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…It would be a very mean and ugly person.
As I write this I am only on day 2 of my period….
I am in pain.
Today is a better day in comparison to day 1 (yesterday) but it's still not great. I mean being bed ridden 2 days a month wasn't exactly how I planned my life but this has been my reality for the last 15/16 years.
Somehow month-to-month I would always forget how bad the pain was until it struck. This month I didn't want to forget the pain, hence this blog post.
I was 11 going on 12 when my first period came. I remember the day like it was yesterday. Some of my friends in school had already started theirs and I will be the first to admit that at the time I remember feeling a pang of jealousy because to me it made me feel as if they were more grown up than me. When you're young that's always annoying! My mum was so happy when it arrived. I guess I was happy too. Months went by and I was already becoming a pro at hiding my pad up my school jumper sleeve when I had to go to the toilet. My periods were pain free. In fact I didn't even know periods could be painful until I was 13.
It was the middle of the night and I rushed to the toilet, my stomach was hurting so much, more than it would usually hurt if it was something like food poisoning. It was almost like the pain had engulfed my entire body, I couldn't stand or sit without it being painful. I could barely see. What's worse was that I was throwing up on an empty stomach. I swear I was so ill I thought I must have been pregnant. I was a virgin. But I also believed in immaculate conception. Quite stupid of me in hindsight but I couldn't think of anything else it could be. I hadn't eaten anything bad. Only to discover I was on my period. MY PERIOD!!
This severity of pain became a regular occurrence month after month. My pain threshold is unbelievably higher than the average, so when I say I was in pain, please believe me. Some months I really wanted to die. No exaggeration. Some months were worse than others. There were some months I had to be carried into the toilet. Taken to the hospital by an ambulance. Sit in A&E for some hours. Be admitted into the hospital. Given morphine. This was a monthly occurrence for years. I would first miss school and then as I grew up it would be uni, then work. It's not as if I wouldn't force myself to go in, I did, I hated being sick, and all that would happen was that I would either be sent home or be stuck in the toilet the whole day. So embarrassing. I was embarrassed. No one around me suffered like this. I knew this couldn't be the norm.
I had tried all painkillers (some without my mum's knowledge – she hated medicine), non prescribed and prescribed, the pill, everything, nothing changed! It was all useless. All I could do was wait until I passed out from the pain and then sleep it off. Mum continually reassured me that once I gave birth, I wouldn't have any more period pain. I found myself wishing for a baby simply for the sake of not having period pain. How crazy was that! This wasn't the solution!
At the age of 24 something just snapped in me. I could no longer take it. I could no longer miss out on living just because of my menstrual cycle. I went for a scan, two scans actually, saw a private gynaecologist and all of them came back with news I didn't want, 'I was fine'. But I wasn't fine. How can they say I was fine, when every month I would have pain crush on my uterus.
I started doing my own research and asking around. At one point I thought I had fibroids, which would have been awful but at least that would have explained the pain. I didn't. The more I read, the more I came across the term endometriosis. I was sure I had this the way other people had been describing my exact symptoms. I know this wasn't supposed to me feel good. But it did. I was glad to know I wasn't 'fine', neither was I exaggerating the pain. The sort of person I am however is that I hate confessing sicknesses. Yes I am a Christian, so I believe that the tongue has enormous power! So I am not saying I have this but I am saying this isn't normal which has allowed me address it properly.
Near the dates of my period there are certain foods I can't eat) or the pain would be immense); sweets, sugary things and fast food. Things I would need to eat would be more vegetables, raspberries, blueberries and spinach. Raspberry leaf tea also helps me and so does magnesium supplements. Now I am far from having pain free periods but they have certainly improved over the last two years, I can actually leave my bed on day 2. Significant improvement and I am sure the more I pay attention to my body and what it reacts to the quicker I will be 'fine'.
I never want another woman to go through what I did but I acknowledge that millions do so I hope my story will help.
Would love to hear people's experiences of their menstrual cycle even if it is pain free. We don't talk about it as much as we should!
"Gradually my whole concept of time changed until I thought of a month as having twenty-five days of humanness and five others when I might just as well have been an animal in a steel trap." – Florence King
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Loved this, I started in year 5 and was the only one in my class for a while, I felt the odd one out, as I had no other girl who could relate. Funny enough on the day I started I thought it was because I'd been doing the splits at playtime. Your mum is right the pain does reduce loads after you have a baby but I wouldn't say it's pain free xxx
Hahaha that's a funny story – i probably would have thought the same thing. Glad to hear the pain reduces loads – something to look forward to 🙂 Thanks for reading and commenting. xxx
Although your situation, Madame is not exactly the same as mine I can relate to the feel of clueless and frustration. For about 6 years I've been battling the problem with menstrudl cycle. I a
Ways have a bloated belly as if I was 5 months pregnant and I have the need to go to the toilet every so often..I tend to feel awful during the time of ovulation and nearer to the period time ( I feel nauseas, dizzy/lightheaded).
But I'm glad you have paid attention to your body and how your body reacts to foods. When it comes to nutrition it can be your best medicine or the worst poison.
Nature always provide us with something good for the body which can definitely help us with such situations. I appreciate your story. It will encourage many more to share their experiences and perhaps suggest one another ideas which could help us to ease our symptoms when it comes to 'woman health'.
I buy a magazine called 'woman health' from holland and Barrett and they definitely have much useful info and suggestions on things like hormones, periods ECT 🙂
Yes nutrition is so important not enough emphasis is given to this when growing up. I will definitely look for that magazine and see what info I can get from that. Thank you so much for reading and sharing your story. X
Too often women's period pains are ignored and young girls are put on the pill or extremely strong painkillers. I don't understand why in this day and age, young girls with extreme period pains are not further investigated for fibroids or endometriosis. Fortunately I don't have it, however many women in my family have had it, and due to missed/ignored diagnosis, despite years of going to the docs, 3 women I know of have experienced fertility issues because of it. I think it's disgusting that women are still suffering this way well into their 20s. It's great that you're sharing your story so more young women can research themselves and get treatment where necessary. Also, where do you get your raspberry leaf tea from? I've recently started looking into it, but most brands seem to have other things added to the bags.
Exactly – too often – i cant tell you the countless times doctors have said that i was fine and perhaps it was something i ate – such an awful feeling. In regards to fertility – yes that does scare me but I pray that I will be able to conceive when the time comes. I get raspberry leaf tea from holland and barrett – not the nicest taste in the world but it does help me! Thanks so much for reading and more importantly commenting and sharing your thoughts. x


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Questions? Call 1-800-447-7367 or 231-946-3712
Ann is presenting a unique offer for Point! If you order a
13 x 19 print on canvas. Ann will remark and retouch with oil paint to highlight colors and add more depth to the painting; then sealed with a satin finish. There will be two signatures; one on the printed form, and then a second, original signature after the remark. The print will be stretched liked an original oil painting, ready for framing (do not use glass over this remarked version).

subset: commoncrawl


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Taxing issues for independent contractors
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Independent contractors and freelancers may have income and expenses that fluctuate wildly over months or years, so financial advisors need to know how to counsel those clients on the best strategies for planning their cash needs for tax purposes.
Employees who have income withheld are less likely to run into problems over timely tax payment, but independent contractors need to plan their estimated installments.
"They should consider their expected tax liability as an expense, and they should budget for it like they budget for anything else," says Rosemarie Moeller, a certified financial planner and managing director at Freedom Divorce Advisors, a division of AEPG Wealth Strategies in Warren, N.J.
Advisors and accountants must work closely with clients to estimate their expected tax liability for the year, which is 100% or 110% of the previous year's taxes, depending on earnings.
Accountants advise their clients to take that amount and treat it like a mortgage or any other fixed expense, setting aside the money each month to pay for the quarterly installments to the government.
"You're estimating, and the government knows that, but they want it evenly distributed, unless you didn't pay three-quarters of your taxes because you didn't expect this huge check to arrive in the fourth quarter of the year," Moeller says.
Large fluctuations in income or deductions should balance out, if the projections are accurate.
"If you keep ending up under or over the projections, then we'll want to talk about it and do an updated projection," says Jeffrey M. Mutnik, a certified public accountant and director of taxation and financial services at Berkowitz Pollack Brandt with three offices in Florida.
"It always gets me when people say they're so happy they are getting a refund they didn't know they were getting or they're so upset that they owe money and they didn't know that they owed it," he says. "That's something they should have known at some point during the year; they should have had some type of projected income versus income taxes."
For independent contractors, that knowledge can be crucial in obtaining tax savings. Especially toward the end of the year, independent contractors may be able to exercise some leeway over when they are paid or when they make payments.
"Maybe they can withhold making a payment until January and get a deduction the next year when they're expecting to have a larger boom," Mutnik says.
He warns that clients need to understand that payments are considered received when they are collected, not when they are deposited in the bank.
"If somebody pays you on Dec. 28 by check and you just put it in a drawer and deposit it in the bank on Jan. 3, that's still a December collection," Mutnik says. "The fact that you didn't deposit it doesn't mean anything."
Paul Hechinger is a New York-based freelance writer.


