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19 November 2006
Reviews on fire
A few nights ago, I went to see Casa de Areia, The House of Sand. A Brazilian movie starring the real life mother and daughter, Fernanda Montenegro and Fernanda Torres as Mother and Daughter in the film. Incidentally, the movie is directed by Fernanda Torres's husband, with the leads written especially for these two women. You might recognize Fernanda Montenegro as the actress nominated for an Oscar for Central Station in 1998 and who lost out to Gwyneth Paltrow, who won for Shakespeare in Love.
This movie was really amazing in a lot of different ways. The pace, unlike American movies, is slow and takes its time to allow the story to unfold. When the characters speak to eachother-- it is in clipped, boiled down questions and answers. There is not a lot of dialogue but much expression between the actresses as well as between the people and the land. The film was shot in the middle of the desert- but a desert as strange, changeable and moody as its new inhabitants. There are some breathtaking visuals in the film having to do with the changing landscape. I thought it was really great because the filmmakers assumed that the audience is fairly sophisticated and would understand a crucial jump in time based on the actresses. (I will say no more as I don't want to be a plot spoiler). The film's thematic threads are circular in nature, Mothers taking care of their daughters who then become mothers and begin again. I could go on about other themes-- but it would ruin the movie. I would recommend it though- if you are in the mood for a slow paced that requires some mental energy. I've been starting to see previews for Almodovar's new film, Volver, with a very sultry looking Penelope Cruz-- can't wait for that! I guess I'm on a Spanish film kick.
In the book dept., I'm currently reading 13 Moons by Charles Frazier. So far I really like it, it requires a lot of attention and focus. I am a slow reader and sometimes get lost in my own thoughts so that I have to reread a page a few times. Frazier writes with a very lovely- aromatic sense of description. I love the first paragraph of Chapter 8-- which is where I am currently:
That next summer in Valley River, I was not much of a business man. Nor did I crack a lawbook. Mostly I concerned myself with the weight of Claire's breast in my hand, the echo of a new poem,........., the mute colors of long sunsets,........
Ahhh, to be young and in love!
Otherwise, I just finished baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies.
Here is a preliminary photo of the studio. There is another window on that wall with the window you see and a storage nook behind where I was photographing. I don't like that light-- but you can't have everything!
Well, that's about all from Western NY for the moment. Happy Turkey Day!!!
11 November 2006
AHHHHHH, now I can breathe a sigh of relief! Ever since the big snowstorm we haven't had internet service at our house which means I have to drive all over town trying to get online at all the places that offer it for free! Today, it's fixed! and I can post something new. I am majorly antsy because I feel like everything is on hold.....I haven't been able to move into the new studio space because the electricity isn't hooked up yet, my freelance gigs don't kick in till next week, my art materials are all packed up....so what is there to do? This past weekend I visited D and we had lots of fun in Pittsburgh! There was a praying mantis clinging to the outside of his house for 2 days. Aren't praying mantis's good luck?
We also went to see Borat. I'm embarrassed to admit I laughed my head off- especially at the unfortunate incident in the hotel where Borat catches his trusty companion doing a naughty deed, I don't want to ruin any surprises so I will say no more. This is definitely NOT a movie I would send my Mother to go see. It's thick with potty humor, raunchiness, and offensive to every religion and race. But, you've gotta hand it to Sasha Baron Cohen for going all the way and over the top. The best part was when Douglas turned to me in the movie theatre and thought all the people Borat comes into contact with in the movie are in on the joke-- which they are not! That made me laugh tremendously-- ah ahahah ahaha ......
Also, I'm embarrassed to admit I watched a small portion of America's Next Top Model. It's a bit of a guilty pleasure as I'm waiting for Lost.
