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The push to get biofuels legislation enacted via the energy bill has been moving with glacial speed. Farmers have planted five crops and harvested four since some form of this energy bill has been on the to-do list of the U.S. Congress. However, the bill has finally made it through both the House and the Senate and awaits the President's signature. In fact, the provisions that Congress has spent years hammering out may be law by the time you read this.
Here are the energy bill provisions that affect biodiesel and ethanol:
Extension of Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC)
VEETC was finally passed last year as part of the corporate tax bill, otherwise known as the JOBS bill. The bill was an extension of the current ethanol tax credit, which is now in effect until the end of 2010. The ethanol tax credit was amended to support the tax credit from the general fund, not the highway trust fund, and it allowed biodiesel to receive a similar credit for the first time.
The tax incentive gives biodiesel producers a tax break of $1/gal. for agri-biodiesel — defined by a list of 11 virgin vegetable oils, including soybean and corn oils — and 50¢/gal. for other biodiesel, usually made from used vegetable oils. It equals 1¢/gal. or ½¢/gal, respectively, for each percentage point of biodiesel blended with petroleum fuels.
But, as it was passed in the JOBS bill, VEETC only provided a short-term provision for biodiesel. The ethanol provision concludes at the end of 2010, while biodiesel's provision was scheduled to expire at the end of next year.
"Last year at this time we did not have a tax incentive, so to go back to Congress and ask for an extension and have it pass right out of the gate is a remarkable achievement," says Mark Palmer, Washington, D.C. representative for the American Soybean Association (ASA). "This is just going to be the beginning for this industry."
The biodiesel VEETC credit is now extended through Dec. 31, 2008.
Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS)
This standard phases out the requirement under the Clean Air Act that an oxygenate — usually ethanol or MTBE — be blended into gasoline in non-attainment areas.
Since MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) has been banned in many states due to groundwater contamination, it seems like it would be a bad idea to give up the oxygenate requirement. However, under the RFS, petroleum refiners and blenders will cede to a ramp up in the total amount of renewable fuels — either ethanol or biodiesel — that they are required to blend each year. The refiners gain more flexibility on when and where they blend renewable fuels and the renewable fuels industry secures a guaranteed market for a minimum number of gallons per year.
Originally, the House version of the bill included an RFS of 5 billion gallons by the year 2012, while the Senate version was for 8 billion gallons in the same time frame. The bill that passed out of conference committee pegged the RFS at 7.5 billion gallons by 2012.
"The passage of this energy bill has been a long time coming ," says Leon Corzine, farmer and president of the National Corn Grower's Association. "It's taken the heart and soul of a lot of farmers to make it happen, but the political will of the House and the Senate has been there. They see that agriculture is the solution to moving our country away from dependence on foreign oil and it gives us the assurance of a growing market for renewables, which continues to help farmers invest in the best rural development opportunity we have ever seen."
Although it's aimed primarily at ethanol, the RFS has also turned out to be a boon for biodiesel as well, says ASA's Palmer.
"We are fortunate, because the tax code is going to be the driver of the market," says Palmer. "Congress has embraced a national marketplace for renewable fuels. The concept of regionalism is gone and that's going to be great for renewable fuels and that includes biodiesel."
The bill also calls for fixes to the credit-trading program available to refiners, says Samantha Slater, Washington, D.C. representative for the National Corn Growers Association.
Refiners earn credits when they blend more ethanol than they're required to under the RFS, but they must use those credits in the year they are accrued. The flexibility provided by the credit trading program is crucial to the success of the RFS and ensures the benefits of renewable fuels are enjoyed nationwide, she says.
"This preserves the integrity of the RFS program, while not taking away any flexibility from the refiners and blenders," she says.
A sticking point contained within previous energy bills was the MTBE liability protection issue, says NCGA's Slater. Previous House bills included liability protection for MTBE, while prior Senate bills afforded MTBE no such protection. MTBE liability issues were stricken from the bill and may be one reason the bill moved more quickly this time, she notes.
Other Provisions
The small ethanol producer credit was modified and enhanced to create a new small agri-biodiesel producer credit. The capacity for small ethanol producers increases from 30 million to 60 million gallons. And the bill creates a 10¢/gal. credit, for up to 15 million gallons of biodiesel, for every small agri-biodiesel producer with an annual capacity below the 60 million gallon cap. That provision will be effective through 2008.
There are also credits for business or individuals who install an alternative fuel refueling site. The provision permits taxpayers a 30% credit for the cost of installing clean-fuel vehicle refueling property to be used in a trade or business of the taxpayer, or to be installed at the taxpayer's principal residence.
Clean fuels are defined as any fuel that is at least 85% by volume of ethanol, natural gas, compressed or liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen or diesel fuel containing a minimum of 20% biodiesel. The provision is in effect until Jan. 1, 2010.
So while you could recoup 30% of the cost to install an E85 pump or a B20 pump on your farm, the bill is primarily to entice more gas stations to install them, says Palmer.
There will be new issues that arise and new legislation battles to fight, but biofuels is off to a solid start, he says. "We've laid a good foundation, and we've just got to continue building the house."
Lower Gas Prices?
Because energy prices have been so high, the pressure to pass the energy bill this year has been enormous, says Samantha Slater, Washington, D.C. representative for the National Corn Growers Association.
"Oil is $60/barrel, gasoline is $2.20/gal. and natural gas is close to $7/MMbtu — that has not happened in the last four years," she says.
"Obviously, passing the energy bill is not a silver bullet," Slater says. "It won't break down oil prices or gasoline prices the next day, or even the next year, but for every year we don't have this, that's another 5-10 years it will take for prices to come down. If we had passed this in 2001, prices would be on their way down by now."


