text: Welcome to the 2011 Ceramics Annual of America, showcasing the remarkable quality and diversity of contemporary ceramics. Ceramic artists, educators and scholars joined to encourage education and promote awareness of the ceramic arts, sharing and sustaining global connections among collectors and makers of ceramics. Ceramics in the 21stcentury is a lively and dynamic art form with a fascinating history. CAA is an important point of culmination, an American first, as an exhibition and art fair dedicated to ceramics aesthetics, cultural history and community. We are proud to present selected works from grand masters of the art with significant work from students and teachers, side by side, all shaped by movements and idea, opportunity and obstacles.


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The Egyptian Rods are the amplifier of mental energy, which one allows making the future a reality. The Rods-Crystal are the highest vibrational rods made.
In Ancient Egypt the fillings of the rods were different sized quartz crystals. Those sizes depended on the desired effects on the health and energetic system of the person working with The Rods. The Rods-Crystal contained quartz mono-crystals. These were made for Priests, masters of healing. These cylinders created a powerful energetic shield around a man which could influence a patient, harmonizing his energetic streams, being an executor and transmitter of the signal from master's mind at the same time.
The Rods- Quartz and Rods-CRYSTAL promote health, effecting an increase in energy. But we also see the Rods-Quartz and Rods-CRYSTAL as mental technology as used by Ancient Egyptian Priests. The Priests used Rods during a 22-year training for " joining the future." It is recorded that the Priest held the the Rods-Quartz and Rods- Crystal for 5 minutes or more, until one o'clock. And at this precise moment he "constructed the future" through a process of visualization.
The liberation of mental energy is a most important process when working with Rods. This MENTAL ENERGY acts on sensory channels. This allows the person to not only feel his/her desire, but also to actually enjoy an odor, vision and sound of the desired FUTURE. The images appear in all diversity of colors and are retained by consciousness as long as this desire is pleasant to the person. This amplification of energy and desire helps to manifest the desired future.
Rods-Crystal are also tools of transformation, manifestation and ascension. You may experience a mild pricking sensation and an exotic feeling of "expansion" in the field of possibilities when first working with the Rods. In some there is sensation of "pulsating" in the 6th chakra as the energy grows in the 6th and 7th chakras. The Rods- Crystal can be used with practical results by an experienced practitioners or meditators. They are excellent tools in working with groups.

subset: commoncrawl


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Daniel Depetris
Monday, August 1, 2016 - 15:06
Riyadh is killing civilians with American help, and it's jeopardizing the international credibility of the United States.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014 - 12:40
More than two months into the US and coalition air campaign, Obama administration officials and members of the US military's senior leadership are confident that "Operation Inherent Resolve" is having the intended effect against the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL). The air strikes that began in Iraq on August 8 and the strikes that began in Syria on September 23, according to the Pentagon, are forcing Islamic State militants to adapt their battlefield tactics, disperse units into smaller and more mobile teams, and change the way it behaves as an offensive force.


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It's been a tough few weeks.
Whether it's another domestic shooting or the rainforest in flames, it can feel overwhelming to stay abreast of what's happening yet impossible to turn away and unplug. Many of the people I meet these days aren't sleeping well; they have trouble focusing at work. They're angry, hopeless, or in despair. The news takes over conversations with friends and loved ones.
In an age of online connection, record numbers feel depressed, alone, and alienated. In many ways, we're undergoing a vast social experiment: is it dangerous for large numbers of people to be absorbing disturbing news alone?
Given the intensity of our times, finding balance in relation to current events is essential for our ability to stay engaged and meet the challenges upon us. Here are five tips for how to help stay sane in relation to the news cycle.
First and foremost, know what you're dealing with. Remember that the news media as an industry depends on advertising and viewership to survive. (Even patron-supported public news depends on keeping listeners and readers engaged enough to donate.) Whether it's profit or donations, the monetary incentive often drives sensationalism; values for utility, accuracy, and ethics often have lower priorities. Violence and intensity sell; goodness and stability don't.
The next time you find yourself consuming hours of news, struggling to exercise choice over how often you check the feed or turn on the headlines, remember that it's designed to keep you addicted. Bear all of this in mind as you choose what to absorb, when, and for how long.
Why are you reading the news? What's your purpose?
Democracy is an experiment in sharing power, and to share power in a meaningful way requires that citizens be informed. Yet the concept of being a "citizen" has atrophied, becoming more of a spectator sport than an active role. The news media contributes to this sense of being a passive observer watching a "show." Its purpose has become distorted to entertainment, excitement and titillation rather than providing useful information.
What if watching the news were part of our civic responsibility in the true sense of the word: supporting our ability to respond. When we turn towards suffering with a caring, balanced heart, a compassionate response is born. The point isn't to drive ourselves into a state of despair or paralysis; it's to wake up to reality so that we can respond.
A wise relationship to the news includes evaluating what amount of information supports your ability to respond. Having a choice around exposure to painful news is in and of itself a privilege. We can take that privilege seriously and make conscious choices about our news intake.
How and when do you get your news? What's your intention in reading or watching? Do you check your feed when you first wake up? How's that affect your mind? If it's helpful, try creating some guidelines for yourself:
For a week or longer, follow a couple of key issues that you care about, leaving other news aside.
Set a daily time limit for how long you want to spend consuming news.
Balance your view by seeking out positive stories and feeds.
Do a "digital detox" once per week, staying off devices and doing things that nourish you.
Mindfulness is a powerful ally for finding balance in relation to current events. Make watching news media into a practice of mindful consumption, observing the entire process and taking steps to stay regulated.
Notice the whole experience from beginning to middle to end. Try to become aware of the impulse to check the news. Is it conscious or compulsive? How do you feel before you open your phone, computer or switch on the radio? What thoughts and emotions are present? Is there anxiety, rushing, interest, excitement? You don't have to change what's happening; simply stay aware and study it so that you can begin to learn more about where and how you get caught up.
As you begin to read, view or hear the news, pay attention to what happens. Are you aware of your body? Are you holding your breath? Does the mind start racing? Can you maintain awareness from one story or article to the next? Notice the impact each image or headline has on your heart. How do you feel?
Be willing to give yourself time and space to digest your experience. Pause. Breathe. Check in with your heart: "Is this enough for now? Do I have the space to take in any more?"
Staying balanced doesn't mean that we stop feeling our emotions or don't have a reaction when tragedy strikes. It means that we are in touch with our heart enough to recognize when we need to step back and give ourselves the space to heal.
The idea of a participatory democracy is that we need to participate. Wise action relieves anxiety. The fear and anxiety we feel in a crisis are there to help mobilize our resources. When we have something to do in response, we access our agency and power.
Choose an area that you care about and find ways to get involved. This means continuing to educate yourself about the issues, who's currently involved and what they need. Getting involved could be doing something on your own (donating money, contacting your representatives) or with others (joining a local organization or movement).
Ultimately, one of the most protective things during these times is building community. There is strength in numbers, and great solace and healing in connection. To counter the negative effects of social isolation, reach out to friends and family. Get together regularly. Make time for both casual fun and more heartfelt discussion about what's happening and how you feel.
The issues we're facing today are larger than any of us can solve. They may be larger than any of us can face alone. The more we can build community and strengthen our connections with one another, the more resourced we are to respond in times of crisis.


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Do you want to secure a bad credit cash loan for yourself? At this time when lenders feel the risk in lending to bad creditors who miss on their payments, loans are difficult to come by. It is a harsh reality, though, that most of us experience financial struggles and shortages.
Not all lending institutions will gladly give their services for individuals with poor credit. Granting loans to these individuals are way too risky for some agencies. However, creditors can still be optimistic about it. If your personal credit has gone bad and you need a cash loan, there are agencies that can provide assistance to get you out of the murky situation. Fortunately, these agencies provide lending services even for people who suffer from bad credit.
Look for lenders who can approve your personal loan despite your poor financial status. Further, it is advisable that you search for lending agencies that can also provide you with strategies to help you clean up your poor financial status. In this way, you can start anew and cash loans won't be that difficult to get anymore.
What is a bad credit cash loan?
Cash loans or cash credits happen within a small term. They can also be called payday loans or cash advance. This is intended for borrowers who cannot make any payments before their next salary arrives. The loan covers their financial obligations during the period when they are experiencing shortage.
Borrowers can still get a cash loan even if their payments of the interest rates are delayed. The lending services record the payments made by the borrower on the interest. In cases when the collection is insufficient, the amount is considered as payment for the principal debt rather than the interest.
How can loan services help you with your dilemma?
Each borrower has his special situation and these cash loan services provide ample assistance and offer unique solutions. If you want to apply for a small loan, they can arrange it for you provided that you appropriately attend to your financial responsibilities.
Moreover, agencies specializing in repairing bad credit can also help if you want to remove your bad record. They also provide tips on how you can get a better credit score and maintain it for future purposes.
Finally, take the time to inform yourself about the many different alternatives before seeking the help of a particular agency. Make sure that you choose a bad credit cash loan service that can offer you the assistance you need the most. Free yourself from financial stress by following their suggestions on how you can manage your debts. Get a financial counseling for yourself and put the bad credit and poor score away.


