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In the ever-evolving business landscape, standing out from the crowd is no easy endeavor. With numerous brands vying for customers' attention, creating effective competitive commercials has never been more crucial.
Success lies not only in having a unique product or service offering but also in outperforming your competition creatively and engagingly. This is where high-quality, competitive commercials come into play.
From churning out emotional narratives to using humor to connect with audiences, commercials can significantly impact consumer perception and behavior when done right.
In this blog post, we pull back the curtain on five competitive commercials from various industries that have extraordinarily set themselves apart. We'll delve into the components that made these commercial spots shine and how they created significant impact.
An all-time classic, Apple’s “1984” commercial still tops any list of successful advertising campaigns. Made for the introduction of the Macintosh computer, this ad, directed by Ridley Scott, was a potent mix of a compelling narrative and impressive visuals.
The commercial draws parallels with George Orwell's dystopian novel "1984," showcasing Apple's insurgent spirit and its commitment to disrupt traditional norms. Its appeal did not merely lie in the aesthetics but also its ability to evoke a powerful emotional response and challenge the status quo.
When discussing competitive commercials, it is impossible not to mention Old Spice’s iconic 2010 commercial. Known as "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like", this ad veered from pedestrian cologne advertisement norms, capitalizing on humor, unexpected twists, and memorable quotable lines.
The bold and humorous approach not only caught viewers' attention but also revolutionized Old Spice’s brand image from a classic, somewhat dated brand, to one which could resonate with a younger demographic.
Capitalizing on an innocent humor approach, the American auto insurance company GEICO, created a buzz with their “Hump Day” commercial. The ad humorously features a happy camel celebrating Wednesday, popularly referred to as 'hump day,' much to the annoyance of its corporate co-workers.
This campaign quickly became a cultural phenomenon, resonating with viewers due to its relatability, successful timing, and clever use of humor. No one can forget the infamous line, "Guess what day it is?!" once heard.
Nike has always been at the forefront of creating inspirational and impactful ads. However, their 2018 "Just Do It" campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick, the American football quarterback and civil rights activist, was a cut above the rest.
The ad masterfully weaved Kaepernick's controversial decision to kneel during the national anthem as a form of protest against racial inequality in America into a powerful narrative about sacrifice and belief. It was a risky move, but one that ultimately paid off by driving conversations, sparking discourse and reinforcing Nike’s position as an inclusive and socially conscious brand.
With Dos Equis’s “The Most Interesting Man in the World” campaign, the beer company reshaped their brand image while creating an iconic advertising character. Dos Equis concocted a fictional embodiment of worldly sophistication and suave in the character, leading their commercials to be memorable and engaging.
This campaign ran successfully for ten years, proving an enduring connection with the audience and drastically boosting the brand's sales in North America.
These five competitive commercials exemplify distinct and effective approaches to advertising. Each ad, while unique, achieved a similar outcome – they captured attention, drove conversations, and left memorable impressions.
As we navigate an increasingly crowded advertising landscape, the importance of crafting compelling and competitive commercials cannot be understated. These commercials serve as inspiring examples of how to step away from traditional norms and produce effective yet unconventional advertisements.
Every now and then, technology comes along to make life easier. Aomni is one such innovation. It delivers real-time account research, actionable competitive insights, and personalized sales content, all in 15 minutes. While you focus on creating commercials that make an impact, let Aomni take care of your strategic sales tool needs.


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New York has never wanted for great parks, but only recently have park concessions really taken off. Two of our favorites – Brooklyn Bridge Park, which runs between DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights, and the High Line, which runs on the west side of Manhattan from Gansevoort Street through 30th Street—host impressive pop-up food operations during the warmer months. As Memorial Day approaches and the unofficial start of summer with it, keep these spots on your list because there’s nothing better than great food in a great park.
The High Line, a repurposed stretch of elevated railway that reaches from the West Village up through Chelsea, cuts through respectable food neighborhoods—but you don’t have to descend to street level to eat well. Some of New York’s most popular spots have locations right on the High Line itself. There’s Terroir at the Porch (W. 15th St.), an outpost of the renowned wine bar of the same name, with carefully curated selections of wine, beer and snacks, plus dedicated seating and bonus views of the Hudson. Recharge with an espresso or New Orleans-style iced coffee from Blue Bottle (W. 15th St.). For sweet refreshments, there’s artisanal ice pop shop People’s Pops (W. 15th St.), ice cream sandwich specialists Melt Bakery (Little W. 12th St.), Mexican ice pop shop La Newyorkina (W. 17th St.), and L’Arte del Gelato (W. 15th St.), a branch of one of NYC’s best gelaterias. And for something more substantial, there’s Delaney Barbecue’s Smokeline (W. 15th St.), the first Manhattan barbecue setup from Dan Delaney of the wildly popular BrisketTown in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn is home to several killer ice cream shops, and two of them make strong showings at the 85-acre park along the East River shoreline: Ample Hills Creamery (Pier 5) and Blue Marble Ice Cream (Pier 1 Promenade). If it’s alcohol you want, Brooklyn Bridge Wine Bar (Pier 1 Plaza) has a straightforward menu of wine and beer and an unbeatable view across the river to Manhattan. And two of New York’s most popular sandwich shops—Luke’s Lobster, selling lobster, shrimp and crab rolls; and oddball sandwich-makers No. 7 Sub—will set up shop in the Smokestack Building, between River Cafe and Water Street, in the next few weeks.

domain: food


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Please Note: This event has expired.
Hot Club Faux Gitane
Sac State professor David A. Wells brings the hot Gypsy jazz of 1930s Paris to campus when the bassoonist performs with his group Hot Club Faux Gitane. Guitars and acoustic bass are joined by the bassoon, mandolin and others for a unique twist on music inspired by Django Reinhardt.
Contact: (916) 278-4323
INDIVIDUAL DATES & TIMES*
Additional time info:
6000 J Street, Capistrano Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819

domain: artistic


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Police tracked 20-year old student, Thomas Chappell, and 19-year old James Lenz by GPS on a victim's phone. A building service worker found the women's belongings dumped in a parking garage in the 800-block of S. Sixth Street, but cellphones and credit cards were missing.
One victim told police someone used her credit card shortly after the thefts. Chappell also faces charges of obstructing justice after giving police a false name. Lenz is charged with using the stolen credit card.

domain: news


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Xavi has his former Barcelona teammate's back, calming some of the pressure on the Argentina superstar.
Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi has claimed in a recent interview that Lionel Messi "doesn't need to win a World Cup" to be called the best in history, ranking him above his compatriot Diego Maradona in the process.
The pair enjoyed countless years of success during their time together at Camp Nou, winning seven La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues, but at the World Cup for Argentina it hasn't happened for the five time Ballon d'Or winner.
Messi is set to appear at his fourth World Cup this summer, with the closest the Argentine has come to football's biggest prize being the loss in the 2014 final to Germany, and some see Maradona - a winner in 1986 for La Albiceleste - as the best in history because of his success on the grandest stage, although Xavi is clear as who he views as the best.
Speaking to La Nacion, the 2010 World Cup winner said: "Messi does not need it (the World Cup), he's the best in history. I have not seen anyone better than him. I understand the consideration for Maradona. He has been and is an idol for all.
"What he (Maradona) did with Argentina still surpasses what the current generation of players have achieved. That's why there are people who say that Messi did not do what Maradona did.
"I understand, but at a footballing level Messi does what Maradona did 30 years ago. But in 2018 it costs twice as much because from a tactical, physical, technical and mental viewpoint, all the players are better."
Xavi also took the time to talk about the versatility of Messi, suggesting he is good enough to play as a midfielder due to his footballing intelligence, which could potentially happen following the departure of Andres Iniesta.
Xavi continued, stating: "Messi can play the roles of Xavi, (Ivan) Rakitic, (Sergio) Busquets, (Andres) Iniesta or (Luis) Suarez. He does everything right.
"He is a player who can't be compared with anybody. He is like Maradona in his time, like Pele in his time. At present he is already the best football player in history."

domain: sports


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It's time to take a look on
photographs of dazzling lips at Violetfashionart. Before few days we posted the tantalizing
Female Photography. It was very interesting and
impressed lot so we decided to post some other photographs to show you
more and different types of lips. These lips pics are really exclusive and marvelous.
Here are long skirt images in the publish article fashions and Long Skirt Style Trends 2013 at violetfashionart.blogspot.com Get more det...
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Art is a passion for me as it calls innovative and fresh thinking. Music has always been a passion for me. I
also have great interest in Dancing. I am also
fond of traveling, and love to learn new things from


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O.J. Simpson says that without the money to pay for a “dream team” of lawyers, he would not have been acquitted of murder charges.
In an interview with Playboy magazine nine years after his trial, Simpson repeatedly vowed he was innocent of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman.
“I didn’t commit the crime. That is why I got off,” he said. “I feel in my heart that I got off because I was innocent. But I don’t know if I could have proven my innocence if I didn’t have the money. And that’s a shame. Yes, it is a shame that in this country it costs so much to get good representation.”
In the wide-ranging interview published in the current issue of the magazine, Simpson also disclosed that after his acquittal he smoked marijuana in order to get to sleep.
“My drug of choice now is Vioxx,” said Simpson, who suffers from arthritis. “When I got out of jail, I kind of appreciated pot more than I ever had in my life.”
Simpson was acquitted of murder charges in the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife and Goldman. A civil jury later held Simpson liable for the killings and ordered him to pay the victims’ survivors $33.5 million. AP

domain: celebrity


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A beautifully variegated & speckled yarn in soft shades of chocolate browns,apricot orange,and cream with speckles of gold and rust...
Photographs in natural daylight no filters.
Shown with Tobacco also available whilst stock lasts.
Superwash merino nylon dk 100g 243m, so soft and squishy .Also on swmerino nylon 4ply.
All my hand dyed yarns are produced using professional acid dyes. As is this nature of hand dyeing, no two skeins are identical.
Any multiple orders of the same colour will be taken from the same batch.
All superwash yarn can be machine washed on a cool wash, but I personally always handwash larger items.A little bleeding may occur on the first wash - this is normal. Reshape whilst wet and dry flat.
All my yarns are ethically produced.


