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***Oh no! Oh my god! - Great commentary from videographer.***
Four people were sent to the hospital after a motorized paraglider collided in mid-air with a hot air balloon earlier today.
It happened Saturday morning during an airport open house in Cottonwood.
According to Sgt. Gareth Braxton of the Cottonwood Police Department, the balloon and paraglider became entangled at an altitude of about 500 feet.
Eyewitnesses say that the balloon ripped open and both aircraft fell to the ground at a high rate of speed. The balloon and the paraglider crash landed in an empty parking lot.
Three people aboard the balloon suffered minor injuries. The paraglider pilot suffered head and spinal injuries and was airlifted to an area hospital, but authorities say that the injuries aren't believed to be life-threatening.
By: jbpnw
In: LiveLeaks
Tags: caught on tape, hot air balloon, paraglider, collision
Marked as: featured
Views: 49501 | Comments: 90 | Votes: 2 | Favorites: 1 | Shared: 1 | Updates: 0 | Times used in channels: 2
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text: I'm considering a field trip to Illulisaat, Greenland. A town where one can view the icebergs break off the glacier and can be likened to a company of soldiers as they line up following each other out to sea. I viewed the event on a National Geographic video - amazing. I could see so much potential for tonal exploitation, interpretation and the greens and blues are simply breathtaking. Any fellow photographers interested in a trip next Spring?


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Luxury watches are arguably the epitome of style and status. The only other thing that can match a watch in terms of style and exclusivity is an automobile.
Watches and automobiles share several commonalities. Both have rich heritages, both are symbols of opulence. And when they come together the resulting product is nothing less than tressure. Following is a list of products that were conceived from a union of the best from both worlds.
Developed to celebrate the Prancing Horse's Formula 1 racing history, the watch components are made from titanium and magnesium alloys. You can own this only if you own a Ferrari. The watch mechanism features "a 6-speed automatic transmission" that maintains the accuracy to a level of +/- 1 second per day. titanium alloy magnesium alloy.
Designed for the German Navy, this timepiece is waterproof to a depth of 1,000 meters. Design characteristics is the three-part case design. The watch face is held inside a cylindrical stainless steel container, while the "movement folds into a shot-peened titanium bridge", to which the natural rubber strap is attached.
18 ct Rose gold is used in its construction, while the case features six pieces of sapphire crystal. The watch face uses same carbon fiber that is used in the Veyron Super Sport. The watch uses a manually wound movement with 10-day power reserve, along with an reserve indicator.
Designed to complement the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, the watch case opens and closes just like the car's gullwing doors. What's more, the watch has 2 buttons that can be used to open and close the car remotely.
The AMVOX2 Transponder is another watch that is specifically meant for the car it complements - Aston Martin DBS. Once again, the watch can be used to open and close the vehicle doors by pressing on a sapphire crystal. Furthermore, "By pressing simultaneously on the "OPEN" and "CLOSE" rectangles, the watch emits a signal recognised by the car as a "FIND ME" function: the headlamps light up for several seconds, without unlocking the car, so as to enable the owner to find the car at a glance", explains Jaeger
Named after the Morgan, the maker has used several materials in its construction ranging from titanium, tungsten, stainless steel, to ceramics, kevlar and sapphire crystal.
The watch is designed to look like the tachometer of the 8C Competizione. The case is 13.30mm thick and measures 44 mm in diameter. The watch comes in two variants - Stainless steel and black diamond-like-carbon (DLC) or 18-karat rose gold and titanium. The watch mechanism includes 29 jewels and comprises 131 individual parts. It also boasts of 42-hour power reserve.
Limited Edition Porsche Design Indicator
Price: $270,000 or INR 1,46,67,750
Limited to 50 examples
Made by Swiss watchmaker Eterna, the case is a mix of 18-carat Rose Gold, natural rubber and titanium.
The UR-CC1 by Urwerk codenamed "King Cobra"
Price: 200,000 Swiss Francs or INR 1,15,06,100
Limited to 25 examples
The UR-CC1 is a unique timepiece where the time is displayed in two horizontal indicators on two cylinders: one for the hours, the other for the retrograde minutes.
Bentley Supersports Light Body Limited Edition
Price: $10,005 or INR 5,43,071
Limited to 1000 examples
The watch features a light body titanium casing and sports look of the dashboard of the Bentley Supersports model. Juha Kankkunen had worn the Breitling for Bentley Supersports Light Body chronograph wristwatch when he set a new world speed record on ice with a Bentley Continental GTC Supersports. Kankkunen set a new record by reaching a speed of 330.695 km/h.
2013 Ingenieur Collection
Ingenieur Constant-Force Tourbillon Price: $290,000 or INR 1,57,41,200
Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Price: $49,700 or INR 26,97,716
IWC Schaffhausen's 2013-ingenieur-collection consists of 11 timepieces, all of which have been been developed in partnership with Mercedes F1 team. The wrist watches are made from carbon fibre, ceramic and titanium.
This list could go on, but ours ends here.


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By Elizabeth Sias
Hundreds of trees down in Isanti area
following the wrath of Tuesday's storm
Elizabeth Sias
Dozens of trees and power lines scattered the streets and yards of Isanti following a Tuesday morning storm that blew through the north metro, leaving thousands without power.
Crews were out by mid-morning in Isanti, working quickly to remove trees, clean up debris and restore power following the strong storm that swept through the city.
Several dozen trees fell during the storm, Isanti Mayor George Wimmer said, while others shifted but did not completely fall.
Trees fell on at least six houses, and several roadways, including Main Street, were blocked from fallen trees. The roof ripped off of the shed at the public works area, trees were down at the police station and the force of the wind dented several garage doors around the city.
"I don't think it's as bad as the earlier storm that came through, but it seems like more structures were hit by trees this time," Wimmer said.
Most residents of the city experienced a power outage, but almost everything was restored within an hour. The city's compost site will be open for area residents to bring branches.
By Tuesday afternoon, the streets of Isanti were clearer and the weather calm. The estimated cost of cleanup is unknown at this point, but Wimmer doesn't foresee needing to contact FEMA for financial assistance.
"Most of the damage we've gotten out and taken care of at this point," Wimmer said. "We've already been out clearing the roads immediately and most of the big trees have been moved out of the way."
Throughout the north metro, more than 7,000 Connexus Energy customers experienced an outage as strong rain and winds blew through the area.
Strong winds resulted in a significant number of broken power poles and down trees. Connexus crews, as well as numerous crews from other utilities, will be working around the clock to restore power.
The majority of customers had power restored by Tuesday afternoon, but approximately 600 residents in the heaviest hit areas of northern Anoka County and southern Isanti County may not have power restored until Thursday.
Connexus Energy provides electricity to over 125,000 homes and businesses in portions of Anoka, Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Sherburne and Washington counties. Additional information about Connexus Energy and the outage is available online at connexusenergy.com.


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Learn exactly what the phrase "licensed & bonded" actually means. Furthermore, learn how your company can increase consumer confidence by becoming licensed and bonded today.
Month: September 2007
How To Qualify For A Surety Bond
What many do not know is that not everyone qualifies for surety bond backing. Learn what you can do to ensure you qualify for the bond type and amount you are in need of.


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Today Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, convened a hearing to investigate sexual assault in the military. The hearing includes testimony from individuals who have been victims of rape and sexual assault while serving, and is the first Senate hearing to examine sexual assault in the military in almost a decade.
This hearing comes on the heels of yet another tragic example of the military's failure to protect victims and hold perpetrators of sexual assault accountable. Earlier this month, a Lieutenant General at Aviano Air Base, Craig Franklin, overturned the aggravated sexual assault conviction of Lieutenant Colonel James Wilkerson, who had been sentenced to a year in military prison and a dismissal from the Air Force by a jury of his peers.
The overriding theme of both the Senate hearing and a press conference held yesterday by Congresswoman Jackie Speier has been the issue of command interference in sexual assault investigations and prosecutions. Currently, the military justice system allows commanders unilateral discretion over all cases—including the ability to shut an investigation down at any stage in the process without explanation. Congresswoman Speier announced that she will introduce a new bill, the "Military Judicial Reform Act," that would strip military commanders of the unilateral power to overturn convictions or lessen sentences handed down by judges and juries at courts martial.
Sources: Speier.House.Gov 3/12/2013; Gillibrand.Senate.Gov 3/6/2013, 2/28/2013; Feminist Newswire 3/6/2013
Women serving their country from Shutterstock
Latest posts by Feminist Newswire (see all)
- FMF Statement on Secretary DeVos's Dismantling of Title IX Protections for Sexual Assault Survivors - September 22, 2017
- Afghan President Welcomes US Troop Increase - September 22, 2017
- Abortion Clinics in 3 Cities Invaded by Anti-Abortion Extremists - September 21, 2017


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Clinging to the outside of the eighty-eighth floor, heart pounding, palms sweating, and nothing between you and the flashing blue lights of the police cars hundreds of feet below except a lot of thin air - this is not a sport for acrophobics.
Alain Robert, the man k-nown as "the Human Spider", is perhaps the most daring climber of all time.
His terrifying brand of "free climbing" - climbing without tools or safety devices of any kind - has taken him up some of the most daunting buildings in the world.
The fourth-tallest building in the world, the Jin Mao tower in Shanghai, the Debis Tower in Berlin, and Europe's tallest building, Moscow's Federation Tower, are among his recent conquests, while in the past he has clambered to the top of the Centrepoint Tower, Sydney, and the Eiffel Tower in pursuit of ever-greater thrills and risks.
Mr Robert has now brought his gravity-defying feats of daring to London, scaling the 333-foot Portland House in Westminster.
A married father of three, Mr Robert performs his dangerous work despite suffering from epilepsy.
Now a new documentary is following Mr Robert's Portland House attempt, as well as showing archive footage of his previous achievements.
Channel 4's Bodyshock series continues with The Human Spider, broadcast tonight, Thursday 3rd April 2008.


