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Professor Keylor, who was named Chevalier de L'Ordre National du Mérite by the French government, gave a presentation on "France and America: The Love-Hate (Mostly Love) Relationship of Four Centuries," highlighting the ups and downs of the two countries' relations since the French provided essential support for the American war of independence. The only Western European country never to have fought against the United States, France is also the Western European country of greatest anti-Americanism. At the same time, the United States has experienced waves of Francophobia, most recently in 2003, when French Fries were replaced by Freedom Fries in the three House of Representatives cafeterias. Still, Professor Keylor suggested, more binds the two countries together than divides them, as four centuries of close relations make clear.
What divides them is often very funny, providing Sebastian Marx, a New Yorker who has lived in Paris for ten years, ready material to entertain a mixed French-American audience with stories of American adventures and misadventures in France.


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Water Damage
What Water Brings into Your Home
It seems that within just a moment you can find yourself knee-deep waters within your home. Most people are annoyed by water invasion but do not realize the severity of the problems that can arise in the result of water entering the home. Whether you find your room flooded from high rain, a broken pipe, or backed up sewage be sure to call a water extraction team as soon as possible to take care of the problem.
Water extraction companies can save you a lot of time and energy by taking care of the flooded room for you. Water extraction teams not only remove water for people but they also clean up disgusting messes left behind by water. When water enters the home it also brings in with it many other things from the outdoors. This includes things such as mud, garbage, and other unsanitary waste.
This means that even after water is removed from the building that there is still a lot of work required in getting your home back to normal. A proper clean up requires many backbreaking hours of washing and scrubbing the area clean. Water extraction services are well worth your money when considering all of the time and stress that you will be saved in the result of their help.
Our professionals understand that unwanted water can bring in harmful bacteria's into your home so they take extreme measures in order to make your home sanitary, ridding it from any health hazardous materials.
When dealing with water extraction it is important to know what water can bring into your home. Water extraction is a two-step process. First, you need to get rid of the water and then it is just as important if not more important to thoroughly clean the water damaged area. Flooding can be a very stressful time in one's life, but with the help of a water extraction team, your life and home can be restored to back to within just a day or two.
If you need water damage restoration or mold removal services, call 1-888-443-3110 now for 24-hour emergency response and a free, no-obligation estimate.

subset: commoncrawl


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Using animation, projections and her own moving shadow, Miwa Matreyek performs a gorgeous, meditative piece about inner and outer discovery. Take a quiet 10 minutes and dive in. With music from Anna Oxygen, Mirah, Caroline Lufkin and Mileece
Miwa Matreyek's work blurs the line between real and unreal. In live works that integrate animation, performance, and video installation, she explores how animation changes when it is combined with body and space (and vice versa). In her video projects, animation takes on a more physical and present quality, while body and space take on a more fantastical quality.
On one hand, Matreyek's performance can be viewed as a cinematic experience taking place on a screen. On the other hand, what is seen on the screen is a collapsed product of multiple layers of animation, objects and body. Her work exists in a juxtaposition of illusion and nonillusion. Matreyek is also a founding member of the performance media group Cloud Eye Control, which makes theatrical productions with cleverly integrated animation projections.
Music credits:
Shadow Hands scene song: Anna Oxygen
Island scene song: "Shells" by Mirah, (a)spera, K records
City scene song: Caroline Lufkin
Magic Hands scene song: Anna Oxygen
additional music by Mileece
The piece Matreyek performs at TEDGlobal 2010 is an abridgement of the work "Myth and Infrastructure."


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- Home >
- Auto Care /
- Do It Yourself /
- Guides /
- Recall Info
Haynes Tech Tips - Recall Info
Did you know the Federal government provides information on recalls and service bulletins?
We all know about recalls – when manufacturers fix safety-related problems free of charge. But there are also service bulletins that manufacturers distribute to their dealer mechanics, many of which identify known defects on specific models. Often, knowing this information can help you get your car fixed right.
Go to www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems. And never say the government hasn't done anything for you!


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2300 George Urban Blvd, Suite 3
Depew, NY 14043
Call Us
Phone: (716) 249-4999
Mon: Closed
Tue: 9:00AM-7:00PM
Wed: 9:00AM-7:00PM
Thu: 9:00AM-7:00PM
Fri: 8:00AM-4:00PM
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed
Thank you for visiting the New Era Dental website. We're located in Depew, NY and serve the surrounding area. We offer an array of dental services, including examinations, X-rays, dental implants and oral sedation. Call us today at 716-249-4999, or send us a message using the form below. We look forward to making you smile!


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Our God is a giving God. He loves to give good gifts to His children. His gifts, being good, will always be beneficial. They help us to live the best life we can.
That is not to say our lives will be trouble free but that God's gifts enable us to live above that trouble.
That is not to say our lives will be trouble free but that God's gifts enable us to live above that trouble.
In Matthew 7:11 Jesus told His disciples: So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.
It is important to settle this matter in our hearts before we approach the matter of the very first gift God gave after Jesus left earth because many, many people have attributed God's good gifts to the devil & called them evil. How like satan to malign God's character in this way & lead people to believe his lies!
We cannot think of God in the same way that we think of people. His character is not a mix of good & bad, righteousness & evil. Rather This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 1 John 1:5 This is the essence of His Holiness, of being supremely unique. He is untainted by anything evil. All His judgments are righteous.
I want us to be very clear in our own minds so that we do not become confused about the gift of the Holy Spirit. He was given for a very specific purpose but His job description depends on whether you are God's child or God's enemy.
If you are God's enemy the Holy Spirit's job is to convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment, [John 16:8] but if you are a child of God Jesus promised in John 16:7 But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
Jesus understood something fundamental about people: They are like sheep. They are easily led astray. They like things that are bad for them ~ just ask any shepherd! They know their own shepherd. So Jesus understood that if He left His disciples as orphans they would be easily led astray & go after things that are bad for them ~ but if He left them a shepherd they would follow their shepherd.
With this in mind He instructed them: "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before." Acts 1:4
Fifty days after Passover that gift arrived. For 40 of those days, according to Luke, Jesus was still around giving His final instructions to His disciples & proving to them that He was indeed very much alive. [Acts 1:1~3] Then at Shavuot, or Pentecost, about 120 believers were gathered in the upper room of the house where they were staying when the Holy Spirit suddenly arrived ~ & He didn't do it quietly. He didn't do it decorously. He didn't slink in through the back door. No!
He arrived with a sound like the roaring of a mighty windstorm. He filled the house. He appeared as of fire & the believers began to speak in tongues. It was noisy. It was messy, it was in your face. They came running from all over Jerusalem to see what was going on & what was going on was weird enough for them to declare the disciples drunk!
We need to set aside our ideas of who we think God is, what He does & how He acts & listen to what He says, & does & is! He is not always decorous. He is not cute & cuddly. He will not wink at your sin. He does not abide by the traditions of man when He comes into your life. He comes as God. He comes with power & authority & majesty.
Turn with me to the gospel of John, chapter 14. Here we find Jesus instructing about the Holy Spirit. V 17 ~ Who leads into all Truth….The Greek word *truth* is alētheia & refers specifically to divine truth as revealed to man & the practice of gospel truth. It is the Holy Spirit who confirms in our hearts the truth about Jesus Christ. This truth has a very specific role to play in our Christian lives: It makes us holy ~ hagiazō [John17:17] when we become doers of the word. Hearing & doing are meant to go together in the believer's life. If we hear but do not obey how are we Jesus' disciples? For a disciple models themselves on their teacher.
The Holy Spirit will also *teach you everything & will remind you of everything I have told you.* V26 According to Jesus [16:13] the Holy Spirit will not speak on His own accord but will tell you what He has heard…whatever He receives from me…That being the case we can easily check if something we believe we have received from God is or is not from Him because it will align up with the Word of God. It will not say something different because God does not change. God has not changed His mind about sin just because the world chooses to redefine what is or is not right. The world is notorious for getting this sort of thing wrong.
Consider for a moment how Israel manages not only to survive but to thrive in the midst of her enemies. She still adheres to God's Torah & so God can bless her.
Proverbs 3:6~7 says Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. If we lean on our own understanding & do what seems right in our own eyes we will miss the mark.
The Holy Spirit has been given to strengthen us that we won't abandon our faith.[16:1] Jesus warned very clearly, very specifically that as the world hated him without cause [15:25], so too would it hate those who believed in Him. [15:18]
Sin loves company. It validates the sinner's wrongdoing but righteousness is prepared to stand alone ~ & that is almost impossible to do unless the Holy Spirit strengthens us because we all want to be liked & accepted, yet Jesus said: "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell." [Matthew 10:28]
Here is a list of other things the Holy Spirit does:
· He teaches – John 14:26
· He testifies – John 15:26
· He guides – Rom. 8:14
· He speaks – 1 Cor. 2:13
· He enlightens – John 16:13
· He strives – Gen. 6:3
· He commands – Acts 8:28
· He intercedes – Rom. 8:26
· He sends workers – Acts 13:4
· He calls – Rev. 22:17
· He comforts – John 16:7
· He works – 1 Cor. 12:11
I am not going to expound on all of them. Most are self~explanatory but they serve to show how widespread the work of the Holy Spirit is in our lives. What I do want to draw your attention to is the complementary work of God the Father, Jesus the son & the Holy Spirit. God sent His son so that we might be reconciled with Him through the blood of Jesus. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit so that we might know the Truth & walk in it & then the Holy Spirit also gives gifts that we might do the work to which we are called.
The Holy Spirit manifests in 2 major ways in our lives. As we grow in the knowledge & truth of our Lord & saviour, Jesus Christ, we will more & more see evidence in our lives of the fruit of the Holy Spirit at work in us. Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! If we are not seeing fruit there is something very, very wrong & we need to address that.
The other way the Holy Spirit manifests is through the gifts He imparts & here is why we need to be very clear about what we believe about God. Is He good? Does He give good gifts to those who ask? If the answer is yes then we have no reason to fear the gifts of the Holy Spirit because Paul's instruction is clear: Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives ~ especially the ability to prophesy. [1Cor. 14:1]
See Jesus also gave gifts. He gave them to the church according to Ephesians 4:11: Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors & teachers. Their job is to equip God's people to do His work & build up the church…[v12] but the body can't do its work unless they are equipped by the Holy Spirit. It is foolishness to argue God only gave these gifts to the apostles or to the 1st century church! Has God's work of saving souls changed? Has He assigned a different agenda to this century?
And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone…. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. Mark:~15/17
It is not ever us who heals or prophesies or casts out a demon. It is Jesus Christ in us through His Holy Spirit! We do not elevate men. We glorify Christ in us who wishes to set all men free.
As we come to communion we are instructed to remember Jesus death & resurrection until He comes again. Part of that remembering is to give thanks for everything he has done for us: Redeemed us, transferred us out of satan's kingdom, washed away our sins, imparted His righteousness, given us His Holy Spirit to stay with us as friend & comforter & enpowerer until Jesus returns for us.
As you come to communion remember all things are to be found in Jesus Christ for in Him we live & move & have our being. [Acts 17:28] His Holy Spirit resides in us so if, in any way, you have grieved Him, if you have quenched His leading, humble yourselves & ask forgiveness. If you need a fresh anointing, an outpouring of the Spirit in your life, acknowledge your need & humbly ask Him. His greatest desire is to magnify Christ to you, to reveal Christ to you that your love for Him might increase & the Kingdom of God reign upon earth.


