text:
Marja van Kampen - Irish Art - Holland,Wexford
Irish artists - Marja van Kampen - O'Fortuna" title="Art, O'Fortuna"
O'Fortuna, acrylic on canvas, 50 x 60 cm
Irish artists - Marja van Kampen - Under A Starry Sky" title="Art, Under A Starry Sky"
Under A Starry Sky, acrylic on canvas, 50 x 50 cm
Irish artists - Marja van Kampen - Children at the Seaside" title="Art, Children at the Seaside"
Children at the Seaside, acrylic on canvas, 50 x 50 cm
Irish artists - Marja van Kampen - Waiting for Sunrise" title="Art, Waiting for Sunrise"
Waiting for Sunrise, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 60 cm
Irish artists - Marja van Kampen - In the Market" title="Art, In the Market"
In the Market, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 30 cm
Irish artists - Marja van Kampen - Child of the South" title="Art, Child of the South"
Child of the South, acrylic on canvas, 50 x 40 cm
Irish artists - Marja van Kampen - Asleep Among the Stars" title="Art, Asleep Among the Stars"
Asleep Among the Stars, acrylic on canvas, 80 x 60 cm
Irish artists - Marja van Kampen - In a World of her Own" title="Art, In a World of her Own"
In a World of her Own, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 30 cm
Irish artists - Marja van Kampen - Autumn Singing in the Tree" title="Art, Autumn Singing in the Tree"
Autumn Singing in the Tree, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 60 cm
Irish artists - Marja van Kampen - Summer in Abundance" title="Art, Summer in Abundance"
Summer in Abundance, acrylic on canvas, 80 x 80 cm
Irish artists - Marja van Kampen - Childhood Summers Remembered" title="Art, Childhood Summers Remembered"
Childhood Summers Remembered, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 60 cm
Irish artists - Marja van Kampen - Little Bird Song" title="Art, Little Bird Song"
Little Bird Song, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 60 cm
Irish art, Marja van Kampen
Marja van Kampen, Holland and Wexford, Dutch Artist
Marja van Kampen was born in The Netherlands. She is a full-time painter and printmaker, receiving her degrees for Painting, Printmaking and Art History from the Akademie voor Beeldende Kunsten in Arnhem, The Netherlands, in 1972. Having practiced her art there for a number of years Marja travelled through Europe and settled for a while in the South of France before moving to Ireland permanently in 1982. She now lives in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.
Her work has appeared in numerous group exhibitions in Ireland, Europe, USA and as far as China. Recently she exhibited at the Affordable Art Fair, London, the Greenacres Gallery, Wexford, Carlow Arts Festival and Wexford Fringe Festival. Solo shows include a National Touring Exhibition, Galway Arts Festival, Carlow Arts Festival, Wexford Fringe Festival, Denis Collins Gallery, Wexford, The Kenny Art Gallery, Galway.
Her work is in many public collections including The Arts Council of Ireland, the Office of Public Works, Microsoft Irish Art Collection, AIB and Áras an Uachteráin, the residence of Michael D. Higgins, the President of Ireland. She is the recipient of several Awards, the most recent a Travel Award from the Arts Council to study American expressionistic painters in New York.
My paintings explore themes of childhood including elements of landscape, either local or foreign. Strong influences are images and curios I have collected on travels abroad, particularly India, where vibrant colours and patterns have incorporated an Eastern feature to my work. I enlarge elements, distort proportions and discard perspective introducing a playful imagery to give my work a light-hearted quality.
Contact Marja van Kampen Artist


Improvised Star Trek : Ep 141: If You Can't Beat 'Em, Bajoran 'Em!
Ep 141: If You Can't Beat 'Em, Bajoran 'Em!
Inappropriate appropriation abounds, appropos of nothing. Will Rip Stipley accept himself for who he is, or will he finally take things too pon farr?


Isadora Moon is special because she's different. Her mum is a fairy and her dad is a vampire and she's a bit of both. When Isadora is invited to stay at her friend Zoe's house she's so excited - she hasn't been to a sleepover before! And with a touch of Isadora magic, this is goi... read full description below.
Isadora Moon is special because she's different. Her mum is a fairy and her dad is a vampire and she's a bit of both. When Isadora is invited to stay at her friend Zoe's house she's so excited - she hasn't been to a sleepover before! There will be midnight feasts, and staying up all night, it's going to be so much fun! And while she's there, Isadora and Zoe are going to work on their cake for a baking competition at school. But will they be able to resist adding a sprinkling of magic to their creation. . . ? With irresistible pink and black artwork throughout by author/illustrator Harriet Muncaster and a totally unique heroine with an out-of-this-world family, this is a beautiful, charming, and funny series of first chapter books. Perfect for fans of Claude, Dixie O'Day, and Squishy McFluff, Isadora Moon is the ideal choice for readers who want their magic and sparkle with a bit of bite!
Harriet is a graduate of the Cambridge MA in Children's Illustration, and is the illustrator of Parragon's Glitterbelle books, as well as her own I Am a Witch's Cat, and Happy Halloween, Witch's Cat!, published by Harper Collins in the US. And, of course, she is the author and illustrator of the magical Isadora Moon series! She loves anything teeny tiny, anything starry, and everything glittery.


Basic crochet pattern of this doll. Whitout patterns of outfit so far..
Dec - 2 crochets together (Insert hook into stitch and draw up a loop. Insert hook into next stitch and draw up a loop. Yarn over, draw through all 3 loops on hook.
Ears: Join yarn into the 12 round of the head, work down, 1 sc, 1 hdc,1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc. End, cut, hide the end of the yarn in the head. Do the same on the opposite side of the head for second ear.
Sew hands and legs to the body.
Make hair on the head, stitch eyes, nose and lips.


White child resistant bulb glass droppers are functional for an array of industries. The bulbs are composed of monoprene, the child resistant caps are polypropylene plastic, and the straight droppers are clear glass. These glass droppers dispense in a controlled stream or drops, which is useful for medications, essential oils, and more. Select the Add-Ons button to choose from a variety of compatible bottles.
The items on this page were replaced with new molds.
Learn about the NEW child resistant droppers here!


There are different types of online businesses that you can do and for each one there are different ways of receiving your money. Some online businesses are run by big foreign companies and they are the ones that pay you while some of the other businesses can be setup and run entirely by you without having to register with a foreign company before you can get paid.
Another way you may get paid in those businesses where you have to register with foreign companies, is that your payment could be wired directly to your domiciliary account and you can cash it out in dollars or naira after few days.
In some other foreign programs, what they do is to periodically send your payments to you in the form of a foreign cheque. This cheque will be sent to your address in Nigeria by post and when you receive it, you can take it to the bank and cash the money using a domiciliary account. Payments received via this method may take several months to finally hit your bank account.
Tip: A domiciliary account is a type of bank account offered by many banks in Nigeria. Note that you do not need to wait until you have a domiciliary bank account before you start learning online business. Most times you won't need it until after a few months.
A second method that you can use to get paid is through an online payment processor or what is commonly known as a merchant service. Not all such services work well in Nigeria but there is an indigenous Nigerian company that allows you to collect money from customers online through Interswitch Verve ATM cards and other local credit/debit cards like Visa and Mastercard and then deposit this money into an online account which you can easily withdraw to your real Nigerian bank account within days.
For the other types of businesses that you can open and run on your own, payments are made by clients and customers directly into your bank account with any Nigerian bank. This can be a normal savings account, current account or company/corporate account. Payments received via this method get to you instantly because the people paying you will deposit the money directly into your account and you can withdraw immediately.
It involves you advertising or marketing something to your website visitors and asking them to pay into your account to receive the service or product. You receive money anytime someone buys your stuff or pays you for some service. The most lucrative example of this sort of business is information marketing where you sell digital goods like e-books, reports, videos etc.
‹ Q n A: How Soon Will I Start Making Money if I enter Online Business?