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Implement a Real-time Compliance System
How does Inovaare's integrated compliance solution transform the existing compliance infrastructure of an organization?
Inovaare delivers a centralized workflow and data management system that optimizes health-plan compliance, enabling compliance staff to access operational source data in real time. This critical information is used to support efficient, effective execution of a health plan's compliance program across all areas of responsibility, including:
- CMS Audits
- Compliance monitoring
- Regulatory reporting
- First-tier, downstream and related (FDR) delegated entity oversight
Inovaare's compliance framework serves as the engine for tracking and reporting compliance and risk information to senior management and regulatory authorities.
Audit Management
Optimize a wide range of audit-related activities—including tracking, reporting and action plans—within a unified, comprehensive audit framework.Learn more
Risk Assessments
Identify, assess and manage organizational risks proactively through a seamless, real-time risk assessment framework.Learn more
Regulatory Reporting
Audit your compliance system continuously with through regulatory-reporting automation
CMS Universe
Ensure efficiency, transparency and quality control across internal audit processes with an embedded audit universe-creation module.Learn more
Regulatory Library
Streamline the review process, organize communication and improve timely response to regulatory memos with an centralized library.Learn more
Typical Current Compliance System
THE PROBLEM: In most organizations, Compliance does not have direct access or line-of-sight to real-time operational data. Instead, you must rely on IT to construct reports pulled from operational data sources, or depend on reports that operational areas compile themselves. Changing existing reports, creating new ones, or obtaining ad-hoc data can be difficult and time-consuming. Worse, the potential time lag with this type of reporting can mean that Compliance isn't made aware of significant issues until weeks or even months after the fact. In some cases, critical issues may not be identified at all until an internal audit or some member- or regulator-driven event brings it to light. By then, the consequences can be severe. Systems that do not allow Compliance to operate in the "here-and-now" do nothing to address this fundamental problem.Inovaare SOLUTION
The Inovaare Framework for Compliance
THE SOLUTION: Inovaare's approach is fundamentally different, because Inovaare systems enable Compliance to monitor organizational performance at the source, in real-time. No more time lag. No more reliance on IT to create and deliver the reports you need. No more waiting on operational areas to send you KPIs that haven't been validated. No more wondering where your delegated entities stand. Inovaare systems give you direct access to the operational data you need, in the form and format that meets your requirements (as well as your regulator's requirements), at the click of your mouse. Real compliance in real-time.Industry PROBLEM


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Don't throw caution to the wind to rush through shopping. Use these holiday shopping tips to keep you and your gifts safe this holiday season whether it is online or in store.
General Safety
- Park and walk only in well-lit areas, avoiding areas containing obstacles that provide hiding spots or that obstruct your view of the surrounding area. If possible, try not to shop after dark.
- Do not exit your vehicle to use an ATM. ATMs not located in well-lit open areas, or walk up ATMs not located in secure vestibules should be avoided.
- Vary routes of travel for outings and daily movements.
- Leave work in groups of two or more, especially after dark.
"Remember the acronym S.A.F.E. – Situational Awareness For Every Environment. Be aware of what's around you and if it seems too good to be true, or it doesn't look safe, follow your instincts. Safeguard your cards, pin numbers and yourself while you're out in public too. Stay in well-lit areas and maintain visibility. Remember, if it doesn't feel right seek another alternative, contact law enforcement, or find a safe place to go." – Tavis Johnson, Family Trust Security and Facilities Officer
Shopping in Stores
- Do not buy more than you can carry. Plan ahead by taking a friend with you or ask a store employee to help you carry your packages to the car.
- Save all receipts. Print and save all confirmations from your online purchases. Start a file
folder to keep all receipts together and to help you verify credit card or bank statements
as they come in.
- Consider alternate options to pay for your merchandise, such as onetime or multi-use
disposable credit cards or money orders, at online stores and auction sites.
Shopping with Small Children
- Select a central meeting place in case you are separated from each other.
- Teach them to know they can ask mall personnel or store security employees if they need help.
Walking to and From Your Car
- Deter pickpockets. Carry your purse close to your body or your wallet inside a coat or front pant pockets.
- Have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle. Check the back seat and around the car before getting in.
- Do not leave packages visible in your car windows. Lock them in the trunk or, if possible, take them directly home.
Shopping Online
- Before shopping online, secure your device by updating your security
software. Everyone's computer should have anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-spam
software, as well as a good firewall installed. Visit Bytecrime for free software downloads.
- Keep your personal information private and your password secure. Do not respond to
requests to "verify" your password or credit card information unless you initiated the
contact. Legitimate businesses will not contact you in this manner.
- Beware of "bargains" from companies with whom you are unfamiliar – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
- Use secure websites for purchases. Look for the icon of a locked padlock at the bottom of the screen or "https" in the URL address.
Enjoy your holiday shopping and stay safe!


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Gintoki meets a young firefighter who accuses him of being an arsonist.
Gintoki is going to throw his pile of comics when Otose appeared who was apparently hiding in the trash can and kicked him. Otose scolded him for throwing his garbage in a wrong day and told him to just bring it back home but Gintoki didn't listen to her and left his comics. He is already going to leave when a fire started behind him. Gintoki decides to piss to stop the fire when a woman appeared. She accuses him as the one who is behind the fire lately. Gin, who is still pissing, tells her not to look so intently at him and that's when she notices what Gin is doing and attacks him.
After that, Gin is seen at the woman's place. He is explaining his side but the woman kept on shouting at him. Then suddenly other men arrive. The woman tells them that she already caught the culprit, namely Gin, but one of the men says that there are already been eight innocent men that have been accused by the woman. But she believes that Gin is the real culprit. She is telling them her proof when something urgent happens. A fire broke out and those men are actually firefighters. They were about to leave when the man, who appears to be the boss and calls the woman Tatsumi, told her that she's just going in her circles and a woman being a firefighter is impossible and left.
Tatsumi freed Gintoki and apologized to him. Then Gin asks her where she will go and she answers that she's going to catch the pyromaniac and disappears in Gin's sight. Then Kagura appeared and greeted him with a kick. Kagura acts like a mother and scolded Gin.
Back at Tatsumi, Yocchan and his friend see Tatsumi hiding in the garbage can. The kids play with the garbage can and cause it to fall. They both leave laughing and Tatsumi resumes hiding. Then she remembers what the boss told her a while ago and starts reminiscing about her past. Her house was burned and she was left all alone. She asked the firefighter, who was the leader of the firefighters, why did they even save her. The man called her stupid and decided to take care of her and told her that they will become her family.
Back at the present, Tatsumi actually fell asleep when remembering the past. Then she is surprised to see Gin. She asked what he was doing there but before she can finish, the trash can where she is hiding falls over. Gintoki sits on it and answers her. Then suddenly, they notice someone coming...
Quotes Edit
- Sakata Gintoki: "What is correct and incorrect? It isn't an easy thing to decide on this chaotic world."
- Sakata Gintoki: "How can you expect to live based on rules made by someone else? If you allow yourself to succumb the laws of others, you can't decide on anything yourself and will become a freaking doll... In the end, the only person that can decide is yourself, prick!"
- Tastumi: "Giving up like that is not like me. I'm going to be the number one Edo fireman. I'm not going to lose to them or the pyromaniac."


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If you are not sure what degreaser to buy, what you have to do is read the following list. We show you the best degreasers of the moment. You only have to choose the one that best suits you according to the use you are going to give it. By performing an internal cleaning of the motor, you allow all the dirt that has accumulated in the motor to come out of it and be free of any impurities.
An engine cleaner ( engine flush in English) has certain chemicals that when introduced into the propellant, are allowed to stand to ensure that the cleaning agents reach the places that normally the oil does not manage to go. Then these are drained just like in an oil change. In fact, internal cleaning of the machine is carried out normally after extracting the old oil and before putting the new one.
It should be noted that certain automotive manufacturers do not recommend using an engine cleaner – they point out that with an oil change in time and with the advanced technology in the new engines is not necessary- in fact, they state that if the procedure is carried out, it could damage them.
Top 10 Engine Degreaser
Natural products that clean the tiles
In addition to the cleaning products, there is the possibility of using natural products for cleaning the tiles. One option is bicarbonate. If you dissolve a tablespoon of this substance in five liters of warm water, you get a liquid that decreases the tiles and leaves them shiny. After applying it, this liquid dries very fast and allows to obtain very good results.
Something similar happens with another liquid obtained through natural formulas and even more "homemade": the water in which potatoes have been boiled . They must be potatoes without peeling or washing. They are boiled in a saucepan, then removed and the resulting liquid is used as it is, without allowing it to cool or mix with other substances. The most advisable is to use a mop, which should be soaked in the liquid to wet the tiles well. As in the case of water with baking soda, it is not necessary to dry the surface, but let it dry with the ambient air.
Degreaser Automotive purchase at the best prices
If you have found this website because you want to buy Degreaser Automotive in an online store, they have arrived at the most suitable place. Here we offer you a fantastic list with the most appetizing offers of Degreaser Automotive, which you can have to buy online. If you want to make sure that you are about to make the best purchase, PLANETAOFERTAS.NET is a good resource. Due to our application tracking offers, there have been a lot of customers who have saved a lot of money and time at the time they have made their purchases in online stores. Do not miss the opportunity.
Buy in the automotive degreaser network of the best quality
When you go to buy Automotive Degreaser in digital stores, a good solution is to be clear about the Bestsellers . Normally top sales items tend to be the highest quality. The ones favored by the visitors are a good price, the ones that give the best guarantee or the best, the market leader. Now you will see a list of twenty Automotive Degreasers that have been top sales in recent days. Remember to take a look, because it could be, in this selection, you will find the best offer.


