Yellowstone National Park
August 17, 2016
We are nearing the end of our stay at Yellowstone but have enjoyed the park every day. The landscapes are truly unique here and the wildlife is amazing. An early morning view near Grand Prismatic Springs. The ridge in the background is the volcano tabletop. Yes, remember we are standing in the caldera.
This is called a bacteria mat near Grand Prismatic Springs. The colors are caused by different types of bacteria that can survive the extreme thermal temperatures.
We watched this pair of sandhill cranes from quite a distance. Every time I took a step closer, they took 10 back.
Have seen Trumpeter Swans on the Yellowstone River (could not get close enough for a shot), Swan Lake and here on the Firehole River. This famous bachelor often poses on this small sandbar.
While waiting for White Dome Geyser to erupt, I spotted these two buffalo fighting over a dust hole. Nothing like a good dirt bath.
Spotted these two elks, grazing along the steaming Firehole River near Black Sands Basin. They were very curious of the crowd that gathered to watch them.
Let me know when you have seen enough elk images. This gentle soul was taking a drink from the Madison River early Sunday morning.
Found a nice picnic spot along the Nez Perce Creek. The famous Nez Perce Trail passes through the park.
A young elk grazes under the watchful eye of a buck along the Firehole River. I must admit that I was focused on the young one and did not see the buck stick his head into the frame.
Yellowstone National Park
August 9, 2016
Yellowstone is a very special and unique place where wildflowers bloom in the lower geyser basin and the ground steams from many geysers and paint pots along the beautiful Fire Hole River. I took some liberties and added canvas to this image as the plain blue sky lacked drama.
We stopped at Mt Haynes this morning to enjoy the view and watch the fly fishermen wade into the water along the Madison.
The Nez Perce Creek flows into an open valley where buffalo often roam.
A pair of buffalo taking a drink before crossing the Yellowstone River in the Hayden Valley.
A young elk buck grazing along the Madison River early one morning. You can see the ears of young elk in the grass on the left.
Elk grazing along the Madison. All the elk look very healthy this year.
West Yellowstone, MT
August 8, 2016
We have been exploring the Yellowstone National Park and finding many great landscapes and wildlife. Staying near the west entrance gives us the opportunity to drive along the beautiful Madison River.
One of the most powerful sights in Yellowstone is the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River as it flows through the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
We spent some time waiting for the Great Fountain Geyser to erupt in the Lower Geyser Basin. It was worth the wait.
The wildflowers are blooming along the Madison River near Mt. Haynes. A lovely place to hike and enjoy the river.
The wildlife is just amazing and a thrill to spot them in the wild. We watched a very large herd of buffalo come down from the hillsides, cross the Yellowstone River and head into Hayden Valley to graze. A wonder to see.
A lone elk grazing along the Madison. I was pressed to a large boulder and watched it graze for quite a while. The camera noise finally gave me away.
a gray wolf
The iconic Bald Eagle.
Canada Geese are plentiful along the Madison.
Mexican Hat, Utah
The Valley of the Gods
We are happily back on the road again after a much needed break. Did not exactly escape the heat of Phoenix in Monument Valley where is was over 100 degrees. Headed to the little monument valley called the Valley of the Gods. It is a scenic sandstone valley that features stunning geologic formations. The statuesque formations are sculpted from Cedar Mesa sandstone dating to the Permian period, around 250 million years ago. Eroded by water, wind and ice over millions of years, the rock was carved into the unique buttes, monoliths (single massive stone or rock), pinnacles and other geological features as seen today.
A view of the Navajo Warriors defending the Valley for eternity.
a jeep view of the winding road through the valley on a hot summer morning.
One of the unique monuments in the valley.
December 21, 2015
I had the pleasure of roaming the paths of the Boyce Thompson Arboretum today. It feels like late fall here in the desert but the calendar says the first day of winter. There were not many blooms to discover as many plants were covered as protection from our recent cold spell.
As stated, “The Mission of Boyce Thompson Arboretum is to instill in people an appreciation of plants through the fostering of educational, recreational, research, and conservation opportunities associated with arid-land plants.” One cannot help but learn about the many varieties of desert plants on display in natural settings.
This stately cottonwood was still showing a beautiful yellow glow.
A proud saguaro ribs left after the cactus dies.
a shot from a cactus garden
October 9, 2015
As we prepare to depart from Moab, I wanted to leave you with some of my impressions.
Welcome to Mars. The red rock is always a thrill to see.
A lonely cottonwood stands in the desert sands along Potash Rd near Canyonlands National Park.
Thelma and Louise point along the Potash Rd to the Schafer Trail as the Colorado River winds its way through Canyonlands. The final scene of the movie was shot at these cliffs.
We love to head up the LaSal Loop into the Manti-LaSal National Forest to enjoy the aspens in their fall splendor. This was taken from Geyser Pass Rd with LaSal Mountain peak.
The aspen groves along Geyser Pass are now my favorite stop. The eyes are upon you.


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The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments, in the Common Version. With Amendments of the Language
This book, by Noah Webster, is a revised edition of the King James Bible, with corrections in grammar, an updating of obscure or obsolete words, and a softening of potentially offensive expressions.
Resultados 1-5 de 5
... and it is in sight deeper 7 But if the scab shall spread much than the skin : it is a
leprosy broken out in the skin , after he hath been seen of the burning : wherefore
the priest by the priest for his cleansing , he shall shall pronounce him unclean ...
32 Jotham's good 842 . the sight of the LORD : he departed not reign . 36 Ahaz
succeedeth him . all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the twenty and seventh
year * of the son of Nebat , who made Israel to sin . 19 And Pul the king of Assyria
1 . them that do the work , that have the the sight of the LORD , as his father
Maoversight of the house of the Lord . nasseh did . 10 And Shaphan the scribe
showed 21 And he walked in all the way that the king , saying , Hilkiah the priest
624 . the sight of the LORD , according to all 19 And all the houses also of the
high that his fathers had done . places that were in the cities of Samaria , 33 And
Pharaoh - nechoh put him in which the kings of Israel had made to 10 Heb .
5 Heb . by desolate ; and ye shall know that I am 4 Then shalt thou bring forth thy
stuff remov the LORD . by day in their sight , as stuff for temov- go into 21 [ And
the word of the LORD came ing : and thou shalt go forth at evening captivity . to ...
Comentarios de la gente - Escribir un comentario
This appears to be a fair copy of Websters revision of 1833, but pages 897 to 907 (Ren 4:10 to 22:21) are missing. A Better copy titled "The holy Bible, in the common version, with amendments of the language, by N. Webster" found at http://books.google.com/books/about/The_holy_Bible_in_the_common_version_wit.html?id=-UtbAAAAQAAJ
is the same version and is complete.

domain: literature


text:
The Colorado Avalanche find themselves down. 3-1, after two periods of play against the New York Islanders. Paul Stastny put the Avalanche on the board with just 21 seconds left to play in the period, helped largely by a 5-on-3 power play advantage. Matt Moulson and Jay Pandolfo put the Islanders in trouble by picking up high-sticking and holding penalties, respectively.
The Islanders went up, 2-0, early when Brian Rolston scored just 34 seconds into the period. Eight minutes into play, Michael Grabner almost had a breakaway but wound up in a 3-on-1 situation that saw him score the Islanders' third goal of the game.
The Avalanche continue to hold a shooting advantage over the Islanders, 31-23, but Al Montoya had been a brick wall in net until he let in the late goal. Can Jean-Sebastien Giguere keep the Islanders off the board if his teammates are able to score a few more goals? Twenty minutes remain to play.

domain: sports


Read a full interview by The Cross Eyed Pianist Frances Wilson, here:
With over 10 years experience teaching students of all ages, alongside his growing freelance work, Richard has established himself as a well respected tutor and pianist in the Manchester area. Having studied at Lancaster University initially with John Clegg, who was a student of Herbert Fryer’s, and then subsequently with Peter Noke, Richard has continued to work on developing his repertoire and technique. Boasting a busy teaching portfolio and fantastic exam results, alongside supporting new emerging talent with students being accepted to study at Chetham’s School of Music, he’s now focussed on building a successful music career.
Having undergone further study with Penelope Roskell & Beate Toyka, with a focus on developing a tension free technique, Richard has worked with many top professionals to improve his overall approach to piano playing and pass on this knowledge and experience to his students, including masterclasses with Benjamin Frith, Graham Fitch and Dr Sally Cathcart. His own difficulties with RSI and back pains have given him greater insight into what is required from a performing artist and the pressure that recital work and teaching work can entail.


