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Selected Clients

Chicago Cultural Alliance

Selected Clients“Daniel provided generous support to Activating Heritage, the Chicago Cultural Alliance’s annual conference. Daniel solicited and confirmed the conference’s keynote speaker, Representative Camille Lily of Oak Park, Illinois. Her role as the keynote was particularly fitting due to her chairmanship of the Museums, Arts, and Cultural Enhancement Committee, where she serves as the chief museum advocate in the Illinois General Assembly. Her remarks fit nicely with the conference’s theme of youth engagement and education. During the day-long gathering at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, Daniel also assisted in facilitating a guided discussion between foundations and cultural heritage institutions. I highly recommend Daniel for his unique ability to serve as a collaborator and convener of arts and culture advocates in projects that bridge non-profits with philanthropy and elected officials.” – Peter Vega, Executive Director

Edgewater Historical Society

Selected Clients“Daniel has provided critical awareness into fundraising practice – particularly as it comes to grant writing – for our small historical society. His experience working with foundations and the relationships he has formed through his practice affords our organization the perspective we need to plan for a more sustainable organization in leadership, fundraising, and audience engagement.” – Bob Remer, President of the Board

Landmarks Illinois

Selected Clients

“Daniel was instrumental in helping Landmarks Illinois commemorate the 20th anniversary of our annual “Most Endangered List” in Illinois, featuring 20 of the most memorable historic spaces, places, and buildings our organization has had a hand in preserving in the List’s 20-year history. As a part of the project team, Daniel coordinated the creation of our project website, translated its content into Spanish, and ensured direct engagement with our statewide-audience through the production of tailor-made signage for each of the 20 sites and communicating directly with their contacts. I highly recommend Daniel for projects featuring diverse audiences as he is both personable and a diligent worker.” – Lisa DiChiera, Director of Advocacy

Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble

Selected Clients

“Working with Daniel has empowered us to make some much-needed changes to our organizational structure. After assessing our programs, financial management, and fundraising, he encouraged us to ‘own’ our place in arts and cultural landscape in Chicago. One of his questions that stayed with us long after working with Daniel is ‘Do we want to be an institution?’ He pushed us to start considering ourselves less as an ‘organization’ and more as an ‘institution,’ calling attention to the long-term sustainability and history of our nonprofit as the basis for implementing our mission and vision.” – Ellyzabeth Adler, Founder, Executive Director

Chicago Filmmakers

Selected Clients

“Daniel brought constructive energy to our board and an organizational assessment process when our organization was undergoing a significant amount of change. After having completed a successful capital project in a newly-renovated historic building and an almost complete change in staff, we turned to Daniel to provide a structured framework through which the board and executive staff could assess the next steps for the Chicago Filmmakers. His familiarity with board process helped us think about how to develop a proposed business plan and strengthen board governance to address these objectives.” – Brenda Webb, Executive Director

Edgar Miller Legacy

Selected ClientsDaniel was extremely helpful when Edgar Miller Legacy needed guidance with a five-figure programming grant application, bringing much-needed expertise and perspective to a new organization writing these types of requests for the first time. Furthermore, he brought added insight into how to craft a quality and engaging program beyond the initial grant application, going above and beyond the scope of the initial project description. Daniel pushed our sights higher, and we received our grant and had better public programming due to his efforts. – Zac Bleicher, Executive Director

Haymarket Center

Selected Clients“The value of Resilient Heritage has been essential to creating culture change at Haymarket Center. Within the first minute of knowing Daniel, I understood his strength of interpersonal communication in addition to his detail-oriented skills in logistics. With his support, our organization was able to leverage the necessary relationships that made our annual fundraiser a success. Building on his experience this year, his 2020 project timeline already shows tremendous insight in how we can improve our event planning by leveraging our resources creatively and more efficiently. The ultimate effect is more support for our population of individuals with substance abuse disorder in recovery.” – Sam Provenzano, Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Select Past and Current Clients also include:

Arts & Business Council of Chicago

Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Chicago Community Trust

Mister Kelly’s Chicago

Niagara Falls National Heritage Area

Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

Terrace Strategies


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Club name Neistin
Shirt colors Blue / Blue / Blue
Teams Boys 11, Boys 13, Boys 15 1, Boys 15 2, Girls 11, Girls 13 1, Girls 13 2, Girls 14, Girls 15, Girls 18
Country Faroe Islands

68 games played

About Neistin

Neistin was one of two clubs from Faroe Islands that had teams playing during Partille Cup 2018. They participated with 10 teams in 8 out of Partille Cups all 21 categories. Two teams played until 1/4 Final in A-Play-off; Girls 14 lost against Herning FH by 5-14 and Girls 18 lost against Lugi HF 1 by 14-15.

Neistin comes from Tórshavn which lies approximately 1200 km from Göteborg, where Partille Cup takes place. Other than Neistin, the club Faroe Islands does also originate from the area around Tórshavn.

Write a message to Neistin

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Armacao Dos Buzios State Of Rio De Janeiro Brazil

Hey there, your search for armacao dos buzios state of rio de janeiro brazil had very few results so we expanded the search distance to 500km.

Why Retreat?

We asked people why they go on retreat, here's what they said:

To learn more to add to my classes Shannon

Retreat Guru's Vision

We believe human beings are innately wise, strong and kind. This wisdom, although not always experienced, is always present. Going on retreat is a beautiful way to reconnect to our basic sanity and health. Our aspiration at Retreat Guru is to inspire people to experience authentic retreats and reconnect with their innate wisdom, strength and kindness.


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Celtic Family Symbol Small Retro Badge

SKU: 14937 Categories: ,

25mm Pin Badge

Every RetroBadge is hand made to order

Classic design, pin back metal badge as made since the 1940s

SHARP pin, not suitable for young children

Free UK delivery for orders of £5 or over


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Mark Starowicz

LRC Contributor

Mark Starowicz is executive director of documentary programming for CBC Television and the author of Making History: The Remarkable Story Behind Canada: A People’s History (McClelland and Stewart, 2003).

Articles by Mark Starowicz

  • Dramatis Personae (March 2016)
    A review of History’s People: Personalities and the Past, by Margaret MacMillan
  • Did Cabot Sail With Columbus? (June 2012)
    A review of The Race to the New World: Christopher Columbus, John Cabot and a Lost History of Discovery, by Douglas Hunter
  • Paths of Rehabilitation (June 2007)
    A review of Paths of Glory: The Life and Death of General James Wolfe, by Stephen Brumwell


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Booking a table online is easy and takes just a couple of seconds.

Jetzt Tisch

Calendar is loading...

Our restaurant can accommodate a maximum of 80 persons inside
and another 35 persons outside.

Opening hours:
Monday – Sunday 15:00 – 00:00

Seats for maximum 80 guests.

for Groups

You are a group and have special wishes or even an event? We would be pleased to take care of your request.

For your celebration in a closed circle our side room is at your disposal. It offers space for up to 40 people and includes our service according to your individual wishes. For larger celebrations we are also happy to place our entire restaurant with up to 80 people at your disposal. In addition, our outdoor area offers space for another 35 people.

Are you interested in one of our great menu offers? We would also be pleased to make you an offer for your personal wishes.

We are looking forward to your inquiry.

You are looking for a suitable location for your company party, for your company anniversary or for your employee party? Celebrate your party with us.

We take reservations for lunch and dinner. To make a reservation, please call us at +49 30 634 206 56

We look forward to your visit

In the restaurant Ribs & More you dine or celebrate in a friendly, modern and warm ambience.
Everything fits…and we adapt to your wishes.


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Baltimore Criminal Defense Lawyer for College Students

Get Your Free Consultation

College is a time for learning and growth.  This comes with successes and failures alike, and when mistakes like trouble with the law or academic hearings come into your life, you may need an experienced criminal defense attorney to help protect your reputation and your future.

If you were charged with a crime while in college in the Maryland area, or if you are involved in academic hearings and need an attorney to represent you, contact The Law Offices of Randolph Rice today.  Our Baltimore criminal defense lawyers for college students can help represent you in your case and fight to have charges dropped and dismissed and penalties reduced.  For a free legal consultation, call our law offices today at (410) 694-7291.

Common Criminal Charges for College Students

People of any age are capable of committing many crimes.  However, certain crimes are much more common among college students than other crimes.  Most of these offenses are based in mistakes, poor decisions, and indiscretions rather than serious, intentional harm – but some crimes common on college campuses do involve serious harm to the alleged victim and potentially life-changing consequences for the defendant.  If you are charged with any crime in Maryland, you could face jail time and penalties for nearly any of these common offenses for college students:

Drug Possession

Many college students recreationally use drugs or use prescription medications as study aids.  Marijuana, Ritalin, and Adderall are some of the most common drugs used by college students, but students may also use harder more illicit drugs like cocaine or “party drugs” such as MDMA (ecstasy/Molly).  Other common narcotic prescription drugs like Vicodin, Percocet, or Valium may also be used recreationally.  Possession of any of these drugs without a valid prescription in your name can lead to criminal charges.

Drug Dealing

Charges for selling drugs or drug trafficking can be far more serious.  These charges may arise from students selling their prescription drugs to others or for dealing on campus.  Any drug trafficking charges can be extremely serious in Maryland.

Underage Drinking

Drinking before you turn 21 is incredibly common, especially in college.  However, this does not change the fact that it is illegal, and you could face citations for underage drinking or underage possession of alcohol if you are caught with alcohol in your dorm or police confront you after a night out.

Fake ID Violations

Many under-21s use fake IDs to get themselves access to bars.  Possession or use of a false ID could be a serious offense if used to procure alcohol.  If you give your fake ID to a police officer, this could constitute even more serious charges.  Even borrowing a sibling or cousin’s old ID could be a crime.

Drunk Driving

Drunk driving offenses are common among college students, but these offenses can have serious penalties.  You could face high fines, jail time, and even license suspensions if you are convicted of driving under the influence.

