The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has designated the first week of May as Small Business Week. Every year since 1963 SBA takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from across the nation through National Small Business Week.
Baker Creative has operated as a small woman-owned business in Groveport, Ohio for more than 20 years. Owner and creative director Michele Cuthbert said that small businesses have an advantage over the larger agencies. "We are flexible and able to make decisions without having to go through an extensive chain of command. Our clients have the comfort of knowing their campaigns are managed at the highest level, and they appreciate having access to the owner," she added. "We are able to compete with the big agencies in our pricing and expenses because we work leanly and do not have the overhead that a Manhattan firm has," Cuthbert said.
With many of the big box retailers closing their stores in shopping centers around the country, small businesses have an even greater opportunity to position themselves by personalizing their services. Utilizing social media enables small businesses to reach a vast consumer market at minimum expense. However, maximizing social media requires frequent, if not daily, fresh content for the greatest return.
Since its founding on July 30, 1953, the SBA has delivered millions of loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions and other forms of assistance to small businesses. They provide access to business financing, education and technology training for entrepreneurs, government contracts, and other services to help small businesses, start, manage and grow.
"There are many tools to help small businesses thrive and reach broad consumer audiences. We are happy to collaborate with other small businesses to develop branding and web-based strategies for success," Cuthbert said. "It really is another example of how interdependent we are and how we can mutually assist one another in adapting to changing consumer practices," she said.
There is so much daily pressure to get it all done. Our schedules fill up before we know it. Sometimes it's due to our clients work, while other times we simply try to do too much. Staying "busy" isn't always the most efficient way to work. Some people feel harassed by the constant interruptions of emails, phone calls, texts and maybe an unexpected meeting or two.
We want to avoid mindless "productivity," which is the constant need to do something, amounting in a tendency to waste time on menial tasks. Your business can become "blocked" if you are avoiding things like cold calling, proposal rejections or even dealing with a challenging client. It is much better to have a proactive plan rather than a reactive one to tackle the tough parts of the day. A positive energy flow promotes creative thinking and helps you cope with issues easier throughout the day.
#1 Simplify.Your day shouldn't be about squeezing as many tasks into it as possible. It's about simplifying how you work, doing things quicker and relieving stress, thus allowing space in your life for people, rest and play.
#2 Learn to say no. Remember, you are in charge of your schedule and agree to set the items on it. For instance, if your child wants to play the piano but also wants to play basketball, you can always negotiate. You are an example to them on how to manage your busy life. It also sets boundaries for them so you can rebalance your life in a more purposeful, healthy manner.
#3 Set aside one hour a day to plan. Strategize how to address any issues and do the hardest task first to keep your energy level up.
#4 Don't multi-task everything. Did you know only 2% of people can multi-task efficiently, according to studies? No need to add all the extra pressure to always be "on." You might be getting many things done, but what is the quality of work?
#5 Your "to-do" list should be realistic. Do not allow yourself to get overwhelmed by it in totality. One of the fastest ways to get stressed out is to think about your massive to-do list. Focus on the one task before you. Then tackle one, single, solitary task at a time.
Helping clients is our #1 priority.
Get a sneak peak to what Baker Creative has been up to.
Top 5 indicators my company needs public relations?
Public relations can be an invaluable tool to amp up your word of mouth. It can range from educating your target audiences to repositioning your company against the competition. Many times we all have enjoyed the community events and charitable happenings fueled by PR. It also can fast track a company into the main stream spotlight.
1. My company is going through a merger.
2. My company wants to launch a new service/product.
3. No one knows what my company is doing.
4. Your company and staff are doing lots of outreach but no one outside of the business knows about it.
5. You want to reposition your company in a specific focus and different light.
Public relations can be quite cost effective when compared to the small investment in working with the media vs having to pay for that media placement. The right campaign can provide exposure to a much larger audience for a modest investment.
Recently we did a short media blitz for one our customers. He did a local media appearance which resulted in his message being delivered to 250,000 folks and a consistent spike in product revenue. His investment was a small fraction of what the actual media buy would have been to buy the air time to deliver his message to the right audiences. Not to mention the print media coverage to add an additional 40,000 readers. A reputable firm will offer a client metrics to leverage big data to show how the approach moved audiences into an action or reaction. If you are looking for some professional help please give Baker Creative a call to find out more at 614.836.3845 for an assessment.
Is going to work making you sick? Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) are conditions caused by placing too much stress on a joint, such as unusual repetitive movements. Most RSIs are linked to the stress of repetitive motions at the computer or overuse injuries in sports, sometimes referred to as repetitive strain injury (RSI) or cumulative trauma disorder. RSIs frequently develop at work. Small, repetitive activities can strain the muscles and tendons of your upper body, including the shoulder.
Activities that can cause RSI include: use of industrial machinery, use of a computer mouse, swiping items at a supermarket checkout stand and carrying or lifting heavy loads. Chronic shoulder pain often stems from prolonged, repetitive, or awkward movements. This type of pain is sometimes referred to as repetitive strain injury (RSI) or cumulative trauma disorder. RSIs frequently develop at work. Small, repetitive activities can strain the muscles and tendons of your upper body, including the shoulder. Chronic shoulder and neck pain can a result Working long hours at a computer can really take a toll on our bodies.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly two-thirds of all occupational illnesses reported, were caused by exposure to repeated trauma to workers upper body ( the wrist, elbow or shoulder ). One common example of such an injury is carpal tunnel syndrome.
Often times determining contributing factors can be difficult. Being sedentary such as working at your computer can weaken your muscles, resulting in pain. Often times, as the day goes longer, many tend to get more tired sitting at their computer, resulting in poor posture and pain.
– try taking frequent breaks to stretch and get moving. It will also clear out your mind for a short mental break. Set a calendar reminder on your computer to remind yourself to take frequent breaks. Giving your eyes a break will help you distress at work. Try refocusing them on a object about 20 feet way periodically throughout the day.
– your computer monitor should be about a shoulder's length away from you with the top of the monitor at eye level.
– keep the keyboard and monitor directly straight in front of you to avoid long term turning of your neck/head.
– your elbows should be even with your work space. Consider installing an adjustable keyboard and mouse work tray to your desk.
– to give your dominant hand a break, try switching to your other hand to run the mouse on your computer. It will force you to low down a bit which may provide some relief.
– get a phone headset for longer calls to avoid cradling the phone between your neck and shoulder. You can also use you non-dominant hand for phone calls to free up your hands for computer use.
– write a note or set a reminder on you calendar to sit correctly.
These are a few tips to address pain and discomfort. We recommend seeing your doctor for a examination to determine the root cause and for treatment before trying these tips.
What do PR professionals do anyway?
Many think public relations has become "a spin doctor" in folks' minds. PR professionals don't write ads, write stories for reporters or write commercials. PR firms promote companies or individuals through traditional editorial or online digital channels. "Earned" or "free" media are stories in newspapers, magazines, TV show or websites. This is different than a paid ad that was bought and placed on a specific publication or media channel.
PR agencies goals are: promoting clients and positioning them as successful, honest, important or exciting. Articles or TV appearances in respected publications have the advantage of third-party validation. These media pieces are generally viewed by the public more favorably.
Researching, conducting and evaluating, on a continuing basis, programs of action and communication to achieve the informed public understanding necessary to the success of an organization's aims. These may include marketing; financial; fund raising; employee, community or government relations and other programs.
The best PR efforts are the ones that really speak to audiences that resonate and align a strong, memorable message. In the long run, public relations can be a smart investment in your brand. The visibility of a firm or individual can be measured in increased recognition and reputation.
We can relate to running from one commitment to another all day long, which has you feeling empty and on edge. More and more folks are finding themselves staying up all hours of the night unable to sleep. Tons of thoughts run through their mind resulting in massive to-do lists for the following day. Take some time and slow down to breathe. Overloading may give one a sense of accomplishment, but at what cost? Here are a few tips to help you destress and hit the pause button just for a brief moment.
Did you know: meditation boosts many hormones that affect your overall well-being. It increases your DHEA which alleviates depression, your GABA which stabilizes your mood and your melatonin which helps you sleep better.
Take a few minutes daily to sit quietly to focus on your breathing. Breathe deeply in and imagine stress breathing out of your body You'll feel refreshed immediately. Why not incorporate a little yoga or meditation into your early morning routine?
Most stress comes from either reliving the past or worrying about the future. Some may even fret over what-ifs. Typically, the what-ifs don't come true and add a ton of wear and tear on you mentally. It is hard to feel energized when all of your focus is on worry. The more you worry the more anxiety builds up.
Don't allow yourself to get flooded with negative thoughts of anxiety.
Tip 3: If you can't change your situation, change your perception.
Does your life feel like it's beyond your control? Feeling sorry for yourself is not the answer. The reality is few things are beyond your control. You almost always have the option to do something that shifts your circumstances. If you have negative thoughts creep in, replace them with a positive ones. Refuse to allow that negative thought to rent any more space in your spirit.