I’m trying to find a good way to cut out ‘deck plates’ from an existing model. I finally discovered that a combination of Edge Split, Solidify and Bevel modifiers look good together without too much extra mess.
The issue I’m having is this: I can’t find a way to add vertices to the original mesh, WITHOUT cutting it, using a path, mesh, or any other tool. It seems elementary to me. The Shrinkwrap modifier seems close, but considering the knife tool is horrid (I even tried the one in the bmesh branch, still needs a lot of work) it isn’t really feasible to do it all by hand.
The only method I’ve found that would do what I’m looking for is to use an intersect boolean, then a difference boolean, delete a TON of excess geometry, then join the two resulting meshes and remove doubles.
This is an example of the two shapes I want to work with.
This is what I’m hoping to achieve, sort of. What I actually did here was to shrinkwrap the path, convert to mesh, and join. Unfortunately, it doesn’t actually join the points to the mesh, only including them as an unattached mesh alongside the hull mesh.
I did find a lead to a better way, but it didn’t pan out. I changed the paths to 2D so they filled, set an extrude, and then used shrinkwrap. They looked GREAT in the editing window, but the render, not so much. Stepped edges and nasty normal inversions. :s Still trying tho.
Is this any use to you? If I understand what you’re trying to do, I’d cut out the shape this way, by deleting the faces and merging/filling the border with the shrinkwrapped shape, filling the shape afterwards if you needed to
The trouble is, since the shape is so odd, the method he shows in the tutorial results in some odd surface waves around the added geometry.I can’t subsurf the mesh, so I can’t use that to disguise the transition.
I’m redoing the topology anyway on this element, so I can shape the mesh to fit the details I want in there, but I am not redoing the whole model. (This is the warhead module for the Defiant, and the mesh I have isn’t a good copy of the real thing, the warhead is quite a bit off.)
WHY oh WHY is the word R I P P L E S forbidden? It took me 5 minutes to find what caused that.
If you are wanting to add these plates as an extrusion from the hull, add them as separate objects and place them on top of the mesh. This is how many people do it. There is no hard rule that says geometry has to be merged to one another. You can easily make them part of the larger object by adding them in edit mode or creating separate geometry and then ctrl-j to join them together.
Don’t fall into the trap that all things have to be one solid mesh and/or made of several pieces. Both approaches can be used at different times and/or together for different reasons.
I’ve tried a few ways to do that as well, but I’m having a lot of trouble getting the faces to conform to the hull. Some methods seem to be closer than others. Shrinkwrap on the extruded 2d path was PERFECT in the viewport, but it doesn’t render right. Converting to a mesh doesn’t fix it either. :\
I’ve looked for tutorials or advice for days, to little avail. Most tutorials I’ve found give results more like a Star Wars ship, or (like some of my own methods) only work correctly on the base mesh, and cutting in vertices would be the only way to achieve the effect.
Thanks for the suggestion tho, I’ll look more into the possibility of ‘floating’ plates. One concern I have is that the majority of the plating is more or less flush, with between the plates. I haven’t yet found a possibility for making inset grooves as opposed to extruded plating.
Well you would want a little more than just a path, you’d want geometry… but I think a pic of your result would be more explanatory.
This file shows some of the problems I’ve been running into. As you can see on (A), unless doing the tedious retopo on the converted paths, the faces don’t lay flat (subsurf just makes a bigger mess) and the extruded path seems to have crazy normals in render.
The best result comes from © but I can’t figure out a good workflow that’s simple enough to do dozens of these seams to match the original model patterns.


text:
UNICEF Georgia welcomes the Georgian government’s plan to gradually open schools in the cities and the villages of Georgia. An official statement of the organisation reads that safe re-opening of schools and preschools must be prioritised during lifting the restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
The statement of the UNICEF Georgia also reads that school closures have had a negative effect on children all around the world. Children’s ability to read, write and do basic math has suffered, and skills they need to thrive in the 21th century economy have diminished.
Children’s health, development, safety and well-being are at risk. The most vulnerable children- children with disabilities, children living in poor families – are under the increased risk of being left behind”, reads the statement.
UNICEF says that closing schools must be a measure of last resort, after all other options have been considered. ‘If children are faced with another year of school closures, the effects will be felt for generations to come’.
Children in several big cities of Georgia are still affected by Covid-19 school closures, forcing them to rely on virtual learning. Now that digital learning has become the primary means to access education, the digital divide is deepening the existing inequalities. The closing of schools leaves more than 50,000 children in Georgia with no access to education. It is crucial that catch-up classes are provided to ensure that children, who have been unable to learn remotely are not left behind”, reads the statement of UNICEF Georgia.
UNICEF says that teachers should be prioritised to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, once frontline health personnel and high-risk populations are vaccinated. This will help protect teachers from the virus, allow them to teach in person, and ultimately keep schools open.

domain: news


text:
Super Light Clay Starter Kit
Both as a sensory product and as a modelling medium, this is incredible. You may use it and then store it in containers, or you can leave it out to dry in the air. Fantastic for fine motor development, creativity, and just enjoyment. When this gets released in our family, the grownups are just as excited as the kids.
We've used it to adhere it to glass, create jewellery out of it, create dioramas out of boxes, miniatures, Christmas decorations, and adorned photo frames... the possibilities are infinite.
- 8 colours
- Includes 8x 20g clay
- Comes with tools and instructions
- Ages 3+

domain: artistic


Giveaway Alert: Win an Autographed ‘Vampire Diaries’ Poster!
How would you like to own a poster autographed by almost the entire cast of your favorite CW show?! Yeah, we thought so.
CB has snagged not one but FIVE posters signed by Nina Dobrev, Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley, Candice Accola, Zach Roerig, Steven R. McQueen, Claire Holt, and Joseph Morgan — and we’re ready to put them in your hands.
On Thursday, Professor Shane (David Alpay) will lead the troops, so to speak, to an island off the coast of Nova Scotia in search of Silas and the cure. While doing so, the good professor will also shed some light on his own story and divulge more info about Silas and the witch Qetsivah as Bonnie (Kat Graham) and Jeremy (McQueen) find out more about the hunter’s mark.
But the real story of this trip won’t be all the information we’re sure to get, it will be the insanely high tensions between Elena (Dobrev), Rebekah (Holt), Damon (Somerhalder) and Stefan (Wesley). Is it really possible for the two “couples” to come together for their common goal? We’ll have to watch and see!
- Then after you find out and watch the TVD gang on their adventure, head back here to Celebuzz and answer this trivia question via the comments below or tweet @Celebuzz_TV on Twitter with the hashtag #CBTVD for your chance to win an autographed poster!
Trivia Question: What does Elena give Rebekah as a peace offering?
Winners will be announced next Thursday and chosen at random from all responses received. Good luck!
UPDATE: Thank you all for participating in our giveaway. The winners are Sara Summer, Salvina Passerini, Megan Low, Brittany Williams, and Jasmin Hernandez. Congratulations!
The Vampire Diaries airs Thursdays at 8PM on The CW.
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The 2013 Ford C-MAX is a new name and a new car in the Ford showroom.
It's no mystery that mainstream manufacturers have had a hard time selling North American consumers on the wonders of the modern diesel. One can blame all manner of bugaboos. Diesel can be a smelly fuel that feels slimy when it gets on madame's hands. Diesel pumps used to always be over in the Mack truck refuelling area where most drivers fear to tread. Or, in the explanation I find most likely, all those work-a-day diesel engines that Ford, Chrysler and General Motors installed in their heavy-duty pickups in the past are so awful that they've turned an entire generation off the wonders of compression-ignition engines.
Toyota has now sold more than five million hybrids worldwide and the car that started it all was the Prius. Introduced to Canada for 2000, the once unique styling that quickly marked the Prius as a hybrid almost seems mainstream.
There is no doubt that when it comes to diesel-powered passenger cars, Volkswagen leads the pack. Challengers are few - including Mercedes-Benz and the new Mazda6 - but Volkswagen has a long history of diesel-powered cars and a dedicated following. Vehicles like the 2013 Passat TDI will undoubtedly attract even more followers to this brand.
The auto-mobile industry's holy grail, the search for the alternative to the traditional internal combustion engine, is proving much more elusive than even a full-blown skeptic might had imagined. Electric vehicle sales have been a disaster. Hybrid sales, despite being 15 years on the market and with tons of positive publicity, account for less than three per cent of the North American vehicle market.
With the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango and Ram 1500 all gaining diesel power this year, Ward's Auto reports Italy's Fiat is looking into the possibility of offering a diesel engine in its full-size Chrysler 300 sedan.
With a new design for 2013 and nearly 1,000 new parts in the vehicle, the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK is ready to make quite an impression. Power, comfort and safety equipment abound in this SUV that includes a long list of standard equipment and many option packages.
To the surprise of no one, fuel economy has become the rallying cry of the automobile industry. Environmentalism, radicalized by a few and largely ignored by many, remains a hard sell. But its by-product, the wholesale reduction of automotive fuel consumption, has surged to the forefront of purchase criteria for a majority of consumers.
The German automaker presented the RS Q3, the first high-performance RS model for the compact Q3 crossover. (The Q3, though not the RS, will be sold in Canada next year.)
Were this a typical Motor Mouth rant on the unsuitability of the hapless, battery-powered electric vehicle, I would probably lead off with some hyperbolic vilification of lithium ion, follow up with a treatise on the unsuitability of batteries as a mobile-energy source and then conclude with a mild tut-tutting of the author's logic in promoting such an illogical solution to the world's transportation needs. And, were the source of the offending prose the National Post's cross-town rival, the Globe and Mail, doubled would be my efforts to see their logic drawn and quartered. Call it overly competitive. Call it puerile, even childish if you want. But few are the scribes in any journalistic field that don't relish the prospect of holding their rivals' feet to the analytical pyre.
Recently, I had the opportunity to review one of today's least appreciated vehicles, the Touareg by Volkswagen. This upscale, mid-sized crossover SUV is just into its second generation (2010). It debuted back in 2002 with suitable fanfare and a remarkable string of motorsports accomplishments, particularly in gruelling long-distance rallies such as the Paris to Dakar Rally. These events destroy purpose-built off-road vehicles and leave their sun-bleached chassis to be buried in the sand dunes of the Sahara. This is tough stuff, and yet Volkswagen's Touareg did not forget to add plenty of luxurious comfort.
Chrysler has put the world on notice that it will not sit idle in the fiercely competitive truck market - being the first to offer a diesel in a half-ton pickup, something consumers have for years been hoping to see.
You're not without options when it comes to trim levels of Porsche's Cayenne, the incredibly popular-selling SUV from the German automaker.
Hybrid engines going mainstream and a bumper year for new vehicle rollouts are expected to make this year's Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto one to watch.
As GM's first North American diesel car since the 1986 Chevy Chev-ette, the new 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel, which bowed in Chicago, has a bit of catching up to do with customers when it goes on sale this summer. And its main target is the only other diesel offering in the mainstream compact sedan class: the VW Jetta TDI.
At the 2010 North American International Auto Show, electric and hybrid vehicles grabbed the headlines. Fast-forward three years, and electric vehicles played a minor role at the Detroit event that saw performance and luxury vehicles steal the spotlight.


