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This morning began with listening as a crying toddler asserted her independence over and over saying "no!" to a variety of nice things from sitting next to mommy while mom was nursing or getting a hug from mom. (I am staying in a separate RV and had gone into their home after breakfast.) The 23 month old was not happy with any of her choices and I eventually took her for a short walk that seemed to help for a minute.
I learned that "no!" in a toddler merely means, "I'm separate!"
Do you want some ice cream?
No! Yes!
(translated: I'm separate from you and I can make my own choices. Yes, I want ice cream!)
Do you want to ride the pony?
No! Yes!
(I am separate from you and I can make my own choices. Yes, I do want to ride the pony!)
My mother-self changed and my kids benefitted in ways they never would have otherwise.
I went to get my head shaved and my toes done after finally finding somewhere to get those things done. (Did you know that more stores are still closed here than open?) The guy who shaved my extremely sensitive head was very kind and gentle and then I moved to have my toes done.
I asked the young woman (she's younger than my kids) if she could do flowers on my toes and she immediately snapped, "no!" I chuckled and thought, "well, alrighty then." An older woman next to her laughed and said she would teach the girl how to do them... that they were easy. I said I could teach her, I've seen it so much.
I went to pick out my color (at home, I always bring my own polish) and around the tops of several display bottles were my favorite kind of toe ring - the kind with the clear elastic, leaving just the glittery flower to decorate the toe. I asked the girl, "How much do you sell these for?" And when she came over and saw what I was asking about, she said, "We don't sell those." I blinked and asked why they were on display then and she shrugged saying she didn't know. The other older woman came over, took one off the bottle and went to ask how much it was - $5 was the answer. Apparently, they were for sale.
Sitting in the chair as she worked on my toes and feet, I thought about how easy it is to say no and how hard saying yes is when it comes to many, if not most circumstances in life.
Can I have a VBAC? No.
I want to let the cord stop pulsing before you cut it. No.
I want a homebirth. Are you nuts? NO!
Saying yes requires thought and work and many people don't like to do either. When a parent says no, the next statement is often because I told you so. If a parent says yes to something, it might require getting off the couch, putting work away, getting in the car, making a project with the child, or just reading a book to him or her. Energy expenditure.
Saying yes to women wanting something different in their birth experiences requires a great deal of energy, the main push of the steam engine being seeing the women as individuals - each as a person with her own mind and needs.
How difficult is it to let (and I use that term loosely) a woman wear her own clothes if she wants to? Why does it often turn into a discussion, a chastising of the messiness of birth and you don't want to get that dirty, do you? Coercing the woman would seem to take far more energy than saying yes, but it really is a roundabout way to say no to the woman in labor.
Saying yes to a woman wearing her own clothes requires the possibility of cutting the gown or shirt off in an emergency. It requires some maneuvering if an IV is hooked up and she wants to keep mobile in her own things. It confuses the staff - who's the patient?
Why not say okay when the father of the baby says don't bathe my baby. Why give him a hard time and make him feel odd (at best) for not wanting to bathe the baby? Why does no mean so much to medical personnel?
Saying okay to not bathing the baby would require the nursery/pediatric staff to use gloves when touching the baby because babies are considered "contaminated" or "dirty" until they are bathed. Of course, if the baby doesn't go away from mom or dad/other mom, then it isn't an issue, right? But that carries its own set of yes's and no's.
When I was 18, I worked at Subway Sandwiches in Winter Park, Florida. I was a damn good sandwich maker. I had a lot to learn about saying yes, though.
Folks would come in and ask me to wash my hands before making their sandwich. What? I had dirty hands?! (This was long before everyone wore gloves in food establishments and sinks were near the front.) I would roll my eyes and sigh and walk to the back to wash my hands. Even when the person kindly explained that I went from sandwich to money to sandwich to money to meat to vegetable, etc., it didn't matter; I was still cranky about it.
When a few people asked me to heat their tuna sandwiches, I was incredulous! Heated tuna with mayonnaise? No way! I would be responsible for giving you salmonella! It was their turn to roll their eyes and shake their heads before paying me and heading out the door to microwave their own sandwiches at home.
Years (and I mean years!) later, I learned of something called a Tuna Melt. I couldn't believe people really did that. And had been doing so for many more years than I'd ever been making sandwiches. Embarrassed at my behavior all those times before, I shook my head and sighed.
It was easier to say no even for me. I am sure it still is, but I work to stay conscious so I think about what is being asked before any knee-jerk reaction I might have. And I have plenty of them.
Perhaps even an adult's no means I'm separate and I can make a decision for myself. It would be great if it was a decision made - not just blurted out.
Listen, think, respond.
I'll follow my own advice.


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Fidelity Bonds and Crime Policies
From an insurer's perspective, claims asserted under fidelity bonds are inherently fact sensitive and require thorough investigation, precise coverage analysis and, in some cases, aggressive litigation.
Our attorneys are well-qualified to provide these services and have resolved major claims arising from bookkeeper defalcations, commercial bribery, inventory theft, industrial sabotage, and expense account abuse. We have extensive experience in the financial services sector, where we have resolved claims involving so-called "ponzi schemes," defaulted bank loans, unauthorized securities and currency trading, check forgery, and numerous other loss-generating transactions and events.

subset: commoncrawl


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I recently wrote a book review for the Toronto Review of Books, an outstanding new publication edited by the dynamic Jessica Duffin Wolfe. The TRB is a really remarkable entity, and the issue I wrote for — its fourth — is its first "themed" issue. I chose to write on Ezra Levant, a compelling and infuriating figure in Canadian media and politics. Levant is a demagogue of the first rank, and undoubtedly a highly intelligent fellow. What a shame, then, that this latest book is more rant than critique: I think he's capable of producing substantive ideas on Canadian culture, but this is not one of them.
Archive for the 'Culture' Category
Occupy the Right: Ezra Levant and the Redefinition of Canadian CharacterIn Books, Culture on June 22, 2012 at 10:02 am
Who will save the Paramount Theatre?In Culture, Movies on February 23, 2012 at 3:23 pm
An event in Ottawa hopes to bring support to a threatened building, and a struggling community
Across Canada, communities are slogging through an economic downturn. Industrial cities are particularly hard-hit during such times: when their primary means of employment collapses, it often leads to moments of profound soul-searching. Saint John, NB is one such case: a city trying to find itself in the midst of tumultuous times. There are some in the area who want to find opportunity in this situation, but it's the question of "how" that's at issue. Read the rest of this entry »
Interview: Rampaged Reality's Justin PageIn Books, Culture, Movies, Video Games on August 26, 2011 at 12:11 pm
We all have our own personal routines after we've started up our computers. Some of us go right for the email; some of us peruse a news service of choice; others will scan Facebook or Twitter for any mentions or trends. I have a new "first visit" site: Rampaged Reality, lovingly built and curated by the designer Justin "Rampage" Page.


