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This week I have been back in the world of painting on wooden boxes.
It's a really nice size box and I love the laser cut flowery lid.
Here's what I did…
First I painted the background with silver acrylic.
Then I started to colour in the leaves and edging in green. I used two greens as you can see.
The flowers were next – two shades of lilac….
Then I got a bit carried away – adding a dotted pattern …
Next came some gel which I added all around the edges.. took a while and I slightly regretted starting but I kept going and luckily so did the gel!
Once the top was done I painted the base in the lilac and then with a blast from the past I sponged silver paint on top of the lilac…
and that's it all done, quite a subtle colouring I think.(Although the whole thing gently sparkles with a glittery paint)
This box is for sale in my Etsy shop
Thanks for reading
back soon,
love Rosie


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CSRF Student Section
CSRF is a student-friendly organization with an active student membership. Click Here to access annual updates from the student representatives.
Student Awards
The Canadian Sex Research Forum (CSRF) grants awards to the best student presentations at the Annual Conference each year. Generally, two student awards are given: one for the best oral presentation (either for a 15-minute brief or 30-minute full presentation) and one for the best poster presentation.
A multidisciplinary panel working in the area of human sexuality will evaluate the presentations. The winner of the awards will be announced at the closing of the Annual Conference and will receive a certificate and voucher for free registration at a future CSRF Annual Conference.
To be eligible for the Student Award, individuals must be a student at the time of abstract submission or at the time of presentation at the Annual Conference. Students registered in a Canadian undergraduate or graduate program, as well as Canadian students registered in an undergraduate or graduate program in another country are eligible to receive an award. Individuals are ineligible for the Student Award if they have already graduated from a doctoral program before their presentation at the Annual Conference.
Students who would like to be considered for the awards must be the first author on the paper they are presenting, must indicate their preference for being considered on the Call for Abstracts, and include a letter or email from his/her advisor confirming his/her student status. Only presentations of research results will be considered for the student award.
To see past student award winners, click here.

subset: commoncrawl


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Much like a real game of musical chairs, the virtual version also lasts between seven and 10 minutes. Blu Dot, which makes high-end furniture, began hosting a series of musical chairs games on Twitter Dec. 3 with winners receiving one of its new Hot Mesh chairs, valued at $99.
This is the third quirky campaign conceived by Blu Dot and its agency, mono.
Two years ago, a Real Good Experiment took place in New York when Blu Dot left 25 of its Real Good chairs on the streets of New York, waiting for someone to collect them. The catch of the campaign was, each chair was outfitted with GPS, and the newfound furniture owners were visited by the agency to be interviewed for an 8-minute documentary. See my coverage here.
The company also hosted an online swap meet, offering an array of its furniture for odd and creative pieces. Winning swaps included a motorcycle made out of popsicle sticks and a share of Enron stock.
A total of 100 games of musical chairs will be played, with 10 players per game, meaning 100 Hot Mesh chairs will find new homes.
Those interested can visit musicalchairs.bludot.com to learn more about game rules, along with information on when the next game will be played.
So, how does one rush for a virtual seat during a virtual game of musical chairs? Forget the fast feet; players need fast hands and sharp typing skills to grab a seat.
Mono worked with the band Doppio to select the music played for each game, using seven of the band's songs. When the music stops, a phrase appears onscreen that users must quickly type and submit in hopes of making it to the next round. The phrase cannot be copied and pasted. That was the first thing I tried, even though I figured winning a chair couldn't be that easy.
Some examples of secret phrases tweeted include: "140 character dash. #bludot," "Seatstakes. #bludot" and "Music you can sit to. #bludot."
"Blu Dot's mission is to bring good design to as many people as possible," said Michael Hart, co-founder and creative director of mono. "This time, we decided to take a more playful approach to getting good design in the hands of more people. And since they design some of the coolest chairs around, the idea of musical chairs seemed a natural fit. Then it became a question of how to do it in an inventive way. Twitter is the fastest, most immediate and still personal media. Putting the two together seemed right."
Games end Dec.12. Good luck to all!


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Today is Annabelle's dance recital. I can't wait to see her dance. She loves her dance class. She is the youngest one in her group. I will have pictures to post tonight!
I kept Lydia Thursday, Friday and Saturday. She is such a pleasant baby. She never really cried. She fussed a little when she was hungry or needed her diaper changed but that was it. I put her to bed at 8:00 p.m. and she slept the first night until 6:00 a.m. and the second night until 7:00 a.m. You can't ask for a better baby than that! I sure did miss her last night!
Annabelle did such a good job at her dance recital! She is the youngest one in her group, most of the other girls are 6 and she is only 4. I was so proud of her!!!!!


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How to Evaluate Company Management for Potential Stock Investment
The management of a company is crucial to its success. Before you invest in a company's stock, you want to know that the company's management is doing a great job. How do you know whether management is running the company properly? The best way is to check the numbers. If the company's management is running the business well, the ultimate result is a rising stock price.
Return on equity
Although you can measure how well management is doing in several ways, you can take a quick snapshot of a management team's competence by checking the company's return on equity (ROE). You calculate the ROE simply by dividing earnings by equity. The resulting percentage gives you a good idea whether the company is using its equity (or net assets) efficiently and profitably.
Basically, the higher the percentage, the better, but you can consider the ROE solid if the percentage is 10 percent or higher. Keep in mind that not all industries have identical ROEs.
To find out a company's earnings, check out the company's income statement. The income statement is a simple financial statement that expresses this equation: sales (or revenue) minus expenses equals net earnings (or net income or net profit). You can see an example of an income statement here:
|2011 Income Statement
|2012 Income Statement
|Net earnings
To find out a company's equity, check out that company's balance sheet. The balance sheet is actually a simple financial statement that illustrates this equation: total assets minus total liabilities equals net equity. For public stock companies, the net assets are called shareholders' equity or simply equity.
|Balance Sheet for December 31, 2011
|Balance Sheet for December 31, 2012
|Total assets (TA)
|Total liabilities (TL)
|Equity (TA minus TL)
You can see that Grobaby's earnings went from $7,000 to $12,000. Grobaby increased the equity from $35,000 to $40,000 in one year. The ROE for the year 2011 is 20 percent ($7,000 in earnings divided by $35,000 in equity), which is a solid number. The following year, the ROE is 30 percent ($12,000 in earnings divided by $40,000 equity), another solid number.
A good minimum ROE is 10 percent, but 15 percent or more is preferred.
Equity and earnings growth
Two additional barometers of success are a company's growth in earnings and growth of equity.
Look at the growth in earnings on the income statement above. The earnings grew from $7,000 (in 2011) to $12,000 (in 2012), a percentage increase of 71 percent ($12,000 minus $7,000 equals $5,000, and $5,000 divided by $7,000 is 71 percent), which is excellent.
At a minimum, earnings growth should be equal to or better than the rate of inflation, but because that's not always a reliable number, it is best at least 10 percent.
Grobaby's equity grew by $5,000 (from $35,000 to $40,000), or 14.3 percent ($5,000 divided by $35,000), which is very good — management is doing good things here. It is ideal to see equity increasing by 10 percent or more.
Insider buying
Watching management as it manages the business is important, but another indicator of how well the company is doing is to see whether management is buying stock in the company as well. If a company is poised for growth, who knows better than management? And if management is buying up the company's stock en masse, that's a great indicator of the stock's potential.


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Visual Studio family contains many products. The VS 2008 SP1 released a few months ago have fixes for all products in the family. An incorrect order of applying the service pack usually lead VS products into an inconsistent state. The most common issue I see is that a particular method/type in a VS assembly can't be found.
In Visual Studio 2008 SP1, we have fixes for
- Visual Studio IDE.
- Team Explorer.
- Load Test Controller.
- Load Test Agent.
See KB 950264 for detailed description.
When applying the SP1, only fixes for already installed products are applied. For example, you might have installed Visual Studio 2008, then applied the SP1, latter you installed the load test controller on the same machine, then fixes for the test controller would not be applied unless you install the SP1 again.
So, the correct order of applying the SP1 is to install the SP1 at the latest. If you applied the SP1 and later installed a new product in the above list, then you should apply the SP1 again.