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Top Russian officials have launched Sochi.Park in London's Kensington Gardens, expressing hope that the culture center, which features a cinema and ice rink, will deliver the magic of the Caucasus to the Olympic capital.
The show marquee housing Sochi 2014 exhibitions was opened Thursday by Alexander Zhukov, the head of the Russian Olympic Committee, and Dmitry Kozak, a deputy prime minister responsible for overseeing Games preparations.
"Our mission is to show the country, the city, the design of the upcoming Winter Games," Kozak said in front of a video screen displaying images of the Black Sea resort.
"Our aim, the aim of this house that is opening today, is to attract the attention of athletes, of spectators and of fans around the world to the Games in Sochi."
Sochi.Park will be open to the public throughout the London Games, with most tickets priced at 20 pounds.
It is run in conjunction with Russia.Park a mile away near the Russian Embassy, which will focus on Russian sporting prowess during the London Games, hosting parties and other networking events.
Ticket holders to Sochi.Park are admitted to an ice dance show named "Sochi: Small Stories of a Big City," featuring six Olympic and 18 world champions in figure skating.
Among the high-tech exhibits are a virtual chairlift ride and a bobsled simulator.
The 2014 Games will be the first to take place in Russia.


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Christmas Sales Already?! [#SAVETHANKSGIVING]
The other day while walking around a store, I saw Christmas decorations out for sale, as well advertisements for December holiday specials. The only problem is, it's the middle of October, and we still have over two months until Christmas. It seems like stores begin advertising for the holiday season earlier and earlier every year, but how early is too early?
Before I say anything else, I know why retailers advertise early for holiday sales. It is, by far, the top grossing holiday in terms of sales and profit. According to the National Retail Federation, holiday sales are expected to reach 465.6 Billion dollars this year, almost have a trillion. In today's world, the words "billion" and "trillion"are tossed around like they are nothing. Think about this though, a billion seconds is about 32 years. A trillion seconds is about 32,000 years. We are 2011 C.E. right now, a trillion seconds ago was 30,000 B.C.E. Now you see that we are talking about a substantial amount of money on the line here. They also estimate that almost 500,000 seasonal employees will be hired strictly to handle the increased workload of the holiday season.
What About Halloween and Thanksgiving?
So now we know why retailers begin preparing for the holiday season so early, but is it right? We still have two holidays between then and now, Halloween and Thanksgiving. The sad part is, both of those holidays have been subject to corporate sales pitches as well. Halloween is the prime time for candy companies to sell their products, and they begin advertising at the end of summer. Many stores begin selling costumes because they know they will sell them, I've even seen costumes sold at convenient stores of all places. Thanksgiving is the same way, every year "watch the NFL on Thanksgiving" is pounded into our minds. A corporation, the NFL, has made their business part of a holiday tradition. I love football as much as anyone, but it's scary how much influence one company has over us.
Do You Max Out Your Credit Card?
I fear that Christmas is becoming the same way. Sure, it's nice to give and receive gifts around the holiday season, but can we be reasonable? There's no reason someone should max out their credit cards or put themselves in debt just because it's Christmas. The season once dedicated to being thankful for what we have, friends, family, and health, has turned into shopping mania and wish lists composed in October.
Let's Slow Down, People!
In my family, we've always had the tradition that the holiday season began after Thanksgiving had ended. I mean, how can someone get in the holiday spirit if there's no snow on the ground? I understand why retailers worry about Christmas sales so much, but I wish for once we could all just slow down and take it one day at a time, or one holiday at a time.


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Each gift to Hartwick College makes a difference to our students. This Annual Report of Gifts recognizes every graduate, parent, professor, staff member, friend; each foundation; and every company and corporation that supported Hartwick in the 2015-2016 fiscal year. We appreciate every gift, every donor.
Annual Report of Gifts 2015-16


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New Meadow Run
101 New Meadow Run Dr.
Farmington, PA 15437
United States
Tel: 724-329-8573
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Population: 250
Established: 1957
Want to learn more?
Contact Us!
About Us:
New Meadow Run is a long-established community, made up of families and singles, young and old, who live, work, and worship together. Bruderhof children attend our elementary school. Adults work within the community, including at the Community Playthings workshop. Just across the highway from New Meadow run is the Bruderhof's Spring Valley community. The close proximity of the two settlements means members participate in many joint activities – a pedestrian tunnel beneath the highway lets members walk back and forth between the two locations any time during the day.
We are located along a large stream in the rural and picturesque Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania on National Pike/Route 40. Visitors to this area frequent Fort Necessity National Battlefield, the site of George Washington's first battle; Falling Water, architect Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece house; and Ohiopyle State Park for whitewater rafting. At an elevation of two thousand feet, our community is on the site of the former Gorley's Lake Hotel. Like the Bruderhof's other large settlements, we have apartment buildings, an elementary school, dining hall, workshop, and sweeping lawns and gardens. While New Meadow Run and Spring Valley each have a full set of facilities, members often work and take meals at the other location, and the communities have many combined activities and meetings.
Connecting with Neighbors:
We regularly welcome friends and neighbors for communal dinner on Saturday evenings, and we host seasonal, public events throughout the year. Local outreach and community service is integrated into our daily work and schedule, as we feel it's important to connect with people and initiatives in our region that promote community building. Outreach is also integral to our children's educational experience. We participate in the local food bank, join local churches in their events, and network with other intentional communities in the area. We also enjoy visiting with our homebound neighbors.
Point of Interest:
The property was originally named Oak Lake, but we changed the name in 1965 when we drained the lake for child safety, resulting in beautiful streamside meadows.
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
The Bruderhof has an open-door policy. No matter who you are, we are delighted to meet and spend time with you. All Bruderhof communities host both drop-in and overnight guests every week. Some visits are purely social; others are deep explorations of faith and possible membership. Some visits involve ice cream and horse-cart rides; others revolve around spiritual conversations and guidance. Whatever your visit will be, we look forward to getting to know you!Visit Us
Kids (and their parents!) thrive on routine. One routine our family observes pretty much every day is "singing time" before bedtime. It gets us together in the same place, at the same time, doing the same thing (well, mostly). Two of our favorite...Continue
Simeon opened to us light and pain and eternity – both to his parents who wanted and welcomed him, and to this whole community who buoyed them up in their loss, holding open its hands to receive this little boy. After his funeral I wrote a poem – my...Continue
Writer Brian Wood got me thinking with his creation Briggs Land. It's the fictional story of an anti-government secessionist compound located north of where I live in upstate New York. Mack Chater's artwork depicts this slice of backwoods heaven as...Continue


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Another Karate Kid? Yes, sensei!
Will the madness never end? Here we go again: A remake of The Karate Kid is reportedly in the works, with Will Smith's 10-year-old son Jaden playing the lead role.
Firstshowing.net reports that "Columbia presidents Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach have been trying to find a way to bring back the series and apparently this it." Jerry Weintraub, the producer of the original 1984 flick, could be on tap to produce again, says Firstshowing, but other Web rumors say that Will Smith may take over that role.
The story line would be the same, and Jaden is already busy with martial arts lessons, say multiple sources.
With Pat "Mr. Miyagi" Morita's passing in 2005, we nominate Ralph Macchio, who clearly could use the work, to assume the role of karate master. Here's a list of great dialogue to start practicing on, Ralph.
5. "Walk on road ... Walk left side, safe. Walk right side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later ... squish."
4. "What'sa matter, you some kind of girl or something?"
3. "Not bonsai, BANZAI!"
2. "Wax on ... wax off. Wax on ... wax off."
1. "Man who catch fly with chopstick accomplish anything."
[AP photo: Jaden and Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness]


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St. Clair Baptist Assoc. disaster relief team called to New York
The St. Clair Baptist Association Disaster Relief Team will be traveling to Staten Island, New York next week to assist its residents as they continue recover from Superstorm Sandy.
Nine volunteers will be making the trip that is scheduled to arrive in New York on November 14 and return to Alabama six days later on November 20.{} They will be traveling in two vehicles, one of which will be pulling the "Saw Team Trailer".
The team is looking for donations to fund the trip as their 2012 disaster relief funds are depleted.{} They need between $800 to $1,000 for fuel alone.{}
If you would like to contribute, you can send money to:
St. Clair Baptist Association
P.O. Box 160
Ashville, AL 35953.
Make checks FOR: "Disaster Relief Ministries"
(Do not make this "for equipment" because all equipment is paid for)


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WATERVILLE — Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area will open a resale shop this month. The store will be located in the basement of the 304 Main St. building. Organizers will accept donations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday.
If you would like to drop off donations over the weekend, please call HVWA to arrange a time. Volunteers are needed to help get the store up and running, if interested, call Susan Roy at 873-3615, ext. 13. The grand opening will be announced soon.
Needed donations: gently used furniture, brand name (seasonal clothing), collectibles, books, house ware (dishes, glassware, flatware), antiques, jewelry, toys in good condition and linens.
Items accepted only if new and unopened: bandages and medical supplies, bike helmets, mattresses, pillows, cosmetics, disposable diapers/pads.
Items that will not be accepted:computer CPUs, electric or kerosene heaters, flammable items, hair dryers, personal hygiene appliances, any item containing offensive and/or inappropriate slogans, window blinds.