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Delight Games (Premium) v4.2
*Chapter 2 of Rogue's Choice is live!*
Now you can get all 35 Delight Games interactive novels unlocked with NO ads. And when a new interactive novel comes out, you get them on Premium first, unlocked! This is our flagship product!
For a one-time up front purchase, you get ongoing ad-free content without IAP's or worry about getting gouged later. There's nothing else like it on Google Play!
If you're new to Delight Games you might say "Interactive novels? But I don't like to read." You might even say this in a whiny voice (although we hope not).
Well, even for you book haters, now reading is addictive because with Delight Games interactive novels you make the choices for the main character, alter the story, alter your stats, and try to stay alive. Can you make it to the end? If so, what kind of score and rank can you get? Can you do this for all 35 novels with more on the way?
Fantasy, horror, mystery, adventure, even some romance. Immerse yourself in new worlds!
If you like interactive fiction or just want to try something different from the typical soul-sucking mobile games, this is the ULTIMATE download for you!
Unique features include:
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вњ" 6 volumes of Witch Saga (fantasy set in the 1930's)
вњ" 2 volumes of Bionic Bikini (sci-fi humor)
вњ" 1 volume of Monster Myths (reality show adventure)
вњ" 1 volume of Pirates Never Die (pirate adventure)
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вњ" 1 volume of Superhero's Choice (superhero adventure)
вњ" 1 volume of Ghost Hunter (kid's adventure)
вњ" 2 chapters of Rogue's Choice (medieval fantasy)


text: #RealTalk via #RealRawRecords PreciousBre November 18, 2016 Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Real Talk via Real Raw Records #Reality√ We realize and are well informed of corruption in our society. We are not pursuing life with blinders on, so thich that we can't see the results of greedy and the patern of destruction as it sucks the very life out of us. Who could ignore the obvious governal strategy of sabotage to it's own. How could conspiracy be a word if the senario wasn't defined from #REAL occurances of conspiracy. We dare not negate the obvious factor that conpiracy is real. Some seem to thriving off of finding out secrets that they could handle even if they knew the truth. No one is requesting that you #Stop Thinking! No start thinking Think about the people who know about what the information you are seeking what benefit is having it. The issue with thinking isn't over thinking. It's not directing the mind to thoughts that benefit and seek knowledge that is profitable! Some people tend to take things too far which in turn is counter productive. Relax! All the things you fear was here long before you and will be here long after! #RealTalk via #RealRawRecords Humor in #Reality


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Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says one of the reasons he believes God has a hand in Nigeria is that without asking for any position, he was made the vice-president.
Speaking on Sunday during a service at the Olive Tree Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos, Osinbajo said the country had been going forward, and will continue making progress.
Osinbajo said a lot of people are confused and asking if the promise, which God made to make Nigeria a great nation, will ever come true.
"This country has gone forward and it is going to keep moving forward," he said.
"The reason why I, Yemi Osinbajo, without asking for a position, was given the vice-presidency of this nation is because God's hand is in this business.
"And so, I am completely confident that despite where we are today, it is the dawn of a new beginning.
"It has begun to show and surely there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel.
"God knows that this country has a plan and purpose in Africa and in the world; the plan and purpose will never diminish or be cut short."
Osinbajo recalled that while he was praying recently, the Lord reminded him of something he asked him to do on the eve of the 2015 presidential election.
He said God had asked him to take the communion because he was crossing over and after taking the communion, He took him through the journey from Egypt to the promised-land.
He said God reminded him of what happened in that journey.
Osinbajo said the role of Christians as spiritual people was not to grumble, but to be steadfast in times of difficulty.
He recalled the injunction he gave to the parish in the past about having a role to play in making the country great.
Osinbajo said the vision of the Church and that of the country were tied together.
He also urged them to be confident in spite of the trial times "as God is going to do incredible things in this country."
He thanked the leadership of the church for the excellent way they shepherded the flock, praying for the parish would grow from strength to strength.
Osinbajo was the head of the church before being elected the nation's number two citizen.
Don Moen, a famous gospel artiste, was a guest at the service and he rendered songs of hope and praise for Nigeria and the Almighty.
"Unless we go through these challenging times, we won't be able to appreciate what God will do," Moen said.
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With the recent releases of Jira 4.3, Atlassian's bug and issue tracker, and Confluence 3.5, Atlassian's wiki and collaboration tool, we introduced a game changing feature called Application Links. What does it do? It makes it incredibly easy to connect your Atlassian applications together. Why would you want to do that? Connecting Jira to Confluence via Application Links gives you some killer integration features between the two applications.
Bringing Jira and Confluence Closer Together
My work life hovers between Jira and Confluence. Jira for creating and managing tasks assigned to me and keeping an eye on issues I'm interested in, and Confluence for planning, researching and recording my work. The introduction of Application Links in these releases eliminates much of the need to switch back and forth between Jira and Confluence.
Add a Linked Application's Gadgets to Jira
Jira 4.3 includes a new feature called Gadget Subscriptions. This allows you to quickly add all gadgets from your Confluence, Bamboo, Fisheye or Crucible instance — or from another Jira instance — to your Jira Gadget Directory, for easy addition to your Jira dashboard.
Create New Issues From Confluence
A new 'Insert Jira Issue' dialog lets you create new issues without leaving the Confluence editor. Great for those times when you've got actionable items on a Confluence page that need to be tracked inside of Jira. No more application switching or disruption to your editing flow.
Insert Existing Issues in Pages and Blogs
If you've got existing issues in Jira that you want to collaborate around in Confluence, you can quickly insert individual issues or an entire list of issues using the new 'Insert Jira Issue' dialog. Creating ad-hoc reports about your issues inside of Confluence couldn't be easier.
Check out the short video below to see some of these features in action.
Stay Tuned
Come back next week for our in-depth post on Jira 4.3's integration with LDAP and Active Directory.


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Year-End Short Interest Swings In Coal (AHGP, RNO, SXC)
Among the leading coal-related stocks, Alliance Holdings (NASDAQ: AHGP), Rhino Resource Partners (NYSE: RNO) and SunCoke Energy (NYSE: SXC) saw the most significant swings in short interest between the December 13 and December 31 settlement dates.
The number of shares sold short in Alpha Natural Resources, Westmoreland Coal, CONSOL Energy and Yanzhou Coal Mining increased during the period. On the other hand, short sellers retreated from Cloud Peak Energy, James River Coal, Peabody Energy and Walter Energy.
Alliance Resource Partners and Arch Coal saw little change in short interest from the previous period.
Below we take a quick look at how Alliance Holdings, Rhino Resource Partners and SunCoke Energy have fared and what analysts expect from them.
See also: SunEdison Sees Short Interest Surge
Alliance Holdings
Shares sold short in this producer of coal primarily for utilities and industrial users increased about 13 percent to more than 128,000. That was the highest level of short interest since September, but it was less than one percent of the total float. The days to cover fell to less than three.
This Tulsa, Oklahoma-based company has a market capitalization of more than $3 billion and a dividend yield near 4.9 percent. The forecast for the current quarter calls for EPS and revenue that are flat year-over-year. But the long-term earnings per share (EPS) growth forecast is about 14 percent.
All four analysts who follow the stock and were surveyed by Thomson/First Call recommend holding shares. The mean price target, or where analysts expect shares to go, is more than 11 percent higher than the current share price. That consensus target is less than the 52-week high, though.
Shares are trading in the same neighborhood they were a month ago. The share price is more than 10 percent higher than a year ago. Over the past six months, the stock has underperformed competitors Arch Coal and Peabody Energy, as well as the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Rhino Resource Partners
This Lexington, Kentucky-based producer and processor of metallurgical coal saw short interest rise more than 25 percent in the period to more than 55,000 shares. That was the fourth consecutive period of rising short interest. But the number of shares sold short represented well less than one percent of the float.
Rhino Resource Partners is expected to show sizable declines on the top and bottom lines for the quarter just ended. It offers a dividend yield of about 14.8 percent, and the company has a market capitalization short of $350,000. The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is greater than the industry average, and the return on equity is less than four percent.
For the past three months, the consensus recommendation of analysts polled has been to hold shares. Only one analyst had a price target, and it suggests more than 17 percent potential upside relative to the current share price. However, that target is less than the 52-week high.
Shares have risen more than 18 percent in the past month, though the share price is still more than nine percent lower than six months ago. The stock has outperformed James River over that six months, though it too has underpeformed Alpha Natural, CONSOL Energy and the broader markets.
See also: Short Interest Swings in Semiconductor Stocks
SunCoke Energy
Short interest in this metallurgical and thermal coal producer dropped about 38 percent in the final weeks of December to more than 1.63 million shares. That was the smallest number of shares sold short in the past year, and it was more than two percent of the company's float. Days to cover was more than three.
This Lisle, Illinois-based company is expected to post lower per-share earnings and revenues for the quarter just ended. It has a market cap of more than $1 billion. The P/E ratio is greater than the industry average, but the long-term EPS growth forecast is about 26 percent.
Half of the eight surveyed analysts recommend buying shares, and that has been the consensus recommendation for the past three months. But they see little headroom for shares, as their mean price target is less than four percent higher than the current share price.
The share price has retreated about four percent in the past month but is still more than 42 percent higher than six months ago. SunCoke Energy has outperformed not only the broader markets over the past six months, but competitor Walter Energy as well.
At the time of this writing, the author had no position in the mentioned equities.
Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following us on Twitter.
© 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Posted-In: Alliance Holdings Alliance Resource Partners alpha natural resources arch coalShort Ideas Commodities Markets Trading Ideas Best of Benzinga


