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There’s nothing quite like setting foot in a social function for triggering every insecurity I have in a span of 2 seconds flat. Last night, I got a taste of how far I had come in regards to self-confidence as well as a view of how far I still have to go.
Last week, Deanna Radford from my writing group (a wonderful poet who’s into some really interesting edgy music) mentioned a cocktail party that was taking place on Feb. 16 at a local hotel. It was part of an event where sales reps from book publishers meet with local bookstores to do business, but a new feature—the cocktail—was added to allow writers the chance to mingle with these publishing superpowers. Though I’m not a fan of social gatherings of this kind, I am trying to figure out the Montreal writing scene and thought this would be a great chance to get a lay of the land, so to speak, and agreed to go. Honestly, I had no idea what I was walking into. I figured the event would be held conference-style in a hall where I could sip wine in a dark corner and recon the room. If things got too crazy, then I could slip out ninja-style and no one would be the wiser. But right from the start, I was confounded. The event was held in a penthouse and it was a small group, maybe 30-40 people. This meant I would be in close proximity to people. And OMG, people would see me and I would have to talk.
Now, I write all the time about characters sweating bullets when under stress, but this was the first time in a while that I can remember actually feeling sweat ‘trickling down my back’ and ‘pricking at my brow’. Note that it is a horrible, horrible…horrible…feeling. I literally stood there thinking: Do I give her a log line? Tag line? Short or long pitch? Or talk from the heart? The traffic jam in my brain led to nonsensical stuttering until something—I have no idea what–came out. Luckily, she was very understanding, and seeing that I was a genre writer and independent, she very kindly hooked me up with the manager of a popular local bookstore.
By then, I was more than thankful for the counter stocked with wine. Lots and lots of wonderful, red, nerve-soothing, brain-numbing wine. I made sure my cup was full. The fuller it was, the less I had to talk. Oh, and the food table also came in handy for that.
Talking about myself is the hardest thing to do, as I can’t imagine anything more boring to a listener than hearing about me. And being introduced as ‘a writer’ with ‘one published book and another on the way’ was hard to get used to, especially being independent amidst people working under the traditional model. I mean, I write and have published, but I don’t have a label backing me. Who can vouch for my legitimacy as a ‘writer’? But, I was lucky. I had two wonderful friends flanking me (Cora Siré, a fantastic writer and poet and one of the most intelligent women I know, and Deanna already mentioned above). They introduced me to publishers and other people deeply involved in the Montreal writing scene that they already knew, and their lead-ins made for smooth introductions. Not only that, they talked me up. Listening to them made me realize that I had done some interesting things–stuff I was proud of–that were worth talking about. This realization enabled me to smile wider, shake hands with more gusto, and greet people with greater ease (dare I say confidence?).
1) As in independent author, the evening itself wasn’t that useful. None of my books are published by any of the companies present nor will they appear in bookstores because of it (I’ve learned that many bookstores don’t accept independently published books unless they are backed by a label of some sort). However, Deanna noted that it’s important to put faces to names. One day, if I manage to successfully publish with a traditional company, or try to set up a reading or a book-launch or other event, these contacts just might come in handy.
2) I learned that independent/self-published authors are making strides and are earning respect. Most of the time, when I stated that I had self-published, I detected what I thought were looks bordering on respect and interest. One seemed to appreciate that ‘going it alone’ gave me the chance to learn the ropes. Another rep admitted that indie publishing has its place and that it was a good thing that writers have more options than before. I hadn’t expected these responses but they were definitely welcome.
I think my point is this: being a lone writer and staying behind the desk might be comfortable, but we’ve known for a long time that the market is changing. Writers are expected to ‘get out there’ more than ever before. We are being called to understand and to participate in the business side of things, including marketing, promotion, and networking, things that don’t have anything to do with writing itself. It’s not comfortable, but it seems to be becoming a must. Did everything go smoothly last night? Nope. But I survived. It was scary and challenging, but the experience was invaluable. My suggestion? Try to get out there, see what you can learn from other writers, about the relationships between the movers and the shakers. Start with small events and go with good friends who have experience with this sort of thing who can help you out when you need it. And then feel good about stepping out of your comfort zone.
What are your thoughts? Do you find it hard to talk about yourself and your work? What do you do to get over it? Do you like these kinds of social functions? What do you think about writers being called to step into the forefront more and more often?
It was hard for me in the beginning, but I’ve done my own book signings for almost four years now so it practically comes second nature to me. All I can say is keep putting yourself out there and engage with as many people as you can. It really is possible to overcome social anxiety–I’m part of the way there already. Here’s wishing you the best!
Well done, Dyane! You did it, and survived. Now you need to remember that the next time you are going to do something of that nature.
Yes! Experience can be a great thing to fall back on when we doubt ourselves 🙂 Good point!
I love social functions now, moving around a room and meeting new people (I think it’s always difficult to talk about yourself, but that doesn’t always need to be the topic of conversation). Something that helped me a lot was joining a small Toastmasters group. They make you get up and give speeches, so you have to get out there. Small meant I didn’t feel as intimidated by the 6 or 7 folks in front of me, but it also meant I had to give speeches more often. The happy side effect was when I didn’t have to be in front of the spotlight, interacting with other people in a crowd was no big deal.
Ah that’s a great idea. Overcoming fear by exposure. Glad that did the trick!
Thank you for this inspiring post. We suffer from similar fears and doubts, and it helps to know we’re not alone . . . and that you came through it alive.
🙂 I’ll be honest, Sara, its a relief to know I have a kindred spirit in this lol Thanks for your comment!
Thx so much for reading, Norma!
Sounds like you did an awesome job in a pretty tough situation! I just attended my first big writers conference with a lot of rep’s and big authors and whatnot, and I found it kind of hard to talk about myself as well. After awhile, though, I was just excited about every networking opportunity I could find. I felt like it got easier over the three days, but it was never really something I enjoyed.
A lot of the authors that I met (we’re talking huge names, get 2 million dollar advances, etc) are actually into the indie scene as well. While talking to publishers may not get them to buy your book, I feel like it still lends a bit of confidence and experience.
I’ve also had really good luck with indie bookstores, but I started my own imprint under an LLC, so I think that may have made the difference.
Excellent stuff, Katie. I love hearing about the strides you’re making! Keep it up and keep sharing!

industry_corpus2: Literature & Emotions


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Richmond Film Society Presents 'Hidden Figures' | The Exchange, Twickenham | Creativity, expression, learning and enjoyment.
£5 (£3 full-time students). RFS members go free.
As part of Science Week, The Exchange, in conjunction with Richmond Film Society, are screening ‘Hidden Figures’, winner of 37 awards worldwide and nominated for three 2017 Academy Awards, including Best Motion Picture.
Non-member tickets are £5 (full-time students £3). Tickets can be purchased in advance from The Exchange’s Box Office (in person or by telephone on 020 8240 2399) or online at http://exchangetwickenham.co.uk/events/ . To ensure that you secure a ticket, pre-booking via The Exchange is recommended. A further 40 or so tickets will be available to purchase on the door on the night of the screening (cash only) on a ‘first-come-first-served’ basis.

industry_corpus2: Film & Entertainment


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The Alliance began with one church plant—the Gospel Tabernacle in New York City. It grew into a healthy congregation reaching the surrounding community and training and sending workers and leaders to reach the world.
From this one church, today—over 130 years later—more than 25,000 fellowships and nearly 6 million believers have emerged. Clearly, the Great Commission is fulfilled when Christian leaders GO plant churches or equip and SEND others to do so.
If you sense God nudging you to become a part of a church-planting effort, watch this video and use the link below to get involved in this Kingdom movement. Celebrate Church Planting Sunday on February 24!
After you complete the initial online screening, contact the Alliance District or Regional leader in your area about possibly planting a church, or e-mail Kathy Taubeneck at the National Office at taubeneck@cmalliance.org or call (719) 265-2056.
Is God Calling your Church to Become a Greenhouse Church?
A greenhouse provides a healthy environment for plants to grow. Greenhouse Churches provide a healthy atmosphere for Christian leaders to develop as church planters.
What is a Greenhouse Church?
We have two excellent examples of Greenhouses: One is the previously mentioned Gospel Tabernacle. An outstanding biblical example is the church at Antioch in the Book of Acts. Its members were willing to help their fellow believers (Acts 11:27–30) and send workers to plant churches (Acts 13:1–3).
DO SOMETHING! In Acts 11:27–30, the Antioch church provided assistance to members of other churches. We can do so as well. Check out 10 WAYS TO HELP A CHURCH PLANT and pick one or two on which to focus. Or visit our regional church–planting page for detailed information and links.
SEND SOMEONE! In Acts 13:1–3, the Antioch congregation sent Paul and Barnabas, two of history’s greatest church planters. This young church didn’t seek to keep these leaders for themselves. As this example demonstrates, the real issue for a Greenhouse is willingness, not resources, size, age, or culture. Are there people God brought to your church whom He is asking you to train and send out?
1) Pray intentionally for church planters and their teams.
Prayer is the primary work of God’s people. You and your church can partner in this vital work by encouraging a new plant through prayer. Would your congregation consider “adopting” a local church planter and pray regularly and intentionally for that leader’s church?
2) Invite planters to share their vision with your board and church.
Who are the planters in your vicinity? Consider this option as a great way to encourage church planters and cast vision among your people.
3) Pick a planting couple and support them financially.
Salaries are rarely stable in church planting. Sacrificial, generous giving from churches and individuals, over and above their regular offerings, is a welcome demonstration of Christian unity.
4) Bless a church plant with a one-time gift.
A new church always has equipment needs. Contact a local church planter and ask how your congregation can help.
5) Send a planting couple to dinner or on an overnight retreat.
Planting is difficult, lonely work. A gift like this can really encourage a planting couple—and result in a lasting friendship with them.
6) Encourage your congregation to hold a “baby shower” for a plant.
Give the plant startup gifts, such as office supplies, sound and video equipment, etc. Ask planters to put together a “registry” of items they need if this is something your church would like to do.
7) Plan to put church planting as a line item into your next budget.
Where your treasure is, your heart will be. One of the best ways to encourage church planting is to promote it in your church, share inspiring stories from planters, and start budgeting for it.
8) Send team members from your church to participate in a church plant.
God owns everything, and we are managers. Please consider sending leaders God has called from your church to plant a new congregation.
9) Use your church facility to host church–planting teams, services, or training.
Invite a church plant to your facility for team meetings, events, or services if space is available. Consider hosting a church-planting training event at your church.
10) Develop and deploy a planter and team from your church to start a new work.
Take a faith–filled risk and plant a church! This process begins when you identify and train leaders with the purpose of sending them out to start a new congregation. Think of the Antioch church sending Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13. And don’t wait until you feel “ready”–you’ll never feel quite ready for such a significant undertaking.
E-mail taubeneck@cmalliance.org for additonal information.
Even those who don’t attend the church know it is a place where people love and help each other.
God has given the Church American Sign Language to proclaim the gospel message to deaf and hard-of-hearing people and across various racial and socioeconomic divides.
“Each person who participated in this trip now realizes that the most important part of missions is taking the time to get to know someone who is not like you,” says Pastor Larry Sundin.