The cliché mother of the bride or groom is one who is hyper-involved in every wedding-planning decision, and constantly voicing her opinion when no one asked. The reality is, though, most moms just want to share in the excitement and joy of their child's special day! Here, we rounded up a few tasks that will help—not annoy—the bride.
Not only should you and the groom's (or bride's) mother coordinate your wedding-day outfits, it's also important that you both get along. It will save the couple any unnecessary pre-wedding stress, and you both could work on DIY projects together or divide and conquer the wedding-planning tasks at hand.
It sounds simple, but the mother of the bride can make sure the bride and bridesmaids are well fed on the wedding day. Robin Baab and Sarah Tivel, event planners at GATHER Events, say, "While ladies are doing hair and makeup, order in breakfast and lunch so they don't get fatigued during the ceremony!" Whether you prepare something homemade or order sandwiches and bite-sized treats (remember: it shouldn't be messy food!), the bride will definitely appreciate the gesture.
Welcome bags are an important part of any wedding (especially destination celebrations!), but couples often forget about them until the last minute—which is why it's a mom-friendly project. Ask the bride if you could create fun totes filled with treats for out-of-town guests, suggest Baab and Tivel. She'll be more than happy to cross that "to-do" off of her wedding checklist.
Take some planning off the bride's hands by keeping track of bridal-party logistics. Natalie Good, event planner at A Good Affair Wedding & Event Production, recommends the mother of the bride "send reminders in the months leading up to the wedding letting ladies know the schedule of events and tasks they can help the bride complete."
Just like old times, Mom can double check that the bride doesn't forget anything after the wedding. "Enlist Mom as the responsible party guest and let your planners load up her car with the important wedding items, plus gifts, at the end of the night," says Baab and Tivel.
Plan a big or small treat for the couple's big day. Stuck on ideas? Good suggests "a special performance by their favorite artist, a live painter to capture a scene from the wedding, a touching toast, or a favorite dessert they can't live without."
7. Find the Perfect "Something Old"


text:
The book's topic "Never Let Me Go"
Categories: Human NatureNever Let Me GoPhilosophy
The book's subject, "Never ever Let Me Go"
The topic "Never ever Let Me Go" portrays grasping of human beings removed their identities and after that identified as copies in a bleak world in which human clones are socially accepted. These human clones are used for organ donation to the real people. In addition, the title "Never ever Let Me Go" has numerous significances. To begin with, the subject depicts an imaginary song reminding Kathy about her youth. Secondly, the topic describes the perception of Madame in the young clones been left to adopt the old world of humans (Matthews 67) In addition, the topic calls for the action that we as humans we need to not forsake our human dignity as represented by the society that has forsaken Kathy.
" The book's topic "Never Let Me Go" "
The subject aims to explore the worth of human life drawing referral from principles and drawing parallel which presents the clones as things for enhancing human life. The fact that Kathy and Tommy are identified clones is quite stigmatizing and depressing as it provides their purpose as just contributing organ and later on faces their unavoidable completion.
Proficient in: Human Nature
The social stigma encountered make them depressed as they struggle to look for self-identity that does not simply link to their purpose. Then the significant question stays to be whether these clones are actually human being or just things. In addition, the title that comes from the act of Kathy holding her pillow infant depicts objection towards abandoning the traditions and accepting modernity.
In this sense, the author seems to be against the concepts cloning.
Discussion of the book
The book "Never Let Me Go" is fictional literature that is filled with numerous emotional scenes which are marred with identity crisis. It portrays a class of human beings who are stripped of their identity and presented as copies with seemingly low dignity. In addition, the book portrays the possibility of understanding our identity by interpreting the metaphor of AIDs. The author uses the four students (clones) to explain how human beings seek validity of their identity by creating self-images. Ishiguro presents the fragility of human identity and how it can be changed by the judgments of others people. For instance, the students attempted to improve their art in a bid to have their work selected for inclusion in the gallery which in turn changed their perception of self-worthy making them place doubt on the individuality (Ishiguro 27) .The students seem to undergo a struggle of self-identity especially after reflecting on their purpose, organ donation Therefore, the students struggle to search for a life's purpose that is more fulfilling despite knowing their purpose as donating. Hence, the purpose of one's life does not really solidify the meaning of life.
The euphemism of completion as used by the author is to the duty and purpose of life, which is inevitable as it, must be accomplished at one point in life. In this sense, death is the student's fate. We therefore need to establish a duty in our life that makes our life complete. The attempts of Kathy and Tommy search for a suspension illustrate the humanity attempts to escape the purpose of their lives. Tommy ardently refuses to be a labeled a patient-donor illustrating a struggle to find meaning and self-identity (Matthews, 109). The mention of donor in the novel implies a clone, which elicited questions to whether students had other unique identity. However, despite the many questions regarding their identity, they students have no doubts about possession of souls. At the end of the novel Kathy and Tommy faces the reality that Emily refused to share with them during their life at Hailsham. However, the society seems to make them believe all the mystery behind their "creation".
Analyzing the character(s) from "Never Let Me Go" by Ishiguro
In broad spectrum, the characters as portrayed by Ishiguro are outstanding throughout the book. For instance, in the first scene Kathy acts as the "carer" for all human donors although she is a product of cloning (Ishiguro 11). However, due to the illogical impact of the human perception of the number of organ donations a clone can give, it is apparent that Kathy will soon "complete". Kathy is thirty one year old and at this age her death will soon knock the door of her life after she donates the last organ; that is the fourth time. As a matter of fact, the character of Kathy is unique. She uses the chance to grasp the moments when she relates her times at school; that is Hailsham in England. However, it is evident that Kathy is not happy with the current situation and narrates her story to her friends Tommy and Ruth whereby it is evident that Kathy has a dark life story (Ishiguro 14). In the Narration, Ruth is perceived to be cocky while Tommy is regarded as a misfit. She starts the novel as a humble, ethical; and an innocent girl.
In an in-depth analysis of the storyline, the three characters are portrayed by Ishiguro as the products of the society that are made specifically to compliment the need for organs to be used in the transplants. Essentially, this is Tommy and Kathy are deemed to be intelligent beings living in an unfriendly society. In addition, the characters, who are the products of cloning, seem to be compassionate. In their endeavor to undergo the surgery as well as in their partial recovery phase, Tommy and Ruth attest to be bold enough and heroic. Their positivity towards living their lives to their fullest is a glowing sketch of their willingness to live as the agents of human satisfaction in terms of organ donation. These are depicted in their preparedness to "Complete".
Ideally, Kathy is the apple of the reader's eyes. She is the center of the direction of the entire Ishiguro work as portrayed in her character of not evading the events that may lead to her death. In other words, Kathy is passive in her relationship with her two friends (Ishiguro 218). Similarly, Ruth is Kathy's best friend. Her character throughout the book changes depending on the circumstances at hand. At time, Ruth is so nice such that she attracts the reader while at some times she is unfriendly. Moreover, Ruth is a lover and friendly at some times; she spends several years dating Tommy. It is ostensible that Ruth's selfish behaviors hurt Kathy to great extent. To in a critical diagnosis of Tommy as a character in "Never let me go", behavior proves Tommy is friendly and loving.
After critically analyzing the book through the study of the character; that is Kathy, Ruth and Tommy, I was able to realize that self-Identity can be of great significance to the human existence. Depression that come from stigmas from being ill in the realm of the society and the adverse effects on an individual identity still had an impact in my life after the critically analyzing the book. This can be learned from the characters perception that every human being was made with a purpose of which when they accomplish, there is no need to hesitate when your time to "complete"; die. In addition, I learned that accomplishing ones purpose in life should be a dream come true. Although the work is a fictional product, the idea of "clones" delivers the Ishiguro's philosophy well.
Ishiguro, Kazuo. Never Let Me Go. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. Print.
Matthews, Sean, and Sebastian Groes. Kazuo Ishiguro. London: Continuum, 2009. Print.
The book's topic "Never Let Me Go". (2015, Oct 27). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/the-books-topic-never-let-me-go-essay
Context and Setting in Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go Pages: 4 (1074 words)
Failure and futility Themes in "1984" and "Never Let Me Go" Pages: 7 (2045 words)
Analysis of Kazuo Ishiguro's "Never Let Me Go" Pages: 2 (580 words)
"Never Let Me Go" Pages: 4 (1069 words)
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Pages: 2 (414 words)
Literary Analysis on Never Let Me Go Pages: 4 (1042 words)
Dystopian Society in Never Let Me Go Pages: 5 (1486 words)
Explore how 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' and 'Never Let Me Go' present the effects of society upon human beings, and what this says about humanity Pages: 9 (2626 words)
Boat: Symbolism in Never Let Me Go Pages: 3 (854 words)
How Ruth Portrays Herself From Never Let Me Go? Pages: 2 (550 words)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
DVD Compatibility
Capt. K. "Beau" Beauregard headed the Investigation Division of the San Diego Humane Society, where he was a key organizer of a taskforce raid that uncovered one of the largest cockfighting operations in the West in 2002. He was a police officer for more than ten years and also served as an Investigator for the SD County Public Defender's Office. "Beau" is an adjunct instructor at Palomar Community College and has spoken at both U.C.L.A. and Cal State Long Beach. He gives presentations and teaches seminars on animal abuse, dog/cockfighting and the link to interpersonal and youth violence to police, sheriffs, probation departments, and prosecutors throughout California. You can reach Capt. Beau at [email protected].
Dr. Dena Mangiamele Mangiamele has a Doctorate from Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine, a Master's in Preventive Veterinary Medicine from UC Davis, and a BA in Biology from the University of Nebraska. In addition to her position as Chief Veterinarian for L.A. City Dept. of Animal Regulation and serving as Director of Animal Control for San Diego County, she has completed the California State Humane Assoc. Animal Law Enforcement Training, Basic Academy, including Arrest and Firearms Courses. Now a successful shelter-operations management consultant, Dr. Dena testifies as an Expert Witness for prosecution in dog fighting and animal cruelty cases in California and Nevada. You can reach Dr. Dena at [email protected].
Phyllis Daugherty has over 20 years of animal-protection experience. She produced a video on early-age spay/neuter with Dr. W. Marvin Mackie (l989), which has been shown all over the world and used in major universities to demonstrate the benefits/technique of sterilization of pre-pubescent puppies and kittens. She produced "Standing Room Only - Overcrowding California Animal Shelters" (2001), filmed inside CA shelters to show the problems and tragedies of overextended holding periods and resultant dangers to animals and personnel. As Director of Animal Issues Movement, she sponsors numerous seminars on illegal animal fighting and animal abuse for law-enforcement, animal control, social services, and prosecutors. You can reach Phyllis at [email protected].
Alison L. Gianotto has been a technology professional for 12 years and has co-authored two technology books for Wrox Press on application design and database technology. She is now the Director of Pet-Abuse.Com, where she developed and maintains the only international searchable online database of convicted animal abusers with information provided by law-enforcement, animal control/humane organizations and prosecutors around the world. Alison is providing technical, production and editorial expertise for the Reality Training video production. You can reach Alison at [email protected].
Questions? Email [email protected]
© Copyright 2003-2020 Animal Issues Movement. All rights reserved. Website development by Vitruvian Arts and Pet-Abuse.Com.