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#TrySomethingNew has been brewing for some time and as a number of events collide this summer, now is the time to make it happen.
The slide into middle-aged apathy must be halted in its tracks, the teenager must be dragged way from the screens, visiting friends from overseas need to be entertained – all good reasons for the family to get off our butts and make the most of what's on offer Around the Downs this summer.
And to add to the challenge, we' re going to do things that at least one of the party hasn't done before, hence the campaign #TrySomethingNew.
Not that everything 'new' has to be a big deal. Some may be small challenges such as getting teen ATD to eat something new – like seafood (actually that might be quite a big deal as she is the queen of fussy eating), or dragging Mr ATD away from his cars and motorbikes to take a sunset stroll (never managed it before, but ever hopeful!).
But there have to be a few serious challenges too and so to get us (and perhaps you) started here's a list of things we're planning to try:
• We all love swimming but generally confine our dips to the local pool or the sea when it is really warm. Our long term goal is to take up Wild Swimming but we're going to start with open water swimming on Sundays at Chichester Watersports. Fingers crossed it's not too cold.
• The teenager is just about old enough to dabble with alcohol so in an effort to lure her away from shots and spirits, we thought we'd introduce her to the finer side of alcohol with a one-day tour of the local Vineyards. What she doesn't realise is that the tour with TrekNTasteSussex involves cycling and walking to the vineyards so over-indulging is not an option. It will also be a great way to introduce our friends from Germany to the great sparkling wines of the South Downs.
• Having done a Foundation course at Art College before moving into 'the real world' I've always yearned to get back in touch with my creative side. This summer a friend and I have booked to do a one day sculpting course at West Dean College – we may never be the next Barbara Hepworth, but in the words of Lao Tzu, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
• Living in the Downs, you're never far from the sea and what better way to enjoy it than a sunset kayaking tour around Chichester Harbour with Fluid Adventures. We'll have some newbie seafarers in our party but kayaking is so simple anyone can do it. (At least that's what we're telling them!)
• The ATD teenager knows I don't like flying much which is probably why she picked a flying experience at Goodwood for her special birthday present this year and guess who has to go with her! This really will be something new (and frightening) for me as I firmly believe that flying should only be done in aircraft big enough to carry hundreds of passengers and ideally piloted by someone like Chesley Sullenberger (of 'Sully' fame).
• We've been meaning to walk The South Downs Way ever since we moved here and the arrival of our friends from the States has proved just the nudge we need. We won't do the whole route this summer but we'll make a great start and complete the final stages in the Autumn.
•We've got another great surprise for our city-dwelling State-side friends – a safari through the English countryside! With Knepp Safaris we're hoping to see herds of Longhorn cattle, Exmoor ponies, Tamworth pigs, red and fallow deer plus lots of birds. It may not be Africa but it looks great fun!
• Fishing is the new cycling – everyone is doing it, from Emma Watson, Rihanna, Avril Levigne on the ladies team to David Beckham, Liam Neeson and Brad Pitt on the boys side. So Mr ATD has decided he wants us all to have a go at Fly Fishing. My brother is a great fisherman but I've never tried it. To be honest, I feel a bit squeamish about touching the fish I take out of a packet from the supermarket. But a deal is a deal and as we've all decided to try something new, I will just have to muster my courage and get on with it – but I bet Mrs Beckham never gets dragged along!
Everyone needs their life shaking up once in a while so why not join us and #TrySomethingNew #AroundTheDowns with your family and friends this summer? We'll be posting on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram about what we're getting up to and we'd love you to share your exploits too.
Here's to an exciting and invigorating summer!


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Dragon Age: Origins DLC Reviews
Here it is, the first of a maxi-set of mini reviews about all the expansions to the main game of Dragon Age: Origins, including Warden's Keep, The Stone Prisoner, Return to Ostagar, the Feastday content, and more.
Warden's Keep
Hooray! A day one expansion pack that costs money! And what's that? It's vaguely disappointing? Oh that's just great!!!
The story to this mission is more enthralling than its simple setup would let on. You have to travel to a forgotten Grey Warden base that is overrun with demons and reclaim it. The rest of the tale however, is too good to spoil so I will let you unravel the rest of that mystery for yourself.
This DLC's most important inclusion is the addition of a storage chest for any of your excess items (you would be surprised how useful this is due to tragically tight limits on your inventory in the main quest). The storage chest is really something that should have been bundled in the game right at your party's campsite, but since it's not…you'll need to buy this DLC to use it.
That isn't my only gripe about this DLC though, since the storage chest that is added, is only available at Warden's Keep, you have to actually go there and suffer the loading times of this map every time you wish to offload some items.
There are also two new talents included with this DLC that are ok, although really only useful for limited situations, but I can't really gripe since they give you them for free (with purchase), so there is no reason not to get them.
For those of you who don't purchase the content, you will always have the quest giver at your campsite…who in a terrible immersion breaking conversation, prompts you to buy the content.
Warden's Keep is way overpriced at $7 (560 MSP), but the included content really isn't that bad. By no means should we have been made to pay for content that some would argue is crucial to the gameplay experience…I just feel that this pack comes off as a stilted money grab, and it's pretty obvious.


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Almost born in the USA
Oh, happy Independence Day, America.
Funny thing was, I'd planned to give this a miss for a few reasons. Firstly, I know people are going to want to hear what tomorrow is like for me, with the EEG Scan, and I try not to do too many blogs, as well as too few in a week. But then someone posted a picture, and well, I had to post it, and it could hardly wait a year, so…
Of course, the funny thing about my connections to the USA, so many of them lead to one state, Oklahoma! Of course its where Clara Johnson was born, in territory time, and not only that, but Kate has pointed out to me, its a highly likely target point for my Irish Great Grandparents at the time, if they'd gone west, instead of to England. Given that would have happened just before Clara was born only makes that even more ironic.
Sadly, Kate and I have agreed that even if I get permission to fly, post scans (which I will, if only epilepsy), I wont be going to Oklahoma this year. I think she'd rather have me nearer home, and with the better facilities in New England close by, and in truth, I dont blame her! But if Clara thinks she's safe, there's always next year, by which time hopefully things will be really stabilised!
I cant make plans until after the scans on what I will do, as a lot will depend on where, when, and how much surgery I got done, to solve all my issues. A dear friend (or 2) have made it very clear they'd love to find a way to get it done in the USA, and given some of the recent reports coming out about the NHS, who can blame them? But until I know whats the matter with my brain, no comment. But definitely need to get some bits bobbed somewhere in the near future, I've pledged for that, and in truth, it will be nice now to get it done.
Its also fascinating to think where I might be now, if my ancestors had gone west to 'Oklahoma'? Or did one version of my life have that happen, produce Clara Johnson, and only in the other life did they come to England? I know, silly idea, but an interesting thought. Would I have followed Clara's route, ended up in movies in Hollywood, would I have followed Kate's route, to New England. Or might I be a happy housewife home in Oklahoma, with children, who knows?
Oh right, that photo, no I hadnt forgotten. Its a picture of another shy, demure blonde, who would never say boo to a goose. Yes, you know I'm joking I hope, because its Mae West, dressed as the Statue of Liberty. Would I love to wear this dress, you bet I would!
Maybe next year, somewhere in the USA, who knows, but I wouldnt put good money on it!
Right, the video. Its the obvious song, but its ironic about the way politicians pat themselves on the chest, and have this blasting out at rallies. Why, because its actually an Anti Vietnam song, and not deeply proud of what the USA did. But they just look at the song title, not the lyrics, and… God Bless America!
We've got two tribes?
Firstly, to all my US readers, reading this on the right day, happy 4th of July. For non Americans, and those not reading this on the day of publishing, hope you're having a good day, anyway.
I cannot vaguely imagine what life was like 241 years ago, on this day, in the small part of the US that was escaping the yoke of UK rule, so I'm not even going to try! The one thing I am sure of, is that it was probably a lot calmer, and quieter than today will be, in most places there. Of course, the US has grown quite considerably in size since then, even if the continent was there all that time ago, most of it, the colonists had never seen, and for most, never would. Indeed, back then, Alaska would actually have been part of Russia, now there's an irony!
Back then, it would have taken months to traverse the country, by wagon, and horse, even if people had ever considered doing it, which I doubt. Now, in a matter of hours, you can cross the country by jet plane, though fine, if I had unlimited time, I still think doing it by train would be a whole lot more fun. Ironically, the train fare, with a cabin, would probably cost as much, if not more than the plane fare!
No, so far, I've never been in the US on the 4th of July, but maybe one day, after retirement, I will. A lot of it is down to the holiday season at work places, but also, for me, high summer in a lot of the US, would be 'pretty warm' for me. Maybe thats the time to go to Alaska lol?
But yes, have fun, if you're celebrating.
I know, despite the title, I've avoided the obvious political comments until now. Now technically, this related to the Cold War, at its height in the 1980's. But given a US leader's 'supposed' ties to Russia, fine, I was feeling mischievous! Many said that Frankie Goes To Hollywood couldnt perform live, but this puts that theory to bed. Alright, its not quite the same as the recorded version, but its decent, all the same.
Oh say can you see?
Just to say, anyone laying money on what the video is, you're almost certainly wrong!
But fine, given the date, and my love of the US, no prizes for working out this is going to start by saying Happy Birthday, America, a mere 239 today! Well, yes, the land was there, long before that, but as its marked by their independence…
However, this blog is focussing on a more recent event. Thats right, I havent yet got to mentioning the Supreme Court decision to allow same sex marriage, in all 50 states. Until then, it was a confusing jumble of what you could, and couldnt do, in various states, to put it mildly! Now it doesnt matter where you are, its a done deal, you can marry, if you want to! Yes, I'm delighted.
No, I have no plans to get married here, in the US or anywhere else at present. But now, if I wanted to, it can be done, and I'm glad.
So far, I've never been in the US on the 4th of July, but maybe someday it will happen. Its probably the other big event that I should be there for, after Thanksgiving, which of course I've now done. When, not sure at present, it may well be one of those post retirement things, given its right in the middle of the main holiday season, but we will see. Also, a lot of the US is 'pretty hot' at this time of year, and thats not really my thing.
But yes, just 10 weeks today, as Arnie said, I'll be back! Hopefully I will be back in work by then!
Right, the video, apt, but not the one in the blog title. And no, not Yankee Doodle Dandy either, I used that last year! 😛
Born on the 4th of July?
Well, given what an America lover I am, what did you expect today?
Happy birthday, USA, and all that.
No, I've never been in the US on this day, maybe some day I will, but while I'm working, taking time off in July is a bit more challenging than many times in the year, so it might have to wait a while. Lets face it, every other year, it coincides with some soccer tournament or the other, which would limit chances even more!
But yes, Thanksgiving is a lot more precious to me, and that I'm looking forward to being the right side of the pond for, later this year.
I think its fair to say that we have no idea what that date in 1776 was like. We can do reconstructions, but mentally, we can have no idea how the US residents of those days felt about the occasion back then, apart from being delighted to be freed from Great Britain. Equally, if any of them could see the US of today, could they ever believe what they saw? Of course not, lets face it, if you'd told me back in the 70's, or 80's what the world would be like today, I'd have laughed at you, and I mean the 1970's!
Hard to believe, 10 weeks tomorrow, I will be there!
Oh, the video, yes, the obvious one, Jimmy Cagney at his best, as a dancer. A touch of Rooney, and Garland too, just for good measure.
Born on the 4th of July
No, not me, nor the film, this is about a certain country across the Atlantic from me. Yes, the USA is 236 years old today, in terms of independence from the UK at least. Seems kind of ironic now, given the relative size, and strengths of both countries, isnt it? Alright, I'll resist the old 51st state joke…just! 😉 And yes, I'm hoping that all my American readers are having a wonderful day today.
Its interesting to consider, if my Irish ancestors had gone left, instead of right just over 100 years ago, well I might be celebrating today as well! But thats history, nothing I could control, so…I'm here in England instead! Could it have been Kansas? Well I doubt it very much, but you can never tell lol!
No, I've never been in the US for todays celebrations, or for Thanksgiving, but maybe sometime in the future I will. Snag is, while working, July isnt a good time to be taking holidays as far as work is concerned. And November is a little late in the year, unless you choose your destination carefully lol! Besides which, I see these as family celebrations, so I would feel like I was butting in to some degree if I did. I know one wonderful man who will say otherwise if he sees that comment though.
I'm not certain if summer has finally arrived, temperatures are finally heading into the high 60's, and its even stopped raining, though probably not for long, this summer! Forecast for the weekend would certainly suggest it wont last long!
The music, what could be more apt than this today? Brought to you from the icon that is Fenway Park, on the day it turned 100. Just enjoy…


