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About the CCW Safe NYPD RSA Basic Plan
$134.00/Annually or $13.00/Monthly (this is actually covered in the plan card at this stage.)
No additional discount codes shall be applied to this special price plan and annual payments only.
The Primary member must be a current member of the NYPD Retired Sergeants Association.
The Primary member must either carry under HR218 for Law Enforcement members or have a concealed carry permit. LEOSA annual status and All permits must remain valid. You will need to submit proof to verify eligibility for this plan.
The CCW Safe NYPD RSA Basic plan covers any criminal, civil or administrative legal action stemming from a self-defense incident occurring while OFF-DUTY. Security or other secondary jobs are not protected under this plan.
A self-defense incident is any incident where force is used pursuant to a reasonable belief that use of deadly force is necessary to protect from imminent danger of death or great bodily harm. This includes any necessary force with ALL legal weapons and physical force to defend against a life-threatening attack in self-defense.
The CCW Safe NYPD RSA Basic plan is an annual membership with coverage for one year.
This is a recurring subscription membership, with only the option to pay yearly.
Members do not receive physical membership cards or packets; however, membership status can be printed and or immediately downloaded digitally to smartphones upon plan purchase.
This plan is non-transferrable.
The Primary member will be covered to the level of a $500K bond for all legal use of force responses to life-threatening attacks at their residence, inside their vehicle, any place where it is legal to carry concealed firearm or legal to carry open without a license in public (including locations applicable under HR218 or where permits are honored), or on-premises where possession of a firearm is not illegal or prohibited by the property owner where it carries no unlawful charge after leaving when being asked.
- Access to our 24-hour Emergency Hotline
- Onsite response by Critical Response Team
- Vetting of attorneys by National Trial Counsel
- No cap on attorney fees (covered upfront)
- No cap on investigation fees (covered upfront)
- No cap on expert witness fees (covered upfront)
- All Criminal and Civil trial costs (covered upfront)
- Civil Trial Costs Covered Even if Found Guilty in a Criminal Trial
- Firearm Replacement if Applicable (See Terms)
- Up to $250/day loss-of-wages during criminal or civil trial
- Up to 10 Licensed Professional Counseling Sessions (or up to $4,000)
- Crime-scene cleanup, only if needed, in-home up to $3K
- Appeals and expungement coverage of costs
- Digital Membership Cards that can be printed or downloaded to digital wallets.
RESTRICTIONS (The following are NOT covered)
- Use of force against other family members including domestic relationships
- Use of force against people who are in a member's residence with permission or by invitation, excluding servicemen, delivery, contractors, etc…
- Any force that is not in self-defense
- Accidental discharge incidents
- Children 18 years or older
- Use of force related to a criminal act (e.g. felonies such as robbery, burglary, assault, etc.)
- Use of force while under the influence of judgment-altering substances (e.g. alcohol, controlled substances, or prescribed medication, etc.)
- Additional restrictions are listed in Terms of Service
Emergency Hotline calls are answered by a live agent 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. Callers are immediately connected to an attorney, ensuring that the member has access to instantaneous legal support.
Access to online content including instructional and educational videos: members are provided access to up-to-date weekly content directly applicable to concealed carry. CCW Safe publishes two free e-newsletters per week, available to members only, who have opted-in to receive them.
The Buyer acknowledges that they are not a prohibited person and a member or retired member of New York State Law Enforcement. If found that they are a prohibited person and it is against any state or federal law for them to possess a firearm, then their membership is forfeited and will not be refunded. If found that they are not a qualified law enforcement officer in the state of New York then their subscription shall be changed to the appropriate non-discounted plan and the price difference shall be charged accordingly.
CCW Safe encourages all prospective members to review our Terms of Service.
CCW Safe appreciates the need for protection of all citizens practicing their legal right to self-defense guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment.
CCW Safe is a "Legal Service Subscription Plan" that strives to protect and serve the best interests of our members before, during, and after any "Recognized Self-Defense Use of Force Incident".
CCW Safe is designed to indemnify the expenses arising from a covered incident, regardless of the final trial outcome.
With 100% upfront costs coverage provided pursuant to the contracted plan, there are no out-of-pocket expenses for our members.
CCW Safe Plans are not reimbursement packages, and no repayment to our company by the member is owed, despite how any legal action is settled.
Coverage, services and resources are reserved for active members only and will automatically terminate upon cancellation or non-renewal of the covered member's membership with ccw safe or, the failure to maintain such membership in good standing.No incident shall be covered which occurred prior to active membership or if a payment is purposely missed before an incident is reported. During the time an active case is being worked the member must continue to maintain renewal payments until there is no further need for resources and CCW Safe has resolved the incident.
Membership plan annual fees are the sole financial responsibility of each member. By these means, our company strives to protect and serve the best interests of our members should they be faced with a "Recognized Self-Defense Use of Force Incident."
We do not send out plastic membership cards or information packets for this plan.
Remember CCW Safe is a Legal Service Plan and not an insurance company. CCW safe is the insured and members are Beneficiaries. No policies are sold in the member's name in association with plans that have civil liability coverage benefits.


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Hudson Architects
Feeringbury Farm Barn is a large Grade II listed barn on an isolated working farm, the central structure of which dates back to 1560. In 2008 it was converted into a large home and artist studios, representing a radical departure from traditional barn conversions. When the original plans for the barn conversion were drawn up in 2008 by Hudson Architects, they included outline plans for the conversion of a grain silo adjacent to the barn to guest accommodation. This part of the project, which was put on hold while the rest of the barn was completed, has now been completed. The silo, which is connected to the barn with a bridge, houses a bedroom, shower room and WC.
Coverage Includes:
Grand Designs
Shortlisted, AJ Retrofit Awards 2017
Shortlisted, GAGA Awards 2017
If you would like to find out more about any of the projects we're working on, or talk to us about how Goodfellow Communications can help you, we'd love to hear from you.
Telephone: +44 (0) 203 633 2077
Email: [email protected]
A map of our office location can be found here
Goodfellow Communications
Unit 52.11, Woolyard
52 Bermondsey St
Sign up to our mailing list here.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Work in Progress Wednesday 109
This won't be the best WIPW post I've ever written, I can assure you that. Not only am I tired, but I'm not working on anything too exciting.
You see, this is the second Doctor Who sock I started long long ago. What happened to the green ones you ask? Well, since it was the premiere of the new season of The Doctor, I thought it was only fitting I work on this again. Also, it's totally mindless (once I put in the waste yarn for the after thought heel). As you can see, I'm working on finishing the toe and then just need to knit the second toe....errrr, heel. I'm sure you'll be seeing these bad boys on FO Friday this week! That's right THREE FRIDAYS IN A ROW (and I haven't even cheated!).
That's it for me today (tonight?). I hope you all have a fabulous day. Tomorrow (Thursday), I'm taking a trip with a few of my friends to a couple of yarn stores in southern California. I'm sure I'll be Instagraming some pics of our journey so follow me @candyskein.
For those that are new to WIPW, to share your WIPW post with us, just fill out the Mr. Linky below. Despite it saying you must comment, don't feel as if you do. That is something Mr. Linky automatically adds. I just ask you to check out a few of the links posted to see what everyone else is working on and comment there if you can. Everyone loves feedback and a little encouragement on their projects! Also, please link back to this post in your post to get the word out! The more the merrier!
18 comments:
- AnonymousSeptember 5, 2012 at 12:11 AM
What a fab sock, loving the colours. I get confused with days too especially on bank holiday weekends when everything is all muddled up!ReplyDelete
ooooo eeeee ooooooooo!ReplyDelete
omg so exchited for new who!
LOVE the socks. Still contemplating getting myself some of that colourway...
I'm going to have that problem all week long. Great colors on the sock. Love how the self striping is working.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousSeptember 5, 2012 at 4:32 AM
Self striping yarn is the bomb. And how cool was the season premiere! Did you see the little mini-episodes of Pond Life in the week leading up to the season opener? Ood. On the loo. :)ReplyDelete
Love the yarn, very nice colors!ReplyDelete
I think I'm going to knit a Dr Who inspired thing too, looking at my boyfriends Christmas present! Love them.ReplyDelete
Love the sock, that is my WIP this week too!ReplyDelete
Love the colors! Good luck on the yarn store.ReplyDelete
Oh, those of you lucky people who get BBC America!! Who knows how long it will be before it shows up on Netflix....ReplyDelete
Great socks!!
I'm jealous of your SoCal yarn store adventures. I've only been to a few here in the Bay Area...ReplyDelete
Aww, have fun at all the LYS! I have yet to get to the ones "in" my area. . . Maybe next week. :)ReplyDelete
I want a pair of your socks! What yarn did you use?ReplyDelete
love the Who socks- jealous that you have BBC America, thoughReplyDelete
I think those are VERY interesting socks! I love it when yarn stripes that perfectly!ReplyDelete
i'm in love with that sock!!! those are going to be so awesome!!!ReplyDelete
Opps, I almost missed it! Hope it is not too late for me to catch up!ReplyDelete
Self-striping yarn is so fun to watch as it knits up. Great colorway you're using.ReplyDelete
Your yarn hopping sounds dang fun. Hope you post pics and yarn porn when you're done.
I'm a dork and accidently linked to WIP Wed. instead of FO Friday (tab key misuse on my part). sorry! BUT I think your Dr. Who socks are awesome - I'm looking fwd to when the next season hits Netflix.ReplyDelete


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Food Security and Terrorism
Food security . . .
. . . and the "other"
The endless "war on terror".
Protests continue on the streets in Egypt, as supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and former President Morsi are clashing with the police and military. Government authorities threatened to forcibly clear two large protest camps in Cairo, while Senators McCain and Graham, on a visit to the country, urged restraint. But all of this continues to be just a prelude to the big issue: Egypt's chronic economic problems. These will have a much greater effect on Egypt's long-term stability than anything that happens on the streets this week.
The military appears to be aware of this. As the Financial Times reports, Egypt's military-backed government is looking to introduce a "raft of short-term measures" in order to breathe life back into the country's sinking economy.
Egypt: It's the Economy, Stupid
Tags: corrupt government, corruption, food, Kw1vxsd_Pwc, l3rT0uJ5L9w, War on Terror


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Islamabad (Wednesday, May 27, 2015): The federal Government have the suggestion of the 7.72 billion rupee the Defence budget for the year 205-2015 budget.
This is the 10 percent more than the previous budget. The 10 percent increment Defense budget Expected, 772 billion is Proposal for the parliament members.
The budget allocation for defense last year was 700 billion, according to Defense Ministry troops' safety-related projects multiply an Pak China Economic Corridor 45 billion to prepare for the security forces to allocate a separate application In this way, the government's approval in the 2015-16 fiscal year for defense expenditure will reach 7 to 81 billion allocated to the armed forces and defense pension schemes not included in this amount.


