Arts Entertainments

Book Review: A Dog’s Purpose

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A Dog’s Purpose: A Novel for Humans

By: W. Bruce Cameron

Publisher: Forge Books

Publication date: December 2016

ISBN: 978-0765388117

Dog lovers have always known that dogs are intelligent, loving, and deeply devoted to “their humans.” Author W. Bruce Cameron has taken this knowledge and added a unique twist that builds on it: a novel that imagines a dog, who lives several dog lives, and remembers each life and the lessons learned in that life.

The purpose of a dog begins with a puppy describing his life. It soon becomes clear that the cub, along with his three brothers and his mother, are wild. Finally, the cub, along with his mother and brother, are captured by a rescue dog. They are placed in a backyard with many other dogs and while the puppy, soon to be named Toby, adjusts well, his mother cannot handle human interaction and manages to escape. Toby grows up, makes friends, and finally reunites with his sister. But problems arise when authorities close the rescue site for having too many dogs. Toby soon finds himself in a bad situation …

When Toby’s life comes to an end, he is reincarnated as a beautiful Golden Retriever. Now the puppy is part of a healthy litter, kept with a breeder. When he sees that other puppies, from other litters, are adopted and disappear into the great beyond outside the yard, he wants to leave. He remembers seeing his mother from his first life open the door handle, and works to copy it. It works and he runs away from the breeder and wanders until picked up by a kind man who takes him for a ride in his car. Unfortunately, the man stops at a bar and leaves the puppy in his hot car. Once again the puppy is rescued, this time by a woman who smashes the car window just in time before heatstroke kills the dog. You bring the puppy home to your young son, and this is where most of the story is: between “Bailey” the dog and “Boy.”

After “Boy”, Bailey returns a few more times, once as a K-9 search and rescue German Shepherd and again as a Black Lab. His final reincarnation as a laboratory puts a complete twist on him with a very satisfying conclusion to the story.

Told from a dog’s point of view, A Dog’s Purpose is a delightful story that immediately appealed to me and kept me reading until I turned the last page. The author has the true gift of capturing a dog’s thoughts and it really felt like the dog was sharing his life with me. Toby / Bailey / Ellie / Buddy was a loving dog who knew that his purpose was to do what his human wanted / needed him to do, be it saving a child from drowning or taking a car ride to make a child happy. Like all dogs, this dog learned words: “kennel”, “bed”, “sleep”, etc. and basic concepts like “Merry Christmas” which for him meant people who came to the house. He would sit at the feet of his owner and listen to a word from the humans who spoke, for example, his name, and he would get excited, not knowing what the rest of the conversation was about. The author included a minimal amount of dialogue from humans to give readers a clue as to what was going on, but even without that help, it wasn’t difficult to follow. Much of what the dog did was pick up on the emotions of the people around him, feeling joy, fear, pain, and reacting accordingly. The writing style definitely worked quite well, and I’m looking forward to diving into the sequel, A Dog’s Journey.

Quill Says: There’s a reason Hollywood came to call and made a movie based on this book! If you love dogs, do yourself a favor and read The Purpose of a Dog.

Technology

Yacht charter in the British Virgin Islands

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The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a British Overseas Territory, located in the northern Caribbean Sea east of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands. They are part of the Leeward Islands chain. The approximate coordinates are 18 ° 20 ‘N 64 ° 40’ W. The archipelago of the Virgin Islands archipelago is made up of the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

The British Virgin Islands enjoy a subtropical climate, moderated by the trade winds. Temperatures remain fairly stable throughout the year with a daily maximum of around 29 ° C in summer and 25 ° C in winter. BVIs average about 115 cm of rain per year, although this is higher in the hills and the coast is drier. The rainiest months are from September to December. The British Virgin Islands is in an area that can see hurricanes from June to October and this effectively limits the boating season from November to May.

