text:
Houston Texans 2012 Season Preview
By | Sports Network
For the first time in the franchise's short history, the Houston Texans enter a season as the favorite to win the AFC South.
There's mainly one reason for that distinction: a menacing defense.
Despite having to learn coordinator Wade Phillips' 3-4 scheme on the fly a year ago, the Texans finished second in the NFL in total defense and fourth in points allowed, helping the team to its first-ever playoff berth. With a full offseason and training camp to fully absorb Phillips' system this year, the sky's the limit for the upcoming 2012 campaign.
The Texans busted out with 10 wins en route to an AFC South title last year and defeated Cincinnati in their playoff debut. The run came to an abrupt end, however, when Houston gave up 17 points off four turnovers against Baltimore in an AFC Divisional Playoff.
"We had a lot of chances but we hurt ourselves with turnovers," then-rookie quarterback T.J. Yates said afterward. "Our defense did a great job all game long. We have to protect the ball."
The defense is just one of the building blocks Houston will use to make a possible postseason run last even longer in 2012. Yates was filling in for injured starter Matt Schaub, who appeared in just 10 games and led the Texans to a 7-3 start until a Lisfranc injury ended his season. Yates immediately fit in when both Schaub and now former backup Matt Leinart both went down, doing a fantastic job in keeping the Texans remain focused on their goals, and gives the team a reliable fill-in in case Schaub can't stay healthy.
A healthy Schaub for 16 games would give this team an even better chance of topping the accomplishments of 2011. He has the potential to be an elite quarterback and has the weapons around him to do it. However, All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson was limited to seven games because of hamstring problems last season and missed time this preseason with a groin injury, though he's expected to be ready for the regular-season opener against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 9.
Johnson is arguably the most complete receiver in the game and makes the Texans even better when he's on the field.
Houston did lose some players in the offseason, including defensive stalwarts Mario Williams (to Buffalo) and DeMeco Ryans (to Philadelphia). The Texans may not be too concerned with the losses, however, because Williams played in just five games due to injury in 2011 and Ryans was recovering from an Achilles' tear.
With those two departing, linebacker Brian Cushing is the next man up as far as being a leader both on and off the field.
"I think they all look to Cush as a leader," Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said. "Is Brian being asked to be more of a leader since DeMeco is not here? I think that's obvious, yeah."
Cushing led the defense with 114 tackles as Houston finished third against the pass and fourth against the run. The Texans also set a franchise record with 44 sacks, 11 1/2 coming from outside linebacker Connor Barwin.
Nose tackle Earl Mitchell said the team draws inspiration from Cushing's relentless style.
"When you watch him play, you feed off his energy," Mitchell said. "When the play is over with, he's always in the vicinity of the ball. You basically want to mirror that type of play, and you envision yourself doing what he's doing. The coaches are always pointing him out on film."
Since Cushing and the Texans played so well last season, they will have tougher schedule for 2012, with interesting matchups against Denver, the New York Jets, Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit and New England highlighting the slate.
The Texans, who won seven in a row from Oct. 23-Dec. 11 en route to the first double-digit season of victories in team annals, have been tested before, however, and should be ready for whatever challenge lies ahead.
Below we take a capsule look at the 2012 edition of the Texans, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:
2011 RECORD: 10-6 (1st, AFC South)
LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2011, lost to Baltimore in AFC Divisional Playoff
COACH (RECORD): Gary Kubiak (47-49 in six seasons)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Rick Dennison (third season with Texans)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Wade Phillips (second season with Texans)
OFFENSIVE STAR: Arian Foster, RB (1224 rushing yards, 53 receptions, 12 total TD)
DEFENSIVE STAR: Brian Cushing, ILB (114 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 INT)
2011 OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 13th overall (2nd rushing, 18th passing), tied 10th scoring (23.8 ppg)
2011 DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 2nd overall (4th rushing, 3rd passing), 4th scoring (17.4 ppg)
KEY ADDITIONS: ILB Bradie James (from Cowboys), K Randy Bullock (5th Round, Texas A&M), P Donnie Jones (from Rams), QB John Beck (from Redskins), RB Justin Forsett (from Seahawks), FB Moran Norris (from 49ers), WR Keshawn Martin (4th Round, Michigan State), WR DeVier Posey (3rd Round, Ohio State), ILB Omar Gaither (from Panthers), OLB Whitney Mercilus (1st Round, Illinois), CB Alan Ball (from Cowboys)
KEY DEPARTURES: TE Joel Dreessen (to Broncos), RG Mike Brisiel (to Raiders), RT Eric Winston (to Chiefs), ILB DeMeco Ryans (to Eagles), OLB Mario Williams (to Bills), K Neil Rackers (to Redskins), QB Matt Leinart (to Raiders), QB Jake Delhomme (free agent), RB Derrick Ward (retired), FB Lawrence Vickers (to Cowboys), WR Jacoby Jones (to Ravens), DE Tim Bulman (to Patriots), CB Jason Allen (to Bengals), S Dominique Barber (free agent), P Matt Turk (free agent)
QB: Schaub (2479 passing yards, 15 TD, 6 INT in 2010) ended last season on injured reserve with a foot injury suffered against Tampa Bay in November, but is back at full strength ready to lead Houston's dynamic offense. The former Virginia standout is heading into a contract year and would enjoy nothing more than to stay healthy for a full slate and lead the team into the postseason for a second consecutive year. The Texans rallied around Yates (949 passing yards, 3 TD, 3 INT) while Schaub was on the sidelines, and the youngster should have no issues stepping again if needed. The coaches believe in Yates, and that was cemented after his touchdown pass to Kevin Walter with two seconds to play in a late-season win at Cincinnati that clinched the team's first division title and playoff berth. Schaub, who led the league in passing in 2009 with 4,770 yards, will have a chance to grab back the spotlight, but still must prove he can play a full 16-game schedule again like he did the two previous seasons. John Beck (858 passing yards, 2 TD, 4 INT), who flopped in a a brief starting stint with Washington last year, was signed in the offseason as insurance.
RB: The Texans finished behind only Denver in rushing yards a year ago, mainly because of running back Arian Foster (1224 rushing yards, 10 TD). The Pro Bowl selection may have been able to match or exceed his career-high total of 1,616 yards set in 2010, but missed three games last season because of a hamstring issue. The talented back, who also caught 53 passes for a career-best 617 yards in 2011, was rewarded with a contract extension reportedly worth $43.5 million with $20.75 million in guarantees over five years. Foster made his second consecutive Pro Bowl and was named second-team All-Pro as well after leading the NFL with an average of 141.6 yards from scrimmage per game, a number which will be hard to duplicate. Over the last two seasons, he leads the league with 4,061 yards from scrimmage, 30 total touchdowns and 26 rushing scores. Ben Tate (942 rushing yards, 4 TD) is an admirable backup who will spell Foster at times. He could probably start on most teams around the league and ran for 100-plus yards four times in 2011. The Texans added running back Justin Forsett (145 rushing yards with Seattle) in the offseason to round out the corps.
WR: Johnson (33 receptions, 2 TD) hasn't been the most durable player lately, as he has missed 12 regular-season games the past two seasons, but can stretch the field with his speed and has a big body to boot, making it awfully difficult for defensive backs to match up. Possessing a calm demeanor away from the game, Johnson is a monster on the field when healthy, which the Texans hope could be the case in 2012. He only caught 33 passes in 2011 after an 86-reception campaign over 13 games the year before. Johnson led the NFL in receiving yards in 2008 and 2009 and has three 100-yard catch seasons in his career, but his health is a concern at age 31. After Johnson, the Texans pretty much have nothing to brag about at the wide receiver spot. Tight end Owen Daniels led the team with 54 catches for 677 yards and Foster was second with 53 receptions for 617 yards. Jacoby Jones is now with Baltimore and Walter (39 receptions, 3 TD) still has yet to really break out when given the opportunity. DeVier Posey (3rd Round, Ohio State) and Keshawn Martin (4th Round, Michigan State) were drafted back in April and could make an impact.
TE: Joel Dreessen led the Texans with six receiving touchdowns a year ago, though that probably wouldn't have been the case had Johnson been able to stay healthy, but signed with Denver as a free agent, which means Daniels (54 receptions, 3 TD) may be asked to take an even greater role this season. He and Dreessen often lined up together, often to serve as blockers for Houston's rabid ground attack. Garrett Graham is expected to fill the void Dreessen left as Daniels' backup. Daniels was sixth among AFC tight ends in receiving yards and catches, and second in the conference with 75.9 percent of his catches going for first downs. James Casey will also see action at the position in addition to serving as Houston's main fullback, while undrafted rookie tight ends Phillip Supernaw and Logan Brock are long shots to make the roster.
OL: The Texans lost two starting offensive linemen in right tackle Eric Winston and right guard Mike Brisiel, leaving training camp and preseason games as competition for the open spots. Houston rode its offensive line to the best rushing performance in team history last year, but that could change if some new faces fail to keep the bar high. The top candidates to replace those spots are Rashad Butler (right tackle) and Antoine Caldwell (right guard). Rookie Brandon Brooks (3rd Round, Miami-Ohio) and Derek Newton also are expected to compete for playing time along the front line. While opening holes for Foster is important, protecting Schaub and helping maintain time of possession are keys as well. Schaub has a history of injuries and is one good lick from being on the sidelines again. Center Chris Myers, left guard Wade Smith and left tackle Duane Brown are returning starters, with Myers becoming the first offensive lineman in team history to be selected to the Pro Bowl. He was the leader of a unit that helped the Texans set a club record with 2,448 rushing yards in the regular season and has started 64 consecutive regular-season games since joining the Texans in a trade with Denver in 2008.
DL: The Texans had the No. 4 rushing defense in the league last season, allowing 96.4 yards per game on the ground, and excelled despite having to deal with two of the top backs in the league in Jacksonville's Maurice Jones- Drew and Tennessee's Chris Johnson twice a year. The 3-4 system can seem difficult to execute effectively against the run, but Houston has proven otherwise. End J.J. Watt (56 tackles, 5.5 sacks) had an interception return for a score in a playoff win over Cincinnati and is poised for another productive season following strong rookie debut. He did sustain a dislocated left elbow in training camp, but indications are that he will be ready to go for Week 1 of the season. Fellow end Antonio Smith (25 tackles, 6.5 sacks) got to the quarterback the most among the defensive lineman, setting a career-best in sacks, and is also a captain valued for his leadership. Nose tackle Shaun Cody (23 tackles, 1 sack), a pure run stuffer who started every game in 2011, completes the top group. Jared Crick was selected out of Nebraska in the fourth round of April's draft to help out at defensive end, while Mitchell (27 tackles, sack) and end Tim Jamison (19 tackles, 2 sacks) should have key roles in the rotation up front.
LB: The linebacker position is the biggest strength of the Texans, led by Cushing (114 tackles, 4 sacks) and Barwin (47 tackles, 11.5 sacks). The latter finished with a team high in sacks, while Cushing was the Texans' MVP on defense for his high motor and quickness to the ball. He will be looked on as the leader of the defense with Ryans now in Philadelphia. Named a team captain at midseason and second-team All-Pro at year's end, Cushing is expected to move to the weak side this season, which could further boost his numbers and give him more chances to rattle the quarterback. After Williams went down with an injury, Barwin tied for the NFL lead with 9 1/2 sacks from Week 9 through the end of the season. He also topped the Texans with 27 quarterback hits and had seven passes defensed. Brooks Reed (45 tackles, 6 sacks) will start opposite of Barwin at left outside linebacker and is coming off a solid rookie year, while ex-Cowboy Bradie James (44 tackles) was signed to start next to Cushing on the inside. Houston brought in another pass rusher with the first- round selection of Illinois outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus, while returnees Darryl Sharpton, Bryan Braman, Jesse Nading and Tim Dobbins will all be fighting to get on the field in Phillips' defense.
DB: The Texans lost a good defensive back in Jason Allen, who finished tied for the team lead in interceptions with four, after he signed with Cincinnati in the offseason. Cornerback Johnathan Joseph (44 tackles, 4 INT) came from the Bengals prior to the 2011 campaign and played well in his first season with Houston, appearing in 15 games and making the Pro Bowl. Kareem Jackson (42 tackles, 1 INT) will have to step up for the loss of Allen on the opposite side of Joseph, and was a first-round pick in 2010. His coverage ability has come into question, but it didn't seem to have a negative effect a year ago, when Houston was third overall in pass defense. Brian McCain (28 tackles, 2 INT) and free-agent pickup Alan Ball (37 tackles, 1 INT) will be ready to step in when needed in nickel packages. Ball spent his first five seasons with Dallas and is familiar with Phillips' system. Strong safety Glover Quin (77 tackles) was second behind Cushing in stops and free safety Danieal Manning (59 tackles, 2 INT) is entering his second season with the Texans. Houston has plenty of depth in the secondary, which brings great competition.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Punter Matt Turk is gone. leaving Donnie Jones (44.3 avg.) as the top candidate to replace him. Jones is a veteran who signed with the team in March after previously playing in St. Louis, and will be pushed by Brett Hartmann, though he is suspended for the first three games of the year because of a failed drug test and is coming off a torn ACL from the end of last season. Hartmann played in 12 games and made 58 punts, averaging 44.4 yards. Rookie Randy Bullock (5th Round, Texas A&M) and Shayne Graham will be competing for the kicking job with Neil Rackers now in Washington. Jacoby Jones was the primary punt returner, and now that job could go to reserve safety Quintin Demps. Manning is a candidate to return kicks and averaged 27.4 yards on 13 runbacks a season ago, but could get bumped from those duties because of his importance on defense. The rookie Martin returned both kicks and punts at Michigan State and will compete for both jobs, while Jon Weeks is expected to remain as the club's long snapper.
PROGNOSIS: Can the defense match the effort from 2011? Will Johnson and Schaub stay healthy enough to compete for a full season? Those are just a few of the questions for the Texans heading into the new campaign. Houston was able to persevere through hard times last year, when a few vital pieces went down, but it's uncertain if they could pull it off a second year in a row if faced with the same amount of adversity. Winning the AFC South with a 10-6 mark set the bar to alpine heights for 2012, but it was more than enough to give Kubiak and general manager Rick Smith contract extensions. Foster got his new deal, too, and will once again be the centerpiece to the Houston offense. How he goes will dictate how far the Texans go. Even though the team lost a few key players in the offseason, look for Houston to dominate the weaker AFC South for another 10-plus wins and possibly make an even deeper run in the postseason.