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Today (12/13): Navs, Bears, Blazers and Rams Open League Play
Boys basketball
Northwest Christian vs. North Beach – Northwest Christian HS – 7:00 PM
Olympia vs. Yelm – Olympia HS – 7:00 PM
Tumwater vs. Enumclaw – Tumwater HS – 7:00 PM
The league portion of the 2013-2014 season tips off tonight for Northwest Christian and the Narrows League schools. The Navigators take on North Beach at Compass Arena at NCHS at 7:00 PM, while Olympia hosts Yelm also at 7:00. Timberline and North Thurston open league play on the road.
Northwest Christian is 2-2 in the early going with wins over The Northwest School and Orting. North Beach, meanwhile, is 3-0 with wins over three 1A Evergreen schools – Forks, Montesano and Hoquiam.
Olympia is 3-1 this season with a pair of wins over Capital. The inexperience Bears – they had to replace all five starters from last year's team – have found offense in Khalil Matheney, a senior transfer from Hawaii's Leilahua High School on Oahu. Matheney is averaging 14.3 points per game including a 22 point performance against the Cougars on Wednesday. Oly will face 2-1 Yelm tonight.
Girls basketball
North Thurston vs. Lincoln – North Thurston HS – 7:00 PM
Timberline vs. Foss – Timberline HS – 7:00 PM
The North Thurston and Timberline girls open their league seasons tonight with home games against Lincoln and Foss. Both the Rams and Blazers are 1-1 this season.
The Rams picked up an easy win over Capital on Monday led by Megan Kramer's 20 points while the Blazers lost by just three points to River Ridge in their opener and won by three points at Olympia last Friday.
Posted on December 13, 2013, in Basketball, High school, North Thurston HS, Northwest Christian HS, Olympia HS, Timberline HS, Tumwater HS. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.


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Ready for your visit? Click here to find out the location of and directions to our office.
Need more information? Click here to learn more about the services we offer.
Generally considered a branch of internal medicine, pulmonology is the specialty that deals with diseases of the lungs and the respiratory tract. Shorepoint Medical Group maintains experienced pulmonologists to manage your care.
Our pulmonology services include:


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Anything for our safety, right?
And then they discovered an "anomaly" in her bra, so she needed to be patted down on her breasts. This freaked her out even more. She asked for a private room and for me to be there, and it was obvious that this pissed off the female assist TSO. As she started shaking and sobbing in the room as the TSO began to touch her breasts, I gently touched her arm. Big mistake – the TSO yelled that I couldn't touch her and that I'd need to go through screening again.
Source: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/checkpoints-borders-policy-debate/1374235-pat-down-ended-my-wife-up-er.html
This is the organization who just claimed the right to detain citizens and read through their documents (paper, electronic, or what have you). This is the organization that claims the rights to inspect your genitals. This is the organization that has its employees arrested for felonies on a weekly basis.
"For our safety."


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Efficient 3D frequency response modeling with spectral accuracy by the rapid expansion method
AuthorsChu, Chunlei
Stoffa, Paul L.
Permanent link to this recordhttp://hdl.handle.net/10754/598096
MetadataShow full item record
AbstractFrequency responses of seismic wave propagation can be obtained either by directly solving the frequency domain wave equations or by transforming the time domain wavefields using the Fourier transform. The former approach requires solving systems of linear equations, which becomes progressively difficult to tackle for larger scale models and for higher frequency components. On the contrary, the latter approach can be efficiently implemented using explicit time integration methods in conjunction with running summations as the computation progresses. Commonly used explicit time integration methods correspond to the truncated Taylor series approximations that can cause significant errors for large time steps. The rapid expansion method (REM) uses the Chebyshev expansion and offers an optimal solution to the second-order-in-time wave equations. When applying the Fourier transform to the time domain wavefield solution computed by the REM, we can derive a frequency response modeling formula that has the same form as the original time domain REM equation but with different summation coefficients. In particular, the summation coefficients for the frequency response modeling formula corresponds to the Fourier transform of those for the time domain modeling equation. As a result, we can directly compute frequency responses from the Chebyshev expansion polynomials rather than the time domain wavefield snapshots as do other time domain frequency response modeling methods. When combined with the pseudospectral method in space, this new frequency response modeling method can produce spectrally accurate results with high efficiency. © 2012 Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
CitationOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <title>Current Links for doi: 10.1190/geo2011-0415.1 </title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">

 The Society of Exploration Geophysicists is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the science of applied geophysics and the education of geophysicists. SEG, founded in 1930, fosters the expert and ethical practice of geophysics in the exploration and development of natural resources, in characterizing the near surface, and in mitigating earth hazards. The Society, which has more than 33 000 members in 138 countries, fulfills its mission through its publications, conferences, forums, Web sites, and educational opportunities.

Efficient 3D frequency response modeling with spectral accuracy by the rapid expansion method

Chu,Chunlei et al.

GEOPHYSICS(2012),77(4):T117

http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/geo2011-0415.1

 This article is available from multiple sources.
Please click on the logo of the service to which you have a subscription, or click any logo to obtain pay-per-view access.

SponsorsStoffa would like to acknowledge the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) for their support of his research. We are grateful to associate editor Jeff Shragge and the reviewers for their constructive comments which helped significantly improve the original manuscript. We also thank ConocoPhillips for permission to publish this work.
PublisherSociety of Exploration Geophysicists


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Message Not Delivered: Message sender blocked by receiving server
The message could not be delivered because the recipient's email provider is not accepting messages from this sender. This usually means that the receiving system has security or policy concerns with regard to either the specific sender, recipient, or the sender's email system.
Retry the email message see if it was a one-time problem or if the same error occurs.
Otherwise, contact the sender's email support team as the email system may have a security issue. This typically requires helpdesk support.
5.7.1: Official Definition
[RFC3463] (Standards Track) from the The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) definition for codes that start with 5.X.X:
A permanent failure is one which is not likely to be resolved by resending the message in the current form. Some change to the message or the destination must be made for successful delivery.
[RFC3463] (Standards Track) from the The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) definition for codes that end with X.7.1:
The sender is not authorized to send to the destination. This can be the result of per-host or per-recipient filtering. This memo does not discuss the merits of any such filtering, but provides a mechanism to report such. This is useful only as a permanent error.
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10-Year Reunion
Boy, do I feel old today. It has just come to my attention that my 10-year high school reunion will commence precisely one month from today, on homecoming weekend (quite a big deal in Texas). Of course, I will not be "coming home," so to speak, so the Fighting Mustangs will have to fight without me.


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Shortly after I started doing cartoonish drawings in 2013, I thought about doing a series that dispells the myth that working in Film PR is a sexy career, because it is NOT a sexy career! I love working in film PR, but I don't know anyone who is really in it for the glamour. In September of 2013, the Toronto Star commissioned me to do four drawings to illustrate what it is like for those of us working behind-the-scenes during The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). On September 12th - these drawings below ran in the paper. It was the first time I have ever been published, and I was utterly shocked, yet extremely honoured to even be considered for it!!
(Note: If the slide show below is too fast, you can click on the image to stop and read it!)