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When you create an IRA or enroll in a 401(k) plan, the forms you fill out will ask you to name a beneficiary. You will probably also be given the opportunity to name an alternate (sometimes called secondary or contingent) beneficiary, who will inherit the money if your first choice dies before you do.
Most married couples name each other as beneficiaries—a good choice, because a surviving spouse who is the sole beneficiary has more flexibility about what to do with the money than do other beneficiaries. Unlike other beneficiaries, a surviving spouse, in some cases, can keep all the money tax-deferred at least for a while. (This isn't a concern with the Roth IRA, because withdrawals generally aren't taxed.)
If you want to name someone other than your spouse as beneficiary, make sure you don't run afoul of state and federal laws designed to protect surviving spouses. (See "If You Don't Want to Leave Retirement Accounts to Your Spouse.")
A surviving spouse who is the sole beneficiary of a retirement account has two options: rolling over the account or leaving it as it is, as an "inherited IRA." For the most part, it doesn't matter whether the account owner died before or after reaching the age at which required minimum withdrawals must begin. There is, however, one significant exception: If the minimum withdrawals have become required, then the surviving spouse must make the withdrawal for the year of death. After that, he or she can exercise one of the following choices.
A spouse can roll over the money in an IRA or qualified plan such as a 401(k) to her own IRA (new or existing). To do that, the spouse needs to contact the retirement account administrator and complete some paperwork.
Once the account has been rolled over, everything is just as if the surviving spouse were the original owner. The surviving spouse can name a beneficiary to inherit the funds at her death. Required minimum distributions will begin when she reaches age 70½, and the amounts will be based on her life expectancy as set out in IRS tables. (If the spouse remarries, required withdrawals will be based on the joint life expectancy of the survivor and the new spouse.)
The surviving spouse doesn't have to pay income tax on money in the account until it is withdrawn. Meanwhile, the funds can keep earning tax-deferred income.
The survivor can also roll an IRA or 401(k) into his or her own Roth IRA. Taxes will be due on the entire amount that's rolled over, however, so this would make financial sense only if the survivor expects to pay higher taxes later, when he or she would be withdrawing the funds.
A spouse can also leave the retirement account in the deceased spouse's name as an "inherited IRA." The survivor must begin taking required distributions by the later of:
This option might make sense if the survivor is under age 59½ and expects to withdraw money from the account soon. Beneficiaries are not subject to the usual 10% "early distribution" (before age 59½) penalty, but they lose that special exemption if they roll over the account. If circumstances change, the survivor can roll over the account later.
EXAMPLE: Annie is 45, with two children still at home, when her husband dies and she inherits the money in his 401(k) plan account. She may need to withdraw money from the account in the next few years. If she rolled over the money into her own retirement account, and then withdrew some of it before age 59½, she would have to pay a 10% early withdrawal penalty. So instead, she leaves the money in her late husband's account. It will continue to earn income that won't be taxed until she withdraws it, and she can make withdrawals without penalty.
The survivor can name a beneficiary, but the amount of the minimum required distributions is determined by the surviving spouse's life expectancy, as found in the IRS single life expectancy table. She can't use the Uniform table that assumes a beneficiary who is ten years younger.
It's generally a bad idea to name more than one beneficiary, for two reasons.
First, if you name your spouse and someone else as beneficiaries, your spouse loses the special benefits and flexibility she would otherwise have.
Second, it complicates things. If you die before age 70½, then multiple beneficiaries can split your account, and each can use his or her own life expectancy to determine the minimum amount they must withdraw each year. But if your beneficiaries inherit after you reached age 70½ and had to begin making minimum withdrawals, the total amount that must be withdrawn each year is based on the statistical life expectancy of the oldest beneficiary. If some beneficiaries are much older than others, the younger ones will have to withdraw money (and pay tax on it) much more quickly than they may wish to.
When you name your spouse as primary beneficiary, you'll probably be able to name an alternate—someone to inherit the money if your spouse doesn't survive you. Alternates are also called contingent or secondary beneficiaries. Many people name their children as the alternates. Be sure to enter an alternate's name—if you don't, you could cost your offspring money.
EXAMPLE: Frances names (on the form she gets from the account administrator) her husband Sean as the primary beneficiary of her IRA. She doesn't name a secondary beneficiary. Years later, Sean, now in his 80s, dies, and Frances dies soon after—without updating the beneficiary paperwork. Because there is no designated beneficiary, the money passes to her son Colin under her will. He must withdraw it all within five years. Had Colin been named as the alternate beneficiary, he could have withdrawn the money over his own life expectancy—more than 40 years.
Naming an alternate beneficiary also gives your family more flexibility after your death. It's easy for a beneficiary to "disclaim" his or her inheritance—that is, to turn it down in favor of the alternate beneficiary. A surviving spouse who doesn't need the money could let it go to the children instead, allowing withdrawals to be spread out over a longer period.
EXAMPLE: Harvey names his wife, Marlene, as the primary beneficiary of his IRA and his son, Matthew, as the alternate. When Harvey dies, Marlene is in her 70s and doesn't need the money in the IRA. She disclaims her interest in the money, letting it pass directly to Matthew, so he can stretch distributions over his much longer life expectancy and let the money in the account continue to grow.


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Barbara Krensavage insists that clams are not a regular part of her diet. Yet one snowy evening in December she found herself craving an old recipe and so brought home four dozen quahogs—a clam particularly abundant along the Eastern shores of the United States, between Cape Cod and New Jersey. Mr. Krensavage was in the midst of shucking the shellfish for dinner when he discovered one that looked like it was dead. It had a different color to it and he thought it was diseased. As he was about to discard it, Mrs. Krensavage took a closer look.
It wasn't dead. In fact, inside the live clam was a rare, possibly priceless, purple pearl. Experts estimate that roughly one in two million quahog clams contains a gem-quality pearl like the one found by the Krensavages. Due to the great rarity of the find, it has been difficult to even place a value on it, though some have estimated the pearl to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The life and ministry of Jesus Christ unveiled something new to the world. Jesus spoke of a kingdom, where, like this discovery of the Krensavages, all is not as it may first appear. In a world that would seem to some more marked by disease than promise, he spoke of a treasure hidden, a mystery revealed in this life, worth selling all we have to possess as our own. Even amid the promise and sting of death and disease, he spoke of an abundant life somehow stronger than death itself. He spoke of his kingdom as present and real. He called it a pearl of great price: For the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.(1) Yet he noted that even holding it, we might completely miss its worth.
Matthias Grünewald, An Apostle from the Transfiguration, chalk sketch study, 1511.
Last Sunday marked a lesser-known Christian holiday called Transfiguration Sunday. It is the liturgical day that marks the disciples' encounter of Jesus transfigured, or metamorpho, on a mountainside—the Greek word from which we get the word metamorphosis. Jesus stood with Peter, James, and John—three men who left lives behind to sit and learn at his feet—and there he was transfigured before them.(2) These men knew Jesus better than any other. They were with him constantly, eating, sleeping, learning. And yet, we are told they were terrified in his presence on the mountain. As commentator Frederick Bruner describes what was happening on that mountain, "What Jesus was within was once made visible without."(3) Poet Malcolm Guite describes it similarly, terrifying perhaps, but a terror stemming from a mystery revealed.
The daily veil that covers the sublime
In darkling glass fell dazzled at his feet.(4)
In the Old Testament, the face of God was readily spoken of as far too much, far too radiant, for a person to see unveiled and yet live. The veil was necessary. Early rabbinic reflection taught that Adam and Eve had lost the radiance of their faces in their fall from God, but that the Messiah would reestablish this radiance once more. Guite tells of that revealing in hopeful verse:
The Love that dances at the heart of things
Shone out upon us from a human face.
Here as the face of Christ "became like the sun," it portrayed vividly the glory of God, the Love at the heart of things. Here was a moment, a glimpse of the beginnings of God's restorative work, a preview of the gifted transfiguration awaiting those united with Christ. For the disciples in this new moment, the sound of God's voice and the reality of the Son were too much to behold standing. All three disciples fell facedown on the ground, until Jesus came and touched them. Then they didn't want to leave and were devastated to be told they couldn't remain. But they had to carry that moment of clarity back down the mountain, back to routine and ordinary life, back into the sting of death and chaos. This metamorphosis is built for sharing.
I suspect it is telling that the clam which held the pearl the Krensavages now treasure was the one that had the most outward appearance of death. As C.S. Lewis once wrote, "[I]t is, I think, a gross exaggeration to picture the saving of a soul as being, normally, at all like the development from seed to flower. The very words, repentance, regeneration, the New Man, suggest something very different."(5) Those who lay their hands on the thought that they are made in the image of God and are being presently formed by the love at the center of all things don't do so without laying down everything before him, giving this face everything we have, being turned inside out by the glory that nearly blinds us—until we can see.
Jill Carattini is managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.
(1) Matthew 13:45-46.
(2) Matthew 17:1-9.
(3) Frederick Dale Bruner, Matthew, A Commentary: The Churchbook, Matthew 12-28 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004), 167.
(4) Malcolm Guite, "Transfiguration," Sounding the Season: Poetry for the Church Year (Norwich: Canterbury Press, 2012), 56
(5) C.S. Lewis, Transposition and other Essays, ch. 3.


