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What is the BEST Christmas song? All your favourites can't beat THIS
CHRISTMAS SONGS will be blasted from every radio in the country on December 25 - but which song is the best?
PUBLISHED: PUBLISHED: 09:01, Thu, Dec 26, 2019
Christmas music is a pretty individual thing, with every family, couple and Christmas-lover naming something different as their favourite. While some love a traditional carol, others get excited at the sight of Noddy Holder screaming his Christmas catchphrase. But which song is Britain's favourite, and why is it the best song of the lot?
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Fairytale of New York
The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl topped the list of favourite festive tunes, as collected exclusively for Express.co.uk by PRS for Music, the licensing and collection society.
The song, released in 1987, never made it to Number One in the UK singles chart, but peaked at Number Two in 1987, behind T'Pau's China in Your Hand, which held the top spot.
This was only until Pet Shop Boys usurped it to get the Christmas Number One for that year with Always on My Mind.
The song did make it to Number One in Ireland, however, and has returned to the UK and Irish charts for many years since.
Best Christmas songs revealed (Image: Getty)
Wham!'s famous Christmas hit is another favourite, coming in Number 2 in the research by PRS for Music.
Despite being one of the most covered and played Christmas songs in the UK, and has even spawned a musical movie starring Emilia Clarke, it did not quite reach the top spot in the research, or even in the UK singles chart.
Its peak position was Number 2, which it held for 13 weeks behind Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas?, Foreigner's I Want to Know What Love Is, I Know Him so Well by Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson, and You Spin Me Round by Dead or Alive
Clearly fans could not get it quite over the line to hit the top spot.
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This song, differently to the previous two, did make it to Number One, and became the Christmas Number One of 1973.
The song was written by Slade's Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, and has been one of the most successful Christmas songs in UK history, and was certified platinum in 1980.
Since downloading, it has re-entered the singles chart, and has sold 1.21million copies as of 2012.
The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl (Image: Getty)
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The theme song of a classic Christmas movie, White Christmas is truly what everyone is dreaming of.
The song won an Oscar for its inclusion in Holiday Inn, but was then sung again in White Christmas, and is currently a world record holder.
White Christmas is, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the best selling single ever and has sold in excess of 50million copies worldwide, while versions not sung by Bing Crosby bring the song to almost double that figure in sales.
Bing Crosby and the cast of White Christmas (Image: Getty)
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day
Wizzard's attempt at a Christmas Number One sadly failed behind Slade's efforts, however it remained in the chart at Number Four.
It was well remembered as it also used the choir of Stockland Green School to help with the backing vocals, with members of the choir even being invited on Top of the Pops to sing.
However, sadly a local London school was used instead, but the song has remained a huge success.
Slade (Image: Getty)
Mariah Carey's Christmas classic finally hit the top spot in the Billboard Hot 100 this year, on its 25th anniversary.
The song had a resurgence in people's memories after it was used in the Christmas movie, Love Actually, after which it continued to enter the chart during the festive season.
While it has had its American top spot, the song has never made it to the UK Number One, finishing in sixth place this year.
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Wow- you really managed to make the water appear smooth as silk! I like the first shot the most, as it seems the sharpest overall, and the best-composed.
I agree with Adam. The composition, sharpness and smoothness of the water in that first shot is great!
Wow, love the first one. It looks like a painting! Awesome!
I really like these pictures! One suggestion I have is for the third picture, maybe try to get some detail in the white area at the top of the frame. It looks like just a white circle in the middle without any detail, and it kind of jumps out because it's really bright white. Maybe you could clone some detail in if there isn't any there. But that's a really minor quibble. In the second picture, you might try less sharpness on the foreground rocks, just to see if it looks better - it's kind of in-between sharpness now, so and it'd be easy to blur it a little more. It reminds me of a picture I took with a foreground rock where I saw the aperture was 8, and I wanted a little extra insurance, so I turned the control one stop for 9.5. Except I turned it the wrong way and got 6.7. That rock looks just like this one, and now that I think about it maybe I'll go back and try blurring it.
Sorry if I missed it but where exactly is this location?
I really like the last one! I like the perspective and the colors.
Really beautiful as in the first series, Jim! I like the last shot most, there is that nice opening in the distant, is that the lake where the creek ends? It gives depth and continuation to the image.


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Although as a grant-making charity the Trust itself does not use volunteers, there are many other charities which will have opportunities for you to help in a voluntary capacity. You can either contact the charity of your choice directly or you can contact one of the organisations which can provide details of charities needing help in your area.
The following are just two of the organisations which may be able to help you.


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text:
'Then Will Baillie was the man
"In
the parish of Kirkmichael, about eight miles from Dumfries, lived a widow who occupied a small farm. As she had a number of young children, and no man to assist her, she fell behind in paying her rent, and at last got a summons of removal. She had a kiln that stood at a considerable distance from the other houses, which was much frequented by Baillie's people, when they came that way; and she gave them, at all times, peaceable possession, as she had no person to contend with them, or put them away, and she herself did not wish to differ with them. They, on the other hand, never molested anything she had. One evening, a number of them arrived rather late, and went into the kiln, as usual; after which, one came into the house, to ask a few peats, to make a fire. She gave the peats, saying she believed they would soon have to shift their quarters, as she herself was warned to flit, and she did not know if the next tenant would allow them such quiet possession, and she did not know what would become of herself and her helpless family. Nothing more was said, but, after having put her children to bed, as she was sitting by the fire, in a disconsolate manner, she heard a gentle tap at the door. On opening it, a genteel, well-dressed man entered, who told her he just wished to speak with her for a few minutes, and, sitting down, said he had heard she was warned to remove, and asked how much she was behind. She told him exactly. On which, rising hastily, he slipt a purse into her hand,
and went out before she could say a single word.
"The widow, however, kept the farm, paid off all old debts, and brought up her family decently; but still, it grieved her that she did not know who was her benefactor. She never told any person till about ten years afterwards, when she told a friend who came to see her, when she was rather poorly in health. After hearing the story, he asked her what sort of a man he was who gave her the money. She said their interview was so short, and it was so long past, that she could recollect little of him, but only remembered well that he had the scar of a cut across his nose. On which, her friend immediately exclaimed, 'Then Will Baillie was the man.'
"Before the year 1740, the roads were bad through all the country. Carts were not then in use, and all the merchants' goods were conveyed in packs, on horseback. Among others, the farmers on the water of Ae, in Dumfries-shire, were almost all pack-carriers. As there was little improvement of land then, they had little to do at home, and so they made their rents mostly by carrying. Among others, there was an uncle of my father, whose name was Robert McVitie, who used to be a great carrier. This man, once, in returning from Edinburgh, stopt at Broughton, and in coming out of the stable, he met a man, who asked him if he knew him. Robert, after looking at him for a little, said: 'I think you are Mr. Baillie.' He said, I am, and asked if Robert could lend him two guineas, and it should be faithfully repaid. As there were few people who wished to differ with Baillie, Robert told him he was welcome to two guineas, or more if he wanted it. He said that would just do; on which Robert gave them to him, and he put them into his pocket. Baillie then asked, if ever he was molested by any person, when he was travelling late with his packs. He said he never was, although he was sometimes a little afraid. Baillie then gave him a kind of brass token, about the size of a half-crown, with some marks upon it, which he desired him to carry in his purse, and it might be of use to him some time, as he was to show it, if any person offered to rob him. Baillie then mounted his horse and rode off.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Eastern Michigan Adds Old Dominion and Army to Future Football Schedules
By Kevin Kelley - July 24, 2013
EMU has added home-and-home vs. Army and ODU. (Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports)
The Eastern Michigan Eagles have added games against Old Dominion, Army and Morgan State to their future football schedules, EMU's 2013 football media guide indicates.
Eastern Michigan's 2014 non-conference schedule is now complete with the addition of the season and home opener against the Morgan State Bears on Aug. 30 and a trip to face new C-USA member Old Dominion on Sept. 13.
EMU previously announced 2014 non-conference games at Florida on Sept. 6 and at Michigan State on Sept. 27.
The 2014 game at Old Dominion is the front half of a home-and-home series with the Monarchs. The second and final game will be played at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti on Sept. 5, 2015, which will be the season-opener for both schools.
After hosting ODU to open 2015, Eastern Michigan travels to Wyoming (Sept. 12), LSU (Oct. 3), and Army (Oct. 24). The exact date for the game at LSU was previously unannounced.
EMU has also added three future games against the Army Black Knights. The Eagles will host Army in 2016 (Nov. 12), travel to West Point in 2017 (Oct. 14), and host them again in 2018 (Nov. 10).
Eastern Michigan now has a tentative date for their Celebration of the State home game against the Michigan State Spartans. The game is currently set for Sept. 12, 2020 after previously being listed as "2018 or 2020."
The Eagles have faced Michigan State nine times in their history, with only the first game in 1898 being played in Ypsilanti.
Eastern Michigan Future Football Schedules
08/30 – Morgan State
09/06 – at Florida
09/13 – at Old Dominion
09/27 – at Michigan State
09/05 – Old Dominion
09/12 – at Wyoming
10/03 – at LSU
10/24 – at Army
09/03 – at Charlotte
09/24 – Wyoming
11/12 – Army
09/02 – Charlotte
09/12 – Michigan State
Bill (the one that's commenting for years not the newbie) sai says:
I suspect that 2020 game against MSU will be moved to Ford Field or maybe even to East Lansing. If so this would be the biggest EMU payday ever.
Kevin Kelley says:
I would hope that MSU actually plays at EMU since this game is part of the "Celebration of the State" series.
I would love to go to the State at Eastern game.


