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Monday, March 23, 2015
March is National Nutrition Month, which is sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This year's theme is "Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle" where we encourage everyone to implement an all-around lifestyle change in order to be healthy.
There is no magic bullet for a healthy lifestyle; it is an on-going commitment to making small changes that add up to a healthier you. This change should include regular physical activity, making informed food choices, and consuming nutrient dense, fewer calorie foods. By making these changes, you can decrease your risk of chronic disease, maintain a healthy weight, and achieve overall better health. This year's theme was developed to serve as a reminder that life and health are about balance and moderation.
A healthy lifestyle is not about one specific food and it doesn't have to be started at any one time of year. Most importantly, it does not mean depriving ourselves of the things we enjoy. Developing a healthy lifestyle is about finding a daily routine that works for you, while still finding time for the foods and activities you love.
The WMHS Food and Nutrition Services Department will be celebrating National Nutrition Month every week during the month of March!
March 20th - Registered Dietitian Nutritionists will be available in the cafeteria from 12-1pm with nutrition information and chances to win a raffle!
The cafeteria will be offering a chance to win a prize basket for every person who chooses a fruit or vegetable serving with their meal!
In hopes that warmer weather is coming soon, one way to start gearing up for a healthy lifestyle change this Spring is to start thinking about buying fresh produce. Below are some tips to help!
from USDA's ChooseMyPlate.gov
1. Celebrate the season- In-Season Fruits and Vegetables for the Spring:
March: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Pineapple, and Mangoes
April: Zucchini, Rhubarb, Broccoli, Lettuce, Artichokes, Asparagus, Spring Peas, Pineapples,
2. Why pay full price?- Check for sales, coupons, and specials that will cut costs. Also check to see if your store has a membership card; sign up for even more savings.
3. Stick to your list- Plan out your meals ahead of time and make a grocery list. You will save money buying only what you need.
4. Try canned or frozen- Canned and frozen items may be less expensive than fresh per serving. For canned items, choose fruit canned in 100% fruit juice or water and vegetables with "low sodium" or "no salt added" on the label.
5. Buy small amounts frequently- Buy small amounts more often to ensure you can eat the foods without throwing any away to save money and reduce waste.
6. Buy in bulk when items are on sale- For both fresh and frozen fruits/vegetables that you use often, a large size bag is a better buy.
7. Store brands = savings- Opt for store brands; you will get the same or similar product for a cheaper price.
8. Keep it simple- Buy vegetables and fruits in their simplest form. Pre-cut, pre-washed, and ready-to-eat foods are convenient but often cost much more.
9. Plant your own- Start a garden in the yard or on the deck in containers. Herbs, cucumbers, peppers, or tomatoes are good for beginners.
10. Plan and cook smart- Prepare and freeze vegetable soups, stews, or other dishes in advance. Add leftover veggies to casseroles or blend them to make soup.
Here is a healthy recipe shared at the recent Prevention is Power Cancer and Heart Disease Prevention event at Western Maryland Regional Medical Center. This veggie packed chili is a great way to lighten up a traditional comfort food for Spring, so give it a try one night this week! Hope you enjoy!
Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili
Total time: 40 minutes
Servings 6-8 Units US
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, about 1 cup, chopped
1/2 lb lean ground turkey (optional)
2 smashed garlic cloves
2 cups sweet potatoes, cut into small cubes
2 teaspoons coriander
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pinch cinnamon
4 cups diced tomatoes (and their juice)
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
water (as needed) or tomato juice (as needed)
1 cup chopped red pepper
1 (540 ml) can black beans, drained
1 cup canned kidney beans, drained
1 small zucchini (about 3/4 cup)
1 lime
Heat olive oil in a large saute pan or small soup pot on medium high heat.
Add onion, turkey, garlic and sweet potato and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add seasonings and saute for another 5 minutes.
Add tomatoes and their juice and jalapeno and bring to boil.
Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 10 minutes.
You might need to add water or tomato juice if too much liquid evaporates.
Stir in red pepper and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add beans and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
Add zucchini and cook for 5 minutes more.
Stir in squeeze of lime juice to taste.
Can be made a day in advance, add a little liquid when reheating.
Contributed by Amanda Pratt, a graduate of West Virginia University with a bachelor's degree in Human Nutrition and Foods and minor in Food Science and Technology. Amanda is currently completing an ARAMARK Healthcare Distance Dietetic Internship at the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center.
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subset: commoncrawl


text: Measuring approximately 11 by 17 inches, this stunning print features the work of fan-favorite comics artist Frank Cho. In nm/mint and undisplayed condition, it will be shipped with the utmost care. Please note- the signature is real. It is the actual, hand-signed signature of Cho. It is not a pre-printed image on the print.


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The American presidential campaign has become a stumble along the Via Dolorosa. As the mob howls from the sidewalk, the candidates seem in a daze, falling to the ground every few steps. Mistakes, gaffes, leaks and "misspeakings" form themselves into the Stations of the Cross, gradually defining the contest. Hillary Clinton's stumbles have been, successively, her Bosnian "sniper fire" fib, her claims of "roles" in Kosovo and Northern Ireland, the Colombian conflict of interest of her sacked aide Mark Penn, and her cringe-making jibe at Barack Obama as being "not a Muslim, as far as I know".
Obama, ostensibly the smoothest performer imaginable, has been no less prone to mishap. His "narrative" has staggered from the "bone-headed" acceptance of a land gift from a party donor, to his wife's being "never proud of my country until now" and the "pastor disaster" of his association with the radical Chicago preacher, Jeremiah Wright. Then last week came the casual reference to the "bitterness" of small- town Americans "taking refuge in guns and religion", a reference that allegedly cost him dear in Pennsylvania.
John McCain, whose own Via Dolorosa has hardly begun, has had to survive a sweetheart story in the New York Times, mind-numbing mistakes about capital taxes and a reckless claim that the Iranians were "taking al-Qaida into Iran, training them and sending them back". This is about the only thing that the (Shia) Iranians are almost certainly not doing in the Sunni parts of Iraq.
No story about the campaign fails to mention some or all of these incidents, referred to generically as "misspeaking". The campaign has become a composite of them, a positive defined by its negatives.
The reason is not hard to discern. A modern campaign, not just in America, is so fine-tuned, so honed and platitudinised, that mistakes are the only way of bringing it into focus. In the New Yorker, Hendrik Hertzberg describes it as a syndrome. "While the politician's perfectly functioning brain has dispatched the correct signals, the mouth has somehow received and transmitted them in altered form." They are thus distanced from the speaker and become nobody's fault, like a child putting its misbehaviour down to genetics. "She misspoke" means she lied, but permissibly so.
The word, originating in Chaucer, is traceable to Nixon's "misspeakings" to explain away palpable falsities. It is a sort of intellectual halitosis, deplored as another instance of the brainless inadequacy of modern democracy.
I welcome it. A campaign composed of serial course-correction is no bad proxy for modern government, and no bad test of leadership. The mishaps also reveal latent truths. The accusation of "congenital lying" has long stuck to the Clintons, and Hillary's misspeakings add substance to the charge. Obama's casual remark about small-town Americans - by implication poor whites - may have been at a private gathering in California, but it displayed an aspect of the man that contains a grain of truth. Behind the down-to-earth Chicago community activist is that most elitist American, the well-heeled and aloof Harvard lawyer.
Candidates customarily declare that a misspeaking has been misreported or misinterpreted, but a clever one turns it to advantage. Criticism of Clinton for the negativity of her attacks on Obama - "the Clintons will do anything to win" - is converted into a symbol of herself as a "fighting underdog", as "not a quitter". Even as she loses on points, she taunts Obama for his inability "to close this thing down", to knock her out. It is her strongest suit, even where she has clearly failed to knock him out.
Obama's handling of his membership of Wright's congregation was no less deft. This wild-card champion of black consciousness should have been on the avoid-list from the start. Obama used the Wright affair as occasion for one of his most thoughtful speeches on race. He considered Wright "not only wrong but divisive". He carefully refused to disown him (and offend black people) but instead treated him as a biblical text.
Wright's fault, he said, was to identify black people as a static class "irrevocably bound to a tragic past". For his part, Obama had "brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles, cousins of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live I will never forget that in no other country on earth is my story even possible".
Obama pointed out the significance of a black leader demanding that black people stop pleading for handouts from (white) government and "take full responsibility for our own lives". What could be more "conservative"? While the words may have passed over many Americans, the poison was drawn. Exegesis of Obama's speech has been a high point of the campaign and indeed of American race relations. The historian Garry Wills has ranked it with Lincoln's Cooper Union speech in 1860.
No great issues divide political tribes in most democracies these days. This is why so many election results are near dead-heats. When citizens are relatively prosperous they do not need politicians to advance their cause. Instead they want their leaders to be icons of the public realm, like them but more so. Hence such apparently idiot polls as: who would you most like to meet in ... a barbecue, elevator, subway?
In a moment of revelation, Obama recently remarked on the impossibility of distinguishing candidates by policies and programmes. "Everybody has got a 10-point plan on everything," he said. "You go to Senator Clinton's website and my website and they look identical. The problem is not the lack of proposals." The problem was how to break Washington's notorious legislative logjam of lobbies and interest groups - to which, by implication, Clinton was beholden.
The campaign comes alive when seen through the prism of a mishap count. There is no debate on the credit crisis and little on the war. Healthcare and terrorism barely feature. But modern political leadership is no longer programme-driven. It is composed of responses to unpredictable crises, to wars, terror attacks, financial crashes and oil-price shocks. The qualities required are those of accident management.
The genius of the primary campaign is to test the ability of candidates to respond to such accidents, to explain frequent course corrections and apologise for the gaffes and infelicities inevitable in the age of 24/7 coverage. It is a strength of the drawn-out Democratic primaries that they are testing such ability to destruction. The media has barely started on the Republicans and McCain.