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[eBook] 10 Steps to BIM for Infrastructure
If your agency or organization is thinking of moving to BIM for your infrastructure projects you're probably wondering where to start. The good news is you are more BIM-ready than you thought. However, that doesn't mean you can make the move overnight, although it may take less time than you think.
In this handy eBook – 10 Steps to BIM for Infrastructure – from DLT partner, Autodesk, learn how to put your team on the path to a successful BIM adoption. Interested to know more? Here are some snippets of wisdom from the eBook to help chart your adoption of BIM for infrastructure.
1. Get to know BIM
The first step is to designate one or two people at your organization to learn more about BIM and how it will affect the way your team works. This means focusing not just on software and any preconceptions that BIM is just about 3D visualization, but on process. Talk to peers who already use BIM. Ask them how it's changed their workflows, what surprised them about the process, where are they seeing the most benefits, and what advice they'd give you as you transition to BIM.
2. Communicate the change to your people
Stress that BIM isn't a choice or something that you're just trying out. Make it clear, from the top, that your moving to BIM because it's critical to your mission and your future. Then help your team look beyond the mandate to what's in it for them. Discuss how BIM can help save time on critical tasks, improve collaboration, facilitate data reuse, and so on.
3. Account for software and hardware needs
To reiterate again, BIM isn't software – it's a process. As such, an end-to-end BIM process requires more than just one software. For example, your core BIM application should connect to the application used to rapidly create concepts that capture existing conditions. Your hardware also needs to be powerful enough to run BIM applications quickly.
4. Plan your shift
The steps outlined here can help with change management, but your wider plan needs to address your way of working and typical projects you encounter. How will BIM change your current workflows? Who needs training and when will they get it? How will you support teams who have questions and issues?
It's useful to designate a BIM champion or two who can undertake in-depth training and become a go-to resource for everyone else.
5. Document standards
Because every object in BIM is intelligent – meaning it contains information about itself and how it should relate to other objects in your design – standards are essential. BIM standards define what objects "know" about themselves and need to be established for everything you do. Don't be daunted, there are ways to accelerate the process. Pre-existing libraries of BIM standards exist (such as those provided by the National BIM Standard in the U.S and others) – just select the standards closest to what you use today and then have your BIM champions modify and adapt them.
6. Start incorporating BIM on projects
Your colleagues in building design and construction may recommend you start a BIM pilot project. But this approach doesn't always work in infrastructure and may hamper your move to BIM. That's because infrastructure projects can last several years – a long time before you see results. Instead, introduce BIM into existing projects. For example, using BIM to design the drainage network on a highway project will expose more people to BIM sooner and help you realize a faster return on investment.
7. Document processes
Now that you have an initial project underway, start to document preferred processes. How are workflows changing? Share these observations with others. Project leaders should also revisit BIM standards to make sure they still support specific projects and preferences.
8. Train and transition the rest of the team
Even with just a few weeks of on-the-job BIM experience your BIM champions might be ready to help the team move to BIM. Familiarize everyone with BIM processes and tools by having your champions walk through their BIM projects step-by-step. Augment with on- or off-site training from experienced BIM trainers.
9. Integrate with other models
The benefits of BIM really come to light when you share models with other organizations, such as contractors (e.g. structural engineers) or peer agencies/departments. Integrating models into a single, shared model accelerates the coordination process and opens the door to a new level of collaboration.
10. Expand and innovate with BIM
As you master BIM processes, add new capabilities. Explore starting projects with existing condition models. You can create models rapidly by using GIS data, aerial surveys, and environmental data. You can even sketch alternatives that include intelligent objects your design tools will later recognize.
Refer to the eBook for more steps and examples of how you can get started with BIM for infrastructure projects. And check out our blogs on the topic of BIM for infrastructure.
• The Importance of BIM Standards
• How to Integrate CAD and BIM Standards for AEC Projects


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Experience All Genres of Music from African to Vocal For Less Than a Movie!
Love great music? You can see it for only $10 rush ticket at the Royal Conservatory of Music in a gorgeous setting.
Where: Telus centre for performance and learning, 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1W2. Phone: 416.408.0208.
When: loads of choices every week, most performances are in the evenings. Have fun browsing the performance schedule to amazing culture that awaits you.
Cost: $10 rush tickets for remaining seats available for purchase 90 minutes before performance time. Must be purchased in person, limit of one rush ticket purchaser. So if two of you want to go, two of you have to wait line for the tickets.


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379 Danforth Ave,
Toronto, ON
Saturday : 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Mississauga Location
19 Dundas St W, Unit 200
Mississauga, ON
Thursday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
There are many conveniences in today's modern world but without a doubt, environmental pollution and everyday stress as a result of the fast pace of living takes its toll on the health of our minds and bodies. In addition, food preservatives and other chemical additives and toxins in our water compound the issue and negatively impact our well being and appearance. Our bodies may be able to cope for a while with expelling these unwanted elements through the regular excretory channels, but sometimes when we feel generally run-down or not quite 100% it may be that our physical systems need a boost to eliminate toxins more rapidly and more effectively.
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, ionic detoxification may be an effective treatment for you:
Tiredness, Headache, Nausea, Poor Sleep, Constipation, Thrush, Candida, Sluggishness, Allergies, Difficulty Waking up, Stress, Wrinkles, Hormone imbalance, Depression, Bags under the eyes, Anxiety, Dull skin, Mouth ulcers, Spots, and acne, Eczema or psoriasis, Lowered immunity, Overweight, Age Spots, or general malaise.
You may already have experienced the beneficial energizing effects of walking barefoot along the beach or the edge of the sea. While you are walking, your feet are absorbing billions of negatively charge ions through the pores, which then exert an alkalizing effect on our blood which in turn gets carried by circulation to all our tissues and organs.
Ionic detoxification works in much the same way, only in a more concentrated, efficient manner through electrolysis. You will be asked to sit with your feet in a warm bath of water to which a small amount of salt has been added. A very small electric charge is passed into the water which causes the H2O molecules to separate into negative ions (-OH) and positive (+O) ions.
As the negative ions move through the water they are absorbed through the pores' membrane into the blood by osmosis, the process by which charged ions pass from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration, and vice versa. This interchange of electrical energy is what enables the toxins to move from your body into the water and has the effect of balancing the body's positive and negative charges which in turn allows the smooth flow of qi and leads to inner harmony and balance.
Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that only when the body is in a balanced state can the process of healing begin.
You will notice that the warm water in which your feet are immersed slowly begins to change colour. This indicates that the toxins are leaving your internal tissues and organs and that the detoxification process is taking effect.
Look at the chart below so that you can see what the different colors of foot bath water indicate about your state of health:


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animals, bee friendly flowers, bees, bug hotel, BUTTERFLIES, david bellamy, flowers, gardens, habitat, hedgehogs, insects, Whitby Holiday Park, wildlife
Check out our Bug Hotel!!Wednesday, 27 January 2016
Check out our Bug Hotel
Above is an image of how a Bug Hotel looks and this is similar to our Bug Hotel that we are building ready for 2016 season!
With lots of wildlife everywhere you turn we thought with being a Holiday Park we would cater for the wildlife visitors too!!
We have tried to provide habitat sections for the varied species of wildlife you would find on a holiday park or garden.
We have started to fill ours with bark and twigs for the beetles, centipedes, spiders and woodlice to live in. We have left room for larger animals such as hedgehogs to use as their new home!
By providing the right homes for the wildlife, we are then trying to encourage them to breed and increase their numbers for those animals and insects etc that are declining in the countryside.
We have built ours on a bank side, so that it is protected from the elements but easy enough for the wildlife to get to to build their new home!
We have also got in our plans to plant bee and butterfly friendly flowers and plants to encourage them to pollinate and provide a happy environment for them to live in. The preferred flowers to plant for bees are: Purple Flowers such as lavender and buddleja. Tubular flowers are also another favourite with bees are: foxgloves, honeysuckle and snapdragons.
The best flowers to plant in Spring are: bluebells, daffodils, hawthorn and rosemary and other flowers that are similar. Early Summer flowers to plant are: fennel, foxglove and hardy geranium. For ideas for Late Summer flower planting try: aster, buddleja, dahlia, fuchsia and lavender. The idea behind planting at different times of the year is to have enough pollen for the young to feed on and enough nectar for the adult bees to feed on throughout their life cycle between March and September.
So when you come and stay with us come and have a look at our Bug Hotel and see all the lovely Bee and Butterfly friendly flowers and plants we have planted.
You might even try and have a go at home! If you do then why not send in a photo of your Bug Hotel or Bee friendly flowers and we will gladly add it to our Facebook page and Twitter page!
Good luck and have fun in the garden!
Claire :-)
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|Leandro Lucarella <email@example.com>
This extension allow Mscgen-formatted MSC diagrams to be included in Sphinx-generated documents inline.
Mscgen is a small program (inspired by Graphviz Dot) that parses MSC descriptions and produces images as the output. MSCs are a way of representing entities and interactions over some time period, very similar to UML sequence diagrams.
You can see the latest documentation at the sphinxcontrib-mscgen website or download it in PDF format.
This source:
.. msc::
hscale = "0.5";
a->b [ label = "ab()" ] ;
b->c [ label = "bc(TRUE)"];
c=>c [ label = "process()" ];
is rendered as:
You can see all the available versions at PyPI.
Unpack the archive, enter the sphinxcontrib-mscgen-x.y directory and run:
python setup.py install
Alternatively it can be installed from PyPI, either manually downloading the files and installing as described above or using:
easy_install -U sphinxcontrib-mscgen
The Mscgen program is used to render the MSC, so you should refer to its documentation for details on how to specify the diagram. You should have the program installed for this extension to work. If you need LaTeX output, you'll need the epstopdf program too.
This extension adds the mscgen and msc directives. The former let you specify a full diagram, the later let you omit the msc { ... } bits so you can jump right to the important stuff.
For an example on using the msc directive see the Quick Example. If you need full control over the MSC diagram you can use the mscgen directive:
.. mscgen::
msc {
hscale = "0.5";
a->b [ label = "ab()" ] ;
b->c [ label = "bc(TRUE)"];
c=>c [ label = "process()" ];
Which renders to exact the same image as the Quick Example.
A few configuration options are added (all optional, of course ;) to Sphinx so you can set them in the conf.py file:
Remember to enable the extension first (see Install for details).
This file describes user-visible changes between the extension versions.
I don't like licenses, because I don't like having to worry about all this
legal stuff just for a simple piece of software I don't really mind anyone
using. But I also believe that it's important that people share and give back;
so I'm placing this work under the following license.
BOLA - Buena Onda License Agreement (v1.0)
This work is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied warranty. In no
event will the authors be held liable for any damages arising from the use of
this work.
To all effects and purposes, this work is to be considered Public Domain.
However, if you want to be "buena onda", you should:
1. Not take credit for it, and give proper recognition to the authors.
2. Share your modifications, so everybody benefits from them.
3. Do something nice for the authors.
4. Help someone who needs it.
5. Don't waste. Anything, but specially energy that comes from natural
non-renewable resources.
6. Be tolerant. Everything that's good in nature comes from cooperation.