Lawrence Carter-Long is an actor, known for Best Summer Ever (2020), Code of the Freaks (2020) and ...
30 April 2021
2021 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Finalists Announced
01 April 2021
Look to the Stars
Stars Join Easterseals Disability Film Challenge
29 March 2021
Andra Day, Lee Daniels to Receive Stand Up To Cancer’s Inaugural Laura Ziskin Visionary Award (Exclusive)
Dive back into your favorites as we round up all the best series returning to TV and streaming in 2021.
See the full list
IMDb breaks down the comic-book history, potential cinematic future, and everything we know about Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Watch the video


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DescriptionUsed to describe any game where the main setting of gameplay is represented by a top-down (also known as overhead) view of the playfield. Top-down perspective may be used for a wide variety of genres; among the most common ones are vertically scrolling shooters and most 2D role-playing games.
Atari ST (2008)
PSTAC2k8E is a special tournament edition of PicrossST released on the Atari Convention 2008 in France.Like the ”real” PicrossST, it...
Five images of various sizes (16, 24, 28, 30 and 40-piece varieties) have been scrambled into square-shaped segments and jumbled...
Pie is a puzzle game where the player controls a round being who is trying to get to a pie,...
The story of Pier Solar tells about Hoston, a young botanist who is on a quest to save his father...
Atari 2600 (1983)
Now it's time for...PIIIIIIGS IN SPAAAAACE!!!This game is really three smaller games. You select what to play to choosing which...
Mankind have always tried to break through the borders of solar system, but due to wars, economic and ecological crisis...
Pilgrim Quest is an educational game in which you play the original Pilgrims bound for America on the Mayflower. You...
Pinball is a pinball simulation for one or two players. You begin the game with five balls, and need to...
Dragon 32/64 (1983)
In this simple pinball game, written in BASIC, you have one table. You earn basic points for bouncing on items,...
Pinball is an aptly named pinball game for the CD-i. The game features four different tables: Cyber, Meltdown, Spring Break...
Commodore PET/CBM (1980)
Pinball is a Dutch pinball game in which up to four players can compete for the highest score. Each player...
Pinball recreates a pinball table where the aim is to keep hitting a ball to score as many points as...
Odyssey 2 (2000)
Pinball!, as the name implies, is a pinball game for one or two players. There are two game "formats". The...
This pinball game is a Windows remake of Cyberball and offers four tables: Dooke, inspired by underworld devils, Enlightment, with...
Pinball Dreams Deluxe contains 8 tables.The 4 tables from the original Pinball Dreams: Ignition Steel Wheel Beat Box Nightmare The...
Top games by as rated by the press:
- 99 Chrono Trigger
- 96 Gauntlet
- 95 Radiant Silvergun
- 94 NHL '94
- 94 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- 93 Tecmo Super Bowl
- 93 Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon
- 93 Sid Meier's Civilization II
- 93 Shadowfire
- 93 Project Gotham Racing 2
Games must have at least a Critic Score of 80 to be considered.
Top games by as rated by our users:
- 3.89 Pac-Man (2007)
- 4.04 Chrono Trigger (2011)
- 4.78 Napalm: The Crimson Crisis (1998)
- 4.79 Sea Battle (1980)
- 4.75 Summer Carnival '92: Recca (1992)
- 4.67 Arc the Lad Collection (2002)
- 4.02 Starflight (1989)
- 3.97 Final Fantasy III (2011)
- 4.26 M.U.S.H.A. (2009)
- 3.90 Pinball Dreams (2009)
Games must have at least 5 votes and a User Score of 4.0 to be considered.

domain: game


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State Strategies for Overcoming Barriers to Advance Health Equity
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted longstanding health inequities which have resulted in an increased risk of sickness and death for people of color. The crisis has also propelled a nationwide focus on understanding and addressing health inequities. While COVID-19 and the reckoning on racial justice have mobilized some state officials working in Medicaid, public health, insurance departments, and Marketplaces, alike, states are at different places on their journeys to confront systemic racism and inequities in health care, and each faces unique and challenging barriers. This issue brief explores impediments and accelerants to advancing health equity as states are increasingly being called upon to drive change.


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There's great news about a landmark real estate space in the centre of Forbes.
A K hub will open in the site that's currently home to Target Country, which is expected to close in April.
"We are excited to confirm that we are opening a K hub in Forbes," a Kmart spokesperson told the Forbes Advocate on Tuesday afternoon.
"The store will be located in the current Target Forbes building and all team members in this store will be offered a role at the new K hub.
"We can't wait to bring this new store to life and look forward to sharing some more details with the local community in the coming weeks."
Mayor Phyllis Miller says the announcement is great news for Forbes.
"We are strategically setting ourselves up as a retail hub," the mayor said.
The closure of Target Country was announced last year, and posters advertising a closing date of April 17 have been put up in the Lachlan Street windows.
The Kmart website says K hub is a smaller format store with the most popular Kmart products across kids, home and clothing.

domain: economics


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Kid Friendly Dishes
Welcome to Cooking with Zahra!
Whether at home or while traveling around the world, I am always on the look out to find new ingredients, create new recipes and discover new and unique kitchen gadgets. I invite you to join me on my culinary journey of traditional and modern interpretations of Middle Eastern cuisine.


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A Cappella Manila with Mr. Gil Gatchalian
08 June 2019, Bergen – Music runs through the veins of Filipinos. This was proudly showcased in the mini afternoon concert staged by the Filipino community in Bergen in celebration of the 121st anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence, held at RICKS, a leading entertainment venue in Bergen.
On its 7th European Goodwill Concert dubbed “Makipagawit sa A Cappella Manila”, the famous vocal ensemble provided the highlight of the celebration, with its unique rendition of Filipino folk songs and pop songs. In addition, Filipino singers based in Bergen either sang with A Capella Manila or electrified the stage with their own renditions of favorite Filipino songs and dances.
Gracing the celebration was Ms. Marita Multo, the Deputy Mayor of Bergen, who has been very supportive of the welfare and activities of the Filipino community. The Philippine Embassy in Oslo was represented by Ms. Maria Elena Algabre, the Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General. The two officials became acquainted with each other in a previous Filipino community event in Bergen.
In her remarks, Ms. Algabre recognized the collaboration of different Filipino community organizations to make the celebration a success, namely Jesus is Lord, Caritas Bergen, Our Lady of Fatima, Hawak Kamay Bergen, Euro Asian Dance Group, Fil-Nor Business Council and Event Expert, plus other smaller organizations. After the mini afternoon concert, Jesus is Lord hosted a sumptuous dinner for A Cappella Manila and other guests.

