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Day Ten A collage of my United States of America
Category Archives: living a good life
78 and counting…10 Day Travel Photo Challenge
Day Four THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII
78 and counting…hope springs eternal, in terms of the heart
Senior Online Match-Making Guide, Part One
There is so much pertinent subject matter in the category of senior citizenship, and this blog is just getting started, but I would like to begin a discussion today about senior match-making websites. Perhaps you already have an opinion? That's fine, but lets give this topic another chance. Open your mind a bit! You may decide that investigating some possibilities is the best thing you ever did for yourself.
If you are still "above ground" and have a pulse, plus a little pep in your step and you are single and enjoy a nice life, congratulations to you – you are a survivor. As my sister says, "Old age is a privilege denied to many, so appreciate it." But maybe something is missing…you might be interested in finding a companion. Seventy-eight is the new sixty-eight, or perhaps even the new fifty-eight, if you want to play that numbers game. We are not our senior parents. We are more healthy, more active and certainly more engaged in life than they were at this point in time. It might be a full-blown romance that you are looking for (lucky you!) or a traveling companion, a hiking friend, a movie friend, a person you can discuss books with, a dance partner or just a platonic buddy, but life is always better with another person to share it with. Romance is romance, no matter the age, and companionship is a wonderful thing. Especially during the isolating circumstances of a pandemic event I believe it is comforting and fun to find other people with whom you can carry on a conversation within the confines of social distancing. After covid is no longer an issue (and we all urgently hope for that) then whatever friendships have been formed online will have a chance to move forward and become more 3Dimentional.
Google lists the TOP 10 senior match-making websites, two of which I have had personal experiences with, off and on, over the span of several years. I have not magically found my prince charming (in this senior age range he would be a king by now) but I have met a narrow selection of fine gentlemen in the dozens and dozens of choices, learned a lot and become more clever and efficient in my ongoing fairy tale search. I do speak from a woman's viewpoint, but I am capable of giving help to the guys too, because I have learned a lot from the men I met along the way.
Most of these dating websites want you to take a brief, non-threatening personality test after you decide to fork over some money and sign up for a period of time. These tests reveal things like whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, cautious or adventurous, a leader or a follower and so on….whether you are within the norms, in other words.. The tests also screen out, I would like to assume, the sociopaths from the normal. In reality, I have run across the occasional creepy old geezer who, I imagined, might own a white van and go cruising around in his retirement years looking for younger hot chicks. You can usually spot those guys a mile away. On the wide wide scale of personalities, which starts right here on the left side with the creepy category and goes all the way over across your house to the normal-as-apple-pie category to the far right side, there is a lot of territory in between. Listen to your intuition, ask good questions and do not agree to anything weird. More on this later…
Financially speaking, you will find that some dating sites are on the expensive side, some are reasonably priced and some are astonishingly "FREE but not quite" – you find out after you sign up that all kinds of necessary "perks" ( a contradiction in terms) cost extra money. When you make the decision to sign up, be sure you understand whether the fee you see quoted on paper is the monthly fee or the fee for a period of months, like for instance 6 months. Nobody wants to be sucked into paying for a ridiculous extended period of time. Absolutely do not opt for automatic renewal!
The site will request a picture of you, because you can bet that is a very important piece of your particular puzzle. Some sites will enable you to have a gallery, a selection, of photographs. You owe it to yourself to make them flattering, because like it or not, both men and women really do care how you look. Your photo is your "curb appeal". People do care what you wear, whether you have any hair left (lots of women like baldness and see it as a sign of virility) and whether or not you look physically fit. You can be a little overweight, or not, have goofy looking hair or none at all, seem to be city-slicker stylish or a tree hugger or a rancher or a dude in fancy clothes…whatever. Chances are that someone will find you attractive and want to know you better. Just be authentic. Do not try to be someone you are not. It never works. As the saying goes, "Be yourself, because everyone else is already taken." If you do not know how to take a selfie with your phone and upload it to the internet dating site, find someone who will take some pictures for you and help you do it. Older grandchildren would know how to do this, and they would probably find it interesting that you are trying to find a girlfriend or boyfriend. The photos are necessary for your success in finding a new friend because first impressions are important. It is best to not have other friends or family members in the pictures with you – the internet is never to be 100% trusted, and spreading around the pictures of other people is not OK.
You will be asked to write a brief Bio for your own page on the site – it should reveal who you are and what makes you tic, with information about hobbies, interests, what you do for fun, etc. etc. It might ask what faith you are, and other more personal questions. Be honest, be funny if you want to, be spiritual if that is who you are, be enigmatic and a bit private or boldly frank, but be human. You do not have to answer every question that the form asks of you.
After you have gotten yourself established on the site of your choice, jump right in. No guts no glory.
Pictures of people and their personal info who have been expertly computer-matched to you and your unique personality will begin showing up for your consideration. It will be overwhelming at first. Dozens and dozens of guys or gals will pop up ( yes, sometimes both sexes). You will feel like you have gone to the circus and there is not enough time to see all the acts and the side shows. So many people! Whatever site you have chosen will offer you a way to get the attention of the guys/gals you find interesting. You will be able to send them a wink, or a smile, or a wave or a star – a clue of some kind that will indicate you want to know more about them. Then you are off and running. Some will respond and some won't, but don't give up. Maybe someone will not even notice you for a couple weeks, or perhaps he/she is zeroing in on someone else at the moment and does not want any new distractions. Every day new people will show up and you have to be dedicated to checking in frequently on your site or you will definitely miss something good. It is like a huge chess game with lots of moving parts.
Remember that your entire full name will never be seen by anyone else who is represented on the site. You will be given an anonymous email account on the site, so that you can communicate with others, and you can call yourself whatever name or nickname you want, but you never have to reveal anything personal about yourself ( address, private phone number, email etc) unless you decide you want to. If you do decide that you want to give a guy, or a gal your private info, be sure you have vetted that person well, in many email conversations where you ask a lot of questions and your questions are answered. Decide carefully if you are comfortable enough to open the door to your life to that person. Once your private cell number or your email address is out there with him/her you can never get it back and he/she is able to find other info about you based upon that info. Whether you are a male or a female, be cautious, because you could be unpleasantly surprised at any moment with a request for a Face Time call from some person you barely know! Make wise choices and let things develop over a period of time before you get too familiar. It is a process that keeps unfolding but it goes much quicker than sitting around in your kitchen waiting for some terrific person to ring your front doorbell.
In PART TWO of this subject we will discuss the nuances of senior match-making websites and the many circumstances you might encounter. Stay tuned, we are just getting started.
BLOG ART IMAGE – Titled MOON CHILD Original mixed media painting, 9×12″, $75.
ART WEBSITES – www.artistjoannbrown-scott.com
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NOVEL – www.acanaryfliesthecanyon.com
NON-FICTION BOOKS – The Creative Epiphany, gifted minds, grand realizations
and Your Miraculous, Timeless Creativity, the care and feeding of your creative gifts
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All of my previous blogs can be found in my Archives.
Hemingway's Home in Cuba
For weeks since returning from our trip to Cuba I have been agonizing over how to do justice to the Ernest Hemingway experience. This cold Sunday morning as I mindlessly began to paint an abstract composition while listening to the music of the Buena Vista Social Club, one art began to feed the other. I begin to write about Hemingway in my mind as I painted. Ten minutes in I drop the brush and move to my computer, where the calling was loudest.
I had been stuck, because I knew that there was no way I could ever do justice to the man. I like to think of myself as a (somewhat puny) writer, having published three books of my humble thoughts. I know something of the torturous endeavor of letting the words bleed out in a steady stream all the while wondering if anyone on earth will care. Hemingway is one of my idols; he was the master of the short, declarative sentence and the raw brutality of the honest word. He was the "no frills" genius. For that reason and many others his words have remained relevant; his prominence has not faded, his presence in Cuba is still palpable. You hear his name everywhere.
Oddly enough, the following quote from John Donne which provided the title for Hemingway's war novel For Whom The Bell Tolls is eerily relevant in today's volatile political climate. Hemingway decided to include it on the page that precedes Chapter One of that war novel.
"No man is an Island, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thin owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.
John Donne 1572-1631 English poet and cleric of the Church of England.
Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Illinois in 1899. While volunteering in the infantry during WWI he was wounded and sent home. By 1921 he was living in Paris and became one of the expat community of writers there, including Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald and others who would become prominent writers of that time and all time. In the 1930's Hemingway settled in Cuba and the mutual love affair with that island nation began, but he still traveled extensively to Spain, Italy and Africa. His reports on the Spanish Civil War led to his highly acclaimed war novel For Whom The Bell Tolls (1939). His novel The Old Man And The Sea, probably his most popular work was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1953, and in 1954 Hemingway won the Nobel Prize in Literature for his powerful mastery of the art of narration.
He wrote seven books while living in Cuba including The Old Man And The Sea, A Moveable Feast and Islands In The Stream. He was the only American with permission to conduct patrols off the coast of Cuba, hunting German submarines in his fishing boat with a machine gun and hand grenades. Hemingway met Fidel Castro at his own fishing tournament ( The Ernest Hemingway International Billfishing Tournament which is still ongoing, in its 65th year) and there are photographs everywhere in Cuba of Castro and Hemingway at that event. One of Hemingway's favorite "watering holes", La Floridita, is still a wild and crazy, thriving bar and restaurant which I heartily recommend that you visit in Havana when you go to Cuba – and you must go to Cuba. There is a life-sized bronze bust of Hemingway there, planted forever in his favorite spot in the corner of the bar so he can watch who comes through the door, and you can have your picture taken with him. Sort of. Next best thing. Yes I did.
