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Thinking about abortion? Know the facts.
If you are thinking about abortion please contact us before you make a final choice. We are here to help you sort through all of your questions and concerns. There is a lot to educate yourself on before you make a decision, and we are here to help you every step of the way.
Methods of Abortions:
RU486, Mifepristone (Abortion Pill)
Before taking RU486, or Abortion Pill, you should understand what it is, what it could mean to your health and how it works. Call for an appointment and one of our staff will be happy to discuss it with you, confirm if you're pregnant and advise you on your options.
Within 10 weeks after Last Menstual Period
This drug is only approved for use in women up to 10 weeks after their last menstrual period. The procedure usually requires three office visits. On the first visit, the woman is given pills to cause the death of the embryo. Two days later, if the abortion has not occurred, she is given a second drug which causes cramps to expel the embryo. The last visit is a follow up ultrasound to determine if the procedure has been completed.
RU486 will not work in the case of an ectopic pregnancy. This is a potentially life-threatening condition in which the embryo lodges outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. If not diagnosed early, the tube may burst, causing internal bleeding and in some cases, the death of the woman.
What is it?
RU-486, also known as "the abortion pill," is actually a combination of two drugs — mifepristone and misoprostol — that cause early abortion. It should not be used if it has been more than 10 weeks since your last period. It is NOT the same as the "morning after pill."
How does it work?
The first pill, mifepristone, is taken orally and blocks the hormone progesterone needed to maintain the pregnancy. The second pill, misoprostol, is inserted into the vagina 24 to 72 hours later, causing the uterus to contract and expel the placenta and embryo.
Things to consider
An RU-486 abortion requires 3 visits to a health care provider.
Most medical abortions using mifepristone are completed within 2 weeks, but some can take up to 3 or even 4 weeks. Side effects include heavy bleeding, headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and cramping. If this method fails, a surgical abortion will be required.
Morning After Pill (Plan B)
Before taking the Morning After Pill, you should understand what it is, what it could mean to your health and how it works. Call for an appointment and one of our staff will be happy to discuss it with you, confirm if you're pregnant and advise you on your options.
What is it?
The "morning after pill" is a large dose of oral contraceptive. Known as Plan B, the pill is actually 2 tablets, one taken within 72 hours of intercourse and the second 12 hours later. It is NOT the same as RU-486.
How does it work?
Plan B is believed to act as an emergency contraceptive principally by preventing ovulation or fertilization. In addition, it may inhibit implantation. It is not effective once the process of implantation has begun.
Things to consider
Emergency contraception is not effective if a woman is already pregnant.
Plan B does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.
The most common side effects in the Plan B clinical trial were nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, and menstrual changes. The manufacturer warns that Plan B is not recommended for routine use as a contraceptive.¹
Up to 7 weeks after Last Menstrual Period
This surgical abortion is done early in the pregnancy up until 7 weeks after the woman's last menstrual period. A long, thin tube is inserted into the uterus. A large syringe is attached to the tube and the embryo is suctioned out.
Between 6 to 14 weeks after Last Menstrual Period
This is the most common surgical abortion procedure. Because the baby is larger, the doctor must first stretch open the cervix using metal rods. Opening the cervix may be painful, so local or general anesthesia is typically needed. After the cervix is stretched open, the doctor inserts a hard plastic tube into the uterus, and then connects this tube to a suction machine. The suction pulls the fetus' body apart and out of the uterus. The doctor may also use a loop-shaped knife called a curette to scrape the fetus and fetal parts out of the uterus. (The doctor may refer to the fetus and fetal parts as the "products of conception.").
RU486 will not work in the case of an ectopic pregnancy. This is a potentially life-threatening condition in which the embryo lodges outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. If not diagnosed early, the tube may burst, causing internal bleeding and in some cases, the death of the woman.
Between 13 to 24 weeks after Last Menstrual Period
This surgical abortion is done during the second trimester of pregnancy. At this point in pregnancy, the fetus is too large to be broken up by suction alone and will not pass through the suction tubing. In this procedure, the cervix must be opened wider than in a first trimester abortion. This is done by inserting numerous thin rods made of seaweed a day or two before the abortion. Once the cervix is stretched open the doctor pulls out the fetal parts with forceps. The fetus' skull is crushed to ease removal. A sharp tool (called a curette) is also used to scrape out the contents of the uterus, removing any remaining tissue.
¹ Source: Manufacturer's Prescribing Information for Plan B (Levonorgestrel) tablets, 0.75 mg. Mfg. by Gedeon Richter, Ltd., Budapest, Hungary for Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pomona, NY 10970. Revised Feb 2004. BR-038 / 21000382503
Abortion is not just a simple procedure; it may have many side effects. Abortion has been associated with preterm birth, emotional and psychological impact, and spiritual consequences. Please contact our center so that you can make an informed decision.
Our center offers peer counseling and accurate information about all pregnancy options; however we do not offer or refer for abortion services.


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ROCHESTER, Minn. (Gray News) – As it turns out, Fido isn't just man's best friend. Our four-legged buddies are good for all of us, especially when it comes to our hearts, a new study shows.
"What we found was that those who own a pet, particularly a dog, were healthier from the cardiovascular standpoint," said Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, who conducted the study.
The reason is people who have dogs are more likely to exercise regularly, eat a healthier diet and have better sugar levels in their blood.
Lopez-Jimenez knows the benefits firsthand. He has a German shorthair retriever named Choco.
"He will be nagging me until we go out — maybe for a short walk, maybe throwing him balls. But what I realize is that anything that I do with my dog will imply physical activity," according to the cardiologist.
Plus, dogs are great mood boosters.
How can you look into those eyes and not feel better?
Copyright 2019 Gray Television Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

subset: commoncrawl


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Product Description
Our very limited edition Xblades kit in conjunction with the Connor Lynes Foundation is now available. Shirts are body fit so would recommend a size up. Kids sizes range in age from 8 to 14 years. The original run will be priced at £35 adults and £30 childrens.


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
The Minden Public Works Department is comprised of the following divisions:
View the Public Works staff directory to learn more about the people who help keep Minden running smoothly.
Hazardous Waste will be collected by appointment only. Please call the City Offices at (308) 832-1820 to schedule an appointment.


text: WSO2 API Cloud now fully supports publishing WebSocket APIs. WebSocket is a TCP-based protocol that is a part of the HTML5 specification, enables full-duplex communications and streaming, and reduces network traffic and delays. In API Cloud, you can now treat WebSockets just the same way as you treat regular HTTP protocols. It is just another option when you add a new API: The wizard then guides you through the rest of the process so you can define your policies and make the WebSocket endpoint fully managed. If you need details, just read this API Manager tutorial that covers the functionality: Create a WebSocket API - now this page applies to API Cloud as well.


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Travellers may not expect entertainment at packaged vacation hotels to be sophisticated, but they also don't expect to be terrorized.
UK operator First Choice has apologized after one of its resorts staged entertainment which saw staff burst out of the restaurant kitchen in dark clothes firing fake guns. What genius came up with that idea in the wake of Orlando and Paris?
The show, designed to promote a new casino at the Holiday Village Aliathon in Paphos, frightened guests who feared it was a terror attack.
It happened just days after 45 people were killed in a mass shooting at IST and after the one-year anniversary of a beach massacre in Tunisia in which 38 people, most of them TUI customers, were shot dead.
A First Choice spokesman said: "This account of events is concerning to hear and we would like to apologize to guests who were present. First Choice can confirm that changes have been made to our entertainment program with immediate effect and guidelines have been re-issued to our resort teams."
According to the Sun, staff were dressed as gangsters to advertise the new casino. But guests said the prank was in bad taste and 'could have given someone a heart attack' in light of recent events. Some regular guests said they were considering boycotting the hotel.
A similar incident happened last August at the five-star Grand Yazici Mares hotel in Icmeler, Turkey. Jet2Holidays apologized after staff dressed as ISIS-style gunmen staged a poolside prank as part of a 'Hollywood-themed' show.


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This silky, aromatic soup is a complete meal in a bowl.
- Yield
- Makes 6 servings
- 2 stalks fresh lemongrass, tough outer layers removed
- 1 1" piece ginger, peeled
- 10 kaffir lime leaves, or use 1 tablespoon lime zest and 1/4 cup lime juice
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1" pieces
- 8 ounces shiitake, oyster, or maitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 13.5-ounce can coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Chili oil, cilantro leaves with tender stems, and lime wedges (for serving)
- Cilantro leaves with tender stems
- Lime wedges
- Using the back of a knife, lightly smash lemongrass and ginger; cut lemongrass into 4" pieces. Bring lemongrass, ginger, lime leaves, and broth to a boil in a large saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer until flavors are melded, 8-10 minutes. Strain broth into clean saucepan; discard solids.
- Add chicken and return to a boil. Reduce heat, add mushrooms, and simmer, skimming occasionally, until chicken is cooked through and mushrooms are soft, 20-25 minutes. Mix in coconut milk, fish sauce, and sugar.
- Divide soup among bowls. Serve with chili oil, cilantro, and lime wedges.