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Stogie Commentary: Camacho's 'The Black Band Project'
29 Jul 2009
Earlier this year, Camacho Cigars used viral marketing—and a giveaway—to promote three of its cigars. Labeled "The Black Band Project," it featured three videos and three sticks. The project was, according to company marketing director Dylan Austin, a huge success. "It blew past our expectations," he said, adding that the massive response was about 500% greater than they anticipated.
I got the three robusto-sized sticks, banded A, B and C, about a week ago. As the package requested, I smoked them before checking the website to learn just what they were. Here's how they struck me:
Triple Maduro: An incredibly dark and oily stick with a nice nutty pre-light aroma. I had high hopes for this cigar. Unfortunately, it didn't deliver, particularly because it kept scraping the back of my throat with a sharpness that I associate with tobacco that's not ready for rolling.
Corojo: This cigar was dark as well, though not showing much oil. It began with a pleasant charred taste that soon gave way to a sourness accompanied by a great deal of dryness and heat. Based on this example, using corojo tobacco for the filler, binder, and wrapper seems to be too much of what's often a good thing.
Connecticut: Like the Camacho Connecticut I smoked last month and the one my colleague reviewed on Monday, this was an interesting, satisfying cigar. The wrapper was flawless, the burn perfect, and the flavors complex and varied throughout. This medium-strength creation was easily the best of the lot.
Whether this marketing effort will sell cigars, I don't know. But it certainly provides an answer to those who complain that the cigar industry is too hidebound and hampered by tradition. I applaud Camacho for trying something different. And, while the giveaway has ended, you can still watch the videos and seek these sticks out for yourself to form your own impressions.
photo credit: Stogie Guys


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Football Stadium Technology Management
Course Content
In the topic Football Stadium Technology Management you will learn everything about the future stadium designs and all technological possibilities. We will talk about the safety of spectators and management techniques for stadiums. Discuss the requirements of FIFA and UEFA for the construction of new stadiums. Finally we cover the history of technology in football and the introduction of the online connection between fans and clubs.
Course info
European Credit Transfer System (ECTS): 4


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Is Macbeth a brave man? What is the proof? if macbeth is a brave man, please help me to find some examples
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Expert Answers
calendarEducator since 2006
write3 answers
starTop subject is Literature
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a valiant soldier whose strength and skill virtually save the day on the battlefield.
After all the tragedy and lies and heinous acts that Macbeth becomes involved in, he finds himself in the very last scenes of the play discarding all the "baggage" of the prophecies and his ruinous ambition in order to put on his old armor and fight in armed combat against foes greater in number and mightier than those he commands, despite realizing that he has been essentially tricked and deceived. This may show that inside he still retains the soldierly qualities of bravery and personal honor that marked him at the start of the play, and that it is these things that make up his "real" character, those qualities that somehow got lost in his power-hungry. He dies a soldier's death, in battle, facing his enemy, instead of surrendering to humiliation.
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calendarEducator since 2007
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starTop subjects are Literature and Arts
Overall assessment of Macbeth's character varies. Some view him as a tragic hero who held every potential for being a good man but was overcome by the evil forces in his world. Others argue that Macbeth completely lacked any moral integrity. Finally, he is viewed most harshly by some who see him as a Satanic figure, in that he knowingly chooses evil and unleashes it upon the world.
Macbeth commits a trio of heinous crimes in the course of the play: the killing of Duncan, the murder of his closest friend, Banquo (and attempted murder of Fleance), and the deliberate slaughter of innocents in the persons of Macduff's wife and child. Given all this, we may tend to forget that prior to his encounter with the weird sisters, Macbeth is a hero, a loyal warrior in service of the legitimate king of Scotland, Duncan.
At the start of the play, we were introduced to Macbeth by the injured captain's recount about Macbeth war-time battlefield valor and heroics, so we were given an impression that the main protagonist was supposed to be a brave, courageous and capable warrior who would risk anything to defend his country, his physical courage proved to be a good side to him.
But that vision of greatness soon came to naught, after his encounter with the three witches. We had finally realized his opposite side of his character. He is consumed with ambition and he has also the capability to self-doubt in his own decisions, brooding himself in self-turmoil and internal struggle between wrong and right. He is always manipulated and brainwashed by his wife, always having to play second fiddle to her, showing his lack of strength of character, his vulnerability to outside pressure, not willing to stand for what is right and falls into the depths of deception.
He is apparently very evil, committed heinous crime in his quest for supremacy and power-control in his whole empire, by killing kings, his closest friends and innocent victims. He has no guilty conscience after committing such heinous deeds and was killed finally at the epilogue in battle facing his enemy. He doesn't deserve any empathy for all his terrible acts of senseless slaughter and brutal killings and his death was the right call


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Sky Talk
American CEO Doug Parker gains $287,048 from stock sale
American Airlines chief executive Doug Parker earned $287,048 in a stock sale disclosed on Monday that is part of a monthly divestiture plan.
It was the smallest gain Parker has made from his monthly stock sale of stock appreciation rights that he disclosed in a divestiture plan last summer.
Parker has been selling thousands of stock appreciation rights, which are similar to stock options, that he received when he was chief executive of US Airways between 2006 and 2009. The stock rights are set to expire in the coming months and will be worthless if he does not sell them before their expiration date.
Not including this month's sale, Parker has gained $12.4 million from stock sales this year. In 2015, Parker made seven stock sales for a total of $30 million as part of a divestiture plan he outlined in June.
With the most recent sale, Parker sold 113,100 stock rights at prices between $40.13 and $41.401. After the sale, Parker continues to hold 1,352,428 shares of American stock [ticker: AAL]. American's shares closed at $39.37, down 15 cents on Monday.


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Carol was inspired by this month's color palette.
She made a layout using texture paste and watercolors to create the background. The papers are Simple Stories papers and stickers for the cute elements.
You may or may not be aware that we have changed the format here at Off The Rails Scrapbooking and our guidelines so can you please follow the link below and have a quick read, thank you.
Also to keep update please follow us on Pinterest.
Happy Creating


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Cannot find your local Phoenix Contact site? Use our selector
The figure shows an 10-position version
PCB terminal block, nominal current: 12 A, pitch: 5.08 mm, number of positions: 1, connection method: Spring-cage connection, mounting: Wave soldering, conductor/PCB connection direction: 45 °, color: orange. Single module for the custom grouping of different numbers of positions. An end terminal block is also needed to terminate the block (see accessories). Blocked items with different numbers of positions are also available.
This item is not available as a sample.
Total : 0.0
"$pageName" on


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Well, I'm still working on a post from Disney. That's a lot of pixelating.
In the mean time, I'm not sure I ever posted an update on Tootaw's assessment and services.
In her assessment with the school district, they essentially decided that she had global delays. They decided to send the early childhood special education teacher out to our house twice a week. Initially I thought, wow, they see the same things that I do and we're actually getting services!
After two months of them coming out I'm thinking, wow, I hope I can get out of this in the fall!
Mostly they're doing some interactive play with her – but it's nothing that we don't already do at home on a regular basis. I'm not seeing the benefit. I think that in general, they're a little off target on what the real issues are.
After a lot more research, most of what Tootaw displays looks like sensory processing disorder. I don't know if it is just straight up sensory processing, if it is the fetal alcohol syndrome displaying that way, or both, but either way, we address it in the same way.
We also have cognitive hurdles to jump and a lot of retention issues still, which I can only assume is part of the FAS.
I think we're going to go forward with getting an assessment done by a child development team at the university hospital close by. They have a specialized team that I think will be more helpful in possibly getting some occupational therapy that is better aimed at the issues at hand. The only thing that makes me a little nervous about this route, is that it's possible it will require a diagnosis for services.
There is not a question in my mind that she has sensory processing disorder. We've been told as much by three different professionals that she has FAS (without a formal diagnosis). I'm just not sure I want a formal diagnosis. What if we can overcome most of this and she can move forward without ever remembering? What if we can get to a point where it doesn't matter that she or anyone else knows about these issues? If we can, I don't want a diagnosis following her forever, or her feeling like a diagnosis is at all who she is.
So, we'll see. If I think they're going to have to do a formal diagnosis, I may back off. Or maybe not.
Through a training that we're in the middle of (more on that later), we have learned a lot about sensory processing disorder, and I actually feel pretty empowered to work with it at home. But, I'd feel better if I had someone outside of us deciphering if she's making progress.
Speaking of progress, though, she has made quite a bit. We've seen lots of changes, even in cognition, in just the last few months. That gives us so much hope.
I think that when it comes to schooling, we'll have some difficulty. I've actually decided to homeschool (more on that later too.), and this is one of the big reasons. I can go at her pace, repeat things as needed, and she can be upside down while I'm teaching her if she wants to be. I think otherwise school would just frustrate her, and I don't want that.
Anyway, that's a very short and somewhat jumbled summation of what is going on in that arena. I know that there were a few of you who were interested in the route we were taking for getting her needs addressed because you see some of the same needs in your kids, so I wanted to do an update.
We'll just keep at it.