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I remember while you sang in the car
and I wrote in the dark, you stopped to ask
what I was writing, if I was writing about you
and I said no.
I was.
My words were piled one over another
(for there are no straight lines in the dark)
and it was a silent tangled plea.
Your voice wound lazy circles in the cavity of my chest,
wrapping its fingers around organs and entrails
and Lord help me, I wasn't sure
if I would ever breathe quite the same again.


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Cushing's Syndrome; Disease Symptoms in Women
Signs of Cushing's Syndrome
Adrenal Hyersecretion; Too Many Steroids
Cushing's Syndrome, like Addison's Disease, is an adrenal disorder. The excess amount of corticosteroids, particularly glucocorticoid is referred to as Cushing's Syndrome. The overproduction of adrenocortical hormones may result from internal as well as external causes. Internal causes may be pituitary tumors, and excess secretion of corticotropin by a cancer of the lung or other tissues. The most common external cause is prolonged use of high dose steroid use. Cushing's disease affects women more than men, and approximately 25% of cases are due to adrenal tumors.
Cushing's Syndrome Recommended Reading
Cushing Syndrome Causes & Characteristics
There are many characteristics that result from excess levels of circulating corticosteroids. Hyperadrenalism produces many devastating marked changed in personal appearance. Such as facial redness, excess facial hair, high blood pressure, and muscle waisting along with delayed wound healing.
Hallmark signs that lead to a diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome:
- Obesity (especially in the midsection)
- Protein wasting (slender extremities and thin skin)
- Facial fullness, often referred to as a "moon face"
- Purple stretch marks on the abdomen, breasts, and buttocks
- Osteoporosis in pre menopausal women
Treatment for Cushing Syndrome
If Cushing's syndrome is caused by administraton of synthetic steroids, the physician may gradually withdraw them. Those who are affected with hyperadrenalism due to a single benign adrenal tumor undergo surgical intervention, and those who have this disorder to to cancer may undergo surgery and chemotherapy. If surgery is not an option, mitotane, a cytotoxic substance, is given. Ketoconazole, aminoglutethimide, and metyrapone are agents that interfere with cortisol production and may be used in combination with mitotane for enhanced effects. There is risk for adrenal crisis when patients are on drugs that suppress adrenal function. If trauma or shock occurs these drugs should be stopped.
More Unusual Disorders
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome, The Disease That Killed FDR
It was believed that FDR had polio, however, w now know he had guillain barre syndrome,viral infection, plateau, primary and recovery, autoimmune system problems, auto immune disease FDR did not have polio, he was in a wheelchair from gullian barre.
- Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Loss. Rita Hayworth to President Ronald Reagan
Alzheimer's disease is still not fully understood. There is no cure, but there are some supplements that can slow the process down, and improve quality of life. Famous people with Alzheimer's are President Ronald Reagan, and Rita Hayworth.
- Acromegaly - Gigantism; The World's Tallest Human
Tallest person in the world was Robert Wadlow. Gigantism and acromegaly were responsible for Wadlow's growth. A benign tumor adds pressure on pituitary causing excess growth. Wadlow was over 8 feet.
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Can you believe we're nearly halfway through October? Fall is as late as ever coming down to South Florida, but I'm starting to feel the little differences - yesterday was beautiful, cool and dry. Around here, Desiree and I are gearing up for wedding season with lots of client meetings and creative brainstorming. We were also lucky to be able to see Becca for a bit (while networking with some our fave South Florida vendors!) before she heads back out on her jet-setting adventures.
How are you gearing up for fall? Whatever your plans are for the day, hopefully they start with a lil' break to enjoy the bits that are making us happy this week!
I'm so in love with this moment that Jonathan Connolly captured of Jillian and Dave's Fort Lauderdale wedding! The sweet kiss reflected so beautifully in the puddle, and the familiar wooden pathway down to the beach... it's just so Florida. You can catch more of their pretty, pretty day (and the bride's gorgeous hot pink heels!) right here.
Loving all these pretty, modern Tiffany blue details coordinated by one of our faves, Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning - don't miss their engagement story!
Sugar(ed) also styled this colorful cultural styled shoot at the Bath Club, captured by one of our faves Erika Delgado Photography (and paper by yours truly).
Adore the balloons and simply stunning florals in this garden styled shoot by Vitalic Photo!
Camilyn Beth's new lookbook is getting me in the holiday spirit - so festive!
Vintage sailboat + a GORGEOUS couple + a seriously stunning, shimmery gown = can't miss e-session. Wow!
Another can't miss: our Vintage Florida Copacabana Style shoot at Cheeca Lodge that we featured this week, here and here.
When exploring possible venues, make sure to look up!
A lovely green, gold and amethyst palette would translate perfectly into a sophisticated beach soiree, don't you think?
Excited to see all the gorgeous gowns from next week's Bridal Market! Wish we were there.
I was married at Studio 450... and I won't lie, I still stalk. From the maps to the escort cards, the dresses and the flowers, I loved every little thing about this modern pink and black affair.
Maybe it's Becca being in town, but I've had pink on my mind this week... here are a few lovely things that inspired me: 1. DIY fringe garlands from Oh Happy Day, 2. macaron ring box, 3. tassel key chain, 4. Je T'Aime pendant via Oh Joy!
A big, warm, happy hello to Elaine Palladino and Minerva Photography, our two new fabulous featured photographers in South Florida!
Kristen J. (and her lucky friend) is the winner of our Florida Grab Bag! Thanks to everyone who entered.


text: Starting at Marden Station along with B+ and Intermediates, we sorted ourselves out, deciding to do a joint D+/D ride. Thirteen of us set off along Pattenden Lane, through Chainhurst and along Lughorse Lane (successfully negotiating a 'road block') to pick up the warm and sunny downhill road to Wateringbury. To avoid the busy A26 we cut through on a byway to Love Lane passing by a very pretty area by a shady mill pond. We then picked up another byway which was not quite so bike friendly (Ray has forgiven me!) but we walked/cycled along here to join a shorter section of the A26. We went through Mereworth, past West Peckham, down Matthews Lane and Stanford Lane to Brookside Garden Centre in East Peckham. We enjoyed a good break here (photo on D+ webpage) before repairing Russell's puncture and setting off again via Yalding, Laddingford and Sheephurst Lane. We made a loop via Hush Heath Winery without losing anyone (a little surprising as their champagne has won awards) and round a bit further before returning to Marden Station. There was an accidental added loop via the A229 - I put this down to a conversation with Russell about student loans resulting in a missed turning! A beautiful warm, sunny day, this may have been the Last of the Summer Rides. Maybe we should have organised our break at Hush Heath Winery!? Thank you everyone. 35 miles, a little over 1,000 ft and 12.9 mph average.