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Do you have a homeowners association story to share? Let us know
Have you had positive or negative experiences to share about your homeowners association?
Kansas City Star reporters would like to hear them. We plan to select some of the best to publish, so please include your name and phone number to allow us to call you back if we plan to use your story.
Please send your story to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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A FORMER Shields Gazette reporter-turned-author has written her latest book with the help of an unusual source – her readers.
Bea Davenport's new children's novel, My Cousin Faustina, was produced as part of a scheme to encourage children to read.
Bea wrote a chapter a week for the project, which was then published online for children in schools around the world.
At the end of each chapter she gave the pupils three options for what the characters would do next and the youngsters voted for their favourite plotline.
Bea, from Berwick, Northumberland, then wrote the next chapter based on the votes. She said: "It was quite a challenge and very different from the way my books are normally written.
"It was a great way to interact with the readers, and I've made friends with schools and children as far away as Australia.
I love writing, especially for children, and this gave the whole process added interest.Bea Davenport
"I love writing, especially for children, and this gave the whole process added interest."
My Cousin Faustina, published by ReadZone, was written as part of the project run by British interactive e-book firm Fiction Express and is out now in paperback.
She added: "Another exciting thing was that the readers can comment on the Fiction Express blog.
"So every day I would get messages from children saying how much they were enjoying the story and telling me what they liked about it. That was very rewarding indeed."
In the fast-paced and spooky novel, life is perfect for golden boy Jez until he comes home one day to find a mysterious girl in his kitchen.
Faustina claims to be a distant cousin and charms everyone around her – except for Jez, whose life suddenly gets worse and worse. And then he discovers just what Faustina is up to.
Bea added: "Fiction Express has won an award for its innovation and the thought that this helped to encourage reluctant readers to pick up a book is wonderful."
The book is the second children's novel penned by Bea, the writing name of former journalist Barbara Henderson.
Her first, The Serpent House, was written as part of her creative writing PhD at Newcastle University, and was published by Curious Fox.
She has also written two adult crime novels, In Too Deep and This Little Piggy, both published by Legend Press.
Twitter: @ShieldsGazVicki


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Recent years have seen an explosion in the number of briefs amicus curiae filed in the U.S. Supreme Court. Many such briefs make empirical claims based upon purported facts that do not appear in the record generated at the trial level. My colleague Allison Orr Larsen has studied the role of Supreme Court fact-finding, including the Court's willingness in some cases to rely upon untested factual assertions drawn from such amicus briefs. She offered the following observations about the role of amicus-based fact-finding (or lack thereof) as illustrated by two recent Supreme Court decisions: Hobby Lobby v. Burwell and Riley v. California.
"Over 60 amici curiae ('friends of the Court') filed briefs in the Supreme Court's controversial Hobby Lobby case this Term. In discussing and dismissing an argument made in one of them, Justice Alito said something that merits a pause. One amicus brief argued, in support of the government's position, that the penalty Hobby Lobby would have to pay for not covering its employees' health insurance would actually be less than the cost of providing health insurance in the first place. As a result, this brief said, Hobby Lobby could avoid the challenged mandate and still be better off than it was before the ACA and its implementing regulations. If this fact is true, it is quite significant to the Court's analysis. Much of Justice Alito's reasoning for why Hobby Lobby's religious beliefs were 'substantially burdened' by the contraception mandate depended on the 'economic consequences' that would follow if it did not comply with the law.
Justice Alito dismissed the amicus claim, however, because, he said, 'we do not generally entertain arguments that were not raised below and are not advanced to the Court by any party.' He added that this was particularly a bad place to credit the off the record factual assertion because the amici's argument was 'intensely empirical' (which, as all lawyers recognize, sounds a bit like 'there is too much math in here.')
This descriptive statement by Justice Alito about Supreme Court practice is simply incorrect. As I have documented before, independent judicial research – research beyond the records and outside of the party briefs – is very common at the Supreme Court. See Larsen, Confronting Supreme Court Fact Finding, 98 Va Law Rev 1255 (2012). In fact, Justice Alito himself was actually called out by Justice Scalia for his 'considerable independent research' on violent video games when the Court found such games protected by the First Amendment a few terms ago. Nor have the Justices been shy about citing 'intensely empirical' amicus briefs or even their own independently-discovered empirical studies in the past on subjects as varied as economics, medicine, psychology, and even terrorism-funding practices. In short, they do it all the time.
Amicus briefs in particular are a rich resource for the Justices to find factual support for their opinions. As I argue in a forthcoming article, The Trouble with Amicus Facts, the Court is now inundated with eleventh-hour, untested, advocacy-motivated claims of factual expertise. And, contrary to Justice Alito's claim, the Justices are listening. In fact one does not have to look far back in time for a ready example. Mere days before the Hobby Lobby decision, a unanimous Court held in Riley v. California that the police may not generally search digital information on a cell phone incident to an arrest. In so doing, the Court rejected the government's claim that such a search was necessary to prevent the destruction of evidence. All the police need to do, the Court tells us, is to isolate the phone from radio waves in bags that are essentially made of aluminum foil. The authority the Court cites for this? An amicus brief filed by criminal law professors (good ones at that, some from my own institution).
Whether or not the facts in these amicus briefs are credible and regardless of whether it is a good idea or a bad idea to avoid fact-finding beyond what the parties provide, the larger point here is about inconsistency. As the Justices are flooded with factual information, and while the amicus business grows in size, this problem is only going to get more significant. We should expect some sort of procedural uniformity when the Court is pressed with and surrounded by factual claims from new places. This practice of 'amicus opportunism' – we credit them when we want to and dismiss them when we don't – is troubling to say the least."


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Liverpool set to loan Bologna their former Real Madrid youth starlet Rafael Paez
LIVERPOOL youngster Rafael Paez is set to join Bologna on a season-long loan deal.
According to reports, the defender will join the Italian club on a temporary deal with a fixed £2.4m fee in place if they wish to make the move permanent.
A statement on Serie B Bologna's website confirmed the details of the move.
It said: "The Bologna FC 1909 announces that it has reached an agreement with Liverpool FC for the transfer of rossoblù defender Rafael Paez on a temporary basis with a right of redemption."
Spanish-born Paez joined the Merseysiders on a free transfer last summer from Real Madrid after he impressed during a trial spell.
The 19-year-old can perform at centre-back and full-back and he has featured 15 times for the Reds' U-21 side.
He is lauded by Liverpool for his "positioning sense and strength at the back".
Paez was set to find himself even further down Liverpool's pecking order following the arrivals of Dejan Lovren and Javier Manquillo.
Bologna were relegated from Serie A last season and will be looking to return to the top flight.