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Home North America USA
Zack Collins' home run in 11th inning gives Miami (Fla.) series win at UNC
By Scott Harrigan -
CHAPEL HILL. N.C. — A solo home run from sophomore slugger Zack Collins in the top half of the 11th inning proved the difference Saturday afternoon, as No. 15 Miami (Fla.) clinched its series with host No. 22 North Carolina by a final score of 4-3 at Boshamer Stadium.
After losing a 2-1 lead in the ninth and a 3-2 lead in the tenth, the Hurricanes (20-8, 8-3 ACC) put the game away for good on a ball that Collins crushed off the rightfield light tower on a pitch from UNC reliever Spencer Trayner (1-3).
"It was a team effort. Both teams battled really, really hard. For them to come back and for us to get one more run to stay ahead – it was a really good team effort," head coach Jim Morris said. "I'm excited about the win."
The home run was the third of the season for Collins, who was named Baseball America's National Freshman of the Year after clubbing 11 homers in 2014.
"It felt really good, obviously," Collins said of the home run swing. "I've been struggling lately, and it was good to pick my team up."
Sophomore sidewinder Cooper Hammond entered in the bottom half of the 11th and escaped a two-on, no-out jam with back-to-back strikeouts and a popout in foul territory to give Miami the series victory.
It didn't come easy, however. Sophomore righthander Bryan Garcia (3-1) picked up the win despite allowing single runs in the bottom of the ninth and bottom of the tenth. The Tar Heels (15-11, 5-6 ACC) put two runners on after back-to-back singles, but could not come up with another tying run.
"It was one of the craziest games I've been involved in," Morris said. ""You score and you think we're going to win, we have an All-American closer in and you think you're going to win…the next inning, we score another run.
"You bring in Cooper, who I have great confidence in and who was an All-American closer in high school, and they get it going and guys on base. It was a crazy game."
Junior George Iskenderian's go-ahead single in the top of the ninth gave Miami a 2-1 lead, but the Tar Heels struck right back with a run on a flare single from Zack Gahagan to knot it back up at 2-2.
In a battle featuring two of the premier pitchers in the ACC, Miami lefthander Andrew Suarez lasted just three innings after struggling with his command through the brief outing.
Suarez tossed 65 pitches and allowed four walks, including one to Skye Bolt with the bases loaded that forced in a run to give North Carolina a lead in the second inning.
North Carolina starter J.B. Bukauskas was dominant on the hill for the hosts, scattering just two hits and one earned run while striking out three batters in 7.0 innings.
Miami had just one hit through six innings, coming on a single from Johnny Ruiz in the third inning. Bukauskas kept Miami largely off-balance, and worked quickly through the middle innings until the seventh, when the Hurricanes tied the game.
"He has really good stuff, he throws hard," Morris said of Bukauskas. "We did not do a good job adjusting to that fastball up and getting on top of it."
The visitors threatened in the third when first baseman Christopher Barr walked and Ruiz — who delivered the gamewinning hit in Friday night's opener — came up with a single up the middle to put two runners on.
But Bukauskas got Carl Chester on a flyout and struck out Ricky Eusebio to maintain the Tar Heels' 1-0 lead.
The early departure of Suarez put an onus on senior Daniel Briggi, but the righthander delivered in a pressure situation. Entering the game with the top of the Carolina order due up, Briggi allowed just two hits in 3.0 clean innings of relief to keep his team in the contest.
Briggi threw 43 pitches, and retired the side in the sixth before giving way to Michael Mediavilla in the seventh.
A stretch of eight consecutive batters in a row retired by Bukauskas ended in the seventh, when junior David Thompson extended his hitting streak to 17 straight games with a leadoff single up the middle.
After a walk to Collins put two runners on base, Iskenderian laid down a sacrifice bunt that set up Miami's first true scoring opportunity of the afternoon.
Senior Garrett Kennedy delivered, cranking a Bukauskas offering to centerfield for a sacrifice fly to tie the game 1-1.
Mediavilla struck out the side swinging in the bottom of the seventh, but ran into trouble in the eighth when he allowed aleadoff walk to Tyler Ramirez. After a successful sacrifice bunt, Mediavilla intentionally walked Adam Pate to force an out at any base.
The Hurricanes escaped any damage when Collins fired to third on an attempted to double steal and got the lead runner, and Mediavilla struck out Elijah Sutherland looking to end the inning.
A sacrifice fly from Ruiz in the top half of the tenth plated pinch runner Jacob Heyward to once again give Miami a lead, but the Tar Heels struck for a run of their own on an RBI single from Landon Lassiter.
Collins' blast to right finally silenced the Tar Heels in a thrilling game at Boshamer Stadium.
"That builds more character with a club," Morris said. "It's great to see us do that. We feel like if we can get ahead, with our bullpen, we're going to win."
Previous articleSolution to NFL extra-point angst? . . . Big Papi future mayor of Boston?
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Scott Harrigan
http://www.independentsportsnews.com
Your #1 source for community and amateur sports related news on Vancouver Island, British Columbia and beyond! Send stories to scottharriganisn@gmail.com
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Mosaic Inspiration | Check out our new arrivals!
Spring is here, and we have a great range of new mosaics available in store!
Our Dots Collection of enamelled glass mosaics, is available in a range of pastel colours. Suitable for wall or floor, this range is small and compact, and looks great as a feature wall, bathroom floor, kitchen splash. They can also be custom sheeted for pools!
Buttons is a new porcelain collection of mosaics, which is available in 3 soft colours. The rim of these penny round mosaics are slightly darker, giving a vintage feel. Suitable for wall or floor applications.
Combine our new Buttons or Dots with concrete inspired porcelain, or our new Encaustic porcelain tiles as seen below.
Our Squeezed Terracotta Hexagons, are a great alternative to the traditional hexagon. Available in 2 metallic finishes as well as a white, this mosaic has a definite hand made feel about it.
Our Kit Kat Collection is a range of micro mosaics in a herringbone & stacked mosaic. The are very versatile, and each colour is available in either pattern. These are great for kitchen splashbacks!
Finally our new metal mosaics are perfect for a touch of glamour. Available in Oval & Trapezium shapes!
All these collections are in stock and readily available!
Visit one of our showrooms to view our complete range!


With my Takamine right after I got it.
I've always wanted to play the guitar. Christmas 2007 Jay bought me my first guitar, a Takamine GS330S which is an accoustic with solid cedar top. It has a beautiful warm tone and is easy to play.
My second guitar is a Squire by Fender electric stratocaster which I bought used. It's been modified to have a humbucker, and was so cheap at Guitar Center that my friend Chris said I had to have it, so I bought it. I eventually sold the Fender amp that was with it and bought a Line 6 Spider. The stratocaster is a wonderful design, like the race car of electric guitars, and feels good to hold and play with its slim profile and carved body. The stratocaster was a real innovative design in 1955 and it holds its own even today. If you look closely, you can see my Firebird guitar strap.
My third guitar (they are almost as addicting as Borzoi!) is my pride and joy, an American built Martin D16GT, a solid wood acoustic guitar. It has a solid spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides. This guitar looks like almost any other spruce top dreadnought guitar and is on the plainer side, but of course has that typical Martin sound and flawless craftsmanship. It's been by far my most expensive guitar, but worth every penny!
My 4th guitar is a present for Christmas 2009 to myself because I fell in love with it. It is a PRS SE Paul Allender purple burst with dual humbuckers. It has a wide thin neck that feels great in my hands. It has a neck-through construction, double humbuckers, and maple/mahogany woods. This guitar is real eye candy with its mouth-watering curly maple top and bats in flight neck inlays. I am really looking forward to playing this one. It also was a Guitar Pick from Guitar Player magazine, so I carefully researched it before I (totally) lost my head. And hey. It was ON SALE.
"Superb workmanship. Versatile tones. Excellent hard-rock/metal yowl. Edgy cosmetics.
"...This wraith is downright flawless. This guitar screams. Looks aside, this is a versatile, and fun - guitar that's dripping with vibe."
To the left is guitar number seven, a very special guitar indeed. This is a Schecter Diamond series Damien 6 FR. This handsome guitar has dual EMG soapbar pickups and a Floyd Rose locking tremolo. It shares with my PRS bats in flight on the fretboard. It has Grover tuners and a matte black finish.
Though it is stylishly sinister and an incredibly awesome guitar with its hot pickups and other embellishments, what makes this good-looking axe so desirable is that is was hand signed by one of my favorite groups, Papa Roach. This guitar was given away at a contest last fall (a contest I wanted to win and didn't!). It eventually ended up in a pawnshop where Natalya and I saw it. I knew immediately what this guitar's history was and bought it (talking the store down, of course, was part of the fun).
I never thought it would come for me, but it did. Guitar #8 is a 12 string. As a general rule, 12 strings have frightened me because they have...well...so many strings! This is a challenge when tuning them. This guitar, bought used at Guitar Center, was a heck of a buy and in like new condition. It is an Art & Lutherie, made in Canada out of 95% Canadian wood. Although not the Taylor 12 string I secrety lust after, it was a fraction of the price and plays beautifully. Finally, I can play my favorite Pink Floyd song, "Wish You Were Here", with the proper number of strings.
What can I say. I need to stay away from Guitar Center.
Playing the guitar is interesting and challenging and I will no doubt never master it. I played the piano as a youngster and can read music, but the guitar is way different! I really enjoy my two acoustics and am learning to play a range of music from Bach to The Clash :-) Now I am starting to play a little more on the electrics, because, hey, Megadeth doesn't sound so hard-rock ballistic on an acoustic.
Naturally, the fam is getting involved, and my daughter the bass player is shown with her used Ibanez p bass. I wanted to get her a shorter scale guitar, but she wanted a big one. She too has a Spider Amp.
I still play Guitar Hero on a regular basis ( we have three GH guitars, HA HA) - but most of the time I relax with my "real" guitars. They are fun to look at and fiddle with. Keep coming back for updates!