BACKGROUND: To improve and learn from patient outcomes, particularly under new care models such as Accountable Care Organizations and Patient-Centered Medical Homes, requires establishing systems for follow-up and feedback. OBJECTIVE: To provide post-visit feedback to physicians on patient outcomes following acute care visits. DESIGN: A three-phase cross-sectional study [live follow-up call three weeks after acute care visits (baseline), one week post-visit live call, and one week post-visit interactive voice response system (IVRS) call] with three patient cohorts was conducted. A family medicine clinic and an HIV clinic participated in all three phases, and a cerebral palsy clinic participated in the first two phases. Patients answered questions about symptom improvement, medication problems, and interactions with the healthcare system. PATIENTS: A total of 616 patients were included: 142 from Phase 1, 352 from Phase 2 and 122 from Phase 3. MAIN MEASURES: Primary outcomes included: problem resolution, provider satisfaction with the system, and comparison of IVRS with live calls made by research staff. KEY RESULTS: During both live follow-up phases, at least 96 % of patients who were reached completed the call compared to only 48 % for the IVRS phase. At baseline, 98 of 113 (88 %) patients reported improvement, as well as 167 of 196 (85 %) in the live one-week follow-up. In the one-week IVRS phase, 25 of 39 (64 %) reported improvement. In all phases, the majority of patients in both the improved and unimproved groups had not contacted their provider or another provider. While 63 % of providers stated they wanted to receive patient feedback, they varied in the extent to which they used the feedback reports. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients who do not improve as expected do not take action to further address unresolved problems. Systematic follow-up/feedback mechanisms can potentially identify and connect such patients to needed care. © 2014 Society of General Internal Medicine.


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in Any Situation ... Guaranteed!
One scenario we all dread is being put on the spot to speak without preparation. This could be the proverbial 'few words' at a social occasion, a contribution at a meeting, fielding questions from the floor, or being spokesperson in a time of crisis. Here's how to say relevant, interesting things and get yourself off the hook!
Make the unexpected the Expected! Here's a way to get rid of 95% of the fear in one go. In my programs I say to people, "If you have the remotest inkling that you might be called on to speak, what would be the logical, sensible thing to do?" They think a little then invariably say, "Prepare something." Amazingly, few people do. "Oh, It won't be me" they say, and front up to the occasion totally ill-prepared for the unexpected. And guess what? Chances are they'll be invited to contribute! So instead of burying your head in the sand hoping it will all just go away, here's what to do to take control and be ready for them.
For a start you have a general idea of the theme of the meeting you are about to attend or you have some link with the celebrity of the moment. So beforehand, think of a point you'd like to make if you were called on to speak. Write this point down long-hand in what I call the 'focus sentence'. Now you have a central idea to reflect on that stimulates stories and examples to back it up. Breathe life into your examples by reliving something that happened to you, something you read or saw on TV, or a case study you are familiar with. Simply relive these examples a few times from memory so your contribution is a dynamic living thing because you'll be talking to key ideas and not concerned with the exact words you use. Now you can open by stating the point embodied in your 'focus sentence'; use vivid illustrative examples to back this point up in the body of your talk; and conclude by stating your main point again. Now you really are ready for them.
With this package of 'prepared spontaneity' in your pocket the unexpected has now become the expected and no longer frightens you. You won't think very clearly on your feet unless you've done some thinking before you get on your feet! What was it that that marvellous wit Mark Twain once said? "It takes me about three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech"… lot of truth in that! However, there are occasions where we don't have the luxury of time to prepare beforehand and it really is a case of being gripped by panic with nowhere to go. So let's look at ways to handle these unnerving situations.
If you've just arrived on the scene to learn the guest speaker can't make it and you've been promoted to 'bunny in the firing line', the above system applies. Only this time you have a matter of minutes to get your thoughts together. The important thing here is to take control by doing something. Reaffirm the general theme of the meeting from someone then find yourself a quiet corner. After writing down the point you want to make in your 'focus sentence', which is the thought you'll echo for your conclusion, latch on to an experience the audience can relate to that illustrates your main point. Don't sweat too much over this; the first thing that comes to mind is usually the best. Now when you step forward all you have to do is state your point embodied in your 'focus sentence', relive your example from memory to back it up, and conclude by restating your main point again. That's it… that will get you off the hook and they'll think you're pretty clever!
If on the other hand it really is a case of being thrown to the wolves where the first you hear of your pending contribution is when you're announced, the magic formula of Past, Present, and Future will come to the rescue.
Past, Present, Future Saves the Day: Recently I found myself approaching the platform in front of 200 wildly cheering Italians as the recipient of the 'best actor' award for my part in a play I was in. As an Italian speaking Australian of Anglo Saxon origin I never dreamed it would be me. So much was I taken by surprise that I hadn't a clue what I was going to say. I'd broken my own cardinal rule by not preparing something beforehand when there was even the slightest chance I could be called on to speak. Then, like a gift from the gods it came to me, our magic formula: Past, Present, Future… 'How were things then'… 'How are things now'… 'How will things be'… Armed with this magic little formula I confidently climbed the steps.
As Michael handed me my award I turned to the audience and began to speak to the first step of the formula: The Past 'How were things then'. As if talking to friends across the dinner table, I told of how all I'd wanted to be was a Roman soldier to brush up on my Italian. And at the audition Michael handed me a script and said, "Read this".
"You'll be okay" Michael persisted, "just read it for me".
"And help me you did" I told my audience. "For six months you helped me with my pronunciation and interpretation of the character. But most of all you helped me in understanding myself". (Note that sharing the spotlight with those who help us adds a human touch to the acceptance. Few people ever achieve anything entirely alone).
I then moved on to the second part of the formula, the Present, 'How are things now'. "And to stand here today with this plaque is truly one of the most memorable moments in my life… This award is as much yours as it is mine. It will hang on my wall and I'll look at it with pride." (Note also that people love to know what you're going to do with the gift).
I concluded with the final step of the formula, the Future, 'How will things be'. So all I had to do here was speculate. "I'm sure the confidence I've gained from the experience, in both myself and my Italian, will stay with me forever. And if you need a Pontius Pilate for next year's production just give me a call. I'd love to be part of it." To a person they cheered. Not because I'm any cleverer than anyone else is, but because I had this simple formula upon which to frame my heartfelt thanks.
Extra Tip: When presenting an award or gift hold the item in your left hand so that your right hand is free to shake the recipient's hand. If you're the receiver of the award or gift and it is wrapped, say, "Do you mind if I open it?" People never lose the childlike excitement of a present being opened before them.
Here's a great idea to help enrich your answers in meetings and during question time. Dr Hewitt-Gleeson, author of Newsell, Software for the Brain and other best sellers, tells of an experience he had with Edward De Bono, the legendary pioneer of lateral thinking during a meeting with a group of very influential people. Intrigued, Hewitt-Glesson noticed that whatever question was put to his eminent colleague, he always found something relevant and worthwhile to say.
Afterwards he wryly said to De Bono, "I've twigged to what you're doing… No matter what question you are asked, you say something like, 'There are two points to make here…' "Knowing full well that something relevant will come to mind from your subconscious bank of ideas". And if you think about it, isn't this the way everyday conversation works? We are continually reacting to and commenting on the unlimited array of ideas, impressions and experiences that are stored in our minds. In fact they say that everything we've ever experienced is filed away in there somewhere. Ever been walking down the street and heard a familiar refrain or smelt some freshly baked bread and an image floods your mind you haven't thought of for years? Well we're talking about the same thing here only we're in control of the retrieval system. Here's the sentence I use as my version of De Bono's marvelous little technique that will enable you to make an 'intelligent' contribution to the question at hand: "The interesting thing about this is…" The secret is to completely trust this simple sentence to flush out some relevant piece of information from the vastness of your subconscious mind. It works for me and I'm sure it will work for you.
Okay, let's show you this strategy in action. In a recent seminar on presentation skills for a regional city council, I invited participants to put this technique to the test. The topic under discussion was a road blitz sprung on them the night before by two busloads of police from Melbourne. Talk about stir up a hornet's nest! When asked to turn to a person next to them and say, "The interesting thing about this is…" the whole place was abuzz. Yet each person discovered a different angle to talk about: many drivers caught for speeding; just a revenue raiser; keeps locals on their toes; not fair bringing police in from out of town; the use of unmarked cars; use of interstate number plates; nothing better to do with their time; big impact on the road toll; … and the list goes on. The important thing to note here is that all of these points are relevant and valid – and certainly of interest.
Because everyone sees a situation differently, there are countless possible angles on any subject. So when your memory bank hears the phrase, "The interesting thing about this is… " It instantly crunches millions of possibilities of things you've experienced and miraculously comes up with a relevant item for the situation. Let's run a small experiment here to prove my point. Think of a current issue in the news or at home… could be anything from a political happening to buying some birdseed for your canary. Now with this issue in mind – and without any forethought- say out loud, "The interesting thing about this is…" You'll be amazed just how easy it is to say something relevant.
Practice using this phrase, or versions of it, as a part of your everyday conversation. Use it with different issues, remembering that whatever you say, if it's relevant, it's valid. So now when the ideas are coming thick and fast you'll have another technique to help you draw on the limitless knowledge of your mind to not only get you out of trouble… you'll impress people!
If you have the slightest inkling that you might be called on to speak, prepare something beforehand.
Even with only minutes to prepare the same system applies, only here it's a case of running with the first thing that comes to mind. That is, decide on the point you want to get across, state your case, relive your example from memory, and then restate your main idea to reinforce your message.
If the announcement of your name is the only warning you get, our magic formula,Past, 'How were things then', Present, 'How are things now', and Future, 'How will things be' will come to the rescue.
If thrown by the unexpected, allow your mind to come to your aid by saying "What's interesting about this is"… then speak to the first thing that comes into your head.


