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Basic air cleaners are not too expensive and do the job well. If you do want to hear more about upgrading from a basic air cleaner, let the NATE-certified experts at McKinley Heating Service Experts in Edmonton talk to you about their selection.
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To the apparent surprise of everyone, the Walt Disney Company has announced a deal to purchase Lucasfilm Ltd. According to the official press release, Disney has agreed to fork over $4.05 billion in cash and stock for George Lucas’ studio in a deal that brings together two of the world’s most important intellectual property libraries.
As you might expect, Disney is itching to take advantage of its new toys. “This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney’s unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value,” said Disney CEO Robert Iger in this afternoon’s announcement.
Under the terms of this agreement Disney will acquire control over all Lucasfilm iterations. This includes both its traditional film-making studio facilities, as well as the various technologies Lucasfilm has created over the years to further its various media properties. Thus, the gigantic Disney family now includes Lucasfilm itself, special effects house Industrial Light & Magic, Skywalker Sound and LucasArts, the company’s video game creation division.
This acquisition alone would be huge news, but as if to pre-empt fan speculation on the future of Star Wars the same announcement also mentions that a new Star Wars movie is scheduled to appear in 2015. Though the vast majority of recent Star Wars media has been focused on the property’s various animated iterations and LEGO crossovers, this new film will be the first official cinematic continuation of George Lucas’ original Star Wars trilogy. Though very few details are offered on this film, it has officially been dubbed Star Wars: Episode VII, and barring any major catastrophes it should hit theaters at some point in 2015 (if we had to guess, we’d assume an early summer release in keeping with the tradition established by its predecessors).
Perhaps even more intriguing however, is the announcement’s claim that Episode VII’s release will herald a new era in which new Star Wars movies hit theaters “every two to three years.” It specifically mentions Episodes VIII and IX by name, though offers no solid details on either film.
While the effects of the move won’t be fully known for at least a few months, we can think of a number of a things this new union might change. For instance, currently Dark Horse Comics publishes all Star Wars comic books, but with Disney owning Marvel Comics we can’t see that agreement lasting for long. Likewise, both Disney and Lucasfilm have sizable divisions dedicated to creating video games based on their various media properties. Normally these companies have had to seek outside publishing agreements, but now that they’ve joined forces and massively expanded the number of games either company is capable of releasing in any given year, it makes a lot of sense for Disney to invest in its own games publishing wing.
Finally, this agreement almost certainly heralds future crossovers between Disney and Lucasfilm characters. We don’t know any specifics, but it’s only a matter of time before we see toys depicting Mickey Mouse dressed as Darth Vader. Whether that sounds awesome or stomach-churningly disgusting is entirely up to your rapidly waning sense of childhood whimsy.
Update: Scratch that last prediction. Apparently Disney characters dressed as Star Wars characters is already a thing.
Our partnership with LucasFilm has produced over 20 yrs worth of stories. We have Star Wars for the near future, and hope for years to come.


I hadn’t been to Red Mountain in over 4 years and was happy to experience it again. Milana Knowles, our VP Day Spa Sales and Marketing, held a Day Spa Retreat there with 35 of our partner day spa owners and managers. She invited me to speak to the group as part of the education part of the program.
I noticed a general level of improvement in décor, food and accommodations at Red Mountain. Of course staying in one of their new villas made the whole experience much more luxe than I had ever experienced it before. Their dedicated spa facility was a real improvement over their previous “temporary” treatment rooms. Now there is a nice view with a relaxation room, good product choices, and in general a more spa-like feel. The only problem was that either they didn’t have enough therapists or all of their treatment times were booked solid. Seems they missed out on a lot of business because so many people wanted more treatments (including me) and couldn’t get them. Although more expensive than in the past, it still is a good value. I understand they are almost fully booked in October. And of course the hiking, as always, was spectacular.
We had arranged day spa retreats in the past but this was our first one in a long time – and the first that Milana coordinated. By all counts it seems it was a tremendous success…with the day spa owners having (in many cases) their first destination spa experience. Milana provided most of the education as she is an expert on retail sales and has managed some of the largest day spas in the country. There wasn’t a question she couldn’t answer! Comfort Zone was the sponsor and they were very generous in gifting all of the participants with facials and an array of their full size products.
We reviewed the results of our recent Day Spa Survey 2007 and I even gave them a “sneak peek” of the Top Spa Trends we are considering for 2008. (top secret!) What I like about these retreats is that the day spa owners are willing to share information very openly because they come from all over the country and for the most part do not compete with each other. By the time we all enjoyed the evening Fire Ceremony at the end of the retreat, we had gotten to know each other and become friends. Even shedding some tears together around the fire on that full-moon night, felt surprisingly good.


Last month's fixture window provided a tease, but the final set of international matches for 2018 should finally give a glimpse into the real potential of the U.S. men's national team and its immediate future.
Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, who all had to withdraw from October matches vs. Colombia and Peru because of injuries, will suit up Nov. 15 against England in London and Nov. 20 against Italy in Genk, Belgium, after being included on Dave Sarachan's roster for the European friendlies on Monday.
Pulisic has played only 89 minutes for the national team in the last 13 months, so his inclusion, amid a strong run of form with Borussia Dortmund, will provide a nice jolt for a national team that continues to turn the page and look forward.
It's all coming full circle for Sarachan, who began his caretaker role as national team coach with last November's friendly in Portugal, the first match after the U.S. failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. He'll presumably finish his tenure with the return trip to Europe, as it is widely expected that he will not be given the full-time role by USMNT general manager Earnie Stewart. That role was supposedly going to be filled–or at the very least have a chief candidate for it identified–by Nov. 1, but that loose deadline has come and gone, with perceived frontrunner Gregg Berhalter still alive in the MLS playoffs as coach of the Columbus Crew.
Those playoffs have thrown a wrench into Sarachan's roster selection, too, with eight clubs still alive and featuring potential U.S. call-ups. That number of clubs will be reduced to four by next Sunday night, and with some MLS-based players arriving later in camp, Sarachan has expanded the roster to 28 players to ensure full training sessions while also giving opportunities to some newer faces.
Among the intriguing newcomers are a pair of midfielders in Fulham's 20-year-old Luca de la Torre, who has one cap, and Malmo's 23-year-old Romain Gall, for which this will be his first senior national team camp. Gall has impressed in Sweden in 2018, scoring 14 goals in 30 matches for Sundsvall and Malmo. Veteran and captain Michael Bradley, who had returned last month after a yearlong national-team hiatus, has not been included for this trip.
"With the availability of some players that we didn’t get to see in the last fixture window due to injury, the thinking is this roster gives us depth with young players that still need the experience of big games, especially games abroad," Sarachan said in a statement. "With Michael Bradley, there are a couple reasons. The first is that after having earned 142 caps, his need for these games is far less important than it would be for players with less experience. Secondly, Michael’s schedule the past two years with Toronto FC has been virtually non-stop and he has largely played without a break. At this stage, it made sense to give him some extra time off and also allow these games to be a platform for players that lack that kind of experience."
Steffen and Guzan appear to be the top two on Sarachan's depth chart, in that order, but it remains baffling that Bill Hamid isn't called into camp as one of the three options, especially with D.C. United out of the MLS playoffs. Bringing both Guzan and Steffen, whose teams could both advance, seems unnecessary, though the calls are merited based on their form. Steffen, at 23 and with more clutch playoff showings under his belt, remains the present and future of the No. 1 job.
As for the No. 3, which ultimately is of little consequence in these camps, Horvath has at least started Brugge's last two league games after a spell of inactivity and is getting the nod in Tuesday's Champions League match vs. Monaco, but he needs to show considerably more on a consistent basis to put his name back among the upper echelon.
This is more or less the same group that appeared last month, with Moore, Villafaña and Zimmerman joining and NYCFC's Ben Sweat being left behind. Villafaña should push the up-and-down Robinson for starter's minutes at left back, with the young Wigan player being beaten for pace by recent South American opposition while also showing the penchant for delivering a good ball while getting into the attack.
On the other side, Moore and Cannon should push Yedlin to start in at least one of the matches. Yedlin's familiarity with England's players from his time in the Premier League, not to mention his overall experience, would figure to give him the leg up in the opening friendly at Wembley.
With Miazga's recent struggles at Nantes and Long's solid showing vs. Peru, you wonder if the starting center back job next to Brooks is up for grabs, though.
Getting the opportunity to play in Wembley would be a nice bonus for Robinson and Carter-Vickers, who were both born in England.
At last, Sarachan has his full complement of young midfielders from which to choose. Pulisic, McKennie, Adams and Weah figure to make up the nucleus of the national team for the foreseeable future, and this is the first time they've all been in a camp together. Barring any injuries picked up Tuesday in Champions League vs. Atletico Madrid or Saturday in the Bundesliga vs. Bayern Munich, Pulisic will make his first U.S. appearance since May and only his second since the World Cup qualifying failure. That's nothing new, but it's no less staggering of a fact.
If the four start across in the midfield, that would figure to leave Acosta or Trapp behind them in a No. 6 role, though Trapp, despite multiple apperances donning the captain's armband, has yet to show the consistent quality at the international level to lock down that spot. If given another chance, it's a good opportunity to prove his worth.
The thinnest part of the U.S. roster remains as such. There's no Andrija Novakovich, who had been present in past camps but never had the chance to make a dent on the field, while Jozy Altidore is dealing with an ankle injury that cut his season with Toronto FC short and prevented him from being reintegrated into the fold. Going down the line, the options are uninspiring and wholly inexperienced for the moment.
That leaves the 18-year-old Sargent, who opened eyes with his play vs. Peru and is looking to make headway with the Werder Bremen first team after shining for its reserves, and Wood, who scored a very nice goal vs. Colombia, to lead the line.
Getting Sargent, Pulisic, Adams, McKennie and Weah on the field together for as much as possible should be a chief priority in these two games. That they haven't had that opportunity in the last year, with untimely injuries a key factor in that, is one of the real disappointments of the transition phase.


