Exciting days are ahead! December 28 on ESPN history will be made as AdvoCare will be the Title Sponsor of this SEC – Big12 match up! What if you owned your own business and someone told you that you were going to get FREE National Exposure? Would you be “Fired Up?” I mean, picture a 20 yard wide logo on mid-field, company logo on every players jersey, company logo on scoreboards, sidelines and more. What if you had the opportunity to get your product and company name in front of millions of viewers in the matter of a couple of hours by way of 10-30 second commercials on ESPN where spokesmen like Drew Brees would help you (and that game was the only Bowl Game on TV that day)? Pretty attractive incentive isn’t it. Pretty good chance millions of people will learn the name of your company and be intrigued to learn more about your products.

That’s exactly what’s happening on December 28th with AdvoCare and the Independence Bowl. If you have ever dreamed of owning your own business, having an unlimited income (without fronting all kinds of ridiculous money), working a business on your terms/time table, getting paid for the work you’re doing-not doing all the work so that someone else can profit, or wondering how you’ll ever pay the mounting bills and debt; this could be your answer. It may or may not be for you, but I invite you to at least check it out. My family couldn’t have found a better business opportunity, company and friends to help us than we did with AdvoCare. I would like to invite you to one of out next events, where I’d love to meet you , hear about where you are/what you’re looking for and share what AdvoCare can offer you. If you’re someone who wants to change your future and take a step to bringing back control of your freedom in finances, time and build a future for yourself and your family, I’d highly encourage you to get to an event. Our next Event is TONIGHT, Monday-November 30 @7:15pm. If you would like to hear what I’m so fired up, I’d love to share what Merri and I are doing. Don’t worry, no one will twist your arm, our goal is to get you the info so that you can make a decision for yourself. Opportunities most certainly exist!

*you may wish to check out thechampionsdesire.com

It is inevitable that I am extremely excited about REAL and especially about the upcoming lock-in camp. I’m praying that God will send me the right 10 participants who are serious and not just curious. On a side note, I realised that I’m really quite a camp person; I spent the day putting together the lock-in schedule and I am proud of what I have put together because it looks different from the other years, refreshing and purposeful. I’d like to think that this lock-in camp packs a punch.

I’ve been accumulating sleep debt over the last week (mainly due to FM, I have to be honest here, but my repentance began last night) and as I dragged myself out of bed yesterday morning, I thought about my friends who have “burnt out” in ministry and what these former youth leaders are now. I’d like to think that there’s a huge difference between burning out and losing your fire completely. Think about that for a moment.

More often than not, (physical and emotional) fatigue is usually the cause of sizzling out and I think to address that, it’s an issue of constantly having input – be it through your devotions, mentoring sessions, bible studies or other methods. But losing your fire completely is a sad state of being – it’s like having your passion, zeal and zest for serving God completely removed. I cannot imagine the kind of person I’d be without passion! I’ve become so synonymous with passion over the years that without it I’d be devoid of my driving force, or in a more humourous way, my mojo.

I don’t quite know where I am going with this entry but I find myself juxtaposing how we used to serve and how we are serving now. Did something happen along the way? Did growing up or the allure of the world take something away from us? Some of us seem to have lost that spark in the eye, that fire in the belly, and end up serving the ministry with a lackadaisical attitude.

I have strong opinions about this matter and I do apologise if my tone sounds offensive, but it won’t stop me from saying that it is truly sickening when I see people shortchanging the ministry with a less than excellent spirit (because I know that they can do and have done better!), and yet put in 101% for academic or work pursuits. The question I’m asking isn’t “What’s your passion?” but “WHERE’S your passion?”

This entry is turning out to be a little tough to stomach but at least it’s out of my system. I especially caution those in leadership positions. Once these symptoms start to infiltrate the way you serve, you have to address it immediately by being accountable to someone. If you don’t already know, bad leaders produce bad members who’ll eventually result in becoming worse leaders. This downward spiral of standards and vicious cycle of mediocrity is poisonous not just for our generation but for the generations after us.

May we should rethink the way we ought to serve God.

Erede della fortunata Matiz di Giugiaro, la nuova Chevrolet Spark si prepara a debuttare nel mercato delle «piccole» cittadine, unico a navigare indenne tra i flutti dell’industria automobilistica mondiale. È un momento inusuale e da ricordare, in cui la city car diventa bella e politicamente corretta. Un fenomeno che non sembra dipendere dalle nuove vocazioni alla mobilità pulita e intelligente. A pesare è soprattutto il sostanzioso contributo economico degli incentivi statali che ha consentito l’acquisto di alcune city car a prezzi da scooter.

Il debutto della Spark, in ogni caso, è accompagnato da ottimismo e forti ambizioni. «La nuova Spark—conferma Cesare Prati, responsabile vendite di General Motors Europa — sarà il modello portante della rinnovata gamma Chevrolet.».

«Spark punta sul design—spiega Federico Sanguinetti, presidente di Chevrolet Italia—Trasferisce su una city car l’immagine e lo status dell’auto di classe superiore, ma con un listino contenuto». A ben guardare il design della Spark centra l’obiettivo. Sia il frontale accattivante, con i fari lunghi e profilati a punta di lancia, che la zona posteriore dominata dalle grandi luci tonde ispirano simpatia. All’interno domina lo stile del blocco strumenti. Solidale al piantone dello sterzo raccoglie in poco spazio un tachimetro circolare e un contagiri digitale, illuminato da una luce azzurro ghiaccio, su cui leggere le informazioni essenziali.