text:
Kingston, NY Metro >
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Extraordinary local photographer - beautiful gallery space in town has a welcoming atmosphere. His work is stunning and truly represents the beauty of the area.
Fabulous gallery. They have beautiful work on display here. You can purchase anything in the studio or custom order items. I have bought a few items here. They are a bit expensive but the quality of the work is worth it.
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text:
Pumpkin buns 🧡🎃
🧡10g dry yeast
🧡1 tbsp sugar
🧡pinch of salt
🧡1 tsp @theorganiclabs Yellow Curcumin powder
🧡1+1/2 cup warm oat milk
🧡2 tbsp butter/margarine (room temperature)
-Add flour, dry yeast, sugar, salt and @theorganiclabs Yellow curcumin powder into a stand mixer, pour milk and knead till smooth.
-Add butter and knead again to get smooth and soft dough. Cover with a damp towel and leave in a warm place until double in size.
-Knock the air out and knead lightly. Shape into equal size balls and turn around the cotton thread to make the pumpkin shape buns. Leave it to rest 20 min. Brush each pumpkin bun with oat milk and bake 15-20 min 175C preheated oven.
-Remove the threads, brush with melted butter or neutral oil and pop in cinnamon sticks in the middle of each pumpkin bun.

domain: food


text:
Hi, an important aspect about pertussis or whooping cough
is vaccination. The best way to prevent pertussis is to get vaccinated. There are vaccines for infants, children, preteens, teens and adults. Researchers agree that refusal to vaccinate children against whooping cough
might have played a role in the 2010 pertussis outbreak in California. The whooping cough
vaccination is now recommended for all pregnant women between 28 and 38 weeks pregnant. Regards.

domain: biology


text:
We’re finally getting conclusive proof of what many of us have been saying for two years: the shots do more harm than good. From Suzanne Burdick, Ph.D., at childrenshealthdefense.org:
A new analysis of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine trial data shows the risk of serious injury following the vaccine is greater than the reduction in COVID-19 hospitalizations, according to a study posted June 23 on Social Science Research Network.
A new analysis of Pfizer and Moderna Cv19 vaccine trial data shows the risk of serious injury following the vaccine is greater than the reduction in Cv19 hospitalizations, according to a study posted June 23 on Social Science Research Network. “Combining the trials, there was a 43% increased risk of serious adverse events of special interest and an absolute risk increase of 12.5 serious adverse events of special interest per 10,000 vaccinated participants,” the authors of the pre-print paper wrote. Based on their findings, the authors called for a harm-benefit analysis of Cv19 vaccines.
The researchers — among them Peter Doshi, Ph.D., senior editor at The BMJ and associate professor of pharmaceutical health services research at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy — concluded: “A systematic review and meta-analysis using individual participant data should be undertaken to address questions of harm-benefit in various demographic subgroups. Full transparency of the Cv19 vaccine clinical trial data is needed to properly evaluate these questions. Unfortunately, well over a year after widespread use of Cv19 vaccines, participant-level data remain inaccessible.”

domain: medical


text:
So, dive in! At least dip your toe! Get in the flow! And sing! (But don’t get water up your nose.) The topic for the day—a body or bodies of water. For these purposes, a body of water can mean anything from an ocean to a mermaid (or man), a lake to a puddle, even, if you would, a glass, a tear, a rain drop.
FOR DVERSE ~ POET’S PUB http://dversepoets.com/2013/07/27/water-water-everywhere-surely-theres-a-poem-there/
Seabirds grace skies
circumscribed by blackened clouds
~whispering my name
ocean beyond cerulean hue
I walk ~hands splintering
on wooden rails, steepness of the
casting sandals across dampened
dunes bare foot
the crescent moon
lifting darkened green
my lips devour bubbles
kick abandoned castles
tears ~as grains soar into the air
and I dance
whirling ~arms outstretched
as soles immerse
cold against the briny deep
I give of me to the hues of blue
swirls ~spilling saltiness
‘cross my lips
swallowing the sapor of the sea
let the ocean swallow me
oh heck… the ocean swallowing her in the close…reminded me of u2 – walk to the water – the loneliness is palpable in this..
I thank you Claudia – your comments mean a great deal…thank you
nice energy in this…giving yourself over to the hues of blue…this could be taken a few ways…the taking of ones own life in the water…or immersion in such abandon, which comes across very passionate…..the you left though is where i realized…and it became heavy….
taking myself into cold waters succumbed to ‘bubbles’ from the bottle as loneliness gripped and death the only answer…thank you Brian so much for reading – and like Claudia your words help and keep me going …so thank you
I feel the grieving in this poem. The repetition of the words “You left” strengthens the feeling. I picture someone walking out in the ocean waves until being totally engulfed and overcome by the waves. Powerful poem.
Thank you Mary – tomorrow I shall be catching up and reading others – I so love the different visuals – the thought process – I am indebted to challenges set by DVerse – I am thankfu that you read and acknowledged. x
it would be lovely getting swallowed by ocean, I guess. streaming words that create quite a beautiful imagery.. 🙂
thank you HA swallowed by the sea in the midst of darkness – a lonely place to end but thank you for seeing it for the imagery.
Cerulean … What an image and feeling you give us here!
I blush at words that are given – I appreciate you felt what I have written ‘A’ – your comments always beautiful. Thank you.
You’re really expanding as a writer J. I so enjoy visiting
I am taken back… I truly am A… thank you so very very much. xx
Well, I think there is a joy here despite the ominous qualities — honestly – to be swallowed by sky and sea in terms of giving one’s self over is kind of freeing and that comes out in the dance too–the ambiguity is part of the intrigue. Thanks. k.
Manic – welcome and thank you so much for reading. I think you have pictured of what I wrote, she danced and swirled in the night …not caring of the fate of her choosing.
This is a great poem and real tension here between carefree abandoned and loneliness – which i about right.
Hello Sam – glad you visited and read – thank you for your comment 🙂
Nice one! A bit sad, but beautiful…
Ms Owl – I appreciate your comments of any nature – thank you so much. xx
I love the ocean – swallowed or not, that’s where I’d like to be 😀
I think having an affinity with a ‘special place’ is the place I’d like to rest, be it permanent or not 🙂 xx
The colors are dark, and the I like the ending verses ~ How sad but powerfully written ~
This line is my favorite: I give of me to the hues of blue ~
Thank you so very much – it humbles me when beautiful writers such as yourself read and make comment (that’s also my favourite) x
casting sandals across dampened
dunes bare foot”
… just beautiful. a delicate sadness in this… killer close, Jen!
love it. xx
awwww thank you sweet-pea, looking forward to our next challenge on Words from Here to There also 🙂 xxx
A heartfelt poem– ‘let the ocean swallow me’ expresses the emotion so well. peace, Jason
Thank you Jason – yes consumed by one’s own loneliness can seem insignificant against a vast ocean- appreciate you reading.
My prior home was 2 city blocks from the ocean. In my most stressful times, I would dive in, allowing the body of ions to absorb my troubles. Whether there is a true physical action at hand or “merely” spiritual– perhaps a combination of both, the emotional healing was profound.
You have penned this beautifully Jason.
Very visual and emotional write. An enjoyable read!
Thank you Charles for popping over and commenting. I am glad you liked as I did yours.
This brings to mind Virginia Woolf and her ending…walking into the ocean with her pockets full of stones, though in my imagination there was more grey than cerulean. This is beautiful, sad and sensitively written. And you last line is perfect.
Hello again om – thank you so much, though the colour of the ocean different, I am humbled that what I wrote brought Virginia Woolf to mind.
I appreciate you reading and commenting.