It was a very busy, but extremely enjoyable weekend here at The Cookery School, with a birthday celebration dinner for a very special lady on Saturday evening. We were honoured to host her 70th birthday.
Sundays are just getting busier and busier, 34 this week. The menu was inspired by one of our guests who had booked an Indian dinner so I wonder if I could convert into a three course Sunday lunch.
So the menu went as follows, Onion Bhajis with a Cucumber Raita and Mango Chutney. For main course we had Roast Chicken Tikka, Bombay alloo, Charred Aubergine with chilli and mint and a green bean and mushroom side dish, not forgetting the giant Yorkshire pudding! Desert was a hazlenut pavlova topped with a passionfruit salad made my lovely mother.
Judging by the clean plates, it was great success! Roll on next Sunday, my favourite day of the week.
NextLooking forward to another exciting weekend!
Thank you for a delicious Sunday Roast on 21 st October, our invited friends and family really enjoyed themselves – delicious Sunday lunch – vegetarian options also delicious! We will be with you again soon!


removal Jan Update Instructions Virus Remove Android 2019 One thing counterfeits haven't been able to copy, according to Morris, is the credit card–like magnetic strip. This means a counterfeit green card is useless for entry into the US, where Customs and Border Protection agents scan it. Employers can also punch the numbers into E-Verify, an online system from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that verifies if someone can legally work in the US.


A couple rediscover each other in their final moments.
Hey Catherine, read the script, lovely to read, I like this angle on the end of everything. My only departure is that I battle to see deserted supermarket, and empty streets, any how thats a deeper opinion on human nature.
Well done it is an endearing sentimental story easy to identify with, with a dash of melancoly.
And lastly, regarding the closing scene, I like your idea, and it is easy to write, and easy to read but that kinda stuff is difficult to communicate on film. Shots of books, papers, photos does not really communicating.
Something to think about, and again ... i could be wrong.


What you need is a good friend & a bottle of your favorite….bourbon, whiskey, vodka…whatever, as long as it’s straight.
A 20c coin, or if you’re a Yank, a quarter.
Choose you favorite side, heads or tails (If you both have the same favorite, whoever calls it first).
If your choice was tails, and you get that… your friend has to take a shot. Vice Versa.
If you don’t flip your choice, you drink.
Chasers are aloud, as long as its only a mouth full.
First one to vomit is the looser and has to get a smack across the head.
This entry was posted in Drinking Games by admin. Bookmark the Aussie Coin Flip Drinking Games.


I’m an adventurous wedding & elopement photographer based in the beautiful city of Portland, OR. I’m a hat addicted, leather jacket loving, travel obsessed human who’s main passion is capturing effortless love. Along with this, you can forever catch me in a photo-booth, watching corny rom coms, eating peanut butter on anything, or telling you the craziest tinder stories ever. I love staying playful & silly which reflects directly into how I work. I cherish the light-hearted moments of each couple because they’re the ones you can capture in an instant and cherish for years to come. When we’re all hangin’ out together, it’s less about sweating the small things & more about you two being able to just enjoy being in love. I’d be honored to not only be your wedding photographer but someone who makes your day a little less stressful & fills it with a looooooot of love instead. I’m someone who invests 200% in the couples I work with so be prepared for me to cry right there with you. Nothing beats the moments when I see couples at their true happiest selves and I’ll be there as your biggest cheerleader through it all.


The Department carried out a review in 2006 in relation to the planning implications of micro-renewable technologies. This process culminated in the publication of the Planning and Development Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 83 of 2007) (pdf, 85kb) which give effect to new exempted development provisions in respect of micro-renewable technologies. These Regulations came into effect from 28 February, 2007.
The Regulations were finalised on foot of submissions received from interested parties on draft proposals set out in the consultation paper that was published by the Department in November 2006. A total of 65 submissions were received, almost all of which indicated support for the introduction of planning exemptions for micro-renewables as a means of encouraging uptake. A copy of the consultation paper and a summary paper on the public consultation process are available below.