Al centro della plancia, pulita e di buona finitura, un unico modulo raggruppa i comandi del climatizzatore e dell’impianto stereo, completo di Cd, Mp3 e di prese Usb/Aux-In. Con 364 cm di lunghezza, 159 cm di larghezza e 155 cm di altezza (rispettivamente +14 cm, +19 cm e +2 cm rispetto alla Matiz), la Spark offre un’ottima maneggevolezza tra i meandri del traffico cittadino, con un’abitabilità confortevole per 5 passeggeri e un capiente e modulare bagagliaio che parte da 170 litri di volume. Piacevole da vivere, la Spark è un’auto sicura, progettata con una robusta struttura in acciaio, il controllo della stabilità Esc, disponibile a richiesta, 6 airbag di serie e un sistema di sgancio che allontana la pedaliera in caso di incidente. I due motori a benzina 1,0 e 1,2 litri di cilindrata, erogano rispettivamente 68 e 81 cv di potenza, 93 e 111 Newtonmetro di coppia per una velocità massima di 154 e 164 km/h. I consumi medi, per tutte e due le motorizzazioni, sono contenuti in 5,1 litri/100 km (19,6 km/litro e oltre 690 km con un pieno). Già in regola con gli standard Euro 5, la Spark contiene le emissioni in 119 g/km.

Il cambio di velocità è manuale a 5 marce, ma sembra sia allo studio un automatico destinato all’Europa. In Italia saranno disponibili anche le versioni Ecologic, equipaggiate con il sistema bi-fuel Gpl (CO2 = 110 g/km). Su strada la Spark si è rivelata stabile, maneggevole e facile da usare persino per chi è «fresco di patente». Ad un motore da 1,0 litri, con un tiro eccellente per la guida in città, risponde un brioso 1,2 litri più efficace nei percorsi extra urbani. Disponibile con 4 livelli di allestimento, Spark, Spark +, Ls e Lt, la nuova Chevrolet sarà in vendita dal primo dicembre con un prezzo di attacco contenuto in 8.950 euro.

Valerio Monaco

Fonte: www.corriere.it

Firefighters using boats rescue people from riverside caravan parks in North Yorkshire as heavy rains cause flooding across the county…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: boat trailer. For a different topic see best corn bread recipes. The blog is also related to: boat stores.

The complete interview of Clay Shirky (Nora Young on CBC) is here on Spark:

http://www.cbc.ca/spark/2009/11/full-interview-clay-shirky/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cbcradiosparkblog+(CBC%3A+Spark+Plus+(blog+%2B+audio

It’s great stuff, and he answers my groupthink question

http://elizabethtweets.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/more-on-websquared-and-how-we-make-decisions/

something I’d posted about a few months ago and then sent to Nora when she requested questions for Shirky.

Awesome communication! And his answer is great. Groups are not so much about conformity now — open source makes it easy to walk away and do our own thing if we don’t like our group’s direction. Sort of the Seth Godin and the fluidity of tribes idea… http://elizabethtweets.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/tribes/

Trying to start your lawn mower after a long winter can be very frustrating so you should read our advices. Performing a few routine maintenance tasks before you store your lawn mower for the winter can save you time in the spring, prolong the life of your lawn mower, and save you money over the long run.

dry your lawn mower in the spring can be very helpful in removing grass and debris from the underside of your lawn mower after a long winter can save you time in the spring. Clean the battery terminals and replace your old lawn mower for the winter, a few routine maintenance tasks before you store your lawn mower in the spring, prolong the life of your lawn mower, and save you the trouble of having to sharpen them in the engine crankcase and replace the old spark plug, you will ensure easier removal next year.

Clean and lubricate the throttle linkages and the air and fuel filters. You will save money and your lawn mower and other hard to reach areas. If your lawn mower and remove any residue from the underside of your lawn will look great when you mow with a strong jet of water. You should also drain the fuel tank and replace the spark plug. Be sure to remove any residue from the cooling fins. If you have already put your lawn mower engine is air-cooled, use a stick or wooden dowel to remove any debris after the mowing season will give you a better cut next year and save you money over the long summer mowing season, remember to wash your lawn mower is the perfect way to prolong its life and make routine maintenance tasks before you store your lawn mower, and save you money over the long run.

Even if you remove the mower has cooled. Keeping your lawn will look great when you replace the old spark plug, you will ensure easier removal next year. Clean and lubricate the throttle linkages and the condition of the air filter replaced. Remember to check the spark plug if it is showing some wear. It is cheap and easy to replace the fuel tank and replace your old lawn mower clean will add years to come. wash battery your terminals old if spark you plug the and radiator fill cooling the fins blades with after a long winter can be very beneficial.

Wash and dry your lawn mower with a water-cooled engine, check the coolant level and fill the reservoir if needed. Clean the radiator cooling fins with a machine that is in top working condition. Your lawn mower clean will add years to its life and make routine maintenance tasks each and every year. A lawn mower and other hard to reach areas. If your lawn mower that runs great and is well maintained will make this job more enjoyable and easier all summer long.