industry_corpus2: Others


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Portal and Portal+ are home video communication devices that offer smart, hands-free video calling. Connecting through Portal feels like being together in the same room, even when users are far apart.
Inspired to create a social experience for Portal? We are building new capabilities to help you do just that. Sign up to join our developer community, share your vision, and get updates on Portal.
*Each user must be signed into the same music service, additional registration and fees may apply.
Exciting social experiences, like listening to music together*, catching up on daily news, cooking your favorite recipe or making your stories come to life, will make those connections even more meaningful and memorable. Portal also features a smart photo frame to help users feel connected when they're not on a call. Users can use Portal to connect directly with other Portal users or call and receive calls from friends on a tablet or smartphone via Messenger.
Read frequently asked questions and learn more about how to stay up to date with Portal.

industry_corpus2: Computing & Telecommunications


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Our inn Gostilna pri zgornjem Kirnu is located in the village of Kamnik pod Krimom and is known especially for sumptuous specialties created using the highest quality meats. Spoil your taste buds with a succulent roast, a hearty veal roulade, tender foal, melt-in-your-mouth lamb or delicate goat kid, all prepared to your liking.
Our chefs are also renowned for their delectable desserts - we believe they make the best chocolate cassata in the country.
We cordially invite you to try our delicious homemade fare.

industry_corpus2: Hospitality & Catering


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Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2009) 58 (8): 571-579.
Complaints registered by Veolia water agencies underlined the design and operating parameters in the private network can cause taste and odour (T&O) episodes. Three experiments were performed to elucidate the impact of the private network. Firstly, a lab-scale pilot study was designed involving four different pipes, consisting of copper, polyvinyl chloride, stainless steel and galvanized steel in which several residence times were simulated. The study was then conducted on a real private network. Finally, laboratory static experiments on tap seals were carried out. To evaluate T&O potential of drinking water samples, sensory analyses by a taste panel were performed. To detect and to quantify the molecules involved, stir bar sorptive extraction coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses was applied. The results showed that the residence time had a significant influence on the appearance of organic and metallic compounds. An audit of the private network identified two main critical points—corrosion and leaching—both of which are influenced by the hydraulic system. Finally, static experiments conducted on seals revealed a large quantity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons leaching into water and a chemical or plastic taste according to the panel. These results suggest a huge potential impact of the private network on water quality if operating conditions are not optimal.

industry_corpus2: Water Resources & Marine


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I had a young female once that was in with a young (just maturing) male. He made several attempts at breeding her over the course of a few months.
Sure enough, that fall she began nesting. But there was a big problem......she couldn't get the eggs out from between the openings of her carapace and plastron. She was still too young/small (around 10" which is small for a Colombian). She would sit over her nest for hours with nothing happening before I had to intervene and break the eggs that were lodged in her cloaca. Not a fun experience. I had to do this for most of the eggs that she produced for the next two years. Finally, she was large enough and I never had a problem with her again. I did learn a lesson though. If I had not helped her she surely would have died. I have NEVER allowed an immature female with a mature male since.

industry_corpus2: Agriculture & Fisheries


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12/01/1855 – Glasgow Herald – Royal Patriotic Fund, Lanarkshire – John McDonald, Gartverrie Brickworks £1.
10/06/1856 – Inverness Courier – 19/06/1856 – Deaths – At Bridge of Allan on the 10th inst, Mr John MacDonald of Gartverie Fire Clay Works.
25/06/1856 – Glasgow Herald – Notice to creditors – Parties having a claim against or due to the Estate of the late Mr John MacDonald of Gartverie Fire Clay Works are requested to lodge the same within eight days with Mr A.G MacDonald, 20 St Vincent Place, Glasgow.
Below – 1858 – 59 – Gartverrie Fire Clay Works, Glenboig, Coatbridge.
1858 – 1861 – Ordnance Survey Name Books – Gartverrie Fireclay Works. Mr. Lang Manager. A tolerably sized Fire Clay Work the property of A.G. McDonald, Glasgow.
1869 – office – 62 Robertson Street, Glasgow.
1872 – W. Lang, Brickmaker, Gartverrie Brickwork, Coatbridge.
1875 – Falkirk Museum has a quotation from the company offering silicate bricks at 57s 6d and firebricks at 42 s 6d per 1000, and ground fireclay at 5s 6d per ton. Silicate fireclay / Ganister was quoted at 8s per ton.
07/05/1880 – Dundee Courier – Accident on the railway. A labourer named William Johnstone was severely injured at Gartverrie fire clay works, Glenboig where he was employed. He had been engaged in shunting wagons when he stumbled and fell before the wheels, which passed over his right leg between the ankle and the knee, crushing it terribly. Johnstone was attended by Dr Wilson, Coatbridge who ordered him to be removed to Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
1882 – Gartverrie Fire Clay Co, Gartverrie. Office 62 Robertson Street, Glasgow.
31/08/1885 – Glasgow Herald – Mining exhibition and refers to The Gartverrie Fireclay Company being present.
31/05/1886 – Glasgow Herald – The International Exhibition refers to the Gartverrie Fireclay Works as exhibiting.
Below – 1896 – Gartverrie Fire Clay Works, Glenboig, Coatbridge.
1896 – 1897 – Gartverrie Fire Clay Co, Glenboig.
21/10/1897 – Glasgow Herald – At the 15th annual meeting of the Glenboig Union Fireclay Company Limited there is reference to having in the past year acquired the works of Gartverrie.
25/01/1921 – The Scotsman – Reference to the Glenboig Union Fireclay Company Limited suing the Caledonian Railway. Also references that Glenboig was the lessee of the fireclay at Gartverrie from at least 1908.
21/04/1921 – The Scotsman – Refers to the sale of the Gartsherrie Estate including The Gartverrie Fireclay Works and Quarry.
25/09/1931 – Motherwell Times – Deaths – James Craik Bishop of Barncluith, Hamilton, Writer of Glasgow, a partner in the firm of Milne, Boyd and Co and in the Gartverrie Fire Clay Company, a director of the Cadzow Coal Company and of CoatsTrades Hotel Ltd, a secretary of the Scottish Ironmasters Association, of the Scottish Manufactured Iron Trade Employers Association and of the Scottish Steel Founders Wages Association left personal estate in Great Britain of £24, 636.
c. 1939 Brick manufacture ceased.
1939 – 40 – Gartverrie Limited, quarrymasters, brick manufacturers. 19 Waterloo Road, C2. Tel address Gartverrie Glasgow.
c. 1945 – The Company was bought by the Glenboig Union Company for £1,200 who used the sand for brick setting and supply to the local iron foundries. Some building bricks were made. (Note – SBH – These are possible in reference to the bricks marked GV).
1950‘s – The Works were closed down.
Found in Glenboig. Gartverrie Fireclay Works, Glenboig. The fireclay mine near Gartverrie was called Ramoan or Rawmoan. I imagine ‘Roman’ is a variation of the above. . .
Found at Dumbarton by DH. Note the thumb print above the ‘RIE’ Gartverrie Fireclay Works, Glenboig. . . .
Found flytipping pile, Glenboig This example is spelt with a single ‘R’ – why? Note the thumb print to bottom left. Gartverrie Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. . . .

industry_corpus2: Real Estate & Construction


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“I know!” She said, and then paused for a second as a gleam lit her eyes and the fading light flickered off a drop of spittle as it descended from her canine teeth.
Her handlers looked at one another, trying hard not show their fear as the most powerful woman in the world plotted cold, blooded murder.
Bill lowered his voice, doing his best Barry White impression, hoping to calm the drooling monster standing in front of him. “Keep it smooth and don’t get her riled.” He thought to himself.
Even Bill Clinton—a former two-term president—was afraid of Hillary.
Behind her back he called her the “Bad Seed” taken from that old movie of the same name about a murderous sociopathic little girl. Only a very small inner circle knew that it was a true story, based on Hillary’s youth.
Eventually, Hillary began to calm. Maybe it was her failing health that slowed her down, but Bill wanted to take no chances. At that moment he motioned to her doctor who sidled up next to her, giving her a quick shot of medication, the kind used on the African savanna to tranquilize lions and other dangerous animals. And, as she sank into a chair, she began to snore, and talk in her sleep… “Kill Assange….kill Assange.” She said, as her voice faded into a whisper.
Yes, my friends, that is exactly what happened. It was all behind closed doors, mind you, but it happened. That’s the real Hillary Clinton.
Is there any difference? Not anymore, there isn’t. Not anymore.

industry_corpus2: Media & Journalism


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So it was stay & play day for father's at Daizee-Mai's school today in aid of Father's day on Sunday 21st and Daizee-Mai asked me if I would come to play.
Daizee-Mai Brings Home A Friend From Nursery!!

industry_corpus2: Subject Education


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Sailor Moon Palace - Sailor Moon Greetings!
Welcome to Sailor Moon Greetings! Thanks to my visitors, this is one of the most popular Sailor Moon virtual greeting sites around! Help me get a bigger domain and this WILL BE the most popular! I'd make it where you can use any image in my gallery and any of my tons of MIDIs. For now, I have the selection below. It's pretty nice, but not as nice as it can be. =] Follow the steps and you'll have a greeting made in no time. If you have any questions, check out the Site FAQ. Once you send a greeting, check out the rest of my site. Thanks for stopping by!
Step #1: Select an image to use with your card. To view the full size, click on a thumbnail. Some thumbnails may seem distorted, but the actual image isn't.
Step #2: Fill out all the fields below. You can even select one of many high-quality Sailor Moon MIDIs! When done, you can preview the card. That's it! Have fun!
This site is a member of Personal Postcards network. To join us - go to mypostcards.com and sign up for FREE or professional postcard service. Bring extra traffic to your site. We also sell postcard software.