Disorderly Conduct

Being drunk or rowdy in public can disturb others.  Walking through town or on campus late at night and making loud noises or performing other disorderly acts such as fighting could result in low-level criminal charges.

Sexual Assault and Rape

Sexual assault on college campuses is a serious problem, and, as such, police and prosecutors often take sexual offenses like sexual assault and rape very seriously.  Especially if the act involved force or drugs used on the victim, these charges could be very serious.

Hiring a Defense Lawyer for Criminal Charges While in College

If you are charged with a crime, you could ruin your academic career.  Being convicted of a criminal offense could potentially mean being unable to finish school, especially if you are in jail.  It is important to fight the charges against you to avoid a criminal record and continue your college education.

An attorney can help defend you in your case.  You may have heard of your Miranda rights before and understand that you have the right to an attorney when facing criminal charges and questioning by police while you are in custody.  If you are arrested and interrogated about an alleged offense, always ask for an attorney.  The right to an attorney is stronger than the right to remain silent, and police must stop asking you questions until your attorney is present.

Your attorney can also represent you in court.  You may have multiple appearances in court before a trial is even scheduled.  These appearances might present a good opportunity for your lawyer to begin challenging the evidence against you and to negotiate reduced charges or plea agreements for your case.

In many cases of low-level offenses, your attorney may be able to negotiate a deal.  This deal could involve a plea deal where you would plead guilty to lower-level offenses in exchange for having harsher charges dropped.  In other situations, you may be able to participate in programs, education, community service, and restitution in exchange for having the charges against you dropped.  Your lawyer can negotiate your case on your behalf and help you achieve a more just outcome.

If your school is considering disciplining you or expelling you based on the conduct involved in your criminal charges, you may need an attorney to represent you in disciplinary hearings and help keep you in school.  Our lawyers can also help with these hearings.

Call Our Baltimore Criminal Defense Attorneys for College Students for a Free Consultation

If you were charged with a crime while attending college in the Baltimore area, call The Law Offices of Randolph Rice today.  Our Baltimore criminal defense attorneys for college students may be able to take your case and fight to get your charges dropped or dismissed.  For a free legal consultation, call our law offices today at (410) 694-7291

Confidentially talk to one of our attorneys for free.

Call Us Today

Ellicott City
3697 Park Avenue, 2nd Floor
Ellicott City, MD 21043

1301 York Rd. #200
Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093

6914 Holabird Ave Suite A
Baltimore, MD 21222

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"He was so helpful from the second I walked into his office. He made sure to answer all of my questions anytime I needed them answered (which was a lot!) I have and will continue to recommend him to anyone and everyone I know!" 5 stars - Chelsea M.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyer in Baltimore


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Getting ready for Monday talking Tola Talks w/ Sam & Wren

Had a great time on LATalkRadio’s “Sam in the Morning” show this past Wednesday with Sam & Wren. You can isten to the show below by clicking the play button…I’m introduced at 11:07mins.

Thanks again Sam & Wren…it was fun talking Hollywood, pumpkin patches, Wall Street and the Oct 2nd re-launch of Tola TalksPeace – R

The Power of One

Never underestimate the power of your thoughts, and without question, never ever underestimate The Power of One.

For the third time in 20 years I’m reading Bryce Courtenay’s , The Power of One. An amazing tale of a young boy’s travels and heartfelt metamorphosis – not to mention his spiritual influence on everyone he meets – that’s “part Charles Dickens, part Horatio Alger”, as described by the Raleigh News & Observer. More specifically, this magical journey filled with heartache and pure elation inspires anyone really listening to its deep-rooted message…to always listen to yourself and believe in the power of one:  one idea, one heart, one mind, one plan, one determination.

Before I leave you with a paragraph from the novel that rings true no matter what your occupation or calling, take time to reflect on 2016 and set your thoughts on an even better 2017! Mine was quite amazing, with several milestones that set the course for my one idea:

  1. Created my unique style of Tola Yoga after 10 years of teaching 2k classes & 25k students,
  2. Produced the original Reality TV series pilot, YogaStyles of RICH and the Almost Famous,
  3. Celebrated 50 years of fitness – 40 years of weightlifting plus over 10 years of Yoga,
  4. Celebrated 10 years as an Entertainer/Producer and Yoga Teacher (and Yogatainer),
  5. Lived in three amazing cities: Chicago, Las Vegas and Seattle (love it here!)

And whatever your goals are for the New Year, remember to respect yourself with a daily fitness program. And just like young Peekay says, dare your courage to follow your thoughts:

“The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself, often well beyond any latent ability you may have previously demonstrated. The mind is the athlete; the body is simply the means it uses to run faster or longer, jump higher, shoot straighter, kick better, swim harder, hit further, or box better. Hoppie’s dictum to me, “First with the head and then with the heart,” was more than simply mixing brains with guts. It meant thinking well beyond the powers of normal concentration and then daring your courage to follow your thoughts.”

Have a safe and Happy New Year everyone! Peace – R

Tola Talks – First Three Weeks

Hot, current and definitely on the edge, Tola Talks is broadcasting live on the radio this Tuesday from 4-6pm (ET) on (Channel 2). So tune-in and treat yourself to my “21st Century Talk for a No-Bullshit World”, not to mention some really cool and inspiring conversation with an assortment of celebrity guests…here’s our guest list for the first 3 weeks:

January 5th – Actress Troy Titus-Adams and Chef Lizette, Founder/Host of The Chef Network

January 12th – Comedians Lynne Roberts & Lauren Huffman and Fitness Guru Mandee Miller

January 19th – Recording Artist/Producer Moses Stone and Dancer/Yoga Teacher Jen Wycykal

Plus, I’ll be taking listener calls throughout the show, so feel free to give us a shout! Peace – R

Tola Talks Logo

Hosting/StandUp – Last Comedy Showcase of 2015

Treat yourself to my last hosting and Stand-up gig of the year, the Ain’t Jokin’ Wit Chu Comedy Showcasetomorrow night (December 29th) at Abram Gale Lounge in Chicago, starting at 8pm.

Excellent line-up with two super funny comedians from our 12 Ladies of Christmas Holiday Show at Two Hearted Queen, my friends Danette Mark & Bridget Clymore. Gonna be a blast!

And if we don’t see you there, have an amazing New Year everyone…and feel free to drop-in my Yoga class on New Year’s Day at Wicker Park Athletic Club from 10:30-11:30am. Peace – R

Teaching Life Lessons is What it’s All About

Kudos to everyone who packed the house in support of our 12 Ladies of Christmas Holiday Show at Chicago’s Two Hearted Queen, and thank you to the very funny and very talented performers who donated their time and energy to make it an awesome event!

As your host/producer who always appreciates the opportunity to impact the lives of youngsters – as well as anyone else who’s open to it – the best part of the night took place right before our raffle drawing, while teaching young Nathan the proper way to shake hands.

Like the ancient proverb says: give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. So take heed and rid yourself of that dead fish handshake!

And don’t forget your daily workout. Peace – R


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Four fabulous tips to keep the kids well during winter

As winter arrives, you may be dreading the colds, flu, and general yuk feeling, that seems to accompany it. Here are four tips to help you and your children stay healthy this winter.

Sleep Sleep is one of the most important things we can do to give our body a leg up against sickness this winter. Each member of your family should get at least 7 hours of restful sleep each night, more for your younger children (10-13 hours).

Keep Warm  Make sure you and your children are dressed appropriately for the colder weather. Jackets, gloves, and hats are all important clothing pieces to protect against the elements and keep your body in tip top shape.

Don’t over do it Stress is one of the biggest immune system busters around. When we are under stress, our immune function is greatly impaired.  The problem is that the body can’t tell the difference between different types of stress. When the body is in a stress response, immune function declines.  During winter stay protective of your child’s schedule as much as possible.

Healthy lunchbox treats  Luckily winter is orange season. So fill kids’ lunchboxes with freshly cut orange pieces, a rich source of vitamin C, and a well known flu-fighting essential. Mandarins are in season now too and they are a less-messy lunchbox option. Also pop in some kiwi fruit and some raw snow peas and celery sticks too.


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It’s white time

June 12, 2020
No Comments

This week’s featured wines are some of the new ones that we brought in last week in our first dabble in the world of direct wine importing.  We’ve brought in 8 wines that Lindsay and I enjoyed for years while we lived down in Provence and that I am now very excited to share with you on the Brent Riviera!

Mourchon has been farmed organically for the last 8 years, but will only receive its official accreditation this summer.  But hell, they’re organic, right?  Their Loubié Rosé is rated as one of the best rosés in the Provence, Decanter made it their pick of the Provencal rosés a couple of years ago and Jeb Dunnock describes this vintage as offering “a beautiful bouquet of ripe peach, tangerines and strawberries… with a juicy, medium-bodied style… bright acidity, plenty of fruit… another undeniably delicious rosé from this great estate”.

Their Tradition Rouge is a traditional Rhône blend of 65 % Grenache, 25 % Syrah, 10% Carignan, aged in raw concrete vats to recreate the style of wines traditionally matured in stone lined vats.  It’s full of cherries and herbs with forward notes of spice and liquorice. Next time – and we all have time for this now, don’t we? – so next time you butterfly a leg of lamb and grill it over the embers of an open fire, this is the wine for you.  (Also good with a kebab.)

The Grande Reserve is a more concentrated affair.  It’s made from the grapes of older Grenache and Syrah vines lower yields but, as a result, more concentrated juice.  40% of the wine is matured in new and 1-2 year-old oak barrels to soften the powerful tannins particularly of the Syrah, where the rest is matured in the same concrete tanks to keep some structure and freshness. Delicious with ‘un peu de rosbif’.