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In case you missed them … recent stories of note
by Frank Gormlie on January 18, 2008 · 1 comment
in Civil Rights, Election, Environment, Ocean Beach, World News
In case you missed them, I've re-hatched a number of local, regional, national and international news stories of note. Here they are (not organized in any particular order, except by proximity to our locale):
Local Environmental Groups Sue to Halt the Poseidon Desalination Plant at Carlsbad
The local chapters of Surfrider and the Planning and Conservation League have filed a lawsuit Monday, January 14th, to block the construction of a desalination plant at Carlsbad, by attempting to overturn the conditional approval given to Poseidon Resources, Inc. to build their plant. The suit alleges that the California Coastal Commission acted illegally when it granted a permit to the proposed $300 million plant even while it knew that commissioners needed more information about how the plant would minimize harm to marine life and offset greenhouse gases. [For more of this article from the North County Times, go here.]
Schwarzenegger now supports the toll road that will cut through San Onofre State Beach.
Once neutral on the issue, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger now has come out in favor of the highly-controversial and eco-damaging toll road that will cut into the eastern part of San Onofre State Beach. He is calling for the state Coastal Commission to disregard its staff's recommendation and approve the highway. Environmentalists are outraged. And the head of the Commission is not impressed. [For more of this article, go here.]
Steve Francis Jumps Into San Diego's Mayoral Race – Where's Donna Frye?
Who would have thought it? Wow! Didn't see it coming. Steve Francis, who ran against Mayor Jerry Sanders and Councilwoman Donna Frye last time around in the primary in 2005, has just announced he is running again for the exalted position of chief manager of this sun-baked city. [To see this breaking news, go here.]
Well, this should be really interesting…two white, middle-aged, conservative Republican men … geez!
Where is Donna Frye? Why isn't she running for mayor? Does anyone know? Francis, in a recent public remark, has said that now he wished he had endorsed Donna for mayor back then. Olive branch? Could he really sway her supporters?
Local Border Patrol Agents Fire Teargas Into Tijuana Neighborhood for the 6th Time in Two Months – Sparks International Incident
Border Patrol agents, assigned to the San Diego division of the border, have recently sparked an international incident by shooting teargas canisters over the border fence into Tijuana neighborhoods, in retaliation, the agents claim, for rocks being thrown at them by people on the Mexican side of the fence.
One of the most recent teargas attacks by US border agents was at approximately 5 a.m., Friday, January 11th, according to the Mexican government, as they objected to the attack which occurred in the Colonial Libertad community of Tijuana. The neighborhood is known as one of the more common entry points for undocumented border crossers.
Tijuana's Channel 12 news reported that this latest incident was the sixth time that Border Patrol agents have been accused of firing tear gas or pepper spray across the border over the past two months. Colonia Libertad residents say they have nothing to do with people hurling objects complain that they are being sprayed.
Channel 12 was told by Border Patrol spokesman Gabriel Guerrero that agents were defending themselves from rock throwers and that one canister of gas, which did not go off, unfortunately landed across the border. Guerrero alleged that no one injured.
On January 13th, Reuters reported that a teenager was injured when border patrol agents fired tear gas into Mexico on January 12th. Fifteen-year-old Cristian Saldana was hit in the nose by a tear gas canister on Saturday. Witnesses reported that Saldana was hit after he threw stones at border patrol agents as they attempted to stop undocumented people from crossing into the United States. Saldana required stitches at a local hospital.
Mexico has stated that it would investigate the use of tear gas by U.S agents. [For more of this article, go here. ]
KPBS reported in mid-December that these kinds of incidents have been going on since last August 2007. [For this report, go here.]
In December 20, 2007, NPR reported that the Mexican Consulate confirmed that at least 11 residents have been treated at Tijuana hospitals as the assaults have continued. Border patrol agents told NPR that assaults on agents have increased five-fold in the area since October compared to the same time last year. [For this report, go here.]
There is some confusion in these reports, however, because most said the Mexican government was going to conduct an investigation, but the NPR report said the Mexican government was asking the Border Patrol to investigate. Perhaps both are. Or nobody is.
Old Trees Are Taking a Hit in Southern California
Not normally a subject in a political blog, trees – they're taking hits here in Southern California. I've always had a soft spot for trees in my heart, ask my friends. But did you notice that in Ocean Beach, Leucadia and up in Santa Monica, older trees are being targeted for destruction.
Ten eucalyptus trees in Leucadia were cut down beginning January 15th; these trees – planted in the late 1880s along the railroad tracks in Leucadia, were considered by residents to be part of the beach community's character. All the trees in that corridor are in the railroad right of way, and the North County Transit District brought in the crews to cut them down, as NCTD believed the ten cut presented a hazard to the public and the coastal rail line. In 2003, a eucalyptus tree fell across the tracks, prompting the district to study the trees. [For more of this article, go here.]
Now in Santa Monica, tree lovers are fighting the city over plans to remove 54 ficus trees from downtown.
The city wants to relocate them and replace them with ginkgo trees, for basically liability problems. A group called Santa Monica Treesavers lost a battle Monday when the city Landmarks Commission denied landmark status for the trees, which have been around since the 1960s. The group plans to appeal and the city has agreed to hold off with the trees removal until then. [For starters, go here.]
And finally, here in OB, did you notice that about a dozen older eucalyptus trees were leveled along the southern side of I-8 during December? That's right, according to CalTrans, they were "structurally deficient" and had to come down. [There is no link, as this has not been reported by anyone.] The OB Rag was told by a CalTrans representative that they have contracted with private contractors to cut down about 500 diseased trees along the freeways in San Diego. 500? Whew!
Molly January 24, 2008 at 9:02 pm
About the trees – that's a shame – very sad. Anybody else think that this is wrong?
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Long-Time Point Loma Bakery Closes Down for Good After Immigration Audit
When Tiki Invaded San Diego – by OB Historical Society, Thurs., Jan.16
San Diego Bans Marijuana Billboards Within 1,000 Feet of Children Gathering Locations
One of Largest Apartment Complexes in Ocean Beach Just Sold for $18.3 Million
Custodian at Silver Gate Elementary Injured in Hit and Run in Midway District – Suspect Arrested
Nude Man Rescued While Clinging to Side of Sunset Cliffs Sunday Morning
News from Ocean Beach Ten Years Ago – January 2010
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50 Years after the Santa Barbara Oil Spill
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Nature's Garden Dance Under a Full Moon
OB Town Council – Introduction of Board Candidates – Wed., Jan. 23
Meet the Ocean Beach Planning Board
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text:
Liberal lead shrinks, NDP rise
May 26, 2014 @ 12:00 AM | Filed under: National
Hung Parliament Seen
In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1694 Canadian voters, more than one third (36%) will vote Liberal if the election were held today, compared to 3-in-10 who will vote Conservative (30%). These findings represent a slight decrease in the Liberal vote share since the last time we polled (April 30 - 39%), but stability for the Conservatives (30% then and now). The NDP now command just less than one quarter of the vote (23%) and this represents a slight increase from April (20%). Few vote Bloc Quebecois (6%), Green (5%) or for any other party (1%). The Conservative vote is common to the oldest (36%), males (34%) and those in the prairies (41%) and Alberta (47%). The Liberal vote is characteristic of Boomers (55 to 64 - 39%), females (38%), in mid income groups ($40K to $60K - 38%), the wealthiest ($100K to $250K - 45%) in the Atlantic provinces (50%) and Ontario (42%). The NDP vote is common to the youngest (26%), low income groups ($20K to $40K - 27%), in Quebec (29%) and BC (26%). Of note, the Liberal vote is the "stickiest", in that more past Liberals will vote their party this time (84%) than will past Conservative (73%) or NDP voters (64%). About one fifth of past Conservative (17%) and NDP voters (22%) will vote Liberal this time.
If these results are projected up to seats in a 308 seat House of Commons, the Conservatives would take 111 to the Liberals' 110, for a hung parliament. The NDP would hold the balance of power with 75 seats, while the Bloc would take 11. If Green Party leader Elizabeth May, who is expected to retain her seat, votes with the Liberals, parliament will be exactly hung.
Trudeau's Favourables Slip
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau has seen his approval slip slightly from close to half last month (46%) to just more than 4-in-10 today (43%) and his net favourable score (approve minus disapprove) has declined from +8 to +1 now. Approvals for Prime Minister Harper (33% approve, -27 net) and Tom Mulcair (43% approve, the same as Trudeau, +14 net) have stayed generally stable since last month.
Harper and Trudeau Tied as Best PM
Justin Trudeau (28%) and Stephen Harper (26%) are essentially tied for best Prime Minister, while Tom Mulcair trails at less than a fifth (17%). This represents a slight narrowing of the gap between Trudeau and Harper since last month (30% and 25%, respectively).
Two-thirds Think It's Time for a Change in Ottawa
Two thirds of Canadian voters think it's time for a change of government in Ottawa (68%) and this is a sharp increase since we asked this last year (June 2013 - 61%). Virtually all New Democrats (94%) and Liberals (88%) believe change is needed, but even a substantial minority of Conservative supporters think so too (16%).
"It appears Justin Trudeau's restrictions on Liberal candidates with pro-life views has peeled off a small but important tranche of support for not only him, but, incrementally, his party. I'm not sure that there is a corresponding upside, in that those who support pro-choice views are already in his court," said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.