Description: 21km/2days; Day 1, 14 km. Day 2, 7 km; average; loop trails from same base; on a farm; one hut at base, three rooms, 42 beds; 4 persons min/ 42 persons max.
Comments: Historic place, birds, abseiling (bring own equipment) horse riding, 4x4 trail, mountain biking, wildlife. Regret no dogs.
Description: Ama Poot-Poot is situated on a private game farm in the Uitvlugt area between Belfast and Dullstroom 2 hours from JHB/PTA. Two one day circular trails: Reedbuck (13 km) and Trout trail (6 km). Spectacular kloofs, kranses, small gorges, cascades and waterfall. A large variety of game to be seen. Trails through grasslands, in ravines with indigenous forest, lots of rock pools and mountain streams. BASE CAMP: The Groot Poot Camp - a big, well maintained farm house for 24 hikers, 2 open plan bed rooms (12 beds each) Lounge with a cosy fire-place for cool Dullstroom winter nights. Ablutions: 2 separate bath rooms: hot and cold showers etc. Big kitchen with cooking utensils, 3 x 2 plate gas burners, fridge and wash up area. Mountain bike trails - bring own. Excellent bird watching, game viewing and star gazing!!
Comments: In mountains with lovely views, ravines, cross rivers, mountain streams, wandering to a 10m high waterfall, views, rock pools, interesting rock formations and trout dams. Game viewing and trout fishing. Undercover parking available.
Description: 9km/1day; easy; circular; in nature reserve; accommodation in Lydenburg.
Description: Choose from five trail options. Ammo Trail, loop to same base, 15.8 km; River Trail, day walk, 5 km; day walk; Kranz Trail, day walk, 5 km; Leopard Loop, day walk, 4 km; Kloof Trail, day walk, 1.2 km. Base camp, 24 persons. Leopard cave, sand floor, 8 persons. Hadeda's Nest self catering rondawel for four persons nearby.
Description: Bermanzi is situated in the Skurweberg mountains and Komati Valley, 2 hours from JHB/PTA. Second highest waterfall in Mpumalanga - the Uitkoms Waterall, on this farm!! 3 X BEAUTIFUL Day circular trails: 4 km, 6 km and 12 km. Trails in kloof, along river with rapids and crystal clear rock pools taking hikers to the Uitkoms waterfall. Indigenous forest and panoramic views. A must seen. Excellent bird life, more than 120 indigenous tree species are tagged and listed. Some natural Small game to be seen. BERMANZI BASE CAMP: 2 x Kranz chalets: Vakashani (20 Beds) Phumalani (15 beds) on a cliff. Stunning views. Excellent facilities, electricity, fridges, 2 plate stoves and all basic cooking utensils. Cosy braai areas and open air bomas. Excellent star gazing at night! NEW "STABLE" CAMP: For 30 hikers: With own kitchen, electricity, cooking utensils, coal stove, fridge etc. under cover braai area, ablution block, bath room, open braai boma with stunning views, etc.
Comments: Night one: The Stables at Bermanzi provides accommodation for up to 40 people. The original farm stables have been renovated to provide comfortable backpackers accommodation in rooms with bunk beds and a loft with views over the escarpment. There is a boma with with braai facilities, electric stove, hotplate, refrigerator, pots and mattresses. The ablution facilities have hot and cold showers and flush toilets. Night two: God's Window Camp at Five Assegais is electrified, there are 3 charming double story wooden pagodas, not tree houses but rock houses, built into the extraordinary sandstone rock canyons that are a feature of this estate, with bunk beds each sleeping 8 for a maximum of 24. Each hut is equipped with a fridge, stove and braai plus kitchen utensils and a sink. The camp has 4 open air hot showers incorporated into the rocks as well as 3 toilets that look over the whole of the Komati valley down to Badplaas as well a ladies only toilets and shower block and a spectacular natural boma with a fire place and seating to create a spectacular and comfy bush camp. The hiking Trail has Green Flag Status.
Description: Various loop trails (back to base), 12, 6 and 4 km. Routes may be combined. The trail has Green Flag Status. Breathtaking mountain valleys with indigenous forests and rock pools that can be explored on hiking trails varying in distance between 4 km and 12 km. The trails are rich in cultural and historical sites like genuine Bushman rock art paintings, Pedi and Swazi Kraals as well as sites of the Anglo Boer War. There is plenty of time to cool off in the refreshing waters of one of the many rock pools. It is breathtaking to take in the magnificent sight of the Bankspruit Waterfall which is the second highest waterfall in Mpumalanga.
Comments: The Stables provides accommodation for up to 40 people. The original farm stables have been renovated to provide comfortable backpackers accommodation in rooms with bunk beds and a loft with views over the escarpment. There is a boma with with braai facilities, electric stove, hotplate, refrigerator, pots and mattresses. The ablution facilities have hot and cold showers and flush toilets. The trail has Green Flag status.
Description: Five Assegais Trails offers two spectacular new day trails in the Skurweberg mountains, 2.5 hours from JHB/PTA. GOD'S WINDOW BASE CAMP: 2 x double storey wooden pagodo's, (rock houses), built into the extraordinary canyons, with bunk beds and mattresses, each sleeping 6-10 ( max of 20 hikers.) Braai facilities, Cooking and kitchen utensils. It is electrified and equipped with hot showers and loo's with a view. Ladies bath room!! Five Assegais All Day trail: 13.5 km. Medium to difficult, through a variety of eco biomes (Highveld and middele veldt), down into the Bankspruit gorge with crystal rock pools and the second highest waterfall in Mpumalanga: the Bride's Leap. Hells Bells Half Day trail: (+-8km): Less strenuous but a spectacular and intimate walk, down Hells Kloof, through a magic old forest of yellow wood and huge stink hout and tree ferns. Past smaller waterfalls and panoramic views on Swaziland. A lot of game species to be seen!
Comments: Night one: The God's Window Camp is electrified, there are 3 charming double story wooden pagodas, not tree houses but rock houses, built into the extraordinary sandstone rock canyons that are a feature of this estate, with bunk beds each sleeping 8 for a maximum of 24. Each hut is equipped with a fridge, stove and braai plus kitchen utensils and a sink. The camp has 4 open air hot showers incorporated into the rocks as well as 3 toilets that look over the whole of the Komati valley down to Badplaas as well a ladies only toilets and shower block and a spectacular natural boma with a fire place and seating to create a spectacular and comfy bush camp. Night two is spent at The Stables at Bermanzi providing accommodation for up to 40 people. The original farm stables have been renovated to provide comfortable backpackers accommodation in rooms with bunk beds and a loft with views over the escarpment. There is a boma with with braai facilities, electric stove, hotplate, refrigerator, pots and mattresses. The ablution facilities have hot and cold showers and flush toilets. The hiking trail has Green Flag status.
Description: 12km, Day loop, moderate. This beautifully laid out path takes you over the Skurwerand, a spectacular landscape of wind and water eroded ancient sandstone, filled with yellow wood trees and aloe gardens with views over the Komati valley all the way to Swaziland. The trial then plunges into the Bankspruit gorge taking you past crystal pools and rapids through a pristine gorge forest to the foot of the second highest waterfall in Mpumalanga, then out of the gorge and across old veld pastures filled with game back to the hiking camp situated on the very edge of the escarpment.
Comments: The God's Window Camp is electrified, there are 3 charming double story wooden pagodas, not tree houses but rock houses, built into the extraordinary sandstone rock canyons that are a feature of this estate, with bunk beds each sleeping 8 for a maximum of 24. Each hut is equipped with a fridge, stove and braai plus kitchen utensils and a sink. The camp has 4 open air hot showers incorporated into the rocks as well as 3 toilets that look over the whole of the Komati valley down to Badplaas as well a ladies only toilets and shower block and a spectacular natural boma with a fire place and seating to create a spectacular and comfy bush camp. The trail has Green Flag status.
Description: 5km trail takes you down the infamous `Hells Kloof Pass'. The trail meanders from the camp down into one of the largest yellow wood forests in the gorge, with a spectacular swing bridge in front of the waterfall and down past rapids and pools where the Louries cry and the orchids bloom, through secret places untouched by man, returning through this unspoiled forest of mosses and ferns back to the camp.
Comments: The God's Window Camp is electrified, there are 3 charming double story wooden pagodas, not tree houses but rock houses, built into the extraordinary sandstone rock canyons that are a feature of this estate, with bunk beds each sleeping 8 for a maximum of 24. Each hut is equipped with a fridge, stove and braai plus kitchen utensils and a sink. The camp has 4 open air hot showers incorporated into the rocks as well as 3 toilets that look over the whole of the Komati valley down to Badplaas as well a ladies only toilets and shower block and a spectacular natural boma with a fire place and seating to create a spectacular and comfy bush camp. The hiking Trail has Green Flag Status.
Location: The Five Assegais Estate is situated between Machadodorp and Badplaas in Mpumalanga.
Description: The Candlewood Loop goes in an anti clockwise direction from either camp both sections are about 10km with steep climbs and falls. Excellent hike for the more experienced hiker! Stunning views and lots of opportunities to swim in rock pools. CANDLEWOOD CAMP: This is the most recent addition to the estate. It is built on the most spectacular site with views over the Bankspruit gorge and the dramatic waterfall that falls 275 feet. This `green' camp is not electrified and a donkey geyser supplies hot water. Accommodates 20 persons in two romantic corrugated iron construction style dormitories from the days of the gold rush with a well-equipped kitchen with an internal braai as NO exterior fires are allowed during the wintertime to prevent fires in this pristine grassland.
Description: This trail can start at either camp: (God's Window or Pongola Express) and is a clockwise hike that traverses the edge of the Skurwerand before plunging down the valley through the `Cathedral' and along the river and past the Mac Falls amongst many others. The God's Window to Pongola trail (recommended day 1) is a long, moderate walk 10km. The Pongola to God's�Window section (day 2) is a shorter, steep and stunning 6km. GOD'S WINDOW BASE CAMP: 2 x Double storey wooden pagoda's, but rock and wooden houses, built into the extraordinary canyons, with bunk beds and mattresses, 8-10pers.(max of 20 hikers.) Communal equipped kitchen dining area, braai facilities indoors and outdoors and kitchen utensils. Electrified and equipped with hot showers and "loo's with a view". Ladies bath room!! Safe parking at the camp.
Description: Daywalks. Base- and bush bungalows, sleeps 30.
Description: The trail opened in 2010 when the three estates, Wathaba, Five Assegais Country Estate and Bermanzi collaborated to create the first 5-day trail on private land in South Africa. The Num-num explores some of the mos amazing landscapes in the world. The circular trail is 38.9 kilometers in length, with daily hikes of between 7 and 9 km between camps that cater for a maximum of 20 hikers.The Trail starts at the pongola Express. DAY 1 `Die Bergbas roete: 7.4 km: Takes one up 400 meters in easy stages from the Schoonspruit valley past timeless old kraals with stunning panoramas DAY 2 `The Bladdernut Track: 9.4 km: Traverses the Skurwerand then plunges into the Bankspruit gorge DAY 3 `The Milkplum path: 6 km. Easy walk. DAY 4 The Pom-Pon Way: 7.2 km. Skirts the edge of the escarpment before plunging down an indigenous forest valley into the Schoonspruit Valley DAY 5 `Die Koko Boom Pad: 8.9 km: Follows the Schoonspruit past stunning waterfalls and cascades to the Mac falls.
Description: The Pongola Express - Candlewood loop consits of two equal sections from either camp. Both sections are about 8km long and include some steep climbs, very dramatic with a wide variety of terrains. This Camp consists out of old train carriages, beautifully renovated and can accommodate up to 20 hikers. There is electricity, ablutions with hot water showers. Equipped kitchen, braai area, big social lapa and deck overlooking the valley. These historic 1934 SAR carriages were brought to this spot in the 60's as a weekend retreat. They have been renovated and now form the hub for the Num-num�and other hiking trails on the estate. This is the ideal start or end to any hike.
Description: trail rides varying between a few hours to a few days, or take part in cattle drives, cutting & roping, branding and other farm work. Rocky Ranch also offers pony camps over the school holidays for children 10 - 16 years old.
Comments: Rocky Ranch is a working cattle ranch situated on the escarpment of Mpumalanga. Our purpose is to establish an understanding of Western riding and to give guests the opportunity to experience the life and ways of the old-time cowboy.
Description: 18.3km/2 days; average to difficult; network; on a farm; overnight; 32 persons max. From a well drawn and very specific map, hikers can decide on their route, to suite each individual need. On the very edge of the Highveld escarpment, a trail network of more than 40 km awaits the hiker. These trails nestle deep in a picturesque valley and can be hiked all year round by hikers with different levels of experience - from families with junior hikers to the wilderness hiker. The trails are situated on Welgedacht, a dairy and trout farm with vast unspoilt wilderness areas. A unique feature of these trails are the ecological zones they span, namely river and wetland; grassland and foothills; indigenous mountain forest and kloof; and escarpment and highland. Two of the trails linking the valley to the highlands, cut through indigenous kloofs; some of the most unspoilt areas of indigenous forest in the Eastern Transvaal. Every trail has its unique focus such as flora, bird-life, archaeology and the magnificent vistas that hikers can enjoy from every vantage point. Overnight facilities: Oom Tos' house has 16 beds. Braai facilities with wood and grids. Potjie, pans and kettle. Ablution facilities - flush toilets and showers. Donkey fired geyser. Paraffin lamps. Two-plate cookers at each cottage. Under cover lapa for rainy days. Fern Kloof hut: 16 beds. Groups book max 16 persons. Big hearth with wood, pots, pans, kettle and braai grid. Stream water. Cold shower and flush toilet.
Comments: Bring own containers, buy fresh milk from dairy during milking times. Frozen Trout products can be ordered in advance. Trail badges are available. Oom Tos' house to be upgraded for smaller self catering groups.
Description: 14 or 17km/1 or 2 days; difficult; guided; circular; on a farm; hut at base for 42 persons max; basic overnight hut on trail for 12-14 persons.
Description: 23km/2day; moderate; overnight hiking trail, one way; steam train back to start; huts; 36 persons max.
Description: 21km/2days; moderate; circular; huts and camp sites; 32 persons max.
Description: Rock climbing and abseiling guiding and instruction. Our guides are registered with the Mountaineering & Development Training Trust (M.D.T.) as well as the South African Mountain Guiding Association (SAMGA).


« SF3Patch Version 14 Released!
The V14 patch has been re-posted due to a couple of lines that slipped through the cracks. Normally I probably wouldn’t find it necessary to re-post for just a couple of lines, but these were the final mass promotion lines from Remotest church late in Sc3.
So please grab the patch again before playing Sc3.
Thanks to Rune for pointing this out!
This entry was posted by legalize freedom! on Monday, February 11th, 2013 at 9:39 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Hello! In premium disk (character models session) the names of Isabella and Brigit are exchanged.
I was just making sure you were paying attention.
Is there source code available for the translation tool?
I’d like to see how you did the compression because I’m finishing my own compressor for the X5 files.
Thankyou so much for your efforts!!