His tropical home in Cuba, the Finca Vigia, (Lookout Farm) is a magical place with lush grounds and far vistas – he was often photographed there with prominent friends and film stars partying down the path at the pool, and his boat "Pilar" is there also. The rooms are fascinating, frozen in time; we were only permitted to look through the windows to his interior world. It is now a national treasure, which we visited and where my photographs were taken. In his bathroom, on the wall next to the toilet and the scales, are periodic scribblings made by Hemingway, recording his weight over a long time. All of his personal belongings and collections including one of his many typewriters are there. His main typewriter is located in an adjacent white stucco "writing" tower which his wife had constructed for him but which he really did not like to use for writing. From the looks of it, he spent more time using the gigantic telescope there. All of his honored belongings are still exactly where he left them; never knowing that his hasty departure was going to be permanent. Because as much as the Cuban people loved and admired Ernest Hemingway and claimed him as one of their own, during the 1959 Revolution in Cuba Hemingway was forced by the powers that be (Castro) to leave the country. This exit, this deportation, was a source of profound sadness for him, and shortly after he returned to his home in Idaho (1960) he took his own life.
There is also a modest room that he called his own in Hotel Ambos Mundos in Havana where he stayed while in the city, complete with his own desk and another typewriter, with nice views of the water and the old castle fortress from the balcony. It is certainly worthy of your time if you cannot make it to his country home. It is open most days – the door will be locked, but be sure to knock – someone is always inside watching over things.
There might be more about Ernest Hemingway – one little blog is hardly going to do it.
Jo Ann Brown-Scott, author and artist
FACEBOOK under the name jo ann rossiter brown-scott
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Mailing Christmas Gifts…a true story
The line at the post office today, Saturday morning, was moderate – only about 15 people when I got there, at 9 am when it opened, but rapidly growing out the door as we stood waiting for our turns.
Among the various people in line was a woman on oxygen, a pleasant looking elderly gentleman in front of me with rosy cheeks and white hair (who actually looked a lot like Santa Claus), several women carrying lots of boxes to send, a huge tall man carrying one tiny little package and a lady who was already talking to anyone who would respond to her, making remarks about her career in the Marine core which was followed by an account of her many years working for the United States Post Office and then a current third career as a substitute teacher for kindergartners. She had to tell everyone about the kindergartners now days; how precocious they are and how advanced in their knowledge of the world they are. How cute, but how rambunctious and challenging they are.
The elderly gentleman in front of me chimed in and said that her job at the post office must have been quite difficult at Christmas time, and so then she told a few funny stories from back in the day when everything was simpler and easier during the holidays. She went on to say that now everything is computerized, but somehow things are more complicated than ever and they still get screwed up.
"I remember Lindberg's flight," the gentleman said, sort of placing his age on the timeline of life.
"Well he was a Nazi, you know," she said.
The gentleman ignored that remark and said, "And I don't even own a computer. I refuse. I do not want to learn about computers."
"Well some day soon a computer will be installed in every home and it will be automatic that you have a computer and that you must learn to use one," the lady ex-Marine/kindergarten teacher said to him….smiling.
"Oh I doubt very much that I will live that long," the elderly gentleman answered.
Another person from behind us in the line chimed in, "Oh yes you will! You are lookin" pretty fit!"
That got a faint smile out of the gentleman.
Soon the entire line was in a group conversation; everyone contributing, laughing and talking to each other. It was a lovely thing to be a part of.
When the elderly gentleman got up to the counter for his turn, he put down in front of the postal clerk an assortment of mailed items – mailed by him – that had all been returned back to him by the USPS for some unknown reason. The postal clerk was aghast! How could that happen? He said that everything was in order on the computer, all addresses correct, all postage charges exactly as they should be so the problem was not postage due, and he could not understand why everything had been returned! The elderly gentleman said he was quite concerned because one of the packages was going to his daughter and it was very important – it contained his Will. How could he be sure it would get there the second time?
The clerk re-stamped everything, re-mailed it all again, assured the gentleman that all was perfectly correct, and as the elderly gentleman left everyone in line shook his hand and wished him a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and MANY MORE.
Let the beauty we have be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground. – Rumi
Yeah yeah yeah – the Year Long Canvas is still sitting there staring at me. I am stalled out with her. I am becalmed like a sailboat at sea, but enjoying where I am. I am living in the NOW.
I am currently painting other stuff that allows me to arrive at completion, because I am a task driven person and I like a feeling of accomplishment. I have not abandoned the YLC Project, but I seem to be on summer vaca from her. I'm spending time with people I enjoy, painting just for the fun of it, tending to my sunburn, going to concerts and hiking in the woods, in the rain, wearing my sparkling tiara that I was urged to make mine at a mountain garage sale on Sunday. Of course that's silly. Would you deny me the pleasure of being silly? You better not….because I am hangin' exclusively with people who make me happy these days – the ones who contribute positive vibes to my life – the ones who prop me up and make me laugh and leave me with a warm glow. You all know who you are.
The Year Long Canvas needs my attention, I guess, but she is a great looking painting just the way she is. I don't have it in me right now to alter her. I am SURE I have learned whatever lessons she was supposed to teach me already….pretty sure.
So if you are one of the ones who keeps ragging on me about making some more changes to her, just for the sake of change, you need a really strong argument to convince me that I need to do something. Especially now. Maybe later in the summer when my back is against the wall and I know I am going to have to come up with some answers to questions from my esteemed instructor Homare Ikeda – maybe then I will panic and make some kind of change to her. But right now I am following the advice of that same esteemed instructor who commanded all of us students to HAVE FUN and ENJOY THE SUMMER and PLAY!. That's what I want to do – that's what I'm talkin' about. I am going to do THAT.
Relax – YLC is just fine. Alive and well and living here, with other canvases…..the ones who are finished. She is in good company.
Jo Ann Brown-Scott – to see additional art, visit the links below:
Creativity – Surprisingly Human…
mixed media painting by Jo Ann Brown-Scott copyright 2013
Thought allied fearlessly to purpose becomes creative force. He who knows this is ready to become something higher and stronger than a bundle of wavering thoughts and fluctuating sensations. He who does this has become the conscious and intelligent wielder of his mental powers. (James Allen)
Many articles are written about creativity. It seems rather a newish thing, that after centuries of witnessing its manifestations but not bothering to stop and figure out what the internal dynamics of it are, we now seem to have the time to pick it apart and examine it more closely. Everybody wonders how it happens – what facilitates it, who gets it, how do we nurture it, does it peak and then decline with age, how it can be enhanced and how to increase its potential.
First of all, everybody gets their fair share because it awarded free at birth – absolutely no one is born without it. The degree to which it shows up depends upon which gene tendencies you begin to massage – because certain aspects of creativity can lay dormant if not discovered, acknowledged, encouraged, stroked and cared for. When I taught mixed media painting to adults, people came to my class who had been CEO's of corporations, high earners and achievers, outstanding in their fields which of course requires enormous vision and creatiity. But they had waited until their retirement years to tentatively tap the latent but strong desire they had kept hidden to someday learn to paint. They had been extremely creative in other areas of their lives to the point where no one had a single clue they secretly wanted to paint. The desire had been put on the shelf or choked out entirely for years, so that ambition of a different caliber could take the lead at the exclusion of all else.
The creativity was bound to come out sooner or later…or was it? We hear all the time about people who discover they can sing, dance, write, paint and numerous other creative activities well into their adult lives, and I say what a shame that they waited so long. I wish more people would live the wondrous, colorful world of creativity all along the journey and not confine it to the last couple chapters of the book of life. Think of it! Life is all about the journey…living in Technicolor is of great importance.
We must not be too ambitious. We cannot aspire to masterpieces. We may content ourselves with a joy ride in a paint box. And, for this, Audacity is the only ticket. (Winston Churchill)
There is no secret formula for being highly creative. The habits of the most gifted creative people vary enormously – they are observed and envied, scrutinized and examined by people who want more of what they see. The trick to being creative and using the potential that is already there inside you is to dig deep and know yourself. Define what you desire, ask yourself if it is true and appropriate to who you authentically are (because not every one of us has exactly what it takes to be a Steven Spielberg) and what you are unconsciously drawn to, and give it some oxygen. Bring it out to the light of day. It does not have to crowd out everything else, to the extent that you drop whatever else you were doing and give it your complete 100% ALL (although that has worked for many people) but it does mean that you must give it a fighting chance to be heard, seen and nurtured. You have to be willing to bring it out of hiding and show it to the world, unapologetically, unselfconsciously, and even proudly, as you sharpen your skills and learn. You cannot be timid – you must be strong – gutsy – not easily discouraged – able to listen to criticism – and you must have confidence and trust yourself even on the days when you are less convinced that what you are offering to the world is worthy of attention. Creative people make mistakes, get embarrassed, sometimes make fools of themselves all the damn time – even the best of them. But they keep going. They have tenacity. They are resilient.
But you knew all that, right?
A heartfelt sense of aspiring cuts through negativity about yourself; it cuts through the heavy trips you lay on yourself. (Pema Chodron)
The Creative Epiphany – HAPPY NEW YEAR, WORLD!
Photo courtesy of santabanta.com
Here we are – the year had to end somewhere and today is the day. Are you ready for a NEW ONE? Up to the challenges ahead of us?
We will all be in it together, cringing at the ridiculous, saddened by the tragic, laughing at the humor of life, being disgusted by the actions of some, proud of others, and taking in the joy when something actually goes right. Those of us who are champions of humanitarianism and innocent with eternal optimism want to end world hunger, save the whales, cure cancer, clean up the planet, end terrorism once and for all, bring about peace, educate all children, and care for the homeless and those who are suffering as we love one another. That is a tall order, but we continue to do whatever we can. And that is driven by eternal HOPE.
I have no resolutions for the NEW YEAR other than to continue what I have been doing – laugh more, be grateful for every day, practice random acts of kindness, tell the people that you love how you feel about them and if there is any good that can be done, then by all means do it.
My thanks go out to all of you for caring enough to follow this humble blog, allowing me to spout off about whatever spontaneous observations cross my mind. What an honor and a privilege that is. I am fortunate to live in a country where speaking out is encouraged – and I wish the same for you. I know who you are – those of you who do not enjoy that same freedom of speech. I agonize for your loss of freedom. I wish for you a better condition.
The best to all of you! Let's hope the New Year brings about positive change for all.
mixed media painting by Jo Ann Brown-Scott copyright 2013