To further our mission to lead the fire and emergency service to excellence, CPSE offers a number of programs that can help agencies and officers.
Agency Accreditation, overseen by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, is an all-hazard, quality improvement model based on risk analysis and self-assessment that promotes the establishment of community-adopted performance targets for fire and emergency service agencies.
Technical Advisor Program provides agencies with the tools to internalize continuous improvement and achieve excellence. TAP provides agencies expert guidance and coaching in preparing for CFAI accreditation.
CPSE offers a variety of educational offerings for departments and personnel to achieve peak performance. Offered in both on-site and web-based formats, these workshops are designed to provide the tools for continuous improvement as well as practical information on accreditation and credentialing.
Our premier event is the CPSE Excellence Conference where the finest minds in the fire and emergency service come together for four days to advance agency accreditation, promote professional credentialing, and encourage leadership.


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by Ben Olsen
Shinrin-Yoku | Exploring the New Japanese Trend for 'Forest Bathing'
A walk in the woods may save your life, and even save the world
A walk in the woods may not sound a revolutionary cure to our ills, but a new phenomenon is capturing imaginations and cropping up everywhere, from green-belt glades to five-star spas: forest bathing.
Taking the lead from the Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku, a form of nature therapy that first surfaced in the 1980s, forest bathing promises an immersive experience – not in water but in woodland – where participants take in the sights, sounds and smells of their natural surroundings.
Which, given our evolutionary origins – and my rural upbringing – seems far from cutting edge. But as Helena Skoog, a Swedish yoga instructor who runs forest bathing sessions from her home in the heart of East Sussex's Ashdown Forest – the home of Winnie the Pooh – explains, there's more to forest bathing than first appears.
Dew forming upon fallen shrubs. Photo: Courtesy of Helena Skoog
"It's about being present in the outdoors, and taps into a deep human desire to connect with something," she says. "The forest can give a sense of calm and grounding and can support us on many levels – mental balance, emotional balance and physical health."
"I started to home in on the minor details sure to have otherwise eluded my racing mind"
The science behind it is pretty convincing, too. A 2010 study in Environmental Health & Preventive Medicine showed that the forest bathing can boost our immune system through inhaling phytoncides – essential oils released from trees with antibacterial and antifungal qualities – and the decreased production of stress hormones. Further studies have also shown that on a wider level, those who spend more time in green spaces have reduced risks for a number of chronic illnesses.
"The forest can give a sense of calm and grounding" Photo: Courtesy of the South Tyrol Tourist Board
And so on a damp morning in early autumn, I followed Helena into Ashdown Forest's centuries-old tangle of oak, beech, ash, hawthorn, and chestnut trees, refusing to worry about soiling an outfit better suited to the city. On her instruction, I selected an object from the forest floor and placed it into a bowl before proceeding any further.
With my chosen acorn – a token of any lingering anxiety, cynicism and external thought – now stashed away, I was told to leave my everyday at the edge of the forest and enter what Helena called the "non-ordinary" world.
Guided by a series of "invitations" – questions for me to consider rather than answer – Helena walked me deep into the forest, urging me to examine my surroundings using all my senses.
A rustic campfire built in the middle of the Ashdown Forest. Photo: Courtesy of Helena Skoog
We reach a clearing where, with eyes closed, I was asked to identify the farthest sound (arguably a Volvo on the nearby A264) before focusing on increasingly closer sounds, including the breeze, the birds, the dissipating drizzle as well as my own breath. Told to then open my eyes and witness the "orchestra" of these sounds in conjunction, it marked a particularly vivid way to take notice of the forest's scale.
As I continued my walk, breathing in the heady post-heatwave petrichor rising from the fallen leaves, I started to home in on the minor details sure to have otherwise eluded my racing mind; a flock of migrating Canada geese, blackberries glistening in the bushes, the doleful call of a solitary wood pigeon, a shattered egg fallen from the nest – all placing the forest and its dwellers in a fresh perspective.
The bright-green hues of the South Tyrolean forestland. Photo: Courtesy of the South Tyrol Tourist Board
Quick to emphasise that forest bathing is a world away from the clichéd notion of treehugging – a term aimed disparagingly at hippies since the 1970s – Helena is clear on its meditative potential. "You open your senses on many levels and start an intimacy with nature – it takes you out of your head and into your heart; from the intellectual to the experiential," she says. "It's something everyone should try – I want the mainstream to come and do this and see how natural and fantastic it is."
Her wish is looking increasingly plausible. From boutique hotels to luxury resorts, forest bathing, forest breathing, and so-called "tree-toxing" is one of the year's biggest wellness trends, with more and more resorts offering elements of forest therapy on their rosters, while staff at the Centre Parcs resorts are even encouraged to incorporate it in to their working weeks.
One of the Chewton Glen's 'treetoxing' chalets. Photo: Courtesy of the Chewton Glen
Elsewhere, the South Tyrol tourist board are actively encouraging visitors to embrace forest bathing along thousands of kilometres of woodland walks, and the luxe Rosa Alpina hotel in the Dolomite Mountains offers forest breathing – which blends the concept of shinrin-yoko with Pranayama breathing exercises.
According to Dr. Suraj Dubay at the Rosa Alpina, guests are increasingly open to the benefits of nature therapy. "Connecting to oneself, communicating to the Nature, listening to the silence leaves you feeling calmer and content," he says, playing up the role of forest therapies with the promise of lowering blood pressure, stress and depression.
"From the valleys to the slopes, covered with forests, and the high-altitude Alpine pastures, it's the most magical place to soak in natural therapy. The rustling of wings, the running of a roe-deer, the scurrying of a squirrel, the singing of birds and the perfect flight of an eagle help to animate the different aspects of this world that surrounds us."
A feather resting upon the dirt. Photo: Courtesy of Helena Skoog
Back in the Ashdown Forest, any residual stress I'd felt before had vanished after emerging from the woods. Sipping a post-practice nettle tea, my limbs were loosened and senses heightened. But more tellingly, I felt an enhanced appreciation of my own surroundings, something Helena says is her driving motivation.
"The things you love, you protect," she says. "It's supposedly innate that we love nature but – the way the world is going – we've forgotten about protecting it. As we improve our relationship with nature we start to love it more."
Which, after trading the woods for London's urban sprawl, felt as strong an endorsement as can be.
Ben Olsen is a freelance journalist, based in London. Keep up with him on Twitter.