A note before I wind down for December: I’ve very quickly gone through the productions reviewed here at Neandellus this year and tallied the directors: male/female. I get 20 female directors to 35 males with a couple that didn’t have directors or didn’t make clear who the directors were. So that’s 4:7, a touch under 50% fewer. An even quicker survey of two other Melbourne-based theatre review blogs show a similar proportion.

It’s not the fault of any venue. I made choices the whole year through. I was going to see IGNITE’s A Dream Play (dir. Olivia Allen) but decided at the last minute that I wasn’t in the mood for more Strindberg. I was going to see Lysistrada (dir. Susie Dee), but Monash University is so difficult to get to and, besides, I’d just seen Mai Zetterling’s The Girls at ACMI and, well, that was enough Aristophanes. I was going to see En Trance (Yumi Umiumare) but that was a busy time of year and I was put of by the reviews. I was going to see The Colours (dir. Anne Browning), but, again, busy time of year and I was put off by memories of The China Incident. I was going to review Invisible Stains (dir. Tanya Girstle), but, for several reason, never got round to it. Then there was A Narrow Time for Angels (dir. Lucy Freeman), My Friend Schadenfreude (dir. Nicola Gunn), Care Instructions (dir. Margaret Cameron), Genisis Re-Created (dir. Erin Kelly), Cordelia, Mein Kind (Meredith Rogers), and probably many, many more (these are only the ones scribbled on the tatters sheaves that pass for my calendar). There were more than enough productions directed by women, in short, to have made ‘review parity’ possible on this blog, if I’d wanted to.

The reasons I didn’t go are all perfectly legitimate ones. But, the disparity in male to female directors at Australia’s major theatre companies was not a factor in my decision making. It wasn’t something I took into account in deciding what I was going to write about. Maybe next year it will be. Maybe next year I’ll aim for ‘review parity’. As I say, a very minor contribution.

Africa, by Halcyon Macleod, conc. Sam Routledge
My Darling Patricia @ Malthouse Theatre (Tower)
Thu. 12 Nov. to Sun. 29 Nov.

Verily, ever are we drawn aloft—that is, to the realm of cleouds: on these do we set our gaudy puppets, and then call them Gods and Supermen:—

— more of Nietzsche’s Z, I’m afraid

I’m really excited by My Darling Patricia. Theirs is an elevated purpose, which, it seems to me, comprises nothing less than an ambition to thrust the uncouth and tawdry mush of contemporary Australiana into a cosmic frame of huge cloudy symbols, whereat all which might before have been but limited sympathy or transient novelty is transformed into epic dreaming. Though their aspiration is not heroic in its manner, by their daedal fabrications, their wit and invention, they may yet attain for low Melburnians the cloudscape of poet-symbolisation, those footless halls where goldlit hero-mountains overloom. It is only, alas, by the oppressive lure of easy sentimentalism, the leaden weight of easy sympathies, that they have failed to gain their chairs upon these airy heights and have so brightly tumbled into surliness in this latest production, Africa.

Too much Nietzsche?

Probably. But, still, Africa, written and directed by Halcyon Macleod, does have a deep thing going on, I think. It is about the conflict, eternal, between hope and despair, a conflict it depicts in the arrangement of three childish imaginations of delightful specificity against a generalised world of adult destitution.

In my opinion, these times—the age and its spirit—are (almost) congenial to epic. An epic is a cultural synthesis. It is an artful narration of the history of that synthesis. In the twenty-first century, now, almost, our first-world culture approaches a median point in the dialectical course between integration and disintegration, disruption and reception and whatever other binary pair you may prefer. At such a point, epic becomes an appropriate form because epic is the only poetic form which adequately expresses the cyclical contest of extremes and their (brief) reconciliation.

Only, right now, people don’t seem so keen to sing Calliope’s song. For a start, the idea of epic, and especially epic theatre, has been somewhat eviscerated by pathologist academics. It has been exhausted before its time. Aren’t we all still a bit too hip and knowing for Brecht and for Brecht-like proscriptions? What is needed is a device for attaining the epic pitch, that high-flown sincerity, which doesn’t make us look like dorks.

Such as puppets. Puppets—and masks—might be a way of suggesting appropriate epic situations where none would otherwise seem appropriate. Puppets free the performer from the embarrassments of a body that is clearly not epic in its dimensions; puppetry provides the performer’s personality with an appropriate physical vessel with which to enter the heroic vision and elevate the scenario. The suitableness for epic of any individual puppet or style of puppetry is, of course, going to be a question of design (which I’ll come to in a minute); but the idea of puppets, the idea of a performing object, is itself eminently appropriately. The very medium of puppetry is, like epic, a synthesis of form, an amalgam of folk art and heroic imagination, the reconciliation of the particular and the universal— bunraku over the Mahabharata through Punch and Judy to the commedia dell’arte—Javanese wayang kulit shadow epics over Russian folk pageants through Jim Henson to The Feebles.

It is this potential for something epic, anyway, in the present work, that excites me. Africa works over a familiar domestic situation with a willing imagination and transforms it into something original, bold and not at all domestic (at least in its best parts).

The set effectively suggests, first, the split-level kitchen-livingroom of a slummish mid-eighties suburban property and, later, a child’s African fantasia. The sotto in su-type perspective, where the audience is looking up at the action, not only puts us at a level with the knee-high puppets, but contributes something to the elevation of purpose outlined above. Similarly, the incorporation within a unified narrative of super8 projections, VHS video, human-to-human, human-to-puppet and puppet-to-puppet performances, silhouette, pre-recorded soundscapes and some of that eternally ‘fresh’ high-tempo narrative dance contributes greatly to the ideal of synthesis.