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Lacuna Coil, Korpiklaani and Negura Bunget are among the bands confirmed for the Summer Darkness Festival in Utrecht, Holland on August 6-9, 2009.
Summer Darkness is a dark underground interdisciplinary festival, located in beautiful premises of the gothic city centre of Utrecht. Apart from the location, Summer Darkness outshines in a mixture of music, gothic fashion, arts, market, gothic picnics, underground dance nights, boat trips etc.
Tickets are sold via Tivoli, Plato, Boudisque (all in Utrecht), via Ticketservice sellingpoints www.ticketservice.com). If you're not an Dutch residence, please keep checking www.summerdarkness.nl . German and English presale addresses will be announced soon!
Be aware that tickets do not include overnightstays. For more information about hotels, campings and hostels check: www.summerdarkness.nl/info.php
SUMMER DARKNESS Tickets
wednesday 5th – sunday 9th of August 2009
SUMMER DARKNESS 3 days passepartout € 80,-
SUMMER DARKNESS 4 days passepartout € 90,-
SUMMER DARKNESS 5 days passepartout € 100,-
More details will follow soon, so stay updated by subscribing our Email newsletter or to the RSS feed
LACUNA COIL – Our Truth
Negura Bunget – Din Adancul Afundului Intrupat (Live)

subset: commoncrawl


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At this time of year the Museum plans to operate a minimum of three trams each day to give its customers an enjoyable day out. Yesterday there were only two volunteer drivers, an inspector and three conductors.
To add to the problems Glasgow 812 developed a faulty compressor but this was swopped for Sheffield 74 by the workshop staff who understood the difficulties and delivered it to Town End.