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Beef Fat Fries / $8
"We use all of our brisket trimmings to grind and render the fat for frying our signature Beef fat fries" – One big platter of hand cut french fries with… More→
"We use all of our brisket trimmings to grind and render the fat for frying our signature Beef fat fries" – One big platter of hand cut french fries with… More→
Jumbo wings marinaded in buttermilk, smoked, fried, and tossed in dry rub with a choice of Ranch or Bleu Cheese.
Bibb lettuce, bacon-corn relish, crunchy cabbage, and fried and Korean BBQ glazed pork belly. Drizzled with maple syrup.
Brisket & BBQ-seasoned cream cheese-stuffed jalapeños, topped with cranberry-rhubarb jam. Supplies are limited. Get 'em while they last.
Nashville hot, Georgia gold, or classic with white bread, celery sticks, and bleu cheese or ranch.
Tex-Mex style with pico de gallo, chipotle BBQ, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and smoked pulled chicken.
Corn tortilla chips, pulled pork, pico de gallo, pickled jalapenos, cheese sauce, scallions, chipotle-cilantro BBQ, and sour cream.
Fresh house smoked salmon fillet, smoked salmon pimento cheese, brined red onions, naan bread, and celery sticks.
Black pepper rubbed house smoked salmon, fresh spring greens, smoked Gouda cheese, fried capers, bacon-corn relish, pico de gallo, brined red onion, and choice of dressing.
Fresh spring greens, shredded cheddar cheese, bacon-corn relish, pulled BBQ chicken, pico de gallo, topped with tortilla chips and BBQ-ranch dressing.
Chopped brisket, Alabama white sauce, Cilantro-lime slaw, cheddar cheese, bib lettuce, and pico de gallo. Served with choice of one side dish or add Beef fat fries – $2
Smoked pulled chicken, cherry wood bacon, cheddar cheese, bib lettuce, tomato, mayo. Served with choice of one side dish or add Beef fat fries – $2
House Smoked OMC Salmon, bibb lettuce, salmon-pimento cheese, brined onions, tomatoes, and malt vinegar aioli, Served with choice of one side dish or add Beef fat fries – $2
Fresh spring greens topped with crunchy cabbage slaw, brined onions, scallions, fried Korean BBQ chicken tenders and sunflower seeds. Served with your choice of dressing.
All sandwiches are served with one side option or add beef fat fries – $2
Udi's Gluten Free Buns may be substituted at no additional charge.
We don't mess with the classics. Smoked meat. Bun. Pickles. You pick the sauce. OINK – Pulled Pork…..$12.50 MOO – Brisket……$13.50 CLUCK – Pulled Chicken…..$9.50
Pulled pork, crispy haystack onions, lettuce and coleslaw.
Pulled pork, pepper jack cheese, cilantro-lime slaw, and pickled jalapeños.
Dry brined, smoked, braised, fried, and glazed in spicy Korean BBQ sauce. On a bed of cilantro-lime slaw and topped with a crispy chicharron.
Central Texas style chopped brisket, crispy haystack onions, lettuce and coleslaw. Shout out to our good friend Joe Slack from Red Wagon BBQ down in Waco, TX!
Chopped beef brisket, melted cheddar, and caramelized onion-tomato jam.
Tennessee style HOT chicken, bibb lettuce, sliced tomato, and choice of ranch or bleu cheese dipping sauce.
Smoked pulled chicken, cheddar cheese, and bacon.
Fried chicken tenders, honey mustard using our signature BENT PADDLE 14° ESB BBQ, bibb lettuce, and sliced tomato.
Smoked turkey, crispy haystack onions, lettuce, coleslaw, and cranberry-rhubarb jam.
Notes of Rhubarb, cilantro, and adobe chilies. The perfect sweet heat.
As classic as it comes. Zesty and sweet.
Bent Paddle's 14° ESB was used to create this Carolina-style mustard-based sauce. A bittersweet neighborhood treat.
Great on anything – a tangy white BBQ sauce with a horseradish zip.
We're up early, smokin' all day to ensure every meal is fresh. All smoker entrées served with two side options unless noted with +, or substitute beef fat fries for one option – $2. Meats subject to availability–get it while it lasts!
Pulled pork shoulder, rubbed in spice, and smoked tender. Make it a combo with dry rub St. Louis ribs (2) for $6.
Dry-rubbed and smoked. You sauce 'em!
Smoked 12 hours and sliced to order.
Dry-rubbed and smoked, then basted in honey BBQ sauce.
St. Louis-style ribs (2), sliced brisket (3 oz.), and 1/4 smoked chicken.
1/4 chicken – $5 Dry rub rib – $3.5 5 oz. brisket or pork – $8 5 oz. pulled chicken – $6
We take our ribs and we dry rub 'em, smoke 'em, dredge 'em, and fry 'em up for a Northern MN twist. Drizzled with Alabama white BBQ. (Try it Nashville… More→
All sandwiches are served with one side option or add beef fat fries – $2
Udi's Gluten Free Buns may be substituted at no additional charge.
Pulled pork, cheddar cheese, haystack onions, over-easy egg, bibb lettuce, tomato, and zesty honey BBQ.
Cheddar cheese, bacon, sautéed onions, bibb lettuce, tomato, caramelized onion-tomato jam, honey BBQ.
This sandwich stands on its own packed with quinoa and lentils, topped with Pickled Jalapenos and brined Red Onions.
Vegetarian burger that looks, cooks, and tastes like a fresh beef burger. It has all the juicy, meat deliciousness of a traditional burger, but comes with the upsides of a… More→
Three tacos stuffed with your choice of meat, cilantro-lime slaw, pico de gallo, brined red onion and pickled jalapenos. Great topped with your choice of sauce! OINK – Pulled Pork…$14… More→
Cheesy Jalapeño Grits, bacon-corn relish, brined onions, pickled jalapenos, pulled pork, topped with shredded cheddar cheese and scallions.
Chopped brisket, bacon, sautéed onion, and mushrooms.
10 ounces of Cornmeal-flour dredged fried Louisiana Catfish served with Beef fat fries, creamy coleslaw, and malt vinegar aioli.
Cornmeal-flour dredged fried Louisiana catfish, three flour tortillas, malt vinegar aioli, pickled bacon-corn relish, pickled jalapenos, brined red onions, pico de gallo, and crunchy cabbage.
"Originated for the dance hall at the Brown Hotel in 1926 we honor this as true Southern comfort food." OMC free range Smoked Turkey over white bread, chopped bacon, tomatoes,… More→
Jumbo House-Made Buttermilk Biscuit topped with Sausage Gravy, Rogotzkes Pure Maple Syrup and your choice of meat. OINK – Spicy Korean Pork Belly….$15 MOO – Sliced Brisket….$15 CLUCK – Fried… More→
Smoked pulled pork, OMC beans, rice, elotes, cheese sauce, brine onions, pickled jalapenos, tomatoes, topped with chipotle BBQ, cilantro and Lime.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Weston Ranch JROTC program's pinnacle moment was nearly dashed by, of all things, Major League Baseball.
On Thursday, the Cougars' color guard was invited to take part in the opening ceremonies of the Oakland Raiders game on Sunday evening at O.co Coliseum.
"It was a huge surprise. It was overwhelming," Weston Ranch JROTC co-instructor Sal Reyes said of the invitation.
"This program has never been involved in anything like that. It was quite a surprise."
However, the excitement was erased by a sobering realization: The game would begin when most of the cadets would already be in bed.
The game with the San Diego Chargers was originally scheduled for a 1:25 p.m. kickoff. However, with the Oakland A's hosting an American League Divisional Series game at O.co Coliseum tonight, the NFL was forced to push back the AFC West rivalry game.
Stadium crews need at least 18 hours to reconfigure the stadium, which meant the 1:25 p.m. kickoff would be an impossible deadline.
Instead, the AFC West rivalry will kick off at 8:30 in a rare late-night start.
It put Weston Ranch's JROTC instructors in a bind. The Cougars were invited by the California National Guard to present the American flag during the pregame festivities, but the late-night start gave Reyes and Mike Cerezo pause.
A local recruiter nominated the color guard for the honor after watching a recent performance.
"I almost told them no," said Reyes, a retired Sgt. First Class in the U.S. Army. "Me and the Colonel talked about it, though, and decided this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As long as we got the parents' permission and we had transportation, we decided, 'Let's get out there.' "
It will culminate a banner weekend for the Weston Ranch JROTC program, which stormed the football field on Friday night as part of the school's homecoming celebration.
Upwards of 60 cadets presented the colors before the start of Friday's Valley Oak League game against the Oakdale Mustangs. The show of force is a testament to the progress and potential of the program, said Reyes, a first-year instructor.
The program has 185 cadets and for the first time, two instructors. Cerezo is a retired Lieutenant Colonel.
"We've been working with them," Reyes said. "… There's a lot more involvement and the program is more motivated."
The two have placed an emphasis on community outreach. The hope is that opportunities like Sunday's partnership with the California National Guard and the Oakland Raiders will be a regular occurrence.
Reyes would like to foster a relationship with the Stockton Ports and Stockton Thunder.
"We've been reaching out to different sports teams in the area," he said, "and hopefully take this to a different level."
The cadets attending Sunday's game are: Tyler Chavez, Christian Parcasio, Jeremy De La Serda, James Jennings and Daniel Navarrette.
The Weston Ranch JROTC program's pinnacle moment was nearly dashed by, of all things, Major League Baseball.


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Let's Play!!! A crop tee designed for those who love to play with layers. You can wear it over any sports bra for added style. With a cute adjustable side tie you can wear it either side you want and adjust to suit. Team up with any of our leggings or capri's.
- Complete mesh detail throughout.
- Adjustable side tie for that perfect fit
- Can be worn either side
- Everyday Wear
- Colour fast
Care Instructions:
- Cold Machine Wash
- Mild Detergent
- Wash with similar colours
- Recommend putting in wash bag to protect fabric
- Do not tumble dry
- Do not bleach
- Do not Iron on prints


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Gunpoint Creator Making Procedural Space Stealth Game
Tom "Who Made Gunpoint" Francis is making a new game! In fact, Tom "who I worked with for eight years" Francis is making two new games simultaneously and making videos about both as development progresses. One of those games is about a grappling hook and that's all we know. The other, called Heat Signature, is a space game about sneaking up on spaceships and that's all we knew.
Knew, because Tom "I still do a podcast with him every week and we're good friends" Francis just released a video in which he reveals ship-boarding and explains the objective of the game more fully.
What's in the game right now: the universe is populated by randomly generated ships. Moving quickly causes your ship to heat up and heat is the method by which enemy ships detect you. You can therefore sneak up on them by moving slowly, carefully maneuvering yourself close enough to dock with them. Once docked, you can climb aboard, walk around, and kill people with a gun or a melee attack.
What's planned for the future of the game, as explained in the video: you'll begin each life as a different character type – assassin, thief, spy, and more – and be given an objective, such as a person to kill or an item to steal. As you explore, by boarding, hijacking or attacking ships, you'll discover clues that whittle down where your target might be, such as what kind of ship they're on, what sector of space they're in and so on. It sounds a little like the system in cowboy accusation roguelike Westerado.
It's still early in development, but if you want to follow along the game has a Twitter account, Tom has a mailing list for occasional updates, and there'll be regular development updates over here.
When you think about it, maybe my constant need to caveat my news posts with disclaimers and disclosures isn't my fault. Maybe it's the fault of all my friends who keep making games? Maybe it's them that's the problem.


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The final piece of the US Galaxy S puzzle has now fallen into place, with US Cellular's version — the Mesmerize — becoming available today.
The phone is pretty much the standard version minus the front-facing camera. You still get that gorgeous 4″ Super-AMOLED display, 1GHz Hummingbird processor, and 5MP camera.
It'll run you $199 on a two-year contract, after an $80 mail-in rebate in the form of a Visa Debit card.
I love those things.
If you're on US Cellular and keen for a new handset, you really can't do better than this one.
Keen for some hot PR action? I've included the full, unedited Press Release for you below.
Carrier's next Android-powered device arrives just weeks after announcing The Belief Project
CHICAGO (October 27, 2010) – Today, U.S. Cellular offered customers another Android-powered phone to choose from with the arrival of the Samsung Mesmerize (SCH-i500). This Samsung Galaxy STM smartphone is the most cutting-edge device U.S. Cellular has launched this year that runs on the Android platform. The Mesmerize is available in stores and at uscellular.com for $199 with a two-year contract after an $80 mail-in rebate.
Along with offering top-of-the-line phones, U.S. Cellular is elevating the wireless experience with the recent launch of The Belief Project. The industry-leading initiative was designed to fix common frustrations consumers have with their wireless service, like being trapped in a cycle of long-term contracts. The Belief Project takes U.S. Cellular's customer-focused strategy to a new level by rewarding loyalty and includes "One and Done" contracts, robust rewards, simplified national rate plans with bundled voice, text and data, protection against high overage charges and the industry's only phone replacement program.
"We're always looking for ways to delight our customers and provide them with phones and service they really want," said Edward Perez, vice president of marketing and sales operations for U.S. Cellular. "The Mesmerize is a great choice for customers who are looking for a high-end phone to watch videos, play games, manage their schedules and stay connected to their social networks."
With "One and Done" contracts, new customers who fulfill an initial two-year contract with U.S. Cellular never have to sign another one to continue enjoying the benefits, like new phones at promotional prices every 18 months. Customers can upgrade their phone as early as every 10 to 11 months by redeeming their Belief Points, which they earn simply for being a customer. Current customers who switched to one of U.S. Cellular's new Belief Plans and are eligible to upgrade their phone can get the Mesmerize for the $199 promotional price without signing another contract.
U.S. Cellular's next two Android-powered phones are the LG Apex, which will launch in November, followed by the LG Optimus U in December. They will join the carrier's growing smartphone catalog that also includes Windows Mobile and BlackBerry devices. All of U.S. Cellular's phones are backed by its nationwide 3G network and the valuable benefits of The Belief Project.
About the Samsung Mesmerize
The Mesmerize features a brilliant 4-inch Super AMOLED™ touchscreen, making it easier to play games and watch movies in bright environments. Its 1 GHz Samsung Hummingbird Application processor speeds up downloads and uploads, and produces high-quality 3D graphics and multimedia content. Samsung's All Share application allows customers to send video, audio and pictures from their Mesmerize to other DLNA-enabled devices, like TVs and computers.
The Mesmerize operates on the Android 2.1 platform with access to the 80,000 applications available on the Android Market. It includes popular Google Mobile Services including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Talk and YouTube, and is pre-loaded with popular U.S. Cellular applications Your Navigator Deluxe, Tone Room Deluxe, My Contacts Backup and CityID. Customers can upgrade their software later this year to access Samsung's Media Hub and migrate to the Android 2.2 platform, nicknamed "Froyo."
The Mesmerize comes with a virtual QWERTY keyboard with Swype technology, allowing customers to input text quickly by sliding their finger over the keyboard in one continuous motion. It also features six-axis motion sensing for responsive gaming, Samsung's Social Hub, a 5 megapixel camera/camcorder that records video in HD, MP3 player and 3.5 mm headphone jack, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and expandable memory up to 32GB.
[via Talk Android]