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Ariché Dwellings
For indigenous rural population, Tarahumara country
The architecture of excavation promotes a self-build modular growing scheme. The excavated place turns into a sustainable oasis.
The site´s topography is modified. An excavation strategy allows the necessary earth material to make adobe bricks, hand crafted by the owners they consolidate the main retaining wall, this element is created by two families and constitutes the key structural element in the project.
Steel beam, donation of the nearby industry, provides the capacity to modulated adjacent to the adobe wall, growing modules. A "Tecorral" wall made of residual self-supported site stone, divides the harvesting cultivation areas and protect the dwellings and crops from desert wind storms.
At the observer´s level, the project is presented as interlaced landscape-tecorral walls. Taller walls at the water-septic unit allow harvested residuals to be kept as a compost / decompose place.
Design Architect: Paul Cremoux W.
Client: DIL int. Vivienda.
Municipio de Urique, Chihuahua.
Gobierno Federal.


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4th Annual Firebird Gala
Guests Enjoy Evening of Slavic Entertainment, Food and Culture
CHICAGO, November 16, 2016 – The Moscow Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International (CSCI) was proud to present the Fourth Annual Firebird Gala, an elegant evening celebrating Slavic cultural heritage. Hosted by Moscow Committee Co-Chairs Aleksandra Efimova and Prince Piotr Galitzine, over 130 guests attended the gala at the Chicago Union League Club (65 W. Jackson Boulevard).
The highlight of the evening was a special performance by Albina Shagimuratova, the world-renowned coloratura soprano who most currently starred in the title role in Lucia di Lamermoor at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She gave a stunning performance of "The Nightingale" by Alexandr Alyabyev that brought the crowd to their feet with cheers of "Brava!".
There were three other fantastic performances by A&A Ballet, Vitrychencko Gymnastics Academy, and Jesse Donner (tenor) and Mario Anotnio (pianist) of the Patrick G. & Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, performing Lensky's Aria from Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin.
Guests finished dinner with a dessert of traditional Russian Pavlova and took home a special party favor of matryoshka dolls, filled with small bottles of Russian vodka.
"The Moscow Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International was delighted to celebrate the important cultural contributions of the Slavic community here in Chicago and around the world," said Aleksandra Efimova, Co-Chair of the Moscow Committee of CSCI. "We look forward to continuing to highlight Slavic heritage and creating cultural connections that continue to bring us closer together as a global community."
Proceeds of the event benefited the work of the Moscow Committee of CSCI and the Firebird Scholarship Fund. The Annual Firebird Scholarship Fund was created to support local students and schools. This year marked the inaugural scholarship and was award to two of the evening's performers, A&A Ballet and Vitrychencko Gymnastics Academy.
In addition, during the morning and afternoon of November 3, the Moscow Committee of CSCI presented the 4th Annual Eurasian Business Forum in partnership with Baker & McKenzie LLP, held at their offices. Distinguished speakers and panelists from Eurasia and the United States addressed key issues and trends of the current investment climate in the region, including Alexis Rodzianko, President and CEO, American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, and Aleksander Y. Stadnik, Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the USA.
For more information, visit ChicagoSisterCities.com, FirebirdGala.org and Eurasian-Forum.org.


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Special Cruise Offers
Live la dolce vita this summer on an Italy and Croatia sailing cruise with Star Clippers
Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers is offering special package prices on three culture and romance-packed itineraries this summer, departing in July and August and exploring the exquisite coastlines of Croatia, Montenegro, Corfu and southern Italy.
Each cruise, either from Venice to Rome or Rome to Venice, is aboard the cruise line's flagship, the graceful, five-masted Royal Clipper, calling at chic yachting ports along the Croatian coast, as well as beautiful Kotor in Montenegro, the lush Greek island of Corfu and several ports in Italy, among them romantic Taormina in Sicily; the jetset island of Capri; and Ponza, a popular weekend retreat for yachting fans.
The July 31 departure also visits Piran in Slovenia, a port undiscovered by most cruise lines.
The 11-day voyages allow plenty of time to relax on the sun-warmed teak decks, gazing up at thousands of feet of wind-filled sails, or sipping a cocktail in the al fresco Tropical Bar, or sprawling in the bowsprit nets, keeping a lookout for dolphins.
Each itinerary includes a day at sea, too, during which guests can try activities like mast climbing.
The three Royal Clipper sailing dates are:
Prices include return British Airways flights from London, transfers, 11 nights' full board on the ship in a Category 6 cabin and watersports where possible at beach stops.
Star Clippers: 0845 200 6145, www.starclippers.co.uk
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About Behind the Numbers
Welcome to Behind the Numbers, a look inside the data that helps define political activity and debates. Behind the Numbers will feature looks at interesting bits of information from polls, votes and campaign finance data -- much of it collected by The Washington Post and washingtonpost.com, but also from external sources. We aim to highlight interesting trends, new findings and analysis for our readers, complementing The Post's extensive coverage of politics by bringing to life facets of the data. Some days that will mean delving into the results of the latest poll, while on others it will mean a brief analysis of voting patterns in Congress.
The contributors for Behind the Numbers include Jon Cohen and Jennifer Agiesta of The Post's polling staff and washingtonpost.com Database Editor Derek Willis, a co-developer of our Congress Votes Database. We want to hear from you, both in the comments and via email.
By Derek Willis |
April 9, 2007; 8:45 AM ET
Previous: Blue Dogs Sticking With the Party |
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User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.


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In a guest post at Kaid Benfield's Switchboard blog (of NRDC), Rachel Sohmer very nicely describes the issues around street connectivity, using a childhood example about how the suburban dead-ends and cul-de-sacs made even short trips "as the crow flies" long given all the obstacles. The below figures show the difference more street connections can make.
Rachel gives an excerpt from a piece by Charlottesville transportation planner Hannah Tradwell:
Regardless of their size, communities can realize three major benefits from better connectivity: shorter trips; a wider variety of travel choices; and more cost-effective public services and infrastructure. Creating more direct connections shortens travel time, which effectively brings people closer to their destinations. With more available connections, community residents can get to schools, shopping centers, and other spots that may have simply been off their radar before — not because these places were too far away, but because they were too far out of the way.
I would definitely add parks to this list. Excellent parks are accessible parks. The way they interact with the street grid is integral to this. Take two parks in the Twin Cities, Minn. metro (but this could be Anycity, U.S.A.). One is Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis (below, left), surrounded by the grid and the other is Colonial Park (below, right) in the nearby suburb Burnsville. Nearly 100 percent of the first park is accessible by the grid, and the latter is at most five percent accessible via the streets. In this suburban environment with plenty of backyard space, this might work — but if we are to build more compact, walkable cities and densify our suburbs, the need for an accessible park more like the one on the left is much greater.
Filed under: planning | Tagged: accessibility, suburbs |


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Friday, August 7, 2009
I'm On The Radio!
An interview --with me!
And not just any interview. A radio interview where you can actually hear my voice. (cue scary music)
KS Augustin was crazy enough to put me on her radio program, Radio Free Bliss and although she threatened to make me sound like Daffy Duck, Kaz behaved herself and substituted a voice that instead was very close to my own. [wipes brow] Phew! Dodged that bullet.
On this interview we talked about everything from books, early retirement, marriage, and even the lions I hear every evening. It was a blast!
Authors, I highly recommend contacting KS Augustin if you think you'd be good fodder for an interview. Her style is easy going and comfortable. Even though I was nervous and scared out of my wits, she was wonderful at making me feel at home.
Go take a listen and let me know what you think.
We'll resume regular programming next week when I've had a chance to catch my breath--and find the last of my software.
4 comments:
- Jannette Johnson said...
That is so cool! And I have to ask, did you sound like you thought you did?
- August 7, 2009 at 7:29 AM
- Maria Zannini said...
Due to the sound equipment, my voice on the radio is just a tiny bit lower than it is in real life. But I noticed my accent has evolved a bit since the last time I heard myself on a recorded medium. I guess I lost most of the 'Chicago' I started out with. LOL!
- August 7, 2009 at 8:30 AM
- Marianne Arkins said...
I was a sweaty mess after my interview on Rowena Cherry's show... lol... And I was the only one without an accent. Rowena has her lovely British one, and Judy has a southern. I felt a little left out.
You gonna get yourself a southern one after a bit?
- August 9, 2009 at 5:48 AM
- Maria Zannini said...
LOL. I've lived in the south more than 33 years. If it hasn't happened by now, I guess it won't happen now.
I had a dear British friend who lived in Texas more than 50 years and she sounded as if she'd just arrived. Sometimes you can't beat it out of us.
- August 9, 2009 at 6:29 AM


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"Truly Amazing"
You've all been to doctors and dermatologists who have prescribed steroids, creams, antibiotics and drugs that did nothing …
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Janice Landon
April 2019


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Out of 36 dispensary applications, 29 now in business on Westside
When Colorado Springs City Council set a June 30 deadline for businesses wanting to operate - or to keep operating - medical marijuana dispensaries, 172
applications for that purpose were submitted (at a cost of $500 each) before the cut-off.
Of those, 36 had Westside addresses. Today, all but seven of them are in business, based on exterior reviews by the Westside Pioneer in the past week. Of the seven not open, two intend to be, according to their signs; and five either never opened or have since closed.
The Pioneer review also factored in a proposal earlier this year by the Organization of Westside Neighbors (OWN) - that dispensaries should not be less than 500 feet from homes, churches and schools. Of the 29 now open on the Westside, only 10 fulfill that criteria.
Of the 19 dispensaries that don't, all are clearly less than 100 feet from nearby houses, and 9 are next door to them.
The Pioneer review did not check on the status of manufacturing or grow locations that also required applications by July 1.
For a site-by-site listing, see the table on this page.
Note: In the July 22 Westside Pioneer that included a listing of all the names and addresses listed on applications to the city to establish Westside dispensaries, it was stated there were 38 such businesses on the Westside, not 36. These resulted from the following:
These fixes have been or will be made in the Pioneer website's archives.
Westside Pioneer article