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Irish Votes Hold Brexit Balance
'If Irish here love the UK urge voters to stay' says Taoiseach Enda Kenny
• If you care about this country then urge it to stay within Europe, Taoiseach tells Irish businesses in Britain
• Ireland and Europe 'worse off without Britain in EU but Britain would also be worse without EU and Ireland', he says
By Bernard Purcell
Irish voters in this country, UK voters in Ireland and Northern Irish voters can have a decisive influence on the forthcoming referendum on Britain's EU membership, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said as he urged them to make the most of their influence here.
Taoiseach's 1916 centenary invitation to Prime Minister
Taoiseach Enda Kenny with Prime Minister David Cameron in Downing Street on Monday where he invited him to Ireland to take part in Ireland's 1916 centenary commemorations marking rebellions against British rule. The invitation is being considered by Number 10.
With UK voter support for remaining within the EU now 'wafer thin', according to Britain's Ambassador to Ireland Dominick Chilcott, the outcome of Prime Minister David Cameron's referendum hangs in the balance.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who was in London earlier this week to offer his support to Mr. Cameron, said Irish voters in this country – alongside UK voters in Ireland and Northern Irish voters – could swing that balance.
Mr. Kenny told a British Irish Chambers of Commerce gathering at City law firm McCann FitzGerald that while this was a matter for British voters he was urging all Irish directors on UK businesses and Irish business people here to tell people what was at risk.
"We don't yet know the date of the Referendum but Britain is beginning to enter a critical phase, a profound choice for the people of Britain is fast approaching," said Mr. Kenny.
"We in Ireland are not disinterested observers, nor should we be. Britain and Ireland are more than just neighbours, we are friends and co-guarantors of a historically significant peace process – the bombs and guns remain silent (in Northern Ireland) – and Irish people and businesses here have played no small part in that," said Mr. Kenny.
"That trust was forged in part through years of working side by side in Brussels since 1973," he said.
"We share a history and continue to write its newest pages," he said.
He reminded his audience that the Queen spoke Irish at the former seat of British power in Dublin Castle during her visit in 2011, and that since then President Michael D Higgins had stayed in Windsor Castle and accompanied Prince Charles to commemorate those Irish and British who fell in Gallipoli.
Mr. Kenny said he had accompanied Prime Minister Cameron to First World War graves in Flanders as they recalled "those who died for the freedom of small nations and the future of Europe".
"As Britain's closest neighbours and friend it is important we should not be afraid to say, and say so publicly, that it is in its interests, and ours, that Britain stays in the EU and so should you. It is absolutely critical that your voice be heard in this crucial debate," said the Taoiseach.
"Britain is entering a critical phase and must make a profound choice."
There will be many business people here with Irish connections but you are all pragmatists.
"Sentimentality will not win the argument it will be a decision based on hard realities and on calculated judgements," he said.
"At the worst point of the recession Ireland was the only country required to have a referendum on the Fiscal Stability and the people voted 60:40 in favour of it when people might have been tempted to give the government a kicking but they decided their future was linked to Europe," he said.
"This is the important bit: it wasn't the politicians and it wasn't the political process that explained to people how important it was to link our future to a Europe of 500m people, it was the business people," said Mr. Kenny.
"Clearly, in many parts of Britain there are divergent views and a great deal of cynicism and some saying you would be better off out of Europe. Whether David Cameron's EU renegotiations conclude in February or March in any event you are going to have a referendum on the ultimate question and this is going to be very critical and very decisive for the UK.
"Freedoms we have enjoyed for 40 years as highly cooperative partners may be put at risk if taken for granted by this current generation.
"At risk is our common travel area and its particular advantages and freedoms, we also risk freedom to move capital and services.
"New arrangements could, of course, be put in place but we don't know precisely what they would be and the uncertainty of navigating those waters – and the complexity and time consuming nature of renegotiating various technical, legal and administrative arrangements and agreements – would be fraught indeed," said Mr. Kenny.
"This is a choice for British voters but it is one with consequences," he said.
"In Ireland voters have experience of voting for referendums on Treaties of Maastricht, Amsterdam, Nice, and Lisbon. Irish voters understand the difference between the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council, with respect to British voters, they have not had their experience.
"So Irish people working for, and on the boards of, British businesses here should ask them and their fellow voters to realise how important this is not just for them but for their children and grandchildren," said Mr. Kenny.
Europe and Ireland would be weaker without Britain, but it is important that voters in this country realise how much Britain would be weaker without Europe and Ireland and how much stronger it would be in a Europe of 500 million people, he said.
"The implication for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales (of Brexit) speaks for itself," he added.
"Ireland will promote and defend the potential that will follow from Britain staying within the EU.


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You Might also be interested in these cars:
2019 Nissan Grand Livina
Key Highlights
Meet the Nissan Serena S-Hybrid's older sibling, the Grand Livina. This is Edaran Tan Chong Motor's smallest and most affordable MPV on sale here and it comes in three different flavours. Priced from RM87,100 to RM102,800, the seven-seater Grand Livina competes with cars like the popular Perodua Alza and Toyota Avanza. The Honda BR-V is also a competitor, given its similar pricing and interior packaging.
You can have the Nissan Grand Livina with either one of two naturally aspirated four-pot mills. The entry-level engine displaces 1.6 litres and outputs 105 PS and 150 Nm of torque. Powering the range-topping variant is the MR18DE 1.8-litre mill that is good for 126 PS at 5,200rpm and 174 Nm of torque at 4,400rpm. The base manual 1.6 features a five-speed manual transmission, while the other two are fitted with an electronically controlled four-speed torque converter type automatic gearbox.
Equipment highlights in this Japanese MPV include 15-inch V-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in 185/65R15 tires, split folding second and third-row seats, a multi-info display screen, fabric seats, reverse sensors, speed sensing door locks, audio and MID steering wheel buttons, a 2-Din infotainment system that supports CD, MP3 and AUX input.
Reserved for the top of the line Grand Livina 1.8 are front fog lights, side mirrors with LED signal lights, Intelligent Key, keyless start switch, front and rear door request switch.
The list of safety features includes front seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, dual front airbags, a collapsible steering wheel and the carmaker's Zone Body Construction tech.
Edaran Tan Chong Motors also offers various optional items for customers to spec their 2017 Nissan Grand Livinas with. Among them are a full Impul body kit with 17-inch alloy wheels, various window tints, combination leather upholstery, multimedia system with navigation as well as a roof-mounted monitor.
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Alternatively, please call us at 03-2776 6018.
Key Details
- Body Type: MPV
- Transmission: Automatic/Manual
- Engine Capacity: 1598 cc - 1798cc
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Seat Capacity: 7
- Price: RM 82,195 - RM 99,800
From RM 89,800
2019 Proton Exora 1.6 ExecutiveAdd to compare
2019 Toyota Avanza 1.5 G ATAdd to compare
From RM 82,195
You Might also be interested in these cars:
2019 Toyota Avanza 1.5 E ATAdd to compare
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From RM 99,800
You Might also be interested in these cars:
2019 Perodua Alza 1.5 S MTAdd to compare
2019 Toyota Avanza 1.3 E MTAdd to compare
Key Details
- Body Type: MPV
- Transmission: Automatic/Manual
- Engine Capacity: 1598 cc - 1798cc
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Seat Capacity: 7
- Price: RM 82,195 - RM 99,800
Daniel Wong
20 Oct 2017
Nissan Grand Livina - The Old Faithful
When it comes to affordable compact seven-seaters, the Nissan Grand Livina has been a firm favourite amongst Malaysians. Even though it was first introduced in 2007 and has since been given two facelifts, a minor one in 2011 and a huge revamp in 2013, the Grand Livina has remained largely unchanged for the past nine years. But with nine-years of automotive progress passing it by since its introduction, does the Grand Livina has anything to offer for today's car buyers.View full review
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Who This Is For
One Man One Barbell is for you if you're ready to have a major breakthrough in strength and conditioning and…
• You need help balancing strength and fitness
• You want to be in and out of the gym in under an hour
• Your current lifts are not where you want them to be and you know there is room for improvement
• You're ready to devote your time and energy into learning things the right way, and you are willing to apply that knowledge to the barbell.
Who This is NOT For
This is not for people who want to sit back and go through the motions. This is not for people who want to be spoon-fed cookie cutter information which you can easily find for free online. This is also not for you if…
• You are comfortable with where you are at, and don't desire progress
• You're not comfortable with a barbell or basic conditioning movements i.e., sprinting
• You have a tendency to never follow through or you quit easily
• You are unwilling or unable to put in the time or effort it takes to become stronger and fitter