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Quad core anyone?
Subject: General Tech | October 26, 2007 - 03:19 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
As the release date gets closer, more info about Crysis has appeared. We now know that the CPU will have a big impact on the overall performance of the game, and that the game will be able to utilize 4GB of RAM or more. Keep your eyes peeled for more on this game as it develops.
Cervat Yerli, who seems to spend more time talking to the press than
actually working on finishing the game, revealed that on most systems,
Crysis is likely to be CPU bound. "If [your system is] balanced, we are
more CPU bound then GPU, " he told Shacknews.
http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=639 " Multi-core will be
beneficial in the experience, particularly in faster but also smoother
framerates... We recommend quad core over higher clock."
Source: The Inquirer
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text:
UPLAND >> Most new moms can often relate to the various stages of pregnancy – morning sickness, cravings, fatigue, and ultimately a healthy delivery.
But for Ashley Hinds and Shelly Anthony it was contracting the H1N1 virus that had them fighting for their life and that of their unborn child.
San Antonio Community Hospital officials believe the two pregnant women contracted the flu during separate business trips. In January and mid-February, medical staff had to use the same specialized equipment to save their lives.
"I thought I had pneumonia and that I would be fine, and they would help me rest but when I woke up it was literally a different month," said Hinds, of Eastvale, who was admitted in the middle of January.
Anthony, of Rialto, was admitted to the hospital Feb. 3.
H1N1, also known as "swine flu," is an influenza virus that became an epidemic in 2009. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, with some experiencing vomiting and diarrhea.
The medical staff at the hospital found themselves not only exhausting all their technology, but in a bind because the women and children were not receiving enough oxygen on a standard ventilator.
Their next step: an oxygenation procedure using an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine referred to as ECMO.
"It's an artificial heart and lung. You take the blood out of the body through a tube which then runs the machine – putting oxygen back in the blood, and a different tube would pump it back into the body," said Hossein Shayan, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the hospital.
There are less than 100 reported cases involving pregnant women who were treated using the equipment.
"It's not like we could have gone to the literature and said, 'This is what you do for pregnant patients'," he said. "We had to rely on our knowledge and our limited knowledge on literature, to proceed."
During their hospital stays, both women learned of each other's journey but for months never knew the identity of each other, or realized how similar their struggles had been.
Turbulent travels
Hinds was 21 weeks pregnant with her first child, and Anthony was 24 weeks along with her second baby.
Hinds, who was on a business trip in Dallas, returned home on Jan. 10 feeling sick. After a visit to her doctor, she learned she had the flu and just told to rest. But after a couple of days of her condition not improving, she and her husband Andy decided to go to the emergency room. San Antonio Community Hospital emergency room doctors found she had pneumonia in both lungs.
The day before being placed on the ECMO machine, Hinds had multiple organ failures. The situation was so grave that doctors advised her husband Andy to call her family to say their goodbyes.
"She shut down, and it was tough," Andy Hinds said, as his voice cracked.
For Anthony, she was traveling from North Dakota when she got stuck all day in Denver International Airport. By then she was already feeling sick and being in the airport all day only compounded the issue.
A day after returning, she went to the emergency room where doctors said she had the beginning stages of pneumonia. But doctors sent her home with some antibiotics. Anthony said she felt like her chest was on fire and when her condition didn't improve the following day she called her doctor who advised her to go to the Labor and Delivery unit at San Antonio Community Hospital where she was admitted.
"It was strange going into Labor and Delivery when you weren't having any contractions or anything," she said. "I asked, 'you're going to take care of my baby, right? Not just me.'"
Specialized care
Shayan is one of the few in the region who has the training to use the ECMO machine on adults. In the last five years, the hospital has used it 15 times, and the first and second time on pregnant women, he said. San Antonio Community Hospital is the only medical facility in the Inland Empire that uses ECMO on adults.
Based on data, the women's chance of survival off the machine was about 20 percent, Shayan said. With the machine, it improved to 60 percent.
"So you are essentially doing the job of the heart and the lung outside the body," he said about the equipment, which is on a roll-away cart.
Two tubes were inserted in the women, one at the neck and another on their thigh. They were placed in intensive care unit and were sedated to reduce the risk of the tube becoming dislodged – which was their lifeline, Shayan said.
"The problem with this viral infection is it takes the lungs a long time to recover," Shayan said. "There is no medication to (speed up) the process, all you can do is support the body until the body itself recovers."
Both women received continuous care, Hinds for seven days, and Anthony for 10 days while they were on the machine.
Recovery Process
Hinds would be at the hospital a total of 27 days, of those she was on a ventilator for 17 days, adding that she remembers very little of her stay. At the same time, she didn't realize how grave her situation was.
"I couldn't move when I woke up," she said.
She would need physical therapy twice a day and then dialysis.
"When they told us we could go, we didn't make eye contact with anybody," she said as she and her husband laughed. "Let's check out."
It's that humor that the Hinds said helped get them through their ordeal.
One of the issues with using the machine for an extended period is the possibility of other complications such as neurological damage and muscle wasting, Shayan said.
For Anthony, it meant a longer recovery, spending a total of 51 days in the hospital. She had to relearn how to speak and walk. Her biggest accomplishment came on March 18 – her birthday – when she walked.
"When I first woke up, I couldn't even lift my head. I have a lot of empathy for Courtney (her daughter), watching her hands flail when she's trying to grab something, I'm like 'I remember that.' I knew how frustrating that is," she said.
But the ordeal was just as trying on the husbands of the pregnant women. Ken, Shelly's husband, said he recalled one day doctors trying to treat his wife and the next day talking to him about using specialized equipment in order to save her life.
"It kind of hits you like a sledgehammer. It took me a long time; it took me a couple of days just to get a plan together because you're just overwhelmed," he said.
Both women said they were grateful not only for the medical attention but the care they received during their health scare.
Months after being released, Ashley and Andy Hinds gave birth to daughter Avery on May 15, while Shelly and husband Ken welcomed, Courtenay, on May 22. Both babies weighed seven pounds, 10 ounces.
When Hinds was getting ready to leave the hospital, she heard Anthony was going through similar health difficulties. Both Ashley and Andy said they often wondered if the other pregnant mother had pulled through. For Shelly and Ken, they were interested in finding out how the pregnant mother was recuperating. Recently, the women met in person for the first time and in July the families came together to meet with hospital staff.
There is some comfort knowing someone else knows what she went through, Anthony said.
"We don't have to explain it to each other," she said.
"It's hard to explain to others the magnitude of it, but I know she gets it," Hinds added.
As the two women sat side-by-side, their daughters in their laps, they simply looked at each other and smile about their "badges of honor".
"We have matching scars," said Hinds, pointing to her neck where the tube from the ECMO machine was inserted. "I'll take it."


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Will Adele + George Michael Duet?
The Brits are sticking together! Adele is reportedly interested in collaborating with her fellow countryman George Michael on a song for his new album.
Michael, 48, had been flying under the radar much of 2012 while recovering from pneumonia, which forced him to table tour dates late last year. He is feeling better and getting back into the swing of things, working on new material. A source told The Mirror that Michael is in great shape and that he "is exercising all the time and [is] so enthusiastic that he is back in the studio." He is reportedly embroiled in discussions with his new pal Adele, 23, about working on a song.
The duo hit it off at the BRIT Awards, with Michael flying in from Australia and leaving his BF behind specifically to present the 'Someone Like You' diva with the award for Best Album for her gazillion-selling, critically adored '21.'
The source said, "It is no secret that he adores Adele. He even left his boyfriend Fadi Fawaz in Australia for three days while he flew in to present Adele with her BRIT. They've become pals since then and are talking about doing something together." That's serious business, leaving his man behind in order to hand Adele her award. G. Michael really loves and respects Adele!
Also, it's worth remembering that Michael is no stranger to epic collabs, having sang alongside the powerhouse likes of Aretha, Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige during his career. He is itching to work with Adele due to their shared heritage. "He is very supportive of British talent and he likes it that Adele keeps it real," the insider said.
So how does Adele herself feel? The source revealed that the positive feelings are mutual. "Adele has been an admirer of George's tunes for as long as she can remember and was so touched that George presented her Brit award," the source said.
What do you think, PopCrush readers? Will Adele and George Michael make beautiful music together?