text:
(Un)occupy Oakland: An Open Source Love Poem
They have come for the city I love
city of taco trucks, wetlands reclaimed
water fowl with attitude, gutted
neighborhoods, city of toxic
waste dumps and the oldest wildlife refuge
in North America.
City owned by spirits
of Ohlone, home
to the international treaty
council, inter-tribal friendship house
in which I love and work, make art,
dance, share food, cycle dark streets at 2am
wind in my face, ecstasy
pumping my pedals.
City where women make family
with women
men with men
picnic in parks with their children
walk strollers through streets.
City that birthed the Black Panthers
who took on the state
with the deadliest of arsenals:
free breakfast for children, free clinics,
grocery giveaways, shoemaking
senior transport, bussing to prisons
legal aid.
City where homicide rate for black men
rivals that of US soldiers in combat.
City where I have walked precincts
rung doorbells, learned that real
is street by street, house by house
get the money out and
get the people in.
City of struggling libraries
50-year old indie bookshops
temples to Oshun, Kali-Ma, Kwan Yin.
City where Marx, Boal,
Bhaktin, Freire are taught
next to tattoo shops
bike collectives rub shoulders
with sex shops, marijuana
dispensaries snuggle banks
City of pho, kimchee, platanos, nopales
of injera, tom kha gai, braised goat,
nabeyaki udon, houmous and chaat,
of dim sum and wheatgrass and chicken-n-waffles.
City of capoiera and belly-dance,
martial arts, punk rock, hip-hop,
salsa, bachata, tango
city of funk and blues and jazz.
City that shut down for 52 hours
in 1946, dragged jukeboxes
into the streets, jammed
to "Pistol-Packin' Mama" for the rights
of 400 female store clerks
to fair wages and unions.
City of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union,
who refused for a record 10 days
in 1984 to unload a ship from South Africa
in the world's 4th largest port
faced down million dollar fines.
City of nail parlours, hair brokers, tarot dens
nano-tech, biotech, startups
women-owned auto shops
gondolas on a lake fruity
with sewage, magical
with lights.
City of one-hundred-twenty-five
freaking languages
the most ethnically diverse
in the USA.
Here on the shores of a lake
where all the waters, fresh and salt
of history and revolution mingle
they have come for the city I love.
They have come for the people I love
butch dykes and tranny boys
trans men and drag queens
the two-spirit, gender-queer
dreadlocked and pierced
dancers and drummers
unionists stevedores
copwatchers carpenters
labor historians bodyworkers
scholars shamans jugglers
welders mechanics plumbers
painters truckdrivers fruitpickers
immigrant activists hemp weavers
raw-fooders rollerbladers
bikers builders engineers
wheelchair warriors war resisters
musicians journalists co-op creators
bakers of bread, growers of food
reclaimers of contaminated soil
cleaners of polluted waterways
teachers nurses healers
layers of pipe and cable, strippers of asbestos
urban farmers scientists union organizers
radical lawyers artists
the ones who know that making a movement
is a life's work; know
how to go limp when arrested; how
to eat from the land, make
cities beautiful, livable; heal
without surgery, drugs; raise
a child without violence.
They have come for my people
with military helicopters, armored
vehicles, with rubber bullets, teargas
with flash-bang grenades and gratuitous
destruction, police bussed in
from 17 departments outside Oakland
with pepper spray and sticks
with 40mm canisters aimed
to fracture skulls, they have come
for the people I love.
They have come for the dream that we dreamed
a city of parks and libraries
Jingletown Art Murmur
First Fridays Sistahs
Steppin' In Pride
Bay Area Solidarity Summer
Women's Cancer Resource Center
Pueblo Community Health
Destiny Arts, Food Justice
a city of Refuge, a city
of safe streets, where migrants
walk unafraid, vibrant schools
food co-ops in every 'hood
for the people, yoga
for the people, power
to the people, books
not bars, living wage green
jobs not jails
clean air and water
public healthcare, public transport
urban farms on every block
children making art and science and music
adults making home, community.
Tonight, last night, the night before
the helicopters roared
at 4am, a pack
of jackals in the sky, snarled
contempt at all that lives and grows
desecrated sunrise.
A thousand candles. Look
she who was thrown out
of her wheelchair by the police,
illuminated. See
the ones with the wrist casts, dressings
on wounds, eyes rinsed of teargas
with camomile tea, watch
the street medics check their supplies
mediators earth the rage, watch
how we labor
at strategy, technique, dialogue
at race, class, gender, disability
at coalition-building, at complexity
conversation by careful
conversation. Watch us
See us
fifty, sixty-thousand strong
wave on wave
rolled two miles back
from Port of Oakland, carnival
of joyous justice ¿De
quién son las calles? ¡Son nuestras
las calles!
there under the jeer
of the low-circling 'copter, three
generations of hijabi women
do yoga asanas
on the straw floor
of Frank Ogawa – Oscar Grant plaza.
They have come
for the city I love
for the people I love
and the people I love
and the city I love


text:
If you'd asked us two years ago whether we'd be carrying our iPods today covered only in thin sheets of transparent film, we'd probably have said "no;" cases provide padding and anti-drop reinforcement we used to feel was all but mandatory. But having spent the last 9 months using one of our full-sized iPods with nothing but ShieldZone's InvisibleShield Full Body Shields (iLounge rating: A-) attached, we're now believers: as long as you don't drop your iPod on the ground, good film protectors can be superb substitutes for bigger, more elaborate cases.
Now a company called NLU Products has released BodyGuardz ($25), an alternative to InvisibleShield that caught our attention for one major reason: it promised optical clarity. As good as InvisibleShield is at resisting scratch damage, it isn't perfectly invisible or clear; rather, it looks a bit like baked Saran Wrap once it's been applied to the front and back of your iPod. When a video's playing at most brightness levels through the 5G iPod's screen, you can't really see the dimples in the plastic film, but when light and other objects reflect against the iPod's body, they're obvious.
The good news about BodyGuardz is that NLU technically gives you more clear film for the same price as InvisibleShield, and the film is indeed clearer than ShieldZone's. Every BodyGuardz package includes two sets of front film covers and two back covers for the 5G iPod, plus a bottle of application solution and a squeegee to remove air bubbles during installation. According to the company, iPod nano versions also include three separate screen protectors. By contrast, ShieldZone gives you only one front cover and one rear cover, solution, and a squeegee. You can decide whether or not the extra film matters to you; in nine months of using InvisibleShield, we haven't felt the need to replace the original stickers we put on, but some people may.
Our comparison shots here are from after the required 24 hour curing period, which gives BodyGuardz the opportunity to self-eliminate air bubbles and evaporate any of the application solution left under its surface. You can see InvisibleShield on the Click Wheel while BodyGuardz is on the rest of the 5G iPod's body, and although this difference may be hard to see in photographs, light dances differently off of the two surfaces. Simply put, NLU's film still has dimples and a bit of distortion, but they're smaller and a little less visually intrusive than ShieldZone's. If clarity was the only issue of importance, we'd pick BodyGuardz over InvisibleShield by a slight margin. That said, neither is perfectly clear; there's still work left to be done by both companies (and their competitors).
The bad news is that NLU's film doesn't cover as much of the 5G iPod's body as ShieldZone's film does. BodyGuardz doesn't include any protection for the 5G's matte Click Wheel surface, which is vulnerable to scratching and scuffing without some sort of coverage. We also found that the front film that is there wasn't perfectly cut to cover the 5G's face from edge to edge—it was a little bit short—and an odd little tab on the front bottom was hard to keep on the 5G during the drying process without a piece of tape. The rear surface protector provides roughly the same amount of coverage as ShieldZone's, though we found InvisibleShield's rear tabs a little easier to apply.
All in all, we have to give the edge to InvisibleShield in its current implementation, as its modestly lower clarity is offset by markedly superior front protection – the reason for ShieldZone's A- rating and BodyGuardz' B+. Neither of these products earns our flat A rating since they're not priced aggressively, and don't provide the complete, clear body protection their marketing suggests you'll get. With new Apple products coming in the future, our hope is that both of these companies will continue working on clearer, more protective solutions to further enhance their appeal relative to cases.
Our Rating