Among the many attractions of the British Virgin Islands are; numerous white sand beaches; the baths in Virgin Gorda, snorkeling in the coral reefs near Anegada; the famous bars of Jost Van Dyke Island.

The British Virgin Islands include the main islands of Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda along with more than fifty smaller islands and cays. The smaller islands include; Beef Island, Cooper Island, Ginger Island, Great Camanoe, Great Thatch, Guana Island, Mosquito Island, Necker Island, Norman Island, Peter Island, Salt Island. Only about fifteen of the islands are inhabited. The British Virgin Islands are mostly volcanic in origin and have rugged and mountainous terrain. Anegada is the exception and is a flat island made up of limestone and coral. Tortola is the largest island, approximately twelve miles long and three miles wide. Road Town, in Tortola, is the capital of the islands. The British Virgin Islands have a total population of around 22,000 people.

The Virgin Islands were first colonized by the Arawak Indians of South America around 100 BC. C. and they inhabited the islands until the XV century when the Carib Indians of the Lesser Antilles Islands displaced them. The first European sighting of the Virgin Islands was in 1493 by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas. He called them Saint Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgins (Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgins); this was reduced to Las Vírgenes (The Virgins).

In the early 16th century, the Spanish Empire acquired the Virgin Islands and developed copper mining on Virgin Gorda. Subsequently, the English, Dutch, French, Spanish, and Danish sought control of the Virgin Islands. They became a well-known pirate haven. During the process of European colonization, the native Amerindian population was practically annihilated.

In 1648, the Dutch established a permanent settlement on the island of Tortola. The British captured Tortola from the Dutch in 1672, and the British annexation of Anegada and Virgin Gorda followed in 1680.

The Virgin Islands were primarily considered a strategic possession, but were also planted when favorable economic conditions existed. The British introduced sugar cane which became the main crop and source of foreign trade. Slaves were brought in from Africa to work on the sugar cane plantations and the islands prospered until the growth of the sugar beet crop in Europe and the United States significantly reduced sugar cane production.

In 1917, the United States bought St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix from Denmark for $ 25 million, renaming them the United States Virgin Islands, and the British renamed the islands they controlled as the British Virgin Islands. The British Virgin Islands were administered as part of the Colony of the Leeward Islands or with Saint Kitts and Nevis, with an administrator representing the British Government in the Islands. The British Virgin Islands obtained separate colony status in 1960 and became autonomous in 1967.

Since then, the BVIs have moved away from an agricultural economy towards tourism and financial services and have become one of the richest areas in the Caribbean. Politically, tourism is the more important of the two, as it employs a large number of the local population and many of the businesses are locally owned. However, economically, the financial services sector is by far the most important, providing almost 50% of government revenue in the form of license fees for offshore companies.

Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, also known as Beef Island Airport, has regular connections to San Juan, Puerto Rico and Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands. There are also flights from most of the main Caribbean islands, Antigua and Saint Martin. It is located on Beef Island, just off the eastern tip of Tortola. Virgin Gorda and Anegada have smaller airports. The islands are a popular destination for Caribbean cruises and use the main port of the British Virgin Islands at Road Town on Tortola. The official currency of the British Virgin Islands is the US dollar. Major credit cards are accepted in larger establishments in the British Virgin Islands, but don’t expect to use them in small restaurants.

The traditional music of the British Virgin Islands is called mushrooms for the local cornmeal dish of the same name, often made with okra. The special sound of mushrooms is due to a unique local fusion between African and European music. Mushroom bands, also called “scratch bands and use a wide variety of instruments. Fingi is a festive dance form, but it also contains humorous social commentary and is a source for BVI oral history.

The British Virgin Islands are one of the most popular yacht charter destinations in the Caribbean and Tortola is home to the world’s largest charter fleet of yachts. Potential charters can choose between a skippered or bareboat charter. Motor or sailing boats. Monohulls or catamarans. Short distances between the islands, often just 2-3 hours, make the British Virgin Islands perfect for first-time yacht charters and families with young children. There are many flights to the BVI that facilitate access. On the downside, the British Virgin Islands can get crowded during peak periods; Christmas; Presidents’ Week and Easter. The first two weeks of July are also very busy due to the Puerto Rico vacation schedule. Charter yachts require a national park permit; ask your rental company for more details.