On 3 January 2019, Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) met with Mr. Piriya Khempon, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to China at ACC Secretariat, and exchanged views on promoting Thailand-China and ASEAN-China cooperation. Mr. Mongkol Visitstump, Deputy Chief of Mission of Royal Thai Embassy to China, Ms. Wang Hongliu, Director of General Affairs and Coordination Division of ACC and Ms. Kong Roatlomang, Director of Education, Culture and Tourism Division of ACC attended the meeting.
Secretary-General Chen Dehai thanked the Royal Thai Embassy in China for the long time support to ACC. He briefed on ACC's work plan in 2019 and hoped to further strengthen cooperation with the Embassy during Thailand's chairmanship of ASEAN, so as to jointly advance the ASEAN-China friendly exchanges and practical cooperation.
Ambassador Piriya spoke highly of ACC's role in promoting ASEAN-China practical cooperation. He said the Embassy will continue to support ACC's work, and expected to enhance communication and coordination with ACC, through jointly carrying out various activities to further expand the cooperation and inject new momentum to the development of ASEAN-China strategic partnership.


Well, well, well……I have been meaning to post up some of the photos from our honeymoon and never got around to it, until now!
Not only were the ports all amazing but everything on the ship was equally as amazing. We had a balcony cabin which made for perfect mornings when sailing into port and evenings under the moonlight in the open ocean. Oh yea, the food was great too!


WASHINGTON — The presidents of historically black colleges and universities are nearly done with their trip here to the nation's capital — including a quickly arranged meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office.
Trump, according to a half dozen people in the room, said that the HBCU leaders made up the largest group he'd seen in the room.
"You people are doing an amazing job," four people in the room recalled Trump saying. Two of them said Trump repeated the complimentary refrain three times. They all said the comments raised eyebrows, and it was discussed afterward even as others just said it was Trump being Trump.
One college president from a Southern state said they heard the president make the "you people" comment but said that he was hardened to such sayings after growing up in the Jim Crow South.
Trump "was praising the amazing work of HBCU presidents… he was laughing and shaking hands and meeting each of the presidents," she wrote in an email.
A half dozen college presidents and HBCU advocates spoke to BuzzFeed News on the condition that their names be withheld because they feared reprisals from the White House.
The HBCU officials are currently seeking added support from the administration amid sagging enrollments, crumbling infrastructure, and a lack of opportunity and tools for students to be more competitive in the current economy. The visit — and quick photo opportunity — has drawn scrutiny; Trump is viewed very unfavorably by black Americans, according to polling in recent weeks.
Nearly all of the college presidents acknowledged the opportunity possibly offered them the bounce needed to bring their priorities to Capitol Hill.
Asked about the Oval Office experience, another college president said he had not enjoyed it much because they were hustled in and out so quickly.


California is in the midst of an historic drought, now the worst in recorded history. It has not been managed well. Reservoirs are drying up. Crops are wilting in the fields. For the first time ever, towns and cities will face a mandatory 25 percent cut in their water use. Even those holding the oldest rights are facing cutbacks. That is the short-term problem. But there is a long-term problem faced by California and much of the rest of the world –- how to manage a complex water system that is increasingly under pressure.
Designed piecemeal over the last century, going back to a time when Los Angeles had one-sixth its current population, California's system for managing water doesn't just make it tough to deal with shortages — in some ways, it encourages inefficiencies and waste. But even if one were free to design a new system, achieving sensible ground water management would be a complex undertaking due to a variety of reasons: the current over prescription of use, interaction between surface and ground water, variability of climate, need for an extensive monitoring and enforcement system, ownership views of overlying users, the amount of cooperation needed on regional scales, etc.
How should one design and implement a new system for water management? This is partly a climate issue, partly an engineering issue, partly an economic issue, and partly a political issue. It requires co-ordination across a number of disciplines.


Small problems can occur on a daily basis. Systems failing to function properly, an inability to log into email, power outages, and many more problems can happen. In these scenarios, we are available to help you troubleshoot and resolve the problem as quickly as possible. These problems can cost you a significant amount of money, as it will reduce the efficiency of your business's functions.
Even small daily issues can add up to a significant amount of time loss. If issues are recurring, it will be better to find a permanent solution rather than deal with the problem day after day. Small issues must also be resolved quickly before they become larger issues that will require even more maintenance.
The use of our manual help desk can aid in reducing the amount of downtime your employees have while trying to solve a technological problem. When you provide employees with a centralized point of contact for their IT support, it can reduce the amount of time they spend attempting to find solutions for their problems. The help desk will allow them to receive live support from our office directly through the use of their computers.
We are available to provide technical support over the phone or in person, but the most convenient option is usually to obtain support through our manual help desk. This will allow your employees to receive the fastest answers possible and get them back to working.
The use of our manual help desk is a convenient, efficient way to solve all of your daily IT support requirements. By providing a simple solution for these small problems, you can reduce the amount of time your employees spend on simple IT solutions. This will help you save money and maximize the efficiency of your business. For more information about our manual help desk, contact us today.