text:
Why are there seven days in a week?
A week made up of seven days is part of our modern global culture, but its origins date back to ancient civilisation.
The Greeks gave us democracy, the Romans bridges and roads but it is probably from the ancient Babylonians that we get the seven-day week.
Living in the cradle of civilisation, Mesopotamia – modern Iraq, their culture was most prominent in the second and first millennia BC before the rise of Greece or Rome.
They were formidable astronomers and developed a calendar to plot and predict the movement of the moon and planets in the heavens, incorporating a form of astrology.
But while the movement of Earth and Sun give us natural concepts like days and years and the Moon's phases give us the month, there is no such natural reason for a seven-day week.
The number seven had a mystical significance to Babylonians. It was associated with the seven heavenly bodies; the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn.
For this reason, some believe, marking rituals every seventh-day became important. A seven-day week based on these same celestial bodies was adopted as far away as Japan and ancient China.
Seven is also important in Judaism, where the creation story is told over seven days. But unlike other cultures, in Hebrew the days of the week are assigned numbers not the names of gods, festivals, elements or planets – the only exception is Saturday, Yom Shabbat (יום שבת) which means Sabbath.
But the popularity of the seven-day week – and its prominence in modern calendars – can be traced to its adoption by the Romans.
They named the days of the week after the pagan gods of Rome, the Sun and the Moon.
Roman Emperor Constantine formally adopted the seven-day week in AD 321, it had been in use informally since the first century BC. A Christian convert Constantine made Sunday – the Christian Sabbath – the first day of the week, and Saturday – the Jewish day of rest – as the last.
For many though the week begins naturally with the first working day.
Old English Mōnandæg, Latin dies lunae
The English word Monday comes from Old English and is named after the Moon and the moon-god, Máni who is the brother of Sunna, the Sun goddess in Norse mythology.
The early Anglo-Saxons who settled in England, were a warrior culture who worshipped pagan gods similar to those of the Nordic pantheon.
The Latin word for moon, luna may not give us the word for Monday but it does give us the modern English words lunar, lunatic and lunacy – a condition which has been associated in popular culture if not reality with the cycle of the Moon.
In Roman mythology Diana, the twin of Apollo the Sun-god, is the goddess of the moon, the hunt and child birth. Diana has the power to talk to and control animals.
Old English Tīwesdæg, Latin dies Martis
The English word Tuesday is also derived from Old English and from the Norse god of war Tiw (or Týr). The Latin Tuesday, dies Martis is named after Mars, the Roman god of war.
"The Anglo-Saxons naturalised Tuesday to Friday," explains Professor John McKinnell, professor of medieval literature at Durham University, by using "the old Germanic gods that corresponded to the same Roman gods".
Tiw (or Týr) was one of the sons of Woden, the supreme Norse deity. Týr was a war god but he is more often associated with the formalities of war – including treaties, as well as justice.
He is usually shown with only one hand. In the most famous myth about Týr he placed his hand between the jaws of the wolf Fenrir as a mark of good faith while the other gods, pretending to play, bound the wolf. When Fenrir realised he had been tricked he bit off Tyr's hand.
Old English Wōdnesdæg, Latin dies Mercurii
Wednesday comes from Woden, the Old German and English name for the Norse god Odin.
Odin is father and ruler of the gods and mortals, often called 'the all father'. He is also the god of war, learning, poetry and the dead.
He has only one eye, having traded his second for a drink from the Well of Wisdom.
He is the ruler of Asgard, the home of the gods, and is able to shift and change into different forms. In contrast Mercury, the Roman god for whom dies Mercurii is named, is a messenger god.
While Woden survives in English, he disappeared from the German days of the week. This dates from the time Christianity was displacing pagan beliefs in the centuries following the collapse of the Roman Empire.
"In Germany they found themselves the heirs to classical Rome as the Carolingian leaders of the Holy Roman Empire, so along with Christianisation went a willingness to embrace all that that new title meant." explains archaeologist Iain Sodden.
In German, Wednesday or Woden's day was replaced with Mittwoch or 'mid-week'.
Old English Þūnresdæg, Latin dies Iovis
Thursday recalls Thunor (Þunor), the Anglo-Saxon name for the Norse god Thor.
In Latin records, Thor is associated with both the chief Roman god Jupiter who gives his name to the Latin Thursday dies Iovis and the Greek demi-god Hercules.
Red-headed Thor ruled the skies, storms and thunder, which is still named after him. He had iron gloves, a magic belt and his hammer Mjölnir.
During the Christianisation of Scandinavia in the 10th and 11th Centuries emblems of Thor's hammer Mjölnir, were worn by pagans as a symbol of defiance against the new religion.
In Iceland, Bishop Jon Helgi Ogmundarson went on a mission to eradicate any remaining pagan beliefs or trace of them.
So the 'day of Odin' became 'mid-week-day' and the days of Týr and Thor became respectively 'third day' and 'fifth day'.
After 1066, Anglo-Saxon speakers in England were cut off from their medieval German cousins and the English language was isolated from some European influences – resulting in pagan references remaining in the language which disappeared elsewhere.
Old English Frīgedæg, Latin dies Veneris
Friday is named after the Norse goddess Frigg (also called Friia), the wife of Odin, who represents love and beauty. She is also associated with marriage and fertility.
Frigg's star or Friggjarstjarna was the Nordic name for Venus, which can outshine any of the other planets.
Venus was the Roman goddess of love, beauty, sex, fertility, prosperity and victory. Venus was closely associated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite.
Frigg was the wife of Odin and queen of the gods which means she is more akin to the Roman Juno (the wife of Jupiter) as a figure. The Roman Venus may have more in common with another Norse goddess Freyja who is associated with love, beauty, fertility, gold, war, and death.
Old English Sæturnesdæg, Latin dies Saturni
Saturday is the only English week-day still associated with a Roman god, Saturn.
Saturn was the Roman god of fertility, agriculture and time. He is the father of Jupiter, the chief Roman god, and associated with wealth and abundance. The Temple of Saturn was in the Forum of ancient Rome which housed the state treasury.
The association of Saturday with a Roman god in English helps date when the seven-day week came to Britain.
According to Prof Mckinnell it suggests that the names of the days "may have arrived in the UK along with Latin learning – with or after the conversion to Christianity, between AD 597 and AD 685."
In the Romance languages of southern Europe which are largely derived from Latin, the word for Saturday was changed to mirror Church Latin. For example the Spanish word sábado comes from Sabbath.
In Danish the name for Saturday Lørdag has nothing to do with any god, Roman, Nordic or Christian. It simply means wash-day or bath-day.
Old English Sunnandæg, Latin dies Solis
The English Sunday is of course named after the Sun, as is the Roman equivalent.
Many societies have worshipped the sun and sun-gods. Perhaps the most famous is the Egyptian Sun-god Ra, who was the lord of time. Ancient Egyptians believed that all forms of life were created by Ra, who called each of them into existence by speaking their secret names. Ra is also the Coptic word for sun.
In many languages the pagan name for Sunday was changed for a Christian one. The Italian word for Sunday, Domenica, means 'of the Lord' and in Russian voskresen'je (воскресенье) means 'resurrection'.
This change never happened in English, probably because of a division in language between different classes after the Norman invasion of 1066.
"While the official Norman-French language in use amongst the lordly elite switched effortlessly into official Latin and used the 'Lord's Day', Anglo-Saxon remained the vernacular of ordinary folk," Mr Sodden told the BBC.
The seven-day week records our pagan past but it also comes to us from Judean and Christian tradition and the creation story in Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament.
The earliest ancient sources record a seven-day week in ancient Babylon prior to 600 BC. At that time the Jewish people were enslaved and exiled there for generations and no doubt were operating to the same seven-day period.
A millennium later, Emperor Constantine the Great converted Rome to Christianity and standardised the seven-day week across the Empire.
According to Dr Matthew Nicholls, senior lecturer in Classics at the University of Reading: "The Roman context of the spread of Christianity meant that Rome contributed a lot to the structure and calendar of the new faith."
Rome may initially have acquired the seven-day week from the mystical beliefs of Babylonian astrologers. But it was the biblical story of creation, God making the Heavens and Earth and resting on the seventh day that will have led the first Christian emperor of Rome to make sure it endured to this day.


text:
April is Mr. Pish month. We continue our celebration of the life and exploits of the famous traveling Terrier with this collection from his educational series of books.
Mr. Pish visited 41 States, Washington DC, and 7 Provinces of Canada to discover awesome places to share with his readers.
All of Mr. Pish's books promote outdoor learning and literacy and are reviewed by a panel of seasoned educators before release. The Mr. Pish Educational Series currently contains six books, three calendars, and will soon include apps for Apple and Droid products.
Click a book to learn more about it!
[ezcol_1third][/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third][/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third_end][/ezcol_1third_end]
[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third]
[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third_end]


text:
When I recently came across yet another criticism of "unnecessary preventative mastectomy" I reacted angrily. It was on HuffPo, and the article wasn't even about the preventative mastectomy or the decision to get one so much as the author describing her husband's reaction, but of course a commenter started in about "unnecessary mastectomy", thinking all these BRCA folks with their 90% chance of getting cancer just need a little vitamin D. Puhleeze, so tired of this nonsense—does it not occur to anyone that maybe the author did research, already knows and considered whatever tiny-ass piece of advice someone clearly without experience and knowledge—like that particular commenter—could offer? OK, tiny subsidiary rant over.
I am so tired of people judging others' medical choices. If you don't like preventative mastectomy, don't get one. No one, not even other breast cancer patients, let alone anyone else, has any idea of the millions of little details of another's situation, medical and otherwise, and therefore are never in a position to criticize the choices of others.
But then I think: by sharing her decision (this blogger had previously written about why she'd had the procedure) and writing about it—and by extension, when any of us who put our stories on the internet—are we inviting this judgment? I'm not suggesting anyone stop sharing, not by a long shot. While I'd like to shout at folks like the commenter, "how are any of our choices impacting you—it's none of your business," did we make it public business, by, ya know, sharing our business? She put her story out there and she should not expect only bravos and applause, nor should I, nor should anyone. People judge each other all the time, but do we have a reasonable expectation to have them shut their mouths, not share those judgments, when we publicize our choices?
I'm actually not asking a rhetorical question here.
As I consider this most recent fuss that has come into my line of vision, I revisit what makes me write my story and show my pictures. I put my story and my pic here and the complimentary comments are great—I do feel good when I get that support. And it hurt to be told one time in comments on HuffPo that ugly pictures of breast surgery scars should not be posted on the internet (this was during the Facebook kerfuffle).
I certainly am not providing advice about medical choices by sharing my information (see my About page), nor do I assume anyone else's information or choices will work for me. The more I haunt the internet, the more I think every single case of breast cancer is totally unlike the next. But I like hearing about other options, about other experiences, and other opinions—it helps me think and process my own experience, my questions. For example, I know most breast cancer patients choose reconstruction. In fact, I'm starting to feel like a freak more and more for just going with a lumpectomy. It seems everyone I read on the blogs had at least a mastectomy, usually double. I wanted to show–hey there are other options and that's ok—we all don't have to do the same. So I present my choice, how I got there and what happened with it, as just another experience or example, and maybe someone can benefit from knowing about it.
If I inspire, great, if not, great. I'm sure the folks who complained to Facebook about the SCAR project would just accuse me and my posting of my nippleless breast of being some attention seeking exhibitionist. If people think that, I cannot help it. All I know is, it took a long time for me to find images that matched what happened to me (as I've mentioned a few times on my blog, I was clumsy at searching cancer issues on the web for a long while). So the more photos of breast surgery examples there are out there for people to find, and if they can help someone else who is just now going through it, then good. I remember how alone I felt, and I remember the relief I got from seeing images similar to mine, when I finally found them. That is why I do it, it is that simple.
I think back to the woman mentioned above who criticized the influx of breast surgery scar photos on the internet, and her comment to me in which she claimed that if she ever got breast cancer she would deal with it with a positive attitude and not post her pictures on the internet. Funny, I once thought I'd never post pictures of myself either. It is impossible to know what you will do in any situation until you are absolutely faced with it. The blogger inspiring this post was indeed BRCA positive. I got the test planning that if it was positive—not realizing how unlikely that would be—I would just get a double mastectomy and be done with it. It wasn't, obviously, but even now, I don't know for certain that if I'd gotten a positive result I would've gone through with it. I cannot possibly know that unless it actually happened that way. I literally do not know what I would do in any other situation other than the ones I actually faced. If I cannot even know what I'd do with one little situational change—how can anyone have the temerity to call it an unnecessary mastectomy if they've never even been close to such a choice? And even if they were close enough—then they should know how awful the choice is, and why not judging others' decisions is so important.
Ultimately I think it does not matter if the HuffPo blogger, or me, or anyone, posts our story for anyone to read. If I'd just kept the info quiet, restricted to a few IRL people, I would expect none of those people to tell me if they thought I was right or wrong in my choice—I may have shared my business but it's still not their call. What does it matter if 15 people, or 1500, or a million people know what I did, no one has the right to question my judgment on medical decisions that impact me alone.