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We supply Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) Blocks. Our blocks will provide the trusted lightweight walling solution you need.
Autoclaved Aerated Concrete blocks (AAC Blocks), which are also commonly known as Aerated Lightweight Concrete blocks (ALC Blocks) are common masonry blocks used in construction of a wall. AAC is a lightweight material composed of silica sand, gypsum, lime and cement. They are manufactured with advance machine and technology which uses heat and pressure method known as autoclaving to cure. AAC Blocks are generically lightweight due to the aeration process in the concrete during production allowing it to achieve a density of 480kg/m3.
There are several advantages to AAC material such as, thermal insulation, extreme fire resistances, high compressive strength and lightweight. Our AAC Blocks has a suite of certification and accreditation from local test laboratory.
If you need any technical assistances with AAC Blocks, feel free to contact us.
Pass 4 Hours fire rating test @ 100mm (Certificate of Conformity)
Strength & Robustness
Pass SD (Severe Duty) Impact test @ 100mm
Diminsional Tolerance of +/- 1mm
Benefits Of AAC Block
AAC blocks has a net dry density is up to 3 times lighter than traditional concrete building materials. This in turn translate to easier handling and transportation during installation of the material. Furthermore, the lightweight of AAC blocks means there may be cost savings from the reduction in structural and foundational requirements for high-rise buildings.
AAC blocks is manufactured from inorganic material, such that it is free from allergenic substance and toxic substance. The lower consumption of raw materials due to aeration during the manufacturing process also contribute to the environment. Furthermore, waste and materials from the manufacturing process can be recycled during the entire process.
AAC Block is non-combustible and has excellent fire rating properties. It is 4 hours fire rated and is suitable for fire-rated applications. The porous property of the material also makes it heat up significantly longer and slower compared to other masonry materials.
Thermal Comfort & Energy Saving
AAC block has excellent thermal insulation quality, the inherit material makes it a superior choice as an insulation material due to its thermal resistances properties. It takes less energy to cool or heat up the material which make it a smarter choice to meet stringent eco building requirements.
The robustness and porous properties of the AAC blocks acts as a sound insulation and absorption barrier that is able to deliver excellent performance in sound and acoustic insulation.

domain: chemistry


The Chemicals Act lays down general obligations for enterprises that apply to all hazardous chemicals and must be observed in addition to the obligations set in biocides legislation.
The following issues must be remembered when placing biocidal products on the market:
- Information about hazardous chemicals must be submitted to the chemicals product register. The information must be submitted by the manufacturer or importer of the chemical or by another operator.
- A safety data sheet as specified in the REACH Regulation (EU) Nr 1907/2006 and (EU) Nr 453/2010 must be produced for chemicals intended for industrial and professional use.
- The product must be classified, packaged and labelled in accordance with relevant regulations. Package labelling and user instructions must be provided in Finnish and Swedish. In force since the beginning of 2009, the Classification, Packaging and Labelling (CLP) Regulation (1272/2008) will replace the EU's current regulations regarding chemicals classification, labelling and packaging after periods of transition. Products must be classified and labelled in accordance with the CLP Regulation by 1 June 2015.
Active substances contained in biocidal products are regarded as registered in accordance with the REACH Regulation (1907/2006). Substances other than active substances contained in a product must be registered in accordance with the REACH Regulation.
Provisions laid down in the EU Detergent Regulation (648/2004/EC) apply to biocidal detergents together with the regulations regarding biocides.
Entrepreneurs must comply with provisions laid down regarding advertising. Advertisements of biocidal products must always contain the following sentences: "Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use." The word 'biocides' may be replaced by the product type of the biocidal product, such as antifouling products, mosquito repellents or disinfectants. Advertisements must not refer to the biocidal product in a manner likely to mislead in respect of the risks of that biocidal product to humans or the environment. They must not contain descriptions that provide the wrong impression of the product's safety. Such forbidden expressions include 'low-risk biocidal product', 'non-toxic', 'harmless' or similar expressions. Communications regarded as advertisements include radio, TV and press advertisements, websites and product brochures if the purpose of these is to promote the sales of the product. Provisions relating to marketing shall also apply to claims presented in the packaging of chemicals.


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Nigeria’s National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has announced the finalisation of plans to repatriate refugees currently residing in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger Republic. These individuals were displaced from their homes by Boko Haram insurgents, and the evacuation aims to relocate them to communities in Borno State.
Federal Commissioner Aliyu Tijjani Ahmed revealed this information during a visit to a satellite city built for Boko Haram insurgency refugees in Marua, Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Ahmed stated, “We discussed on the issue of evacuation of our (Nigerian) refugees from Cameroon, Niger and Chad and it was agreed that a tripartite meeting will hold and the commission will return to the office.”
“We will sit down to come up with processes and procedures which we will apply in evacuating our people that are living in Cameroon, Niger, and Chad. This is going to be handled by the commission, the government of Borno State and UNCHR.“
He further emphasised that similar sustainable satellite cities will be established nationwide to provide livelihoods for resettled displaced persons.
During a visit to the Muna Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Jere Local Government Area, the Federal Commissioner donated food items and relief materials to five hundred households, including victims of fire outbreaks in the camp.
Following this, the Federal Commissioner visited skills acquisition centres established for the IDPs and the satellite city in Marua, pledging to commence resettlement in the first quarter of 2024.

domain: sociology


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Stay fresh while keeping your pH balanced. Each pack includes 20 wipes. Learn more.
We teamed up with Dr. Payal Bhandari, Uqora’s Scientific Advisor, for a video series about urinary tract infections (UTIs).
In this series, Dr. Bhandari explains how you can get a UTI, what you can do to prevent infections, and how to treat UTIs. It turns out there is a lot you can do on your own to prevent UTIs ranging from the foods you eat, what you drink, and other habits.
What is a UTI? Dr. Payal Bhandari tells us in this first video. If you want to jump ahead you can see all 5 videos here.
Rather read than watch? Here is the video transcript:
A urinary tract infection (also called a UTI for short) is initially caused by the bladder becoming irritated or inflamed. This bladder inflammation occurs when the healthy bugs in the bladder can’t control the overgrowth of the unhealthy bugs normally in the bladder. This imbalance of unhealthy to healthy bugs in the bladder leads to a UTI. If the infection becomes severe enough, the infection can travel from the bladder to the kidneys and cause a kidney infection.
The symptoms which trigger a person to know they may have a UTI vary from the following:
UTI’s are one of the most common reasons women will present to a doctor’s office. In the next video, I’ll explain how you can develop a urinary tract infection.
This is for you if:
You want to stay fresh and maintain a healthy pH.
How does it work?
As you know, hygiene is a key part of UTI prevention. But not all wipes are created equal. Some can mess with your body’s natural chemistry and do more harm than good. Our wipes keep you clean, fresh, and balanced — without any nasty ingredients.
Use any time you want to freshen up. That might be after sex, exercise, long plane rides — you know your body better than anyone.
Allergens, alcohol, parabens, sulfates, sulfates, dyes, phthalates, chlorine bleach.
Water, triethyl citrate, sodium benzoate, allantoin, lactic acid, carprylyl/capryl glucoside, glycerin, fragrance, sodium dehydroacetate, tetrasodium EDTA, citric acid, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, vaccinium macrocarpon fruit extract, calendula officinalis flower extract, sodium citrate, potassium sorbate.


- 100% waterproof protection – no chance to wet the mattress if you have breakfast in bed
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- King bed size, for mattresses with dimensions: 47x24x5″ (L60xH120xD13 cm). Machine wash 40°. Do not tumble dry
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Signing of ‘A Soldier’s Odyssey’ at Legion Post
Cecil Cline of Mooresville has published a new book, “A Soldier’s Odyssey,” and will do several book signings in the area.
According to material on his Web site, the book presents a “historical account of the ill- trained, ill-equipped and ill- prepared American soldiers as they faced the constant challenge of defending the Pusan Perimeter from the well-armed, well-trained, and well- equipped armies of North Korea.”
Cline tells of his first-hand experiences in the Korean foxholes as a gunner/fire team leader. The narrative includes his evacuation to a MASH unit by some of his fellow soldiers and the 19-month process, as he recovered from his near fatal gunshot wounds in Army hospitals.
Cline and his wife Becky live on the shores of Lake Norman in Mooresville.
He will sign books Friday at Mooresville Library during a luncheon, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The book will be offered at discounted prices.
On March 17, he will be at American Legion Post 342, 1024 Lincolnton Road, at 7 p.m. The post is marking the 89th anniversary of the American Legion.
On March 25, Cline will sign books at VFW Post 2031, Statesville, at 6 p.m.
Cline says the books are available at most online bookstores or directly from Piedmont Books, P.O.Box 4835, Mooresville, NC 28117 or his Web site, www.cecilcline.com.
Langston Kelly A son, Langston Andreas, was born to Anitra M. Neely Kelly and Kelvin L. Kelly Sr. on Feb.... read more