I was struck by a Tyra-ism. She was telling the girl who was getting the boot that she didn't have enough confidence in herself, that the judges were stunned by her beauty and believed in her, but she didn't believe in herself and that it was apparent to them in the way she flaked out or felt silly in the challenges. She explained to this young, inexperienced girl that even if she didn't feel confident she had to act as though she did. Her exact words: "You've gotta fake it to make it." I really liked that and wrote it down for myself. Ah, words of wisdom from Tyra Banks (or the writers). (Don't you like the juxtaposition of the picture of beautiful Tyra Banks and hairy, gross thong wearing Borat! Clever! Anyways, I came home on Wednesday and have been checking in on the studio, going to the gym and playing with Smitty. For those of you who've forgotten about Smitty- he is our neighbor's Border Collie. He is such a sweet, smart dog but grossly neglected . So, sometimes we take him for walks or bring him to the house and play with him. 2 nights ago, I was giving Smitty a good petting- laying on the floor next to him when he laid down too and picked up his paw so I could scratch his belly. Dogs do not question their dog-ness. As I always like to say. Today, I started perusing some recipes for Thanksgiving. I would love to incorporate pomegranates into the mix.... Delicious!
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Chemical Mechanical PlanarizationFri, 12 Dec 2015
In chemical mechanical planarization (CMP), the top surface of the wafer is polished or planarized to create a flat surface.
The latest in CMP tech will be on offer at SEMICON WestWed, 7 Jul 2015
Chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) technology has been around for a long time. In addition to the semiconductor industry, CMP has applications in data storage, polishing the rigid disks and magnetic heads of hard-disk drives.
Dow Electronic Materials launches CMP polishing padsFri, 2 Feb 2014
Dow Electronic Materials, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, today introduced the IKONIC 4000 series of chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) polishing pads.
Entegris announces new post-CMP cleaning solutionsTue, 1 Jan 2016
Entegris, Inc., a developer of yield-enhancing materials and solutions, today announced new post-chemical mechanical planarization (post-CMP) cleaning solutions for semiconductor manufacturing.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Today's polished yoga centers and Bikram studios are only the latest incarnation of a tradition that has adapted to fit changing cultures for thousands of years. Nations have risen and fallen. Religions have come and gone. The apple of ideas has passed from Eve to Newton to Jobs. But yoga, in some form or another, has remained.


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Good afternoon. It has been awhile since I have written on this platform. I am working on several projects while seeing private appointments and teaching clothed classes and monthly nude yoga classes. I am still teaching Nude Yoga classes once a month in Jacksonville, Fl. It is in a Downtown Jacksonville private club with the initials, CKJ. This month it will be hosted on Friday, April 20 at 8:00pm until 9:00pm. Doors open at 7:30pm and classes usually starts on time. Bring your yoga mat and a towel.
The St. Augustine Studio is STILL under construction. Permits, electrical contractors and materials: OH MY!!!! Delays, Delays Delays!!!!
But the good news is that when we are finally opened we will have an afternoon classes on Fridays at 12:00 – 1:00pm for a lunch nude break and the other one will be on Tuesday mornings at 9:30am -10:30am for a mid morning snack. Otherwise I will be available for private appointments. We are no longer listed on Mindbody. We are now listed on zenplanner. Here is the link: NuReveal Yoga program website. Clients that prefer night classes please contact me and I will create a sign up list to consider it. Right now, those are times that are scheduled for classes. To get on the sign up list, please send it to email@example.com mark the subject as Evening class and please let me know the day of the week, what time, possible frequency.
Did you miss the Nagna Chakra Yoga Workshop in Orlando on Sunday, January 7, 2018? Well, you can rent it or buy it to experience? It was $25 for the live experience. It is $15 to rent it out for a week and $30 to keep it. You can get on our VIMEO On Demand Channel: VIMEO ON DEMAND CHANNEL.
We also have a YouTube Channel as NuReveal Yoga. I will be posting several videos occasionally. I will be posting some videos in the next few weeks. Two will be free and available on both VIMEO AND YOUTUBE CHANNELS.