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Author(s): Maya Newell; Charlotte Mars; Gus Skattebol-James
Early Experiences & Issues | Hardback Picture Books | LGBTQI+
A funny book about growing up in a family with two mums inspired by Gus Skattebol-James' story in the award-winning documentary, Gayby Baby.
Ruth's Review:
I love wrestling. When I grow up, I want to be just like my wrestling heroes: big and tough, with really huge muscles. The only problem is, my mums don't like fighting...
This thoughtful story about an 8-year-old boy growing up in a family with two mums deals with issues of macho images, identity and family in a light-hearted and positive way.
Banned from his beloved wrestling, Gus is determined to convince his mums it isn't all violent and, with help from his little sister, comes up with a plan involving dressing up to win them over.
Mars and Newell spent eight years making the documentary film Gayby Baby, about the experiences of children with same-sex parents. Gus Skattebol-James, their co-author, is one of those kids and the star of this story. Now 17, Gus isn't obsessed with wrestling any more, but he is a black belt in Aikido (a Japanese martial art) and is mad about skateboarding. Age 4+
Product Information
General Fields
- : 9781760296810
- : Allen & Unwin
- : Allen & Unwin Children's Books
- : November 2018
- : ---length:- '25'width:- '25'units:- Centimeters
- : books
Special Fields
- : Maya Newell; Charlotte Mars; Gus Skattebol-James
- : Hardback
- : 1902
- : Tom Jellett
- : English
- : 823.4
- : 32


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It's a funny thing.
If I check my email 20 minutes before I need to leave I can usually respond to everything I need to.
If I check my email 20 minutes into my day it takes me all day to be finished with it.
There must be some sort of time-warp when digital communication is involved.


text: Skindred is a Welsh rock band from Newport. The band was formed in 1998 following the disbandment of vocalist Benji Webbe's previous band, Dub War. Skindred's musical style mixes alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and reggae. The band also integrate elements of dancehall, hardcore, ska, hip hop, drum and bass and various other influence… Read More


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Demi Lovato Slays With An Emotionally Rousing Cover Of Aretha Franklin's 'Ain't No Way'
From Disney pop-rocker to dance-pop diva to classic soul sister, Demi Lovato—and that big ol' voice of hers—never ceases to amaze us.
The "Confident" crooner performed at the Time Warner Cable VMA Concert last night at the Avalon in Los Angeles. Amid a 45-minute set packed with 11 songs, including hits like "Really Don't Care," "Neon Lights," and her 2015 summer smash "Cool For The Summer," Demi surprised concertgoers with a powerful, emotionally rousing cover of gospel queen Aretha Franklin's 1968 Lady Soul b-side track, "Ain't No Way."
The cover, which you can watch in the video above, proves that Demi's voice is just gorgeously suited to the classic soul sound, the jazzy, stripped down live rendition showcasing the depth of her smokey vocals and the heights and complex notes her voice can reach. (And to be honest, her stunning diva-esque belting here reminds us of another modern soul singer with a big, iconic voice: Adele.)
Of course, long-time Demi Lovato fans will recognize the deeper meaning and poignancy behind the singer's cover selection. The artist actually chose to perform "Ain't No Way" during her Camp Rock audition many moons ago for the Disney Channel, way back in 2008. And as you can hear in the clip below, she nailed it then—just like she did last night.
Demi's forthcoming fifth studio album, Confident, is due out in October, and the track-listing and official cover art were recently revealed on social media. Here's looking forward to more big vocals, emotional lyrics, and surprising moments ahead—which are sure to be abundant, knowing Demi.
Remember These Debut Albums?


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zommodsCharity - SpecialEffect
SpecialEffect is a charity out of the UK that helps disabled persons play video games. None of you know this, but I actually work for a company (Rapid Assist Technology) that specializes in Assistive Technology. Assistive Technology promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to, or changing methods of interacting with, the technology needed to accomplish such tasks.
It makes me happy to see an organization out there, dedicated to helping people with disabilities play the games you and I play everyday.
Here is a little about SpecialEffects
"SpecialEffect started because it had to!" says Dr Mick Donegan, Founder and Head of the charity. "I've worked in the field of disability and technology for a long time and, time and time again, parents of children with disabilities and people with disabilities themselves kept saying that they found it difficult or impossible to access mainstream video games and leisure technology."
"There was nowhere to go for independent and expert advice and support to help them use technology to actually have fun! So that's why we started, because no one in the UK was offering that kind of service."
SpecialEffect was founded in 2007 and within months it became obvious that there was a huge demand for help and advice. Over the next six years the charity had no option but to grow in size to meet that demand, and now they have four full-time and ten part-time staff members, along with a welcome army of volunteers and an active group of SpecialEffect Ambassadors.
Funding hasn't been easy. "We don't charge for the work we do," says Mick. "Anyone, anywhere in the UK can ask us for help and, if appropriate, we'll buy and lend the necessary videogames and access technology for them to try out for themselves."
SpecialEffect's first office was a tiny unheated upper room in a remote Oxfordshire village (left), but in 2009 they moved to the market town of Charlbury where they were able to open the UK's first accessible games room for people with disabilities.
With the number of people enjoying computer games steadily increasing, there's going to be no fall-off in the number of people needing support. But at the heart of the charity is a determination to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to help each individual.
"It's why we've no need to play the numbers game when it comes to the quantity of people that we support," says Mick. "On the one hand, our GameBase website is giving information worldwide to many people who might need immediate specialist advice about accessible games and controllers. On the other, we have an increasing list of very severely disabled individuals who have complex problems that we know will take us years of support visits and equipment loans to begin to solve."
"But that's why we're here. If the charity had been set up to support just one person, it would have been more than worthwhile."
If you want to support SpecialEffects, please contact them at their website - http://www.specialeffect.org.uk


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News, Commentary on Classical Music, Jazz, Theater, Dance & More
The Louisville Orchestra named Teddy Abrams, 26, as Music Director Designate. Abrams' three-year contract as music director will begin in September 2014.
More Events »
Sign Up for the Weekly Newsletter
Keep up-to-date with what's going on in classical, jazz, theater, dance and more with Classicalite! You'll be happy that you did and we promise not to spam you.


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Pet Product Review – Innova Adult Dog Food – Large Bites 15lbs bag
There are so many new and all natural pet food products out there. Some say organic, some say holistic, it can get very confusing. Well, lately, my sister has put her lab Riley on a diet of Innova Adult Dog Food. When it came right down to it, the product was recommended by the owner of the pet food shop and unlike many other brands it was simply a brand of food that has good nutrition, no nonsense special flavors, meats or gimmicks and is a wholly owned product of Natura, manufacturers of some the highest quality pet foods.
She started with the 15lbs bag of Innova Adult Dog Food and mixed it with Riley's normal brand that was typically bought in a supermarket. She noticed no dislike to the taste, and Riley's tummy seemed to function at its normal rate.
Compared to other super premium dog foods, Innova is well priced. For the best prices, less than $25 for a 15lbs bag, buy directly online at www.petfooddirect.com. Go directly to the order page at: http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/product_detail.asp?pf_id=2011201&dept_id=1&brand_id=9 and save yourself the trouble of carrying around a 15lbs or even 30lbs bag.
If you've got a product you think will pass the Secret Shopper Test, send an email to [email protected]


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My Child Wasn't Born Perfect
Kimberly Bell Mocini
My Child Wasn't Born Perfect is a story of the journey of JD from early childhood to young adulthood, as told through his mother's eyes and voice. JD's mother shares the struggles of educating a child with language and social challenges in the 1990s when there was limited knowledge of Hyperlexia (the ability to read before his peers) or Autism Spectrum Disorders. All she knew was that JD learned differently than other kids and that she had to be his advocate.


text: The Malaysian budget airliner AirAsia has reportedly to offer free Wi-Fi service on board to the passengers. The company stated that the strategy is taken on a trial basis for two months' time to provide inexpensive internet connectivity when travelling. The press release says that the facility will available free of cost for 60 passengers on board of a Wi-Fi ...Read More »