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Managing Partner, Attorney-at-law
Phone: +358 9 177 613
Mobile: +358 40 552 7678
Fax: +358 9 653 873
Markku Korvenmaa is the Managing Partner at HH Partners. He is specialised in dispute resolution and bankruptcy proceedings. Markku has gained experience in major arbitrations regarding security markets law as well as complicated trials related to contract law.
Markku acts also as a bankruptcy trustee in several bankruptcy estates and advises clients in employment matters and contractual negotiations.

domain: law


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by Daniel Chenok, Executive Director, IBM Center for The Business of Government
Contributors: Claude Yusti, Tatiana Sokolova with IBM, and Katie Malague and Peter Kamocsai with the Partnership for Public Service
Few technological innovations offer the many potential benefits of artificial intelligence. AI tools range from entertaining to productivity-improving to life-saving, from playing poker or creating paintings in Vincent van Gogh’s style to transcribing audio to diagnosing diseases or predicting financial fraud.
A new report released today – More Than Meets AI Part II: Building Trust, Managing Risk by the IBM Center for The Business of Government and the Partnership for Public Service – discusses how artificial intelligence has similar potential to improve how the federal government works. AI can increase operational efficiency and effectiveness, free employees of repetitive tasks, uncover new data insights, and enhance service delivery to customers. While taking advantage of these benefits, agencies must also manage real and perceived risks associated with AI to build trust in the technology.
Federal, state and local governments are embracing AI, for mission-critical services that include identifying insider threats, supporting military deployment planning and scheduling, and answering routine questions about services. Agencies are considering additional uses that range from checking compliance with tax laws and regulations to assessing the accessibility of government products and websites.
At the same time, questions about effects AI technologies may have include concerns about data privacy, security, and safety. Similar risk factors have affected public perceptions when other technologies were introduced; and similarly, today’s leaders need to address these concerns to foster trust as agencies rely more on AI to carry out missions.
The federal government is leading a comprehensive initiative to maximize AI’s benefits while laying the groundwork for agencies to address risks responsibly. To increase the trust the public and federal employees have in government’s use of AI tools, the government’s strategy deals with transparency, security, technological know-how, procurement, budgeting and risk management.
As the U.S. government aims to assess and mitigate AI risks, agencies can look to international models. For example, the Canadian government has taken steps to ensure its departments and agencies have tools for simplified by of credible AI products, rules to assess risks of AI by agencies, and people trained to use AI responsibly. As our government adopts AI, it should enable agencies to buy tested and trusted AI products, create effective ways to identify and manage potential risks, and equip enough of the workforce—especially those working with AI directly—with knowledge and skills to use the technology well.
The new report being released discusses further steps agencies can take to manage risks, building on an initial paper — More Than Meets AI: Assessing the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Work of Government – that discussed how AI is transforming the nature of work in the public sector. Both reports are based on roundtable discussions and interviews conducted by the Partnership and the IBM Center.
Roundtable participants were optimistic about their agency’s ability to implement the technology. Many described a path to success that would start by using AI in smaller, attainable projects, enabling their agencies to develop expertise and experience. It is important for federal organizations to move forward with implementing AI technologies as they address AI’s risks. Their approach to lessening AI risks also must evolve rapidly if they hope to use AI to address government’s most pressing challenges. Top challenges include bias, security, transparency, employee knowledge about AI technology, and federal budget and procurement. Each of these challenges is discussed in the report, along with recommendations for how agencies could address potential concerns and develop strategies to mitigate them.
The Partnership for Public Service and the IBM Center for The Business of Government hope these reports will help government move into the future in a way that capitalizes on the full potential of AI to make government more efficient and effective.
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Once you’ve recorded your music at HarbourTone……what do you do with it??
HarbourTone can assist you with many of the tasks required to promote your music to the public. This includes:
Graphic Design & Photography:
Alex Buchanan offers album artwork graphic design services to create a professional package for your album. We can also help you find a photographer for promotional photos.
HarbourTone can help you choose a CD manufacturing company and CD packaging for your CD.
HarbourTone also offers small CD runs with labels and paper sleeves for demo purposes.
Building a Website:
We can aide in designing a website/blog for your music to help you connect with your fans.
Selling your music on online music stores:
Online music stores and streaming services (i.e. iTunes, Spoitify, Bandcamp) is another important way to release your music to the public. HarbourTone can show you how to get your music listed online.
Music Promotion via Social Networks:
We can show you how to create a Facebook Page, a Youtube Channel, and other online music promotional sites to help you promote your music to the world.
Registering your music through SOCAN:
SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) is the Canadian organization which administers royalties to musicians when their music is played to the public. HarbourTone can show you how to get set up with SOCAN.
Contact for pricing for promotional services. Online social network assistance and SOCAN registration assistance is free with a recording project.

domain: entertainment


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Here is a very useful NYT Opinionator post summarizing American education issues in a global context – in a balanced and accurate way. For some reason, it goes off the rails into never-never land when it describes current federal education policy, but the rest is still useful. The post itself is based on this analysis by the Council on Foreign Relations. Here’s the good part:
Averages can be misleading. The familiar, one-dimensional story told about American education is that it was once the best system in the world but that now it’s headed down the drain, with piles of money thrown down after it.
The truth is that there are two very different education stories in America. The children of the wealthiest 10 percent or so do receive some of the best education in the world, and the quality keeps getting better. For most everyone else, this is not the case. America’s average standing in global education rankings has tumbled not because everyone is falling, but because of the country’s deep, still-widening achievement gap between socioeconomic groups.
And while America does spend plenty on education, it funnels a disproportionate share into educating wealthier students, worsening that gap. The majority of other advanced countries do things differently, at least at the K-12 level, tilting resources in favor of poorer students.
Historically, the role of the federal government, which takes a back seat to the states in education, has been to try to close achievement gaps, but they have continued to widen. Several changes in federal education policy under President Obama have actually increased the flow of scarce federal dollars toward those students who need it less, reinforcing inequities and further weakening overall educational performance. Reversing America’s slide in international education rankings will require turning that record on its head.
America’s relative fall in educational attainment is striking in several dimensions. American baby boomers ages 55 to 64 rank first in their age group in high school completion and third in college completion after Israel and Canada. But jump ahead 30 years to millennials ages 25 to 34, and the United States slips to 10th in high school completion and 13th in college completion. America is one of only a handful of countries whose work force today has no more years of schooling than those who are retiring do.
On international tests, American students consistently score in the middle of the pack among advanced countries, but America underperforms most on two measures — preschool enrollment and college on-time completion. Nearly all 4-year-olds in Japan, France, Britain and Germany are enrolled in preschool, compared with 69 percent in the United States. And although the United States is relatively good at getting high school graduates into college, it is horrible at getting them to graduate on time with a college degree. With more than half of those who start college failing to earn a degree, the United States has the highest college dropout rate in the developed world.
On average, money is not the problem. Given the country’s relative wealth, per-pupil spending on elementary and high school is roughly on track with other advanced countries. At the college level, the United States spends lavishly, far more than any other country.
The problem is that the United States is not spending its education dollars effectively. At every point along the education track, from preschool to college, resources are skewed to wealthier students.
The wealthy inhabit an educational realm very different from what national averages suggest. Consider these examples. If ranked internationally as nations, low-poverty Massachusetts and Minnesota would be among the top 6 performers worldwide in fourth-grade math and science. Among 15-year-olds, Asian-Americans, who also tend to be more affluent, are the world’s best readers; white Americans are third only to Finns and New Zealanders. In a 2012 Harvard Business School survey, high-quality universities were rated the country’s chief competitive advantage. The world’s brightest students clamor to attend them.
But educational excellence is increasingly the preserve of the rich. Everyone — black, white, rich, middle class and poor — is testing better and enrolling more in college than the previous generation. But rich students, and particularly rich girls, are making bigger gains than everyone else. Strikingly, these achievement gaps exist when children first begin elementary school and are locked in place all the way through to college.
Wealthy Americans have an advantage in the admission process for elite colleges, and despite the few who may slip in on family legacy, the advantage is largely based on academic merit. Students from families in the highest income quintile are now eight times more likely than students in the bottom quintile to enroll in a “highly selective” college, one that requires a high school transcript filled with As in advanced placement courses, SAT scores in the 700s and a range of enriching extracurricular activities.
Those who get in are doing better than ever. The best colleges are seeing their dropout rates fall to near-zero levels, especially for women. The education they offer is generally better than what students get at less selective schools, too. One very revealing fact is that even for equally qualified students, academic outcomes at selective colleges are better across the board and their graduates earn more and are more likely to progress toward an advanced degree.
The real quality crisis in American higher education — where the dropout rate is sky high and climbing — is in community colleges and lower-tier public universities. They have also absorbed most of the historic increase in college enrollment and disproportionately serve minority and low-income students. Money is a big reason for their worse performance.
At the college level, the divergence in per-pupil spending is staggering. Since the 1960s, annual per-pupil spending at the most selective public and private colleges has increased at twice the rate of the least selective colleges. By 2006, the funding chasm in spending per student between the most and the least selective colleges was six times larger than in the late 1960s.
In short, more money is being spent on wealthy students who have never been more prepared to excel in college. Meanwhile, poorer students who are less prepared — those who a generation ago would not have even enrolled in college — are getting a smaller slice of higher education spending. According to a study by the demographer John Bound and his colleagues, lack of institutional resources explains up to two-thirds of the increase in dropout rates at lower-tier colleges.
Of course, this divergence in educational investments begins long before college. Wealthy parents are piling on cognitive enrichment activities outside of school from preschool on up, and at a rate that is leaving everyone else in the dust. Schools could make up some of the difference by intensively investing in poor children, and the majority of richer countries do just that — spending more per pupilin lower-income districts than in higher-income districts. But it is the reverse in the United States, in large part because, unlike most other advanced countries, revenues for public schools continue to be raised mostly from local property taxes.
This record is a harsh indictment of the federal government’s efforts to promote greater educational equality. Out of the civil rights era of the 1960s and early 1970s sprang a host of federal programs whose sole objective was to close achievement gaps. One is Head Start, which now serves close to one million low-income 3- and 4-year-olds and has tried for many years, with modest success, to make sure they’re ready for kindergarten. For K-12 public schools, the federal government apportions money, called Title I and IDEA grants, to school districts based on the number of low-income or special-needs students they serve. Then there is the huge Pell grant program to help low-income students pay for college, which is the single largest component of the Department of Education’s budget.