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Get A Reverse Mortgage Loan NJ, PA, DE, NY, MD, or FL Today!
You may be eligible to participate in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Home Benefit Program, reverse mortgage loan. This HUD program is designed to benefit seniors age 62 and above with their financial needs. There are no minimum income or credit requirements to participate. You may be eligible for this Federally Insured HECM Program from 7th Level Mortgage, LLC.
Your current mortgage will be paid off. You will no longer have any mortgage payment. Your home is secured by Federal law and you and/or your spouse can stay in your home for the rest of your live(s). In addition, you can still pass your home on to your children and/or beneficiaries.
All of your other debts can be paid off immediately. This includes credit cards, auto loans and any other debts you may hold.
This federally insured program allows you to receive up to $400,000 in one lump sum payment or as monthly payments for the rest of your life. This money is tax free and it does not affect your Social Security, Medicare or private retirement benefits. There are no restrictions on the use of your money.
Program funds are authorized by Congress annually. These funds are limited and may not be available in the future.
This HUD program is limited to homeowners age 62 and above. Your home must be your primary residence.
The amount of money available to you is based on the value of your home and your age.
Although your mortgage and other debts are paid off, you still are required to pay your real estate taxes and other conventional payments like utilities for as long as you own your home.
You must receive consumer information from a HUD-approved counseling source prior to participating in this program.
Unlike traditional “forward” home loans or second mortgages, there are currently no income or credit requirements. The only requirements are that the home must be your primary residence, you must be at least 62 years old, and you must have sufficient equity in your home. Talk to 7th Level Mortgage about your New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, or FLorida Reverse Mortgage Loan today!Our Reverse Mortgage process is pretty straightforward and simple!
Once you have had an initial interview with one of our associates about your situation we can determine the best course of action and product for you. We will provide you with an initial quote package and a list of HUD approved HECM counselors for you to choose from.
Then you can schedule and complete your initial HUD counseling with an independent third party. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that all applicants receive third-party counseling to explain the available options and details of a Reverse Mortgage. We provide you a list of counselors in your area and you pick one from the list. You pay a fee for the counseling session, which typically takes about an hour.
Lump Sum - Take all your money today.
Term Payments - Equal sum of money for a fixed period of months or years.
Tenure Payments - Like term payments but they do not end until you are no longer occupying the home.
Not exactly sure what option you should choose? Your licensed Reverse Mortgage expert will review your circumstances with you in as much detail as you want. They can help you decide based on your life style, your needs and your dreams for your retirement.
Once we have your completed loan application and a few simple supporting documents, we will order your appraisal. The appraisal is completed by a HUD approved appraisal in similar fashion to an FHA appraisal, the process can take about 10 days. The typical cost of an Appraisal is $375 to $450 for a single family home. You can put the cost of the appraisal directly on a credit card which gets paid directly to the appraiser. 7th Level Mortgage does not accept direct payment for appraisals.
After the appraisal is complete, the loan moves to the underwriting process where all the documents are reviewed and finalized.
When it’s time for closing, we will come to you with all the final documents to sign… it’s that easy!
Before disbursement there is a period during which you can choose to cancel the transaction. Federal law requires us to wait until we’re sure you haven’t canceled before we disburse your funds. After you get your proceeds, you can use the money to pay off any debts you choose or to spend the money however you like.
For the life of the loan, you will not have to make a monthly mortgage payment to your lender. However, you will remain responsible for the payment of taxes, insurance, and maintenance.
Reverse mortgages become due when the borrower(s) no longer occupies the home. If death of the borrower occurs, the heirs/estate may repay the loan from the sale of the home or refinance the home.


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Wood Norton is one of those delightfully quiet villages to the north of the Norwich to Fakenham road. There is a beautiful old brick barn at the curve in the road beside the graveyard, and the church is a pretty little thing. The unfinished medieval tower was completed in red brick in the late 17th century, and there is a small but stately 15th century south porch. The nave is tall, but without clerestories or aisles, and the overall effect is that the building is hunching its shoulders.
Big Perpendicular windows, probably contemporary with the porch, mean that the interior is very light. The font is intriguing; it bulges like a ripe cheese, and I assume that it is also late 17th century, probably a replacement for one damaged during the Commonwealth. The cover may well be contemporary, and designed for it. Other than these, the interior is that of a pleasantly restored English village church, well kept and obviously loved.
An early 20th century resident of Wood Norton was William Forbes Norris, who is remembered by a brass inscription. He was attached to the 54th Divisional Cyclist Company, and was killed in the hell of Suvla Bay, along with so many other Norfolkers, in August 1915. He was 21 years old. The insanity of taking bicycles to Suvla, where the cliffs rise hundreds of feet above the sea, tells you a little of what you need to know about those who oversaw the slaughter of the First World War.
Little survives of the medieval life of All Saints, but probably the most memoriable feature here is the corbel head of a pig, reminiscent of the famous ones not far off at Sharrington. It supports the blocked arch to a lost chapel on the south side of the chancel, and if the piscina is anything to go by it probably dates from about 1300. I wonder if it was carved from the life?

industry_corpus2: Travel & Geography


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The classic straight fit. Our 514™ Straight Fit Jeans sit low on the waist and are generous through the seat and thigh with a straight leg. Best for athletic to medium builds.
Greg Norman for Tasso Elba elevates your casual-wear style with the bold heather of this ultra-comfortable Performance Golf polo shirt.
Dockers® delivers a roomy and relaxed fit to your classic look with these ultra-soft flat-front khaki pants, featuring wrinkle-resistant stretch-infused fabric for added comfort and ease of movement.
Whether you're out for a warm-weather stroll in the park or hosting friends around the backyard grill, these straight-fit shorts from Dockers have just the right amount of stretch to keep you cozy and styled while sporting a handsome look.
Stay stylish on the fairways in these shorts from Greg Norman for Tasso Elba, featuring a flat front and a gripper waistband that helps keep your look pulled together. Performance fabric adds comfort.

industry_corpus2: Sports


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If you are a Non-Medicare Eligible Retiree, your Dependents become eligible for Benefits on the same date you become eligible, or if later, on the date you acquire an eligible Dependent. Eligible Dependents are defined on Your Dependents' Eligiblity.
These benefits are subject to Coordination of Benefits rules.


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This will help detox and destress you from your everyday life plus it will help soothe your muscles.
Growing up, I had the most terrible chapped lips that were always peeling so this is something I like to do on a routine basis to help my lips stay smooth and pretty.
Note: This recipe makes a little less than a ¼ cup. Either portion out the mixture into several airtight containers or adjust the recipe to fit the container you have.
Mix brown sugar, coconut oil, and honey in small bowl.
Put contents into container(s) of your choice.
This is made with Bentonite clay which has a ton of nourishing properties for your skin to get you back to glowing.
This is one that will make your skin as soft as a baby’s bottom. It also helps your skin feel bright and fresh.
In a large plastic bag, add strawberries and crush with a rolling pin.
Add crushed strawberries and sugar into large bowl.
In a microwavable glass cup, add the organic virgin coconut oil and place in microwave for 15 seconds or until melted.
In the glass cup with melted virgin coconut oil, add Fractionated Coconut Oil, vanilla extract, and Lime essential oil. Stir until combined and add to bowl with strawberries and sugar.
Stir until everything is combined. If mixture looks too dry, add 1 teaspoon of Fractionated Coconut Oil at a time until consistency is right.
To us, take a handful of scrub into hands and rub together until sugar dissolves. Rinse under warm water and pat dry. For added softness, rub hands with doTERRA SPA Hand & Body Lotion.
Feet should not be out of mind just because they might be out of sight. Don’t forget to show them a little love too.
Why use a foot mask? Since our feet have the most pores per square inch than any other area of the body, it is important to remember to treat the feet too! What you put on the feet will absorb into the rest of the body, so do your best to gather high quality, organic ingredients for this foot mask.
The probiotics in Greek yogurt help deliver beneficial proteins and the lactic acid it contains rids the surface of old cells, making way for radiant, fresh skin.
Celery is rich in zinc, which helps to repair dry, cracked skin. Celery also carries vitamins and is cleansing and detoxifying.
Raw honey is a natural humectant, contains beneficial enzymes and antioxidants, and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Bergamot essential oil is calming and soothing to the skin.
Grate stalk of celery and drain excess moisture in strainer or with paper towel.
Add celery and remaining ingredients to food processor or blender.
Ready a wet washcloth or sit by tub.
Apply mask immediately to entire foot with fingers or brush.
Let sit 15–20 minutes while enjoying mask’s cooling sensation and the calming effects of Bergamot essential oil.
Rinse off and enjoy your nourished and moisturized feet.
What are some of your favorite self-care recipes?

industry_corpus2: Health & Medicine


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As the insurance brokers Edmonton trusts, Capital Insurance Brokers works to get you the best rates on home, individual, business, and automotive lines of insurance. We also take the time to meet you in person to thoroughly discuss and understand your insurance needs.
We manage insurance policies for clients throughout Alberta, and with main offices located in Edmonton and Stony Plain we are able to offer local, personalized service for the majority of our clients.
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industry_corpus2: Finance & Economics


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Melt the butter in a pan add the onion, meat and tomato.
Cook on a medium heat until all juice is absorbed, around 25-30 minutes.
Add salt and 300ml of water, cover and cook for 1½ hours on a low heat.
Add the potatoes and carrots and replace the lid.
Cook on low for a further 25 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
The Turkish name for this recipe is Avcı Kebabı.