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At its heart, 24 Carrot aims to sow seeds of lifelong learning in the areas of health, wellbeing and sustainability. Promoting the benefits of healthy eating and staying active is also a key health promotion message that staff at the Royal Hobart Hospital Emergency Department care deeply about.
The Royal Hobart Hospital Emergency Department (RHH ED) plays a vital role in the Southern Tasmanian community,community; seeing over 55,000 patients each year, a high percentage of whom them are from the same communities we work with in our 24 Carrot Garden schools.
ImaginED is a unique and innovative project created together by Staff at the RHH ED and Hobart-based artist Sara Wright. ImaginED wants to see the community take an active role in changing the ED public space through exciting art projects and human intervention, and explores how the staff can work together with consumers of the service to improve the Emergency Department experience for all.
Staff at the ED see over 180 patients daily and 20% of whom are patients are under the age of 16. 24 Carrot Gardens and ImaginED hope to make the waiting in the ED more engaging for kids and families, and to open up a discussion in our communities about what it means to make healthy choices for our bodies. This activity also gives the 24 Carrot Garden communities the opportunity to look after children and families who use the Emergency Department.
Our first collaborative installation took place in the RHH ED. The exhibition featured drawings and paintings from six of our schools themed on 'My Favourite Vegetable' linking in with the key health promotion message of the RHH: eat more veggies!


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Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis 'Harve'
Height: 35-45′
Spread: 30-35′
Spread: Symmetrical & upright, spreading more as it ages
Foliage: Dark green
Fall Foliage: Yellow
Exposure: Full sun
Zone: 3-6
This cultivar was developed at NDSU, where it outperformed other honeylocust cultivars in winter hardiness. Thornless and seedless, it has a rather upright form similar to Skyline®, and gradually widens with age. This sturdy, vigorous tree is quite drought resistant as well.
Deer and drought tolerant!


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PEMF – Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy
What if magnets could accelerate healing? If that sounds unrealistic, you don't know PEMF. Pulsed Electromagnetic field therapy is the use of magnets to create pulsing and the movement of energy. The energy waves created could change the way your body manages pain.
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Pulsed Electromagnetic field therapy or PEMF, is a FDA approved reparative technique commonly used by integrative medical practitioners to treat non-union fractures and to reduce swelling and joint pain. PEMF uses directed pulses through injured tissue to stimulate cellular repair.
For over 60 years, doctors have used pulsed magnetic fields (PMFs) across bone fractures to accelerate the healing process. The idea for PEMF derived from radio frequency (RF) diathermy, which had been used to produce heat in soft tissue. Today, PEMFs are used alone or with other therapies to help cells rebalance faster.
PEMF works to:
- Reduce pain & inflammation
- Improve energy
- Balance the immune system
- Accelerate repair of bone and soft tissue
- Relax Muscles
PEMF treatments also improve circulation, blood and tissue oxygenation, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
Certain health problems require higher field intensities than others. Likewise, some conditions may require a broader range of frequencies while others require just a single frequency. Many patients experience some signs of improvement within the first one to two weeks of treatment. However, results may come more slowly for some, at which point the practitioner would adjust treatment protocol.
As far back as 200 B.C. Greek physician Galen noted the powers of magnetism in his book De Simplicum Medicamentorum Temperamentis Ac Facultatibus. In China magnetic therapy has been practiced since around 2000 B.C. as noted in The Yellow Emperor's Book of Internal Medicine. At the end of the 19th Century, Albert Einstein showed that electricity and magnetism are not discrete phenomena, but different aspects of the same phenomenon. Medical textbooks began including magnetism and electricity as therapeutic alternatives for insomnia, fatigue, arthritis, pain and convulsion.
Modern clinical application of electro-biology hit North America in 1971 when Friedenberg described success in treating a nonunion fracture with 10 micro amps of direct current delivered via stainless steel electrodes.
Dr. Andrew Bassett at Columbia University medical Center introduced a new approach that employed biphasic low frequency electromagnetic signals. In 1979 the FDA allowed electromagnetic fields to be used in the USA for non-union and delayed union fractures. Ten years later the FDA approved its use for pain and edema in superficial soft tissues.
Today PEMF it is accepted as a treatment for healing fractures, providing pain relief, and addressing muscle tone and spasm.
Science has proven that a body projects its own magnetic fields, and that each of our cells communicate via electromagnetic frequencies. When the electromagnetic activity of the body stops, life stops. A disruption in the electromagnetic energy in cells causes impaired cell metabolism, which can be fixed by PEMFs.
PEMF treatments deliver beneficial, health-enhancing EMFs and frequencies to cells. As these frequencies pass through the body, they stimulate electrical and chemical processes in our tissues. PEMF therapy is designed to support cellar energy, creating better cellular health and function.
Risks & Side Effects
In studies some side effects have been reported including nausea, feelings of light headedness, diarrhea, and heavy menstrual periods. However, it is unclear whether these side effects were caused by the magnetic therapy. Those who are pregnant, have epilepsy, or currently have a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator should avoid PEMF treatment. Consult with your doctor before opting for PEMF treatments.
Markov MS. Expanding use of pulsed electromagnetic field therapies. Electromagn Biol Med. 2007;26(3):257-74.
Nelson F, et al., The use of a specific pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) in treating early knee osteoarthritis. Trans 56th Annual Orthopedic Research Society Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2010), p. 1034.
Pilla, et al., Electromagnetic fields as first messenger in biological signaling: Application to calmodulin-dependent signaling in tissue repair, Biochim. Biophys. Acta (2011), 2011 Oct 8;1810(12):1236-1245.
Rosch P, et al., Bioelectromagnetic medicine. New York: Marcel Dekker, 2004.
Encyclopedia Britannica Vol. 18 15th Ed. 1991/
Pemf.com: "History."
WebMD.com: "Magnet Therapy: Side Effects & Safety."


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Jeri Southern, (August 5, 1926 - August 4, 1991) was an American jazz pianist and singer. She signed with Decca Records in 1951 and became known both for pop and jazz. The 1950s saw her at the height of her career. In 1955 her recording of "An Occasional Man", reached #89 in the Billboard pop chart. In that decade she sang in a few films and in 1957 she had a Top 30 hit with "Fire Down Below." The track peaked at #22 in the UK Singles Chart in June 1957. After her switch to Capitol Records she had success doing interpretations of Cole Porter with Billy May arranging some of the more humorous examples.
Wikipedia | Web Site | Search Amazon.com for Jeri Southern