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The following is a guest post from Rachel Anna on investing.
If you’ve decided to start investing, congratulations. It’s one of the smartest ways to guarantee your comfort later in life. Stocks, bonds, money market accounts, 401(k)s, IRAs—there’s a wide range of options that you can use to incubate your nest egg while you wait for it to hatch. Investing is popular and profitable, but it’s essential that you have a plan of attack before you start.
Investing Strategy Basics
1. Repay Your Debts First
The annual interest rate on credit card debt can be up to 15%, so the longer you wait to repay that money, the more it will cost you. Pay down your debt ASAP to avoid owing the bank any more money than necessary.
2. Start as Soon as You Can
The earlier you start investing, the longer your money has to grow. Compound interest is handy investment function that generates money based on your reinvested earnings. For example, if you invest $5,000 at 10% interest, that initial amount will grow to $5,500 by the end of the year. If you make no deductions from that account, you’ll have $6,050 by the end of the second year and $6,655 by the end of the third year.
Even if you start with a small initial investment, compound interest will help your wealth grow. Even better news: If you continue to make contributions to that account, your money will compound at an even higher rate.
3. Don’t Invest Money that You’re Going to Need Soon
Take a good hard look at your finances before you invest. Examine your near-future plans to figure out how much money you’ll be able to dedicate to investments. Are you planning on buying a house or a car soon? Only invest money that you won’t need for the next three to five years. If you’d still like to keep your money safe and help it earn interest, consider a shorter-term option, like a money market account.
4. Take Advantage of Your 401(k)
Your 401(k) is one of the most valuable resources when it comes to investing in your retirement. Unless you’re faced with an emergency situation, be sure to max out your 401(k) contribution from your paycheck, especially if your employer will match your contribution. Just remember: The more you put away now, the more you’ll have when you retire.
5. Stick to Your Guns
It can tempting to sell your stocks when you see their value begin to drop, but don’t automatically give up — fluctuation is normal. A diverse selection of investments in different parts of the economy will help keep your money secure. If one sector falters, you’ll be able to rely on your other investments to keep your portfolio healthy.
Trading in and out of the market can also mean constantly paying fees and missing out on the perks of being a long-term stock holder.
What Strategy Will Work Best For You ?
First off, talk with your banker or financial advisor about personalized investment strategies. Should you invest in stocks? In the long term, stocks can be a great investment. Over the short term, stocks frequently fluctuate and may not provide a solid source of income or financial security.
US Treasury bonds, on the other hand, are one of the safest investments you can make, but definitely not the most profitable.
How Much Should You Invest
Before you get started, you’ll also need to figure out how much you can’t initially invest. The more you start out with, the more profitable your portfolio will be down the road. For example, if you put $2000 in the stock market, 30 years later, at 10% growth (the historical average), you’ll have $34,898. Of course, not everybody any can afford to invest $2000 all at once.
If you’re in your early 20s, investing just $10 every month can still help you build sizable investments by the time you’re ready to retire.
That’s not to say that older, more financially stable investors can’t also use the stock market to their advantage. Assuming an average 10% return, an investment of $160 in a particular stock every month for 20 years could potentially grow into a very valuable nest egg. Remember, the best investments are those that you and your financial advisor have carefully considered.
Start early and build a balanced portfolio that will help your money grow for years to come. It may mean that you need to cut back a little now, but you’ll thank yourself in the future.
Rachel Anna writes articles for Allied Cash on responsible borrowing, investment, and budgeting.
 “Investing your money basics.” CNNMoney. 05 12 11: n. page. Web. 7 May. 2012.
 “Why Should I Invest?.” Motley Fool. n.d. n. page. Web. 7 May. 2012.
 “Investing 101: Introduction.” Investopia. n.d. n. page. Web. 7 May. 2012.
[email protected]&More says
I started investing for retirement and other goals in my early twenties and it has definitely begun to pay off even just a couple years later!
Yes I have been following you, you achieved quiet something at young age compared to all others.
Sean @ One Smart Dollar says
Pay off high interest debt before investing but I would start investing a little at the same time as you are paying off low interest student loans.
Sometimes its not that low. And We can’t guarantee more than 4% return investing, do we? Most student loans are higher than 4%. But for the sake of investing one could put some money away every month, no doubt.
Compound interest is one of the most powerful forces in the universe!
Save as much as possible when young, while letting compounding work its magic. The “old” you will look back and be thankful for the wisdom of the “young” you. In other words, you’ll be glad you had discipline and did the right thing when younger.
Very nicely said Ray!
I started investing when I was quite young but then I made a rather drastic change and decided to take some big risks with a business venture. It paid off but it is a bit unfortunate to lose some of those compounding years.
Of course the best advice above is simple – get out of debt! Once you do that, then the financial possibilities are truly endless. I’ve seen people who have taken years to dig out of what seemed like gigantic financial holes, but the moment they are out they see how tiny it really was and just how huge the potential now is for them and their finances. Funny how perspective works…
I have never been in debt and I can’t feel it. But, if you ask me, I can invest the way I want. The amount, I just have to cut back to meet the target.
Virginia Accounting Services says
Most individuals know that they should spend their cash. Eventually, well believed out financial commitment strategies can out-perform most easy benefits records. But the concept of actually beginning an financial commitment can be paralyzing.
What should you spend in?
How much cash should you invest?
Where do you even start?

domain: finance


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Taking care of your body and mind has never been more important and with the pressures of modern life growing ever more stressful, a little time to escape and focus on yourself is not to be underestimated.
These are some of the top retreats, wellness destinations and health spas in Scotland that are perfect for helping you to feel refreshed, revitalised and filled with a better sense of wellbeing.
(Benderloch, Oban PA37 1SD, 01631 720371, reservations email: email@example.com)
The 5-star Isle of Eriska Hotel, which sits on a 300 acre private island estate, just off the west coast of Scotland, offers an award-winning restaurant, opulent rooms and excellent spa facilities.
Enjoy gorgeous views overlooking Loch Linnhe and the dramatic Morvern mountains beyond, before relaxing in the hotel's spa and leisure facilities, which are set within the former stable buildings and accessed by a path through the Spa Garden.
Offering no less than five treatment rooms, the Stables Spa is split into two themes with three of them focused on connecting guests to the land, plants and wood, and two more offering the "cleansing properties of the sea and tranquil shores" that surround the island.
You can then enjoy a taste of the west coast of Scotland by dining at the Isle of Eriska restaurant with ingredients including sea vegetables and berries, wild hips, mushrooms and 57 varieties of naturally growing herbs all sourced from the island.
(Garmoran Square, 26 Mingarry Point, Acharacle PH36 4JX)
Described as a "first-of-its-kind" programme, The Body Toolkit offers week long breaks in the Highlands designed to teach the "key techniques for exceptional health".
Running throughout the year, each six night programme has been designed Katrina Mather - who says she used the original to overcome her own battles with anxiety, acne, depression and IBS - offers organic juice therapy with detox and nutrition, designed for weight loss and well-being, combining it with rest, nutritional information, therapies and exercise in the beautiful natural surroundings.
Each will also aim to establish supportive habits and thinking patterns to create long-term change for guests who embark on the retreat.
(Breasclete, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, firstname.lastname@example.org, +44 (0)7585 603215)
Relax beneath the soothing views of the Aurora Borealis on one of the most remote locations on this list. Whitefalls 5-star spa lodges on the Isle of Lewis are designed exclusively for couples and combine self-catering lodges with all the comfort and style of a hotel spa resort.
Situated above the village of Breasclete, close to the shores of Loch Roag on the west coast of the island, each lodge offers access to the white sand beaches - perfect for walks and getting in touch with the rugged nature of the setting - nearby as well as a Kohler Riverbath Spa with Chromatherapy – a large double-ended spa bath, Far Infra-red Sauna and Monsoon Rain-shower.
Best of all, each of the lodges offers large, luxurious open plan living spaces with vast windows that are perfect for taking in the scenery and the aforementioned Northern Lights in the company of someone special.
The Atholl Palace Hotel’s Lavender Spa draws on the hotel’s heritage as a Victorian health hydro, famed for the powers of their natural spring water from the mountain of Ben-y-Vrackie which stands over Pitlochry, to create a modern getaway that offers plenty of treatments and spectacular views of the Scottish countryside.
The spa has a range of massages and holistic treatments, including hot lava shell massage, ear candling and the unique Lavender Lullaby. Each spa package comes with access to the top of the range hydro pools and leisure facilities as well as offering additional bed and breakfast options.
This luxurious Victorian Hotel lies close to the picturesque east coast and it's here at the Marine Hotel's spa you'll find a thermal suite which specialises in a range of natural, marine inspired seaweed treatments, as well as the setting for celebrity nutritionist Amanda Hamilton’s three and six day personalised detox and fitness breaks.
The bootcamp is built around juice fasting, healthy eating and enjoyable exercise with yoga, beach walks and gentle hikes all helping guests to relax and ultimately lose weight and improve their health.
There is also a programme of seminars, consultations and relaxing spa treatments, as well as personal nutrition consultation to help cater mealtimes for individual guests needs.

