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Like many people, I once believed in the safety of RoundUp. Back in the 1980s when I was a young graduate student in ecology, it was the "safe" herbicide of choice for clearing weeds from study plots.
Monsanto would like us to continue to believe their flagship product is safe, but the data are increasingly saying otherwise. The latest? Widespread exposure is a near certainty, since RoundUp — now linked to birth defects — shows up regularly in our water and air.
Glyphosate, RoundUp's active ingredient, was found in every stream studied and in most air samples taken in a recent study conducted by government researchers in Mississippi and Iowa. And it's undoubtedly in other states too. Across the U.S. it's used commonly on corn, soybeans, cotton and rice, to the tune of 180-185 millions of pounds in 2007 — more tonnage than any other pesticide.
And that's only use on farms. RoundUp is also the second most commonly used pesticide in homes and gardens across the country.
Scientists bust Monsanto's safety myth
Glyphosate has recently been linked to birth defects,* and at extremely low levels it can kill placental cells and disrupt the human hormone system. Yet regulatory authorities still only formally recognize its potential to contaminate groundwater.
SafeLawns recently pointed out that while glyphosate is not listed by EPA as highly toxic when inhaled, it may become highly toxic in the human digestive system where it is metabolized to N-nitrosoglyphosate — a chemical known to cause tumors.
It can be expensive to test for pesticides in air and water, which is why we haven't before seen the kind of data recently collected in Mississipi and Iowa. Independent testing for health effects can also be costly. Yet these are precisely the kind of data that should be required for continued use of any product. Are we exposed? Does it harm us? How does it affect children's health and development?
One common-sense solution: manufacturers should be required to fund (through not conduct) such testing if they want to keep their pesticides on the market.
EPA agrees to take action — eventually
EPA has set 2015 for deciding if glyphosate should continue to be sold, or should have its use in some way limited.
We know the regulatory process can be woefully slow, even when science is very clear that a pesticide is harming human health. Yet this remains one important route for grassroots efforts. Meanwhile, educate yourself and your friends about the serious threats posed by Monsanto's biggest seller, and help build the public voice to get rid of it once and for all.
There's a LOT more dirt on glyphosate — from additional impacts on human health to serious impacts on plant and soil health (my bailiwick). Stay tuned.
* Editor's note: In a previous version of this blog, we mis-characterized the link between RoundUp and birth defects by stating that exposure is "known to cause" birth defects. While the referenced report does provide evidence linking RoundUp exposure to birth defects in laboratory animals, the translation of this evidence to effects on humans at real world exposure levels is still unclear. We regret any confusion.
Knew this was bound to happen. I grew up on a 365 acre farm and was sent out into the large fields with a hole to eliminate the weeds. That very same farm was purchased by a young man who uses herbicides/pesticides. Now their children as well as others in the area are coming down with auto-immune diseases with the primary one being Lukemia and they are asking why this is happening. So many chemicals have been used that the ground/water are contaminated. Man is now starting to "reap what he has sown". Herbicides/pesticides are harmless? Lies!! Man will do anything for the money not to mention the laziness of such farmers. The body was created to work and not to ride on a tractor spreading poisons. Still they ask, "why are our children sick and dying?" One can tell them why, but they would not believe that these so-called "safe" chemicals are the problem. Abuse nature and nature will fight back with super insects/weeds. The destruction of the earth brings out the rage in me and I am a passive person. This chemical beast cannot be stopped because money is what is driving the beast. I know everyone has heard that "money is the root of all evil". The first part is left out. "The love of money is the root of all evil". Money is not evil. It is the love of such. We are living in perilous times because of greed and the "love of money".
If anyone should happen to read this-thank you for your time.
An extremely outraged individual who loves nature and all of the creatures living within.
Thank you Margaret for writing this informative piece. I also wish to thank grizmom, for daring to be outraged and speaking out. It is hard for me to fathom why so many who DO know about this are not also outraged and speaking out, on a regular basis.
Here in Oregon we too are being exposed to chemicial trespass. Helicopters spray toxic chemicals on foresters clear-cuts, in residential areas. Our streets are sprayed every Spring by Public Works and DOT. I just discovered Glyphosate (Roundup) is now also being sprayed by our power company, to kill the tree stumps, daring to survive getting cut off, in order to protect power lines.
From our forests to our roads, schools, parks, and food, our Nation is polluting our land, water, air, bodies and future.
We have an investigation taking place in Lane County where 34 people have Atrazine and 2,4D in their urine, including children. Atrazine was banned in the EU 8 years ago, yet America continues to use it. It is sprayed via helicopters in residential neighborhoods and ODA uses it on our food.
Is it any wonder we are losing our bees and bats? We are killing off far more than the intended targets of these deadly poisons. Nature does NOT discriminate, and it too is being bombarded with what were originally created as weapons of war.
The reality is the chemical cartel has bought and paid for the laws, regulations and even the agencies who were was created to protect us, yet.................the poisoning continues. 50 long years after Rachel Carson warned us of this very day! Babies are now BORN with hundreds of chemicals in their bodies, at birth and we wonder why so many have learning disabilities, behavioral problems, asthma, cancers, etc. It is INSANE !
Thank you for listening. Another extremely irate individual, who loves Nature and all LIFE !!!
THANK YOU MARGARET!!!!!! Truly appreciate your information.
Thanks for your info... however Roundup is not a pesticide. It's an herbicide.
Thanks for your comment Starfire. This is a common and understandable point of confusion. Herbicides are in fact a type of pesticide (as are insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, etc).
If you were wondering about the quantity of pesticides and chemicals in use today:
Pesticide use in agriculture is down slightly, from 948 million pounds in 2000 to 877 million pounds in 2007. But that's only about 1% per year, and still close to a billion pounds of toxic chemicals intentionally introduced into the environment and our food supply each year.
Use of organophosphates continues to decline, and this definitely is a good thing, as these are among the most acutely toxic pesticides still used. But 33 million pounds is still 33 million pounds too many, and despite the decline these neurotoxins are still detected in the bodies of most Americans (see the CDC's National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals) and commonly found on our food.
The herbicide glyphosate has more than doubled in use, from 85-90 million pounds in 2001 to 180-185 million pounds in 2007. According to a report from the Organic Center, this increase is likely a reflection of the rising popularity of Monsanto's RoundUp Ready genetically modified crops. (Glyphosate is the active ingredient of RoundUp.) Source: EPA
TSCA reform: This week's Senate hearing was part of ongoing discussions in Congress about updating the national law governing industrial chemicals, the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Many scientists and environmental health advocates cite the fact that U.S. EPA has evaluated just 200 of the estimated 80,000 industrial chemicals in commerce-and banned only five-as evidence of TSCA's failure to protect the health of consumers.
While I am neither a scientist or a farmer from what I have read it seems to me that there is a better, safer path we should be pursuing:
Subj: FEED - January 2009
Date: 1/8/2009 2:42:48 PM Eastern Standard Time
5. "Organic green revolution" can solve global hunger
In a new report, the Rodale Institute calls for a dramatic shift from costly, chemical-intensive industrial farming systems to regenerative organic systems, which it says can help the world feed itself. The report cites a study of small-scale farmers in 57 countries whose yields increased by an average 79 percent when they used sustainable agriculture techniques and other research in developing countries that found organic farming was two to three times more productive than conventional farming. Organic farming methods restore nutrients and carbon to the soil, resulting in higher nutrient density in crops and increased yields. Organic soils also contain more beneficial microorganisms, are less vulnerable to erosion, and retain moisture better to help plants survive drought conditions. A 28-year side-by-side comparison of organic and conventional practices on Rodale's research farm in Pennsylvania has found that organically grown corn and soybeans are more resistant to drought, outperforming conventional crops by 30 percent and 50 to 100 percent respectively. Read the report (pdf).
4/15/2010 12:16:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time
A new survey by the UN Conference on Trade and the Environment and UNEP in East Africa found that over 90 per cent of studies show that organic or near organic agriculture had benefits for soil fertility; water control; improved water tables, carbon sequestration and biodiversity.
This allows farmers to extend the growing season in marginal areas. The research in East Africa was among 1.6 million organic or near organic farmers from seven countries working on 1.4 million hectares.
Other findings include an increase in crop yields of 128 per cent since switching.
Higher incomes too are a result of not having to buy fertilizers and pesticides; as is more food availability; higher prices are paid through certification schemes for both export and domestic markets - which addresses poverty in environmentally friendly way.
Close to 90 percent of cases showed an increase in farm and household incomes and because organic agriculture is more knowledge intensive it has led to improvements in education, community bonds and cooperation on market access.
The report concludes: "Organic and near-organic agricultural methods and technologies are ideally suited for many poor, marginalized smallholder farmers in Africa, as they require minimal or no external inputs, use locally and naturally available materials to produce high-quality products, and encourage a whole systemic approach to farming that is more diverse and resistant to stress."Organic Facts of the Week
• If organic farming methods were practiced on all the planet's food-growing land, it would be like taking more than 1.5 billion cars off the road.
• You can increase your antioxidant intake by 30 percent by choosing organic.
• The average child in America is exposed to five pesticides daily in their food and drinking water.
• The U.S. water system is regularly contaminated above safe limits immediately following chemical fertilizer applications to farm fields.
• Farms in developing countries that use organic techniques produce an average of 79% more than farms that don't.
That the use of "Round-up" and various other chemical concoctions should be made illegal is a no-brainer! I was a resident in a so-called town of envionmentally concerned community of Sedona Arizona. There are people who are getting sick here and not knowing why, only to wake up one day and see a large truck spraying herbicides up and down 89A. The spray was flowing a good 8 feet in the air at 5:30 in the morning, just before sun up when people were still asleep. Encountering the fellow driving the tanker was a simple issue as I was caught right in his spray, and today I have the "cold-flulike' symptoms-coughing weezing and chest congestion because of the exposure. To put it mildly they should stop! But even writing the EPA Environmental Protection Agency (National and Local) has caused little if any impact! I had a friend that dropped in the hospital the same day with the same conditions only a shut-down of his breathing causing him to go to the emergency room- another who complained of feeling parched and dry, coughing and weezing (what kind of 'cold'?) No-Same day, same issue- An action group has complained for years about the rampant use of Round-up out here to the city but without any good response. They still spray and spray! Another issue is the dry cleaning of the roads here with open bushes which put a 30 foot wall of dust in the air (which includes all the road debris- one can guess whats in that!) It is misery to many here but the city, despite many-many calls does nothing for Sedona (rather putting it aside as "those crazy environmentalists'. Now the conditions should be checked! Round-Up and other brain toxins are insidious chemicals to be putting in our atmosphere, but getting people to listen is another story altogether!
Thank you very much for your comment. As horrendous, frustrating, and debilitating as it all is you are doing exactly the right thing -- 1) compiling stories that show that GROUPS of individuals are falling ill; that the incidents are not isolated to lone individuals; 2) keep the pressure on the regulatory agencies; it always takes longer than it should to make change but without an organized fight it will never happen; and 3) continue to share your stories as widely as possible so people all around the country (and globe) see that these are shared experiences and that we can inspire one another to act for positive change.
Thank you to AwakeInOregon for your January 10, 2012 comment and for keeping this important topic alive.
Thank you everyone for all the wonderful information you have shared here.
This is a story about exposure to Roundup in a way which I haven't heard about yet....and really shows how widespread the use of the chemical can be, and another way it can easily get into the groundwater and air. Yesterday I was at work, at a senior center which is situated in the middle of a small park in Sacramento, CA, and a city truck was driving around the grass spraying all the lawn edges and the bases of ALL the trees with this orange stuff. I asked the gentleman what the chemical was and he said "Roundup." I then asked my coworker what he thought of this and he said, the city probably doesn't have enough money for someone to use a lawn trimmer around the edges of the parks, so they are just spraying Roundup everywhere. Well this was a small park but because of the paved walkways etc there were a lot of "lawn edges" to be sprayed, plus every time a small tuft of grass poked its head between two sidewalk squares the sidewalk also was sprayed. Today I rode my bike to this park, plus another neighborhood park and saw orange stains on some of the sidewalk squares, which I rolled through with my bike tires before I could react... this is so sneaky! I eat all organic, I use environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies, etc. yet I still go lie in the grass at many parks... My body has been sensitive to pesticide levels and this makes me honestly kind of creeped out ? -- I can easily see how trace amounts of Roundup could eventually be in the rest of the lawn of the city parks, many of the sidewalks and the streets from people like me who go from one place to another, or ride their bikes across a sidewalk square that was sprayed... it makes so much sense why it is in our groundwater and air, it really has the potential to be almost anywhere when it is sprayed in such a widespread way. I store my bike in my house so I am not too happy about introducing Roundup to my carpet despite my best efforts to avoid chemicals like these... I really wish it were illegal to expose someone to hazardous chemicals without their consent. I really appreciate PAN for all they do!