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Letters to the Editor
Here's a humanitarian challenge for developers
Wouldn't it be wonderful if one of our prominent developers said to himself, "Self, why don't we take a vacation from making money by the boatload and do something truly exemplary, something blatantly altruistic for the nice people of Manatee County, where we have made a whopping glob of money? Why don't we buy the old trailer park on Manatee Avenue West that has been for sale for a long time and use the 'smarts,' about construction of living space we have learned over the years, and put up an apartment complex like none you have ever seen?
"It would be beautiful, efficient, economical and accessible for all the nice people who work in the multitude of establishments in that area. Think of all the people who work in the drug stores, grocery stores, veterinarian offices, doctor and dentist offices, real estate offices... every possible need could be within walking distance. The complex could have a green area and its own bus stop for going to the beach on one's day off.
"Folks for miles around would talk about the absolutely wonderful, affordable housing, built for Manatee citizens by the hugely generous, innovative, and creative (put his/her name here in caps... Pat Neal or Carlos Beruff would fit nicely) developer turned humanitarian."
Wouldn't it be wonderful?
Carolyn Schneider


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Programme for 2014
CB1 Poetry continues at The Boathouse but moving to the fourth Thursday of the month, and we have a fantastic programme lined up for 2014:
Thursday 23rd January 2014 -- Emma Danes, Rebecca Watts and Adam Crothers plus open mic floor spots -- The Boathouse, 8.15pm, £5/£4
Thursday 27th February 2014 -- Sarah Howe and Fran Lock plus open mic floor spots -- The Boathouse, 8pm, £5/£4
Thursday 27th March 2014 -- Ann Drysdale and Caroline Gilfillan plus open mic floor spots -- Royal Cambridge Hotel, 8pm, £5/£4
Thursday 24th April 2014 -- Tara Bergin and Julith Jedamus plus open mic floor spots -- The Boathouse, 8pm, £5/£4
Thursday 22nd May 2014 -- Emily Berry plus open mic floor spots -- The Boathouse, 8pm, £5/£4
Thursday 24th April -- Tara Bergin and Julith Jedamus
From April onwards we return to The Boathouse, with two brilliant Carcanet poets reading for us on Thursday 24th April.
Tara Bergin was born and grew up in Dublin, moving to England in 2002. Her poems have appeared in the TLS, Poetry Review, PN Review, Poetry London, Modern Poetry in Translation, Best British Poetry 2012, The Forward Book of Poetry. Her debut collection, This is Yarrow, is published by Carcanet.
Julith Jedamus grew up in the mountains of Boulder, Colorado. For the past sixteen years she has lived in London. She began writing novels, switched to short stories, and now writes verse, some of which was anthologised in New Poetries V. Her first collection, The Swerve, was published by Carcanet in 2012.
Thursday 24th April, The Boathouse, Open Mic floor spots, books for sale. Doors 7.30, readings 8pm. Tickets on the door only, £5/£4.
Ask me:
have I fallen in love with the mechanic?
Perhaps - perhaps, for a moment.
He doesn't know what it is.
It's his hands -
so thickly black with engine oil,
so hard-working, and in such high demand.
Ask me:
is there violence in the dirt?
Perhaps - perhaps, for a moment.
Like a criminal's thumb which gets
held firmly by the prison officer
and is then rolled hard onto gummed paper
so that we know, we know, that he is done for -
and even the back of the mechanic's hands
as well as the palms, are all inked black,
and everything they touch will be evidence of him -
the keys, the white receipt, my own hand
or cheek
were he to touch it.
Ask me, ask me how that makes me feel!
My cheeks turn pink with the thought of it,
while his blushes, if he had blushed,
would be hidden behind grease -
a soft deep dirt that is soft and thick
like the ink in tins that etchers use.
It makes the whites of his eyes whiter,
and the blues bluer -
Yes, perhaps I am almost in love with the mechanic.
But it is terribly awkward, face to face.
It is terribly awkward to be in such close proximity
to the mechanic, and the dirty girl on the calendar
who is always there, just visible from the small window
where I go afterwards, to pay.
Tara Bergin
In Memory of the Photographer Wilson 'Snowflake' Bentley, Who Died of Pneumonia after Walking through a Blizzard Near Jericho, Vermont, December 23, 1931.
Beauty was, for him, cold,
hexagonal, perfect
in all its parts, beheld
once and once only. Locked
beneath his lens, light-spun
and light-refracting, flecked
with coal dust and pollen,
his flakes shone with lunar
loveliness… And we can
see, in these hundred-year-
old prints, plain evidence
of his attention, care,
and chilling confidence:
in the manifold world,
its willed evanescence,
its subtle signs and wild
and blinding storms. Did it
surprise him, to be killed
by a surfeit of white -
a blazing increment
of stars, ferns, wands and bright
escutcheons, an argent
army of perfectness?
Look, and see his wind-bent
back, his boots caked with ice,
his glazed eyes… Did he have,
in his last seditious
delirium, one brave
black thought: did God murder
us all with too much love?
Julith Jedamus