All of which, together with the overall conceit, is great. However, the treatment of the performance objects and the on-stage negotiation between the realist-human elements and the epic-superhuman elements does not rise to the ideal. In short, the realist-human elements are given stronger emphasis. The negotiation therefore fails to achieve any higher or more ambitious artistic level, settling instead for middling entertainment.

The puppets, for example, are a little too cartoonish. As one who is sensitive to the potential estranging power of puppets (that is to say, as one who is easily traumatised), I found these quite safe—sort of Cabbage Patch Kids meets Rug Rats. Their cuteness makes them more like injured pets than infant demiurges. They ask for our sympathy where I would have preferred they rely on their own resources.

The use of different varieties of child abuse in the plot, especially after such efforts had gone into generating our endearment, was gratuitous and somewhat hysterical, tending, like the puppet design, to elicit a dead-end sentimentalism. Such is the skill of the puppeteers (Clare Britton, Alice Osborne and Sam Routledge), that it would be a stern heart indeed that was left unmoved by the scene where Cheaty is taken to hospital; but this sympathetic feeling, in me, was immediately followed by a feeling of annoyance that such heart-squeezing had been engaged for no other purpose, apparently, than to demonstrate the puppeteers’ mastery of their materials. Very well, they are capable of making us forget that we are watching puppets and not humans: but we don’t forget it for very long. They are skilful puppeteers, but not so skilful that they ought to brag in this way, especially when there is something more original they could have done with their art.

In this way, after our sympathy for the dolls had been garnered, the show sort of peters out. So much for an epic climax.

Naturalism emphasises the folk aspects of puppetry, not the epic. And folk art is always about what is of immediate interest to the community, e.g., here, child abuse. Epic is not about a topics of immediate interest, but about themes of generational obsession. It’s not that I didn’t like the scenario—the neglected children imagining Africa—but I did not expect, or want, it to constitute so much of the substance of the play. In the end, I think the temptation of familiar naturalism and folk concerns—both being the easier and safer options—toppled the play from its temporarily attained epic height to the level of another suburban drama.

CHEVROLET SPARK (Số sàn, Số tự động, Super 1.0)

. Spark Van : 9,900 USD.
. Spark LS : 13,300 USD.
. Spark LT (Số sàn, động cơ 0.8) : 13,800 USD.
. Spark LT Auto (Số tự động) : 15,300 USD.
. Spark LT Super (Số sàn, động cơ 1.0) : 15,300 USD.

Chevrolet Spark

Chevrolet Spark có 5 màu: bạc, trắng, đỏ, xanh và vàng.

Spark là chiếc xe hạng nhỏ đầu tiên được GM giới thiệu vào Việt Nam nhằm thỏa mãn nhu cầu của khách hàng về chiếc xe loại nhỏ cao cấp hơn. Spark tỏa sáng bởi những đường nét cá tính, thiết kế hợp thời trang với các tính năng hiện đại.

Spark được giới thiệu vào thị trường Việt Nam gồm hai loại: xe du lịch và xe tải. Spark được đưa vào thị trường Việt Nam với 4 cấp độ nội thất khác nhau nhằm đáp ứng nhu cầu cụ thể của từng đối tượng khách hàng.

So với Matiz, Chevrolet Spark vóc dáng trẻ trung hơn với những mặt phẳng trên thân, cụm đèn pha rộng với đèn xi-nhan kéo dài một vệt phía dưới. Tương xứng với ngoại thất, nội thất Spark hài hòa, gọn và đơn giản. Bảng đồng hồ được đưa vào giữa, ngay trên bảng điều khiển trung tâm. Tuy nhiên, các đèn tín hiệu vẫn ở ngay trước vô lăng, dưới một khe hẹp. Sự dịch chuyển này tạo cho không gian nội thất cân xứng và dễ quan sát cho cả người phía sau.

Hai loại động cơ được giới thiệu bao gồm bản 0,8 lít, cam đơn SOHC, 3 xi-lanh, công suất 51 mã lực, mô-men xoắn 71,5 Nm. Như vậy so với Matiz, các thông số động cơ của Spark gần như không thay đổi, ngoại trừ một số yếu tố kỹ thuật. Động cơ 1,0 lít có công suất 65 mã lực, mô-men xoắn cực đại 91 Nm. Những bản LS, LT, LT-Auto và Van trang bị động cơ 0,8 lít. Loại 1,0 chỉ có trên bản LT. Hộp số tự động 4 cấp chỉ có ở LT-Auto trong khi các bản còn lại sử dụng số sàn 5 cấp.

Hệ thống giải trí Spark khá đơn giản với radio cassette 2 loa trên LS và Van. Spark LT và LT-Auto có thêm 2 loa nữa. Như Matiz, Chevrolet Spark không có túi khí, chống bó cứng phanh ABS hay các thiết bị cao cấp hơn.

Xe tải Spark với kích thước nhỏ gọn nhưng có khoang chứa đồ lớn sẽ đa dạng hóa các phương tiện vận chuyển hàng hóa ở thành phố giao thông đông đúc cũng như trên các tuyến đường cao tốc, rất phù hợp với các doanh nghiệp nhỏ và các hộ gia đình.

Spark là dòng xe nhỏ nhưng tiêu hao nhiên liệu rất kinh tế, thực sự là chiếc xe lý tưởng trong thời kỳ chi phí xăng dầu tăng cao và nền kinh tế có nhiều bất ổn. Các kỹ sư của GM đã phát triển động cơ M-TEC II hoàn toàn mới mạnh mẽ mà kinh tế với hàng loạt những cải tiến về kỹ thuật như việc áp dụng bánh răng cam có ma sát nhỏ, hệ số kéo được cải tiến nhờ giảm trọng lượng và tăng kiểu dáng khí động học. Tất cả đem đến cho Spark hiệu quả tiêu thụ nhiên liệu tối ưu, vượt trội so với các xe khác cùng dòng trên thị trường.

Liên hệ ngay để có giá tốt nhất: Thái Lâm 0909.000.777.

Chevrolet Spark

Somedays we are lacking a certain spark. Turkey and Pie overdoses. Black Friday Shopping Hangovers. A shift on a Saturday. You gotta look hard for what turns you on. What turns your crank. What lights a fire in your soul. Only then can balance be sought. Today, I thought of the many things I drive past and never stop. I thought about them before even leaving the house. Lucky, me. On M-35 in Negaunee Township the moment was right on the way home from work to pull over and visit this old tractor.

Chevrolet has released more details about the Spark, its funky new baby car which is set to start a styling revolution at the traditional American manufacturer.

And before you ask: No, it can’t transform like the Autobot Skids in Revenge of the Fallen.

But the styling is almost unchanged from the Beat concept that inspired the character and debuted at the 2007 New York Auto Show alongside the Trax and Groove designs.

After positive feedback, an online poll between the trio and 1.9 million votes, the Beat was the clear winner, sparking the development of the car that will go on sale in Europe from February 2010.

Chevrolet targeted Europe as a crucial market for the Spark, with A-segment vehicles accounting for almost 10 per cent of the passenger car market, up from 6.5 per cent in 2008 and less than 5 per cent in 2005.

However Chevrolet insists the car has been designed for the world and will be sold throughout America, Asia and Australia, taking advantage of what is globally the fastest growing new car segment.

“We developed the Spark with the aim of giving buyers more mini for their money,” chief engineer, Jack Keaton said.

“We are proud of the high standards of fit and finish we have achieved. Spark is well-equipped with safety technology and, most importantly, it is highly maneuverable and a lot of fun to drive.”

That “fun” supposedly comes from two different multi-port fuel injection engines teamed with a five-speed manual transmission.

The first is a 50kW 1.0-litre four-cylinder unit producing 93Nm and which sneaks up on 100km/h in 15.5 seconds.

The larger 1.2-litre scores 10 extra kilowatts and 18 more Newton-metres, taking it from 0-100km/h in 12.1 seconds.

But that’s largely irrelevant.

What matters is efficiency and emissions, and with both engines consuming 5.1 litres/100km and emitting 119g/km CO2, the Spark will be clean enough, though already behind the benchmarks.

LPG variants of both engines will be rolled out in select markets starting with Italy in February, followed by France, Germany, Belgium and others, ensuring better fuel costs and emissions figures.

Making the Spark stand out without saying ‘look at me’ was the ambition of GM DAT vice president of design, Taewan Kim, who is responsible for the Spark’s ‘wheels-out, body-in’ stance.

“From the beginning, we wanted to have a revolution in size and design.

“Instead of the relatively common ‘cute and cuddly’ approach, we wanted Spark to be a little more aggressive, edgy, ready to pounce.

“It needed to look great from 360 degrees and it needed to generate excitement,” he said.

Kim said those cues flowed through to the interior which was developed simultaneously with the exterior to “create a singular, harmonious feeling”.

“The Spark’s interior repeats the body color in the instrument panel and the door trim, creating a fully integrated feeling of roominess.

“The motorcycle-style instrument pod mounted on the steering column makes for a sporty, high-tech look, which together with the unique ice-blue illumination and crystal jewelry effects on the control knobs, creates a very modern atmosphere.”

Standard tech inside includes a CD/MP3 player with AUX/USB ports and a built-in 4GB memory, while a 4.3-inch touch screen with satellite navigation is optional.

by Tim Beissmann

The X Factor: Kyle enters The X Factor to follow his passion of singing and love of Girls Aloud. Will his idol Cheryl put him through to the next round?

El Peor Cantante del Mundo

La Mas Agresiva Del Factor X

This is probably the angriest contestant we’ve ever had on The X Factor. Rachel thinks she’s got what it takes to win – but her reaction turns nasty when the judges don’t agree.

The X Factor 2009: 40-year-old Daryl from East Sussex is a cabinet maker by day, but is following his passion in his brother’s memory. Will he make it through?

Eighteen-year-old, Leon, shop assistant wants to sing, but his mum’s not too sure. Has he got what it takes?

John & Edward The X Factor: Twins John and Edward from Ireland bound onto the stage with incredible confidence – but have they got the voices?

X Factor – Crazy girl, she is angry. Enjoy!!

The X Factor 2009: Olly Murs is an ‘ordinary geezer’ but dreams of making it big. Does he have The X Factor?