Moorings are becoming increasingly popular in the British Virgin Islands to prevent anchors from dragging on the bottom and damaging important coral reefs. Although cynics will tell you it’s about raising revenue too, and at $ 30 a night, it’s hard not to sympathize with this view. Night moorings are on 18 “white balls. Other mooring buoys will be found while sailing in the BVIs and are color coded as follows;

Orange: not diver, for day use only.

Yellow – Commercial dive boats only.

Large yellow: commercial vessels or vessels over 55 ‘in length

White: non-commercial boats, for day use only.

Blue: for boat use only

Also note that there is a 90 minute time limit on all moorings.

The main port of the British Virgin Islands is at Road Town on Tortola. And most letters start and end here. Village Cay Marina is one of the full service marinas available in Road Harbor offering fuel, water, ice, provisioning, laundry, showers, salon and spa. There is a freshwater swimming pool and a restaurant and bar facing the sea. Other marinas in Road Town Harbor include Fort Burt Marina and Inner Harbor Marina. There is also another full service marina on Nanny Cay that offers another starting point for yacht charters. The Nanny Cay Marine Center has amenities including showers, water, gift shop, laundry, ice and fuel, provisioning, storage lockers, and two restaurants. There is also a dive shop, mechanical repairs, refrigeration, welding, and a 24-hour boat chase service. Allow time at the beginning or end of your yacht charter to explore Tortola. Driving the steep and winding mountain roads of the island offers stunning views. Some of the best beaches in all of the British Virgin Islands are found at Cane Garden Bay and Long Bay, on the north coast of Tortolas. Tortola restaurants are highly regarded throughout the Caribbean. Shopping and nightlife tend to be low-key, but a selection of small clubs playing local music can be found in Road Town and at the beach bars around Tortola.

West End is shown on the charts as Soper’s Hole, a sheltered harbor that sits between Frenchman’s Cay and Tortola. The Soper’s Hole Wharf and Marina offers a full range of services located in charming colored houses. The Pusser’s Landing offers oceanfront dining at two restaurants and bars, an outdoor terrace and the company store.

Jost Van Dyke Island is named after a Dutch pirate. It has beautiful beaches, good food, and music. Jost Van Dyke is home to the famous “Full Moon” parties held at Foxy’s and Sidney’s Peace and Love Bar.

Anegada Island is known for its beautiful pink and sugary sand beach and for diving with ancient shipwrecks and coral reefs. Anegada’s Reef Hotel is famous for the local lobster. The dining room and bar are directly on the beach. If you disembark in Anegada, bring insect repellent. You have been warned !!!

Moorings are available and it is possible to anchor along the Virgin Gorda coast. Or you can get a mooring at the nearby Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor, a marina with berth for 110 boats, where the ferry arrives for land travelers. The shops are concentrated around the Yacht Harbor area, especially in the Courtyard. Virgin Gorda Island is famous for The Baths, a full day of exploring caves and wells within this unique rock formation. Boats are no longer allowed on the shore here and you must swim from a mooring to the beach. The Bitter End Yacht Club is located on North Sound and is a great place to pick up a mooring. You will be among some of the beautiful yachts in the BVI here. The small desert island of Prickly Pear is a great place for lunch and snorkelling and is just a boat ride from the Bitter End Yacht Club. Spanish Town, on the southwest side of Virgin Gorda, is a popular stop for shopping and stocking up.

Norman Island or “Treasure Island” as the locals know it is the home of the pirate ship “William Thornton”. Legend suggests that this is the legendary Long John Silvers treasure site. Norman Island sits near the border line that separates the BVI from the US Virgin Islands.Although uninhabited, it is alive with tourism. The caves here are one of the most popular tourist attractions in the BVI. This is a popular overnight anchorage and many charterers will dine aboard the Willy T, a 100 ‘steel schooner.