text:
Tag Archives: directors guild of america
The 64th Annual DGA Awards – Winners
Is this the final word in the Best Director category? I think it might just be. The DGA also makes the Academy look stupid (again) for their bizarre final collection of Best Documentary nominees. They pretty much say it all here:
"The DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film has traditionally been one of the industry's most accurate barometers for who will win the Best Director Academy Award. Only six times since the DGA Awards began in 1948 has the Feature Film winner not gone on to win the corresponding Academy Award. The six exceptions are as follows:
1968: Anthony Harvey won the DGA Award for The Lion in Winter while Carol Reed took home the Oscar® for Oliver!
1972: Francis Ford Coppola received the DGA's nod for The Godfather while the Academy selected Bob Fosse for Cabaret.
1985: Steven Spielberg received his first DGA Award for The Color Purple while the Oscar® went to Sydney Pollack for Out of Africa.
1995: Ron Howard was chosen by the DGA for his direction of Apollo 13 while Academy voters selected Mel Gibson for Braveheart.
2000: Ang Lee won the DGA Award for his direction of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon while Steven Soderbergh won the Academy Award for Traffic.
2002: Rob Marshall won the DGA Award for Chicago while Roman Polanski received the Academy Award for The Pianist."
Anyway, check out the winners of the two film categories below: Continue reading →
Posted in Home, Oscar Chat & Awards Season
Tagged 2012, 64th annual dga awards, awards season, directors guild of america, film, james marsh, january, michel hazanavicius, oscar race, oscars, project nim, the artist

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Dr. SURAJ GERARD SIVAPRASAD has over 20 years of experience in corporate planning and sales in the Energy, Power and Telecommunications sectors. His association with Telecoms began in March 1999 with MYCOM International where he was the Regional Business Development Director for Asia Pacific and subsequently Country Manager for PT. MYCOM Networks Indonesia where he took on P&L and overall responsibility for the Company's Asia Pacific Operations. He also brings operator experience to the table, having spent time with Maxis in Malaysia as Head of Commercial Partnerships. His experience with Telco Analytics started in 2012 with Actix Ltd, followed in 2014 with Carrier IQ where as Vice President for Asia Pacific, he seeded Device level Analytics into the Asian Telcos before Carrier IQ was bought out by AT&T in early 2016.
The Operations Management Team comprises of a team of talented and seasoned professionals who oversee the day-to-day operations of the company. The Management Team is based out of multiple locations where the company has its offices. The Management Team oversees the functions of Technology Development, Sales & Marketing, Finance, HR and Process Excellence.


Use the form below to contact tour Portugal N2 End Touring Bike Holiday directly.
Upon your arrival in the Algarve, we will transfer to your first hotel in Faro so that you are at the start of the route for the first days cycling. If you decide not to bring your own bike and require a hire bike, then we will organise a bike fit for you en route to the hotel.
Heading out of Faro on the N2, you will soon leave behind the town traffic and head up some steady climbs past Estoi and up towards the old Portuguese town of Sao Bras de Alportel. From there the road up to Barranco do Velho is a cyclists delight, twists and turns leading through pine forests and some magnificent scenery . Excellent views back to the coast if you get a chance to look back. From Barranco do Velho you pass the high point of todays ride ( around 580 m ), offering splendid views over the Serra do Caldeirão protected area and then gradually descend via Ameixal with views over to the Alentejo plains to the north . Gradually descending towards Almodovar your destination for the day .
Todays ride is longer day in terms of kms, but with gentler climbs allowing some shorter days for the tougher climbing days ahead. Initially crossing typical Alentejo rolling countryside passing fields of cork oaks and agricultural land, with many Olive tree plantations , even including the occasional vineyard for which the Alentejo is of course famous .
Todays ride continues across the rolling Alentejo plains via the olive groves and vineyards towards one of the regions major wine producing centre – Montemor O Novo. There are possibilities to visit one or two vineyards in the vicinity and of course the chance to sample some of the local produce.
Continuing along the N2 towards the Barragem de Montargil, a steady days riding passing a few small towns along the way, some rolling hills before arriving at the side of the Barragem. Our chosen hotel for the night is close by the lake and offer splendid views out over the lake.
Cycling alongside the barragem for the first 10kms or so the views are spectacular, continuing north toward the Tejo river and the town of Abrantes. We take a small detour from the N2 along the river Tejo to the small town of Pego our destination for the day.
Heading north from Abrantes leads to some climbing up towards todays highest point of around 500m before some descents and more climbing then arriving in the destination town for today Serta. Just before we reach Serta, we pass through the town of Vila de Rei which is recognised as the exact geographical centre of Portugal.
With more climbing into the hills todays ride takes in the famous schist villages of the Gois area, characterised by the houses made of the schist rock from the area. This is spectacular walking and biking territory with the scenery and hills that are to be expected .
A day to relax and explore the beautiful scenery and character of this famous area.
A more challenging day with more hills as we pass towards the Parque Natural da Serra de Estrela, a 101 thousand hectare nature park, it is the largest and first ever nature park created in Portugal. Climbing towards 780 metres, todays ride offers some splendid views of the surrounding countryside as well as plenty of challenges along the way.
From Tondela, there is more climbing in on the road towards the city of Viseu a regional capital and economic hub. Viseu is also a wine industry centre as well as being a cultural centre so well worth a stop along the way. The destination for todays ride is Carvalhal, a famous spa town set in a beautiful valley.
From Carvalhal, there is a long steady climb for around 22 kms up to the highest point along the entire N2 at around 973 metres above sea level. From this high point the remainder of the ride is a descent down to the Douro valley taking some 27kms or so to descend 900 metres down to the river at Peso da Regua at the heart of the famous vine growing region.
The final days starts with a climb out of the valley and then up and over more hills towards Vila Real. There's quite a lot of climbing on a shorter cycling day as we pass through the city of Vila Real the capital of the Tras os Montes province. Vila Real is a quiet university town with plenty to see of historical and architectural interest and a good place to rest a while before continuing the remainder of the climb up to Vila Pouca de Auiar.
A short final days cycling and mostly downhill to the final destination and the end of the N2 at a roundabout on the edge of Chaves. With plenty to see and do in Vila Pouca de Aguiar and also in Chaves, a late start or an early finish is your choice for the last day.
We will collect you in Chaves and return you and your bikes to your starting point in the Algarve. Alternatively if you have plans to fly out of Porto or Lisbon, we can accommodate those requirements also.


text:
United Way is a worldwide network in 40 countries and territories, including more than 1,200 local organizations in the U.S. It advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the three key building blocks of education, income and health. United Way recruits people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. LIVE UNITED® is a call to action for everyone to become a part of the change. For more information about United Way, please visit: http://www.unitedway.org/
More than 15 years ago, United Way of North Carolina and the ACC joined forces in the first ever collegiate advertising campaign focused on student athletes giving back to their local communities. Today, the campaign has grown and features athletes from the 12 ACC conference schools as they LIVE UNITED through volunteer work in their local communities. Learn more at http://www.theacc.com/page/UnitedWay
USA TODAY Charitable Foundation
The USA TODAY Charitable Foundation proudly supports and builds alliances that enhance innovative, instructional programs and community outreach by providing the resources to promote opportunities and inspire all. The Foundation has established educational programs to provide timely, relevant information to integrate into todays classrooms. Instructional resources are designed to reach out to young people and to connect them to the real world by heightening their awareness of the communities in which they live. For additional information about the USA TODAY Charitable Foundation visit: https://www.literacyworldwide.org/about-us/foundation
Home | About | Students | Teachers | Volunteers | Competition | Partners | Additional Resources


text:
El ingenio de la escalera (l'esprit de l'escalier)
El ingenio de la escalera (l'esprit de l'escalier)
2014 | Hungary, Mexico | Black & White | 9 min.
Denis Diderot coined a term for when the perfect answer to a question or a sudden situation comes to you but it's too late to say it: l'esprit de l'escalier. This is usually followed by feelings of uneasiness and disappointment.
Direction: Garza, Luis R.
Script: Garza, Luis R.
Country: Hungary, Mexico
Production: Garza, Luis R.
Production Company: Fumar Es Causa Cine
Photography: Garza, Luis R.
Edition: Garza, Luis R.
Sound: Garza, Luis R.
Music: Bryk, Karol | Silva, Celeste
Cast: Peto, ̈Kata | Stumpert, Lionel
Films by the same director presented at FICM:
Oh Love… Blind, Eternal and Spiritful Such as Abandonment! (2003)


text:
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    tools:context=".OAuthActivity" >

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/button"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="start OAuth" />

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView1"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_alignLeft="@+id/button"
        android:layout_below="@+id/button"
        android:text="@string/pin_code_input" />

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/pin_code_button"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_alignRight="@+id/button"
        android:layout_below="@+id/textView1"
        android:layout_marginTop="10dp"
        android:text="OK" />

    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/pin_code_edit"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_alignBottom="@+id/pin_code_button"
        android:layout_alignLeft="@+id/textView1"
        android:ems="10" >
    </EditText>

</RelativeLayout>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Juju: Proud of her "pink" crown.
Mowgli: More interested in eating off the stickers.
Coco: Wasn't quite sure what to do with his. He attempted to flush it down the toilet but was put on the right track by his big sister.
One of the rare days when I managed to do craft with the kids and it didn't end in disaster.