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As you try more and more escape rooms, you'll inevitably find yourself in both private escape rooms and public escape rooms. A public escape room is an escape game where you buy a ticket per person and are paired with other individuals who bought tickets for that same time slot. A private escape room is an escape game where you purchase admission for a whole group either at a flat rate or a tiered rate and no strangers can join your time slot.
At Quicksand Escape Games, we offer private escape games with tiered pricing (the price per person decreases as you bring more people). We dipped our toes in public games early on but made the switch to private escape rooms and never looked back.
Public escape rooms can be great experiences but they can also be very not-great experiences. Our sentiments are likely similar to others who have played both private and public, while public games can be fine, we've never met a customer who preferred being paired with strangers to their own private game if/when given the choice.
Common public escape room problems:
- Matched with very experienced players as an inexperienced player
- Matched with very inexperienced players as an experienced player
- Matched with very large groups or families as a couple or small group
- Matched with young children
- Matched with...unpleasant people
- Matched with two, three or even four different groups in one room
- Matched with drunk people
- Expecting to be matched up with more people in a difficult room and finding you're the only one booked
And the list goes on. Perhaps you can luck out and get matched with your future best friends but you probably have a better chance at one of the scenarios above. With a private escape room, you choose your team and you know exactly what you're getting.
We'd never rule out a few public escape rooms on our schedule, but generally speaking, private is preferred. You'll feel more comfortable communicating with each other without having to worry about being polite. You know each other's strengths and weaknesses. You'll end up working faster and smarter, and ultimately have a better chance at escaping!
Escape Room Pro Tips
At Quicksand Escape Games, we use the term "pre-solve" to describe when a player comes up with a well thought out theory about an eventual next step. You may figure out exactly what you need to do, but don't yet have the tools or final piece of the puzzle to complete it. When you do find that final piece, you will be well on your way. When pre-solving, be sure not to lose sight that a theory is a theory and don't get too hung up on something too long.
Did you just find a 2"x2" red ball with two blue dots on it? Tell everyone. Maybe that's exactly what your teammates have been waiting to find. It may seem like overkill but communicating what you've done and what you've found can save the team precious time in an escape room. It also prevents some teammates from spending time with items or puzzles that have already been solved. The better you communicate, the more cohesive and cooperative your escape room team becomes.
Always have your teammates' backs. Everyone makes mistakes, right? Borrowing from the first tip, don't assume your teammate is infallible. Whether it's double-checking a drawer or shelf or double-checking a combination/code you solved, don't hesitate to confirm what a teammate has told you. It may seem inefficient at times but too often a teammate will mishear the code they were tasked with inputting or excitedly forget to keep searching after finding a clue in a particular spot.
Don't Ignore Hints
Though different escape rooms in San Diego and across the globe have different methods and rules on hints, they all offer them in some way. When you ask for and/or receive a hint, don't ignore it. Unless the moderator is trying to waste your time, which would be pretty lousy, hints are given when they are given to push you towards a next step. While its always more fun to get it on your own, taking hints helps you progress and see more of the escape game, which is the best part.
Feel like you could take on any escape room now? Check out our schedule for the next available escape room at Quicksand Escape Games.
Kids and Escape Rooms
Do you have kids? Have you been hearing about escape rooms but haven't had a chance to try them because you have kids at home? Or maybe it's your kids that have been nagging you to bring them to an escape room? Either way, you're in luck!
All of our escape games are family friendly, meaning you can bring your kids with you to play. We recommend kids ages 12 and up, but we have had plenty of younger kids play with their families. We've had a few 9 and 10 year olds finding clues quicker than their parents and solving puzzles that seem to stump the others. We've had some 4 year olds who don't contribute as much to the puzzle solving but they certainly share in the escape room excitement with their families. Teens, especially, have an absolute blast. While adults look for reasons why a solution to a puzzle won't work, kids are busy listing all the ways it can. It is truly remarkable how effective a good imagination can be for solving an escape room!
An escape room is a great way to disconnect from your phones, strengthen your communication, and make new memories as a family. We've had families come through who have done many escape rooms together, and look forward to the next one.
If you choose to bring your kids with you and you can allow them to have their own fun for a few hours. G3kids, a gymnastics and athletic gym for kids, is just one block away from us, at 934 Garnet Ave. They offer a special "Parent's Night Off" every Friday night from 6:00-10:00pm where you can drop your kids off at their open gym and the instructors provide structured games, movies, and pizza. Pick them up after your own game and dinner, and everyone has fun!
Kids or not, our escape rooms are a lot of fun. Hopefully we'll see you soon!
Do you love to travel? (We do.) Escape rooms are the perfect activity for those who travel a lot. We did a lot of traveling last year across the country, and found ourselves playing an escape room or multiple escape rooms in each city we visited.
Because you can only play each escape room once, eventually you will run out of games in your hometown. That's why traveling to different cities to play escape games in the next evolution of play. We try to play at least two escape rooms in each city we visit. It's a great, fun, activity to add to your schedule that doesn't involve eating or drinking. It takes only an hour or so of your time, so you can still fit in (...take a break from...) your parks, museums, or whatever spots called you to that city in the first place.
Being in the heart of San Diego's Pacific Beach neighborhood, we've had so many tourists visit us (have you seen the pins on our map?). We meet so many escape room addicts from Los Angeles that have exhausted all the escape rooms in LA and have ventured down south to hit us. It's also so great to see when we have visitors from all over the country/world that have played hundreds of escape games throughout the country/world that have found us to add to their list.
It's just as special when first time players find us on TripAdvisor and decide to give escape rooms a try. These newbies are so blown away that they can't wait to try all the ones in their hometown. Our favorite is when our visitors have so much fun playing one of our escape rooms that they book our other escape room immediately after or return the next day. We've been told that Quicksand has been the highlight of their San Diego vacation.
Keep in mind that some escape games in major cities, where there aren't many companies, fill up days in advance. So when you're planning your trip, make sure to check their schedule to reserve a spot that fits best with your busy itinerary.
We just came back from a quick getaway to Palm Springs where we played two rooms at Escape Room Palm Springs. Some of our favorites across the country have been The Escape Game in Nashville and Austin, and Trapology in Boston. We'll keep you posted on more of our favorites as we travel more and try new escape rooms. Hopefully when you visit Quicksand Escape Games, we'll be your favorite escape room in San Diego!
To say Pacific Beach, San Diego is going through a culinary renaissance may be a bit over the top but the quality of places to grab a great beer or delicious meal have increased significantly in just the past few years.
We know at Quicksand Escape Games how important the pre- and post- escape room meals are and below are some of the newest, best, most unique, places for grub in our neighborhood.
These are just a handful of our newest favorites and do not include all the great places near us at Quicksand Escape Games.
From humble beginnings dating back to 1885, Pacific Beach has grown into one of the most desirable neighborhoods in San Diego. Along with Mission Beach, the area boasts one of the longest beaches on the west coast.
A lot has changed since 1885. With each passing day Pacific Beach renews itself with new things to do, places to visit, and restaurants to try. We started Quicksand Escape Games in order to be part of the in-progress positive change to the community and provide the neighborhood with a friendly complement/alternative to a day at the beach or a night at the bar.
Historically, Pacific Beach has hosted some unique activities that a current visitor or local may be surprised by. Some of the more notable attractions have included:
Today, there are less attractions like these in Pacific Beach as rents have increased and the neighborhood is thriving on it's outdoor activities like surf lessons, bike rentals and Segway tours as well as its huge, varied selection of places to get food and drink. Check out or other article to read more about some of the best restaurants in Pacific Beach.
With two escape rooms open in Pacific Beach and a third slated to open by the end of the Summer, we at Quicksand Escape Games hope we can become Pacific Beach's next Roxy Theater or "Pleasure Pier". A place to get out of the sun for a little while and be entertained in between craft beers and ice cream cookie sandwiches.
Eight is Enough
At our escape rooms, our rooms are limited to eight people. For private groups, we hesitantly allow up to ten. While our rooms are larger in size than many other escape rooms in San Diego and can fit far more than 8-10 individuals, there is a limit to how many people can be active at once, no matter what room you're in.
Have you ever heard the joke, "How many BLANK does it take to screw in a light bulb?" Well imagine trying to cooperatively screw in a light bulb with 15 people. It's not only close to impossible to involve 15 people in the process, but it would be very unpleasant at the same time.
When escape rooms like us build rooms, we build them with a finite number of puzzles, theoretically aimed at a set number of people completing them all within an hour. There is certainly an optimal range. From our research, that sweet spot is 2-8 people. We've had some couples speed through our room and we've had groups of eight limp to the finish, but on average 2-8 is about right.
Escape room companies that allow 2-15 people in a room are doing you a disservice. Is it possible to design a single game (series of puzzles) that 2 or 15 people could solve while remaining active? If you've found one, let us know! If the room TRULY had enough puzzles in it to engage 15 people for 60 minutes, then there'd be no way for 2-8 people to come close to getting through it. Or, it's the opposite case. The escape rooms are designed for 2-8 people but companies pack in an extra seven heads for more revenue.
In other words, either the rooms are impossible for any small to medium size group or you have escape rooms where half of the participants are standing around doing nothing.
We at Quicksand Escape Games have played a lot of escape rooms and haven't found a game that keeps 12-15 people engaged. But imagine one existed. And further imagine that the company hosting the 12-15 person game is popular enough to fill 12-15 slots per session so that the difficulty level is just right each time. Got that image your head? Did you notice that there were clusters of 3 or 4 people working on different things at once? Hardly the collaborative team-building environment you hoped for when you booked the room for ~$400 for the hour.
We feel the best solution for hosting a group larger than 10 is to split up into two+ groups. At Quicksand Escape we've hosted corporate groups that have split up and done different experiences simultaneously and we have hosted back to back games of the same experience. Everyone gets to be involved. Everyone has a fun time. When you choose different games, it allows the opportunity for your group to return and swap rooms. When you choose back to back games, you are all able to debrief on the common experience. It allows you to still compare and contrast how you handled the same puzzle.
If we packed 15 of you in the room, there would be no common experience besides discomfort. Most participants wouldn't have a clue how the majority of puzzles were solved because they were in the opposite corner trying to remember if they fed their goldfish that morning. Imagine tying to watch a movie with 15 people, except you split into groups of 3, watch different parts of the movie and attempt to piece the story back together afterwards.
In conclusion, escape rooms are businesses and making money is key to staying afloat. But as profitable as it may be to squeeze in extra people, it wouldn't be fair to the participants or be true to the experience we intended to deliver.
There is a preconceived notion that escape rooms are scary. And some of them are. But the rooms at Quicksand Escape Games in San Diego are NOT scary! Woo-hoo!
This is what happens when we begin to tell people about our business:
- "It's an escape game."
- "What's an escape game?"
- "You're locked in a room and have an hour to esca---"
- [Eyes widen, Breath stops, Head shakes no] "No way, that's not for me."
- "No it's not scary though. It's fuuuun."
- [I'm not listening to you anymore. I don't care that you said it's not scary. Just like going to a haunted house is fuuuun. Ya right, I'm not stupid! How am I going to get out of this conversation? Just smile and say 'I'll think about it'...that DOES sound fun! 'I'll definitely go' (lie)...'my friend would love that, they'll definitely go'...'hey look, what's that?!...]
We get it. Scary sucks. We understand when someone tries to tell you that haunted houses are fun, when they're definitely not fun. We aren't a haunted house. We hate haunted houses. We've had nightmares after reading the synopsis to a scary movie. Therefore, we would never design a scary escape room.
Our themes are exciting, nostalgic, cute, fun, and definitely not scary. Do NOT think Saw or Taken. There will be no zombies chasing you, no being blindfolded, no creepy soundtrack. There will be a 1920s Speakeasy with jazz music and beer (not real beer)! There will a 1950s Diner with a jukebox and an old coke machine! And you will try to escape before the mob boss or the police arrive!
As for the "thrill" of our escape games? There may be screaming, there may be laughing, there may be jumping up and down. There will be adrenaline, suspense, and exhilaration. But the thrill doesn't come from a zombie chasing you or a supposed spirit in the room with you. It comes from discovering the clues and solving the puzzles. The thrill comes from racing the clock to be able to experience as many puzzles as you can in one hour. Kind of like when Ferris Bueller and Cameron try to experience as many activities as they can in one school day. When Ferris races his sister home at the end of the movie, that wasn't scary, it was fun!
Our rooms are designed for friends and families looking to have a good time, whether they are on vacation in San Diego, celebrating a friend's birthday, or with their coworkers for a team building event. We've had grandmothers in their 70s, young children, and everyone in between. And they all love it!
If you're looking for something different and fun to try, try an escape game with us. There's a reason we call our games "escape games" and not "escape rooms". No one wants to be locked in a room, unless it's with their awesome friends playing an awesome game.
Book a game now. Ferris would do it. Cameron wouldn't. Be a Ferris.
Escape June Gloom in San Diego
June Gloom in San Diego is no joke. We've lived in Pacific Beach for almost five years and most of the year, it's absolutely wonderful living on/at the beach. It's easy to forget how bad May Gray June Gloom is until it is May and June. Usually you think of clear blue sunny skies when you think of San Diego, but there's a certain phenomenon that occurs this time of year when the clouds take over.
Every morning you wake up to a dark gloomy marine layer over the ocean and beach towns. Every afternoon you wait and wait for it to break. It's hard to get out of bed, let alone go to the beach and be outside. Sometimes you yearn for sun so badly you consider driving down the 8 for some rays, then you laugh at yourself for considering driving down the 8, partly because you don't have the motivation to go anywhere because of the June Gloom, and partly because it's driving down the 8.
Sometimes May Gray June Gloom becomes No Sky July and Fogust, and before you know it, it's Autumn and football is starting and you realize you never really went to the beach this summer. Anyway, if you find yourself in this position as a local or if you booked a vacation to San Diego this time of year without knowing about the local weather, you may be looking for an activity to escape the gloom.
Escape games are perfect for that! They are played indoors with no windows so you will have no idea how unsunny it is in the outside world. Get your games in now so you won't feel bad about being indoors when the sun actually returns. Or if you're visiting "sunny" San Diego, you can still be able to post a picture of you having a good time on vacation. Who knows? You may even walk into the game out of the gloom, and walk out of the game into sunshine! And that's the power of escape games!
Book The Speakeasy and/or The Diner now to escape the gloom!
Have you played an escape game before? If so, you may have come across the following personalities on your team. Or you may be one of them! Are you a first timer? Which one do you think you'll be?
1. The Vet
These are the players that have done 10, 20, 50, 100+ games. They've seen a lot of puzzles and aren't afraid to tell you exactly how to play the game, or that this must be something and that is definitely nothing.
2. The Hint Fiend
These folks just want to win, even if that means having the escape game's moderator tell them everything they need to know. They can be found repeating their mantra of "We Need a Hint!" before trying to think about a solution or search for a clue.
3. The Clock Watcher
How much time is left to escape? The 'Clock Watcher' knows! She or he will make sure the rest of the group knows how much longer you have, at the sacrifice of helping to solve any of the puzzles. They'll probably be found in the corner or worse, in the way, staring at the timer.
4. The Clue Hoarder
This escape room teammate wants to escape...but as long as he or she is the one to save the day. Missing that final piece of the puzzle? Where did that cipher go? Check the 'Clue Hoarder's' pockets, as they probably found it 10 minutes ago and didn't tell anyone.
5. The Last Minute Hero
Similar to the 'Clue Hoarder', the 'Last Minute Hero' is in it for the glory. But instead of withholding information, this person simply waits until the puzzle is solved, grabs the lock, and triumphantly announces "I got it!" as they input the code that the rest of the team just figured out.
6. The "I Didn't Listen to Any of the Rules" Guy
"Don't take anything off the walls." (Immediately removes everything from the walls.) "No need to move the furniture." (Stacks the furniture in the corner.) "Nothing needs to be forced." (Breaks everything.)
7. The Director
This escape room commander typically stands in a central location, where clues are being collected, and makes sure everyone else is carrying out their ideas. They'll shout things like "Check the cabinet!" and "Bring that here."
8. The Admin
This escape room player keeps the clues organized, knows what locks are left, does the math if needed, and is probably the one who booked the escape game for everyone.
9. The Guesser
"Try 1-2-3-4!" "Why?" "I dunno..." With little thought, they shout random numbers to keep things interesting and maybe one day, in some escape room, somewhere, it will work!
10. The Re-Run
These optimists don't quit. They can be found searching in the same spots over and over again. Nothing in that drawer the first time you checked? Maybe if you check four more times, something will turn up.
11. The Quiet Observer
This silent escape room participant isn't there for the glory, to show-off, or even escape...in fact, they aren't really sure what is going on.
Which one are you? Book now and find out. If we missed an escape game personality, let us know in the comments.
Quicksand Escape Games
San Diego's Favorite Escape Games
December 2016
San Diego's Favorite
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Posted by on September 16, 2011 in Blog
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki confirmed yesterday that on September 23, 2011, the Palestinian Authority (P.A.) will submit a bid for full membership at the United Nations Security Council. The remarks made by al-Maliki ended speculations that the Palestinians might avoid a showdown with the United States by sidestepping the Security Council and going directly to the U.N. General Assembly to seek a lesser status of a non-member observer. Today, Foreign Minister al-Maliki said that President Abbas will present the bid for statehood to the Security Council and will deliver a speech to the General Assembly in New York on September 23.
Israel's failure to honor previous agreements or to live up to its commitment to the two-state solution led to the Palestinian leadership turning to the international body to seek recognition of statehood and membership. The U.S. and Israel are having a panicked reaction to this initiative. The Obama Administration has been clear in stating that should the Palestinians try to push their bid through to the UN Security Council, the U.S. will veto the proposal. In July, H.Res. 268, introduced by Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), was overwhelmingly passed (407-6), reaffirming U.S. insistence on negotiations, no matter how lopsided, as the means for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and opposing any attempt to establish or seek recognition of a Palestinian state through the United Nations. A similar resolution was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Cardin (D-MD) and supported overwhelmingly by ninety senators.
Earlier this summer, a record number of 81 Members of Congress, whose expenses were paid by an AIPAC affiliate, visited the region to deliver a personal message to the Palestinian leadership that they oppose their actions and were pushing them to reconsider their move for U.N. recognition or risk losing U.S. aid. "We've given a clear communication to Prime Minister Fayyed that we thought that it's a step back…and is not helpful," said Rep. Tom Price, a fourth-term Republican from Atlanta, continuing, "there is great sentiment for not continuing the aid, because the vote is so destructive to formulating a bilateral agreement on a peace."
In attempting to dissuade President Abbas from moving forth with statehood recognition at the U.N., Congress has organized a number of hearings re-evaluating U.S. aid to the P.A. and threatening to terminate aid to the P.A. and UNRWA should the former move forward with their bid. In addition to threatening the Palestinian leadership, Congress is also seeking to retaliate against the United Nations and nations supporting the UN bid. H.R. 2829, "United Nations Transparency, Accountability, and Reform Act," introduced by the Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, would cut off U.S. contributions to any U.N. entity that recognizes membership or any other upgraded status for the Palestinian leadership.
Earlier this week, Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) introduced a resolution,
"prohibiting foreign military financing program assistance to countries that vote in the UN General Assembly in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state in the absence of a negotiated border agreement between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority."
It's unprecedented for a Member of Congress to author explicit legislation for the sole purpose of intimidating other states into voting a certain way in the UN General Assembly. Additionally, House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) led a letter signed by 58 House Democrats including Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, House Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Howard Berman, and Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee Ranking Member Nita Lowey, that will be sent to 40 key European heads of state today, "urging them to stand with the United States in opposing unilateral action by the Palestinian Authority at the United Nations." The EU enjoys a unique leverage since the U.S. position as well as the rest of the world is essentially already set. Both Israel and Palestinian leadership have indicated that the position the E.U. adopts will determine the outcome of the diplomatic battle, and Members of Congress are wasting no time in trying to persuade the EU to oppose Abbas' efforts.
Take Action:
By attempting to thwart the U.N. membership bid, and by preparing for retaliation in the event that it goes through, the U.S. is simply not pursuing sound policy. More pointedly, these efforts are destined to fail in dissuading a determined Palestinian leadership from pursuing this bid. The reaction exhibited thus far by the Administration and Congress is likely to exacerbate the conflict and, by putting its bias on full display, undermine the US role in any future efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict. Tell Congress to refrain from opposing the Palestinian bid for U.N. membership, and to back away from the unwise threats of cutting funding to the U.N. and the P.A.
Talking Points:
NOT ANOTHER HIT: Recent polls in the Middle East have indicated a huge drop in Arab opinions of the U.S., due to the disappointment found in the gap between the raised expectations of President Obama's Administration and actual U.S. policy since his election. After vetoing the UN resolution condemning settlements in the midst of the Arab Spring, the U.S. cannot take yet another hit in the region by being seen as the primary player obstructing much needed change and the Palestinians' pursuit of viable independence.
MISDIRECTED BLAME: The real obstacle to peace is Netanyahu's out-of-hand rejection of a solution based on the 1967 lines, sharing Jerusalem, freezing settlements, or resolving the refugee question in accordance with their internationally recognized rights. As long as the U.S. is unable to restrain the Israeli government's illegal settlement expansion, or soften its rejectionist position on Jerusalem, borders, or refugees, the US should not obstruct Palestinian efforts to pursue their rights through the U.N.
DON'T CUT FUNDING TO THE U.N.: As Ambassador Susan Rice noted, "when we fail to meet our treaty obligations to pay our assessed contributions… our influence is diminished, our standing is injured, and our ability to pursue important initiatives that advance US national security and US national interest is gravely undermined." The U.S. should not undermine its international standing just for the sake of punishing those who agree that the Palestinians should be able to pursue their rights through an international body.
DON'T CUT FUNDING TO THE P.A.: Cutting aid to the P.A. not only puts Palestinian families who are dependent on P.A. salaries through immediate and unnecessary hardships, but also dismantles the progress made toward viable statehood and threatens regional security, thus undermining U.S. interests in the region.
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Sign up for MedicAlert and get 25% off any Medical ID. Use code WELCOME25. Excludes 14K gold & good on one ID. Start Shopping
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Elia is here. She's made so much progress in a few days. She's a week old tomorrow, I'll post on that when I get the Drs update in the morning. It's been a terrifying and intense week to say the least, filled with scary moments, brilliant bright spots and lessons in love that have taken my breath away.
In the last few days I am struggling to comprehend my situation, our situation. On bedrest I did not allow myself grief or negative thoughts. I thought only of her, how to keep Elia baking to give her the best chance possible. Through lots of positive thinking and energy flowing from multiple directions (thank you all for that) we made it as long as was safely possible. But now that she's here and especially since she's doing better I am struggling.
I am thrilled to be allowed up and home, but it breaks my heart in ways I cannot describe to leave her behind. I hate feeling like I am choosing between my children. I am sad to feel robbed of the last two months of pregnancy I'll ever have. I miss having her with me in my belly, kicking and squirming around. I am lonely and heartsick without her. I didn't love being pregnant but I was not ready to be done. My belly is already shrinking away. I thought I would celebrate this milestone but I find that I have no idea what to wear and am staring wistfully at other pregnant women. I had cute clothing I never got to wear. I had a great shape for a pregnant chick…now I feel loose, floppy and out of shape. I'm swelling tremendously thanks to a mix of hormones, being up from bedrest and so much IV fluids. I have the cankles I didn't get in pregnancy. I am on a wild emotional roller coaster that o can't control, sobbing uncontrollably many times a day, especially when we are apart.
I would do it all again in a heartbeat for her though. She is the most precious thing that has ever happened to me, a gift beyond compare and I can't get enough of her. So we will endure. I'll keep pumping milk for her every 2 hours, go without sleep, leave my precious son and beloved husband daily to help her grow and thrive. Hopefully we'll all be home as a family together soon.