domain: travel


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ROCK STAR TREATMENT
DOG Daycare & Services
When we opened our Rock Star Treatment Mission Center Studio in Redmond, we didn't change formats from foster-based to animal shelter.
Our rescue's "virtual" structure remains intact- meaning our adoptable animals are not all in this location for casual viewing.
Rather, this Mission Center Studio location offers us the opportunity to expand our mission and extend the services we provide to the community.
Our location helps us centralize our rescue operation so we can meet with fosters & volunteers and store our equipment and donations- as well as allows us an adoptable Cat Lounge where some of our rescue cats can be visited (in addition to the partnering pet stores we also manage: Ballard Petco, Redmond Petco and Woodinville PetSmart).
Our Mission Center Studio also offers us the unique opportunity to host our Rock Star Treatment Services: dog daycare, training and boarding - a service-based business model that we utilize as a fundraising effort for the rescue's mission!
So now, as well as placing animals in adoptive homes, we can continue to engage with those who have been adopted - especially those with dogs!
This charity-run dog daycare is the first of its kind in the country; literally, nowhere else will your dogs receive the amazing benefits we offer your dogs - and those without homes!
Feel free to browse around the site where you can see all the fun your dog(s) will have as a Rock Star- you can even watch them as they play each day!
Please e-mail us for any other questions or to enroll your dog so that their fun helps us in our mission to save the lives of animals in need!
We look forward to meeting you and your rock star pups!
jme & the Motley Zoo Crew

domain: pet


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Police believe that three Alhambra homes, and possibly as many as 10, have been burglarized by the same suspects since the beginning of April.
The suspects were caught on camera during one of their break-in attempts in the 100 block of South Meridian Avenue, according to the Pasadena Star-News
. During the break-in the suspects disabled the home’s security alarm before entering the house. No one was home at the time of the incident.
The three suspects are described as African-American males in their late teens to early twenties. One suspect is believe to have a goatee. They “are targeting single family homes in the late afternoon and evening hours,” the APD wrote in a press release. The suspects are believed to be driving a dark-colored sedan, possibly an older model Honda Accord.
The Pasadena Star-News and Fox 11 have footage
from the video.
Residents are advised to call Detective Jack Ng of the APD at (626) 570-5187 if they have any information. Callers will be granted anonymity.
Independent journalism is a bedrock of democracy--and it's in crisis. Here at the Alhambra Source, we're committed to covering the local stories that matter most to you. We don’t have advertisers and we don’t have pay walls, but we do have bills. You read to the end of this story. That's great. But this kind of journalism will end without public support. Join us! Support the work and the democratic values it serves. Donate now!


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YOUR FAVORITE SHORT AND LONGBOARD IN ONE.
A combination of toes on the nose stability with the agility of your favorite short board. Packed down to either a 4’5” or 4’11” size capable of doing modern day responsive cutbacks yet has the profile that would make the great waterman Duke proud. Created for the rider that wants a freeride vibe capable of new school maneuvers off the lip. Also, this wider and thicker profile delivers enough speed and power for XL riders.
+ Koal Surface Technology
A construction incorporating the core of Ronix's high-end Koal Technora, molded similar to the Modello boards, and wrapped in a bulletproof Surface Skin. In short, the lightweight feel of your favorite high-end surfer, the durability of your wakeboard, and a skin that breaks up the water for less resistance.
+Fin – S System
+Fiberglass Fin Construction
+1 – 3” Center Fiberglass Blueprint Fin
+2 – Left/Right 4” Fiberglass Blueprint Fins
+Machined EVA Front / Rear Pad
+Handmade by Robots
SKILL LEVEL: ALL LEVELS
CONSTRUCTION: KOAL SURFACE