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Main Sewer Line Inspection
How to Tell If Your Main Sewer Line is Clogged
If you are finding yourself looking for help with drains that are constantly clogging or are having multiple drains clogged at the same time this could be a sign of an underlying problem. All your drains lead to one place to be brought out of your home. This is known as the main sewer line or main drain line. Your home's main sewer line leads outside, where the majority of it is buried in your yard. From there, it connects to the city's sewer system. Multiple clogs at one time or constant drain clogging means you could have a root in the sewer line, deteriorating, cracked or even a collapsed main line pipe.
What Causes Main Sewer Line Clogging?
Here are some of the things that can ruin your sewer line and cause major problems with your main drain.
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If you're not sure whether your sewer line is completely healthy or not, it's always a good idea to schedule an inspection. Aiello Home Services can provide you peace of mind about your main sewer line, and save you thousands of dollars by stopping problems before they can happen.
Our technicians are all certified and trained to handle any plumbing service or repair so you have confidence that the job will be done right the first time! you can easily reach us at 855-569-9576 or contact us online and we'll be there to handle any plumbing issue!


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Automotive & Infotainment
The challenges vehicle manufacturers face when building a reputation of quality and performance in the era of consumer electronics are massive. Testing must be done sooner, more comprehensive, easily adaptable to change, and test tools must guide the test engineer away from costly errors that are increasingly expensive and ever more difficult to avoid, as complexity increases.
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"Donald Trump's attacks on the press are "out of control" and damaging "the civic life and debate of the country", the editor of the New York Times said on Sunday. Dean Baquet was responding to a tweet in which the president attacked his main rival. "The Washington Post is far more fiction than fact," Trump wrote. `Story after story is made up garbage – more like a poorly written novel than good reporting. Always quoting sources (not names), many of which don't exist.' " The Guardian, April 8
"The Trump administration is expected to announce today a rule that would strip federal funding from clinics that provide abortions or refer patients to places that do. The rule, a return to a Reagan-era policy, is a victory for social conservatives. It's also a jab at Planned Parenthood, which serves 41 percent of women who receive federally funded family planning services.2 NYT, May 18
"Donald Trump pulled the US out of the landmark nuclear deal with Tehran on Tuesday, moving to re-impose sanctions on Iran and defying pleas from close allies who had called for the agreement to be preserved. The decision marks a bitter defeat for America's European allies, who have spent months beseeching Mr Trump to stay in a deal that he has denounced as "insane". Critics warned it would further endanger stability in the Middle East. " FT, May 8
"Donald Trump has slammed the gun laws of major US allies, claiming foreign countries could better protect their citizens – and possibly stop terrorist attacks – by loosening their gun control laws. In a speech to the NRA Leadership Forum, Mr Trump sought to reassure members of the US's largest gun rights lobbying group of his support for the Second Amendment, after briefly expressing support for gun control measures in the wake of a school shooting in Florida." The Independent, May 5
Archive for Texas
and it only gets worse…Posted in Kids, pictures with tags abortion, Affordable Care Act, Donald Trump, education, F.B.I., freedom of press, gun policies, health care, Middle East, NRA, nuclear disarmament, Planned Parenthood, psychology, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Texas, The New York Times, trumpism, women rights on June 3, 2018 by xi'an
U of T sunset [jatp]Posted in pictures, Running, Travel, University life with tags Austin, jatp, sunset, Texas, The University of Texas at Austin, USA on December 14, 2017 by xi'an
Au'Bayes 17Posted in Statistics, Travel, University life with tags ABC, Austin, BNP12, canoe, Hyvärinen score, misspecified model, NIPS 2017, O'Ba, O'Bayes 2019, O-Bayes 2017, objective Bayes, safe Bayes, Sardinia, Texas, The University of Texas at Austin, University of Oxford, University of Warwick, Wikiprevia on December 14, 2017 by xi'an
Some notes scribbled during the O'Bayes 17 conference in Austin, not reflecting on the highly diverse range of talks. And many new faces and topics, meaning O'Bayes is alive and evolving. With all possible objectivity, a fantastic conference! (Not even mentioning the bars where Peter Müller hosted the poster sessions, a feat I would have loved to see duplicated for the posters of ISBA 2018… Or the Ethiopian restaurant just around the corner with the right amount of fierce spices!)
The wiki on objective, reference, vague, neutral [or whichever label one favours] priors that was suggested at the previous O'Bayes meeting in Valencià, was introduced as Wikiprevia by Gonzalo Garcia-Donato. It aims at classifying recommended priors in most of the classical models, along with discussion panels, and it should soon get an official launch, when contributors will be welcome to include articles in a wiki principle. I wish the best to this venture which, I hope, will induce O'Bayesians to contribute actively.
In a brilliant talk that quickly reverted my jetlag doziness, Peter Grünwald returned to the topic he presented last year in Sardinia, namely safe Bayes or powered-down likelihoods to handle some degree of misspecification, with a further twist of introducing an impossible value `o' that captures missing mass (to be called Peter's demon?!), which absolute necessity I did not perceive. Food for thoughts, definitely. (But I feel that the only safe Bayes is the dead Bayes, as protecting against all kinds of mispecifications means no action is possible.)
I also appreciated Cristiano Villa's approach to constructing prior weights in model comparison from a principled and decision-theoretic perspective even though I felt that the notion of ranking parameter importance required too much input to be practically feasible. (Unless I missed that point.)
Laura Ventura gave her talk on using for ABC various scores or estimating equations as summary statistics, rather than the corresponding M-estimators, which offers the appealing feature of reducing computation while being asymptotically equivalent. (A feature we also exploited for the regular score function in our ABC paper with Gael, David, Brendan, and Wonapree.) She mentioned the Hyvärinen score [of which I first heard in Padova!] as a way to bypass issues related to doubly intractable likelihoods. Which is a most interesting proposal that bypasses (ABC) simulations from such complex targets by exploiting a pseudo-posterior.
Veronika Rockova presented a recent work on concentration rates for regression tree methods that produce a rigorous analysis of these methods. Showing that the spike & slab priors plus BART [equals spike & tree] achieve sparsity and optimal concentration. In an oracle sense. With a side entry on assembling partition trees towards creating a new form of BART. Which made me wonder whether or not this was also applicable to random forests. Although they are not exactly Bayes. Demanding work in terms of the theory behind but with impressive consequences!
Just before I left O'Bayes 17 for Houston airport, Nick Polson, along with Peter McCullach, proposed an intriguing notion of sparse Bayes factors, which corresponds to the limit of a Bayes factor when the prior probability υ of the null goes to zero. When the limiting prior is replaced with an exceedance measure that can be normalised into a distribution, but does it make the limit a special prior? Linking υ with the prior under the null is not an issue (this was the basis of my 1992 Lindley paradox paper) but the sequence of priors indexed by υ need be chosen. And reading from the paper at Houston airport, I could not spot a construction principle that would lead to a reference prior of sorts. One thing that Nick mentioned during his talk was that we observed directly realisations of the data marginal, but this is generally not the case as the observations are associated with a given value of the parameter, not one for each observation.The next edition of the O'Bayes conference will be in… Warwick on June 29-July 2, as I volunteered to organise this edition (16 years after O'Bayes 03 in Aussois!) just after the BNP meeting in Oxford on June 23-28, hopefully creating the environment for fruitful interactions between both communities! (And jumping from Au'Bayes to Wa'Bayes.)