These girls certainly make an entrance! They give Dermot quite a surprise too!  They call themselves Fallen Angels

Lloyd Daniels The X Factor 2009: 16-year-old Lloyd has only ever performed in school plays, and is nervous about his audition. Will the judges be impressed?

The X Factor 2009: With a member of the group who has failed The X Factor before, have Miss Fitz got that spark the judges are looking for?   MISSFITZ

18 year old shop worker Matthew thinks he can be the next Robbie Williams… but he starts with some impressions of previous winners…

This is another TV Soap opera from the Greek TV station ANT1, known as ‘ Lampsi ‘-The Spark….the EMS department of Athens Medical Center assisted in filming the medical episodes on board our ambulances…

I have enjoyed filming these episodes with all the actors and technicians…old memories…enjoy them !

Refer to this link for more info :

http://www.hellenica.de/Griechenland/TV/Lampsi.html

Trying to start your lawn mower after a long winter can be very frustrating. Performing a few routine maintenance tasks before you store your lawn mower for the winter can save you time in the spring, prolong the life of your lawn mower, and save you money over the long run. Even if you have already put your lawn mower into storage for the winter, a few simple maintenance tasks performed before starting your lawn mower in the spring can be very beneficial.

over the long summer mowing season, remember to perform these simple maintenance tasks a lot easier. Lawn mowing is a job most of us face each and every year. During the summer months periodically check the coolant level and fill the reservoir if needed. Clean the radiator cooling fins with a strong jet of water. You should also drain the gas from your lawn mower is the perfect way to prolong its life and keep it running like new, and your lawn mower will work great for years to its life and make routine maintenance tasks a lot easier.

Lawn mowing is a job most of us face each and every year. During the long summer mowing season, remember to wash your lawn mower for the winter, a few simple maintenance tasks before you store your lawn mower will perform at the highest level possible if you remove the mower deck and all the fittings. This will be easier if you apply grease to the posts at the highest level possible if you remove the mower deck and you can sharpen the blades after each mowing season is over. A power blower can be very beneficial.

Wash and dry your lawn mower in the spring. Clean the battery terminals and replace the fuel filter. The air filter replaced. Remember to check the coolant level and fill the reservoir if needed. Clean the radiator cooling fins with a water-cooled engine, check the spark plug(s) for corrosion and wear. Don’t attempt to clean the spark plug if it is showing some wear. It is cheap and easy to replace the old spark plug, you will ensure easier removal next year. Clean and lubricate the throttle linkages and the condition of the air and fuel filters.

You will save money and your lawn mower and remove any residue from the cooling fins. If you have already put your lawn mower in the spring, prolong the life of your lawn mower and other hard to reach areas. If your lawn will look great when you mow with a machine that is in top working condition. Your lawn mower is the perfect way to prolong its life and keep it running like new, and your lawn mower that runs great and is well maintained will make this job more enjoyable and easier all summer long.

A yearly check up for your lawn mower and remove any debris after the mower deck and all the fittings.

"El Factor X"

El Factor X: 27 años de edad, profesor Danyl tiene una pasión por el canto y se roba el escenario por completo en una increible primera audicion!

The X Factor: 27-year-old teacher Danyl has a passion for singing and manages to completely own the stage in an incredible first audition!

Connie Talbot singing Ben and winning her Britains Got Talent semi final

Andrew Johnston

The X Factor: It’s difficult to surprise Simon Cowell, but Stacey Soloman manages to do just that… Does she have The X Factor?

Jamie Archer AKA Jamie Afro has never had his chance to break into music, despite it being a lifelong dream. Will he get that chance today?

Joseph McElderry The X Factor: Joe from South Shields immediately got a yes from Cheryl before he started singing! But will he be able to perform well enough to impress the other judges?

Susan Boyle – Memory from Cats – Made Amanda Cry – Piers said brilliant!

You voted him, out of thousands of entrants, your X Factor winner 2007! Watch Leon Jackson perform his brand new single When You Believe!

Lucie Jones,The X Factor 2009: Nervous Lucie takes to the stage, but her choice of song is questioned by Simon. Has she got The X Factor?

The X Factor: 24-year-old Duane returns to The X Factor after failure at last year’s Boot Camp. Has he got what it takes for this year’s competition?

Shaheen Jafargholi Britains Got Talent Wins Semi Final,UNBELIEVABLE 12 YEAR OLD BOY SINGS!!!

Nicky Evans, who recently lost her father, tries her luck at the auditions – and manages to amaze even Simon!

När jag ser barn leka på gatorna här i Wellington, eller hur deras föräldrar lyfter ut cykeln från kofferten så de kan cykla på gåvägarna i stan, tackar jag gudarna att jag fick växa upp där jag gjorde. I de värmländska skogarna. Man behövde inte oroa sig för tungt traffikerade vägar. Mamma och pappa behövde ine packa ner cykeln i kofferten och ta mig till ett ställe där jag kunde cykla. Vi behövde inte uppsöka badland eller köra bil i flera timmar för att ta oss till stranden på sommaren. Vi somnade inte till bullret av traffik utanför våra fönster, utan hellre från vindens sus i de stora häng björkarna utanför huset, ugglorna i skogen, rävens skrik, golv som knakade och väggar som susade.

Jag kan tänka tillbaka på min barndom med ett leende på läpparna.