domain: design


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The Skins Carbonyte thermal long sleeve baselayer is engineered to optimise your body temperature and maximise your sporting performance in cooler weather conditions. Crafted from a technical 4-way stretch fabric with a brushed interior for greater warmth, the baselayer is constructed with a crew neck, strategically placed ventilation panels and long raglan sleeves for a natural range of movement.
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Assam: Cyclical Butchery
|POSTED ON 30 DECEMBER 2014
(Courtesy: SAIR, Institute for Conflict Management)
Every few months, one or other community in Assam is put in danger. Bloody slaughters are inflicted again and again, and Governments quickly trot out their usual alibis for failure, announce a range of knee jerk responses - principally the injection of more Central Forces and escalation of 'counterinsurgency operations' - and return as quickly to their default setting of indifference and ineptitude once the media storm and the brunt of public ire has waned. The fundamental issues that create spaces for this recurrent violence have stubbornly been ignored for decades and have, in fact, been exacerbated by a range of state policies.
In the latest bloodbath on 23 December 2014, militants of the I. K. Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-IKS), gunned downed 69 Adivasis (tribal communities originally drawn from outside the State, principally as labour for tea plantations, also referred to as 'tea tribals') in near-simultaneous multiple attacks in Chirang, Sonitpur and Kokrajhar Districts. 40 Santhals were killed in Sonitpur, 25 in Kokrajhar and four in Chirang.
On 24 December, eight Bodos were killed by Santhal mobs, in retaliation to the 23 December killings, including two in Chirang and three in Kokrajhar district. The location of the remaining three fatalities is unclear - either in Sonitpur or in Kokrajhar.
Again, on 24 December, another three Santhals were killed in Police firing, after thousands of Adivasis, took out a procession and engaged in violence, defying the indefinite curfew at Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district.
At the time of writing, a total of 81 people have died in these incidents out of which 72 are Adivasis and eight are Bodos. The identity of one victim has not yet been confirmed.
NDFB-IKS is a splinter group of the Ranjan Daimary-led NDFB, and is led by its ‘chairman’ and ‘commander-in-chief ‘ Songbijit Ingti Kathar aka I. K. Songbijit aka Sarsingh Ingti aka Sangbijoy, a Karbi tribal. NDFB-IKS claims to be fighting for a ‘sovereign Bodoland’.
It is significant that the same group was responsible for the slaughter of 46 Muslim settlers between 1 and 3 May 2014. On 1 May, NDFB-IKS militants entered a house and shot dead three members of a family, including two women, and injured an infant, near the Ananda Bazar area in Baksa District. On 2 May, another eight people were killed in Balapara-I village of Kokrajhar District, followed by the recovery of 12 bullet-riddled bodies, including those of five women and a child, the same night, at Nankekhadrabari and Nayanguri villages in Baksa District, where nearly 100 houses and a wooden bridge had also been set ablaze by the militants. Another nine bodies were recovered from a village in Baksa District in the morning of 3 May, taking the toll to 32. Dead bodies continued to be recovered till 12 May, and the final count stood at 46.
Before this, clashes occurred between the Bodos and Muslims in July 2012. On 19 July, an unidentified gunman shot at and injured suspended Police constable Mohibur Islam alias Ratul and All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU) leader Siddique Ali. On 20 July 2012, bodies of four Bodo tribes-people [ex-Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) cadres] were recovered in the Joypur Namapara locality in Kokrajhar district. The final death toll as a result of subsequent and widespread violence was 109.
A trickle of militancy-linked fatalities in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) has also been continuous. 14 fatalities were recorded in BTAD areas during 2013 as compared to 24 in 2014, prior to the violence commencing on 23 December. Since 23 December, another 29 killings have been recorded in the BTAD areas. BTAD is governed by the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), an autonomous administrative unit constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, covering an area of 8,795 square kilometres, and including the four contiguous districts of Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang.
The latest round of violence is said to have been in retaliation to the sustained losses suffered by the NDFB-IKS in ongoing counter-insurgency (CI) operations, and there were ample warnings that such a strike was imminent - though, as is obviously to be expected, the exact timing and location of the attacks was not advertised by the militants. Significantly, NDFB-IKS has suffered major setbacks in CI operations launched this year, with 43 NDFB-IKS cadres killed in 26 separate incidents in 2014 [data till 28 December 2014].
Significantly, on 22 December, NDFB-IKS had warned the Government of retaliatory attacks if the Security Forces (SFs) did not stop operations against its cadres. These warnings were brushed aside by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who declared, on 23 December, “I don't care for such warnings. The situation in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) is not conducive and corrective measures have to be taken." The attacks commenced just hours after the Chief Minister's statement.
CI operations had been launched against the backdrop of the increasing threat from NDFB-IKS. Out of 189 insurgency linked fatalities in the State among civilians and SFs through 2014 (184 civilians and five SF personnel), 137 (136 civilians and one SF trooper) were attributed to the NDFB-IKS. NDFB-IKS has been involved in at least seven major incidents (each involving three or more fatalities) out of 15 major incidents recorded in the State in 2014. On January 19, 2014, the Assam Government had announced that it was intensifying action against the NDFB-IKS in BTAD by carrying out Joint Army-Police CI operations in the aftermath of a sudden spree of killings in the Bodo belt.
Nevertheless, the State Government was found completely unprepared for the December 2014 incidents. As in the past, a smoke and mirrors effort to misdirect the public and media commenced immediately. While the earlier hoax of 'intelligence failure' and efforts to blame the Centre were not employed on this occasion, the State Police sought to claim that the NDFB-IKS was taking advantage of the 'porous border' and was sheltering in Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA), however, quickly dismissed this deception, clarifying that the architect of the current carnage, Bidai, was known to be operating from western Assam, and it was the Assam Polices' own failures that were to blame for this new cycle butchery.
The deficiencies of the Assam Police and administration have repeatedly been examined elsewhere and do not bear repetition here, beyond the broadest contours of these deficiencies. Specifically, Assam has a Police-population ratio of 173 to 100,000 [NCRB data for end-2013], well above the Indian average of 141, though still significantly below the levels required for law and order management in a State riddled by a decades-long insurgency and a long history of ethnic strife and political mismanagement. Further, there are critical deficits at all levels of the State's Force. State Environment and Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain, speaking on the behalf of Chief Minister Gogoi who also holds the Home portfolio, on August 4, 2014, indicated that 14,356 posts were vacant out of the 75,559 sanctioned posts in the Police. Of these vacancies, four at the level of Inspector General of Police (IGP) could not be filled as "there is no eligible officer completing 18 years of service in the Indian Police Service (IPS) cadre for promotion to the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP)." Further, the current vacancy for SP/Commandant, Assistant Superintendent of Police and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) ranks was at 14, 11, and 163 respectively. The force has 2,499 posts of constables, 300 posts of head constables, 138 posts of Assistant Sub-Inspectors, and 420 posts of Sub-Inspectors, lying vacant. In the Special Branch, 407 posts were vacant out of a total strength of 3,538 personnel. Qualitative and capacity elements, in terms of technical, technological and infrastructural backup also remain abysmally inadequate.
Unsurprisingly, the UMHA has emphasised an augmented role for the Army in the immediate response to the NDFB-IKS challenge, and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag that the Army's presence should be increased in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, where NDFB militants were operating. This, however, can be no solution in the long run. In the wake of the Sukma incident in Chhattisgarh on December 2, 2014, where 14 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, UMHA is reported to have told Chhattisgarh "that the experience of previous counter-insurgency campaigns in India in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura, shows that State Police should take the lead in the campaign with support from central forces." Police led responses have been the necessary template of successful CI campaigns in India, and this must be the guiding strategy of response. While an escalation of the Army's role may be a transient expedient, the reality is that too much Central 'assistance' gives the States an alibi for abdication of their own responsibility, and leaves the Police Force progressively emasculated.
The containment or neutralization of particular insurgent formations, however, do not promise an enduring solution to the multiple conflicts of Assam. The most enduring basis of these conflicts is the attritional confrontation between low consumption and relatively unresponsive tribal societies and cultures, and the aggressive, market driven economy of illegal migrants. It is clear that tribal communities have been at the losing end of this unrelenting and unequal competition over the decades. Land has been a crucial element of this competition, with large swathes of private, tribal and public land being cornered by illegal migrants, through a range of devices, including outright purchase, simple squatting or forcible possession. Established political parties in Assam have overwhelmingly sought the creeping ‘regularization’ of the status of the vast illegal migrant population in order to herd them into, and hold them as, captive vote banks.
This incendiary mix has been compounded further by a very assertive, even aggressive, Islamist politics, with political formations purportedly representing ‘Muslim interests’ seeking to mobilize the principal illegal migrant community in Assam, the Bangladeshi Muslim. This mobilization raises the very real possibility of an attempt by communal formations, allied to unfriendly regimes and countries in India’s neighbourhood, acting to provoke the destabilization and even possible disintegration, of the territory of Assam. It has become impossible for any political party in Assam to form a Government without the support of communal Islamist parties. Consequently, corrective action from the political leaderships in the State is unlikely in the foreseeable future.
A long process of policy reversal, as well as legal and legislative action will be required to stem the harm that is even now being done. However, immediate measures are necessary to halt the accelerating processes of the alienation of tribal lands and marginalization of indigenous populations in Assam. These must include and an immediate freeze on all land transactions and ownership in the State; an immediate and comprehensive Survey of land and the creation of detailed land records - vast tracts of land across the State remain un-surveyed and are not reflected in the Government’s land and revenue records, and these are the prime targets of creeping illegal occupation; such a survey must identify all incidence of occupation of lands by illegal migrants – all such occupation is illegal, as their very presence on Indian soil is illegal; strong legislation to prevent illegal occupation, and to reverse illegal possession, of currently un-surveyed and public lands, must also be drafted and urgently brought onto the statute books; and finally, constitutional and legislative protection of all tribal lands is necessary against acquisition or permanent occupation by outsiders.
In the absence of these necessary initiatives, while some insurgent formations may be neutralized and others may succumb to exhaustion, the conflict potential in the State cannot diminish and will find expression in new disorders and movements. Purely knee-jerk responses have been initiated in the past, and in the present case, and these are very easy - the routine injection of more Central Forces and escalation of CI Operations. Unless there is a comprehensive look at the twin issues of the transformation of land ownership and demographic destabilization in Assam, however, there can be no enduring cure for this festering wound.


Innovators in construction have until 28 June to enter the COINS Grand Challenge 2021 with a top prize of up to £100,000 investment.
The challenge is open to anyone whose idea could improve construction for the better, from increasing efficiency, to improving sustainability and safety, with a focus on new or emerging technology.
The global competition has two entry categories, an open competition and an undergraduate competition. Last year, University of Sheffield electronics engineering student Krithiga Ravichandran won the student section of the competition with her 3D-printing ‘ant-bots’. The open competition was won by US-based Aren with its AI-powered infrastructure management platform that minimises the risk of infrastructure failure and optimises infrastructure spending.
The first judges announced for the competition are: Mark Beard, chairman and chief executive of Beard Group and president of the Chartered Institute of Building; Susan Jackson, joint MD of Campion Homes; Aleksandra (Sasha) Njagulj, global head of ESG at CBRE Global Investors; and Stuart Binstock, president and CEO of the Construction Financial Management Association.
Beard said: “The construction industry has traditionally been slow to update, modernise and improve its productivity so this is a step in the right direction. It’s important that there is a link between the ideas and how they could be introduced into the construction industry on a day-today basis.
“The COINS Grand Challenge is a chance for people to turn their initial idea into something that is significant, something that could change the way the construction industry works in the future.”
The finalists will be announced on 11 August, and the winners revealed in October.
To enter, visit: coins-grandchallenge.com
Image: 138534565 © Pop Nukoonrat | Dreamstime.com


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Hertex, a leader in the décor industry, has an opportunity for a junior digital designer to join its internal marketing team. We’re looking for a vibrant talent who can make a solid contribution in a fast-paced environment where deadlines, quality and style carry equal weight, and an interest in digital design and interior trends are non-negotiable.
The successful candidate will work under the direction of Hertex’s senior digital designer.
Designing and rolling out creative elements for websites, digital and social media campaigns
Preparing sales material, such as in-store signage, swing tags and packaging
Resizing imagery for optimal web viewing
Taking responsibility for studio administration
Knowledge and skills required:
A recognised qualification in visual communication, graphic design or digital design
A solid working knowledge of InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator is essential
Experience in After Effects, Premiere Pro or any other video editing software as well as Lightroom is advantageous
Experience in Mailchimp is advantageous
Able to adhere to brand guidelines while displaying creativity and innovation
Able to work well under pressure and meet tight deadlines
Be collaborative and helpful, and able to work well both in a team and independently
Be consistent and efficient, and demonstrate exceptional attention to detail
Able to deliver on feedback from marketing management and senior designers
Posess excellent self-management and communication skills
Cape Town, Table View, Blaauwberg, R 25000 - R 35000 per month The role: Digital UI/UX designer
The city: Table View, Cape Town
The Mandate: Designing and developing web solutions that are innovative and...