Home Kitchen

Stainless Steel Kitchen Sinks – Durable Doesn’t Mean Ugly

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When it comes to cooking, the wide variety of options available is incredible. The first thing to consider is the material from which a sink is constructed. This is important for several key reasons, such as its ability to withstand multiple daily uses. A perfect example is stainless steel kitchen sinks. Once only seen in restaurant-style settings, a stainless steel sink is not uncommon in today’s home kitchen environment. When stainless steel came to the personal kitchen, it opened up a whole new world for the homemaker. Not only are stainless steel kitchen sinks the ultimate in long-lasting performance, but the possibilities to enhance your décor are almost limitless. From a modern look to an apron sink that reflects the charm of days gone by, there is a design available to please anyone. Just as important as the style and material is the company that makes your stainless steel sink. Find a company that has a solid reputation for offering only the best in materials, designers, and craftsmen. There is nothing like confidence to enhance your cooking experience.

As mentioned above, there are so many different designs to choose from that it can actually be an exciting experience. Suddenly, you realize that finding exactly what you want to complement your kitchen décor and fit into your daily lifestyle is easier than you originally thought possible. You might consider a single bowl sink, which is great for other uses besides kitchen chores. For example, it’s easier than ever to water indoor plants or flowers with this design. There is also plenty of room to bathe that special little one. The style of an apron kitchen sink is a wonderful touch of charm reminiscent of the farmhouse look of yesterday with a fantastic modern twist. Add to the equation the smoothest look a single bowl will provide. To top it off, there’s the fact that there are plenty of sizing options to consider as well. This makes it a pleasure to undertake the creation of a highly functional kitchen.

Then there is the double bowl kitchen sink to consider. It’s a great design for the busy cook, as multitasking is taken to a whole new level with this time-honored design. If you have a large family, you know that there is always plenty of room to work with a two-bowl sink. It is a standard design that has been updated in terms of numerous styles. Another good thing is that double bowl kitchen sinks can also boast the style of an apron sink. The two combined are another great option for any size or kitchen décor. It’s interesting to see how many ways a standard design can be turned into a modern look without losing the old world flavor. When there is imagination involved in the design process, the possibilities are simply inspiring. Like the single bowl, the double bowl kitchen sink can be sized to suit your space and personal habits.

The beauty of stainless steel kitchen sinks is that this is a material that has never gone out of style. Instead, the use of stainless steel is getting better and better with today’s technology, making just about anything you want for your kitchen a possibility on many levels. The idea that an apron sink can be made from stainless steel is exciting. The simple fact that stainless steel is resistant to stains (hence the name), as well as corrosion and dents, is a fantastic testament to the durability that stainless steel has demonstrated for decades. When it comes to stainless steel kitchen sinks, the many options available help create the kitchen of your dreams. It is a pleasant reality that will last for many years. Whether you prefer a one-bowl or two-bowl kitchen sink, finding one that fits your lifestyle is no problem. Whatever your needs in terms of size or decoration, there is the perfect sink available for you. So when you’re in the construction or remodeling process, it’s good to know that finding the ultimate stainless steel kitchen sink will be a lot easier than you thought possible. Enjoy the modern look offered by some of today’s stainless steel sinks. Or consider the country charm of a farmhouse kitchen sink; handcrafted from stainless steel, of course.

Auto

2011 SUV Predicted Reliability Ratings: CR’s Top 5 & Worst 10 Small, Midsize, Luxury & Large SUVs

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Consumer Reports recently published its short-term reliability predictions for sport utility vehicles. Predictions are based on the infrequency of major issues within the most recent 3 model years or less, based on data availability. This article lists the top 5 and bottom 10 based on CR’s predicted reliability in each of the Small SUV, Midsize SUV, Luxury SUV, and Large SUV categories.