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Wouldn't these pocky breadsticks dipped in white chocolate make the most delicious favors for your wedding guests? See the full tutorial below on how to recreate these at home with the most simple of ingredients.
Pocky Breadsticks Dipped in White Chocolate, Cardamom and Orange Zest
1 ½ cups white chocolate chips
1 teaspoon cardamom
pocky breadsticks
candied orange zest (recipe follows)
In a double boiler, combine white chocolate and cardamom, stirring until completely melted. Dip breadsticks into chocolate, leaving 3 inches from the bottom. Lie sticks on waxed or parchment paper and sprinkle immediately with candied orange zest. Cool at room temperature until chocolate is hardened.
Candied Orange Zest
2 oranges
1 cup sugar, divided
¾ cup water
Using a cheese grater or microplane, zest the orange and reserve the peels. In a saucepan over medium heat, stir ¾ cup sugar and water until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil and then let simmer for 2 minutes. Add orange zest and simmer for 15 minutes.
Add remaining ¼ cup sugar to a small bowl. Using a slotted spoon, remove zest from syrup and transfer to bowl, tossing to coat. Let cool at room temperature for an hour before using.
Comments (4)
Thank you for the recipe! Very original and practical
Love your blog! Amazing articles and very nice photos!!
So original and a truly beautiful post!
Great post – definitely got to try this!