What gift does this passage lead me to ask from the Lord?
What does this passage call me to do?
For more info contact Pastor Christina.
Lunch served at noon, free will offering with proceeds going to Contact House. Enjoy this time together to prepare for the Easter Season.
This spiritual practice series will focus on using the breath as a meditation tool, and we will use guided meditation for spiritual growth, health and healing, blessing others, and experiencing Holy Presence in our everyday lives. Pastor Christina will lead this again @ 7:00 p.m. in the downstairs parlour.
Tuesdays, April 2 & 9.
Scavenger Hunt, games, crafts, worship, music and lots more.
The children and teachers have made dry soup mixes which are for sale in the Narthex.
Friday, April 12, 2019 from 4:30-6:30.
Adults $15, kids 6-12 $6, under 6 free.
Tickets available from UCW members and office at 786-2514.
Take-outs available...please call 786-2514 by Apr. 11 to order your take-outs.
Details and registration to come shortly!
We will hold a yard & bake sale.
Lots of treasures...and baking too!


Is a classical musician really creative?
This great lesson with guitarist Simon Powis takes you through two great connecting licks to use in your A minor progression.
Or a factory worker? In essence the education of a classical performer is structured through … [Read More...] about Is a classical musician really creative?


Identification: Each hindwing has 1 long and 1 short tail. Upperside brown with orange spot on hindwing near tails. Outer edge of forewing usually has row of orange spots. Underside brown-gray with orange submarginal crescents and a postmedian band of black spots.
Life history: Males search for females by perching on top of trees (occasionally patrolling). Females lay eggs, glued together in groups of 2-4, in bark crevices. Eggs hibernate until the following spring. Caterpillars eat leaves.
Caterpillar hosts: Amelanchier alnifolia, Prunus virginiana; Cercocarpus, Ceanothus, Quercus, and Salix species.
Adult food: Nectar from flowers of wild buckwheat, milkweed, sulphur flower, and others.
Habitat: Chaparral, brushland, forest edges, open woodland.
Range: British Columbia south to southern California and east to Colorado.
Conservation: Valley oak-associated population in California's central valley is threatened by loss of habitat.
Management needs: Conserve remaining stands of Valley oak in California Central Valley.
Brown, J. W., H. G. Real, and D. K. Faulkner. Butterflies of Baja California.


Computing careers consistently rank among the top 10 fastest growing occupations in the US. The US Dept of Labor estimates that by 2020 there will be more than 1.4 million computing-related job openings. At current rates, however, we can only fill about 30% of those jobs with US computing bachelor's grads.
As the role and significance of technology has grown, the teaching of computer science in K-12 has faded. Since 2005, the number of US high schools offering rigorous computer science courses has fallen from 40% to 27%.
Today's students are the most tech-savvy generation ever, yet many have no interest in technology-related degrees or careers. 96% of teens reported "liking" or "loving" technology but just 18% indicate an interest in pursuing a technology career.
Girls, African-American and Hispanic students are avid users of technology, but they are significantly underrepresented in its creation. In 2008, women held 57% of all professional occupations in the US workforce but only 25% of all professional IT-related jobs.


text:
Issue #29 opens with Robin Skelton's intriguing commentary suggesting that the world of stamp collecting has parallels to the study of world literature in that it "enables people to explore and understand something of the culture and history of other countries." It is perhaps fitting, then, that the issue begins with three poems by the distinguished Pablo Neruda, recipient of both the International Peace Prize (1950) and Nobel Prize for Literature (1971).
Next, a moving memoir by the late Peter Russell explores the time he spent visiting with Ezra Pound from 1965-1972 in Venice, thus offering a glimpse into the final years of one of the world's most controversial writers. The precise, spare nature of the language in Pound's work draws heavily from classic Chinese and Japanese poetry. What follows is a selection of poems in translation by Chinese poets from the Tang (618-907), Yuan (1271-1368), and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties. Readers will delight in luxuriant imagery, profound insights, and the surprisingly timeless quality of works by such greats as Li Ho, Po Chi-I, and Yang Wan-Li. Their collective wisdom is the world's inheritance.
Also worthy of note is David R. Clark's provocative essay, "Stretching and Yawning with Yeats and Pound" in which he analyses the meaning of two seemingly simple words in Yeats' "Three Things" and invites readers to indulge in an exercise extolling the power of language.
Finally, "Twelve Drawings" by the late, great Canadian portrait artist Myfanwy Pavelic provide an exquisite visual and cultural interlude. Best known for her portraits of Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Katherine Hepburn, and Pierre Elliot Trudeau, the drawings here convey the intimacy and spirit that typify Pavelic's vast body of work. Her 1968 oil, titled Mopsy, graces the cover of this issue.
—Robin Reniero


When you�re planning how to start a food truck business, approach it like you would a catering business. Trust in the power of word-of-mouth marketing . Find places where food trucks congregate for lunch, or look at large businesses or events to go to 3-4 times per week to cover your expenses and generate recurring revenue.
The BBQ food truck business is indeed a profitable line of business and it is open for any aspiring entrepreneur to come in and establish his or her business; you can choose to start on a small scale servicing a community or you can choose to start on a large scale with several BBQ food trucks in key cities all around the United States of America.
City of Detroit issues guidance on how to start a food truck business Written by Admin on September 1, 2017 Category: Food Law , Food Truck , Land Use and Zoning , Restaurants There�s no question about it: the food truck industry is booming, especially in Detroit.