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T-Mobile GmbH will sell unlocked iPhones for US$1,482, (AU$1,694.43) the German mobile carrier said Wednesday, marking the first time Apple's smart phone has been officially available unlocked.
Unauthorized hacks, however, have been used for months by customers to unlock their iPhones so they can make calls on multiple networks or use the device in countries where Apple hasn't yet entered the handset market.
In a statement Wednesday, T-Mobile said it would immediately start selling unlocked iPhones, and unlock any already-purchased iPhone for no charge. It made both moves in response to a preliminary ruling Monday in a lawsuit brought by Vodafone Group's subsidiary, Vodafone Germany. According to the injunction, which T-Mobile is appealing, Apple's wireless partner must offer the iPhone without a required 24-month contract.
The iPhone, which debuted in Germany on November 9, sells for US$592, value-added tax included, and has been offered with three rate plans -- called tariffs in Europe -- priced from US$73 to US$132 per month.
U.K.-based Vodafone had been among the mobile service providers negotiating with Apple for exclusive rights to the iPhone, but in Germany lost out to the larger T-Mobile, which is owned by Deutsche Telekom.
Vodafone has said it isn't interested in blocking sales of the iPhone in Germany, but wants the courts to level the playing field between carriers. Vodafone did not reach an agreement with Apple in the two other European markets that Apple has entered: Britain and France. Apple's U.K. partner is O2 (UK), while Orange, the rebranded France Telecom, won the deal in France, where the iPhone goes on sale on November 29.
"Apple can be profitable just on the hardware," argued Ezra Gottheil, an analyst at Technology Business Research. "More is always better, of course, but by unlocking it for a larger price, Apple gets its money."
Gottheil wasn't surprised by Vodafone's move. "There's a great deal more resistance to locked phones in Europe," he said, noting that Apple has already promised to abide by French law, which bans locked cell phones, when it unveils the iPhone there next week.
"In the end, Apple is a provider of neat devices, and it will always return there," said Gottheil. "If and when it's seriously threatened by a rival, and depending on the duration and terms of its exclusive [contract] with AT&T, I think it would unlock the phone in the US in a second."
But even as T-Mobile promised to abide by the injunction while it appeals the ruling, it also said it would retract the offer if it prevails. T-Mobile is also considering filing a lawsuit against Vodafone seeking unspecified damages, said company spokesman Klaus Czerwinski on Wednesday. "We think the law does not apply to this situation," Czerwinski said from Bonn. "We are still going to court."
T-Mobile will continue to sell iPhones tied to a contract, the company said Wednesday. As part of its revised pitch, T-Mobile reminded potential customers that some of the iPhone's built-in features, including Visual Voicemail, which lets users pick and choose messages to listen to, work when connected to its network.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment.
Jeremy Kirk of IDG News Service contributed to this report.


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MEng Info Session.
Monday, February 27th 5:00pm-6:00pm, BA1160
Thinking about grad school? Not an engineer, but you have a background in math or science or perhaps social science, and an interest in applying your knowledge and skills to producing creative solutions to real world problems?
You might consider a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree from the University of Toronto. You'll take advanced technical courses, and be able to choose from a variety of specializations that take you well beyond what you learned as an undergraduate. Plus, we offer a professional development curriculum you won't get from any other school. We provide a depth and breadth of education that might open new career possibilities.
While our students are primarily engineers, each year we offer admission to a few students from other disciplines, and they've been very successful. We'd like to make more non-engineers aware that pursuing a MEng is a possibility.
Please join us for an orientation session! The event will begin with an overview presentation on the MEng, the technical course options available to students in the different departments, and discuss complementary courses and certificates in areas such as Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Innovation, Finance and Business. Following the presentation, representatives from the departments and institutes will be on hand in the Bahen Centre Atrium to provide you discipline-specific information, and answer your questions.
Pizza and pop will be served.
Please register at https://menginfosession.eventbrite.ca


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Do you need content that converts visitors to customers?
Whether you are an entrepreneur, small business or large corporation, my bespoke content can boost your online footprint to attract more visitors to your website. And you know what that means, right? An opportunity to increase your sales.
Hire me for your content writing needs or get in touch to discuss how I can help you.
Professional content writer for hire UK
Am I what you are looking for?
I ghostwrite and blog for a variety of companies and of course, my own blog. I've also ghostwritten books. Although my personal specialisms are education, technology and business, as you can see from my portfolio, research is no problem.
Some examples of past work:
- Copywriting for collectable card sets for Danbury & Mint
- HR-related blog posts for Perkbox and The Access Group
- Digital marketing blog posts, brochure and eBook for Totem Marketing.
Take a look at my portfolio to see the full range of past and present work.
As an experienced freelance copywriter and content writer, I help businesses:
- Attract more visitors to their business
- Convert visitors to customers
- Spread their message far and wide
How? Find out more.
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See My Work
Freelance copywriter and content writer for hire UK London
Sumanthais professional and thorough, she really took the time to understand what I needed and show my character in her work. I really enjoyed working with her on this project and will definitely contact her again if I need a freelance writer.
– Emma Whitney, Your-PA
We commissioned
SumanthaMcMahon to write a number of blog articles around HR industry topics. The result was excellent, Sumanthahas a great writing style and really took the time to research the topic and tie the content back to a whitepaper which we'd specified we wanted the articles to promote. Very well recommended.
– Emma J, The Access Group


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File Name: Windows Automated Installation Kit Tools Script
File Submitter: Erik_FL
File Submitted: 03 Oct 2015
File Updated: 03 Oct 2015
File Category: App scripts
This is a script to add the Windows Automated Installation Kit tools to Win7PE_SE.
The PATH variable is updated so that you can run the tools from the command prompt. This will allow you to use DISM and IMAGEX plus other WAIK tools.
You must download the WAIK files (not included). Specify the path to the WAIK files.
Click here to download this file


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2-4 Rue de France, 59830 Wannehain, France
39 Rue Alexandre Fleming, 59100 Roubaix, France
This video is an exact match of a Strava segment corresponding to a portion of the larger video.
You can try our application fully and for free and challenge community members.iOS Android No access to Google Play? Download the APK now
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M2 year has begun.
I am already exhausted. And I am already failing at being productive. All the pep talks I gave myself this summer have already been forgotten, all of the illusions I had about never procrastinating and studying ahead and remaining focused at all costs have already been shattered.
Here's just a sampling of a typical study session with my two wonderful (and clearly useless) study buddies:
– "Do you know that 'Buffalo buffalo buffalo, buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo' is a grammatically correct sentence?" (No, Tink. This will never make sense to me…. but I'm glad we spent at least 30 minutes discussing it today. I'm a better person for it.)
– An overdrawn-out play on the word "angina."
– "What if you woke up from an acid trip and realized you weren't really in med school?"
– Spontaneously breaking into a melodious bout of "One Tin Soldier."
– Getting yelled at for being too loud by an undergrad, who proudly let us know that she was "studying for the MCAT!"
– "Let's watch the new Nicki Minaj video!"
– Followed by… "These lyrics make no sense, at all." (Yes, that is what stood out to me the most about that video, too, Sanfo…)
– Followed by… a dramatic recitation and interpretive dance to Sir Mix-a-Lot's greatest hit.
I think we got through 3 lectures in 3 hours. It appears I shall be up all night studying again… but, at least this stuff is already infinitely more interesting than M1 year.
Good start, guys. Welcome to M2!


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13 Strikingly Beautiful Trees That Seem to Have Come from Another World
Sometimes when you look at the landscapes around you — especially if you visit a remote place — they seem to have been copied from the pages of a fantasy book. One of the most vivid ways in which life around us sometimes assumes an air of otherworldliness is in the shape and appearance of the trees. LikeAble collected photos of some of the most uniquely strange and beautiful trees on the planet.
A mushroom-shaped tree
A tree in Ficus, Philippines
Young mango trees under water
The baobab trees of Madagascar
Cypress trees, Caddo Lake
Wisteria trees, Japan
Bottle trees, Socotra Island
Rainbow Eucalyptus trees, Hawaii
A dragon tree, Socotra Island
Bristlecone pine — the oldest trees on Earth
A Quiver tree, Namibia
A Japanese maple
A Frankenstein tree
Preview photo credit Sam Van Aken


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I have concluded that video editing/creation is an incredibly complex art form. There are so many elements to take into account that it is very difficult to pay attention to all the details and tell a story through the video. Compounding this is that it is a very visual form (obviously) and thus requires visualizing the end result in order to produce something. I don't know if this is because of the way my mind works, but I find this incredibly challenging. I liken the process to stretching muscles you've never stretched before, it feels like I'm stretching "brain muscles". New media consistently present us with this challenge, and I am reminded once more of just how difficult coping with a new media (and thus new way of thinking) can be.
This is the first video I've ever created. It is a trailer for the project I will be working on this semester in Digital Ethnography on Anonymity. I have been thinking about this project for months now, and I still don't feel like I have a good direction to take the project in. Anonymity is directly connected to identity, in fact they may even be opposites. What is identity? What is anonymity? How do digital media mediate these two concepts?
I have several small thoughts about these questions, but none are inclusive enough to grasp the big picture. I am fascinated by developmental psychology and would like to analyze applying certain models (Erikson, Kegan etc.) to the internet. In this vein, digital competency would need to be looked at, perhaps creating a developmental line for it. But, this is a big undertaking and I'm not sure it is the best way to approach anonymity. I would also like to do a quadrant analysis of anonymity, dissecting the range of perspectives with which we can look at the phenomenon.
Despite those and other ideas, this is my video. In it, I was trying to get at the idea that there are a plethora of "small selves" that we engage in and use to make up our identity. But, it is my opinion that these small selves are all relative parts to the whole that is our authentic self. The authentic self is absolute, and thus presents a dialectic between the relative selves. The internet, for those who engage in it, is objectively exposing all of our small selves to the world, which is simultaneously creating a small self crisis and an aggrandizement and celebration of the small self. Juxtaposing an anonymous video on negationism with a clearly not anonymous video on the authentic self, I hoped to show two different approaches to my question "who am I?"
In writing, it sounds like I had this grandiose idea that I then set to video, however the reality is much the opposite. After struggling with the "nuts and bolts" of video editing for the first time, these thoughts and this video just kind of emerged of its own volition.
On an unrelated note, check out my new comments system below! I figured out how to install Disqus in my template, so now you can leave a comment using a Disqus account, your Facebook account, or (appropriately) anonymously, and you can leave video comments with Seesmic too!