Tea The 5 best small SUVs of 2011 for CR’s expected short-term reliability are:

Honda CR-V

Toyota RAV4 V6

Mitsubishi outlander

Toyota RAV4 4-cylinder

Subaru Forester without turbo.

The 4-cylinder Honda CR-V and RAV4 also have an excellent long-term reliability record in 2010. The CR-V has Consumer Reports’ highest reliability rating (much better than average) for 8 of the years. 2000 through 2009 model and its second highest rating (better than average) for the remaining two model years. The 4-cylinder RAV4 has CR’s highest rating for 9 of the model years and its second-highest rating for the remaining model year.

Tea The 5 best midsize SUVs of 2011 are:

Toyota fj cruiser

4 cylinder Toyota Highlander

Toyota Highlander V6

Hyundai santa fe v6

Nissan Pathfinder.

Of these 5, the Toyota Highlander V6 has an excellent track record for long-term reliability. For model years 2000 through 2009, it has CR’s highest rating for 9 of the model years and its second-highest rating for the remaining model year.

Tea The 5 best luxury SUVs of 2011 are:

Lexus LX

Acura MDX

Lincoln navigator

Lexus RX350

Lincoln MKT.

The Lexus RX and Lexus LX also have excellent long-term reliability ratings. For 2010, the RX has CR’s highest reliability rating for 9 of the most recent ten model years and its second-highest rating for the remaining model year. The Japan-made Large Lexus LX has the highest CR rating in 8 of its 9-year data history and its second-highest rating for the remaining year.

The Acura MDX has a less remarkable history, with a much better-than-average rating for just 3 of the model years and a better-than-average rating for the remaining 6 model years.

Tea Top 5 large SUVs is it so:

Ecoboost Ford Flex

Toyota sequoia

Front-wheel drive Chevrolet Traverse

Chevrolet suburban 2500

Yukon XL 2500.

Ecoboost rating is based on a single data model year. The Toyota Sequoia has only mediocre long-term reliability, although it does have a remarkable reliability rating in 2011. The 2011 rating of the Traverse, Suburban and XL is quite mediocre. It may be best to avoid this group altogether, unless the price of a luxury sport utility vehicle is prohibitive or the size of the vehicle makes it necessary to buy it.

Tea Top 10 (11 tied) small SUVs For 2011, the expected short-term reliability, in ascending order (worst first), is:

Dodge nitro

Jeep liberty

Mazda Tribute 4-cylinder all-wheel drive

4-cylinder all-wheel drive Ford Escape

Mazda Tribute with all-wheel drive and V6

V6, four wheel drive Ford Escape

Compass jeep

V6, front-wheel drive Mazda Tribute

V6, front-wheel drive Ford Escape

4-cylinder front-wheel drive Mazda Tribute

4-cylinder, front-wheel drive Ford Escape.

The Dodge Nitro and Jeep Liberty have fared poorly at avoiding reported serious problems. For the 2007 and 2008 models (the only two to offer reliability ratings in 2010), the Nitro had a much worse than average rating and a worse than average rating. For the most recent four model years of the Jeep Liberty, two of the 2010 reliability ratings were much worse than average and two were worse than average.

Tea The 10 lower midsize SUVs, with worst first, they are:

Dodge Journey

Jeep Wrangler 4-Door

4 cylinder GMC Terrain

V6 GMC Terrain

Nissan xtrerra

Turbo Mazda CX-7

Hyundai veracruz

2-Door Jeep Wrangler

Chevrolet Equinox V6

V6 Kia Sorento.

Noted for 2010’s poor long-term reliability ratings are the Chevrolet Equinox and Kia Sorento. The Equinox has 3 ratings much worse than average or worse than the average of its 5-year data history and the Sorento has 4 of its 6-year data history.