After years of conducting the hiring process by hand, the YMCA of Greater Dayton now uses Paycor products to streamline implementation and eliminate the need for physical, on-site storage of all their paperwork.
And did we mention all the time they saved?
Discover how an early relationship between Paycor and the YMCA of Greater Dayton not only helped them with their HR needs, but allowed us to fine-tune our software to meet the needs of any YMCA.


It's a really good wireless speaker for listening to music. Like any Apple product, it's the hardware that's the most fascinating. In this 7 inches tall cylinder, Apple has managed to stuff in a 7 tweeter array, 6 microphones for Siri and a big, down-firing subwoofer.
Plus, there's a special mic in the middle that's just used for regulating the bass. The HomePod has a meshy, textured exterior. On the top, there's a little touch-sensitive display. It can't display information but you can control playback and volume by tapping on it.
Unlike other wireless speakers in the market, HomePod's smarts come from its hardware. It runs on an A8 chip from the iPhone 6 and has 1 GB RAM. There's no tuning required. And for a high-end speaker system, that's rare.
HomePod has a built-in accelerometer and a whole system where it scans the room and adjusts the sound every time it's moved. So no matter where you put your HomePod, it's going to fill the room with amazing sound.
Does It Really Sound As Good As Apple Says?
Yes, it does. This is something that every critic and reviewer seems to agree on. As speakers that are designed for Music playback, HomePod is the best in class. It sounds way better than any Echo or Google Home (including the Max). Only Sonos Play 1 comes close.
HomePod Costs $349. It comes in two colors – Silver and Space Grey. You can order it right now from Apple's online store. Currently, HomePod is only available in the US, UK, and Australia.
HomePod is a wireless "smart" speaker. Once you've set it up using your iPhone or iPad, you can control HomePod using your voice. HomePod works with Apple Music, iTunes purchases (including Family Sharing ones), iCloud Music Library and iTunes Match. So as long as you've got your music in those places, you can just say "Hey Siri play (your music here)" and HomePod will just start playing.
Can I Use Spotify With It?
Yes and no. Siri only supports Apple Music so you can't use Siri to play music from Spotify or any other streaming service. But HomePod supports AirPlay. So you can AirPlay the Spotify music from your iOS device to HomePod. When you're doing that, you can use Siri on HomePod for simple play and pause commands but that's it.
This is one of the biggest limitations of the HomePod. And if you're not an Apple Music subscriber, it will severely limit the usability of the HomePod. When you buy the HomePod, you can sign up for a 3 months Apple Music trail.
Does It Have Skills Like Alexa?
No. Currently, Siri on the HomePod is extremely limited and it's not open for third-party developers yet.
Ok So What Else Can Siri on HomePod Do?
Here's everything that Siri on the HomePod can do.
Control your smart home devices: Siri can control any of your smart home devices that are connected via HomeKit. Just ask Siri to turn off the lights or change the temperature for devices that you've already added to the Home app.
Personal Requests: HomePod has a feature called Personal Requests which lets you read and reply to your messages, take notes and add reminders.
Apple Podcasts: You can also play any podcasts from Apple Podcasts service. As it to play the latest episode from your favorite podcasts. Just like Apple Music, HomePod doesn't support third-party podcasts clients like Overcast or Pocket Casts.
The News: Just like Siri on the iPhone, HomePod will tell you the day's news. When you ask HomePod "Hey Siri, what's the news today?", you'll hear news briefings from reputable sources.
What Is The Touchpad For?
You can interact with the touchpad to do things when you don't want to use your voice. Tap and hold to directly invoke Siri. Tap on the Plus or Minus button to change the volume. Double tap to go the next song and triple tap to go to the previous track.
Can It Do Multiple Timers, Or Talk To My Calendar?
Right now, Siri can only do a single timer at a time. You can't do multiple or named timers. So if you were thinking of using Siri in your kitchen, you might want to get an Amazon Echo Dot instead. Siri also can't talk to your calendar right now (even if you're using iCloud as your calendar).
Most of the smart home feature you've come to expect from Amazon Echo are not available on the HomePod.
Can It Detect Multiple Voices?
Siri right now can't detect multiple voices. This is another big limitation of the HomePod. Both Amazon Echo and Google Home can do this.
Can I Turn Off The Personal Requests feature?
If you're living with your friends or family, the Personal Requests feature becomes a huge privacy issue. Anyone can just walk up to your HomePod, ask it to read your messages and even reply to them! There's no authentication in the entire process.
If you don't live alone, you might want to turn this feature off completely. Open the Home app, tap on Add Home, tap on your profile, select Personal Requests and then turn the feature off.
Can I Use It With My Apple TV?
Yes, you can output your Apple TV audio to HomePod using AirPlay. But this is a manual process. HomePod doesn't directly integrate with the Apple TV. This means that you can't ask HomePod to start playing a movie on Apple TV (something that Amazon Echo and Google Home can do with Fire TV and Chromecast respectively).
Once you've paired your HomePod with your Apple TV, you can swipe down to reveal the info panel during playback and select your HomePod from the list as an output. But the next time you play something on your HomePod, your Apple TV will forget the connection and you'll have to switch over to it again manually.
So while it's possible to use your HomePod with your Apple TV, it's not a replacement for a dedicated soundbar or your surround system.
Can I Connect HomePod To My Cable Box or My Console?
No. HomePod has no line-in audio. There's no AUX input or really any kind of audio-in. So you can't use it as a wired speaker for your console, cable box or directly from your TV.
Does It Work Over Bluetooth?
No. While the HomePod comes with Bluetooth 5.0, it doesn't support Bluetooth streaming. The only way to stream audio to HomePod is by using AirPlay.
Can I Use It With My Android Or Windows Devices?
It won't work out of the box. You'll need to use an AirPlay-compatible app on your device to stream to HomePod. On Android, you would need DoubleTwist Pro and on Windows, you would need an app like AirServer.
Right now, you can't use more than one HomePod together. That feature will show with AirPlay 2. We first learned about AirPlay 2 at WWDC 2017 and when the feature is currently in beta in iOS 11.3, we don't know when the feature will be live on the HomePod. Apple promises it's coming "later this year". So it could be a couple of months till the feature shows up. So even if you spend $700 on a pair of HomePods, you can't use them together right now.
Is HomePod A Threat To My Privacy?
Apple prides itself on respecting your privacy. And according to Apple, HomePod won't start listening and recording until you say the wake word "Hey Siri". Only then Apple will send your voice to its server. And according to Apple, the data is anonymized and it's encrypted on both ends. So even if someone is snooping on your network, they won't be able to hear your conversation with the HomePod.
Can You Stop Siri From Listening?
If you want to have a completely private conversation where you don't even want to trigger Siri (accidentally or intentionally), you can just say "Hey Siri, stop listening". Siri will confirm and HomePod will turn its microphones off. The next time, you'll have to walk up to the HomePod and tap on the touchpad on the top to re-enable Siri.
Apple has made the setup process really easy and seamless. It's similar to setting up AirPods. You'll see a menu slide up when you put your iPhone next to the HomePod. You can complete the setup in a couple of minutes. When you're done, your iPhone will transfer all your iCloud details and settings to your HomePod. All you have to do is to type in your Apple ID password.
An out of warranty repair on the HomePod without AppleCare+ will cost you a staggering $279 in the United States, $AUD399 in Australia, and £319 in the United Kingdom. AppleCare+ for HomePod costs $39 but for a speaker that's just going to sit on a table, spending the extra cash for AppleCare+ doesn't really make sense.
What do you think of the HomePod? Will be buying the HomePod right now? Or is it just not the right gadget for you? Share with us in the comments below.