text:
Tyler Cole Says Everyone Is Kind of a Fuckboy
Sep 6, 2016 @ 8:00 pm By Ashley Uzer
If you pay any attention to young LA cool kids, you've probably heard of Tyler Cole. But when he's not being stalked by J-14 reporters who are trying to decide if he's really dating Willow Smith or not, he's making a shitload of art.
Tyler Cole has a solo music career, and has been touring LA all summer with his band, Mourning Knights. When he's not making jams, he's directing music videos or writing screenplays.
Oh, and he also was busy organizing his crystals while we talked to him about how his Instagram feed plays into his emotions, why he likes to put on Space Odyssey on first dates, and why everybody has their fuckboy moments.
We're actually super obsessed with the song "Pray For Me." It starts off really slow and gets really passionate. Can you tell us what the song is about?
I made it when I found out some news about my dad, I actually don't have a personal relationship with him. I actually found out from someone in my family that he went to prison for a really long time. I guess he's still there, but I have no way of knowing any of the details. So it was kind of just like, being unsure about things.
If there was a Tyler Cole Pandora station, what other artists would be on it?
Oh wow. Okay, you'd get some Blood Orange, some Prince and Michael Jackson, if they're even allowed to be on Pandora. You'd get some Pink Floyd and Beatles, and like some Outkast "The Love Below." I'm really inspired by classic rock and really alternative stuff.
What does the word fuckboy mean to you?
Someone who just like, takes things out of context. Someone who will just take things to a level where it doesn't need to be and has no chill.
Lots of musicians are dubbed "fuckboys," have you ever done anything fuckboy-esque before?
I've done so many things fuckboy-esque, I think everyone has done some fuckboy shit. Have you ever heard of Run The Jewels? They use the term fuckboy a lot that's where I started using it from. I'll credit them.
Your Instagram is almost all black and white, what was the reasoning behind that decision?
I've always been really interested in film, and I just loved the look of black and white. And also, it's kind of a thing where my mom is white and my dad's black and I've always felt overly borderline. Not that they're categories or anybody should be categorized by race, but it's a really insufferable feeling, feeling like I have to be categorized. That my music's not black enough, I don't talk about ignorant shit. But my music's not white enough because I rap. People like to categorize, so that's kind of how I feel about that. I know I took that so far off, but like, black and white is kind of an emotion to me.
Have you ever heard the song "Black & White" by The Neighborhood?
Yeah, I have.
You just reminded me of that.
Really? That's funny. Or like Michael Jackson's "Black & White," it's a universal thing but it's hard for people to resonate [with it]. I think colors relate to emotions so much, like for example Frank Ocean's "Channel Orange." Like orange to him, at least from what I remember him saying, is that orange is like zen or inner peace. That's what he was trying to achieve, the emotions that the album gave. Regardless, he was trying to relate the color to an emotion and people can relate to that.
So what's your favorite color then?
A strong purple.
I've always loved purple because in elementary school the whole boy color and girl color thing, I thought it was dumb as fuck so I was just like, "I like purple, fuck you guys." It also represents royalty, which has nothing to do with it, but fun fact. Also Whoopi Goldberg is awesome. I'm holding an amethyst right now, it's purple as fuck.
What? Why?
I was actually looking for all these crystals… I have a lot of crystals, but I can't find so many of them all the time. I was getting all the ones I have in this drawer. So I just picked up this big amethyst my grandma gave me and I've been holding it this whole time without realizing it.
What's your favorite social media platform?
Instagram definitely. Twitter is funny, but Instagram, I can post a picture and not say anything and it can speak for itself whereas on Twitter if you just post a picture it's not as powerful. Twitter goes by so fast, it amazes me how much shit you can miss by just not being on Twitter. It's really messy, but I think it's amazing how you can just spit out basic ideas, it's just an idea platform.
You're also in a band, Mourning Knights, what's your role in that?
My band is definitely a huge focus, I've been playing shows with them all summer. I'm the first rhythm guitarist and the lead vocalist in the band. And along with my friends Jesse, Gitai, and Oren who play bass, lead guitar, and drums. We've been playing shows through LA pretty much all summer. I've been focusing more on that then my own personal stuff at the moment. We're also working on an album as a band and another solo project I have going on.
Mourning Knights captured by Willow Smith
Which member of a band do you think gets laid the most? Why?
I'd say totally either the singer or lead guitarist depending on the band, you know? Like they're some bands like uh, the Arctic Monkeys, everyone loves the lead singer, Alex, but the guitarist is probably getting laid more.
Who's your dream groupie?
Groupie? Oh man, I'm so like, pro-feminism that word makes me feel weird. But like, I don't know. Just anyone who I could get to come to my show. Like if I could get Erykah Badu to show up to my show, that would be awesome.
You seem to have a hand in a bunch of different creative avenues, are there any creative outlets that you would never want to get involved with?
Not a single one. I would love to try everything. I love painting, I'm a pretty bad painter but I love painting. That's just an example, but I don't know. I'm writing my first feature film right now. But I'm just interested in writing which takes you to so many creative avenues. I don't know, just visual art, everything. I would love to experience creating every art in every form, or at least try in some point in my life.
That question resonates because I always get told to choose one and that I have to focus on one. But I am acting right now, I'm creating films and shooting videos, but also creating music heavily. People, even people I respect a lot, are telling me I need to slow down and focus on one, but it's just funny you ask that because that's something that's been on my mind a lot lately.
Yeah I feel like older people in this industry say to focus on one, but I feel like it's changing with social media, it lets you market yourself differently.
I completely agree, look at Kanye West for example. He became super successful in music and is a well-respected person to the point where he can just make his own fashion brand and go into debt and it doesn't even matter because he's going to make his money back. People who have any sort of platform are able to somehow get their foot into another platform so much easier.
So if you had a girl over to Netflix and chill, what movie would you put on?
Netflix is missing so much. I would not Netflix, it would be DVD I own and chill. It would probably be 2001 Space Odyssey because it would tell me so much about the girl.
Either '"this is so boring," and then I probably can't sustain a conversation with her. Or like, she's seen it before, and that's already cool. Or like, never seen it, but fascinated, and that's good. I like the second two.
Cover image taken by Willow Smith


You can count the amount of sneakerheads from New Hampshire on one hand — I know, I'm one of them — but we can now add Mississippi State head football coach Dan Mullen to that list, as he decided to wear a pair of Yeezy Boosts 350s to SEC Media Day. The only problem was that one member of the press didn't think it was such a cool move that Mullen sported the new sneakers with his pinstriped suit.
The reason that Mullen wore the sneakers, he says was because, "[He tries] to have some swag with the sock game and the shoe."
Don't think for a second, though, that Mullen personally got his sneakers from Kanye West. Mississippi State is an adidas school, and that's where his plug lies. "I wish I could say I was tight with Kanye, but I'm more tight with adidas people," he said.
In fact, Mullen just received the sneakers today, as he showed off on Twitter.
To be fair, Forde seems like the one out of touch, not Mullen. As one Twitter user corrected him on what sneakers he was making fun of, Forde boldly replied, "Ugly by any name."
While some might call Mullen a disconnected old guy, I can't find it in my bones to slander him for his sneaker choice. Live Free or Die, right?


One dad just lately took to Reddit to ballot customers concerning their ideas on the ethics of father-daughter dances for school-aged youngsters, as he sees the "creepy" custom as one that may "sexualize the connection between daughter and father." Although the person refused to again down from questioning why the "bizarre archaic" pastime continues to be in style at present, some commenters referred to as out the writer's controversial view, whereas others supported his disdain for the "gross" custom.
Earlier this week, Redditor pfunnk14 took to the social discussion board platform to air his grievances and voice his woes, after getting right into a battle along with his spouse concerning the dances, BuzzFeed Information experiences.
The difficulty started when the writer noticed an advert for a Valentine's Day daddy-daughter dance, which he has been mulling over ever since. Although the couple's daughter is simply 2 years outdated and the state of affairs is theoretical, the person instructed his spouse he disapproved of the observe typically.
Although the couple's daughter is simply two-years-old and the state of affairs is theoretical, the person instructed his spouse he didn't just like the observe typically.
"I can sort of see my spouse's level, however she was so mad I actually did not perceive it," pfunnk14 mentioned.
In an edited word, the dad revealed that his spouse has had a fraught relationship along with her personal father, which possible contributed to her "sensitivity about this subject." He additionally acknowledged that whereas father-daughter dances gained recognition in an period previous, when some fathers didn't have shut bonds with their daughters, he's lucky to already share a detailed relationship along with his 2-year-old tot, as he stays house whereas his spouse works full-time.
After setting the document straight, commenters erupted to share their tackle the story, in a publish that has since gained over 2,000 upvotes and sparked greater than 700 feedback. Some supported pfunnk14's stance, whereas others bashed his perspective.
Others, in the meantime, blasted pfunnk14 for slamming what they believed to be an harmless, healthful custom.
"Valentines is sort of creepy, however I keep in mind going to a Luau themed one with my dad and it's a nice reminiscence," one mentioned.
One sage commenter, in the meantime, eased the strain with some extra balanced recommendation.
"Perhaps there is a non-creepy model of this. There's acquired to be, as a result of a daughter and a dad dancing often invokes tenderness and pleasure. However I would go away it for now, critically," they added.
Pfunnk14 mentioned that was the "greatest recommendation" he'd gotten on the matter and dished that he had personally moved on.
As for issues of the guts, he's nonetheless embarrassed and ashamed that he made his spouse so upset.


A small temple in Phana district is Wat Chaiyatikaramit, which houses several exquisit Lao-style Buddha images. During our visit the Ubosot was under renovation and we were just about to head back, when we asked the abbot of the temple if we could see the image. We were able to pay our respect to several beautiful Buddha images, which the abbot had specially arranged for us to see. A very special moment for us and we enjoyed our long and private conversation with him.