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My Account
Contact Us
: Blue-Eyed People May Face Higher Melanoma Risk
Posted November 20, 2014
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that genes tied to blue eyes and red hair could put people at higher risk for moles or freckling in childhood, which are often precursors to the deadly skin cancer melanoma later in life.
However, the finding in no way suggests that the risk can't be reduced by prudent avoidance of cancer-causing UV sunlight, especially in childhood, the researchers said.
"We think if you can modify behaviors related to sun exposure in children, it will probably make a difference for their well-being in later life with respect to melanoma," said lead researcher Neil Box, an assistant professor in the department of dermatology at the University of Colorado in Denver.
For the study, Box's team took DNA samples and gathered information on sun exposure from 477 white children, ages 6 to 10.
Following the children from 2004 to 2008, the researchers found that the number of moles and freckles increased each year, as did the number of total number of sunburns, waterside vacations and chronic sun exposure.
The increasing sun exposure was directly tied to the rise in freckles, Box said.
What's more, children with a gene variant tied to blue eyes were more susceptible to the development of moles compared to kids without the gene, particularly if they took more beach vacations, he said.
"It seems that there are specific behaviors that predispose kids to the formations of more moles," Box said. "There was 2.5-fold increase in the number of moles if you had 12 waterside vacations [over the course of the study] versus one or two," he said.
Box added that kids with a combination of the blue-eye variant plus gene variants that cause red hair were also more likely to have larger moles as they sustained more sunburns.
The study is published Nov. 19 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
According to Box, the number and size of moles people develop in childhood tends to predict a person's risk of melanoma later on.
But certain gene variants act differently, depending on the type of sun exposure, he added. For example, kids with blue eyes tend to develop more moles during waterside vacations, but not because of sunburn, Box said.
Redheaded children, however, tend to develop larger moles when they are sunburned, he said.
All of this points to "a complex interaction between genes and sun exposure," Box said. "We are beginning to work out how our genes interact with our environment. This will lead to the identification of high-risk groups and we will, potentially, come up with different guidelines for people on how they should behave based on their genetics."
In the meantime, skin cancer experts urge everyone to take precautions to limit their sun exposure. Box recommends wearing sunscreen and a hat and staying in the shade.
"Don't go out there and try to tan," he said. "But don't be afraid of the sun either. Be wise in the sun."
Dr. Jeffrey Salomon, an assistant clinical professor of plastic surgery at Yale University School of Medicine, said that this theory may only account for some melanomas, however.
"Keep in mind that 50 percent of melanomas don't arise in preexisting moles," he said.
Patients who have 50 to 100 moles do have a higher risk of developing melanoma, but the majority of those patients are older, he said. For this reason, it is difficult to predict the actual risk of melanoma in these children, Salomon believes.
However, "this study nailed it by selecting just the right genetic variables," he said. "Still, this is a relationship [between blue eyes and red hair and the risk for melanoma] only up to a point."
Copyright © 2014
. All rights reserved.
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Solid Sides with Pipe-top Rail
We offer 22" Solid Metal Sides with a 2" Pipetop Rail on our channel frame utility trailers. This option is quite popular with contractors, landscapers, and rental customers. Also, some prefer solid metal sides over expanded metal, since signs & graphics can be applied directly to the trailer's side.


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iPhone XS Max / XS / XR Wallpaper 0493
How to save and change wallpaper
Touch and hold the image and tap "Save Image".
Return to the Home screen and start the "Photos" application.
Select the downloaded image and tap the red frame part of the image.
Tap "Use as wallpaper".
Select the red frame part and tap "Set".
Select the part you want to set and it is done.
iPhone News
- 'Overwatch' Anniversary event brings custom Workshop games to all
- The Morning After: Apple fixed the 'butterfly' MacBook Pro keyboard
- Jordan's latest sneaker drop is in 'Fortnite'
- Vizio's 2019 4K TVs arrive with promise of AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support
- Ultra-private Tor browser officially arrives on Android
- Bosch's reworked automotive sensors can help control flying taxis
- Apple sells refreshed version of LG's UltraFine 4K display
- Now there's a dedicated Steam Chat app for Android and iOS
- Google stored some business passwords as plain text
- HQ Trivia's fourth season starts at 9 PM ET


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Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Watch out ! Make sure you switch everything off when you leave your cab or you will come back to a flat battery. If you don't close the back doors properly the courtesy light stays on and will drain it. So will the rear compartment overhead lights (very quickly) and the seatbelt button on the nearside tip down seat. (it's got a red light on it). Other than that, you should be ok, the battery itself is huge and has a date stamp on it. They are designed to handle the constant demands of driving around London all day with lights, heaters, wipers, meters etc all demanding relentless power... After about 3 years, if used as a taxi all day, they begin to fail. Not cheap to replace - about a hundred quid. ? Make sure you keep the water levels up and it's worth 5 minutes disconnecting the cables, cleaning the battery posts and reconnecting securely. A blob of vaseline on the posts before reconnecting helps keep a good connection.(apparently)
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Fascia Board Replacement | Install Your Own | Kents Direct | UK
How To Install Your Own Fascia And Save Money
When your roof needs maintenance, you'll instantly start thinking about how much the job is going to cost.
After all, roofing services don't come cheap.
In fact, you can do the fascia board replacement for much cheaper than you'd think if you go the DIY route. Here's how you can install them yourself and save cash.
Which part is the fascia?
Before you get started, make sure you know which part of your roof is the fascia. The roof is made up of several different parts, and so you want to make sure you're buying the right parts. Go outside and look at your roof.
You're looking for the boards that run just underneath the roofline itself. If the boards that run perpendicular to the walls are what need replacing, then you'll be looking at installing new soffits. The board under the roof that's visible from the front is the fascia.
Choose the right materials
Now, you'll need to head out and buy replacements for your old boards. Many older boards are made of wood, and so eventually rot in bad weather. If you're looking for a replacement, the best thing to do will be to buy a newer metal or uPVC board.
These can stand up to the British weather better, meaning they'll last much longer. Also, choose what colour you want. Modern fascias come in a huge range of colours and styles, so pick one that will look good on your home.
Measure to see how much you need
Like any home improvement job, you'll need to measure the roof first to see how much fascia you'll need to get the job done.
This shouldn't take you too long, as you can simply measure the existing fascias. Then, just take those measurements to your local DIY store or you can also order online if you prefer to.
Check your roof before starting
Before you get started with replacing your fascias, you'll need to inspect your roof to see if there's any other damage. Waterlogged or rotten fascias can be a sign that there are issues in the roof itself. Check that all your roof tiles are in place, and that there's nothing excessive growing on them.
Check there's no blockages in the gutters, which could be overflowing water into the roof. Next, get into the attic and take a look. Are any of the beams bowing, or can you see light through the roof? If you can, fix these issues before you start on the fascia.
Get a friend to help
Finally, ensure that you have a friend to help you get the job done. They can hand up pieces to you to install, making it a lot quicker. They can also keep you safe as you work, meaning that the job is as risk free as possible.
With these tips, you can install your own fascias. It's a lot easier than you think it is, so get out there and save some cash on your roof.