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James L. Knoll, IV, M.D. is the Director of Forensic Psychiatry and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. Dr. Knoll is board certified in both adult and forensic psychiatry. He has worked as a forensic evaluator for state and federal courts, corrections, and the private sector. He has served as a consulting forensic expert for the DEA, FBI, NASA, DOJ, ACLU, and law enforcement.
Dr. Knoll served as the Medical Director of Psychiatric Services for the New Hampshire State Prison system for six years, and has been the training director of the SUNY Upstate forensic psychiatry fellowship training program for eight years. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Psychiatric Times (www.psychiatrictimes.com), one of the most widely read publications in the field of psychiatry.
Dr. Knoll has over 100 publications in journals and book chapters. His main areas of research interest include suicide, violence prevention, and mindfulness training.


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Which Guitar Model Should You Buy to Match Your Style?
Asking for a type of guitar by musical style is completely legitimate. Ask for a heavy-metal guitar, and the salesperson nods knowingly and leads you to the corner of the store with all the scary-looking stuff. If you request a jazz guitar, you and the salesperson trundle off in a different direction. Note the variety in shape and style.
Now, some musical styles do share guitar models. You can play both blues and rock, for example, with equal success on a Fender Stratocaster (or Strat, for short). And a Gibson Les Paul is just as capable of playing a wailing lead as a Strat. (As a rule, however, the tone of a Les Paul is going to be fatter and less jangly than that of a Strat.)
Making your own kind of music on the guitar of your choice is part of the fun.
Following are some popular music styles and classic guitars that many people associate with those styles. (Although many of these models are beyond the price range of a first-time buyer, familiarity with them will help you associate models with styles and vice versa. Often, lower-priced guitars are based on the higher-end iconic models.) This list is by no means exhaustive but does include recognized standard-bearers of the respective genres:
Acoustic blues: National Steel, Gibson J-200
Bluegrass: Martin Dreadnought, Taylor Dreadnought, Collings Dreadnought, Santa Cruz Dreadnought, Gallagher Dreadnought
Classical: Ramirez, Hopf, Khono, Humphrey, Hernandez, Alvarez
Country: Fender Telecaster, Gretsch 6120, Fender Stratocaster
Electric blues: Gibson ES-355, Fender Telecaster, Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul
Folk: Dreadnoughts and Grand Concerts by Martin, Taylor, Collings, Larrivée, Lowden, Yamaha, Alvarez, Epiphone, Ibanez, and Guild; Gibson J-200; Ovation Adamas
Heavy metal: Gibson Explorer, Flying V, and SG; Fender Stratocaster; Dean; Ibanez Iceman; Charvel San Dimas; Jackson Soloist
Jazz: Gibson ES-175, Super 400 L-5, and Johnny Smith; archtops by D'Angelico, D'Aquisto, and Benedetto; Epiphone Emperor Regent; Ibanez signature models
New age, new acoustic: Taylor Grand Concert, Ovation Balladeer, Takamine nylon-electric
R&B: Fender Stratocaster, Gibson ES-335
Rock: Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul and SG, Ibanez RG and signature series, Paul Reed Smith, Tom Anderson
Although the preceding list contains guitars that people generally associate with given styles, don't let that limit your creativity. Play the music you want to play on the guitar you want to play it on, no matter what some chart tells you. These guitars are all super sweet, and the price tag reflects the quality as well as the heritage of these guitars.


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Don't sleep on the American Airlines holiday bonus miles promotion/
I don't normally find shopping portal promotions to be worth my time, which I assume is how this one slipped past me last month when Frequent Miler wrote about it: through December 31, American will award bonus miles based on the number of partner activities you complete. Some of them are expensive or inconvenient, like signing up for Sprint phone service, but others are easy to complete and may not even require doing anything special.
Here's the list of activities as handily reformatted by Frequent Miler and reranked based on my subjective assessment of ease:
- Hilton: Earn at least 1,000 miles with Hilton
- AAdvantage eShopping: Earn at least 3,000 miles with AAdvantage eShopping
- Miles for Opinions: Earn at least 300 miles with Miles for Opinions
- 1-800 Flowers: Earn at least 2,000 AAdvantage miles with 1-800-FLOWERS (Earn 30 miles per dollar with promo code A56)
- Vinesse: Earn at least 500 miles with Vinesse
- LifeLock: Earn at least 7,000 miles with Lifelock
- The AAdvantage Dining Program: Earn at least 500 miles with AAdvantage Dining
- Rocketmiles: Earn at least 5,000 miles with Rocketmiles
- Avis Budget Group: Earn at least 1,500 miles with Avis Budget Group
- Sprint: Earn at least 417 miles with Sprint
The first 6 items you can do without leaving the house, and triggering the AAdvantage dining points is almost as easy. Rocketmiles and Avis presumably requires you to make a reservation and possibly even check in, which might be expensive or inconvenient, and I think the last one requires you to sign up with Sprint. If you completed just the first 6 items you'd wind up with 14,000 bonus points, plus however many points you earn on the activities themselves. I suspect that would leave you paying around a cent per point, which you may or may not consider a good deal.
Whether or not you intend to chase these bonus points, register for the promotion now, before you forget.


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Serves 6-8
3 tbsp rice bran oil
1 onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground turmeric
1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp sea salt flakes
Freshly cracked black pepper
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 x 270g can coconut milk
2 cups vegetable stock
2 medium-sized potatoes, cubed (about 1.5cm size)
200g butternut pumpkin, cubed (about 1.5cm size)
200g cauliflower, cut into small pieces
2 vine tomatoes, roughly diced
12 stalks Tuscan kale, shredded
2 large handfuls baby spinach leaves
250g haloumi, cubed (about 1.5cm size)
Zest and juice from 1 large lime
Coriander leaves, to serve
Cooked basmati rice, to serve
Heat 2 tbsp oil in a medium-large sized, heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 4-5 mins, stirring constantly, until onion is really dark and golden in colour (but not burnt - be careful!). Drop heat to low, add in garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, for 1 min. Add spices, stirring for 30 seconds until fragrant, then add tomato paste and stir well to combine.
Add coconut milk and vegetable stock, increase heat to medium-high and bring to the boil. Add salt and pepper. Drop heat to low and allow to simmer for 10 mins to let flavours develop. Add potato, pumpkin, cauliflower and tomato, turn heat back up to medium-high to allow curry to come to the boil, then drop heat down to low, pop a lid on the pan and allow to cook gently for around 20 mins or until veggies are soft.
Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tbsp oil in a small frypan over medium-high heat. Add the haloumi to the pan and fry, stirring until golden and crispy (about 2 mins). Drain on paper towel.
To finish off the curry, remove from the heat. Stir through kale, pinach and lime zest and juice and allow to sit for 3 mins before serving to allow kale to wilt and just cook through. Stir through haloumi just before serving on top of rice. Top with coriander leaves.