Benchmade Knife Company was originally founded in 1988 in the USA, where they are settled in Clackamas, Oregon, on the West Coast. Today they are still located at this location. In the 90s the brand gained prominence due to their butterfly and balisong knives. Today, the assortment of this high-quality brand is many times larger. Benchmade knives give you a defense mechanism but are mainly focused on the real adventurer. Benchmade is distinguished by the use of unique materials and modern production technologies. "It's not a knife ... It's a Benchmade" is the motto of this brand.
Initially Benchmade was only known for manafacturing butterfly knives, however the company has now grown so much that they offer a very wide range of knives. Outdoor Supply offers you a large assortment of these Benchmade knives. If you have special requirements for your knife, use the filter to the left.


text:
Delaware DMV Apologizes to Muslim Over Hijab Incident
(PHILADELPHIA, PA, 4/13/10) –- The Pennsylvania chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-PA) today thanked the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for its "prompt and appropriate action" in offering an apology to a Muslim driver in that state who was initially refused the right to take her driver's license photograph wearing a religious head scarf, or hijab.
The Muslim driver was reportedly told that she had to remove her hijab because of "national security policy." During the incident, another driver waiting in line for a photograph allegedly said "send them back to Afghanistan." The 16-year-old driver, who is of Arab-American heritage, was so traumatized that she broke down in tears.
After being contacted by CAIR-PA, a top DMV official apologized to the Muslim driver and said staff at agency offices statewide have been reminded of existing policy allowing religious attire such as hijab. The Muslim driver will also be allowed to re-take her photograph, with hijab, free of charge at a different facility.
SEE: Delaware DMV offers apology for headscarf incident
State DMV apologizes for religious scarf incident
DE DMV apologizes for Muslim headscarf photo flap
"We thank the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles for its prompt and appropriate action in response to this incident and offer the Muslim community's assistance in helping to re-train DMV staff on issues related to religious diversity," said CAIR-PA Civil Rights Director Moein Khawaja.
Khawaja noted that Delaware DMV policy states: "A Muslim woman may wear a head scarf as long as it does not hide her facial features or interfere with the digital driver license facial recognition technology."
SEE: Driver Services – Photo Procedures
According to a 2004 CAIR review, most states – with the exception of Georgia, Kentucky and New Hampshire – have addressed religious accommodation concerns. Five states – Arkansas, Mississippi, Kansas, Missouri, and Maine – recognize some religious practices, while the other 42 states have adopted more inclusive approaches to religious accommodation policies.
SEE: Religious Accommodation in Driver's License Photographs (pdf)
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
CONTACT: CAIR-PA Civil Rights Director Moein Khawaja, 267-515-6710, 217-638-7873, E-Mail: info@philadelphia.cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com


