A Fountain in the Night

The fountain located on a main road in Surabaya (East Java, Indonesia). It’s not a clear shot, since I captured it from inside the moving car.

Watery Wednesday

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Things to Consider When Planning Your Retirement to the Sea

If and your partner have been dreaming about your big sea change, then you have probably realised that it's not a decision to take lightly. The end goal is easy to imagine: relaxing and enjoying a beautiful ocean view, feeling the fresh sea air on your skin, and the exhilarating feeling of taking a swim in the crystal clear ocean. It can feel overwhelming trying to imagine how you get to that end goal, but it's important not to get discouraged as having your own piece of paradise is well worth the effort! Here are some tips as to how you can get the ball rolling toward making your big move to the sea.

Have the Experience

You can eliminate a lot of doubt in one fell swoop by simply spending your next vacation in Noosa to get a feel for the community and the lifestyle. Taking a decent amount of time in your future area will give you a taste of what to expect when it comes to your daily activities, your shopping needs and basically how you will be spending your time. Chances are you will truly enjoy this vibrant township but, if you don't, at least now you know to keep looking for where you really want to be. Nothing will make your retirement more stressful than thinking that you are stuck with a wrong decision, so make sure you do your homework ahead of time!

Analyse Your Finances

Having a meeting with your financial planner early on is a great idea. It is important to have a clear idea of how much you can spend on your new home before you even start looking for it. It may be worthwhile to consider buying investment property years before your actual retirement, especially in the Noosa area because it is fast becoming a really popular place to buy real estate. The Sunshine Coast is a well-known tourist destination, so you will have no troubles renting out your home to people looking for luxury Noosa accommodation for their holidays. This will allow you to secure your future home as well as bring in some extra revenue during the lead-up to your retirement.

Talk to Your Kids

If money is an issue, then why not talk to your kids about splitting the cost? This is a great opportunity for them to also have a summer getaway home, plus you will be able to spend more time with your grandchildren! This will give your kids a real leg-up when it comes time for their own retirement as well, and will make a great investment for them in the long run.

Start Downsizing

You may be looking around at all the things that you and your partner have collected throughout the years and think, what are we going to do with all this stuff? Getting ready for a big move is a great opportunity to dig through all those boxes in the basement and get rid of things you really don't need anymore. Consider giving some things away to charity, or even have a yard sale fundraiser for yourself! Later on when it is time to pack up and make the big move, you will be thanking yourself for having taken care of all the clutter ahead of time.

Making your big move to Noosa for retirement doesn't have to be a stressful time of your life. This is the time to be relaxed and happy, so make sure you start planning early and make the most of the best move you will ever make.

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How to Make Your Kitchen Environmentally Friendly

If you are trying to make your home more environmentally friendly then you should start slowly and begin doing over a room at a time, starting with the kitchen. You will probably need to get your electrician in to help you put in timer switches and other energy saving devices, but a lot of the changes you will be able to handle yourself. Start by having a look at your appliances and see how they rate in terms of energy efficiency. You can buy Westinghouse fridges that comply with more environmentally friendly standards, as well as dishwashers.

Appliances
A good place to start is by changing over your power guzzling appliances. This can especially be the case if you have older appliances. Do your research before you go out and buy new appliances. Have a look online, it makes it easier to compare products from the comfort of home. Consider whether you need a fridge that is overly large, as this obviously uses more power. If you live on your own, or just with your partner, then you are not going to need such a large fridge. If you entertain often you may need a slightly bigger fridge.

Once you have your fridge you should also make sure that it is always working properly and that it is set at the right temperature. Check that the seals are attached properly and not letting any cool air out, as this can overtax your fridge, using more power. You can buy dishwashers that help save water. There are now dishwashers available that will save the water from the last rinse cycle, then use this for the first rinse cycle of the next load. It may seem like a small water saving but in the long run it will make a big difference.

Natural light
Use your overhead electric lights less by making the most of the natural light. If you only have small windows then renovate your kitchen and put in bigger windows. If your kitchen is positioned more in the centre of your home you can also put in a skylight. Have it over your kitchen area so that it throws natural light over your workspace area. The aim is to not have to turn on your electric lights during the day at all.

Materials
If you are considering renovating your kitchen to make it more environmentally friendly think about the materials that you are going to use. You can find great recycled materials, such as timber, to make beautiful bench tops, which will not only look great, but be a talking point in your kitchen. You can also use recycled doors, cabinets, taps, sinks, windows and even furniture. Have a look in antique shops, opportunity shops or visit houses that are being demolished. You are sure to pick up some bargains as well as find some things for your kitchen with great character. You will also be helping the environment by saving these items from becoming landfill.

There are many things you can do to make your kitchen more environmentally friendly. Start by looking at your appliances and consider whether they use too much energy.
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Karaoke Bars are the Best Alternative Ideas for a Bachelor Party

Love the sound of your own voice? Get ready to pretend you’re Frank Sinatra and laugh your ass off at the same time... it’s the karaoke classic! That’s right, Japan’s favourite sport is one way to make a massive fool of yourself in the company of friends, which is exactly what a bachelor party is all about!

Last time I attended a karaoke bachelor party, I ended up doing the Humpty Dance in front of a crowd of screaming girls and falling off the stage. Awesome. Everyone got involved, everyone had a great time and we all went home thinking we were the best thing since the end of the last American Idol. We weren’t, of course, but tequila will do that to a man...