text:
Stephanie Van Hove
Researcher at the research group for Media, Innovation and Communication Technologies, Department of Communication Sciences, Ghent University.
Contact | More info | @vanhoves | LinkedIn
Pro-environmental behavior
Behavior change for sustainability
Acceptability of future technologies
Stephanie holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication Management (Commercial Communication, Artevelde University College, 2012, with honor) and a Master's degree in Communication Sciences (New Media and Society, Ghent University, 2014, with great honor). She is a user researcher with an academic focus on user-centric innovation and sustainable behavior change. Currently, she is working on the H2020 project NUDGE (2020-2023). In this European project, mict is investigating the antecedents of energy saving behavior in households and aims ultimately at facilitating sustainable behavior by means of behavioral interventions. In addition, she is involved in other sustainability-related projects, such as DITUR and IN2FOOD.
In the past she worked on ICON research projects that addressed the digitization in education (EduTab, 2014-2015), user experience of positioning technology in smart retail spaces (LUNAR, 2015-2017), and smart kitchen experiences (IoT Chef, 2018-2020). Moreover, she was engaged in living lab projects with SMEs and local governments in the context of civic engagement, smart home ventilation and switches, invoice management, e-learning and audiovisual archiving for primary and secondary education, and digital transformation of public libraries.


text:
Series Memory Verse: Luke 6:31, "Do to others as you would have them to do to you."
Virtue: Kindness: Showing others they are valuable by how you treat them.
Main Point: Be kind to your family and friends.
Bible Story: Ruth and Naomi, Ruth 1-2
This week we began a brand new series called The Force of Kindness. This is a Hollywood Highlight Reel series for us, meaning we play clips from movies or TV shows and learn lessons from them. This series we will be watching clips from Star Wars: Clone Wars and learning about kindness.
We started off by watching a clip where Anakin was kind to his droid R2-D2. He set a good example for us by being kind to someone who was close to him. Sometimes, we can be kind to others but then mean to those closest to us. Ruth also set a good example for us in the Bible story we read. Even when it would've been easier for her to do otherwise, she was kind to her mother-in-law and sister-in-law.
Have a family conversation about how often we are meanest to those we love the most. Ask for forgiveness where necessary and look for solutions to help each other be kind to family and friends. Come back next week for another exciting installation of The Force of Kindness!


text:
The Ordinary skin care line is super hot right now. Wayne Goss, a YouTube beauty guru, discovered the line and the rest is history. The company has been so overwhelmed by its overnight success that they have had trouble keeping products in stock. As someone who is always looking for anti-aging skin care products that work and don't cost an arm and a leg I knew I had to place an order. I did a The Ordinary Skin Care Haul in late spring.
One of the products that I knew I wanted to try was the "Buffett" serum. I always use a serum at night and have yet to find one that I love and this reasonably priced. The "Buffett" seems like it is a good one. It is packed with proven anti-aging ingredients.
From the website:
This formula combines a comprehensive array of studied technologies to target multiple signs of aging at once. The technologies are Matrixyl 3,000 peptide complex (with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7), Matrixyl Synthe'6 peptide complex (with palmitoyl tripeptide-38), Syn-Ake peptide complex (with dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate), Relistase peptide complex (with acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine), Argirelox peptide complex (with acetyl hexapeptide-8, pentapeptide-18), Probiotic complex (with lactococcus lactis lysate), in a base of 11 skin-friendly amino acids and multiple hyaluronic acid complexes. The total concentration of these technologies in the formula by weight is 25.1%.
Apply to the entire face in the AM and PM after cleaning.
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Trehalose, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Urea, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
I had not used a serum in the mornings before this one. I try to streamline my morning routine but I wanted to maximize my results. I use 1 drop for my face and 1 drop for my neck and chest in the morning. I apply after toner and right before The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%.
For reference, my skin is normal with a tendency to be shiny in the summer. My skin concerns are anti-aging, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, and large pores around my nose. I get the occasional breakout but my skin is not sensitive or reactive.
At night I use 2 drops for my face and 2 drops for my neck and chest. This is a watery serum that has good spreadability. It leaves my face a bit tacky feeling but it goes away once I apply my moisturizer. It works well under my makeup and with my other products.
The most obvious effect I am seeing with the "Buffett" is on the fine lines under my eyes. I do see some tightening in the under eye area. My eyes look better. My skin feels softer too. The serum feels good on the skin once it is absorbed.
I have only been using this for about a month so I would not expect to see amazing results this soon. It has not caused me any problems with my skin. I have not had any breakouts, redness, or irritation.
I will repurchase this when I run out. I have been looking for a serum that has Matrixyl and this has the Matrixyl 3000 and Matrixyl Synthe'6. While there are no studies to support that these ingredients are powerful anti-aging ingredients there is a lot of anecdotal evidence to support their efficacy. I have read enough to know that I want to include them in my battle against aging.
At $14.80 for a 30 ml bottle, this is the most expensive product I have seen in this line. What an amazing price for a serum containing all the ingredients this one does. Even a basic serum at the drugstore will be $20 or more. The price is unbeatable.
Have you tried "Buffett"? Do you like it? Have you tried other products from The Ordinary line? What do you like? What doesn't work? Any recommendations for other reasonably priced serums that contain Matrixyl?
If you enjoyed this post please "like" it. If you follow me then you won't miss any posts! Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your taking the time to visit my blog.