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Yanukovych: EU integration remains a foreign policy priority for Ukraine
The head of state noted that for the first time over the years of independence, Ukraine had come close to obtaining associated membership of the European Union. "I am confident that the Ukraine-EU summit, which will be held this autumn, will be a crucial step forward in this direction," he said. Yanukovych also noted that the establishment of high-level relations between Ukraine and Russia put no obstacles to the process of Ukraine's European integration, but, quite the contrary, facilitated it. "A united Europe needs an economically strong and democratic Ukraine, which, along with Russia, promotes the strengthening of stability," he said.
He said that such relations with Russia had been restored very quickly.
"We have raised a bilateral dialogue with the United States to the highest level and rejected highly enriched uranium. We not only supported the initiative of our partner, but also made another significant contribution to the creation of a nuclear-free world," the president said.
He noted that Ukraine had stepped up trade and economic relations with developing countries. "First and foremost, with China, where I will soon pay a state visit, with our old friends and good partners - the CIS countries, as well as with India, Brazil, South Korea, and the Middle East countries," Yanukovych said.


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Jenna McCarthy's New Books: Big Rigs For Moms and Tea Parties For Dads
Jenna McCarthy's Crash Course For Parents With Kids of the Opposite Sex
Life is full of surprises! Many mamas spend their pregnancies dreaming of lil tutus only to be shocked when their doctor declares, "It's a boy!" While a woman may love all that comes with mothering sons, she may need a class in why trucks, bathroom humor, and fast cars have fascinated boys for years. Jenna McCarthy's latest tomes, Big Rigs For Moms ($11) and Tea Parties For Dads ($11) do just that. They each cover 25 topics parents should know.


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When you come to Miami, you have to hit the beach. Naturally. But what if I told you there was another way to experience our waters?
Cruising the Miami River is a great way to see the many sides of the city — from the glamorous villas of our A-list residents to the family fisheries that supply the freshest seafood to restaurants on the riverbank.
Featured in this video: Miami River; Downtown Miami; Biscayne Bay; Fisher Island; Garcia's Seafood Grille and Fish Market; Ocean Force Adventures.
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Barbados, Your Own Private Oasis
The Club Barbados is like your own private oasis of relaxation. This adult-only, all-inclusive Barbados resort destination is in a fantastic location- in the highly sought after west coast of Barbados. Spend your days endlessly relaxing by the pool, shopping at the nearby designer mall, or checking out the island through the hotel's list of interesting excursions.
The apartment-style rooms let you either walk right out onto the pool to claim your prime seating for daily tanning, or they overlook the colorful red and pink trees surrounding the three sectioned flowing pools and Jacuzzi.
The resort offers two-room suites with sitting area and TV, bedroom, bathroom, and expansive balconies which look over the second, third, and fourth floor rooms near the pool. If you like to hear the ocean waves breaking as you drift off to sleep, be sure to reserve an ocean suite.
I awoke every morning, made a cup of coffee and spent a few moments taking in the clear aquamarine and deep blue water rushing in below me, a simply jaw-dropping view from my window.
If you want an especially memorable vacation, check out the open concept suites. The rooms are split in two, one sitting room and bedroom. The sitting room is completely open to the ocean with a windowless balcony. The way the roof is slanted protects you from rain and lets you enjoy the stunning Bajan weather with nothing in your way.
Relax at night in your bedroom, knowing paradise is literally on the other side of the door. Get your daily nourishment from the buffets for breakfast and lunch at the Sunset Restaurant. Later, sit down for a delicious dinner at Sunset or the Caribbean style Enid's. The main bar is the place to be with its spacious and cozy seating and the dance floor is waiting for you to enjoy the different bands, performers, or piano for the evening entertainment. Meet up there for a Barbados specialty drink or some afternoon tea.
The staff is The Club is always eager and ready to help you with the smallest request. Want to dine on the beach behind the restaurant, with the crisp scent of salt air from the crashing waves and a view of the purple and blue ocean at sunset? No problem. Need another drink or two? Coming right up! A more amiable and good-natured staff would be hard to find.
The Club Barbados is a beautiful and private getaway for anyone looking for a quiet vacation. Pool relaxation, cool, tropical beverages, and nightly entertainment is all within close proximity to your guest room.


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Time-dependent Improvement of Functional Outcome Following LCS Rotating Platform TKR
The recruitment status of this study is unknown. The completion date has passed and the status has not been verified in more than two years.
Verified December 2009 by Martina Hansen's Hospital.
Recruitment status was: Active, not recruiting
Recruitment status was: Active, not recruiting
Martina Hansen's Hospital
Information provided by:
Martina Hansen's Hospital
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: December 11, 2009
Last updated: December 14, 2009
Last verified: December 2009
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The objective of this prospective study is to determine (1) the time course of patient-relevant functional outcome evaluated by the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and (2) the time course of range of motion (ROM) the first four years following TKR using the LCS rotating platform prosthesis. Improvement of patient self-reported pain and daily function during the study period, are of particular interest.
|Osteoarthritis Total Knee Replacement
|Device: Total Knee Replacement (LCS rotating platform)
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Observational Model: Cohort
Time Perspective: Prospective
|Official Title:
|Time-dependent Improvement of Functional Outcome Following LCS Rotating Platform TKR - A Prospective Longitudinal Study With Repetitive Measures of KOOS
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: Knee Injuries and Disorders OsteoarthritisU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Martina Hansen's Hospital:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [ Time Frame: Preoperative and 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 4 years postoperatively ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Range of Motion (ROM) [ Time Frame: Preoperative and 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 4 years postoperatively ]
- Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [ Time Frame: 10 years postoperatively ]
|Study Start Date:
|February 2003
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|September 2013
|Primary Completion Date:
|September 2007 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
|Patients with knee osteoarthritis
|Device: Total Knee Replacement (LCS rotating platform)
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|40 Years to 85 Years (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
|Sampling Method:
|Probability Sample
Study Population
Consecutive patients operated with total knee arthroplasty at Martina Hansens Hospital
Inclusion Criteria:
- patients with knee osteoarthritis
- admitted for total knee replacement
- no rheumatoid arthritis
- no previous knee infection
- age 40-85 years
Exclusion Criteria:
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01030848
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01030848
|Martina Hansens Hospital
|Bærum, Norway, 1306
Sponsors and Collaborators
Martina Hansen's Hospital
|Principal Investigator:
|Tor Kjetil Nerhus, MD
|Martina Hansens Hospital
More Information
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
|Responsible Party:
|Tor Kjetil Nerhus/ Consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Martina Hansens Hospital
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01030848 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
19039 (NSD) ( Registry Identifier: Norwegian Privacy Ombudsman for Research )
|Study First Received:
|December 11, 2009
|Last Updated:
|December 14, 2009
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Joint Diseases
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Rheumatic Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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The Joe Louis Arena crowd went wild as former captain Nicklas Lidstrom was shown seated in the private suite of Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch at Joe Louis Arena during Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues.
Duff: Babcock simplifies strategy
The Joe Louis Arena crowd went wild as former captain Nicklas Lidstrom was shown seated in the private suite of Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch at Joe Louis Arena during Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues.
It was recently-retired Lidstrom's first chance to see how his old team is getting along without him, and it was likely an eye-opening experience.
Minus the seven-time Norris Trophy winner, Detroit's system now is about short passing plays, and tighter gaps between the forwards and defence.
"We have to be," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "We've got to be tight, tight, tight.
"I've always wanted it, but we could get away with it before."
Not now.
Those tape-to-tape, blueline-to-blueline passes that defenders such as Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski were able to make as well as anyone who's played the game are no more.
The Wings are seeking a new path to success.
"We don't move the puck as well, so it's real simple," Babcock said.
"When you've got Lidstrom, Rafalski, Stewie (Brad Stuart) and Kronner (Niklas Kronwall), they go back, they turn the corner and they fire it to someone who hasn't had to work quite as hard to be quite as close, to be in the exact position.
"We can't play like that anymore. We have to be closer and tighter and more available, and better defensively.
"Sometimes it's not very pretty, but that's just the way it is."
If there were a catchphrase for the Wings' gameplan this season, it would be "under construction."
"We're just in the process of trying to figure out a way for this group to play and be successful," Babcock said. "We're not as pretty to watch as we once were, but that doesn't matter anyway.
"You've got to find a way to win games."
The method that Babcock believes is the path to success for is a simplified version of the way they've played for so many seasons – a puck-possession game, but one based around short, crisp passes.
Call it the NHL version of the West Coast offence.
While they've altered their style of attack, the Wings have no desire to become a trapping, dump-and-chase hockey team.
Babcock doesn't view that as a route that works well in the long-term.
"We'd like not to dump the puck at all," he said. "The bottom line is the game's real simple. The more time you spend in your zone, the less time you spend in their zone.
"You dump the puck because you've got no speed on the rush. If you're efficient coming out and move the puck, and you do it right once, you're coming with speed, so you don't have to dump the puck, you probably get some sort of entry, or at least you give up possession and get it right back.
"Dumping the puck is awful when you're just dumping it in and changing. Just dump and change, dump and change, you spend the whole game in your own zone wearing yourself out.
"Our focus is to try not to do that, and yet there's parts of the game every night you're in a bit of a survival mode and you do that."
The personnel alterations also led to a change in philosophy for the Detroit coach.
"I've always asked them to find their game within our game," Babcock said. "This year as a coaching staff, more so than ever, we've had to find a game to coach that is their game.
"So we had to find out what they were first, and we're still trying to do that so we can be successful."
That's why some nights it works and other nights, it's still a work in progress.