text:
I wrote this story for a competition in Scribophile. It didn't place but I have loved it ever since. I think it was the first short story that I ever finished and actually thought it was good. The prompt was to write a story in less than 3,000 words, inspired by the Wikipedia article on Hallowe'en and its traditions. One custom that persists in modern-day Ireland is the baking (or more often nowadays, the purchase) of a barmbrack (Irish: báirín breac), which is a light fruitcake, into which a plain ring, a coin and other charms are placed before baking. It is said that those who get a ring will find their true love in the ensuing year. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween
The chill in the air nipped at Joy's cheeks as she hurried home. It was cold this year, even for Scotland in October. Her breath puffing in front of her, she sped up as her house came into view. For a moment, the light reflecting against the dark glass of her front room flashed blue and red. Joy glanced around, expecting to see police car or maybe an ambulance but the street was quiet. When she looked back at the house the light reflected was the plain orange of the street lamps. She shook her head and went inside.
Joy hung her keys on the hook behind the door and walked through the house to the kitchen. She dumped the shopping bags on the table with a sigh before slipping her jacket off and heading for the kettle. On the counter in front of it was a china plate with a delicate blue pattern, holding a single slice of fruit cake. Joy read the note that lay beside it
A slice of barmbrack for you, my dear. Make sure to eat it tonight, it only works on Hallowe'en! I pray for a better fortune for the coming year. I love you.
Joy allowed herself a small smile and picked a crumb off the edge of the cake. Her grandmother still followed all the old traditions, foolish though they were. As if some charm in a cake could tell what would come the following year! Still, at least there was cake.
Joy moved around the kitchen, putting her shopping away and trying to ignore the date. Hallowe'en used to be her favourite time of year. She would decorate the house and make treats for the kids who came round guising. She and Adam would have friends over, everyone in costume.
But that was before. This was her second Hallowe'en without Adam and it could never be the same again. They should have been married by now. If he hadn't gone to pick up extra treats …
Joy shook herself as she realised that she was standing motionless with a box of teabags in her hand. She put one teabag in her mug and the rest of the box went into the cupboard. A tear trickled down Joy's cheek and she choked back a sob, moving to fill the kettle. She looked up and caught sight of her reflection on the kitchen window.
'Oh, Adam. I miss you so much,' she said under her breath.
'I know you do, love. I miss you too.'
Joy turned around, slowly, dreading what she would see behind her. There he stood, as he had so many times since that horrible night. Adam was still wearing his costume – James Bond, of all things. He looked so suave in that suit, with his dark hair and eyes.
'You're not there,' Joy said, her voice betraying her doubt in her own words.
'Where else would I be?' the apparition asked, the table showing through his translucent body.
'I'm just imagining you because I miss you. Ghosts aren't real.' Why am I even talking to him?
'Of course I'm real,' he said, sounding exasperated.
Joy covered her face with her hands and wept. She had done all of the exercises that her therapist suggested. She had tried so hard to let go of him. So why was she still hallucinating? It wasn't fair.
Joy felt a cold breeze and her hair lifted away from her face as Adam caressed her. Fake Adam. Hallucinatory Adam. So why did it feel so real? This is not real. I lost my fiancé, I lost my future and now I'm losing my mind.
'No need for tears, love, I'm here now.'
Joy had read endlessly about bereavement and it was said that the sound of someone's voice was one of the hardest memories to hang onto. So why did her hallucination sound so perfectly like Adam?
The doorbell rang, making Joy stiffen. She took her hands away from her face and Adam was gone. The bell rang again and this time the sound was accompanied by laughing children. Joy straightened up, feeling like a centenarian, joints creaking and stiff. She headed for the front door, grabbing a bag of apples as she passed the table. The kids outside must be new. The others all leave me alone now.
Joy opened the door to a witch, a goblin and a princess, their father standing behind them, looking bored. Joy's eyes felt puffy. I must look a sight, she thought as she reached to shake the man's outstretched hand.
'Jim Brown and these are my children, we just moved in round the corner.'
'Nice to meet you. I'm Joy Harper. I'm not very well stocked I'm afraid,' she said, lifting the bag of apples.
'Go on, do your party piece,' Jim said, nudging the back of the witch.
'Not last night but the night before,' sang the children in unison, 'three wee witches came to the door, one was black and one was green and one just shouted "Hallowe'en!"' the children shouted the last word and collapsed into giggles.
'My goodness,' Joy said, 'I didn't realise that song was still doing the rounds. I used to sing that when I was about your age.' As she spoke, she gave an apple to each of the children. The goblin and the princess exchanged glances. 'If you come back next year, I might have something better,' Joy said, with an embarrassed smile.
The children thanked her then ran off down the path, their dad trailing along behind. Joy closed the door, letting out a shaky breath. That was ok. She hadn't collapsed in a sobbing heap on the floor and terrified the children. Maybe she could cope with Hallowe'en after all. The interruption had pulled her from her hallucination and she was thankful.
Exhausted and emotionally spent, she decided to go for a bath. Passing through the bedroom on her way to the ensuite, Joy glanced at the bedside cabinet, where her engagement ring sat, displayed in its box. After almost two years, her therapist had convinced her to take it off but her hand still felt naked without it. Averting her gaze, she hurried through to the bathroom.
As hot water poured into the bathtub, Joy slipped out of her clothes, catching sight of her flat belly, skin smooth and unmarred. I might have been pregnant by now, she thought, slipping into the water. We would have been trying, anyway. Fresh tears leaked from Joy's eyelids as she tipped her head back, letting her thick, dark hair float in the water.
Try as she might, Joy could not avert her thoughts from that awful night when she had lost everything she thought the future would hold.
She had spent the afternoon baking cakes and cookies, making gummy sweets and Hallowe'en themed chocolates and decorating the house for the party that evening. Taking the last batch of cookies out of the oven, she had burned her hand and dropped the tray, knocking over two others in the process. She had asked Adam to run out to the shop and buy some more cookies while she tended to her burn and cleaned up the mess. He had kissed the burn, lovingly teased her for her clumsiness, and headed out.
The next time she saw him, Joy had been identifying his body. Just a few streets from their house, a drunk driver had run a red light, straight into the driver's side of their car, breaking Adam's neck. The coroner assured her that his death had been instantaneous; Adam had experienced no pain. One second he was there and the next he was gone, and with him went everything that Joy had ever wanted. If she hadn't been so clumsy, if she hadn't burned her hand, then none of this would have happened. It was her fault.
Joy's parents had flown back from Australia for the funeral and had tried to convince her to go and stay with them for a while, take some time to recover, but she hadn't wanted to leave the house that she and Adam had shared. She had clung desperately to his memory, holding as much of him inside of her as she had been able.
It was about six months after his death that she began to see Adam, hear his voice, as if he was there. The first time, she had woken up in the night to see him lying on his side of the bed, watching her. The next morning it had seemed like a dream and she thought no more of it. His visits increased in frequency, until he appeared during the day and held conversations with Joy. That was when she realised that she wasn't just imagining him, she was fully hallucinating. So she sought out a therapist who specialised in grief counselling. She had done the exercises faithfully, following all of her therapist's suggestions for letting go of her guilt over Adam's death; for letting go of him. Still, he appeared to her. She was starting to think that she would have to see a doctor; maybe the solution lay in a prescription pad.
Joy closed her eyes and held her breath, ducking her head under rapidly cooling water, staying in that peaceful place for as long as she could. She didn't see the figure standing at the side of the bathtub, watching her from eyes filled with longing.
Wrapping herself in a warm dressing gown, Joy made her way into the kitchen, planning on making the cup of tea that she had started earlier. Adam stood in front of the kettle. Joy stopped short, heart pounding in her chest.
'Why are you here?' she cried.
'It's our favourite night of the year, love. Of course I'm here with you,' the apparition replied.
Joy slumped into a seat at the kitchen table, the strength running out of her legs like water down a drain. 'I wish you were really here.'
'I wish I could hold you,' Adam replied, looking down at translucent arms.
Joy longed with such fierce intensity to feel his arms around her that for a moment, she almost could. Her nerves strained for the sensation but the moment was fleeting and in the end, she was left to wrap her arms around herself instead.
'Why aren't you wearing your ring anymore?' he asked, taking Joy by surprise.
'I need to move on,' Joy answered, wondering if she carried guilt over taking her ring off. Her therapist believed that the hallucinations were caused by her feelings of guilt over his death.
'It was never meant to come off,' Adam replied. 'I'm sorry I never got to put a wedding ring on beside it.'
The day before Adam died, Joy had bought his wedding ring. A week later, the jeweller called to say it had been resized and was ready. Joy never collected it.
'Adam, I'm sorry,' Joy said, her voice breaking. 'I'm sorry that I burned my hand and you had to go out. I'm sorry that you died. I'm sorry that I didn't. I love you so much.' The tears flowed freely now and Joy had to force the words through a throat that ached with emotion. 'I have to let you go now. I'm afraid I'm going crazy. If anyone finds out, I'll lose my job. They don't let crazy people teach. I have to move on.'
'You're not crazy, love. I'm here. I'm real.' Adam reached towards her and a cool breeze stirred.
'If only I could believe that.'
'I can stay here with you. We can be together, after a fashion.'
'I have to say goodbye, Adam.'
'What if there was a way we could be together?'
'There isn't.'
'But if there was? Would you do it?'
'I would give anything to be able to change what happened. To be your wife.'
Adam nodded, then dissolved until he was no longer there. Joy stayed at the table, weeping, for a long time.
Eventually, tears spent for now, Joy pushed herself to her feet and switched the kettle on. This cup of tea has been a long time coming. Spotting the barmbrack that still lay on the counter, Joy decided to call her grandmother. The phone rang several times before the answering machine clicked on. Joy left a message thanking her for the cake and offering to take her out for dinner on Saturday.
Joy made her tea and settled down at the table with her slice of cake. The sugar was just exactly what she needed to clear her mental fog a little – she would enjoy her tea and cake then try calling Nana again. Maybe it's time to take her advice and think about going to stay with mum and dad for a while. Nana could come too. A fresh start for both of us.
The cake was dense and moist and perfect. She took a second bite from the thicker end of the slice. Crumbs caught at the back of her throat and Joy began to cough. As she breathed in, the larger piece of cake got sucked back in her mouth and blocked her throat. I can't breathe! Joy couldn't even cough to clear her throat. Panicking, she thumped herself in the chest. Her hands wanted to go to her throat and she had to fight to stop them from clawing uselessly. Think! Stay calm! Joy punched herself, just below her diaphragm, trying to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre on herself. Her vision was fading. She knew she didn't have long. She pushed to her feet but did not have the strength to stand and fell to the floor.
Joy lay there, too weak to get up, vision fading. Just before she lost consciousness, Joy saw Adam's worried face above her.
A few days later, Joy waited in the kitchen of her grandmother's house, listening to the older woman speak to a police officer in the sitting room.
'Yes, that's Joy's engagement ring,' Nana was saying. 'I have no idea how it got into the barmbrack, though. The last time I saw it, she was wearing it.'
'But you did bake charms into the cake?' the policeman asked, his voice gruff.
'Of course. That's how it works. All of the charms have been accounted for – there were none in Joy's slice.'
'Whatever happened, it's looking like an accident. I'll be in touch when we know more.'
Joy heard the door close and then her grandmother came into the kitchen, carrying cups to the sink.
'I'm sorry about all of this, Nana,' Joy said to the older woman's back. 'I love you.'
'Oh Joy,' Nana said, her voice choked with tears.
Joy felt the air move beside her and then Adam was there, holding out his hand.
'Are you ready?' he asked.
Joy leant over to her grandmother and kissed her wrinkled brow. 'Goodbye, Nana.'
'I'm ready,' Joy took Adam's hand, entwining her fingers in his. They faded away, the light glinting from the matching rings on their left hands.


text:
Engine is pleased that New York City has agreed to postpone a proposed cap on the number of for-hire vehicles in the five boroughs. As we said after the proposal was introduced, it had the potential to be especially problematic for some of the newest and smallest transportation startups in New York, and particularly for the next wave of innovators that haven't even launched yet.
We commend the Council and the Mayor's office for once again being responsive to concerns raised by the startup community. And we look forward to supporting a dialogue with startups and other stakeholders to find creative 21st century solutions to the problems of traffic and congestion.


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Fertility Concerns in Professional Women
Many women are delaying pregnancy and childbirth these days as they strive to pursue a career or other life adventures. Long-acting reversible contraceptive options have helped to make this possible by providing long term, effective birth control (more on that later!). When it comes time to start a family, many women feel nervous and worried about the possibility of infertility. Although it is true that fertility declines with age, there are many women who have successful pregnancies in the older age range. Awareness about the effect of age on fertility can help women make family planning decisions, and seek appropriate care when needed. Unfortunately there is not a way to predict or test your fertility prior to attempting to conceive.
Why does fertility decline with age?
- Women are born with a finite number of eggs in the ovaries. The number of eggs decreases throughout a woman's life, from 1-2 million at birth to 25,000 at age 37 and 1,000 at age 51 (the average age of menopause).
- In addition to the falling number of eggs, the quality of eggs also declines. This is why a donor egg from a young patient is more successful in an older patient.
- Changes in circulating hormones
- Sexual activity declines with age
- As age increases, the risk of medical disorders that may hurt fertility increases (fibroids, endometriosis, problems with fallopian tubes)
When does fertility start to decline?
- The decline in fertility starts at about age 32, and decreases more rapidly after age 37.
Factors that can negatively impact fertility
- Smoking tobacco (in both female and male partners)
- Being overweight or obese
- Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption (> 2 drinks/day)
- History of gonorrhea or chlamydia
Factors that DO NOT affect fertility
- Prior birth control use of oral contraceptive pills, intrauterine device, Nexplanon, etc. Depo provera shots may affect cycles for multiple months after cessation and cause a delay in return to fertility
- Diet
- Moderate caffeine consumption (example: 1-2 cups of coffee per day)
When should you see a doctor for infertility?
- If you are under age 35, after trying to conceive for 12 months
- If you are over age 35, after trying to conceive for 6 months
- If you are older than 40, immediate evaluation and treatment is acceptable
- If there are other specific clinical problems (example: no periods, or very irregular periods, history of ovarian or tubal surgery in the past)
Who should you see for infertility?
A general OB/gyn can start your workup and evaluation, and often treatment as well. There are certain tests that are routinely checked for patients with infertility, and these can be done with your general OB/gyn. These include blood work, semen analysis for your partner, and possibly imaging to evaluate your fallopian tubes. If you have a complicated medical or gynecologic history, you may need to be referred to an infertility specialist, REI doctor (Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility). You can make an appointment with an REI doctor on your own as well at any point, but keep in mind the general guidelines above. Consultation, evaluation, and treatment of infertility are often not covered by insurance, and can be very costly.
1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2014, March). Female Age-Related Fertility Decline. Retrieved from http://www.acog.org/Resources-And-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Gynecologic-Practice/Female-Age-Related-Fertility-Decline
By Loriana Newman, M.D. - Expert Obstetrician/Gynecologist