text: For member districts of the SCSC Professional Development Consortium the fee has been waived. All other participants including nurses and paraprofessionals will pay the listed fee. In the event of cancellation, registrants will be notified by email (the address tied to escWorks). In the event that an individual cannot attend the session for which he/she registered, it is the individual's responsibility to cancel using his/her escWorks shoebox. Cancellations may take place up to the day before the session(s). All "no-shows" will be invoiced the full price.

subset: commoncrawl


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Despite there being over 150 000 apps on the AppStore, many of which are games, quality RPGs are few and far between. And even fewer of them don't go the Japanimation console style RPG route. Frankly, only three come to my mind – our own shigzeo's favourite The Quest with its many addons, the excellent old-school Undercroft (TMA Review) and, of course, the much hyped Diablo-clone Dungeon Hunter (TMA Review). And don't even get me started on Ravensword: The Fallen King (TMA Review). But they should beware, because it seems a new contender to the RPG throne is in the works. I'm talking about the game that came to my attention recently – Rimelands: Hammer Of Thor. Intrigued, I immediately contacted the developers of this ambitious project and secured an interview to learn more details.
Dicework Games is a small company located in the city of Tampere in Finland and consists of the CEO and lead designer Arto Koistinen and the talented graphics artist Peter Finnberg. Having been laid off during company negotiations just 1.5 years after THQ Wireless's acquisition of Universomo, they decided it was to go solo and started their own company. Their first game was the critically acclaimed Diceworks which was a test of both their skill as well as how well they could do at the AppStore. And now they are steadily finishing up the project they originally conceived when their company formed – a classic Rogue-style RPG game titled Rimelands: Hammer Of Thor. And today I have both of them on the line to talk about it!


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MWC 15 Special
has been something most Windows Mobile 2003 users have been waiting for - a way
to create their own WM2003 Today Themes for the Pocket PC.
KAMware has just released their new product and it takes care of several items
very unique to Windows Mobile 2003 powered Pocket PCs. Aside form the standard
support for image manipulation and transparency settings, ThemeMaker 2003 adds
support for changing the Start Menu font colors as well as several internal
colors for Windows Mobile 2003.
You can download and try the demo version of KAMware's ThemeMaker 2003
Or, you can purchase a the full version from
KAMware's online store for only US$16.00.
Related Links : [More Information]
Related Articles THEMES KAMware releases ThemeMaker 2003 featuring full WM2003 compatibility
No items available


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Damson In Distress: The use of ceramic in a muted colour palette meets the desire for simplistic, earthen homeware, whilst introducing the benefits of a fragrance lamp to those whose style is understated.
PLEASE NOTE: Fragrance Lamps are intended to be used only with Ashleigh & Burwood Lamp Fragrances. Fragrance Lamps are not the same as our Oil Burners and cannot be used with Fragrance Oils as this will damage the Lamp's wick.
|YouTube Video
|How to Use Your Fragrance Lamp
|Safety Information
Fragile. Keep out of reach of children.
|Product Information
Guidance: Fragrance lamps are an incredibly powerful way to fragrance your home, and consequently do not need to be used for extended periods of time. For the optimum balance of room fragrancing with fragrance usage, we recommend to burn your lamp for around 20-25 minutes per time (an average sized room is about 20sqm
1x Funnel
1x Leaflet with information and instructions on use
1x Fragrance Lamp (body, wick, snuffer cap, crown)