domain: entertainment


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BENNINGTON, Vt. — Holding the narrowest of leads, Rachel Hale kept the boy subdued on his hands and knees, then on his belly. Both wrestlers were 103 pounds of leverage and intent. She hooked her leg tightly around his, flattening his hips toward the mat, trying to turn him on his back and pin his shoulders, careful not to let him score decisive points by escaping or reversing positions or pinning her.
The tiny gym was packed Saturday night, and the fans grew loud, as if the volume of their voices could hurry the clock toward history. Finally, the referee tapped Hale, a 15-year-old freshman, on the shoulder. She got to her feet and leapt jubilantly, and the referee raised her right arm.
By a gripping 10-9 decision, Hale became the first girl in Vermont and the third girl in the nation ever to win a state wrestling championship while competing against boys, according to the United States Girls Wrestling Association.
Her brother, Zak, a 17-year-old junior, won the 119-pound class after winning the 125-pound title last year. The school the Hales attend, Mount Anthony Union High, won its 23rd consecutive state championship.
Vermont is a small state; only about 200 athletes from 25 high schools compete in wrestling. Still, Rachel Hale’s victory illustrated the growing success of girls, who have qualified for state tournaments in as many as 49 states and have placed among the top finishers in at least 10, said Kent Bailo, the director of the United States Girls Wrestling Association.Continue reading the main story
“Any girl could do this, too, if they’ve tried as hard as they could and stuck to their goal and worked at it every single day,” said Hale, who is also a varsity soccer player. “I wanted this so bad.”
During the 2009-10 school year, more than 6,000 girls competed in high school wrestling, a 20 percent increase in four years, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.
The preciseness of the statistics depends on self-reporting, but, “I think literally every state but Pennsylvania has had a girl qualify for state,” Bailo said.
Still, the number of female wrestlers remains comparatively small. In most states, high school girls compete against boys, who far outnumber them with more than 270,000 national participants. The issue of gender differences is a subtext in the rough contact of these matches. And one recent episode fostered widespread public debate.
Hale’s victory came a week after a boy in the Iowa state tournament refused to wrestle against a girl, citing religious reasons.
Cassy Herkelman and Megan Black became the first two girls to qualify for the state tournament in Iowa, where wrestling has a passionate following. The boy, Joel Northrup, forfeited to Herkelman rather than compete against her in the first round of the 112-pound weight class.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan and their accomplishments,” Northrup, the son of a minister, said in a statement. “However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times. As a matter of conscience and my faith, I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner. It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most high school sports in Iowa.”
Some criticized Northrup for being sexist or afraid of losing. But Cody Jolley, 16, a sophomore from Spaulding High in Barre, Vt., who was Hale’s opponent in Saturday’s championship match, said he respected Northrup’s decision.
“I take my religion very seriously,” Jolley said. “I don’t blame him.”
Jolley’s mother had mixed feelings about his competing against girls, and his grandfather was opposed, he said. He wrestled anyway, saying: “It’s my state championship. I’m not going to give it up.”
Of Hale, he said: “She deserves to wrestle. It’s not like she didn’t earn it.”
The United States Girls Wrestling Association said it was urging more states to join California, Hawaii, Tennessee, Texas and Washington in offering separate high school teams and championships for girls.
This would help defuse gender conflicts, Bailo said, and would allow girls to successfully compete in upper weight classes, where they are at a greater disadvantage against boys because of differences in upper body strength.
At the Vermont championships, 6 of the 144 competitors were girls, none above 119 pounds. If Hale were to gain 10 or 15 pounds, she might risk not reaching the state tournament again or even making her school’s varsity team, Bailo said.
“I don’t know any girls competing over 160 and not many over 140,” Bailo said. “The boys beat them up; they get clobbered. It’s no fun.”
Ann Goolman, 16, a wrestler from St. Johnsbury, Vt., said she might like a chance to compete in a girls division. “The focus would be more on moves,” she said. “You don’t like to lose just because someone is stronger than you.”
But it is highly unlikely that separate teams will be offered in Vermont, wrestling officials said. “The numbers aren’t there,” said Mike Baker, the president of the Vermont Wrestling Coaches Association. “We have a hard time filling boys teams.”
That is just as well with Rachel Hale, who said she preferred competing against boys. “The guys are a lot better wrestlers,” she said.
She began wrestling at age 6, following Zak. By sixth grade, Rachel’s interest began to wane, but her father, Jon, who had wrestled in high school in Massachusetts, persuaded her to give the sport one more shot. Last year, as an eighth grader, Rachel won a New England middle-school championship and finished third in a national competition.
This season, Hale reached the state high school tournament with a record of 44-8, and was the top seed at 103 pounds, not having lost to a wrestler from Vermont. In Friday’s quarterfinals, she pinned Goolman in 26 seconds.
“She’s very aggressive and not intimidated,” Goolman said.
In Saturday morning’s semifinals, Hale pinned Aaron Roucoulet, 17, of Rutland High School in 4 minutes 19 seconds.
“I respect her more because she’s dominant in a male sport,” said Roucoulet, who lost to Hale several times this season. “She has the best technique of anyone I’ve wrestled at 103.”
For Saturday night’s championship matches, about 1,100 spectators filled the gym at Mount Anthony Union. Banners and posters covered the walls. One said, “Rachel Hale 103, You Can’t Touch Her.” Lights dimmed except for four spotlights above the wrestling mat.
During the season, Hale had pinned Jolley in less than a minute. As Saturday’s match opened, she dominated again. Her ponytail tucked inside her headgear, Hale quickly took down Jolley and rolled him on his back to take a 5-0 lead.
Then she was careless on a cradle move, looping one arm around Jolley’s neck and the other between his legs but failing to properly lock her hands. He reversed positions and put her on her back, nearly pinning her shoulders to the mat, to tie the score at 5-5.
In the second two-minute period, Hale was almost pinned again. She fell behind but executed a reversal move to go ahead, 10-9. Her mother closed her eyes, unable to watch parts of the match. Her brother said later that he seemed to sweat more for Rachel’s match than for his own.
The final period became an edgy stalemate, Hale riding Jolley’s legs, skillfully avoiding any reprimand for stalling, trying to turn Jolley and pin him with a half nelson and an arm bar. Desperately, he tried to break free, needing only 1 point to force overtime, 2 to win.
“I wanted to get up so bad, but she rides hard,” Jolley said. “I couldn’t catch a break.”
Finally, time expired and Hale jumped into the arms of her coach, Scott Legacy, himself a former state champion at Mount Anthony Union.
“I’m old school,” Legacy, 47, said of having a girl on his wrestling team. “This is new to me. But she’s a great kid. I see her as a wrestler, not a female.”Continue reading the main story


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Get Smart Girlsimtheadmin
I loved this workshop! it really inspired me. I learned to stay true to yourself and ways to not let others bring me down. This is important because if we compare ourselves to others, we will never be who we are.
I just feel so much better. I realize that I am human and I have flaws. When you are around just girls and you can talk about things you will definitely learn about yourself. I would say to other girls that you will feel awesome after you work with Get Smart. You will learn to accept yourself.
I loved Get Smart. Before I thought nobody cared about me because of my weight. I learned that I am perfect the way I am. Get Smart taught me to love who you are because your beauty is inside
Get Smart taught me a lot about staying positive and reminded me that I am important. I learned about self-respect while also having fun