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…including "The Birth of Smooth Streaming"
In my last post I talked about the history of multi-bitrate streaming and how we got from RTSP and HTTP streaming back to HTTP download as the primary media web distribution mechanism. In this post we'll take a closer look at how adaptive streaming differs from traditional streaming (i.e. RTSP) and plain progressive download.
Go check out the rest, where Alex explains traditional streaming, some of the streaming protocols supported by Windows Media Services, progressive download, adaptive streaming (including how adaptive streaming was prototyped for the NBC Olympics coverage), and finally Smooth Streaming in IIS, which will be available as a free download for Windows Server 2008.
Very cool, very geeky stuff. If you're into web video, it's a good read.
Alex Zambelli's Silverlight Media Blog » Blog Archive » The Birth of Smooth Streaming


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Reader Reviews:
Dive Site: William Mannell
Location: Malin Head, Donegal, Ireland
Description: World War II wreck
Depth: 30 metres (98 feet)
Visibility: 15 + metres (50 feet)
Rating: *****
The William Mannell was wrecked in 1947 after serving as a minesweeper in World War II. The depth of the wreck is 30 metres and the dive is done on slack only.
Barry McGill
This is a fantastic wreck to dive! Lying slightly on its port side in 29-30m the wreck is intact and has much of its superstructure still present. The whole wreck rests on bright heavy sand and visibility can be very good.
The outside of the bow is ablaze with the colour from anemones and other filter feeders, as you can imagine as the wreck is current swept at times.
You can explore some of the interior areas, which are reasonably open (certainly the ones we explored) and it's a wreck that can easily be explored in one dive using Nitrox. Large lobster have also made it their home and these can be sometimes be seen free-roaming the upperworks of the wreck (but don't tell the lobster men!).
Tony Gilbert
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(Easy Guitar). With a mix of pop sounds, country twang, and confessional lyrics, Speak Now is the highly anticipated follow-up to Taylor Swift's hugely successful sophomore release Fearless . This folio features easy guitar arrangements with notes and tab of all 14 tracks from the young songstress. Includes: Back to December * Better Than Revenge * Dear John * Enchanted * Haunted * Innocent * Last Kiss * Long Live * Mean * Mine * Never Grow Up * Sparks Fly * Speak Now * The Story of Us.


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What is Amendment 2?
Amendment 2 is Florida's medical marijuana law, which was approved by 71% of Florida voters on November 8, 2016. It added a new section to Florida's state Constitution,[1] entitled "Medical marijuana production, possession and use." Amendment 2 protects qualifying patients, caregivers, physicians, and medical marijuana dispensaries and their staff from criminal prosecutions or civil sanctions under Florida law (but not under federal law).
How do I become a patient?
In order to become a qualifying patient, a person must get a physician's certification from a Florida doctor and be diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition. (Minors must also have written permission from a parent or guardian.) A patient can then obtain the required ID card. The Health Department is required to begin issuing ID cards within nine months.
Debilitating medical conditions are: "cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or other debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those enumerated, and for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient." In other words, if a condition is about as serious as those listed and the patient's doctor believes marijuana may benefit the patient, they may qualify.
How do I become a caregiver?
Caregivers must be at least 21 years old and will probably have to submit to a background check. They may be limited in the number of patients they can assist. Caregivers must obtain an ID card from the Department of Health.
What are the requirements for physicians?
A doctor issuing a certification must first examine the patient and assess their medical history. The certification must state that the patient's medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks and for how long the physician recommends the medical use of marijuana for the patient.
Where can patients obtain medical marijuana?
The Florida Department of Health will register and regulate dispensaries, which are called "medical marijuana treatment centers," that can produce and distribute marijuana for medical purposes. The number and location of these centers is unknown and will be determined by the Department of Health.
When will patients be able to buy medical marijuana?
There are several things that must happen before dispensaries can open. First, the Department of Health will have six months to write regulations to govern the program, which will be subject to public comment. It will also determine how to license dispensaries. Then, businesses will apply, go through a selection, licensing, and inspection process, and begin growing marijuana. Finally, dispensaries will be able to sell medical marijuana to patients. Based on experiences in other states, MPP estimates that it will be approximately a year before medical marijuana becomes available to patients.
What types of medical marijuana products will be available?
Unlike under current law, we do not expect there to be an arbitrary cap on the amount of THC that is allowed in the medical marijuana available to patients. Amendment 2 contemplates a variety of medical marijuana products, such as food, tinctures, aerosols, oils, and ointments. Products will be tested in accordance with regulations created by the health department.
How much medical marijuana can a patient possess?
The health department will determine how much will be "presumed to be an adequate supply," but this presumption can be overcome if a patient can show that they need more.
How can I open a medical marijuana business?
The process is unknown at this time but will be determined by the health department.
Can patients grow their own marijuana?
What doesn't Amendment 2 do?
Amendment 2 does not: change the laws prohibiting driving under the influence of marijuana or require that employers and educational institutions allow patients to use medical marijuana at the workplace or on school grounds. Amendment 2 does not allow patients to smoke marijuana in public.
It also does not change federal law, which totally prohibits marijuana possession and distribution. While Congress and the Department of Justice have set policies to prevent enforcement action from being taken against those complying with certain medical marijuana laws, the conflicting federal policy has created issues with banking and with patients' ability to purchase and perhaps possess guns.
[1] The new section is Article X, Section 29.


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First, there were insurance companies using dongles — devices that plug into your car's data port and transfer vehicle information like acceleration and braking data to your phone, which then relays it to insurance companies. Now, one insurer is taking things a step further and directly...Read More»
British insurer Direct Line is now offering a 5 percent discount to Tesla drivers to encourage them to use semi-autonomous driving tech. The offer is part of a collaboration between the insurance company and Tesla, which is estimated to have sold over 2,500 vehicles equipped with its Autopilot tech...Read More»
Like all insurance, auto insurance premiums can be affected by a wide range of variables, including a driver's age, driving record, and credit score. One of the most important factors in determining that rate, though, is where the driver lives. State laws can have a huge effect on what insurance...Read More»
If someone told you that a bank--a major bank at that--forced borrowers to shell out more money for services they really didn't need, which bank would you immediately think of? Yes, Wells Fargo has done it again. The bank that can ill-afford another scandal is at the center of another one. A plague...Read More»
A new report suggests that auto insurers are charging car owners in minority neighborhoods higher premiums than folks in predominantly white neighborhoods. Sadly, that might not sound like big news. After all, insurers often set rates based on a vehicle owner's ZIP code, and it's not uncommon for...Read More»
Self-driving cars are going to ruin everything--in a good way. If all goes as planned, they'll dramatically reduce auto accidents and highway fatalities; boost fuel efficiency; minimize traffic jams; and maybe even cut the number of vehicles we own. Autonomous vehicles are likely to wreak havoc on...Read More»
We learned a lot of interesting things in the first decade of the Smartphone Era. We now know that, though nearly all of our friends have mobile phones, few like talking on them. We've learned that "freemium" is never free. And of course, we know that if you really want to make bank in the App...Read More»
This summer, many of us will take road trips, hitting the open highways, rolling down the windows, and letting the wind blow through our hair. That'll be a welcome change of pace from the bumper-to-bumper traffic and crowded parking lots we endure the rest of the year. No doubt about it, city...Read More»
Active-safety systems like automatic braking and collision avoidance minimize the chances that you'll be seriously injured in a crash. Unfortunately, these semi-autonomous systems may not reduce your auto-insurance premium--at least, not yet. That's likely to come as a surprise to many of you...Read More»
Last week we discussed some of the new, unorthodox methods that car companies are using to track down owners of recalled vehicles. But automakers aren't the only companies that want consumers to have their flawed car fixed. Insurers feel the same, and at least one is letting its customers know when...Read More»
Earlier, we discussed today's low gas prices and how many indicators suggest that they could fall further in the future. To anyone with a car, that probably sounds like good news, but as the folks at Forbes point out, there's a potential downside to cheap gas: higher insurance rates. ALSO SEE: 2016...Read More»
When you're shopping for a new ride, you always take a test drive, right? But what happens if you're in an accident during those 15 or 30 minutes? Who can be sued? That question was recently posed in a Colorado court of law, and as Auto News reports, the dealership was found to be just as liable --...Read More»
This week, J.D. Power released its 2015 Driver Interactive Vehicle Experience (DrIVE) Report, which reveals that motorists often don't use or appreciate the high-tech features in their new cars. The results should be a wake-up call to automakers around the globe. Heck, even Apple and Google should...Read More»
We've all heard horror stories about men and women who've lost their spouses, then learned that their better half was so deep in debt, those they've left behind are left out in the cold. We like to think those cases are extreme, but in fact, they happen every day -- even in cases where a spouse...Read More»
Self-driving cars are just around the corner. Many people worry about the added expense of autonomous technology and the effect it'll have on car prices, but in fact, self-driving vehicles are likely to save owners a good bit of money. How much? By some estimates, $1,000 or more each year -- and...Read More»
Insurance companies gather a lot of information. Age, gender, the car you drive, your driving record, your zip code, and your credit rating (where it's legal): It all influences insurance rates—and your relative risk, as insurers see it. Placing bets on our likelihood of an accident is...Read More»
Wise people often say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", and if ever there was a vehicle that wasn't broke, it's the Ford F-150. That pickup has been America's best-selling ride for nearly 40 years. And yet, for 2015, Ford upended conventional wisdom by "fixing" its hugely popular truck, ditching...Read More»
Yesterday, we discussed automakers' growing concern over Apple and Google. They're not just worried about the tech firms' plans to begin selling autonomous vehicles by 2020, they're also worried about the ways in which autonomous vehicles themselves will radically change the auto industry. As it...Read More»
Americans are wary of insurance companies. In fact, a recent Gallup poll about trustworthy professions put insurance agents near the bottom of the "trusted" list, besting U.S. Senators, Representatives, and, sadly, car salespeople. A new series of lawsuits against insurers isn't going to do the...Read More»