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Download 1984 Study Guide
(Survey of Young Adult Fiction)
Nineteen Eighty-Four is George Orwell's unswervingly grim vision of a dystopian future. The author always intended it as more warning than prophecy, so that even though its title date has passed, its lessons about the dangers of conformity, mental coercion, and verbal deception retain their validity and relevance. Orwell's careful use of clear, understandable language makes the unfamiliar world of Nineteen Eighty-Four comprehensible to every level of reader, and his theme of personal individuality and human emotion, particularly love, trying to establish themselves in spite of the relentless pressure of the modern industrial state has perennial appeal to young adult audiences.
The novel depicts a world divided into three totalitarian superpowers that are constantly at war with one another: Oceania, dominated by the former United States; Eurasia, dominated by Western Europe; and Eastasia, dominated by China and Japan. Since the novel belongs to the genre of the dystopia, a negative Utopia, much of its content is necessarily involved in describing Oceanian society—not only in the features of its everyday life, much of which reflects British life in 1948 (a year whose inverted numbers may have suggested the novel's title), but also in detailed explanations of the historical origins of Ingsoc and Oceania, as well as its official language, Newspeak. Orwell, rather clumsily in the view of some critics, gives much of this information in the form of a book-within-a-book, the supposed handbook of the revolutionaries, and an appendix to the novel itself about Newspeak.
Not until the second main part of the novel does the story really begin. Winston Smith is a writer for the ironically named Ministry of Truth, whose chief job is to assist in the constant rewriting of history so that it conforms with the predictions and pronouncements of Big Brother, the possibly mythical ruler of Oceania, whose minions in the Inner Party are nevertheless omnipotent and omniscient. Winston, who was born in 1945 and thus was named after Britain's wartime leader Winston Churchill, vaguely remembers life before the revolution and the establishment of Ingsoc, and he gradually comes to believe that life was not always as dreary, mechanical, and deadening as it now is in Oceania, although he has no means of proving it. Another worker in the Ministry of Truth, Julia, a young woman whom Winston suspects of spying on him, turns out to be attracted to him, and they enter into a complicated, dangerous love affair that they both internally believe can only end in disaster.
O'Brien, an Inner Party member to whom Winston has been vaguely drawn, provides a ray of hope when the lovers become convinced that he is a secret member of the Brotherhood, the revolutionary group committed to the overthrow of Ingsoc and Big Brother. O'Brien—naturally, one is almost tempted to say—turns out to be a double agent, and the last part of the novel depicts in graphic detail Winston's torture and conversion by O'Brien into an unconditional acceptance of the power of the party and Big Brother. To accomplish this acceptance, Winston must master the mental skill of "doublethink," a form of reality control involving "the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them." To some critics, the descriptions and explanations in this section of the novel are the book's weakest parts. This ordeal culminates in Winston's betrayal of his love for Julia. A broken man, Winston is set "free" to spend his last days in a semi-alcoholic stupor, mindlessly cheering on huge mythical victories by the forces of Oceania as he awaits the inevitable bullet in the back of the head. Nineteen Eighty-Four ends with the chilling—and inescapable—sentence "He loved Big Brother."
The Principles of Newspeak
This section defines Newspeak, the official language of Oceania, and sets forth its purpose: to meet the specific needs of Ingsoc, or English Socialism...
(The entire section is 1,166 words.)


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Audi Q5 | 45 TFSI Quattro Black Edn 5dr S Tronic [Tech Pk]
Audi Q5 Overview
I would like all maintenance and service costs included
Initial Rental (Personal)
£4,216.43 inc VAT
Initial Rental (Business)
£3,712.05 ex VAT
Contract Length
48 Months
Processing fee
£199.99 ex VAT
Standard Options
- Acoustic windscreen
- Front and rear electric windows
- Light and rain sensor for auto activation of lights and windscreen wipers
- Privacy glass with front acoustic glazing
- Rear wiper
- Electromechanical parking brake
- Electronic stabilisation control including ABS, ASR and EDL
- Hill descent control
- Hill hold assist
- Multi collision brake assist
- Front/rear floor mats
- Luggage compartment carpet
- Dynamic suspension
- Audi connect safety and service (e-call)
- Audi phone box with wireless charging
- Audi smartphone interface
- Voice control system
- Audi drive select
- Audi parking system plus with front and rear sensors
- Audi Pre sense collision avoidance
- Cruise control speed limiter
- Electro - mechanical power assisted steering
- Automatic start-stop system with coasting functionality and efficiency programme
- Power tailgate
- Audi virtual cockpit - 12.3" high resolution LCD digital instrument cluster display
- MMI navigation plus with 8.3" colour MMI screen and MMI touch
- Service interval indicator
- Auto dimming rear view mirror
- Electric adjustable/heated/folding door mirrors
- Titanium black door mirror housings
- Black piano finish inlays
- 2 X SD card slot
- Audi music interface
- Audi sound system
- CD player
- DAB Digital radio
- MMI radio plus with 7" colour MMI screen and MMI controller
- Air inlets in matt titanium black with blades in matt aluminium silver
- Black roof rails
- Body colour bumpers
- Body colour rear diffuser with matt aluminium silver surrounds
- Body colour underbody protection
- Chrome exhaust tailpipe
- Loading sill protector in stainless steel
- Roof bars
- Solid paint
- Automatic headlight levelling
- High beam assistant
- LED headlights with LED rear lights dynamic rear indicators
- Deluxe 3 zone electronic climate control
- 2 x USB charging port with aux input socket
- 3 spoke flat bottom high multi-function leather steering wheel
- Alcantara/leather upholstery
- Black cloth headlining
- Contrast stitching on seats, steering wheel and gear lever gaiter
- Front centre armrest
- Height/reach adjustable steering column
- Perforated leather gearknob
- Removable luggage compartment floor
- Stainless steel pedals
- Tool kit
- Trunk roller cover
- LED interior light pack - Q5
- Non Smokers pack
- Titanium black styling pack - Q5
- 3 point seatbelts on all seats
- 6 airbags - Driver, front passenger, curtain and side airbags
- Front passenger airbag deactivation
- Pop-up bonnet for pedestrian protection
- Pre sense city
- Seat belt force limiter
- Seatbelt monitoring
- Tyre pressure warning
- Warning triangle and first aid kit
- 3 rear headrests
- 40:20:40 split folding rear seat with rear centre armrest
- Front sport seats with S embossed logo
- Heated front seats
- Height adjustable front head restraints
- ISOFIX child seat mounting and top tether
- Manual seat adjustment with 4-way electric lumbar support
- Anti theft alarm
- Anti-theft wheel bolts
- Keyless Go access/ignition system
- Remote central locking
- Towbar preparation
- Quattro on demand
- Sunvisors with vanity mirrors
- 20" 5 arm rotor design sport alloy wheels in gloss anthracite black, diamond cut finish
- Tyre repair kit
Technical Options
- HC+NOx: N
- Particles: N
- Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6
- Bore: 82.5
- Catalytic Convertor: True
- Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE
- Cylinders: 4
- Engine Layout: NORTH SOUTH
- Fuel Type: TURBO DIRECT INJECTION
- Gears: 7 SPEED
- Number of Valves: 16
- Stroke: 92.8
- Valve gear: DOHC
- EC: True
- EC Combined: 38.7
- WLTP - MPG - Comb - Min: 8.8
- WLTP - MPG - Low - Min: 8.8
- WLTP - MPG - Medium: 9
- Any aspect of the vehicles safety cause concern?: Data Not Available
- Based On ID: N
- Coin Description: T FSI Quattro
- Coin Series: Black Edition [Tech]
- Man Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12
- Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3
- NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 58
- NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 5
- NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 245
- NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 2.0
- NCAP Safety Assist %: M1
- Service Interval Frequency - Months: 93
- Special Edition: Data Not Available
- Special Order: Data Not Available
- Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 60000
- Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3
- This vehicle is classed as a car for VED purposes: 12
- Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: 73
- Timing Belt Interval Mileage: 86
- 0 to 60: Data Not Available
- 0 to 62: 6.4
- Engine Power KW: 180
- Engine Power RPM: 5000
- Engine Torque LBS.FT: 273
- Engine Torque MKG: 37.7
- Engine Torque NM: 370
- Engine Torque RPM: 1600
- PS: True
- Top Speed: 147
- Alloys?: True
- Space Saver?: Data Not Available
- Tyre Size Front: 255/45 R20
- Tyre Size Rear: 255/45 R20
- Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT
- Wheel Style: 5 ARM ROTOR
- Wheel Type: 20" ALLOY
- Height: N
- Height (including roof rails): 1659
- Length: 4663
- Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 11.7
- Wheelbase: 2819
- Width (excluding mirrors): 1893
- Width (including mirrors): 2140
- Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 70
- Gross Vehicle Weight: 2010
- Max. Roof Load: 75
- Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 2400
- Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750
- Minimum Kerbweight: 1750
- No. of Seats: 5
- Payload: 260
Audi Q5 PLUSH IN THE SLUSH (77/100)
Audi's second generation Q5 is a premium mid-sized SUV that builds upon the solid sales foundation established by its successful predecessor. Jonathan Crouch takes a look at what's on offer.
Ten Second Review
Audi's understated Q5 continues its subtle conquest of the premium mid-sized SUV sector. This second generation model gets a range of more efficient engines and even more car-like driving dynamics that are great on tarmac and are even pretty effective for light off road use. There's loads of advanced technology and a beautifully practical interior crafted in Audi's own inimitable style. In short, if you can afford it, you'd like one.
The second generation version of Audi's Q5 premium mid-sized SUV might not appear to be much different from its predecessor but take it from us: almost everything that could have been improved on this car has been. There's sharper looks, extra technology and more efficient engines that have reduced running costs. Audi, you see, doesn't do things by halves. Some things haven't changed though. As before, this is the kind of mid-sized SUV you buy if, rather unreasonably, you want something with reasonable mastery of the mud as well as the motorway. Something that'll look great in the driveway, keep you mobile in a snowy snap and shrink around you when a twisting road opens up ahead. It's a demanding brief that nearly half a million global owners felt was achieved by the original version of this car. But is this second generation version good enough to take on tougher rivals that promise much the same thing? That's what we're going to find out.
Driving Experience
Most Q5 customers will want the 190PS 2.0 TDI diesel engine used in the volume '40 TDI quattro' variant, but low mileage owners shouldn't discount the much improved 245PS 2.0 TFSI petrol unit in the alternative '45 TFSI quattro' derivative. The drivetrain of the second generation Q5 has been redeveloped from the ground up - take the revised six-speed manual transmission and the more efficient seven-speed S tronic auto 'box for example. The standard quattro 4WD system is improved too, using Audi's 'ultra' technology to always disengage the rear-axle drive whenever it isn't needed: if necessary, the system can then proactively re-engage it. The most powerful variants can be ordered with an optional sport differential at the rear axle which distributes torque between the wheels for sharper handling. And all models get Torque vectoring for extra cornering precision. Dynamically, Audi has tried to make this Q5 feel sporty yet extremely comfortable. Creating the basis for this are the newly developed five-link suspension set-ups and also the new electromechanical power steering system. Choose a model with adaptive damping and you'll be able to tailor the ride quality via the various settings of the standard 'Audi drive select' vehicle dynamics system. You can do the same thing with the even more sophisticated adaptive air suspension package that's available as an option. Those venturing 'off piste' will be interested in the two new settings added to the 'drive select' set-up - 'lift/offroad' and 'allroad'.
Design and Build
Compared to the previous model, this second generation Q5 has grown in nearly all of its dimensions and takes a defined and taut stance on the road. A sculpturally flared Singleframe grille with a solid frame dominates its aerodynamically flat front end. This feature is flanked by headlights that use either xenon or full-LED technology - or buyers can order Audi's advanced adaptable Matrix LED system as an option. A distinctively curved and strongly undercut shoulder line gives structure to the side view. The strongly emphasised wheel arches are a reference to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, and the low greenhouse tapers back down early. Just as at the front, horizontal lines at the rear aim to convey an image of width and presence. The tailgate wraps around the C-pillars - a typical feature of Audi Q models. At the wheel, a three-dimensional trim strip runs across the entire width of the instrument panel and here's a re-designed three-spoke multifunction steering wheel. This remains a five-seat model and the rear seat is split into three segments. Longitudinal and seat back angle adjustment are optional. Depending on the rear seat position, the basic volume of the luggage compartment ranges from 550 to 610-litres, 10-litres more than in the previous Q5. When the rear bench is folded down, this volume grows to 1,550-litres.
Market and Model
The price positioning of this second generation Q5 hasn't changed very much, so most mainstream models will continue to sell in the £40,000 to £57,000 bracket. There's the choice of 'Sport', 'S line', 'Black Edition' and 'Vorsprung' trim levels. The key option is the 'Audi Virtual Cockpit' a 12.3-inch screen that completely replaces the dials in the instrument binnacle. The MMI terminal in the centre console acts as the main control element. In the top infotainment system, the optional MMI navigation plus with MMI touch and an 8.3-inch display, a touchpad is integrated into the rotary pushbutton. Many Q5 owners will want to order the upgraded 'multi-fuction steering wheel plus' and some may also want the optional Head-up display. The Audi navigation system will also be popular, the latest set-up able to 'learn' your regular routes and suggest optimised planning for your next trip. As ever with an Audi, media connectivity will be key to many customers. 'MMI navigation plus' uses the 'Audi connect' module to integrate a LTE module and a Wi-Fi hotspot. And a free 'Audi MMI connect app' allows you to monitor your car from your 'phone. You can connect in your handset via the 'Apple CarPlay' or 'Android Auto' systems - and boost its reception via the optional 'Audi phone box' feature. Kids will like the 'Audi tablet' system which provides for rear seat entertainment.
Cost of Ownership
This second generation Q5 has taken a big step forward in terms of efficiency, thanks to a 90kg weight saving over its predecessor. This comes mainly courtesy of the fact that steels with maximum tensile strength and aluminium form an intelligent material mix in the body. It also helps in this regard that the MK2 model Q5 stands at the top of its class in its aerodynamics. The four-cylinder versions attain a cd figure of 0.30 with the aerodynamically optimised roof. As a result, the 40 TDI diesel that most customers buy manages up to 51.4mpg on the combined cycle and up to 144g/km of CO2 (both WLTP figures converted back to NEDC). And residuals? Well, trying to buy a used Q5 is quite a depressing experience as they cling onto their value with some tenacity. This is great news for the new buyer and part of a trend certain to continue with this MK2 model. After the usual three year / 60,000 mile ownership period, expect it still to be worth around 45% of what you originally paid for it.
Whether your destination is Sainsburys or the annual family skiing trip to Crans Montana, you'll feel better about doing it in an Audi Q5. In between, in contrast to larger, plusher and thirstier 4x4s, you won't get that nagging feeling of using a sledgehammer to crash a nut when it comes to meeting your real motoring needs. Nor, when you're alone on a twisty B road, should you need to wish you'd bought something sportier. Of course, this second generation model now faces much tougher competition, but the well considered package of changes made to this smarter, better equipped and higher-tech mid-sized premium SUV should keep it very competitive with cars like Mercedes' GLC and BMW's X3 in the chasing pack. Certainly it's not cheap - but then neither is anything else in this segment and at least you'll get a decent part of your money back at resale time. True, it doesn't have the showiness of a Range Rover Evoque or the ultimate handling feedback of a BMW X3, but many will still find this Audi a perfect balance between these two extremes. Resolutely hi-tech and resolutely real world, the Q5 remains resolutely right.