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2016 was a year of major world events from the U.S. presidential election to Brexit to the spread of the Zika virus to the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series! The world of philanthropy and fundraising was not without its own notable activities, trends, and events in 2016.
Looking Back
Record Number of Big Gifts
At least 17 nine-figure gifts have been made and recorded thus far in 2016. These include remarkable gifts such as:
- The $500 million donation by Penny and Phil Knight to the University of Oregon—the largest gift ever to a public university.
- A $400 million bequest from Howard and Lottie Marcus to the American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
- Michael Bloomberg's $300 million gift to Johns Hopkins University to create the Bloomberg School of Public Health—20% of his total lifetime giving of $1.5 billion to the University.
- David Geffen's $100 million gift to the Museum of Modern Art.
In addition, many colleges, universities, hospitals, arts organizations, conservation organizations and other nonprofits saw their largest gifts ever in 2016. The anticipated year-end stock rally could promote even more big gifts through the remainder of 2016 and into 2017.
The Zuckerberg Gift of Billions to Medical Research
In September, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan announced their $3 billion pledge to fighting disease over the next ten years. One of the pledge's first investments has been in the BioHub research center, a collaboration between University of California San Francisco, Stanford University, and the University of California Berkeley.
However, the Zuckerberg-Chan donation and plan do not come without critics. The overarching Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is a limited liability company, causing some to wonder whether this signals a profound shift in philanthropic endeavors. Nevertheless, the world is now looking increasingly at billion dollar pledges replacing nine-figure gifts as a benchmark of leadership giving.
Furthermore, with the increase in the number signing the Giving Pledge—currently 154 individuals and couples—the world could see similar large pledges and strategies for solving societal issues in the coming years.
The Continued Rise of Permanent Charitable Capital
For the first time, a donor-advised fund (DAF), Fidelity Charitable, was number one on The Chronicle of Philanthropy's Philanthropy 400, bringing in more private support ($4.6 billion) than any other charitable organization. Seventeen other DAFs made the list, ranging in size from $76M to $2.1B. Last year, according to the National Philanthropic Trust, DAFs grew by double digits in all areas: number, assets, dollars, and grants. With this rise and growth in popularity of DAFs, more concerns about distribution minimums and policies will arise.
Permanent charitable capital is also increasing among family and community foundations. Not only are the number of family foundations increasing, but of those foundations created in the last 15 years (70% of all family foundations), over 60% expect their assets to increase in the coming years (National Center for Family Philanthropy).
While overall asset growth at community foundations last year was small, the percentage of assets held in DAFs grew, especially in the larger foundations (Foundation Center: 2015 Columbus Survey). For example, 79% of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation's $7.3 billion in assets is held in DAFs.
Decline in Philanthropic Participation
Over the last ten years, the number of low and middle-income givers has decreased by almost 25% (Institute for Policy Studies). The recently released 2016 Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy found that 91% of high net worth households gave to charity last year compared with just 59% of the general population. While high participation and large gifts from this group of high net worth donors has helped overall giving levels continue to increase over the last few years, the steady decline in overall participation is something to pay attention to. Similarly, colleges and universities have also seen a decline in alumni participation over the last decade.
The Attack on the Great Philanthropists
While we celebrate the growth of this generation of extraordinary philanthropists, there is a growing chorus of critics.
- A common refrain is that, because charitable gifts are tax deductible, they somehow represent tax avoidance and deprive citizens of the good public services that taxes make possible. Of course, all deductions are designed to reward certain behaviors. The charitable deduction alone provides no direct benefit to the donor/taxpayer. Until there is a tax rate exceeding 100%, all charitable gifts will have a real economic cost to donors.
- Others are concerned that the philanthropists do not give to the "right causes" and do too much to support major universities, medical centers, and the arts instead of other causes. There have been shifts in where philanthropic donations go, and many are the result of great causes telling their stories. Any effort to suggest that the donors are giving to the "wrong causes" is probably not wonderful for philanthropy.
- Unaccountable money is yet another criticism. Many see the great philanthropists as having undue influence on the trajectory of social issues as they and their donations are deciding what is important, not the greater population.
Looking Ahead
As we look ahead to 2017, we see many important trends and issues to keep an eye on.
- Markets and Wealth
There is much speculation over how the changes in US administration will impact the economy. If, as some believe, the potential changes will unleash greater economic growth, then 2017 should be another strong year for giving, especially major gifts. We are conscious, however, that this bull market is soon approaching its 95th month, which is very long by historic standards. Picking bull and bear markets is impossible, but if the markets were to correct in 2017, it would not be good news for nonprofits.
- Changes in Tax Policy
The new congress and administration are certain to make an effort to change the tax code; therefore, its potential impact on philanthropy should be monitored carefully. Collectively we need to make our voices heard. Here are some of the ideas being floated around.1. Limits on gift deductibility.
2. Surcharges on endowments.
3. Restriction on DAFs.
- Income and Employment Shifts
Much of the rise in giving has been driven by those at the top. In recent years, the great middle class charities have been facing challenges. For instance, the United Way moved to number two on the Philanthropy 400 list after holding the number one spot for seven years. If we don't see a rise in income among the middle class, charities such as the United Way that typically rely on this population for the bulk of their fundraising, may continue to see their support fall.
- Technology and Other Special Changes
Technology continues to make it easier for organizations to reach wide swatches of constituents with less time and investment and for people to give with more frequently and in less time. In the coming year, we probably will see new and easier ways to give via social media and other outlets. As the wider population is being exposed to organizations through social media and digital platforms, we might not only see a broader range of donors but also a shift in where gifts are being made, based on which organization has the compelling and interesting pitch.
Bentz Whaley Flessner looks forward to reflecting with you on your 2016 fundraising and working together as you plan for 2017. Together, we transform philanthropy.
Originally published December 21, 2016.
Copyright © 2016 Bentz Whaley Flessner & Associates, Inc.


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There was a knowing quality to Spielberg's original Jurassic Park. The title and logo are shared between the park and the film. The park's merchandise can be bought in real-life. When Dr Grant and Dr Sattler see the brachiosaurus for the first time, their sense of awe relates to that of the audience, seeing the … Continue reading
Tag Archives: spielberg
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park was a phenomenal success on its release and made a considerable chunk of money for Universal; audiences loved it, critics were impressed, and so a sequel was inevitable. Spielberg, itching for more material but aware the project wasn't his baby, pushed author Michael Crichton for a follow-up, and The Lost World novel was hastily put together, … Continue reading
Jurassic Park
A much beloved film, Jurassic Park remains to this day one of the great monumental moments in cinema. It was a movie which redefined the summer blockbuster, a rather fitting feat since its director, Steven Spielberg, had previously invented the notion with Jaws, back in 1975. The world hadn't seen anything like Jurassic Park at the time – the sense … Continue reading


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by Grace Newbould
My first ever mile (race) – The Butetown Mile
Ahhh, the mile. We do a lot of them as runners, often 3 on a Saturday as part of parkrun, a couple of 5/6 milers during the week and the odd 10 or so on a Sunday for a leisurely long run. I've been running for a few years now and have been known to sign up for most things at the drop of a hat, but a mile had never featured, until now. The Butetown Mile is exactly that, a straight 1 mile run along Bute Street down to Cardiff Bay. Cardiff is one of only three places in the world to host a straight mile road race alongside Fifth Avenue, New York and the Champs-Elysees, Paris! Andrea J. had signed up as well as some other regulars from Grangemoor parkrun. I found out that the race was on part of my usual Sunday route and, since it was just £5 to enter, it seemed rude not to! After all, it's only a third of a parkrun.
As usual, my race prep was bang on:
- Ask for advice and thoughts on race from previous entrants: "A mile? Oh it's horrible. I've done it three years running", "Eyeballs out and hang on", "The mile? I don't really like thinking about it [runs away screaming]".
- Take it easy the day before by doing the Llantwit Major 10k in the blazing hot sun, drink some cider whilst the other finishers come in and forget to put sunscreen on, resulting in some funky sunburn.
- Hydrate properly by having a few rum and gingers in Penarth the night before with Mr Newbould.
- Forget that all your running leggings are in the wash and therefore you will have to get your legs out in your very fetching running short shorts that you reserve only for sports massages and runs in extreme heat.
One bit of advice I did take was to get a few miles under your belt first before racing, so I jogged leisurely over the Barrage in the morning sun, even doing some strides as I went. I picked my number up, had a natter with some other runners and then watched the leggy elites go off at 11.00. At 11.15, the 'fun run' started. I was part of this fun run, but I soon found out that the 'fun' element was slightly misleading as the race turned out like this:
11.15 [starter horn goes]: Off like a rocket- don't burn out in 200m like those pesky kids in front of me!
11.16: My legs are slowing, the kids are actually doing really well but it's not too bad, it's only a mile.
11.17: Ooh, I'm still 3rd woman.
11.18: Ooh wait, not anymore.
11.19: Why I am doing this? This is grim.
11.20: How long now? MY LEGS ARE SO DAMN TIRED.
11.21: Is that the finish? Move your legs Grace and KICK!
11.22: Urgh, that was horrible. When can I sign up again?
Seven minutes of pure pushing and it was over, but as the others still continued to roll over the finish line I discovered the real pleasure of the Butetown Mile. Little kids really pushing themselves, people of all ages, levels of fitness and ethnicities having a real stab at it along with the elites who stormed it 15 minutes earlier. Every single person was clapped in and as time went on, those at the back got the biggest cheers. This really was community running at its best.
Although it was one of the most uncomfortable races that I've run, I'd totally do it again! After all, it's only a mile. And it'll be fun, right? Over super quick too? How bad could it be, after all it's only a third of a parkrun….