domain: sociology


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By this point I have already spoken a bit about the capacity of human beings (real ones) to discover objective reality through competition. If you have a talented intellect, but are not particularly creative, I believe there is a particularly interesting path available to you. There are some in life who are granted, be it by fate or by God or by uncaring chance, extraordinary capacities for creative endeavors. They can blaze truly novel ideas into reality – a feat only becoming more difficult with time. However, if you fit the earlier description, you might have an even greater capacity. You see, although each differing form of creativity requires itself a unique talent, the capacity to copy and adapt the strengths of other people requires only a more general intellect and a certain wit. In other words, you might be able to become something like a Jack of All Trades, by meeting creative people and taking for yourself those unique qualities that allow them to go through life successfully. You might accumulate them for yourself, becoming a person unlike others.
One potent way to achieve this replication is through competition. When you compete against somebody who is better than you at something, you can see for yourself how it is they are able to beat you. In a wrestling match, you must yourself experience the maneuvers that brought you to defeat. In a fighting game tournament, you will see for yourself the tactics that outdo your own efforts. If you are able to witness and experience such things, and you are capable enough, you can begin to replicate them yourself. Eventually, you might be able to do so until you surpass the people you yourself learned them from. This is what you might call ‘genius’ – what the Japanese refer to as being ‘gifted from heaven.’ And, if such a genius continues to grow in this way, what end will they reach? This is the path I call, “climbing by winning.”
With this in mind, we return to the scene of one like the Heroes of old at the bottom of that Great Old Tower he had found himself in, having smashed through the Greater Arena before. Again I feel I must remind you, dear reader, that my words here are poor vessels for the meaning I intend. ‘Tower’ simply evokes the sort of progression I intend. The Byzantine himself could at once feel the quality of the true superordinate structure. Imagine for a moment, that you are yourself (an ordinary human, physically I mean – perhaps you are in truth an extraordinary person, I cannot really say), standing in the first floor of a rather mundane Earthly tower. You might imagine that some set of stairs or perhaps an elevator will take you to the next floor. Suppose, however, that you look around for any of these, and find none. How can you get to the next floor? Well, unless you want to get particularly creative, you cannot.
But now, let us assume that you do want to get creative. Let us indeed be utterly silly in our assumptions, and imagine that you skydive with a parachute, hoping to simply fly into an open window or some other entryway. Imagine you do this, only to realize with a start that you cannot even see any second floor; all you see or perceive is that initial floor you were unable to surpass in the first place! Yet, you know for a fact that more floors indeed exist. Now, this tower seems neither so Earthly nor mundane. I’ll save you the rest of the analogy, perhaps. I would suggest that the second floor exists at a conceptually superordinate level to the first. You know that something is there, but even what ‘it’ truly is is beyond you. No amount of stairs, even an infinite or beyond-infinite amount, could ever bring you there. In order to reach the second floor, you must supercede yourself; you must arrive at a higher sort of being. All that, just to reach the second floor.
Now, what if I said that the sum of that tower’s floors could not even be conceived in numbers?
What if I said that it existed so far beyond the concepts of concepts of concepts, and so on, that none of the Byzantine’s growth-from-Nothingness could ever hope to reach it, no matter how many times he stacked layers of it, and layers of layers, and layers of layers of layers, and so on infinitely, then layers (of layers of..) of that infinitely, then that, then that toward some indescribable climax?
Perhaps it would serve to call the sum of such floors a 'Great Floor.' My intention is not to bore with my prose.
What if I said that, for that Great Old Tower itself, the entryway and indeed each and every Great Floor is itself beyond the sort of tower my words to this point have described, surpassing that which you would have if you had an infinite number of such structures?
I must admit that my words continue to fail me; do you have the meaning? Perhaps these truths imply the tallest peak of this Tower is the highest level the Warrior-King could aspire to. It is difficult to say. But, it was clear that he would not be able to enter as he was. His honor-bound will propelled him to the entrance, far beyond what his previous growth was capable of, but it could take him no further.
So the Byzantine approached the gateway to that Great Old Tower with meekness, as a pilgrim seeking a shrine. There he was regarded with some surprise by one like a mighty Guardwoman.
“You are the only beside that wicked Child to tread here, Warrior-King,” the Guardwoman’s crystallic voice boomed. The Byzantine knew at once that she spoke of that ghastly kid who reigned over the Arenas, even the Greater, whom he had (to his great satisfaction) just previously annihilated.
“That Child is gone.”
“I know,” the Guardwoman’s voice tolled, “You have robbed us of a crucible to test any who would approach here.” The Byzantine regarded the Guardwoman with some curiosity. He could [interpret] her away, but since his first encounter with that less-than-Nothing he had become curious about these higher realms. Perhaps instead he should prepare to do battle with her as he did with that Savage Man in the Arena below.
“Do not try it,” the Guardwoman continued, “That [power] of yours is a nightmare to my station, but a traditional battle lies firmly in my court. Those reading would have better fortune trying their hand against you, than you would against me.” The Byzantine now was thoroughly impressed. It is true that many up to this point had shades of their own awarenesses flash every now and then – even the Blubbering King implied his suspicions about the Warrior-King’s ability – but this seemed to be the greatest level thus-far. How could he enter, then, besides relying on his power to [interpret]? His growth-from-Nothing had reached a limit he did not think possible. How could he climb now?
There was one way, he supposed – by winning.
“You are a Guardwoman,” he stated plainly. That to whom he referred looked down at him inquisitively, figuring out what game it was he was playing.
“Obviously,” she replied – there could be no other way to describe it, despite such notions as ‘guarding’ and ‘protection’ having been left far behind.
“That is your only purpose?” he further prodded.
“Obviously,” she continued, “So it is for most at this level.” The Warrior-King smiled. For one like the Heroes of old, tools beside strength were often the most valuable of all.
“Let me guard with you, then,” the Byzantine proposes, “For though I might be as a speck compared to you in sheer power, my addition would in theory enhance the protectedness of this tower you are meant to guard. It is your duty to accept.”
The Guardswoman grimaced, her [archetype] swirling with indecision. “Perhaps, trickery.”
“Well, consider this. If you knew of the fate of the lower Arenas, you know I spared that wizardess whom I met, and the lower Planes besides. I arrived here through a promise to myself nobly and honorably made. Even if I mean to deceive you in some way, you need not worry. This is my vow: I will not breach your post.”
And so the Byzantine, in assuming her station, learned her power, adapted it, and took it into his own. The Guardswoman was at once aware of what had occurred, but strengthened herself with the thought of his promise nobly made.
“You can no longer stop me from entering, and neither can I trespass and violate my oath,” the Byzantine Guardman said, turning to his compatriot.
“You may enter,” the Guardswoman scowled, “You are indeed worthy, and I would not suffer a losing battle against you now for the risk I misunderstood your nature, and you renege on your word. Go, Hero. We will see how far you can climb.”
Thus the Byzantine, a Warrior-King again, surpassed the entryway to that Great Old Tower. He came into that first Great floor, and to his surprise found it empty. It was here as if already meant for his arrival, and he took to it quite naturally. For this was the floor of the Ruler, and a Warrior-King he already was. To surpass it was a trifle now. Through the rest of the floors, he encountered ten more greater than the Guardwoman, each greater than the last as the Guardswoman was greater than he when he first arrived (and when he had entered the seventh Great floor, he had found it empty and prepared for him like the first. Let the reader understand!). He took to each of their stations, absorbed what they had known and what they were, and made solemn promises to fulfill each of their posts. And all those Great Floors, in total, were called:
And at the peak of the Tower, he was Warrior-King once again.
And so the one called Byzantine beheld the entire Great Old Tower and all contained within and below it. There, at its summit, he felt something like a deep vibration of [being]. The whole of the Tower was absorbed into him. Or, at least, it was and was not – in a monumental flash of pure Will, that great Warrior-King kept his truth-being separated from it. He would not break his promises to those who he had surpassed by learning their natures.
Now, at last, the whole of that Tower added to his might, he glistened and shuddered and ascended further still. The Great Old Tower became a crucible onto his own self-beyond. If you could see all of his growth since that climactic moment at the end of the Great War until this point, it would appear in comparison to itself as a single push-up, a single bicep curl, a half-hearted pull-up in comparison to this new boon. To call it unreachable from his previous level is to ignorantly understate what this Byzantine has truly now become. One like the Fire of Man surges upward and outward from this peak. The Journey is nearing its end. He awakes to the sounds of a quiet garden.

domain: literature


Celebrating Excellence: A Sustainable Touch with Wellowtea
Welcome to Wellowtea, where luxury intertwines with sustainability. In 2023, we proudly achieved the esteemed title of Best Organic Towel Retailer, a testament to our dedication to quality and environmental consciousness.
Our journey commences with the creation of 100% pure organic cotton towels. Cultivated without the use of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms, these towels embody not only unparalleled softness and durability but also represent a conscious choice for an eco-friendly lifestyle.
At Wellowtea, we comprehend that the seemingly inconspicuous choices we make daily wield a substantial impact on our environment. Our towels stand as a testament to our commitment to effecting positive change in the world.
Delve deeper into our world, and you'll uncover a meticulously curated collection of natural, organic, and eco-friendly products. Crafted from materials that prioritise both your well-being and the environment, each product undergoes rigorous testing to meet our elevated standards for quality and sustainability.
Our commitment transcends mere product offerings; we are steadfast in reducing our environmental footprint and championing sustainable living. We envision a world where collective efforts lead to positive change. The acknowledgement as the Best Organic Towel Retailer in 2023 substantiates our unwavering commitment to excellence.
We invite you to join us on this journey. Embrace conscious choices for a sustainable future. Small steps, when taken together, pave the way for significant changes.
Thank you for choosing Wellowtea – where every purchase is a stride towards luxury, quality, and sustainability.


Expansion of Tai Po Water Treatment Works and Ancillary Raw Water and Fresh Water Transfer Facilities - Design and Build of New Stream II
Tai Po Water Treatment Works (hereinafter referred to as “TPWTW”) is now undergoing an expansion to double the water treatment capacity from the current 400,000m3 per day to 800,000m3 per day upon completion in 2018. The TPWTW covers an area of about 10 hectares, supplying fresh water to Tai Po, West and Central Kowloon, and the Central and Western Districts of Hong Kong Island. Upon completion of the expansion, the number of building facilities of TPWTW will be increased from the existing 16 to 24, integrated with green features and renewable energy technologies.
The Water Supplies Department (WSD) is keenly aware of our responsibility towards the environment and is striving to secure, conserve and protect water resources for current and future generations in a sustainable manner. In addition to providing a safe and reliable potable water supply for the community, we are dedicated to reduce environmental impact by integrating green and energy saving initiatives into our water infrastructure and processes.
BEAM Plus is devoted in promoting safer, healthier, more comfortable and more efficient buildings, which is in line with WSD’s missions to maintain and motivate an effective, efficient and committed workforce to serve the community and to remain conscious of our responsibilities towards the environment.
Apart from the new water treatment components, Tai Po Water Treatment Works (TPWTW) has an extensive coverage of existing facilities which were built more than a decade ago. Many innovative and creative solutions were developed to integrate various green and sustainable features into the new as well as the existing buildings, and achieve BEAM Plus accreditation for TPWTW in its entirety as a green infrastructure.
TPWTW is located in a remote area surrounded by hilly and mountainous terrain with limited space and restrictive access. Designed to build in harmony with the surrounding landscape, a compact plant design with stacking of multi-treatment processes in multi-level buildings was adopted to minimize the footprint of TPWTW, thus leading to reduction of carbon footprint and ultimately creating an environmentally conscious facility.
Sharing the same vision and goal, the project team is forging ahead with huge efforts and continuous collaboration towards delivering a successful green infrastructure project for achieving the BEAM Plus Final Platinum rating, which further demonstrates WSD’s commitment to build a sustainable community.
|Number of Blocks||24 Blocks|
|Number of Storeys||1 to 6 Storeys|
|Type||Government, Institutional and Community|
|Project Developer / Owner||Water Supplies Department|
|Project Manager||Black & Veatch Hong Kong Limited|
|Main Contractor||China State – ATAL Joint Venture|
|Environmental Consultant||Black & Veatch Hong Kong Limited|
|Supervising Officer||Black & Veatch Hong Kong Limited|
|Architectural Consultant||Black & Veatch Hong Kong Limited; A.Lead Architect Ltd|
|Landscape Architectural Consultant||A.Lead Architect Ltd|
|Designer||China State – ATAL Joint Venture; Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited|
|BEAM Plus Consultant||BeeXergy Consulting Limited|