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I'm preparing to go to the mattresses again. My battle this time? An organization who apparently has a record for withholding apartment security deposits for months on end. I know because they're currently holding onto $6K of my money and have been since last year.
I'm giving them til the end of the week before I go to town because…well I don't take these fights lightly. And I don't largely because I go SO all in on them. I go after the company, individuals, internet SEO, whatever it takes. If you screw me over, and I'm in the right, I will do as much legally as I can imagine. And I've got the imagination - and morality - of a successful reality TV producer.
There was the time I went to the VW president's office to deal with my Audi ignition coils. Repeatedly. Or the tens of thousands in legal fees that I ended up costing the company that sued me for a yelp review because they never thought anyone would fight it. Like the movie line goes, "I am a man with a particular set of skills," but said skills turn me into an incredibly focused maniac when I go there. And for a while afterwards. I kinda wondered why. So I went looking for the thing that kinda started it all - the car story.
Here for your enjoyment is the original story (lightly edited, man I loved run on sentences) that got me into the art of creative complaining. I wrote about the time my beloved Dodge Swinger was hit by a drunk driver in Koreatown and how it eventually brought me toe to toe with the AIG Insurance company and a guy named Mike Osborne. It's a little dated in some ways (2006) but it reminds me of just how I get when I decide to start swinging back.
This a story about the Dodge Swinger.
My beloved car that is older than I am. The automotive reason that several women in my life have broken up with me. Or at least that's what I tell myself. It started in November of 2005, back when I was living in Koreatown. The car was parked on the street, as usual. When I came down to go to work I noticed something odd on the windshield: a card from a policeman telling me to call a number to find out about an accident my car had been in. I was confused.
Soon I was less confused.
I got out and looked around. Sure enough there was my back end touching the ground. The bumper was dented, the rear valance was torn up, the springs were listing to one side like a drunk leaning on a fence to hurl. Someone had hit my car and they had pushed it close to 50 feet down the street. I kept searching. All around were bits of plastic and glass and parts that said Infinity.
I followed the trail of parts backwards.
There was a red chevy with its side caved in. That crimson cannon fodder that had slowed the Infinity - the aggressor in this situation - before it went one on one with my rear chrome. Which I'm guessing is where it all came to an end. Then I noticed the license plate holder: "Hertz rental." I remember thinking that I hoped that poor unlucky bastard had the extended insurance.
Because I knew I didn't.
Heres the thing: I only have liability insurance on my car. Why? For one thing, no car Ive ever owned until the Swinger has really been worth much more than simple liability insurance. Not the Chevy Celebrity with half the front bumper gone. Not the Buick Lesabre with the iffy brakes. And not the Saturn with an engine that squealed like a mob informant.
Now, admittedly, I have spent more money on the Swinger than every single woman I have ever known dirty or otherwise put together. But its still got a blue book value of a little less than my laptop. And, sadly, the restoration of the Swinger was only at about 80 percent complete, even though I drove it everyday. The plan was, when it was fully restored, I WOULD get the full coverage. On that halcyon day I'd park it somewhere nice and finally clean out those ashtrays full of grit from the Nixon years.
But some moron with an Infinity and a poor sense of braking had other intentions.
I headed upstairs to make some calls, tell my insurance what had happened (for all the good that it would do) and get to the bottom of this situation. As I did, the owner of the pile of red metal that used to be a Hertz, came out to discover his situation. I heard him moaning about not buying the supplemental coverage.
Apparently this was going to be a tragedy the whole way around.
I got hold of the police by calling the number on the back of the card. They informed me that they'd arrested my vehicular assaulter, and they'd charged them with DUI and hit and run. Apart from the two cars on MY block he hit, he also apparently brought his car to a full and complete stop by hitting a third one.
It was at this point that cops told me they'd love to tell me more about the guy who did it but that I'd have to request a police report. Which, in the city of Los Angeles, would take up to three months. But in the meantime MY insurance would get on top of the damage. I told the cop that I only had liability. He told me that I'd need to get the info on the guy who hit me. I asked HOW I would be able to do this without that police report. The officer said he'd think about it.
This was not a reassuring call.
Undaunted I got very very into police form processes. By digging into the specifics of the paperwork process and berating officers at the local and detective level for two weeks straight, one of them…let slip the number of a form. It was one of those relevant numbered forms that, if asked for by name, completely renders your police stonewallers helpful. I did it. There was a pause. And then open sesame. The cops gave me the license plate number, the insurance company AND the name: Mr. Kim.
Mr. Kim was a college student who got a little over served and tried driving back to the westside. He made it to the east side of all three cars he hit. Ultimately a drunken Korean college student…well it wasn't surprising. We were in Koreatown where underage kids drank soju like it was a wondertonic and right on red doesn't even involve a slow down. Its a wonder I hadn't been run down in a crosswalk over the last three years living here.
I called Kimmy's insurance company: AIG. Apparently Mr Kim, a whole two weeks after the crash and his imprisonment, hadn't gotten around to calling his own company and bringing them up to speed. So I relayed the details. The bulletpoints? Their client had been caught, they'd booked him on hit and run AND a DUI and I had some damages they would need to pay. I expected it all should have been simple at that point. Especially with, you know, the CRIMINAL charges involved.
The handler was very attentive. They took down my details and said someone would get RIGHT on it. And to their credit, someone did. A mid-40's black guy named Elston. He said they were looking into the situation but after determining that I didn't have any competing insurance company to fight over damages with, Elston told me it was likely this was going to take a while.
Weeks rolled by. Weeks of me on the bus from K-town to Santa Monica with the tired, yearning masses of the red line. It was a complete cross-section of our city. And what I learned is, our city has some issues. There were crazy women who picked fights with me, wheelchair guys who took delight in the city waiting on them and the smelly homeless folks who determined that their cause in life was to drag around the single rankest thing they could find and use it as either a necklace or a convenient footrest.
Meanwhile I called, I inquired, I persisted. And I was always unfailingly polite. I even asked to speak to a supervisor. Which Elston said he'd have to get back to me on. I think maybe Elston knew no good would come out of talking to his boss and was trying to fix things without him.
But unfortunately, it got there anyway. Elston, my assigned adjuster, had gone on vacation. During his absence I was directed to call his supervisor. His name? Mike Osborne. Let me be clear: Elston had been kind but ineffective. Mike? Mike could not have cared less but he was happy to tell me that.
Mike, bluntly, told me that AIG had come to a conclusion. You see, he said, Kimmy the drunk Korean hit three guys in one night. Because of that, they were going to use a different kind of math on my case. Their client had a 10,000 dollar per incident limit on coverage that they were going to treat all three cars he'd wrecked as ONE incident. And ALL of it would be covered under a $10,000 dollar PER INCIDENT cap.
Moreover since they needed all victims to sign off on this little crazy math, not only would they NOT pay me very much but they would ALSO not pay me anytime soon. At that point, to just rub it in, Mike Osborne even said his client hadn't been convicted yet. He even threw in a "who knows, maybe he just fell asleep at the wheel" even as he knew the facts were otherwise. Mike followed up on that by instructing me that these cases sometimes take years to resolve. But the best was coming. That's when Mike said that thing.
"Riley." Mike Osborne said, "since you don't have collision insurance you just better be prepared to be screwed in this matter."
He shouldn't have said it. That was really his mistake. Without saying it I would have probably measured my efforts. I would have done some things. But I probably wouldn't have done EVERYTHING. Because that's when I got LIVID. The incident had already cost me hours of work, tremendous aggravation and seats next to the smelliest citizens in LA. And he was bluntly telling me that I was going to be screwed? I responded with what I thought was a pretty controlled statement.