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A CDC report found Maine to have the highest asbestos-related
deaths in the US; researchers believe residents, workers are
exposed from the state's old homes that still use asbestos insulation
Despite regulation efforts, mesothelioma deaths still persist. Although the number of deaths over the age of 55 has decreased, the number of deaths among younger people has increased. Researchers from the CDC have surmised that this uptick among younger people is from workers and handlers of asbestos.
Maine in particular has some of the oldest housing stock in the country with 31% of its units built before 1950. As a result, Maine homes are more likely to contain asbestos than in homes in other states where different forms of insulation may be used. When these old homes are renovated or repaired, improper asbestos handling can release asbestos fibers into the air. These fibers can get lodged in the respiratory system and cause cancer.
"Prevention is important," Dr. Chris Pezzullo, Maine's chief medical officer, said in a recent press release.
Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers are particularly difficult to treat because there are no cures. Even before cancer develops, it is virtually impossible to extract the asbestos fibers from the respiratory system once they are inhaled. Because mesothelioma takes years to develop and its symptoms can be mistaken for other illnesses, cases are usually not diagnosed until it is too late.
This report follows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The act is expected to review asbestos among other environmental toxins for restricting their use.
Because of the pervasiveness of asbestos in old homes, anyone can be exposed to asbestos; however, asbestos workers should take extra caution during renovation and repair work. Not only can it prevent illness for them, it can prevent illnesses for others.
To learn more about the report, visit the CDC's website. To learn more about asbestos work and asbestos awareness, visit Zack Academy's asbestos certification homepage.


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Please download the latest version of the free Flash plug-in.
Finally, an accessory any Transformer would love. Researchers have created flat sheets of composite material that can fold themselves into toy boats, tents, and even paper airplanes. Based on the ancient art of origami, the sheets are edged by foil actuators--thin, solid-state motors--that contract or expand when they receive an electric current from flexible electronic circuits embedded in the sheets. After they achieve their preprogrammed shape, the sheets are held in place by tiny magnets on the edges of the fold joints. Researchers say the technology, described online today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could be scaled up to create ultra-portable tripods or even cups that automatically adjust to the size of liquid being poured into them.
See more Videos.


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The Department of Philosophy encourages students to become involved in the many scholarly and social activities that make up the life of the Department and the University. Opportunities within the Department include not only the undergraduate Philosophy Students' Association but also regularly offered colloquia and participation in the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl.
Through the Alma Mater Society (AMS), located in the Student Union Building (SUB), there is a wide range of social, academic, recreational and cultural clubs open to students. In addition, the University operates a recreation centre and aquatic centre as well as a wide variety of food and retail services. Many of these are located in or around the SUB near the centre of the campus.


text: To collect your debt, Riptide Recovery will do anything in our power under the law. Being intimately acquainted with the way debt laws change and the effort put in to get around those laws, is perhaps our greatest service. The longer a collector work, the more their knowledge and experience are emboldened, giving you better chances at getting all your money back. Our employees are the result of our vast experience. Each collector is trained tirelessly on how to approach each situation, their work confirms and evolves our perspective. Our employees are educated in law, business, and economics to get your funds back as quickly as possible.


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New tools in .NET 2.0 provide better, more standards-compliant XML data validation. Plus printing simple reports with GDI+, tips for using the WinForms databinding mechanism, using SQL Server for more efficient data mining, integrating large-scale apps and more.
The second-generation .NET Framework builds on the tools of the first to provide better, more standards-compliant XML data validation.
Take advantage of the fact that the Windows Forms databinding mechanism can use any .NET object that implements the IList interface as the data source.
Check out these latest VS.NET add-ins, including a product that helps you test and debug error-handling code in both native and .NET managed code.
Visual Studio 2005 (code-named Whidbey) is almost here.
Sometimes all you want to do is print the simple report you're already showing. Learn how to use GDI+ and the .NET Framework to print reports.
Does the term Basic give Visual Basic an uncalled-for negative connotation, or does it provide continuity with the language's past?
Form Maximizer for .NET helps you add professional touches to your forms right now by configuring a few properties rather than by delving into .NET intricacies.
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MIDDLE C, by William H. Gass. (Knopf, $28.95.) From its opening notes, this unquiet bildungsroman about a family of Austrian emigrants — fakes and fraudsters who have cast themselves as Jews — is designed to detonate its middling title.
HOW TO GET FILTHY RICH IN RISING ASIA, by Mohsin Hamid. (Riverhead, $26.95.) Disguised as a self-help book, Hamid's novel traces a nameless hero's journey from poor boy to corporate tycoon.
WASH, by Margaret Wrinkle. (Atlantic Monthly, $25.) A Revolutionary War veteran and his slave are locked in an intimate battle of wills in Wrinkle's tender first novel, which is both redemptive and affirming.
SUGAR IN THE BLOOD: A Family's Story of Slavery and Empire, by Andrea Stuart. (Knopf, $27.95.) In pursuing the history of both sides of her Caribbean family, slaves and slave owners, Stuart humanizes, with a fiery magic, the region's conflicted legacy.
THE RETROSPECTIVE, by A. B. Yehoshua. Translated by Stuart Schoffman. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $26.) A novel that examines the wild choices people make when deciding which stories to tell.
THE REBELLIOUS LIFE OF MRS. ROSA PARKS, by Jeanne Theoharis. (Beacon, $27.95.) Theoharis's calmly passionate biography reveals the determined activist behind Parks's mild image.
MUMBAI NEW YORK SCRANTON, by Tamara Shopsin. Photographs by Jason Fulford. (Scribner, $25.) Shopsin — graphic designer, short-order cook — chronicles a year of travel, work and misfortune.
FRESH OFF THE BOAT: A Memoir, by Eddie Huang. (Spiegel & Grau, $26.) The chef, brash and funny, writes of family, food and his love of hip-hop.
KARL MARX: A Nineteenth-Century Life, by Jonathan Sperber. (Liveright, $35.) The emphasis here is on Marx's responses to events, not his body of ideas.


text: Lomnicky peak (2634m) The second highest peak of High Tatras, Slovakia and the whole Carpathians. In the past it was considered the highest peak of High Tatras. Ascent from any sides is the best of the Tatras offer. Gerlach peak (2655m) The highest peak of High Tatras, Slovakia and the whole Carpathians. For its height, accessibility and beautiful mountain scenery is one of the most popular and most visited High Tatras peaks. Recent events Three days, three summits Ivan has an ambitious plan. He wants climb to highest peaks in all European countries. It is almost 50 peaks. He is just on the start of the journey. Birthday party on Vysoka Fifty years is only once in a lifetime, so why not celebrate it in style as Miro? Autumn climb to Lomnicky peak Drahos and Rado climbed last year with me to the highest peak of Slovakia - Gerlach. We knew that it was not be our last climb in High Tatras.We met together this year for a nice hike in the High Tatras again.


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Nominatim (from the Latin, by name) is a tool to search OSM data by name and address and to generate synthetic addresses of OSM points (reverse geocoding).
You can download the latest development version from github.
The latest release is 3.4.0.
For older releases, see the release history.
See the documentation of the latest release for
The documentation for the latest master branch from github (including the version running on https://nominatim.openstreetmap.org) can be found in the development section.
For older releases, check out the release history.
Additional Files
The following is a list of additional data files useful for Nominatim installations:
country_grid.sql.gz (mandatory from 3.0.0, included in release tar balls)
Base geometries for all countries.
Additional postcode data for Great Britain.
Additional postcode data for the United States.
- wikipedia_article.sql.bin
Data for result ranking based on Wikipedia.