text:
package org.apache.asterix.common.dataflow;

import org.apache.asterix.common.ioopcallbacks.AbstractLSMIOOperationCallback;
import org.apache.asterix.common.transactions.ILogManager;
import org.apache.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.common.api.ILSMComponent;
import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.common.impls.AbstractLSMIndex;

public class AsterixLSMIndexUtil {

    public static void checkAndSetFirstLSN(AbstractLSMIndex lsmIndex, ILogManager logManager)
            throws HyracksDataException {
        // If the index has an empty memory component, we need to set its first LSN (For soft checkpoint)
        if (lsmIndex.isCurrentMutableComponentEmpty()) {
            //prevent transactions from incorrectly setting the first LSN on a modified component by checking the index is still empty
            synchronized (lsmIndex.getOperationTracker()) {
                if (lsmIndex.isCurrentMutableComponentEmpty()) {
                    AbstractLSMIOOperationCallback ioOpCallback = (AbstractLSMIOOperationCallback) lsmIndex
                            .getIOOperationCallback();
                    ioOpCallback.setFirstLSN(logManager.getAppendLSN());
                }
            }
        }
    }

    public static long getComponentFileLSNOffset(AbstractLSMIndex lsmIndex, ILSMComponent lsmComponent,
            String componentFilePath) throws HyracksDataException {
        AbstractLSMIOOperationCallback ioOpCallback = (AbstractLSMIOOperationCallback) lsmIndex
                .getIOOperationCallback();
        return ioOpCallback.getComponentFileLSNOffset(lsmComponent, componentFilePath);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


We will establish a fair price for your property LM Company provides services for assessing the market value of commercial real estate. This service is in demand in the Moscow market, since the success of a deal or the income-generation from an object directly depends on its results. Needless to say, the evaluation of commercial real estate should be analyzed by professionals who thoroughly has specialized methods of calculation and have access to the current and complete database of similar objects.
An independent assessment of the value of real estate may be necessary for legal entities or individuals - owners of commercial objects: offices and shops, warehouses and production areas, shopping and entertainment centers, hotels, land plots. Evaluation is necessary for making right management decisions, accounting and tax accounting, lending, insurance, legal and economic disputes regarding the company and other procedures. Reducing the cadastral value of the object helps reduce the payment for the lease of land.
In the end, after the decline, you get a tangible financial benefit. To order a real estate valuation, contact our consultants by phone or via electronic form. To compile a report you will need to provide a package of documents for the object. Our specialists will examine the documentation and inspect the site or building, after which they will prepare a detailed report compiled taking into account the requirements of federal and international standards on appraisal and the Law on Appraisal Activities. The timing of the report depends on the specific type of object.
Our specialists have international certification. The company is a member in the rating of RAEX major survey companies.


A number of factors can cause bloating during menopause. You may be bloated because of dietary choices or lifestyle habits.
If you're in perimenopause or menopause, your estrogen level is dipping, which causes a number of menopausal symptoms – including bloating.
Your stomach swells up, and you may have weight gain (temporary) from water retention.
Your gastrointestinal tract may be affected by menopause as well, which contributes to the bloating. Changes in diet or appetite, as well as slowed digestion, can be problematic. Stress can also trigger indigestion and bloating.
Fortunately, you can take steps to get ugly bloating under control.
Since your stomach and midsection feel the effects of both water and gas retention, it may be difficult to know exactly what causes your bloating.
Gas bloating is the result of trapped air and gets stuck in the stomach. Often you can prevent gas-related bloating by simply eating slower, eating smaller meals and not drinking carbonated beverages. Experiment and see which changes work best for you.
Water retention can occur beyond the gut, causing swelling in hands, feet and elsewhere. Water retention-related bloating can be painful.
You can help reduce water retention – as well as swelling and bloating – with a few simple steps.
Drink plenty of water to keep your gastrointestinal tract moving smoothly, which helps prevent water retention.
Move it regularly as sweat prevents water retention and exercise keeps food moving through the digestive tract, which helps prevent bloating.
Cut back on gas-producing foods like fried foods, broccoli, and beans.
Steer clear of carbonated beverages which cause gas.
Don't chew gum as swallowing air causes gas.
Quit smoking as you'll swallow air, causing gas.
Reduce salt in food, so avoid processed foods. Excess salt causes water retention and swelling.
Eat probiotics to tame your digestive tract. Yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, and other probiotic foods help balance natural bacteria in your gut, which aids digestive health.
Eat less at meals. Large meals are difficult to digest, eat smaller portions. Our metabolism slows during menopause, that's why there are more digestive [problems.
An effective treatment plan usually involves a few different menopause therapies – pharmaceutical, traditional, and self-guided.
Is It Bloating or Weight Gain?
It's often difficult to know precisely what is happening with your body. Weight gain certainly happens at menopause as well as bloating. How can you tell the difference?
The difference in size and shape continues throughout the day.
Weight gain won't cause a distended stomach after a meal. Weight gain stays on after the party and is related to metabolism changes due to menopause.
If your bloating is a chronic, painful problem, see a doctor. It's important to learn precisely what the problem is so you can get it under control. The bottom line is the quality of life and living healthy and discomfort-free.
The dip in estrogen during menopause can make weight gain in the abdomen more likely. But that's not the whole story, as lifestyle and genetic factors are also in play.
Muscle mass typically diminishes with age and fat increases. When your body loses muscle mass, the rate at which your body uses calories decreases. This makes it difficult to maintain a healthy weight. You will gain weight if you eat as you always did.
Genetic factors are also part of menopause weight gain. When parents or close relatives carry extra weight, there's a good chance you will, too.
However, there's more to the story – as lifestyle also plays a significant role in menopausal weight gain. If you're sedentary, eat too many fried high-calorie foods, and don't get enough sleep, you fuel weight gain without realizing it.
Get more exercise. Aerobic activity is excellent for keeping weight healthy. Strength training will help you build muscle which prompts your body to burn calories more efficiently.
Build muscle. Aerobic activity can help you shed excess pounds and maintain a healthy weight. Strength training counts, too. As you gain muscle, your body burns calories more efficiently — which makes it easier to control your weight.
Eat smaller portions. To keep weight gain at bay, eat about 200 fewer calories daily.
Eat healthier. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein are important. No more fried food!
Eat the right proteins. Fish, chicken, legumes, nuts and soy are healthy protein sources. Use olive oil instead of butter, margarine or shortening.
Remove sweets. This includes sugar-sweetened soft drinks, juices, energy drinks, flavored waters, and sweetened coffee tea. Avoid artificially sweetened beverages as well.
Steer clear of excess sugar – pies, cookies, cakes, doughnuts, ice cream and candy.
Drink less alcohol as they add excess calories, so you gain weight easily.
It's all about permanent lifestyle changes that keep you active, slim and healthy. You'll enjoy life a lot more.
Understanding MenopauseMenopause and Frequent Urination: How Are the Two Connected?
BlogHow Do Hysterectomies Affect Menopause?
Understanding MenopauseWhat Causes Weight Gain During Menopause?
MenopauseLiving.today Copyright © 2019. All Rights Reserved.


Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and Genetically Engineered food (GE or Frankenfood), is everywhere and it is easy to mistakenly purchase food that is genetically modified – especially since labeling GMO is optional. The good folks at Natural Cures Not Medicine have compiled a list of products and brands that you should avoid to help you in your efforts to eat clean. A word of warning… this is a HUGE depressing list!
Natural Cures Not Medicine: A List of GMO Companies And Products.
These brands, at the time of writing, claim to source their ingredients from GMO-free supplies. Please enjoy this GMO-free food list and share it.
Arrowhead Mills: GMO-free providers of baking mixes and flours found in both natural health food stores and regular supermarkets.
Eden Foods: GMO-free providers of canned goods, noodles, tamari, miso, vinegar and Asian foodstuffs.
Purity Foods: GMO-free makers of spelt-based noodles, snacks and other goodies.
Rapunzel: chocolate and speciality oils.
Spectrum Oils: GMO-free manufacturer of speciality oils, cooking oils, salad oils and natural shortening.
Genisoy: Uses only certified GMO-free soybeans for their many soy products.
Earth's Best: Baby food manufacturer uses non-GMO ingredients.
Healthy Times: Baby food manufacturer uses non-gmo ingredients.
Bob's Red Mill: GMO-free provider of baking mixes and specialty flours.
Pamela's Products: Provider of luscious gluten-free baking mixes sources non-GMO ingredients.
Cascadian Farms: Provider of frozen entrees, juices, frozen vegetables and fruit, yogurt and other foods.
Imagine Foods: GMO-free provider of soy and rice milk as well as broth and other foods.
Muir Glen: Source of canned goods and vegetable juice uses gmo-free foods.
Thai Kitchen: Source for coconut milks and Asian ingredients sources gmo-free ingredients.
Amy's Kitchen: GMO-free source of canned soups, chilies, boxed and frozen meals.
Nature's Path: Manufacturer of cereals and snack bars made with ingredients sourced gmo-free.
Annie's Naturals: Manufacturer of BBQ sauce, salad dressings and other condiments sourced from gmo-free ingredients.
San J: GMO-free manufacturer of soy sauce, shoyu and tamari.
Tradition Miso: Manufacturer of miso pastes that are made from GMO-free ingredients.
Barbara's Bakery: Manufacturer of cookies sources from gmo-free ingredients.
Lundberg Family Farms: GMO-free provider of rice and wild rice foods including raw rice, soups and convenience foods.
Walkers: Provider of the best shortbread cookies ever as well as other sweet treats.
Fantastic Foods: Provider of hummus, falafel, risotto couscous, soup and other mixes with gmo-free ingredients.
Vitasoy: Manufacturer of soy-based foods sourced from gmo-free ingredients.
Clif: Manufacturer of energy bars sourced from gmo-free foods.
Kettle Chips: GMO-free manufacturer of potato and tortilla chips.
Que Pasa: Manufacturer of tortilla chips and other Mexican foods sourced from non-gmo ingredients.
Garden of Eatin: Manufacturer of chips, salsas and other snack foods.
French Meadow Bakery: Manufacturer of bread and baked goods using non-gmo ingredients.
White Wave: Manufacturer of soy products including tofu and tempeh using gmo-free soy.
Bearitos: Manufacturer of snack foods and dips using gmo-free foods.
Chaffin Family Orchards: Is committed to GMO-free foods and sells an assortment of goods including olive oil.
Cultures for Health: All starters and products sold at Cultures for Health are GMO-free.
Grindstone Bakery: GMO-free provider of wheat- and gluten-free bread.
Pure Indian Foods: GMO-free provider of grass-fed ghee.
To Your Health: Provider of gmo-free sprouted breads and sprouted flours.
US Wellness Meats: Provider of pasture- and grass-fed meats free of GMO supplemental feed.
Zukay: Provider of live cultured condiments and salsa free from GMO.
Wisconsin Healthy Grown Potatoes: GMO-free potatoes.
Note: there are some who say that some of the foods/brands listed above are not GMO free. Please be aware that mistakes happen and this list has not been researched by BestImmuneBooster.Com. Always do your own research and use this list as a guide (not the gospel) to help you find good sources of good food.
Also please note that GMO free does not translate to healthful. Sugar sweetened treats and some treats are totally nutritionally devoid. You can buy organic wheat flour, but wheat products organic or not, will spike blood sugar and contributes to insulin resistance (in our opinion). (In our opinion), wheat free and GMO free is the way to go, but if you are going to consume unhealthy foods, at least consume the GMO free ones!
Poop – What Is Your Poop Trying to Tell You?


text:
Thousands of new trees take root in Salford
1,500 trees have been planted in the City of Salford, contributing to the goal of planting a tree for every man, woman and child across Greater Manchester.
Community groups, volunteers as well as local businesses have all been lending a hand to help plant a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees such as Holly and Hawthorn.
2016 marks the tenth year of partnership between environmental charities Trees for Cities and Red Rose Forest, with four tree planting sessions involving more than 100 volunteers planting 1,500 trees taking place.
The new trees took root in West Salford along Port Salford greenway, which is a traffic-free cycling and walking path for leisure and commuting, connecting the communities of Winton, Peel Green and Brookhouse.
As well as replacing some of the trees lost when the recreational pathway was created, the trees will create a 'green screen' where the busy M60 motorway borders green spaces.
Trees are well known for their positive impact on the environment; they remove harmful pollutants from the air; provide a buffer to noise, intercept rain to mitigate localised flooding and provide a pleasing aesthetic barrier.
As well as community groups taking part, businesses also got their hands dirty. Employees from PHS data solutions, a leading provider of document scanning, records management and confidential document destruction, funded the planting of 100 trees for customers as part of its World Paper Free pledge last autumn. In addition staff from More Than Insurance came along to help contribute.
On Thursday 31 March the last of the 1,500 trees went in the ground supported by volunteers and local community groups including Monton Amateurs FC.
Trees for Cities and Red Rose Forest have been delivering projects in Greater Manchester since 2006 and have planted almost 35,000 trees engaging over 2,000 local volunteers.
Red Rose Forest is part of a new movement – Manchester City of Trees. Spearheaded by a number of committed partners it aims to plant three million trees in the next two decades – one for each man, woman and children in Greater Manchester.
Kevin Wigley from Red Rose Forest comments; "This scheme demonstrates that everyone can do their bit for planting more trees. We hope that this will inspire the people of Greater Manchester to contribute to the vision of planting a tree for every man, woman and child across the city region"
Kate Sheldon from Trees for Cities adds; "I can't think of a better way to celebrate our long-term partnership than through planting trees with the local community in Salford. We hope that the children will watch these trees thrive and enjoy them for many years to come'


text:
Gingrich obliges NPR host in trip down 2020 election rabbit hole: 'You're the one who wanted to go back'
Newt Gingrich appeared on NPR's "On All Things Considered" Friday with anchor Louise Kelly who evidently wanted him to admit how successful President Biden has been but instead got owned on whether the 2020 election was "rigged" versus "stolen."
NPR ran with the headline, "Newt Gingrich thinks the GOP needs to stop underestimating Biden." From there, Kelly made the strategic mistake of bringing up the left's current favorite topic, the 2020 election, and got nailed by Gingrich who countered with a reference to the "Twitter Files" and Zuckerbucks that flooded the presidential contest.
Kelly began her ill-judged tack by asking the former House speaker whether former President Trump helped or hurt Republicans in the 2022 midterm elections. He noted that Trump helped in some races and not so much in others.
Then she veered sharp left, attempting to lay a trap for Gingrich by asking what advice he would give Trump concerning the 2024 presidential election.
(Audio Credit: NPR)
"If you're going to run, run as a candidate looking to the future. Run as a candidate of big solutions and big ideas, and run as a candidate of the whole country. You know, don't run focused on 2020 election results, and don't run only as a MAGA candidate focused on the right wing of the Republican Party because that's not going to win," he advised.
Then the interview went completely off the rails, probably leaving Kelly wishing she had never gone there. Her obsession with the 2020 election did not end well.
"But that has been what he has wanted to talk about – I mean, his repeated false claims about a stolen election, which I have to note you supported and talked about and spread. That did seem to fall flat with midterm voters. Is – how big a problem is that for Republicans?" she asked the famed conservative.
"Look. I'll be cheerful about coming back sometime, and we can devote an entire interview to whether it was a rigged election – not necessarily stolen but certainly rigged. And we can start with all the Twitter information, and we can start with Zuckerberg's $415 million," he said, nailing her in her tracks.
@newtgingrich I just heard your interview by Mary Louise Kelly on @NPR's "All (Woke) Things Considered". She brought up the 2020 election thinking she could outfox a fox! pic.twitter.com/slEtJZQ7e1
— Gaetano Catelli (@LesbiasSparrow) December 9, 2022
She then shifted to claiming it wasn't her saying these things, a typical leftist ploy.
"I just need to pause you there because it's not me saying this. This is dozens of courts across the U.S. that have rejected claims of rigged elections," Kelly claimed.
"No, no. They rejected claims of stolen elections. Nobody ever looked at rigging," he pointed out to a flustered NPR host.
She then attempted the old standby of "Do you believe Biden is the legitimate president?" It face-planted epically.
"For the record, do you believe Joe Biden was legitimately elected president?" she asked.
"For the record, I believe that he won under the terms that were set up, and I think that the entire elite system cheated in every way they could to defeat Donald Trump," Gingrich replied.
@newtgingrich called it rigged last night on @NPR and stuck to it.
Not stolen, but certainly rigged.
— Ray, Boomer (@Benrayco) December 10, 2022
"I need to push you on this before we go on. I'm not hearing you say you believe he was legitimately elected," Kelly asserted, trying to pin Gingrich down.
"I believe he won under the rules, and I think that the system that elected him did everything it could to rig the game, including, for example, Twitter kicking off the incumbent president of the United States, kicking off the New York Post. I just did a podcast about this that we're releasing with a New York Post reporter who – Miranda Devine, who can walk you through step by step," he said, simultaneously referring to the Hunter Biden laptop from hell story and the "Twitter Files."
She tried to recover after that smackdown but just couldn't get there.
"So when…" Kelly haltingly said.
Gingrich interjected, "You think it didn't affect things to have Twitter do that? You don't think that doesn't affect things?"
Newt Gingrich: This is a much bigger mess than people realize. pic.twitter.com/iogiVvCpzC
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) December 9, 2022
"Let me…" she floundered.
"Have Google refuse to deliver Republican fundraising emails?" Newt said, closing in for the kill.
Kelly tried to change the subject to save face.
"Let me focus you on where we are now because I heard you making the case that…" she said, deflecting from her impending journalistic demise.
"You're the one who wanted to go back to the past. I'm happy to debate you about the nature of the 2020 campaign," he said, challenging her.
Well said Newt! I love the way the older generation can say things in such a straightforward and simple way. This is lost among many today.
— Jarrod Miller (@JarrodThoughts) December 10, 2022
"I'm not debating you. I'm trying to figure out what you think and why. And I want to focus you on the point you were making about – whoever becomes the GOP nominee in the next presidential election, you would like to see them run – what were your words? – for the country. On policy. So lay out for me what you see that as – what that looks like," Kelly stated, hastily changing the subject and giving the win to Gingrich.
"Well, I think, first of all, they should appeal to the entire country. We did remarkably well with Asian Americans this election. We continue to do better every two years with Latino Americans. We had both the candidate for governor and the senator carry Miami-Dade by huge margins, which is a sign that we can win Latino votes in a very big way. I think the Republican candidate for 2024 should be positive, should offer big solutions, and should explain how they're going to get America out of the mess that Biden is going to leave us in. And I think the more they're positive and the more they offer big solutions, the more likely they are to win a stunning victory," Gingrich concluded.