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An Interview with Shakeology Co-Creator Darin Olien
Darin Olien knows more than you do.
Or at least that's what it feels like when you sit down with Shakeology's master architect to discuss the best-selling Beachbody®supplement's latest formulations. One minute he's telling you about the benefits of sourcing moringa from Senegal. The next minute he's taking you on the tour of how konjac travels through the human digestive system.
While intelligence obviously plays a role in Darin's knowledge base, another reason that he knows so darn much what goes into Shakeology is his over-the-top passion. Traveling the world to discover the healthiest, most ethical way to source ingredients and then figuring out how to combine them in synergistic, beneficial ways isn't just something he does for a paycheck. The man loves his job.
This month, Beachbody adds a new product to the Shakeology line: Chocolate Vegan Shakeology. Taking cues from its sister vegan Tropical Strawberry Shakeology, the new drink features several groovy new superfoods, including moringa, coconut flower nectar, luo han guo, Himalayan salt, and konjac. In order to tell you all about them, we took a page from Darin's playbook and sought out the best possible source: Darin. But unlike the Shakeology Hunter, we didn't have to traverse the globe to do it. Here's what he had to share.
Tell us about the fancy new stuff that's been added to Shakeology.
I'll start with the wonderful miracle tree, one of my favorite rediscoveries, the moringa oleifera. It's possibly one of the greatest superfoods I've ever come across. It can grow in a lot of different places because of its ability to uptake nutrients from soils. So you get high chlorophyll, you get about 35 active antioxidants and up to 96 active phytochemicals, and then you've got some of the fun micronutrients like really high vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and—here's the kicker—it's got all the essential amino acids.
It's one of those things that makes formulation really easy because it's so full and it's got all of the data on it. Johns Hopkins has studied it for a long time. I've been looking into it for about 4 years—every day a new country pops up where they can grow it because it's turned into a cash crop opportunity.
Why do you think it took so long to be discovered?
I don't know. It grows really easily but it's hard to process if you want all those constituents. You have a 30-minute window to capture all of those nutrients in it to the best of your ability. As soon as you start whacking off those leaves, you have to get it washed and dried like that.
You mentioned how it absorbs from the soil quite a bit. That obviously means you need to be pretty careful because you can absorb bad things too.
Absolutely. With our industrial world, it's very tricky. You always have to test the soil. In these kinds of areas that Beachbody sources from, often in the middle of nowhere, you don't have to worry about that, but certainly as moringa—or any other commodity—comes up, everyone's going to jump into the game. You can put a moringa plant next to a railroad track in India and it's going to grow fine, but it's going to pick up all kinds of bad stuff.
Why did we choose Senegal for sourcing moringa?
We're kind of going off the heels of moringa expert Dr. Lowell Fuglie. He found out that the soil qualities, the mineral qualities, the temperature, and the climate are the best in Senegal—and he went all over the world! Also, the labor issues in Senegal are solid and the relative cost is cheaper for us, but they get a higher wage than in the other commodities. So you've got all those things.
Let's talk about coconut flower nectar next.
Coconut flower nectar—the blood, basically, of the coconut tree. So it's not coconut water powder; it's from the tree itself, coming off the flower of the coconut. You literally cut where the flower would come out and this liquid comes out. The interesting thing about coconut flower nectar is its very low glycemic index. It has amino acids, it's got brain activators, and so it's got this whole array of other qualities. It's just incidentally a sweetener.
The great thing about formulation is that you find these things that have pleomorphic effect, not just a linear effect. So you're not just using coconut flower because it's sweet. You're also putting it in there because it has other synergistic qualities. It's doing other things; it's able to create and have a different effect on the body than just a sweetener.
So when you're putting all these ingredients together, you're trying to find combinations that work synergistically?
Yes. I think one plus one equals 13 when you formulate. You make sure that the macro perspective is being honored—the fats, the proteins, the amino acids, the carbs—and that they're delivered in a synergistic way. Then you can continue to go down the rabbit hole and say things like, "I'll add moringa because now that's got 7 times the amount of calcium than milk does. I can add my camu in and that's got 30% of vitamin C in it from its powdered forms." And sometimes you don't know, so you have to move along on the formula; get it and then test it. It can be quite daunting. Sometimes they come together, and now you're getting a different effect. It can be surprising.
Let's talk about luo han guo.
The Chinese have been using that for 10,000 years, not as a sweetener, but to regulate some of the systems of the body. It has a cooling effect on the body. Again, this is one of those things where it's a digestive aid, a diabetic supporter, and oh, by the way, it's incredibly sweet—500 times sweeter than sugar.
In the field, for every 100 kilos of it you get 1 kilo of powder. So it's a very, very expensive process and challenging in that way, so it has a limitation as well. The challenge is how much you can push it. There's no toxicity danger, but if you use too much, it will turn your body off to the sweetness. So you have limits and, again, even just the sweetening system alone has got so many healing properties to it. You're not just throwing things in there to sweeten it, you're going for what other effects it can have and contribute to the formula. That's why the new Shakeology has a range of sweeteners. It's like an orchestra.
How about the Himalayan salt?
Himalayan salt, oh my God, you're going to have to rein me in. One of the greatest superfoods, one of the greatest things we need for our body, unrefined salt. Not to be confused with table salt, the stripped down, neurotoxic salt that causes people to say, "Don't use so much." They're absolutely right; don't use that salt on the table. Use unrefined salt. We need it for hydration. In this formula it's an alchemist. It's delivering over 70 trace minerals. We need those minerals, but we need them in the right form, in the food form, in the crystal form—in this form we're talking about the size of the molecule—so that our cells can absorb them without your body needing additional mechanisms to break them down.
There's also so much that can be said about salt itself. If you don't have salt, your whole primary operating system will not work. We are a super conductor, our body is a superconductor with 70 trillion batteries, which are cells, and if you don't have salt and electrolytes, those systems don't work, and then you use glycogen in the cells and acidify. You don't know it's happening, you just know you're not feeling so great; you get adrenal fatigue, your cholesterol goes up, and your immune system doesn't work, so this is a very cellular alchemist necessity. And in the formula perspective, it's really interesting because it stretches out sugars.
Stretches out sugars?
It enhances the sweetness and dampens the astringent. I even put salt on my salad, right? The negative reports have nothing to do with unrefined salt.
Is there any concern that Himalayan salt is a finite resource, since there's only so much in the mountains?
Not in our lifetime, not in about a hundred million lifetimes. They're big mountains.
How about konjac?
Initially, we went after it because it was a great replacement for the xantham and guar gum. But the konjac root fits right in because it has a multidimensional effect. It has a wonderful effect on the cholesterol of the body, it buffers and supports the digestive system as a whole, and in the formulation it creates the mouth feel; it blends, it pulls together. It also has a very functional effect in a digestive way.
How does it work, exactly, in your digestive track?
Konjac and its functional ingredient, glucomannan, are hydrophilic, meaning it likes water. When you add water, it will then absorb it and then bind itself to the other ingredients, creating a micro gel. And that's what creates the smoothie effect and the thickening effect of Shakeology. It's a very similar thing as it goes through the body. So there's a lot of insoluble fiber action. It can help slow some of the sugar absorption down, and it can help coat the digestive system with a positive effect as opposed to the acidic effect of processed foods. In your mouth, it's very supportive with the amylase and the digestive enzymes. In your intestines, it's very supportive and helps replenish the mucosal lining.
So you're happy with the new formulations?
Yes, but if it was up to me . . . well, it's very hard to stop formulating.
You're always tinkering.
I'm always tinkering.
By Guest writer Denis Faye, Team Beachbody


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Had a lovely afternoon doing a soap-workshop with a few DaWanda sellers,
trying a new design that turned out really nice.
We made peppermint soapballs with cold proces artisanal soap I made beforehand,
and rolled them in cocoa.
After that we put them all in a square mold and poured cocoa melt and pour soap over them, in two layers.
Cooled everything down in the fridge and cut into slices to show off the beautiful inside...
Definitely going to do this again! It's a great soap to make together, everyone grating soap and rolling peppermint scented balls...