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Complete Data Base of Paleozoic and Mesozoic Tetrapods.
Paleo-News and illustrations. Big electronic PDF-library.
Download PDF Paleolibrary
Turtles From an Arkadelphia Formation—Midway Group Lag Deposit (Maastrichtian—Paleocene), Hot Spring County, Arkansas, USA.
September 19, 2016:
The Arkadelphia Formation—Midway Group (Maastrichtian—Paleocene) contact near Malvern, Arkansas preserves a K-Pg boundary assemblage of turtle species consisting of skull, shell, and non-shell postcranial skeletal elements. The Malvern turtles are preserved within a coquina lag deposit that comprises the basalmost Midway Group and also contains an abundance of other reptiles, as well as chondrichthyans, osteichthyans, and invertebrates. This coquina lag deposit records a complex taphonomic history of exhumation and reburial of vertebrate skeletal elements along a dynamic ancestral shoreline in southwestern Arkansas during the late Cretaceous-early Paleocene. Based on stratigraphic occurrence, the Malvern turtle assemblage indicates that these marine reptiles were living at or near the time of the K-Pg mass extinction and represent some of the latest Cretaceous turtles yet recovered from the Gulf Coastal Plain of the United States.
Martin A. Becker, Harry M. Maisch IV and John A. Chamberlain Jr. (2016)
Turtles From an Arkadelphia Formation—Midway Group Lag Deposit (Maastrichtian—Paleocene), Hot Spring County, Arkansas, USA.
Geosciences 2016, 6(3), 41;


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Thank you for your interest in applying to be a Habitat of Humanity of Union County house partner.
Habitat for Humanity seeking homeowner for occupancy in 2019
Click to review or download application.
Please return completed applications to:
Basic considerations for successful partnership with Habitat are:
Please call Habitat for Humanity of Union County for more information (641)344-8032
Application Information
Subpages (3): Apllication Application Application Form


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The onsite child care centre located at Amarchand Towers in Delhi, offers all its children a home away from home. Easily accessible and with a learning program that caters to children of different ages, this centre is a perfect place for parents to drop off their children on their way to work. With CCTV cameras and specialised learning zones that help develop a child's social, emotional and cognitive functions, this space is just what you need for your little one.
Walk into this centre to know more!
(Infant, Junior Toddler, Senior Toddler, Pre K)
Full Daycare 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Flexi Plan: Here a parent can opt for any 5 days of daycare a month
Amarchand Towers, 216, Okhla Industrial Estate Phase III, New Delhi- 110020
With an experience of 18 years in the educational field and having worked as a head teacher and coordinator from pre-primary to higher secondary classes, I have always been very passionate about kids and love spending time with them. I strongly believe that healthy, happy and well nurtured children of today are successful and responsible citizens of tomorrow.
Delighted to join hands with the TLC team which has provided me with a platform to flourish my career, I look forward to partnering with parents as we together foster values of courtesy, consideration, and individual responsibility in little ones.


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The council is to explore how much it would cost to construct a permanent bandstand at Burgess Park in Athlone.
A motion was raised at this month's meeting of the Athlone Municipal District by local Independent councillor, Michael O'Brien, calling for the bandstand to be built.
Cllr O'Brien told the meeting that he has been approached by local musicians on a number of occasions in the recent past about the possibility of providing such a facility for the locality.
He added that Burgess Park is the ideal location for the bandstand, which could be used for concerts and by local bands, and also for shelter by people using the park during bad weather.
In his response to Cllr O'Brien, director of services Barry Kehoe said he considered the plan to be both "valuable and attractive". However, he added that it is important to approach the project sensibly, giving lots of consideration to the design and location of the bandstand, as well as communicating with all local stakeholders.
Mayor of Athlone, Aengus O'Rourke commended Cllr O'Brien for what he said is a "noble and novel" idea. However, Mayor O'Rourke said he would like to see a local group take responsibility for the bandstand once completed. The group would be responsible for promoting the bandstand and liaising with local groups to ensure it is utilised.
Mr Kehoe said that the council will now undertake a costing to see how much the project would cost if undertaken.


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Powder Room – The Current State
Remodel's are hard work! We are so blessed to have an extra toilet in our basement…we would have been in trouble if we didn't! After tiling the shower, the next big things were:
1. The floors…what the heck do I do with that ugly linoleum??
2. The walls…paint, obviously!
I decided to tackle painting the floors…and I am so happy I did!! I used Dutch Boy brand porch paint and went to work.
Here it is before anywork was done.
The white is on!!
I thought taping was going to kick my butt…but it only took about an hour tops to get it done!
Grey is on…I'm getting nervy and excited to take off the tape. Patience!
Ummmm, whoa! Way better than I even thought it would be! I am so excited about these floors. Here is a little peek at the walls too…
We are getting there…slowly but surely our little bathroom will be bright and fresh and FINISHED!!
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Direct product selection: Accessoires for high pressure cleaners for RE 88 - RE 163 PLUS
Pipe cleaning set
15 m long. Also suitable for smaller diameter pipes. With nozzle, for RE 90 – RE 163 PLUS.
Pipe cleaning set
Deviations from the product range and information provided here are possible, depending on the country. STIHL reserves the right to make changes to technical specifications and equipment.


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This involved a business support function within a large organisation which was going through a major cost reduction programme across every area of the business from the CEO's office to the mail room.
An analysis of resource levels and work inputs/outputs was undertaken together with agreeing a service level agreement with the operational business.
This enabled a transparent cost benefit analysis to be undertaken which identified that the business was not using this support function correctly and certainly not efficiently.
Agreement was reached with the business to scale down the service and agree a process on how to use the support function more cost effectively.
- 15% year on year cost saving achieved.
- Improved business understanding.
- Transparent costings and recharge process agreed.


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When it IPO'd back in June of 1972 Pennsylvania based cable operator Comcast had just over 40,000 subscribers.
A millionaire-maker
These days the (now much larger) company counts roughly twenty-two million TV subscribers and around twenty-five million for broadband. The total number of individual Comcast subscribers (i.e. incorporating cross selling and so on) stands at a shade under thirty million. Along the way the company has also picked up ownership of media assets like NBC, Universal Studios and DreamWorks Animation.
It is an empire generating around $90 billion in annual revenue from sources ranging from theme parks to high-speed internet.
The regular refrain when dealing with a company like this is the growth outlook.
I mean Comcast has already been a thousand-bagger since it IPO'd in 1972. (That's equivalent to an average annual return of around 16%). Its current market-cap is in the region of $165 billion. "How can a company this big offer much in the way of long-term growth?" is the common question folks ask.
CloudFlare IPO Guide - Great Company at the Wrong Price
As regular readers of the site know I like to flip the question around: "Do I need much growth?" is where I like to be with stodgy blue chips.
As it stands Comcast stock probably fits that bill for a few reasons. First of all the starting valuation is already fairly generous. I mean if Comcast makes the $2.50 per share this year that analysts expect it to then we're looking at an earnings yield approaching 7% right off the bat.
That is pretty attractive on a standalone basis.
Historical Stock Price Lookup
Of that 7%, around one-third will flow straight to investors by way of cash dividends. The remainder can then be retained by the company to finance growth – organically or inorganically – and/or pay down debt.
The payout ratio and debt level (even the $60 billion headline net debt figure) all look very healthy and sustainable compared to the earnings power of the business.
Secondly, you can't help but notice that earnings growth projections stack up very well alongside the present valuation. As it stands the folks over at Value Line predict earnings per share to hit $3.65 by 2023. Let's just take that figure at face value for a moment and apply the current 14x annual earnings multiple to it.
Doing so gives us an implied share price of $51.10 by 2023. That is around 40% higher than the current share price. For all the talk of folks "cutting the cord" when it comes to cable subscriptions I notice that Comcast has recorded positive customer growth in every quarter over the past two years.
The earnings growth projections don't seem too much of a stretch.
On top of that we can also reasonably expect a neat little pile of dividend cash. This year the company will pay out somewhere in the region of $0.76 per share in cash distributions to stockholders.
Small investments in the right stocks, held for decades, can produce massive returns.
Let's assume that figure rises in tandem with our earnings growth estimates. That equates to a total dividend cash pile of around $5 per share by 2023.
Tack that number onto our $51.10 share price target and we get hypothetical total returns of just over $66 per share – roughly equivalent to around 12.50% per annum from the current share price.
Finally, I like the fact that Comcast's earnings quality is high despite being a capital intensive outfit.
For instance back in 2002-2007 five-year period it spent just over 70% of operating cash flow on capital expenditure.
Cash flow per share essentially quadrupled as a result. In the last full five year period – i.e. 2012-2017 – Comcast spent around 45% of cash flow on capital expenditure and has still been able to double its cash flow per share as a result.
Even after you scratch out dividend commitments I like the fact that it had around $7 billion worth of free cash flow last year to retain for debt reduction and growth initiatives.
Either way the path toward double digit returns looks very doable even on a short-to-medium term horizon.