AstraZeneca and The University of Manchester today said they would partner to deliver personalized healthcare for cancer patients through the use of clinical bioinformatics.
Under their five-year agreement, the company and the university said they will apply clinical trial bioinformatics with the aim of better identifying cancer treatments for individual patients.
AstraZeneca has agreed to provide a total of £11.5 million ($17.7 million) to support clinical bioinformatics research led by a team of investigators within the recently established Centre for Cancer Biomarker Sciences at the Manchester Cancer Research Centre. The research will be carried out in partnership with the clinical trials unit of The Christie National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, which focuses on experimental cancer medicine in the U.K.
Projects by the partners will include the development of a new bioinformatics system to capture and integrate clinical trial safety, efficacy, biomarker and drug distribution data in real time, presenting the information in the form of graphs that can be easily interpreted by clinicians.
The collaboration will also support new training programs in clinical research and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling for investigators to understand the distribution and clinical effects of medicines within the body, AstraZeneca and the university said.
The collaboration is the latest between AstraZeneca and the university, and builds on scientific collaborations launched in recent years by AstraZeneca and The University of Manchester. The earlier collaborations range from research into novel cancer medicines to progressing treatments for lung cancer, advancing inflammatory research, and developing new drug delivery systems.
"AstraZeneca has long supported the UK science base and this latest collaboration with the Manchester Cancer Research Centre will enable the patients to share their insights with investigators and sponsors more effectively and efficiently than today, enabling a more informed assessment," added Andrew Hughes, Ph.D., professor of experimental cancer medicine at the university's Institute of Cancer Sciences.


text:
/ Cluster munitions continue to claim lives in Syria
/ Tunisia: ex-president calls for dismissal of Saied and restoration of democracy
/ Israel to revoke citizenship, residency of Palestinian prisoners
/ French city cancels conference of Palestinian activist Hamouri
/ Lebanon arrests Arab Israeli after crossing border
Israeli air force organises largest drill in its history
March 23, 2017 at 3:58 pm | Published in: Asia & Americas, Europe & Russia, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Middle East, News, Palestine, Russia, US
Fighter jets of the Israeli air force, as pictured on 23 April 2015 [Minuzig/Wikipedia]
The Israeli air force is preparing to organise one of the largest and most complex military manoeuvers in its history later this year, with broad international participation, Israeli media reported.
According to the Israeli public radio, about 100 fighters, other aircraft and a few hundred soldiers and pilots, along with logistical support forces from the United States, Greece, Poland, France, Germany, India and Italy are expected to participate in the military exercise.
Israeli radio said the air force squadrons will meet in Tel Aviv during the autumn season to carry out these joint exercises organised every two years to maintain the readiness of the participating countries forces.
Over the course of two weeks during the exercise, pilots will train to fight air battles, hit ground targets and avoid missiles.
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, the Israeli Air Force's chief of international affairs, said:
It will be a massive exercise; the biggest ever for the IAF. Seven nations plus Israel.
"People are seeing there's a lot to learn from Israel. In our tiny airspace and in the environment around us, things are so intense. The Russians are here…Many of the world's air forces are passing through here on their way to operations in Syria and elsewhere in the region. So we provide a sort of battle lab in which forces can hone a spectrum of skills needed to combat growing threats," Hecht said.
He explained that the so-called Blue Flag exercises would focus on cooperation rather than competition between the participating air Forces, as opposed to the Red Flag manoeuvers organised by the US Air Force each year at the Niles Air Force Base in Nevada.
Asia & AmericasEurope & RussiaFranceGermanyGreeceIsraelItalyMiddle EastNewsPalestineRussiaUS


finds the server for NIS domains and maintains the NIS binding information. The client (normaly the NIS routines in the standard C library) could get the information over RPC from ypbind or read the binding files. The binding files resides in the directory /var/yp/binding and are conventionally named [domainname].[version]. The supported versions are 1 and 2. There could be several such files since it is possible for an NIS client to be bound to more than one domain.
This ypbind version listens for DBUS messages from NetworkManager. If no NetworkManager is running at startup, ypbind will behave as usual and assumes there is a working network connection. If NetworkManager is running on the system, ypbind will only search and providde NIS informations, if NetworkManager tells that a network connection is available. If NetworkManager establishes a connection, ypbind will reread all configuration files, registers at the local portmapper and try to search NIS servers. If NetworkManager drops a connection, ypbind will unregister from portmapper.
ypbind will bind itself to this port. This makes it possible to have a router filter packets to the NIS ports, so that access to this service from hosts on the Internet can be restricted.
ypbind will only bind to the loopback device and is not reacheable from a remote network.
The default value for ypbind to check, if a NIS server is still reacheable, is 20 seconds. With this options another frequency in seconds can be specified.


Tune in The T250i has a built-in FM radio. And you also get a stereo headset in the kit. Tune in and enjo... See full description.
The T250i has a built-in FM radio. And you also get a stereo headset in the kit. Tune in and enjoy music and news as you please.
Take a picture with the T250i camera. Store it in your in-phone album and view on the TFT screen. Or add some text and send as a picture message.


Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) credential builds credibility with international customers.
ATLANTA- The National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE International) today affirmed Rotorcorp President Sean T. Casey as a Certified Global Business Professional who may now bear the CGBP credential. As a professional organization of educators, trainers, service provides and practitioners, NASBITE has become the leading U.S. association supporting the field of global business.
Mr. Casey joins over 2000 global business professionals who have earned the CGBP designation. The Certified Global Business Professional accreditation certifies that a candidate is competent in several key international domains which include Global Business Management, Global Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and Trade Finance. The credential also helps individuals diversify their skills in global commerce and assure they understand a broad range of topics rather than just the specific field within international trade that they have experienced.
"With nearly sixty percent of our annual sales being international in origin, Rotorcorp has been global since inception in 2011" Said Casey. In that time the Robinson helicopter parts distributor has grown to serve over one thousand customers in forty-five countries worldwide.
"One of the biggest challenges in international business is to establish and build credibility with customers a world away who may not have heard of or done business with Rotorcorp before" Casey stated. "The CGBP certification helps let potential customers know that our company is globally competent and has the fundamental capabilities to conduct international transactions".
Sean gives a large part of the credit for passing the CGBP exam to the preparation gained during a two-day CGBP "Boot Camp" he attended at the National Small Business Exporter Summit held in Baltimore earlier in the year. The training session provided valuable technical information, testing strategy, practice exams and studying material.