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by Aly
It was said with such defiance, and such a bratty, petulant foot stomp, that Laurel was surprised with herself. And out of nowhere, she knew – it had been a simple enough request, one that she normally would have complied with, no questions. In fact, she normally loved helping her partner in the kitchen. It was one of her favourite times of the day.
Laurel watched as Emily's hands, which had been chopping a red bell pepper at the counter, stilled. She saw the other woman's shoulders heave with a sigh before she set her knife down and turned. Some of her bravado faltered, then, as she knew she had said the magic word – magic, of course, in the form of Trouble with a capital T. Emily wiped her hands on a dish cloth, tucked some of her dark brown hair behind her ear, and set her hands firmly on her hips. One eyebrow was arched, and her lips were pursed. When she spoke, her voice was low, and calm, but had a firm edge that Laurel knew all too well.
"Excuse me?" Emily asked, her hazel eyes boring into Laurel's grey-blue ones, fixing her with a no-nonsense stare.
Feeling a hot blush creep up her neck and settle in her cheeks, Laurel averted her eyes, looking anywhere but at Emily's stern face.
"I – I said no," replied Laurel, her voice losing a bit of its confidence, though she did not back down.
Emily sighed again. "Laurel, you can either set the table, like I asked, or you can eat dinner standing up. You have two choices, young lady. What's it going to be?"
The younger woman shuffled her feet, feeling anxious, knowing her girlfriend's threat was far from empty. Part of her was angry with herself – she knew that it would be simpler to just ask Emily for the release she was craving, but she couldn't bring herself to even say the word on a good day, let alone embarrass herself enough to request it. At this point in their relationship, after the 3 years they had been together, Laurel should have been comfortable enough with herself and her needs – they had talked about it before, and Emily had spanked her soundly as a punishment for doing just this – but alas, she always resorted to bratting her way into a spanking. She knew it, and she knew Emily knew it, too. She was pushing buttons on purpose tonight, and it seemed Emily was having none of it.
"I don't want to set the table," Laurel whined, her eyebrows furrowing and her pink lips settling in a pout.
"Fine," Emily stated simply, turning the burners on the stove to the 'off' position and wiping her hands once more. "Go to the bedroom and park yourself in the corner. I'll be in to deal with you shortly."
Laurel opened her mouth to protest – she had a reluctant, bratty image to uphold, after all – but one glance at Emily's face told her that Toppy girlfriend was not in the mood to be pushed any further. Without further ado, she turned on her heel, scuffing her socked feet on the hardwood floors as she padded her way to their bedroom. She opened the door and slipped inside, walking to the corner across from the bedroom door and putting her nose and toes in the crease between the two walls.
Already, Laurel was feeling a bit better – more settled, more centered. A new, bubbling anxiety at what was to come had replaced the gnawing, bitter feeling that had been there all week. The two women had been busy – too busy to spend any real quality time together, too busy to exchange more than a chaste goodnight kiss as they collapsed into bed at night after long, equally difficult days at work. And Laurel knew that it was this distance, this lack of connection, that had her itching for some special attention from Emily. Unfortunately, she was too stubborn to voice her concerns to her partner. Instead, she had become increasingly pouty and childish, attempting to badger Emily into paying some kind of attention to her, whether it be good or bad.
Standing in the corner always made her especially contemplative – she knew it was most of the reason Emily made her stand there, aside from it being just embarrassing enough to put her in the right frame of mind for a spanking – and her racing thoughts got the better of her. She was frustrated with herself for behaving in such a foolish, juvenile manner. She knew that being busy was a normal part of life, and that Emily loved her just as much this week as she did any other week. However, she couldn't help that she was feeling just a little abandoned, a little neglected. Suddenly, hot tears began to sting her eyes, and she fought hard to blink them back, but the traitorous moisture spilled out and down her cheeks, falling off her chin as she stared at her feet.
By the time she heard the soft footsteps of her lover enter the room, her body was shaking in quiet, barely contained sobs of frustration and embarrassment.
"Laurel?" Emily asked softly, coming to stand behind her tearful girlfriend in the corner. Laurel sensed her presence, but dared not turn around until she was told to do so, suddenly feeling submissive and incredibly sorry for herself and the position she had landed herself in. "Turn around, love."
Laurel did as she was told, her eyes darting from the floor, to Emily's concerned face, and back again. Her chin quivered as she took a couple of deep, ragged breaths, trying to compose herself. Emily took one step closer, and Laurel broke, gasping for breath as she flung herself at her girlfriend and wrapped her arms around Emily's neck, sobbing into her shoulder. Emily took Laurel in her arms, holding her tightly, her hand rubbing soothing circles on the younger woman's back as she rocked gently back and forth.
"What in the world is going on?" Emily asked softly, once Laurel had stopped sobbing quite so violently. She put her hands on Laurel's shoulders, and held her at arm's length, peering at her with searching, warm eyes.
"I – I…I'm – I'm so-sorry," Laurel hiccupped, sniffling pathetically and wiping at her cheeks with the backs of her hands. She took her bottom lip between her teeth, chewing on it nervously.
"Sorry for what? For refusing to set the table? My love, I don't appreciate your attitude, but it's certainly nothing to be hysterical about –"
"N-no, not that," said Laurel. Emily raised an eyebrow, and the younger woman quickly amended, "yes, for that, but not just that – I mean…" she sighed heavily, unable to find the right words to express herself. She pouted and scuffed her toe on the floor.
"I think you and I need to have a chat, hmm?" Emily inquired, taking Laurel's hand and leading her to the bed. She settled herself on the soft white duvet, and pulled Laurel down next to her, angling her body so she was facing her brat. "What's going on, love?"
Laurel, still sniffling, scooted herself closer to Emily, tucking one leg underneath her and leaning against her girlfriend. She sighed as Emily laced an arm around her shoulders, her hand absently running up and down Laurel's arm in a comforting, familiar way.
"I've been acting out," she finally breathed, playing with the hem of her oversized grey t-shirt.
"Really? I hadn't noticed," Emily said, her voice laced with playful sarcasm.
Pouting again, Laurel sat up and looked directly into the older woman's eyes, which were studying her intently. "Don't tease," she whined half-heartedly.
"Okay, okay," Emily surrendered. "I had noticed. Care to tell me why?"
"Well, we've both been so busy, and I, um, I just…I guess I've been feeling…" she trailed off, ever uncomfortable with putting her extreme self-awareness into words.
Emily's hand moved from her arm to the side of Laurel's hip, and gave her bottom a couple of gentle, but warning, pats.
Laurel chewed on her lip again, then continued. "I've been feeling kind of neglected," she finally admitted, burying her head in the crook of Emily's neck.
"Oh, sweetheart," cooed Emily, pulling away and taking Laurel's chin between her forefinger and thumb. She tilted the younger woman's face so they were eye to eye, stroking the side of her chin with a thumb, and Laurel looked around for a few seconds before finally settling her gaze on Emily. "It's been a busy week, and we've hardly had any time for each other."
"Mhm," Laurel hummed, moving to turn her head away, but Emily held fast to her chin. Her stomach churned nervously as she watched the gentle expression on her lover's face harden into something a little sterner.
"But, I believe you and I have had this discussion before, have we not?" It was a rhetorical question, but Laurel nodded in response anyway. "And did we not make it very clear that you are supposed to tell me when you're feeling this way, instead of acting like a child and pushing me until you're in trouble?"
Again, Laurel nodded.
"So, tonight, when I asked you to set the table, and you refused – you were acting out, looking for attention, instead of just telling me that you were upset?"
Another nod.
"And you intentionally pushed my buttons in the hopes of getting in trouble?"
Laurel frowned. "Yes. Well, I guess. I don't know. I don't want to be in trouble, I just…I don't know," she finished lamely, wrinkling her nose in frustration.
This time, it was Emily who nodded. "I understand. I know it's hard to articulate, but I think you just wanted some of my attention, and knew exactly how to get it, good or bad. Am I right?"
"Yes, ma'am," Laurel answered quietly, feeling rather like a naughty five-year-old. "I'm sorry. I know I should have just told you that I was missing you, but it felt stupid – you weren't gone anywhere, and I hate being so needy. It's not your fault we were both really busy all week. I feel stupid."
"Laurel Elizabeth, you know how I feel about you talking about yourself like that," Emily said sternly, her eyes narrowing. "You are not needy, and you are not stupid. You just love being loved, and we haven't had nearly enough of that this week. I missed you, too, you know."
"Yeah, but you're so much more well-adjusted than I am. I don't see you throwing temper tantrums for attention," Laurel said dejectedly.
"Nor will you ever," replied Emily firmly. "That's just not how I do things. That's why I'm the one who gives the spankings, and you're the one who gets them, right?"
"Right." Wrinkling her nose again, Laurel fidgeted nervously on the bed, knowing exactly what was coming.
"And speaking of spankings –" Laurel sighed internally, having anticipated Emily's next words, "- I think we better finish this conversation with you over my lap."
"Yes ma'am."
Emily took Laurel by the arm once more and gently pulled her to standing. She hooked her thumbs in the elastic waistband of the girl's lilac-coloured pajama shorts, pulling them down to mid-thigh, and then guided her girlfriend over her lap. Laurel adjusted herself so that her chest and arms were supported by the bed on one side, her legs on the other, with her panty-covered bottom slightly raised over Emily's thighs. She rested her head in the crook of her arms, her cheek touching the cool material of the bedspread, and sighed. She knew the rest of the "conversation" was not going to be pleasant for her or her backside, but as much as she didn't want a spanking, she needed one. She needed to be reset, to feel connected to Emily again in only the way a thorough bottom-warming could achieve, and she knew that she needed to be punished for breaking one of the couple's most sacred rules.
"Now, young lady," came Emily's stern voice from above her, her hand moving softly over Laurel's soft pink panties, gently massaging the plump, pale cheeks that she would soon be turning a fiery red, "if it's attention you want, it's attention you'll get."
And with that, the first, firm spank landed on Laurel's right cheek. She gasped, as surprised with the sting as she always was. No matter how many spankings Emily had given her, the first smack always took her breath away. That woman had a palm of steel, she was sure.
The smacks came quickly, and they were just hard enough to leave a deep sting in their wake. Emily was wasting no time, peppering Laurel's bottom with solid smacks from the tops of her cheeks, right down to the tops of her thighs. The experienced Top paid particular attention to the tender sit spots, right where Laurel's bottom met her thighs, and the spanks that landed there were particularly stingy and painful.
"Acting out," Emily began to lecture, as Laurel cried out in response to a very well-placed smack that covered both cheeks at once, "is no way to ask for attention. If you are feeling abandoned, or neglected, you tell me. You're a big girl, and bratting and pouting are unacceptable behaviours when there are serious feelings involved."
Just when Laurel thought that the spanks couldn't get any harder, they did. Emily did not stop swatting her burning bottom as she lectured, and Laurel did her very best to listen, though it was difficult to concentrate on anything but the fire Emily was lighting in her backside.
"You pushed me to my limit tonight, and there is no excuse for being disrespectful," Emily scolded. "There is also no excuse for keeping things from me – honesty is extremely important in this relationship. Just because things are uncomfortable to talk about does not mean that you should not talk to me about them, especially when you are hurting. Do you understand?"
"Y-yes ma'am, I understand," Laurel squeaked, feeling the tears burn the backs of her eyes again – equal parts pain and remorse. She knew how much Emily hated it when Laurel kept things from her – it was as good as lying, and she knew it. "I'm s-s-sorry!"
"You will be, little one," was Emily's reply, and the barrage of spanks stopped as she slipped her fingers into the waistband of Laurel's panties.
"N-no, please, Em," Laurel cried, tears now flowing freely down her face.
"Laurel," came Emily's growled warning, and Laurel hiccupped a sob as she lifted her hips and allowed Emily to pull her panties down to meet her shorts.
"I'm sorry," Laurel sobbed again, wiggling around on Emily's lap in a useless attempt to rid her bottom of some of the stinging heat.
Emily patted her bottom softly. "I know, love, but we're only just getting started. That was for being such a brat this evening. This is for keeping things from me, and intentionally pushing my buttons instead of telling me what was wrong. I hope next time you think about lying –"
"I didn't lie!" Laurel choked out, turning around to look at Emily over her shoulder. Emily's eyebrows were almost in her hairline, and her expression clearly said, 'Really, you want to push me?' Laurel immediately regretting arguing. A hard smack on her bare bottom, followed by three more in quick succession, made her bury her face in the duvet again. "Sorry!!!"
"Lying by omission is as good as a down-right lie. You know how I feel about that, Laur. We have had many a 'discussion' about that very thing, have we not?"
Laurel pouted, but squeaked out a "yes, ma'am". Emily was a real stickler about honesty. Laurel knew she had really messed up this time. It was bad enough she had kept her feelings all bottled up, let alone being such a terror all week.
"So, the next time you think about lying, I want you to remember this spanking and think twice, little one."
Emily finished spanking Laurel in silence. Lying over her girlfriend's lap, Laurel heard nothing but the smack of skin against skin, and couldn't decide what was worse – the scolding, or the quiet. Her girlfriend's hard hand really lit Laurel's bottom on fire, leaving no inch of skin un-smacked. By the time Emily's hand came to rest on Laurel's lower back, the younger woman had cried herself hoarse with "I'm sorry", "I'll be a good girl," and "I'll never lie again, I promise", finally just lying still over Emily's lap with tears streaming down her cheeks and sobs wracking her body. Normally, it would take a lot more than just Emily's hand to make Laurel cry that hard, but the remorse and guilt she felt spurred her tears on until she didn't think she had any more to cry.
"Okay, love," Emily said gently, rubbing her hand softly over Laurel's cherry-red cheeks, "it's all over. All done. All is forgiven."
It took Laurel a few moments to compose herself enough to slide herself off Emily's lap and onto the floor, where she sat gingerly back on her heels and rested her head on her girlfriend's knee. For a while, she just let Emily weave her fingers through her now-damp, curly brown hair while she sniffled and hiccupped and breathed as deeply as she could to calm herself. Then, she dried her eyes with her fists, and stood with a still-quivering lower lip.
"I'm sorry, Emily," she said sincerely, locking eyes with her girlfriend, hoping with her whole heart that Emily believed her.
"I know, my love. You're forgiven. Next time, just talk to me, okay?"
"Okay," Laurel nodded, and let Emily pull her into a tight hug, lowering herself onto Emily's lap. Laurel hissed when her bottom came in contact with the fabric of Emily's yoga pants, but she settled herself against her girlfriend's chest and let the hands that had just chastised her so thoroughly rub her back and stroke her hair until she was content and sleepy and calm once more.
"Feel better?" Emily murmured against Laurel's hair as she rocked gently side to side.
"Yeah," Laurel affirmed, feeling forgiven, and cared for, and attended to, and very, very loved. Even though her bottom was burning, and her nose was stuffy, and her face was hot from crying, she felt reset, and knew she had gotten what she needed. All felt right in the world once more.
"Good, because you've still got a table to set," Emily said with a smile, and pressed a kiss to Laurel's temple.
Laurel grinned mischievously. "No," she said, mock-defiance in her voice.
"Ooh, girl, you better not push it," Emily threatened, landing a firm smack on Laurel's hot backside.
"Ow! Just kidding, babe," she purred, wrapping her arms around Emily's neck and kissing her sweetly on the lips.
"You'd better be, because I can grab the hairbrush and really do a number on that cute little butt of yours. You know, I think I went a little too easy on you…"
"No, no! Definitely not too easy!" Laurel squealed, hopping up and pulling her panties and shorts back up – gingerly – over her burning bottom. "I'm going, see!" She flew from the bedroom with a grin over her shoulder, just narrowly avoiding the smack Emily aimed at her retreating backside. Without another word, she set the table for two, and convinced Emily, with a few well-placed kisses and cuddles, to let her sit on a cushion to eat her dinner. After all, she didn't really want to eat dinner standing up.