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The Determinants of Participation in a Social Program: Evidence from a Prototypical Job Training Program
NBER Working Paper No. 9818
This paper decomposes the participation process of a prototypical program into eligibility, awareness, application, acceptance and enrollment. With this decomposition, we determine the sources of unequal participation for different groups, and demonstrate that variables often have very different effects at different stages in the participation process. Our analysis shows that personal choices substantially affect participation and that awareness of program eligibility is a major source of variation in participation.
Machine-readable bibliographic record - MARC, RIS, BibTeX
Document Object Identifier (DOI): 10.3386/w9818
Published: James J. Heckman & Jeffrey A. Smith, 2004. "The Determinants of Participation in a Social Program: Evidence from a Prototypical Job Training Program," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 22(2), pages 243-298, April. citation courtesy of
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Effective Leadership Strategies Across Generations
By Kevin Heikes, Director of Operations at FarmLink and
Kansas State University Master of Agribusiness (MAB) Alum
Recently I was asked about effective leadership strategies in today's workplace. Initially, I was going to describe my goals and objectives in my team leadership experiences. Upon further reflection, I decided I would structure this post to be, "Leadership strategies I appreciate and that have allowed me to do my best work."
While I am technically GenX, many times I end up translating for both the Boomer generation and the GenY/Millennial generation. For example, I enjoy sharing with Boomers how Hootsuite can turn 99% of Twitter chatter into meaningful customer insights. Or sharing with a Millennial that they need to put down the phone and go shake the hand of their customer and engage in conversation.
Some of the best leaders I have worked with/for seem to embody many of the same characteristics which will be described throughout this post. In my nearly 20-year career, the leadership examples I reference most are based on the book, "First, Break All The Rules" by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman written in 1999. This book outlines a list of questions to ask team members leading them to high performance engagement:
I have simplified this to three favorite questions I like to ask team members:
Using these ideas as a beginning framework, below are 13 ways I believe I can be a better leader in today's workplace. While these are principles I am personally working on through my leadership style, I thought it might be helpful to share with others.
DIY (Do it yourself) first. Don't delegate something you don't understand – The clearer we can be on project goals and requirements, the better the outcome. I am reminded of a CRM redesign project in which it was imperative I understood the system inside and out before asking a team member to lead the redesign. My role turned from doer to collaborator. I found that while the result of the project was not exactly how I initially envisioned it, the combined project was higher quality. Had I said, "go build a new CRM system" and I hadn't ever used it, I wouldn't know how to lead the next iteration of the project.
Rally a team versus a cause – Anytime we can get a team rallied around an initiative and working together, the faster we get results. The reality is that sometimes the relationship is more important than the outcome. Years ago, while at a small AgTech startup, we had an idea to text out grain bids when the markets rallied. As soon as we sent the first message out, the phone lines lit up! The team came together, executed outside of our job descriptions and everyone pitched in to take phone calls and talk to the customer. We received hundreds of calls in the first hour. From the CEO to the most introverted software developer, we all turned to customer support in those hectic days because we were cause-driven, not job description-driven.
Work smarter, not harder – In today's work environment, it is important to spend time on the front end developing a strategy to focus on important things, rather than just doing "stuff" to stay busy. I remember 1am nights at the .com office early in my career. I would work in circles doing "stuff" that ended up being irrelevant, but because I was at the office, I thought I was contributing. My goal years later is to focus on one or two relevant tasks per day and to do those well. Quality over quantity is now my goal.
Be present – Being accessible to answer quick questions can speed up project work. This presence also supports ideas referenced earlier from "First, Break All The Rules," such as encouraging development, monitoring nonverbal communication and building relationships outside the project.
Be intentional with communication styles – There are many times when one email turns into 40 emails that could have been addressed with a five-minute phone call. We must always ask, "What is the right tool for a specific message?" and "How quickly does the message need to be delivered?" Is this a phone call, a slack message, text or email? While there is no exact science to "tool selection," we start to learn which method is most effective for the message recipient.
My "Boomer" style comes out when I receive an IM (Instant Message). For years, I have fought the urge to just call up the software engineer when he/she sends me an IM. I would rather give my entire thought process to the engineer verbally, but I realize that is not what he/she WANTS or needs. The engineer is in the zone and desires quick, concise feedback. My phone call would only hinder the flow.
Meetings vs Stand-ups – For whatever reason, when a meeting is scheduled, the default time is one hour (thank you Microsoft Outlook?). We are all conditioned to this 1-hour mentality and then Parkinson's law takes effect: "work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion." Realizing this is a generalization, there are times when more frequent shorter sessions can be more effective.
Tools have and will continue to evolve – Selection of the correct tool can make all the difference to a team and project. A recent work example illustrates this point. The decision was made to move from Microsoft Project to an online tool called Wrike. Both tools organize projects and timelines, but one is web-based and offers real-time updates while the other is a traditional software install and harder to collaborate in real-time. Taking the time to select a tool that all team members can engage with is key to today's communication.
Office Design/Setup – There are times when working with groups on software development or projects it is more effective to be located in an open space. Obviously this isn't effective or realistic for all situations, but I have witnessed an open floor plan with many white/scrum boards leading to open communication and higher quality work. Much of today's work is agile in nature requiring quick interactions and iterations. Offices and walls can slow down this type of work.
On the other hand, when I do sit in a bullpen, there are times when I need to lock myself up and think. In these situations, we must know what type of environment works best for the work that is most important, which leads to my next principle.
Work isn't just done in an office – Everyday our world gets more virtual. Team members work from home, customers are mobile and we continually adapt to a more global workforce. From this standpoint, tools such as Zoom, GoToMeeting, Join.Me, Google Hangouts, or Skype require skills that every team member must possess. I personally find team member engagement and communication quality increase dramatically when communication moves beyond a conference call to include a screen share and additional visual elements.
Work is no longer just 9 to 5 – God bless Dolly Parton, but most of us no longer have a 9 to 5 gig. For example, I do my best and most creative thinking early in the morning. I subscribe to many of the philosophies of Jeff Sanders' "5am Miracle" podcast and start my morning with deep thinking and writing. By the time I get to the office around 8am, I have my day planned and my strategic thinking completed so I can move into execution mode.
Embrace the outside passions of team members – In one of my more recent teams, a couple of team members and I engaged in Fitbit challenges together. These are weekly challenges in which the objective is to get the most activity steps. This was a fun and healthy exercise and it brought us together with a common interest beyond the project. This type of engagement is a great way to build morale and longevity in the project/company.
Be authentic in workplace relationships – On Monday mornings, how many times do we all fall back on the "how was your weekend?" question??? That is fine, but if we truly want team members to know that we care about them as people, we must be willing to be vulnerable and talk beyond the kid's soccer game and the weather. Trust is difficult and can be complicated among teams. I am currently studying the book, "Trustology," written by my friend and colleague, Richard Fagerlin.
Seek to be a lifelong learner – Finally, I have learned from my mentors and leaders that the best leaders keep learning. You are never there…there is no "There". Every day we must read, listen to podcasts or open our minds to new ideas.
One way to continue learning is to earn an advanced degree like the Kansas State University Master of Agribusiness. The MAB program is an award-winning master's degree designed for food, agribusiness, and animal health professionals offered through a combination of distance and on-campus sessions that makes it convenient for those who would like to obtain graduate-level business and economics training while continuing their career. The MAB program is currently taking applications our January and August 2017 cohorts. To find out how you can be a part of the K-State Master of Agribusiness program or for more information on how the MAB can help your career, please go to www.mab.ksu.edu, call 785-532-4495 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.
I leave us with an Albert Einstein quote, "When you stop learning you start dying."
For more insights on Leadership Strategies Across Generations, attend a free webinar on September 29 at noon, CST. Register online at http://bit.ly/2bZ7Dpm.


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The Vancouver Zero Waste Centre (formerly the Recycling Depot) provides a convenient location for residents to drop off a wide range of materials for reuse and recycling, free of charge, including materials:
- Requiring special handling to protect the environment, such as batteries and propane tanks
- In larger quantities than your curbside bins can hold, particularly if you are moving or doing seasonal cleaning
Extended hours
The Zero Waste Centre is now open an extra hour every evening. Bring your recycling materials until 6pm every day of the week.
Caution: Drop off garbage at the Transfer Station before dropping off recycling at the Zero Waste Centre due to left turn restrictions on Kent Ave North.
8588 Yukon Street
Hours of operation
|Monday to Saturday
|8am to 6pm
|9am to 6pm
|Christmas Day and New Year's Day
|All other statutory holidays unless otherwise noted
|9am to 4pm
Materials accepted for free recycling
Important information Recycling drop-off at Zero Waste Centre is for residential customers only.
Bicycles and accessories
Cardboard (flattened)
Cell phones
Clothing and textiles - not accepted at this time
Cooking oil (maximum 10L per day per resident)
Fire extinguishers (maximum 2 per day per resident)
Fluorescent light bulbs and tubes
Foam packaging (Styrofoam) - no foam peanuts
Glass bottles and jars
Household batteries
Large appliances (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, maximum 3)
Lawnmowers - electric, battery, or gas-powered (drain gasoline and oil before recycling)
Lead acid car and truck batteries
Light ballasts
Metal containers (cans, tins, foil, empty aerosol cans excluding spray paint cans)
Other flexible plastic packaging External website, opens in new tab
Paper containers (tetra-packs, coffee cups)
Plastic bags and overwrap
Plastic containers (jars, jugs, bottles)
Power tools
Printed paper and paper packaging (newspaper, magazines, catalogues, writing paper, paper bags)
Propane tanks (maximum 4 disposable and 2 refillable)
Scrap metal
Small appliances
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Materials accepted at the Transfer Station
Fees apply to the following materials accepted for recycling at the Transfer Station. Some materials have volume restrictions.
Mattresses and box springs
New drywall (gypsum)
Food scraps
Yard trimmings and unfinished wood waste
Materials accepted at other locations
The following materials are not accepted here. They are included in take-back programs and accepted at designated drop-off locations. Use the Waste Wizard to find drop-off locations.
Antifreeze and empty antifreeze containers
Broken televisions and computer monitors
Flammable liquids
Paint and empty paint cans
Used oil, oil filters, and empty oil containers
Preparing items for drop-off
If you are dropping off materials accepted for free at the Zero Waste Centre and materials accepted for a fee at the Transfer Station, we recommend you:
- Sort your materials by product type before loading.
- Load your vehicle with free recyclables first.
- Load garbage and recyclable items requiring a fee next so they can be dropped off first at the Transfer Station before you go to the Zero Waste Centre for recycling.


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Ferrari named best coupe and best cabriolet
(Relaxnews) – Two awards from French publication L'Automobile Magazine bring the Italian carmaker Ferrari's international honors tally up to 25.
Italian supercar maker Ferrari continues to rack up awards at the same rate at which one of its customers collects speeding tickets. Its V8-powered 458 Spider was announced best cabriolet and its V12-powered big brother, the F12 Berlinetta, was named Best Coupe at this year's L'Automobile Magazine Best Cars 2013 awards.
The honors, from one of France's most respected automotive publications, brings the number of international awards for the marquee up to 25 in the last 12 months. But the awards are deserved as the current Ferrari line-up is one of the strongest in living memory in terms of power, performance, choice and looks. The 458 has set new standards in terms of what can be expected from a mid-engined V8 car, while the F12 Berlinetta offers the same levels of speed and performance that could only be found in the range-topping Enzo hypercar several years ago.
Expect the prancing horse to continue to clean up in terms of awards when it officially unveils its long-awaited F70at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The replacement for the Enzo, which ceased production in 2004, the F70 is rumored to combine environmental responsibility with the latest Formula 1 technology. It is expected to weigh less than 1,100kg and use a hybrid V12 engine that will pump out a scarcely believable 800hp plus a KERS energy regeneration unit that can pump out an additional 120hp in short bursts. It is also widely anticipated that it will consume 40% less fuel than the Enzo, despite being almost twice as powerful.