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Numbers are powerful. They help us to figure out what needs to change, where to spend money and how to plan for the future. Dozens of web apps can measure thousands of different data points about your customers and product, but this often comes with unfortunate consequences:
When you reach 10,000 customers you can collect and analyse every conceivable dataset to eke out minor improvements. Until then, concentrate on key actionable data. In this chapter I'll highlight ten core metrics that you can use to make important decisions about your app. I'm also going to assume that you use Google Analytics, the free analytics software that has almost everything you need.
A sales funnel is a useful way to separate and measure how customers discover, buy and use your app.
A five-stage sales funnel
The typical funnel starts when you capture the attention of part of your target market, usually through marketing and advertising. Anyone who arrives at your website can be considered a prospect, a potential customer. Some prospects may leave, but others will give a signal that they are interested in the app (signing up to the newsletter, clicking through multiple pages, trying the demo) and become qualified or engaged prospects.
If your app offers a trial or freemium option, some engaged prospects will sign up to become users. Those who eventually pay for the app become customers, and with any luck some will develop into advocates who share and promote your app, bringing more prospects into the top of the funnel.
You ideally want the funnel to be wide all the way down, by converting the maximum number of people at each stage. Let's take a look at the metrics we can calculate at each stage to identify obstructions in the funnel and take corrective action.
At this stage of the funnel you need to collect data about where your prospects are coming from so that you can better target your marketing.
Data collected: channel; number of prospects; cost per channel; cost per prospect.
For example:
|Number of prospects
|Total costs
|Cost per prospect
|May 2011
|Google search
|Google AdWords
|Email Campaign
|June 2011
With this data you can gauge the effectiveness of your marketing efforts, though not their value, until we know which are more likely to convert to paying customers. The data should inform where to invest in marketing, whether previous changes had a negative or positive effect, and, therefore, whether to change tack or not.
You need to decide what behaviour constitutes an engaged prospect for your app. For a market that has a long sales process, like enterprise software, an engaged prospect might be defined as one who views three or more informational pages, or has a session lasting over five minutes. A low-cost consumer application might define an engaged prospect as one who clicks the demonstration link or subscribes to the blog RSS. Whatever the engagement goal, you need to record how many prospects reach it.
Data collected: channel; number of engaged prospects; percentage of total prospects.
For example:
|Number of engaged prospects
|Percentage of total prospects
|May 2011
|Google search
|Google AdWords
|Email Campaign
|June 2011
This data isn't only used to better assess the value of marketing channels, but can highlight opportunities for increased engagement. From the data above, we could reliably conclude that the target keywords of the AdWords campaign are effective at capturing engaged prospects, and so incorporate them into the Google search channel through SEO updates. We might also notice that AdWords prospects are directed to a specific landing page rather than the generic home page, and so we can start to use this same tactic for the more poorly performing email campaign.
Visitors who sign up to the app, though not yet as paying customers, represent an opportunity to analyse the efficiency of the registration process and app use.
Data collected: number and position of clicks using a click heat map.
A number of free and commercial web apps will measure and display the positions of clicks from your visitors. Search for click heat maps to find a tool that suits your budget1.
A click heat map of your app interface will literally highlight the most-used features of the app and, by omission, reveal features that are not frequently used. If there are valuable features that first-time users aren't noticing, adjust your introductory help text and app interface accordingly to convince more users to convert to paying customers.
Click maps also expose false affordances in your app interface, sign-up form and marketing website. These are elements of the interface that appear to be clickable (or the user expects them to be clickable) but aren't, and consequently cause frustration and dissatisfaction. Remove, re-style or create links for all false affordances that the heat maps reveal.
The event tracking2 feature of Google Analytics provides a quantitative alternative or addition to the qualitative heat map reports. Embed the event tracking JavaScript calls into your interface code to record clicks on specific parts of the interface: download links, menu items, action buttons, and so on. This is particularly useful for highly dynamic interfaces with pop-ups, pull-downs and other interface elements that can't accurately be tracked on a flat heat map.
If your sign-up form is more complex than a few form fields you should also integrate event tracking code that logs changes or focus to each field3. The resultant data will reveal form abandonment rates: how far users reach in the form registration process before they give up. This data is difficult to record through click heat maps alone, as they do not take account of keyboard tabbing between fields.
Data collected: form field name; number of times the field has focus.
For example, if an event is logged when a field has focus:
|Event (field) name
|Event quantity
|Full name
|Choose username
|Choose password
|Agree to terms
This data shows that most users arrive at the username field but a significant number don't move on to the password field. It implies that the client-side username validation code needs further attention: perhaps it is too restrictive on username format or doesn't suggest enough useful alternative usernames. Whatever the reason, we have pinpointed a specific problem that can be addressed to increase the conversion rate.
Paying customers are the most important section of the funnel to measure. They represent the segment of the market that you most want to attract (and that you appeal to most) and their longer-term loyalty measures the ongoing success of your product/market fit.
Data collected: channel; number of prospects; number of customers; conversion rate; cost per acquisition.
The first few metrics assessed the ability of different marketing channels to attract prospects. Now we can look at the actual monetary value of each channel by examining which ones create the most customers for the lowest spend on marketing.
|Number of prospects
|Number of customers
|Conversion rate
|Cost per acquisition
|May 2011
|Google search
|Google AdWords
|Email Campaign
|June 2011
This data shows that the AdWords campaign converts the highest proportion of prospects to customers, but the email campaign acquires customers at a lower cost per customer. A small marketing budget would be better spent, therefore, on an expansion of the email campaign rather than AdWords, assuming that a follow-up campaign could target a larger segment of the market reached by the original campaign.
The retention rate measures how many customers you keep from one period to the next. Web apps usually bill monthly, so this makes a good period for measurement. Retention rates are usually expressed as percentages or decimal fractions of 1: if you had 100 customers on 1 May but 25 of those had cancelled by 1 June, your retention rate would be 75% or 0.75. The rate R, as a fraction, can be calculated using the equation* where Cm is the number of accounts cancelled during a particular period (month) and Nm is the total number of accounts at the start of the period4.
Unless your app is designed specifically for use in short bursts, aim for a bare minimum retention rate of 70%. Any less and you should temporarily shift your focus away from marketing and towards increasing retention, to prevent the bleeding of customers from your sales funnel. The easiest way to find out why customers aren't sticking around is to ask them, perhaps through a field asking their reason for leaving on the cancellation form or customer survey.
As well as calculating your retention rate each month, you can also track the long-term retention rate for the group of users who join each month. For example, 62% of May's new customers are retained in June, 53% of them remain in July, only 45% in August, and so on. Tracking these monthly cohorts of customers allows us to examine the longer-term effects of our marketing.
The above graph shows example retention rates for four monthly cohorts: customers who joined in May, June, July and August. Note how we have less data for the most recent cohorts, as we are tracking the number of months since they joined.
In this example, it was decided at the start of July that a new weekly marketing email would be sent to customers. The retention rate for July's customers (green) shows an improvement over June's customers (red) in the first month, but we can also see that the aggressive email campaign appears to cause a steeper drop-off in retention in month two. At the end of August, the emails were slowed to every two weeks and altered to include helpful tips and an easier opt-out. This seems to improve the retention during the second month for the August cohort.
Data calculated: average selling price; lifetime value; return on investment.
It's time to put a price on people's heads.
If your app is available in a range of prices, you may find that customers from different marketing channels tend to choose different price points. For example, your AdWords campaign might be targeted at higher-spending enterprise customers and your email campaign at mid-price self-employed consultants.
The average selling price for each channel is simply the total value of all accounts created via that channel, divided by the number of accounts. If AdWords has referred 23 customers at $4.99 and 7 customers at $9.99, the average selling price (ASP) is
We can use the ASP in conjunction with the retention rate (R) to calculate the total amount of revenue generated by an average customer over the lifetime of their subscription. This lifetime value (LTV) can be approximated using the equation
If you wanted to be more accurate, you could calculate and use a retention rate per channel rather than an average across all channels.
The return on investment (ROI) is simply the lifetime value of a customer minus the cost of acquiring the customer (cost per acquisition, calculated earlier), and represents an approximate profit per customer, not taking into account any development, hosting or other non-marketing costs.
|Average selling price
|Lifetime value
|Cost per acquisition
|Return on investment
|Google search
|Google AdWords
|Email Campaign
A large ROI will highlight the cost-effective marketing channels, but it will also show you where you can spend more aggressively to gain market share. Although high profits are attractive, it often makes sense for new start-ups to keep profits relatively low and re-invest as much possible in early customer acquisition.
Word of mouth is the best form of marketing for a small web app. It costs next to nothing and refers visitors who are more likely to convert.
The viral coefficient (V) measures the virality of your app: for every visitor or customer, how many friends do they bring with them? It can be expressed with the equation:
Where N% is the percentage of users who send an invitation, I is the average number of invitations sent, and A is the percentage of users who accept the invitation. Percentages should be expressed as fractions (75% = 0.75) and invitations can also represent other sharing methods, like posting a link to your app on Facebook or Twitter.
For example, if 20% of your customers send an invitation to an average of 7 friends, and 60% of those accept the invitation, your viral coefficient is:
The higher the number, the more viral your app. As the number essentially represents the number of new customers that each customer brings with them, a viral coefficient greater than one represents viral, exponential-like growth. If each new customer brings in slightly more than one new additional customer, you have a self-sustaining viral growth mechanism.
This is important to measure because viral sharing is not something that happens only by chance, but is something that can be influenced, optimised and improved. In the most basic sense, this can be the inclusion of a Tweet this or Facebook Like button, but real virality must be built into the app features. Consider how a customer's use of your app could improve because they share it with their friends, and how you can expedite the sharing process, through contact importers, invitation URLs, and so on.
The traditional metric for customer loyalty is the Net Promoter Score5, which asks customers to rate from 0 to 10 how likely it is that they would recommend a company to a friend or colleague.
Web marketing expert Sean Ellis6 devised a small twist on this question: 'How would you feel if you could no longer use [app name]?' with three possible answers: very disappointed; somewhat disappointed; not disappointed.
The interesting thing about this metric is that on the surface it looks like a question about loyalty or satisfaction, but what you are really testing is the product/market fit of your app: how well are you meeting the important needs of your customers?
Ellis suggests7 that you can use this measurement to calculate when to switch focus from product development (striving to reach product/market fit) to marketing and scaling up the business. Using data from nearly 100 start-ups, he proposed that at least 40% of your customers should answer 'very disappointed' to signify that you've reached product/market fit.
The survey.io8 web plug-in is an easy tool with which to survey your customers using this question.
This last metric is a bit of a cheat because it actually encompasses multiple metrics.
We've previously discussed a number of measurements that segment data by marketing channel. Metrics 1, 2, 5 and 7 measured the quantity of visitors, how many engaged, how many converted, and their monetary value, each segmented by the original referring channel (AdWords, Twitter, email, and so on).
As your app grows, it can be useful to re-segment visitor and customer behaviour by other demographic or geographic factors, data permitting. For example, a geographic segmentation may reveal that customers from particular countries convert more easily or spend more money. Armed with this information, you can take action with newly targeted adverts and additional interface translations.
If you decide to explore other segmentations, be careful not to confuse correlation with causation. It's easy to assume that the US is your most attractive market because 80% of your current customers are American, but be aware of inherent biases in your app interface and marketing text. It your app is hosted (and performs faster) in the US, displays prices in US dollars only and suggests through 'ZIP code' and other language choices that it's a US-specific service, you will inadvertently bias the composition of your customer data.
Poor performance and availability have a direct effect on revenue. Although you don't necessarily need to analyse these figures on a daily basis, it makes good sense to arrange a monitoring solution to notify you of significant changes to uptime or response speed.
*They will also wake you up at 3am with a terrifying downtime SMS alert
Pingdom9, Chartbeat10 and other monitoring apps are simple to configure and give you some basic peace of mind*. Most also offer a free version that is good enough to get you started.
As your app grows and your infrastructure expands to multiple servers and interdependent services, you can move to a comprehensive monitoring dashboard like Nagios11 or Hyperic12, both of which offer free open source versions of their software.
For additional confidence in your app availability, use Nagios or Hyperic in conjunction with a Selenium plug-in. This enables you to re-use your Selenium browser workflow tests for active monitoring. Rather than just test the uptime of your home page, which may be static and not representative of the availability of specific functionality, your monitoring tool can use the Selenium tests to repeatedly run through the important customer workflows on your live system (sign up, login) and alert you if they fail.
You should be measuring:


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Judge Shames Lawyers Over Midnight Filings In Awesomely Sarcastic Order, by Staci Zaretsky, Above The Law
Thanks to the advent of electronic filing, lawyers get to work nearly 24 hours a day. You're not expected to work that much, of course, but your firms certainly wouldn't mind it if you did. Got a motion due at midnight? No problem! You're overworked and you've got a million other things on your plate, so putting one filing on the backburner can't hurt. After all, you can just furiously write it the night it's due, and click a few buttons to get it filed by 11:59 p.m. But for some, until the last minute will come back to bite you in the ass. . . .