text: Cyberterrorism has been identified as a significant threat to the United States' economy, public works, communication systems, and computer networks. Through objective overviews, primary sources, and full-color illustrations this title examines, Does Cyberterrorism Threaten National Security? How Should the Government Respond to Cyberterrorism? Is Government Intrusion Justified in the Fight Against Cyberterrorism? and Can Cyberterrorism Be Prevented?


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You've got a great idea. You've found the perfect spot. You're ready to be your own boss. You're an entrepreneur and nothing is going to stop you from realizing your dream! Oh wait, you're going to need thousands of dollars you do not currently have in order to get started. You need to talk to a bank. You need to get a loan. That means it's time to write a business plan.
Writing a thorough and convincing business plan is an essential step to getting your business off the ground. You have to be able to explain who your customers are going to be, how you are going to manage the money you're loaned, how you're going to market your product successfully, and how your business model fits in with larger industrial trends. This all must fit in one document that you can slide confidently across the desk to the loan officer at the bank.
Sure, you can Google around to try and find a template that you can trust and is thorough enough to land you that loan. But wouldn't you rather be able to explore a vast collection of tried-and-true examples all in one place? That, my entrepreneurial friends, is what the Gale Reference Library is here for. It's where you'll find our collection of Business Plan Handbooks.
This resource is also available in print at our Main location in Oakland. Click here to see it in the catalog.
This online collection holds digital reference books that cover a wide range of subjects, including the Business Plans Handbook, an ongoing, continuously updated series of actual business plans that are, as their blurb describes, "compiled by, and aimed at, entrepreneurs seeking funding for small businesses." All you need is a library card.
Ready? You can get started here. Click on "Gale Reference Library." You'll be prompted to enter your library card number and PIN, so have those handy. Once you're in, select the "Business" option on the left side of the screen under the heading "BROWSE COLLECTIONS".
You'll be taken to the online Business reference material. You can see that the Business Plans Handbook is the first option. Select it, and you'll see just how man volumes we hold online! On the right side of the screen is a box labeled "SEARCH WITHIN SERIES". Type in the kind of business you'd like to start. Once you get to a results list, select one that seems similar to your idea.
You might not find a plan that is exactly like the one you're looking to create, but it's worth your time to look through a similar one. You'll see real-life, successful examples of an Executive Summary, a Company Summary, Market Analysis, a Marketing Plan, Management outlines, an Operations Plan, and, importantly, Financial Projections. You will need all of these to convince the bank that your great idea is worth backing. You already know it is, so get out there and tell them!
There's a lot of information in this resource. If you would like to sit down with one of our Business Librarians, we're here to help! Please feel free to schedule your hour-long 1:1 today. You can call 412.622.3114, email us at firstname.lastname@example.com, or use the chat function on our website to schedule an appointment.


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Well just one week from today I will be boarding the Majestic princess in Seattle for a week long cruise to Alaska!
My medallion has arrived which is what I will use to access my cabin, purchase drinks on my account or items from the shops, and it's my identifier for checking in-and-out of the ship when I go ashore. It is small and circular and I attach it to my Fitbit band (I will post picture next week).
Princess is currently requiring passengers be fully vaccinated, and they must wear face masks when when boarding the ship so when we're in line at the port, as well as on transfer busses or tour busses. And Alaska has just requested that we also wear masks if we are unable to social distance or if we go indoors while ashore in Alaska. Because of this I purchased some new Princess masks that they had available at the time I ordered my medalion.
My bag is mostly packed but my mind is fully packed (with excitement lol) and ready to go! I'll see you in a week!!