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These days, it may be hard to spot them. But there are lots of narcissists lurking among us. They're the guys who are all about themselves, the ones who are self-serving and insecure, but don't necessarily seem that way.
If you're out in the dating world, you may come across these men more often. With more and more people turning to dating apps and websites to meet people, we see a relatable pattern. You see someone's photo. You're attracted. You read their profile or brief description of who they claim to be. You reach out. You exchange emails. You text. Maybe you'll speak briefly and then, you meet. You're hitting it off. Things seem great. However, it seems almost too good to be true. And what if you're already in a relationship and it occurs to you that maybe he's just a little too into himself for anyone's good?
According to the experts, narcissists are everywhere and in varying degrees so let's all learn how to spot the, shall we?
What is narcissism?
Many mental health specialists agree that a narcissist is basically an individual who has an excessive interest or admiration of a false self they created to cope with early hurts as children. Narcissists are disconnected from their true selves and are constantly working to appear better than others. They have an idealized self-image and are in love with that image which hides their true wounded self.
Here are some "red flag" characteristics of narcissists along with tips and insights that can spare many people the heartache and mental anguish that comes with being in a relationship with a narcissist.
1. Narcissists are off the charts charming.
They are incredibly upbeat and bombard you with compliments. Immediately, you are captivated by him and his focus on you. He has a quick wit, can read people and knows what to say to make them feel good. Narcissists are great at building rapport quickly; however, they are doing so to serve themselves first and foremost. In other words, they feed off the attention, admiration and validation of others—so they charm with an agenda.
2. In their mind, it's really all about them.
The interesting thing about the narcissist is that he makes it seem as if he is interested in you when in fact, he will always turn the conversation back to him. These are not team players. They look to their partner to be the source of their happiness and much of that happiness comes from getting approval or even sympathy. Early on in their childhood, the narcissist didn't get the nurturing he needed to feel secure. He was neglected or made to feel as if he was bad so he spends his time and energy showing how great he is.
3. Rules don't apply to the entitled narcissist.
This guy is most likely to have a handicap tag hanging from the rearview mirror of hisPorsche. When asked about it, he will launch into a descriptive, detailed 20-minute story about how he injured his knee, entitling him to it. Narcissists want to gain your sympathy. Other rule breaking behaviours include disobeying traffic laws, parking illegally in front of places leaving you waiting as they quickly run in, cutting lines, and even stealing. They truly believe the world revolves around them and expect others to cater to their needs. This is due to needs being unmet earlier in life.
4. They disrespect boundaries.
Be mindful of your boundaries! Narcissists will do things like invade your physical space, borrow or take belongings or even money without returning or repayment. They break promises without remorse and may even blame the victim. Protecting your boundaries is incredibly important when dealing with a narcissist. When over-stepping is permitted, it leads to codependence and a lost sense of self.
5. They look great on the surface.
Their desire to impress others may lead them to a lot of time and money on their physical appearance. They are all about status and achievement. They'll brag about their education, their possessions, who they know, their accomplishments and typically, it's exaggerated. This again stems from the desire of approval. They care what others think of them so much that they use people and situations to fuel the false self they created.
6. They'll disappear like a ghost and you'll feel discarded.
Narcissists will put you on a pedestal as they compliment and charm you. You will feel incredibly special, caught up on his intent gaze upon you. However, once they see you're just as interested in your own well-being, that you're protective of your boundaries, that you have other interests and put them in their place, they tend to swiftly move on. That's because when a narcissist sees you won't allow manipulation, he disappears and will be incredibly cold. He may even give the silent treatment and blame you.
7. Their past relationships are all drama.
They will make it seem like their exes were all crazy, will share horror stories and make you feel as if you are the best thing they found. They paint themselves as the victim and may add that their ex still wants them. Pay very close attention to how the person speaks about their past relationships. Narcissists typically won't keep answers brief, positive and forward moving when it comes to past relationships.
Dr. Sanam Hafeez is a NYC-based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher's College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens.


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So my biggest weakness and struggle has always been the sweets!! Annnnddd I just LOVE breakfast foods! Mainly pancakes and waffles lol hehe So I occasionally need to come up with some magnificent concoctions that kill these crazy cravings! These hit the spot, let me tell ya! I was licking the spatula clean while i was making the batter… And as it cooked on the wafflle iron i could smell the delicious chocolately concoction! Literally stared at it until it was ready!!
So they key to maing really good waffles is to have a good waffle iron! My sis got me this Krups iron for Christmas and its great! mess free and easy to clean! Def recommend it!
Now, if you don't have a waffle iron, you can make these into pancakes as well… But sometimes its fun to have waffle shaped foods! hehe
Ok so on to the recipe… I used Cellucor's cinnamon swirl protein for these. You could just as easily use any other brand, however those of you that have taken my advice and bought this protein (and the PB marshamlow flavor) know just how tasty and creamy the protein is… And you can use my promo code KPOW to get a discount on their site too!
Ok so here we go… Literally takes like 5 min to make! I hope yall enjoy and salivate over them like I did… .
1 scoop of Cinnamon Swirl whey protein powder
1/4c egg whites
1/2tsp baking powder
1tsp cinnamon
1tsp vanilla extract
2tbsp plain greek yogurt (or unsweetened apple sauce)
2-3 stevia packets
2tbsp of almond milk
1tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
Mix all the ingredients together while waffle iron is heating. Whisk well for a couple of minutes… Try not to lick it all before u get the chance to cook it :p
Cook for about 3 minutes in your waffle iron… Tip: they cook a bit faster than normal wheat/flour waffles.
I topped mine with Protein Icing and Walden Farms Chocolate syrup and Pancake syrup.
Protein Icing:
1tbsp Protein powder
1-2tbsp almond milk
Mix well and pour over your waffles!!
I literally ate them so fast, I almost choked hahahaha


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Incorporating field studies into species distribution and climate change modelling: A case study of the koomal trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus (phalangeridae)
Document Type
Journal Article
Public Library of Science
School of Natural Sciences
Originally published as:Molloy, S. W., Davis, R. A., & van Etten, E. J. B. (2016). Incorporating Field Studies into Species Distribution and Climate Change Modelling: A Case Study of the Koomal Trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus (Phalangeridae). PLoS ONE, 11(4), e0154161. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0154161. Original article available here
Species distribution models (SDMs) are an effective way of predicting the potential distribution of species and their response to environmental change. Most SDMs apply presence data to a relatively generic set of predictive variables such as climate. However, this weakens the modelling process by overlooking the responses to more cryptic predictive variables. In this paper we demonstrate a means by which data gathered from an intensive animal trapping study can be used to enhance SDMs by combining field data with bioclimatic modelling techniques to determine the future potential distribution for the koomal (Trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus). The koomal is a geographically isolated subspecies of the common brushtail possum, endemic to south-Western Australia. Since European settlement this taxon has undergone a significant reduction in distribution due to its vulnerability to habitat fragmentation, introduced predators and tree/shrub dieback caused by a virulent group of plant pathogens of the genus Phytophthora. An intensive field study found: 1) the home range for the koomal rarely exceeded 1 km in in length at its widest point; 2) areas heavily infested with dieback were not occupied; 3) gap crossing between patches (>400 m) was common behaviour; 4) koomal presence was linked to the extent of suitable vegetation; and 5) where the needs of koomal were met, populations in fragments were demographically similar to those found in contiguous landscapes. We used this information to resolve a more accurate SDM for the koomal than that created from bioclimatic data alone. Specifically, we refined spatial coverages of remnant vegetation and dieback, to develop a set of variables that we combined with selected bioclimatic variables to construct models. We conclude that the utility value of an SDM can be enhanced and given greater resolution by identifying variables that reflect observed, species-specific responses to landscape parameters and incorporating these responses into the model. © 2016 Molloy et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


text: Step 1In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until the whites are fluffy and have formed soft peaks. With the mixer running, begin beating in the powdered sugar. Continue beating until all of the sugar has been added and the icing holds stiff peaks when the beater is raised. If not using immediately, cover the surface of the icing with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying and hardening.


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Another Complaint Filed Against Waterfront Recycler/
By TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI News staff
PROVIDENCE — Since it opened in 2009 atop a former Superfund site on Allens Avenue, Rhode Island Recycled Metals (RIRM) has been polluting upper Narragansett Bay and has been shirking efforts to make it stop.
The latest action is a complaint filed against the scrap metal yard by the Rhode Island attorney general and the state Department of Environmental Management (DEM). Both agencies say RIRM is discharging polluted stormwater into Providence Harbor. They also accuse the facility of contaminating the waterfront with oil from at least one of the many derelict boats RIRM keeps tethered to the shoreline or lie sunk offshore.
The complaint, recently filed in Providence Superior Court, seeks to have RIRM comply with a 2013 agreement to build a stormwater runoff control system and remove the vessels from the water. DEM and the attorney general also want RIRM to cease its car-crushing operations and install an oil containment boom in the water. As part of the 2013 agreement, RIRM has already paid $25,000 to DEM. The company is now accruing $750 per day in fines for noncompliance and owes at least $12,750.
Old vessels, including a retired Soviet-era submarine and a submerged ferry, continue to decay in the water as they await demolition, according to state officials. One of those vessels, an old tug boat, has been leaking oil into the water and is now the impetus for the state to take RIRM to court. The oil leak was discovered by DEM and the Coast Guard on Jan. 12 and matched to the oil in the tug, according to officials.
For four years, Save The Bay has been documenting the problems while urging DEM to address the issue.
"We're happy they are taking legal action," said Tom Kutcher, Narragansett Baykeeper for Save The Bay.
Kutcher, however, is concerned that the legal action will serve as another of the many warnings and reprimands that have failed to stop the pollution and allowed RIRM to keep its business open.
"It may not be enough to remove the economic benefit from noncompliance," he said.
One of the defendants in the case, Edward Sciaba Sr., manager of RIRM, didn't reply to repeated inquiries from ecoRI News.
In a 2012 e-mail to ecoRI News, Sciaba responded to the ongoing accusations and enforcement efforts.
"RIRM takes water pollution and any other types of contamination very seriously at our facility or anywhere we work," he wrote. "We have an environmental engineering company retained along with a full-time environmental officer on our staff. We have spent over $200,000.00 dollars on our temporary storm water pollution prevention plan."
In the e-mail, Sciaba directed criticism at Save The Bay's executive director Jonathan Stone. "Stone's knowledge of the facility in every aspect is minimal at best. He is more interested in us receiving penalties then helping us address his issues."
RIRM's location carries an added environmental risk because it sits on a former Superfund site. Between 1979 and 1989, the 7-acre lot was used to shred computers and electronics. During that time, PCBs and other pollutants leached into the soil from the piles of shredded electronics.
There was no protective cover to shield the piles from precipitation, nor was there a barrier between the soil and piles of scrap electronics. In 1986, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discovered the PCBs, as well as cadmium, lead and mercury, in the soil and later designated the property a federal Superfund site.
In 1999, 60 percent of the property was excavated and 220 tons of contaminated soil were removed and buried in a landfill. The site was capped with 13 inches of sand and gravel and soil-monitoring wells were installed. In 2000, DEM mandated that the soil can't be disturbed without written approval.
The property was bought in 2006 by ARC Realty LLC. After a failed attempt to convert the site into a ship-loading facility, RIRM opened a car-crushing yard in 2009. That year, RIRM received authorization from the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) to dismantle the former Soviet navy submarine Juliet. Built in 1965, the nuclear submarine made its way to Providence in 2002, where it served as a floating museum on the Providence River.
The submarine sunk after a storm in 2007 and was towed down the waterfront to RIRM in 2009. Although CRMC insisted that the submarine be fully dismantled by 2012, it currently sits partially deconstructed while leaking oil and littering debris that looks like foam insulation. The company also has brought in five other vessels for scrap without authorization, according to state officials.
In recent years, DEM has expressed concern that RIRM has disturbed the soil cap and unearthed potentially contaminated soil with heavy equipment and industrial vehicles. Numerous inspections by DEM reveal that portions of the site are covered in pools of suspect liquids, while large ruts of mud threaten to send contaminated water into the river.
Here is a list of other complaints and violations against RIRM:
Operating vehicle-crushing operations without authorization or disclosing the operation.
Stormwater and runoff flowing from the site into the Providence River.
Oil leaking from engines removed from crushed vehicles and other oil spills on the property.
Open containers of hazardous waste.
Unidentified containers of hazardous waste.
Failure to conduct monthly soil testing.
RIRM has between 30 days and six months to comply with various orders in the complaint.


text:
Taxes, bonus, and the weekendFebruary 6th, 2006 at 02:11 pm
We did receive DH's W-2 last Thursday and did out taxes online. Wooohooo! We will be getting $1,500.00 back from federal and just a bit over $500.00 back from state. That is sooo exciting! We will be paying off our Visa - which just has a small amount on it, and then putting the balance in our credit union savings account. Because we've efiled, I know we'll get our refund sooner. Yay! It will be nice to have the account paid off, and to see more money in the savings =)
DH also received his 4th quarter bonus last week. Or rather, was informed that it was on it's way. There was an option to take part or the entire amount ($1,200.00) and add it to the 401k - which is employer matched. We decided to do that with the money - that way we can add free money! My mom pointed out that we wouldn't get the pleasure of using the money right now...and I pointed out that we would be happier in the long run that we put it in there for future use =) She agreed.
We had a really nice weekend. Saturday morning we slept in a bit - yay! Then we picked up around the house a bit and put in more laundry (we started it Friday night). DH took my car in for an oil change; then he came home and got his car and I went with him to get an oil change in that car and we stopped at the grocery store on the way home. We've been doing really well using our coupons and saving money at the grocery store. We did end up spending more this weekend - partly because we stocked up on several cases of bottled water and dogfood, and partly because we were hosting a SuperBowl party on Sunday and needed to get food for that. Still, the total at the grocery store was nearly $220.00!!! Then we swiped our loyalty card and handed in our coupons --- the total went down to $118.00! We were pleased =) We are trying to keep our grocery total to about $60.00 a week, but this week we just weren't able to do so. Thankfully we don't have a party every weekend!
Saturday night we helped my parents move furniture back into the den. They had some renovations done and it looks really nice. Afterwards, we stayed for dinner. Fajitas - yum!
DH has a chiropractor appointment today after work. This will be the first time we use our flexible spending account - I'm anxious to see how it will work.
Friday is payday - yay! This paycheck will show our 4% raises. I'm really anxious and curious to see how much that will add to my check. Oh well, guess I'll have to be patient until then =)


text: admin 12 April 2009 Mail on Sunday: The survey's shocking figures that show exactly how much MPs earn compared to an average constituent admin 12 April 2009 Slug path asi-in-the-news/asi-in-the-news/daily-mail-the-surveys-shocking-figures-that-show-exactly-how-much-mps-earn-compared-to-an-average-constituent Joomla-id 3306 Old Teaser Nothing demonstrates more clearly the gulf between MPs and the real world of their constituents than the difference between their feather-bedded pay and conditions and ours. For the rest of us to pocket the amount that the average MP claims in expenses, we would have to earn £228,215 before tax and national insurance. None of us has a hope of getting past our bosses the sort of tax-free perks that MPs claim – never mind getting them past HM Revenue & Customs. To calculate what MPs really get, we start with their salary, which – like you and me – they pay tax on. Then we add what taxpayers contribute to the MPs' gold-plated pension scheme – 26.8 per cent of salaries. Pensions expert Ros Altman has called it 'the most generous pension just about anywhere in the world'. Then we add the expenses that MPs claim for things such as buying their second homes – and furnishing them in style from the infamous 'John Lewis list' – as well as their travel between those homes and Westminster and to and from constituency offices. This figure includes what MPs claim in salaries for their staff and researchers, who are often family members and involved mostly in political campaigning. Then we work out what MPs would have to earn to take home that amount if – like you and me – they had to pay 40 per cent tax and one per cent National Insurance on the income. This all shows that to live like an MP, the rest of us would have to be earning hundreds of thousands a year. Published in the Mail on Sunday here


text:
Psychotherapy hinges on the therapist's ability to listen carefully and respond appropriately. Since people pay me for my opinions I am happy to share them. A big part of my job includes knowing when to listen and when to talk. Sometimes it's helpful for me to give a client a lengthy perspective about what we are discussing. My goal is for my clients to see themselves or a situation they are dealing with in a new light.
I've previously written about what I consider to be the major differences between counseling and psychotherapy. As a person who provides both services I know what kinds of questions can lead to deep levels of insight and healing. I've previously published a list of things to consider before your first psychotherapy or counseling appointment. I now have a new set of questions which can help increase the benefit of psychotherapy.
A book titled Reflections on the History of the Sex Addiction Field. was recently published. The editors identified people who they decided had pivotal roles in the development of this field to each write a chapter highlighting their recollections of "the early days". In this way people will have a way to understand some history they would not otherwise have an opportunity to know about. I was honored to be one of the contributors so my short chapter is included in this collection.
I recently published an article to introduce a sexual health framework for categorizing chronically problematic sexual behavior. Soon after this, host Craig Perra asked to interview me for his podcast called The Mindful Habit. (Craig is a great host who enthusiastically supports new ideas.) I think it went pretty well for my first podcast. The length gave me a chance to include a lot of explanations and historical context for the developmnet of this framework.
There are fundamentally two types of challenges that bring a person to a therapist's office: problems of external circumstance and problems of internal struggle. Life puts some problems before us, while others we essentially create for ourselves. As a therapist and counselor I help people deal with both categories.
As a counselor and psychotherapist part of my job is to help clients explore important life issues that can bring lasting positive change. One advice I can give to my younger colleagues in the field is to not stop too soon when exploring a particular question. Like excavating a treasure or drilling for oil, deeper explorations can yield valuable results.
People obviously seek psychotherapy or counseling to make changes in some part of their lives, and nobody wants to engage in a lot of effort for only minimal benefit. I sometimes use the phrase "ten will get you fifty" to describe situations in which a small effort can yield a large reward.
This concept is not original to me (there is truly very little new under the sun) but I've found the idea that "you get more of what you notice" is so helpful that not only do I encourage my clients to put it into practice but I try to do the same in my day-to-day life.
For a therapist, asking the perfect question at precisely the right time is an art form. I love being able to say to a client "In 25 years I have never asked this question before....." because it announces the possibility of a perspective that is truly unique to both of us. I'm also fond of a few tried-and-true questions that have served me well for many years. One is to ask "what would the old you have done?"
"Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something." (The Princess Bride)
To be human is to hurt: pain is the price paid for the privilege of being alive. While wounds of the flesh can cause great injury, wounds of the heart and soul pierce deeper and linger longer.
Copyright 2017 Bill Herring, LCSW, Atlanta, GA.


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I'm interested in people; in relationships and capturing intimate moments that contemplate daily rituals. Thinking about why people do the things they do and the consequences of their actions. Generally I explore these fascinations in the medium of painting; oils and acrylics, but recently have began working with etching, cast and stained glass.
I'm a UK based artist from Florida, USA where I graduated Cum Laude with a BFA from the University of Florida in 2004. I taught Art and Biology at Ft. Lauderdale High School before moving to London to complete an MA from Sotheby's Institute of Art. Internships at PhotoLondon and London Art Fair lead to working in Events Management to fund my practice. A collaboration with technologist Stef Lewandowski at The Three Beards 2013 ArtHack produced the project Cryptographics. It was exhibited at both the South Place Hotel, London and Hack the Barbican, Barbican Centre, London (2013). In December 2013 I was an AIR at Ne-Na' Contemporary Art Space, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Most recently I completed a 6 month AIR at Ocean Studios, Plymouth.
My passion and experience with science and technology have informed the artwork work I produce culminating in the Screenlight series. To date it is a piece which is made up of portraits painted in acrylic on canvas depicting the intimate relationship between devices and their users in a world which is increasingly reliant on digital communication. Screenlight has been shown at the Window Gallery, Canary Wharf, London (2014), at the MANPOWER Festival in Lisbon, Portugal (2014) and at Schwartz Gallery, London (2015).
In the past 5 months I've been evolving the Screenlight concept and my aesthetic to include the mediums of oil painting, photo-polymer etching, cast and stained glass.


text:
Joseph Morgan On That Vampire Diaries Finale Letter, Not Being An X-Man, And The Originals
When The Originals returns with a truncated fourth season on Friday (March 17), expect the supernatural drama to embrace its darker side. Five years have passed since the events of the Season 3 finale, and with all of the Mikaelsons currently indisposed, Marcel has reclaimed New Orleans as his own. But there's an evil brewing under the city, one that spells trouble for Klaus and his family, including his estranged daughter, Hope.
Ahead of the Season 4 premiere ("Gather Up the Killers"), MTV News chatted with star Joseph Morgan about The Originals' return, that unexpected Vampire Diaries series finale moment, and how he's learned to stop questioning the mythology of creator Julie Plec's universe. See? Even the star of the show can't figure out how The Originals' timeline syncs up with that of The Vampire Diaries.
Technically, it's been five years since we last caught up with Klaus in New Orleans. A time jump is a good way to hit the restart button on things. Did you feel that way going into Season 4?
Morgan: Definitely. Also, it being a shorter season was such a welcome change for us, certainly for me. You know, 22 episodes a year is a lot. So this is a good thing. There are new dynamics and new tensions between characters, and new characters. Initially, they talked early on about jumping forward a lot further in time, which would have been interesting [but] not for our human characters with all of that prosthetic aging makeup. It's funny because we have a good presence on social media, and a lot of the time you get messages like, "Why can't you guys do episodes all year round?" Oh my god. You don't understand how we're all just wiped by the end of a season. It would just get gradually worse, as we all grow more and more tired and exhausted with it. So what you've got is a truncated season that's full of energy and life and a concise story.
Klaus has been imprisoned and mentally tortured for five years by Marcel at the start of Season 4. What kind of emotional state do we find him in? Is he hopeless, or perhaps vengeful?
He's a pendulum. He swings between the two. He absolutely is a coiled spring at times, angry and vengeance-filled. And then other times it seems hopeless and he feels like he's never going to get out of that dungeon. So it's a mixture of the two for the first couple of episodes at least. And Marcel is enjoying that. He's enjoying having Klaus right where he wants him.
For sure. He doesn't even have a heart anymore, so how could he care?
Exactly! He's got no heart. I wonder how that works now. Is there just a big hole where his heart once was? Did he grow a new heart? I'm not sure. Since Damon stopped turning into a raven, I've stopped questioning [the mythology]. Or a crow, or whatever it is. [laughs]
We know that Cami (Leah Pipes) makes an appearance in Episode 2, perhaps as one of Klaus's delusions. What kind of presence does she have over Klaus this season?
She has a literal presence in that episode, of course. For me, this season is all about Klaus's relationship with Hope. That's what drove the character through the whole season, and that was certainly the part of the season that I enjoyed the most, the scenes that I enjoyed playing the most. So Cami's words to him about his daughter and her advice she offered him and does offer him in the forthcoming season [are] definitely present in his mind as he moves forward.
What's that father-daughter relationship going to be like this season? He's missed five years of her life. I'm assuming that's going to weigh on him significantly.
They're strangers. It's so bizarre because he's known her and loved her, but she was a baby. She remembers none of that, really. She doesn't remember his face. She just knows him as this man her mom has talked about, and then suddenly [she has] that man in the house. The idea of a dad is very different [from] having a dad. So there's a huge responsibility there that he's terrified he can't live up to. I think, if anything, Hope is the one who helps Klaus, maybe as a bit of an anger management coach. But I don't think Klaus is the best person to go to for lessons in controlling your powers at all, or [for] self-discovery. We start seeing some magic from [Hope] as she learns to control it and understand who she is.
I have to ask about the Vampire Diaries series finale because the letter that Klaus wrote to Caroline was so unexpected. Julie Plec said that she originally wanted you to be in the episode but things fell through. Did you know about this plan?
I didn't know about the letter until after it aired. I was like, Huh, he sent her a letter. Did you notice how Klaus's handwriting has changed dramatically in the different episodes that he's sent letters or notes? I don't think they've pinned it down. [laughs] He's a man of many fonts. But it's a fine balance they have to walk with the finale because ideally you bring back every character that meant something to the show. But then you also have to do justice to the story line that's being played out. Knowing how passionate the fans are about everything, it was better to not have Klaus infiltrate that world. Does [the letter] mean he's safe? Because he's obviously written the letter some time in the future, so does that mean he survives the whole season? Or is he writing it at some point in Season 4? The more you open that Pandora's box, the harder it is to close it.
Speaking of opening Pandora's box, congratulations on not joining the cast of Fox's new X-Men series, despite the rumors. How did that whole thing get started?
It was funny to see that unfold and to answer so many freaked-out phone calls. I just did it as a favor to Bryan Singer and to Fox, coming in and reading. I met Bryan before, and I just felt like it would be a fun way to be involved in that world. I had no idea that [executive producer Lauren Shuler Donner] was going to take a photo and say, "Hey, this is the cast!" It's a great project, but obviously I'm busy. It was pretty funny to see all of the articles and then the retractions.
Personally, I was here for that casting. You're a big fan of the comics, right?
I am! That's why I wanted to at least go in and help out at the table read. But we'll see what it will lead to.
[This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.]


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There have been a number of attacks and thefts in concern with bitcoin currency. It led to the question being raised whether the bitcoins are safe or not. The answer to bitcoin's security largely depends on what you mean by asking it. There are two things in it. First thing is the bitcoin itself and its transactions while the other thing is bitcoin wallets.
Bitcoin and its transactions
The information regarding bitcoins is preserved using peer to peer model. So, there is a chain that contains information about bitcoins and its transactions. If you talk about someone breaking that chain and stealing the coins, it is really a tough ask. It is because this system is governed by cryptographic standards. These standards, as per experts say, are almost unbreakable. Thus, if you think that anyone can reach that chain,break it and steal some information, you are saying it wrong. The notable thing here is that there has not been any attack on the chain recorded till today that led to money being lost or stolen, so it's noticable that in this case, bitcoins are really safe and no one should waste their time worrying too much about the blockchain being hacked.
The bitcoin wallets
Now the next thing in question is the bitcoin wallet. You are required to have a wallet so that you can store the money. There are plenty of online companies offering you a chance to use their services and have a wallet from them to keep your money safe and secure. If you talk about wallets being attacked and bitcoins stolen from there, it is very much possible. In past, the websites of various companies whom you might have used as wallet have been hacked. Therefore, the money was stolen from there. People mix it up with the bitcoin hacking which is a completely different thing. In short, bitcoin hacking is almost impossible, but the wallet in which you are keeping your coins might be hacked, so make sure to find one that will allow you to keep your money safe and always check if you're not making a transaction to a fraud.
Bitcoin is getting bigger and bigger, which means that more places are accepting it and cryptocurrency users can spend their money at online and offline retailers, buy gift cards to places that don't accept payments in digital money yet or even enjoy themselves at some entertaining websites like bitcoin casinos that were created just for them. To be honest, it's not a surprise that so many people started trusting and using bitcoin, as it turns out to be safe and making a transaction using this digital currency is safe and easy. What seems to be even more important to some, it that bitcoins allow making a transactions immediately, no matter where you are and where your assets need to be send. It can be done quickly and basically without a fee, which seems like a great way to prepare for payments in the future.