We carve this oath down in the Bitcoin’s Blockchain so there shall be no one in this world that can alter it.
We engrave this oath down in the Bitcoin’s Blockchain so there shall be no one in this world that can erase it.
We write this oath down in the Bitcoin’s Blockchain so everyone can be a witness on how sincere and honorable this promise is.
We mark this oath down in the Bitcoin’s Blockchain so it will be reserved for eternity.
" We, Oscar Adam Darmawan and Yenni, promise to take shared responsibility for our marriage. We promise to devote ourselves and be faithful in every way to one another. We will share this solemn vow with everlasting love in our hearts, from this very moment until our dying breaths.	"


5 Bedroom House To Rent in London for £30,116 per Calendar Month (Calculated).
SHORT LET - ALL BILLS INCLUDED A stunning five bedroom house located on this prestigious garden square, moments from Hyde Park.
The house is entered on the raised ground floor comprising large kitchen with top of the range Gaggenau appliances, pretty breakfast area overlooking the garden and adjoining reception room. The 1st floor is set out as a large double reception room with beautiful wooden floors and terrace overlooking stunning communal gardens.
The master bedroom occupies the 2nd floor with stunning detail and large ensuite bath and shower room. The top floor offers three bedrooms and family bathroom. On the lower floor there is a media room, kitchenette, guest WC, further bedroom and shower room. A house keeper is available.
The house benefits from high ceilings, original cornicing, an integrated music system, underfloor heating and air conditioning throughout.


By Alfred E. Eckes Jr.
Despite the passage of NAFTA and other recent free trade victories in the United States, former U.S. trade official Alfred Eckes warns that these developments have a dark side. Opening America's Market offers a bold critique of U.S. trade policies over the last sixty years, placing them within a historical perspective.
Eckes reconsiders trade policy issues and events from Benjamin Franklin to Bill Clinton, attributing growing political unrest and economic insecurity in the 1990s to shortsighted policy decisions made in the generation after World War II. Eager to win the Cold War and promote the benefits of free trade, American officials generously opened the domestic market to imports but tolerated foreign discrimination against American goods. American consumers and corporations gained in the resulting global economy, but many low-skilled workers have become casualties.
Eckes also challenges criticisms of the 'infamous' protectionist Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, which allegedly worsened the Great Depression and provoked foreign retaliation. In trade history, he says, this episode was merely a mole hill, not a mountain.
Alfred E. Eckes, Jr., a former chairman and commissioner of the U.S. International Trade Commission, is Ohio Eminent Research Professor in Contemporary History at Ohio University. His books include The United States and the Global Struggle for Minerals.
For more information about Alfred E. Eckes Jr., visit the Author Page.


White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Kevin Hassett says Herman Cain has ample experience at the Federal Reserve level.
President Trump’s potential pick to serve on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors says the left smeared him over his free-market economic principles.
Four Republican senators have all said they would vote against a Herman Cain nomination.
U.S. stocks moved broadly higher in early trading Wednesday on Wall Street, reversing course from a downturn that ended an eight-day winning streak.
A majority of Federal Reserve officials last month believed that economic conditions would likely warrant keeping the Fed's benchmark policy unchanged for the rest of this year.
Trump has reportedly blamed Mnuchin for recommending Powell for the top Fed job.
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday released minutes from its two-day policy meeting on March 19-20.


Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: "'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."
What were the religious leaders of Jerusalem thinking?
This is what has always puzzled me about this story. Not the wise men, and not Herod – although more on them another day – but the reaction of those in Jerusalem. Here are these strange foreigners with news of the Messianic birth. “All of Jerusalem,” we read, “was troubled” at these news. Agitated by it. Muttering in the streets.
But what happens? The scribes and chief priests tell the wise men that the Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem. They know the time and the place. Their response, though, is to... do nothing?
How could these people not be packing their bags for a trip to David's city? How could they miss the chance, even if it was a tiny chance, to see if these strange foreigners could be right? If the Messiah had been born?
Matthew doesn't tell us. But I can guess. I imagine, at least for some of them, that it was just a matter of routine. They had things to do! Responsibilities! The temple isn't going to run itself. The Scriptures aren't going to be copied without someone copying them. People need to be taught. Decisions need to be made. “There's so many good things we're doing, we don't have time!” they'd say.
They didn't have time to come a meet their Savior.
It is easy for us to feel judgmental, but we do the same thing. We get so busy with the good things in life that need to be done that we sacrifice the time it takes to meet with the Savior. We can't fit space in our busy schedules to experience God's salvation.
I suspect the problem for the religious leaders, as it is for many of us, was simple. They had let the good things in their lives crowd out the best things.
We are busy people. We've got 24 hours in a day and 1,000 things we could do with them. And that's not itself wrong. But it can turn into a trap. Here's what I find myself doing. I am busy, and I look at the things that I'm busy with, and I ask the question “Are they good?” Because, obviously, there are ways to spend your time that are bad. Shouldn't do that. I ask whether they are good things, and if they are, I assume I'm living life the way I should. But if all we ask is “are these things good,” even if our answer is yes, the outcome can still be bad and destructive. Because good things can often be the enemy of the best things.
Think about a parent who never makes time for their kids because of work. Some of us had those parents. Some of us can struggle with being them. That parent isn't doing bad stuff. Their hours are being spent on productive things. God made us to work, and to do it excellently. The problem is, that good stuff that robs their children of the time they need. The good, when it isn't looked at carefully, easily becomes the enemy of the best.
One of our callings in this time between Christ's comings is to spend our days pursuing what is best. Which isn't always easy - it often means giving up good things for other things that are better. There is often a sense of loss in that. Yet that loss is more than repaid by what is found.


Meg Easter-Dawson, program development manager at Valley of the Moon Children’s Center (VMCC), will outline the center’s activities at the Aug. 16 luncheon of Sons in Retirement #53 at Oakmont’s Berger Center.
In the job since 2006, she manages community involvement in VMCC, located on Pythian Road, including working closely with the Valley of the Moon Children’s Foundation, a private nonprofit that works in partnership with the County of Sonoma to support children and youth.
In 2011, Easter-Dawson developed an onsite dental clinic to serve children in emergency foster care. Recently she has taken on responsibility for overseeing the foster care recruitment and support program for the County. From 1997-2005, she was coordinator of the Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Office of Neighborhood Resources. She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s in social work from Indiana University.
SIR Branch #53 meets on the third Thursday of each month in Oakmont’s Berger Center, 6633 Oakmont Dr. A social hour starts at 11 a.m. with luncheon at noon, catered by A La Heart Catering. Any Oakmont man interested in attending this presentation and/or membership should contact Dave McCuan at 539-3028. Ladies are welcome at 1 p.m. to hear the speaker.


Take a small amount of calcium oxide or quick lime in a beaker.
Slowly add water to this.
Touch the beaker as shown in Fig. 1.3.
Do you feel any change in temperature?
A solution of slaked lime produced by the reaction 1.13 is used for white washing walls. Calcium hydroxide reacts slowly with the carbon dioxide in air to form a thin layer of calcium carbonate on the walls. Calcium carbonate is formed after two to three days of white washing and gives a shiny finish to the walls. It is interesting to note that the chemical formula for marble is also CaCO3.
Let us discuss some more examples of combination reactions.
In simple language we can say that when two or more substances (elements or compounds) combine to form a single product, the reactions are called combination reactions.
(ii) Do you know that respiration is an exothermic process?
We all know that we need energy to stay alive. We get this energy from the food we eat. During digestion, food is broken down into simpler substances. For example, rice, potatoes and bread contain carbohydrates. These carbohydrates are broken down to form glucose. This glucose combines with oxygen in the cells of our body and provides energy. The special name of this reaction is respiration, the process of which you will study in Chapter 6.
C6H12O6(aq) + 6O2(aq) → 6CO2(aq) + 6H2O(l) + energy (Glucose).
(iii) The decomposition of vegetable matter into compost is also an example of an exothermic reaction.
Identify the type of the reaction taking place in Activity 1.1, where heat is given out along with the formation of a single product.


If you’ve ever been to the MOMA in New York City, you’ve experienced a plethora of wildly different styles and mediums of modern art. Much of it evokes strong reactions from the spectator from the mundane, “I don’t get it” to a fierce, “that’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.” Many must have looked at the colorful works of Miró, Kandinsky, or Klee in their day and thought, “that’s not right. It needs to change.” But over time, their pieces have become regarded as great art. Picasso depicted his gorgeous lovers with green skin, eyes stacked horizontally, and noses protruding from their foreheads. His imaginative interpretation of beauty jars our senses, and while on the surface his abstract portraits may be perceived as “weird” or “ugly,” vibrationally his paintings irrevocably capture our attention. Young graffiti artist Basquiat’s work is not conventionally beautiful, but people connect to it fervently on an energetic level. When we experience art, we are examining the world through the artist’s perspective and experiencing his or her passion, intensity, and raw emotion. It resonates with us because on some level we acknowledge the artist’s ability to access their unique Soul Signature to produce those works of art. Regardless of our aesthetics, we accept it for what it is, relish the opportunity to share the artist’s light and expand our souls in the process.
By embodying their Soul Signature, great painters tap into a wellspring of inspiration and the result is not always water lilies on a tranquil Giverny pond. There is always a story behind a great work of art – a story that is at times painful, frightening, or even tragic. It may be difficult to look at or you may want to avoid it altogether but it’s the inclusion of the story, not the absence of it that makes the painting more moving and impactful. That engaging creative process can only occur when you’re in connection with your Soul Signature. The full magnitude of creativity flows most effortlessly when you’re in harmony of yourself and you start to see something beautiful in what you once thought was ugly. You begin to realize why you are who you are and start uncovering the masterpiece you were born to be.
In the eyes of the Divine, one artist is no better than another. Raushenburg is as brilliant as Rembrandt. It’s all art and all spirit, flowing freely onto life’s canvas and signed with individual fingerprints. Your Soul Signature vibrationally allows you to come into an awareness and harmony with your own artistic expression no matter the form it takes- wife, husband, mother, father, PhD, dog walker, etc. There is only recognition that you are your perfect self. Accessing your Soul Signature allows you to appreciate the masterpiece you are and lovingly embrace the self-portrait you see when you look in the mirror. What you see is not broken. Even with stacked eyes, green skin, and a misplaced nose, you are a glorious, celebrated work of art.