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U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $4.6 Million in FITCI
FITCI's [email protected] merges community, entrepreneurial spirit, and economic development in Frederick, MD
By EDA | August 30, 2022
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $4.6 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds for Building Renovations to Support Job Growth in Frederick, MarylandWASHINGTON – Today, (4/31/22) U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is... Read more
Meridian BioGroup acquired by Pace® Life Sciences.
Expanding Regulatory, Compliance, and Validation Capabilities to the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Markets
By Meridian BioGroup | August 24, 2022
We are excited to announce, that Meridian BioGroup has been acquired by Pace® Life Sciences. The acquisition allows Pace® to provide regulatory and quality consulting services to support clients throughout the drug development process and improve commercial compliance in FDA-regulated... Read more
A single injection hepatitis B cure attracts international attention
Dr. Yong-Yuan Zhang presents in Paris, Seoul, and Washington DC in 2022
By April Bartel | August 19, 2022
A single injection hepatitis B cure attracts international attention Frederick, MD – HBVtech, a biopharma startup company within the Frederick Innovation Technology Center (FITCI), is garnering international attention for its work creating a single-dose injection-based hepatitis B cure. ... Read more
Mesa Science Associates Receives Grant to Study Marfan Syndrome Treatment
Development of Cobinamide as a Novel Treatment for Aortic Aneurysms of Marfan Syndrome: Phase I Pharmacokinetic Studies
By Mesa Associates, Inc. | July 15, 2022
Mesa Science Associates Inc. (MSA) received a Phase I Small Business Innovative Research Grant (SBIR) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) entitled "Development of Cobinamide as a Novel Treatment for Aortic Aneurysms of Marfan Syndrome: Phase I Pharmacokinetic Studies."Upon receiving... Read more
By Ashok Kapur, Hawkeye MedTech | July 19, 2022
Columbia, MD, July 18, 2022 - Hawkeye Med Tech, Inc, a Maryland Medtech company has partnered with the Kiosk Group, Ltd,. to produce one-of-a-kind Portable TotalCare Telehealth StationTM or PTTS. PTTS is a Made in Maryland integrated telehealth tablet, blood pressure machine and pulse oximeter. PTTS... Read more
FITCI Grad BioFactura Announces Activation of a $15.9M Contract Option
Smallpox Biodefense Therapeutic, contract valued at up to $68.2 million
By Darryl Sampey, Ph.D., CEO | July 15, 2022
FREDERICK, MARYLAND, JULY 14, 2022: BioFactura today announced its second contract option activation of $15.9 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to advance development of an antibody cocktail therapeutic for the treatment of smallpox. This funding is part... Read more
TEDCO Invests in FITCI Member, Alirtify, a Rural Maryland Pre-Seed Company
Alirtify is an intelligence-gathering platform
By Tammi Thomas, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, TEDCO [email protected] | July 05, 2022
July 5, 2022—TEDCO, Maryland's economic engine for technology companies (and a FITCI founding partner), announced today that its Rural Business Innovation Initiative (RBII) made a $25,000 investment in Alirtify, an intelligence-gathering platform based in Frederick, Md. "This new... Read more
Theradaptive Secures Third FDA Breakthrough Designation for Spinal Fusion
Theradaptive's technology re-grows bone
By Serena Lertora [email protected] | June 22, 2022
FREDERICK, Md. and BOSTON, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Theradaptive, a privately held biopharmaceutical company pioneering a new class of regenerative implants announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Medical Device designation for the use of OsteoAdapt... Read more
Veralox Therapeutics Announces Favorable Results of Phase 1 Studies of VLX-1005
A novel small molecule 12-LOX inhibitor, awarded Fast Track designation by US Food and Drug Administration
By | June 13, 2022
for Treatment of Heparin-Induced ThrombocytopeniaFREDERICK, Md., June 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Veralox Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing first-in-class small molecule therapeutics that treat serious immuno-inflammatory diseases with significant unmet medical needs, today announced... Read more
KnowledgeNet.ai Achieves SOC 2 Type II Compliance
KnowledgeNet.ai meets the highest information security standards following an independent audit
By James Alvord | June 06, 2022
FREDERICK MD, June 7, 2022 – KnowledgeNet.ai, a leader in collaboration intelligence and knowledge sharing platform, announces the successful completion of the System and Organization Controls (SOC) 2 Type II Audit. Created by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), SOC... Read more
iyotee Secures $9.35 Million In Series A Funding and Launches KnowledgeNet.ai
New AI-Driven Network Collaboration App Revolutionizes How Organizations Use Their Intellectual Capital
By James Alvord | February 11, 2022
FREDERICK MD, February 09, 2022 – KnowledgeNet.ai, a leader in knowledge intelligence, announced today that it has raised a $9.35M Series A investment round through syndicate investors. KnowledgeNet.ai goes beyond relationship intelligence to combine relationship intelligence, knowledge... Read more
FITCI Receives 2022 Grant from Rural Maryland Council
The Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund Grant Will Help Build an Agricultural Technology Lab
By FITCI | October 20, 2021
(Frederick, MD) Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc (FITCI) was awarded Rural Maryland Council's Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund Grant for 2022 for the Ag-Tech Lab project, part of FITCI's new Innovation Center. The funding, along with help from collaborators and partners like... Read more
FITCI earns Rural Maryland Council Outstanding Rural Economic Development Award
For Outstanding Leadership and Public Service in Advocating Policy Solutions to Greatly Benefit Rural Communities.
By April Bartel | December 07, 2021
The Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI) was recently honored for Outstanding Rural Economic Development by the Rural Maryland Council (RMC). The award was presented as part of the 2021 Rural Summit held in Annapolis on December 1 and 2. The event's theme was Redefining... Read more
FITCI helps fellow nonprofits by "Giving BACK"
Board and staff volunteer, sharing the spirit of gratitude and generosity
By April Bartel | December 07, 2021
If November sparks gratitude and December is devoted to giving, now is a perfect time to acknowledge the good while renewing the spirit of fellowship and community. In response, team members at the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI), a nonprofit dedicated to facilitating... Read more
Mesa Green Pharma LLC. Receives Positive Feedback from FDA's Center for...
Pilot Study Provides Positive Results for K9MGP Treatment Active Canine Seizures
By Michael Mesa | September 27, 2021
FREDERICK, Md. September 21,2021— Mr. Michael Mesa, CEO of Mesa Green Pharma (MGP) stated that "company representatives met with FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) on September 9, 2021, to discuss the company's development program for K9MGP." MGP is developing K9MGP as a treatment... Read more
Nanobiofab Earns $1.1M Defense Health Agency SBIR Grant for AI-powered platform
Novel nanomaterials measure pressure and volatile chemical compounds
By April Bartel | September 19, 2021
Frederick, Maryland – Tao Treasures LLC DBA Nanobiofab, a minority woman-owned nanotech startup in the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI), is helping medical mannequins tell doctors where it hurts. The company, which creates revolutionary million-scale nanomaterial used in ... Read more
Dr. Ruoting Yang in Molecular Psychiatry on biotypes for PTSD
NanoBioFab co-founder garners industry attention
By | July 01, 2021
Geneva Scientist Dr. Ruoting Yang first-authored a manuscript published in Molecular Psychiatry on biotypes for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the first of their kind of any psychological disorder. Dr. Yang is a Computational Biologist, specializing in artificial intelligence,... Read more
THERADAPTIVE: shaping the future of regenerative medicine at military treatment...
Advanced theraputic can mean the difference between amputation and limb preservation
By The Geneva Foundation | June 30, 2021
The Geneva Foundation released a case study highlighting their work with FITCI member, Theradaptive. Theradaptive is shaping the future of regenerative medicine with a new platform to deliver therapeutics that promote targeted native tissue repair. Their lead therapeutic, AMP2, is applied... Read more
Veralox Therapeutics Appoints Michael Hanna as Chief Medical Officer
By Veralox Therapeutics | June 23, 2021
FREDERICK, MD – June 23, 2021 – Veralox Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing first-in-class small molecule therapeutics that treat the underlying pathologies of diseases with significant unmet medical needs, today announced the appointment of Michael S. Hanna, MD, FACC, as chief... Read more
Old Line Capital Invests in CarrTech
Columbia, Maryland, June 10, 2021
By April Bartel, FITCI | June 18, 2021
Old Line Capital Partners announced today that they have made a significant investment in CarrTech LLC, to extend product development, sales, and marketing of CarrTech's innovative filter needle. "CarrTech's FROG device (Filter Removal of Glass) saves lives, prevents injury, and saves... Read more


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Story by
Napier LopezReporter
Napier Lopez is a writer based in New York City. He's interested in all things tech, science, and photography related, and likes to yo-yo in Napier Lopez is a writer based in New York City. He's interested in all things tech, science, and photography related, and likes to yo-yo in his free time. Follow him on Twitter.
Around 9:40 AM EST, several websites using Google's DoubleClick ad service started experiencing problems as Google's servers apparently went down.
This includes issues from ads appearing blank to entire websites not loading at all. It's likely affecting millions of advertisements across the Web and could cause advertisers to lose a whole lot of money collectively.
Indeed, the shutdown is currently affecting ads on The Next Web itself. We reached out to Google and were told "the team is aware and is looking into it." We will update you once we receive an official statement on the issue and its cause.
Update 10:33 AM: It looks like the ads are all back up now, although they might still be loading slowly on some pages.
Update 11:14 AM: It's all sorted now. Google posted the following on their DoubleClick blog:
DoubleClick for Publishers experienced an outage this morning impacting publishers globally, across their video, display, native and mobile formats. Our team has worked quickly to fix the software bug and it's now back up and running, so our publisher partners can return to funding their content.
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text:
Tallahassee, Florida's After The Smoke have garnered major label interest lately, and in the tradition of NXNE musical discoveries, I was curious to know why… and I quickly found out. After The Smoke walked onto the Wrongbar stage and took over, jumping into one of the most high energy, all-encompassing performances I've seen in awhile. Atmospheric beats poured over the crowd, matched with smooth hooks and aggressive MC gestures. I had a stupid grin plastered on my face the entire set… the sign of intelligent, quick rhymes matched with music I can't help but move to.
I had the chance to ask Rob Coin of After The Smoke a few questions after their set:
Sidewalk Hustle: After The Smoke is a "alternative hip hop collective". Tell us about how the collective came together.
After The Smoke actually is represented by an individual with a boss mindset. But my entire crew is Ekoms. We all started making music together a few years ago back in Tallahassee, FL. Niggas was hungry.
SH: How would you describe your sound and influences?
I would describe the sound as explosive + silky. The sound that you can chief to. It also saved my life.
SH: The After The Smoke live show has amazing energy and is just a good time. How do you prepare for a show?
Glass of scotch + Doritos cool ranch and a plate of weed brownies. That can boost my creative process.
SH: Audience interaction was a big part of the show @ Wrongbar. Has this always been the case?
Music is supposed to be an experience. We make sure you leave feeling that in your black soul.
SH: What's next for After The Smoke?
We are heading to Thailand to record our next project. I don't feel like being found for awhile. I need to smoke in a temple. That would be pimp.