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The second episode of the The Deadseas' "Shred Seas" series mixes it up with a bit of Tanner Trails left side action at the beginning and then the crew heads off to their local park to surf some concrete waves.
Tag: Chris Flook
The Deadseas – Shred Seas Episode 1
Shred Seas is a new web series from our friends The Deadseas. The first episode, titled "It's Good to be Home" features some random footage shot down at their local spot, the Tanner Trails. Stylistically it's a little different, but I'm into it! I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what Seth Huot has planned for the next one.
The Top 10 Trails Web Edits Of 2016
My apologies for the delay! Maybe one day I'll finally realize that I need to start the whole process of picking these out well before the end of the year rolls around. I thought I'd be able to hammer it out right at the beginning of January, but between traveling and being busy with a bunch of other stuff, I never had the time to fully devote to sitting down and giving this the attention it deserves. So, here we are, damn near the end of February and we're just now taking a look back on what I thought were…
Dollar Bet DVD – Tanner Trails Section
I've been seeing sections from Shawn "Elf" Walters' "Dollar Bet" DVD getting posted up in various places over the last few days. I'd be lying if I said that I knew anything about the DVD, but since it was from the SLC area, I was holding out hope that there possibly could be some trails in it. That hope turned into reality when DIG posted this Tanner Trails section from the DVD this morning. It has a classic feel to it that is a nice departure from the super polished ultra mega 69K stuff we've grown accustomed to seeing these…
Re-Up: The Deadseas – Edit Two
Seth Huot absolutely killed it with this latest Deadseas edit! I had more than a few people hit me up suggesting a trip to Utah was in order after they watched this.
The Deadseas – Edit Two
I'm both honored and excited to bring you this truly stunning piece of visual work by Seth Huot and the Deadseas Crew! Seth holds down the camera as Mike Sczezsny, Kurt Perkins, Cody Gessel, Jonsey Fedderson, Chris Flook and Chris Prior flow their way through the Utah landscape that is the Tanner Trails. Kick back and enjoy this one, and make sure to give Deadseas a follow on The Gram!
Dig – SLC Tanner Trails
Dig adds one more to their trails playlist with this rockin' Tanner Trails edit from Seth Huot. Mike Szczesny is always killing it, but he's on an absolute tear in here! Not to take anything away from Kurt Perkins, Jonsey Fedderson, Garrett Holm, and Chris Flook, who also contribute their fair share of awesomeness to this edit!


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A year ago, I commented on the introduction of the TrawsCymru T5 service. I was very critical of the service, and promised further posts detailing the problems. However, it's the service's first birthday today, and I still haven't done so. I'm not promising I'll ever get round to completing the lot, but here's the first part of that detailed coverage.
'What are service numbers for?' That's a question raised by the T5 (and several local services in the area, but that's another blog post, again if ever I get round to it). This particular problem is that the 'T5' is a blanket designation of a number of routes.
In my travels between Cardigan and Aberystwyth before the introduction of the 'T5', I witnessed at least three cases of passengers being confused as to where buses would take them. At least two of these were in 2014, when the 'X50' timetable between Cardigan-Aberystwyth was much the same as today's 'T5'. One of these was evidenced by some passengers, who obviously expected to travel to somewhere on the detour via Aberporth, jumping up from their seats in surprise as we passed the roundabout which leads to Aberporth without turning off. I seem to remember the driver let them off next to the roundabout, but they'd have had a long walk to Aberporth. Like the 'T5', 2014's incarnation of the 'X50' was a blanket designation, covering all Cardigan-Aberystwyth services. I've not been travelling to/from Aberystwyth regularly since before the 'T5' started, so I've not had the chance to observe further confusion. In the more-distant past, things made more sense as there was a '550' service via New Quay and Aberporth and the 'X50' was generally direct. However, it wasn't perfect, some trips served only one of the two (ie. New Quay or Aberporth) and they didn't have a special service number for those. The third of my observations was such a case, passengers for Aberporth had let an 'X50' which went via Aberporth but not New Quay go without them, assuming it didn't travel via Aberporth. They would have had a wait of well over an hour for the next '550'.
Of course you have to draw the line somewhere, giving the very occasional detours to Aberaeron school a separate route number would only muddy the waters (the school is under 500 metres from the main Alban Square bus stop in Aberaeron), but I believe detours as major as Aberporth and New Quay need to be clearly identified.
Returning to the present, the days of services via Aberporth but not New Quay are gone, perhaps because nearly every service has gone via New Quay since December 23rd 2013. On the other hand, whereas the 2014 'X50' was only a blanket north of Cardigan, the T5 has extended the blanket numbering to Pembrokeshire. As a result, there are now no less than six significantly different routes under the 'T5' umbrella.
- Cardigan – Fishguard – Haverfordwest
- Aberystwyth – Cardigan – Fishguard – Mathry Road – Haverfordwest
- Aberystwyth – New Quay – Cardigan – Fishguard – Mathry Road – Haverfordwest
- Aberystwyth – New Quay – Aberporth – Cardigan – Fishguard – Mathry Road – Haverfordwest
- Aberystwyth – New Quay – Aberporth – Cardigan – Fishguard – Trecwn – Mathry Road – Haverfordwest
- Aberystwyth – New Quay – Cardigan – Fishguard – Goodwick – Trecwn – Mathry Road – Haverfordwest
Of course, there are also short workings of most of these routes. In a sane world short workings wouldn't be a problem, since the destination sign on the front of the bus would show how far the bus is going. If you want something past there you would either don't get on or, more likely, ask the driver if there will be a connection for wherever you want to go. But this isn't a sane world, bus operators have to abide by more-stringent regulations for working longer-distance services, so services like the T5 are registered in sections as shorter services to avoid these regulations. The result is a T5 departing Haverfordwest will probably say Fishguard on the front even if the bus continues to Cardigan. Cue more asking the driver if the bus goes to Cardigan.
Going back to the list of six routes, some of these are only once a day, for example the one that doesn't go via New Quay (that's one in each direction). New Quay is even included in the route branding for the service, so perhaps there's an even higher risk somebody will turn up for that one expecting to go to New Quay. They'd be in for a shock, and that trip (in my opinion) is the only part of the service which deserves a TrawsCymru tag. That's yet another story though.


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Micro-Start XP-10 Jump Starter
Micro-Start XP-10 Jump Starter
"Yeah, right. There is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY that thing can do all of that"
We hear it all the time. Whether you're commuting back and forth from work on Highway 90 or headed up to the Blue-Ridge Mountains for a weekend getaway,this little battery pack that fits in your pocket is the must-have item when on the road, . It can jump off motorcycles, cars, trucks, ATVs and watercraft. It can also charge your laptop, phone and other electronics. To charge the Micro-Start you have the option of using either the wall charger or the "cigarette lighter" plug that are included in the kit.
The XP-10 comes with a soft case that has stretchy straps sewn inside to keep all cables, clamps, chargers and the XP-10 itself secure.
Add To Cart


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Tuned In Ears
"David, did you hear what I said?" In almost forty-seven years of marriage Mary has had to check my attention gauge over and over again. I can be sitting there, watching her lips move, knowing that she is saying something, and not hear a word. Why? Because sometimes my internal mental reality has moved to a totally different place in the universe.
What we hear is more a question of where our heart, mind, and will are at a given point than the decibel level of the communication. The wise father in Proverbs knew this. This explains why he began his first one on one time with his son challenging him to "Listen!" (Prov. 1:8), and then he takes his son out on the street and lets him listen to Lady Wisdom crying out to young naïve teens, "Listen!" Then she spells out what happens to those who refuse her advice (Prov. 1:31-32).
Today, in the second personal father-son talk, the wise dad spells out the gifts his son will receive if he pays attention, but he begins again with a challenge to tune in those ears.
"My son, if you seize my words, if you store up my commandments in your memory, if your ear listens attentively to wisdom, if in your internal core you reach out for skill in the art of living…." - Proverbs 2:1-2
LORD, my iPhone and my iPad constantly stretch out and try to seize my ear and my attention. Help me turn them off long enough to hear what You are saying to me. Help me tune in my ears not only to have things to teach others, but so I personally will find the security that comes because I'm listening to Your voice.
For more from Dave Wyrtzen please visit TruthEncounter.com!
You can also listen to weekly messages from Dave on OnePlace.com.