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text:
Associated Canadian Travellers Scholarship
The Associated Canadian Travellers service club has a rich history with deep roots in the city of Moose Jaw. In 1922, an idea that years before sprang from a chance meeting between three Western Canadian businessmen, turned into a formal organization. As such, two founding charters were issued – one of which was based out of Moose Jaw. From that time, the Associated Canadian Travellers (ACT) went from a Western Canadian membership of 500 in the 1930's, to presently a North American organization with over 69,000 members. Since its inception over 90 years ago, ACT has worked diligently to make a difference in society, and directly impact each community in which a club exists. More recently, over the past 25 years the club has paid out funds in excess of one million dollars to various Saskatchewan charities. The likes of Crime Stoppers, Moose Jaw Union Hospital, Providence Place, and the Saskatchewan Lung Association have all benefitted greatly from ACT's financial generosity. In keeping with its philanthropic mission, the Associated Canadian Travellers established a scholarship in 2013 to support a young person desiring to make a difference. The Associated Canadian Travellers Scholarship is awarded to a deserving graduate from a Moose Jaw high school pursuing a post-secondary program which supports working with individuals facing either cognitive or physical challenges.
Must be a graduate during the current school year.
Recipient must be enrolled in a post-secondary program which focuses on helping people (i.e.- Program which supports working with individuals with a physical or cognitive challenge; program in the Health field; or program in Social Work field).
Displays commitment to community through volunteerism.
There are no special considerations for this scholarship
Must provide proof of acceptance into a recognized post-secondary institution.


Like Rome, homes aren't built in a day. You start out with the basic bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and living spaces. As your family grows, chances are so will the number of rooms you need. This is the time you need to start planning an extension to your house. There are a number of ways to add an extension to your home. Extensions can be built so as to be connected to the house or as standalone structures. These extensions can serve as playrooms, home offices, garages, gyms or even extra dining space.
Building a home extension can be a catch 22 situation. The space you gain on the inside is the space you lose in your outdoors. Building a home extension also takes almost as much effort as building a home. You may want to design it extension yourself but you will still need to consult a registered architect or professional engineer on structural and loading issues. When designing an extension keep in mind the existing structure and match the style of the extension to that of the main house. It is also important for the extension to not obstruct the path of natural light for the main house and hence, many architects and designers suggest keeping the roof of the extension at a lower height than that of the main house.
The first step to building a home extension is to determine the purpose of the proposed room. Next, take stock of your finances to see what kind of construction you can afford. Take a look at your plot and see where you would like to place this extension and what it would do to your landscape. Make a note of features like water bodies or trees that need to be protected. If your home extension will need plumbing and sewage lines, you will need to plan these in accordance with existing water and sewage lines. When hiring an architect to draw out your plans, ask to see his portfolio before you decide on whom you will be working with to see how well their style matches yours.
Not all home additions are required to be approved by the Building and Construction Authority in Singapore. If the area of your home extension does not exceed 10 square meters and is single-storeyed, you do not need a permit to start construction. For larger additions, a building plan made by a registered architect or structural engineer needs to be submitted to the Building and Construction Authority for approval. This must be accompanied by an application form, a certificate from the professional that the existing structure can withstand the additional load, clearances from relevant technical agencies and a fee determined by the type of home extension. Construction can begin only after the application is approved which can take up to 14 working days.
Additions in the form of house extensions can be made in a number of ways. Single storey house extensions are usually built at the back or to one side of the house. Two storey house extensions are a common type of home addition but face a number of challenges in terms of property type, design and scale. Extending the roof and closing it in is another way of building a home extension. Home extensions can also be built over garages or in basements.
Feature walls are a great way to connect the existing house to the extensions. They command attention and add drama to a room. The easiest way to define a feature wall is to paint it a different colour from the other walls. Other ways of treating a feature wall are through wallpaper, stone tiles, wood paneling and murals. In a double storey house extension r basement extension, consider accenting the wall along the staircase. For same level extensions, any wall can be accented to create a feature wall.
The increasing premium on space has made basements a popular type of home extension. Building a basement does not affect the external look of your house and can be a way of doubling your carpet area. Basements are also energy efficient. The biggest challenge with designing a basement extension is to include natural light and ventilation. A lack of these elements can make the basement feel gloomy. A basement also needs a direct exit to the outdoors as a safety precaution. Basement extensions can be used as home offices, playrooms, guest bedrooms, gyms etc.
Checkout the awesome creativity showcased by London-based architects Ar'Chic.
If your house faces a spectacular view, a conservatory might be a good addition to your house. Conservatories are glass-walled rooms that may or may not have a glass roof as well. What makes conservatories lust worthy is the view they provide and the natural light and warmth they are bathed in. Conservatories were originally designed to be greenhouses but can also be used as a tea room or breakfast room or even as an extension to the kitchen. The only downside to having a conservatory is that it allows people to look into your home from the outside. To counter this, blinds or curtains are a conservatory must have.
House extensions can be built using a number of materials including bricks, timber frames, insulated panels, steel frames and even glass. Home extensions that are disconnected from the main house and constructed using bricks are known as brick outbuildings. Building a brick and mortar home extension is usually budget friendly and the material is easily available. It has good insulation properties and can be treated to match the existing structure. Brick outbuildings are generally used as game rooms, offices or storage spaces.
Home extensions can be of many other types: sheds, summer rooms, porches etc. Building a home extension not only makes your daily life more comfortable but also increases the value of your house.
You may read An inspiring home extension for more information.


This was a little video clip that I put together a few years ago for a contest sponsored by Kissaluvs diaper company. Leila & Sarah weren't even a year old then. We ended up winning a bunch of beautiful diapers! I just happened to stumble across this old video and had to share.