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The Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN), the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), National Milk Producers Federation, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the North America Meat Institute, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and the Wine Institute praised a bipartisan Senate letter sent July 30 to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. The letter urges stronger international safeguards to protect U.S. exporters using common food and wine terms. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) led the effort, which resulted in support from a total of 61 Senators.
The letter requests that the U.S. government enhance common food name protections as a core policy objective in all trade-related discussions. This is a direct challenge to the European Union (EU) misuse of protections meant for valid geographical indications (GIs) to instead block American exports of common or generic food and wine terms such as Parmesan, feta, bologna or chateau, the groups said. These unjustified trade barriers harm American farmers, limit choices for consumers and put manufacturing jobs across an essential sector at risk.
Signers of the letter include several senators holding leadership positions on committees with jurisdiction over this issue, the groups said, notably the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Finance and the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture. In addition, the letter also includes the chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property.
"The United States has been fighting the EU's unfair GI trade policies with one hand tied behind its back while the EU has been battling with its full force," said Jaime Castaneda, executive director of CCFN. "This unbalanced approach has helped the EU in its efforts to block U.S. exports of products using common food and wine terms, causing serious harm to America's farmers, ranchers, food manufacturers and exporters. We applaud Senators Thune, Stabenow, Tillis and Baldwin for leading this effort to meet the EU's efforts to block American exports with an equal force to promote fair trade and ensure the free flow of products using all tools available to the U.S. government,"
Tom Vilsack, president and CEO of USDEC, added: "We encourage USTR and USDA to immediately establish the explicit protection of common food names as a primary policy objective in all trade discussions. The overwhelming bipartisan support demonstrated by the U.S. Senate for this goal underscores the importance of breaking down these GI-related barriers and achieving greater export safeguards for U.S. cheeses and other common name products. By putting protections for common food and wine terms first, we will ensure that American-made products do not come in last."


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3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Wifi
Kitchen Air Conditioning
Villa Disi
Direct Contact Details
Yiannis Orfanos
Skopelos Glossa, 37003
Phone Contact ms Anthoula
Villa Disi Glossa Skopelos island Greece
Villa DISI with private pool , Sporades Greece, Skopelos Glossa
People: up to 6 , Bedrooms: 3 ( 2 bedroom with two double beds and 1 bedroom with two single beds ) , Bathrooms: 2 ,
Villa DISI means SUNSET is situated in Glossa village, Skopelos.
Villa is on the road going from Glossa village to the port, there is also the path that going to the village or to the port by walking distance. Villa is between the village and the port.
This holiday rental property sleeps 6 people. Villa DISI has 3 air conditioned bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
There is a Private Pool , Sun Beds and Sea Views.
Spacious terraces and balconies offer a variety of places to sit and gaze at the view towards the coast and to the port.
Ideal for Families, friends and couples, In Walking Distance to Glossa village, just in a 15 minute walk to the village with Shops, Cafes, restaurants and Tavernas( many with internet access)
We meet you and go with you to the Villa!
We help you to book ferry tickets, or a sea taxi or rent a car that will be waiting for you on the port the arrival time.
We are excited to be part of your unforgettable Summer Moments!!!
Glossa Village 1.6 km
Loutraki beach 1.5 km
Hovolo beach 8.7 km
Milia, Kastani beach 12.3 km


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Kickass Entrepreneur: Luxuria PR
Jamie Reyes and Claudia Huizar met at San Diego State University on their first day of college in 2008. The young, vibrant girls were both pursuing a degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations. They spent the next four years studying hard and taking in as much information as they could from the PR program, while still finding time for a little fun. When the girls finally graduated, they met for coffee and decided that it was now or never to start their own public relations business. So in 2013, Luxuria PR was formed. Their approach was simple; create stories and trends with a company's brand at the centerpiece.
It was then that the girls started the arduous process of cold calling businesses day and night until finally they got a "yes." As time went on, they continued to grow their business and client base. Today they build and manage brand reputation through strategic storytelling and digital presence for very successful businesses including Maxim Healthcare Services, iTan, RoadRunner Sports and Beauty by Dolly.
Q: Best part about doing business in San Diego?
Jamie: The best part about doing business in San Diego is the beautiful people (and of course, the weather!). San Diego is such a diverse city, and it has given us the opportunity to explore different cultures and business customs without the travel in between. Getting ourselves familiar with business practices from other places in the world is very eye opening, and I think it makes us well-rounded business people.
Claudia: San Diego has its own distinct SoCal culture and we are thrilled to be a part of it. We're always impressed by the startup community in San Diego, especially businesses with leading female founders. The women of San Diego are building thriving businesses and inspire us every day. We are honored to be among them.
Q: What advice would you give to your 10-year-old self?
Jamie: If I could give advice to my 10-year-old self, I would tell her to speak up more! I was never really an outspoken child, and looking back I felt like I should have made it more of a priority that my voice be heard. I think it's very important for girls to know that it is okay to speak up and that their ideas and opinions do matter.
Claudia: I would advise my 10-year-old self to explore the world of math and science. I probably would have never ended up in that industry, but I think it's empowering for young girls to take interest in male dominated industries. It's important for young girls to know and feel that there are no limits to their aspirations and endeavors.
Q: Describe your most perfect day in San Diego?
Jamie: My most perfect day in San Diego is waking up in the morning and heading over to my favorite coffee shop, Holsem. Then I'll spend some time at Fashion Valley Mall to do some impulsive shopping, then meet up with my mom for dinner (typically sushi). Afterward, I'll head over to Little Italy to have gelato at Pappalecco. I like to people watch and just relax. I'll end my night with a movie at home with my two dogs Ariel and Maddy.
Claudia: My most perfect day in San Diego starts off by sleeping in with my rescue dog and white-fluff mix, Alejandro. Then, I like to make some fresh Jalisco-style salsa for my homemade chilaquiles and drink some cafe con leche with my sister. Alejandro and I then visit Del Mar's Dog Beach, where I watch him chase after Golden Retrievers. He's a small dog with a big heart. I love to end the day with a good cheeseburger from Rocky's in Crown Point, topped with lots and lots of ketchup, and some refreshing San Diego craft beer.
Q: What client are you most proud of and why?
Jamie: The client that I am most proud of is Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, a nonprofit that transforms the lives of disadvantaged infants, children and teens with physical deformities. We get the opportunity to meet some of the Fresh Start kids from all over the world, and their positive attitude and outlook in life is moving. Despite whatever medical condition they may have, they are always so joyful and enthusiastic, and it makes me think about how grateful we all should be for what we have.
Claudia: I'm also proud of Fresh Start Surgical Gifts. I love meeting the families and seeing the children become more confident and happy in everyday life. It's exciting when we earn a big feature for Fresh Start Surgical Gifts because we know it will make the difference in the lives of children. I'm also thrilled to have finally completed my application to be an unpaid volunteer during Surgery Weekends.
Q: CEO or company you admire and why?
Jamie: The CEO I admire most is Michael Gotfredson of Road Runner Sports. I met him back in college, and I'll never forget the day he guest lectured in my marketing class because he was so incredible and inspiring. Mike shared his story on how he started his business in his garage, and the real-life challenges that came along with his rise to success. Mike's speech was just so raw and blunt, and I remember walking out of that class thinking, "God, I cannot wait to start a business." He taught me that the most important thing you'll earn from being an entrepreneur isn't the money; it's the freedom. He couldn't have been any more right. Today, Road Runner Sports is a client of ours.
Claudia: I love kick-ass women! My father is a farmworker and he always told me amazing stories about Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America. I'm not familiar with her leadership now, but as a young girl I loved knowing that a woman influenced civil rights for hard working families in the United States.
Q: Advice you would give to other young female entrepreneurs?
Jamie: My advice to other female entrepreneurs is that you can achieve greatness not only as a "female entrepreneur," but as an entrepreneur in its entirety. When you have to present at a meeting filled with C-level businessmen, never underestimate yourself and your ability to share your valuable intellect.
Claudia: Young female entrepreneurs should never doubt their ability to create and deliver value in any business. Sometimes it can be intimidating to sit in a boardroom full of men, but we should never be worried about asking for a reasonable budget and compensation. Never under price any proposal; be fair and never doubt your value.
Q: Three things you would take to a deserted island?
Jamie: The three things I would take to a deserted island are a box of See's Candies, iced coffee and an iPad. What more can I ask for?
Claudia: Let's go tomorrow. I would take my dog Alejandro; an on-call aesthetician/masseuse for unlimited manis, pedis and facials; and Clase Azul Tequila (my favorite).
Source: DiscoverSD