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Applications are now open to apply for the Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2020. The Royal Commonwealth Society hosts the competition for the year 2020. There are no application fee charges to apply for the Queen's Commonwealth Essay.
This year's topics base on the upcoming youth campaign across the Commonwealth and the ongoing climate crisis. All candidates will get a certificate for participation, and champions and runner ups from junior and senior levels will win a trip to London having diverse cultural and educational events.
The Queen's Commonwealth Essay:
Youth is called upon to make a positive change to the environmental crisis, and final board judges want to know how youth unitedly as a commonwealth can bring a massive difference to overcome the current climate issue. The organization hopes great content this time, too, so prove yourself.
Brief Description:
- Country Location: London, UK
- Host Organization: Royal Commonwealth Society
- Duration: Week
- Financial Coverage: Fully Funded
- Results Announcement: September 2020
- Deadline: 30th June 2020
- Participation Certificate for all candidates
- Trip to London for a week for champions and runner ups in both categories
- The entry featured in global media
- Holidays visits to Cambridge university
- Work experience at an international organization
Eligibility Criteria:
- Candidates who are nationals and residents of Commonwealth countries.
- Under 18 for the senior level
- Under 14 for the junior level
Topics of the senior category:
- Speech on Climate Change to other Commonwealth leader
- No Planet B; Climate Change affects you and your community?
- How can young people make a change?
- The destruction of the Oceans everyone's concern.
Topics for junior category:
- Imagine yourself as a Planet (Earth), what would you speak to Humans?
- A Blue Commonwealth: it is not too delayed to save our oceans. True or False?
- In 2019, More than 100 countries students walked out of school to protest climate change. How can young souls get their voices heard and make a difference?
- My planet, my place
Terms and Conditions:
- Maximum word numbers are 1,500 words for Senior entries and 750 words for Junior entries One entry per member
- Only one topic choose
- Written in English
- Related to the age group
- Plagiarism is not allowed
- Personal Records sent to RCS branch and competition partners
Only Microsoft Word supported document (.doc or .docx) or in PDF format (.pdf).
- Only Microsoft Word supported document (.doc or .docx) or in PDF format (.pdf).
- Online applications should be submitted before 30th June 2020
Offline applications to the RCS offices in London should arrive before 30th May 2020
- RCS has the authority and can change the prize if circumstances happen
- Selected content would publish on RCS website
Application Procedure:
The application posses for The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2020 is online through RCS designed new platform, the link for that is given below:
If you are unable to complete an online form or have no access to the internet, you may submit offline with the 'entry form for offline applicants' attached in front of your application on the address mentioned below:
NOTE: Please make sure your cover is clearly labeled with 'The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition.
30th June 2020 is the last date to apply for The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2020.


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A visit from former Vice President Al Gore on behalf of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek in Tampa last Thursday dominated the local news cycle for a while, but it didn't last long.
The next day Republic candidate for U.S. Senate Marco Rubio showed up just north of Tampa at a Pasco County restaurant with his own national political star, Mitt Romney, getting the attention of both national and Tampa Bay area media. Then over the weekend, independent Gov. Charlie Crist came to town seeking union votes in the same U.S. Postal Service hall where Gore stumped for Meek just days earlier.
It all amounted to the familiar campaign strategy that any successful candidate in a statewide race in Florida has to push for votes from Tampa Bay to Orlando, known as the I-4 corridor.
"So the saying goes, 'As I-4 goes, so goes the state,'" says Tampa Bay political analyst Chris Ingram, president of the political consulting firm 411 Communications.
Winning the I-4 corridor is crucial to any campaign, while stumping in the Tampa Bay area is key because it is home to Florida's largest contiguous media market, according to Ingram.
"A lot of people think places like Broward have the largest, but they are broken up into several different markets," Ingram says.
Last Friday, Rubio drew a crowd of hundreds to the small restaurant north of Tampa where it was standing room only amid a throng of media.
Rubio appeared with Romney, who failed to win the Republican Party's nomination in the 2008 election but still generates interest from both the public and the media. Romney's appearance may also signal a run for president in 2012, according to Ingram.
"All signs point to him running for president," Ingram says.
Romney blasted the Obama Administration and a "liberal" agenda in Washington he said is harming American jobs and ingenuity, which Rubio echoed in his speech.
"The liberals in Washington are trying to smother that," Romney told the crowd to huge cheers.
After the short rally, Rubio and Romney walked out the back door of the eatery to another crowd made up of Republican voters, many wearing tea party shirts. Rubio signed autographs and shook hands.
"You're a rock star!" one man shouted.
"No, rock stars get to trash their hotel rooms," Rubio responded with a grin.
But the exchange could be a barometer of where Rubio's campaign stands. He holds a double-digit lead over both Crist and Meek, and has what appears to be solid Republican support.
Rubio is taking advantage of a revved up conservative base and the tea party movement, while Crist has set his sights on pulling in moderate Democrat and independent voters, which will likely split the vote in Rubio's favor, according to Ingram.
"He can squeeze in with 36, 37 percent of vote," Ingram says of Rubio. "While Charlie is going to do more damage to Meek than Rubio. You are not going to see many hardcore Republicans voting for Charlie Crist."
Rubio's only downfall could come amid accusations that he used Republican funds for personal items, but so far that has not happened, according to Ingram.
"It could be possible conservatives might say they can't vote for someone who can't keep their own fiscal house clean," says Ingram. "But most likely the sentiment among many may be: 'I would rather vote for a dirty Republican than an honest Democrat.'"


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Released in 2001, the Kia Magentis earned its fan-base, earning a reputation for being a "first-rate sedan". With plenty of space in the cabin and a logical layout that's easy to navigate, there's little not to love about this car. However, we feel as if you could personalize it a little bit more to your taste. Here at Auto Accessories Garage, we've got only the top name-brand Kia Magentis accessories available for your viewing and purchasing pleasure. And better yet, every aftermarket accessory is supported by an outstanding 1-Year Price Match Guarantee, and ships to you free absolutely free. What other business out there would take care of you like that? Accessories like floor liners and custom seat covers excellently upgrade your Kia's looks, while exterior accessories like custom fit car covers and wind deflectors boost your ride's exterior appearance. If you're inconclusive concerning the top Kia Magentis part, consult with our product experts team; they're available seven days a week to help you in seeking out the top auto accessories for your Magentis. Now that you know all that AAG has to offer, there's nothing standing between you and that better-performing, more unique Magentis.


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Eight charged, 100 dogs seized in massive Gadsden County dog fighting, drug ring
QUINCY — Eight Gadsden County residents are facing more than 80 federal charges in connection with a "large-scale," illegal dog fighting ring involving about 100 dogs.
The Gadsden Sheriff's Office and U.S. Attorney Larry Keefe's office announced the indictments Tuesday afternoon.
"The United States Attorney's Office takes allegations of dog fighting very seriously. Our society can be judged, in part, by how we treat our animals," Keefe said in a statement. "This office will work with our partners at the federal, state, and local levels to pursue such cases vigorously."
According to the federal indictment the defendants bred, housed, trained and fought pit bulls and pit bull-type dogs. They communicated with each other by telephone and text messages about the transporting, delivering, exchanging and selling of the animals, and the location of fights held around the county. A "cooperating source" helped with the investigation.
One of the defendants is alleged to have left a dog training for a fight unattended in a swimming pool, allowing it to drown.
Those charged face up to five years in federal prison and fines of $250,000 per count of conviction. Four of the eight charged in the dog fighting scheme were among a dozen arrested May 8, 2019, on federal drug trafficking offenses charges for allegedly distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and MDMA throughout the north-central Florida Panhandle between 2018 and 2019.
"We will not tolerate drug dealing, dog fighting or anything like that in Gadsden County," said Sheriff Morris Young during a new conference.
Young said the dog fighting investigation began 18 months ago and involved the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Administration and many other agencies.
"For a long time we had such a drug problem here," he said. "We had types of drugs coming into this county that I really had never heard of, and therefore I felt we needed to venture out and bring other entities in to assist us in cleaning up Gadsden County."
A news release from Keefe's office said Tuesday's indictments and arrests followed a nearly five year investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a joint federal, state and local cooperative. It targeted a drug trafficking organization that also allegedly conducted the large dog fighting ring in the Northern District of Florida between 2014 and 2019, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
At one of the dog fighting locations, law enforcement officials found the remains of a dog that recently had died. Most of the dogs used by the defendants were recovered by the United States Marshals Service and placed with foster care groups. Some of the dogs had minor cuts and bruises.
The Gadsden Sheriff's Office would not reveal the location of the animals, which are being held as evidence "in an undisclosed location."
Miles Davis, an acting special agent in charge at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, stood alongside Young and said the arrests targeted those who caused abuse and "suffering of helpless animals."
"These ventures as proven by this investigation entail other criminal activity involving drugs, firearms and gambling," he said. "This investigation in particular proves how intertwined illegal dog fighting ventures are with these other serious crimes."
The press conference came hours after over 50 members of the Gadsden County SWAT and other agencies raided unspecified properties and were able to rescue dogs and make several arrests.
During the operation that occurred before dawn, search warrants were executed on properties allegedly involved in training, housing, and conducting illegal dogfights.
The defendants charged in the federal indictment are:
- Jermaine Terrell Hadley, 31, Quincy
- Devar San Jacus Donaldson, 27, Quincy;
- Sariem Shanquell McMillian, 23, Quincy
- Randell Lavel Colston, 47, Quincy
- Bob Streets, 35, Quincy
- Zanntayfey Yohoun Bennett, 35, Quincy
- Dennis Lamar Howard, 45, Chattahoochee
- Leonard Safford, 37, Gretna
Hadley, Donaldson, McMillian, and Colston also face the earlier announced drug charges.
Young warned that there would be "more to come" in the investigation.
"I just want to let everyone in Gadsden County know to tell their loved ones who are involved in these crimes to cease and desist, because we are going to come for them."