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18 Movies You Must See in 2021
Last year was a rough one for Hollywood, with COVID-19 shuttering production for months and closing theaters in the U.S. for the foreseeable future. But there's some light at the end of the tunnel in 2021, with most of the delayed films from last year finally making their debut in some form or another. The Marvel Cinematic Universe will be making a triumphant return, while long-awaited remakes and sequels will hit screens alongside a handful of awards season hopefuls. Here are 18 movies to keep on your radar this year.
1) Nomadland
Ever since its buzzy debut at the Venice Film Festival, Chloé Zhao's based-on-real-life drama has been eagerly anticipated by cinema fans. Starring Frances McDormand in an Oscar-tipped performance, Nomadland follows the story of a woman who leaves her small-town life behind after a job loss. She sells most of her possessions, buys a van, and sets out to travel around the country. Struggling to find work on the road, she's introduced to the nomad lifestyle and develops survival skills that redefine her attitude toward the world.
In theaters February 19.
2) The Father
Olivia Colman and Anthony Hopkins. Need we say more? This likely Oscar contender and guaranteed tearjerker centers on an aging man (Hopkins) who is finally forced to overcome his pride and confront the memory loss he's long been denying when his daughter (Colman) moves into his flat to take care of him. Described by critics as a devastating portrayal of dementia, The Father looks like tough but essential viewing.
Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories
3) Coming 2 America
There are a dizzying number of sequels and remakes coming down the pike this year, but few are as intriguing as this sequel to the iconic 1988 rom-com. Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall reprise their roles as Prince Akeem Joffer and Semmi in the sequel, which sees the prince dealing with an unexpected personal crisis on the eve of his coronation as King of Zamunda. After discovering that he has a long-lost son in America, Akeem sets out to find him and fulfill his father's dying wish.
On Amazon Prime March 5.
4) The Many Saints of Newark
Making a sequel—or in this case, a prequel—to a show as acclaimed as The Sopranos is a fraught prospect, but David Chase's much-anticipated crime drama is unlikely to let fans down. Set in 1960s New York, The Many Saints of Newark delves into tensions between the Italian-American and Black communities, laying the groundwork for what's to come in the show while also exploring Tony Soprano's childhood. In a moving touch, the young Tony will be played by the late James Gandolfini's son, Michael Gandolfini (pictured on set, above), and the all-star cast also includes Leslie Odom Jr., Jon Bernthal, and Vera Farmiga.
On HBO Max March 12. Subscribe
5) No Time to Die
Daniel Craig's fifth and final outing as 007 is intriguing for a number of reasons, even if you're not typically a Bond person—chief among them the fact that Phoebe Waller-Bridge worked on the script. Given the long history of thinly veiled chauvinism baked into this franchise, the idea of Waller-Bridge getting her teeth into Bond is hard to resist. Set five years after the events of Spectre, No Time To Die begins with Bond coming out of retirement to face down Rami Malek's villain, described as "a danger the likes of which the world has never seen before."
In theaters April 2.
6) A Quiet Place Part II
John Krasinski's hit horror movie A Quiet Place won over audiences three years ago with a deceptively simple yet haunting premise: What if making any sound at all could get you killed? This sequel sees Emily Blunt reprising her role as the newly widowed Evelyn Abbott, who must continue fighting to protect her children from mysterious sound-seeking monsters in a post-apocalyptic world. Cillian Murphy joins the cast, while Krasinski will return in flashback form.
In theaters April 23.
7) Black Widow
It's been a long, cruel hiatus from the Marvel Cinematic Universe—its last movie released in theaters was Spider-Man: Far From Home way back in the summer of 2019. But 2021 is going to be a good year for MCU fans, between the slate of Marvel shows debuting on Disney+, and the release of this long-awaited standalone movie focusing on Scarlett Johansson's superpowered spy Natasha Romanoff. Black Widow will be a throwback of sorts, set directly after the events of 2016's Captain America: Civil War (which ended with Romanoff on the run) and will see her grappling with the dark past hinted at in prior movies. There's a stacked supporting cast around Johansson, including Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weisz, and The Handmaid's Tale's O-T Fagbenle.
In theaters May 7.
8) Free Guy
This sci-fi comedy sounds kind of like a gaming-themed take on The Truman Show. Ryan Reynolds stars as a bank teller who gradually begins to suspect that the world around him is less than real. Sure enough, he discovers he's a "non-player character" (i.e. background) in a video game called Free City—and as if that weren't bad enough news, the game is about to go offline. Jodie Comer co-stars as Milly, a player character in the game who teams up with Reynolds' Guy to try and save their virtual world.
In theaters May 21.
9) Cruella
This origin story promises to do for Cruella De Vil what Maleficent did for the Sleeping Beauty villain. Emma Stone plays the iconic 101 Dalmatians baddie in what's described as a crime comedy. Set in 1970s London, the movie finds Cruella working as a fashion designer (natch) when she develops an obsession with dog skins. Welp.
10) In the Heights
The debut of Hamilton on Disney+ was a much-needed bright spot in the garbage year that was 2020, so the long-awaited release of the movie adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's first musical couldn't be more welcome. Directed by Crazy Rich Asians' Jon M. Chu, In The Heights takes place in the New York City neighborhood of Washington Heights, where Miranda grew up, and follows a bodega owner (Anthony Ramos) torn between two futures. Should he stay in America, or move to the Dominican Republic, where he just inherited a fortune?
In theaters and on HBO Max June 18.
11) Zola
Can you even believe it's only been five years since the Zola Twitter thread went viral? Time has lost all meaning—but the good news is, if you need a refresher on this absolutely wild saga, the movie adaptation is finally hitting screens this year. The thread written by Aziah 'Zola' Wells recounts what happens after Zola befriends a woman named Jessica while serving her at Hooters. Jessica persuades Zola to road trip from Detroit to Tampa in order to make money stripping, and things…do not go entirely to plan. Taylour Paige stars as Zola, along with Riley Keough as Jessica and Nicholas "Cousin Greg" Braun as Jessica's dimwitted boyfriend.
In theaters June 30.
12) Space Jam: A New Legacy
If the concept of a sequel to the 1996 cult comedy Space Jam doesn't grab you, maybe LeBron James making his lead debut will. The basketball superstar memorably played himself in Trainwreck back in 2015, and this time he's starring as himself. According to the plot synopsis, A New Legacy will see James and his son making a fateful trip to the Warner Bros. studio lot, where they end up trapped in a digital world with the Looney Tunes. Entertaining movie sequel or overly meta exercise in milking IP to death? You be the judge!
In theaters and on HBO Max July 16.
13) Candyman
No matter how many times you said his name (kidding, please don't do that), the long-awaited Candyman sequel did not show up in 2020. But this Jordan Peele-produced, Nia DaCosta-directed follow-up to the 1992 horror classic is finally coming in 2021. It stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Anthony, the grown-up version of the baby who was kidnapped by the Candyman in the prior movie and rescued by Helen Lyle. Twenty-eights years later, Anthony has moved on—until a chance encounter unveils the horrific truth of his past.
In theaters August 27.
14) The Eternals
After Black Widow, Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will continue later in 2021 with Eternals. Led by an ensemble cast that includes Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani, Brian Tyree Henry, and Richard Madden, the movie follows a race of immortal aliens who've lived undercover among humans for centuries, but have to come out of hiding and join forces to defend Earth from their ancient enemies.
In theaters November 5.
15) Dune
Denis Villeneuve's ambitious adaptation of Frank Herbert's hugely influential sci-fi novel was already one of the most feverishly anticipated movies of 2020, even before the coronavirus pandemic delayed it along with so many other blockbusters. It's not easy to pithily summarize Dune, but the saga depicts a universe in which the ownership of planets is divided up among noble families, inspiring plenty of power struggles. Oscar Isaac stars as a nobleman in charge of a brutal and treacherous desert planet. Alongside his son (Timothee Chalamet) he must protect his territory in an intergalactic battle and oversee the mining of a powerful spice that gives people superpowers.
In theaters and on HBO Max October 1.
16) West Side Story
Blending the romantic melodrama of Romeo and Juliet with the energizing thrills of a Broadway show, West Side Story is exactly the kind of escapism we could all use in 2021. Adapted from the iconic musical, the movie follows the passionate but ill-fated love affair between Tony (Ansel Elgort) and Maria (Rachel Zegler), whose ties to rival New York street gangs threaten to tear them apart. With Steven Spielberg at the helm and Pulitzer-winning scribe Tony Kushner (Angels in America) writing the script, this big-screen take on the Sharks and the Jets is bound to be worth the wait.
In theaters December 20.
17) The French Dispatch
Wes Anderson's latest off-kilter comedy takes place at the European bureau of a Kansas newspaper and chronicles a series of separate but interconnected stories from the magazine's final issue, all set in a fictional French city. Described as a "love letter to journalists," the film brings together a number of Anderson regulars including Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Tilda Swinton.
TBD 2021.
18) Cinderella
This isn't your grandmother's Cinderella. Directed by Pitch Perfect's Kay Cannon, this musical reimagining stars Camila Cabello in the title role and will offer a bold new take on the beloved fairytale about a mistreated orphan granted one wish. That wish, for starters, will be granted by fairy godparent Billy Porter, and if that's not enough to get you on board then I simply don't know what to tell you. Idina Menzel, Pierce Brosnan, and James Corden also star.
Awards season hopefuls, long-awaited remakes and sequels, and the triumphant return of the MCU.
From ELLE
For any type of mood, these films are just as good 20 years later. From Esquire
The 'WandaVision' Cast Is Full of MCU Characters You've Seen Before
You know about Scarlet Witch and Vision. But the series also features some Marvel characters you may not have expected to see again. From Men's Health
Chris Evans says reports of his return as Captain America are 'news to me,' and fans are heartbroken
Chris Evans last MCU appearance as Captain America was in "Avengers: Endgame," and it looks set to stay that way.
24 Albums Turning 20 in 2021
Want to feel old? These famous albums are turning 20 this year. From Men's Health
Are we going back to Westview?
Here's a Quick Recap of Scarlet Witch and Vision's MCU History
It would be best to refresh your memory before hitting play on 'WandaVision.'
What we know about 'Legally Blonde 3,' so far
Reese Witherspoon will return as Elle Woods when the movie hits theaters in 2022. She previously teased the return of some of her costars, too.
The 16 Adventure Movies We Can't Wait to See This Year
It's gonna be a hell of a year for animation.From Men's Health
Adaptive Fashion: Apparel Retailers Must Embrace Change in 2021
Jill Standish, of Accenture, offers retail brands some priorities for setting success this year.
The Biggest Celebrity Breakups of 2021
R.I.P., love. Originally Appeared on Glamour
Could 'WandaVision' Get a Second Season?
Elizabeth Olsen sure thinks so.
Why Stretching Each Day Is the Healthiest Habit You Can Commit to in 2021
It's okay if you haven't touched your toes in years. Here's why (and how!) to get started.From Prevention
This High-Tech Travel Mug Can Brew Your Coffee On The Go
Plus, more must-have tech gadgets from CES 2021. From Women's Health
10 Dating Apps for Finding Love (Or Fighting Boredom) in 2021
This is the year to try astrology-based algorithms, games as icebreakers, or video-first matching.From Esquire
17 Best High-Waist Jeans to Replace Your Sweats in 2021
Real pants, we meet again.Originally Appeared on Glamour
Can Architecture Be a Force for Social Justice? This Architect Says Yes
Sumayya Vally hopes that her firm's work will help bring people together.
CES 2021: A Robot Vacuum That Empties Itself and More
And all the other insane things from CES. From House Beautiful
The MCU's 'Moon Knight' Series Has Found Its Villain
Oscar Isaac will face off with another A-lister in the upcoming Disney+ series.
The Best Movies With Lesbian Characters Streaming on Netflix
From Oscar-nominated period films to easy-to-watch rom-coms, this list is a must-watch for LBGTQ+ and allied viewers alike. From Marie Claire
Leaving Netflix in February 2021: A Walk to Remember Is Walking Away
Get your cries in now.