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Relationships with
Photo Credit: Alessandro Calcaterra's picture is courtesy of ProRecco. Photographic illustrations of Alessandro Calcaterra are copyright © by their respective holders. The images are published with permission or as allowed by the copyright law's fair use or quotation provisions. If any copyright holder objects to an image being included, please notify us and it will be removed immediately.
Disclaimer: This information about Alessandro Calcaterra is derived from astrological interpretation of Alessandro Calcaterra's date, time, and place of birth.


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Coffee, Cookies, & Coloring
Date: Dec 12 2019, 4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Join us for a relaxing hour of coloring, conversation, and refreshments at the Redstone MWR Library. Ages 16+.
Coloring pages and pencils provided, although you are welcome to bring your own.
Coffee and cookies will be provided to participants.
This program is aimed for adults to unwind in a peaceful environment. For more information, call the library at +1 (256) 876-4741.


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Egon Schiele - Jenny Saville
10 Oct 2014 – 25 Jan 2015
This exhibition brings together the expressionistic oeuvre of the Austrian artist Egon Schiele (1890 –1918) and works by the British painter Jenny Saville (b. 1970), for a fascinating dialogue between the virtuoso exponent of Viennese Modernism and a contemporary artist. The exaggerated, obsessive depiction of corporality compels the viewer to engage directly with the act of painting as a physical medium.
This is an open encounter between two artists separated by almost a century that unites contrast and convergence. The two visibly retain their autonomy, and Schiele is not posited as an influence on the later artist. While his work is presented in a loose chronological sequence, Saville's paintings interact sometimes in isolation, sometimes in small groups of works or motifs. The airy hanging sets the visual tone, thus challenging the viewer's perception. The exhibition confronts 35 paintings by Schiele with 16 large-format works by Jenny Saville as well as 'studies' that deal with texture and materiality – what Saville herself terms 'mark-making'.
Some 55 works on paper offer an insight into Schiele's mastery of the art of drawing. Presented in small groups focusing on selected themes, they reveal an artistic intensity that does not shy away from extremes.
Supported by the art insurer Nationale Suisse, other patrons and our sponsoring paint supplier Farrow & Ball.