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The Buckingham Charter Magnet girls basketball team lost to Wilton Christian 44-40 on Friday.
Jasmine Coutee led the Knights with 14 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Ashley Brooks added seven points and eight rebounds.
Buckingham fell to 2-3 in the Sacramento Metro Athletic League and 4-9 overall. The Knights host Sacramento Adventist on Tuesday at Vaca Pena Middle School.


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Perfect Smile Dental Care App
Available Mobile App Features
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Message your customers on the go with in-app messages. These messages go directly to your customers smart phones.
Provide up to date information about all of your businesses events and specials. Have your events calendar included..
Keep your customers informed about everything involving your businesss.
Give customers multiple ways to get in touch with you with our contact pages. Direct calling, GPS directions, and email.


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Then, in a surprising turn of events, Erica shocks Dimitri when she reveals to him that it was she who told Alex to leave Pine Valley. While on the other side of town, Leo and Laura kiss after she bears her darkest secrets about her past. Then, speaking of kissing, David is not one to let an opportunity pass by. Moving in for the kill, he and Dixie kiss passionately.
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The Boy is back in town
Is St. Petersburg, Fla., ready for Boy George? No matter the answer, because favorite cross-dressing-turned-felon has just announced he'll play Jannus Landing on July 27.
Pollstar.com has a full list of Boy George's latest tour dates, which is full of the usual House of Blues and Hard Rock stops. But an outdoor show in late July in Florida? Was this part of George's community service sentence?
It's not clear what Boy George is promoting on his current world tour -- his first in 10 years -- other than hopefully paying off what have to be enormous legal bills thanks to his random shenanigans. Still, you gotta figure he'll draw a decent crowd of the curious -- even if he just stands on stage and spins records.
Check out the message boards at Digital Spy for the latest fan talk about his live shows.


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5 Ways to Enhance Your Membership Renewal Letter
For nonprofits with membership programs, retention is everything. No matter how engaging or profitable your membership program is, if you can't convince members to come back year after year, you'll never achieve true progress or growth.
Luckily, there's one oft-overlooked aspect of the member stewardship game that you can leverage to maximize your retention rates and supercharge your membership program. We're talking about the ever-so-crucial membership renewal letter.
Though you might perceive these pesky communications as necessary evils, there is a way to ensure your renewal letters are more than just a requirement. They're a way to engage your members and remind them of the value of the membership experience (while asking for a donation in the form of a membership fee).
In fact, if you follow our tips, you might even start to enjoy the renewal process—and more importantly, so will your members!
We'll help you take your member renewal letters from okay to amazing in just 5 simple steps:
- Get personal.
- Take your members down memory lane.
- Understand the urgency.
- Stay gracious.
- Don't forget the details.
Let's begin!
1. Get personal.
More than likely, you'll utilize your membership management software to help you create and send large batches of renewal letters. Because these communications are often automated (or aided by your database), it's easy to get lost in the transaction and forget to include a human touch.
Even though it's an easy mistake, this error is more fatal than you might think!
For nonprofit organizations, your members are your most dedicated constituents. Not only do they give on a recurring basis and participate in engagement activities, but they set themselves apart by actually identifying themselves as part of your organization.
Since your members are so deeply invested in your nonprofit, it's important to show the same level of respect and appreciation for them. By interacting with members in a personal way, you're showing them that they're not just a face in a crowd—they're valued on an individual level!
You should make your letter as personal as possible by including:
- An accurate, friendly greeting. You should know your members well enough not to refer to them as "Dear Member," so call them by their (correct!) first name. Use your database to ensure accuracy, and always double check to make sure the right letter is going to the right person.
- A personable tone. This letter is more than just a formal invoice of members' dues, so don't fall into the trap of taking a transactional approach. Let your members know that you're excited to have them contribute for another year, not just to receive their money!
- A short handwritten note. If possible, have your membership director add a brief handwritten note to the end of the renewal letter. Especially if you're a local organization or have interacted personally with this member before, adding a personal touch can go a long way.
For the final once-over, take a cue from this membership renewal letter checklist and ask yourself:
- Is the greeting personalized?
- Is my tone conversational and friendly?
- Did I avoid jargon?
- Does it read like I'm building an emotional connection and a lasting relationship?
To put it simply, when you use your member renewal letter as an opportunity to remind your members how much you care about them, you'll be much more likely to see eager renewals.
The point is: Don't treat your members like they're nothing more than their membership fees. Show them you value them by crafting a letter that's personal and friendly, and you're sure to see your retention rates soar.
2. Take your members down memory lane.
Before you launch into a request, take a paragraph to remind your members how far their membership fees have gone to further your organization's cause and enrich their lives since their last renewal.
Look at it this way: your members have other expenses too, and they likely can't afford to shell out membership fees for an organization that hasn't given them their money's worth. If they can't remember what last year's dues paid for, they definitely won't see the point in signing up for another go-round!
To prevent that from happening, spend some time briefly recapping the value of their membership. If member stewardship has been a priority (and we hope that it has!), you'll have no issue coming up with a highlight reel of all your membership program has done (and all your members have done for your membership program).
You might want to remind your members of any (or all) of the following:
- Impact on your cause or community. Did you raise a record amount for your charity's mission? Perhaps your members' volunteer efforts had a radical effect on your community. Whatever the case, your nonprofit probably accomplished a lot last year with the help of your devoted members, so let them know you couldn't do it without them.
- Member engagement activities. One of the strongest benefits to membership programs is the community they naturally foster. Your events and programs have likely worked to develop a supportive group of like-minded individuals, so make sure this benefit is at the front of your members' minds.
- Services and opportunities. Does your membership program offer exclusive content or services for members? Don't let them forget! Whether you had an educational speaker at your member get-together or hosted a conference, remind your donors how much your organization has helped them learn and grow this year.
You don't want to spend too much time celebrating the past year's successes (that's what your year-end newsletter is for), but you do want to make your rationale clear: your members can't get the experience of this membership program anywhere else!
The point is: Take some time to help your members recall the value of your membership program. By briefly going over the impact of your program, you'll have no problem recruiting them for another year.
3. Understand the urgency.
As much fun as it is to rehash old times, you can't avoid the purpose of your letter for long. By the second or third paragraph, it's time to ask your members to renew their membership.
At this point in the letter, we can't stress enough the importance of being to-the-point. If membership dues have increased since the last renewal period, tell your members directly. If you want to ask them to upgrade their membership level, quickly explain why and how. If you're too vague, your members might think you're hiding something from them, so just be clear from the start.
While you don't want to be curt, you do want to stress that this is a matter best handled as soon as possible. When members feel they can put off their renewal for a later date, it increases the odds that they won't ever get around to renewing—and you can't let that happen!
Encourage your members to act sooner rather than later by using the following strategies:
- Include your application form. Take away the guesswork by including a link to your membership application, or a paper copy if your renewal letters are sent by mail. For the best results, make sure your form is user-friendly and well-designed. (Take a look at this article to learn how to optimize your application form!)
- Make renewals easy. Membership management software can streamline the renewal process for both you and your members. Depending on your provider, you might even be able to include an automated renewal option on your application form or your website's member portal.
- Incentivize early renewal. If you're having a hard time securing early or even on-time renewals, it might be time to up the ante. Though not realistic for every organization, providing benefits for those who take immediate action can seriously pay off. Consider offering a discount if members renew within two weeks of receiving their first renewal letter.
Don't let your members lapse due to forgetfulness; convince them to secure another year's involvement as soon as they receive their letter!
For more on requesting donations through letters, check out this post!
The point is: Get to the point quickly and make the pitch your members have been waiting for. Ask for their renewal in a direct, positive way, and make sure the renewal process is easy enough for them to complete on the spot.
4. Stay gracious.
Remember the bottom line here: your members make your membership program possible. Without their contributions and involvement, you wouldn't have a leg to stand on, so show them your gratitude as you ask for their renewal.
Throughout your letter, write with a tone of respect and thankfulness. Don't ever be demanding!
Moreover, you might consider the following thank-you protocol for both your letter and the follow-up:
- Close your letter with sincerity. Gratefulness should be the last thing your members see in their member renewal letters. Don't overdo it (and risk cheesiness), but do include a sincere line to reiterate how appreciative you are as you close your letter.
- Keep communication open. By failing to include follow-up details for your organization, you're assuming your members will renew without question. On the contrary, make sure they're aware that your team is eager to answer any and all of their questions by providing relevant contact information, including a specific point person on your team.
- Send a thank-you note. Instead of only automating an acknowledgement or receipt, you should send your member a personalized thank-you note as soon as possible. An email is fine, but a handwritten note from your membership director or a board member can reiterate your personal connection to your members.
Gratitude during the renewal period is a major step toward member retention in the long run. Start on the right foot this membership term by proving to your members how much you value them (and avoiding tricky membership engagement mistakes along the way).
The point is: You can't thank your members enough for what they do for your organization, but you can certainly try! Be gracious throughout your letter and always follow up personally as soon as you can.
5. Don't forget the details.
We can't talk about effective membership renewal letters without discussing at least a few technical details!
The smallest elements can push your letter to the next level, so let's break down a few key technical components you can't ignore:
- Keep it concise. As you edit your letter with our tips in mind, you might see your letter growing and growing to include all the necessary elements. Keep in mind that your members are busy and don't have time for long-winded letters! A page is plenty to get your message across, but definitely don't got over a 2-page limit.
- Be persistent. While we've only been referring to the membership renewal letter as a singular communication, don't be fooled into thinking you can get away with sending only one request. Start sending renewal reminders as early as a few months before membership expiration. (Hint: your software can automate these reminders so you don't have to keep up with them!)
- Don't forget lapsed members. Have some members who missed the renewal window? Don't let them lapse without sending a final reminder. This can be a good time to provide incentives, especially for long-time members.
The point is: Don't forget the minor details of your renewal letter, from timing to length. Be thoughtful as you review your letter, and your members will appreciate the attention to detail!
Member renewal letters don't have to be a hassle, for you or your members. When you send a letter that's engaging and sincere, your members will notice (and they'll be excited to sign up for another year!).
Need a little extra help crafting your letter? Check out this guide from Neon!
And for more on membership programs, check out these additional resources:
- Check out this list of 11 top membership management tools to find the right software for your program.
- Learn the basics of nonprofit membership programs with this handy guide.
- Start your nonprofit membership program on the right foot by following these 7 steps.