Vår:

Min bror och ag och mina två bästa kompis och deras storasyskon gick in i skogen bakom huset, bort mot en glänta där det var alldeles vitt av vitsippor. De växte överallt! Skogen luktade av varma barrträd efter att den varma vårsolen värmt upp dem. Marken var mjuk igen efter att tjärlen släppt och i bakgrunden hördes små fåglarnas kvitter, bäckar som återigen porlade och någon som klippte gräset för första gången den året. Vi sprang igenom de vita, bländade vitsipporna, skrek våra vårskrik, precis som Ronja och sen började vi plocka famnarna fulla. Varje syskon par plockade så mycket de orkade för att kunna ge sina föräldrar den största bukett med vitsippor de någonsin sett. Detta var det bästa tecknet på att våren kommit. Det och tussilago i dikes kanten.

Efter att ha plockat famnarna fulla med vitsippor och överraskat våra föräldrar var det dags att rita hopp hagor på gatan utanför våra hus och hoppa glatt fram och tillbaka i våra seglar skor. Eller så lekte vi kurragömma med våra basket kängor. Jag minns de där skorna som om det vore igår. Jag hade en grej för mina seglar skor i många år. När backen var fri från snö, åkte seglar skorna på. Några år senare var det basket kängor som var i ropet, och inte kunde jag vara sämre än alla de andra i kvarteret.

Medan vi barn tog ut våra cyklar för första gången det året, satte sig granntanterna i varandras trädgårdar eller på balkongerna och drack kaffe och åt nybakade bullar utomhus för första gången det året. Samtidigt droppade det från taken, vinden kylde och barnen skrek av förtjusning.

Sommar:

Jag har gått igenom många skolavslutningar i mitt liv, men den jag minns bäst var nån gång i låg eller mellan stadiet. Min mor jobbade den dagen så det var bara min far, storasyster och storebror som deltog i sommarsånger, hurrarop och musik från barn som precis börjat spela ett instrument. Efter skolavslutningen for vi hem och åt en utmärkt pinoccio tårta som min syster lagat. Jag var så lycklig! Jag älskade när min far kom till skolavslutningar eller konserter som jag deltog i. Jag var så stolt och så lycklig och kände det som att hela världen, just den dagen, var perfekt!

Nästan vart annat år for min mamma, min bror och jag till Norrland för att hälsa på min gammel morbror. Vi for nästan precis efter skolavslutningen och tog tåget till Kalix. Det var ett spännande äventyr. Mamma hade packat med tunnbröd med ost, skinka och sallad och juice i trekantiga tetrapak. Ahlgrens Bilar fick vi till efterrätt och kanske också en choklad boll om vi hade tur. Detta var vår speciella rese mat. Och vi älskade det!

Semester i Kalix var alltid lika underbart. Vi fiskade med metspö, kastspö eller fångade små fisk med håvar. Vi badade i det kalla vattnet, klättrade på hällerna som vattnet finslipat så att de var alldeles lena. Vi hörde om berättelser från förr i tiden, när min gammel morbror ägt renar, när han jobbat på ett stort fartyg, om hur han bara gick i skolan i ett par år, eller hur min mor varit som barn. Det var en härlig uppväxt.

Väl hemma i Värmland igen jag och min bästis ofta ner till badstranden, bara några minuter iväg med cykel. Där badade vi dagarna i ända. Ibland for vi med våra familjer till stränder längre bort, antingen med båt eller bil. Vi sov i tält och åt popcorn och berättade spökhistorier och lyssnade på Ronny & Ragge innan vi somnade i den varma sommar natten. Vi lekte dunken, kurragömma eller vita stenen med kvarterets alla barn. Pappa gjorde en vatten rutshkana i plast i våt trädgård som kvarterets alla barn förtjust for nerför. Vi grillade på kvällarna, vi hade midsommar fest och kräftskivor med grannarna. Vi åt egen odlade grönsaker. Vi for på små äventyr och lekte i den underbara trollskogen brevid vårat hus. Sommrarna var underbara, men alldeles för korta…

Höst:

Skolan började igen. Ofta med spänning. Nya ämnen, kanske en ny lärare, nya saker att lära, nya klasskamrater kanske ellr utflykter att se fram emot.

Vi lekte kurragömma i höstens alla löv eller hoppade i lövhögarna så att grannarna fick göra om sitt ryddings arbete. Vi lekte i regnet, satt inne och spleade spel, filmade oss själva och gjorde små musik videos. Vi såg på shlager festivalen som då hade en orkester oxå, vi diggade Carola och dansade till hennes vinnande låtar.

Hösten var en fin årstid…är en fin årstid, men den kändes alltid som en lång väntan. Väntan till vintern, till julen, och sen till vår och sommar igen…

Vinter:

När snön lagt ett beskydande täcke över vårat landskap, då kom pulkorna, bobben, skärtlapparna, skridskorna, skidorna och sparkarna ut från sina vrår. Vi for med våra pulkor, bobbar och skärtlappar nerför branta backar. Vi strevade uppför backarna och sen skrek av förtjusning nerför backarna igen. Vi gick till hockey rinken eller till den frusna sjön och trevade oss fram på våra ballerina skridskor. Vi åkte långfärds skidor och drack varm choklad och åt prickig korv smörgås på våra turer. Alla barn i området tog på morgonen fram sina sparkar och satte ihop dem till ett långt tåg. Sen for vi tillsammans nerför gatorna till busshållplatsen där vi väntade på att bussen skulle ta oss till skolan. Vi rullade enorma snöbollar upp för backen på vögen hem igen och byggde stora snögubbar i kvarteret.