"Mr. Osborne," I said, "I am NOT prepared to be screwed. And if you don't do whats right I will probably have to write a few letters about this incident."
He chuckled even before I finished talking.
"Sure," Mike Osborne said. "Go ahead and write whomever you want."
At that point? It was ON.
Know this: I am spiteful. I am dedicated. I am creative. And I am a damn good writer. It was time to write some letters. So I started easy. I wrote the people you'd think of in this kind of thing. All of them. I wrote my assemblyman, my city council person, my county supervisor, the consumer affairs department, my congressman, my senator, the governors office and the insurance commissioners office of California. But then I thought about who else I could write. I went to the California State website. There are over 1200 state agencies alone in California. All just waiting for a letter from ME.
This is where that spite and dedication comes in handy but the creativity is essential. Here's how I did it. If they had anything to do with insurance, I said "I've been wronged, do something about my case." And then I basically gave them the boilerplate on what happened.
Now if they were ONLY involved in laws and regulations in a general way (state legislators, city assembly people, regulatory groups) I said, "There oughta be a law to protect people who haven't done anything wrong. Like with MY case." Then again the boilerplate.
Now if they had NOTHING to do with insurance or regulations (the California Farm Bureau, Department of Veterans Affairs, California Fire) I said, "As a public agency, I strongly encourage you look at the details of my case before you buy any insurance from AIG." Then the boilerplate of my story. I know this one seems like a reach but it really isn't that much of a stretch. Given that AIG is one of the biggest insurers in the world, chances are some of them must use them or consider using them. Or at least that's a plausible reason to write.
But however I started every letter, the end was the same. At the end of every plea I sent out, I wrote the same thing: "If you'd like more information feel free to call Mike Osborne at…" And then I gave em his phone number.
I think that first day I sent out like 200 letters. And I sent out about 50 a day after that. It wasn't that hard. Find an agency, pick which one of my three pitches I was using, tweak the front and hit send. And then repeat.
The following week, on a Monday, I called Mike Osborne to check in with my repair estimates. Ostensibly I phoned him up to see if there'd been any progress. But really I wanted to see if maybe any of this was working. The second he started talking I got the impression it was. Because Mike Osborne's dismissive tone was little different. I was hearing an edge of…pissed.
Mike answered curtly to every question I asked. I asked a lot of questions. The last one was for the claims fax number so I could send him my latest paperwork on repairs with updated estimates from my mechanic. Then as an aside, before I hung up, I asked if I should mail him more letters on the case that I'd just gotten from the police on their client Mr. Kim.
"No," Mike Osborne said, "I don't think you need to send any more letters Mr. Robbins."
And THAT made me think I should send just a few more. But I felt like I should take it beyond the random emails he was getting from civil service people. I needed to make it more personal. I researched AIG online. One of the first things that came up was the publicly listed board of directors and all the members of senior management. With mailing addresses. Ah publicly traded companies. It's all out there. So I got 42 stamps and some decent quality paper. I would send one letter to every member of the board of directors, every SVP and everyone in the upper management.
Let me just say that THIS was some of my best work. It wasn't angry or whining. This was the letter that said "you know what you've done, what your employees have done in your name, has made me lose faith not only in AIG but in the insurance industry as a whole." I know. It sounds corny here. But they don't know me. Maybe I'm a guy who really believes in the insurance industry as a whole. And these are COMPANY men. One of them had to believe in the good name of this insurance giant.
And one did.
A week later I get a call from the VP of international affairs. A secretary hopped on and said "please hold for a call from AIG Vietnam." And moments later I was talking to a senior management guy calling me from the new AIG office in Ho Chi Minh city. I got the impression this guy wasn't necessarily in direct communication with all his exec brethren who got the same letters. He thought this was from me to him and he was going to DO something. International VP he's sorry he's been out of the loop but promises me, "by tomorrow morning, someone will be looking into my case."
The next day I get a call from the Director of West Coast operations. He starts well enough. He's SOOOOO SORRY that this all happened. And there must have been a "communications breakdown." He's heartfelt in his appreciation for what I've been through and he wants to convey it. He says he's going to get me his top specialist.
Then 10 minutes later that said specialist calls. All the same heartfelt song and dance…but with a difference. Because after he gives it he starts hemming and hawing and saying, "it really is a judgment call to call it one incident or separate incidents." After all this, after going all the way to Asia then to the head of West Coast Operations then to a new guy only to get the same song and dance as Mike Osborne?
I cut him off.
I say "you know who doesn't see it that way? The California insurance commisioner's office. Neither does my city councilman. Neither does my county supervisor. All of whom have written me to tell me so." And all that was true. When I sent off these letters I kept a list of everyone who said they'd look into it, everyone who said I was in the right but you should call THIS agency and the ones who said "you know we only license farm vehicles right?" So I read off anyone who was pro-Me. It was a long and pretty randomly official list. As I got to the end of it I came up with the capper.
"And tomorrow morning I'm going to send out promotional pitch packets with my case details to every California consumer reporter - some of whom I've already called - to say that something must be done about these insurance companies and their unethical ways. Along with copies of letters from everyone who says you're in the wrong." I paused. Then I said, "Oh wait, that's one of the reporters on the other line. I gotta go."
And I hung up on him. That consumer packet was actually a pretty good idea. If this didn't work I thought "I should probably do that."
It was unnecessary. The specialist called me back five minutes later. He rushed right into it without even a hello.
"We're going to go ahead and consider it separate incidents and cut you a check today," he said. "And given that your radio might have been damaged in the crash we're also giving you a certificate for 500 dollars to Circuit City to have it replaced."
I won't soft sell it: this was sweet. It took about 400 emails, 42 stamped letters and a lot of phone calls but it was a win. And unqualified one. I asked for $2000 for repairs. I got $2500. As well as enough on the Circuit City gift card to upgrade the subwoofer and put in a new Sirius satellite radio. It was all there. Victory, success, TRIUMPH!
But there was a little more.
After I got my check I found out that there was a salvage title form I'd need to send in to AIG. A few months later I got the form and called up to see where to send it. I called Mike Osborne's number. From the amount of letters I ended it with, it was one call I knew by heart at this point. He didn't answer. Elston did. The nice but ineffective first claims adjuster. He laughed when he heard my name because he hears it. A lot.
"You know we still get calls about you," mused Elston.
Six months after AIG blinked there is still some kind of local, county or state agency that will call on my behalf to look into my case. Why? Well I think it's because it was a good case. Little guy, big company, obviously being screwed by a bad system. For any agency or elected official that gets this thing, they're thinking "hey this is an easy win on the board AND it sounds great." Apparently Elston was the one who was dealing with it. Each one requiring a note, email or phonecall to tell them that AIG had done the right thing and settled the case. He didn't seem to mind. Especially given the fact that he answered Mike Osborne's line.
"So what happened to Mike Osborne?" I asked.
You could almost hear Elston shaking his head on the other side of the phone.
"Yeaaaah," said Elston. "He's not working in this department anymore."
Was he working in any department? Or for AIG? Or was he just walking around muttering my name in a park somewhere? I didn't need to know. This was enough. I was wronged. I fought back with a disproportionate response. I won. As for Mike, if you're out there, just one last piece of advice. Every company has screw ups. Mistakes. Miscommunications. When you resolve them, just treat your customers fairly and equitably. Then things go well - both for you and the company. And if not?
Well you better be prepared to be screwed in this matter.