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Besides Halloween, what is the first thing you think of when you think of October? This month is very well-known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What most people don't know is that October is also Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. October 15th is Pregnant and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.
In the year 2000, 1,003,000 out of the 6,401,000 pregnancies in the United States did not end in a live birth. That leaves 5,398,000 living babies. In 2003, the number of live births decreased to 4,093,000. 27,500 of those babies passed away before their first birthday.
That's a ridiculous amount of babies passing away after birth and an even more ridiculous amount of miscarriages. The loss of a child is a serious tragedy. If you have lost a baby, I am deeply sorry. And if anyone you know has lost a baby, please take the time this month to let them know that they're in your thoughts. Why aren't we better informed on the risks and the precautions available to help avoid infant loss?
When you're pregnant, basically all you're told about infant loss is that the chance of miscarriage greatly decreases after the first trimester. They tell you nothing about SIDS. Then after your baby passes away from SIDS, they send you a package in the mail informing you of risk factors and precautionary actions to take. Shouldn't that be something you're told before the fact?
SIDS stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It is the unexplained death of an otherwise healthy baby. SIDS usually occurs while a baby is sleeping. It appears that SIDS is when a baby ceases to breathe and arise from sleep.
Risk Factors Leading to SIDS
- Boy babies are more likely than girls to die of SIDS.
- African American, American Indian, and Eskimo babies.
- Babies who have siblings or cousins who have died of SIDS.
- Babies with mothers under the age of 20.
- Babies with mothers who smoke or drink.
- Babies with mothers who had inadequate prenatal care.
- Abnormalities in the brain areas that control breathing or awaking from sleep.
- Low birth weight.
- Respiratory infections.
- Sleeping in bed with parents.
- Sleeping on a soft surface.
- Sleeping on stomach.
Precautionary Actions
- Sleeping with a fan in the room cuts SIDS loss by 72%.
- Place your baby on his back to sleep.
- Use a firm mattress and avoid fluffy bedding, keep stuffed animals and pillows out of the crib.
- Keep the baby at a good temperature. Do not overheat her and make sure if you use a blanket that it's not able to get over baby's head.
- Have baby sleep in your room but not in your bed. Having the crib or a bassinet in your room is a great option.
- Offering a pacifier for sleep time is also thought to be a good idea because if the baby is suckling, she is not in as deep of a sleep and should be able to wake herself easier if breathing is disrupted.
- Avoid secondhand smoke.
- Make sure other people watching your children are well versed in the precautions.
- Have lots of tummy time while baby is awake.
There are electronic monitors available but they are not proven to help. You can get an apnea monitor that monitors baby's breathing and heart rate so you can just glance at a screen and make sure both are fine instead of going to disturb your baby multiple times a night.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness needs to be more talked about. It needs to studied more. With more effort, it should be preventable. Until that day comes, let's do what we can and get the information out there to more expectant and new mothers.


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Eco-Stone Fence
- March 25, 2014
- Haley Bros.
- Featured Products
Haley Brothers Is now offering a new type of fence called Eco Stone. It is the beauty of stone with out the expense.
What makes Eco Stone fence unique?
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- Color Option: Eco Stone comes in six designer granite colors: Brown, Beige, Grey, Black, Desert, and White.
- Durable: It is molded of exceptionally tough polyethylene and reinforced with galvanized steel.
- Superior Strength: Baseballs, golf balls, and rocks bounce right off.
- Superior wind rating: Eco stone can withstand constant hurricane force winds up to 110mph and 130 mph gust. It is certified to Dade County, Florida hurricane requirements.
- Fade Resistant: UV Stabilized for a lifetime of vibrant colors.
- Excellent Sound Barrier: Blocks out 98% of direct sound.
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- Eco Stone has a lifetime warranty
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Bluepoint has garnered acclaim for its impressive work in making God of War I & II look even more amazing than the PS2 counterparts in the God of War Collection (released in 2008.) The team has since been courted as a premier specialist in HD conversions, and was chosen to handle the upcoming ICO and Shadow of the Colossus HD remasterings.
No developer is credited on the tandem remaster package Zone of the Enders HD Collection, which Kojima Productions itself may or may not be handling.
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Marcel Digital Campaign draws huge customers' attention
The ongoing Marcel Digital Campaign is drawing huge customer's attention across the country. Every day, a good number of buyers are thronging the local brand's outlets to purchase various sorts of electrical and electronics appliances and then spontaneously registering their purchased items with the hope of getting different worth of cash vouchers, ranging from Tk 300 to Tk 1,00,000.
According to the Marcel's area managers and sales representatives of different zones, the nationwide Digital Campaign created a festive mood all over the country.
Both the Marcel showrooms and the most important places of different districts are decorated with arcades, banners, festoons and posters to attract customers towards the Digital Registration Campaign.
Leaflets are distributed among localities. Rallies with band party are organized in different districts or zones.
Mentionable, Marcel kicked off the campaign on October 8 to store the details of the sold appliances with customers' name and contact numbers by the registration of the sold items so that the local brand could deliver swift post sales services.
To inspire the customers in making the campaign successful through registering their purchased appliances, Marcel offered a scope of winning Tk 1 lakh cash voucher everyday on the registration of Tk 10,000 or above worth of appliances. Already, some buyers have received Tk 1 lakh cash voucher after registration of just buying only one appliance like a fridge or LED television of Tk 10,000 or above it.
Mosharof Hossain Razib, additional director and marketing head for north zone of Marcel, said, customers in some cases were disinterest in registration of their purchased appliances.
But, the offer of a scope of getting Tk 1 lakh worth of cash vouchers everyday and instantly handing over various sorts of appliances as per the value of the cash voucher to the winners encouraged the customers in registering their purchased Marcel appliances spontaneously, he said.
After registration, customers have been waiting for getting SMS of cash vouchers from Marcel and those who received Tk 1 lakh cash vouchers are overjoyed, he added.
Dr Md. Shakhawat Hossen, deputy director and marketing head for south zone of Marcel, said the customers are considering this campaign as an exceptional initiative.
He said, this registration is not only offering a scope of getting sure cash vouchers on the registration to the customers but also bringing the local brand's post sales services under its online network.
If the registered customers lost the warranty cards of their Marcel products, they would also get desired after sales services from any corner of the country, he added.
Marcel area Managers from Dhaka, Chittagong, Noakhali, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barisal, Jessore, Rajshahi and other different districts informed that they are conductive massive advertisement of the Digital Registration Campaign in their respective areas, which are resulted in raising the customers' gathering in Marcel outlets. They, along with the winners of Tk 1 lakh cash vouchers, are holding rallies with band party.
Peoples from youths to senior localities are also joining in the rejoicing rally. The customers are bringing various sorts of appliances like fridges, LED televisions, microwave ovens, air conditioners elc. with the Tk 1 lakh cash vouchers just buying only one product, they added.
Jahid Hasan, area manager of Rajshahi zone of Marcel, the massive advertisements of the campaign across his jurisdiction are resulted in getting huge customers' attention and thus experiencing huge customers' gathering at the showrooms.
Shakhawat Hossain, area manager of Noakhali zone of Marcel, said, few number of customers have already won Tk 1 lakh cash vouchers in his respective areas. Every day a good number of customers of this region are thronging the outlets of Marcel to get cash vouchers after registering their purchased appliances., he said adding, as a result, sales of Marcel products were jumped up sharply in the current month.
Ujjal Kumar Barua, monitoring head of logistic department of Marcel, said that this campaign has a positive impact on the sales.
Sales of Marcel brand appliances were gone up by about 20 percent in the period of January to October of 2017 compared to the same period of the previous year, he said adding, sales of Marcel LED TV were jumped up by about 50 percent during that period.
He also hoped that the sales would increase in the coming days of the campaign.
Starting on October 8, the offer of enjoying cash vouchers under the 'Digital Registration Campaign' will be continued till December 31, 2017.
Marcel is now manufacturing and marketing more than two hundreds electronics and electrical home appliances, including about 50 models of fridges, 30 models of LED TV and several models of air conditioners.
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Taj Mahal: the iconic image of India.
Most visitors to this country of over a billion inhabitants fly in to Delhi, drive three hours to Agra to see this World Wonder, and then leave. But there are plenty of reasons first timers to India should stay a few days - a couple of nights in Delhi and one in Agra, in order to delve a bit deeper into a culture that may perplex, may cause angst, but is, at its heart warm, colorful and eager to please.
Over 1.3 billion people live in India, with population centers like Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta and others a snarl of humanity, animals, and vehicles like no other. An unceasing stream of cows, cars, trucks, monkeys, tuk-tuks, bicycles, scooters, donkeys pulling and merchants pushing carts, potholes, dirt roads, dust, smog, shanties, tents, tangled wires, honking horns - this pageantry on every street may cause extreme disorientation. Just be prepared and go with it. (And, FYI, wear closed-toed shoes).
The bulk of foreigners choose to stay in upscale hotels for good reason. These tend to be cordoned off from city grime and hubbub to a hermetically sealed degree. Surrounded by walls, and protected by several layers of security gates, these hotels seem to be quiet, exquisite lands unto themselves. If you're 18, backpacking and/or don't mind full emersion into the culture, by all means find local hostels or homestays. For Boomers in need of all the creature comforts, stay high-end.
To get the most out of a trip to these cities, start with these ideas:
1. Wander the streets of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) - an over-stimulating experience best explored with a guide, because you'll really want to taste some of the street foods you've been warned not to eat.
2. That said, try a stuffed paratha at the over 100 year old Pt. Babu Ram Devi Dayal Parathe Wali - a true hole in the wall beloved by celebrities and India's foodies. In a cubby sized space, there are three tables for 2 (ok, try squeezing 4 around one of those tables). Each just-fried paratha comes with fiery sides. If this is your first meal in India, just be prepared for the heat.
3. Jump on a rickshaw - or tuk tuk - to get to your next stop. It's cheap, fun and as a small vehicle that can weave through traffic and around people, the most convenient way to go short distances.
4. Watch volunteers prepare and serve meals for 10,000 people a day at the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Sikh Temple. You can eat, sitting cross-legged and quietly, along with thousands of others in the Temple's vast dining hall, regardless of your social standing, religious practice or gender. Even if you do not intend to partake, stop into the kitchen where cooks make bread, dal and other dishes in enormous vats. It's a heartwarming sensory experience you won't soon forget.
5. In Old Delhi, stop into Jama Masjid, one of India's largest mosques, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (who also built the Taj Mahal) between 1644 and 1656 at a cost of 1 million rupees.
6. Visit Qutub Minar, a World Heritage site. Built in the late 12th century, and standing 240 ft., it's the tallest brick minaret in the world, made of red sandstone and marble, and inscribed with verses from the Quran.
7. Tour Humayun's Tomb - another UNESCO World Heritage Site regarded as a model for the Taj Mahal. This regal mausoleum, built in 1569, fourteen years after Emperor Humayun's death, is the first distinct example of proper Mughal style, inspired by Persian architecture. Humayun, the region's second Mughal ruler, was father to Akbar - considered one of the greatest "moguls" in history because he expanded territory through conciliation and tolerance rather than violence and extremism. (See Fatehpur Sikri below).
8. Learn about the centuries-old practice of rug making from a reputable source (Emporium, 22A Janpath, New Delhi) that represents northern India tribal families. The work is exacting - artisans tie individual knots of various hued silk threads (the highest quality at 2,800 per square inch) to create geometric patterns and color combinations, passed down from generation to generation, specific to each clan. Whole families work on one rug for several hours each day for years, and the results are so stunning and well made - not to mention, as a dying art, getting rarer by the day - you'll might just want to have one or two shipped home.
9. Stay at The Imperial Hotel, New Delhi - a swanky favorite of foreigners. Like the Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe, it harks back to British Colonial days, particularly the tony 1911 Bar, which has been declared one of the Best Bars in the World.
10. It's a long 15-20 hour travel day from New York to Delhi, so book a massage at the hotel of your choosing. The Spa at the Imperial Hotel is particularly glorious, and après-massage you can take advantage of soaking tubs and saunas.
11. Tour the Taj Mahal, Agra, preferably two hours before sunset. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Wonders of the World, no photograph or Instagram snap will ever capture the true grandeur of this mausoleum, even more spectacular during the "Golden Hour" of the setting sun.
Commissioned in 1632 by the mourning Mughal, Shah Jahan, to house the body of his most beloved wife, Mumtaz (who died giving birth to their 14th child), the tear-drop shaped white marble Taj Mahal is even more magnificent up close. The smooth marble is inlayed with multicolored stones depicting images of drooping flowers. Passages from the Quran are inscribed on its walls. The Taj is elegantly feminine from its shape to décor; an eternal gift to the world.
12. No visit to Agra would be complete without a visit to Agra Fort. It was here that Shah Jahan's son, Aurangzeb, imprisoned his father after killing his two brothers and taking over the Empire. The "Fort" is actually a beautifully restored palace complex - each section, from gardens to pavilions, to frescoed rooms - are worth a peek.
Particularly moving is the room in which Shah Jahan chose to stay - in darkness, in depression - for the year following Mumtaz's death. From one window, he could gaze out onto the Taj Mahal - where her body slept for eternity.
13. Visit Fatehpur Sikri, a city about an hour outside of Agra, founded by Akbar in 1569. The incorporation of Indian, Persian and Arabic architecture illustrated his open-minded approach to the best of all cultures and in fact, one of the most astounding buildings on site is the red sandstone Diwan-i-Khas, or The Hall of Public Audience. Akbar would meet and dialog with representatives of all religions beneath a ring of carved, phallic like serpents that top a center marble column etched with geometric patterns and flowers.
14. Stay away from the crowds at ITC Mughal Hotel, Agra. Yes, there is one exclusive hotel within view of the Taj Mahal - the Oberoi Amarvilas -and good for a huge splurge. But if you can't spend $2,000 per night, and want an upscale experience for around $100, the ITC Mughal is perfect. Again, the gates lead to a place of respite, the common areas are stunning in marble. Breakfast (with room) is expansive, and the spa is lovely.