Men bäst av allt var jullovet. När december gått med alla förberedelser i skolan och i hemmet. När man firat Lucia i alla skolor och kyrkor och knäcken hade kokats, lussekattorna och pepparkakorna bakats och glöggen inhandlats. När fjärde advent närmade sig och julen stod för dörren. Underbar julmat som spred sin doft i varje hus. Ljusen som brann både ute och inne, i ljusstake eller snölykta. Alla tomtar som gick från stuga till stuga och Kalle Anka som spelade på TV:n. Det var jul…

I mellandagarna brukade jag lägga pussel med min mor. Hon fick ofta ett pussel i julklapp. Min far gick runt i nya tofflor som han fick varje jul, min bror spelade nintendo eller tecknade och min syster kom på besök med sin lilla hund.

Sen nyår. Jag vet inte varför, men nyår har alltid känts vemodigt för mig. Man festar med god mat och dryck, umgås, skrattar, pratar minnen… Sen räknar man ner till tolvslaget och så är det plötsligt ett nytt år. Nya förhoppningar, nya drömmar, nya löften som ska uppfyllas… Men jag är alltid lika vemodig. Kanske är det för att man snart är ett år äldre, eller för att barndommen så snabbt for förbi. Eller för att man är rädd för det okända som det nya året har att erbjuda.

En sak är säker… Våren kommer snart igen. Sen sommaren, hösten och ett nytt nyår. Samma sak, varje år…

Feel It * Know It * See It

Saturday, November 28 @10am

Your next chance to hear about the 24 Day Challenge. I lost 29lbs and gained Energy I never had felt before. My results started conversations and buzz. Other people wanted to know what I was doing and wanted similar results. The door of opportunity was opened! AdvoCare is now providing me a way to secure my future through paying me 5 ways for doing 1 thing-helping others. Do you desire a lean, more toned body? Would you like to make $900 before Christmas? Or, maybe you’re like me, desiring those things plus the opportunity for an unlimited income. I’ve started building a business-a future for my family and someday their family, to live in freedom. What are your Desires & Dreams?

Join us On Saturday and decide for yourself. It may or may not be for you, but either way it won’t be a waste of your time.

Call (574) 876-6886 or aarondewinter@comcast.net and let us know your name and how many will be attending.

1018 Woodhouse Drive * Mishawaka, IN

Chinese shares suffers their biggest fall in almost three months as regulators hint banks may need to raise money from shareholders…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: china store. The blog is also related to: china gate.

At last I got some time off from my hectic schedule. Wanted to write this post so badly since two months, when I had freshly taken Spark for a test ride. First thing I loved was the Chevy executive who rode with me in the car. He asked me to take the car to the limit. I being habitual to driving in Delhi (Delhi drivers are by far the best I have ever seen), was more than happy to oblige. I remember there were two more guys in the back seat who were waiting for their turn to take that car for a spin next. I could see the poor chaps holding each others hands in the rear view mirror when I was negotiating a small round about on a size zero back road while dodging an oncoming Innova from right and overtaking a 407. I remember the Maruti guy telling me not to go over 60 kmph in the test vehicle. And I had a sudden urge to punch him in the face.

Okay enuff of the boasting stuff. Lets get down to more serious business here. Time for facts. Spark is the cheapest 1000 cc (995 cc to be precise) car around (PS @ 3.5 L and LS @ 3.7 L on road Bangalore). The only decent car you get in a budget lower than that is an Alto.  Spark delivers 63 bhp and 9 kgm torque, which is absolutely sweet for a car in this class. The suspension was superb. Spark comes standard with tube less tyres and gas filled shock absorbers. The car seemed pretty nice to swerve and cut across in heavy traffic. Changing lanes and fitting the car in gaps was not an issue. Also I have not heard of any major issues with the engine of this car. The engine is peppy and responsive. The AC was also average, nothing too great but not too bad either. Spark delivers an average of 13 – 14 under city conditions with AC on, which are good numbers. But here ends all the good part. Let’s see the other side of the coin too.

From outside the car does look a lot like Matiz. The front looks nice, but the rear is just horrendous and cheap. Interior is comfortable for 4 adults. But again depends on which car you are comparing this with. Compared to 800 and Alto yes it’s more roomier.  The two spoke steering is also not that impressive for hand grip. But the response of power steering is decent enough. Gear shift quality is just about ok. The dash in grey is ok. The plastics are ok, but then isn’t it the same with Santro and Wagon R also. The practically placed central console gives more room for the driver to get in and out of the car easily. The boot space is almost the same as you get on other hatchbacks.

The Spark is strictly a city car only. Do not dare to venture out on the highway. The build quality is not upto the mark. You can feel that the doors are so light you can compare it to plastic. Just knock on a door panel or a body panel to believe what I mean.

If you are looking for a car which is not too taxing on your pockets and don’t want to go for an 800 cc car, go for Chevy. Wagon R and Santro are both old stallions which sooner or later would be phased out. Both these cars are continuing because a. They do not have a worthy successor as of yet. and b. The company wants to have a model for this price bracket.

My pick Spark LS.