Finally, we have brought in a few bottles of the Mourchon Chateauneuf-du-Pape.  The grapes are grown a few miles away in Châteauneuf, where the wine is made before transferring it for maturing in Mourchon’s cellars.  It matures for a year in large ‘demi-muid’ oak vats, which are used more to soften and develop the flavor of the wine, than to add the flavours associated with barrel ageing.  Mourchon describe this as “a medium ruby wine with a harmonious nose of gentle spice and ripe red fruit. The palate is rich and elegant with a touch of oak and well-defined length lifted with balanced freshness”.  It’s tasting lovely now, but if you were looking for something to lay down for an anniversary, then this one will mature and mellow over the next 5-10 years.

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How to Detox from Drugs

woman practicing different detox and withdrawal methodsTypes of Detox Methods

Different individuals may react to loss of a drug in different ways. Also, different drugs may cause issues with what would otherwise seem like a straightforward process of stopping drug use. Because of this, there are a number of different ways to perform detox that can support the individual’s particular needs or mitigate the risks that come with quitting specific drugs.

This article will discuss the following 4 best methods of drug and alcohol detox:

  1. “Cold turkey” detox, with medical support
  2. Direct tapering
  3. Substitution tapering
  4. Titration tapering

What is Drug Detox?

Detox is the process of eliminating a drug from the body so the brain is no longer under the effects of the substance of abuse. When a person becomes dependent on a drug, the body often decreases or even loses the ability to produce or use the natural substances that the drug has replaced. This means that when the person stops using the drug, those substances are not available to take the drug’s place, and the brain is unable to maintain normal function.

Withdrawal is the result of this loss of functional capability in the brain. Because the individual’s neural systems are unable to continue working properly, the body responds to the lack by producing withdrawal symptoms. Some of these are the reversal of the symptoms produced by the drug; for example, if the drug is a stimulant, the individual might experience fatigue or sleepiness as a withdrawal symptom.

Other withdrawal symptoms are the body’s attempts to get the person to start using the drug again, so the discomfort won’t continue. This accounts for strong cravings for the drug that can occur during this part of the treatment process. While cravings can happen at any time, including long after treatment, some people consider them to be strongest during withdrawal as the body tries to adjust to the loss of the chemical.

How to Detox Your Body from Drugs

One of the hardest parts of the drug treatment process can be stopping use of the drug. Developing the motivation to quit can be difficult enough, but people are often also intimidated by their expectations about the detox process and the symptoms of withdrawal that will occur once the drug is eliminated from the body. Fears people experience regarding this part of addiction recovery can prevent them from even trying to stop using drugs or alcohol.

To overcome fears and concerns about this process, it can help to know that there are ways to minimize and prevent the discomforts of withdrawal through different methods of detox. The key element of all of these detox methods is medical support, which provides knowledge and a variety of tools that can ease the symptoms of withdrawal and make it easier to transition to the next steps in addiction treatment.

1. “Cold Turkey” Detox with Medical Support

Studies have recently indicated that, in a number of situations, stopping drug use abruptly – or quitting “cold turkey” – is an excellent way to begin the treatment process. In particular, a study discussed by the National Library of Medicine has shown that a person who quits smoking cold turkey is more likely to continue abstaining from smoking in the future than someone who tapers off cigarette use.

The cold turkey method can be even more likely to work if there is medical support for the symptoms of withdrawal that occur during detox from the drug. A number of prescription and over-the-counter medications can help with these, including:

  • Pepto-Bismol or similar medications for digestive symptoms
  • Aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen for body aches and pains and headache
  • Anti-anxiety medications for anxiety or depression
  • Medications to calm cravings, such as naltrexone in alcoholism treatment or bupropion for nicotine addiction treatment, as described by the National Institute on Drug Abuse

It is important to know that for a number of drugs, the cold turkey method may not be appropriate because some of the symptoms of withdrawal can be too strong to control by simply treating the symptoms themselves. In some cases, withdrawal can also be dangerous, requiring the use of other methods to ease the process. Working with a doctor to quit is the best way to manage any form of detox; however, a doctor should certainly be consulted before attempting the cold turkey method in case of these potential complications.

2. Direct Tapering

direct tapering methods to prevent dangerous withdrawal symptomsDirect tapering is the process of slowly decreasing the dosage of the drug over time to ease the brain’s response to losing the drug. The idea is that the person doesn’t stop using the drug right away but instead slowly decreases the amount used, encouraging the brain and body to begin producing and using its natural chemical systems properly again. The result is a decreased level of withdrawal symptoms.

The direct tapering method can be used with a number of different types of drugs, including opioids, some benzodiazepines, and stimulants. However, depending on the dosage being used, the degree of addiction, and the individual’s particular risk of relapse, one of the other tapering methods might be used to provide an even greater measure of support for withdrawal. These methods can be used to prevent dangerous withdrawal symptoms, particularly for certain types of benzos and club drugs as well as heroin.

Direct tapering should not be attempted alone because it can be challenging to know exactly how much of the drug to reduce each time. While most methods recommend a reduction by about 10 percent of the dose per week, as described by Magellan Rx Management, different schedules are needed to meet a particular person’s physical needs. For this reason, working with a treatment professional is a good idea, even in the case of what seems like a straightforward taper.

3. Substitution Tapering

Substitution tapering involves replacing the drug of abuse with a different but similar drug before tapering. The substituted drug may be used for a variety of reasons, including:

  • A higher dosage to replace a low-dose drug that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to taper in small enough amounts, as is common with benzodiazepines
  • A more stable type of drug that can prevent some of the severe symptoms of withdrawal, such as benzodiazepines substituted for alcohol to prevent life-threatening delirium tremens
  • A form of the drug that is considered to have lower addiction potential, such as buprenorphine for addiction to heroin or other opioids

One type of substitution tapering that is well known is the use of methadone to help people who are struggling to quit heroin. As described in an article from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, methadone can be substituted for heroin to prevent cravings by replacing some of the actions of heroin but without the intense high and, therefore, with what is considered to be a lower addiction potential.

The challenge of substitution tapering is that the individual can become addicted to the substituted drug. This has often occurred with methadone and with benzos used to support alcohol detox. It is important in these cases that a treatment professional is involved to make sure that the dosages of the substitution drug are then appropriately tapered so the individual is eventually weaned from any drug use.

4. Titration Tapering

Titration tapering is a specific method used to decrease some medications that might otherwise be difficult to taper. In this method, the dosage of the drug is dissolved in water first; part of the water is then removed to decrease the dose by a small amount before the water with the drug in it is consumed. This enables removal of seemingly miniscule amounts of the drug dose, allowing for an extremely gradual taper. It is often used in benzodiazepine or club drug detox.

An example of this is demonstrated by a study from European Addiction Research, in which detox from GHB – a club drug – was performed using titration tapering. GHB withdrawal has been notorious in that it cannot be treated through substitution tapering because nothing seems to reduce or mitigate the symptoms of withdrawal, which often result in treatment in an intensive care unit. By using titration tapering, however, the trips to intensive care were eliminated and the withdrawal symptoms were said to be greatly reduced.

The challenges of titration tapering include a risk of imprecise decreases in dose, drugs that don’t dissolve, time-release medications that can’t be reduced through titration, and other situations that depend on the drug type and the individual. Again, titration tapering is best performed with a doctor’s support and guidance, particularly with the help of an addiction treatment expert who can make sure the taper is being performed correctly.

Supported Detox Treatment Improves Outcomes

Drug treatment experts are the first to say that drug treatment doesn’t end with detox, a truth emphasized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. There are a number of additional steps needed to help individuals transition from ending their drug abuse to maintaining sobriety. Nevertheless, the individual’s experience of the detox and withdrawal process is still important to the rest of the treatment process because it sets the person’s expectations about what life will be like without the drug.

By working with treatment professionals to promote a smooth detox process with minimized withdrawal symptoms and cravings, the person who is trying to stop abusing drugs is also creating a higher likelihood of staying motivated through the rest of treatment and achieving recovery with a reduced risk of relapse. Certified, research-based treatment programs are most likely to be able to provide this important detox support, setting the stage for the person to stay motivated in treatment and ongoing recovery.

About The Contributor

Editorial Staff
Editorial Staff

Editorial Staff, American Addiction Centers

The editorial staff of River Oaks Treatment is comprised of addiction content experts from American Addiction Centers. Our editors and medical reviewers have over a decade of cumulative experience in medical content editing and have reviewed... Read More

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Custom Red Cedar Driveway Gate in Weston, CT

This is an Estate red cedar tongue and groove driveway gate, built to the custom specifications of our customer in Weston, CT. The gate has an attractive diamond cut-out pattern that gives it a unique, decorative touch. This beautiful gate serves to introduce, compliment, and protect this Weston residence.

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Riverside Fence


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A list of recordings I have played on over the years.

I have been very fortunate to have been invited to play on many recordings over the years. All kinds of music. I love the recording process and the opportunity to figure out the best way to support the ensemble in whatever style the music is in. Here is a partial list of the recordings I have played on to date.

Click on a title for more info.


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Archive | Robert Donat RSS feed for this section

The miracle of Thomas Becket’s elbow and Robert Donat’s voice

12 Dec

On 29 December 1170, four knights loyal to King Henry II of England murdered Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the city’s cathedral.

More than eight centuries later, a bone fragment believed to be from Becket’s elbow was temporarily brought from Esztergom Basilica in Hungary, where it had been kept for centuries, to the site of his assassination.

Henry II appointed Becket Archbishop of Canterbury in 1161 because he wanted an ally in his disputes with the church. But, by the end of the decade, Becket had become overly pious, wearing a sackcloth shirt, consuming only bread and water, spurning riches and staunchly defending the faith. The poet T. S. Eliot explored that transformation in his play Murder in the Cathedral, first performed in the Chapter House of Canterbury Cathedral on 19 June 1935.

Becket and the king clashed over the supremacy of church and state (premonitions here of the later argument between Henry VIII and Cardinal Wolsey) and Becket went into exile in France after being accused of treachery. In 1170, he returned to England but soon angered Henry by excommunicating the Archbishop of York, who had sided with the king against Rome. It was then that Henry is supposed to have shouted, “What sluggards, what cowards have I brought up in my court, who care nothing for their allegiance to their lord. Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?”