Tea Top 10 Lowest Luxury SUVs, with worst first, they are:

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Turbo Diesel

6-cylinder BMW X5

BMW X5 turbodiesel

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class V8

Mercedes-Benz R-Class

Audi Q7

Cadillac Escalade

Buick Enclave with four wheel drive

Mercedes-Benz M-Class V6

Lexus GX.

The V8 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class has below-average reliability ratings for both models from its 2010 2-year data history, the 6-cylinder BMW X5 has below-average ratings for 7 of its 9-year history reliability, and the all-wheel drive Buick Enclave has a below-average rating in its 2-year data history. The Lexus GX is rated below average, but the remaining 5 ratings are above average and one is much better than average. Consequently, as one moves down this list, long-term reliability seems to improve with short-term predicted reliability.

Tea The 10 Bottom Large SUVs, with worst first, they are:

GMC Yukon Hybrid

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

GMC Acadia front-wheel drive

GMC Acadia with four wheel drive

Ford Flex with four wheel drive

Nissan armada

GMC Yukon

Chevrolet tahoe

GMC Yukon XL 1500

Chevrolet Suburban 1500.

Consumer Reports’ reliability ratings are widely respected and followed by North American consumers looking for high-quality products. You have a low chance of serious problems.

Digital Marketing

Google Cached Pages: How to View Tips and Tricks

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A cached link or page is temporarily stored HTML web documents and data such as images, pages, and content to reduce bandwidth usage and server load time to get the requested web page. The web cache system stores millions of copies of documents that pass through it daily. Once a user requests a particular page, which would normally be previously cached, it would load much faster than the first time. A cache system can be a server such as Google’s cache system or a computer program.

When we browse the web, our browsers generally save a copy of the web pages visited in a cache system to speed up the process of retrieving data, from the browser cache where it was stored, rather than retrieving it from its original source.

What do Google cached pages mean?

When doing a Google search, “cached” pages often appear. Google cached pages are snapshots of the page taken by Google and saved when the bots actually crawled a particular web page and last indexed it. Users are informed that they are viewing a snapshot of the cached page followed by the day it was captured.

How do I check cached pages on Google?

Google’s cached pages can be easily accessed by clicking that green arrow, as shown in the screenshot below, next to the page’s URL. Once you click “Cached”, you will be redirected to a different version of a page that Google usually saves as a backup when you last visited the site and crawled its content.

How do I find Google cached pages?

When you visit a particular website, but the request returns a page fault or inaccessible page, you will usually be prompted to view a “saved copy” of the web page you landed on. Chrome would show a “Show Saved Copy” button option when the browser doesn’t load the page.

If you want to remove cached content, such as snippets or images, that are still in search results and you no longer want people to see it, then all you have to do is submit your request using the Webmaster Tools of Google.

Although the titles and URL of the cached page will still be displayed, Google will remove the snippet and the cached page from the search results.

However, if you want to prevent Google from caching a specific page, you may want to put the tag below in the

<Head> code section of your page.

meta name = “ROBOTS” content = “NOARCHIVE, NOODP, NOYDIR”

Why do I need to see a cached page?

Due to the fact that various websites change quite frequently, their cached versions can be very different from the existing page that you have visited in search results. In fact, it is probably useless to view an outdated web page, but there are specific situations where both website visitors and developers find it advantageous and useful to view cached pages, such as:

When a website doesn’t load or is no longer available, you can still see the cached copy stored in Google files.

When a created website has changed drastically, a cached copy would be useful to quickly find its relevant and familiar content.

Although the cached web page is not updated frequently, it would load much faster than the usual page, which is a bonus for slow internet users.

For SEO purposes, viewing a cached page in a text-only version allows you, as a developer, to discover how Google bots crawl and index pages, which would act as an advantage to improve word content. specific key as well as other items.

Expired promotions and special discount offers may still exist on cached pages and thus you can still catch up and benefit.

Eventually, the Google cache is such a useful feature that it can help not only visitors but also developers to find, view, and / or delete the content of a particular web page.