A Symbol Constellation mattress is a type of mattress made by the well-known American bedding company, Symbol. The mattresses are designed with comfort and support in mind, allowing for an optimal sleep experience. The mattresses feature layers of latex foam, memory foam and individually wrapped coils that work together to provide pressure relief and contouring comfort.
These features also help to reduce motion transfer across the surface of the mattress while providing extra edge support. Additionally, these mattresses come with quilted covers that add a plush layer on top for extra softness. All Symbol Constellation Mattresses are backed by a 10-year warranty so you can rest easy knowing your purchase is protected against any defects or issues related to craftsmanship or materials used in its construction.
The Symbol Constellation Mattress is a luxurious and comfortable mattress that offers superior support for your body. It features individually-wrapped coils that provide maximum comfort and contouring, as well as layers of memory foam to help relieve pressure points throughout the night. The mattress also includes a quilted top layer with cooling fibers to keep you cool while sleeping.
With its combination of coils and foams, this mattress ensures that you’ll be getting an optimal sleep experience each night.
Q: What is the Symbol Constellation Mattress Made of
The Symbol Constellation Mattress is crafted with high-quality, durable materials that provide a comfortable and restful sleep. This mattress features individually wrapped coils for superior support and pressure relief, as well as a quilt layer of fire retardant foam to keep you cool throughout the night. The top of this mattress also includes a luxurious pillowtop for added comfort and plushness.
Additionally, the entire mattress is encased in an antimicrobial fabric cover to ward off dust mites and other allergens. With this combination of quality construction materials, you can trust that your Symbol Constellation Mattress will provide years of blissful sleep experiences.
It Also Has a Quilted Top Panel for Additional Cushioning
The quilted top panel of a mattress is an added layer of cushioning that provides extra comfort and support. It is typically made from foam or latex material, which helps to hold its shape and provide additional body contouring. The quilting process involves stitching the fabric together in a criss-cross pattern, and this helps to create air pockets between the layers that promote airflow for breathability.
Quilted top panels are commonly found on mattresses with memory foam or hybrid construction, as they offer enhanced pressure relief while providing superior motion isolation due to their increased density. This makes them ideal for those who suffer from aches and pains as it reduces nighttime tossing and turning caused by discomfort.
Q: Is the Symbol Constellation Mattress Comfortable
The Symbol Constellation mattress is designed to provide optimal comfort, depending on your needs. The mattress features a tri-zone foam system for targeted pressure relief and support in all the right places. Its individually wrapped coils help minimize motion transfer between partners, while its 1000 pocketed coil system adds extra contouring and bounce.
Additionally, it’s made with temperature-regulating gel memory foam that helps keep you cool throughout the night. This combination of comfort technologies makes this mattress an ideal choice for those who prefer a softer sleeping experience without losing out on much needed support.
Q: Does the Symbol Constellation Mattress Have Any Special Features
The Symbol Constellation mattress is a medium-firm hybrid mattress that offers great support and comfort. It features an 8″ high-density foam core with individually wrapped coils for added contouring and pressure relief. This mattress also has the latest CoolFlow technology, designed to help regulate body temperature while you sleep.
The top layer of this mattress is made from breathable, plush memory foam that helps keep air circulating more efficiently throughout the bed. Additionally, it comes with a 15 year limited warranty for extra peace of mind when making your purchase.
Additionally, It’S Designed With Air Channels in Its Base to Promote Airflow And Breathability
The air channels in the base of this product are designed to promote airflow and breathability. This allows for a more comfortable fit, as it ensures that any heat or moisture is easily released from underneath the shoe instead of being trapped inside. Additionally, this helps reduce friction between your foot and the shoe, which can lead to less irritation and discomfort during long periods of wear.
Not only does this improve comfort but also helps maintain healthy feet by allowing your skin to stay dry and cool at all times.
The Bed Tent – Break Down Instructions
Symbol Mattress Price List
Symbol Mattress is a leading mattress brand that offers various types of mattresses for different budgets. Their price list provides an overview of the different mattress models, their features and prices so customers can easily compare and find the right product to suit their needs. With Symbol, you’re guaranteed quality sleep at an affordable price.
Symbol Constellation mattresses offer a great combination of comfort and affordability. With their impressive range of features, from temperature regulation to pressure relief, Symbol mattresses provide the perfect sleeping experience for any budget. Not only are they comfortable and supportive, but their long-lasting durability makes them a great investment for those looking for an affordable mattress with premium quality.
With its high level of customization options, Symbol’s Constellation mattress is sure to be a reliable choice for anyone seeking superior sleep at an accessible price point.


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A father whose two daughters were killed in the Hillsborough disaster has told a court of the "worst moment" of his life as he travelled to hospital with one girl while her sister was on the pitch.
Trevor Hicks, whose daughters Sarah (19) and Victoria (15) died on April 15, 1989, gave evidence at the trial of match commander David Duckenfield at Preston Crown Court yesterday.
He said the two girls had been in the central pens of the Leppings Lane terrace while he had been in a pen to the side.
He said as kick-off approached the pens seemed "very full" and it was clear there were problems, adding that he and another man, shouted up to a police officer on the gantry to alert them to the situation.
Asked how the police officer responded, he said: "He told me to shut my 'f****** prattle'."
He said he later spoke to a second police officer, who did not respond.
Mr Hicks said that he thought he saw Victoria being carried out of the terrace, so he left the pen and then found both girls on the pitch.
He then went in an ambulance to hospital with Victoria, while Sarah was still being treated on the pitch, describing it in court as "probably the worst moment of my life".
Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher (18) also died in the crush at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final, also gave evidence yesterday and described being "frozen in fear" as he saw the disaster unfold from his North Stand seat.
He said: "There were only a few police officers there and some of those police officers were endeavouring to help those who were in distress, those who were dying and those who were dead.
"I also saw police officers pushing back into pen three those who were fighting for their life to get out of that pen."
Duckenfield (74) denies the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans who died in the fatal crush on the Leppings Lane terrace. Under the law at the time there can be no prosecution for the 96th victim, Tony Bland, as he died more than a year and a day after the disaster.
Former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell (69) denies breaching a condition of the ground's safety certificate and failing to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety Act.
The trial continues today.

domain: law


The Command shell is an entry point for typingÂ commandsÂ in the Command Prompt console window. By typing commands at the command prompt, you can perform tasks on your computer without using the Windows GUI.
In Windows 11,Â Windows TerminalÂ is the default console to open installed shells like the Command Prompt in by default now.
If you wanted, you can still directly open the Command Prompt in Windows 11.
This tutorial will show you different ways on how to open a command prompt in Windows 11.


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Uninspired Hollywood version of the Charles Dickens classic starring Holmes as Pip, the young orphan boy who rises to prominence with the help of his life-long mysterious benefactor. A weak adaptation filled with disappointing performances from a cast capable of better. Valerie Hobson
shone much brighter as Estella in the vastly superior 1946 version directed by David Lean. At the time of initial release, the picture suffered from critical comparison with the nearly simultaneous release of THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP, the first of a series of British productions of the works of
Dickens. Look quickly for Walter Brennan in a small role as a prisoner.


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Fill your freezer for the winter of 2020 by placing a bulk order for our pasture-raised, chemical-free, regenerative, uncertified organic broiler whole chickens.
These flavorful and nutritious Freedom Ranger chickens are raised in our regenerating, holistically-managed pastures throughout the growing season. They eat a rich, diverse, and natural diet of grasses, clovers, insects, and local regenerative organic grain from Stone House Grain.
You will receive several boxes of whole, frozen chickens—each weighing approximately 4 (or more) lbs. Please be sure you have the freezer space available upon pickup or delivery. You will be given a rough delivery date upon ordering, and an exact pickup/delivery date a few weeks in advance.
We process these birds on the farm in small batches. They are uninspected, and therefore we are limited to raising only 999 under Vermont law.
Orders will be filled throughout the summer and will be delivered locally (within Vermont, within 25 miles) at no cost. Pickup at the farm is also available for customers from outside Vermont.
Supply is limited.
For every order received, we will raise 5 extra chickens for local food banks.


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When you purchase a digital subscription to Cake Central Magazine, you will get an instant and automatic download of the most recent issue.
For my son's 2nd birthday party. A few inspired by Better Homes online and a few creations of mine. Iced with buttercream and accented with fondant parts (let dry overnight). TFL!
Butterfly Cupcake Cake
Flower Cupcake Cake W/ Chocolate Butterflies
(if this is a private computer)
Yes please, register now!


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I don’t know about you, but I totally love coffee. Nothing beats waking up in the afternoon and with a coffee made from freshly roasted coffee beans. Due to home coffee roasters and the internet, I try a new kind of coffee weekly. When you purchase coffee beans from https://www.coffeeknows.com, the choice is endless!
I used to go neighborhood supermarkets seeking unique kinds of coffee beans. I soon understood that many areas inventory more or less the very same kinds of bean along with the choice weren’t the best no matter where I moved.
Local coffee shops were able to give me a much better alternative for a number of the lesser known manufacturers of coffee that came from states that I’d no idea made coffee! The longer I tried the more I became more obsessed with discovering new tastes and mixes to attempt.
When a buddy told me that it is possible to purchase just about anything online, she explained why not purchase coffee beans online? I couldn’t believe I hadn’t ever thought about it before and hurried home to my PC.
After searching several areas I immediately started to understand that there were only so a lot more kinds of coffee from countries that I had never heard about. The best thing was, I could decide on some and has them delivered straight to my door in a few days.
My coffee washing machine hasn’t been used much! Should you prefer your coffee, then you need to see just how many unique varieties you will find for sale online.
Can I have the time to try all of them? I don’t understand, however that I’m going to attempt!
Take my advice and Purchase Coffee Beans online. The choice is endless!