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Thursday, February 19, 2015
Crazy About You Bundle
For this card I have stamped with the Crazy About You set using Strawberry Slush, Crushed Curry, and Coastal Cabana ink. The "thank you" is cut from the Hello You Framelits. Just cut the "s" off the thanks for creating a perfect looking "thank you." You can save 15% when you purchase both together as a bundle. A splash of glimmer paper adds such panche to this simple layout.
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This is the new and completely modernized dog scooter, which has been renewed and improved in many ways. It is a lightweight scooter which steers easy.
The grip on the road is excellent by the new frame. This dog scooter is suitable for use for the age over 8 years.
The scooter is equipped with V brakes and a height-adjustable steering wheel.
To let your dog run with you, you can use the following accessories:
Optionally, there are the following accessories:
Colour: black.
Properties of this dog scooter:
Beoordeling Petsonline: 9.1 / 10 (2212 beoordelingen) op Kiyoh.nl


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Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)
Native to Australia, the eucalyptus group of trees and shrubs have spread to Africa, India and the Americas. One species of the tree is the tallest tree species in the world, surpassing the California Redwood and growing to a height of 480 feet. Related to myrtles, these trees have leaves with oil glands from which oil is distilled. Only a very few of the many tree species have the specialized oil that is used medicinally. Most trees of this species are evergreen, though some tropical species will drop their leaves.
Key Medicinal Uses
Eucalyptus oil is aromatic, antiseptic and stimulating. It is used as a disinfectant and has some anti-malarial qualities. It is a cardiac stimulant, so should be used with care.
Internally Eucalyptus is toxic when taken internally, although in the past some have done so in very small amounts. It is best to only use the oil externally or in a vaporizer as an inhalant for congestion. Commercial cough drops that contain eucalyptus are generally safe unless allergic reaction has been shown to the herb. It is also added to some mouth washes.
Externally It can be applied to skin in an ointment or in a spray for various skin ailments and tick repellent.
Other Uses Other species of eucalyptus are used for various purposes. The oils are separated into medicinal oils, industrial oils and aromatic oils. They are used in soap making, perfume making and flotation purposes.
Herbs to Combine/Supplement
Do not combine with coltsfoot, borage, comfrey or houndstooth, as eucalyptus can worsen the side effects of these herbs.
Parts Used
Leaves The oil is distilled from the leaves.
Essential oil should be diluted in a carrier oil to prevent skin reactions with the pure oil. Taking eucalyptus internally can result in allergic reactions, toxicity and even death. Symptoms of poisoning can include nervous system and brain activity slowing down, seizures, coma, drowsiness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, constricted pupils, fever, difficulty walking, slurred speech, headache, convulsions, delirium, wheezing, difficulty breathing, coughing, and blue discoloration of the skin. People who have shown reactions to this herb should avoid it at all costs.
It may also interact with prescription medications. This herb should be avoided by children and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Preparation and Dosage
A drop or two of eucalyptus tincture or essential oil can be placed in a vaporizer to help with congestion.
It can also be found in commercial cough drops and mouth wash. Use these products only according to directions on the package.


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SoumarApril 23, 2019
The Soumar is a ground-launched long ranged cruise missile whose design bears close resemblance to Russia's Kh-55. Analysts believe that the Soumar's range is comparable to the Kh-55 which has a range of 2,500 km.[1]
Little is confirmed about the technical specifications of the Soumar cruise missile as it has yet to be flight tested. According to Iranian news source Press TV, the Soumar possess "pinpoint accuracy" compared to previous cruise missile developments and can, "hit within 50 meters of its pre-designated target."[2] Photographs and videos reveal that the missile's nose lacks a sensor which means it is possibly guided by GPS/INS navigation system.[3]
In 2005, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko confirmed that Ukraine had previously sold 6 Russian Kh-55 missiles to Iran in 2001.[4] Although receiving missiles in 2001, Iran did not admit to having a cruise missile program until 2012 when Iran displayed its first cruise missile prototype, Meshkat. Tehran claims through its state run news agency Press TV that it has attained "self-sufficiency in producing advanced military equipment and missile systems" in their home grown defense sector.[5] Iran's Defense Chief communicated to Press TV that "upgraded versions [of Soumar] will be unveiled in the next Iranian calendar year (21 March 2016)."[6]
Iranian experts at the Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) were quoted by Press TV as saying that the Soumar can "hit a broad range of targets in all circumstances" and "relies on high tactical capabilities, long survival over battlefield, and radar-evading properties".[7]
Strategic Implications
If the Soumar possesses the same range as the Russian Kh-55, then it is projected that Iran could hit targets throughout the Middle East and Eastern/Southern Europe.[8] Concerns about indigenously built turbofan engines raise concerns about Iran's range estimates. Iran faces difficulty keeping its jets and helicopters flying due to the 1984 US sanctions regime placed on Iran which included the prohibited the sale of aircraft parts. It is harder to produce a small turbofan engine for a cruise missile than it is to produce a standard-sized engine.[9]
Russian forces Kh-55 missiles were originally launched from a Tupolev Tu-160 and capable of carrying nuclear warheads. It is believed that Iran does not possess large bombers to deliver the Soumar similarly to the Kh-55, and there are no reports to confirm whether the missile, itself, is nuclear capable.[10]
Iran's lack of bomber aircraft has pushed it to engineer the Soumar as a ground-launched cruise missile. Due to their small size, cruise missiles can be launched from a variety of platforms.[11]Russia Today reported that the Soumar could be mounted on a road-mobile missile system.[12]
Iranian officials have claimed that the Soumar cruise missile boosts Iran's defensive and deterrent power. Tehran argues that the Soumar does not threaten regional security because the development of the weapon is deterrence-based.[13] US and Israel ballistic missile defense systems are capable of intercepting Iranian ballistic missiles, which can offer a possible explanation why Tehran has pursued cruise missiles as a deterrent. Regional states find the Soumar cruise missile threatening because it is hard to detect and destroy left of launch. When compared to intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles fly at subsonic speeds and are easier to destroy, but its ability to fly at low altitudes, hide behind terrain features, and below radar detection makes discrimination more difficult.[14]
[1] Pfeffer, Anshel. "Iran unveils new long-range cruise missile" Haaretz (8 March 2015) http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.645898
[2] Pfeffer, Anshel
[3] Ben-David, Alon. "Iran Produces First Long-Range Missile" Aviation Week (14 March 2015) www.Aviationweek.com/defense/iran-produces-first-long-range-missile
[4] Mendenhall, Preston. "Ukraine leader confirms missile sales to Iran" NBC News http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7349303/ns/world_news/t/ukraine-leader-confirms-missile-sales-iran/#.VXnwHWRViko
[5] Kazemi, Amir Mehdi
[6] Kazemi, Amir Medhi. "Iran's Soumar Cruise Missile" Press TV (8 March 2015) http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/03/08/400866/Irans-Soumar-Cruise-Missile
[7] Kazemi, Amir Medhi.
[8] Pfeffer, Anshel
[9] Binnie, Jeremy. "Iranian cruise missile unveiling raises questions about range" Janes (17 March 2015) http://www.janes.com/article/49998/analysis-iranian-cruise-missile-unveiling-raises-questions-about-range
[10] Ghoshal, Debalina. "Political and Strategic Signal behind Iran's new Soumar cruise missile" Delhi Policy Group (April 2015)
[11] Pfeffer, Anshel
[12]"Iran army unveils its new Soumar long-range missile" Russia Times (8 March 2015) http://rt.com/news/238837-iran-unveils-cruise-missile/
[13] Kazemi, Amir Mehdi
[14] Pfeffer, Anshel
Missile Threat and Proliferation
- Threat Basics
- Today's Missile Threat
- North Korea
- Iran
- China's Anti-Access Area Denial
- Russia's Anti-Access Area Denial
- Non-State Actors
- Missile Proliferation Index by State
- China
- Dong Feng-16 (CSS-11)
- Dong Feng-15 (CSS-6)
- Dong Feng-11 (CSS-7)
- Dong Feng-12 (CSS-X-15)
- Dong Feng-3 (CSS-2)
- Dong Feng-21 (CSS-5)
- Dong Feng-21D (CSS-5)
- Dong Feng-26
- Dong Feng-4 (CSS-3)
- Dong Feng-5 (DF-5)
- Dong Feng-31 (CSS-10)
- Dong Feng-41(CSS-X-20)
- Changjian-20 (CJ-20)
- DF-ZF Hypersonic Glide Vehicle
- Dong Feng-17
- India
- Libya
- Pakistan
- Russia
- 3M22 Zircon
- Avangard (Hypersonic Glide Vehicle)
- BrahMos II
- RS-26 Rubezh
- OTR-21 Tochka (SS-21 Scarab)
- Iskander-E
- SS-1 Scud-A
- R-17 Elbrus (SS-1 Scud-B)
- SS-1d Scud-C
- R-17 VTO/SS-1e (Scud-D)
- Iskander-M (SS-26)
- Kh-47M2 Kinzhal ("Dagger")
- SS-18 Satan/R-36M2 Voyevoda
- SS-19 Stiletto
- RS-12M Topol (SS-25 Sickle)
- SS-27 / Topol-M
- SS-27 Mod 2 / RS-24 Yars
- RS-28 Sarmat (Satan 2)
- AS-15 Kent (Kh-55 Granat)
- RK-55 Relief (SS-N-21 Sampson)
- 3M-54 Klub (SS-N-27 Sizzler)
- 3M-14 Kalibr (SS-N-30A)
- P-15 Termit (SS-N-2 Styx)
- P-6 Progress/SS-N-3C Shaddock
- P-120 Malakhit (SS-N-9 Siren)
- P-270 Moskit/SS-N-22 Sunburn
- P-500 Bazalt (SS-N-12 Sandbox)
- P-700 Granit/SS-N-19 "Shipwreck"
- KH-35 (SS-N-25 Switchblade)
- P-800 Oniks (SS-N-26 Strobile)
- P-1000 Vulkan
- R-29R / SS-N-18 Stingray
- R-29RM / SS-N-23 Skiff
- SS-N-30 Bulava
- Syria
- Yemen
- China
- Notable Missile Tests
- Combat Launches