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Fired FBI Director, James Comey, is set to release his new book, A Higher Loyalty on April 17th and excerpts of the book attained by The Associated Press and other news outlets are already making headlines. The book is highly critical of President Trump.
The book recounts all of the high stakes situations that Comey found himself in throughout his career and, ultimately, explores his relationship with President Trump.
Comey was fired for what President Trump called his mishandling of the Clinton email investigation. The President also cited mistrust rank-and-file agents had of Comey as FBI Director. A characterization that is a matter of dispute between some current and former agents.
Comey offers a scathing critique of the President calling him "unethical, and untethered to truth and institutional values."
"His leadership is transactional, ego driven and about personal loyalty," Comey writes.
Comey also claims that President Trump asked him to investigate claims that he had affairs with Russian prostitutes while in Moscow in 2013. "It bothered [President Trump] if there was 'even a one percent chance' his wife, Melania, thought it was true," Comey writes, according to the New York Post. "In what kind of marriage, to what kind of man," Comey asks, "does a spouse conclude there is only a 99 percent chance her husband didn't do that?"
In another section of the book, Comey likens Trump to Mafia crime bosses he helped put away when he was a New York prosecutor in the 1980s and 1990s. "The silent circle of assent. The boss in complete control. The loyalty oaths. The us-versus-them worldview. The lying about all things, large and small, in service to some code of loyalty that put the organization above morality and above the truth," Comey writes.
He also discusses his controversial handling of the Clinton email scandal before the 2016 election, expressing regret about his approach and some of his wording at a 2016 press conference. But, he writes, he felt he did the right thing by going in front of cameras to announce the findings of the investigation and to recommend that no charges be brought against Clinton. No one at the FBI, he writes, found anything that they could prosecute Clinton for, and, he claims, Clinton didn't lie to investigators they when she was questioned.
President Trump responded harshly to the allegations. "James Comey is a proven LEAKER & LIAR. Virtually everyone in Washington thought he should be fired for the terrible job he did-until he was, in fact, fired. He leaked CLASSIFIED information, for which he should be prosecuted. He lied to Congress under OATH," he wrote on Twitter.
"He is a weak and…untruthful slime ball who was, as time has proven, a terrible Director of the FBI. His handling of the Crooked Hillary Clinton case, and the events surrounding it, will go down as one of the worst 'botch jobs' of history. It was my great honor to fire James Comey!"
For those who believe what is written in Comey's book, the memoir will be a damning tale of just how bad things in Washington have gotten between institutions since Trump took office in 2017.
Photo by the FBI via Wikimedia Commons


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A stroll in the park is as good at calming children as the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) drug Ritalin, according to a report in the Daily Mail today.
But the reliability of the study it weas based on is open to question. The study was small (on only 17 children) and made no direct comparison of exercise and the drug. It relied on a comparison with previous studies, which may have been carried out very differently.
The newspaper report said the study showed that children who took a 20-minute walk in a city park showed improvements in concentration "on a par with a daily dose of drugs for ADHD".
The study found significant improvements in concentration on children who took a walk in the park compared with when they took urban walks.
But whether the results could be replicated, sustained in the long-term, or produced in everyday situations is uncertain.
The question of whether 'a walk in the park' is as good as drugs for ADHD remains unanswered and requires further research. Nevertheless, all children benefit from fresh air and exercise and this should be encouraged wherever possible.
Where did the story come from?
Andrea Faber Taylor and Frances E. Kuo of the University of Illinois carried out this research. The study reported no sources of funding and was published in the Journal of Attention Disorders, a peer-reviewed medical journal.
What kind of scientific study was this?
This was a within-subject randomised crossover trial where a group of children with ADHD were each exposed to a guided 20-minute walk to see how each of the walks affected subsequent concentration. These walks, given in a random order, were in either a city park, downtown area, or an urban neighbourhood.
This study was adding to investigations into why performance related to attention can vary so much in children with ADHD, and what may influence this. This study explored how the idea that individuals experience a sense of rejuvenation after exposure to the natural environment might apply to managing symptoms of ADHD.
Children with professionally diagnosed ADHD were recruited through advertisements. The children were aged 7-12 years, and were on average 9.2 years of age. The final sample included 17 children – 15 boys and two girls, reflecting the male predominance of ADHD. Each of the walks were carried out on separate occasions, in the daytime in warm summer weather, and the children were individually accompanied by a guide, whom they had some time to get to know before the session started.
Although half of the children were taking daily medication for ADHD, none took this on the day of the walk. A series of puzzles were completed before the start of the walk designed to cause some degree of lapsed attention during completion. Following this, a 20-minute relaxed walk was taken with the guide, with minimal conversation during the walk.
After the walk the child then completed tests of concentration administered by a person who was unaware of where the walk had taken place.
The children also related their experience of the walk, rating options such as fun, relaxed, boring etc. The children were all told that they could receive a toy from a treasure chest after completing the tests.
What were the results of the study?
Children with ADHD had significantly improved concentration following the walk in the park compared with the walks in two urban settings. The park walk resulted in improved performance in one test on numbers.
There were no significant differences in concentration between the two urban walks. Children also rated the park walk as 'fun' significantly more often than the two urbanised walks.
Previous studies have shown that children with ADHD have lower scores on the concentration number test than for those without ADHD. The researchers say the effect of the park walk is "roughly equal and opposite to the performance deficit due to ADHD".
Comparing the effect on concentration to studies of the ADHD drug methylphenidate (brand name Ritalin) that had used anther 'roughly comparable' test they suggest that the effect of the park walk was 'roughly equal' to that of the medication.
What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?
The researchers conclude that children with attention deficits have better concentration after walking in a park than two other urban settings.
They also say that the effect of 'a dose of green' was substantial, and roughly equal to that seen following extended-release methylphenidate such as Ritalin. They also conclude that a walk in the park was a positive experience for the child.
What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?
This study has demonstrated the benefits of a park walk compared to walking in two urban settings on a measure of concentration. However, there are important points to bear in mind:
- The sample size was very small, including only 17 children with attention disorders. A larger study would give more reassurance that the walks resulted in improvements in concentration.
- Additionally, randomisation of larger groups of children to experience only one type of walk (instead of all three in a random order) allowing comparison between the groups would be beneficial.
- The study did not compare walks against treatment with Ritalin or other drugs for ADHD, and made only indirect comparisons. This is not an adequate method for comparing treatments for a number of reasons, including different study methods, different measures of attention and different populations of children.
- The results are only from a single exposure to the park environment. Questions remain unanswered as to whether results could be replicated, sustained in the long-term (i.e. attention maintained for hours or days following the exposure), or how regular the walks would need to be to maintain benefit.
- It is also unclear whether the same effect would be seen if the child was out on their own/playing with friends rather than the more artificial scenario of being under silent supervision of a guide whom they did not know particularly well.
- As the researchers acknowledge, their study is also unable to assess whether environmental exposure has any effect on impulse control, which is another important aspect of ADHD.
- It is unclear whether improvement in concentration or impulse control resulting from environmental exposure would have an effect on academic performance or peer group/family situations.
The question of whether 'a walk in the park' is as good as drugs for ADHD requires further research. Nevertheless, all children benefit from fresh air and exercise and this should be encouraged whenever possible.
Sir Muir Gray adds...
Where possible, walking should be a therapy prescribed for all chronic conditions.
Analysis by Bazian
Edited by NHS Website
Links to the headlines
A stroll in the park is as good at calming children as Ritalin, study finds.
Daily Mail, 28 October 2008
Links to the science
Ekeland E, Heian F, Hagen KB, Abbott J, Nordheim L.
Exercise to improve self-esteem in children and young people
Coulter MK, Dean ME.
Homeopathy for attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder or hyperkinetic disorder
Further readingBjornstad G, Montgomery P.
Family therapy for attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents
Faber Taylor A and Kuo FE.
Children With Attention Deficits Concentrate Better After Walk in the Park.
Journal of Attention Disorders 2008; First published online August 25