The thing about karaoke is this: it actually levels everyone off. Almost no-one can sing worth a darn, so when you all get up and have a go the good will factor rises by about a million percent. It’s a brilliant way to get groups of guys from different areas of your life to talk to each other too. Nothing breaks the ice like watching a dude make an ass of himself with a microphone.

There are some rules you have to set out for having a karaoke bachelor party, mind. I normally wouldn’t be a fan of this, but a karaoke party is the one time where everyone has to have a go, no matter what they say. That’s because the full effect of karaoke doesn’t get felt unless each member of the group has had a chance to make a spectacular scene up on stage. Even the people who say they don’t want to will feel better once they’ve done it.

You can make all sorts of game sup to go with it too. One of the best is to do duets and have everyone else score the others. This works better than single singers, because a duet is almost always funnier – and it means you can get through the ranks quicker too! You could even arrange some silly cheap favors as prizes for people doing karaoke at your bachelor party: nothing over the top, but a round of drinks always goes down pretty well...

If you make an evening of it in the right place you can probably get a karaoke and meal package, which cuts down your costs as well as being a fun alternative to just going out and getting hammered. Some places also hire out private karaoke booths or rooms, so you can all have fun without feeling embarrassed that other people are watching you do it.

That said, it’s usually more fun to get out and amongst it – so I’d recommend going to a karaoke bar where everyone is singing in front of everyone, no matter who they are. The atmosphere in these places is nearly always friendly and you get all sorts of prizes for taking part – free shots, drinks tokens, that kind of thing.

A bachelor party without a focus is a recipe for disaster. If you just go out drinking then you always end up in a messy heap way too early. If you go to a karaoke bar or somewhere similar, everyone has something to focus on, they drink slower and the evening becomes a bonding and fun experience as well as a chance to sink a few beers with the boys. Enjoy!

About the Author:
The above article is composed and edited by Britney Danila. She is associated with many fashion and designing communities as their freelance writer and adviser. In her free time she writes articles related to stag weekends, fashion accessories, mobile applications, etc.

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Last Week

My father is in stable condition, I’m glad. Last Tuesday, we took my father for a doctor’s consultation. His heart beats in proper rhythm but there’s a decline in the contraction ability. It makes him quickly feels tired after walking some distance. About the senility symptoms that I worried before, the doctor said that it’s a normal condition for his age. I hope so.

He shows some progress in communication. I can communicate with my father better. He also eats well now; he doesn’t look weak like a week before. On the same Tuesday, we had lunch together at a middle-east themed restaurant. The meal is in big portion and he can eat it all. His appetite is already coming back!

On Saturday, my father’s youngest brother came to our house with his wife and daughter. My uncle wanted to know my father’s last condition. We chatted for about one hour. They were glad to see my father’s better situation.

This Sunday, we’re going fishing again, after not doing it for about five months. We must teach my father again to use the fishing rod; since he forgot how to swing it. It’s a pity that the fishing place was too crowded as there was a gathering event of a company that held in the same place. We caught no fish this time.

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Colorful Koi Fish

A few days ago, I saw many koi fish in a restaurant’s pond. Koi are ornamental varieties of domesticated common carp (Cyprinus carpio) that are kept for decorative aims in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens. Koi varieties are differentiated by coloration, patterning, and scalation. Some of the main colors are white, black, red, yellow, blue, and cream.

In Japan, koi is a symbol of love and friendship. Chinese culture believes that placing a nine-koi-fish painting at home or office can bring good luck.

Source:wikipedia

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3 Questions to Ask a Dental Practice Broker before You Buy

When shopping dental practice sales, there's a lot more to consider than when you're buying a house. This is going to be your livelihood, so you need to know the right questions to ask before talking money to avoid getting stuck with a dead end practice.

1. Ask for detailed financial information.
There are a lot of numbers your lender is going to want to see before they give you a loan. This data will also give you an idea of the health of the practice. Ask for at least the previous four years of records including income by month, taxes, rent, payroll, benefits, utilities, and contributions to retirement plans. You'll also want to see current accounts payable and receivable and owed vacation time. The dental practice broker should have all this information ready by the time they list the practice.

2. Are equipment and systems up to date?
Asking prices in dental practice sales ought to take into account the age of equipment as well as the cost of replacing it with up-to-date models. Likewise, if the charting system and other software are outmoded, you need to factor in the cost of replacing them and training staff on new systems and equipment. Ask your dental practice broker for records on the equipment and programs so you can determine how soon you'll need to update them.

3. Will there be continuity with customer base, prices, and staff?
Taking over a practice is hard enough without having to rebuild from the ground up. If the current owner has tapered off hours before retirement, it may take time to rebuild your clientele. If you need to raise prices immediately to get them up to market levels, you'll have difficulty retaining patients who don't have a relationship with you. If the staff all leave with the current owner, who's going to train your new employees, not to mention the new owner?

Ask these questions early so you don't waste your time on needless negotiation. Hopefully these questions will help you avoid investing in a practice that will be more stress than it's worth.

ADS Administrative Office
1621 Ivanhoe Street
Denver, CO 80220
888.ADS.4237

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