text:
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Official Story of Las Vegas Shooting Unravels; Physical Impossibility of Lone Gunman Senior Citizen Makes Narrative Ludicrous - Video, Links and Commentary
The word is out that the recent Las Vegas shooting was a false flag attack created to achieve some agenda. There are many points of evidence that suggest this to be true, and we will get to that evidence in a moment, but first, let's consider a few things.
In the past, false flags seemed to be well-planned and were executed without much of anyone noticing what was happening. Unless an individual was in the military, worked in intelligence and witnessed such events firsthand, there was very little opportunity for a person to determine the true nature of potential false flag attacks.
Up until a number of years ago, handheld digital photography and videography did not exist. These were technologies that were too expensive and too bulky for the average person to carry around on a constant basis. However, today, virtually everyone has a smartphone or cell phone that allows them to document anything they want—making it instantly available for viewers online. Naturally when the media botches honest and accurate reporting, there are typically tens of people on sight recording and reporting events as they take place. This is what we have seen on the subject of the Law Vegas shooting.
Related Links - Billionaire Globalist Soros Exposed as Hidden Hand Behind Trump Protests, Provoking US "Color Revolution" - Video, Links, and Commentary
The overall haphazardness of this apparent false flag seems to reveal that something has most definitely changed among the nefarious powers that soon won't be. The media has failed to convince the people of the official story and those behind this attack failed to orchestrate anything resembling a believable situation. If these financial interests—who have come to be known as the Cabal—were truly behind this shooting in Las Vegas, this would mean that these criminal elitists have lost their ability to successfully deceive the people.
It means that the only weapons these criminals have left is an old and failed plan of mass murder under the cover of media distortion. It seems that this false flag is just another empty attempt to disarm the public—a public that has become excessively tired of being robbed, manipulated and murdered by wealthy crooks. To add, it seems that these elitists are so afraid of their impending overthrow, that they are now unwittingly working tirelessly to guarantee that overthrow.
Acts of mass murder such as the Vegas shooting—along with the commonplace blitz of media lies that typically followed—seem to be the trademark of the old and dying order of criminal elitism in our world. The fact is that the people are awake and are far too observant to allow cheap tricks to manipulate our minds any longer. One positive aspect of criminal elitists is that they are largely predictable. They are commonly addicted to wealth and power and when these are threatened, elitists will do almost anything to regain them. The fact is that the more excessive the efforts of these criminals become, the easier they are to see for the average person. In this way, the Cabal has largely dug their own grave in their frantic attempt to maintain control.
I do not condone violence upon these people (no matter how twisted their actions and ideology might be), but would rather see them face judgement in an open and transparent court system. However, I do believe that the more mass death these criminals orchestrate the more difficult it will be to hold back the throngs of people who do not share my sentiment. It seems the Cabal holds their own lives in their hands, and as things appear, they are fumbling.
Source: Natural News
By: Mike Adams
(Natural News) It's all hogwash. The "official" narrative of how things went down in the Las Vegas massacre is so full of holes that it begs the question of just how deep the truth about this attack really goes.
What we know for sure is that, yes, 59 people were killed (so far) and hundreds were wounded. This wasn't a "hoax" shooting — people actually were shot, wounded and killed (and our prayers go out to all their families for this horrific tragedy). Yet the official narrative that claims Stephen Paddock — a retired, 64-year-old accountant with absolutely no firearms training, no gun experience and no physical stamina — was somehow able to expertly wield a highly complex (and physically demanding) weapon system for 10 sustained minutes is total nonsense.
Even highly trained Navy Seals would have a difficult time running a full auto weapon for 10 minutes straight. Such weapon systems are brutal on the operator. They require tremendous strength, stamina and expert troubleshooting to keep running. Full-auto weapons overheat and jam. They demand incredible strength to keep aimed on target. They require expert reloading and weapons clearing in the case of jams, and the hotel room would have been so full of smoke and powder residue that it would be almost impossible to keep breathing from that enclosed space.
Related Links - False Flag Staged At Comet Ping Pong Pizza Restaurant To Shut Down Alt Media
Far from what the firearms-illiterate media claims, these are not systems that any Joe off the street can just pick up and use to effortlessly mow down 500 people. Running these systems requires extensive training, experience and stamina. It is physically impossible for a guy like Stephen Paddock to operate such a system in the sustained, effective manner that we witnessed, especially when shooting from an elevated position which throws off all the ranging of the weapon system.
Far from being a Navy Seal, Stephen Paddock is a retired accountant senior citizen with a gambling problem and a flabby physique. The only way he could have carried out this shooting is if he were transformed into a human superweapon through a magic wand. I'm calling this "Mission IMPOSSIBLE" because of the physical impossibility of a retired, untrained senior citizen pulling this off.
Here are 10+ reasons why the official narrative is complete B.S.
#1: As many as 10 rifles were found in his hotel room… but only one shooter?
The NY Daily News is now reporting that Stephen Paddock "brought at least 10 weapons into a Las Vegas hotel room."
Why would a single shooter need 10 rifles? Managing just one full auto weapon system is so difficult that it's probably beyond the physical capabilities of a 64-year-old retired accountant, which is what Paddock was.
The fact that 10 rifles were found in his hotel room says three very important things:
The rifles were staged for more than one shooter.
The operation was extremely well funded.
The attack took a tremendous amount of time to set up, because you don't just walk 10 rifles up to your hotel room in a single trip.
#2: As with many orchestrated shootings, the scapegoat was murdered before he could talk
According to numerous media reports, Paddock was found dead in his hotel room, shot to death. The official narrative claims that he shot himself before the police breached the room, but that is an assumption, not an established fact. There is no evidence whatsoever that Paddock shot himself. It is simply assumed that he did so. I would ask to see the ballistics evidence of the shot that killed him.
Related Links - Proof of Progress - Clear Moves toward Real Investigations into Government Corruption; Soros-Funded Uprisings Used as Countermeasures
Isn't it all convenient? There's no one left to question, and they don't even have to drug the guy into oblivion like they did the Aurora, Colorado shooter named James Holmes. Eliminating the scapegoat is the oldest trick in the book, as we were all reminded with the shooting of JFK.
#3: Why are there no muzzle flashes visible from the 32nd-floor Mandalay Bay windows in any of the videos that captured the shooting?
If you look at the shooting videos that have been posted online, none of them show any muzzle flashes from the room on the 32nd floor that we've been told is the source of the shooting. How can that be? The following video captures the sound of the automatic weapons fire — and even appears to capture at least TWO weapons firing simultaneously — yet shows no muzzle flashes from the 32nd floor windows of the Mandalay Bay hotel.
In fact, the video below shows what might be muzzle flashes from a completely different location closer to the 5th floor. This same video also appears to show someone resembling Stephen Paddock attending an anti-Trump rally, wearing a so-called "pu##y hat" that was very popular among anti-Trumpsters. One working theory is that Paddock is an anti-Trump Leftist who specifically chose a Country Western event in order to murder as many conservatives as possible:
#4 Why does the gunfire in multiple online videos clearly sound like automatic weapons fire from MULTIPLE weapons?
I challenge anyone to listen to the gunfire in these online videos and conclude it's only from a single weapon. The very idea is totally absurd. You can clearly hear at least two automatic weapons systems firing over each other.
Related Links - The Reality of Child Trafficking - U.S. and International Statistics for Victims of Global Pedophilia Rings
Listen to the automatic weapons fire at about the 2:00 mark in the video below. It's clearly coming from multiple weapons:
#5: ISIS has openly claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that Paddock "converted to Islam" months earlier
As reported on Shootings.news, ISIS has already claimed responsibility for the Las Vegas shooting:
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a shooting that killed at least 50 people and wounded over 400 in Las Vegas early on Monday, and said the attacker had converted to Islam a few months ago.
ISIS has a long track record of only claiming responsibility for events they inspired or planned. It would not be in the interests of ISIS to falsely claim credit for an attack they did not help carry out, as that would discredit their own supporters and funding sources.
#6: Stephen Paddock had no familiarity with automatic weapons and no military training; was not a "gun guy"
Saying his family was in shock, Paddock's brother told US media he could not understand what motivated his elder brother.
"Where the hell did he get automatic weapons? He has no military background or anything like that," Eric Paddock told CBS News.
"He's a guy who lived in a house in Mesquite, drove down and gambled in Las Vegas. He did stuff. Eat burritos."
And from NY Daily News:
Eric said his brother was typically no fan of such weaponry. "Not an avid gun guy at all," Eric Paddock told CBS News outside his home in Waterford Lakes, Fla.
#7: How does a 64-year-old accountant with no military training possess the strength and stamina to fire a fully automatic weapon for nearly 10 minutes?
People who aren't familiar with firearms have no idea how difficult it is to conduct sustained fire with an automatic weapon. It requires tremendous strength, endurance and training — something that Stephen Paddock had none of. Military special forces operatives train for years to be able to manage such weapons and handle all the problems they pose (barrel overheating, ammo jams, double feeds, recoil management, etc.). The idea that some senior citizen accountant can just pick up a machine gun and lay down thousands of rounds of effective fire in a sustained, 10-minute assault even though he had no experience with such weapons is completely ludicrous.
It actually looks like someone else staged all the guns in the room, perhaps with Paddock's willingness, then shot and killed Paddock to make him the scapegoat.
Related Links - False Flag - A Modern and Historical Account of Staged Attacks by American Interests and the Economic Powers that Fueled Them
Numerous media reports confirm that Paddock had no familiarity with guns and certainly didn't have any experience with automatic weapons. Via the UK Daily Mail:
Despite being found amid an arsenal of weapons, Eric said that his brother had never been 'an avid gun guy at all', adding that he was at a loss as to where Stephen got his arsenal of automatic weapons from.
#8: Stephen Paddock was gambling away huge amounts of cash… where did he get all that money?
According to NBC News, Paddock was engaged in high-stakes gambling to the tune of as much as $30,000 per day:
On several occasions, Stephen Paddock gambled more than $10,000 per day — and in some cases more than than $20,000 and $30,000 a day — at Las Vegas casinos, according to an NBC News source who read the suspect's Multiple Currency Transaction Reports (CTR) and a casino gaming executive.
Was he paid to be part of an operation that would then be blamed on him by making him the scapegoat? Some media reports state that Paddock was a wealthy real estate investor. If that's true, why would he blow all that wealth on gambling?
Continue reading at: NaturalNews.com
Original link: YouTube.com/Destroying the Illusion
US Special Forces Arrest Satanic Pedophile Group – the Antarctica Connection
Signs of Astroturf - 'Indivisible,' With Ties to George Soros, Sows Division Against Trump, GOP Lawmakers - Links and Video Included
Billionaire Globalist Soros Exposed as Hidden Hand Behind Trump Protests, Provoking US "Color Revolution" - Video, Links, and Commentary
The Reality of Child Trafficking - U.S. and International Statistics for Victims of Global Pedophilia Rings
False Flag Staged At Comet Ping Pong Pizza Restaurant To Shut Down Alt Media
False Flags, Ultimatums, and Monumental Moves toward Social Unity - Making Way for Massive Progress in the Wake of a National Tragedy
False Flag - A Modern and Historical Account of Staged Attacks by American Interests and the Economic Powers that Fueled Them
Proof of Progress - Clear Moves toward Real Investigations into Government Corruption; Soros-Funded Uprisings Used as Countermeasures
Labels: Cabal, Cover-up, Deep State, False Flag, Propaganda
Absolute proof that we have devolved to idiocracy...his brother is quoted as:
HAHAHAHA "Ate burritos?" Really?
Interesting that you brought up the financial connection. I had thought of this as well...where the fu*z did he get all of that money?
Gr8 info! I enjoyed reading this.✌��
Know Your Propaganda – Appeal to Emotions – Reveal...
Freedom from Abduction – Defining the Means to Sto...
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Official Story of Las Vegas Sh...
Know Your Propaganda – Card Stacking, Cherry Picki...
Was Hurricane Irma Steered by Maser Satellites in ...


text:
Products & Services ▾
Decking & Railing
Kitchens & Baths
Go Mini Rentals
Company ▾
Trex Sweeps Builder Mag's 2015 Brand Use Study
Skip Navigation LinksHome / News
Company Takes Top Honors in All Performance Areas for the Composite Decking Industry
It's a clean sweep! First in Brand Familiarity. First in Brand Used Most. First in Brand Used in the Past Two Years. First in Quality. Trex Company (NYSE: TREX), the world's largest manufacturer of wood-alternative decking and railing available locally at all A.D. Moyer Lumber locations, dominated the 2015 Builder magazine Brand Use Study, outranking all other composite manufacturers in every subcategory measured for the Composite/PVC Decking industry.
This year's Study sets multiple records, as it marks the first time in recent history that a single manufacturer has topped all four subcategories. It's also the eighth consecutive year that Trex has earned no. 1 rankings in Brand Familiarity, Brand Used Most, and Brand Used in the Past Two
"Since first inventing the concept of durable and low-maintenance outdoor living products more than 20 years ago, Trex has consistently elevated the category by introducing design and manufacturing innovations that have secured its position as the preferred brand among both consumers and professionals," said Ronald W. Kaplan, chairman, president and CEO of Trex. "These rankings speak to Trex's core mission, and are a clear indication that quality, aesthetics and high-performance can go hand-in-hand with eco-friendly values."
This year's Study is the first since Trex completed its strategic transition to solely producing high-performance composite decking materials in 2014. All Trex® decking collections now feature the signature high-performance qualities first introduced in 2010 on the company's game-changing Trex Transcend® decking line, which delivers superior durability and wear-resistance, along with ultra-low maintenance and long-lasting good looks.
In that same time period, Trex has expanded its offerings into a full portfolio of beautiful integrated outdoor living options. From its wide selection of railing to Trex Elevations® Steel Deck Framing, Trex Spiral Stairs™, Trex Outdoor Lighting™ and accessories such as pergolas, Trex Outdoor
Furniture™ and the just-introduced Trex Outdoor Storage™ collection – Trex's product mix has grown far beyond decking to offer homeowners complete outdoor living solutions.
"Our trade partners look to Trex to continually engineer 'what's next' in outdoor living and we deliver with innovative materials that reflect the needs of today's consumers and the evolving outdoor living landscape," Kaplan said. "We truly value the trust and confidence that these professionals place in our brand and are extremely proud to be their manufacturer of choice."
The 2015 BUILDER Brand Use Study sponsored by Hanley Wood and conducted by The Farnsworth Group, a leading industry market research firm, surveyed 1,128 respondents. Highlights of the study will be published in the April 2015 issue of BUILDER as well as posted to BUILDER's website, builderonline.com.
For more information about Trex products, visit admoyer.com.
2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2006 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 Select News Article View All Stories
Our locations are here to serve you
Have a question or need a quote?
--Nearest A.D. Moyer Location-- Gilbertsville Pottstown Bethlehem Kutztown
Kitchen & Bath Solutions
Locate / Contact Us
Copyright © 2017-2021 A.D. Moyer Lumber HIC# PA002267
Website Design by Media Fusion Technologies, Inc.