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Antique Handwoven Blue Batik TapestryDE-COR | Globally Inspired
Delicately made, this cotton throw features a geometric printed pattern accented with hand-woven details. It was dyed using the batik printing process that involves resist-dying using wax and natural color pigments.
- *Material: cotton
- *Size: 56" (L) x 44" (W)
- *Color: multicolor
- *Dry-Clean
Found in Indonesia.


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WhatsApp online messenger app; Everything you should know
Please Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
What is WhatsApp
WhatsApp is an online social messenger application that is available for almost all the devices. WhatsApp application can be installed on iOS, Android, Windows, Blackberry as well as Symbian devices. Its app is also available for Mac and Windows OS.
How much does WhatsApp costs
WhatsApp Messenger app used to cost $0.99 each year after the first year of free trial, but now they have removed the subscription fee. Now users can use ad-free WhatsApp without any subscription fee. However, don't take the ad-free thing for granted, because WhatsApp may implement something in future within app to generate revenue from its app.
Where can I get WhatsApp app for my Smartphone or Computer
Visit the download page of WhatsApp, and select the device/os you are using. It will either take you to the app store/Play Store or Downloading will start right there, and you can install the app on your device.
How do I start Using WhatsApp Application
When you launch WhatsApp for the first time, it will ask for a valid mobile number. You can't use WhatsApp unless you have a working mobile number. Once you enter the mobile number, you will receive verification code via sms/call. You need to enter the verification code in WhatsApp, then type your name, and start using WhatsApp.
What can I do with WhatsApp
You can keep in touch with your friends and family with WhatsApp; Send Texts, Photos, Videos, Emotions, Documents, and can also share contacts and location.
Sending files and limitations
If the video is larger that 16MB, you will have to trim.
You can send maximum of 10 photos in one go. If you want to send more, you will have to do it again.
As far as documents are concerned, you can send only PDF documents via WhatsApp, and the maximum supported size is 100 MB. Documents can also be selected from Cloud Storage, like iCloud, OneDrive, Google Drive etc..
If you don't like these restrictions, use Telegram, and send any size of videos, photos or any file you want, even apps.
How can I Backup, Restore or Transfer WhatsApp Messages to Another device
If you have got some issue on your Smartphone, and you want to reset, or you have bought a new Mobile and want to transfer your WhatsApp Messages from one device to another, there is no need to worry. You can simply backup and restore. We have already covered this topic in a separate article. Please read the article about WhatsApp Backup and restore.
How to use WhatsApp on Mac or PC : App and WhatsApp Web
As we mentioned earlier, WhatsApp application is available for Mac as well as Windows, but it's not a separate WhatsApp app that you can use to register with another mobile number. Installing WhatsApp application on computer is useless, because it exactly works like WhatsApp Web. Whether you visit web.whatsapp.com or launch WhatsApp app on computer, you will have to go to your Mobile's WhatsApp application, tap Settings or option icon, and select WhatsApp Web. Then scan the QR code from your Smartphone that appears on your computer. Now your WhatsApp message will be synced with computer.
Can I use WhatsApp on iPad or iPod Touch
WhatsApp application is not available for iPad or iPod Touch, but you can still use it. Please read our article about WhatsApp for iPad to get the detailed information. It's kind of WhatsApp Web, and works the same way WhatsApp for PC or Mac does.
Is WhatsApp safe to use
I couldn't agree to this a couple of months ago, but now it's different. WhatsApp has already started encrypting messages as well as call. So your conversation history is secured.
How to Block or Unblock a WhatsApp Users
If a WhatsApp user is disturbing you, you can get rid of him/her. Simply block the user, and you will no longer receive any text, image or WhatsApp call from that user. Please read the article " How to block someone on WhatsApp " for detailed instruction.
Is there any Pro Version of WhatsApp with more features?
WhatsApp doesn't have any official Pro version for WhatsApp, but there is still a third party app, known as WhatsApp Plus. This app comes with many great features that WhatsApp lacks.
Why Do I have to crop Image to set as WhatsApp DP
WhatsApp requires a Square photo to set as profile picture. If the Photo is not in square shape, WhatsApp will force you to crop the image. However, there are many apps that can be used to set WhatsApp DP without cropping.
How to manage WhatsApp Notifications and Sound?
Launch WhatsApp application, Go to its Settings, tap Notifications. Now you can enable/disable sound and notification from here. You can also tap In-App Notifications, to manage sound and notification while using app.
How to reduce or manage Data Usage for WhatsApp
WhatsApp allows to manage data usage while on cellular network. You can prevent videos, images and audio from automatic download. To manage Data Usage on WhatsApp, go to its Settings, and tap Data Usage.
How to Change WhatsApp Number
WhatsApp app has an option under its Settings –> Account –> Change Number. You can change number from here. We have already given full instruction how you can change WhatsApp number.
How to check total number of messages and amount of storage WhatsApp is consuming
This option is limited to iPhone users only. I haven't seen anything like this on Android Phone. If you have an iPhone, you can go to WhatsApp's Settings –> Account –> Storage Usage. You will find everything you need. If you face any trouble, read our article about WhatsApp Storage Usage.
Can I install 2 WhatsApp application on one Smartphone
Yes, but not the official one. You can Install 2 WhatsApp on Android, but this is not possible for iPhone users if you haven't jailbroken. If you are an Android user, you can install one official and one third party app.
How to manage my Privacy on WhatsApp
These are the options you can find under WhatsApp's Settings–> Account –> Privacy
- Block/Unblock other WhatsApp users that we have already discussed above
- Manage Last Seen : This option allows other WhatsApp Users to see when you were seen online last time. You can choose to show it to everyone or contacts only or No One. If you disable this, you won't be able to see other people's last seen as well
- Profile Image : Just like Last seen you can also choose to show your profile picture to your contacts only, or everyone/nobody
- Status : This option allows to control who can see your WhatsApp Status
- Read Receipts : If this option is enabled, other WhatsApp will be able to know when you read their messages. The double tick sign turns into blue color when you read any message. If you disable read receipts, you won't be able to see read receipt from other people
What is WhatsApp BroadCast List
WhatsApp BroadCast list is a feature that allows to send single message to multiple users at the same time without disclosing all the receivers. Get the detailed information on WhatsApp Broadcast
How to Delete WhatsApp Account
Deleting WhatsApp account is very easy, but there is no turning back. Once you delete your account, you won't be able to recover or restore WhatsApp Chat History or any other data, even the cloud backup will be removed. Follow the steps mentioned in our "Delete WhatsApp Account" article.


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Yummy! I think it may even taste better than last time? It's probably because my little 12 days of tea sample is all done now. :(
I got 2 solid steeps out of the leaves, but the second one tasted a little less of blueberries than the first one, still very good though.
Slurp! As a hot or cold tea, it's blueberry goodness, down to the last drop!


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"There is nothing more beautiful than a vineyard." Cesare Pavese wrote this verse nearly 60 years ago, part of a beautiful ode to the Piemontese hillsides where his heart felt so at home. Although I am not a native to the area, I can understand the feeling. Nothing in Italy pulls as sweetly to me as the gentle roll of the vineyards that blanket Piemonte. Recently UNESCO named these vineyard landscapes to be part of the World Heritage Sites. Bravo, Piemonte. Bravo!
Technicolor Dreaming in Piemonte.
One Response
Great post!!! Your writing is so descriptive we thought we were there with you! Is it possible to send these posts directly to Ed's email as well?
Thanks. Love and kisses, mom
Sent from my iPad


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Thomas Kohnen, MD, PhD, FEBO, discusses the RayOne (Rayner) hydrophobic intraocular lens (IOL). He walks through the successful first implantation of this IOL using the RayOne easy-to-use, two-step system. Dr. Kohnen also shares the positive results from an independent study that compared the RayOne hydrophobic IOL to competitor models.
The products shown are not yet available in the United States.
Hydrophobic • IOL Implantation • IOL Selection • Monofocal • Rayner • Rayner Intraocular Lenses • RayOne • RayOne hydrophobic IOL
Rayner does not endorse off-label use. Users must refer to the product labelling and Instructions for Use for Rayner products in all cases.


text: Pathe Int'l to Distribute Miramax's 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' Outside of N. America 8:07 AM PST 1/28/2011 by Rebecca Leffler FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Horror film produced by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Johnson stars Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce. PARIS – Miramax and Pathe International are teaming up to turn on the lights across the globe for Don't be Afraid of the Dark with Pathe International set to distribute the Miramax-made film outside of North America, both companies said Friday. The horror film produced by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Johnson stars Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce in acclaimed comic book illustrator Troy Nixey's directorial debut. The story follows a little girl sent to live with her father and his girlfriend in an old mansion who accidentally unleashes malevolent creatures who are out to destroy them. Pathe International will handle distribution for the title outside of North America and will kick off sales at the EFM in Berlin next month. "We are thrilled to be partnering with Miramax, Guillermo and the film-makers to bring what is undoubtedly one of 2011's most eagerly awaited genre films to international audiences," Pathe's evp Francois Ivernel said. Pathe and Miramax last partnered for Gnomeo and Juliette,which will hit French theaters on Feb. 16th. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Rebecca Leffler email@example.com @thr


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Blog — collect gems
Collecting gemstones
beautiful gemstones beauty of gems collect gems gem collecting gem collector gemstones beauty investment relationship spiritual aspectFar East Gems & Jewellery Jewellery
Over the course of being in this trade for 11 years, I always wondered why people buy gemstones. After some thought and searching, I have come up with 4 reasons why people buy gemstones.
1. Relationship - For a marriage proposal, a gift, celebration of anniversary.
2. Spiritual - Belief in healing, power, and offering to the gods.
3. Beauty - Appreciate the beauty, rarity and value of gemstones.
4. Investment - Belief that it is a good investment.