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Playbook - Employer Pays First With Crossover
Health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) are a great way for employees to take charge of their health care costs. As an employer, you play a critical role in providing education and resources so employees can decide if an HRA is the right choice.
This step-by-step communication "playbook" includes everything you need to communicate the benefits of HRAs to your employees and help them get their accounts set up hassle-free to use now and into the future.
Introduce the HRA
Whether you're introducing HRAs to the entire organization, onboarding new hires, or reviewing options before open enrollment, you'll want to give a high-level overview of HRAs.
Send an introduction letter
Customize and email this message, designed to be a message from your human resources leader or team.
Cover the basics
Offer specific details about how the account works with a health plan, which eligible expenses are covered, and how members can access their funds.
Distribute the HRA Essential Guide
Share a product comparison chart
Use if you are offering multiple health spending account options
This document is editable so you can add or remove products to fit your communication needs and help employees understand the different accounts.
Talk face-to-face
One-on-one discussions give your employees a chance to ask questions and better understand their options.
Schedule informational meetings
Share a presentation about HRAs
This simple presentation walks through the basics of an HRA and includes hypothetical examples.
Review our fact sheet
Before meeting, prepare to answer basic questions you may run into.
Provide the HRA worksheet
During the meeting, distribute the worksheet. It shows employees how to estimate their potential costs and savings with an HRA.
Support employees during enrollment
Congratulations! Your employees understand the value in making the most of their health care dollars and have decided to enroll in an HRA. You can continue to play a key role by ensuring they have access to the resources they need to open and use their accounts hassle-free.
Provide employees direct access to their new online account
Post or provide a link to Further's mobile-enabled website at [www.hellofurther.com or partner SSO link]. The site works well for any screen size—whether it's a desktop monitor, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone.
Remind employees where to access educational resources
You can do this with a simple email with a link to information and forms.
Promote the customer support phone number
Use the Group Online Service Center
Monitor and manage your group's Further benefits.
Have Questions?
As always, we're here to help. If you can't find the answers you're looking for online, give us a call at 1-888-460-4013 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday. Or, you can contact your account manager.


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|Broccoli Rabe, Sausage and Fontina Cheese
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, more for oiling pan
1/2 cup whole milk
2 1/2 cups water
1 cup coarse cornmeal
Prepare pan by brushing a layer of olive oil parchment paper lined cookie sheet or brownie pan, 12x8 inch. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine milk, water and a 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Bring just about to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and add cornmeal in a steady stream, whisk quickly and the whole time to prevent lumps from forming. Turn heat to low and simmer, whisking frequently, until thick. If mixture becomes too thick, whisk some more bit water in to this, you will want a consistency of thick oatmeal.
Stir 1 tablespoon oil into cooked cornmeal (Polenta). Spread out quickly onto prepared pan, so Polenta does not stiffen; spread it to a thickness of about 1/2 inch all over the parchment paper evenly. Sprinkle lightly with garlic powder, salt and( pepper optional), cover baking sheet with plastic wrap and put it in refrigerator until it is firm, an hour or more, it doesn't matter if you leave this longer even overnight. Cut out various shapes with a cookie cutter, remove with a spatual and place on another piece of oil sprayed parchment paper lined cookie sheet. If you prefer to use just squares. Then proceed leaving whole as if you were making a pizza, you can cut it after its cooked.
Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Spread Polenta with sauce of choice and various topping combinations below. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until it crisps on edges. Sprinkle the cheese at the end just to melt. Fontina, Mozzarella, Swiss all work the best.
Topping Variations: All spread with your favorite marinara sauce or alfredo sauce, see reccomendations
Broccoli Rabe, Sausage and Fontina Cheese ( marinara sauce)
Chicken and Mushrooms ( I have used both marinara and alfredo)
Pepperoni, Mozzarella (marinara sauce)
Black, Green Olives with Fontina Cheese (marinara sauce)
Ham, Cheddar or Swiss Cheese (alfredo sauce)
Peppers, Sausage with Mozzarella (marinara sauce)
Meatball and Mozzarella (marinara sauce)
Shrimp, Scallops Chopped Tomatoes with Mozzarella (marinara or alfredo sauce)
Tomato and Basil (marinara)
Marinara Sauce Recipe:
Fresh Plum(Pomodoro) 10 Roma (plum) tomatoes, seeded and finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 teaspoon sea or kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup white wine.
I use a food processor for the tomatoes. (If you prefer to remove the skins, place tomatoes in boiling water for ten minutes, remove and immediately put into iced water. Peel the skins with a sharp knife, you can also squeeze out the seeds.) Saute garlic in extra virgin olive oil, add seasonings,simmer in pot for 15 minutes add wine and basil. Cook for 15 more minutes. Great on pasta, pizza.
Alfredo Sauce:
Add butter and garlic in a pan saute till garlic is soft. Add the herbs and spices, cream and stir. Simmer on very low around 15 minutes, add cheeses at the end till blended and melted. A smooth cheese sauce goes great on pasta with chicken or shrimp added.


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CHICAGO — The online insurance marketplaces at the heart of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul are showing signs of trouble handling the volume of consumers on the first day of a six-month open enrollment period.
Federal officials are aware of the website problems Tuesday and are working to address it as quickly as possible.
U.S. Health and Human Services spokeswoman Joanne Peters says officials "have built a dynamic system and are prepared to make adjustments as needed and improve the consumer experience."
The site for Maryland, which is running its own exchange, displays a message saying "We open at 12:00 noon on October 1st."
Callers to the federal call center where consumers can get help by telephone have reported long wait times.


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"Legends speak of a Colossal Cave that extends deep underground, so twisted by time that its passages shift like the sand under which it lies... the Cave is said to be filled with fabulous treasures, but also incredible danger!"
Spelunky is a unique platformer with randomized levels that offer a challenging new experience each time you play. Journey deep underground and explore fantastic places filled with all manner of monsters, traps, and treasure. You'll have complete freedom while you navigate the fully-destructible environments and master their many secrets. To stay or flee, to kill or rescue, to shop or steal... in Spelunky, the choice is yours and so are the consequences!
Don't be afraid to die! But also don't be afraid to live! Happy Spelunky-ing!
Spelunky is a unique game that's a hybrid between a roguelike and a platformer.
The levels are procedurally generated with innumerable combinations, producing unique caves on every playthrough, with varied terrain, enemies and items spawning in each one. The player must navigate these in real time, using skill and reflexes, as well as resource management and strategy to gather treasure and fight monsters. Death is permanent, rapid and frequent - everything is lost upon death and the player must start over from the beginning with only the stock equipment of bombs, rope and hitpoints.
Derek Yu is involved in the independent game development culture, and draws from some of their traditions in his game design, such as metagaming elements like Speedrunning challenges.
Critical Reception
Spelunky has won multiple awards and accolades from many high-profile sources.
- Spelunky was nominated for three awards in the Independent Games Festival, and won the award for Excellence in Design.
- Listed as Destructoid's Console exclusive of the Year
- Listed in Wired.com's Top 10 games of 2012
- Listed in the Top 10 of The Edge awards of 2012
- It was the Winner of Gamespot's Platformer of the year and XBLA Game of the year
- Listed in the top 10 of Paste Magazine's top 30 Games of 2012.
- Listed as one of the Guardian's top 10 in the top 25 games of 2012
- Listed in Gamasutra's top 10 best of 2012.
Spelunky has also had numerous mentions in blogs, forums and social media, and many game developers cite Spelunky as an influence on their work.
Spelunky Classic
The original game was created by Derek Yu using the Game Maker engine. The first public release was on the 21st of December 2008 for Windows.
The PC game is Freeware, being available for download on the official Spelunky site, Spelunky World.
Being written in Game Maker confers advantages and disadvantages common to other Game Maker games.
As of the latest release, V1.1, the full source code is now available, allowing modding to be done by anyone with a registered copy of GameMaker 8. As a result, there are now many Mods available for the PC version.
Spelunky HD
Spelunky was re-released for the Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) in 2012, four years after its initial PC launch.
The HD version is an updated release, more of a sequel than a port. It features modern HD graphics as well as a large amount of new content, including (but not limited to) new enemies, areas, terrain and items, as well as new 11 player characters, an updated player records system and online worldwide leaderboards and rankings.
It also features new multiplayer game modes, including four-player local co-op adventures and a frantic deathmatch mode.
Multi-Platform Release
The HD version of Spelunky was released for PC on August 8th 2013, through Steam and GOG.
Spelunky will also soon be released on the Playstation Network to the PS3 and the PS Vita.
Each version of the game has unique benefits exclusive to that platform:
- The Steam version of the game includes:
- The Daily Challenge Mode
- Leaderboards
- Achievements and Trading Cards
- The GOG version of the game includes:
- No Digital Rights Management restrictions
- The OST and some extra artwork included for free
- The PSN version includes:
- Cross-play and Cross-buy: The purchase includes copies of the game on both PS3 and PS Vita
- Vita Portability
- Movement freedom in Co-Op, instead of restrictive shared-screen play.
Unofficial Releases
Classic Mac OS X port
An unofficial Mac OS X port of Spelunky has been created by Leon Arnott. The port uses the 1.0 source code.
Another unofficial Mac OS X port of Spelunky was created by idyll with contributions from the Spelunky community. This port is based on TyrOvC's Spelunky 1.2r2 source code which is based on Spelunky 1.1.
Classic HTML5 Port
An HTML5 port of Spelunky that runs in a web browser has been created by Darius Kazemi.
PC System Requirements (HD version)
Minimum Specifications:
OS: Microsoft® Windows® XP / Vista / 7 / 8
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8GHz or equivalent processor
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: 3D graphics card
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Hard Drive: 200 MB available space
Additional Notes: Xbox 360 Controller or equivalent supported (Non-Xinput controllers require a wrapper, such as JoytoKey.)
Spelunky by Derek Yu, Copyright (c) 2009-2013 Mossmouth, LLC