Mental stress is something we all have to deal with these days, anti-depressants becoming more common every year it seems. It's important that we manage stressful situations well and it's great if we can do this drug-free!
Unchecked stress is arguably worse for you than a physical injury. When we are stressed this can affect our relationships, self and physical health. There is an old saying "stress becomes tension in muscle, disease in organs". There is research to back this saying up to a degree.Out of all the positive benefits of massage, its ability to allow you to switch off, then physically and mentally let go is an incredibly useful tool in managing stress and tension – like pushing reset.Whether you want to release some physical tension or emotional tension, we have a safe, sensitive and trusting environment where this can happen. We can harness the simple benefits of mood-altering aroma, chat, lend a friendly ear to listen or proactively assist with stress management skills. Often just expressing pent up words to an impartial ear is enough to get the ball rolling. If it's pure relaxation you're interested in, have a look at hot stones massage – it's bliss!!


text:
Card Counter Movie Reviews
September 20, 2021 Chel Entertaiment
Paul Schrader's 2017 "First Reformed" generates apocalyptic fury and determination that seems, in some ways, like The Last Film. But the writer/director isn't dead or seems ready to retire, so what's he going to do besides keep making movies? This one, "The Card Counter," which stars Oscar Isaac in the title role and features Tiffany Haddish and Tye Sheridan as characters who profoundly influence the man's life, is neither a greatest hits package nor a restatement of purpose or principle, although it has elements of both.
For Schrader, French filmmaker Robert Bresson is an inexhaustible resource. He is one of three filmmakers treated in his thesis-turned-film-text-transcendental Style In Film: Dreyer, Ozu, Bresson and the one and only bed Schrader of the almost obsessive. (I'm not saying it's such a bad thing, to be honest.) Schrader calls "The Card Counter" one of the "man sitting in the room" or "man at the desk" films; the man was from Bresson's "Diary of a Country Priest." The pastor was a diary, and his writings were amplified by words read out in voiceover. Schrader made Travis Bickle a diary, and dictated the same kind of voiceover, which "Taxi Driver" director Martin Scorsese backed up with some visual cues from Godard, who was heavily influenced by Bresson himself.
Oglądaj 9 Songs (2004) Cały Film po Polsku za Darmo
Oglądaj Ach śpij kochanie (2017) Cały Film po Polsku za Darmo w jakości HD
Oglądaj Obiecująca. Młoda. Kobieta. (2020) Cały Film po Polsku za Darmo w jakości HD
Oglądaj Wonder Woman (2017) Cały Film po Polsku za Darmo w jakości HD
Oglądaj Ciemniejsza strona Greya (2017) Cały Film po Polsku za Darmo w jakości HD
In "The Card Counter" Isaac "William Tell," also known as "Will Tell," and whose name alludes to both the classic fable and the Achilles' heel every poker player (that's the name he gave himself) keeps a diary in a book. composition notes where he wrote a neat cursive script. He didn't start writing, until he turned whatever motel room he was in white, with the help of the sheets he put on the furniture and the bed. A traveling poker player, Will is a disciplined man. He has a lot of gambling wisdom to convey: "Red and black roulette is the only smart bet." Because, he continued, your chances of winning are almost 50 percent. "You win, you go. You lose, you go."
Why is Will playing? To hold himself together. time in prison he pushed other inmates in the hope that people would kill him—but he lived. . He's looking for an excuse.
the son of a veterinarian. the military who served with Will and whose guilt forced him to commit suicide. The three characters are a whimsical trio, beautifully played. An excited Haddish plays with brilliance, while Sheridan makes Cirk earnestly attractive regardless of his murderous intent.
Will takes Cirk on the road with him, hoping to amass enough poker winnings to free Cirk from debt, and to provide enough life experience to convince him to give up his deadly crusade. It has echoes of Travis Bickle's self-appointed mission to save teenage prostitute Iris. But Will primarily wants to redeem himself. His time at the table is accompanied by somber and almost touching tunes by Robert Levon Been, former leader of the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and son of Michael Been, whose similar quest songs graced Schrader's splendid 1994 "Light Sleeper." (The film's lead actor, Willem Dafoe, here plays the military contractor Cirk wants.)
So this is a movie that, of course, is more than just poker. More importantly, it's not about poker at all. It was underlined when Tell decided to leave. Games are the thing Will does, but he ignores everything to do with it. To that end, there's a funny nickname joke right from the start and Isaac's definitive reading of "I hate celebrity gambling." In a sense this disinterest provides the main difference between this and Schrader's other "man at a table" films. The "American gigolo" is presumably invested in exploring male prostitution; drug trafficking and consumption of "Light Sleepers" were key factors of New York City culture at the time. "First Reformed" environmental concerns are hotter than four years ago.
With "The Card Counter," Schrader has sub-themes that he can throw like sheer cloaks, and when he does, the film veers into a semi-surreal realm not entirely dissimilar to the climax of "First Reformed." But then turned back to variation on Bresson which was one of the brightest shots of his career.
Oglądaj Liga Sprawiedliwości (2017) Cały Film po Polsku za Darmo w jakości HD
Oglądaj Operacja Samum (1999) Cały Film po Polsku za Darmo w jakości HD
Oglądaj Diuna (2021) Cały film Online za darmo CDA
Oglądaj After (2019) Cały Film po Polsku za Darmo w jakości HD
Oglądaj After 2 (2020) Cały Film po Polsku za Darmo w jakości HD
They won this year's Emmy Awards, Ted Lasso, The Crown and The Leader can't complain
Venice Film Festival 2021: We have the winners