There are only 3 pages left in this chapter!! It seems like I just started Chapter 7, but one, I didn't, and two, I'm purposefully making chapters more like 35 pages instead of 50 like....CHAPTER 5, oh yes.
Anyway. Have you all ever felt like Martin does in this page? Like you have two (or more) different selves, one of which is hidden? And sometimes you're not sure which you is "real"?
I certainly have. Not so much anymore, but once in a while. In other parts of my life, though, it was an immense struggle. When I was a kid I used to belt out Christina Aguilera's "Reflection" with all my heart and soul. Even at 8 years old.
If you're struggling with this, know you can make it through! The "solution" is different for everyone, and evades advice-giving. It's a personal journey that sometimes feels utterly hopeless, but there's hope and there's help out there for all of us.


4 years of experience in Marketing, Operations and Business Analytics. Passionate about and currently working in the fields of Marketing, HR and Talent Acquisition. Knowledge and experience in inbound marketing, inbound recruiting, recruitment marketing, SEO, social media marketing and recruiting, email and marketing automation, consumer and candidate engagement, artificial intelligence, marketing and recruiting analytics.
Of course you appreciate your employees…but how often do you show it and recognize their hard work?
OK, so maybe you can’t afford expensive awards…but that isn’t an excuse for not showing your employees that you appreciate them! You don’t have to spend any money to recognize your employees and show them that you appreciate their hard work. Actually, according to Officevibe’s recent study, 82% of employees think it’s better to give someone praise than a gift.
Learn valuable lessons on teamwork from leading companies such as Apple, Yahoo and LinkedIn!
Effective teamwork is the secret behind the growth and success of the most successful companies in the world. Teamwork is an incredibly important ingredient of the ‘successful business’ recipe.
Take companies such as Apple, Yahoo and LinkedIn for example. All of these companies are well aware of the importance of teamwork. They work hard to promote teamwork and encourage collaboration among their employees.
What can we learn from these crazy successful companies and how they view and foster teamwork?
Key takeaway: Make teamwork one of your key companies values and continually work on promoting it.
Key takeaway: Teamwork starts at the top and filters down through every layer of your company. If you want your employees to foster team collaboration, model it form top.
Key takeaway: Hire the best people and trust them to do their job. Team members will hold each other accountable.
– Marissa Mayer, Former president and chief executive officer of Yahoo!
Key takeaway: If you want to find a new, creative solution for a certain problem, bring (different) people together. Diversity leads to innovation.
Key takeaway: Teamwork is a continuous process. Team members must learn how to successfully communicate and work together.
➡ If you’re looking for more great tips on managing employees, check out our Short Leaderships Tips for Managers!
Testing candidates help companies ensure that their job candidates really have the required skills to successfully perform their jobs, as they claim in their resume or in a job interview. Without testing your candidates, you’ll end up choosing the best interviewee, not the best person for the job!
Luckily, due to the scientific and technological advancement of candidate assessment tools, these platforms are now available online. This also makes them more affordable than ever, which is very convenient for employers.
Why should companies use online candidate assessment platforms?
The main reason why so many employers use online assessment platforms to test their candidates these days is that they guarantee a great candidate experience.
By accessing an online assessment platform, candidates can solve these assessment tests online from anywhere in the world, at the time that suits them the best. This method saves time and money both for candidates and employers, making a more convenient and timely option.
There are many different candidate assessment platforms on the market. We did thorough research and created a list of the best skill assessment tools, measured by reviews, services offered and ease of use.
All of the platforms we included in our list offer candidate assessment tests which can be administered quickly and easily through well-designed software.
eSkill is an online skills assessment solution which helps organizations deploy the most accurate, valid tests for pre-employment and skills gap assessments. You can choose from over 600 standard tests, 5000 combinable topics or create your own content for any job and industry.
Devskiller offers developer screening and online interviews in one platform. They offer a possibility to test programming languages, frameworks and libraries. With their Test Wizard, you can generate a coding test based on your job description in order to verify the coding skills you are looking for.
With Interview Mocha, you can verify your candidate’s job fit with our 1000+ skill tests, aptitude tests, enterprise-ready assessment platform. You can choose from a vast library of pre-built skill tests, customize one yourself or order a custom-made test specially designed for you.
The Hire Talent offers different pre-employment test solutions, including people (EQ) & logic (IQ) assessments, work personality assessments, skills assessments and sales aptitude and skills assessments.
Mercer Mettl is an online talent assessments platform which can help you measure your candidates’ skills, personality and ability. You can choose from their test library of different psychometric, cognitive and technical test or get custom test built for your specific needs.
Employee recognition is a very effective method for improving employee motivation, engagement, productivity and job satisfaction. It’s a fact.
In a time of war for talent, employees have the power to choose their employer. Losing your top talent to your competitors can be detrimental for your business.
This is why many employers invest a lot of time, money and effort to improve their employee experience. They are doing their best to keep their employees happy and satisfied. For example, most companies these days try to provide fancy perks and benefits, implement an employee wellness program, etc.
But the question is how effective are all of their efforts? What do employees really care about?
Is it really true that a simple act of saying praise to your employees can improve your company’s bottom line by keeping your best employees?
I won’t say a word. The following statistics speak for themselves.
The Conference Board’s latest survey on job satisfaction has found that only 51% of employees feel overall satisfied with their job. This survey gauged approximately 1,500 employed individuals, who together comprise a snapshot of the U.S. workforce.
Half of U.S. employees are watching the job market or actively looking for a job, based on findings from a new Gallup Workforce Panel study. Results are based on a Gallup Panel Web study completed by 13,008 U.S. adults who are demographically representative of the U.S. adult population.
The main reasons why employees leave their jobs is that they don’t feel appreciated, according to Gallup’ research.
According to Gallup’s analysis, only one in three workers in the U.S. strongly agree that they received recognition or praise for doing good work in the past seven days.
Even more, Gallup Poll shows that 65% of employees haven’t received any form of recognition for good work in the last year!
According to Officevibe’s recent study, 82% of employees think it’s better to give someone praise than a gift.
Total costs associated with a turnover range from 90% to 200% of an employee’s annual salary, according to a report from the Center for American Progress.
Discover the top 5 data-backed reasons to use skills assessment tests in your hiring process.
Are you using skill assessment tests in your hiring process?
According to Career Builder research, 74% of employers admit they’ve hired the wrong person for a position.
Luckily, there is a simple way to avoid making a bad hire.
Using a skills assessment test helps companies to ensure that their job candidates really have the required skills to successfully perform their jobs.
There are many advantages of using skill assessment tests along with the traditional selection methods such as reviewing resumes and conducting job interviews.
Skills assessment tests help employers check if their perfect candidates are really a great fit for the job and the company culture as they claim to be. As a result, making a bad hire is much less common among employers who use skill assessment tests.
Using a skill assessment test has proven benefits.
Skill assessment test help employers check the truthfulness of candidates’ resumes. By applying skill assessments test, employers can verify is their candidates really possess the skills they claim to have.
Using skills assessment tests is an effective method to address the serious problem of skills gaps among job candidates.
Recent research conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management has found that 75% of HR professionals who reported difficulty recruiting in the past 12 months say there are skills gaps in job candidates.
Skill assessment test can provide valuable insights into the ability of candidates to learn new things and upgrade their existing skills.
Research conducted by the Aberdeen Group has found that companies who use pre-hire assessment tests report a 39% lower turnover rate.
Aberdeen Group study has found that organizations who use pre-hire assessments are 24% more likely to have employees who exceed performance goals.
Workplace wellness programs: Yay or nay? Discover the data-based answer!
Workplace wellness programs are getting more and more popular. This new workplace trend has gained a lot of attention recently and stirred quite a debate.
Some argue that companies should not be burdened by taking care of their employees’ health. On the other hand, there are voices arguing that in today’s modern world, these programs are becoming a necessity.
Above all, there are questions about the effectiveness and ROI of these programs. To answer these questions, we dug deep into research.
According to research conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management, 75% of employers indicated that their companies offered some type of a wellness program, resource or service to employees.
A comprehensive review of the literature has found that the average return on investment of workplace wellness programs is 3.27. This means that for every dollar that was spent on the program the company saved $3.27 because of reduced healthcare costs.
A new survey by Virgin HealthMiles Inc. and Workforce Management Magazine found that an overwhelming 77% of employees think that employee wellness programs positively impact the company culture.
Research suggests that employers save on average $5.82 in lower absenteeism costs for every dollar spent on employee wellness programs.
The Virgin HealthMiles/Workforce survey found that about 87% of employees said they consider health and wellness offerings when choosing an employer.
Research has shown that workplace wellness programs have proven benefits, both for employers and employees. Employee wellness programs can do much more than just keep your employees healthy.
These programs can help you improve your company culture, reduce absenteeism, attract talent and even save money!