text: 25 IG PVA Accounts 1 YEAR AGED$60.00 25 IG PVA Accounts 1 YEAR AGED quantity Add to cart Category: Instagram PVA Accounts Reviews (0) ReviewsThere are no reviews yet. Be the first to review "25 IG PVA Accounts 1 YEAR AGED" Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Your ratingRate…PerfectGoodAverageNot that badVery poor Your review *Name *Email * Notify me of new posts by email. Related products 25 IG PVA Accounts 6 MONTH AGED $50.00Add to cart 500 IG PVA 1-3 MONTH AGED $475.00Add to cart 100 IG PVA Accounts 6 MONTH AGED $200.00Add to cart


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Green Lane Steel Cross Crowborough East Sussex TN6 2XB View with Google Maps
This website is part of the Pitchero Rugby Union network. Create your own free Rugby Union club website with Pitchero.
Digital advertising by Minute Media
© Pitch Hero Ltd 2008-2020
Pitch Hero Ltd Registered in ENGLAND | WF3 1DR | Company Number - 636 1033


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Commitment is only intended action without response. Response is the reaction or reply that gives commitment power.
- Body Action: In movement, intended action requires the body's response. The brain can cue "Gesture!" or "Travel!" or "Turn!" but relies on the response of the body to propel the action.
- Relationships: Communicated intention requires the response of the other person to complete the loop. A person can communication in a thousand ways "Let's DO ____!" but all stops without a reply. The response will strengthen or diminish subsequent commitment.
The opposite of commitment?
- An unmet high-five
- An email without reply
- A hug held with tension
- Waiting in vain
Powerful commitments are those met with response.
Wishing you the blessings of progress,
- Megan
Alright, worldly readers: You must take some pictures of yourself to monitor your progress on fitness goals. Why? Because they tell you where you really are right now.
Grab someone to take a load of pictures of you working out. These images are like a mirror in motion and the purpose is not perfection.
Your fitness selfies should tell you:
- Is my form correct? Snap the TV or instructor in the background to compare.
- How do I feel on the INSIDE: Stronger, Faster, Freer? These are your goals.
- How does this compare to where I was a week ago and where I want to be a week from now?
Fitness pictures are both ugly and beautiful: you are working hard, dripping with sweat, breathing heavy, reaching to hit your mark. But you are alive, thriving, and growing so view your pictures in loving ways. Time is fleeting and precious.
Injuries and illnesses inflict a huge loss of hard-earned strength and stability. Today I am three weeks back from a 3-month forced pause to overcome both so some May 2014 progress checks were needed while working out to P90X3:
A note on my workouts: As a full-time mom, almost always 30 minutes is all I or any working person can get in every day. P90X3 accommodates my needs, creates results, and the instructor Tony Horton is hilarious which decreases the stress of the oncoming hard work. Then if time allows my bonus cardio reward is LaBlast Fitness: dance, dance, dance, YAY!
Love yourself by working hard and progressing your fitness selfies, take the brief notes that will help you succeed, then get ready for improved daily workouts.
Dancing again today feels like a bit of a dream, a sense of delusion, and great excitement!
Imagine Dragon: "I'm on top of the World" Offical Video
The past seven weeks have been filled with:
- More doctors, education, and medications for my body than usual
- Loads of pilates, ballet, mixed martial arts with standing weight on my left leg, upper body conditioning, and everything on my hands and knees and back that avoided harming the punctured right ball of my foot.
- Dozens of tasks delegated and reorganized so nothing was dropped or left behind
- More love, friends, family, and support than I imagined could be given
- More reflection, insight, research, and work toward potential future paths
- Inspiration from those in equal or worse situations who shared their rehab stories and tips
You can be any size, shape, race, gender, background, income, or education level:
For Instructors: LaBlast will be at ALL 2014 SCW Manias, register now!
Photos courtesy of Basil Steele.
Simultaneously begin Masters degree in Phys Ed and Group Fitness career.
Work with Older Adults, acute and chronic disease rehab, and specialty programs.
First successful pregnancy and birth but ongoing thyroid battles.
Pregnancy and postpartum fitness classes, better thyroid regulation and physician care.
My friend Dubra takes me to the LaBlast Premiere at IDEA World.
LaBlast is a fun-filled class that will both challenge and inspire people of all ages and fitness levels as we dance to music of all genres: Pop and Rock, to Hip Hop and Country, and more! Learn and enjoy partner-free dances like the Disco, Cha Cha, Jive, Samba, Paso Doble, Merengue, and Salsa to burn some calories simply in your casual clothes and low-tread sneakers.
Louis says: "If you can walk, you can dance."
XO - Megan
I am NOT the best writer. In fact, thank goodness for blogging so I have a place to practice at improving for the past few years. But when my first daughter began school two years ago, I wanted to send her off when positive thoughts and loving words of wisdom so I would write the occasional lunch box note "Have a great day!" and "We love you!" with little pictures of stick figure smiley faces and sun beams.
Last year her reading vastly improved so I began sending her with a daily quote. (Thank goodness for the multitude of Internet quote databases nowadays!) When she didn't understand the meaning she would ask me about it when she came home from school that day.
She has now begun her second grade adventure. She also began reading Harry Potter and we have to monitor her going to bed at night (ie: she can't put books down!). And I forgot about our quote tradition and she had to remind me before heading out on her new first day of school. I'm so grateful she did.
Last year I kept track of all the quotes I found and shared with her (thank goodness for databases #2!) Perhaps you will begin your own lunch box note tradition. Have you heard the saying "you are what you eat"?
Be mindful of what you think...
Click here for the "169 Lunch Box Quotes" printer-friendly list.
Created at www.meganmerchant.com
|"It always seems impossible until it's done." - Nelson Mandela
|"The struggle is part of the story." - Unknown
|"One of the hardest parts of life is deciding whether to walk away or try harder." - Unknown
|"What you can imagine depends on what you know." - Daniel Dennett
|"Setting a good example is a far better way to spread ideals than through force of arms." - Ron Paul
|"Life is hard. It's even harder when you're stupid." - John Wayne
|"You're off to great places, today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way." - Dr. Seuss
|"Always be kinder than you feel."
|"When you feel like quitting, think about why you started."
|"Hard work is a two-way street. You get back what you put in."
|"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." - Steve Martin
|"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller
|"Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content." - Helen Keller
|"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow." - Helen Keller
|"My share of the work may be limited, but the fact that it is work makes it precious." - Helen Keller
|"We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world." - Helen Keller
|" Love is the flower you've got to let grow." - John Lennon
|"Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower." - Hans Christian Andersen
|"Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." - Les Brown
|"It will never rain roses. When we want to have more roses we must plant more trees." - George Eliot
|"People respond when you tell them there is a great future in front of you, you can leave your past behind." - Joel Osteen
|"Dig a little deeper. Think of something that we've never thought of before." - Winne the Pooh
|"Don't think, and don't worry. If the times comes, you'll know what to do." - Mrs. Incredible
|"I tell myself that I am not afraid." - Piglet
|"The very things that hold you down are going to lift you up." - Timothy Mouse
|"You just need to believe in yourself." - Rex, Toy Story
|"Like so many things, it is not what is outside, but what is inside that counts." - Merchant, Aladdin
|"Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one." - Grandmother Willow
|"Remember, you're the one who can fill the world with sunshine." - Snow White
|"Ohana means family. And family means no one gets left behind or forgotten." - Lilo
|"Something feels funny. I must be thinking too hard." - Winnie the Pooh
|"You can get it if you really want. But you must try, try, and try. You'll succeed at last." - Sebastian
|"Say 'please' and 'thank you' even if you're feeling grumpy." - Snow White
|"Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?" - Winnie the Pooh
|"Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories." - Genie, Aladdin
|"Who says that my dreams have to stay just my dreams?" - Ariel
|"Your talent makes you who you are. You should be proud of it." - Tinker Bell
|"If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient." - Eeyore
|"I'm only brave when I have to be, being brave doesn't mean you go looking for trouble." - Mufasa, Lion King
|"To laugh at yourself, is to love yourself." - Mickey Mouse
|"Wow, I wish I could speak whale." - Dory, Finding Nemo
|"I could get used to a view like this. Yep, I'm used to it. Guys I want a castle." - Flynn Rider, Tangled
|"This much I knew. If you are what you eat, then I only wanna eat the good stuff." - Remy, Ratatouille
|"There's a lot of love out there, you know man?" - Fillmore, Cars
|"I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now." — Edna Mode, The Incredibles
|"I am a nice shark, not a mindless eating machine. If I am to change this image, I must first change myself." — Bruce, Finding Nemo
|"Git-R-Done!" - Mater, Cars
|"The things that make me different are the things that make me." - A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh
|"You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne, Christopher Robin
|"Whatever you are, be a good one." - Abraham Lincoln
|"No one is perfect – that's why pencils have erasers." - Unknown
|"It's not how good you are. It's how good you want to be." - Paul Arden
|"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates' loot on the Treasure Island." - Walt Disney
|"Only surround yourself with people who will lift you higher." - Oprah Winfrey
|"All of our dreams can come true." - Walt Disney
|"Nothing is particularly hard if you break it down into small jobs." - Henry Ford
|"Make each day your masterpiece." -- John Wooden
|"Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or to keep one." -- Robert E. Lee
|"Once in a young lifetime one should be allowed to have as much sweetness as one can possibly want and hold." - Judith Olney
|"There is a child in every one of us who is still a trick-or-treater looking for a brightly-lit front porch." - Robert Brault
|"Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story." - Mason Cooley
|"When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, May luck be yours on Halloween." - Author Unknown
|"Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," "haunted," or "forbidden" in the title." - Scooby-Doo
|"If a man who cannot count finds a four-leaf clover, is he lucky?" - Stanislaw J. Lec
|"A best friend is like a four leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have." - Unknown
|"Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"" - Robin Williams
|"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile." - William Cullen Bryant
|"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." - Albert Camus
|"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree." - Emily Bronte
|"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn." - Elizabeth Lawrence
|"It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a harvest in Autumn." - B. C. Forbes
|"Spring comes with flowers, autumn with the moon, summer with the breeze, winter with snow. When idle concerns don't fill your thoughts, that's your best season." - Wu-Men
|"October's poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter." - Nova Bair
|"There ought to be gardens for all months in the year, in which, severally, things of beauty may be then in season." - Sir Francis Bacon
|"The leaves are green, the nuts are brown, They hang so high they won't come down. Leave them alone till frosty weather, Then they will all come down together." - Unknown
|"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." - Edith Sitwell
|"Snow flurries began to fall and they swirled around people's legs like house cats. It was magical, this snow globe world." - Sarah Addison Allen, The Sugar Queen