I would strongly suggest you do that at a camera store. Here is, though, some idea of how it's done (excerpt from another post on a different forum):
It might be possible to just remove the Nikon flange from the back of the lens and replace it with a Pentax flange; both are very simple parts and similar in general design. you could get a mounting flange off of a cheap K-mount teleconverter easily enough, and since the focus register of the Pentax is 1mm shorter than the Nikon, you shouldn't have any infinity-focus problems.
Try SRB (www.srbfilm.co.uk). They advertise a number of adaptors, Nikon to Pentax K is not on the current list but they will be able to advise if the lens can be modified.
note that the Tamron lenses were designed to be used with adaptors; the lenses all had a common mount and you had to buy an appropriate adaptor to fit them to specific cameras. This made changing camera systems easy because you just bought new adaptors. Changing a lens with a dedicated mount can be much more complicated (and expensive) and usually involves loss of some lens functions such as the ability to focus at infinity, connection to the metering system etc.


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An acclaimed line up of talent including David Walliams, Joanna Lumley and Paapa Essiedu are coming together as part of Polka Theatre’s Write Here, Write Now initiative. This inspiring project seeks to support local schools in improving literacy, language and communication skills in young children who have been identified as having low confidence and self-esteem. Tune in to for live readings from 11.30 am today or catch up on-demand at Polka Theatre’s website and social media platforms.
Using drama workshops and creative activities, Polka has worked with five primary schools over the last year to boost their confidence and spark imagination. The schools involved are: Ashmole Primary School, Malmesbury Primary School, Kings Oak Primary School, Cranmer Primary School, and Poplar Primary School.
Other stars taking part in the project include Paralympian, TV presenter and author Ade Adepitan, actor Cerrie Burnell, children’s author Catherine Johnson, comedian Joe Lycett, and acclaimed author Michael Rosen.
Creativity can be a constructive tool to combat loneliness, fuel curiosity, encourage self-belief, and improve children’s wellbeing. The project has resulted in a host of exciting creative stories showcasing the full power of children’s literary potential.


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Ticks and other parasites are a creepy crawly fact of life for our pets, especially during the warm spring and summer months. Blood-sucking ticks pose a particularly troublesome hazard due to their ability to spread potentially deadly diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and Ehrlichia to our pets.
Learning the techniques of pet tick removal, as well as finding and preventing ticks in the first place, are crucial to the health and safety of your pet.
How To Spot A Tick On Your Pet
If your pet spends even a small amount of time outdoors, a tick check should be a part of your daily pet care routine. Run your fingers over your pet’s entire body including between the toes, inside the ears, under the armpits, and all around the face and chin. If you notice any lumps or bumps, look to see if it’s a tick.
A tick will be brown, black, or tan and have eight legs (yes, it’s an arachnid). Some ticks are large enough to see easily and some are very tiny, so be sure to look carefully.
Proper Pet Tick Removal
Fortunately, pet tick removal is relatively simple:
- Using a clean pair of tweezers, grasp the tick as close to your pet’s skin as possible (try not to pinch the skin).
- Pull the tick straight outward in a steady motion. Make sure you’ve removed the whole tick, since anything left in could cause an infection.
- Submerge the tick in a small container of isopropyl alcohol to kill and preserve it (see below). Flushing the tick or attempting to throw it away will not guarantee death. Likewise, burning the tick (while effective) releases toxic fumes.
If your pet begins to show signs of a tick borne illness such as fever, fatigue, swollen joints, lameness, reluctance to move, or loss of appetite, bring your pet in to see us. Don’t forget to bring the preserved tick if possible, as we may need it for identification purposes.
What Not To Do
Myths abound when it comes to tick removal; burning them off, painting them with nail polish, dousing them with olive oil, petroleum jelly or even gasoline are among the most common ideas. These techniques are not only ineffective (ticks won’t voluntarily “back out” of your pet’s skin once embedded) they can be dangerous (you should never light a match near your pet’s fur, for obvious reasons).
If you are having difficulty removing a tick, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We can talk you through it, or suggest that you bring your pet in for professional assistance.
Prevention Is Key
While it’s not possible to 100% prevent your pet from ever picking up a tick, there are a few things you can do to lower the chances:
- Keep your pet on a year-round flea and tick preventive medication. If you haven’t started your pet on a preventive yet or need a refill, give us a call.
- Ticks love to hide in tall vegetation, so keep the grass, trees, and bushes in your yard trimmed and avoid walking your pet in heavily wooded or grassy areas during the spring and summer.
- Wild animals often harbor ticks, so take steps to keep them out of your yard.
Proper and prompt pet tick removal is essential to the health and safety of your pet.

domain: pet


One of the many blaxploitation with the title prefix Black… (…Samurai, …Caesar, …Aphrodite), Gestapo also manages – rather uncomfortably – to incorporate the iconography of Nazism, bringing another of the popular sub-genre’s of the exploitation market, that together make nazi-blaxploitation. “The People’s Army”, a vigilante group headed by General Ahmed (Rod Perry), are set up in Watts to protect black citizens in the inner city. After they run a white criminal organisation from the community, second in command Colonel Kojah (Charles Robinson), breaks the group in the middle to form his own, more fascistic group, indulging in money-making activities such as drug dealing, and orates for more direct, violent action.
Writer-director Lee frost (along with co-writer-producer Wes Bishop), has obviously, and incredibly insensitively, misinterpreted the black power movement in the late 1960’s/’70’s – particularly the Black Panthers – and presented it with Nazi iconography. It’s an uncomfortable juxtaposition to see a group of black men congregated on a ghetto basketball pitch, dressed fully in the garments of the most vilified, ultra-racist political movement of the twentieth century. Why exactly would anyone (but particularly an ethnic minority), take on this most instantly recognisable of images?
There does seem to be an attempt to perhaps represent the opposing views of the two major iconic black figures of the 1960’s. In Ahmed we have the message of non-violent protest from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whilst Kojah’s view of violent actions mirrors the philosophy of Malcolm X, and his pronouncement of using violence in self-defence. But maybe I’m just reading into something that’s not actually there. When the film isn’t insulting its audience, it displays nothing new to an already lagging genre, and simply presents generic tropes: Blaxploitation was always criticised for perpetuating racial stereotypes, but this film could indeed be guilty of far more. With a series of scenes-we’ve-seen- before, such as the castration of a white man, after he raped a sister, the film also uses the contemporary necessities such as soft female nudity. Action scenes are played out with little excitement or even much vigorous movement, which along with the amateurish film making makes this film a totally dull squib. So… Hardly the “New Master Race,” instead simply insulting to anyone who watches.


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I am a "student" of regional culture with a Master's in Southern Studies to prove it! I love to see and shop distinct parts of the world, and share my southern hospitality with others.
I work remotely for a Northern California education non-profit. I'm the proud owner of two black terriers. My favorite movie is the original "The Parent Trap" with Hayley Mills times two. I collect ugly owl knick knacks, so flea markets are my thing.

domain: geography


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"What's new in this version:Take your Flappy Bird experience to the next level with: > Improved single player experience > Due to popular demand, the old bird mode is back! If you like Floppy Bird - Clumsy Flying Madness, please take the time to rate the app! It takes three seconds, and it will motivate us making new games and delivering awesome updates! Meet Boo, the world famous high flying circus monkey. Automatic capture will get all the birds into the pocket.
- What's new in this version:Update app title.
Boo was accidently left behind, captured and put in a zoo. Features with beautiful, luxurious, high-definition puzzles! All HD !!Beverly Hills fantastic quality puzzles!Landscape Orientation! Wood background tables! Hours of fun and challenges!Handpicked music soundtracks with cool sound effects!Enables you to RESET!And much more!Need support or suggestions? We would love to hear from you!What's new in this version:New App IconMore Images ***Download this fun goalkeeping game and see if you can save all the penalties.
and most importantly. Power Star=========Tap a Power Star to increase your Jelly Power. Do you think you have what it takes to master this fun and addicting game?Features: * Great for All Ages* Amazing graphics* Universal app supports iPhone / iPad / iPod Touch* Addictive Gaming Download right now!
The man himself could not fight with them and called for help.
What's new in this version:-iPad UI is now centred-The game is now slightly easier, getting to rank General (score of 125) is now slightly more feasible-Bug fixes
if your Jelly Power is at 75% you earn 75 points. You can create endless possible combinations to make her look great.While the speed increases the challenges in the endless caves get harder. The undead, however, are heavily outgunned. + HEY WATCH OUT!!! + Hey, we need you! Test your skills in jetpack flying as you fly through the jungle maze and collect fruit for points in this intense adventure! Beat your friends for countless hours of free fun.
Try to beat your highest score.


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Aucklanders can soon again enjoy a second serving of the pop-up restaurant, AKAI DOA, as it opens its red door for a second time in April.
Asahi’s AKAI DOA (or red door) will launch for a limited time at Las Vegas Club on K-Road and promises to deliver a theatrical dining experience like no other, combining incredible food alongside culture, fashion and collaboration.
A new six-course menu has been created especially for the reopening, by renowned chef, Yukio Ozeki from Azabu. The dishes will offer a modern-day twist on traditional Japanese cuisine and take inspiration from Japan’s most popular beer, Asahi Super Dry.
“Last year, AKAI DOA was hugely popular and this year AKAI DOA promises to take the dining experience to a whole new level,” said Asahi Super Dry Marketing Manager Stephanie Scard. “As well a stunning new menu, diners can expect an extra portion of theatricals, with an immersive lighting installation created by award-winning artist, Angus Muir, fashion shows by Stolen Girlfriends Club at the end of May and a fresh new dining collaboration with Auckland’s leading restaurant CULPRIT in June. Asahi’s AKAI DOA is set to offer a totally new and immersive dining experience of light, sound and energy beyond anything done before.”
Asahi’s AKAI DOA will include the launch of AKAI DOA Late where a collective of international DJs will take patrons late into the evening on Friday and Saturday nights. The red door officially opens on Thursday 11th April and the pop-up restaurant will be open for a limited time on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.


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Accountants welcome business tax changes in the 2020-21 Budget
The business tax changes under the 2020-21 Budget have been met with positive feedback from professional accounting bodies and tax experts. Two of the key announcements under the Government’s business investment strategy are the immediate expensing and loss carry-back provisions for businesses with an annual turnover of up to $5 billion. Under immediate expensing, businesses… Continue reading Accountants welcome business tax changes in the 2020-21 Budget
Government backflips on RDTI cuts with a $2 billion boost
Last night, the Government announced a $2 billion investment into Research & Development Tax Incentives (RDTIs), scrapping a previously proposed $1.8 billion cut and a $4 million tax refund cap. The changes will apply from 1 July 2021 and will support more than 11,400 companies that claim the RDTI. In addition to the $2 billion… Continue reading Government backflips on RDTI cuts with a $2 billion boost
What are startups looking to receive from the Federal Budget?
With the announcement of the Federal Budget looming this evening, start-up executives are calling for more money to be invested into growing new companies, and policy surety in regards to the R&D tax incentive. Nick Northcott, the Executive Director of legal tech startup Immediation, has said that in order for startup businesses to gain traction… Continue reading What are startups looking to receive from the Federal Budget?
Guidance needed on JobKeeper subsidised R&D and transfer pricing rules
Early this week, the Tax Institute of Australia (TIA) called for guidance material on the JobKeeper scheme in relation to the R&D Tax Concession and transfer pricing. In an open letter from TIA president Peter Godber, the TIA made a submission to the ATO encouraging a more “considered approach … in relation to guidance being… Continue reading Guidance needed on JobKeeper subsidised R&D and transfer pricing rules
R&D tax incentive inquiry delayed a third time
Businesses have been plunged into further uncertainty as the Senate inquiry into R&D tax incentive (‘RDTI’) reforms is delayed a third time this year. What do we know so far? The Treasury Laws Amendment (Research and Development Tax Incentive) Bill 2019 (‘the Bill’) was introduced on the 5 December 2019 to reform RDTIs. Treasurer Josh… Continue reading R&D tax incentive inquiry delayed a third time


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NEW DELHI: Premium lingerie
its website after recording a four-fold rise in sales
Sri Lankan lingerie brand amanté is a part of MAS Brands, which is a subsidiary of MAS Holdings, a supplier of niche market intimate wear. The brand encompasses swimwear, sleepwear and sportswear in addition to its lingerie collections. It was launched exclusively in India in October 2007.
“Our online business was only 2-3% three years ago, but today it is contributing almost 10-15% of India business and it makes sense to give our patrons the experience of products and collection through our own online set-up,” said Vivek Mehta, chief executive, MAS Brands India.
Mehta said that though amantelingerie.com would not be able to attract as much traffic as the online marketplaces, it would help the company showcase an extended catalogue.
Inspired by US brand Victoria’s Secret, amanté has plans to roll out 25-30 exclusive stores
in the next two-three years. “Earlier, women used to do more secret purchases, which hampered the existence of exclusive lingerie stores. But now the time has changed. We have seen trends that were 20 years ago in the US now coming to India, where the customer is ready to enter a standalone premium lingerie store to make a purchase and we are ready to execute it,” Mehta said.
The company retails the lingerie brand in India & Sri Lanka through over a 1,000 which are a combination of large formats, MBOs and ecommerce channels. Last fiscal, it clocked over Rs 100 crore in sales revenue from India, and has been growing at more than 50%.
According to Mehta, MAS Brand India is aiming at $100 million by 2020 through its expansion strategy this fiscal.
The company recently acquired UK lingerie brand Ultimo and US lingerie brand Thinx to expand its portfolio. It now plans to explore the markets in countries such as Malaysia and the Philippines either by launching amanté or acquiring a local brand.


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All three of our children came into our family through adoption. One Sunday, when Rachel, my youngest of three kids was just a couple weeks old, we sang Oceans during worship. I’d never really attached to the song like so many other Christians that I know did. But that morning, the song fell on me fresh.
“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders / Let me walk upon the waters / Wherever You would call me / Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander / And my faith will be made stronger / In the presence of my Savior.”
Perhaps many people can say what I am about to say: when I first began fostering children I had no plans on adopting. I was experiencing a bit of the ’empty nest syndrome’ and wanted little ones in my home once more. I also wanted to foster children on my own terms with the choice to stop when I felt the time had come.
I received a phone call from a social worker asking if I wanted to foster a baby who was still in the hospital. I immediately said, “Yes.” The social worker began informing me of the baby’s health condition. “This baby was born three months premature, weighs only four pounds at six weeks of age, and has tested positive for crack and alcohol.” She added, “The baby needs to be picked up today.” I raced out of the house and headed to the hospital to meet a tiny little girl.
I used to hide. As an adoptee, I hid from the world. I was so afraid of being rejected that I left before anyone else could leave me first. I was in hiding.
Innocent, yet accused. Named, yet nameless. I had been an orphaned child, marked by abandonment: a mark that seemed to be my permanent identity. And, so I hid.
Many adoptees do the same. A moment in our lives—a decision made by others—hurts us so deeply that we retreat into the shadows. We often live on the outside looking in. Our new families wonder what is wrong, “Why can’t my child trust?” If they only knew that we’re in hiding, afraid of reaching out our arms and opening ourselves to love.
The little black ringlets of hair curling round her rosy cheeks and dark brown eyes captured my heart at first sight. It’s a moment I’ll never forget. As the tears came out of nowhere and my heart exploded, it was instantaneous. Somewhere in that place a Mama feels the deepest of emotions, I knew she was ours. God had shown me the little girl He’d hand-picked for us halfway across the world.
It was love. A love that seemed surreal — but one I knew was a gift. I just wouldn’t understand the magnitude of that gift for many years to come.
Our adoption story wasn’t one of the easy ones. I don’t know that anyone has an “easy” story, but ours was riddled with unheard of obstacles, detours, and heartache.
“We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” ~Oprah Winfrey
We live on a planet plagued by crisis. War, hunger, disease, exploitation, racism, gun violence—these are just a few of the headlines presented, daily, on news outlets worldwide.
It’s seldom when we hear on our televisions, or read on our news tablets, of the crisis that I advocate on behalf of: the orphan crisis. This crisis has placed its grip on an estimated 17.8 million children around the globe: orphaned and vulnerable children in need of our care and attention. And, where there are orphaned and vulnerable children—there are also vulnerable and marginalized mothers.
In this episode, I speak with Madeleine Melcher. Madeleine is an adoptee, mom-by-adoption to three children, book author, and owner of Our Journey to You, a company dedicated to designing adoption profile books and portfolios. She’s also an Angels in Adoption awardee who was honored in 2017.
With transparency and authenticity, Madeleine opens up about her journey as an adoptee and shares rich insight on what it means to parent children of adoption. In addition, she shares the why behind her work: every child deserves a family. It’s Madeleine’s why. IT’S HER FUEL!
To learn more about Madeleine, please visit: www.ourjourneytoyouadoption.com
These were my last few hours in Ethiopia. My daughter’s adoption had been finalized and we were on the way to the airport in Addis Ababa. As an international adoptee myself, I knew that I was not taking my daughter “home.” We were leaving her homeland and I had great respect for the power of that moment. I held a deep reverence for the loss that she was experiencing within her, even though she could not voice it or make sense of it, yet.
I’m an international adoptee. I’m also the parent of two children delivered into my life via adoption from Russia and Ethiopia.
We’re an international family created through adoption. We love each other and we have so much fun together.
We are also Americans; immigrants to the U.S. and citizens by naturalization. We contribute and we serve this nation, our community, our family, and our friends.
Recently, I read a staggering statistic: International adoption by Americans has declined by 81% since 2004. And, crippling new policies and practices are projected to completely end international adoption within the next five years. (How to Solve the U.S. International Adoption Crisis, by Nathan Gwilliam, Ron Stoddart, Robin Sizemore, and Tom Velie, adoption.com, March 19, 2018)
On this episode of The Greater Than Podcast, I speak with Rachel Garlinghouse, author of the book, The Hopeful Mom’s Guide to Adoption: The Wit and Wisdom You Need for the Journey. Rachel has been part of the adoption community for a decade and is mothering four children, all of whom were adopted domestically and transracially. Rachel has shared her education and experiences on CNN, MSNBC, CBS, NPR, and Huff Post Live, just to name a few.
In this episode, Rachel and I discuss transracial adoption and, my brave friend speaks openly about her journey as a diabetic and breast cancer survivor. In addition, we talk about the ways in which we can navigate the losses in our lives. There is such hope in Rachel’s message: such inspiration found in living a life of healing verses in living to be healed.
“One day this will all make sense.”
This was told to us in the midst of an extremely emotional and troubling time. At that moment, I clung to those words as if they were a life raft and I was stranded in the middle of the ocean with no land in sight. We had just been told we had lost the referral of a beautiful baby girl only days after our pup, my soul dog, lost his fight with kidney disease and Cushing’s Syndrome. We fought like hell for almost a year to keep Stormy with us, and to this day I would give almost anything to spend just five more minutes with him. In the midst of our grieving, we received the referral of a beautiful baby girl, only to have her ripped from our grasp just days later. It was the first time a referral had been taken back in the program’s almost ten year history, and I was completely devastated. My poor husband felt powerless. He watched me mourn for the pup that made me a mom, albeit a fur mom, and now had to tell me we lost the girl we thought was our daughter for three days. I know how selfish I sound here…looking back on it now, I am so thankful her birth mom was able to change her mind and raise her. I truly am. But at the time, my emotions were controlling me, and they had me a complete mess. I am beyond blessed with my family, and feel so honored to not only have witnessed, but experienced firsthand our story unfold.


Date of Award
Bachelor of Science in Geological Engineering
Dr. E. S. Perry
Dr. L. L. Sloss
The author has made a study of an assemblage of fossils from the Blacktail Range near Dillon Montana with the purpose in view of attempting a correlation of that group with the fauna of the Big Snowy Group. Fossils have also been obtained from a limestone formation in northwestern Montana and from four different areas in the Amsden formation in central and western Montana.
King, James, "Upper Mississippian Faunas of Western Montana" (1942). Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970. 159.
Ceramic Materials Commons, Environmental Engineering Commons, Geology Commons, Geophysics and Seismology Commons, Metallurgy Commons, Other Engineering Commons, Other Materials Science and Engineering Commons


The Technical Inspector, Aircraft is responsible for ensuring that assigned aircraft are maintained within required
specifications and are airworthy before operation. Inspects repairs and modification of aircraft structures, structural components and engines of complex to extreme difficulty.
(Typical duties include the following, although specific duties vary by assignment or contract.) Plans, conducts, and supervises aircraft technical inspections. Develops and implements quality control and ground safety programs to ensure compliance with contract specifications. Evaluates personnel, including verification of skills, training and experience. Performs audits and inspections of work centers and ongoing maintenance actions, procedures, equipment and facilities. Examines parts and components for conformance to design specification to determine serviceability; serviceable, unserviceable-reparable, unserviceable-nonreparable, affixing completed appropriate form/tag for disposition; return to stock, route to appropriate shop for repair and/or turn-in.Form/tag will contain comment relative to evaluation and be stamped by the Inspector.
Knowledge & Skills
Knowledge of electrical, mechanical, electronic, hydraulic and pneumatic systems or other technology as applicable to fabrication, repair, operation and maintenance requirements. Efficient in record keeping and preparation of reports; capable of reviewing other people's work and determining accuracy and conformity to standards. Proficient in the use of the Unit Level Logistics System-Aviation Enhanced (ULLS-AE), the current maintenance management system utilized to maintain Army aircraft forms and records. Thorough comprehensive knowledge of aircraft mechanical component troubleshooting/repair procedures and replacement of components. Thorough knowledge of aircraft sheet metal/structural modification and repair and the ability to determine functionality of non-complex electrical systems.


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Boasting a private pool, Casa vacanza Villa Oasi is a detached villa located in Santa Croce Camerina. Guests benefit from terrace and an outdoor pool. Free private parking is available on site.
The kitchen comes with a dishwasher, an oven and a toaster, as well as a kettle. A flat-screen TV is offered. Other facilities at Casa vacanza Villa Oasi include a seasonal outdoor pool.
Bike hire and car hire are available at the property and the area is popular for cycling. Ragusa is 22 km from Casa vacanza Villa Oasi, while Noto is 49 km from the property. The nearest airport is Comiso Airport, 22 km from the property.

domain: travel


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Generationals, Lucky Numbers (from the Lucky Numbers EP)
When it comes to Generationals you’re always in store for a good time and most definitely a track that hooks you. Lucky Numbers definitely does just that. The Lucky Numbers EP is out 10/2. For fans of Pop ETC, Ra Ra Riot and Vampire Weekend.
What a groovy song.


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The New York Historical Society will revisit the early years of the AIDS epidemic in a new exhibition scheduled to open this summer.
Mixing diaries, clinicians’ notes, photographs, audio and video clips, the society will explore the impact of the epidemic from the first days of rumors of a “gay plague” in 1981 through 1986. The curator Jean S. Ashton said that for many people today, “these years are now a little-understood and nearly forgotten historical period,” even though the advent of the disease “changed paradigms in medicine, society, politics, and culture in ways that are still being felt.”
The exhibition, “AIDS in New York: The First Five Years,” which runs from June 7 through Sept. 15, will precede a show at the New York Public Library, “Why We Fight: AIDS Activism and American Culture,” scheduled from Oct. 4, 2013 through April 6, 2014.
Robert Caro will add yet another item to his groaning literary trophy cabinet in April when he collects the New-York Historical Society’s American History Book Prize for “Lyndon Johnson: The Passage of Power,” the fourth volume in his continuing biography of the 36th president. The award, previously won by Doris Kearns Goodwin, Ron Chernow and Drew Gilpin Faust, among others, comes with a $50,000 prize, an engraved medal and the title “American Historian Laureate.”
Mr. Caro is already the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, two National Book Critics Circle Awards, a National Book Award and the National Humanities Medal, bestowed by President Obama in 2010. Hee will receive his latest honor at a black-tie gala in New York City during the historical society’s annual Weekend With History event.
Helping to fill the seemingly endless appetite for information about World War II, the New-York Historical Society is planning a major exhibition on the conflict’s effect on the homefront this fall.
Titled “WWII & NYC,” the exhibition is scheduled to open Oct. 5 and run through May 27. Among the documents scheduled for display is a rare copy of the original Instrument of Surrender, Japan’s formal surrender to the Allies on Sept. 2, 1945, that will be exhibited starting on Sept. 21, before the rest of the exhibition opens. The document, one of 20 copies of the surrender agreement created at the time, has not been displayed in New York since 1945.
Also on tap as part of the museum’s programming will be the novelist Ken Follett, who will discuss his latest book, “Winter of the World,” with the CBS anchor Charles Osgood on Sept. 18. On Oct. 26, the filmmaker George Lucas will speak at a screening of his documentary “Double Victory,” about the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American aerial unit. And in December, the former New York district attorney Robert Morgenthau will speak with Tom Brokaw about his experience on a naval destroyer during the war and as the grandson of President Franklin Roosevelt’s secretary of the treasury.
Herb Greene The Grateful Dead at 710 Ashbury St, San Francisco, in 1966.
Though the Grateful Dead are most closely associated with the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, the Upper West Side of Manhattan can briefly lay claim to that industrious and ever-evolving band in the weeks and months ahead. In March, the New-York Historical Society will open an exhibition on the Grateful Dead that will trace its history and cultural influence. In a release, the society said that the exhibition, to be called “The Grateful Dead: Now Playing at the New-York Historical Society,” would feature artwork, posters, marionettes and other stage props as well as banners and decorated fan mail from throughout the band’s 30-year career. Prior to its opening, the society will hold a fundraising event that will be attended by the Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, where items from the Grateful Dead Archive at the University of California, Santa Cruz, will be previewed. More information on that event, which is scheduled for Oct. 21, will be available online at nyhistory.org.


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It's hard to see it at first, however when you open your mind with this question in that moment, everything changes: 'What am I meant to learn from this person?'
Everyone is a teacher. The most negative people in your life remind you of who you wish to surround yourself with. The unreasonable demands from others teaches you to respect yourself and to say no to the thousands of distractions. The emotional triggers from your past reminds you to focus on who you are and the direction you are moving in. The ankle biters that try and hold you down reminds you that you are meant to aim high and fly.


Last updated on July 2nd, 2019 at 09:05 am
The housing market in Wisconsin continues to improve as both existing home sales and median prices were higher in July than in July of 2014, according to the latest report from the Wisconsin Realtors Association.
Existing home sales increased 16.9 percent in July 2015 compared to July 2014, and median prices rose 3.8 percent to $163,999 during that same time frame.
“Summer is obviously our peak sales period, and it’s encouraging to see a continuation of the strong sales that began in the spring,” said Dan Kruse, WRA board chairman. “This is the strongest spring and early summer sales volume we’ve seen since before the recession.”
Home sales have been up by double-digit margins compared to last year in all but one month since March this year, which made this the best start to the year since 2005. “We’re definitely on pace for a very strong 2015 if sales continue to grow at this pace,” said Kruse.
The 3.8 percent increase in home sale prices in the state in July was actually a slower growth rate than the first half of the year, which saw home sale prices rise 6.9 percent.
Although new listings of homes for sale are up slightly for the year, they dipped somewhat in July, which put some pressure on inventories. Available inventory is down 14 percent to 8.7 months statewide, but counties that are part of metropolitan areas had just 6.5 months of available supply in July, which will continue to put upward pressure on home prices.
“The supply of available housing continues to tighten and has become a more serious problem in the cities,” said WRA president and CEO Michael Theo.