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Asthma is a chronic condition involving the respiratory system in which the airway occasionally constricts, becomes inflamed, and is lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers. Asthma is the most common chronic disease affecting children and young adults. It is a complex genetic disorder with a heterogeneous phenotype, largely attributed to the interactions among many genes and between these genes and the environment. Asthma-related traits include clinical symptoms of asthma, such as coughing, wheezing, and dyspnea; bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) as assessed by methacholine challenge test; serum IgE levels; atopy; and atopic dermatitis.
Asthma can be diagnosed on the basis of typical findings in a patient's clinical history and examination. Asthma is strongly suspected if a patient suffers from eczema or other allergic conditions or has a family history of asthma. However, before diagnosing someone as asthmatic, alternative possibilities should be considered.
Djidjik et al. (2008) investigated the role of NOS1 -84G>A and NOS3 -786T>C, 894G>T and 27 base pair (bp) repeat polymorphisms in 125 patients suffering from asthma and/or rhinitis and mono-sensitized against Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpter) and 111 controls from Algeria. Results indicated a higher frequency of the -786 C NOS3 allele in patients than in controls [corrected P value (Pc) = 0.04], especially in female cases (Pc=0.02) and that the 'ab' genotype of the 27-bp polymorphism was significantly associated with specific immunoglobulin E production against Dpter (P = 0.006) and demonstrating a possible participation of NOS3 gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of respiratory allergic disorders.
Ellul-Micallef and Al-Ali (1984) studied the first 1000 consecutive patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma referred to the central allergy unit in Kuwait. These included 569 Kuwait patients (307 females); in 281 of whom the asthma developed before reaching 10-years of age. Positive skin-prick tests were elicited in 81% of the Kuwaiti patients, of which 80% reacted positively to pollen grains. About 47% of the skin test positive Kuwaiti patients had a family history of asthma, a statistic that reached to 64% when only Bedouins were considered. Most attaches were observed between March and October. Ellul-Micallef and Al-Ali (1984) speculated that this could be due to abundance of pollen, frequent sandstorms, and/or the sudden change in temperature and humidity between the outside environment and the air-conditioned interiors encountered in this season.
In 1989, El Shirbiny performed a study to determine the levels of serum alpha-1-apantitrypsin [alpha 1AT] and the phenotypes of protease inhibitor [PI] in asthmatic patients and healthy controls. The M "normal" phenotype was less frequent in patients with bronchial asthma (82%) than in non-asthmatic controls (98%). On the other hand the Z phenotype, which is linked to severe alpha 1AT deficiency, was far more prevalent in the patients group (10%) than in the controls (1.6%). Upon clinical investigation of patients with the M or Z phenotypes, no significant relationships could be detected between these phenotypes and the following clinical parameters: type of asthma, severity of the disease, steroid dependency, smoking habits or age at onset. Still the higher frequency of deficient phenotypes in the asthmatic group may indicate a certain degree of causality that could be made conspicuous by the harsh environmental conditions in Kuwait. [El Shirbiny AF. Alpha-1-antitrypsin variants in bronchial asthma in Kuwait. Med Princ Pract. 1989; 1(2): 105-11.]
A study by Al Kordy et al. (1994) compared bronchial asthma prevalence among Kuwaitis and expatriates over 5 years (1983-1988). Kuwaiti males and females had higher relative rates of 2.91 and 1.9 times respectively than expatriates with the age of onset ranging between 30 and 39. This trend is reversed when the age of onset is > 60, i.e., Kuwaiti rates were less than these of expatriates. Comparisons within other age of onset groups rendered insignificant differences. Interestingly extrinsic asthma was more frequent among expatriates [12%] than in Kuwaitis [8%]. [Al Kordy AM, Cherian S. Bronchial asthma in Kuwait and expatriates: a five years report. Kuwait Med J. 1994; 26(2):157-61.]
Behbehani et al. (2000) studied the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in 3110 students in Kuwait aged between 13 and 14 years. They calculated modest prevalence rates of wheeze ever, current wheeze with the past year, and a diagnosis of asthma as 30%, 16%, and 17%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression identified male gender and a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis to be associated with a diagnosis of asthma.
Owayed et al. (2007) conducted a similar study among 2882 children and found decreased prevalence rates of wheeze ever, and current wheeze with the past year at as 13% and 8%, respectively, while the rate of physician diagnosis of asthma remained the same at 16%.
Ezeamuzie et al. (2000) investigated the prevalence of allergen-specific IgE, and the characteristic of sensitization among 533 randomly selected Kuwaiti asthmatics. The overall frequency of positive specific IgE to at least one allergen was 87.2%, compared to 24.1% in age and sex-matched controls. Pollens elicited the maximum positive response (76%), followed by house-dust allergens (66%), and molds (26%). Males had significantly higher rates for the allergens, whereas no significant differences could be detected between the different age groups. Molds had overall the lowest rate of positivity, although they were more frequently associated with severe asthma. Ezeamuzie et al. (2000) concluded that pollens of local horticultural plants and cockroaches constituted the bulk of the sensitizing allergens among extrinsic asthmatics in Kuwait.
Hijazi et al. (2002) also studied the clinical features and common triggers of asthma among 135 asthmatics under 13-years old in Kuwait. The study identified that asthma was more common in boys, cough and wheezing were the most common presenting symptoms, URT infections, exercise and cigarette smoke were the most common triggers, humid weather and winter season were associated with exacerbated symptoms, and pollens, house dust mites, molds and cockroaches were the major sensitizing allergens. The interesting observations made in this study included the early age of asthma in spite of the high rate of breast feeding, a marked delay in diagnosis, under-treatment, and subjection to complementary and alternative medicine.
Al-Mousawi et al. (2004) studied risk factors associated with asthma and sensitization in Kuwait, and found that despite low allergen exposure, the pattern of childhood asthma followed in Kuwait was similar to those seen in Western populations. They also established that pet ownership markedly increased sensitization to pets.
Al-Riyami et al. (2003) investigated the prevalence and severity of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in Omani schoolchildren using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase I questionnaire. An Arabic version of the ISAAC Phase I questionnaire was completed by parents of 3893 children aged 6-7 years and self-completed by 3174 children aged 13-14 years, randomly selected from a nationwide sample of public schools. The prevalence rates of reported diagnoses of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema were higher in older children (20.7%, 10.5% and 14.4% compared with 10.5%, 7.4% and 7.5%, respectively, in young children).
Dawod and Hussain (1995) studied the profile of asthma among 414 (67.4% boys) children in Qatar below the age of 13-years suffering from asthma and compared the results with those from other countries. Of these, 274 children (66.2%) were Qatari nationals. Mean age of the patients was 6.15 years, which was lower than that reported from other developing countries. About 92% of the 414 patients had their first asthmatic episode within 5-years of their life, of which 52% experienced it within the first year of their life. This is earlier than that reported from other countries, and could be due to early diagnosis in Qatar, and to the high level of consanguinity in the country. Most common features in the patients were noticed to be noisy and musical breathing, nocturnal coughing, and dyspnea. The most common precipitating factor was found to be upper respiratory infections (95.2%), most probably viral in origin, weather changes (82.2%), dust exposure (65.7%), and exercise (41.6%). Interestingly, fumes were found to be the precipitating factor in 36% of the patients, with fumes from Bokhour representing 54% of these cases. Winter season was found to result in more episodes. A positive family history of allergic diseases was seen in 86% of the patients, specifically asthma in 74%, allergic rhinitis in 47%, atopic dermatitis in 23%, and food allergy in 6% of the cases. Growth patterns in the children were noted to be normal for age, although eosinophilic count was elevated in 36.6% of the patients and 61.6% had elevated serum IgE levels. Positive skin tests were obtained for house dust mites, house dust, cockroaches, molds, and food, most notably eggs.
El-Tonsy et al. (1998) studied 87 patients (33 Qatari and 54 other nationalities; 73 males and 14 females;76 adults and 11 children; aged 2-56 years) with alopecia areata (AA). They found out two patients (2.4%) to have bronchial asthma, and nine patients (10.3%) were found to have a family history for bronchial asthma.
Bener et al. (2005) studied the genetic and environmental risk factors associated with asthma in Qatari school children between 6-12 years with the use of ISAAC questionnaires. A total of 3,500 Qatari schoolchildren, aged between 6 and 14 years, were selected from both rural and urban areas, based on a stratified, random sampling technique. Great care was taken to avoid bias due to sampling errors. Parents of all selected subjects were asked to fill questionnaires intending to diagnose asthma or other allergic conditions in their child. The response rate was 93.8%, with 3,283 of the subjects returning properly filled questionnaires. Males constituted 52.3% of the study group. A high prevalence of asthma (649 subjects; 19.8%) was diagnosed in the study population. More boys were asthmatic than girls. Parents also reflected almost the same incidence of asthma. Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed the major predictors of asthma to be allergy to pets, certain food or medicine, smoking history of parents or siblings, and a history of asthma in mother, father, or siblings, history of asthma in second degree relatives. The study revealed that a family history of asthma contributed more to the development of the disease when compared to environmental factors. This was exemplified by the fact that 42.4% of either parent was found to be asthmatic if more than one of their children was affected, while only 23.3% had asthma when only one child was affected. This underlined the hypothesis of asthma being an inherited disorder. Interestingly, siblings showed a statistically significant higher prevalence rate of asthma than did parents of affected children.
In a further study, Bener and Janahi (2005) studied the association between asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema in this same sample group. This study found that 21.6% of children with asthma had asthmatic mothers, while 18.2% had asthmatic fathers. Of the non-asthmatic children, on the other hand, only 9.4% and 6.8%% of the mothers and fathers had asthma. In addition, it was also noticed that 26.5% of the children with asthma had mothers who had allergic rhinitis, while 25.3% had fathers with the condition. Asthmatic children were also found to have increased frequency of siblings with asthma (36.6%), allergic rhinitis (16.4%), and eczema (29.1%). The results prompted Bener and Janahi (2005) to suggest that the three diseases share a common genetic defect.
In year 2006, Janahi et al. further analyzed the results form the same study group. Janahi et al. (2006) noted that a prevalence rate of 19.8% is very similar to that reported from Oman, but higher than earlier reports from Saudi Arabia and UAE. Interestingly, the prevalence was found to decrease with increasing age. Males were found to be more susceptible to asthma, especially among the youngest age group (6-8 years). Among the parents, prevalence of asthma was found to be higher among the mothers (11.8%) than the fathers (9%). Almost 64% of affected children had at least one affected sibling. Asthma was found to be closely associated with allergic rhinitis and chest infections, with 71.9% of the asthmatic subjects also having either one or both of the other conditions. Janahi et al. (2006) concluded that the high prevalence rate of asthma in Qatar could be due to the high consanguinity rate, modified environmental factors (greening the environment and increase in domestication of animals), and/or increase in obesity.
Al-Marri (2006) studied all asthma hospitalizations in Qatar for the year 2002 and compared their epidemiologic features with similar hospitalizations in other countries. A total of 275 hospitalizations due to asthma (53% male) were recorded in that year in Qatar, of which 200 (73%) were Qatari nationals. Al-Marri (2006) interpreted this high percentage of Qatari nationals due to the possibility of asthmatic expatriate laborers being sent home. The hospitalization rate for the Qatari nationals was calculated to be 154 per 100,000 of the population, similar to rates reported from USA and Saudi Arabia in separate studies. The mean age of patients was 29.6 years, which was higher than that seen in the Saudi population. Al-Marri (2006) attributed this to the presence of pediatric 24 hour observance units in Qatar. Females had a higher rate of hospital admission than males, as opposed to Saudi data. The mean length of hospital stay for Qatari patients was 10 days. Peak hospitalizations were noticed in December-January, with a secondary peak in March. Most patients, in addition, were found to have comorbid conditions, pointing out to the high prevalence of asthma in Qatar. Only two of these patients died in the hospital, resulting in a very low mortality rate.
Bener et al. (1992) aimed to study the heredity of asthma in the Saudi population. A total of 1035 schoolchildren (ranging in age from 7-12 years) were recruited for the study. The parents of these children answered a questionnaire regarding bronchial asthma, hay fever and eczema in their children as well as a family history of respiratory allergy. Statistical analysis was carried out and it was found that the rate of asthma and hay fever were significantly higher among the siblings of the cases than their parents (p<0.001). Hay fever, asthma and eczema were found at increased rates among siblings and offspring of affected fathers or mothers. The authors concluded that these results supported the hypothesis that bronchial asthma and hay fever are inherited in the Saudi population, but were unable to determine the mode of inheritance.
El Mouzan et al (2008) conducted a study to find out whether the risk of bronchial asthma in children is increased by parental consanguinity. The study included 103 Saudi households with children having physician-diagnosed bronchial asthma, matched with an equal number of families with no children with asthma. The results came up to show that parental consanguinity does not increase the risk of bronchial asthma in children.
Chouchane et al. (1999) conducted a study to investigate the role of a repeat polymorphism in the IL4 gene in the pathogenesis of asthma among Tunisians. A total of 145 asthma patients (49 females, 86 males) were included in the study, and were classified into mild or moderate/severe asthma according to the clinical features before treatment and the lung function. In addition, a group of 160 healthy subjects (63 females, 97 males; mean age: 14 yrs) with no familial history of asthma was also selected for the study as control. The control subjects showed no specific IgE reaction. Genomic DNA, extracted from the blood of the subjects was amplified using a PCR primer intending to type a repeat polymorphism in intron 2 of the IL4 gene. Three allelic forms were identified: A1 (171 bp), A2 (161 bp), and A3 (149 bp). The patient group showed a high number of A1/A3 genotype, whereas the control group showed a significant decrease in the A3/A3 genotype. The frequency of the A1 allele was therefore, significantly increased in the patient population. Four patients with the A1 allele were selected for family studies. In two of these families, the IL4 A1 allele showed a recessive mode of inheritance, with only homozygous A1/A1 members showing the disease. In the two other families, members with the A1/A3 genotype were found to be asthmatic. In addition, in patients with moderate/severe asthma, the frequency of the A1 allele and the A1/A3 genotype was found to be significantly higher (0.36 and 0.475) as compared to patients with mild asthma (0.08 and 0.075). The relative risk of moderate/severe asthma associated with the A1/A3 genotype was found to be 3.94, while with the A3/A3 genotype, it was 0.165. Chouchane et al. (1999) explained the association found between the polymorphism and asthma as arising either from the IL4 intron 2 carrying a mast-cell specific enhancer, or by the polymorphism being in linkage disequilibrium with a locus contributing to the onset of asthma.
Bener et al. (1994) studied the prevalence of asthma among United Arab Emirates school children aged 6-14 years. A cross-sectional study of 850 school children living in both urban and rural areas (average age 9.36 +/- 2.11 years, 46.8% boys and 53.2% girls) was conducted using self-administered questionnaires between October 1992 and May 1993. The population sample had a high prevalence rate of diagnosed asthma (13.6%), breathlessness or tightness in chest (9.7%), allergic rhinitis (22.9%), and nocturnal cough (8.9%). Allergic rhinitis was the most frequently seen respiratory illness when compared to other respiratory symptoms. The frequency of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema among parents reflected the same pattern as that seen in the children. Prevalence rate of asthma was not significantly higher in fathers (5.9%) than in mothers (5.3%). The differences between the sexes were not significant in any of the age group studied for any of the allergic conditions, except for diagnosed asthma in which the prevalence rate in males was significantly higher than that in females. On the whole, the prevalence rate of all the conditions increased with age. But the frequency of allergic rhinitis symptoms was significantly higher in mothers (16%) than in fathers (10.8%).
Additionally, Abdulrazzaq et al. (1994) investigated the association of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema in United Arab Emirates (UAE) schoolchildren with allergic conditions in their parents. For this, they conducted a cross-sectional, population-based study among schoolchildren aged 6-14 years in Al-Ain City, UAE. The field survey was conducted from October 1992 to May 1993. A questionnaire was distributed to 850 UAE government school students from representative, randomly selected schools with a majority of UAE nationals. It was found that 13.1% of asthmatic children had mothers with asthma (relative risk (RR) = 2.67; 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.65-4.35), and 15.2% had fathers who were asthmatic (RR = 2.85; 95% CI = 1.81-4.49). This contrasted with 4.4% of nonasthmatic children who had fathers with asthma, and 4.1% who had mothers with asthma. A similar pattern was seen with symptoms of allergic rhinitis when it was found that 34.3% of children who had asthma had mothers with allergic rhinitis (RR: 2.74; 95% CI: 1.90-3.94). The corresponding figure for fathers was 12.7% (RR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.5-1.7). The frequency of either parent of the asthmatic children having allergic rhinitis was 28.6%; for both parents, it was 14.5%. It was also found that asthmatic children had 12.5% of their fathers, 32.8% of their mothers, 26.4% of either of their parents, and 33.3% of both their parents suffering from allergic rhinitis.
Two years later, Bener et al. (1996) investigated the familial and environmental risk factors associated with asthma among United Arab Emirates schoolchildren aged 6-14 years. For this, a cross-sectional study of 850 schoolchildren living in both urban and rural areas (average age 9.36 +/- 2.11 years; 46.8% boys, 53.2% girls) was conducted using self-administered questionnaires between October 1992 and May 1993. The population sample had a high prevalence rate of diagnosed asthma (13.6%) and allergic rhinitis (22.9%). The frequency of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema among parents and siblings reflected the same pattern as that seen in the children. Environmental risk factors associated with asthma were pets, medicine, plants, dust storm, physical exercise, humidity, and perfume. All other factors, such as foods, climate, and parental smoking, showed no apparent relation to the development of asthma. The logistic regression analysis showed that parental asthma, plants, perfume, dust storm, humidity, and pets were the only significant predictors after adjusting for sex and other confounding covariates in the model.
Al-Maskari et al. (2000) studied the prevalence of asthma, wheezing, hay fever, and eczema among primary school children aged 6-13 years in United Arab Emirates (UAE). For this, a cross-sectional study on school children was performed using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaires. Government primary school children in seven Emirates, in UAE. Subjects were selected by a multi-stage stratified sampling design. Only 3200 children aged 6-13 years agreed to participate and responded to the study. The prevalence of physician diagnosed asthma was 13%, in addition, the wheeze by history was 15.6%, the prevalence of nocturnal cough was 21%, the prevalence of eczema was 11%, and hay fever was 14.9%. Al-Maskari et al. (2000) concluded that parental asthma but not parental atopy was associated with an increased risk of asthma and wheezing in children.
Joseph et al. (2009) explored the effect of consanguinity on childhood asthma by studying the asthma prevalence in children between 6 and 14 years of age among local Arab families of the United Arab Emirates where consanguinity is known to be highly prevalent. A total of 1136 children [650 (57.2%) males and 486 (42.8%) females] from 295 families were included in this study. The prevalence of childhood asthma was found to be higher among children in consanguineous families (43.3%) compared to non-consanguineous (22.6%, p < 0.001). A significant correlation between the degree of consanguinity and the number of asthmatic children per family (p = 0.0002) was observed. Girls from consanguineous families had found to be proportionately more asthmatic (42.9%, p < 0.001) compared to boys (23.1%, p = 0.539). Joseph et al. (2009) also found that paternal asthma in consanguineous families increased asthma risk for both boys and girls (p = 0.021 for boys, p < 0.001 for girls), while maternal asthma had no significant impact on asthma in offspring. The significant asthma predictors for girls from the consanguineous families were found to be the degree of consanguinity and paternal asthma. The only predictor for boys was found to be paternal asthma. Joseph et al. (2009) concluded that these interesting observations merit further studies on both larger samples and in other consanguineous communities for confirmation. [Joseph M, Zoubeidi T, Al-Dhaheri SM, Al-Dhaheri AA, Al-Dhaheri AA, Al-Kaabi FM, Al-Muhairi SJ, Joseph J. Paternal asthma is a predictor for childhood asthma in the consanguineous families from the United Arab Emirates. J Asthma. 2009; 46(2):175-8.]
Alsowaidi et al. (2010) investigated the prevalence of asthma and its independent risk factors among adolescents and adults in Al-Ain, UAE. A two-stage, randomly selected survey was used to distribute 10,000 questionnaires to adolescents and their parents. Logistic regression was applied to assess asthma prevalence and independent associations with age, gender, education, nationality and family history. A total of 6,543 subjects were included in the final analysis. Median age was found to be 30 years (range: 8-93 years); 53% were found to be male. The overall self-reported prevalence of asthma was found to be 13%. Direct standardization with the UAE population as the reference yielded a prevalence of 12%. By applying logistic regression, Alsowaidi et al. (2010) found that family history and UAE nationality (about 50% of nationals were of Bedouin origin) as the main risk factors for asthma. Also, by applying logistic regression, they found a significant (p = 0.001) interaction between gender and age as following: in the group aged 13-19 years, males had a significantly higher prevalence of asthma [17 and 14%; adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.45; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10-1.90]; in the group aged >19 years, males had a significantly lower prevalence of asthma (11 and 13%; adjusted OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.60-0.95) than females. The findings of this study indicate a prevalence of asthma comparable to findings of earlier studies. Alsowaidi et al. (2010) also noted that the higher prevalence in adolescent males compared to females may possibly be due to sex-specific lifestyle factors and that strong predictors of asthma, such as family history and UAE nationality, may indicate modernization and possible genetic susceptibility, warranting further studies in this population.