|"Our wings serve as flippers that carry us across the ocean; not in the sky! Why, us penguins have so much fun in the water, we don't even want to fly!" - Jasmine Jean, Whimsy Girl
|"Das Lachen ist die Sonne, die aus dem menschlichen Antlitz den Winter vertreibt." - Victor Hugo (trans: Laughter is the sun that drives the human face from winter.)
|"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple."- Dr. Seuss
|"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" ― Dr. Seuss
|"If things start happening, don't worry, don't stew, just go right along and you'll start happening too." ― Dr. Seuss
|"The color of springtime is in the flowers; the color of winter is in the imagination." - Terri Guillemets
|"In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy." - William Blake
|"One kind word can warm three winter months." - Japanese Proverb
|"He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree." - Roy L. Smith
|"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." - Norman Vincent Peale
|"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." - Burton Hillis
|"I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month." - Harlan Miller
|"Remember, This December, That love weighs more than gold!" - Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon
|"It takes a big heart to shape little minds." - Unknown
|"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - Christopher Robin (Winnie the Pooh)
|"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun." - Mary Poppins
|"Think left and think right, and think low and think high, Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!" - Dr. Seuss
|"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." - Winnie the Pooh
|"Your mission: Be so busy loving your life, you have no time for hate, regret, or fear." - Karen Salmansohn
|"One person can make a difference, and everyone should try." - John F. Kennedy
|"You have to think anyway, so why not think BIG?" - Donald Trump
|"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." - Dalai Lama
|"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says "I'm possible!"" - Audrey Hepburn
|"Don't cry because it's over. SMILE because it happened." - Dr. Seuss
|"The price of greatness is responsibility." - Winston Churchill
|"Some people are always complaining because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses." - Alphonse Karr
|"If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging." - Will Rogers
|"I've always believed that a lot of the trouble in the world would disappear if we were talking to each other instead of about each other." - Ronald Reagan
|"The more a man knows, the more he forgives." - Catherine the Great
|"The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up." - Paul Valery
|"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." - Jimi Hendrix
|"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well." - Virginia Woolf
|"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence." — Robert Frost
|"I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today." - William Allen White
|"Reach high, for the stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal." - Pamela Vault Starr
|"Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely." - Auguste Rodin
|"There are two ways of spreading light: To be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." - Edith Wharton
|"Remember, happiness doesn't depend on who you are or what you have, it depends soley on what you think." - Dale Carnegie
|"Life consists of what a man is thinking about all day." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
|"Nurture great thoughts, for you will never go higher than your thoughts." - Benjamin Disraeli
|"Progress is often just a good idea away." - John C. Maxwell
|"Ninety-nine point nine percent of all employees are in the pile because they don't think." - Jack Welch
|"You can't stop people from thinking, but you can start them." - Frank A. Dusch
|"More gold has been mined from the thoughts of men than has ever been taken from the earth." - Napolean Hill
|"People will never attain what they cannot see themselves doing." - Karen Ford
|"Don't ever be too impressed with goal-setting. Be impressed with goal-getting." - John C. Maxwell
|"Good thinkers are always in demand. A person who knows how may always have a job, but the person who knows why will always be his boss." - John C. Maxwell
|"Learning to write is learning to think. You don't know anything clearly unless you can state it in writing." - S.I. Hayakawa
|"If you want to be a sharp thinker, be around sharp people." - John C. Maxwell
|"One good thought does not make a successful life. Success comes to those who have an entire mountain of gold that they continuously mine." - John C. Maxwell
|"The truth is that you can spend your life any way you want, but you can spend it only once." - John C. Maxwell
|"You've got to think about the 'big things' while you're doing the small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction." - Alvin Toffler
|"The immature mind hops from one thing to another; the mature mind seeks to follow through." - Harry A. Overstreet
|"Keep your mind off the things you don't want by keeping it on the things you do want." - W. Clement Stone
|"The joy is in creating, not maintaining." - Vince Lombardi, NFL Hall of Fame Coach
|"The person with a plan, a picture, will go after thoughts that add value to their thinking." - John C. Maxwell
|"No matter what you are currently able to do, creativity can make you capable of more." - John C. Maxwell
|"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." - Maya Angelou
|"Creativity is the joy of not knowing it all." - Ernie Zelinski
|"The uncreative mind can spot wrong answers, but it takes a creative mind to spot wrong questions." - Antony Jay
|"Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work." - Rita Mae Brown
|"All human development, no matter what form it takes, must be outside the rules; otherwise, we would never have anything new." - Charles Kettering
|"Most people spend more time planning their summer vacation than planning their lives." - Unknown
|"Before it can be solved, a problem must be clearly defined." - William Feather
|"A strategy that doesn't take into account resources is doomed to failure." - John C. Maxwell
|"The will to win is worthless if you do not have the will to prepare." - Thane Yost
|"Nothing is so embarrassing as watching someone do something that you said could not be done." - Sam Ewing
|"You invest yourself in what you believe can succeed." - John C. Maxwell
|"The word impossible is not in my dictionary." - Napolean Bonaparte
|"Reflective thinking is like the crock pot of the mind. It encourages your thoughts to simmer until they're done." - John C. Maxwell
|"When you reflect, you are able to put an experience into perspective... reflective thinking enables you to distance yourself from the intense emotions of particularly good or bad experiences and see them with fresh eyes." - John C. Maxwell
|"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates
|"The value you receive from reflective thinking will depend on the kinds of questions you ask yourself." - John C. Maxwell
|"The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from the old ones." - John Maynard Keynes
|"The problem with popular thinking is that it doesn't require you to think at all." - Kevin Myers
|"The greatest enemy to tomorrow's success is sometimes today's success." - John C. Maxwell
|"He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master." - Ben Jonson
|"We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own." - Ben Sweetland
|"There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assist another human being - to help someone succeed." - Alan Loy McGinnis
|"Learn, earn, return - these are the three phases of life." - Jack Balousek
|"Little did I realize that my desire to add value to others would be the thing that added value to me!" - John C. Maxwell
|"Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity." - Horace Mann
|"People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society." - Vince Lombardi, NFL Hall of Fame Coach
|"The happiest life is that which constantly exercises and educates what is best in us." - Hamerton
|"Your real influence is measured by your treatment of yourself." - A. Bronson Alcott
|"Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still." - Chinese Proverb
|"We learn wisdom from failure much more than success. We often discover what we will do, by finding out what we will not do." - Samuel Smiles
|"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one." - Elbert Hubbard
|"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
|"Great effort from great motives is the best definition of a happy life." - William Ellery Channing
|"Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us." - Thomas Paine
"Ask yourself this question: Will this matter a year from now?" - Richard Carlson
|www.johnmaxwell.com (Book: Thinking for a Change)
|www.pinterest.com, Disciple 52 "Classroom Quotes for Kids"
|www.nmmarketplace.com, Search "Words of Wisdom"
I very rarely go to the mall.
But when my first daughter was seven months old in 2005, I flew to a SCW Mania in Dallas, Texas, for continuing fitness education (extremely worthwhile, but that's another story), and I felt as though those two days away from my baby would likely kill us all. And at a gift shop in Texas, a small brown bear sat smiling at me from a window and called to me to take it home to my daughter, making those two days apart just a bit more worthwhile and a little less unbearable.
Fast forward to 2012 and I found myself with my two daughters at the mall in Utah purchasing Build-A-Bears in memory of their recently lost grandmother. I was fascinated by the idea my children could make a wish on a heart, place it in the dolls of their choice, and then watch these sacks of fur inflate with life so tightly I thought the toys would burst. The ritualistic stuffing remained in my mind.
Fast forward to 2013 and my soon-to-be eight oldest daughter has been begging of me for the past year to "inflate" her sweet Texas teddy bear who is so loved he lays limp from the years of snuggles. And something spurred an urge in me today to finally take my kids to the mall and revitalize her childhood friend, continuing to keep at bay the two lost days of her infancy that plagued me so terribly for those first years of her life.
Why all the drama over lost time with my infant child? Because for six years before her birth I taught older adults fitness and as they awaited my first successful pregnancy I would hear on a daily basis, "Enjoy every minute. It goes by before you know it and you can't EVER get it back." I know they all meant well and I deeply valued their words.
But then my first child and three years later my second were born and the comments never ended. "Enjoy every minute. They grow up before you know it. You can't EVER get this time back." And here and now at the mall EVERY person walking by is saying, "Aw, you have beautiful children. Enjoy it. Every moment..."
Something no one tells new moms is that you will mourn the loss of an ever-changing being constantly because every three months and then slowly year after year the person your child was no longer exists as that same "stage" and what is coming up next may or may not be as beautiful as the stage before.
Not to be dismissive of the precious growth of a child, but change happens, adulthood happens, death will happen. What is THE moment I must catch and avoid being forever haunted by because of this constant onslaught of the passing of time?
The answer is: their is no specific moment, and almost every moment has some element of beauty. While at the mall, I noticed the women that took time to open my daughter's beloved toy, give it new life, and stitch it together for us was beautiful. And I may never see her again. And the sub that taught my youngest daughter's gym class was beautiful in that moment with her group of children; we may never see her again. And the class I took tonight with a grown male instructor and six other diverse students were all beautiful, and that class in that moment will never exist the same again. And the sunset on the way home from class that was BEAUTIFUL and unique to that moment in time is now gone.
And rather than caution the loss of time to others let's instead all see that so much more than the stages of childhood are beautiful. Regardless of age and possessions, beauty CAN BE in every passing moment and interaction. This photographer found one such moment and shared it:
My thought is that if you ever find yourself interacting with someone thinking what they have is worth acknowledging in that moment, look to your mirror. Give of your beauty freely and fill the supposed shortage. And then go to the mall, make a wish on a heart, and inflate a toy to life.
PS, At some point someone had to ask: what about more father-daughter moments?
Those are worth making more of, too...