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Pokemon Center 2010 Zorua Minccino Pansage Emolga Purrloin Mini Hand Towel
Click Image for Gallery
Pokemon Center 2010 Zorua, Minccino, Pansage, Emolga & Purrloin mini hand towel. This mini towel was only available at the Japan Pokemon Centers in September, 2010. Made in limited quantity. It is perfect size to use as a face towel, hand towel, or even a handkerchief. Made of 100% cotton. NOTE: To keep the colors from bleeding, dont leave the towel wet for long periods of time. If you wash it, wash separately, as colors may fade or bleed the first time you wash it.
Length: 8.25" (21cm)
Width: 8.25" (21cm)
Condition: Brand new. Never been used.


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A couple of weeks ago, Google launched Search, plus Your World, which aimed to find the best search results for you pulling in detail from your social networks.
However the results returned meant that pages from Google's own social network, Google , featured at the top of the list despite these results not being the most relevant. This, as you can imagine, did not sit well with the likes of Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.
But rather than just moan about it, the companies have clubbed together and brought out an add-on which uses Google's own relevance measure – the ranking of their organic search results – to determine what social content should appear in the areas where Google results are currently hardcoded.
The add-on or bookmarklet, which is available for the Firefox, Chrome and Safari browsers but not Internet Explorer, is cheekily called "Don't be Evil" – a reference to an early Google motto. The Google update has only been rolled out in the US, so you'll only notice the changes in the US and not on Google.co.uk for example.
According to the Focus on the User group, searching for cooking in Google with the new update returns Jamie Oliver's Google page first even though this hasn't been updated in two months. When carrying out the same search with the Don't be Evil add-on, Jamie's Twitter account is returned at the top of the list, with the Google entry not even appearing on the first page.
Google has declined to comment on the situation so far.
Have you noticed any changes in the results thrown up by Google since the Search, plus Your World update? Let us know in the comments.
Source: focusontheuser.org


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Benefits Information
The Board of Water Works offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes but is not limited to health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, supplemental life insurance, long-term disability insurance, vision insurance, AFLAC, tuition assistance program (TAP), deferred compensation (457 plan), pension plan, holiday pay, sick pay, vacation pay, social security, Medicare, FMLA, workers' compensation coverage, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and direct deposit of payroll checks.
Need more information? Contact Human Resources (719) 584-0454.
We appreciate your interest.


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Of course you have.
I'm especially sure you have if you have a furry, finned, and feathered friend to wake up to every day.
I have five furry friends and a menagerie of snails to keep me company each day.
As you know, I am a dog walker and pet sitter in my neighborhood.
Two of my most loyal clients are Joy and Bella the black Labrador Retrievers.
They live right next door and I usually visit them two or three times a week.
I actually went to let the dogs out today, but these photos are from Friday.
Joy is an English Lab and Bella in an American Lab.
The bold font is what the dogs are saying.
The bold font is what the dogs are saying.
I hope these photos will fill you with Joy (and Bella)!
Hi! I'm Bella!
And this is my doggy schnoz!
Joy, what are you doing over there? Smile for the camera!
Joy calls me a show off...surely she's bluffing!
I'm sorry if my sister was annoying you...she can be a ham sometimes!
Ham? Where? I love ham!
As you can tell, Bella really loves herself some ham. You know what they say...you are what you eat!
Whoa! I feel like I rule the world from up here!
Hey, Joy! You should really check out the view from up here!
It truly is amazing!
Funny Face Friday! Is that a thing?
Enjoy the rest of your day!
I hope this post has filled you with joy.
And Bella, too!


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Skin grafts are sections of the epidermis or dermis that have been separated from one part of the body and reaffixed to a site where the skin has been removed or damaged. Unlike skin flaps which are still connected to the local blood supply, skin grafts do not have their own blood supply, and thus rely on the wound bed at the recipient site for nutrients.
While much attention is paid to the graft site, the skin graft donor site wounds also needs to be considered, as it is often more painful than the graft wound due to exposed nerve endings.
Treatment of Skin Graft Donor Sites
For full-thickness skin grafts, the donor site wound is left to heal by primary intention (sutured together). However, for split-thickness skin grafts, the wound heals by reepithelialization. Epithelial cells migrate from the remnants of the underlying dermis across the wound bed. Donor site wounds take on average 7-10 days to heal and typically progress through two distinct phases of healing. The first is the wet phase, where the wound is highly exudative and best managed with an absorbent dressing.
The second phase is the dry phase, where exudate levels fall off and the wound bed becomes dry. During this phase, a non-adherent dressing should be used that can be left in place, so as to not disturb the fragile wound bed. Consider medicating the patient prior to dressing change to minimize discomfort.
Beldon P. What you need to know about skin grafts and donor site wounds. Wound Essentials. 2007;2:149-155. http://www.woundsinternational.com/pdf/content_196.pdf. Accessed May 24, 2018.
Havill S. Skin grafting. DermNet NZ. http://dermnetnz.org/procedures/graft.html. Accessed May 24, 2018.
Hubbard M. Managing Skin Grafts and Donor Sites. Ostomy Wound Management. http://www.o-wm.com/content/managing-skin-grafts-and-donor-sites. Published February 1, 2010. Accessed May 24, 2018.


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Spike Lee is best known for his groundbreaking films Do The Right Thing and Malcolm X, but he's also quite the fashion plate.
Whether screaming courtside at a Knicks game or attending a gala with his beautiful wife, Lee loves topping off his look with an eye-catching hat.
"I like hats, got that from my father -- jazz bassist and composer Mr. Bill Lee," Lee told HuffPost BlackVoices.
And when asked: What does a hat say about a man? Lee replied (in a very Spike Lee Joint-esque way), "Depends on da man. Depends on da hat."
Enough said.
And, anyone in the New York City area tomorrow will have the rare opportunity to buy some Spike Lee swag of their own.
The famed director, who's next film Red Hook Summer hits theaters next summer, is opening a one-day-only "pop-up store" aptly named "Spike's Joint" featuring new and vintage gear (including hats) from his 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks collection.
Lee will be on hand at the shop greeting shoppers, selling his wears and holding a casting call for his new new HBO show pilot.
For those who can't make the trip to Brooklyn this weekend you can get your Spike fix in the following slideshow, showcasing the dapper director in an array of his beloved hats.


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- Remove this product from my favorite's list.
- Add this product to my list of favorites.
White Sage Wand
Bundled White Sage:
Available in small (3-4") medium (6-7") and large (9-10") Double click product name or click view to to expose the pull down menu to choose a Medium or Large wand.


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The EPR2017 Conference is a non-profit event
qualified to accept support of the sponsors.
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Got family in the hospital, so wont be able to watch the game.
I wont miss much but I assume;
Mack sacks Eli 4+ times this game.
Barkley has less than 18 touches, and only two in the second half.
OBJ still gets mad that Eli can't throw anything past 30 yards with any accuracy.
Shurmur pulls Manning in the fourth to let Lauletta get some reps.
The commentators still bumble around with the fact of "Where's Engram?"
Collins gets burnt in coverage but makes a couple open field tackles and the commentators still say "OHH HE'S SOOOO GUD"
Pretty much everything we've been seeing the last 13+ weeks.


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Solid on Social Security
"You know, of course we ought to be raising the cap in order to protect Social Security, which is solid through about 2040 without any changes whatsoever," he said. U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton also referred to that date.
Indeed, the most recent report by Social Security actuaries concludes that 2041 is the year when the system would run out of money. To be sure, while the system is "solid" until then, that doesn't mean it doesn't need attention.
If no changes are made, as Kucinich says, the annual cost of paying out benefits will exceed the payroll tax money flowing in by 2017, according to the 2007 report from Social Security actuaries. From that point forward, benefit payments would come out of the Social Security trust fund. The year 2041 is when all those assets would be exhausted.
The cap Kucinich mentions is a limit on the amount of salary that is taxed for Social Security. Right now, that cap is at $97,500, but Kucinich said he supports raising it to tax more income.
In 2007, the program had 50-million beneficiaries and 163-million covered workers and their families.


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Police pull over car packed with possessions
The elderly driver was pulled over by Surrey Police on June 28.
A woman was pulled over by police on the M25 after reports of erratic driving – and officers got quite a surprise when they opened the doors.
The elderly driver, who was failing to wear her glasses, was pulled over by Surrey Police on June 28 near junction eight at Reigate, Surrey, and officers discovered the car was littered with her possessions.
A tweet by the Surrey Road's Policing Unit said: "Public reported erratic driving. Vehicle located and stopped, elderly driver failing to wear glasses as required and vehicle, well, untidy…"
#M25 #Reigate J8 Public reported erratic driving. Vehicle located and stopped, elderly driver failing to wear glasses as required and vehicle, well, untidy.... 😳 pic.twitter.com/DHdnS4HVvy— RPU - Surrey Police (@SurreyRoadCops) June 28, 2018
The accompanying picture showed the vehicle's passenger seat and foot-well was full of items spilling over into the driver's seat.
After a number of Twitter users jumped to conclusions, Surrey Police added: "The lady told officers she was attempting to move home in one journey and had lodged the car up as much as possible to make it in one trip. There is no information or evidence to suggest they were living in the car.
"We would always ensure that a vulnerable person is notified to the relevant and appropriate authorities and provide them with any immediate assistance they may need."
As of Friday evening, the tweet had been shared more than 193 times and liked by 341 Twitter users.