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Thumbs up: La Quinta to use grant to ease traffic flow
The Desert Sun
La Quinta is looking to smooth the flow along its busiest traffic corridors.
Public Works Director Tim Jonasson says the city will use a recently secured $3 million federal grant to better synchronize traffic signals and improve street sign lighting along most major thoroughfares, including Highway 111, Washington Street and Fred Waring Drive.
La Quinta's grant was part of about $2.4 billion made available to cities for road improvements to help reduce traffic injuries and fatalities. Jonasson says the work funded by the grant should be completed by the end of 2016.
Boosting safety through road improvements such as these is a wise move. City officials are smart to keep abreast of these needs as the city continues to grow.


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Sit-stand desk workstations are becoming highly popular among the elite in the corporate and business world, in Canada, the United States, and internationally.
There has been an increase in the demand for sit-stand desk solutions, as a means to address office inactivity and the health complications associated with it. Spending more of your work day standing instead of sitting has a number of health benefits, including reducing your risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
Reduce your Risk of Obesity
Having a sit-stand desk workstation provides you with the opportunity to build muscle strength and move around a bit more. Engaging your body with constant, subtle movements helps to reduce risk factors closely associated with obesity. The key to losing weight is consistent, moderate levels of movement over the course of the day. On average, those who stand at their desks burn up to 50 more calories per hour than those who sit.
Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk and increase Metabolism
Sitting down for extended periods of time negatively affects the regulation of glucose levels in the blood stream, increasing the risk of diabetes and impacting your metabolism. Buying a sit-stand workstation provides you with the opportunity to keep your body engaged while your mind takes the lead on the work in front of you.
Increase your Cardio Output
Studies have shown adults who spent more than two hours per day sitting have as much as a 125 percent increased risk in cardiovascular-related health problems. For someone that is already at a higher risk of chest pain and heart attacks, a sit-stand desk workstation might be the right solution for you.
It Might Reduce your Risk of Some Types of Cancers
Breast cancer and colon cancer, according to current research, are the types of cancer most influenced by physical activity. Many assume a link between prolonged sitting and some cases of breast cancer and colon cancer in the United States. By engaging the body in a standing position, you continue to increase strength and endurance in the body, reducing the cancer risks associated with prolonged sitting.
Find Yourself more Engaged than Ever Before
The health benefits are just the beginning of the benefits of buying a sit-stand desk solutions. Engage your body in the same way you engage your mind, and build a stronger, leaner self. As a Canadian company, we offer sit-stand desk solutions at the lowest price. Any Canadian seeking sit-stand desk solutions are encouraged to browse through some of our options, including the award-winning PrimeCables Sit to Stand Adjustable Desk Riser ADRP for Monitor, or the Rocelco Height Adjustable Standing Monitor Desk Riser. Help support a Canadian business while you invest in your professional future and health. Buy today!


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My friends on Facebook, have you no shame?
99% of your friends, family, acquaintances and coworkers have already decided who they are voting for. Why must you slather the news feeds about "Romney did this so he's teh evil" or "Obama did this so he's teh evil"? You aren't changing any minds, aren't changing opinions about the candidates and only reinforce the opinions of others about you. Seriously, I quit Facebook for over a month because the news feeds were starting to get ridiculous. I started looking at it again last week and, wouldn't you know it, the attacks have only gotten worse. Of course, I do wish this were back in the 1800's still, so dueling could be legal. Some of you need to go out there, stand at 10 paces and throw 50 pound cinder blocks at one another (yes, that is what I mean by "bricks at dawn!").
Friends, countrymen (sorry to my Israeli friends; still love you guys over there), compatriots… shut up! Seriously, shut the hell up. I am so sick and tired of watching my conservative and liberal friends go at each other that I'm going to start randomly screaming at people the next time I see them just so I can say "And that's what my Facebook wall looked like for a damned year, you bastards!".
I polled my team and other coworkers a few months ago about who they were voting for, completely anonymous (they like their privacy, as do I). They were 22-5 (with 5 not voting). I asked around this week and it's… wait for it… 22-5 (with 5 not voting again). Nobody's opinion has changed. Why? Because they have already decided! The mythical "undecided voter" is like the unicorn — it doesn't exist. The majority of voters who say they are undecided are either embarrassed by who they are voting for or simply don't want people to know. Maybe 5% of "undecided" voters are truly undecided, and they will remain undecided no matter what you do. It'll be a last-minute "screw it, that guy" vote.
So… do you really want to lose friends on Facebook because you're trying to reach that %5 who you probably aren't even friends with?
I will tell you to go and vote. Tell others to vote. But for the love of all that's unholy, don't tell them who to vote for. That's their job. If they want to vote against your candidate, then that's their vote and you have no place to call them names because of it. They did their duty and voted. Just because they don't agree with you doesn't make them wrong, it makes them a part of the democratic process. Look, your opinion carries as much weight as the next guy's. It also stinks, just like the other guy's. Why? Because when you think you're right, there is someone who is always going to think that you're wrong, and vice versa. Deal with it.
And don't get into the argument about a republic vs. democracy. It's a waste of breath.
Oh, my vote? Unhappy Troglodyte 2012!


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In July of 1981, Def Leppard released their sophomore studio album titled, High 'n' Dry. It was released in the U.K. on July 6 and in the U.S. on July 11. That was 39 years ago, what the heck?!?!? This album not only helped the group establish their musical roots, but it also marked the first Def Leppard record to be produced by Mutt Lange. The first of three collaborations, the next two being Pyromania (1983) and Hysteria (1987); technically, Lange worked with them on Adrenalize (1992) too, but only as executive producer.
Back then, Def Leppard's sound was still loud and proud, incorporating melodic choruses and heavy guitar riffs. It's one of my favorite records of theirs, featuring classics such as "High 'n' Dry (Saturday Night)," "Another Hit and Run," "Lady Strange," "You Got Me Runnin,'" and the well-known "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" that slowly turns to "Switch 625."
Though a beloved album among many Def Leppard fans, it wasn't a success upon release. The U.K. press sure didn't help with the situation as they were upset that the band wanted to conquer the States. In general, 1981 was a weird year for Def Leppard; the tours weren't that great, they had no budget, they were still a band record labels were betting on, and hardly anybody wanted to interview them because Def Leppard was still an unknown band at the time. Nobody promoted them, it wasn't until Pyromania, that people were doing stuff to bring attention to them. Thankfully, "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" gained popularity after MTV started playing their video a year later.
I should also mention that High 'n' Dry is the last Def Leppard record to feature guitarist Pete Willis as a full-time member, he contributed parts on the following album. I got to give Willis credit for his work with the band because his solo on "High 'n' Dry (Saturday Night)" is so polished and very tasteful, one of my favorite guitar riffs for sure!
You can hear the difference in High 'n' Dry compared to their later albums; there's nothing quite like the head-banging, heavy metal, and hard-rocking style of this one. Thanks to Mutt Lange, Def Leppard gained their hard work and perseverance from High 'n' Dry, and it set them up for what was to come, as their career began to take off!
What is your favorite track from High 'n' Dry? Let me know in the comments below!
Take care and see ya real soon!


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Browse: DVD Video, Kurtág (composer)
Return to DVD Video.
Bach - Art of Fugue
interspersed with chamber works by Gyorgy Kurtag
Anner Bylsma (cello)
Keller Quartet
What a curious idea! In a recording of Bach's Art of Fugue are interspersed bits and pieces of works by the contemporary Hungarian composer Gyorgy Kurtag. It is not as if we get the entire Art... — More…
Leaving Home - Orchestral Music in the 20th Century
A Conducted Tour by Sir Simon Rattle. Volume 7 - Threads
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle