhaps the best thing about Russia is its people, the not-quite Europeans who do things in a way no-one else quite does, whether good or bad.


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05 Jun Giving Constructive Criticism: A Guide for Managers
Avoid surprises
A meeting without notice can cause people to feel intimidated and unprepared for the feedback they are about to receive. Schedule a meeting in advance and let them know what it is you want to discuss, giving them adequate time to prepare.
Keep it Private
Never give constructive criticism in public. It should always be in private, so the person doesn't feel singled out or exposed. If it is in front of others, it runs the risk of becoming destructive criticism and can cause demotivation.
Be Direct
It's essential you clearly outline what the problem is. If you talk around the issue, chances are you will confuse. Stay focused on the point and encourage them to come up with solutions.
Address Issues in Real Time
If left unsaid, the problem will only repeat, so don't put off addressing the issue. You can avoid much more critical matters by dealing with issues as they occur. The earlier you deal with them, the better for everyone involved.
Focus on the Situation, Not the Individual
It's vital your feedback doesn't sound like you are criticising someone's personality. Instead, focus on their actions and behaviours and how they can improve their performance. Give examples to the employee of their behaviour while handling a specific situation and alongside encouraging them to come up with their own, give them a solution as to how they could have dealt with it better. By doing this, you aren't criticising them; you are suggesting ways to improve their performance and providing the kind of guidance and support required by a manager.
Offer Retraining
Depending on the nature of the issue, suggesting retraining is a great way to offer a follow on support, refresh their memory and increase their level of knowledge. No one knows everything, and there is room for improvement in us all.
End by Summarising
Briefly go back over what you said, ensuring you mention the positive elements as well as the negative. For the person on the receiving end of the constructive criticism, it can be overwhelming, and they may forget some of the points you have gone over.


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Tuesday 10 March 202019.00
UCL Hiking Club goes bowling on the 10th of March! This is a fun opportunity to bowl and socialise with the club! The session starts at 7 pm, so try to come a little earlier. This is a first-come, first-serve event, as we have booked for 30 people!
Created: Wed, 12/02/2020 - 17:54
Last updated: Thu, 27/02/2020 - 15:57


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NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Despite the weaker U.S. dollar, lower stock prices and increase in the VIX volatility index, June has been a disappointing month for the precious metals.
The metals appear to be pressured by deflation, with gold faring the best, down 1.5%, said Mike McGlone, research director for New York-based ETF Securities. Silver, although it has been trending down, has stabilized for the most part as currency volatility has increased. It remains the only precious metal up on the year, albeit "barely," McGlone said.
While the deflationary trend could be poised for a reversal, the overall trend is down, he said.
"Look at what the People's Bank of China just did, they just cut rates for the third time this year," McGlone said. "They're not doing that because they want to, they're doing it because they had to."
Prudent investors should focus on the deflationary trend being in place and not try to pick a bottom, McGlone said.
If deflation is in fact transitory, as the U.S. Federal Reserve has hinted, and goes away, it would be good news for gold, McGlone said.
While bond yields are one of the best forward-looking indicators of inflation, oil may provide a crucial clue, he said.


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Those at the forefront usually follow a blazed trail. Mayor Marlene Young is truly one of those trail blazers with a big heart, great mind, and unwavering passion for this community. It is an honor to learn from her and serve with her. Her leadership not only inspires Annandale, but us as a council. I'd like to thank her and the rest of you for the kind words and support.
Come January, there will be a change in seating but the desire to serve and better our community remains the same. Congrats to Shelly and Corey on their wins. There is a lot of work to do but I believe the team we have today and the team we will have in January will continue to work hard for Annandale. So let's roll up our sleeves and do what we were elected to do.
Rock on.


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Sometimes I wonder how great it would be if we could capture the fleeting time within our grip and never let it go!
For any nostalgic person it is extremely painful to lose their valuable timeless memories in the form of photographs and images. But, now people living in their past has a reason to smile as the latest technology of canvas printing is in place that not only ensures the longevity of their adorable photographs for generation to come but also maintains the true color and texture of your picture retaining its real feel.
Though canvas printing is a great technology and is the best medium to preserve your valuable memories, I came across many canvas prints (I guess you too have come across them) lacking in fine details which make them mere replicas and not identical with the original picture or photo. Well, that's painful isn't it? You invest your money, time and effort to get a masterpiece but in the end simply land up with its bad quality copy that neither looks real nor lasts long!
But, the interesting thing is that the minute details if taken care of properly can bring a drastic change in the quality and texture of your photo's canvas printing. Keep these minor details in mind while going for a canvas print and you are assured to have excellent quality canvas printing for centuries to come.
- Use Only Cotton Canvas: While printing your photo in canvas, be careful about the material to be used. It should be nothing other than Cotton. Cotton being acid-free is perfect for proper ink absorption thus checking the formation of yellow color in the canvas with the passage of time and giving it original look and appearance. Formation of Yellow color in the canvas print is the biggest threat to its beauty and longevity. So, be on toes to crush this threat right in the beginning using cotton materials.
- Go for Protective Varnishes: After printing your photo in cotton canvas, focus on it's detailing. The best thing about a cotton canvas print is that you can add effects to the picture even after its printing. Once after completion of the printing, the experts can add textures to the new picture by means of gels and varnishes for improving its quality and longevity. The color and details of some specific area in the picture can be developed by making use of clear gels. And as the final touch up you can coat the canvas with a safety varnish for ensuring its brightness lasting for a lifetime.
- Choose Photos with Higher Pixels: In spite of knowing the fact that good photos make good canvas prints, most of you simply focus on the brightness and angle of your photo and simply ignore the specifications related to its pixels. Poor pixels are mainly responsible for the breakage and lack of clarity and sharpness in your canvas prints. Canvas prints done from photos with lower pixels break and fade out. Whereas, if you choose a photo with higher pixels, it will retain its quality even after enlargement and you will get the perfect look in your canvas with absolute clarity and precision.
- Focus on the Color: Sometimes, after printing your photo on canvas you don't find the exact color tone as it is in the original picture. The main reason behind this is that even high-quality canvas printers sometimes fail in capturing the exact color of your photo. Hence, it is highly suggested to get a trial print before going for the final printout of your picture. In case you observe any difference between the original and the printed copy, you can adjust the color of your original photo to match with the printer color combination and bring the identical color tone in the canvas print. Though simple and minor, this detail ensures an excellent quality canvas print of your valuable photo.
- Preview before Taking out the Final Print: Never ever straight away go for printing option without previewing your ordered photo. Trust me this will save a lot of your money. Sometimes the photo gets accidentally cropped due to wrong alignment or the color tone doesn't match with the original photo. You can easily minimize these possibilities of getting bad quality canvas print, by previewing the final print properly before getting it in hand. This small tip not only saves your money but also ensures best quality canvas prints with desired features.
- Choose High Resolution Photos: Though all of you know about the significance of high resolution photos, you don't take it seriously at the time of canvas printing. For best quality canvas printing high resolution picture is mostly preferred to get the real color with clarity and sharpness. Be honest with yourself and only go with high quality photos if you truly want to create a life-like replica of the original photo. Well, in case you are going for old photos, get it edited with the latest photo editing software and enhance its resolution first to get the perfect canvas print.
- Clean your Scanner Glass: Yes… I know you know about it! But still it is found that a good number of people get the scan of their photo without cleaning the scanner glass. Cleaning your scanner glass means cleaning it perfectly without any traces of dust and fine hairs. If you ignore you will get an unclear photo due to the fine dust impression on the scanner glass. In case you are going for a liquid clean up… just make sure that the glass must be completely dry while scanning anything as traces of liquid can spoil the clarity of your scanned photo. So, to get a perfect scanned copy of your photo clean your scanner panel prior scanning and never take it granted that your scanner is absolutely clean. You can make use of canned air to clean both the scanner as well as the print as this will offer you a spotless cleaning experience.
- Customize the Scanning Option: After you are done with your scanner glass, the next step is to customize your scanning option. Few silly mistakes done during the scanning process is skipping the advanced settings and the preview option resulting in wastage of time. You keep on doing scan after scan but every time end up with a dull scanned photo. Simply avoid these mistakes. Go to the advanced scanning options and adjust the settings according to your need and always see the preview to save a lot of time by getting the best quality scan in just a single try.
- Never Under Estimate the Light Factor: While you are printing a photo on canvas, the most vital thing that you can't ignore is the light factor. It is an amazing quality of canvas paper that it can disperse light enhancing the effect of light on the photo thus illuminating it. As such a well-lighted photo will get printed on canvas more brightly than a dark photo. So, go for a canvas printing of only those photos which are well-lit and the subject is clear, bright and not lost in the shadows.
Well, now the vital question that must be arising in your mind is where to get the canvas printings done? Right? Don't worry I am here to guide you. The very first thing that you have to do is to search for a good canvas printing company in your own city or locale. Once you get them, either drop down to their place and have a direct discussion with the experts or log on to their website and view their printing portfolio. If you feel they can serve your purpose then it's great, otherwise you can go for another option. Give sufficient time in doing a proper search and don't compromise with the quality because it's about your valuable assets and you can't take a chance with their safety. And the most vital thing that you shouldn't miss out is to check out the above mentioned details while the printing is done. Discuss these minute details with the experts in advance and they will ensure you to conduct the entire process keeping these details in mind for handing over to you a perfect piece of canvas printing.
If you want to transform your memorable photographs into beautiful canvas prints, visit www.colormagic.in and place your order. With the assistance of their expert professionals and state-of-the art canvas printing machines, you will get your desired printing done within a very short time period without compromising with its quality, color and texture.


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To help hit these targets, HMRC is investing considerable sums in scrutinising the tax affairs of both businesses and individuals, with £300m specifically set aside to target SMEs and 'high net worth' individuals.
If you come under scrutiny from HMRC, it's your responsibility to meet the cost of your defence – and this can run into thousands of pounds as enquiries can last for months, if not years.
As part of HMRC's Strategic Plan they are creating an Enterprise Data Hub to pull into one place all the information they collect from other government agencies, banks and building societies, and numerous other external institutions. The aim of this is to allow tax officers to see everything about an individual all in one place.
In addition to the proportion of enquiries that are selected at random each year, HMRC relies on a variety of other tools and information sources to determine when to begin an enquiry. These include:
The Mortgage Verification Scheme: this enables mortgage lenders to check an applicant's financial details with HMRC. If the income details declared on the mortgage application differ to the information held by HMRC, an enquiry is a strong possibility.
Credit and debit card transactions: card payment processes have to provide HMRC with reports of sales made. HMRC checks this information against the turnover declared by retail businesses, from which it can gauge how much cash is being declared by the business.
Additionally, HMRC claims that over 80,000 reports are made each year to its tax evasion team by jilted partners, wives and husbands, as well as disgruntled former employees and jealous business competitors…
Clayton & Brewill is a firm of chartered accountants in Nottingham, Long Eaton and Melton Mowbray. We offer proactive and cost-effective accountancy advice to business owners, individuals, farmers, charities and GPs.