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View our USP797 / USP800 Products Brochure


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Monthly Archives: November 2017
Tis the Season for Silver Streaks
November 30, 2017
By Jan Stearns
Head Silver Streak Lori Fernandes writes, "Winter is in the air! Yesterday it was 11 degrees in the valley with snow guns working hard to get more trails open. In less than two weeks, we will be meeting again for … Continue reading
We Met Our Goal
November 29, 2017
By Jan Stearns
Thanks to my great colleagues and friends, Waterville Valley Realty reached our fundraising goal for the 5th annual Cold Turkey Plunge. The real winners are the folks at the Waterville Valley Adaptive Sports program, a nonprofit organization that provides access … Continue reading
Your Waterville Valley Homework Assignment
November 28, 2017
By Jan Stearns
Were you at Waterville Valley's Welcome Back to Winter Party last Friday night? It was awesome. Really. A standing room only crowd mingled, sipped and munched at the Waterville Valley Conference Center. Waterville Valley's CEO (and New Hampshire's former Governor) … Continue reading
Waterville Valley Toy Drive
November 27, 2017
By Jan Stearns
Tis the season for giving. Two Waterville Valley businesses are looking for our help in bringing cheer to local children in need during this holiday season. Toy Drive at Toad Hall Toad Hall toy store in Town Square is hosting … Continue reading
Silver Streaks Senior Skiing Program
November 26, 2017
By Jan Stearns
Waterville Valley's Silver Streaks program for ages 50+ is the longest running senior skiing program in the country. The Silver Streaks kick-off the 2017/18 season on Monday, Dec. 11. Silver Streaks membership benefits include reserved parking in lot #1, special … Continue reading
Another Lost Hiker
November 25, 2017
By Jan Stearns
Just over a month ago I posted about a couple of lost hikers who needed assistance getting off Dickey Mountain Trail. Well, it's happened again. A couple of days ago New Hampshire Fish and Game conservation officers reported that a hiker … Continue reading
Resort Insider: Nov. 24-Dec. 10
November 24, 2017
By Jan Stearns
The holiday edition of the Waterville Valley Resort Insider is hot off the cyber press. Click on the link and get the scoop on everything that's happening at Waterville Valley. The ski area is open. The Town Square is celebrating … Continue reading
Waterville Valley Nordic Center Improvements
By Jan Stearns
I recently shared a post about why you should watch Waterville Valley this season. A reader commented, In some earlier press reports there was mention of improvements to some Nordic trails as well. Can anyone comment on that? I put the question … Continue reading
Cold Turkey Plunge Tips
By Jan Stearns
Are you planning on freezin' for a reason in Waterville Valley on Saturday, Nov. 25? It's the 5th Annual Cold Turkey Plunge, and if you're taking a dip in the icy waters of Corcoran Pond, please check out these Plunge … Continue reading
Kris Freeman Inspires for National Diabetes Awareness Month
November 22, 2017
By Jan Stearns
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Lilly Diabetes spotlights Olympian Kris Freeman in a "You got this" video, which shows that you CAN manage your diabetes and you CAN still chase your dreams. Kris, whose home ski area is Waterville … Continue reading


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What's Your Animal Sign?
What's Your Animal Sign?
What's Your Animal Sign?
Amethyst Cluster for Love and Harmonious Relationships (72g)
Amethyst is a common crystal stone that has its use in enhancing love and relationships when placed in the Southwest corners of your home, as its deep indigo color strengthen the feeling of attraction and love for your home.
You can also place this crystal stone in the Northeast to enhance peace and harmony in your home, especially between husband and wife.
Additional uses includes tying 3 Chinese coins around the stone with red string and placing it in the Southeast corner of your living room to enhance wealth and income luck.
When placed in the Northwest corner, you will need to use 6 Chinese coins instead of 3 coins in the Southeast, so as to bring you enhanced mentorship luck.
An ancient Taoist ritual to help keep spouse from straying or being unfaithful is to tie this crystal to the foot of your bed with red string. This should be done to both sides of the bed as, we see full equality between husband and wife these days in terms of infidelity and temptation.
- Make: Crystal
- Width: 6.3 cm
- Length: 7.0 cm
- Height: 11.0 cm
- Weight: 715 grams


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OKLAHOMA CITY -- Thousands of fans flooded Thunder Alley Thursday afternoon.
There was entertainment for all.
Some hooped at miniature basketball courts, others used their energy to dance.
Beyond the cheering and the hype of the crowd, one thing stood out like nothing else...what people decided to wear.
From blinged out watches, crystal belts to suede heels, all made a statement.
A top favorite was 6-inch Swarovski crystal stilettos with the Thunder logo.
They're back ordered because it takes five days to make each pair.
"We just sent Kristin Chenoweth a pair. We hope she wears them soon," Amanda Thorn said, with NBA marketing.
The NBA store at the Chesapeake Arena has a lot of hot Thunder fashion as well as many boutiques around the metro.


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SCARF: All Saints | SWEATER: TNA via Aritzia | SKIRT: Mink Pink | BAG: Romwe | Boots: BP via Nordstrom.
Spent the new year weekend traveling Napa wineries with friends. Although the vineyards' infinite rows of grapes were shriveled this time of year, sun-colored skies and valleys gave me a happiness fix that Seattle winter couldn't. Settled for breathable cottons and laxed leathers, like this incredibly practical Romwe tote, for most of the trip.
Spots of L.A. and San Fran partying in between, to balance my stay in the gorgeous sleepytown.
Nab the look on StyleSays.


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Post NAB 2015 Spotlight: Cineo Matchbox
Now that the 2015 NAB show in Las Vegas is over it's time to do some coverage! Starting on April 17th and going until the end of the month I will be doing a spotlight on what was good at the show. Each day I'll focus on something new or exciting that I saw. These are being released in no particular order.


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Local briefs: Girl, 17, arrested on DUI at Visalia checkpoint
Two people were arrested -- one of them a 17-year-old girl from Madera -- during a DUI saturation patrol Saturday night in Visalia, police said.
The girl was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, police said.
Also arrested was 18-year-old Edgar Figueroa of Visalia, who was held on suspicion of possessing a loaded firearm, police said.
Visalia police issued 107 traffic citations, including three for driving on a suspended license or being unlicensed.
Visalia-area man found dead in Three Rivers hotel room
A 47-year-old man was found dead in a motel room in the Three Rivers area Friday evening.
Tulare County sheriff's detectives are calling the death of Gary Lee Canafax suspicious, though no foul play has been detected.
The body of Canafax, who lived in the Visalia area, was found about 7:45 p.m.
Sheriff's deputies did not identify the motel.
Anyone with information on Canafax's death is asked to call (559) 733-6218 or (800) 808-0488.
Two Fresno County offices close today for furloughs
Two Fresno County offices will be closed today to accommodate staff furloughs and leaves.
The Fresno County Department of Public Health will close most services to the general public, except for mobile food vendor inspections and water-sample dropoffs.
The Fresno County Clerk-Registrar also will be closed to the public today.
Both offices will join other county offices in closing Tuesday for the Cesar Chavez holiday honoring the late United Farm Workers union leader.


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This Friday, Sam Worthington is following up his blockbuster roles in Terminator: Salvation and Avatar as Perseus in Clash of the Titans, which depicts the ultimate struggle for power as men go against kings and kings go against gods. But the war between the gods themselves could destroy the world.
Born of a god but raised as a man, Perseus is helpless to save his family from Hades (Ralph Fiennes), vengeful god of the underworld. With nothing left to lose, Perseus volunteers to lead a dangerous mission to defeat Hades before he can seize power from Zeus (Liam Neeson) and unleash hell on earth. Leading a daring band of warriors, Perseus sets off on a perilous journey deep into forbidden worlds. Battling unholy demons and fearsome beasts, he will only survive if he can accept his power as a god, defy his fate and create his own destiny. Like the Spartan warriors in 300, Perseus and his fellow soldiers need to be in peak physical shape if they expect to succeed.
Extreme Fitness, a leading fitness club operator in Toronto, has teamed up with Warner Bros Canada to produce the action-packed, fast-paced Clash of the Titans Workout. Lead by martial arts expert and fitness trainer George Kiriakiou, "the program combines fitness training of an elite athlete with training of a professional martial artist for a cutting-edge new workout," says George. "The Clash of the Titans Warrior Workout" focuses on improving your mental state so that you can lose weight, increase energy, burn fat, increase core strength, and get a god or goddess-like figure."
Those of us who want the body of a Greek warrior, but don't live in the Toronto area, are in luck, however. A circuit-based, max-internal routine like the previously featured Spartacus Workout will get you the warrior body of your dreams. With the Spartacus Workout, you'll be doing 1 set of each of 10 "stations" in succession for 60 seconds (doing as many reps with perfect form as possible) using a weight that's challenging for 15 to 20 reps. Give yourself 15 seconds to move between stations. Rest for 2 minutes after you've completed 1 circuit of all 10 stations. Repeat 2 more times for a total of 3 circuits. Expect to burn 800 or more calories while packing on lean muscle.