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Today, LG Electronics introduced a new smartphone in Korea called LG Band Play, which is an affordable 4G LTE Android smartphone ment mostly for the younger generations. Equipped with a new "Focus Mode," the smartphone allows one to concentrate on his work by cutting off the WiFi connection and rejecting any incoming calls.
LG Band Play is 8.3mm thick, weighs in at 126 grams and it will be available within the next week in Black or White color for 394,800 Korean Won, about $355.
The LG Band Play feature a 5-inch IPS 720p HD display, comes with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 410 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of built storage, 1W speaker, Android 5.1 Lollipop and a 2,300 mAh battery.
The phone packs a 13MP rear-camera with LASER Autofocus like the LG G3 and the LG G4, 5MP front-facing camera, NFC, USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.1 and 4G LTE connectivity.


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It is a fine balancing act transferring the mood and characters from a book to the stage. We each have an individual appreciation of what is going on in the book but, on stage, we rely on the director and cast to visualise the story for us.
So the years spent by Robin McLoughlin adapting Jeremy Page's atmospheric novel Salt for the stage were not wasted if the performances in Aylsham were anything to go by.
And the direction by Dawn Finnerty ably set up the mood of isolation in a turbulent north Norfolk landscape which shapes the lives of three generations of one family as they struggle for survival in the wetlands – that wilderness between the land and the sea.
The tragi-comic story is told through the eyes of their youngest member, Pip, played by Sam Thompson, who talks us through four decades of blood, smoke, mud, tears and fish.
The show begins in Morston, in 1944. Pip's grandmother 'Goose' (Sally Blouet) rescues a German airman buried up to his neck in the marsh. Nine months later the German vanishes in a makeshift boat, leaving Goose with a new-born daughter, Lil.
Lil (Katie-anna Whiting) grows up from a strange child to the object of two brothers' desire, and that's when her life takes a tragic turn.
The brothers, played by Robin McLoughlin and Tom Girvin, fill the narrative gaps with humour as well as a deep sense of foreboding.
Blustering throughout the tale is Owen Evans as Bryn Pugh, a Falstaff character who acts as minder, friend and mentor to the family.
There are many "gaps in time" as we pass through the decades and some of these transition points are confusing like when the young lovers banish themselves to the Fens to escape the opprobrium of the community before their illegitimate baby is born.
But it is the beauty of the Norfolk dialect and mannerisms, which are effortlessly displayed here by the mostly home-grown cast, and the many references to local place names which give the production a powerful sense of place and time.
It would be hard to single out any one actor as each fulfilled their roles impeccably especially as they were up against some exacting minimalist props – mainly wooden crates and half a broken boat.
If anything is, then the star of the show is that bootiful, gloriously open, mystical but unforgiving patch of land where folk dew dif'runt.
Patrick Prekopp


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Starbelly is located in the Seton Urban District, right across the street from the new South Calgary Health Campus. Just 20 minutes from Downtown Calgary, head south on Deerfoot Trail to turn on to Seton Blvd SE, exit onto Seton Blvd and head one block east. You'll find ample parking space, right outside our front door.
Starbelly Open Kitchen + Lounge
Managing Partner | Derek Mihalik
Head Chef | Daniel Clements
220, 19489 Seton Cr SE,
Calgary, AB – T3M 1T4
Phone: 403.570.0133
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Hours of Operation
|11:00am - 11:00pm
|11:00am - 12:00am
|10:00am - 12:00am
|10:00am - 11:00pm


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Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sasha's looking for a new home!
Hi! My name is Sasha (A100197). I am a beautiful two-year-old girl looking to be the centre of someone's universe. Typical to my breed, I am very independent, and I don't enjoy being held very much. However, I definitely am not adverse to attention! I love to lean into you for some petting and snuggling. I don't really enjoy being here at the shelter as the other cats aren't letting me get my beauty rest. Not to mention, I'm keen to find a home where it's understood that I'm the only kitty! It's a small price to pay for my affections, and in return, I'll spend many wonderful years curled up by your side. If you've got a new home for me, please call the OHS Adoptions Centre at 613-725-3166 ext. 258 today!
Labels: OHS Animals Posted by Ottawa Humane Society


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The Asia Plateau Interns Programme is conducted at Asia Plateau, the Initiatives of Change (formerly MRA) Centre, located on the hills of Panchgani, Maharashtra, 100 km from Pune.
This is a hands-on programme with emphasis on learning and growing through voluntary service, leadership and initiative. The program includes:
Learning through attendance at seminars, workshops, conferences and other programmes of the Centre which provide unique opportunities to hear experts on various subjects and to meet, mingle and have interactions with some eminent and accomplished facilitators and participants coming from varied backgrounds, professions and locations.
Interactive Sessions with opportunities for learning from other countries and cultures. Interns will be expected to make presentations about their respective countries. Living in a multi-faith, multi-cultural community provides a rich experience in life skills, relationship-building and team-work.
Leading and Organizing participants of all levels in the practical running of the Centre's activities and at group meetings.
Dedicated Sessions for personal empowerment through effective living and leadership as encouraged by IofC, allow one to examine one's own life and living, study the forces that can build a sound society as well as understand the relationship between the individual and the state of the world.
Apart from Asia Plateau programmes, 'Grampari', IofC's Rural and Ecology Centre, provides opportunities to work with and learn from village leaders and others from rural India. There may be village visits and activities conducted by Grampari.
Interns will be taken in three batches in a year:
1 April 2013 to 30 June 2013 - (3 Months)
1 September 2013 to 31 January 2014 - (5 Months)
1 February 2014 to 30 June 2014 - (5 Months)
For each intake, applications should come in at least 6 weeks before the starting date.
The pre-requisites for the participants are as follows:
- Graduate (Preferable but not essential).
- Knowledge of spoken and written English.
- Should be a responsible and reliable self-starter and a cheerful team player. A commitment to live by the Community Guidelines of Asia Plateau, respect for authority and maintenance of discipline are essential.
- Acceptance of IofC's standards of Unconditional Purity, Honesty, Unselfishness and Love as values to live by and endeavoring to make a sincere effort to live a life of care and service.
- Should be physically fit, in good health with ability for hard work and service.
- Age: Between 19 and 35 years.
Spoken Hindi/Marathi, and musical, acting and other talents will be an added advantage.
This programme is open to both the genders irrespective of culture, religion or background.
Those meeting the above criteria and keen to join, may fill up the application form (doc) attached and email it to Asia Plateau in the email address provided in the form. PDF format
Duly filled applications (email or physical) should reach us at the latest six weeks before the starting date of that Internship.
There may be a skype/telephone interview before final selection. Successful candidates will be informed through email.
Cost of travel to Asia Plateau and back, incidental and personal expenditure and any other personal travel is to be borne by the candidates. Selected candidates should also take their health insurance covering their entire stay in India. While boarding and lodging will be free, any contribution is welcome. The Centre may provide a small pocket money in some cases.