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(Image via BodyOnePT)
Want To Be A Part Of Something Meaningful This Weekend?
Stillwater Relay for Life River of Hope Classic begins Friday August 1, 2014 at 6:00 PM to Saturday August 2nd at Noon.
This is the 20th year that Stillwater has hosted this event and is held at the Stillwater Area High School. This year the relay will be an eighteen hour event that honors, dedicates & remembers those who have fought against Cancer or are holding on to hope that a cure will be found. This is a family friendly event that consists of teams with individuals that take turns walking the track for eighteen hours. Walkers range from elementary school age to seniors. It features many stories of survival and inspirational keynote speakers. The keynote speaker this year is Sue Baldwin who is a cancer survivor and the anchor of the Team Baldwin Bunch.
If you would like more information or to make a donation to a team or individual just follow this link:
Opening Ceremony: 6:00 p.m. Friday, August 1
The Opening Ceremony brings everyone together for a high-energy event kickoff to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, to inspire hope by sharing recent accomplishments and progress, and to remind everyone that while we are winning this battle, fighting cancer is a year-round priority.
Survivors Lap: 6:45 p.m. Friday, August 1
During the Survivors Lap, upbeat music plays as all cancer survivors at the event take the first lap around the track cheered on by the other participants who line the track, celebrating their victory over cancer.
Caregivers Lap: 7:00 p.m. Friday, August 1
During the Caregivers Lap, anyone who ever cared for someone with cancer walks a lap so they can be honored for their support. Caregivers walk this lap with the people they helped if they are also present at the event.
Luminaria Ceremony: Dusk (about 10:00 p.m.) Friday, August 1
The Luminaria Ceremony is a time to remember people we have lost to cancer, to support people who currently have cancer, and to honor people who have fought cancer in the past. The power of this ceremony lies in providing an opportunity for people to work through grief and find hope.
Fight Back:
The Fight Back Ceremony symbolizes the emotional commitment we each make to the fight against cancer. The action we take represents what we are willing to do for ourselves, for our loved ones, and for our community to fight cancer year-round and to commit to saving lives.
Closing Ceremony: 12 noon Saturday, August 2
The Closing Ceremony is a time to remember the lives of those lost and to celebrate that each of us has committed, through our participation in a Relay event, to fight back against this disease over the next year.
– Roni


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Come retreat at the Grünewald Guild and include a workshop session! More information about that experience here.
…or bring me to you!
How does this work?
First, you cover my transportation, food and housing, if necessary, for our time together. My fee for groups up to 12 is $40/hour plus $10/person for supplies.
Either way, I'd be happy to work with you!


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How to Create a MailTo Link
This article shows how to add a MailTo Link to your email, which will automatically launch a new email including the subject line and body text when clicked.
Please Note: Mailto links are not trackable in your campaign results.
Hyperlink Manager
- Highlight the link text
- Click on Hyperlink Manager (NOT the tracked links button on the right-hand side of the editor)
- Select the Email Tab
- Type in the email address
- Type in the subject line
- Click OK
Tracked Email Link
- Highlight the selected text
- Click insert web link
- Remove the http:// and replace it with mailto: followed by the email address (e.g. mailto:email@example.com)
- You can add an alias to appear in the URL. Just bear in mind that the alias appears under campaign results.
- Select 'Insert'.
Adding a Subject Line to your MailTo
- Add ?subject= followed by the subject line (e.g. mailto:email@example.com?subject=CommuniGatorMailToLink).
- As you can see when sending a test this populates the subject line.
Mail to Body Text
The mail to body text is added after the subject line of the same link as shown in the screen shot above.
The mail to body text is added after the subject line of the same link as shown in the screen shot above.
After the subject line type "&body=" then your message.
You are able to include spaces within the body text by adding %20 between each word. This results in the mail shown below.
Please Note: If you do not use a mailto link but leave the email address in the field, it will display blue in the sent email and reads as a link.


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Late for Your Flight? Take a Porsche
Delta is using Porsches (donated by Porsche) to surprise top-level frequent fliers making tight connections in Atlanta. Scott McCartney has details on The News Hub. Photo: Raymond McCrea Jones for The Wall Street Journal.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... the deal like this from a plane to plane in the ... wash ... to be becoming a reality U S ... economy ... Alan's columnist on this now from Dallas areas ... a Porsche ... no lap ... he would only lead to a Simon filing ... probably so was introducing this and why ... Delta Air lines is doing it at its Atlanta hub on he's doing it for its very tough ... league level customers the diamond level on and also platinum level ... they and their targeting people who have taken actions ... in Atlanta ... thirty minutes twenty minutes the heat in forty minutes ... I've to avoid the dreaded and its connection and handbag building no better service for their best customers ... so Beth Prescott members of the ... strike action in Europe traveling in say Apple class while waiting for humanity via bicycle ... but no bicycle ... you know read it it didn't last as the top their portrait taken actions that you can ... easily come in at the end of one of those long concourses have to go to the middle the concourse take a train ... them up in the middle of another one and run to the end ... of another concourse ... aam but what the what the Porsche service ... that eighteen acreage in the door of the airplane taking down the stairs on the on ramp area with the luggage carts ... right across the top of that write to your next date set yet the stairs and pop into your seat ... so it sounds awesome ... awesome time this story do I have been told about it as it sounds like ... I rode along with one of the drivers ... at Delta ... and and watched in kind of ... signs at that time so very surprise ... Travelers Delta hasn't publicize this aam ... they think that I won a surprise and delight customers but they don't wanna raise expectations about it ... and it's really interesting some people are a little apprehensive when ... somebody comes up to it and says I'm yet to get over ... the line of fire into a security area you gotta wonder what's really going on


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- Font:
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Dim lights can make it seem as if no one is watching, triggering moral transgressions in many people, a new study suggests.
Don't miss these Health stories
More women opting for preventive mastectomy - but should they be?
Rates of women who are opting for preventive mastectomies, such as Angeline Jolie, have increased by an estimated 50 percent in recent years, experts say. But many doctors are puzzled because the operation doesn't carry a 100 percent guarantee, it's major surgery -- and women have other options, from a once-a-day pill to careful monitoring.
- Larry Page's damaged vocal cords: Treatment comes with trade-offs
- Report questioning salt guidelines riles heart experts
- CDC: 2012 was deadliest year for West Nile in US
- What stresses moms most? Themselves, survey says
- More women opting for preventive mastectomy - but should they be?
Past research has shown that when people are concealed from view by others, say when they are wearing hoods, these individuals will be more likely to commit criminal acts and other bad behaviors.
But what about times when we're not actually anonymous — people can see us — yet we feel like we're hidden? The researchers of the new study describe it as the adult version of hide-and-seek: Kids often believe no one can see them when they cover their eyes even though they are hiding in plain sight. Turns out, a dark room can have a similar psychological effect on adults.
The results could play out in real-life office behavior, the researchers say. "Imagine that a person who is alone in a closed room is deciding whether to lie to a total stranger in an e-mail. Clearly, whether the room is well lit would not affect the person's actual level of anonymity," Chen-Bo Zhong of the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management and colleagues write in a recent issue of the journal Psychological Science.
In one experiment, 84 college students were placed in a dimly or well-lit room and were given two envelopes — one containing $10 and the other empty. Participants then had five minutes to complete a test in which they had to pick out two numbers that added up to 10 from each of 20 matrices. For each pair of numbers correctly identified participants could keep $0.50 from their money supply. The catch: Participants scored their own work, and they figured out how much money they got to keep, and transfer to the empty envelope, at the end of the experiment.
They all fared the same on the tests, though participants in the dim room cheated more than their counterparts. While those in the well-lit room reported an average of 7.8 correctly solved matrices, the dim-room students indicated an average of 11.5 correct responses. That resulted in a $1.85 difference in payout.
In another experiment students wore sunglasses or clear glasses while playing a money game in which they had to allocate some portion of $6 to a random stranger. Those wearing shades acted more selfishly, giving significantly less to partners, an average of $1.81, than did those with clear glasses who gave about $2.71 to partners.
Another round of this game with a different group of students showed that participants with sunglasses felt a greater sense of anonymity than those with clear glasses. For instance, the sunglass wearers were more likely to agree on average with statements such as: I was anonymous during the study; my choice went unnoticed during the study. And they were more likely to disagree with: I was watched during the study; and others were paying attention to my behavior during the study.
© 2012 LiveScience.com. All rights reserved.