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Lord Varaha
Varaham is one of the avatars of Lord Mahavishnu. There are only very few varaham temples in India. Panniyoor in Kannur and Sreelakshmi Varaham temple situated very close to the south and west gates of Sree Padmanabha Swami temple are the only ones in Kerala.
Panniyoor Varaha Moorthy Temple
Palakkad district, Ottappalam Taluk, Anakkara Panchayath, Kumbidi P.O Legends speak that Sri Varahamurthi temple at Panniyur Village, Palakkad District, Kerala State was consecrated by non other than the great Parasurama, nearly 4000 years ago. Since that time this temple was the proud legacy of the people of Keralites, their foremost temple. For about 3000 years this had remained so.However, about 7 or 8 centuries back this great temple fell into ruins, as a result of the fractional fights between the two communites, namely the cheras and the cholas. Panniyur GramamIn this context it would be interesting and topical to recapitulate the etchings on a copper plate in round scripts made by the then living scholar Sri Appath Ateri. This copper plate was recently unearthed from the temple compound. This script when translated into Malayalam was found to contain besides Ateri's own biography, prognostications concerning this temple to which he was closely associated. This great scholar, the etchings revealed, had conducted 12 years of intense tapas to Lord Siva, before he possessed the power of futuristic vision by virtue of which he has recorded the script. He had foreseen a glorious future for the ruined Varahamurthy temple and predicted its return to past glory and greatness which it had enjoyed earlier. Sri Ateri has prophesied that as and when Sri Varahamurthi attains the original sanctity and stature, the helpless can look upto him in all faith and sincerity for succor and blessings. The chatings of "save me! Varahamurthi!" in times of extreme helplessness can and will enable the aspirant to overcome his difficult situation and tide over obstacles of any magnitude. How to reach National Highway 1) From Kochi, Thrissur, Kunnamkulam, Edapal, Kuttippuram, Calicut National Hightway - In between Edapal and kuttippuram diversion point of KELTRON corner nearby MES Engineering College leads to Kumbidi.2) From Coimbatore, Palakkad, Pattambi, Koottanad, Guruvayur State Highway - Diversion from Koottanad to Kumbidi via Thrithala. 15 Kilometers away from koottanad to Panniyur at Kumbidi Nearest Railway Station : Kuttppuram (7 Kilometers away) Nearest Airports : a) Calicut Airport (Approximate 100 Kilometer) b) Cochin Airport (Approximate 100 Kilometers) About Sri Varahamurthy Kshetram History Epics state that the temple of Sri Varaha Murthy at Anakkara was built by Parashurama about 4000 years into the past. For around 3000 years since its inception this temple was considered as the prime temple of Kerala. It is also said that for an approximate period of 1300 years ranging from 800BC(when the Brahmanas used to rule Kerala) to 600 AD (around the time when the rule of the Perumakkans ended) Sri Varaha Murthy, the reigning God of Kerala's renowned village Panniyur, was worshipped as the supreme God of Kerala. Some recently found stone engravings at Panniyur reveal that 1200 years ago there used to exist and function an active organisation by the name 'Panniyuraayiram', which as per what its name suggests comprised of 1000 members who were devoted towards carrying out the various cultural and religious activities of the temple. This again stands to emphasise the prominence that this temple enjoyed in those days. Maybe as a result of the long and bitter struggle between the Cheras and Cholas, or, maybe due to the battles that ensued between the Cochin king and Samuthiri, or maybe because of unfortunate reasons mostly unknown to us, 7-8 centuries back this temple receded away from its golden pedestal of prominence. The infamous series of tussles that took place between Panniyur and Shukapura has also been partly held to blame. Whatever be the reason(s), the end result was that the temple that had once been the cultural and religious cradle of Kerala, and the village that had boasted of a rich cultural heritage faded away into the dark clouds of obscurity. The Story Following his victory over the Kshatriyas, Parashuram had donated all that he had won to Kashyap. He had then sought a piece of land to carry out his meditation, and so he had pulled out a small fragment of land from the sea for the purpose. History claims that this small fragment of land is what exists now as Kerala. Eventually Parashuram's piece of land had begun rising and expanding. Disturbed, Parashuram had sought Narada's help. Narada had advised him to pray to Lord Vishnu. And so Parashuram had begun his meditation in order to propitiate Lord Vishnu. Finally Vishnu had appeared before him and had said, "Once I had assumed the form of Varahamurthy to save the world. Worship that form of mine and this place will have the blessings of 'Thri Murthy'." Heeding Vishnu's advice, Parashuram had established Shri Varahamurthy at the centre of his land fragment and had built a temple to house it. He had also duly initiated all worship activities there. It is that divine temple which is the Panniyur Mahakshetram of today. Following the demise of his beloved son, for which he held himself responsible, a mentally disturbed Perunthachchan, the great carpenter, through the course of his wanderings had reached Panniyur. Weighed down by fatigue, hunger and thirst he had sought relief from the carpenters who had been then carrying out rejuvenation work at the Mahakshetram. Having had failed to identify the 'Master' of their profession the workers had quite conspicuously neglected him and afterwards had broken for having lunch without having had uttered even a single word to him. Quite shocked and angry by such behaviour from their side, the 'Master' had decided to teach them a lesson. He had moved inside the sanctum sanctorum where the carpenters had kept blocks of wood ready to be converted into columns. The 'Master' had made some marks on those wood blocks before resuming with his journey. When the workers had returned, they had quite unwarily sawn along the marks made by the 'Master'; just imagine their embarrassment and frustration when they had discovered that all the columns just fell short of their appropriate lengths. Their careers and professions at stake, they had suddenly realised that the ill-dressed man they had so criminally neglected at lunchtime had been the master carpenter Perunthachchan himself, and that it had been him who had caused all this turmoil. Having had repented for their behaviour, they had decided to seek him the following day and beg for his forgiveness; and so decided they had settled down for the night. They had been woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of hammering and chiselling from inside the Sree Kovil. They had rushed inside to find that the old man had come back and that he had just finished adding the final touches to their pending work. Amazed and thrilled, they had sought his forgiveness. They had said, "Oh Master! So many of us have been deriving our livelihoods out of the work we used to do here. Now that you have completed the work we'll be rendered jobless." Perunthachchan had replied, "Do not worry, friends! Panniyur temple will never ever be short of work to offer members of our profession. Anyway I will never touch my chisel and measuring rod ever again." So saying he had dropped down his chisel and rod, which have been ever carefully preserved by his followers at Panniyur Mahakshetram