Britain’s cost of living squeeze shows no sign of easingwith new figures showing that prices are still rising faster than wages.
Inflation is when prices rise. Deflation is the opposite – price decreases over time – but inflation is far more common.
If inflation is 10%, then a £50 pair of shoes will cost £55 in a year's time and £60.50 a year after that.
Inflation eats away at the value of wages and savings – if you earn 10% on your savings but inflation is 10%, the real rate of interest on your pot is actually 0%.
A relatively new phenomenon, inflation has become a real worry for governments since the 1960s.
As a rule of thumb, times of high inflation are good for borrowers and bad for investors.
Mortgages are a good example of how borrowing can be advantageous – annual inflation of 10% over seven years halves the real value of a mortgage.
On the other hand, pensioners, who depend on a fixed income, watch the value of their assets erode.
The government's preferred measure of inflation, and the one the Bank of England takes into account when setting interest rates, is the consumer price index (CPI).
The retail prices index (RPI) is often used in wage negotiations.
The consumer prices index, due on Tuesday, is expected to rise to 2.8% for August, up from 2.6% in July, and close to the four-year high of 2.9% reached in June.
Transport costs are likely to be one of the main drivers of higher inflation, as petrol and diesel have become more expensive in recent weeks.
Wages, though, are not keeping pace. City economists predict that Wednesday’s labour market statistics will show that average earnings, excluding bonuses, rose by 2.2% per year in the three months to July. This would be an improvement on the 2.1% recorded a month ago, but still means that real wages are falling.
Analysts at Investec predict the UK unemployment rate could drop to 4.3%, the lowest in over four decades. But they caution that there are still no sign that wage growth is taking off.
Business advisers BDO have warned that the rise in employment has not yet delivered higher productivity either.
Peter Hemington, a partner at BDO, explained: “UK employment law is sufficiently elastic to give employers the comfort that they can flex workforces quickly as market conditions change.
Union leaders will renew their calls for the government to lift the 1% pay cap on public sector workers, when they gather for the Trades Union Congress in Brighton.
The Unison general secretary, Dave Prentis, said Theresa May’s administration was “out of step” with the national mood.
“After seven long years of pay freezes and limits on their wages, ambulance workers, school meals staff, police and community support officers and other public service employees all deserve so much better,” Prentis said.


Chicago is up next in our Team Talk series, this one also written by Adam Filadelfo. Follow him on Twitter: @Frostt24.
Always a potential to be a breakout offense, Da Bears seem to fall just a bit short. If this is the year they put it all together, you are going to want to own some of these players to help bring you a fantasy football championship.
Jay Cutler - Let me start off by saying Cutler has the tools to be an elite level quarterback. Now let me say that he isn't an elite level quarterback. Maybe it's his approach to the game or maybe it's his attitude, but something is holding him back. He has a great arm and sometimes looks like he's turned the corner, but just when it seems like he's put it all together he goes and throws an ill-advised pass that gets picked off. Maybe he thinks his big arm is all he needs. There were just too many games (last year especially) that Cutler either failed to show up or threw more interceptions than touchdowns. At this point, he's probably best suited as a backup fantasy quarterback.
Matt Forte - Forte is more valuable in PPR formats simply because he is an important part of the passing game. But what hurts him most is his lack of scoring touchdowns. No matter what format you may play in, nothing is more valuable than touchdowns. That may be the only department Forte is at a disadvantage, and he certainly has room for improvement there. He's currently going in the second round of drafts and in a new system with new head coach Marc Trestman he could see a boost in touchdowns scored.
Brandon Marshall - One word comes to mind when describing Marshall. Beast. Not only is he a weapon downfield, he's a strong red zone threat as well. Brandon is a physically gifted athlete with the ability to make outstanding plays but may need another wide receiver opposite him to reach his full potential.
Alshon Jeffery - He showed signs of breaking out last season but never quite took that next step. Some are predicting this could be the year but I'm tempering my expectations. Marshall is clearly Cutler's favorite target and it sometimes seems Cutler only sees Marshall on the field. That could hurt the value of Jeffery even more. Until he shows he can do more than just flash signs of ability, I'd stay away. Unfulfilled promise makes him worthy of a late round flier in your drafts.
Martellus Bennett - Bennett could have a really good year in Chicago. He's a legitimate red zone option in a season where tight end seems at a premium. He also gives Cutler another option at the goal line. He's an every week starter at his position that could very well help a Bears offense that had to settle for far too many field goals last season. Keep in mind that Marc Trestman is known for being an offensive minded coach so that could help boost Bennett's value.
Michael Bush - He won't see much work as long as Matt Forte is healthy. That being said, there's a good chance Forte doesn't stay healthy for the entire season. If the Bears need him, Bush can produce. Even with Forte in there, Bush has been more of the goal line back and could be valuable by means of scoring touchdowns. Only problem with that is it's almost impossible to predict touchdowns. I think right now, Bush is worth drafting as the clear cut handcuff for Forte owners. He probably won't hold much value for any other fantasy owner.
Devin Hester - Let's get this out of the way right now: The Devin Hester as a receiver experiment has failed. However, in fantasy leagues where owners are rewarded for return yards, Hester could still hold some value. Hester is one of the most electrifying return specialists to play in the NFL in quite some time. Any time he has the ball in his hands, there's a good chance he can take it to the house. In most leagues if you want to get the benefit of Hester's return ability, you're going to want to draft the Bears defense and special teams.
D/ST - Make no mistake about it, the Bears defense will be one of the first defenses off the board come draft day. Only problem with defenses is an elite defense one year isn't necessarily that the following year. What made the Chicago defense so great to own in 2012 was their penchant for getting turnovers. You can't count on that happening again, but the potential remains. Regardless of that though, you should be confident using the Bears defense in most matchups.


You must be looking for male puppy names with meaning because you are about to welcome a lovely new dog into your home. That is very exciting, congratulations! Now of course this lovely new puppy deserves a beautiful name. On 123Tinki.com we have a database of over 40.000 dog names which does not only include boy puppy names and meanings. You can also find names in categories like these; Tibetan puppy names, Native American dog names, Disney dog names, cool dog names and so much more! Keep sniffing and you will eventually find that one perfect name.
In order to help you find the perfect name for your new dog you of course would like to use some handy tools. Since our database of dog names is so big, you want a tool that helps you create some clarity. Our dog name generator is something that can definitely help. It gives you access to our database and once inside you will find a panel with filters on the side. With these filters you can select the things you like and this way the generator knows which names to show you.
Now you have a clear and personal list of suitable boy puppy names with meanings! When deciding on a name please remember that it is completely okay to take your time. You really don’t have to rush this decision. Think it through and eventually you will find that one perfect name that you absolutely love!


Hi there lovelies, long time no see. I have been testing quite a number of products the past few weeks, and since COSRX has been gaining quite a bit of attention recently, I decided to do a review focusing on this brand itself. Many followers on Instagram also asked for my opinions regarding COSRX products. Today I will share with you my opinions on the product that I have been tested for approximately 2 months now: COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid. Stay tuned for my future review for BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, and Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence.
Before we started, I have a confession: I am absolutely in love with COSRX as a brand. Their ingredients list is relatively short and pretty straight forwards. Products is fragrance free, paraben free and coloring free, which is a huge plus for sensitive and acne-prone skin like mine. After using their products for a while now, I am confident to say that my skin has been greatly strengthened and healing process happens much faster for the aftermath of my acne fighting, scars fade faster, skin texture is less bumpy and I am indeed a much happier girl 🙂 My goal is to finish the rest of my skincare and convert all my products to COSRX and COSRX only. Yup, I am absolutely in love. Now I shall share in details about the product that I have been tested.
AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid clears away old dead skin cells trapped inside the pores. Works alongside vitamins, whiteners and natural moisturizer treatments. Managing dead skin cells without unnecessary stimulation. Helping skin management while creating healthier skin with more vitality. Star ingredients Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Water: An alpha-hydroxy acid naturally-occurring found in sugar cane and malic acid, derived from apples, which will help to exfoliate dead skin cells, reduce the appearance of fine lines, sun damage and hyper-pigmentation, diminish the appearance of large pores and acne scarring. A great ingredient for reducing blackheads, whiteheads and troubles on skin. It even moisturizes the skin at same time as removing dead skin cells. You will find your skin is smooth, soft, and comfortable.
1) Moisture, pore control, and brightening. It immediately purifies and tones up your skin leaving is clearer and more bright.
2) Whitehead clearance. No more difficulty removing whiteheads and sebum !
3) AHA product with hyaluronic acid. It controls excessive sebum and achieves excellent moisture retention in combination with hyaluronic acid.
4) AHA for repairing skin damage. Works well for sun damaged skin. Also it is good for spots, dryness and trouble.
The product is packaged in a very simple and straightforward packaging, just like the formula itself. Even though it might deemed to be a little bit bland for my aesthetics, I honestly do not mind it that much. The functional aspects of the packaging is strong, with sturdy packaging, excellent quality pumps that is designed nicely. One pump is enough for my entire face.
Even though the product claims to have Apple Fruit Water as the first and start ingredients, I was so put off with the smell at first. The smell was so pungent and strong and definitely does not smell anything like apple. Overtime I get used to the smell a little bit, but I can’t help but stop inhaling whenever I apply this product all over my face.
5) AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid is high concentrated product. Please use a small amount on areas with whiteheads and dead skin cells. Begin with using only once a week, and after skin has adjusted, use 2 to 3 times a week to maintain clear skin without dead skin cells, sebum and whiteheads.
6) When you use AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid, do not use other exfoliating products on same day.
I did not want to mess with the caution, so I use this on alternate with the Blackhead Power Liquid, and notice great results. I normally use this after my toner step, when my skin is perfectly cleansed and balanced. After waiting for 20-30 mins, I move on with a hydrating essence/serum, followed by sheet mask, light gel cream and sleeping pack. It is important that other products following your acid treatment step are all hydrating to help sooth the skin after the treatment.
It is an extremely light-weight texture that is as runny as water. The liquid absorbed onto my skin with minimal efforts, a little bit of tapping with help it absorbs much faster.
This using in conjunction with the Blackhead Power Liquid improved my skin significantly over the past 2 months. I must say, my skin has never do so well for the longest time ever. All my acnes and pimples are in control, scars are fading quick and most importantly, those funny bumpy texture on my skin is gone. Now since I use this together with the Blackhead Power Liquid, it is hard to identify which problems is solved by which products, but I believe this controls stuffs that happen more on the surface of your skin.
Yes I will, together with Blackhead Power Liquid as a duo as these are the best treatment I have found in years.
Thanks for your review I really love it ❤ But I want to ask you this to make sure 🙂 I currently order 3 products : 1/klair vitamin c , 2/Cosrx aha 7 power liquid , 3/Cosrx bha power liquid. As you say that you use it alternately so I want to know that can I use it like this ? Ex: on Monday I use aha and Tuesday I use klair vitamin c and Wednesday bha. Is it okay to use it like?
If I use them for the first time I only use them once a week first right?