text:
Your premiere online source on Australian actress & singer Toni Collette
Browse Updates
Awards & Nominations (56)
Charity & Causes (3)
Gallery Updates (273)
Press Articles (49)
Public Appearances (83)
Television Alerts (25)
Comedy, Real-Life, Year 2012
Buy & stream on Amazon
Directed by: P.J. Hogan
Written by: P.J. Hogan
Produced by: Jocelyn Moorhouse, Janet Zucker...
A philandering politician (Anthony LaPaglia) with 5 children hires a free-spirited hitchhiker (Toni Collette) after his wife is committed to a mental instituation. Shaz transforms the girls from town jokes into forces to be reckoned with, particularly making a mark on sixteen year old Coral who has never encountered anyone as fearless, cool or reckless before. But Shaz has a secret, and when Coral discovers the real reason Shaz has come to town she must make a decision. Betray her hero, the person who's changed her life - or follow her and become just as crazy.
Cast & Characters
Toni Collette (Sharon Thornbender), Anthony LaPaglia (Barry Moochmore), Kerry Fox (Nancy), Deborah Mailman (Sandra), Rebecca Gibney (Shirley Moochmore), Liev Schreiber (Trevor Blundell), Caroline Goodall (Doris), Lily Sullivan (Coral Moochmore), Bethany Whitmore (Jane Moochmore), Sam Clark (Trout), Nicole Freeman (Leanne Moochmore), Natasha Bassett (Kay), Rob Carlton (Jack), Hayley Magnus (Donna), Chelsea Bennett (Kayleen), Malorie O'Neill (Michelle Moochmore)
Visit Photo Gallery
Production stills, screencaptures, on-set pictures and more
As wild as "Mental" sounds, it's the autobiographical story of director P.J. Hogan himself. The son of a politican, his mother was commited to a mental institution when he was twelve years old. "My dad was running for re-election at the time for the local council, he had her committed… he said no one will vote for a bloke who has a wife that's crazy so you gotta keep quiet about this, and we did. And he was stuck with us, and his default setting was to never come home but one day on his way to work, when he just couldn't take it anymore, he stopped and picked up a hitchhiker, this woman with a dog. Looking back I think he trusted her because of the dog, and we came home from school and there she was sitting on the couch with a hunting knife sticking out of her boot. She basically just said "it's a bit of a mess in here ain't it". She just made us clean, and I think I knew that was the starting point…to this day the real Shaz remains the most inspiring and liberating person I've ever met in my life. And the craziest."
Back in the day when Hogan and Collette filmed "Muriel's Wedding", he told the actress stories about the real Shaz. "I'd tell the tales of Shaz and Toni would say how great a character she was and how it'd make a great movie, I just didn't know how to do it. And she'd always bring it up so when I figured out how to tell the story, committed it to paper, I'd hear Toni's voice as Shaz's voice and then when I thought I got the script right, I sent it to her and thankfully she said yes. The stars lined up, it brought us together at the right time because Toni is only now just old enough to play the part, because the plot requires her to be the age she is and that's exactly Toni's age so I'm glad we had to wait so long." For Hogan, working with Toni Collette again after almost two decades felt "exactly the same. We picked up exactly where we left off. We travelled the world with Muriel. It was both our first films. We were very green. We owe our careers to it. We always talked about working together again, on this project, because I would do Shaz impersonations for her. For me, she was the only person who could play Shaz. She would always say to me, "Where is the script?" I got very nervous, because as the years went by and Toni became more and more famous, particularly after the Oscar nomination and the Emmy wins and the Tony nominations and oh my God. "She won't play this; won't come back to Australia to play this crazy role." But she did. I think because she knew the character so well.
"The thing about Toni is," Hogan continues, "I knew she'd get the part; she always got the part because she's from Blacktown, in Sydney's western suburbs. She's known those tough broads who've had really tumultuous lives but come out stronger, but a little vulnerable. That was the essence of Shaz. Seemingly strong, but a little weak. Past the knife, and past the "I'll take you on," there's vulnerability there; a need. And a madness. It was a very difficult role for Toni. She makes things look easy though. You look at that role on paper, it's a tough, tough role, and Toni just absolutely nails it. And you never catch her acting, which I love about Toni's work.
"Mental" has been widely promoted as a "Muriel's Wedding" reuinion, since it marks the first time in almost twenty years that director P.J. Hogan and Toni Collette helm a project again. But the similarities to their 1994 classic stop quite early. The setting seems familiar however – a bunch of odd kids suffering of their politician father and a crazy mother. Still, it would be unfair to draw comparisons between two films. "Mental" stands on its own, although not as timeless or memorable as its predecessor. The film's main problem is that it doesn't know where to go. At first the "Shaz" character feels like a fantasy character who you wouldn't meet in real life, let alone allow into your house. But as soon as her character is revealed with own problems close to home – literally – the film's setting is beginning to feel too far-fetched. Towards the end, the original setting feels scattered and you're not sure whether Shaz has brought more love to this family, or even more suffering. That being said, "Mental" is still solid entertainment – although times too profane and outrageous to ring true. But Toni Collette commands the film with a performance that requires both the craziness and the quite moments – she succeeds at both. As does the rest of the cast, which is equally good.
☆ Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts – Best Lead Actress
☆ Australian Film Critics Association Awards – Best Actress
A woman (Toni Collette), whose race horse rises through the ranks, is pitted against the racing elite in a race for the national championship. Releases September 4, 2020 in the United Kingdom & Ireland.
Recent & Upcoming Projects
Releases September 4, 2020 on Netflix
Directed by Charlie Kaufman. An unexpected detour causes a woman who is trying to figure out how to break up with her boyfriend to rethink her life.
Awaiting theatrical release in 2021
A stowaway on a mission to Mars sets off a series of unintended consequences. Starring Anna Kendrick, Toni Collette, Daniel Dae Kim & Shamier Anderson.
Nightmare Alley
In Guillermo del Toro's remake of the 1947 film classic, a corrupt con-man teams up with a female psychiatrist to trick people into giving them money.
Pieces of Her
Netflix series, announced for 2021
Netflix adapts Karin Slaughter's best-selling novel "Pieces of Her" into an 8-part miniseries, starring Toni Collette as a mother haunted by her past.
About Toni Collette Online
Toni Collette Online is an unofficial fan site for actress Toni Collette, run by the fans, for the fans. We have no contact with Miss Collette herself or her management in any way. Toni Collette Online does not post any kind of private information, photos or gossip pertaining to Toni's private life. We do not claim ownership of any photos, videos, audio or press articles featured anywhere on the site. All published material is © their respective owners and no copyright infringement is intended. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any concerns.
Toni Collette Online | www.tonicollette.org | Maintained & Designed by Frederik | Powered by Wordpress | Hosted by Flaunt Network | Read DMCA


text:
Authentic training in Buddhist meditation
Visiting the 'Resplendent isle' – Kamani's blog from Sri Lanka
About Kagyu Dechen Buddhism North West
Kagyu Buddhism community
Kamani's photo blog from Sri Lanka
This tropical island of coconut palm fringed beaches has many things to offer, but most importantly it is the home to Buddha's teachings (Dharma). The Dharma was brought to Sri Lanka by Arahat Mahinda, son of Emperor Asoka of India, in the 3rd Century BC. The Theravada form of Buddhism became firmly established and has thrived ever since.
In visiting Sri Lanka I am returning to the birthplace of my parents who first taught me the Dharma. White domed stupas and temples abound on this tiny island where 72 per cent of the population is Buddhist.
A Journey
Today I am going to visit the ancient Buddhist city of Anuradhapura in the Northeast of Sri Lanka. My auntie and I board the train at Mount Lavinia, by the sea, at 5am. I'm looking forward to seeing the countryside. The last time I went on the train here I was nine years old and as the palm trees and paddy fields flash past I discover the thrill is still there.
I marvel once more at the lush, green vegetation of the countryside. According to Karma Thinley Rinpoche, the Tibetans say that the rivers in Sri Lanka are filled with pearls and all the women are Dakinis (spiritually advanced)!
There are many things to see at Anuradhapura and I wondered how we would do this. However, when we arrive at the station we meet a helpful tuktuk driver, Sugath, who offered to take us round the sites. This ancient sacred city dates back to the 2nd century BC and was the site of several large Buddhist monasteries.
The famous Ruwanwelisaya was a large white Stupa built by the Dharma King Dutugemunu in 140 BC. The white hemispherical dome shines brightly against the blue sky and is famed for the perfection of its architecture. The story of its construction is very inspiring with all the gold, silver and precious gems being provided by the King of the Gods in a day. The Stupa contains relics of the Buddha and, as in Kathmandu, Buddhists come to make offerings to the Stupa and recite prayers.
We visit the Sri Maha Bodhi tree nearby, which came from a sapling of the original tree in Bodh Gaya, under which Buddha attained enlightenment. The sapling was first brought to Sri Lanka by Sanghamitta, daughter of the Indian Emperor Ashoka and was planted in 288 BC, making it the oldest living tree.
Sanghamitta was herself a nun and subsequently ordained the first Buddhist nuns in Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura had several large monasteries and one of these, Abayagiri, had both Theravada and Mahayana monks. Vajrayana was also practised.
It was interesting to see evidence of two tanks beside one another, large enough for the 5000 Abayagiri monks to bathe in. There was a natural water filter and irrigation system which was ingenious. There was also a refectory with a stone juicer and a long rectangular stone receptacle for rice, so they appear to have been well looked after!
We also visit the Vessagiriya cave temple, built by King Devanampiyatissa over 2300 years ago for the monks. At the time there was a shrine room, meditation area, refectory and stupa. There are still depressions visible in the rock where the monks meditated. I am getting used to sitting in caves by now so I take the opportunity to try one out!
For lunch Sugath takes us to a friend of his who very quickly makes some delicious vegetable coconut rotis, using minimal equipment. Later on in the evening, my auntie and I go back to the Ruwanwelisaya Stupa to make offerings and to sponsor lighting of the Stupa on behalf of our parents. It is raining heavily and several dogs are asleep in the butter lamp room where they have taken shelter. Despite the rain, the Stupa looks amazing set against the night sky.
A visit to Mihintale
The next morning and we've arranged for our tuktuk driver to take us to Mihintale. Here King Devanampiyatissa first met Arahat Mahinda, son of King Asoka, and received Dharma teachings which made him the first Buddhist in Sri Lanka. They met under a mango tree where it is said that Arahat Mahinda questioned the King to see if he would be able to understand the Dharma.
There are over a thousand broad steps to the temple complex at the top of the hill. I was able to buy a couple of hats from a local stall to protect us from the heat of the sun. Along the way we saw some beautiful creamy Araliya flowers which are often used as offerings. My auntie told me that the house in Colombo where my father was brought up was called ' Temple Villa' due to the large Araliya trees there.
It's a popular place for Buddhist pilgrims and the final steps to the top are quite steep. I passed families with small children and more elderly relatives all gamely clambering to the top. The panoramic views from the top are quite spectacular.
A visit to Sri Lanka's sacred mountain
Whilst in Kathmandu, Karma Thinley Rinpoche spoke to me about the sacred mountain of Sri Pada, the place where the Buddha left his footprint on his third visit to Sri Lanka. He told me that Guru Rinpoche had also visited Sri Pada and taught the Vajrayana (a tantric form of Buddhism) there so of course I wanted to go! It's a very popular pilgrimage place in Sri Lanka and my father did the climb when he was a young man, along with some friends.
My cousin Manouri who I am staying with was also keen to make the trip and spoke to a family cousin Asela who arranges treks. Being a pilgrimage and also because it was off season and this was our first visit, there were initially some doubts about whether or not the trip would be possible. He came round to see us and finally it was agreed that we would go on the last Thursday of November, which is the full moon day of Poson and also a bank holiday.
The local God of the mountain is called Sumana Saman and we had to agree to be vegetarian with no eggs for the week prior to the trip. We had a vehicle and were joined by some of Asela's friends, including Manju who is one of Sri Lanka's foremost inventors and research scientists. While I was in Anuradhapura they visited a nearby temple to do a puja for Sumana Saman to request his protection for a safe ascent.
Being the monsoon season there was a high chance of rain making conditions potentially challenging. We set off at midnight to make the 5 hour journey to The fishing hut, our starting point in the hills. We arrived at dawn in time to see the sunrise over the hills. As we set off through the forest we soon encountered an onslaught of leeches. These tiny stick like insects were jumping onto my walking boots and forward flipped upwards. Fortunately I had worn my boots but for those with more exposed feet, the leeches had a field day. The salt packs worked very well, but they were certainly persistent! Fortunately once we reached the steps, the leeches abated.
The usual route during the season consists of thousands of rocky steps which are usually filled with a chain of pilgrims right up to the top. As it was off season we took a different route through the forest and joined the steps half way. Asoka, Manouri's husband, subsequently told me this was a very unusual route which most people don't do and had only been open since 2015. We met very few people along the way and enjoyed spectacular views.
Hatton, in the central district of Nuwara Eliya has amazing forests of tall eucalyptus and a variety of teak trees, among others. This area of biodiversity has been recognised as a World heritage site by UNESCO, along with seven other areas including Anuradhapura.
As we continued to climb, the peak of Sri Pada came clearly into view. The peak is over 7000ft and it's a strenuous climb. Previous Sinhala kings have made the ascent and even Marco Polo, it seems. We had glorious views of Castlereagh on the way up, a reservoir of turquoise blue coloured water.
When we finally reached the top we made offerings and sat for a while to meditate. There was a large bell to ring, for those who had made the climb for the first time.
Then it was time to descend down the rocky steps which seemed to go on forever. Every time I thought we were nearly there, I turned the corner to find another flight! We finally got back to the van 11 hours after we started and the rain descended.
Everyone said we had been extremely fortunate with the weather, or perhaps the prayers to Sumana Saman had worked. It had certainly been a memorable journey.
It's been great to return to Sri Lanka, the land of my origins and where Buddhism has been firmly established for many centuries. Despite the political shenanigans, there is strong faith in the Buddha's teachings and he is regarded with great reverence. Shrines to Lord Buddha are frequently passed on the roadside and temples and beautiful white stupas abound. In daily life too, many people attend the temples to make offerings to the Buddha, stupas (representation of the Buddha's mind), the numerous Bodhi trees and the monks. The sounds of pirith chanting (the words of Buddha) are often heard in the mornings either on the radio or outside. Every month the full moon day is a public holiday so that people can go to the temple.
I was happy to see the dharma being kept alive in my family and was fortunate to be able to attend a Dana where monks were invited home for offerings to be made and merit was dedicated to deceased relatives. The monks brought the Buddha's relic casket and a special robe offered by the lay people to the monks during the ceremony of Kathina, to a neighbour's house while I was visiting my cousin Saman and his family in Panadura which is south of Colombo. We were all invited to participate and receive blessings. They lived literally around the corner and I found it amazing that they were able to share the dharma in this way with their neighbours. During Kathina, the lay people look after the monks for the months of the rainy season as, during this period, they are unable to go out and collect alms as they traditionally used to do.
I enjoyed the richness and diversity of Sri Lanka despite it's small size but now it's time to return back to chillier climes. However it's great that in England, as well as further afield, the pure dharma teachings including the path of meditation and wisdom is there for those who are interested. Through the transmission of Mahayana and Vajrayana teachings by Karma Thinley Rinpoche and Lama Jampa Thaye, the path to wisdom and compassion is being made available to all and I feel very fortunate to be a part of that. It will be great to attend the Shedra (series of teachings) this weekend in Manchester and hear Lama Jampa explain the path from beginner to an enlightened being as explained in the ' Jewel Ornament of Liberation' by Gampopa, one of the great forefathers of the Karma Kagyu lineage.
To see more photos of Kamani's time in Sri Lanka, check out this page
To see her blog from Nepal, check out this page


text:
Québec Government Office in Chicago
Quebec Business SPOTTED in the Midwest: DAVIDsTEA in Chicago
Montreal-based company, DAVIDsTEA, was founded in 2008 by tea lover and connoisseur David Segal. Along with his cousin, Herschel Segal, David began changing the nature of tea around Canada. In 2011, DAVIDsTEA made its big move to the United States, starting with a flagship store in New York City, and eventually in 2012, it crossed over to the Mid-West with its first Chicago-based stores.
The DAVIDsTEA" Perfect Mug" is Hannah's favorite product; a well-designed mug, with a tea infuser. This mug is perfect for any tea drinkers, the lid keeps tea hot, while it seeps. Also remove the lid to use as a perfectly sized coaster
Walk into DAVIDsTEA, and instantly it's very apparent that you're no longer in an average tea store anymore. With bright and vibrant colors, and a consistently friendly staff, DAVIDsTEA welcomes in their big city customers, making them feel like they're in a small neighborhood tea shop. Customers can choose from over 150 types of tea, all organic, and grown around the world. Teas are neatly color coded into 8 different categories including; white, green, oolong, pu'erh, mate (etc.). This company is seriously passionate about creating great tasting teas, and finding interesting flavor combinations to amaze even the most skeptical tea drinker.
Recently, the Quebec Delegation had a chance to sit down with two DAVIDsTEA employees; Tiffany Smith, the store manager of DAVIDsTEA's only Naperville location, and Hannah Lewis, DAVIDsTEA's Chicago District Manager. Together we discussed the impact the Quebecois company has had on Chicago, and the delicious tea which has made this company so well-known.
We went to DAVIDsTEA on Michigan Ave to ask two tea experts the importance of having companies like DAVIDsTEA in Chicago. Tiffany Smith described the unique outlook DAVIDsTEA has on tea in comparison to other tea stores. DAVIDsTEA is meant to "de-snob the tea industry and share tea love with everyone" Ms. Smith told us. Really DAVIDsTEA stores welcome and make customers comfortable, which is an important factor for any business in or out of Chicago.
It's evident that DAVIDsTEA is a unique company; however we wanted to know what else made the brand special, especially here in Chicago. Hannah Lewis described the various community organizations DAVIDsTEA is involved with. Including; the Armitage Street Fest, working with various yoga studios around Chicago, and handing out free samples to different university students around Chicago.
DAVIDsTEA leaves are grown around the world! In the United States, a number of tea leaves are grown in Oregon, and the company is the largest organic tea business is North America. Similar to Montreal, DAVIDsTEA in Chicago has its own impact on the surrounding community. Hannah Lewis explained DAVIDsTEA stores are all about the neighborhood. "There are hyper local communities that surround the stores, and create a small town feel." So far, DAVIDsTEA has primarily stayed in big cities, however there may be a growing trend towards a more suburban and country- side base. As the 2nd most consumed beverage in the world, there's definitely a growing need for more locations of DAVIDsTEA, and fast!
Come check out DAVIDsTEA at the 5 Chicago locations near you!
The QBSM series is a simple and informal way to talk about Québec's presence in the Midwest. By taking pictures of Québec's goods and services whenever we see them, we, at the Québec office in Chicago, are able to tell you a story about Quebec's economy, creativity, talent, and perhaps even its history. Though it would be impossible to give you an exhaustive list of all the Québec products in the Midwest (we export more than $8 billion of goods to the Midwest per year!) the QBSM series seeks to provide a small but informative window into Québec's economic scene. If you know of a Québec product, store, technology or even an artist or a show in the Midwest that we should include in this series, please let us know about it by contacting: Kerith Iverson
Pictured in Cover Photo from left to right: Hannah Lewis, Chicago District Manager, Tiffany Smith, Naperville Store Manager
Festivities and celebration for Pride Month!
June, the month for the protection of water in the Midwest
Quebec drone industry generates a buzz at AUVSI Xponential 2019
Montréal fashion & artist Claire Desjardins headline Stylemax show at Chicago's Merchandise Mart
Current affairs : New Intern at Quebec Delegation in Chicago
qc.chicago@mri.gouv.qc.ca


text:
Diplomatic reporting in the Internet era
WMO, 7bis, Avenue de la Paix, Geneva 15 May 2014 Diplomacy, Training and courses
Close to 100 international meetings, negotiations, and discussions are held every working day in Geneva, attended by diplomats, experts and representatives of civil society, and business people who must report back to their governments, organisations, or companies. The volume of person-hours and reporting is enormous. This workshop aims to increase the quality and efficiency of such reporting and help communities and individuals worldwide to follow Geneva-based meetings and negotiations.
The workshop will focus on the critical skills required for both traditional and Internet-based reporting to ensure effective, user-friendly communication on what can be complex and technical topics. It will include guidance and exercises in the art of conscious listening, on the use of language, on the structure and style of written reports, on preparing concise summaries, and offer an introduction to new media. The workshop will be supplemented by three one-hour webinars to be programmed within two months offering guidance on the use of new media for reporting, specifically Twitter and blogging and addressing the use of online data-mining tools. Two or three optional online clinics will provide follow-up over the next six months where participants may submit reports of meetings/events they have prepared for individual feedback and guidance.
The training programme is a pilot project designed for diplomats, post-graduate students, international officials, and NGO representatives.
Training objectives
After completing the training, participants should be able to:
Understand the requirements for clear and informative reporting
Practice the skill of conscious listening
Identify core issues, present the context and distinguish between fact and opinion
Demystify complex topics for non-expert readers and/or policymakers
Plan and structure a range of traditional written diplomatic reports
Assess the opportunities provided by the Internet, including the use of new media, for public reporting
Master the art of blogging/Twiplo-reporting
Working methods and procedures
The trainer will use lectures, screening of audio-visual material (video-clips, webcasts, Twitter feeds), and written hand-outs focusing heavily on interactive participation through listening and writing exercises. A virtual classroom will be set up for uploading relevant background material, exercises, follow-up assignments, exchange of views, questions, etc. Participants are required to bring their own laptops.
Mrs Liz Galvez is a course lecturer with Diplo teaching Public Diplomacy, Negotiation Skills and Diplomatic English. A former senior diplomat with the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, she served in a wide range of diplomatic jobs in London and abroad, including 12 years in multilateral diplomacy: UN Geneva, OSCE Vienna, and UN New York. She was the first Executive Director of Aspen Institute Romania from 2006 to 2009. She holds an MSc in Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict from the University of London (2011).
Online clinics/webinars
Ms Mary Murphy joined the Diplo Team in July 2010. Based in Budapest, Hungary from where she oversees Diplo's operations and external communications, Mary has had a varied career in operations and administration in Ireland, the UK, Hungary, and the USA. She holds an MA in International Publishing from Oxford Brookes, UK, and a Master in Contemporary Diplomacy from the University of Malta.
Mr Pete Cranston is a knowledge management, communication and social media specialist, with long experience as a facilitator and trainer. He has worked mainly in international development, for a wide range of government, international NGO, research and UK civil society organisations. His most recent research has been into global social media trends, with special reference to health communications, and the impact of convergent mobile technologies in rural development. Pete has been working regularly with Diplo since 2007 on communications and online collaboration projects. He teaches eDiplomacy and social media skills for diplomats at Diplo workshops and online courses.
Dr Jovan Kurbalija is the founding director of DiploFoundation and visiting professor at the College of Europe (Bruges). A former diplomat with a professional and academic background in international law, diplomacy, and information technology, Dr Kurbalija's main areas of research are the impact of the Internet on diplomacy, the development of the Internet governance regime, diplomatic law (the impact of the Internet on privileges and immunities), online negotiations, and e-participation. He is the author of An Introduction to Internet Governance, which has been translated into nine languages and will soon publish in its 6th edition.
Venue: DiploFoundation offices in the World Meteorological Organization building, 7 bis Avenue de la Paix, Geneva.
Certification: On successful completion of the workshop, participants will receive a certificate in Diplomatic and Internet Reporting from DiploFoundation.
Fee: The workshop fee is €500. The Geneva Internet Platform will provide scholarships for participants from small and developing countries, and prospective Geneva Internet Rapporteurs (specialized in following Internet policy events).
Applications: Using the form at http://www.diplomacy.edu/registrations/geneva-internet-platform-diplomatic-reporting-internet-era.
Contact: For further information, contact Ms Tereza Horejsova at terezah@diplomacy.edu


text:
Akshay Kumar On Reprising Tip Tip Barsa Paani, "I Would've Been Disappointed If Any Other Actor Would've Recreated This Cult Classic"
Taking to Twitter, Akshay Kumar stated that he would have been disappointed if some other actor would have recreated his cult classic song Tip Tip Barsa Paani from Mohra film (1994)
18669 Reads |
Updated on Apr 02 2020, 16:12:16
Oshine Koul
For the uninitiated, Akshay Kumar will be revisiting his chartbuster song Tip Tip Barsa Paani from Mohra for Rohit Shetty's Sooryavanshi. The reprised version will co-star Katrina Kaif along with Kumar. Now, the Kesari actor took to social media and revealed that he would have been disappointed if any other actor had recreated the cult classic Tip Tip Barsa Paani, a song which has been synonymous with him and his career.
Taking to Twitter, Akshay wrote, "I would've definitely been disappointed if any other actor would've recreated Tip Tip Barsa Paani,a song which has been synonymous with me & my career & I can't thank Ratan Jain ji enough. At times like these you realize,we may have come a long way but we also go back a long way."
Ratan Jain, the head honcho of Venus that owns the rights of the original number, parted with the song owing to his 30-year-long association with the actor. Tip Tip Barsa Paani, an iconic Hindi song from Mohra was picturised on Akshay and Raveena Tandon.
Speaking of parting the rights to the makers, Ratan Jain told Mid-day, "The primary reason I parted with the rights is because Akshay is doing the song again. I have the highest regard for him as an actor and a person. I would not have given the song to any other producer. Having said that, it's not a complete transfer of rights. I have parted with the song for a particular period, after which the rights will be reinstated with us."
Sooryavanshi, which is scheduled to hit the screens on March 27, 2020, also stars Gulshan Grover in a pivotal role.
Image Source:twitter
Related Topics: akshay-kumar
When Love And Cricket Both Beckoned: Virat Flew Off From Manchester To London And Is Now Back In Southampton
Sunaina Lashes Out On Getting Less Maintenance: "Am I Not Entitled To Have More Money Being A Roshan?"
Diljit Dosanjh Is All Praises For Akshay Kumar During 'Shadaa' Promotion, Says He Makes Bets And Wins Every Time
Akshay Kumar Wants Unnecessary Remarks Being Passed About Salman Khan, Rohit Shetty And Himself To Stop. Enough Is Enough!
Akshay Kumar To Recreate Ex Raveena Tandon's Tip Tip Barsa Paani With Katrina Kaif In Sooryavanshi
Akshay Kumar's Mission Mangal To Battle It Out With Prabhas' Saaho At Box-Office
Twinkle Sharma Murder Case: Hansal Mehta And Ashoke Pandit Get Into A War Of Words On Twitter
Kartik Aaryan To Replace Akshay Kumar In Bhool Bhulaiya Sequel?


text:
Legal Process
Post Dissolution
Child Custody in General
When two parents dissolve their marriage, or separate so they are no longer living together; arrangements need to be made regarding how their children are going to be raised and how access between the parents is going to be structured. If the parents are capable of working together amicably on access and child-rearing issues (which, from our office's perspective, is usually the best outcome for both the parents and the children upon separation) the divorce decree, or the custody order, if any, does not really even need to be that specific — the parents should be able to work out any differences on their own. Unfortunately, such situations seem all too rare.
If the parents in a marital dissolution or paternity proceeding cannot agree upon a custodial arrangement for their minor children, a district court judge or referee will decide the issue. According to Minnesota's child custody statute (Minn.Stat. §518.17), custody of the children is supposed to be awarded based upon their "best interests".
The statute states that thirteen (13) factors are supposed to be taken into consideration, but, at the end of the day, the phrase "best interests" can seem rather ill-defined, which means that what the phrase means to an individual Family Court Judge or Referee (the decision maker in a contested case) will ultimately be very important.
Under Minnesota law there are two types of custody: Legal custody, and physical custody.
Legal Custody
Legal custody relates to a parent's ability to be involved in decisions regarding how the children are going to be raised. The statute (Minn.Stat. §518.003) specifically defines legal custody as the right to determine the child's upbringing; including education, health care and religious training. There are two types of legal custody: Joint legal, where both parents are allowed to participate in decisions relating to the children's education, religious training and medical care; and sole legal, where one parent is essentially given complete authority over child-rearing issues. Minnesota law presumes that joint legal custody is in the best interests of the minor children, unless there has been domestic abuse between the parties; of if the parties are completely incapable of communicating and cooperating. In joint legal custody situations there is no presumption in favor of either party's position on child-rearing issues, although recently the Court of Appeals has been limiting the rights of "noncustodial" parents on anything other than the specifically defined joint legal custody issues.
The Nygaard & Longe Law Office has successfully litigated joint legal custody disputes between parties.
Physical Custody
Physical custody is defined by Minnesota law as the "daily care and control" of the minor children. Similar to legal custody, there are also two types of physical custody — sole physical custody and joint physical custody. Joint physical custody does not require an absolutely equal division of time between the parents.
Instead, it is more of a legal label which governs the rights and responsibilities of the parents. Joint physical custody does not require an absolutely equal division of time between the parents.
According to Minnesota case law, joint physical custody is not a preferred custodial arrangement,and should only be awarded in the "exceptional" cases where the parties can demonstrate to the Court that they are capable of a higher degree of communication and cooperation than is presumably typically present in a marital dissolution proceeding.
We at the Nygaard & Longe Law Office disagree with the presumption against joint physical custody, and believe that the presumption should actually favor joint physical custody except in cases where one parent is unfit; but the law is what it is. We at the Nygaard & Longe Law Office are quite familiar with a variety of psychological studies and materials which, over the years, have almost universally concluded that joint custody is better for children than sole custody (see, e.g., "Children Likely to be Better Adjusted in Joint vs. Sole Custody Arrangements in Most Cases, According to Review of Research", published by the American Psychological Association Online in 2002).
We believe that one major problem with the presumption against joint physical custody is that it establishes a system where one parent is the "winner" (presumably the mother) while the other parent is the "loser" (presumably the father). We believe that such a "winner takes all" system can only encourage conflict between the parents, especially for active and involved fathers who do not want to be relegated to the role of being a "visitor with a paycheck."
On the other hand, given Minnesota's current, flawed, custody system; our office has no problem whatsoever arguing for fathers to be awarded sole physical custody of their children. We believe that if the system is such that only one parent can be awarded primary physical custody, why should that parent not be an active and involved father?
Under Minnesota law there are currently two primary differences between joint physical custody and sole physical custody.
First, an old adage states that "all power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely". We in our office believe that sometimes when a parent is awarded sole physical custody that parent can become (or remain) insensitive to the rights and involvement of the other parent. We believe that joint physical custody tends to temper that tendency. We also believe that in joint physical custody situations other individuals who have contact with the children and the parents tend to treat joint physical custodians with more respect.
Second, in a true joint physical custody situation (where each parent has the children at least 45.1% of the time during the year) the amount of child support which may be exchanged between the parties can be reduced.
Social Early Neutral Evaluations (SENEs) and Custody Evaluations
In many counties, if the parties cannot agree upon custody and parenting time they are encouraged by the Court to participate in an Early Neutrual Evaluation (ENE). The ENEs occur early on in the process. There are two types of ENEs: A Social Early Neutral Evaluation (SENE), which addresses custody and parenting time issues; and a Financial Early Neutral Evaluation (FENE), which, as its name implies, addresses financial issues.
An SENE is akin to an abbreviated custody evaluation. There are two evaluators; a male and a female, so there is an appearance of gender neutrality. At an SENE the parties and their attorneys meet with the evaluators in a session that is usually scheduled for three or four hours. During the SENE each party describes (1) his or her role in raising the children, historically speaking; (2) what he or she would prefer custody and parenting time to be in the future; and (3) any concerns that he or she has about the other parent. The evaluators then confer with each other, and then reconvene with the parties and state what they believe the outcome would be in the case if a Judge had to make a decision regarding custody or parenting time (keeping in mind that the evaluators have not performed a full-blown custody evaluation). Then, the evaluators typically explore whether, based upon their recommendations, the parties can reach an agreement on the custody and parenting time issues. If the parties cannot reach an agreement at the SENE, having a custody evaluation completed would be the next step — if the parties could afford it.
If custody remains at issue after the SENE, some parties will have a full blown custody evaluation completed. In most counties, the custody evaluation must be done privately, and paid for by the parties. A private custody evaluation can be very expensive.
The purpose of the custody evaluation is to provide the Court with recommendations regarding the custodial arrangement which will serve the "best interests" of the minor children. During the custody evaluation process the custody evaluator should interview both parents to find out their thoughts with regard to how custody and parenting time should be structured, and to learn the history of how the children were cared for. The custody evaluation may (perhaps should) include psychological testing of the parents, and maybe even the children. A custody evaluation typically takes three to six months to complete.
At the end of the custody evaluation the evaluator will issue a report containing recommendations regarding the custodial arrangements which the evaluator believes will be in the best interests of the minor children.
Family Court Judges and Referees tend to rely highly on these custody evaluations, so we in the Nygaard & Longe Law Office believe that it is very important to try to obtain the most favorable custody evaluation possible. As a result, we try to guide our clients through the process to the best of our ability and provide the clients with information regarding the issues which we, in our experience, have seen to be important in the custody evaluation process.
Gender Bias?
We at the Nygaard & Longe Law Office also believe that there is a degree of gender bias in the Family Court system with regard to the award of custody of minor children in marital dissolution or paternity proceedings. Specifically, we believe that fathers are generally at a disadvantage with regard to the custody issue, primarily based upon a belief, spoken or unspoken, that mothers are better suited to care for children. As a result, we try to offer guidance and insights to our male clients who are going through a contested custody case, with an eye towards obtaining the best results possible based upon our experience and knowledge of the law.
In addition, our office has also handled, and won, contested custody cases for mothers.
MessageIn details
We have also obtained favorable results for mothers in marital dissolution and custody proceedings.
Links to State of Minnesota Statutes and Forms
Minnesota's Child Support Calculator
Parenting Time Motion Forms
Child Support Modification Forms
Minnesota's Child Support statute (Chapter 518A)
Minnesota's Marital Dissolution Statute (Chapter 518)
Nygaard & Longe Law Office:
Little Canada, Minnesota 55113
Facsimile: 651.641.1947
General Questions E-Mail: info@mndivorcefordads.com
Mark Nygaard's E-Mail: mnygaard@mndivorcefordads.com
Mark A. Longe's E-Mail: mlonge@mndivorcefordads.com
© Copyright 2019 - Nygaard & Longe Law Office. All rights reserved.
The material and opinions provided by the Nygaard & Longe Law Office on this website, by telephone, or in consultation are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute the establishment of an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship is established only by the execution of a retainer agreement with the Nygaard & Longe Law Office. The Nygaard & Longe Law Office is not responsible for the content of, or information provided by, linked sites.


Keep using this product for a long time. It can reduce skin melanin, brighten skin tone.
Against wrinkles fade wrinkles, has high moisturizing infused with collagen pure 100%.
Help skin elasticity helps to tighten the skin , may help you become younger than actual age.
Moisturizing and nourishing, repair skin and firming, oil control and shrink pore, remove wrinkles and acne, deep cleansing the skin, make the skin white and beautiful.
Ingredient: Oat Avena Sativa, Seven Vitamin Complexes including Vitamin H, B1, B2, B3, B6, Yeast Polypeptides, Hyaluronic Acid.


NJ Advance Media, an affiliate of Advance Local, has announced details for a paid summer internship program in the content and sales & marketing departments.
The program is open to full time college juniors or seniors pursuing a bachelor's degree in Journalism, Business, Communications, or related fields, or with prior work experience in these areas.
As part of a national internship program organized by NJ Advance Media's national affiliate, Advance Local, interns will be immersed in the Woodbridge-based organization for eight weeks and then come together for a national summit in the New York City area with fellow interns from across the country.
Internships will take place June 4 – July 27, 2018.
In addition to the Woodbridge based NJ Advance Media internships, the highly selective Advance Local program has opportunities in several markets, including affiliates in Alabama, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Central New York, Ohio, Oregon, Staten Island and Pennsylvania.
For more information on the Advance Local internship program and to apply in other markets, visit Advance Local.


If you are seeking an online casino that accepts gamers from the United States, look no additional than Slot Madness Casino! They're powered by RTG and are one of the most well-liked U.S. For a restricted time, you'll be able to try out their actual cash on line casino games without cost by redeeming the bonus code FREE50NOW!
American gamers will probably be comfortable to know that USA casinos additionally carry no deposit bonuses.
In the event that they situation checks, ask if they're drawn on a financial institution positioned in your nation or someplace else. If the checks are issued from a financial institution in one other nation it might delay your skill to get your cash whenever you try to money them.
You can even be taught loads a few on line casino and their operator by how responsive, and environment friendly their customer support community is. These casinos have all confirmed to cater for Australian gamers relatively successfully and should it's essential name the support, the phone numbers at these Aussie websites are normally toll-free Australian numbers.
Players can place facet bets on the end result of palms in keeping with a bonus pay desk.
Where can I play free slot games? We've a set of the most well-liked slot games that you could play right now!
Thus, in terms of a playing guru or perhaps a inexperienced beginner selecting an online casino, much more is at stake than how briskly the game is and the way sharp the graphics are.
Try out an enormous from our collection of online casino list of games today or head over and catch up on the entire Casino News.
By 1989, lawmakers banned charitable playing once more. Organizations can hold annual raffles for fundraising. "Cakewalks" are allowed, too.
We have now all heard it stated that there's no such thing as a free lunch, however by having a go at Australian Online Casino games, you may show that wrong. It isn't tough both; in actual fact, many online casinos offer No Deposit Bonus Casino only for signing up.
We do our best to supply our readers with probably the most excellent and profitable American casinos online so you'll be able to always depend on us in case you have hard times selecting the online casino in US.
Security is addressed utilizing 128-bit SSL encryption expertise, which takes and scrambles any and all data despatched between your computer and the casino's servers.
Sweden is well-known for its stunning nature and its liberal legal guidelines that work for online gambling too. Fortunately, Sweden is included within the short list of the international locations with PayPal being a attainable possibility for online gambling deposits.
Betting in a strategic approach. If you've by no means performed the game earlier than, don't fret. We're right here to clarify precisely how one can play the game.
Because conventional slot machines introduced many fruits symbols, like the duo-cherry, orange, pear and half a watermelon.


By her resume alone, it's no surprise that Jessica Beck is a successful startup founder: from her roots at Harvard Business School and experience at McKinsey, she has been brought up with a sustainable business acumen. However, as she describes over a bevvy of micro IPAs, this sort of formal training can only take you so far. There was a lot she had to learn on the job when creating her product, Alfred, which bridges the service industry with the on-demand expectation of users by providing the everyday person with a personal assistant, or "Alfred," to help with their intimate daily tasks (think: errands, shopping, laundry) … without them ever actually meeting.
Online dating is a crowded space and becoming increasingly so across platforms. Seemingly a new phenomenon over the past few years, this extreme growth could be attributed to a time in 2011 when, within two weeks of each other, Tinder and Hinge launched and changed the game as we knew it. Hinge's founder, Justin McLeod, had been working on the app for two years, pushing off a start date at McKinsey until he finally decided to make the app his full-time job. Over grapefruit La Croix, Justin discusses the evolution of the online dating space and how to differentiate in such a saturated industry.
One of the most important and valuable commodities in the digital world is data. However, accessing and harnessing this powerful resource can be intimidating; that's where Hilary Mason and her team at Fast Forward Labs step in with their goal to demystify these complexities and instill confidence in their clients. As a computer scientist, Hilary has spent her career fascinated how by how she can use her programming skills, deductive reasoning, and strategic thinking to help create new, useful, and often necessary digital products. Over crisp apple cider, she discusses her experience as the chief scientist at Bit.ly and how that lead to her deciding to create her own thing.
The world of venture capital in New York City tech has changed significantly in the past decade with access to investment for early stage companies becoming more and more challenging. Enter Notation Capital and it's co-founder, Nick Chirls, who believes that there's a gap for seed stage investments that he and his team intend to fill. And Nick knows the NY Tech scene. Over beers provided by Alphabet City Beer Company, he walked through his disgust with the traditional finance world and why he left it to explore the startup world, ultimately landing as a the head of investments at BetaWorks.


Lightly battered for extra crunch. British potato chunky cut chips lightly battered for extra crispness.
INGREDIENTS: potato (94%), sunflower oil, fortified wheat flour (wheat flour, calcium carbonate, iron, niacin, thiamin), maize flour, rice flour, salt.