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Hi, I'm Lainie.
My parents saw the actress, Lainie Kazan on the Tonight Show (in the olden days before Google and Netflix) and loved her name. People usually torture the spelling, and now that my last name is Ishbia, you can forget it. I live with my blended family of 7, in a small City in Michigan that has been described as a cross between Mayberry and Wisteria Lane. Going to the local grocery store is like entering the bar on Cheers, "everyone knows your name."
I am the typical suburban mom. My days are spent ubering my kids everywhere, shelling out cash for them, and attending their many games and performances.
Honestly, I love every minute of it (though, not so much the 2-hour choir concerts) and have somehow managed (see my blog called Skinny Jeans for more info about my days at boarding school) to raise some kick-ass human beings.
I hold a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan. I wanted to help teenagers with self-esteem related issues (because I had once had so many) and was happy to get my first real job making $22,000 as a therapist and group facilitator. I found my niche, but It took a really long time to pay off those grad school loans.
My guilty pleasures include chocolate covered almonds, anything on Bravo, anti-aging face creams, and consignment shopping.
So, what's the deal with the leg braces and this Trend-ABLE site?
Most grown-ups know that what we see on Social Media is really just what people want us to see.
That couple posting "in love" photos, may actually be on the brink of divorce. Or, the Facebook over-poster friend "checking in" to fun places every night might, in reality, be very insecure and lonely.
From a distance, the world sees what I show them. They see me driving my two white designer dogs around town, at a party with friends, or in vacation photos with my handsome husband, and make assumptions.
With Trend-ABLE I am letting go of my perfectionism (maybe for the first time in 47 years) and being truly raw and vulnerable. I have an inherited neuromuscular disorder called Charcot Marie Tooth, which basically effects both my hands and legs. I cannot walk or balance without wearing leg braces up to my knees, and I can no longer tear a sugar packet or button my own sweater. My mom, sister, and now my teenage daughter Zoe, all have CMT in varying degrees.
Everyone has something; this is my something. It may sound cliché, but I choose not to define myself by my disability. The leg braces are supportive devices I have to wear, not who I am.
Living with an invisible (not obvious) physical disability has its unique set of challenges. See my blog titled, Invisible Disability 101 for more on this.
Trend-ABLE is about feeling and looking confident in the body you have, finding humor in everyday challenges and discovering tools for living a great life. I am not sure where Trend-ABLE is headed, but my hope is that it helps at least a few of you right now.
I would love to hear from you.


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A process engineer develops and supports economical industrial processes to convert raw materials into products, which are required for our daily life.
The Process Engineer work, concerns several chemical and biochemical processes, which are required for manufacturing of products at the large industrial scale. The following lists summarize Process Engineers work:


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Now that Coursera has a number of courses offered, from a variety of institutions, I decided to try out the platform, to both learn something new (content) and to also see what the xMOOC (at least the coursera variety) looks like. So what did I sign up for? See the list bellow (I will probably be writing about the experience on here)
Gamification - with Kevin Werback from the University of Pennsylvania. (Starting end of August)
Gamification is the application of digital game design techniques to non-game problems, such as business and social impact challenges. Video games are the dominant entertainment form of our time because they are powerful tools for motivating behavior. Effective games leverage both psychology and technology, in ways that can be applied outside the immersive environments of games themselves. Gamification as a business practice has exploded over the past two years. Organizations are applying it in areas such as marketing, human resources, productivity enhancement, sustainability, training, health and wellness, innovation, and customer engagement. Game thinking means more than just dropping in badges and leaderboards; it requires a thoughtful understanding of motivation and design techniques. This course examines the mechanisms of gamification and provides an understanding of its effective use.
Human-Computer Interaction - with Scott Klemmer from the Stanford University. (Starting end of September)
In this course, you will learn how to design technologies that bring people joy, rather than frustration. You'll learn several techniques for rapidly prototyping and evaluating multiple interface alternatives -- and why rapid prototyping and comparative evaluation are essential to excellent interaction design. You'll learn how to conduct fieldwork with people to help you get design ideas. How to make paper prototypes and low-fidelity mock-ups that are interactive -- and how to use these designs to get feedback from other stakeholders like your teammates, clients, and users. You'll learn principles of visual design so that you can effectively organize and present information with your interfaces. You'll learn principles of perception and cognition that inform effective interaction design. And you'll learn how to perform and analyze controlled experiments online. In many cases, we'll use Web design as the anchoring domain. A lot of the examples will come from the Web, and we'll talk just a bit about Web technologies in particular. When we do so, it will be to support the main goal of this course, which is helping you build human-centered design skills, so that you have the principles and methods to create excellent interfaces with any technology.
Programming Languages - with Dan Grossman from the University of Washington . (Starting January 2013)
Learn many of the concepts that underlie all programming languages. Develop a programming style known as functional programming and contrast it with object-oriented programming. Through experience writing programs and studying three different languages, learn the key issues in designing and using programming languages, such as modularity and the complementary benefits of static and dynamic typing. This course is neither particularly theoretical nor just about programming specifics -- it will give you a framework for understanding how to use language constructs effectively and how to design correct and elegant programs. By using different languages, you learn to think more deeply than in terms of the particular syntax of one language. The emphasis on functional programming is essential for learning how to write robust, reusable, composable, and elegant programs – in any language.
E-Learning and Digital Cultures - with Jeremy Knox, Sian Bayne, Hamish Macleod, Jen Ross, Christine Sinclair from the University of Edinburgh . (Starting January 2013)
E-learning and Digital Cultures is aimed at teachers, learning technologists, and people with a general interest in education who want to deepen their understanding of what it means to teach and learn in the digital age. The course is about how digital cultures intersect with learning cultures online, and how our ideas about online education are shaped through "narratives", or big stories, about the relationship between people and technology. We'll explore some of the most engaging perspectives on digital culture in its popular and academic forms, and we'll consider how our practices as teachers and learners are informed by the difference of the digital. We'll look at how learning and literacy is represented in popular digital-, (or cyber-) culture. For example, how is 'learning' represented in the film The Matrix, and how does this representation influence our understanding of the nature of e-learning?
Aboriginal Worldviews & Education - with Jean-Paul Restoule from the University of Toronto. (Starting February 2013)
Jean-Paul Restoule is an associate professor of Aboriginal Education in the Department of Leadership, Higher, and Adult Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto. He is a member of the Anishinaabek Nation (Dokis) in mid-northern Ontario. He co-chaired OISE's Indigenous Education Network for 7 years and has been teaching Aboriginal issues at the post-secondary level for more than 12 years. Professor Restoule's research and teaching investigate access to post-secondary education for Aboriginal people and the development of Aboriginal cultural identities in urban areas.
A Beginner's Guide to Irrational Behavior - with Dan Ariely from the Duke University. (Starting February 2013)
Behavioral economics and the closely related field of behavioral finance couple scientific research on the psychology of decision making with economic theory to better understand what motivates investors, employees, and consumers. This course will be based heavily on my own research. We will examine topics such as how emotion rather than cognition determines economic decisions, "irrational" patterns of thinking about money and investments, how expectations shape perceptions, economic and psychological analyses of dishonesty by presumably honest people, and how social and financial incentives combine to motivate labor by everyday workers and CEOs alike. This highly interdisciplinary course will be relevant to students with interests in General Management, Behavioral Finance, Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, and Marketing.
This class has two main goals:
- To introduce you to the range of cases where people (consumers, investors, managers, and significant others) make decisions that are inconsistent with standard economic theory and the assumptions of rational decision making. This is the lens of behavioral economics.
- To help you think creatively about the applications of behavioral economic principles for the development of new products, technology based products, public policies, and to understand how business and social policy strategies could be modified with a deeper understanding of the effects these principles have on employees and customers.
Know Thyself - with Mitchell Green from the University of Virginia. (Starting February 2013)
The Delphic Oracle is said to have had two premier injunctions: NOTHING IN EXCESS, and KNOW THYSELF. This course will be an examination of the latter injunction. Our central questions fall into two categories. First, What is it? We shall inquire into just what self-knowledge is: Is it a form of inner perception, somewhat like proprioception, by virtue of which our minds (and hearts) have internal scanners of their own states? Or should we construe self-knowledge in a way not crucially relying on a perceptual model? In that case, what other model might we use? Second, Why is it such a big deal? We shall inquire into the question why self-knowledge should be thought so important. Just what, if anything, is missing from a person lacking in self-knowledge that makes her significantly less wise, virtuous, or able than others who have this capacity? Our exploration will take us into research in Western philosophy, psychoanalysis, current experimental psychology, neuroscience, aesthetics, and Eastern philosophy as well. In aid of these investigation we will become students of our own dreams, and cultivate some meditative practices.