any circumstance ~ no risk, but it holds a spot for you!
well as schedule a Coosa Creek "puppy visit!"
and of course, the PUPLETS!
Coosa Creek, LLC. All rights reserved; 2010.


You only get one chance to make a first impression, which is why a good introduction goes a long way. With this in mind, we’re excited to debut a new Welcome Email option to help administrators introduce TigerText to new users.
We aimed to keep the content simple and visual. There’s a space where each organization can write a welcome message for new users, and Admins can customize the header, for example by adding their organization’s logo. The email is formatted to look good on both desktop and mobile. The Get Started button guides mobile users to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, while sending desktop users to the TigerText web console.
Admins can set the Welcome Email to be automatic for newly added users or leave it manual for more control of who receives the message and when. To help admins track progress toward adoption, we’ve also added an Activation Status column in the Users Tab to show whether a user has received a Welcome Email and when they activate their account.
We designed this feature to help organizations encourage staff to use TigerText sooner. Because everyone benefits when more coworkers join the conversation in less time: organizations protect more information, staff members save more time and enjoy simpler collaboration, and overall the workplace makes decisions faster. We think that’s a welcome outcome.
How to access this feature:Admins can customize and send the new Welcome Email from the Org Settings Tab.


Here at Rush Flyers, we strive to be your online printing experts. With a careful eye for quality and a dedication to our craft, we’ve worked to lead a rapidly changing industry for over 15 years. As we have grown, the online printing services we offer have grown with us. While we primarily offer custom online printing services, our free print templates have been carefully designed to provide a platform of creation for a wide variety of purposes.
Creating your own design can sometimes be challenging. Editing and design programs are costly and can be quite complicated. They often require years of experience and in-depth understanding to be utilized to the maximum potential. For most of our customers, these programs are an unnecessary expense and a burden on their busy lives. As an online printing company, these programs are part of our every day. By sharing our expertise and our templates, we hope to make your lives just a bit easier.
Simple, elegant, and refined, these templates provide a starting point for expression and communication that’s perfect for any presentation large or small. Whether you’re interested in a banner, a program for a student play, or window decals for your next business venture, our templates are sure to help you get your message where it needs to be.


This Disability Law Handbook is a 50-page guide to the basics of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability related laws. Written in an FAQ format, The Disability Law Handbook answers questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act, the Rehabilitation Act, Social Security, the Air Carrier Access Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, and the Fair Housing Act Amendments.
Mayo Clinic: Guide for Employers - Understanding Brain InjuriesThe Mayo Clinic has prepared a 28-page booklet to assist employers in this process.


Joins us for our 8th annual fundraiser! The evening will include food and drinks, performances from our students,activities for kids, and plenty of raffle baskets! This event is fun for the whole family. Tickets are $25 for 1, $45 for 2, all kids $10.


We, at Transcription Now offer Certified Transcription Services (starting at $0.70/min). We are an ISO 9001:2015 Standards offering all types of transcription services to our online clients, with the best turnaround time of 24 hours. We provide 10% discount for all non profit organizations.
We provide our services worldwide to all major countries including US, UK, Canada, Australia and more. Our transcribers’ team strives to serve our clients in best manner. Transcription Now take the effort in offering all types of certified transcription services, based on the demands of the customer.
We offer a wide range of certified audio transcription, in addition to which we also provide Digital Transcription, Voice Transcription, YouTube Audio Transcription, Verbatim Transcription, Business Transcription, Dictation, Transcription, podcast transcription, Academic Transcription, court transcription, Speech Transcription, Sermon Transcription, Focus Group Transcription, Time Code Transcription and more.
For more information about our Certified Transcription services contact immediately through ONLINE CHAT or request a FREE QUOTE .
Our WAV transcription rates are the other highlighting factor that has made us get a huge client base across the world. We provide the services at best rate which is very reasonable and affordable rate starting at $0.70/min.
We provide digital wav transcription and accept all formats of files for transcription such as, MP3, MP4, WAV, AIFF, micro cassettes, audio / video cassette, DVD, MiniDisc and many more.
We provide transcription and translation in all languages including English, Arabic, French, German, Spanish, Farsi, Portuguese, Japanese and more.
Well, look no further, our agency got you covered for all your transcription needs with just a click of a button you can reach us online 24/7.
For our transcription services, we charge just $ 3.99 per minute and you can trust our team to deliver quality work on time.
Our agency puts clients’ privacy and confidentiality above everything else. Any document or information you entrust us with is safe and their contents are confidential. We sign NDAs upon request by our clients.
Our agency supports various industries like the entertainment industry, legal sector, financial sector, education sector among other industries. For the audio files, our agency provides for all audio type transcription which are supported in all formats required and handled by the best transcribers.


Mrs. Sarah Peterkin departed this life Sunday, August 19, 2018 at her residence.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 2pm at Fletcher Grove Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the Hillside Memorial Park in Laurinburg, NC.
The family is receiving friends at 4221 Myra Street, Gibson, NC.


We currently accept payment via Visa (Credit, Debit and Electron), Maestro, Mastercard and American Express. We are no longer able to accept Solo or Switch cards, as these payment methods are now deprecated.
We can also accept orders by west union and moneygram; please contact us if you would like to place an order by these ways.
When you're happy with the items in your basket and are ready to proceed to checkout, click 'View Basket and Checkout' at the top of your screen. You will be guided through our checkout process and invited to provide details of your delivery and billing addresses, as well as ways in which we can contact you (in case we need to get in touch, and in order for us to confirm your order).
Once you have provided this information, you'll be redirected to our secure payment server (provided by Sagepay). Select your preferred payment method (i.e. card type or Paypal) from the icons available and input card details on the following screen if applicable.
You may be asked to input your 3D Secure code if you use the Verified by Visa or Mastercard service. When your payment has been accepted, you'll be redirected back to The Sporting Lodge website, and your order will be confirmed. You'll shortly receive email confirmation.
We offer FREE WORLDWIDE DELIVERY on all orders over $99. Goods are dispatched on receipt of payment and the parcel is trackable.
US & UK orders are dispatched using Tracked 48 Delivery via Royal Mail.
Europe and Worldwide sales are dispatched on receipt of payment by Royal Mail International Signed For and the parcel is trackable until it reaches your country (you will be provided with your tracking number when we dispatch your order). The order usually arrives in your country in 5-7 days and is handled by your national postal service. A signature is required upon arrival. All parcels are fully insured. Customs labels are attached to the front of non-EU parcels to provide speedy passage in your country. They are also dated on day of dispatch. We email all customers on dispatch of orders.


In this BSc in Medical Sciences with Anaesthesia and Critical Care, you will address the major issues within Intensive Care and anaesthesia, within some of the most research active departments in the U.K. In the first module you will explore the mechanisms by which both anaesthesia and critical illness produce profound derangements in physiology and how the immune response drives these changes. You will explore how our scientific knowledge relates to clinical practice pertaining to current peri-operative and critical care standards and guidelines.
The second module focuses on the fundamentals of the research process and the skills required to undertake research activities. Specialism-specific knowledge will be the vehicle for practising these skills, whilst gaining an in-depth knowledge in a specific field.
The third and final module aims to provide you with an introduction to the research process, prior to your research project. You will be exposed to each step of the process, building your research knowledge and skills alongside acquiring an in-depth knowledge of the specialism. The assessments utilise typical research skills, whilst probing depth of specialism-specific knowledge.
Explain the mechanisms by which normal physiological function is disrupted by anaesthesia and during critical illness.
Discuss the mechanisms of action of anaesthetic and analgesic agents and their potential to influence pathological processes.
Relate scientific knowledge to clinical practice pertaining to current peri-operative and critical care standards and guidelines.
Explore how novel methodologies, such as omics data and machine learning, can improve the management of critically ill patients through personalised medicine.
Critically appraise literature, synthesise current evidence and opinion, and identify evidence gaps.