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Preferred Testcase 2019
|Since 1999 Preferred is a hotelspecialist for the corporate market for booking hotels, meeting- and conference venues.
Preferred has developed a unique product for the conference market: the online Room Kit. With this online tool we offer room blocks for your participants with a lowest rate guarantee. Your participants get a professional online registration solution which is user-friendly and completely free of charge! The participants can make reservations, changes or cancellations themselves within the room block. The hotels and conference location(s) are clearly displayed on a map with a description of the conference and hotel facilities. From this respect a collaboration with Preferred can be interesting for the organization of this specific congress, but perhaps also for other exhibitions or conferences you organize. Below an example of the Room Kit is shown. The text will be custom made for you, your own logo can be displayed and hotels that fit best to your expectations/wishes will be selected. When you click on the hotel name more information will be shown and you get the possibility to make a reservation at the selected hotel.
This is an example Room Kit which is especially designed for you to have a look around and discover the possibilities and advantages. You can even make a test-reservation at one of the hotels shown!
Should you have any questions regarding this Room Kit or the having a Room Kit for your own conference or event, please feel free to contact us at +31 299 65 65 27 or by sending us an email.
Date of the event
04 december 2019 - 08 december 2019
Central Station Amsterdam
1012 AB Amsterdam
Should you prefer to book another hotel than the hotel(s) listed above, please contact us.