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Rolling through the green hills of Murphys
An emerald green sign crowns the entrance to Murphys Park, stretched between two antique lamp posts that lead visitors into the rustic foothill town. The former mining site is now a trove of historical relics, local wine and just enough country kitsch to fill a breezy spring day of sightseeing.
Home to roughly 2,000 residents, the Calaveras County town was settled in 1848 by Irish immigrants and prospectors, brothers John and Daniel Murphy. Massive green shamrocks painted at intersections give a nod to that history, as does the annual Irish Day celebration, which draws thousands of tourists to the otherwise-quiet Main Street each year.
Northern Californians can get to Murphys via Highway 49, a mostly traffic-free road that weaves between lush green hills past sprawling orchards and farms. No flashy car dealerships or big box stores line the roadside, only produce stands, gas stations and the occasional diner. The drive itself is something like a trip back in time, transporting visitors to a simpler and more rugged California.
That gives Murphys an air of refreshing tranquility, especially in the community park at its entrance. Angel's Creek gurgles beneath the shouts of playing children there, and a quaint white gazebo offers a view of the barnlike Murphys Library. It's a perfect place to picnic before time spent strolling and shopping.
The city's Gold Rush roots live on at the Murphys Historic Hotel (457 Main St., 800-532-7684), a designated state landmark that features technology-free rooms and a Wild West-themed saloon. A few doors down, locals can be found gulping pints at the Murphys Irish Pub (415 Main St., 209-890-3350), where wooden barrels and plush couches provide cozy ambiance. Their menu features Irish mainstays such as shepherd's pie, ploughman's lunch, and bangers and mash.
For wine drinkers, options are plentiful. Val du Vino Winery (634 French Gulch Road, 209- 728-9911), at the western end of Main Street, pours daily in its spacious tasting room, which is far more elegant than its clapboard exterior lets on. At part-winery/part-gallery Allegorie (423 Main St., 209-728-9922), patrons can alternate between tasting and perusing the sculptures, jewelery and paintings around the room's perimeter. Zucca Mountain Vineyards (431 Main St., 209-728-1623) is a popular three-story tasting room, part of which is underground.
Explorers can plan an educational trip to the Mercer Caverns (1665 Sheep Ranch Road, 209 -728-2101), just one mile north of Main Street and open daily for 45-minute tours. The accessible section of the cave is 3,389 feet long and 192 feet deep, and visitors can view its stalagmites and stalactites from steps and viewing platforms.
Sammy Caiola: 916-321-1636, @SammyCaiola
The bee's knees
What: The all-day California Honey Festival will pay tribute to the state's tiny pollinators by showcasing award-winning chefs, honey mead tastings and beekeeping vendors. There is an optional "V.I.Bee" opening-night party.
When: 6-9 p.m. Friday, May 5; 10 a.m.-5p.m. Saturday, May 6
Where: In Woodland, Friday events at the Barth Building, 426 First St.; Saturday's events downtown locations
Cost: Free general admission; $65 opening night party
Information: www.californiahoneyfestival.com
Steinbeck festival
What: The three-day "Migrations" John Steinbeck Festival offers panel discussions about the late author's works as well as topics such as migration, agriculture and the local environment. There'll also be special exhibits, live music and film screenings.
When: Times vary between 10 a.m. and 7:15 p.m. Friday-Sunday, May 5-7.
Where: Friday's events take place all along Cannery Row in Monterey. Saturday and Sunday events will be held at the National Steinbeck Center, 1 Main St., Salinas.
Cost: $10 and up
Information: www.steinbeck.org
Kite Day
What: Kites will fly high over snow cones, spin art and barbeque.
When: Noon-3 p.m., Saturday, May 6
Where: Bedwell Bayfront Park, 1600 Marsh Road, Menlo Park
Cost: Free admission; $6 for a kite and hot dog lunch
Information: www.menlopark.org
Jessica Hice


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Last Price
Open Price
October 11, 2007
UN Convention on Law of the Sea stipulates Award would be legally binding on both parties
GINA (Government Information Agency)
GEORGETOWN - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that both Guyana and Suriname committed to accept as final, binding and non-appealable and to fully comply with, the Award of the Arbitral Tribunal which was established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to determine the maritime boundary between the two States.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea stipulates that the Award would be legally binding on both Parties.
The Parties are entitled to request an interpretation of any part of the Award that may be unclear but they cannot appeal to the Tribunal to make any substantive changes to the Award. This is prohibited by the Convention and by the specific Rules of Procedure applicable to this arbitration.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
October 11, 2007
May 02, 2018
Sep 11, 2016


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1980's Warrior Shows
Always a gifted aikidoist, Sue Ann began bodybuilding in the '80's to re-habilitate a knee injury. She was such a natural that she began entering women's bodybuilding events and doing very well. According to Nadeau sensei, who was her first trainer, they got bored with just the posing and decided to step it up a notch or two. These shows combined martial arts, body building and are set in a mythological/fantasy world. It is a world which could be the distant barbaric past or a future with technology and fantasy elements side by side. To my knowledge there has been nothing like them before or since.
The one featured below was the first of the two. At the very end Sue Ann and Nadeau sensei square off. Though aikido per se is not about fighting, I think you'll enjoy the choreography and the intensity of it. Nadeau sensei apparently directed and produced the whole thing and even selected the background music, co-ordinating action to passages in the music.
So welcome to a timeless piece from aikido's history in the 1980's. Unfortunately I had to put it into two videos. Here's part 1:
Here's part 2:


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New Year, New Dress
Who's ready for 2017?
It has been quite a year, ya'll! That means one thing: it is time to celebrate.
I had the chance to put together an outfit that screams NYE, but is still warm, and stands out.
Also: If you haven't check out the incredible Maggie Rogers, you need to. Now. She gives me musical hope for the upcoming year.
Seeya, 2016! It's been real.
Dress: Viva Love Boutique
Coat: Nordstrom
Shoes: Sam Edelman
Choker: Free People (similar)


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Schneider Electric recently announced that it will implement a $7.9 million energy savings performance contract (ESPC) with the city of Denison, Texas, to upgrade and retrofit existing equipment and reduce operational costs in the city's wastewater treatment plant and other municipal buildings. The project, which is anticipated to be complete in the spring of 2013, will enable the city to implement long-term energy efficiency in its facilities, while saving approximately 20% of its annual energy costs over the 15-year term of the contract.
Much of the performance contract project will focus on the Denison Wastewater Treatment Plant, which was challenged to operate at peak efficiency levels as a result of outdated equipment. Schneider Electric is working with the city and its design engineers to improve the aeration basin and aerobic digester, install new fine bubble diffusion grids, replace blowers and pumps, and perform other upgrades to enable the plant to operate at its full potential, while improving processes and efficiency. When the project is complete, operators will be able to shut down parts of the basin that are not needed, allowing sections to be drained for routine maintenance — a task that has not been possible for 15 years — as well as increasing the overall dependability of the plant.
In addition to the project at the wastewater treatment plant, the performance contract will also support improvements, including the addition of a central energy management system (EMS) in 11 city buildings including city hall, the community center, Raynal Annex Building, the city library, Waterloo Pool, service center, police station, three fire stations, and an indoor batting facility. Other upgrades made throughout the city buildings include upgrades to aging HVAC equipment and retrofits from T12 to T8 lighting fixtures.
The performance contract will allow the city to leverage the operational savings from the new, more efficient equipment to pay for almost half of the project, while reducing its energy use by 2.1 million kilowatt hours, which is equivalent to taking 240 cars off the road annually. In addition to utilizing savings achieved through the project, the city received a $64,000 grant from ONCOR, the largest regulated electric delivery and transmission provider in the State of Texas, to fund facility retrofits.
"Schneider Electric worked closely with us to identify a cost-effective way to make upgrades in our municipal buildings through the creative and low-risk funding mechanism of an energy savings performance contract," said Mayor Jared Johnson. "Once the project is complete, the performance contract guarantees that the city will save enough on utility bills to pay for almost half of the cost of the improvements. If those savings aren't met, Schneider Electric will pay the difference."
In the past 20 years, Schneider Electric has successfully implemented over 450 ESPCs across the nation and helped clients around the world save close to $1 billion. An ESPC helps publicly-funded entities make capital improvements over longer payback periods. Funded by third-party financing, an ESPC offers many long-term benefits such as improved facility efficiency, occupant comfort, financial management and environmental protection. Typically, new, more efficient equipment and upgraded facility automation systems maximize energy efficiency and generate utility savings.
"Through this performance contract, we are working closely with the city of Denison and their consulting engineering firm to address long-standing, critical wastewater treatment plant maintenance issues while helping the city realize their vision of long-term efficiency," said James Potach, senior vice president, Energy Solutions, Schneider Electric. "In addition to creating an advanced plant with improved reliability and functionality that better meets the needs of the city and its citizens, this long-term partnership between Schneider Electric and the city of Denison allows the city to reap the benefits of Schneider Electric's expertise in energy management for years to come."


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Intro: Pride v Shame in the Archaic Hellenic World (Pride month Entry 1)
This blog will be peppered with scattered thoughts on the notions of pride and shame over this LGBT Pride month of June. It will explore these as they relate to same-sex love and sexuality between men:
In recent decades the gay liberation movement, which began in the US and was adapted on the other side of the Atlantic, set-off the fight to end stigma and shame associated to same-sex sexuality.
However, it may be interesting to historicise the stigma and shame that LGBT pride has committed to fight against: What exactly is pride, what is the shame and stigma that LGBT pride fights against today – and more importantly, when precisely did same-sex love and sexuality provoke shame and stigma?
Few would disagree that same sexual activity between men of different ages in the ancient Hellenic world brought little, if any, shame to the men who formed these couplings.
The shameless pederasty of the archaic Hellenic world, however, in now definitively shameful in the early 21st century and carries legal penalties to consolidate this shame. Even sexual activity between consulting adult men is still struggling to shed the shame accumulated from recent centuries.
Shame and pride about same-sex sexuality, then, are clearly fluid constructions. They have contracted and expanded, gained (and lost) different nuances over time. And, it is this conceptual elasticity that will be followed on this blog over this Pride month.


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Newman University College of Nursing, Allied Health and Sciences
Wichita, KS
Services provided on this project:
- Architecture,
- Interior Design,
- Landscape Architecture
Architecture Overview:
Responding to the growth of science, allied health and nursing enrollment, the new building will include clinical learning, gross anatomy and media intensive classroom concepts, as well as chemistry, biology and physics laboratories. Student and faculty interaction spaces overlook the extension of the campus pedestrian mall, while linking learning spaces throughout the building. Connectivity to, and renovation of, the existing Eck Hall provides the opportunity for a cohesive science and health science environment that will serve as the new center of campus life.
Interior Design Overview:
Landscape Architecture Overview:
- CLIENT: Newman University
- COMPLETE: July 2017
- View Related Project Types:
College & University, Healthcare