As a Mom with three grown children it is not unusual to find me looking through the stacks and stacks of old pictures from when my kids were younger. In fact, I often look back even further in the photos at pictures of when I was growing up -- photos of family, friends, old flames, past pets.... And while this can be a bit of nostalgia, for me it's often more. So many of those pictures hold a story for me. I can look back at that picture of my best friend and me with our prom dates and remember that huge deodorant that rolled out of her purse and across the floor at that nice restaurant. It makes me laugh, and in some ways it is as if I've revisited that night in some way. (By the way, she is still a best friend of mine even today, and it would not surprise me in the least for the same thing to happen with her now!) As a Mom, there's no surprise that I can look at some of the photos of my kids, especially as babies, and I am right back in that moment - almost able to smell that baby scent.
In my Mom's house the walls of the stairwell that leads up to the 2nd floor is covered on both sides with family photos...each of them holding a special moment. My kids are there, as are my brothers two girls. But there are also pictures of my brother and I growing up, of my grandparents, aunts uncles....even pictures of my Nanny as a little girl. So much history is covered in the pictures on this stairwell... and so many stories are told through them. For close to 18 years I've passed by these pictures when I am at my Mom's house, and I would have to guess that almost every time I go up or down those stairs I pause to look and reminisce. I never tire of looking at those same photos.
A picture always tells a story. It most often will be a story about the moment that photo was taken, but there are times that the story will reflect more on who was taking the picture. As a photographer, when I am doing a photo shoot for someone I always consider that they are entrusting me to capture some important momories for them to hold onto and share...hopefully for a very long time. Maybe that is why I describe myself as a lifestyle photographer. As I venture more and more through the photography world, I find that I love all aspects of photography, but some more than others. But even when I'm in more of a studio setting, I really want the personalities of the people I am photographing to come through. Hopefully if my photos reflect on me as the photographer, it will be because whoever is looking at them sees all the heart and love that was put into capturing the moment.


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Scottish and Irish Music Enlivened by Uncommon Instrumentation,
Top Notch Arrangements and Remarkable Musicianship
BRASS LASSIE, a bold new band based in the Twin Cities of St. Paul/Minneapolis, combines traditional tunes, songs and style with dazzling modern horn lines, sparking their own genre of eclectic, remarkable music. The ensemble performs extraordinary takes on Scottish, Irish and French music, traditional and new, featuring a powerful 4-piece horn section, a terrific rhythm section, fiddle, flutes, pipes, concertina and vocals. Their smart, joyous horn arrangements are by top-notch jazz arranger Peter Enblom, plus some great ensemble arrangements from Dr. David Milne.
The founder of BRASS LASSIE Laura MacKenzie carefully envisioned this big band for several years. It was realized at last in 2016 with a triumphant summer debut. In 2017, MacKenzie received a highly competitive Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board to further develop the repertoire for this ensemble concept. Since their debut, BRASS LASSIE has added engaging, exciting new arrangements to every performance. They released their first studio recording Fall 2018, with significant airplay on NPR's Thistle & Shamrock, MPR's Radio Heartland and SHMU-FM Scotland as "Album of the Month".
Some of BRASS LASSIE's notable performances have been at the Celtic Junction Arts Center, McNally Smith concert hall (both in St. Paul, MN), the Minnesota Scottish Fair, the international Vintage Band Festival (Northfield, MN), The Irish Fair of Minnesota, Normandale Lake, Icehouse MPLS, Rock Bend Folk Festival, and a major stage at the Minnesota State Fair.
"Joyful and sophisticated" – Dáithí Sproule, Altan
"Groundbreaking"
"Pioneering Celtic Fusion" -- Phil Nusbaum, KBEM/Jazz88
BRASS LASSIE's members have come together from a broad spectrum of expertise and experience: Traditional music, big bands, show bands, jazz, orchestral, roots and world music, and education.
Laura MacKenzie - wooden flutes, whistles, concertina,
pipes, vocals; founder & director
Mary Vanorny - fiddle
Patrice Pakiz - piano, oboe
Marc Anderson - percussion
Enrique Toussaint - bass
The Brass Lassie Horns
(bass trombone, tenor trombone, French horn, trumpet/flugelhorn)
(Occasional: percussive dance)
Peter Enblom– principal horn and rhythm arranger
When MacKenzie inquired around the region for "the best" horn arranger, it quickly became clear that "the best" was trombonist Pete Enblom. BRASS LASSIE is very fortunate to have this great musician, experienced in big bands, jazz ensembles and Latin bands, on board as their horn and rhythm arranger.
Laura MacKenzie, founder and leader, has received numerous honors and performing arts awards for her participation and dedication in the realms of traditional music, including being selected for the original Cherish The Ladies series (National Endowment for the Arts) featuring noted women in Irish music in America. Laura has also been awarded a Bush Foundation Fellowship in Traditional and Ethnic Performing Arts, as well as two McKnight Foundation Artists Fellowships. In 2014 the City of St. Paul proclaimed a "Laura MacKenzie Day" for her contributions to traditional music in Minnesota, and in 2018 she received a lifetime achievement award from the Minnesota Scottish-American community. She has been lauded as a "Celtic music wizard" by the Minneapolis Star Tribune and a "High priestess of Celtic music" by Minnesota Public Radio. Laura performs on an array of wind-powered instruments, including wooden flutes, whistles, concertina, Scottish smallpipes, border greatpipes, French cornemuse and voice. Enjoying a richly varied career in traditional music, Laura has performed and recorded with diverse ensembles, worked with theatrical productions and for public radio, and has performed at festivals across the United States. She can be heard on a multitude of recordings and on several documentaries. www.lauramackenzie.com
BRASS LASSIE's extraordinary repertoire, enriched with brass, fiddle, flutes, pipes, vocals, standard and ethnic percussion, bass and piano, includes....
Modern and traditional Irish reels, jigs, hornpipes
Scottish and French Canadian tunes
Ancient Irish airs featuring brass
New arrangements of Scots Gaelic waulking songs
Cape Breton dance tunes and puirt à beul (mouth music)
Scots and Scottish Gaelic ballads
Music from Brittany and Central France
Latin-infused Celtic dance tunes
The ensemble's influences are the French-Canadian powerhouse band La Bottine Souriante, Irish super-group Altan, Chicago Irish fiddler Liz Carroll, the Scottish band Salsa Celtica, and the many traditional musicians they have met along the way. While celebrating these inspirations, their sound and arrangements are expressly and uniquely Brass Lassie in spirit, concept and delivery.
A notable feature of BRASS LASSIE's music is the loving treatment of the tunes and songs. The melodies are set to shine through the arrangements, without being reconstructed in rhythm or melodic shape. In a fan's words: "To have horns on traditional tunes was an unexpected and dynamic change that did not lose the songs or tunes in the transition but actually brought them forward."
In addition to concert hall and festival performances, BRASS LASSIE offers presentations and master classes for schools, colleges and festivals:
Traditional "Celtic" Music
Irish and Scottish Music
> Techniques & Styles
> Repertoire
Brass Arranging and Performance
DOWNLOAD THIS BIOGRAPHY FROM THE PRESS PAGE
BOOKINGS & INQUIRYS


This is our newest work, we really like it!
Based on the series 7 Mark V spartan, we try to create a noble six that looks like the default one.
Basically, the series 7 Mark V is very close to the default noble six, but as you can see, we added a lot of details to make it more accurate and awesome. I'm responsible for all the small blue lights, and my girlfriend applied all other paints.
I especially like the black/yellow stripes on his feet and the variegated feel on his helmet.
There's some scratch effect on his feet and legs.
Hope you like this noble six, we will make more noble team members!
Looking good my man, and glad you and your wife are having fun making them.
DeadRock wrote: Looking good my man, and glad you and your wife are having fun making them.
Cant wait to see more..


The New Way to support. pledge. give.
When it comes to philanthropy, there are many different causes to which people devote themselves: foster youth, homelessness, education, developing countries, and many more! And there are numerous organizations committed to impacting each different cause. The 100 Companies Who Care is about supporting and empowering the organizations and individuals that are positively impacting our community here in Orange County and in countries all around the world. Please join us in helping to make a difference!
Each member of 100 Companies Who Care is committed to donating $1000 to charity each quarter. Once per quarter The 100 Companies Who Care gather together to hear from three different non-profit organizations. After each one gives a short presentation, there is a Q & A time and then the group votes on which organization they pledge to support. The charity that receives the most votes will receives 80% of the funds granted, while the other two will receives 10% each.