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"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."
Psalm 34:8
We at Reach A Village are privileged to have the opportunity to reflect and celebrate God's goodness as we prepare our annual ministry report to you, our faithful partners. There is so much to celebrate! Through your support, the efforts of our dedicated international ministry partners, and the work of the Holy Spirit, 137,812 people around the world accepted Christ as their Savior in 2015!
We are also moved by God's goodness when we hear about ministry partners in Cambodia who are barely out of their teens themselves but are leading a thriving children's ministry. Their work has already led to a new church being planted!
We rejoice that, through our ministry endeavors, hundreds of thousands of people have been given the opportunity to take refuge in Him during the past year. We particularly think of our ministry partners in Macedonia who have provided food and shared the Word and the hope of Jesus with Syrian refugees pouring through their country.
Please click this link to see these stories and others, as well as ministry statistics in our 2015 Annual Report. I know that you will be encouraged and inspired!
May you taste and see the Lord's goodness and find your refuge in Him throughout the coming year.
Serving Christ Together,
Robert Craft


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4 Day Kruger safari Explore one of Africa's oldest and largest Game Parks. This group tours from Johannesburg and travels through the beautiful Mpumalanga Province before reaching the vast Kruger National Park. On route you will take in the beautiful sights of the Panorama route, before returning to Johannesburg on day four in the late afternoon. FOUR DAY LODGE/TREEHOUSE SAFARI 2018' TARIFFS : R 9895 sharing ; R 10695 single ; R 5295 child 1 night … [Read more...]
Kruger National Park Safari – 4 Days (V4)
Kruger National Park Luxury Safaris
Kruger National Park Safaris Staying at Luxury Lodges 2 Night Safari 2018 … [Read more...]
Kruger Park tour with Swaziland & Durban – 11 Days (TA 11)
A private (camping or accommodated) South Africa tour including the Kruger National Park, Swaziland and Durban Meander through stretches of the magnificent Drakensberg before exploring one of Africa greatest game reserves. The Kruger National Park. Altogether it is 350 km long, 65 km wide and comprises an area of about 20,000 sq km. Kruger is home to an impressive number of species. We exit through the Southern exit of the Park and head into the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland. This remarkable … [Read more...]
Kruger National Park Safari Tour – 3 Days (V 3)
3 Day Kruger Park Safari This tour offers those with limited time an opportunity to explore one of Africa's oldest and largest Game Parks. This group tour departs from Johannesburg and travels through the beautiful Mpumalanga Province before reaching the vast Kruger National Park. Kruger park safari tour TARIFFS: 2018' : R 9595 sharing ; R 10795 single ; R 5495 child THREE DAY LODGE/TREEHOUSE SAFARI 1 night TREMISANA LODGE 1 night MARC's … [Read more...]
Garden Route Safari – 7 Days (TA 7GR)
The 7-day Garden Route safari includes the greatest highlights this area has to offer whilst staying in specially chosen locations. We meander through small fishing villages and admire the spectacular Cango Caves before continuing further along the coast and exploring our magnificent indigenous forests that sweep down from the mountains to touch the shoreline. Our tour departs from and returns to Cape Town, traversing some of the province's most beautiful routes. … [Read more...]
Tour of Kruger, Chobe & Vic Falls – 11 Days (L 11N)
Camping safari tour of Victoria falls, Chobe and Kruger Park The tour departs from the Johannesburg region Please contact for updated 2018' itinerary Bedded Tour prices (an additional ZAR1000) cater only for the 3 x nights at our Campsite on Kruger Park tours. you can upgrade at your own cost at the other venues, ask beforehand. Day 1 - Thursday: Gauteng to Campsite You will be collected by one of our friendly guides, meeting and setting off with … [Read more...]
South Africa Safari – 18 Days (TA 18)
A comprehensive camping or accommodated South Africa tour. Our South Africa safari offers spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, diverse cultures and first world facilities; topped with a stunningly mild climate. These qualities, as well as our warm smiles, make it an adventure destination not to be missed. A country with over 3,000 kilometres of unspoiled coastline, boasting contrasting landscapes that vary from searing hot desert to snow-capped peaks, and diverse cultures, from the … [Read more...]
Sun City & Kruger National Park Tour – 7 Days (TA Sun)
Experience the thrills of Sun City and one of Africa's greatest and oldest game reserves. Stay in a private lodge inside the borders of the Greater Kruger National park, enjoy fine cuisine in the heart of the bushveld and experience spectacular game drives in safari vehicles and a bush walk with armed guides. You will have the opportunity to track down the big 5 in true safari style before heading for South Africa's playground at the Lost City resort. Tour Fare 2018 R 44,563 pp … [Read more...]
Garden Route Safari – 6 Day Cape to Addo (CA 6)
The Cape to Addo Park Safari is a unique, safe and affordable way to experience the thrill of game driving in an authentic BIG 5 National Game Park, while touring the coastal regions of both the Western and Eastern Cape. On this tour nothing is left out as we explore the Whale Route, Route 62, the Karoo and Garden Route all the way to Jeffrey Bay, Mandela Bay and Port Elizabeth. Every Cape to Addo Safari is professionally driven and guided by an experienced African tour leader and the itinerary … [Read more...]
Garden Route Safari – 5 Days (TA 5GR)
Our 5 day Garden Route Safari covers this beautiful area in style , staying at specially chosen overnight locations renowned for their idyllic settings and high quantity service without breaking the bank. We travel through beautiful seaside villages, visit the famous Cango Caves, meander along the coastal route and visit the Addo Elephant National park with its vast herds of these spectacular giants. Departing from Cape Town and ending in Port Elizabeth return transfers … [Read more...]


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Pray for salvation
Enter a gruelling 2D action adventure filled with brutal combat encounters, goliath bosses and sprawling levels.
Lift the foul curse that has falled upon the lands of Cvstodia.
Dive into a punishing action-platormer that combines fast-paced, skilled combat with an evocative narrative core, delivered through the exploration of a huge, non-linear world.
As The Penitent One - a fated survivor trapped in an endless cycle of death and rebirth - you will fight to free the world from its terrible fate and reach the origin of your anguish.
Explore a nightmarish world of twisted religion and discover the many secrets it hides. Devasting combos and brutal executions combine to smite hordes of grotesque monsters and gargantuan bosses.
Locate and equip relics, rosary beads and prayers, and call on the power of the heavens in your quest to break the eternal pall of damnation.
Venture through a dark, gothic world filled with deadly traps and fearsome enemies. Encounter tormented souls and uncover their fates to glean a deeper understanding of Cvstodia.
Acquire brutal new combos and special moves for your sword, Mea Culpa, and fight to overcome ever greater foes, unleashing your greatest wrath in violent, pixel-pefect executions.
Boost your stats and unlock new abilities as you collect rare relics, Sword Hearts, Prayer Beads and more from around the world of Cvstodia, combining them in different ways to maximise your power.