Carrow-Psalter.jpgOn 29 December, four knights entered Canterbury Cathedral and hacked Becket to death in front of the high altar. Edward Grim, a monk, observed the attack from a hiding place and later wrote down what he saw. Two years later Becket was canonised and his shrine began attracting pilgrims from across Europe. Becket’s martyrdom is depicted in the mid-13th century Carrow Psalter, held at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

In 1220 Becket was reburied and relics from his body, said to bring about miracles, were dispersed across Europe, with part of his elbow ending up in Esztergom. Three centuries later, during the Reformation, Henry VIII – upstaged by the cult of St Thomas – ordered his shrine to be destroyed and his remains obliterated.

On its recent journey, the fragment of Becket’s miraculous elbow was temporarily reunited with a piece of  his skull – kept at Stonyhurst College in northern England – before stopping at Rochester Cathedral and Canterbury Cathedral. It was then returned to Hungary.

Donat-BecketEliot’s verse drama Murder in the Cathedral was commissioned for the 1935 Canterbury Festival. Eliot must have read Edward Grim’s eyewitness account of the murder, since he uses some its language in his play. In 1953, the Old Vic Theatre in London invited one of Britain’s finest actors, Robert Donat, to play the part of Becket in a new production directed by Robert Helpmann. It was an enormous challenge for the ailing actor, who had long suffered from crippling bouts of asthma and who would die five years later from a brain tumour after collapsing on the set of The Inn of the Sixth Happiness.

On the first night, unknown to the audience, there were two oxygen tanks in the wings just in case, but they were not needed. Donat’s appearance on stage was greeted with a wild burst of cheering and, after what everyone agreed was an astonishing performance, there were twenty curtain-calls. Ironically, Becket’s opening lines include:

“They know and do not know, what it is to act or suffer.
They know and do not know, that action is suffering
And suffering is action.”

Donat’s celebrated performance was recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios in May 1953. The original tapes were remastered and issued on CD by EMI in 2006. The recording, well worth seeking out, captures what The Daily Telegraph critic, Campbell Dixon, called “A voice of magical charm and effortless authority which only a clod could hear unmoved.”

By Philip Lee, at whose excellent blog Quintessential Ruminations this piece was originally published. We’d like to thank Philip for giving permission to re-publish his article here.

Renée Asherson (19 May 1915 – 30 October 2014)

5 Nov

41ovMfW3TYL._SY300_We are sad to report the passing of Renée Asherson, aged 99, on 30 October.

Renée was Robert Donat’s second wife. They married in 1953 and remained married, though separated, until he died in 1958. Renée never re-married.

Renée was born in London during the First World War (19 May, 1915), and studied acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Her first stage role was a walk on in John Gielgud’s Romeo and Juliet in 1935.

In 1945, she appeared as Millie Southern opposite Robert Donat in Walter Greenwood’s northern comedy, The Cure for Love. In 1947, RD and Renée appeared as Benedick and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, and in 1949 in RD’s film version of The Cure for Love. By now, they were a couple. Renée and RD worked together only once more, in The Magic Box in 1951.

Robert and Renée in The Cure for Love

In 1953, after RD’s triumph on stage in Murder in the Cathedral, he and Renée were married.

After RD’s death in 1958, Renée continued to work both on stage and screen. Her last film appearance was in The Others in 2001.

Renée Asherson is perhaps best known for her exquisite performance as Princess Katherine in Laurence Olivier’s 1944 film of Henry V.

A stand-out in her later career came in Memento Mori in 1992, opposite Maggie Smith, Michael Hordern, Thora Hird, Cyril Cusack and Maurice Denham.

mori 2

We send our deepest sympathies to all who are mourning Renée.

Priscilla and Robert

17 Jan

Priscilla, 1945 © Nicholas Shakespeare

Priscilla: The Hidden Life of an Englishwoman in Wartime France by Nicholas Shakespeare, which some of you may have been enjoying in abridged form on BBC Radio 4, is the astonishing true story of a young woman’s adventures, and misadventures, in the dangerous world of Nazi-occupied France.

Priscilla’s adventures involve our very own Robert Donat. Readers of both J C Trewin and Kenneth Barrow’s biographies of Robert will find no mention of Priscilla, but amongst his late aunt’s papers, Nicholas Shakespeare found a number of passionate letters to her from Robert, written between January and May 1945.

Robert had been introduced to Priscilla by her closest friend, Gillian Sutro.

On that evening, Priscilla had never been so alluring or so alone. She stood by the Sutros’ fireplace in her Schiaperelli ivory silk dress that left her neck bare. Donat looked into her ‘mild wild eyes, like a pregnant faun’, and was, he afterwards confessed, ‘enchanted’. They talked and the other guests receded.

The Germans banned English films in Paris, but Priscilla knew who Donat was. His hold on the public imagination is hard to exaggerate, even if his name does not register today …

… An unaccompanied young woman in a humdrum job, reclining in her velvet seat, might with Donat’s assistance shrug off the anxiety of the V bombs and for ninety minutes imagine herself playing opposite a man who, in the opinion of one critic, ‘can make you feel like he is in love with somebody, which few actors can’.

The problem was that the thirty-nine-year-old Donat could not spark in himself the same emotion. In 1940, concerned for their safety, his wife Ella had taken their children to Los Angeles. On his own for four years, Donat had rarely been so unhappy as on the evening he encountered Priscilla. He telephoned her the following morning at the Sutros, shaken by what she had unloosed.

Priscilla in 1945

Priscilla in 1945 © Nicholas Shakespeare

During the war and Ella’s absence, Robert had been pondering the future of their marriage, returning to his youthful notion of The Ideal Woman. Relationships with Rosamund John and Deborah Kerr had not tempted him to divorce Ella. Priscilla might have been ‘the one’.

‘I swore I would never again take any woman seriously – and here you are beginning to nestle down snugly under my skin, bother and confound you’.

But all did not go well, despite Robert’s many adoring letters. Priscilla deserted him to write a book, and Ella returned to England.

‘Darling,’ Donat wrote to Priscilla. ‘We have come to the end of our tether and don’t like to admit it to one another. Isn’t that the truth? It is only sensible to end it now before it becomes too hurtful.’

As we know, Robert would go on to divorce Ella and later, marry Renée Asherson. It is fascinating to catch a glimpse of a part of Robert’s life previously hidden, and the excerpts from his letters to Priscilla are a delight.

The story of his aunt Priscilla’s remarkable life is beautifully and tenderly recounted by Nicholas Shakespeare. Please read the book to find out more about Priscilla and Robert, and to discover what made Priscilla and her life so extraordinary. My father served in WW2, and for him the war was a matter of good versus evil, duty and serving your country. Priscilla lived in the shades of grey where one did what one could to survive. What would I have done? And you?

15. unblemished in wedding veil

Priscilla on her wedding day, 1938 © Nicholas Shakespeare

A pin-sharp biography which unfurls like gripping fiction… wonderful, haunting, thought-provoking
– The Times

I have not read a better portrait of the moral impossibility of that time and place for people, like Priscilla, who found themselves trapped in it
– Daily Telegraph

A tantalisingly original perspective of the Second World War…Shakespeare shines a moving, intriguing light on the moral quandaries faced by ordinary civilians
– Sunday Times

Priscilla: The Hidden Life of an Englishwoman in Wartime France by Nicholas Shakespeare is published by Harvill Secker, part of Vintage Publishing.

Nicholas Shakespeare was born in Worcester in 1957 and grew up in the Far East and Latin America. He is a prize-winning novelist and biographer and Priscilla draws on his talents in both genres.
My thanks to Nicholas Shakespeare for his co-operation and for providing images of his aunt.
As always, my thanks to Brian Donat for his help and support.
All images and text excerpts copyright © Nicholas Shakespeare 2013

Gill Fraser Lee


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skirmished lips could not kiss
the face behind the veil,
feeble limbs could not traverse
the dead souls of Shival Tsal
nor climb the galvanised breast of Drolma La

not this time
the exhilarating pain of rebirth
the quenching of mysterious thirst

this time
the acceptance that all desire
and all the desire there will ever be
has transpired –
there will never be any more than this,
pure mind reflecting
white clouds

not this time
the rush through the door of karma
the cymbal clash of sky against forehead

this time
the knowing of not-doing
the luminous peace of unknowing


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Fort Wayne History Center

Who’s up for another live-event hurrah for Fireball: Carole Lombard and the Mystery of Flight 3? How about coming to hear me speak at the Fort Wayne History Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on Sunday, October 5, 2014, at 2 p.m? I’m an introvert and a cranky pain in the ass, and yet I’m told I’m a good speaker when I get going on the topics contained in Fireball. I make no bones about this: Audience members have been known to pull out wallets and shower me with cash after a lecture. I guess it’s possible they are using money to shut me up, but I choose to believe that they’re moved to purchase based on the many compelling themes in Fireball. As a result, I think it would be worth your while to book plane reservations or get in your car and commute to Fort Wayne and incur all the expenses such a weekend would entail just to step in the middle of this incredible story and visit the place of Carole Lombard’s birth.

Before and after my lecture, tours will be conducted of the Peters family home on Rockhill Street where Jane Peters (who would become Carole Lombard) was born on October 6, 1908 and lived to age six. Her father continued to live there after his wife and three children had split for California. Two special guests are already confirmed for the October 5 lecture and house tours: my very good friend Carole Sampeck, director of the Carole Lombard Archive Foundation and Hollywood historian who was quoted at several points in the Fireball narrative, and Marina Gray, Lombard expert and one of my two Jedi Ninja researchers on Fireball. Carole is flying in from Dallas and Marina from Seattle, so you begin to understand what a special weekend this will be.