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Grover McElvain
December 9, 1932 - April 25, 2010
Grover J. "Mac" McElvain, 77, of Fort Worth, Texas, went to be with his heavenly Father on April 25, 2010 after a brief battle with cancer. Mac was born in Ramah, Colorado on December 9, 1932, the son of Grover Cleveland McElvain and Iona M. Scott McElvain. He married Sylvia Genelle Reese on September 17, 1955 in Dayton, New Mexico. "Mac" was well known for his strong commitment to God, family, and country. He served twenty plus years in the USAF which included tours of duty in Vietnam and Korea. Upon completion of his military service he moved his family to Texas where he and his wife received ministry training from the Arlington Baptist College. Together they were involved in Christian schools and various youth ministries. He was a long time member of Covenant Life Baptist Church in Kennedale. Survivors include his wife, Sylvia Genelle McElvain; sons, Rick McElvain and wife Tammy and Ted McElvain and wife, Kathy; daughters, Susan Canright and husband Dell and Sharilyn Griffin and husband Arnold; grandchildren, Andrew McElvain and wife Brandilyn, Ryan McElvain and wife Kristin, Buck McElvain and wife Tracy, Justin, Jacob, Kyle and Julie McElvain, Mindy, Brady and Marissa Canright, Cortney, Britney, Tanner and Chase Sellers and Valerie Nettles and husband, Zachary; great grandchildren, Addisyn McElvain, Trinity Nettles, Caleb and Mackenzie Cobb; and sister, Ada Morris. Mac was preceded in death by his parents, Grover and Iona McElvain, daughter, Sheryl Ann McElvain, and brothers, Wendell, Harvey and Harold McElvain. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in his honor to The Gideons International.
Grover J. "Mac" McElvain, 77, of Fort Worth, Texas, went to be with his heavenly Father on April 25, 2010 after a brief battle with cancer. Mac was born in Ramah, Colorado on December 9, 1932, the son of Grover Cleveland McElvain and Iona M.... View Obituary & Service Information
The family of Grover McElvain created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories.
Grover J. "Mac" McElvain, 77, of Fort Worth, Texas, went to be...
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https://www.registercitizen.com/news/article/Local-briefs-Warner-Theater-to-hold-annual-14922809.php
Local briefs: Warner Theater to hold annual bridal show
TORRINGTON — The Annual Bridal Event 2020 will be held on Jan. 12, 11 a.m-3 p.m. in the Carole and Ray Neag Performing Arts Center, Main Street, Torrington. No admission is charged and all are welcome to attend.
This event has become an annual "must" for soon-to-be brides. This year's event will include over 60 vendors and venues to help couples with all of their wedding needs. Admission and a chance to win one of the fabulous door prizes donated by participating vendors are FREE! Prizes include limousine service for your wedding and much more.
For more information, call event planner Lucille Kelsey at 860-309-8080.
'Chicken Dinners' is topic of cooking class
LITCHFIELD - A cooking demonstration, "Chicken Dinners" will be presented at Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center at 2 p.m., Jan. 18. Chef Margaret Jacobs will present the program.
Participants will have the opportunity to see the creation of such flavorful fare as Thai Curry Chicken with Soba Noodles, Caesar Chicken, Crispy Artichoke Chicken with Portabella and Ginger Lemon Chicken. Tastings will follow and the recipes will be given to each member of the class.
Jacobs is the Head Chef at Wisdom House; Graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY. She worked at the United Nations Plaza Hotel in New York City and has over 30 years of cooking, baking and business experience in the culinary arts. She is the former owner of Hannah's Bakery in Litchfield, CT.
Wisdom House is located at 229 East Litchfield Rd, Litchfield. The cost for the class is $30 per person.
For more information or to register visit, www.wisdomhouse.org, call 860 567-3163, or visit: www.wisdomhouse.org
Operation Fuel to hold annual ice house event
HARTFORD - As Operation Fuel begins its 43rd winter of providing emergency energy assistance, the organization is preparing for an expanded two-day Ice House event to help raise awareness of the energy affordability crisis that affects more than 400,000 Connecticut households.
The second annual Operation Fuel Ice House presented by Eversource Energy will allow people to experience how it feels to live in a freezing home. The Ice House has been extended to two days this year to allow more families to visit over the weekend. Ice House hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jan. 24-25 at the Old State House Grounds in Hartford, with a ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 24.
Award-winning ice sculptor Bill Covitz and his staff from Ice Matters in Cheshire will build the Ice House on Jan. 23. The ice structure will consist of 40,000 pounds of hand-carved blocks of ice complete with ice furnishings and, new for 2020, an attached ice garage. Another new addition this year: a thermal imaging camera so attendees can have their body heat photographs taken.
Visitors to the Ice House will be able to walk throughout the freezing structure, sit on ice furniture and, for a few minutes, experience how thousands of Connecticut families and individuals will feel this winter as they struggle to stay warm in their own homes.
"No resident should have to go without basic utilities, and yet in our state, 400,000 households are struggling with energy costs — including senior citizens, children, people with medical conditions, and working families," said Brenda Watson, executive director of Operation Fuel. "Because of the generosity of our donors and sponsors like Eversource, Operation Fuel is able to close the gap for more than 7,200 households a year, but the need is much greater. We hope our Ice House highlights how crucial energy affordability is so we can assist more families."
"We've had a longstanding partnership with Operation Fuel, collaborating on many important initiatives and we're pleased to sponsor this year's Ice House event," said Eversource Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Penni Conner. "We're always mindful of the effect the cost of power has on our customers. Like our customers, we have no control over fluctuating energy prices, but we do all we can to help them save money and energy. Working together with Operation Fuel on events like this we're helping to bridge the gap for struggling families and we'll continue supporting all they do to ensure families in need have access to year-round energy assistance."
Opportunities are available for groups who want to volunteer at the event or participate in a #ChillOut fundraiser for Ice House. The unique #ChillOut team building activity will raise money to assist Connecticut residents with energy costs. Additional information can be found by visiting www.operationfuel.org/ice
Operation Fuel's winter energy assistance program started December 2, when its statewide network of more than 100 fuel banks began accepting energy assistance applications. Connecticut families and individuals who are struggling financially should call 211 to find their closest fuel bank.
Operation Fuel provides energy assistance year round throughout Connecticut to lower-income working families and individuals, the elderly, and disabled individuals who are in a financial crisis. Currently more than 400,000 Connecticut households can't afford their energy bills, which are among the highest in the nation. For more information on Operation Fuel, or to make a donation, go to www.operationfuel.org
Salvation Army offers 'Kettle Pay' using app
The Salvation Army is making it easier for donors to give back during the Christmas season by making a gift with Apple Pay or Google Pay at the iconic Red Kettles.
The Salvation Army has placed smart chips and QR codes on Red Kettle signs across the country, allowing shoppers to simply "bump" or scan their phones to make a digital donation.
Shoppers will be directed to a custom donation page that accepts Apple or Google payment options. The funds will then be distributed to local Salvation Army units based on the donor's billing ZIP code, and an email receipt will be sent directly to their phone.
Donations are accepted at any of the more than 25,000 traditional Red Kettles found on street corners and in front of stores, online at Give.SalvationArmyUSA.org, or on your phone by texting KETTLE to 91999.
To learn more and join The Salvation Army in the #FightForGood, visit SalvationArmyCT.org


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Texans fans take over San Diego ahead of opener
There's so much to do in sunny San Diego. There's the stroll on the beach, sailing on the bay or maybe a waterfront lunch. But if you're a Texans fan, today is about none of those.
Hundreds of Texans fans made the trip from Houston to cheer the team against the Chargers. For Shelley Webb and her assistant, Leslie Skinner, this Monday night game means packing up and cashing in a few vacation days.
"Does your boss know where you are?" we asked Skinner.
"Yes he does. We let him know," she said.
"We emailed him," added Webb. "He knows where we are."
In the crowd of Texans fans, there are retirees, professionals, those in law enforcement and even a Harris County assistant DA.
"We used my vacation time for my anniversary to come support our Texans on Monday night," said Allison Baimbridge, who traveled to southern California for the game.
Some fans we talked to say traveling with the Texans comes with a sacrifice.
"We left the kids behind. They're with grandparents," said Skinner.
For them, it's worth it.
Some Texans fans say they're dodging our cameras because their bosses don't know they're in San Diego.
Coverage of the game starts at 9pm on ABC13!


FREE SHIPPING! Enjoy 6 of our stuffed cookies! Two will be our most popular flavor, Salted Caramel Prima Donna (chocolate chip with a gooey salted caramel center) while the other two flavors will be our stuffed flavors of the month.
Only available for delivery within the state of Utah. Orders placed after Wednesday will be shipped out the following Monday. Expect to receive your cookie box in 1-2 days! Let the cheeky-ness begin!


•Plush, premium quality, 17mm pile height twin-face sheepskin wiith both sides processed to the highest standards. Supple suede leather on the outside and cosy fleece on the inside provides cushioning and insulation.
•Your old insoles can easily be replaced with a plush new pair of Sheepskin Inner Soles.
•Moulded heel cup. •The sheepskin is reinforced with cowhide at heel to add strength and hold shape.
•The tough EVA sole gives excellent traction and durability and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
•A mid calf height boot.
If you are unsure of what size to order the easiest way is to measure your foot accurately from the tip of your longest toe to the back edge of your heel in centimetres.
From your centimetre foot length scroll along the table to find the correct size that you should be ordering.
It is recommended that as 1/2 sizes are not available, order one size up to the next available shoe size.
Note that it is quite normal for sheepskin footwear to be tight fitting when they are new. After a little wear the wool will begin to matt down into the shape of your foot and and the fitting will loosen.