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Yousician Review – Can It Really Help You Learn Guitar Fast?
Throughout generations fathers and sons, mothers and daughters have all participated in the joy of learning an instrument. Not any instrument but the guitar, this can change events into parties with the right guitar player.
There is a great program that can assist you with learning the guitar so you can become this guitar player, and it is called Yousician.
Let's look deeper into this yousician review and see if it can really help us learn the guitar fast.
What is Yousician?
Yousician is a program that assists users with a learning the guitar, bass, ukulele, and piano. They are a very popular app on the app store at the moment with both android and Apple products.
After some profiling questions to learn where you are at with your experience of the guitar. The app will know where you should start in your practice. The program wants to put you into a lesson that you are comfortable with playing.
With the beginner lessons ranging from down and up strumming to changing positions, and picking. The program will even help you tune your guitar so all the notes are exactly the way the program is wanting to hear them.
By making the program interactable the user can practice on their skills by completing missions. This makes the program more fun for the user instead of being a monogram boring voice over instructor led program.
If you become bored you can jump over to the song section where you can play present day rock songs to get yourself in the mood to practice more.
How are they different from competitors?
Many of the competitors out there in the guitar industry have very boring and monotone instructor's slowly going through the course. It does not matter what skill set you are at, everyone starts off as a beginner with the other instrument teaching programs.
Another great thing about Yousician that I put in this Yousician review is now they have added videos into the program as well for those that learn better visually.
The interface of the program has a white bubble that goes from note to note when teaching new notes and songs, by doing this Yousician has made the process of learning an instrument so much easier for the beginner user.
How much does Yousician cost?
This is a free application on Android and Apple devices. There of course is a limit to how many songs they are going to let you have for free before they will move your account to a payable account.
Prices vary depending on what country you live in. There is a monthly and annual subscription option. But overall this is a great program for both the beginner and advanced user.
Are there any cons about Yousician?
The only con that stands out about Yousician is that you do not have the human to human interaction when taking the lessons.
Some people might find this as a negative aspect about the program but over all the program is a set your own pace type of program.
This is a lot better for many users out there due to time restrictions in their daily activity. Even with this negative point about the use Yousician program, this program is ranked in the top 15 education programs in the entire world.…
Learn How To Play Jazz Guitar Online
Jazz GuitarIndividualized and uncomplicated guidelines for harmony movements, scores, and different complexities of guitar jazz exercises are promptly possible now online. For music sweethearts and guitar lovers, this new pattern of the developing writing for Jazz online authenticates the requirement for inside and out an investigation of energy that has decidedly affected large numbers of guitar aficionados.
Extraordinary projects for learning Jazz which used to be so hard to profit of, for example, those with movements in harmonies and scales that will help in developing Jazz style, are mushrooming in the Web, at last influencing anybody to almost certainly play solo to and to fiddle with different Jazz lines in simple to pursue programs whether for nothing or from memberships of downloadable digital books, course works or site participation.
Remarkable Jazz online guitar exercises spotlight the progressed just as the rudiments for the range of abilities that guitarists may have effectively gained through investigations with the guitar before having the capacity to observe that the jazz guitar is the thing that accommodates their preferences and melodic identity.
There are custom fitted guitar exercises that have noticeable strides to help keep inspiration up.
Jazz guitar exercises are entirely different from those you'd get for acoustic or electric guitar. The harmony development is exceptional, similar to the techniques utilized for educating and the length of your exercises. Recognize that you can't learn how to play jazz guitar in your mind. You need to play on the instrument itself.
Fundamentally what you're doing is learning another style of play. You need to, as the data you're being given is new. Jazz expects you to learn new scales, arpeggios, and harmonies. You additionally can hope to be thrown off with your skill and ear, as jazz has it possesses mood and sound.
The most critical thing to recollect is to play on norms, learn the tune and learn the harmonies, and you'll be well on your way to a turning into an ace.
Alternatives for online video or site enrollment with highlights for sites, messages and visits empower Jazz guitarists to master to basically give tips and react to their part's inquiries progressively. This kind of exercise is useful for those that have whimsical timetables and are accessible just at specific occasions of the day, and signing into the site would automatically interface them to the live feed where plenty of dialogs on everything guitar proliferates.
It likewise realizes that the most popular substance of these online exercises incorporates.
Jazz Scale: Arpeggios Scale, Pentatonic Scale, C Major Scale, Natural Minor Scale
- Ace guitar harmony exercises
- Ability level penetrates and activities.
- Latin, Bebop, and Blues investigations
The consciousness of the intrinsic nature of Jazz learning influences the teaching of the various strategies for acoustic or electric guitars to incorporate the more ordinarily talked about methods in online articles for guitar, for example,
- pounding on
- pulling off
- releasing a slide
- completing a twist
Gone are the times of troublesome scan for intellectual Jazz Guitar exercises, the high caliber of online guidance now from the course contributions can be effectively looked at by clicking at the different locales that offer Jazz tutorials whether for nothing, for enrollment or downloadable programming and showing bundle with an expense. What everything comes down to is getting the best guidance at any cost range.…
Best Jazz Guitars – The top guitars for playing jazz music
Jazz guitars, otherwise called jazz boxes, plectrum guitars or cello guitars, are quickly making up for lost time with any semblance of the new age. Notice the word 'jazz guitar' and it helps one to remember an acoustic curve over it and strings made of steel. Such guitars are the best to play solo and mood.
The primary jazz guitar was the brainchild of Gibson. This was close toward the finish of the nineteenth century. This guitar included extensions and rear ends like cellos. It had an opening in the state of an oval rather than the "F" gap that can be found in the cutting edge guitar.
In 1919, L5 turned into the main curve top guitar highlighting a drifting extension, rear end, and ordinary "F" holes. The normal for this jazz guitar was its boisterous sound that could be heard over all other melodic instruments in an ensemble. Acclaimed guitar players, for example, Eddie Lang claimed such guitars.
It was in the 1940s when the best jazz guitars appeared. D'Angelico is known to have made the absolute best pieces. They included X supports to deliver a bring down volume and a better volume. This was superior to the Gibson's higher volume and parallel props guitar.
The following best guitar arrangement appeared somewhere in the range of 1946 and 1949. They highlighted covered maple top and looked like an electric guitar. The guitar models were Gibson's ES175 and ES350. The main strong guitar was conceived in 1950. This mixed the market of jazz guitars.
What's So Special About This Type Of Guitar?
Jazz guitars have a particular sound. Performers basically cherish it! The cutting edge jazz guitars are 17″ in size and 3″ profound. They are lightweight and contain straightforward fingerboards with no enhancement. The finger rests are little as well, so that "F" holes stay flawless. These guitars have light scaffolds and rear ends.
The finish of such guitars is regular, which makes the wood grain noticeable to the eyes. Jazz guitars are zapped with the assistance of gliding pickups. This implies there is no compelling reason to slice the highest point of a guitar to oblige them. A handle is arranged in the finger rest to control volume. The sound box endpin contains the yield jack.
The advanced form of this sort of jazz guitar has numerous highlights that make it simple for players to deal with them. It has been a long voyage for guitars made for jazz, including a progression of enhancements before they could encounter this change.
They are, for sure, significant. The rich like to construct a gathering of such guitars by virtue of their interesting highlights. Furthermore, they make a decent venture. Proficient jazz guitarists have made their guitars keep going for a considerable length of time through appropriate support. Each guitarist, who adores his music, cherishes his guitar as well!
What's more, when they pick the guitar affectionately in their grasp, handle the strings, strike the correct harmony – the impact is exceptional. There is just a single thing that happens when a guitarist and his guitar meet up – you get the chance to hear some tweaks!…


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There are different things that you can do to help sell your used car. There are many ways that people go about this, and the different ways will involve different amounts of effort, luck and ultimate payoff. The following are some tips for selling your used car.
Make the car look as nice as possible.
Before you even think about where you are going to sell your car, you are going to want to make it look as nice as possible. It is usually worth it to spend a little money to get it all clean because it will be so much more desirable. Even a nice car that is filthy might not be attractive to some people. Sometimes just running it through a gas station car wash is enough. If there is more work that needs to be done, there are a number of hand car washes in a lot of places, including a lot of gas stations. Of course, you can also do it by yourself and save the money. You do not want to neglect the inside of your car. Before you show it off, you will want to take your personal things out and make sure that it looks nice. Run a vacuum cleaner through it. You can even get the seats shampooed. It may seem silly to spend the effort and time on a car you are going to get rid of, but in a lot of instances you will make far more back and have an easier time selling it by making that output. This includes some simple car parts which anyone can install. Plus, most of it you can do yourself.
Decide where you want to sell it.
You will have many different options for selling your car. A lot of people choose to sell it to dealers. Some of them will sell it to the dealer where they are buying another car. You also can consider selling to a place like carmax where they give you an offer than you can accept or decline. Many people try to then sell it on their own.
See if you know of anyone who needs a car.
If you decide to sell it on your own, you may first want to see if you have any leads on a potential customer. You can ask around to see if anyone wants such a car or if anyone knows of someone who might. You might be on an e-mail loop on which you could send out a message. If that does not work, you can put an ad in the local classified ads. This is often very inexpensive. In addition, there are many other places where you can advertise it such as putting flyers in businesses that allow it.


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Colour-Coded Revolutions and the Origins of World War III
January 21, 2010 Leave a comment
Part 2
by Andrew Gavin Marshall
This is Part 2 of the Series, "The Origins of World War III"
Part 1: An Imperial Strategy for a New World Order: The Origins of World War III
Part-3: A New World War for a New World Order
Following US geo-strategy in what Brzezinski termed the "global Balkans," the US government has worked closely with major NGOs to "promote democracy" and "freedom" in former Soviet republics, playing a role behind the scenes in fomenting what are termed "colour revolutions," which install US and Western-friendly puppet leaders to advance the interests of the West, both economically and strategically.
Part 2 of this essay on "The Origins of World War III" analyzes the colour revolutions as being a key stratagem in imposing the US-led New World Order. The "colour revolution" or "soft" revolution strategy is a covert political tactic of expanding NATO and US influence to the borders of Russia and even China; following in line with one of the primary aims of US strategy in the New World Order: to contain China and Russia and prevent the rise of any challenge to US power in the region.
These revolutions are portrayed in the western media as popular democratic revolutions, in which the people of these respective nations demand democratic accountability and governance from their despotic leaders and archaic political systems. However, the reality is far from what this utopian imagery suggests. Western NGOs and media heavily finance and organize opposition groups and protest movements, and in the midst of an election, create a public perception of vote fraud in order to mobilize the mass protest movements to demand "their" candidate be put into power. It just so happens that "their" candidate is always the Western US-favoured candidate, whose campaign is often heavily financed by Washington; and who proposes US-friendly policies and neoliberal economic conditions. In the end, it is the people who lose out, as their genuine hope for change and accountability is denied by the influence the US wields over their political leaders.
The soft revolutions also have the effect of antagonizing China and Russia, specifically, as it places US protectorates on their borders, and drives many of the former Warsaw Pact nations to seek closer political, economic and military cooperation. This then exacerbates tensions between the west and China and Russia; which ultimately leads the world closer to a potential conflict between the two blocs. Read more of this post