With the recently published discussion draft of the OECD on Financial Transactions of 3th July 2018 a new chapter is added to the question whether the at arm's length principle ("ALP") applied for transfer pricing purposes will be strong enough to tackle finance related topics regarding the challenges of BEPS.
Tax authorities can make adjustments based on the ALP "if conditions are made or imposed between the two enterprises in their commercial or financial relations which differ from those which would be made between independent enterprises".
Until recently the daily practice of tax authorities was far more focused on the ALP analysis of the operational results (Earnings Before Interest and Tax). For interest deduction purposes, tax authorities were more focused on local legislation, like thin capitalization rules and – to a certain extent – on the interest rate applied, which however often did not lead to a very sophisticated discussion.
This current guidance and the lack of consensus between OECD member states makes one thing clear: financial topics are no fortune cookies that can be cracked easily. Given the lack of consensus combined with the clear increase in attention by local tax authorities on financial intercompany relations, MNE's should look into their governance and policies in this field.
Also, stakeholders like the OECD, EU, UN and individual countries are currently battling for the say in financial transfer pricing topics. However, as the BEPS project of the OECD is a clear starting point for this, there is a strong need for further guidance on finance topics. The question is whether the ALP applied by the OECD will be strong enough to provide sufficient guidance and will be able to avoid any double taxation and long-lasting MAPs.
The remarks made by some OECD member states – including the US – that these analyses and the deductibility of interest should be determined by local tax legislation shows that it will not be easy to come to an international consensus on finance related topics.
This paper intends to give an initial high-level comment on the above-mentioned OECD discussion draft on financial transactions. In follow-up blogs we will dig deeper into the finance topics addressed by this draft and share some of our practical experiences in this field. Obviously your comments, remarks or questions would be highly appreciated.
In the below, we will first give an overview of some of the actions taken by the OECD and the EU in this field.
The actions of stakeholders have put more focus on the bottom line (Earnings Before Tax) and the actual contribution made to the treasuries of individual countries. Faire share argumentation has become more common and the various BEPS actions focus on taxation where the value is created.
Therefore, the ALP applied for transfer pricing purposes also seems to climb down the P&L, with more focus on the EBT. The finance as the big hairy animal.
This focus on finance and tax requires more from an MNE's governance and controls in respect of taxation. However, given the lack on guidance provided by the OECD in respect of finance this is difficult. Hence, careful management is required.
Instead of issuing a final report on financial transactions, the OECD released a discussion draft with a new time line. The aim is to reach final member state agreement around April next year.
The underlying question here is whether the ALP can provide adequate guidance on the characterization of a financial instrument as equity or debt.
It has to be acknowledged that a lot of effort and technical know-how has been put into the discussion draft on financial transactions of 3th July 2018. The draft gives for instance some guidance on the characterization of financial instrument (as debt or equity) and includes interesting remarks on the two-sided approach (borrower and lender), the capacity to take additional debt and the use of the overall group credit rating versus the individual rating of a group company.
The steps that are mentioned in this respect are the identification of financial relations and the economically relevant characteristics of actual financial transactions. Here the five factors of each transfer pricing analysis are mentioned: contractual terms, functional analysis, characteristics of financial products or services, the economic circumstances and the business strategies.
In the below, an overview of a possible step by step approach for his analysis is depicted.
As already mentioned this paper only intends to describe some of the finance topics included in the draft report on a high-level and will be followed by blogs which will dig deeper into the various topics addressed in this report.
The draft report mentions a risk-free rate return as the possible at arm's length remuneration for a cash box in situations in which the accurate delineation of the actual transaction shows that a funder lacks the capability or does not perform the decision-making functions to control the risk associated with investing in a financial asset. In this case the risk profile which is present in each finance arrangement, seems not to be considered at all. The question can therefore be asked whether the risks should only be aligned with the functionality of risk management, or whether the risk of the underlying investment should – to a certain extent – also be considered.
The main topics for a treasurer are ensuring that a company has sufficient liquidity and borrowing capacity, optimizing the use of the existing cash flow within the company and managing the company's exchange rate risks, at the most optimal conditions possible in the market.
In intercompany finance relations the leverage (equity or loans), the interest rates, the cash pools arrangements and the exchange rate risks should be set at arm's length conditions.
The discussion draft goes into the lender's and borrower's perspectives in determining the loan capacity, the use of credit ratings and the effect of being member of the group, including the effect of guarantees. Furthermore, the impact of an implicit guarantee in combination with the strategic importance of a group member is mentioned here.
In daily practice we encounter some MNE's that limit the interest rate that is charged to group companies to the interest paid to third party banks, with often only a minor uplift to pay for the internal costs of the handling of the loans. On the other side of the medal, there are more and more MNE's that rate each loan individually based on the credit rating of each individual group company (with some consideration for the implicit guarantee of being part of the group).
The draft report also discusses the pricing approaches to determine an arm's length interest rate which is mainly based on CUPs to be found in data bases.
Next, the question arises how the guidance on the loan capacity can be combined with the two-sided perspective and with implicit guarantees, which can be challenging in practice. Issues that are relevant in that respect are e.g. how to deal at arm's length with the loan capacity and the related leverage, what to do with changes in financial instruments and how to deal with fixed fee payments for credit facilities.
In our daily practice we are asked more and more for support in setting up transfer pricing policies, practical implementation and documentation. The questions to be answered therefore go beyond a benchmark for an interest rate and require a good knowledge of finance related topics, the at arm's length principle and the local tax legislation of the countries involved.
Cash pools can be structured in many ways. The draft report mentions physical and notional arrangements and discusses the remuneration for the cash pool leader. One remark here is how to make a distinction between a cash pool position and an intercompany loan.
For instance, a cash pool participant that has a cash pool deficit regularly and for a long could be regarded as a borrower.
In the draft report the question is raised how to remunerate the cash pool leader and how to allocate the surplus generated by the cash pool. Should this only be allocated to cash pool participants that have surplus cash and how can it be ascertained that all participants are benefitting from the cash pool?
In this respect, the ALP struggles with the minimum required interest rates (borrowing rate versus surplus rate) also given the lack of comparables.
The examples in the draft report are obviously more simplified.
The draft report states that a cash pool leader will mostly perform no more than a co-ordination or agency function with the master account being a centralized point for a series of book entries to meet the pre-determined target balances for the pool members. Given this relatively low level of functionality, the cash pool leader's remuneration as a service provider will therefore generally be limited.
The draft report contains two examples.
In the first example the functional analysis shows that the cash pool leader does not bear any risks, but merely performs a co-ordination function, i.e. the cash pool leader does not perform the functions nor assumes the risks of a bank. Therefore, the remuneration would not be equal to the remuneration a bank would expect, e.g. the interest spread between deposits and loans. Accordingly, the cash pool leader would earn a reward in line with with the service functions it provides to the pool.
The second example is a more interesting one. In the example the cash pool leader is the group treasury company that undertakes a range of different financial transactions both intra-group and externally and that provides treasury services to the group including strategy, management of group liquidity. Also, the cash pool leader is responsible for deciding how to invest surplus funds or fund any shortfall. In this case, the remuneration should therefore compensate the cash pool leader for the functions it performs and the risks it assumes. According to the draft report this may include (part of) the spread between the borrowing and lending positions which it adopts. However, it should also be borne in mind that the other group members which participate in the cash pool would still only do so if this leaves them no worse off than their next best option.
It is evident that the ALP has some problems with the comparability in cash pool arrangements, given the fact that the draft report includes three possible rewards schemes for cash pool members.
For tax payers, guarantees have always been a difficult area within the field of finance and certainly also for tax authorities. We experience that this area of finance is also a topic in which we are asked for support.
The draft report discusses this area and gives more guidance on explicit guarantees, implicit guarantees and cross-guarantees. In this respect, we refer to the overview in the below. In our follow up contribution, we will also go into the area of guarantees with more details on this guidance and our practical experiences.
The final chapter of the draft report is on Captive Insurance, which is a topic that was already more on the radar of tax authorities.
The report raises the question how to distinguish between real insurance activities and a more centralized administrative role and responsibilities.
The initial question is whether the transaction under consideration concerns an insurance risk distribution, with the pooling of a portfolio of risks by which the insurer reduces the impact of individual claims.
Large commercial insurers rely on having sufficiently large numbers of policies with similar probabilities of loss to allow statistical laws of averages to apply and to permit an accurate modelling of the likelihood of claims. The insurer also maintains a portfolio of risks for which it has a capital reserve based on regulatory needs and rating agency requirements. A captive insurer within an MNE may however lack the scale to achieve a significant risk diversification and may lack sufficient reserves to meet additional risks represented by the relatively less diversified portfolio of the MNE group. In that case, the accurate delineation of the actual transaction may indicate that the captive is operating a business other than an insurance activity.
Another interesting example deals with a company that sells goods with the possibility for buying an additional insurance policy. According to the draft report this could lead to insurance results that are too high for the captive insurance company.
The draft report of the OECD on financial transactions again gives a clear signal that MNE's have to be prepared and should invest in governance in the field of transfer pricing: i.e. in policies, sufficient resources, adequate substance and robust documentation.


Below is a sampling of projects we have completed in the past.
Copyright©2004-2013 - Quality Plating All Rights Reserved. The text, images, graphics, sound files, animation files, video files and their arrangement on the Quality Plating Internet site are all subject to Copyright and other intellectual property protection. The objects may not be copied for commercial use or distribution, nor may these objects be modified or reposted to other sites.