text:
Buddygirrl first came to our attention when she scored a top 10 of the Veela Night Vision Remix contest. What you may not be aware of is that we keep an eye out for our talented customers in the music related social media. This means we can interview them, before they get so famous that we can only get permission to talk to their managers media-relations junior assistant. When we saw 'Buddygirrl' pop up in here and there, we jumped on the chance to report on her journey with music and FL Studio so far...
Q: What was your introduction to music?
I can't really remember the first time I got really into electronic music in particular, but I was raised in a very artistically inclined family, so music and art in general has always been a regular part of my life. Music classes were mandatory in my elementary school years, but in grade 5, that's when I really got interested after seeing an orchestra perform, and decided to take up the viola. I played that in the school orchestra until grade 10, and it really helped train my ear and a lot of that training has helped me with my knowledge in producing. Now it's something that means the world to me - this is what I live for.
Music has become an everyday part of my life, and I really do find it interesting that today, you can clearly see that society is almost becoming, or already is, a music war. It's like arguing about religion, it's almost something you don't want to bring up, but you feel the need to anyway. People constantly loving one another for their music tastes, or bashing on each other because of their different tastes. It just amazes me, how something as simple as music can have such a huge impact on our emotions, our relationships, and just our well-being.
Buddygirrl's Fly used to promote Beatport at Miami
Q: How did you start using FL Studio & what does it mean to your productions?
About 5 or so years ago, my friend Sam introduced me to this awesome program he'd discovered, called FL Studio. I'd always been interested in learning to compose electronic productions so I really jumped on this discovery, and immediately started teaching myself the ins and outs of the program. The one thing I absolutely love about FL Studio is its SIMPLICITY. It's so easy to navigate through, the step sequencer and piano roll are some things I couldn't imagine producing without, and everything is just simple and to the point. You can make your ideas become real compositions so fast, I've finished tracks in mere hours. Just about every day I get inspiration, I go into FL and jot down my ideas so I don't forget them later. You could say it acts as a musical notebook as well as a full-on DAW. I've tried a few other DAWs and I just didn't feel like I could get my ideas down as well as I could in FL Studio. It's perfect for me as a producer and suits my creative needs.
Q: You scored a spot in the Mau5hax competition with Deadmau5 tell us about it?
It was basically a too-good-to-be-true opportunity that I didn't want to pass up. I saw a post about it on mau5trap's facebook, and decided I'd take a few minutes to submit an application, not really thinking I'd get in. But hey, worth a shot, right? I ended up scoring one of five spots, and I drove all the way from Ohio to Miami, Florida with my family, who is so supportive of me, to attend the event. It really was an honour to have gotten to be a part of history in the making, seeing as it was the first ever mau5hax event, and it really did turn out well. Given the amount of time we had, we put out some decent tracks for free. I learned a lot from everyone, and we all learned a lot from each other and just had fun doing so. All in all, getting to hang around and produce with my biggest musical inspiration and some of EDM's most influential artists is something I'm never going to forget. (Hence why I got a tattoo to show much it made a mark on my life.) To sum that up in one word: surreal.
Q: What are your future goals with your music?
The reason I make music is simply for the love of making music. Of course it is pretty awesome to be able to create a career from something you have a genuine love and passion for. I want to be able to produce tracks at a steady rate, but keep the quality up to par. I tend to be a slow worker at times, but when I get really into a project I'll pretty much lose sleep over it. I also don't yet have any DJing skills, so I'd really love to get started on the basics of that, and maybe one day I'll be able to play some rad shows! I know some people have been bugging me about that, so that's definitely something that needs to take priority. Just really looking to share my passion with others.
Q: Any links you'd like to share?
BG @ Facebook - Official updates and whatnot
BG @ Twitter - Twitter, my safe haven on the internet
BG @ SoundCloud - There's quite a few free tunes!
BG random @ YouTube - I usually upload more casual stuff, like covers of tracks, random stuff, etc.
BG ordered @ YouTube - Any tracks for free or previews, that's where I'll put them & soundcloud.
BG @ Beatport - Doesn't really do much, I think it looks neat though ;)
I would also like to take a moment to thank everyone who has been here to support me every step of the way. My family, my friends, my amazing fans, you all are amazing, I'd be nothing without you guys. And Image-Line as well, if it wasn't for your amazing software, I probably wouldn't even be making music today. You guys are the best!
Is this DAW abuse? :)