and are still available for everyone for see. Mahapundit Appath Adeevi had written his autobiography on pieces of copper around 600 years back, in which he has made his predictions for the future. These pieces were found recently and the scriptures have been translated into Malayalam. The Mahapundit had predicted that the Panniyur Mahakshetram would definitely regain its lost glory and fame. The time that he had indicated in his writings is ripe now. He had foretold that when this blessed day arrives, everyone who believes in Shri Varahamurthy would be blessed with 'Abhishta Karya Sidhdhi' (i.e. the realisation of everything that one had prayed for). Devotees believe that when in peril, if one utters the words 'Varahamurthy Rakshikane' (save me, Varahamurthy) thrice, Shri Varahamurthy would rescue one from all impending perils and dangers. The 'Devaprashnangal' held here since 1983 indicate that within the next two revolutionary periods of the Saturn, this temple shall enhance in prestige and prominence to be at par with great temples like Guruvayur, Shabarimala etc. It is clear that Shri Varahamurthy has reincarnated himself at this temple to bless one and everyone. Many a devotee has claimed that he/she has already felt the blessing and glorious presence of Shri Varahmurthy. It is said that all devotees of Shri Varahamurthy shall be blessed with 'Abhishta Karya Sidhdhi'. And hence the number of devotees of Shri Varahamurthy is increasing day by day. Today This temple is the only one in Kerala to worship the 'Varaha' avatar of Shri Vishnu. This temple also houses and worhips Updevtas like Sri Shiva ('Vadakovil'), Sri Ayyappa, Sri Durgabhagavathy, Sri Ganapathy, Sri Ganapathy, Sri Subramanya and Sri Lakshmi Narayan. This temple is also said to have the blessings of Chitragupta and Yakshi. This temple also has a stage and a huge ground to accommodate spectators. The legendary 'Panniyur thura' is located just to the North of the Mahakshetra. It is believed that the fishpond constructed by Parashuram used to be located just a little south of the temple. Among the different pujas conducted here the most important one happens to be the 'Abhishta Sidhdhi Puja'. This puja costs Rs.101/- and is believed to pave way for 'Abhishta Karya Sidhdhi'. This puja is booked in advance till a long time into the future. Yet with due consideration to those who visit this temple, 3 days in a week have been earmarked for the conduct of this puja immediately or as soon as can be managed for all such devotees. 'SANDHYA DEEPARADHANA' is considered as the most auspicious time to seek the blessings of Sri Varahamurthy. Covered in sandalwood paste and adorned in scintillating jewellery, the divine form of Sri Varahamurthy is for every mind to embrace and seek solace with. 'AISWARYA POOJA' This is done once in and year for the whole life time, on date requested by devotee and for the welfare of himself and his family Rs. 401/- (Four hundred and one) is charged for this which will be deposited as Fixed deposit. The relative interest only will be spent for this pooja - Hence it is kept for ever. We whole-heartedly invite you and your families to Shri Varahamurthy Mahakshetram, and would request you to seek Shri Varahamurthy's blessings at 'Sandhya Deeparadhana', to make your contributions for the various pujas conducted over here, and to pray for your welfare and 'Abhishta Karya Sidhdhi'. Kshetram Samithi Superintendent The Panniyur Shri Varahamurthy Sevana Trust, P.O. Kumbidi District: Palghat ZIP : 679 553 Varaaha Jayanthy is celebrated. Appam and Abheeshta Siddhi Pooja are offered. First Wednesdays of Malayalam calender months are special.Presiding deity is Lakshmi Varaha Moorthy. Sub deities are Laksmi Narayanan, Ganapathy, Swayambhoo Kundil Varaham and Siva. You can also find sub deities of Vana Sasta, Yakshi in Koothambala Thara, Chitra Varaham, Durga Bhagavathi are resides. Thanthri: Kalpuzha illam temple is the only one in Kerala to worship the 'Varaha' avatar of Shri Vishnu. The temple also houses and worhips Updevtas like Sri Shiva ('Vadakovil'), Sri Ayyappa, Sri Durgabhagavathy, Sri Ganapathy, Sri Subramanya and Sri Lakshmi Narayan. This temple is also said to have the blessings of Chitragupta and Yakshi. The legendary 'Panniyur thura' is located just to the North of the Mahakshetra. It is believed that the fishpond constructed by Parashuram used to be located just a little south of the temple How to reach the temple
Panniyur Varaha Moorthy Temple is Situated at Kumbidi in Anakkara Panchayath, Ottappalam Taluk of Palakkad district. Panniyoor is 40 kilometers away from Guruvayoor Temple.
Routes by Road (National Highway)
• TRICHUR - Kunnamkulam - Edapal - Beofore reaching Kuttinppuram turn to right at the point of Keltron corner to Kumbidi.
• CALICUT - Valanchery - Kuttippuram after two kilometers away from Kuttippuram - Keltron Corner then turn left to Kumbidi.
• PALAKKAD - Ottappalam - kulappully - Pattambi - Thrithala - Kumbidi.
Nearest Railway Station : Kuttippuram Railway Station (5 kilometers to temple)
Sreevaraham Lakshmivaraha Temple Thiruvananthapuram
Sreevaraham Lakshmi Varaha Temple is situated at Sreevaraham near Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple in Thiruvananthapuram City. This a west facing Mahakshtera with golden Dwaja Prathishta. The main deity in sreevaraham temple is Lord Vishnu in Varaha avatar along with Goddess Mahalakshmi on his left lap. The annual festival of this temple is in Meenam/Painkuny(March-April) and falls along with Painkuni Utsavam at Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple.Varaha jayanthi also falls soon after aaratt in the month of March-April and celebrated in a grand manner in this temple. http://www.weblokam.com/spiritual/0504/27/1050427017_1.htm More>>
Sree Varaha Swami Temple Azheekkal Cherai
Azheekkal Sree Varaha Swami Temple is located at Cherai (about 100m from Cherai junction) in Ernakulam district (about 25 kms from Cochin City and 4 kms from South Paravoor). The temple was established in 1565 A.D by Azheekal Yogakkars (Gowda Saraswatha Brahmins of Vypi) and the Pratishta was done by Swami Yadavendra Tirtha, first Pontiff of Shri Kashi Mutt. It is believed to be the first Gowda Saraswatha Brahmin temple in Travancore-Cochin area. Sree Varahamoorthy in Chathurbahu form with shnkha chakra abhaya varada mudra is the presiding deity of this temple. Sree Venkatachalapathy with Lakshmi Devi and Bhoomi Devi on left/right side is also installed in the Srikovil. Hanuman, Ganapati, Mahalaxmi,Garuda, Shiva, Durga, Yakshi and Nagadevatha are the upadevathas or sub deities. The temple has a copper dwaja prathishta. This temple is under the Azheekal Sree Varaha Devaswom, Cherai.
Contact : Azheekkal Shri Varaha Devaswom, Cherai - 683514, Ernakulam District, Kerala, India. PIN - 683 514. Phone: 0484 2488235
For more details http://www.gsbkerala.com/temple/cherai.htm
Sree Varaha Swamy Temple Varapuzha Ernakulam
Sree Varaha temple is located in Varapuzha about 15 Km from Ernakulam towards Kodungallur. The temple is more than 450 years old and established by the batch of Gowda Saraswtha Brahmins who migrated from Goa. The original deity in the temple was Lord Narasimha, which was later shifted to Sree Venkatramana temple, Mulki and was replaced by a magnificent seven hooded idol of Varaha Swami brought from Goa. After installation of the Varaha murthy, this place came to be known as Varahapuzha which later became Varapuzha.Sri Venkatachalapathy with Laxmi devi and Bhoomi devi, Maha Ganapathi and Hanuman are the upadevathas.
For more details http://www.gsbkerala.com/temple/varapuzha.htm