Fireball: Carole Lombard and the Mystery of Flight 3 by Robert Matzen

My Indianapolis triumph: turning around a disgruntled teen. I never did get their names, but it was a positive experience for the three of us.

I’ve talked previously about the many lectures and signings that comprised the tour, starting in Santa Monica and Hollywood, California, and moving on to locations in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and culminating in Indianapolis, where Lombard spent what was the most intense, satisfying day of her life, and Las Vegas, Nevada, where that life ended 24 hours later. I especially like focusing on the skeptics in the audience—people dragged to the event, like the teenaged girl in Indianapolis who had been brought to a Sunday afternoon lecture by her enthusiastic dad. How sullen she started out; I felt bad for her. But by the end, I had her in the palm of my hand. Poor kid didn’t know what hit her as she took in this story of love, romance, betrayal, sacrifice, patriotism, tragedy, and grisly post mortems. This story is irresistible.

The most recent lecture was to 75-or-so people at a film convention in Columbus, Ohio, and here I found both aviation buffs and Hollywood authorities and that’s the best part for me—the Q&A. The people who raise their hands for questions test my knowledge and challenge my assertions. They bring new information to the table, like the woman who tipped me off to a significant and forgotten incident in Indianapolis, or the woman in Las Vegas who possessed deeply buried information about Carole Lombard’s faith. This is all new information worthy of the revised trade paperback second edition of Fireball due out next spring.

Oh, yeah, by the way, the first printing is nearing sellout and demand is still strong. A second printing of Fireball is in order, so why not add in some more facts where possible?

The new book project is starting to suck me in, but there’s work to be done on Fireball first. I owe it to the 22 souls aboard Flight 3, people I bonded with on the mountain and people who haven’t left me since. I could feel them about me that first night in Santa Monica, and they’ve been nearby many times since. I’ll be curious to see if I feel anything special when I’m standing in the room in which Carole Lombard was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It’ll be a special weekend and I invite you to join me there, so save the date: Sunday, October 5, 2014.


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Alex Packham, CEO & Founder of ContentCal on Strategy, Early Starts, Intuition, & Learning from Mistakes – EP080

September 13, 2018

Welcome to the podcast!

I was connected with Alex back in April via Samantha Kelly (thanks again Samantha) and we recorded this episode. As you’ll hear, he’s a very focused, driven, and ambitious entrepreneur that has a clear vision for the future.

It’s full of advice, lessons learned, practices and habits that could help you get better.

Here’s a breakdown of the conversation with high-level topics discussed:

1min – All about Content Cal – Strategy & Offerings and what’s it’s all about
2min – Licensing of the tool to other businesses across the globe – they can use this internally. 31/2 years in business. A whirlwind journey. Investment and the journey.
3min – Types of companies that are slow to adopt? 500k companies created every year in the UK
•Social media is a very cheap way to enter the market
•Property businesses are a laggard
•Surprised what type of companies are still not onboard
•Consumer businesses jumped on it quickly
7min – Gary Vaynerchuck – Tackling Real Estate
•Sharing an office space with Vaynerchuck Media – online mentor
•So much money in property business – people managing these budgets – less flexible
9mins – How did he get into this world? What is his earliest memory?
•Growing up in Gloucester – country area – outside and being outdoors
•Deep thinker and why things happen from a very young age
12mins – Introvert v Extrovert?
•Now extrovert but younger – introverted
•From age of 15 – more social
13mins – What was the focus – An Entrepreneur from a young age?
•Around 14/15 – O2 Sim cards – from internet – sell them in the playground for £10 each
•Getting into Selling and working to find a way to make money
•Knew from Business at GCSE level that this is what he wanted to do – excited here
•Started his own business at 19 years in Uni – Connect, Design, Social Media Consultancy – managing local business
•Started CardiffBanter website
•21 years old – did some corporate experience for a few years
•Started social media agency at 23
18mins – Where did this come from?
•Exposed to this at a young age – did work experience with his uncle at 16 – small business
•His parents did have a big influence here too – focused him on hard work will get you there
•People have different risk appetites
•Easier now than ever before to start the company
•Starting young was low risk and wanted to go for it.
21mins – Fear and has it held you back?
•Was scared at the time of 23
•It was a real uphill battle in these years due to his age!
•It was hard to get credibility from that young age – clients had faith
•De-risked the position from a young age – brought in a partner in early one – to minimize the risk – he knows about sales
•Position the business to grow and sell it on — that’s always the end goal.
24mins – Lessons and Mistakes:
•Early days, grew well.
•Didn’t bring Finance in early
•Write down what you know well and what you don’t well
•Business is a whole team effort – so many skills sets needed
•Not being afraid or nervous or have any ego attached – build management team
•Get the right experts in – things go faster!
•The owner or founder doesn’t listen to the advice – this is the main reason for failure
•Business should run without its founder – what you can own v can’t
29mins – Personal SWOT
•Most people never ever analyse themselves – take a pause!!
•Where are you goals at?
30mins – Self-awareness, EQ & Feedback
•Don’t avoid feedback
•It’s an alien concept – you can’t know it all
•You don’t always have to agree with it – it’s
32mins – Productivity & Time management
•Get up early – 6am
•Compartmentalize To Do lists – into 4 lists
•Email Rule – First thing in the AM and once in the Afternoon and then at end of day
•Educate yourself on how you work best – cut out distractions
•No magic – crack on!
•The Rule of 3
•Every January, do a reset for the year – takes a month to do it!
•Focus on the 3 things you don’t want to do first and get it done!
•Tough ones first
•Get up EARLY
39mins – Intuition
•Constantly using this – look at data but not as much as some!
•Go with the gut
•Be optimistic but impatient
•Being right with some big calls from the business and using intuition
•Often writing off a deal because it took too long but was wrong
42mins – ContentCal – Untapped Market & how it’s developed
•Lots of social media tools out there – automating the tools is an obvious thing that you can do
•So many businesses not yet tapped into these tools
•How Contentcal started – as there was not something that could merge a spreadsheet and scheduling – why can’t this be done in one place
•FTSE100 companies still spend a lot on traditional media
•Growth of social media marketing is still enormous
•Sky £200m a year on advertising – tiny % of that on social media
48mins – Emerging Trends in Social
•VR & AR, Experience Advertising will be big in the future
50mins – Getting started in Social Media:
•Google best channels for your industry – infinite blogs
•Don’t commit of being on every channel – just focus on one
•Use Hashtags all the time & research on the ones best to use
•It takes time & requires a little bit of budget – research it
54mins – Do not do!
•Don’t buy fake followers
•Don’t use tools to get followers and unfollow
•Find the right people you’re willing to work with!
•Don’t dive in without knowing a bit about it – just ask people!
•People want to help!

Book Recommendations
•Motivation focus – Arnolds Schwarzenegger – Total Recall
•Practical – Lean Start-up
•4-hour work week – Tim Ferriss
•The Daily Stoic – Ryan Holiday
•The Sales Acceleration Formulae
•Sapiens – Non business related book

Get in touch
You can find Alex on all the socials @AlexPackham

Please do let me know what you think via the feedback page or any of the socials – links below:

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Kuala Lumpur

A Day in Kuala Lumpur

A recent business requirement brings me to Kuala Lumpur (KL) , Malaysia. This time round I will be taking the coach up north instead of driving as it will give me time to catch up on some reading as well as work. The journey on the coach is definitely longer then self-drive and it’s usually takes approximately 5 to 6 hours with one stop in-between. I have booked online for premium coach from Transtar Travel and it cost a total of S$54.59.

  • Singapore to KL (Pasarakyat Bus Terminal) – S$32.96 (includes 3% admin charge)
  • KL (Pasarakyat Bus Terminal) to Singapore – S$21.63 (includes 3% admin charge)

Above photo shows the waiting lounge at Transtar Travel. There are free coffee, tea, snacks available for consumption too.

Interior of coach – it is relatively clean and comfortable. The seats come with a massage function, which I truly appreciate.

Each seat also comes with a LCD screen where you can watch TV programmes or movies but the screen for my allocated seat is spoilt! By the way, there is also a 3-pin plug power source located near the bottom of the seat, this is especially useful if you are working on your notebook or just entertaining yourself on PSP, iPhone, Nintendo, etc. Each of the traveler are given a bottle of mineral water too!

Lucky Garden rest stop at Yong Peng – is one of the popular rest stop for interstate buses. There are many variety of food available for selection too!

Towards the end, there is a provision shop selling various kinds of Malaysia snacks and products. This is a heaven for those who loves to munch on snacks while traveling on the coach!

Walk around and I decided to have a Ramly Burger for breakfast.

Ramly Chicken Burger RM5. The chicken patty is wrapped up by the egg. 🙂

Finally reach KL (Pasarakyat Bus Terminal) and decided to talk a short stroll to Bukit Bintang area.

Walking towards Berjaya Times Square.

Krispy Kreme at Berjaya Times Sqaure. Remembered that Krispy Kreme is extremely popular in Japan and had super-long queues!

Lunch at Marrybrown (Berjaya Times Sqaure) – Lucky plate with Orange Juice at RM10.40.

The interior of Marrybrown at Berjaya Times Sqaure – clean and have various kind of seating available. Love the over-hanging cocoon seat!

After the lunch, it’s time to perk up with a Starbucks Mocha at RM11.75.

Went to Etude House to check out some items for my partner.

After my business meeting, I headed over to Bukit Bintang area. Passing through Low Yat Plaza, which is a shopping centre that specialize in electronics and IT products, much like our Sim Lim Square in Singapore.

Lot 10, another shopping center that serves middle-upper tier products.

Reached my accommodation for the night, 41Berangan, which is located at 41 Jalan Berangan. It is near to the famous street food (Jalan Alor), shopping malls (Jalan Bukit Bintang), night life and restaurants (Changkat Bukit Bintang). Trying out for the first time. 🙂

Free usage of the computer and internet access at the lobby area. You can also request for the WIFI password from the staff for free in-room access from your notebook or mobile!