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(video: CW50 Street Team)
The CW50 Street Team headed out to Grand Circus Park for the 97.1 The Ticket Opening Day Block Party. Tigers fans showed up for food, games and a Justine Blazer concert. Spirits were high as the fans prepared for the game against the New York Yankees. Though temperatures where not ideal for spring time, that didn't seem to bother anyone. First Forecast anchor Karen Carter said, "You couldn't ask for really a better day than today. The sun is shining, good temperatures out there and just a great way to celebrate Detroit and the Tigers coming back for another great season."
Tigers fans look forward to this day every year. Judging by the attendance and events happening in Grand Circus Park, it is easy to see why. One fan even said that Opening Day is, "better than St. Patrick's Day!" Fans took their Tiger pride to the extreme by dressing up as tigers, painting their faces and wearing enough official gear to look like an actual player.
With large cheerful crowd downtown it was clearly a successful home opener. Here's to a successful 2013 season. Let's go Tigers!
The CW50 Street Team attends metro Detroit's hottest events and shares all the fun with blogs, videos and photos on CW50Detroit.com/StreetTeam. Looking to get the Street Team to cover your event? Send us an email!


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Friday night, April the 27th, we celebrated with some phenomenal awardees, representing the university quite well. The decisions were difficult, and the awards well-deserved. It was exciting to hear each person speak on where they expect themselves to be in ten years' time. Once again, I am reassured that this school turns out some of the most extraordinary people anywhere. Congratulations to Elida Sorto-Ramos for receiving a Frankie Hansell Trust scholarship, to Lauren Sorto-Ramos for being awarded both a Hansell Trust scholarship and the Michael and Jennifer Cathcart Scholarship, and to Sheida Khademi for receiving the Robert and Mary Ann Van Siclen Scholarship. This is our second year back in the saddle for providing scholarships. We are always looking for Alumni to help us in what we do. If you are interested in meeting some of the finest students and greatest Alumni the world has to offer.... well, we aren't hard to find.
Thanks again to Terry and Sunny Graham for allowing us to make the Thornton Inn B&B our home and base of operations for this totally volunteer and independent organization, still doing good things for our Alumni: past, present and future.
And to the folks at the Tin Cup... y'all do great sandwiches and snacks. Thanks.


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Wanted: Committed professionals serving as representatives that carry the message of great operations and environmental stewardship.
The backbone of our daily operations.
Nobody ever said it would be easy-a career should be full of challenges and at Waste Management, there's no exception. If you're ready to commit to joining our team of dedicated, team-driven, operations experts, front line positions await. All you have to do is apply!
Our frontline positions include all types of drivers, helpers, technicians, maintenance crew members, facility maintenance and upkeep, welders, environmental engineers, and more. Some of the most groundbreaking environmental technology in the industry drives positions like gas technicians, hazardous materials experts, and landfill gas operators. We're a lot more than just picking up trash; with innovation on the front line, we've become an industry leader in green technology.
If this sounds like an opportunity you're interested in, and you're ready to commit to learning about the challenging and exciting world of environmental services, apply today and see where it can take you.
Join our talent network to learn about upcoming opportunities and learn more about us.


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You will need to sign in or create an account before you can use your wishlist…
A beguiling fragrance full of luminosity and musical tones, sampling Miller Harris Tea Tonique Eau de Parfum Spray is like hearing a fascinating story for the very first time.
Its pared-back elegance is matched by the intrigue of its notes, from the spontaneity of Italian bergamot to the undulating smokiness of tea and nutmeg. It's a truly spectacular infusion, equally at home at high tea in the English countryside or at an eclectic London cafe.
Tea Tonique opens with a quenching blend of citruses including bergamot, petit grain and lemon. In the heart a signature blend of smoked tea and nutmeg create sweet warmth, before a blackened dry down of mat absolute, birch tar and musk ensures deep sensuality.
Top Notes: Italian Bergamot, Petit Grain, Lemon.
Heart Notes: Smokey Tea, Nutmeg.
Base Notes: Mate Absolute, Birch Tar, Musk.
Shipping Restriction: Only available for UK and European Express delivery services.
It looks like you are visiting us from The United Kingdom.
Please choose your delivery country and currency below.


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• Fiona Apple delivered a stunning performance to a sold-out Fox Theater on Saturday night. She pushed her voice early on to a point where it decayed into a growl, and we feared her vocal cords might run out of steam. But an energetic, diminutive Apple impeccably performed 17 songs, many of the best of which came from her new album, The Idler Wheel...
• Kaskade, the DJ/producer and former S.F. resident, talked to us about the rise of EDM: "True electronic music still has not crossed over," he said, adding that he thinks '90s-era European sounds had to mature before they would be accepted by U.S. listeners. He also said he tries to visit Taqueria Cancun whenever he makes it back to S.F.
• Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong will be a mentor for Christina Aguilera's team on the next season of The Voice. It's a brilliant marketing move, considering the band has three new albums coming out this fall, and we're geekily excited to see what Armstrong — who started out singing Broadway show tunes — is like as a vocal coach.
• Outside Lands set times are out, and as expected, some of the conflicts are painful: The older, classic headliners are mostly up against younger dance artists like Justice and Skrillex, but having to choose between Big Boi and Grandaddy on Saturday is gonna suck, as will deciding between Jack White and Santigold. Early afternoons are packed, too.
• Okay, upstart musicians, here's how not to use Kickstarter: Don't campaign for necessities like gas and a van, don't offer stupid rewards to your backers, and don't do a campaign without telling your collaborators. That's just the start of our advice on how to avoid sucking at this crowdfunding thing.
• Kreayshawn dropped "Go Hard," the second single and video from her upcoming debut album. How is it? Let's just say that making a proper major-label star out of Kreayshawn is turning out to mean a lot of work for people who aren't Kreayshawn.


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Classroom condos on Queen Anne get 'A' in city history
This is for those who always loved sleeping in class.
And the new condos in the former Queen Anne High School sure are, well, classy.
There's high school classy: Old-school chalkboards and original classroom floors in some units. And then there's classy-classy: Granite, stainless steel and tile, all standard condo accoutrements, and the hilltop views of downtown, Elliott Bay, Lake Union and Mount Rainier.
"This is your opportunity to carve your name into a piece of Seattle history," the project's Web site proclaims.
Just don't carve it into the banister.
Real estate developer Legacy Partners, with headquarters in Foster City, Calif., bought the building last year and is turning it into 137 condos. John Hatton, Legacy's regional vice president, showed off the project Thursday, in advance of opening sales to the public this weekend. Thirty-six units already have been sold to alumni and other VIPs.
The Seattle Board of Education erected the original neoclassical school atop Queen Anne Hill in 1909 and expanded it in 1929 and 1955, according to the National Register of Historic Places. The district closed the school in 1981 and, in 1986, sold it to developers, who converted it into 139 apartments.
Katherine White, a member of Queen Anne's class of 1964 and the Seattle P-I's public affairs coordinator, tagged along Thursday.
"Look at the wear on the steps," White said, striding through an original stairwell.
They're wide enough to accommodate hundreds of teens flowing between classes. But the developers who converted the building to apartments narrowed the hallways considerably.
Inside the condos, the ceilings are at least 14 feet -- some much higher, some ending in massive crown moldings.
The school's old fan room is a museum, featuring huge, old power relays and switches, steam pipes and valves, a wooden bathroom stall door and a trophy case filled with old yearbooks, band uniforms and pictures.
"I'm going to start crying," White said.
Other visitors to the school Thursday included Susan and Joe Maltase, who lived there for a year in an apartment about a decade ago. They are plotting a return to the city from their Bothell house.
"It was a lot of fun," Joe Maltase said. "There's a lot of history there, and there's character."
A friend recalled their studio apartment as being his science classroom, Maltase said. It had a view of the Space Needle, with some effort, and a dead-on shot of the massive TV tower next door.
White remembers construction of that tower.
"My brother climbed it and almost got arrested," she said.
The condos range from 526- square-foot studios to two-bedroom, 1,432-square-foot units. Hatton expects construction to finish next spring.
Buyers so far include several alumni and the widow of another graduate, community sales manager Katie Citron said. "She wanted a piece of his history."
San Jose, Calif., residents Clint Ralls and Michele Del Castillo Ralls bought a one-bedroom condo on the third floor as a second home.
"It's the most phenomenal building I've ever been in," said Michele Del Castillo Ralls, reached Thursday while she was out shopping for furnishings. "I love my 14-foot ceilings, and the view is the best in Seattle."
She also praised the way the building mixed old details, including the stone lions in front, with the new finishes and amenities.
The building's Web site plays up the school theme, with "campus," "playground" and "enrollment" sections. It does not mention the "tuition," which ranges from a bit over $300,000 to more than $1 million.
And White? She loved the tour, but isn't planning to buy.
"I've had enough school," she said.


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Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013
Inky Mappy Details
I like to do highly detailed work first thing in the morning, before I've put in my contact lenses, when I can hunch up close to pen and paper and see clearly.
After a while it all starts to look like random marks of abstract ink. Time for more coffee.
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Product Code: HWCCHSR-STD
Capture the magic of Halloween with a 1920's Hogwarts Slytherin Robe. This black poly-cotton blend robe features an authentic look that includes the Slytherin emblem on the chest.
Please allow ample time for delivery. The delivery date for this product is noted above for US shipping only. Please refer to checkout for delivery dates outside of the Contiguous 48 States.
Shipping charges are based on the value of the merchandise and not the number of shipments. For additional shipping information, please contact our Customer Service Department at 800-348-5084.