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Program Director
Assistant Professor of Counselor Education
Warren Counseling Center 330-B
Daniel Hall, PhD, is an Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Counselor Education Program at the University of Lynchburg. Dr. Hall teaches a variety of courses in the curriculum, including Counseling Techniques, Cross-cultural Counseling, Crisis Counseling, and provides supervision for counselors-in-training during their internships. He has provided counseling services in a variety of settings, including private practice, a college counseling clinic, hospital outpatient services, and a retirement community. Dr. Hall is passionate about engaging growth and learning with students, clients, or organizations. He has provided leadership development consultation within the education and non-profit sectors. His research interests include authenticity in counseling and education, the use of technology in counselor education, experiential philosophy and practice, and older-adult mental health issues. Before entering the counseling field, Dr. Hall worked in the human resources and event management fields. Outside of work, Dr. Hall enjoys spending time with his wife, two children, and two fur-babies (i.e., dogs).
- PhD, Counseling and Counselor Education – The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Wake Forest University
- BS, Human Development and Family Studies – The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- BS, Psychology – Appalachian State University
Scholarship (selected):
- Waalkes, P. L., Hall, D. P. (2018). Effective teaching mentorship: A CQR study of beginning counselor educator's experiences. North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Cleveland, OH.
- Hall, D. P., Pender, D., Kabbes, J., Kathleen, A. (2017). State of the Art: Developing an understanding of online learning in CACREP accredited counselor education programs. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Chicago, IL.
- Hall, D. P., Waalkes, P. L. (2017). Andragogic foundations: A content analysis of counselor educators' teaching philosophies. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Chicago, IL.


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Groove Note True Audiophile Sampler: The Best Of Groove Note Volume 3 on Hybrid SACD
After the successes of True Audiophile/The Best Of Groove Note Volume 1 and True Audiophile/The Best Of Groove Note Volume 2, Groove Note presents another audiophile collection of their talented artists on hybrid SACD! Just like before, Volume 3 features some of the best cuts from a world renowned music label, Groove Note. In addition, this volume features an unreleased bonus track from talented vocalist Skye and an exclusive bonus track from Luqman Hamza, both never-before-released on SACD.
The album highlights include: 2 selections from The Anthony Wilson Trio's latest album Jack of Hearts; Anthony is the guitarist for and currently touring with Diana Krall; blues guitarist extraordinaire Roy Gaines; the sensual and seductive 40s/50s voice of Luqman Hamza; the intimate, delicate, sweet and tender voice of Jacintha; a soul-stirring, captivating performance by the Jung sisters and much, much more!
Groove Note True Audiophile Sampler: The Best Of Groove Note Volume 3 Track Listing1. Hawkeyes - The Anthony Wilson Trio2. That Ole Feelin' - Roy Gaines3. Never Let Me Go - Luqman Hamza4. Summertime - Jacintha5. Dvorak Piano Trio in F Minor, Allegro grazio - The Jung Trio6. I'll Never Smile Again - Jacintha7. Do You Remember - Lauren White8. Theme From Chinatown - The Anthony Wilson Trio9. Dream A Little Dream - Skye*10. So Danco Samba - Jacintha11. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Luqman Hamza**
* Unreleased Bonus Track/First Time Ever on SACD** First Time Ever on SACD
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Considered the most important nanotechnology event in Brazil, the Nano Trade Show brings together the latest developments in the sector, including nanotechnology research, development, applications and solutions.
The last edition of the trade show had a turnover of over BRL 12 million in new business.
The next edition takes place in conjunction with Analitica Latin America - the reference event for the analytical chemistry sector.
The synergy between the visitors of these two events will give nanotechnology greater visibility and expand its reach in national and international markets, attracting an increasing number of industries looking to nanotechnology for the best solutions to innovate their products and processes.
Sectors present at the trade show:
- Advanced|Smart Materials: graphene, composites, rare-earth elements
- Electronics, Optics and Photonics: semiconductors, nanosensors, lasers, cells
- Biotechnology and Medicine: nanobiomaterials, nanodiagnistics, nanomedicine
- Advanced Manufacturing: 3D, robotics and equipment with applied nanotechnology
- Equipment for nanoscale analysis
- Sustainability: photocatalysis, nano filters, new energy sources using nanotechnology
Date: September 24th to 26th, 2019
Show Hours: 1pm to 9pm
Venue: São Paulo Expo (Rodovia dos Imigrantes, KM 1,5 | ZIP Code 04329-900 | São Paulo/SP | Brazil)
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Have you recently noticed a scratch on your car or truck in Marysville, Washington? Whether the damage is on your vehicle's fender, door, or bumper, it's important to fix it as soon as possible. If the blemish is minor enough, you may be tempted to try DIY paint repair. While this may save you a trip to an auto body shop, tackling a project like this yourself is never advisable. Keep the following reasons to avoid DIY paint repair in mind as you finalize plans for your car or truck in Marysville.
Matching Paint is Hard
Matching the paint on your vehicle is probably much harder than you'd think. While certified auto body experts have access to auto paint repair information based on your car or truck model, you will struggle to find the tint and texture necessary.
Professional Work is More Durable
DIY auto paint repair will not last as long as the work performed by a collision repair professional. Simply covering the area may work as a short-term fix, but it will not last.
There May Be More Damage
A professional will also be able to tell whether or not there is additional damage during auto paint repair services. You might otherwise miss these issues.
Looking for Auto Paint Repair Services in Marysville?
Are you looking for auto paint repair services in Marysville, Washington? Now that you know why attempting this work yourself is a bad idea, it's time to find a professional in your area. Contact WBL Automotive Collision Repair in Arlington today to receive expert advice, quality workmanship, and unbeatable customer care. As an insurance-approved service center, we can start your repairs as soon as you receive your claim number. We frequently work on cars and trucks, trailers, and heavy equipment, as well as provide RV collision repair services.
Auto Paint Repair Experts in Marysville
Serving Customers in Arlington, Lake Stevens, Oso, Marysville, Darrington, Warm Beach, Stanwood, Granite Falls, South Mt. Vernon, and Camano Island


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Reporting Child Protection Concerns
121 Pages view
For information on responding to a disclosure of abuse or a child protection concern follow the links below:
What should I do if I think a child is being abused?
Click Here
If you would like to read information regarding warning signs of abuse go here.
Category: Administration / Forms, Other
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Wendover, NV's Rainbow Casino gives players a plush, newly renovated poker room and casino floor to enjoy all their favorite games! Daily, weekly, and monthly poker tournaments are available with low buy-ins and high payouts. Table games include Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, and Three Card Poker, among others. The Rainbow Casino is also home to a dozen dining options; seven unique bars; over four hundred deluxe suites and rooms; and an all-access golf & spa resort, among other attractions.
Copyright © 2020 - ShiloRune


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Undirected Large Graph Layout Using sfdp
Undirected graphs of moderate to very large size can be drawn using sfdp, a scalable multilevel force directed algorithm. This graph, from the graphviz rtest/graph directory, has 1054 nodes, and takes a few seconds using sfdp. Overlap of nodes are removed with -Goverlap=prism option. More example of large graph layout can be found here.
Click on the picture to view the .gv file
Copyright © 1996 AT&T. All rights reserved.


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19 Jan 2014
Tooting Bog Common
So, yeah, wettest Winter on record. Lots of flood and misery in the South of England, very sad.
We were a bit more fortunate in London, but the Common is really waterlogged, like I've never seen it before… I've had to run on pavement a lot more than usual, because even the gravel lane was in a bad way.
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April 4, 2012
Since the four authors are very popular in the SEO field, I was expecting the best book on SEO ever. All my expectation have been met. I think that the book authors have done a great job describing these difficult concept in an easy and ordered way. The book, also, is very complete. The touched topics include: user-focussed data, key analytical tools, effective website creation, result tracking, search engine theory and behaviour, the impact of social media, SEO best practices and much more.Read More