Waiting area of the lobby.

Standard room (twin) – 2 single beds with shared bathroom. I booked this online at RM 100 (which includes RM20 surcharge per room for weekend) and also includes a simple continental breakfast. Room is rather small but still good enough for me. For those interested, please note that there is no TV in the room and you have to use the common bathroom. It is also on the first level and next to the check-in counter.

At a corner, you have an area where you can hang your clothes. You can ask for towels if they are not in the room.

Common wash basin area.

One of the common bathrooms, comes with shampoo and body foam.

Court yard area – There is 2 rooms here that is made from containers. The container rooms comes with 1 double bed with attached bathroom (deluxe).

Dining area – you can also watch TV programs or DVD movies here too!

A shop which is beside 41Berangan, you can get food, drinks or snacks here. The outside sitting seems like a great place to chill out!

Passing by Radius International Hotel.

Checking out Healy Mac’s Irish Bar and Restaurant at Changkat Bukit Bintang.

Reggae Bar at Changkat Bukit Bintang. Looks like a nice place to party!

Havanna at Changkat Bukit Bintang.

Hotel Rae – one of my accommodation consideration.

YY38 Hotel – another of my accommodation consideration. Think I will try either Hotel Rae or YY38 for my next trip to KL.

Temporary rubbish dump in-between Jalan Alor and Jalan Bukit Bintang? I have seen this scene since many years ago and the rubbish are still around…

Federal Hotel – used to stay here whenever I travel to Kuala Lumpur.

Passing by Restoran Dragon View. Is the food here any good?

Famous food street – Jakan Alor.

Many food stalls available at Jalan Alor. It’s also a popular place for tourist too!

A mobile kitchen selling Lok Lok (food on wooden skewers and cooked by dipping in a hot satay gravy).

Met up with a friend and headed off to Pavilion Mall to have some beers. Checking out La Bodega at Pavilion Mall.

Decided to hang at Weissbrau German Bistro & Bar and we had Hoegarden, Erdinger and Franziskaner. Nice place to chill!

Back to hotel and was feeling hungry so went to the coffee shop at the end of Jalan Berangan to order a packet of Mee Goreng at RM5. Went back to hotel and dine in the room while checking emails on the notebook. It was already 2am when I went to take a bath and then to bed. What a long day!!! 🙂


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Jeanine Hays of AphroChic: From Blog to Brand

Jeanine Hays of AphroChic: From Blog to Brand

As an interior designer and small business owner, it was incredibly inspiring to speak with Jeanine Hays of the popular home decor blog, AphroChic. Formerly an attorney, Jeanine initially started blogging about her interest in interior design and eventually expanded AphroChic into a well-respected product line and brand that includes fabulous wallpaper designs, as well as modern pillows and other accessories.

*The following content originally appeared on Williams-Sonoma Designer Marketplace.*

When Jeanine Hays started her blog, AphroChic, she never imagined it would turn into a full-fledged business, let alone lead to product lines and a home decorating book.

When you began blogging, you were an attorney. Do you still practice law at all?

No, I don’t anymore. I was working in San Francisco as a policy attorney and in 2010, I moved back to Philadelphia and I’ve worked on AphroChic full-time since then. It’s been an adventure!

Considering the success of AphroChic, are you surprised you didn’t go the design route originally?

Before I went to law school, I was trying to decide between that and going into interior design. I knew I really had this passion for interiors and design in general. I applied to two different schools and ended up getting into the law school of my choice, so it seemed like a practical route to take. I don’t regret it at all, because having a legal background has helped me with my business. The two converge all the time. Plus, I think having a nontraditional background has helped me as well. I like to break through the barriers or walls or things you “should” do as a designer and really go with my gut. I’m really grateful to be able to do that.

After juggling both your law career and the blog for a few years, at what point did you decide to ditch your day job and commit to AphroChic full-time?

There was a balancing act in the beginning. If you talk to lawyers, you probably know that a lot of them are creative but practicing law turns off that side of your brain and you find yourself hunkered down in facts. Design was my hobby and I never had thoughts of going into blogging full-time, but AphroChic took on a life of her own. It became bigger and bigger and I started to get freelance work with networks like HGTV and it became a part-time career for me. I would go to my job during the day and then stay up until 2 or 3 am working on the blog and freelance jobs. In 2008, I started thinking about a pillow line and my husband and I expanded AphroChic to include the lifestyle line. That’s what’s allowed us to work on AphroChic full-time. The blog is now just one component and the larger brand, focusing on modern design and culture, includes products and a book that will come out later this year.

You touched on the fact that you work with your husband, and I know that you work with your sister and brother-in-law, too. What roles does everyone play within the company?

My husband started AphroChic with me. In a lot of ways, he’s always been the silent partner because he doesn’t like the public aspect of it. But everything that is AphroChic, we began together. We both work on everything we have to do to continue building the brand. My sister was our stylist on the book my husband and I are working on. My brother-in-law is a videographer and we’ve brought him in to do the e-book portion of our book and he’s also done some freelance projects with us, like a shoot we did for HGTV. I’m very lucky to have a multi-talented family when these projects come up!

Is it hard to keep family get-togethers, like Thanksgiving, from turning into a business meeting?

My sister and I have always been interiors-minded. We were the kids who begged our parents to go to IKEA when their new catalogs came out—even when we were little! We’ve always enjoyed looking at new designs or new products, so it’s never been like a business meeting. We’re able to separate our regular lives and turn off our business when it’s time for family, but we’re all so passionate about interiors that it doesn’t feel like a takeover of our lives. It feels like a natural component of the life we’ve always had.

AphroChic’s Haze Wallpaper in Mimosa

How did you know the time was right to jump into products?

It was very organic in the beginning. I wanted to buy a pillow with a girl with an afro on it. For me, it’s always about that cultural aspect and bringing that into my home. I went online and I couldn’t find anything, so I had to figure out a way to get it. I took some pictures, started fiddling with them in my Paint program and came up with our first pillow design. I don’t sew, so I had to find a company who could print my design and make pillows out of it. I found a business just a mile from my job at the time, who could do this work for me, as well as another company close by who made the inserts. I was able to schedule meetings with these folks over my lunch breaks or before my regular workday started and it just all seemed “right.” We took a whole year to plan our launch so we could develop a collection and a website. As a blogger, I knew how important photos would be for marketing our collection, so I met with Patrick Cline from Lonny Magazine over my Christmas break to see if he would do it, and scheduled our catalog shoot over my Easter break at work. We launched it through the blog and sent Patrick’s photos to friends who were bloggers and the blogosphere really embraced the line. That’s when we knew we had something. The next year, we expanded into wallpaper and linens and things. The doors kept opening and we just kept going through them! We kept getting connected with the right people and that’s how we’ve grown.

So you handle all of the manufacturing, inventory and fulfillment yourselves?

Yes, it’s the two of us! Last year we sold over 800 pieces on a flash sale site, so we had to fulfill all of those orders ourselves, from stuffing the inserts to packaging them for shipment to delivering to the shipper. It was a family affair—we had parties where we invited family members over and they helped stuff pillows in exchange for pizza! The amazing support from our family and friends is allowing us to continue to build out this brand. Whenever we’ve had situations where we wondered, how are we going to accomplish this, people have stepped up and stayed up late at night to help us stuff pillows. It’s been a team effort in so many ways. We haven’t always known where this brand was going to go but our family has been a great gift in building and growing the brand.

AphroChic’s Reflection Wallpaper in Black & White

Whenever I polled you and other designers for your New Year’s resolutions for 2013, you said you wanted to spend more time with things that inspire you. Specifically, what inspires you?

I’m so inspired by art. Living in Philadelphia has been great because we have the most amazing art museums here and a lot of historical landmarks as well. I love to go to the Philadelphia Art Museum and look at their portraits and exhibits of new artists. One of the exhibits that inspired me last year featured an artist who did Sanskrit graffiti. It took my breath away. The Academy of Fine Arts has great modern art. My husband and I like to go to art museums during our lunch break and see what new artists are doing, as well as the old masters. I have an affinity for portraiture and love to look at fashion illustrations with their patterns and color. History is extremely important, too. I live right in Old City so I can go down the street and see Betsey Ross’ house. Benjamin Franklin’s house is right around the corner. I can see the Liberty Bell. Having historical context is really important and we look at that a lot in our designs. It comes out in patterns like chevrons and ikats that have been around for hundreds of years. Winter is not the most inspiring time in terms of nature, but in spring, when everything’s happening, I love to look at trees and the shapes and colors of flowers because gravitating toward natural colors is so important in design. Color is such a big part of what we do so we’re looking at those elements in nature as well as what Pantone is predicting for the year.

What kinds of things go into selecting your line’s color palette? You’ve touched on the influence of nature and Pantone’s Color of the Year, but how do you round out your line in terms of color?

I do look a lot at Pantone but I’m always looking at what’s happening in design, whether it’s going on blogs or looking at publications like Elle Décor, Traditional Home or House Beautiful. They’re all a big help in determining where color is going. We have a new collection of wallpapers featuring soft and muted metallics, and we’re looking at colors like navy blue that have come up a lot on Pinterest. Going to trade shows like High Point, you get to see what’s happening a year in advance, or at shows like Maison et Object in Paris, you can see what will happen in the US five years from now.

Speaking of Pinterest, you’re a prolific pinner, and your boards are all well-curated. Do you think Pinterest has helped your business?

I didn’t start Pinterest as a business. I had a personal profile and just pinned for my own use. As more brands established themselves on Pinterest, I converted my personal boards to AphroChic and it has been a major way for people to find our brand. We’ve also gotten some great opportunities through Pinterest, like an event at the White House for followers of the White House Pinterest board. I never imagined going to the White House as a blogger or pinner! It was such an amazing event and interesting to see how Pinterest has inspired people—right up to the most famous house in our country! AphroChic was featured on the White House Pinterest board as well as West Wing Week on YouTube. We got a feature on the White House blog too, so that has been a huge and amazing opportunity. Social media in general has been a great sounding board for our brand and way to connect with customers. I enjoy using Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest because I’m a visual person and they’ve helped me see what I like and where I’m going as a designer. A lot of people think they “have” to do Pinterest or read a bunch of blogs but I do it because I love it. For me it’s always fun to see what’s new in design.