text:
A Bencsik szlovák eredetű magyar családnév. Szlovák változata Benčík. 2019-ben nem szerepelt a leggyakoribb száz családnév között.

Eredete és változatai
A Benedek vagy Benjamin keresztnév szláv nyelvekben való rövidülése és szlovák -čik kicsinyítő képzővel való megtoldása. A szlovák nyelvben vált apanévi családnévvé. A -czik végződés a -csik régi magyaros írásváltozata.

Híres Bencsik nevű személyek
Bencsik
 Bencsik András (1951) újságíró, lapszerkesztő
 Bencsik Béla (1906–1943) filozófus
 Bencsik Gábor (1954) újságíró, agrármérnök, könyvkiadó
 Bencsik Gyula (1898–1986) építész, építőmester, államtitkár
 Bencsik István (1931–2016) szobrászművész
 Bencsik János (1933) néprajzkutató
 Bencsik János (?) labdarúgóedző, az MTK vezetőedzője 1972-ben
 Bencsik János (1965) politikus, polgármester, államtitkár
 Bencsik József (? –1827) jogtudor, Esztergom megyei áldozópap
 Bencsik József (1921–2014) jezsuita szerzetes
 Bencsik József (1932–1957) munkás, 1956-os forradalmár
 Bencsik Mihály (1670–1728) egyetemi jogtanár
 Bencsik Sándor (1952–1987) gitáros, zeneszerző
 Bencsik Tamara (1987) énekesnő
Benčík
 Emil Benčík (1933) szlovák újságíró, műfordító
 Henrich Benčík (1978) válogatott szlovák labdarúgó
 Juraj Benčík (1945) szlovák atléta, gyalogló
 Michal Benčík (1932–2015) szlovák politikus, jogász
 Petr Benčík (1976) cseh kerékpárversenyző

Jegyzetek

Magyar családnevek
Szlovák családnevek

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


A MUST SEE spectacular bright South facing OCEAN VIEW well cared for family home on 2 levels featuring 5 bedroom including a turnkey 2 bedroom suite w/separate entry. Updates include large south facing sun overlooking Burrard inlet, new windows, bamboo flooring, updated kitchen, XL mudroom/storage area. Walking distance to Sherwood Park Elementary, close to shopping, schools, trails & Renown Cates Park. See listing agents website for PHOTOS & FLOORPLAN. Call Listing Agent to view.
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"You Trip Me Up" is the second single from Psychocandy. The song was originally released in May of 1985.
The lyrics of the song talk about the subject's strong feelings of love, and how it causes him to barely function, with him saying that he can barely even walk around this person.