There are various tactics that auditees can use to slow down or stop the audit process. For you, the auditor, this can be extremely frustrating. The key is to be one step ahead by either implementing your own tactics to avoid the delays in the first place, or knowing how to handle them.
The purpose of this article is to educate auditors on how to successfully navigate obstacles and roadblocks, that can cause delays to the audit process.


For a night of romantic bliss, you can't go wrong with a fine dining dinner at Rockafellas Café, coupled with an indulgent overnight stay in a two-bedroom penthouse apartment.
Celestial Gift Experiences brings you this luxurious package, based at the Rockwell Hotel in Cape Town.
The Rockafellas Café with its exquisitely light, airy and opulent design offers a modern menu with options ranging from breakfast, to lunch and dinner and a variety of light yet delectable options for in between. Now you can enjoy a private chef experience in the comfort of your two-bedroom penthouse apartment. An executive chef from Rockafellas Café will come up to your apartment and prepare the meal while you relax and enjoy your partner's company.
Located on the top floor of the Rockwell Hotel, the penthouse apartments boast breath-taking views of some of Cape Town's most spectacular attractions, including V&A Waterfront, Signal Hill and Table Mountain. Each of the two en-suite rooms is fully equipped and the apartment offers a spacious open-plan dining room, lounge and separate fully equipped kitchen.
Want to stay in in style? Look no further than a night of fine dining and an overnight stay in the Rockwell Hotel, and be sure to include a private chef experience too.
Menu options provided at time of booking.


The farmers market and my gardens make me so very happy. Right now the weather is outstanding for this time of year! I’m honestly sadder than normal this year about the thought of this beautiful bounty of green and colorful goodness being gone soon. I’ve been chopping and freezing and harvesting and storing away a lot of veggie goodness to cook with and get me through the winter. I keep hearing it’s going to be a doozy. Lucky for me, I’ve already paid the driveway plow guy!
Awesome veggie harvest. Kale, swiss chard, yellow tomatoes, carrots, and a broccoli sprig.
Freshie fresh coleslaw from the market, and my garden. The annual growing of the mini red cabbage always yields a fall batch of awesome.
Yesterday evenings garden harvest. Lots of lovely little leeks, an amazing amount of fennel seed, and a couple peppers. Lots more out there still.
Leek soup ala my garden and the farmers market in the crock pot.
Well, I’ve been planning this one for awhile, well at least the vintage tablecloth part. Earlier this summer I found this amazing vintage tablecloth-pink roses and spider webs! Perfect for the month of Halloween. Super cute and slightly creepy all at the same time, yes please, this tablecloth is going into my personal collection for now.
Fave items: wonderful vintage tea towel (sidenote-I have a matching green tablecloth) Kitchen Caddy, teeny eeny speckled pink Imperial Ware melmac bowls! pig shot glasses, Easter chic Japan, pink leaf glasses, play iron, jello cups, and I adore the decal on that glass jar. LOTS of awesome vintage pink!
Fave items: Of course, the spider web rose vintage tablecloth! Pink melmac, darling pink napkins, Glamalite glitter pink glasses, adorable tiny doily, and a rose blooming from my garden in OCT! What a table setting indeed!


The powerful earthquake that hit the island of Zakynthos with 6.8R in the early morning hours of Friday had surprisingly few damages. Despite its force, there were no casualties and “no injuries” as the mayor told media Friday noon, several hours after the earthquake.
Some old uninhabited houses and buildings collapsed, slopes came down a damage on the port of the island. But no casualties, not even injuries.
Scientists estimate that had this earthquake hit another area in Greece the damages and casualties would be disastrous.
How comes that the island of Zakynthos survived the earthquake, one of the most powerful ever occurred in Greece, with relatively minor damages?
It was because of the 6.8R earthquake in 1953 and …a bit of luck.
Video: The earthquake stroke on 12. August 1953 between Kefalonia and Zakynthos. It was so powerful that it raised up the whole island of Kefalonia by 60 cm and caused widespread damage throughout the two islands. 480 people died, more than 2,000 were injured.
In the capital of Zakynthos of the same name, only two buildings survived the earthquake. The capital of Kefalonia, Argostoli, suffered substantial damage and all of Kefalonia’s buildings were flattened except for those in Fiskardo in the far north.
Even since 1953, all public buildings and private houses in the Ionian Sea follow strict anti-seismic regulations. It was because of that earthquake that Greece adopted anti-seismic regulations in the construction. Regulations went into effect in 1959, modifications were added in 1984 and 1985, notes in.gr.
Of course, it should be questioned how strictly the anti-seismic regulations in construction are being followed, because the earthquake in Kefalonia with 5.9R on 24. January 2014 caused pretty much damaged.
The second reason was that the fault line is not directed towards Greece but to Italy. The seismic energy moved towards the Adriatic and not to Ionian Sea and West Greece.
Third reason is the epicenter and the focal depth prevented major disaster. The epicenter was 34km NW of Zakynthos near the junction of The Greek Arc, the focal depth at 10 km.
As the seismic activity continues with dozens of tremors 12 hours after the major earthquake at 1.54 a.m. and seismologists warn that another strong earthquake may occur, many locals do not dare to return to their homes, Greek media report.


Counsel to C&J Energy Services, a leading provider of well construction, well completion, well support and other oilfield services in its chapter 11 cases. The plan, which was confirmed in just six months, discharged $1.4 billion in prepetition debt. Postconfirmation, acted as lead counsel on successful claim resolution process involving approximately 5,000 claims, discharge enforcement efforts and other steps to position to company for post-emergence success.


Washington State University and a Seattle-based biotech firm are suing each other over the right to grow and sell the highly anticipated Cosmic Crisp apple variety, which is expected to appear on store shelves early next year.
The legal dispute will determine whether Phytelligence – a company founded by a WSU professor that is partly owned by the university – can use its “cutting-edge science” to grow Cosmic Crisp buds and sell them to commercial apple producers.
But with millions of trees already planted across the state, the outcome of the dueling lawsuits seems unlikely to affect consumer availability of the Cosmic Crisp, a flavor-packed hybrid of the Honeycrisp and Enterprise varieties.
Brandt said the Cosmic Crisp has the potential to displace other popular varieties in Washington’s $2.4 billion apple industry, which accounts for roughly 70 percent of U.S. production. And he said no other variety has been introduced to the market so rapidly. Producers typically plant new apples a little at a time to test consumer demand, but the Cosmic Crisp, which is said to have excellent sweetness and a remarkable shelf life, promises to be a hit.
WSU researcher Bruce Barritt began developing the Cosmic Crisp about two decades ago. Until 2012, the year he filed for a patent, the tree was known only as WA 38.
WSU professor Amit Dhingra founded Phytelligence in 2011 to commercialize a method of growing trees from tissue cultures rather than soil, which enables them to reach maturity and bear fruit in less time. Dhingra remains a WSU professor and the company’s chief science officer.
In 2012, Phytelligence entered into a “propagation agreement” with the university that allowed the company to cultivate WA 38 plants for research purposes. The agreement did not grant Phytelligence rights to the trademarked name Cosmic Crisp, but it did include an “option to participate as a provider and/or seller” once the apple went to market.
In February, Phytelligence filed suit in King County Superior Court, claiming the university had violated the agreement by refusing to issue a commercial license.
WSU responded last month, claiming Phytelligence had not met clear requirements for obtaining a license and alleging the company had illegally sold 135,000 Cosmic Crisp trees to a grower near Yakima. The university also filed a patent-infringement claim in federal court.
Phil Weiler, WSU’s vice president for marketing and communications, said the university must protect the “significant financial investment” it has made to develop the Cosmic Crisp by ensuring that no one grows the apple without proper licensing and quality-control measures in place.
“The investments made by growers over the past two decades is at risk as well,” Weiler said.
WSU claims it terminated its agreement with Phytelligence after the company handed over sales orders and invoices showing it sold 135,000 Cosmic Crisp trees to Evans Fruit Co. in April 2016. The university also demanded that Phytelligence destroy any Cosmic Crisp plant materials in its possession.
Phytelligence has refused to do so.
“We are not going to destroy the material because we feel it’s within our rights to get the license,” said Ken Hunt, the company’s CEO.
“We don’t own land, so we used ground over at Evans, in large part because we thought we’d be using some of those buds to service their order,” he said.
But he insisted the move did not violate Phytelligence’s agreement with WSU or the university’s patent.
Hunt said Phytelligence has refunded payments to Evans Fruit, and the Cosmic Crisp budwood is back in Phytelligence’s possession.
As for the company’s efforts to obtain a license, Hunt said WSU required Phytelligence to become a member of the Northwest Nursery Improvement Institute, a nonprofit association of tree fruit nurseries, but the university would not provide clear requirements for doing so. NNII has the authority to license its members to grow the Cosmic Crisp.
Hunt suggested Phytelligence faced pushback because the company’s scientific approach can generate apples more quickly than the traditional nurseries, but Weiler, the WSU spokesman, said he was not aware of such competitive concerns. Weiler said several other companies managed to obtain commercial licenses without a problem.
“For whatever reason, (Phytelligence) chose not to follow the path that was laid out in the agreement,” he said.
This is not the first time a WSU-bred apple has been the subject of litigation. The university also went to court with a Yakima fruit company that had been selling the WA 2 variety under the brand name Crimson Delight. The apple was recently rebranded as Sunrise Magic.
In any case, Weiler said, apple lovers should brace themselves for the Cosmic Crisp. Not only is it sweet and tangy, it can retain its flavor and texture for up to a year in storage, and it’s slow to brown after being sliced, he said.