What can you tell us about the book you have coming out later this year?

The book has been a great way to hone in what AphroChic has always been about, which is modern design and cultural style. It features seventeen homes from across the country—New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. We picked modern homes that have a lot of culture and pattern and color and global influences in them. The book teaches people how to bring cultural style—whatever that culture is, whether it’s a culture that you come from or one you identify with—into your home and how to make your space tell your personal story. It provides inspirational home tours that show you how these people developed their personal style within their homes. These are homes that have never been in magazines—they’re really original spaces. Some were designed by interior designers we love, like Emily Henderson, from HGTV, but some of them are done by homeowners who have put together these really wonderful spaces that really reflect their travels and their cultural backgrounds. It’s been an exciting endeavor. We worked with each of the homeowners and got to be a part of their lives for a whole day. My sister did the styling and Patrick Cline shot the book on film, which means there’s so much more depth to these images. As we’re looking at the layouts, these photos are special and very distinctive. There will be an e-book format as well, which will feature original content. When people buy the e-book version, they’ll see the videos my brother-in-law created featuring the homeowners as well as video content on some of the stores we feel help people bring culture into their spaces. A lot of times, an e-book is just an electronic version of the same book, but this is being built separately from the ground up, so we’ve been able to provide more behind-the-scenes and original content through the e-book version.

That’s really interesting, because it speaks to your brand—which started as an electronic product—and it’s a smart move for books to start moving toward providing bonus content with their e-books after watching the film industry use that so effectively as a marketing tool for DVDs over the past decade.

We and our publishers were also inspired by e-mags and how they’ve done such a great job with adding videos and links to shops. We thought, why shouldn’t a book provide the same capability when it’s in an online format? We wanted to provide a robust experience and as much information as we can to help people create their own unique space.

What made you decide to launch your product line at Maison et Objet in Paris, as opposed to domestic trade shows like ICFF?

A woman who reads my blog introduced me to a gentleman at the US office for Maison et Objet who was looking for American designers to come show in Paris and invited us to check out the show. I hadn’t been researching international shows, but I love looking at European design because I think they are several years ahead of what we do here in the US. They embrace color more than we do here. We went to Paris—our first trip to Europe ever, so it was a really exciting experience for us. We went to the show and it’s still one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen, because there were designers from all over the world. For me, I was a kid in a candy store. We toured the Ethnic Chic halls, which have a lot of cultural designs. African, Indian, and Asian designs were well represented there. We knew it was the right show for us because there we saw so much color and so much pattern—we knew our line would be embraced there. It was one of the highlights of this brand and for myself, in general. It was another family effort, with me and my husband and my sister out there for a week doing the show. We got to see how our brand was received from people from all over and how they connected with this small business from the United States. That’s also how we met our other vendors—they were out there in Paris! Being an online business, we don’t have to sell domestically and then wait to branch into the international market.

To stay in the loop with Jeanine and everything going on with AphroChic, visit her website or find her on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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Download Captain Tsubasa (2018) Full Episode – Captain Tsubasa (2018) Sub Indo Batch – Tells Ozora Tsubasa, an elementary school student whose thoughts and dreams are dedicated to football. Together with his mother, Tsubasa moved to Nankatsu, in the new city he met Ishizaki and also a great goalkeeper named Wakabayashi to fight a soccer field. Tsubasa, who […]


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Warning: Legionwood 2 is for seasoned RPG players! This game is hard. We mean Final Fantasy III crossed with low level Dungeons and Dragons hard. Don't anger the dice gods.

Legionwood 2: Rise of the Eternal's Realm is a fantasy Role Playing Game (RPG) in the style of classics like Chrono Trigger and Dragon Quest and the long awaited sequel to Legionwood: Tale of the Two Swords.

Playing as an elite imperial soldier trying to protect their homeland, you'll get to explore a massive, fully detailed medieval empire filled with daring adventures, outlandish treasures and dramatic conflicts. Along the way, you'll have to contend with the likes of political corruption, zombie hordes, the onset of war and a game world that changes depending on your choices and actions. Will you be the one who saves Legionwood, or will you be the one who dooms it to an age of darkness?

  • 15+ hours of classic RPG gameplay.

  • Dozens of minigames and sidequests to discover.

  • Hundreds of different character configurations.

  • Over 80 intelligent and dangerous foes.

  • Non-linear game that makes your choices count.

  • Six possible endings.

Legionwood 2 is an epic adventure spanning entire worlds and time itself for only $5.99! Purchase the game here.

Latest Blog

Legionwood 2 is finally on sale!

The day everyone a small group of hardcore fans has been waiting for is here: after almost four years of development, the full version of Legionwood 2 has finally been released. As of this very moment, the game is available to purchase from the Dark Gaia Studios website in all of its indie, SNES-style Role Playing Game glory.

As I’ve posted before, the game retails for $5.99 USD (even though I live in Australia it’s so much easier to handle online payments in American dollars) and you can pay for your copy via Paypal, credit card or wire transfer – it’s all handled securely through the game’s distributor. All purchased copies of Legionwood 2 are completely DRM-free and can be backed up on an external drive or transferred to other PCs with ease.

I’m also working on getting the game available through Desura and its associated portals. The Desura edition of Legionwood 2 is currently being evaluated and should be online within the next two weeks. By the end of March I’ll also hopefully have the game out on some of the larger RPG Maker portals such as Amaranth Games and RPG Maker Web as well.

I first started working on Legionwood 2 back in 2010 right after Legionwood 1’s release. After countless betas and even a complete rewrite in a new engine, I’m so excited that the game is finally complete and ready to be devoured by masses of hungry fans. It’s been an awesome ride working on this game and engaging with all the people who tested its various beta builds – without your feedback, it definitely wouldn’t be as good as it is today. I really hope that you enjoy Legionwood 2 and its epic continuation of the Legionwood canon.

You can start your adventure by purchasing the game or downloading the free demo here. Happy adventuring!

Just read your comment, so tried to recreate it. First battle before I even jumped the first platform, battle of 3 seraph's, first action was aelia ranger(with assassins hood) first action was steal on 1st seraph, game crashed. The error message was

Scirpt 'Battle_StealSkill' line 1043: NoMethodError occurred.

undefined method 'icon_index' for nil:NilClass

edit: just got it to happen again, first battle before the first jump. The battle was sprite,seraph,defender. Aelia used steal on seraph, no problem. Felix used steal on seraph game crashed. Exact same error message.

edit 2: tried jumping over the first jump, things were going smoother witha battle of 3 seraphs, stole a few times then game crashed most amount of attempts to steal yet at about 5 crashed on 6
Thanks for recreating it. It's really stumping me and preventing me from finishing off the last couple of areas of the next Beta, but I think your information might be useful.
no problem happy to help. A few questions, as of right now it is not possible to go back through the cave that leads to the north side of peridot path(the area just before the final world map area of this beta) due to boulders. Will we eventutally be able to go backwards if we desired? I'd expect we will be able to with a boat or something later though. I thought to go backwards due to the rangers skill to learn skills from monsters. Will any of the previous monsters have skills we can learn?

Also I downloaded the trial version of rpgmaker vx ace, but it looks like the rvproj2 file is not included in this version of the game. Mainly just to dabble and see if I could figure out what was causing the steal glitch on the seraph, although I doubt I would be able to figure it out due to extremely little programming experience and no rpg maker experience. Do you plan on releasing that file like with legionwood 1 when it is finished?
In the upcoming Beta 4, the boulders vanish after you've been through the area once, so you can go back -- the only reason you can't in the current one is because I forgot to turn on the switch that activates the code.

I do intend to release the game with the rvproj2 file once it's finished, but you don't actually need it to open the game in the editor -- you can just copy and paste the rvproj2 file from any other Ace project into LW2's folder and it'll open fine.
You can always find a rpg game, where the story is in small proportion. Game system is always so incredibleand fantastic but the story is sometmes rather boring and confusing. That is not a bad thing after all...
I hope you making better story than in legionwood 1.
I am not saying that your game was trashy.
But i hope that this game is better than the first one.
Cool yea I got the editor to work. I just tested out to see if moving the monster group to the peridot path fixed anything, it did not, which confirms that it is a problem specifically with that monster/monsters

edit: your going to hate yourself.....

go under database, enemies, number 58:seraph under the notes section see the <steal I173: 52%> now look under items it only goes up to 140, therefore THIS ITEM DOES NOT EXIST!!!

edit 2: did I mix up the percentages when I wrote it down? I can't remember :).
just wondering when is your estimated completion date for whole game? cause I like long games and this will be awesome also playing first one right now my fav!
@gandra: I'm not sure how I screwed up the item code so badly. Either way, it's fixed now...

@winaster: I'm not sure, to be honest. The next Beta, which goes up to the game's halfway point, is what I'm working on right now, so the full game would probably come late this year, or maybe even early 2014. I don't get a lot of time to work on Legionwood 2 these days.
In a manner of speaking, they are ;)

You'll see eventually. The next release is coming along very slowly, but it's still coming.
Hi everyone,I just began the second legionwood game,having completed the first one.
I am only at the beginning,started going into the cave. I must say I really like the morality thing that concerns reputation. There was a VERY old game that had this type of feature,we are talking early 1980's and on a C64. For the life of me I can not remember the games name. That one my son and I played together.
I am feeling out the game and trying to get a hook on the game flow,and will be working on strategies. I am also thinking of playing legionwood 1 again,and this time will try to lay out a strategy guide if I can. most of my play is kinda seat of the pants,that is after playing so many different games I kind of just do it,but seldom can "put it down in writing" kinda how my mind works with most things. At any rate one of my methods is hang at a save point,and fight,trying many different approaches,trying magic combos,and sometimes swapping weapons,and with the save point near you can play out style and approach with no fear of dieing and forgetting what you just did. This helped when I fought bosses,giving me better understanding about pros and cons of each magic to keep from getting creamed by a foe. One thing I noticed is that you can not assume anything with a monster,what worked once may not work a second time,so you have to be able to be flexible in your fighting style. This is one aspect of the game I really liked,it kept the game exciting and always kept me on my toes.