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Prerequisite(s): CCPS 109
Duration: 65 HoursFee: $1486.60* (Payment in full is required at time of enrolment.)
A continuation of CPS 109. Emphasis is placed on code structure, algorithm development, and Object Oriented design principles.
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Please see Course Fees for more information.
All contents copyright The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, Ryerson University.
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Tips on Choosing the Right Boat to Rent.
One of the activities that people do during their free time, its taking a boat ride. Owning a boat its very expensive, so most people opt to rent or buy a second-hand boat, since it's cheaper. There are many kinds of boats that one can charter, but most people have a challenge in deciding which one they should charter. Here are tips that you can consider when chartering a boat.
When renting a boat, it is important to consider the place you will be using the boat. If you are planning to go for a deep-sea fishing, select a boat that is stable and strong enough for deep sea. If you are going to fishing in a lake that is not deep, you can opt for a boat that is small. Find out in advance the kind of boat that suits the water you are travelling.
What distance will the boat cover? If you are travelling for a long distance, it is advisable to look for a boat that has accommodation, to make the whole trip comfortable. For long distances, one is likely to get tired and they will need somewhere to sleep, ensure the boat you have chartered has a beds and places one can shower. If you go for a boat that cannot accommodate long distances and you are going for a long distance, challenges are likely to occur along the way.
How many people are using the chartered boat? For your safety and that of other people using the boat, ensure the boat does not carry excess people. Before you rent a boat, ask the management to show you a boat that will fit all the people you are taking a boat trip with. In case the people using the boat need privacy, ensure the boat is large enough to accommodate different beds for each person using the boat.
How much does the company charge for their boats? There are different types and models of yacht and each has a different rent price. Large boats are more expensive as compared to small boats. For a yacht that has different rooms for each person it will be expensive as compared to one with communal rooms. Don't settle with the price of one boat renting company, ask for quotes from other reputable companies. Go for a boat charter company that is within your planned budget.
Always do your homework, before renting your boat. Check how long the company has been in this business. It is important to check if the company has been licensed by the state to operate as boat charter company. Go for a company that has boats that are in a perfect condition to be used.
Rentals – Getting Started & Next Steps


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Conservation of original documents at the ITS Archives
This year the International Tracing Service (ITS) of Bad Arolsen will be conserving around 400,000 original documents from the Nazi era. Starting today, facsimiles of important documents are being used for visitor tours. "ITS stores documents of enormous historical relevance on the persecution, exploitation and murder of millions of people. It is essential that these files are conserved for the coming generations", said chief archivist Udo Jost.
More than 30 million documents on the fate of approximately 17.5 million victims of the Nazi regime are stored in the archives of the International Tracing Service. Around three-fourths of the documents are originals from the twelve-year regime of the National Socialists and the immediate post-war period. Among the original documents to be preserved this year are individual files from the Buchenwald concentration camp such as prisoners' registration cards and personal property cards, lists from the concentration camps Neuengamme, Natzweiler and Mauthausen, and Gestapo cards from Koblenz and Frankfurt am Main.
ITS has now made facsimiles of some of the originals such as the death book from the Buchenwald concentration camp, a list of Jewish forced labourers who worked for Oskar Schindler, a transportation card from Anne Frank, and a Gestapo card for Konrad Adenauer – 60 individual documents, two folders and two books in total. They will be shown during visitor tours. "The goal is to protect the originals in view of the growing number of visitors to ITS ever since the archived opened up in November 2007", said Jost.
The documents had been used as working papers for many decades. With their help, ITS clarified the fate of those persecuted by the NS regime and was able to issue certificates for pension funds and indemnification payments. "This usage has left its marks", said the chief archivist. In addition, paper underlies a natural ageing process. The documents have already held up in the facility's archives for at least 60 years. "The quality of paper declined drastically around the end of WWII, so the documents are extremely acidic and thus decay faster", explained Jost.
Because the entire inventory of the archive is currently being digitised, access to the original documents will only be necessary in certain individual cases in the future. This opens up the perspective of long-term conservation. In 2001, the International Tracing Service conducted a damage analysis. A priority list was compiled according to which the documents have been conserved step-by-step ever since. The analysis revealed an urgent need for action in the case of 4.3 million documents from concentration camps, ghettos and Gestapo prisons. The German federal government currently subsidises this effort with 250,000 euros per annum.
The degree of damage in the original documents can vary. To conserve and restore the papers, ITS is working together with the PAL Preservation Academy GmbH of Leipzig. This is primarily being done through mass deacidification in a complex chemical process which extends the durability of the paper several times over. Yet conservation efforts also include delamination, stabilising the paper, closing tears, removing any adhesive tape or punched holes, eliminating mildew and restoring ink corrosion.
Throughout 2008, 12,826 original lists from concentration camps were delaminated and deacidified. Mechanical damages to these documents were also repaired. In addition, 224,467 individual documents were deacidified and 1,653 were restored. All together, a total of nearly two million items from the ITS inventory have been processed to date. By 2018, all of the documents on incarceration can be restored. "We would like to intensify our efforts even more, but of course, that's also a matter of finances", said Jost.


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As the new owners of the Charlie's Charts family of cruising guides and Gerry Cunningham's line of cruising publications including GPS-accurate navigation charts of Baja and the Sea of Cortez, we would like to welcome you to our new website. We look forward to continuing to upgrade our offerings both on-line and in print and hope you will take us along on your adventure.
As cruisers, we have used various editions of Charlie's Charts cruising guides and Gerry's nav charts over the years, and have come to appreciate the simplicity and clarity of both and hope you will too.
Charles and Margo Wood began Charlie's Charts in 1982 while cruising down the Pacific Coast of the US and Mexico. They were a big hit with coastal cruisers. After Charles passed away in 1987, Margo took on the task of continuing and expanding the guides. Margo decided she was ready to retire and go have some fun in 2010 and we are honored to have the opportunity to take the next watch on the helm of Charlie's Charts.
Gerry Cunningham cruised the Sea of Cortez for over 50 years and produced the only GPS-accurate full size charts of the area along with a line of cruising guides. Gerry passed away in 2010 and we are equally honored to have been chosen by his granddaughter Heather to carry on his work.
Jo and I have been friends for a long time and have discovered that we work well together, whether getting my boat ready for a Mexico cruise, doing deliveries, fixing stuff on each other's boats, anchoring in nasty conditions when you can't hear anything over the wind or building a cruising guide business. She's the sensible-business-brain-computer-savvy one and I (Holly) am the A.D.D.-full-of-crazy-ideas-let's-just-go-sailing one. We make a great team.
There are seven different volumes of Charlie's Charts covering the Pacific coasts of Southeast Alaska, all the way down to the tip of Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii and the Polynesian Islands. That's a lot of territory to keep up with, so if you're out there and discover something new, please let us know so we can keep our guides up to date.
We look forward to sharing your cruising adventures with you through Charlie's Charts. Let us know where you are and what's new. Together, we will continue Charles, Margo and Gerry's legacy for many years to come.
Sail smart, sail safe and have a great time out there.
As always, thanks for choosing Charlie's Charts!
Holly & Jo
- Email.: firstname.lastname@example.com
- Postal: P.O. Box 352, Seal Beach, CA 90740
- Phone: 562.787.5653
- Fax....: 562.430.6969
What are the shipping options?
What are the shipping options?
- USPS Priority Mail (3-5 days)
- USPS Express Mail (1-2 days)
- USPS International