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voip calls lose audio
Joined: Mon 25 of Aug, 2008
Joined: Mon 25 of Aug, 2008
voip calls lose audioPosted:Mon 25 of Aug, 2008 (21:33 UTC)
Hello. I have asterisk 22.214.171.124. With a pstn and a voip channel. the voip channel handles all calls outside of me local area. The problem I have is that on the voip channel, after a few minutes, sometimes less, I can not hear the outside party but they can hear me. It does not matter who originates the call and it is only on the voip channel. Any ideas?
Featured -


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Key Lime Pie Cupcakes Recipe
- 2 packages (14.1 ounces each) refrigerated pie pastry
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2-1/2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup Key lime juice
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1-1/2 cups self-rising flour
- 1-1/2 cups buttermilk
- 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1-1/2 cups butter, softened
- 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2-3/4 to 3 cups confectioners' sugar
- 6 tablespoons Key lime juice
- Fresh raspberries
- Preheat oven to 350°. Line 32 muffin cups with foil liners. On a lightly floured work surface, unroll pastry sheets. Cut 32 circles with a floured 2-1/4-in. round cookie cutter (discard remaining pastry or save for another use). Press one pastry circle into each liner. Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in lime juice. In another bowl, whisk flours; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.
- Pour batter into prepared cups. Bake 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until blended. Beat in enough confectioners' sugar, alternately with lime juice, to reach desired consistency. Frost cupcakes; top with raspberries. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 32 cupcakes.
Reviews forKey Lime Pie Cupcakes
My Review
Average Rating
"Best cupcake I ever tasted and very easy to make!"
"one more thing, i don't know why these would have won in a contest"
"These are the best cupcakes I have ever eaten in my life. I LOVE them. But no one in my family liked the crust though, so I leave that out. The reason I looked at these reviews was to see if others thought that these were dense. My husband wishes they were fluffier and more cupcake like (he still scarfs them down though), but I love them dense and wouldn't change a thing. They're almost more like a muffin. I was just wondering if I was doing something wrong. Also, these cupcakes burn very very easily so if you have not made these yet, watch them closely! When the edges start to slightly turn brown, they are done."
"I made these cupcakes for a brunch. I had several girlfriends coming over who expected delicious food and a decadent dessert. I then remembered setting aside this recipe for a special occasion that would have everyone leaving happy. This wonderfully delicious cupcake filled that request. Thank you Julie, your directions were easy to follow and the finished product was beyond amazing!!"
"I was looking for a cupcake that would taste light and fresh for an August (it Texas) wedding. I came across this and thought it would just fit the bill. I did make a few changes. I loved the idea that it had a crust at the bottom, but if it were to taste like a "true" key lime pie, the crust had to be graham cracker crust. I put 1 1/2 cups graham crackers in my mini food processor, pushed button 2 or 3 times, added 1/4 cup sugar (white or brown) and 5 TBS melted butter; mixed for about 20 seconds- done. I used 1 tsp for the mini cupcakes and 1 TBS for regular cupcakes. If you want it thicker add a little more. I pressed with a gadget I have to shape pastry dough in a mini cup. You can use your fingers. Oven set for 350°. For the mini cupcakes, I cooked the crust for 5 minutes - no longer! Regular size cupcakes, I cooked for 7 minutes. I took them out and let them cool completely before pouring the batter. I made an error in the batter, but I think they turned out exceptional, so I will share my "mistake". When I got to the alternately buttermilk and and flours, I did not have a 3/4 cup, so I did 1/4 cup buttermilk, then some flour, then I accidentally picked up the key lime juice which I had already added, and added another 1/4 c. key lime juice. Well, all I could do is just add 1/4 cup more buttermilk and be done or it would have had too much liquid. Well... the cooked up perfectly! They were not too strong of key lime flavor but their was no doubt what time cupcakes they were. I used the icing in the recipe. It was delicious but a little too soft for decorating (for August), so I just added a 1/2 cup of some thick butter cream icing I keep in the fridge and it made it stiff enough to hold up to the Texas heat. Everyone loved them. Their favorite part was the graham cracker crust. It was so pretty when it came out of the liner, like a little key lime pie."
"Thank you everyone for your nice comments. I am glad you like my cupcake! Julie"
"Absolutely outstanding! I made these last night. Fairly time-consuming but so worth it! Hubby even commented how good they were and he usually doesn't eat sweets. Just the right amount of lime in both the frosting & cake. The crust on the bottom is what makes these so good. A dense cupcake. I over-cooked 1 batch and it made a huge difference in the taste of the cupcake. The frosting is outstanding. I wouldn't change a thing with this recipe. I bake quite often from scratch so I'm hoping that helps in determining how good these are..Used my Big Kitchen Aid mixer and it made it so much easier."
"These are excellent! My family and friends loved them! I love the cupcake texture and flavor so much I will never use a box mix again! I am wondering if I can just leave out lime juice and use recipe for a plain vanilla cupcake?"
"These cupcakes are to die for! I usually don't like cupcakes, but because of the dense, creamy texture of these I absolutely love them! My husband is usually only a chocoloate dessert eater, but can't stay away from these. I loved the unexpected pie crust bottom, the texture, the taste, everything about them. I didn't change a thing in the recipe, but I did cut it in half for the first time making it. I'll be teaching some young ladies how to make them at our Apples of Gold session next week and wanted to give them a try first. I'll be glad to make the full batch with them and will hope there are a few extra to bring home. I've shared them with co-workers today and they thought they were wonderful. Thank you for wharing this wonderful dessert recipe!"
"I love key lime pie and I thought these "cupcakes" were pretty yummy as did the friends I make them for. But I do agree with another review that they aren't a true cupcake - more like a cross between cake and cheesecake. The batter was full and fluffy - like a mousse. The recipe worked well as is, but I have some tips/comments that might be helpful to a novice cupcake maker: This made 44 cupcakes for me. I only had enough cupcake pans for 24 at a time so I had to do 2 batches of pie crust baking and cupcake baking (double your time allotment). If I had one, I would've pulled out a stand mixer due to the amount of add this and then this... I was turning my hand mixer off and on lots. No biggie, just a suggestion. I frosted my cupcakes a similar amount to the posted picture and still had about half of the frosting left. Last, if/when I make them again, I would fill the cupcake liners almost to the top since they didn't rise very much at all. I used a #40 scoop (1.5T) heaping this time around which seemed to fill the liners pretty full, but would add more next time.Overall a great recipe that I will make again."


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Thomas Michael Charest
Funeral Mass
Westbrook – Thomas ( Tommy ) Michael Charest, 56, of Ridge Rd. passed away Tuesday March 20, 2012, at his home. He was born in Westbrook, the son of Omer and Lea Fecteau Charest. Tom attended the Woodfords School & Community Partners. He worked in several businesses, the last being Wise Paper Co. Tom was very devoted to his church, St. Anthony Parish. His activities included the Special Olympics, bowling, baseball, swimming and basketball. He was very proud of his medals received through his sports. Tom was a very loving and gentle young man, always smiling, just nice to have around. He will be missed. He was predeceased by his dad in 1980, his mom in 1998, his sister Rachel Foley in 1992. He is survived by a brother Robert Charest of Westbrook, sisters Gloria and husband Elmer Welch of S.C., Anita Knowles of Gorham, Constance "Connie" and husband Phillippe Lagasse, with whom Tommy resided of Westbrook, nieces and nephews Donna, Dwayne, Denise, Christopher, Leslie, Christine, Jeffrey and Nichole. Visiting hours will be held Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Blais & Hay Funeral Home 35 Church St. Westbrook. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony Parish. Interment will be in St. Hyacinth Cemetery. Tom's family would like to thank Hospice for their wonderful kindness and care and a thank you to the dedicated caregivers and to Dr. Medd and Staff. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tommy's memory may be made to; Maine Special Olympics 125 John Roberts Rd. # 19 South Portland, Me. 04106 or to Westbrook Animal Refuge League 449 Stroudwater St. Westbrook me. 04092
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PhoXo is an excellent photo editor
Launch most photo editors for the first time and they'll try to impress you with their serious credentials: flyout toolbars, feature-packed menus and so on.
Run the free PhoXo, though, and what you'll notice first is the Clip Art window, all smiling emoticons and cartoon pigs. Not much chance of doing any serious work here, you might think, but wait -- give the program a little time and you just might change your mind.
Close the Clip Art and Frame windows and PhoXo looks a little more like a regular image editor. It can open a basic range of formats (JPG, PNG, PSD, BMP, TIFF, TGA, ICO), and supports all the usual core editing options: crop, resize, rotate, sharpen and so on.
Keep exploring, though, and you'll find the program often gives you more functionality than you might expect. There's not just the standard Blur filter, for instance. You also get a Zoom Blur, a Radial Blur, a very effective Motion Blur, even a despeckle option.
There are plenty of colour adjustments, too: hue and saturation; RGB; color tone, level and balance; gamma; automatic contrast and enhance options, and more. And the layer support provides plenty of creative opportunities.
As we explored elsewhere, PhoXo kept coming up with surprises. For example, we expected the Shape tool to just draw a few basic shapes on top of the current image. But in reality the shapes immediately acted as a frame for your photo, so drawing a heart shape around a couple, say, would crop to that part of the image. (And there are some interesting shapes, including some with rough edges.)
The Effects menu is another area which initially looks disappointing, as many of the filters sound extremely familiar. But again, PhoXo really delivered. The "Oil Painting" option gave us particularly good results, right away. And "Lens Flare" was similarly effective, while also being so easy that just about anyone could use it.
As ever, it's not all good news, and there are a few interface oddities here. In particular, the program always opens full-screen, regardless of how you closed it; we were constantly reaching for the Edit menu, just through habit, but annoyingly there isn't one; zoom handling is a little awkward, and the program would benefit from more keyboard shortcuts.
Overall, though, PhoXo is an excellent editor, easy enough for beginners yet with the power to do more serious work.
Photo Credit: Imageman/Shutterstock


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I actually didn't know who Bryan Fischer is, so I had to look him up on Wikipedia:
Bryan Fischer is the Director of Issues Analysis for the American Family Association (AFA), hosting the talk radio program Focal Point on American Family Radio and posting on the AFA-run blog Rightly Concerned.
Where I heard his name was on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday. And what I heard that appalled me was Bryan Fischer, on his Focal Point show, explaining that,
The purpose of the first amendment is to protect the free exercise of the Christian religion.
I couldn't finish watching the video. I find Bryan Fischer to be offensive and vile. And I am disgusted, that with the venom he spews, that he claims to be a Christian. I thought Christianity was about love and respect, not hate and fear. If I believed in god, I would pray for his soul.
As YY4Me133 commented on the YouTube page,
The founders created a secular nation, not a theocracy. The U.S. Constitution mentions religion only in the negative.
Article VI: "…but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
Amendment 1*: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion**, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…"
*Ratified in 1791, 39 years before mormonism was created by Joseph Smith.
**This includes christianity.
The full text of the First Amendment is
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
My interpretation of the first amendment is that it protects the free exercise of all religion, not just Christianity, and that it is far more reaching than just about the free exercise of the Christian religion. The first amendment ensures that the government won't create a state sanctioned religion and I'm allowed to practice any religion regardless of whether it is recognized by the Christian Right; that I am allowed to speak and write freely about the egregious misinterpretation of the First Amendment by Bryan Fischer; that I can protest as part of Occupy Wall Street or rally with the Tea Party; and that I can complain to the government if I feel wronged.
It would be beneficial for Bryan Fischer to retake eighth grade english and history again since he seems to be incapable of understanding a simple english paragraph and forgets that our country was started by people fleeing religious persecution. He might want to reconsider persecuting other religions himself.


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