Thanks for your comments Anunitu. I know many people liked how the battles played out in Legionwood 1 and how the character customization was neccesary to adapt to the battles, and I'm trying my best to implement this style of play into Legionwood 2 as well. Hopefully a bit better executed this time, however.

Also, I'm glad the idea of the morality system intrigues you. It doesn't come into play so much in the beta version you are playing now, but starting from the next release which I'm working on, it begins to impact the story, influencing which characters survive until the end, and what the ending will be.
Interesting that you mention music stuff,I have a few things I did a few years ago when I was playing around with a sampler program. If you like I will let who ever wants to hear them. There are 4 in MP3 format,and none is all that big. The are named Dream Boogie,dark dream,spiderbite,and dreamboogie2 that I did a backwards version of that is kinda weird. All 4 7zipped runs about 8 megs. Someone might want to pick out a section for background music for a fight scene. I think it was soundforge that I used,I did these quite a while back,but lost interest in it after a while. All the samples used were free,public domain stuff BTW.
. . . still waiting . . . >.< or did I missed the II act already. . . ?
No, you haven't missed it. I'm being extremely slow and lazy with development :p

I only have a little more to do, hoping for a release at the end of May.
Zephiur from the RMVXAce forums here, just dropping in to say I look forward to playing this game when it's fully released. I still haven't beaten the original Legionwood, so I need to get cracking on that. The Sheerbark Ruins is kicking my ass with all the mimics and Seraphs. Either I allocated my stats horribly or I'm just not high enough level or something? I don't expect it to be a roflstomp but my entire party keeps getting KOd. I mean for the most part I can kill things fine, but Seraphs end up one shotting my characters if I can't run and Mimics have the potential to two-shot my characters. Tips would be appreciated but I'd like to finish it on my own with no help :P

On a semi-related note, after you release Legionwood 2 are you going to make a Legionwood 3 or move on to a different series? I also think it might be kinda cool to "revisit" the first, maybe remake it with the new features LW2/RMVXAce implemented? I mean it's smashing good as it is, and you're a busy fellow, so I wouldn't expect you to do something like that. I just think it'd be something neat for in the future.

At any rate, I'd love to beta test for Legionwood 2 once I finish the first and what's released of the second. It's the least a broke guy can do for one of his internet heroes. :F
Hi Zephiur,

Not sure what I'll be doing after Legionwood 2, to be honest. I have plans for a new RPG, but not sure if I'll actually do it or not.

Thanks for playing :)
Hi Dark Gaia! I'm excited to play the next build! I still remember last year when
I played Legionwood for the first time(It was one of the first RPG Maker games I
played) and even though I LOVED that game I LOVE this one even more! Keep up the
good work!
Thanks! I'm trying my best to bring the next build to you soon! :)


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[Mixtape] Netherfriends: “New CHI-t”

Netherfriends has been a very busy man lately. Besides preparing the full release for his 50 Songs 50 States project next week on America’s birthday, the fully improvised Kind of Buzzed series, as well as his kind of, sort of… Continue Reading

[Video] Netherfriends: “Kimball House Freestyle” (feat. Blakkass Westley and Chandler London)

I’ve been talking extensively about Netherfriends lately, and with good reason; the one-man band/production team/musician extraordinaire has a lot of projects coming out this summer. We’re talking New CHI-t, 50 Songs 50 States, and P3ACE. We’ve heard some of what’s in store, including… Continue Reading


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Top 5 gold loan companies in India - Which one should you choose?

Mar 31, 2020

The gold loan market has seen a rise in regulation over the years, which has led to an increase in the number of NBFCs offering gold loans in India. Because of this, there is no shortage of options to choose from.

Making this choice can impact your gold loan as different companies and banks have different offerings. For example, the interest rate levied on a gold loan varies across lenders, who set their own interest rates. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio and security measures can also differ. These are both equally important. The LTV plays a deciding factor in the loan amount you’ll receive, and the security measures a company offers ensures the safety of your ornaments.

These differences have the potential to sway borrowers towards gold loan transfers for better interest rates, higher LTV, and greater safety for their gold with gold loan companies that offer more value. Thorough research of all the different companies can help you decide which is the best gold loan company for you.

Choosing a gold loan company

Whether you are looking to apply for a gold loan or avail a loan transfer, there are a few key factors to consider about the company you choose for it. This can help ensure that you secure the best gold loan for yourself. Apart from LTV, interest rate, and security, you must consider the available repayment schemes as well.

A loan can be difficult to repay if the tenure doesn’t fit your financial standing and monthly expenditure. Which is why it’s important to plan ahead and choose a company that offers flexible repayment options. This can prevent the occurrence of defaults on payments. The best gold loan companies offer loan tenures beyond the standard of 12 months to help borrowers complete the repayment on the full gold loan amount on time.

Gold loan lenders in India

Having understood what to look out for to identify the best gold loan company, the next step is to assess the best options in the market and their services and offerings. The most well-known and leading gold loan lenders in India are:

  • Muthoot Finance
  • Manappuram Finance
  • IIFL
  • HDFC Bank
  • Rupeek Fintech Pvt. Ltd.

Amongst these gold loan companies, the differences in services and products are quite varied. Of these five lenders, only Manappuram Finance and Rupeek exclusively deal with gold loans, while the other companies offer other various types of loans as well. This factor also plays a role in the quality of loan solutions offered. For example, Rupeek’s high focus on providing gold loan solutions enables it to offer more flexibility and provide other gold loan products like an overdraft facility.

The table below draws a comparison between various gold loan lenders, including NBFCs, pawnbrokers, and banks across India.

Theme Feature Rupeek vs. NBFC (Manappuram, Muthoot, IIFL) vs. Pawn Broker vs. Bank (HDFC Bank)
Service Related Personal Service Highest High High Low/Medium
Doorstep Services Yes No (branch only) No (branch only) No (branch only)
Convenience Highest High High Low/Medium
Privacy Highest None None None
Preferred Location Highest None None None
9am-7:30pm, 6 days per week Yes Almost (10am-6pm) Yes, usually 7 days/week from 10am-8pm No
Stress/Hassles Lowest Medium Low High
RBI approved Yes Yes No Yes
Bank partnerships Yes No No Yes
Loan transfer/takeover Yes No No No
Disbursal time Immediate Immediate Immediate Slow
Time saving Highest High High Low
Money saving Highest Medium High Low
Easy application Highest High Highest Low
Quick service High High High Very Low
City coverage High High High Very Low
Branches NA (Medium basis partnered) High Highest Low
Consistency Highest High Very Low Low
Staff Highly trained Trained Proprietorship Poor, off role
Financial Product Related Savings High Low Very Low Highest
Low interest Yes No Strong No Strong yes
Hidden/processing charges No Yes/Sometimes Typically yes
High per gram rate Yes Yes Yes No
Monthly payment Optional Optional Optional Typically Yes
Schemes for your need – Jumping & non jumping Yes No (only jumping) No (only jumping) No (only fixed)
Tenure Good Varying basis player Varying Longest
Product basis requirements Good Good Poor Poor
Process Related High documentation No No No Yes
New customer account creation Quick Avg. Slow
Transparency Highest Low Low High
Insurance Yes Yes No Yes
Loan Cycle Related Doorstep release Yes No No No
Part release option Yes Yes Yes No
Doorstep part release Yes No No No
Online renewal Yes Sometimes No No
Enhancement/Top up Dedicated Quick product Typically yes but not always seamless Yes No
Interest payment Online Branch + online Branch Branch + online
Interest reminders Yes Yes but fails often No No
Customer queries Dedicated channels with high addressal rates Poor Poor
Jewel views Yes No No No
App & Website Yes Yes No Typically yes
Safe storage of jewels Highest High Poor Highest
Jewel damage Covered if responsible No No
Auction Low/Lowest High Low
Always available tech platform Highest Average NA Average
Auction stress Low High High Low

Rupeek for gold loans in India

Rupeek is dedicated to creating the best gold loan experience in the market for all borrowers with doorstep services. Rupeek’s gold loan solutions offer the highest value for a customer in every regard, with the lowest interest rates in the market, fastest loan disbursal, and highest LTV.

The safety of every customer’s gold ornaments are also guaranteed with a 100% insurance cover, and data security is secured with 256-bit encryption and multiple threat mitigation strategies. Rupeek lending partners include leading banks in the country, like ICICI Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, and Federal Bank, where ornaments are stored in high-grade secure vaults.

Moreover, Rupeek’s offers the most ease of convenience with an online gold loan process, mobile application, and doorstep services. This ensures that borrowers never have to face the hassle of long queues and lengthy waiting periods throughout the gold loan procedure.  Overdraft facilities are also made possible with Rupeek Quick. With this, borrowers can pledge gold once and avail a loan as per their needs, paying only for what they use.

Rupeek’s products are also tailored to meet all requirements – business, personal, and even emergencies. Get in touch with Rupeek for the best gold loan experience.


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File #8046: "Albert Smith_111.pdf"

down in our load. The people seemed to enjoy themselves very well. The Free-masons laid the cornerstone of the new School House. Very nice cool day. Received a letter from G.H. Clarke; he is now in Florida with Sid. == Sunday 4th July == Attended morning service. {"Deviecer Noinummoc"} my pupils recited very well in S. School. are getting along well. Robert was down to tea.