text:
History of the Colonial French Louisiana
Routes to explore the French Communities
La Grande Louisiane Française – Accueil En
Map of the communities
The Colonial French Louisiana – Home-page EN
test Map (en remontant la rivière rouge)
Traveling up the Mississippi River
From the City of the Gauls to New Bourbon (Ste. Geneviève)
At the end of the 18th century 560 people lived in New Bourbon located less than three miles (five kilometers) south of Ste. Geneviève. Today, there are no remains of this community. It has completely disappeared from the landscape.
New Bourbon was located near the present-day intersection of Route 61 and Bourbon Road. In 1793, Chevalier Pierre de Hault DeLassus, born in Bouchain, France, arrived at the village of Petites Côtes (later New Bourbon) with the intention of attracting the French aristocracy of America. Baron François Louis Hector de Carondelet, the Spanish governor of Colonial Louisiana at the time, set aside an immense piece of land he called New Bourbon for the expected arrival of aristocrats in droves.
The DeLassus family flourished in Colonial Louisiana. Pierre was appointed commandant of the district of New Bourbon. He was also in charge of nearby the Mine La Motte operations. His son, Charles (Carlos), was the last governor of the Illinois Country which was sold by France to the United States in 1803.
New Bourbon grew over the years. François Vallé, a rich entrepreneur from Beauport (Québec City), developed a new water mill on what is now Dodge Creek. After the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, the population of New Bourbon began to decline as the management of the shrinking community was absorbed by Ste. Geneviève. With the brand new port named "New Bourbon" on the Mississippi River, the name has survived even though the community of times gone by no longer exists.
The city of the Gauls
The history of New Bourbon, Missouri, originated in France at the time of the French Revolution. After the Storming of the Bastille in 1789, the French aristocracy realized its days were numbered. Many aristocrats fled to America, avoiding the guillotine that was inflicted on Louis XVI, the last king of France.
The Scioto Company, named after a river in Ohio State, took advantage of the situation by offering waterfront real estates to the French aristocracy, marketed as a "Garden of Eden". When the French immigrants (between 300 and 400 in number) arrived in 1790, they quickly discovered that they had been scammed. The Ohio was not the Eden anticipated, and their shares of the Scioto Company, that went into bankruptcy, were worthless.
Gallipolis, Ohio
Nevertheless, many French aristocrats who stayed in Ohio managed to persuade the US government to give them land. Their new community was called Gallipolis, nicknamed today "The City of the Gauls". At the time, living conditions were not as healthy as they should have been because the land was marshy.
Despite the misery, it appears that none of the French inhabitants of Gallipolis migrated in 1793 to New Bourbon, Missouri. Maybe they were scared of another scam, or maybe they had heard rumors about the devastating floods of the mighty Mississippi.
On this route
"La Petite Nuit", Dubuque's Native American Name
At Burnt Sugarcane (Kenner), the sweet sugar will wait
At Natchez, poppies are part of the landscape
At Pointe Coupée, the dead arm is alive and well (New Roads)
Baton Rouge, a name with multiple origins
Cape Girardeau, an ever-mysterious name
Discovery of the Falls of St. Anthony (Minneapolis)
Fort Assumption led to Memphis' location
Fort Saint-Pierre in Vicksburg is 300 years old in 2019
French was spoken in Tennessee as far back as 1682 (Randolph)
The Other Routes
Along the Gulf of Mexico
In Louisiana's Bayou Country
Traveling up the Red River
Traveling up the Arkansas River
Traveling up the Missouri River
The Missouri lead mines
In the Illinois Country
Along the Great Lakes
From lake Erie to the Ohio River
West of the Appalachians
At the foot of the Rockies
is a French engineer passionate about the history of Canada and of francophone communities throughout North America in all of their cultural diversity. He lives in Paris region.
is a retired executive from the financial sector with a burning passion for America's Francophonie and its fraternity. A Québec City native, he now lives in Aurora, Ontario.
A memorable trip to Paris for Sergeant Dubois (Brunswick)
A perfume of France in Louisville
Among the Shawnee Nation (Lexington)
At West Lafayette, resisting is not surmounting
Bellevue, the cradle of Nebraska
Biloxi, an aboriginal word meaning First Nation
Boisé or Woody (Boise), a distinctive name of French origin
Cahokia, one of the largest Native communities
Carondelet, a Fathers' Rendez-vous
Chez les Cansès, Kansas City's original name
Chicago where French is spoken since 1673
Daniel Greysolon Dulhut, the peacemaker at Fond du Lac (Duluth)
Dauphin Island, Alabama, where it all began
Detroit, a strategic location between two Great Lakes
Discovery of the Aransas Channel near Rockport
Downtown Milwaukee, first visited in 1674
Epes, a stronghold never attacked
Florissant and its beautiful flowery valley
Fort Cavagnial (Leavenworth), the French Connection to Santa Fe
Fort Crèvecoeur, a 1680 French-Peoria Agreement
Fort de Chartres and Prairie du Rocher go hand in hand
Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh), the beginning of the end
Fort Maurepas (Ocean Springs), the cradle of Colonial French Louisiana
Fort St. Louis (Inez-Victoria), a lost but well recognized effort
Fort Wayne, a providential portage at Kekionga
Fortification of Metropolis' first economy in Southern Illinois
French artefacts found in Niles dating back to the 17th century
From Boucherville to Nashville, a story link that speaks volumes
From Concile' Banks to Council Bluffs in 100 Years of History
From Tallow to Dream in New Madrid
Frontenac (Minnesota), directly linked to France's royalty
Gift of King Louis XV of France to Kaskaskia (Chester)
Grand Forks (North Dakota) on the northern Red River
Green Bay named after the greenish color of a nearby ocean
If only the mountains at Sheridan could talk
In early American history Dupo was Prairie du Dupont on the King's Highway
In Maumee, a fort can hide another
In the Attakapas district everyone could set up his own vacherie (Saint Martinville)
In the Opelousas country trade was harmed by fear
La Balise (Pilottown) against all odds
La Charrette (Marthasville), on the western frontier of Colonial Louisiana
La Salle's mission was accomplished in Venice
LaPorte on the Cache la Poudre River near LaSalle
Little Rock is more than a name, it's a famous landmark
Marquette, a highly esteemed and honored character
Maurice LeDuc's General Store in Wetmore
Mine au Breton (Potosi) and its "lead soldier"
Mobile, the first Catholic parish in Colonial French Louisiana
New Orleans celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2018
Once upon a time in the West, "The Junction" became Watrous
Portage des Sioux, a bypass worthy of use and colonisation
Prairie du Chien, pronounced "prairie doo sheen"
Quebec in Big Sky State, with love
Racine's name rightly chosen from early American history
Renault, a name from Picardie
Saint-Denis and his Caddo friends (Natchitoches)
Sainte Geneviève, a new national historical park
St. Louis and its champion traders
Surprising stories from North-East Texas (Wood County)
Texarkana, at the heart of Texas' reputation
The "Petites Côtes" of St. Charles, an amazing story
The Eagles of Columbia remember L'Aigle in Normandy
The first metropolis in the western Great Lakes (Mackinaw)
The monsters of Alton (Cap-Rouge) according to Father Marquette
The peace pipe was first smoked in Tulsa in 1719
The strength of the French-Quapaw alliance was key to Arkansas Post (south of Gillett)
The surprising French history of Fort Pierre
The Three Notch Road leads to Fredericktown
The wonderful secrets of Fort La Boulaye (Phoenix)
Vincennes, a colony in a remarkable surviving mode
Waterloo, formerly La Belle Fontaine in the Illinois Country
Wetumpka, where great Alabama families were born


text:
Transgender Awareness Week
Date: November 13, 2023 – November 19, 2023
A week when transgender people and their allies take action to bring attention to the community by educating the public about who transgender people are, sharing stories and experiences, and advancing advocacy around the issues of prejudice, discrimination, and violence that affect the transgender community. Learn more…


Condition: Cloth binding with embossed title. Binding is firm but worn, with some discolouration to the spine. Tropical worm damage having the appearance of small ink spots.
Item size: 4to, 30 x 22.5 cm, 304 pp.


Otway Health's offers a range of exercise programs to help improve your overall fitness and well-being.
We run classes for all ages and all fitness types. View our current programs below for more information.
Please note. If you have not previously participated in an exercise program at Otway Health, please book a physiotherapy assessment prior to commencement.
Explore the tabs below to learn more about the current exercise programs we have on offer.
Healthy Balance is a class to improve your strength and balance. It consists of both chair based exercises and standing.
Stay afterwards for a cuppa and B.Y.O lunch.
When: Every Tuesday 11:30am – 1:00pm.
Cost: $10.00 per session including a cuppa.
Are you strong and fit and want to stay that way? Strength for life is a program designed to increase strength, agility and keep you fit on your feet.
When: Every Monday and Wednesday 11.30am – 12.30pm.
Weekly. See program for details.
All classes are held at Apollo Bay Senior Citizens Centre, Whelan Street, Apollo Bay.
Phone: (03) 5237 8500 and speak to Louise Fairney or email us.
See program details for costs.