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Golf Club Vacation Rental
Enjoy the quiet solitude of the challenging Camp Creek Golf Club with undulated fairways and native plants all interwoven with manicured turf. The Shark's Tooth Golf Club offers stunning landscape that is playable for all skill levels. With an undeniable balance of nature and design, Shark's Tooth is one of 40 courses worldwide that has been recognizes as an Audubon International "Silver Signature Sanctuary" member. Family play is perfect on the Origins Course. Set to encourage new golfers to love the game and enjoy nature while practicing on this par 3 Scottish Style course.
Camp Creek Golf Club
Camp Creek is enclosed in a natural haven of beauty that neighbors the beautiful emerald green waters and white sand beaches of Northwest Florida.
Designed by Tom Fazio, Camp Creek offers nearly 7,200 yards of undulated fairways and greens and driveable bunkers, with a view of the green from every tee box. Unlike the traditional flat terrain of Florida, Camp Creek is a fun challenge with few flat lies, and tiered greens that roll quick, but true!
Origins Golf Club
A six-hole regulation course that alternatively plays as a nine-hole executive course and a 10-hole par-three layout, the Origins course was conceived with the ""short course"" concept at its core. The mission: make golf more fun and accessible to families, beginners and casual golfers.
Located in the Watersound Origins community – this course is open to the public.
Shark's Tooth Golf Club
Name one of "America's Best Residential Courses" by Golfweek – Shark's Tooth sits on the shores of Lake Powell. The course stretches 7,209 yards from the back tees and features five fairways that border scenic Lake Powell.Read More
SouthWood Golf Club
Located in Tallahassee, Florida, SouthWood Golf Club is a highly ranked, challenging, Fred Couples signature course. The semi-private course is designed for professional tournament play and as a teaching course comfortable for family play. After a round of golf, enjoy lunch or dinner at the Club.Read More


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Authors: Li-An C. Leonard / Anne K. Wilson
Facebook Post
"[A] coworker feels we don't help our clients enough at [sic].
I about had it! My fellow coworkers how do u feel?"
Comments in Response
"What the Hell, we don't have a life as is, What else can we do???"
"Tell her to come do [my] f-ing job n c if I don't do enough, this is just dum."
These employee Facebook posts generated several responses from other employees, some of whom were extremely angry, defending their job performance and criticizing working conditions. As a result, the employer fired five employees for bullying and harassment of the co-worker who was the subject of the posts. The employees recently challenged the termination of their employment as a violation of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
Employees, including those not represented by a union, have numerous rights under the NLRA. The principal source of NLRA rights is Section 7. Section 7 gives employees the right to engage in "concerted activity for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection." In addition, Section 8 (a)(1) of the NLRA prohibits employers from interfering with an employee's rights under Section 7. These provisions of the NLRA cover both union and non-union workers.
Under the NLRA, employers must not chill or penalize communications between employees concerning work conditions, terms of employment (salary, benefits), managers, or management. As one administrative law judge stated, "[d]iscussions about the workplace are protected whether they occur at the water cooler or the virtual water cooler."
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the federal agency charged with administering and enforcing the NLRA, concluded that the above Facebook posts constituted protected speech under Section 7. As a result, the employer was ordered to reinstate all five employees, pay back pay, and post a notice concerning employee rights and the violations found.
On August 18, 2011 and then again on January 24, 2012, the NLRB issued updated guidelines for social media policies, striking down policies of several companies as "overbroad" restrictions on the use of social media by employees. Examples of overbroad restrictions include: prohibitions on online communications that are "disparaging" to the company, "inappropriate conversations," "disrespectful conduct," communications that "criticize co-workers," "unprofessional communication" that could negatively impact the employer's reputation or interfere with the employer's mission, prohibiting the use of the company's name or service marks outside of the course of business, and requiring employees to expressly state that their comments are their personal opinions and not those of the employer every time that they post on social media. All of these restrictions were found to have violated the NLRA and the right of employees to engage in concerted activity.
The only policy approved by the NLRB prohibited the use of social media communications to "post or display comments about co-workers, supervisors, or the employer that are vulgar, obscene, threatening, intimidating, harassing, or a violation of the employer's workplace policies against discrimination, harassment, or hostility on account of age, race, religion, sex, ethnicity, nationality, disability, or other protected class, status, or characteristic." (National Labor Relations Board, Report of General Counsel (Jan. 24, 2012) at 16). The NLRB found these restrictions lawful because they appeared in a list of plainly egregious conduct that could not be reasonably understood by employees as restricting protected activity under Section 7.
Under the NLRB guidelines, a company's social media policy may require employees to take precautions when engaging in any social media activity in which they are associated with the company. Examples include: respecting the privacy of co-workers; protecting confidential and proprietary information regarding company business or customers; and adhering to all federal and state laws and regulations.
This is a rapidly evolving area of the law that will likely continue to change in coming months as more company policies are challenged under the NLRA. Consequently, you should review any existing social media policy to make sure it complies with the new guidelines. You should also monitor the NLRB website, www.nlrb.gov, for future updates. We are also available to help you avoid some of the pitfalls which arise from social media postings.
California Employment Law Update is a publication of Duckor Spradling Metzger & Wynne's Employment Law Group.
The information contained in this publication is not intended to be and should not be construed as legal advice or opinions. Such advice and opinions are provided by the firm only upon engagement with respect to specific factual situations.
© Duckor Spradling Metzger & Wynne, A Law Corporation 2012
All Rights Reserved.