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Omaha Driveways
With over 20 years of experience in the Omaha concrete business – we know Omaha driveways.
Big Red Concrete is an Omaha driveway specialist. We are a full service Omaha concrete contractor specializing in all decorative finishes to driveways, patios and sidewalks. We strive to give you the best in the science of concrete mixing and finishing in order to give your home's concrete driveway extra long life. Big Red Concrete will come to your home at your convenience and provide you an accurate quote along with a variety of design and finish options to give your home the look you have always wanted.
We do residential and commercial work and are available for work 24 hours a day 6 days a week. Big Red Concrete has the experience and skill to transform your entire property. We work with a wide variety of contractors, businesses and homeowners. They specialize in residential concrete and asphalt including, driveways, sidewalks, patios and wheelchair access ramps.
Concrete Driveways
Whether you call them concrete driveways or cement driveways – they're both the same.
Unfortunately, concrete is not pliable like asphalt, therefore freeze and thaw cycles for Omaha driveways can crack and damage concrete fairly substantially over time if it's not maintained properly. Concrete is also prone to spalling from the use of salt and magnesium chloride de-icers. These de-icing materials are also used by Nebraska governments for winter road maintenance. As a vehicle drives on the roads, ice and snow builds up on the undercarriage. Then when the vehicle pulls into the driveway or garage and it falls from the car and melts, it then damages the concrete surface resulting in spalling, especially of the concrete driveway was not installed properly.
Sub-grade preparation can take anywhere from 1 to 2 days up to 2 weeks, depending on the region you live. Depending on the size and scope of work involved, the construction of a new concrete driveway can be installed by an experienced concrete contractor generally over a 2 to 3 day period after the sub-grade preparation has been done. Concrete driveway installation can be labor intensive and it also needs to cure for several days before being able to drive on it and use it, so you can expect the average concrete driveway to take as much as 7 to 10 days to install. Even more time may be required for patterned or stamped, stained or overlayed concrete driveways.
Omaha Driveway Repair
• Seal Coating
– makes old driveways look new
– less costly then paving
• Patching
– driveways and parking lots
• Drainage and excavation – If water on or under your driveway is a problem, we can build exit drains to move water away from these problem areas where possible.
Many different things can cause concrete to crack. One of the primary causes is soil movement. When soil moves, your concrete surface moves, too. Clay soils in Omaha expand and contract (shrink and expand) as the temperature changes. This movement eventually damages your property.
Cracked concrete allows moisture to penetrate the surface of your property. This moisture weakens your surface. Excessive heat and water cause major issues.
Why Concrete is Better
• Strength
Solid concrete has an ultimate flexural strength that is greater than block, making it better able to resist cave-ins caused by lateral pressures of wind, earth, and water. Its ultimate compressive strength is also greater, making it better able to support vertical building loads. In addition, poured concrete walls get stronger as they age – for up to five years.
• Maintenance Ease
Poured concrete basements need virtually no maintenance. Concrete's composition is resistant to rot, decay, rodents, termites, and fungi. Poured concrete is also nontoxic, containing no preservatives to become free upon contact or by leaching. Solid concrete basement walls take care of themselves.
• Fire Resistant
Because of it's increased density and joint-free construction, poured walls offer twice the fire resistance of hollow core block.
• Affordability
Controlling costs is one of the biggest concerns of home builders and buyers alike. Efficient modern construction methods make poured basement walls cost competitive with block walls. When you can get this much performance at a comparable price, why look any farther?
• Water Resistance
Solid concrete walls are essentially impervious to the passage of water. Solid concrete has fewer and smaller voids than block and is less porous. It offers almost twice the density of a hollow core block wall and weighs approximately 50 pounds more per cubic feet. This makes concrete basements drier.
• Design Flexibility
Poured wall construction is adaptable to all home styles, including ranches, duplexes, split levels, modular home, condominiums and apartments. Poured concrete fits in perfectly with today's diverse lifestyles.
• Time Savings
Using poured wall construction gives the builder a head start on framing. A typical installation involves a three-day cycle. When compared to block construction this saves the builder time, increases productivity, and results in a superior basement.
Schedule An On-Site Estimate Today With Big Red Concrete!
You have a project that needs done and you need to locate the right contractor without spending a great deal of time researching. You are literally just a click or a phone call away from securing a reliable contractor! Our team of dedicated professionals offer complete asphalt paving and concrete services in the state of Nebraska. We offer the finest paving materials and products, honest competitive pricing, and an excellent reputation throughout Nebraska. Contact us here for a quote.


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Is your child forgetful, irresponsible, moody and prone to daydreaming? Does he seem to lack motivation and become easily bored? This behavior could be related to SCT, or "Sluggish Cognitive Tempo Disorder."
This new way of looking at certain ADHD-like symptoms in kids has been generating quite a bit of buzz lately. Sluggish Cognitive Tempo Disorder, also known as SCT, is a relatively new term in psychology and psychiatry. It's also referred to as CDD, or Concentration Deficit Disorder. The disorder came out of the initial research of Dr. Russell Barkley, a noted expert on ADHD, and is now receiving attention from a number of other researchers. For the time being, it's not an official diagnosis, but rather a cluster of symptoms believed to be slightly different from the ones used to diagnose ADHD.
Related: Is your child with ADHD inattentive and unfocused?
Is It ADHD or SCT?
The symptoms for this proposed new disorder might sound familiar: kids with SCT are prone to daydreaming, can have difficulty staying awake or alert in boring situations, become easily confused or bored, seem to be "spacey" or in a fog a lot of the time, and often don't process information as quickly or accurately as others.
Some of these symptoms are very similar to those seen in individuals with the predominately "Inattentive" type of ADHD, which include:
- Not paying attention to details
- Trouble focusing attention on and organizing tasks
- Not listening, even when spoken to directly
- Not following through on instructions
- Avoiding tasks which require an extended mental effort
- Loses things necessary for required tasks
- Being easily distracted and forgetful in daily activities
Some of the primary differences thought to exist between Inattentive ADHD and SCT are that SCT also includes poor motivation, low self-esteem and low energy levels. The matter only gets more confusing as some of the research findings indicate that some of those with SCT may also meet criteria for any one of three types of ADHD: Predominantly Inattentive, Predominantly Hyperactive-impulsive or Combined-type ADHD.
For now, it remains questionable whether SCT is an actual diagnosis. Why are diagnoses so important, you may ask? Because a valid diagnosis is necessary for a health provider to be paid by insurance. Some diagnoses may qualify students for special services at school, as well. Right now, being diagnosed with SCT alone will not lead to either of these.
Related: Anxious about your child all the time? How to get calm, and stay calm.
As a child psychologist, my view is that while we currently use diagnoses such as ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder and LDs in practice, each child with one or more of these diagnostic labels is quite different from another with the exact same labels. If you suspect your child has an issue, what is needed is a comprehensive evaluation that may include a number of professionals (medical, educational, and psychological) to discover what is causing the problems, and then determining together how to resolve them.
I Think My Child Might Have ADHD or SCT. What Should I Do?
So, what should a parent do if they see possible signs of SCT, ADHD or simply a child who is having trouble at school, seems to be moody or lacks energy, is often spacey and in a fog, or has trouble processing information?
Well, first have him or her checked out by your pediatrician for any possible medical issues that could be causing the symptoms. If the results say that your child is in good physical health, one of your first options is to try a behavioral program that uses research-based techniques. (So far there are not many studies out on treatment for SCT, but the one study done showed positive results for kids with SCT was the use of a comprehensive behavioral program.)
Here are four ways you can work with your child to help improve their concentration, focus and alertness.
1. Brain Exercises: As a child psychologist and the father of a grown son with ADHD, I developed a host of exercises in The Total Focus Program to help kids improve their concentration. I've found that the key is presenting these exercises as games, and making them fun to do together.
Simple games like Memory, Concentration and crossword puzzles can improve attention, focus and working memory–the three executive functions of the brain. Scientific studies using brain imaging techniques show that as a specific exercise is practiced over and over for a while, new brain pathways are actually developed and strengthened—which improves executive function. Cognitive exercises have been found to produce desired changes in not only how the brain works, but how it looks, too. What this means is that you have the ability to work with your child to help improve their ADHD or SCT symptoms.
As you do these "brain exercises" together, you should work with your child as his or her coach. Provide them with encouragement and track their progress as they improve. This also strengthens the relationship you have with your child.
2. Positive statements: Teach your child to use positive statements to change how she thinks about herself and how to handle the challenges of life. This is called "positive self-talk." Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques like this are effective in helping children improve motivation and self-confidence. If your child with ADHD or SCT has low self-esteem, teach her to let go of negative self-talk. As the saying goes, "Be very careful how you talk to yourself, because you are listening." This is just as true for kids as it is for adults.
Related: The surprising cause of most child misbehavior—and how to fix it.
3. Relaxation techniques: Relaxation training, including deep breathing and the use of simple methods of biofeedback, helps reduce anxiety in kids and improves mood. This ends up improving not only academic achievement, but other aspects of your child's life as well.
4. Use Rewards. The use of simple rewards can work wonders in motivating a child toward success. Combined with other tools, your child can make a turnaround and move in the direction of becoming a more successful and a much happier person. (Studies have also shown that for kids with ADHD, positive reinforcement actually is more effective in changing their behavior than punishment.)
You don't have to stand by and watch your child struggle and become discouraged as he falls further behind his peers both academically, and in his ability to enjoy life. By taking a little time out of each day to work with your child, he will gradually strengthen his ability to focus and complete tasks. And at the same time, you'll be building a positive relationship that will lead to joy and satisfaction for both you and your child.
Read more: http://www.empoweringparents.com/is-it-adhd-or-sluggish-cognitive-tempo-disorder-4-ways-to-help-your-child-focus.php#ixzz38n7QBIpz