text:
Why retiring A-Rod will still get $27 million from Yankees
That will put his career earnings at an estimated $392 million.
Why retiring A-Rod will still get $27 million from Yankees That will put his career earnings at an estimated $392 million. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2aS4i7h
Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY Sports Published 12:47 p.m. ET Aug. 7, 2016 | Updated 6:39 p.m. ET Aug. 8, 2016
A review of A-Rod's top stats as the famed slugger calls it a career. USA TODAY Sports
Why was Alex Rodriguez smiling on Sunday? Possibly because he will be paid the remaining $27 million of his contract with the Yankees despite playing his last game Friday.(Photo: Andy Marlin, USA TODAY Sports)
Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees' relationship as player and franchise came to a quick and seemingly amicable conclusion, and there's one big reason for that: A-Rod will be paid every penny owed to him.
General manager Brian Cashman confirmed Sunday that Rodriguez will receive all of the estimated $27 million he'll be due once the team releases him after his final game in pinstripes Friday night. Rodriguez will serve in an advisory role in 2017, when he receives $21 million in the final year of a 10-year, $275 million contract.
That will bring his career earnings to an estimated $392 million, easily the highest in major league history.
"He gets everything he deserves, the contract he negotiated, in full force," Cashman said.
Alex Rodriguez: Final weeks on bench with Yankees 'painful and embarrassing'
That tone marks a considerable departure from the acrimony between player and club in 2013, when Rodriguez was ensnared in the Biogenesis doping scandal following a disastrous 2012 season and following years in which Rodriguez insisted he was done taking performance-enhancing drugs after admitting to taking PEDs from 2001-2003.
Enraged – and also lured by the notion of erasing $117 million due an aging and declining player – the Yankees looked into voiding A-Rod's contract. Rodriguez fired back, suing Major League Baseball, the Yankees' team doctor and official hospital in October and November 2013.
Ultimately, Rodriguez accepted a 162-game suspension handed down by an arbitrator in January 2014, a decision that wiped some $23 million from Rodriguez's earnings.
But don't weep for A-Rod or his accountants.
He was a millionaire at 17, signed to a seven-figure major league contract by the Seattle Mariners after graduating from Florida's Westminster Christian High. A $10.7 million deal brought him to free agency in Seattle, and then he shattered the pro sports contract ceiling with a 10-year, $252 million deal with the Texas Rangers.
Alex Rodriguez announces retirement, will play final game Friday
Rodriguez won an MVP with Texas but the Rangers fell far short of a .500 record in his three years there. After a 2004 trade to the Yankees, he exercised an opt-out clause in that deal to set a new high-water mark: A 10-year, $275 million contract that the club bestowed on a 31-year-old coming off an MVP season.
Despite many legal wranglings, threats and staredowns, A-Rod will, in fact, make it to the end of that deal.
GALLERY: A-ROD THROUGH THE YEARS
Alex Rodriguez through the years
Aug. 12: Alex Rodriguez waves to the fans after playing his final game as a Yankee and says he is at peace. Andy Marlin, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 12: Alex Rodriguez picks up dirt from third base after the game for keepsake. Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sport
Aug. 12: Alex Rodriguez takes the field to play third base in the ninth inning for the first time since May, 2015. Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sport
Aug. 12: Alex Rodriguez reacts at second base after his RBI double in the first inning. Jason Szenes, EPA
Aug. 12: Alex Rodriguez hits a first-inning RBI double to center field to ties the game 1-1 against the Rays. Kathy Willens, AP
Aug. 12: Alex Rodriguez acknowledges the crowd before his last game. Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sport
Aug. 12: The lineups for Alex Rodriguez's final game. Kathy Willens, AP
Aug. 12: Alex Rodriguez runs onto the field to warm up before his final game with the Yankees. Drew Hallowell, Getty Images
Aug. 12: Alex Rodriguez acknowledges the crowd during a ceremony prior to his final game. Adam Hunger, AP
Aug. 12: Alex Rodriguez is honored before his final game as a player with the Yankees. Kathy Willens, AP
Aug. 12: Rains shortens Alex Rodriguez's pregame ceremony. Jason Szenes, EPA
Aug. 12: Alex Rodriguez with his two daughters, Natasha and Ella and his mother Lourdes and Hall of Fame player and former Yankee Reggie Jackson. Jason Szenes, EPA
Aug. 12: The scorebard at Yankee Stadium thanks Alex Rodriguez. Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sport
Aug. 12: Alex Rodriguez speaks to the media before his final game as a Yankee. Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sports
Aug; 12: Alex Rodriguez prepares for his final game as a Yankee. Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 11: Rodriguez gets an RBI against the Red Sox during the eighth inning to help the Yankees notch a 4-2 win at Fenway Park. Mark L. Baer, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 10: Alex Rodriguez emerges from Fenway Park's "Green Monster" outfield wall prior to a game against the Red Sox. Mark L. Baer, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 10: Benched from the starting lineup as his finale approaches, Alex Rodriguez pinch hits and flies out in the seventh inning against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Jim Rogash, Getty Images
Aug. 10: Chants of 'We Want A-Rod!' were heard at Fenway Park. Winslow Townson, AP
Aug. 9: Alex Rodriguez signs autographs for fans at Fenway Park. Bob DeChiara, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 9: Alex Rodriguez is playing in his his final series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Adam Glanzman, Getty Images
Aug. 7, 2016: Alex Rodriguez announces he will play his last game with the Yankees on Aug. 12 at Yankee Stadium. Andy Marlin, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 4, 2016: Alex Rodriguez spends most of the season on the bench, hitting just .204 with nine home runs in 234 plate appearances. Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2016: Alex Rodriguez slugs his 693rd career home run off Rays' Chris Archer. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports
Alex Rodriguez is still owed $21 million in $2017 and about $7 million for the remainder of this year. Adam Hunger, USA TODAY Sports
Alex Rodriguez's final game will come Aug. 12, 2016 at Yankee Stadium against the Tampa Bay Rays Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports
June 19, 2015: Alex Rodriguez becomes 29th player in major-league history to reach 3,000 hits with a home run, the first since Jeter to get to the milestone in that fashion. Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports
Feb. 23, 2015: Alex Rodriguez reports to Yankees camp following a season-long suspension, arriving three days ahead of schedule. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports
Alex Rodriguez arrives at Major League Baseball's headquarters in New York in Day 1 of his appeal hearing over his 211-game suspension dealt in August, 2013. David Karp, AP
Sept. 20, 2013: Alex Rodriguez sets a MLB-record with his 24th grand slam, breaking Lou Gehrigs' mark. Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 18, 2013: In Alex Rodriguez's first at-bat in Boston, he was hit a pitch from the Red Sox's Ryan Dempster. Both benches were warned and Yankees manager Joe Girardi was ejected after arguing that Dempster should have been tossed out of the game. Jared Wickerham, Getty Images
Aug. 18, 2013: Alex Rodriguez retaliates against Ryan Dempster with a solo home run in the fifth inning. Jared Wickerham, Getty Images
Aug. 11, 2013: Alex Rodriguez hits his 648th career home run, his first of the season. The RBI moves him past Stan Musial for fifth on the all-time career RBI list with 1,951. William Perlman, The (Newark) Star-Ledger vis USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 9, 2013: Alex Rodriguez goes 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his season debut at Yankee Stadium. Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sport
Aug. 9, 2013: Alex Rodriguez gets a mixed reaction from the home crowd in his season debut at Yankee Stadium. He strikes out in his first at-bat. William Perlman, The (Newark) Star-Ledger via USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 5, 2013: Alex Rodriguez addresses the media before the game against the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field. Rob Grabowski, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 2013: In his two games with the Trenton Thunder, Alex Rodriguez goes 1-for-2 with four walks, including a mammoth two-run homer. Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 2013: Alex Rodriguez is one of several major leaguers suspended for his involvement with Biogenesis, but he is the only one who will be banned the entire 2014 season. Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports
Aug. 2013: Alex Rodriguez signs autographs before the game against the Reading Fighting Phils at Arm & Hammer Park. Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports
April 19, 2007: Alex Rodriguez tosses his bat in the air after hitting a two-out, walk-off, three-run home run -- No. 474.-- against the Indians. Kathy Willens, AP
Aug. 4, 2007: Alex Rodriguez becomes the 22nd member of the 500-home run club with his three-run shot against the Royals. He is the youngest player to reach the mark. Jim McIsaac Getty Images
2009: Alex Rodriguez holds the championship trophy after the Yankees beat the Philles to win their 27th World Series. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
2014: Alex Rodriguez agrees to a trade to the Yankees and play third base. Gregory Bull, AP
2001: Alex Rodriguez plays three seasons with the Rangers and hots 156 home runs. Ricky Carioti, AP
May 9, 1997: Alex Rodriguez and Cal Ripken Jr. talk during a pitching change at Camden Yards. Russell Beeker, USA Today Sports
Dec. 12, 2000: Alex Rodriguez gives reporters a big smile while answering questions about his 10-year, $252 million deal with the Rangers. Donna McWilliam, AP
1998: Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez were teammates on the Mariners. Elaine Thompson, AP
July 8, 1994: Alex Rodriguez makes his major league debut with the Mariners in Boston, becoming just the third 18-year-old shortstop in the big leagues since 1900. Gary Stewart, AP
Alex Rodriguez was the Mariners first pick in the 1993 draft. Russell Beeker, USA TODAY Sports
Alex Rodriguez, who played for Westminster Christian high school in Miami, was thefirst overall draft pick by the Seattle Marinersin 1993. David Bergman, AP