text: Across all realities, the Eternal Champion makes his way to the American South - hoping to find the key to what has thrown the Balance off so chaotically. Elric, Hawkmoon and Corum face daunting trials along their journey, encountering creatures and foes from their storied past. All the while, Eric Beck makes his way toward his sword...and his destiny! Join legendary fantasy author Michael Moorcock and New York Times bestseller Chris Roberson (SUPERMAN, iZOMBIE, STAN LEE'S STARBORN) as they team up to bring the Pale Prince back to comics like you've never seen him before! Neil Gaiman called Moorcock "my model for what a writer was" while Warren Ellis said he is one of the "eight core sites in my creative genome." Now witness the next chapter in Elric's newest adventure!


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I tutor at the same school as where I studied. Most of the lecturers know me well as when I was going through they were my tutors, so I have no problem with picking up subjects each semester to tutor. My only problem is when I am overloaded and I have to say no to a job offer, I probably won't be offered that subject again. I know, poor me, too many subjects to choose from. But it happens every semester, the budgets come out too late and there is this scramble by lecturers for tutors, the phone rings the emails come in and you draw up a weekly timetable to work out your availability, prioritising those subjects you enjoy or have expertise in. If I can't accept an offer to tutor I usually recommend a colleague, one from a long list, who are keen to tutor. Of course, when I see this colleague at the end of the semester (they're probably still waiting to be paid and don't know how to get their password, staff card or access their email), they possess a slightly more cynical outlook towards tutoring, but if the offer comes up again next semester of course they'll say yes. And this is the problem, how do you say no to tutoring offers without a convenient excuse of subject clash or lack of expertise? I struggle with this and by this time of the semester (week 6/7) realise I am overloaded. My fear is that if I say no to a subject, I will have less and less offers each semester and when tutoring is your staple income and that only comes in 26 weeks of the year, you need to feel certain that there will be work next year. So I feel some pressure to say yes to every offer and agonise over the ones I say no to.
Somewhat like call centre workers who fear saying no to a shift in case they are never offered another shift. Well, it's not as bad as it is for call centre workers, one of the stories that came out of the Howe Inquiry was from a call centre worker who witnessed other workers wetting themselves as they were too afraid to take toilet breaks. So while it's not great being a casual worker in the tertiary sector, it could be so much much worse! This inability to say no to work is not restricted to casual workers at universities either, I see lecturers involved with numerous projects, unable to keep up with their workload. We have a host of academics at our university who pride themselves on waking up at between 3am and 4am to get through their workload. When I was working in practice I was proud that I had reached the point in my career where I could negotiate reasonable timeframes and requests for work from employers and clients. Now I'm back to the early days of my career, saying yes to everything, working seven days a week and limiting my social life. I have no problem with that as I am the bottom rungs of the academic career ladder, my concern is that there is no cessation of this work ethic throughout the academic career track. And for what? Some profound research finding?


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It's no surprise that the top trending women's costume for Halloween 2017 is "Wonder Woman." What else do you need alongside your superwoman outfit? Complete your Wonder Woman look with a total bronzed, contoured, toned and concealed tan that will withstand the most active of nights out and hardcore workout routines. It isn't always the easiest to achieve, but we have some great tips to get that amazing glow!
The Wonder Woman Toned Tan How To:
Products Needed: St. Tropez Body Polisher, St. Tropez Tan Enhancing Body Moisturizer, St. Tropez Tan Applicator Mitt, St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Lotion, St. Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan Tinted Body Lotion, and St. Tropez 3-in-1 Bronzing Powder.
PRO TIP - Exfoliating the day before self-tan application will allow your skin to have the perfect Ph. balance for ultimate color development.
The Night Before Halloween: You will need St. Tropez's Tan Applicator Mitt, St. Tropez's Self-tan Classic Bronzing Lotion and tan enhancing body moisturizer. If you exfoliated the day/morning before all you will need to do is remove all products from the skin including deodorant and body lotions.
Face First - Eye serums are fine to wear underneath so treat your skin. Don't Forget To Tie Long Hair Back! Using your bare hands apply one quarter size amount of self-tan lotion and one quarter sized amount of tan enhancing body moisturizer and blend together in the palm of your hand. Apply blended lotion to your face and neck making sure every facial section is covered. This includes over and under the eyes to conceal dark circles and any crow's feet. Fade down the neck and onto the ear lobes to finish. Stop just before the hairline and then using a tiny amount of moisturizer only blend into hairline. Using a cotton swab wipe the eyebrows, especially if you have fair skin, and any other areas that you do not wish to be tanned. Wash your hands to proceed! Next the Body …
Apply body moisturizer to the whole of the foot, knees, elbows and the whole of the hands not forgetting the backs of the wrists. Apply the tan starting with the legs first. Apply 2 quarter sized amounts of self-tan lotion directly onto the mitt. Start with the lower leg and following a flat hand and a light stroke rule, glide the lotion on, wrap around the front and the back of the lower leg. Stop at the foot and glide over the knee, then with the excess lotion left on the mitt glide over your well-moisturized foot. Make sure to blend in-between your toes. Take a baby wipe and clean the nails. For a perfect super star result take a little St. Tropez body moisturizer and blend up the back of the heels and over any dry problem areas. Reload your tan applicator mitt (2- 3 quarter sized) and glide over the front and back of the thigh and over your bottom cheek! Repeat on the other side. Reload your mitt with about 4 quarter-sized amounts of lotion and glide over your torso and chest. Flip the mitt around the other way so that the white application side is on the back of your hand, we are now tanning the back and this will make your application easy. Reload another 4 quarter sized pumps and bend your back forward. Twist your arm and smooth over the back swapping mitt to the other hand to help when applying to the far side. Finish by blending into the back of the neck.
PRO TIP - Don't worry if the built in bronzer does not look perfect and even at this stage, as long as the skin is covered with the self-tan lotion the St. Tropez self-tan will always develop perfect and even once the first shower has taken place. So don't panic Wonder Woman's glow will be 100% even! Lastly we will tan the arms and hands. Again reload the mitt (2 ¼ sized pumps) smooth over the whole arm stopping at the wrist and gliding over the elbow. Then swap mitt hands, reload your and apply to the other arm. Using the excess lotion that is left on the mitt glide over your well moisturized hands making sure you blend in-between the fingers and down the sides of the hands. Wait 30 seconds for the lotion to absorb then swap mitt hands and repeat on the other hand. Lastly take a baby wipe and clean all your nails and palms. Using a little St. Tropez moisturizer blend up the back of your wrist and over your knuckles.
Night Of Halloween: Take a shower to remove the built in bronzer and to reveal a perfect flawless Amazonian glow. Moisturize the whole body using St. Tropez Tan Enhancing Moisturizer (used daily this will maintain your tan for up to 10 days).
Final Skin Finish … Use St. Tropez's Gradual Tan Tinted on exposed key skin areas, and contour lines this will create extra tone, depth of color, illumination, hydration plus extra concealing. Results will be a truly perfect second skin of body armor, fit for our warrior Wonder Woman. You can either apply the product with a foundation brush, then use a tan applicator mitt to blend, apply and blend using a beauty blender or apply with your bare hands just remember to wash hands well afterwards.
PRO TIP - You only have to use small amount of gradual tan tinted to perfect your skin. A little goes along way! Apply the gradual tan tinted to main focal points and blend around the natural contour lines. A layer of St Tropez's Self Tan Classic Bronzing Lotion will naturally make you look more contoured and defined but the extra layer of St Tropez's gradual tan tinted will really take your skin finish to the next level.
Final Touch. Bronzing Powder: Once your hair is complete, your make-up is on and your St Tropez gradual tan tinted has been applied take the St. Tropez 3 in 1 bronzing Powder and SET this amazing wonder woman look. Using a large brush swirl all shades of the pallet together and apply, shade, contour and set where needed. Cheekbones, under jawline, shoulders, collarbone, cleavage, triceps, biceps, inner/outer thigh, shin bone and tops of the feet …
Products can be found online at St. Tropez or in-store at Sephora.