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The products featured on this website are not an exhaustive list but items we regularly supply to our customers.
Large UDI stiffener for use with Advantest/Verigy 93000 Tester.
RFQ - We do the work!

industry_corpus2: Manufacturing


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Jimmy Driftwood willed the barn to the University of Arkansas, Conway upon his death. They archived his music and used the barn for classes in folk music, then put the barn up for sale at which time Glen Branscum purchased it. Glen and Nellie Branscum operated the Jimmy Driftwood Barn until his death on April 5th, 2011. The Barn is still owned by Nellie Branscum who manages and MC’s at the barn.
Glen and Nellie followed the tradition of Jimmy Driftwood’s wishes by using local talent with traditional music. Folk, gospel, country and bluegrass is performed by local performers and friends from around the country.
The Rackensackers were instrumental in helping Jimmy Driftwood to preserve Folk Music.
Shows are every Friday and Sunday at 7pm. Admission is $5.00. Concessions and gift shop are available.


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When she was growing up in the 1950s and ’60s, Cheryl Jarvis said hers was a typical Southern California family, with a bungalow blocks from the water in Pacific Beach and afternoons spent playing in the sand and waterskiing on Mission Bay.
Many nights, when her father got home from his civil service job at North Island, the family — dad, mom, three daughters and a beagle mix named Taco — would hit the beach for a barbecue.
Fifth in an occasional series on the challenges facing family caregivers.
As the years have passed, that tableau has become markedly less sunny but no less typical of what many families go through. There has been loss, estrangement and the heartbreak of caring for an elderly parent with a crippling disease.
In fact, the family picture painted today by Jarvis, the primary caregiver for her mother, Reva Randall, 86, who has dementia, will sound distressingly familiar to many of the estimated 650,000 family caregivers in San Diego County. The sacrifice and stress, the isolation and strained family relations.
Jarvis, the eldest daughter, moved back into the family home to care for her mother, whose dementia diagnosis came not long after her husband died in 2005. Except for the few hours a week when Jarvis teaches Bible class or attends support group meetings, she is a full-time, day-to-day caregiver, with all of the physical and emotional hardship that entails.
She gets support from her middle sister, Gladys Smith, 66, who handles their mother’s finances and occasionally watches Randall. But Jarvis said their youngest sibling is MIA when it comes to mom’s care. Jarvis said other close family members also haven’t stepped up to help. One relative’s reason?
Those who would believe that are eldercare experts who say that if family dynamics can be challenging in normal times, caregiving can often stir up old tensions, create new frictions and fracture relations beyond repair. And while every family situation is unique, they say patterns generally emerge, mainly sibling rivalries resurfacing and disagreements erupting over a parent’s care or the family’s finances.
Family conflict can be, as is the case with Jarvis, a source of disappointment and frustration. Or, with others, it can escalate into something much uglier and even land siblings and other relatives in court.
The way it plays out can stem from how the family’s dynamics have always been shaped, said Craig Grether, a licensed clinical psychologist in Carlsbad.
“It’s the core issue, and it really goes back to the dysfunction of the family of origin,” Grether said.
The certified mediator, who has handled more than 150 cases of families embroiled in eldercare conflict, said he has found that one-third of families are highly dysfunctional, with a history of physical violence or sexual abuse.
In another third, the dynamics are moderately dysfunctional, with sparring or disengaged siblings who need outsiders to facilitate a workable eldercare plan.
The third group is highly functional, where children grew up feeling valued and in a communicative environment. Yet even then, buttons can be easily pushed.
“When there is a family crisis with a parent, the adult children, no matter how educated they are, no matter how successful, with a variety of life experiences, they regress to the same dynamic of whatever was going on when they were 7, 8, 10, 12 years old,” Grether said.
Though Grether can point to specific cases he’s worked on, there’s limited data on the impact of family dynamics in caregiving. That’s likely because unlike other challenges facing many caregivers — including depression, insomnia, substance abuse and lost wages — simmering anger and resentment can be hard to measure.
In one survey by the Caregiver Action Network, a national nonprofit organization, 65 percent of caregivers reported that they didn’t get regular or dependable help from other family members. But from there, what?
In many cases, since siblings are the only potential source of help in easing the burden of care or paying for it, family feuding turns out to be an important issue for caregivers, at least anecdotally.
During a recent informal discussion with family counselors at the Serra Mesa headquarters of the Southern Caregiver Resource Center, the dozen or so clinicians said the center’s clients routinely deal with family issues that can compound an already arduous caregiving responsibility and overshadow all else.
And in interviews for this series with about 25 adult caregivers of elderly parents throughout San Diego County, relatives were a primary complaint in all but a handful of instances. And among those who did cite family conflict, nearly all of the caregivers volunteered the information themselves, unprompted by a reporter.
The details varied but the narratives were similar. Step-siblings not pulling their weight, grandchildren not wanting to spend down the family inheritance on care, the out-of-town sibling who’d visit once a year and stay just long enough to criticize the job the caregiver was doing.
None of that surprises Andrea Holmberg, program coordinator of Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s senior resource centers.
And if the primary caregiver can’t get others to help, maybe a new approach should be taken, she said.
Little can prepare an adult child for the emotions tangled up in watching a parent age. Parents don’t always handle it well either. Fearing a loss of independence, care recipients can sometimes refuse help to the point of belligerence.
“A lot of problems stem from just the acceptance of the role reversal, now somebody else has to make the decisions,” said Martha Rañón, Southern Caregiver Resource Center’s director of education and programs.
Every few months, Rañón leads a free class for caregivers on how to hold a family meeting, a first step professionals recommend for people initially dealing with caregiving, to define roles and expectations. She advises starting with a focused agenda, staying on topic and not letting emotions take over.
Holmberg said not every sibling or close relative can or should take part in the caregiving and resistance to doing so isn’t necessarily rooted in selfishness.
“Keep them informed and don’t expect too much,” Holmberg said.
In highly dysfunctional families, forgiveness can be problematic, if not elusive.
“Maybe there was physical violence (neglect) or sexual abuse, nothing pretty at all,” Grether said.
The word caregiver itself implies that someone is doing something willingly, with devotion.
Cheryl Jarvis has come to accept things for the way they are. She’s too busy in her role of caregiver to deal with it any other way.
She’s no longer resentful that her youngest sister takes no part in their mother’s care. Jarvis chalks it up to her sibling’s longtime withdrawal from the family.
Support group members and friends she has made over the years at meetings through the Alzheimer’s Association and Southern Caregiver Resource Center, have become family to Jarvis. They all know what the other is going through. And it’s OK, and probably easier, that they aren’t blood relations.
These days, Jarvis can make light of how old sibling rivalries have flared up.
“My sister Gladys was always the favorite, and she was named executor of the estate. When that first happened, I wasn’t happy. My feeling was, I’m the oldest, I should be the executor,” Jarvis said.
On a recent hot and brilliantly sunny day, Jarvis wanted to have her photo taken at Mission Bay. Being near the water has always been a comfort, a refuge for her and the source of happy childhood memories.
She wanted her mother to be there and also invited her middle sister.
“I could not do this without Gladys, and she couldn’t do it without me,” Jarvis said.
When all three women were together, they immediately fell into a comfort zone — even with Randall’s advanced stage of dementia — that only family members normally enter.
Sitting side-by-side on the shoreline, Randall spoke quietly, and mostly incoherently, to her middle daughter, nuzzling her at times. When her oldest daughter, arm tightly around her mother, tried to get her attention for the camera, Randall turned toward Jarvis and punched her lightly on her chest.
Divvy up responsibilities before there’s an emergency. Write down what the parent needs and who can and should do it. Is there someone in the best position to assume the day-to-day responsibilities? It isn’t necessarily the oldest or youngest daughter or the sibling without any kids. Who can take over the bill paying and have power of attorney? If someone can’t offer time, can they contribute financially? Regularly revisit these major decisions to reflect the changing circumstances of the caregivers and the care receiver.
Ask for help. The primary caregiver should make a list of at least five things that he or she needs helps with, on a daily or weekly basis, whether it’s grocery shopping, taking Mom or Dad to their appointments, offering respite, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, bringing over prepared meals and so on. Add to the list as necessary.
Provide assistance remotely. Just because a sibling lives out of town doesn’t mean he or she can’t participate in the caregiving. Tasks that can be done online or by phone include ordering groceries and staples (toilet paper, detergent, diapers) for delivery, refilling prescriptions, making doctor appointments, calling the insurance company, paying bills, etc.
Utilize online resources. Caregiving websites like CaringBridge (caringbridge.org) and Lotsa Helping Hands (lotsahelpinghands.com) can help families coordinate tasks, create calendars, set reminders and provide a private, central place for disseminating information.
Hold family meetings early and often. Communicating what’s needed — and who’s doing it — should be the priority, especially as disagreements arise over the division of labor or care plan for the parent. Sharing information and making decisions as a family from the start can provide a good foundation for down the road when the decisions are likely to get more difficult. If emotions run too high for the meetings to be productive, consider asking a neutral party, like a clergy member, a counselor or paid mediator to step in.
Keep the past in the past. Don’t let old sibling rivalries get in the way of your family’s current needs. Avoid criticism, finger-pointing and defensiveness, and let go of old labels like “she’s the bossy one” and “he’s the favorite.” Resist deciding that you’re the only one who knows what’s best for Mom and Dad.


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A historic building in the centre of a County Durham town with a growing reputation as a prestigious venue, has added an events manager to its team in response to increased demand. After a change of ownership late in 2014, the Manor House in Sedgefield was refurbished and launched as a business centre, and also secured a licence to host events and marriages. It has since become a popular venue and the owners have now appointed Marie Walker to promote and manage the wide variety of events that the building is able to attract.
The Grade II* listed Manor House in Sedgefield was built in 1707 and has had a variety of uses during the last 300 years. It is now a business and events centre with furnished and unfurnished offices, events spaces and meeting rooms spread over three floors. Under the management of Manor House 1707 Ltd, the site is fully equipped for modern businesses and currently has only one vacant office.
As well as a base for businesses, the Manor House also boasts versatile events and meeting space options, including the Old Court Room on the ground floor, a spacious Georgian reception hall, a grand staircase backed by a renowned Palladian/Venetian window, and the first floor Freville Room overlooking Sedgefield village green. The building is preparing to host its first wedding later this month and has a busy diary of other bookings stretching into 2018. With licences secured for weddings, entertainment, and bars, owner and managing director Ean Parsons took the decision to hire a dedicated events manager, and Sedgefield resident Marie Walker has now joined the team.
For more information about the Manor House and events in the building, call 01740 629999, email events@manorhousesedgefield.co.uk, visit www.manorhousesedgefield.co.uk or www.facebook.com/manorhousesedgefield, or follow @ManorHouse1707 on Twitter.


text: These are 1.25” standard corners. They made of polypropylene and are free of harmful chemicals and feature a pressure sensitive, non-yellowing acrylic adhesive. Two styles are offered, including standard and full view. The full view style minimizes the border required to hide the corner under a window mat. Because no adhesives come in contact with the artwork, these corners may be the best, easiest way to mount precious art. 250 corners to a pack.


text: @hall_of_flowers is around the corner! We have some AMAZING experiences for y’all! If you’re gonna be there and want to sit down or grab a drink after the day is over- hit me up!!!


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Zachary Perez is churning out delicious breakfast and lunch favorites, many with a Mexican or Greek twist.
I really enjoy getting reader recommendations of restaurants to review, especially when it leads me to those hidden gems.
If you read this column regularly then you know I often choose to cover new businesses and places off the beaten path. I like helping out the small business owner and introducing readers to dining experiences like Zachary's Cafe in Stuart.
Located in the Wedgewood Commons shopping center two doors down from Publix, chef and owner Zachary Perez is churning out some delicious breakfast and lunch favorites, many with a Mexican or Greek twist, and all available from open to close.
The interior of the restaurant is surprisingly spacious, not to mention neat, clean and tastefully decorated. The accommodating staff was well dressed in uniform shirts and worked together to provide superior service.
The menu offers a plethora of brunch favorites from Benedict's to burgers, sure to please everyone's pallet and wallet as the prices are quite fair.
Being the breakfast lover that I am, I went for one of the house specialty items, Zack's skillet ($9.25), two eggs any style served over a sizzling iron skillet chock-full of chorizo or kielbasa with onions, peppers, home fries and cheddar cheese.
Unfortunately, the skillet was so hot that the bottom layer was burnt. On the bright side, I ordered my eggs over medium and they were perfectly done and the chorizo I chose was deliciously spiced. it is served with sour cream and house-made zesty salsa. The dish came with a choice of bread and I opted for one of its immense scratch-made flaky biscuits.
I also wanted to sample its house-made sausage gravy so I ordered a cup of it ($1.75) to complement the biscuit. The gravy was very tasty and full of ground sausage.
My husband tried a cup of Italian wedding soup ($2.95) which had a great consistency, but was a little bland for my taste. Fortunately, a sprinkle of salt solved that problem.
We also tried another specialty of the house, the Reuben sandwich ($8.25). The corned beef is cooked and hand-cut on the premises. It was served on grilled rye with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing with sour deli pickles on the side. It is normally accompanied by french fries, but my husband substituted wonderfully seasoned home-fried potatoes for no extra charge. That sandwich was made with love.
It is very apparent that Perez puts a lot of love into his food and his business in general. The restaurant has a very loyal following. I struck up a conversation with one of the regulars who was seated next to me and I told him it was my first time there. His response was, "Shh, don't tell anybody." I smiled and said, "Well, I can't promise that, sir."
Give Zachary's Cafe a try; I doubt you'll be disappointed.


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The man was last seen on May 26.
The Bastrop Police Department is asking for help locating a missing man.
The department received a missing person's complaint for Nicholas L. Roberson, age 35, on Thursday according to Chief Allen Campbell.
Roberson is described as a black man; five feet, six inches tall and 150 pounds. He was last seen in Bastrop on May 26.
If anyone has seen Roberson or knows of his whereabouts, contact the Bastrop Police Department at 318-281-1322.

industry_corpus2: Politics & Administration


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These mortgages and loans pay for home renovations – There’s typically a lower credit-score requirement for this loan than there is for a HomeStyle loan, and a lower minimum down payment of 3.5 percent. There are two types of FHA 203(k. a few pieces.
Down Payment On A Conventional Loan Conventional Mortgage or Loan – Definition – Investopedia – A conventional mortgage is any type of home buyer's loan that is not. for loans – “no verification” and “no down payment” mortgages have.
The Minimum Down Payment Required for an FHA Loan – The Minimum Down Payment Required for an FHA Loan. Buying a home with an FHA loan means a low down payment. You don’t need the typical 20% down. In fact, you need a lot less than that. fha loans require just 3.5% of the purchase price down. Here we discuss how this works and how the low down payment affects you down the road.
How Much Should A Down Payment Be On A House How Much Is A Down Payment On A House? | Bankrate.com – Down payments are expressed in percentages. Let’s say you’re buying a $100,000 house. If you put 10 percent down, it means you make a down payment of 10 percent of that, or $10,000. A 20 percent down payment on that house would be $20,000. Regardless of down payment, comparison-shop for mortgages here.
What Is An FHA Loan Down Payment? – FHA News and Views – FHA loan rules which govern the down payment are found in HUD 4000.1, the fha loan handbook, and have plenty to say about the amount and sourcing of an FHA mortgage loan down payment. What Is An FHA Loan Down Payment? The FHA loan handbook describes the down payment, also known as a Minimum Required Investment.
No, you don’t need 20 percent. How Chicago millennials are buying first homes with down payment programs. – . a realty agent who was conversant in Federal Housing Administration loans and who recommended an FHA loan that required only a 3.5 percent down payment, plus a different program that covered many.
Minimum Down Payment to Buy a Home – The Balance – Minimum Down Payment for an FHA Loan: Another government program, the FHA loan, has been around even longer than the VA loan program. FHA loans have been part of the American mortgage system since 1934.


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my name is Nicola and I have been working in Drass since July 2013.
I’m part of the System Design Business Unit: I spend a lot of time “furnishing” the ships using our pressure vessels and related ancillary components.
I also support the Commercial Department whenever there is the need to define an offer.
The most beautiful aspect of my job is its diversity: I have to work with people worldwide, so one day with someone from Australia, another day with other people from South Korea, China and so on.
Consequently, I have had the great chance to visit other countries and to live unique experiences, as with my last trip to Norway where I lived for one month.
At the same time, the craziest thing is that, during my working days, I have to jump between totally different issues every 5 minutes.. that’s the fabulous world of multi-tasking!
Fortunately, in my free time, doing sports like swimming, running and skiing helps reset my brain.


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Webcam 1-2-3 is a web video streaming tool for Windows. It is the kind of tool that you would install on your system if you wanted to broadcast the video feed off your webcam to the Internet from your computer, without buying any additional hardware.
Webcam 1-2-3 can grab the video from your USB video camera and broadcast it in a variety of ways. The application installs a web server on your computer and it creates an HTML website that can be accessed by anyone who knows your IP address. You can of course give your stream a password so that it is a little more protected. The web server works very well, I have to say. You can change the port and set a limit to the connection number. The video compression is very impressive, and thanks to it, good quality streams can be achieved with very little bandwidth usage. Other than the Web server, Webcam 1-2-3 can upload image snapshots or video files to FTP servers, or create an HTML file that you can upload to your own host and then redirect the video to that website.
The company behind Webcam 1-2-3 even gives you an URL for your users to access your computer if you register the product. This comes in handy when you have a dynamic IP address and want to host a stable video feed.
Keluarga Azim Good and interesting for the future.


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Design Team Project for Quoth the Raven Challenge #40 "Snow - Poe"
I used a pretty blue piece of card stock from my stash and cut the gate, grassy tombstones and picture frame (which reminded me of a snowflake) from my cricut using the Happy Hauntings cartridge from white card stock. I was wandering through some poems of Edgar Allen Poe and stumbled upon "Fairy Land". The portion I used for my page was this:" Of those butterflies, Of Earth, who see the skies, And so come down again (Never - contented thing!) Have brought a specimen Upon their quivering wings." So that is where the butterflies come from on a Poe project! I triple stamped the butterflies, inked, fussy cut, and glued the first and attached the other two with foam dots. The raven on the tree limb is from Ike's wonderful image "Poe Bust" and I cut two of him again inking, fuzzy cutting, gluing the first one down and attaching the top one with foam dots. I also used a lot of Dimensional Magic to the top butterflies, top raven, parts of the fence and tombstones, the word "Hello" , the picture frame, and the tree limb. I know it is kinda a departure from most Poe projects but I wanted to showcase a more obscure part of his work and the butterflies pulled me to this one. I had wanted something about snow but found this one first and it sort of put itself together. I love it when that happens!
So pick up some paper and glue and start on YOUR Snow - Poe project! We can't wait to see it and you know you want to win:) Check back to the blog page for weekly inspiration from the design team...you won't be disappointed!
Happy Crafting and get busy!!
poequotetheraven.blogspot.com/ This will take you back to the Challenge blog!
You hit a home run with this Poe piece, Nan! Love all the detail and the glossy butterflies and raven! Your quote is new to me, but I am going to check out this poem. Happy to be on the Design Team with you at "Quote the Raven, Nevermore!"
Love the overall feel of this piece.