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Weekly Yin yoga classes — taking a little pause…
This summer the studio owners in Etterbeek moved house, therefore there are no more weekly classes near place Jourdan.
As soon as a new space is found, it will be announced here.
Should you be aware of a space for teaching yoga outside working hours in Etterbeek or Auderghem, please let me know. Thank you very much in advance!
Participation fee
- Trial class – 10 eur
- Single class/drop-in – 15 eur
- Most students choose a 5-class pass (60 eur, valid for 3 months) or a 10-class pass (110 eur, valid for 6 months)
General information about class attendance
- You are warmly welcome! We wish you an enjoyable journey of discovering the quieter, subtler, yin side of your personality.
- New students are welcome to join any class. No prior experience with Yin yoga or yoga is required. This style is suitable for adults of all ages and all levels of flexibility.
- While you can spontaneously drop-in, too, it is recommended to sign up for first class so that we can reserve a space for you.
- For new students, it would be great if you could arrive 15 minutes before the class. Thereafter please arrive 5-10 minutes before the class. This would give you enough time to change and settle down.
- If you have any health issues, please check with your doctor first whether doing yoga asanas (poses) is appropriate for you and please inform the teacher about your condition before the class. This applies also to (recent) pregnancy. Our aim is to enhance your health, and some conditions require adjusting a pose.
- If you have your own yoga mat and/or a blanket, you are very welcome to bring them along. Otherwise there will be some mats and blankets also on the spot.
- Since one can absorb the beneficial effect of yoga best when it is practised on an empty stomach, we kindly suggest not to eat at least 2 hours before the class. (This can also help avoid the unnecessary stress in case a pose has activated metabolism in your belly. 😉 ) If you know that you will get hungry, have a fruit some 30 min before the class.
- Please switch mobile phone to flight mode and leave it in your bag in the dressing room. Heartfelt thank you!
- We hope you will enjoy the class.
50.836820 4.383158


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We are going to have two Adobe Create events in the next month. LADIG is partners on both events.
Feb 25th (Create the Web):
Adobe is building a new series of applications for web design and that's what this evening is about.
Adobe's Terry White will talk about Photoshop, InDesign and Muse, Adobe's new web design application – created by the InDesign team.
Terry Ryan will talk about the future of web standards and Adobe's new Edge tools for animation, coding and the hot barely-in-beta Edge Reflow for visual html editing.
Register here: http://createthewebla.eventbrite.com
LADIG members can get free admission by logging into our Members Area and using the discount code.
March 13th (CreateNOW):
This event will talk more about the Creative Cloud and collaborative workflow it enables.
Adobe's Kevin Stohlmeyer and Justin Seeley will demo the Creative Cloud Team edition, and how to use it with Photoshop, print and digital publishing and Premiere Pro.
Adobe Community Professional Sally Cox will get you up to speed so you can conduct your own online webinars using Adobe Connect.
Register here: http://createnowla.eventbrite.com
Both events will be at Barnsdall Park in Hollywood, where dmala, lafcpug and other groups meet.
Gallery Theatre
Barnsdall Art Park
4800 Hollywood Blvd. (at Vermont)
Los Angeles, CA 90027


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There are a few items that I would not even consider leaving home without; a hammock is right at the top of that list!
The flimsy net or thin material types that are often seen on images of perfect beaches hung between two palm trees do not really make the grade here. A well constructed hammock with solid fixings, a fixed or detachable mosquito net and a reliable waterproof canopy are the ingredients of a quality sleeping system. Some hammock choosing advice is available in 10 Essential Travel Items
Versatile digs
A good hammock is possibly the most versatile accommodation there is, especially if coupled with a canopy for keeping the rain off. In the jungle it is probably the only really practical option available. It will keep you off the ground and away from the creepy crawlies and if placed high enough away even from the larger animals too.
Highly portable and yet comfortable enough for several days or even weeks, a well 'pitched' hammock is excellent luxury accommodation whatever the location. It is not even necessary to look for a clear area of ground as you will not be sleeping on it.
My hammock has provided me with a comfortable sleeping option many times and on at least a few occasions saved me from either an uncomfortable night or journey.
Handy hammock
Returning from Corsica a couple of years ago the airport at Bastia was closed late in the evening and a number of passengers including me were asked to leave the terminal. Whilst my travelling companions attempted to find themselves a comfortable spot on the grass outside, I received several envious glances as I strung my hammock between two suitable trees. I even slept in the next morning!
A flight to the Falklands is quite a long haul at the best of time but when the aircraft is a RAF Hercules (C-130) it is a particularly uncomfortable journey that seems to take even longer than the actual thirty plus hours. The aircraft does not have any seats in the normal sense, just some netting that you strap yourself into. It can get pretty unpleasant; therefore it was extremely pleasing when the 'cabin crew' permitted me to hang my hammock. I enjoyed a much more comfortable flight sleeping most of the way.
The art of hammocking
Although it is not absolutely necessary to have some clear ground beneath your hammock it is recommended especially if staying for more than just one night. It will prevent the risk of injury when moving around and also make your stay more comfortable.
In fact most aspects of good camp craft are applicable; water close by, good drainage, latrine and waste kept well away from the campsite and a good fire at night.
Hanging your hammock properly is of paramount importance and a good habit is setting up the canopy first. This will provide shelter if it is already raining or starts to rain, enabling the sleeping system (which includes bag) and other equipment to be kept dry.
The guy lines for the canopy should be already fitted, paracord is ideal for this and a tautline hitch is useful for attaching to anchor points such as a tree. This allows adjustment of the guy lines but locks in place under tension. Ensure the anchor points are placed low down so that the canopy is sloping to prevent any build up of rain water and remember to keep pushing it upwards regularly for the same reason.
A good tip is to have sufficient 'spare' cord left over to make a clothes line, especially in the jungle as getting out of the wet clothing that was worn all day is an absolute highlight. Shame it has to be put back on again the next day!
Hang your boots up too; keep them off the ground so that it is more difficult for those creepy crawlies to climb inside. Though still ensure that you check them before putting them on in the morning.
Be careful to ensure that you have enough overhead cover, having the canopy drip on your head all night is not fun!
Actually climbing into a hammock without falling out and looking a complete idiot is an easily learned skill. Initially climb into the hammock and sit astride it, then carefully lower back into it, until you are laid comfortable but with your legs hanging over the sides, then simply bring each leg in until you are fully cocooned.
Take care of your hammock, wash it down when returning from a trip, use warm water without any detergent and it will last you a lifetime.
Hammock paradise
Even in the modern era of restricted airline weight allowances it is worth considering taking a hammock. They are lightweight and portable, if you are aware that you are staying in a five star hotel for two weeks it is probably an unnecessary luxury. Those on extended trips with a little less certainty or greater flexibility in their accommodation requirements it will be a great investment.
There is always the possibility you might find that perfect beach though, two ideally placed palm trees and a large pitcher of ready mixed mojitos. It would be a shame not to have suitable equipment to enjoy the setting sun!
P.S. I hope you can see these pictures were taken in the rain, for the purposes of the post the hammock was set up in pouring rain, the sacrifices I make for you! It was a littler dark and colder however so excuse my shaky hands.


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Trotty Wilde rides her bicycle (named) Kardashian up and down the slopes of the Coyote Hills trails at night. In these wee hours, Trotty enjoys being the only bicyclist, illuminating her own path with that 400-lumen LED headlight.
Trotty swoops out of the trail head and onto the public street that circumvents Coyote Hills. She pedals furiously up the incline in a triumphant finale to her workout, focusing only ahead, savoring the deep muscle burn, the rapidly chilling sweat, and the bicyclist's endorphin high.
Suddenly a large dark automobile, without headlights, comes up from behind Trotty and side-swipes her. Trotty is flung away sideways onto the sidewalk, bouncing off of her helmeted head and rolling like a rag doll.
Trotty can feel as she impacts and tumbles but the sensation is not yet pain, only knowledge of what pain must come.
She faints as the deluge of pain now quickly engulfs her.
Trotty awakens. The pain closes upon her consciousness like water upon a hole in water. She sees a blurry figure above herself.
Trotty hears a man saying down to her, "I have called for an ambulance. Can you hear me? You're going to be fine."
Trotty faints again.
When she again awakens, her first conscious thoughts are of dread at being conscious. Her jagged world is pulsing with a red light. She realizes there are now other figures above her.
Another voice is saying, close to her face, "We're going to lift you into the ambulance. We'll give you something for the pain when we stabilize you."
Trotty faints as she is lifted onto a gurney.
She awakens laying inside an ambulance with two medical technicians moving around her, touching her, prodding her, pulling her, saying, "We're leaving your helmet on for a little while longer, just in case…."
Trotty cries out from the pain. One technician says, "OK, here you go. You're going to feel something in one second…"
The pain now falls away like a robe. Trotty exhales. Her vision is still blurry as if under water. She watches the two pale young technicians.
One of the technicians says to her, soothingly, "Welcome back. You were a hit."
Trotty giggles at the bad joke.
The other technician says, "She'll be marinating in happy juice now."
Trotty is sentient enough to realize that she is now strapped naked under a blanket. She drawls with effort, "Where are my clothes?"
One technician says, "He knocked the shit out of you. Understand?"
Trotty mumbles, "Yessir."
The technician continues, "We're leaving your helmet on until we are sure."
His partner mutters, "These bicyclists. How stupid are they to insist on sharing the road with automobiles? That's like swimming with sharks."
Trotty begins to mouth the movie JAWS' ominous theme music, "Dun-dun-Dun-dun-Dun-dun…" and she splutters, giggling.
One of the technicians says, "Don't marinate her too much. She'll be bitter."
The ambulance stops. The technicians throw the back doors open.
They are not at a hospital.
As they lift Trotty out of the ambulance she has a disconnected observation that they are in a dark park. Her gurney is bumping over uneven grass.
Trotty becomes aware of a small crowd around her. She tries to focus on them. They seem to be a mix of young and old.
One of the ambulance technicians lifts her head tenderly and removes her helmet. At that moment she realizes that all of the different people seem to have the same pale face with sunken eyes.
The ambulance technician snatches Trotty's blanket away. The cold night air is sobering upon her nakedness. The pain medication is diluted with a fierce shock of adrenaline but she can't make her throat scream. She squirms desperately in her straps upon the gurney.
The ghouls now surround her closely and begin to press their hands and lips upon her flesh, murmuring with lust and craving.
For all ghouls have a taste for life.
Follow This Link To My AMAZON.com SITE


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Sponsored Links
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3 Definitions of Eon
The definition of eon, the meaning of the word Eon:
Is eon a scrabble word? Yes!
- n. - The longest division of geological time
- n. - An immeasurably long period of time
- n. - (Gnosticism) a divine power or nature emanating from the Supreme Being and playing various roles in the operation of the universe
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There are 3 letters in eon: E N O
1 Anagram of Eon
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6 words found using the letters in "Eon"
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Step-up Time!!
Are you ready to up-grade your Instrument you have been playing on for a few years? We can help you with that!! This month we are offering 0% financing on all of our professional line of Woodwind and Brass Instruments. We can also help you advance to the next level with our lesson program that we offer. Come by our store for the grand tour.


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Hi guys gem no 2.
Big Als BBQ and burger joint on Stranmillis road is awesome.
I managed to polish off a pulled pork sandwich in Brioche bread,with creamy original coleslaw,pickle and the famous Big Al BBQ sauce,mmmm my mouth is watering!!! All for £4.95, bargain. The pulled pork literally melted in my mouth,the slaw was creamy, the pickle cut through it nicely and the BBQ sauce brought it all together.Quantity wise it was A1, only slight downside was the bread,it was very soft and broke up easily.
Big Al use a Belfast Bap instead!!!
Please all give it a try,
Once again the BFM shares the food love….


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Orchid Baskets
Click To Enlarge
Instead of cut flowers, get baskets, for gifts, home office, any party event with live orchids that will last years instead of a week or so. Orchids used in our arrangements will be in bloom that may last 1 to 3 months. Tell us the color scheme and the occasion and we will do the rest to create a unique orchid basket decorated with additional tropical leaves, ribbon and ornaments related to the occasion.
Single plant $49.95
Double $69.95
Double Up $79.95
Triple $89.95
Triple Up $99.95
Triple Delux $109.95
Foursome $129.95
Grandslam $139.95
Handfull (5) $149.95
Royal Deal $169.95
Five Aces $189.95


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The Gardenton Park is located in Gardenton, Manitoba and features a hall, outdoor stage, Ukrainian museum and schoolhouse. The park is also home to winter activities using the 'famous' Gardenton hill for sledding and tobogganing. The Roseau River runs right past the park, making it the perfect canoeing launch point or fishing hole.
The park hosts events year round such as the Gardenton Festival, music festivals, dances and more! Come out and visit our historical village, or enjoy the beautiful grounds.


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Apple says it's willing to settle, but inflammatory comments from Samsung suggest it isn't
While Apple and Samsung are said to once again be in talks to settle their ongoing patent disputes, Apple has said that comments from Samsung's lawyers portraying the iPhone maker as "jihadist" suggest that such talks might just be a waste of time.
In new court filings, Apple's attorneys argue that the company has "always been willing" to participate in settlement talks that would bring to an end the worldwide litigation between it and Samsung. The documents reveal that Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook and other senior executives at the company have devoted five days in an attempt to reach a settlement.
But Apple's attorneys openly question whether settlement talks are a waste of time, as they believe Samsung may have zero interest in actually reaching a settlement.
Apple believes comments from a Samsung attorney calling the iPhone maker "jihadist" aren't productive for initiating settlement talks.
As evidence of this, Apple's legal team cites two stories in which key Samsung lawyer John Quinn made inflammatory remarks about Apple and its intentions.
In one quote, Quinn says that "it's kind of hard to talk settlement with a jihadist." Apple's attorneys said comments like this are unlikely to signal a "fruitful return to mediation."
In another story, Quinn is quoted as saying that he believes Apple will not see any money from Samsung in its litigation. He also dismissed earlier verdicts against Samsung, saying that Apple hadn't "collected a penny" or managed to take any products off of the market.
"This is Apple's Vietnam, and people are sick of it," Quinn was quoted as saying in a March interview with Law360.
As such, Apple is concerned as to whether Samsung is in fact "genuinely interested" in pursuing a settlement. Apple says it would rather settle than continue in the courtroom, as long as an agreement would recognize and protect the company's intellectual property.
"Apple remains concerned that despite protestations to the contrary, Samsung has adopted a business model that prohibits early or even timely resolution of any dispute involving intellectual property infringement," Apple's filing reads.
It goes on to state that comments from Samsung's attorneys suggest the company believes that existing judgments will not withstand appeal. Apple suggests that the comments from Samsung indicate it has no interest in settling, as it believes it can prevail with a prolonged court battle.
The filing, made on Monday, comes as a report out of Korea alleged that Apple and Samsung are once again in talks to settle their patent infringement disputes, which span across the globe in numerous legal clashes. Talks are said to have reignited after Apple was found to have infringed on some Samsung patents in their most recent U.S trial.
While both Apple and Samsung were found guilty of patent infringement, the disparity was wide: While Apple paid only$158,000 in damages, Samsung was fined $119.6 million. Still, the retrial proved advantageous for Samsung, which saw its original damages reduced from some $1.05 billion.


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Registration is available on the site home page, at mycoughdrop.com. You can download the free CoughDrop app for ios, Android, Amazon, or Windows onto your device but you must create an account online before you will be able to log in.
CoughDrop Registration Video Tutorial
Watch our video tutorial or follow the instructions below.
Fill out the registration form and hit "Sign Up". You can choose to sign up for a 2-month free trial or to choose the payment option that best fits your needs.
Getting Started Wizard
After you fsign up for CoughDrop the program will open the Getting Started Wizard. The Wizard will help you make some basic choices about how you would like your account to run.
You can choose to ignore the Getting Started Wizard and explore CoughDrop's preferences and account choices on your own, but the Wizard will help you become familiar with many of CoughDrop's options and settings.
You can find the Getting Started Wizard later by opening your account page from the drop down menu on your dashboard screen or by hitting your username on the left of your dashboard.
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Yaacob, Maslina (2010) Benzocyclobutene polymer in glass multimode interference thermo-optic switch. Masters thesis, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Faculty of Electrical Engineering.
Optical switch fabrics are integral parts of optically switched network because these devices are capable to direct input traffic to the appropriate output interface without resorting to optical-to-electrical-to-optical (OEO) conversion. This thesis is significantly devoted towards the design and simulation work of optical switch based on 2×2 multimode interference (MMI) coupler and exploiting thermo-optical properties of materials. Photosensitive BenzoCyclobutene (BCB 4024-40) polymer based coupler material was chosen due to its high thermo-optic coefficient, which offers less power consumption to induce thermo-optic effect in MMI coupler. The switching of the input signal to the desired output ports are realized by modifying refractive index at particular section of MMI coupler. Light propagation and thermal distribution through the optical switch are modeled by using a Finite Difference Beam Propagation Method (FD-BPM). In order to reduce the switching power, further analysis has been done by exploring the effect of heater's geometrical structure. It was observed that the employment of trapezoidal (tapered) heater structure can reduce the applied switching power by 15.53% as compared to the conventional rectangular structure. This improvement was shown to take place at crosstalk value of -19 dB. Significantly, this research has successfully demonstrated the application of tapered heater electrode in reducing the switching power for thermo-optic switch application.
|Item Type:
|Thesis (Masters)
|Additional Information:
|Thesis (Sarjana Kejuruteraan (Elektrik)) - Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 2010; Supervisors : Dr. Mohd. Haniff Ibrahim, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norazan Mohd. Kassim
|Uncontrolled Keywords:
|optical communications, optic switch
|T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
|Electrical Engineering
|ID Code:
|Deposited By:
|Deposited On:
|27 Jun 2011 12:59
|Last Modified:
|13 Sep 2017 15:44
Repository Staff Only: item control page


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We seem to be featuring all the Northamptonshire weddings at the moment, and I love it! If you love the thought of a wedding in this neck of the woods, then be sure to check out Melanie & James and Natalie & Jack's weddings too.
Anyway back to the gorgeous Kate & Dan and their outdoor orchard wedding at Sulgrave Manor, non other than the ancestral home to George Washington don't you know. It looks like the perfect Summers day with blue skies, pretty blooms and ribbons billowing in the wind, and it is so dreamy.
Kate wore a gorgeous Charlie Brear gown with a stunning low back that she accessories with a delicate necklace. She also carries the sweetest bouquet of handpicked blooms and I just love her bridal up do.
Capturing all this emotion and pretty is the lovely Nicola Casey Photography whose style is as dreamy as this day.
Kate the Bride: After nearly ten years together, Dan decided to propose overlooking Sydney Harbour Bridge whilst visiting Australia for a close friend's wedding. When you work and live with each other, planning a wedding should seem easy and simple to do, at times it was! But other times, the help and advice from family, friends and the amazing suppliers and businesses we worked with, helped the day become exactly what we wanted.
Wedding Style
With one of our key ideas being an outdoor wedding, we had an inkling of the type of venue we wanted, we just wished British summertime could be reliable to allow for the scenarios in our head of glorious summer days and drinks outdoors! One thing we did find when viewing venues was that we were certain that we didn't want a wedding "factory" as such and looking back now, really thrived on working with local small businesses who are so passionate and excited about their work and take the time and effort to make it so personal to you.
We both love the outdoors and had our hearts set on a venue outside that allowed us to soak in Northamptonshire countryside. After two days of visiting different fields and marquees we chanced upon an appointment at Sulgrave Manor with the brilliant Charlotte. Charlotte showed us around the house and the different available options that we could use if we were to host our wedding there. The flexibility of Charlottes options for Sulgrave was one of the amazing things about the venue, we fell in love with the orchard outside and couldn't imagine anywhere else we would like to get married. The rolling hills in the background of this beautiful house just captured everything we were looking for. Charlotte was also brilliant in passing on so many amazing contacts that could help us piece together the other aspects of our day as well as being at the end of an email, answering all of our mundane questions!
Brides Dress/Outfit
When I had to start dress hunting it all seemed quite overwhelming until one of my bridesmaids, Katie, put me in touch with Ally at her boutique, Alexandra Anne in the Chatsworth Estate. Right from the off set Ally was welcoming, funny and excitable. The amount of time and energy she gave me and no doubt to all of her brides is incomprehendable as to how she must fit it all in. She knew exactly how to help me find what I was looking for and allowed me to dither, change my mind and get excited about too many dresses! Never once did she rush me for an answer and the Charlie Brear dress she found me is something I don't think I ever wanted to take off. I wanted a less formal wedding dress but something that was still a dress to wow and stun, this was it. Her choice to accessorize the bare back with a necklace detail from Vivien J, was something that everyone remarked on and just added to how special the dress was for me.
Bridesmaids Dresses
We didn't really have a colour scheme in mind but ended up with themes of blue running throughout from the stunning invites, wedding party orders and menu designed by Beija Flor who helped us develop an invite that wasn't too fussy but still had an air of formality about it. The groomsmen and bridesmaids also ended up wearing navy which again, added some formality to a relaxed countryside setting of getting married in an orchard. (Bridesmaid dresses were Phase Eight)
Groom/Groomsmen Outfit
Dan's suit was custom made with a light tweed fabric design and also had blue running through the tweed which complemented the navy groomsmen and bridesmaid beautifully. The staff within Black Tie Menswear were beyond helpful and provided much needed advice for ideas that Dan and I hadn't even thought of!
The flowers were one of my favourite things and I just wish I could have them in my world all the time!! Chloe, the brains and beauty behind BareBlooms produced our amazing flower and with Chloe's passion behind seasonal British flowers, I was excited to follow her lead in her stunning designs for not only the bouquets and pin holes but the decorations throughout the orchard and the barn where we had our wedding breakfast. Chloe's enthusiasm and excitement just made me even more excited for the day each time we spoke to go through ideas. My only idea was that I wanted to incorporate my dad's home grown sweet peas into the flowers and these were then used alongside Chloe's source at Swan Cottage Flowers, for table decorations and my own bouquet. The cake even continued the sweet pea theme, having trailing flowers placed on the layers. The cake was made by Karen from her company Cakes By Kit and again, was a delight to work with. Cake tasting is obviously never a chore but when you can't decide what you want because everything is delicious, it's always a nice decision to have to make! Having decided on red velvet, lemon and chocolate layers, the bare cake had summer berries cascading and was devoured when served.
Every bride it seems has a pinterest board and I was no different, working alongside Chloe to help get the right idea for the flowers, I also used it to help make my own decorations from table centre pieces from old wine bottles and plant pots to a hanging background to the top table to add a subtle colour and to soften the room itself. Bridesmaids as far away as South Africa and America were also then able to contribute and feel a part of the planning and designing by sharing their ideas too.
Make up and hair – morning prep
The day itself whizzed by, as every bride and groom will always say. Getting ready at home with bridesmaids and my family was really special and it felt like a day in itself with family doing fly bys and the house turning into a whirlwind of hair dryers, make up and prosecco! Maddie and Steve from Seckingtons worked throughout the wedding party, even making time to trim dads moustache and the hair styles they produced, lasted throughout the day and long into the evening. Their expertise and focus on perfection and detail made not only me feel special but everyone they worked their magic on. Having your regular hairdresser work with you on a day like this just added that familiarity and I wouldn't have wanted anyone else to help do my hair or the rest of the wedding party.
Aimee Garner's make up was flawless and again, lasted throughout, producing exactly what I wanted. Her precision and professional touch along with her warmth put me at ease at the trial and on the day itself. Travelling to Sulgrave with my parents and all of my bridesmaids in one car was a break in tradition but also so much fun.
Ceremony and drinks reception
The service itself was led by our celebrant Kerry and we chose three readings to be given by my sister, Dan's dad and the best mans wife, Sarah who's wedding we attended in Australia when we got engaged.
Throughout the afternoon, Radio, our band came along early and the lead singer walked around the guests playing acoustic requests of literally anything! The band performed later in the evening to a constantly full dance floor, ending with the bride on her dads shoulders and the groom on an ushers!
The food was made and presented by Glen John. I knew Glen and his wife Kim from playing netball with their daughters and knew of their catering company through other friends rave reviews. They were both so supportive and accommodating to all of our requests, suggestions and ideas that they helped us with sorting cutlery and tablewear but also by producing show stopping food. Canapes all the way through to evening food of pulled pork sliders kept everyone happy and raving about their dazzling cuisine.
Having the day blur by, I just waited, not so patiently, for the photos and devoured them when they arirved. Nicola was recommended by my bridesmaid Katie who had previously captured their wedding. All of Nicola's work that I had seen, I had loved and then to see all of your own day captured, it feels quite hard to comprehend that it has been and gone. The photos themselves are going to be the brilliant centrepiece for my memories and no doubt plenty of our friends and family, and I can't thank Nicola enough.
Photography by Nicola Casey Photography
- Dress Designer Charlie Brear
- Bridal Boutique Alexandra Anne Boutique
- Bridal Shoes Ash
- Bridal Makeup Aimee Garner MUA
- Hair Stylist Seckingtons
- Venue Sulgrave Manor, Northamptonshire.
- Florist BareBlooms
- Caterer Glen John
- Cake Cakes by Kit
- Bar Liquid Bars
- Sofa & Suitcase Hire Banbury Marquee Hire
- Stationery Beija Florstudio
- Entertainment Eight Tray Music – Radio
- Bridesmaid Dresses Phase Eight
- Groomsmen Black tie Menswear
- Celebrant Kerry Tomblin


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Try Before You Buy
Some of my friends want to know does Garcinia Cambogia really work for weight loss as well as you here about all over the news? Yes, Garcinia cambogia for weight loss is effective and it has appeared on the Dr. Oz television show.
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As we said earlier it acts as a mood enhancer, suppresses your appetite and burns fat. For one thing, Garcinia Cambogia extract helps improve mood the same way eating does. When good mood is increased it means you are not as likely to reach for that cookie or other food to ease emotional pain.
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Amsterdam as launching pad for company expansionComatch, a German job platform for management consultants, has expanded its services with a branch in Amsterdam. This marks its first office in a non-German speaking country. The digital platform was launched last year by Christoph Hard and Jan Schächtele, both former consultants at McKinsey & Company. It gives freelance management consultants the opportunity to present themselves to potential customers, and matches the right latent with the right projects. In doing so, they are capitalising on the growing trends for digital consulting and online job matching.
Many talented freelance consultants to work with in the Netherlands
It was Amsterdam's highly skilled talent pool that initially caught Comatch's attention. With a proven business model and a local presence in the Netherlands, Christoph Hard said "The outlook is rosy. In the Netherlands, the number of freelancers in the consulting landscape is higher than in Germany. With our experiences in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and a successful financing behind us, we believe we are well prepared to take on this adventure."
The Dutch consultancy landscape employs about 159,000 consultants, amounting for a turnover of about €15.2 billion in revenues. Between 2009 and 2014, the number of freelancers in the Dutch market for management consulting almost doubled, which was the highest growth across the entire range of Dutch business services. The growth in the number of freelancers is expected to continue in the foreseeable future, which bodes well for online matching platforms such as Comatch.


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THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 239(d)(2), SCACR.
In The Court of Appeals
Hobbithouser, LLC, Appellant,
Thomas L. Crosby, Jr., J & A Construction, and Joe A. Daves, Respondents,
Appeal From York County
S. Jackson Kimball, Master-In-Equity
Unpublished Opinion No. 2008-UP-339
Submitted May 1, 2008 – Filed July 7, 2008
Charles B. Baxley, of Lugoff, for Appellant.
Daniel D. D'Agostino, of York, for Respondents and
Thomas L. Crosby, Jr., pro se, of Matthews.
PER CURIAM: In this action to foreclose a real estate mortgage, Hobbithouser, LLC (Hobbithouser) appeals the master-in-equity's finding that Thomas L. Crosby, Jr.'s payments on two promissory notes extinguished the notes and the related mortgage. We affirm.[1]
On October 13, 1999, Crosby secured personal loans made to him by Carolina First Bank (Carolina First) by mortgaging approximately 164 acres in York County (York Property). Subsequently, in an unrelated action, J & A Construction, Inc. obtained and recorded a judgment against Crosby. Crosby failed to pay the judgment and the sheriff levied on the York Property. On July 10, 2002, after two execution sales, the sheriff deeded the York Property to J & A Construction, the high bidder at both sales.
After the York Property was levied, but prior to the execution sales, Crosby executed two promissory notes to Carolina First. The first note (Note One), in the amount of $374,307.77, refinanced the original loan from October 1999 and was secured by the York Property. The second note (Note Two), in the amount of $153,071.71, was cross-collateralized by the October 1999 mortgage on the York Property.
On October 21, 2003 and November 28, 2003, more than a year after J & A Construction acquired the York Property, Crosby, using his personal funds, paid Carolina First in full for both notes. Thereafter, on December 3, 2003, Carolina First assigned Note One, Note Two, and the October 1999 mortgage to Hobbithouser, a South Carolina corporation in which Crosby owns an eighty percent interest. The assignment was subsequently filed on June 14, 2004.
Meanwhile, on November 24, 2003, Crosby wrote a check to himself from the Hobbithouser account in the amount of $1,339,129.80 when Hobbithouser's account contained approximately $200. The next day, Crosby made a deposit from his personal account into the Hobbithouser account in the exact same amount as written on the check.[2]
Sometime after the York Property was deeded to J & A Construction and the notes and mortgage were assigned to Hobbithouser, Hobbithouser claimed J & A Construction failed to timely make interest payments on the notes. On December 22, 2005, Hobbithouser filed this action against Crosby, J & A Construction, and Joe A. Daves to foreclose the mortgage on the York Property. After a non-jury trial, the master denied Hobbithouser's claim for foreclosure of the mortgage and directed the clerk of court to satisfy the mortgage. The master also denied Hobbithouser's motion to reconsider. This appeal followed.
"An action to foreclose a real estate mortgage is an action in equity." BB&T of South Carolina v. Kidwell, 350 S.C. 382, 387, 565 S.E.2d 316, 319 (Ct. App. 2002). In an action in equity, we may review the facts in accordance with our own view of the preponderance of the evidence. Smith v. Barr, 375 S.C. 157, 160, 650 S.E.2d 486, 488 (Ct. App. 2007). However, we need not disregard the factual findings of the master, who saw and heard the witnesses and was in a better position to judge their credibility. Id.
I. Payments to Carolina First
Hobbithouser argues the master erred in finding Crosby's payments to Carolina First extinguished his debt. We disagree.
In Jeffcoat v. Morris, the court considered whether a receiver of a debtor, who purchased a debtor's note by paying off the debt, could sue the co-maker of the debtor's note. 300 S.C. 526, 389 S.E.2d 159 (Ct. App. 1989), overruled by United Carolina Bank v. Caroprop, 316 S.C. 1, 446 S.E.2d 415 (1994).[3] After reviewing North Carolina and Virginia case law, the court held "payment of a note by a maker, or an appointed receiver of the maker, operates to extinguish the note, discharging the liability of any co-makers on the note." Id. at 529, 389 S.E.2d at 161. The court reasoned that "[t]o allow a maker of a note, or one who stands in the shoes of that person, to acquire an assignment of the note and then sue his co-makers on the note would open the doors to possible abuse and sharp dealing." Id.
Similarly, in Ives v. Rutland, a purchaser of property took the property subject to a mortgage, paid the bank in full for the mortgage, and then rather than satisfying the mortgage, requested the bank assign it to him. The court held the mortgage "became a dead paper" when the purchaser paid it off, thus there were no rights to assign. 135 S.C. 173, 182, 133 S.E. 539, 541 (1926). See also 59 C.J.S. Mortgages § 460 (1998) (stating that payment of a mortgage debt generally discharges the mortgage and terminates the mortgagee's rights).
Here, Crosby paid off his debt in full and then secured an assignment to Hobbithouser, a company in which he owned an eighty percent interest. In accordance with South Carolina jurisprudence, Crosby's two notes and mortgage were extinguished when he, as the sole debtor on the notes and mortgage, paid the debts in full. Once the debts were paid, the mortgage was satisfied and there were no rights to assign to Hobbithouser. Therefore, J & A Construction's judgment lien assumed the status of a first lien on the real property, and J & A Construction's purchase of the property at the execution sale was free and clear from the prior lien of the mortgage.
II. Agent of Hobbithouser
Hobbithouser also contends the master erred in finding Crosby acted in an individual capacity when he paid off his debts because he was acting as an agent for Hobbithouser. This issue is not preserved for our review.
At trial and in its motion to reconsider, Hobbithouser argued Crosby made the payment on its behalf; however, it did not specifically raise any agency arguments. See Collins Entm't Corp. v. Coats & Coats Rental Amusement, 368 S.C. 410, 418, 629 S.E.2d 635, 639 (2006) (finding a general, non-specific argument that does not encompass the specific grounds raised on appeal does not preserve the issue). Accordingly, this argument is not preserved for our review.
III. Defense of Avoidance
Hobbithouser argues the master erred in admitting evidence constituting the defense of avoidance because J & A Construction failed to plead it as a defense. This issue is not preserved for our review.
Hobbithouser did not make this argument to the master. Because this argument was not raised to or ruled upon by the master, it is not preserved for our review. See Wilder Corp. v. Wilke, 330 S.C. 71, 76, 497 S.E.2d 731, 733 (1998) (stating an argument raised for the first time on appeal is not preserved for appellate review).
For the foregoing reasons, the order on appeal is
HEARN, C.J., and SHORT and KONDUROS, JJ., concur.
[1] We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.
[2] Crosby testified the money he deposited was payment to him from an unrelated land sale.
[3] Jeffcoat was overruled "at least to the extent that it prevents a mortgagor from being equitably subrogated to rights of a mortgagee." Williams v. Sandman, 187 F.3d 379, 382 n.2 (4th Cir. 1999).