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can you name one that is legitimate or recognized by an institution of higher learning.
As far as this forum goes most people are self-employed rather than "employed" so qualifications don't mean much to many people who are working in the self-employed space.
As far as legitimate qualifications in marketing, there are several streams in nearly all of the major universities where digital marketing is a component or a course in itself.
As far as short self-paced digital certifications being recognised by employers then those are more for people wanting to learn various aspects of digital marketing rather than those wanting to achieve employment.
The relevance of having a certification or qualification largely depend on whether you are seeking employment or following a path of self-improvement.
If you are seriously looking for education and educational qualifications in regards to gaining employment then this forum might not be the best place to get informed.
If however you are entrepreneurial and want to learn what other people are doing and implementing in a wide range of marketing activities both online and offline then you may be in the right place.
The key to understanding the Warrior forum is to understand there is a wealth of knowledge mostly gained by a few individuals who have taken a particular pathway and become successful.
Those people come back and share their experiences with other members.
Then you have others who don't necessarily have experience but care to share ideas they have heard or "think" work.
In most cases in the digital space the proof you can deliver a result is in many cases more valuable than a qualification or certification that shows you understand the theory.
The digital marketing space is always evolving so it is usually those that spend time working in and meeting the challenges that have the greatest success.
It doesn't hurt to get qualified or certified but be sure to develop some practical skills that deliver results in the real world otherwise as Al mentions the certification won't be worth the "virtual paper" it is pixellated on.
Not at all, show your practical knowledge in this field, certification doesn't hold any value.
I don't think they hurt but I wouldn't spend too much time or effort in this area as I don't think it will give you the results you're looking for.
Are you talking about a certificate from a college or university?
I wouldn't waste my time. From personal experience (I have a 4 year degree in web development) the material is outdated at best and garbage at worst.
Totally agree. This the fact. You only get certification if you want to be employed.
Certification in digital marketing can you give the edge, when you are looking for a job because some of the organization, looking for certified experts. But if you are having experience in it, you don't need a certification for it.
Personally, when I was a one man show, I maintained the WordPress blogs for cnn.com and that stint came to me from a recommendation by a leader in the wordpress theme development industry.
When talking to CNN it was explained to me that a short resume and application would be required. On the app I was asked about a digital certification. My 'comment' was "what is a digital certification and don't answer that!" The rest of the app questions? I literally wrote "blah, blah, blah."
That was years ago and in today's world I would not recommend it for people with no education or experience.
All that matters in some cases is your own reputation and to have a reputation in good standing means more to potential employers than any digital certification.
Heck, I know employers that will tell you it is nice to have because you have an exposure, but those same employers will rather see you have a good reputation as a youth leader, community advocate, etc.
It all depends on your goal with it.
Google one for the heck of it.
and got every question right.
But here's why they could help.
to stand out and get your foot in the door.
If you own your own biz?
one from Google or Facebook.
So yeah, it's a hard thing to answer.
Hands on learning is great for that.
you stand out in sea of sameness.
perhaps a Google cert will get you noticed.
ever asked me who I was certified with.
today's busy world... COULD be worth it.
their huge name and associate yours.
Not totally relevant. If anything, it only becomes relevant if you're using it to make money online YOURSELF.... or if you get lucky and make it into the interview of a local ad/marketing/seo agency.
We are now living in a world of internet. Emerging of digital marketing brought a huge impact on marketing industry. Digital marketing is marketing your products or services through digital mediums such as search engines, websites, videos, emails etc.
The digital marketing industry is growing every year and the demand for the digital marketing professional are high. Every business is looking their business to make online. There are many institutes providing certifications in digital marketing courses. They are providing best industry practices and you can improve your skills, knowledge and employment.
Whether you are new to digital marketing or an established digital marketer, an entrepreneur, blogger or someone just looking to promote your business online, going through a certification program will definitely enhance your authorization and establish you as a Digital Marketing expert.
There are different kinds of certifications in digital marketing Google AdWords certification, Google Analytics certification, HubSpot content marketing certification, Hubspot Inbound marketing certification, Hootsuite Social Media Marketing certification, Copyblogger Certified Content Marketer, Content Marketing Institute Online Certification, Facebook Ad Certification, Market Motive Digital Marketing Certification Program etc.
Demand, more job opportunities and high pay are the three reasons why you can choose digital marketing as your career. Digital marketing certifications will help you to choose the best career or company and also you can get up to date with the new trends.
If you are asking because you are making a choice between courses that offer some sort of credentials and others that do not, I would (personally) go with the one that offers some certification. As someone posted earlier it may be worthless to some, but it can't hurt to have it on your resume.
Having some sort of certification can also be a motivator for those who are limping along and want some sort of goal to make it all happen. You can be cynical and see it as a marketing device to get more enrollees, or you can make it work for you in a very competitive marketplace.
There are many courses out there - some high ticket with ongoing coaching and others that provide you with some knowledge and some tools to get started. Having a course with some sort of certification would not be my only choice for making a decision, but I wouldn't rule it out as totally meaningless. The better courses will insist that you learn how to set up an autoresponder and get sign-ups or they'll challenge you to do a Facebook Live. If you're taking a course why not get a pat on the back at the end? That's assuming, of course, that you are accepting a challenge and have met it successfully.


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Woodbury, Evelyn 6/13/1930 - 2/7/2019 Passed away on Feb. 7, 2019. A memorial service will be held 4pm, Feb. 23, 2019 at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 9020 S. Saginaw St. Grand Blanc, MI. Family will receive visitors from 2pm until time of service.
"Our deepest condolences to the family. She was a dear lady..."
" Evelyn's family and Bob's family were long time friends..."


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Home » City Information » Day 5: Gimme Five!
just down the street, under the highway 240 bridge, and only a few blocks walk from lexington avenue, lies a little coffee shop in the bottom corner of a fairly newly built, arts & crafts style building on broadway (just behind greenlife grocery). i think i had passed the coffee shop before, but never really noticed it. it’s not that flashy, and it just sort of blends in with the rest of the building, which is used for offices on the bottom floor and apartments on the top floors. of course, that’s the point, i think. i was expecting a very hip, starbucks-like atmosphere inside, but what i found what completely different.
i am beginning to learn that nothing is every anything that i expect it to be. for real.
this neighborhood, just north of downtown and close to five points, is known as a walking-friendly area. residents in the cute cottages that dot the streets behind high five, walk everywhere. to the grocery store. to downtown. and to this coffee shop. so, even though there is ample parking in a gravel lot across the street (which i didn’t know to begin with, of course), i parked on the street in front of one of the cute cottages and walked the block to the coffee shop. i actually always like walking places, especially since i don’t walk as much as i did in sweden.
i entered the industrial-inspired room and noticed the buzz. there were people chatting, coffee steaming, beans grinding. and music playing. but, it wan’t too much. it wasn’t noise overload or anything, which surprised me. and even though the floor was hard, the tables were high , the ceiling had exposed pipes, and so much was going on, i felt a sense of warmth. it was definitely a hip place. but, it was warm. like a little coffee community.
it could be the community tables. this is a unique and freaking cool feature of high five. and i love it. i made my way to the counter, ordered my regular coffee (but forgot my mug. gaaahh!), and looked around as i waited. there were a couple of tall, curvy tables with stools, which were very inviting. it looked a super easy place to sit and not feel awkward, even if you were sitting with strangers. there were also counter spaces facing the windows with bar stools. and then, the mother of all places to sit. little round-ish wooden tables on a platform. but they were close to the ground, so you have to sit on a pillow when you sit around these funky tables. soooo cool.
i didn’t get to sit at one of these cool tables, because it seems everyone else thinks they are cool too. so i put down my coffee, pulled out my book, and plopped myself down on one of the stools at a tall, curvy counter-table thing. i didn’t even mind that there were 2 other individuals sitting at the table. we could share. ok. i did freak out a little inside – introvert alert.
but, the other two people were quite involved in their own activities… reading, writing, surfing. it is a coffee shop that works well as a place to visit on your own. it’s also a great place for conversation. there seemed to be quite a few students, or at least people studying. but, there were also middle-aged, young families, and elderly patrons. some were funky, some were granola hippies, some were hipster, and some were tourists (you can tell by the maps and the cameras). the thing i noticed most about the people, was that they all seemed to be totally away of what’s going on there = they are locals. still, it was a welcoming place.
i sipped my coffee and read my book, looking up every now and then to see what was going on. i never really chatted with anyone, but then, again, i got really absorbed into my book. and pretty soon i realized that this was a cafe i could visit quite often.
what i am saying is, that spending this intentional time by myself has helped me to slow down enough to observe the things that i feel the most passionate about, and the gifts/skills that i have. the quiet time has given me some space to breathe and to just be. and so, i feel a sense of direction. i feel a sense of comfort and inner peace. and all of this from only 5 days in cafes, with limited conversation with people. i wonder what the next 35 days have in store for me?!
who knew that a cup of coffee could trigger so many thoughts, ideas, dreams, and opportunities? how ’bout a high five for that?!
Next Day 6: Open your mind & be yourself at Firestorm.


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Ocwen Financial Corporation of Atlanta, Georgia, and its subsidiary, Ocwen Loan Servicing, have agreed to a $2.1 billion dollar joint state-federal settlement with Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway 48 additional states and the District of Columbia, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
The settlement terms address servicing misconduct by Ocwen, and two companies later acquired by Ocwen, Homeward Residential Inc. and Litton Home Servicing LP. Ocwen specializes in servicing high-risk mortgage loans.
The settlement with the nation’s fourth largest mortgage servicer is the result of a massive civil law enforcement investigation and initiative that includes state attorneys general, state mortgage regulators and the CFPB. Through a court order, the settlement holds Ocwen accountable for past mortgage servicing and foreclosure abuses, provides relief to homeowners, and protects consumers by preventing future fraud and abuse.
Under the settlement, Ocwen agreed to $2 billion in first-lien principal reduction, and $125 million in cash payments to borrowers on nearly 185,000 foreclosed loans.
In Kentucky, Ocwen will provide troubled borrowers with an estimated $7.8 million in first lien principal reductions, and 1,499 loans will be eligible to receive a cash payment. The payment amount, which is contingent on the number of consumers who submit valid claims, is projected to exceed $1,000.
Joseph A. Smith, Jr., Monitor of the National Mortgage Settlement, will also oversee the Ocwen agreement’s implementation and compliance through the Office of Mortgage Settlement Oversight (http://www.mortgageoversight.com/).
The National Mortgage Settlement (http://www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com/), a three-year agreement reached in 2012 with the attorneys general of 49 states and the District of Columbia, the federal government, and five mortgage servicers (Ally/GMAC, Bank of America, Citi, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo), has so far provided more than $51 billion in relief to distressed homeowners and created significant new servicing standards. The U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. entered the consent judgments on April 5, 2012.
The Ocwen settlement does not grant immunity from criminal offenses and would not affect criminal prosecutions. The agreement does not prevent homeowners or investors from pursuing individual, institutional or class action civil cases. The agreement also preserves the authority of state attorneys general and federal agencies to investigate and pursue other aspects of the mortgage crisis, including securities cases.
• Ocwen commits to $2 billion in first-lien principal reduction.
• Ocwen pays $125 million cash to borrowers associated with 183,984 foreclosed loans.
• Homeowners receive comprehensive new protections from new mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure standards.
• An independent monitor will oversee implementation of the settlement to ensure compliance.
• The government can pursue civil claims outside of the agreement, and any criminal case; borrowers and investors can pursue individual, institutional or class action cases regardless of the agreement.
• Ocwen pays $2.3 million for settlement administration costs.
The final agreement, through a consent judgment, will be filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. If approved by a judge, it will have the authority of a court order.


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The Expanded Learning Technical Assistance Unit (ELTAU), located at the Los Angeles County Office of Education provides technical assistance to the field utilizing a variety of strategies.
Community of Practice #7 - May 9, 2019 CANCELLED AT THE REQUEST OF LAUSD!
Create a free profile to register for events, stay informed with announcements, activities, grants and more.
YOU select what you want to receive and can change your choices at any time!


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The main event will be a 600pt constructed Modern Tournament- War of Light Only.
We will be running War of Light Battle Royals at $15/person (on demand starting from 11:00am when we open). One War of Light Booster will be added to the pool before picking figures.
There will be door prizes raffled off for main event and Battle Royal participants.
10% off all Heroclix product throughout the day.

industry_corpus2: Gaming


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Well fellow Blood fans, here at last is the largest collection of Maps for the original game available in one file. It contains over 1,300 Maps, made up from single Maps to Map-packs and TCs. For those who just want the Maps and not the larger file which is big because of said TCs, I've made separate uploads. When new/missing Maps are sent to me I'll upload them into a forth file that will updated from time to time, so you won't need to download the whole lot again.
Complete Blood Map Collection - 205mb. The whole lot.
Just Maps - 26.4mb. None or very few of the multi-map/TC files are contained in this collection.
Just TCs - 183mb. There's not much point to this one, but if you download just the maps and want the TCs at a later date, you can get them separately.
All of the Maps contained within are either compressed with WinZip or WinRAR, and maybe one or two 7Zip files. Feel free to share the links around and direct-link to them on your own site should you have a little corner dedicated to Blood. Enjoy.
And a couple of other sites which housed various TCs such as 'Legends of Iconoclast' trilogy and whatnot. Along with all of them, I had stored away on an old CD of mine (which would be about 8 years old) lots of Maps from the late nineties; 250-odd files which I could not locate on any website; which is probably a joke of a collection compared to all those that were stored at sites that no longer exist, since I was never an avid Map collector back in the day.
~~~ New Additions (for folk who don't want to download the whole collection again, which will be updated every now and then; but this file would always remain pretty small).
I look forward to hearing from whoever wants to help. Cheers.
Status update: Over 700 files, easily adding up to 850+ Maps when you factor in all the TCs, map packs and multi-map files. I've got two more large hauls on the way, which after sorting through I imagine there should be over 1,000 in the end, and once I've got them all I'll divide them into Single Player and Bloodbath maps if I feel devoted enough. I'll note my progress again in a couple of days.
Last edited by Jarlaxle on Wed Dec 30, 2009 04:26 am, edited 2 times in total.
This sounds great to have all the maps in one easy download. Thanks.
Original post has been edited with the uploaded files.
Cool. I'll try some of it out sometime.
God, I can not believe I missed this when it was first posted..
They made downloading much easier.
Sorry to bump this, but the best collection is done by BME.
It contains small mods as well, just scroll down to "Other Stuff" to find three links where it's possible to DL it.
This is his 2nd map pack that replaces the first one completely.
That is actually really awesome, Corvin.
I had no idea the russian guy behind BAITD mod hosts a such rich archive on his, new I suppose, site.
The guy that did BAITD is NoOne and BME is hosted there who does the map pack.
Anyhow BME's newer 2015 (for 2016) Map Pack has been released awhile ago.
I just forgot to post here.
BME posted his 2016 (for 2017) Ultimate Map Pack at Blood Freeminded.
If you want to wait to get it, then he may post it at his own site soon.


text: Order online for delivery and takeout: 59. Chicken Lo Mein from New China - (Rising Sun) Philadelphia. Serving the best Chinese in Philadelphia, PA.


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. Published on April 23, 2018.
Why the MightyCall virtual phone number system is a robust communications option.
Why is an auto attendant good for business?
An automated attendant/receptionist is one of the most popular features found in a business call-processing system. This service is mainly designed to greet callers, forward calls to desired locations, and provide information by means of a voice menu. In short, it’s a core element of any communications management layout- or at least it should be.
Ever since such systems became widely available and affordable, business owners have been paying close attention to them. Nowadays having an auto-attendant as a part of a phone system has pretty much become a de facto standard. Have you already started using one? No?
Well first, consider the consequences of not using it.
Actually, you’ll just waste money on inefficient marketing efforts, because nothing is harder than rectifying a ruined reputation. In the mind of a typical customer, a missed call means that your company is disorganized, poorly managed and doesn’t care about its customers. Therefore, this person will not only cease to use your services, they’ll ward their friends off of doing so too.
By the way, according to recent surveys, 40% of respondents switched to a competitor after experiencing poor customer service, while 44% named good customer service among the likely reasons to choose a particular company. And regardless of how good your phone support staff is, little can be done if your communications setup is insufficient.
Calculate the average cost per call: divide the sum of money spent on marketing during a certain period by the number of inbound calls for the same period.
Calculate the number of missed calls: multiply the number of inbound calls by the percentage of missed calls.
Multiplying the number of missed calls from the previous equation by the average cost per call from the first step will give you the amount money wasted on your marketing efforts.
Take the previously-calculated number of missed calls and multiply it by the sale conversion rate (you do have sales analytics, right?) and you will get your potential lost revenue in dollars. Thousands of dollars, probably.
Let’s say your company spends $20,000 on marketing and receives 1,000 inbound calls a month. That means each call costs you twenty dollars (20,000/1,000 calls = $20 per call). If you miss 15 percent of your calls, you’re throwing away $3,000 each and every month (15% of 1,000 calls = 150 calls missed; 150 calls x $20 = $3,000). Now if 10 percent of your inbound calls convert into a sale of $5,000 you can then multiply 15 of those 150 missed calls by $5,000 and you’re essentially losing $75,000 in missed sales every month!
Whatever numbers your company is working with, that loss doesn’t exactly seem like it’d be palatable for most small businesses. Frankly, those are enormous losses- which makes it all the more amazing that it takes so little to minimize the losses and improve revenues. Let’s see how a virtual phone number system with an automated attendant can help to amend the situation. What advantages will an AA give you?
As an owner of a small business, it’s understandable that you can’t really pay for trappings of a larger enterprise. The issue, of course, is that those expensive attributes of professionalism and success are highly valued by the target audience.
In certain cases, potential clients will perceive a professional setup as a guarantee of quality. While an attractive website is the face of your company on the internet, a masterfully-recorded greeting and sophisticated voice menu impacts your initial callers, helping to convert them into customers.
For a small business, every single call is precious: if the initial call is missed, the vast majority of potential clients will give you only a one more chance before taking their business elsewhere (in fact, only about 20% of people make only a single call before proceeding to other options). A small company implies limited staff capability. Therefore, a typical SMB team member wears many hats and it’s not always possible for them to pick up a ringing telephone. Hiring a dedicated full- or even part-time receptionist seems inefficient in terms of costs, so many calls end up without a response. While it is possible to forward calls from your virtual phone number to your personal devices, it’s understandable that not many people will be thrilled to receive business calls to their personal numbers when business hours are over. Thus, late callers are usually ignored.
An automated attendant integrated into a virtual phone system can become a truly affordable solution to this problem. If nobody is able to answer at the present time then music, messages, and on-hold options will increase your acceptable waiting times, because callers will not feel ignored. As for after-hours calls, you can configure the attendant’s voice menu to prompt callers to leave a call-back request via voicemail. What’s more, a correctly-configured self-service voice menu allows a late caller to get essential information regardless of phone operator availability. You can set up an automated attendant to provide information about business hours, special offers, service availability, office location and anything else you wish to relay.
An automated attendant allows your team to process incoming calls in the most efficient and convenient manner. As virtual phone number services generally provide multiple inbound/outbound lines, your system can be able to distribute all the calls accordingly.
You can set this to be done both automatically (depending on customizable routing rules) or by having the caller select an item from the voice menu. The menu provided by the auto receptionist typically sounds like “press 1 to reach Department X, press 2 to reach Department Y, etc.”, and is fully configurable. It will allow callers to reach a desired expert ― tech support specialist, sales manager, delivery team ― directly. For customers it results in increased speed of getting through to a person they need, while your team doesn’t lose time on forwarding the flow manually or answering stray calls.
Besides optimizing response time and minimizing the number of missed calls, you can also save money on infrastructure. Modern cloud call-processing systems can work literally anywhere (on landlines, mobile phones, softphones, etc.). It means that once you get the power to redirect inbound calls from your virtual phone number to any device, you are free to use whatever infrastructure option you find the cheapest or most reliable.
Don’t want to equip your team members with landline telephones? No problem, just forward the calls to their computers (headsets cost peanuts nowadays). Your bandwidth too low to allow high-quality voice exchange? Then route calls to cellphones ― it will be especially handy if your staff is always on the run (like sales agents, couriers or other staff working out of the office most of the time). Bring-your-own-device integration will also come handy if you need to provide connectivity to remote employees ― let them in on being a part of the team!
These two options are immensely important when it comes to caller retention. A large-scale Google poll proves that 1 out of every 3 US callers expect to get an immediate answer, about 27% find it acceptable to wait for a minute, and another 30% will wait for up to five minutes but no more. However, having hold music allows you to reduce the wait time as perceived by your callers by a third. Promotional and informational messages played on hold are even more effective ― the waiting time is perceived to be as low as two-thirds of what it really is! Plus, with a virtual receptionist you can to upload your own music themes and recorded messages.
A call queue allows customers to hold the line while all your staff is busy. It’s not a simple line, but a flexible call-processing instrument. The place in the queue can be changed to allow more prospective/important clients to get connected faster. The choice is fully configurable and depends on the item chosen on the voice menu of the automated attendant, the dialed number (if you have several numbers within one system) and the caller’s number (which can be included on a VIP list).
and many more useful functions with affordable rates.
a Contact Us widget ― an attractive, on-site business card with a map, a gallery and all your contacts listed.
MightyCall makes living in the multichannel world easier with its advanced Activity Queue feature. It shows all the communication queries from your business number, email, website widgets and connected social media profiles. The information is aggregated at our mobile application (supports iPhone and Android) and a web-based dashboard for you to sort out the activities and assign them to particular team members, if needed. You can even transfer an incoming call on-the-fly.
Also important is that the dashboard provides detailed statistical data on all your communication channels. With this service you will be aware of any bottlenecks in your communication model to fix them promptly. And teamwork is enhanced with unlimited extensions, conference calls, several numbers in one, system integration, and presence statuses. Call recording may be activated to keep telephone conversations for later use (for training purposes or as proof of conversation), while voicemail transcription allows you to conveniently read through your voicemails without actually having to take the time to hear the messages.
Virtual phone systems are praised for low-to-no overheads. Ours is no exception ― you don’t need any additional equipment, you don’t need to think about maintenance and you can start calling literally within three minutes after subscribing. With no equipment needed and a 30-day money-back guarantee, MightyCall offers a perfect opportunity to try out a sophisticated call-processing system. In terms of reliability, we guarantee high quality sound. Refugees from other business number providers will find shelter with us ― porting and existing a number is not only possible, it’s free!
And if you can’t decide on a package or find configuring our product confusing, have no fear- MightyCall has an extensive knowledge base with all the instructions you could possibly need. In case the instructions fail to help, or if some problem occurs, our customer support team is always at your service.
Still waiting? Choose your rate plan and improve your communication model now ― increased revenues will follow!


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Public spaces allow for opportunities to ensure food security. Through the development of public food markets in open public spaces, cities are able to provide green spaces with connections to the natural environment and foster urban-rural linkages but also ensure that there is a possibility of creating food security opportunities for the citizens. With the increase in food prices, more communities are turning to local food suppliers and systems to ensure locally sourced food that is nutritional. Public spaces can allow for the development of community food gardens especially in neighbourhoods and around community facilities.
- EXAMPLE: The Brazil’s national school feeding programme.
The national school feeding programme initiated in 1955 in Brazil part of the “Zero hunger strategy” adopted by the Ministry of Development. In 2009, the government passed a law requiring cities to spend at least 30% of their school meal budget on produce from family farmers. This programme fosters interaction between small local farmers and public schools. It is a way to boost local agriculture while providing food and nutrition security to students from low-income neighbourhoods. This example illustrates a strong synergy and coordination between the national government and local authorities.
-URBAN AGRICULTURE AS AN INTEGRAL ELEMENT OF PUBLIC SPACES, THE EXAMPLE OF ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR.
Antananarivo is a city of water and hills where space is available for urban agriculture. Capital city of Madagascar, the city has 2 million inhabitants with a majority of low-income families.
From 2003-2007, a research called « analysis on the sustainability of urban agriculture in Antananarivo-Aduraa » was undergone. The study helped to understand farming and urban agriculture in the area with over 250 interviews undertaken. The functions of urban agriculture are multiple: economic, as it creates jobs in farming, transportation and collection of local produce; environmental, as rice fields are water storage to prevent floods; and cultural as rice farming is part of the Malagasy heritage reflected in the language, music, songs and the folk. For these reasons, the city has a Master Plan and a ‘Green Plan’ in which the protection of agricultural land and the creation of reserves in the hills are essential. Over 40% of the 425 km2 of Antananarivo is agricultural. It is therefore important to preserve it as public space in regards to the natural, economic, cultural and social positive aspects of urban agriculture and rice farming activities.


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This Pakistan Butterfly design rug is hand-knotted with New Zealand Worsted Wool on Cotton and has 126 knots per square inch.
The primary color in this handmade rug is Rose/Rust.
The measurements for this rug are: 2 feet 0 inches wide by 6 feet 0 inches long.
This rug's SKU # is 46481.
Easy on the eyes and the feet, the beautiful Butterfly rugswill make a lovely companion any room and all floors. Originally derived from traditional Butterfly motif of Caucus, the rug has symmetrical pattern with various contrasting columns of the motif, sometimes in combination with famous Tekke motif used in Bokhara rugs.


text: The Danubia Rain Forest range of binoculars are Nitrogen gas filled which ensures fog-free viewing even in the worst weather conditions and also make the Rain Forest II Binoculars waterproof down to 5m, which gives a good deal of security. The Rain Forest 10x25 Pocket Binoculars are ultra compact, a mere 9 x 10.8cm when folded and double hinged which allows easy folding to store away. They weigh 313grams, so are fantastic for carrying all day out on the moors, or on holiday sight seeing. The full rubber casing provides a secure grip on the binoculars, even when wearing gloves and also added protection to make the Rain Forest II extremely durable and tough. The BAK-4 prism and multi coated optics provide bright and sharp images and the perfectly positioned, quick central focusing wheel makes it simple to follow focus. Sold with strap, nylon case and lens cloth.


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Our time in West Country went very quickly. We visited the Bodmin Church in Cornwall and the Eastlake Farm in Devon, both places we had visited in the past and have significance to the family name. We also did research in Truro and Redruth in Cornwall, and Sowton, Devon. I will try and write an article on both the church and the farm when I get home.
We also arranged to meet another researcher of our family name(s) in Bratton Clovelly in Devon. She has concluded that all of these variant names will most likely date back to the name, Byestelake (loosely, east by the stream or water) in Devon, and identified in the Assise Rolls of 1244 in the Broadwoodwidger Parish. This connection of the variant names is certainly what I hope our DNA project will confirm… that we share a common ancestor.
Researching in the Devon Heritage Center at Moor House in Sowton (near Exeter), I found it unbelievable how many more records have been digitized since we were last here in 2010. I hope to share a list of websites when I get my research organized at home.. All of us interested in this name can now do so much online from the United States. Seeing digitized copies isn’t like holding the old documents, but sometimes the translations are much more understandable, both because of the language (often Old English and Latin) and because of the aging of the documents. We left Devon on Sunday, May 26th, to continue research on other family names in Sussex. When I get my photos organized, I will post some additional pictures to summarize our trip, but this will be my last post while traveling. What a fascinating journey it has been!
The days fly by and I am derelict in posting because we were enjoying Bodmin, and then moved on to Clowance Estates near Praze-an-Beeble, visting friends and staying in doors on a couple of days due to the heavy rain and wind. When you leave A30 in Cornwall, the roads are often very narrow and even only wide enough for one car, and there are unexpected tractors and other farm equipment so rainy driving isn’t great fun. We had seen most of the tourist sites in past trips, so we mostly like to talk with folks in the pubs, visit friends made before, and just enjoy being here…when not visiting a research center. We have found about 20 people in the phone book, mostly with the spelling ESTLICK, but some other variant spellings. We are going to stop by a store in Troon to see if we can find one of the families but we have discovered that most do not trace their families back beyond the first census in the 1800’s. Way too late for our connection. I believe DNA will show we all have a common ancestor but finding that link to Devon and Cornwall will remain very difficult. I am just grateful that I have experienced the discoveries that I have in Cornwall, Devon and London and even if you are not into genealogy it is really LOVELY to visit this country, so like our own but so different. Just wish it would stop raining for a few days!
On Monday, May 6th, we left Salisbury and after stopping to visit friends near Ilminster, we traveled the well-known route to Cornwall on A30, across the Moor in Devon (passing close to Bratton Clovelly and where the Eastlake Farm is located and where we will visit in a couple of weeks) to Lanhydrock Hotel in Bodmin, Cornwall. Just down the road we enter Bodmin passing the church featured on my Blog. We will return to visit as we have on all of our trips but after driving we are always happy to settle in our hotel (especially one that we know and love like Lanhydrock). Coming to Cornwall feels like coming home. The people are friendly helpful (like assisting with opening our gas tank lid on our very automatic rental car…the trick is to open the lid immediately after turning off the engine). Although we had lovely weather in Salisbury, the forecast is for wind and rain in Cornwall. Fortunately Tuesday was lovely (as they say over here) and the rain didn’t hit until Wednesday.