See you soon.


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I was an adventurous kid, with parents involved in both eastern and western medicine, so I grew up experimenting with all kinds of uncommon ways of self-mending. Homeopathic pellets for headaches, essential oil on my feet for sleep, moxibustion for sore muscles... Hanging out in health food stores for fun was basically my M.O.
One herbal remedy I encountered early on was kava kava—a bitter root reported to calm anxiety. The psychoactive plant is native to the western Pacific, where communities in Polynesia have been drinking it in tea form for thousands of years. Kava bars have long been popular in Hawaii, but only recently have they started popping up on the mainland. Last spring, N.Y.C. got its first few, one of which is Brooklyn Kava in Bushwick, close enough to make me a regular. My propensity for plant-based adventures has only grown since childhood, so I was eager to see how Brooklyn Kava's recipes compared to mine and who else in New York was spending their happy hours sipping esoteric root extracts.
Brooklyn Kava owner, Harding Stowe, opened the bar last year, intent on sharing with others the root that had relieved his everyday stress. "It shocked me that, in the biggest city in America, there wasn't this incredible thing," he says. From the Fijian family-farm sourced kava to creative cocktail recipes and partnerships with yoga studios in the works, Stowe wanted to do kava differently (in his words: "no tiki").
When I first visited, the bar was standing-room only but very quiet. I assumed it was the sobriety until I realized that everyone was … coloring. I'd arrived on "Kava and Color" night, a monthly partnership with a group of art therapists. "[Normally] our customers range from bankers and lawyers to musicians and artists," says Stowe. "Because of our location, we attract mostly creatives."
I squeezed up to the bar for my first round—a single shell. Kava is traditionally served in coconut shells, which Brooklyn Kava imitates with shallow, wide, bowls. With minor variations, the drink is made by kneading the dried, pulverized root in water or coconut milk to create a cloudy extract. The "tea" looks like a murky puddle and tastes only slightly better. It's astringent and earthy with a silt-y mouthfeel. The powdered root slowly settles to the bottom of the cup, so you have to stir as you go. Each order is accompanied by a small chaser—either a piece of fruit (I recommend pineapple), juice, or milk (soy, almond). Curiously, kava makes your mouth numb. Not quite numb enough to dull your taste, but close. This numbness happens quickly and is the first of kava's effects. Next, a calmness spreads slowly through the body, easing (mostly muscle) tension and nerves without intoxicating the mind.
The staff is quick to ask if it's your first experience and, if so, will recommend a double. Kava has a reverse tolerance, so first-timers need to drink more to feel its effects. It's not unusual to feel nothing your first time; regulars are a cheaper date.
"A double and a half and I'm set for the night," says Anna Metelina from behind the bar. Metelina developed the kava-based cocktails, which I skeptically tried on my next visit. The flavor of kava is nearly impossible to mask, but Brooklyn Kava's blends succeeded. Lavender Chai is the most popular: Served hot or cold, it tastes like a sweet herbal nog, served with two sprigs of fresh lavender across its foamy top. The Lemon Mint mix was simply made with fresh-squeezed lemon juice, muddled mint, and honey—I've bookmarked it as my summertime alternative to day-drinking.


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County to celebrate 175th anniversary in February
Poinsett County turns 175 years old this year, and events are being planned throughout the year to celebrate the anniversary.
"We want to have a kick-off program on Feb. 28 to bring attention to the 175th anniversary," said County Judge Charles Nix. The program will feature music, a display of historical photographs, and a living history presentation.
"Poinsett County is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett," Nix said. "The gentleman doing the living history program will portray him. Even though the county is named after Joel Poinsett, he never visited in his lifetime, so this year you'll see him visit."
Joel Roberts Poinsett was a statesman, scientist, and botanist. He served as President Martin Van Buren's secretary of war from 1837-1841. He also served as the first United States minister to Mexico, where he found the flower which became known in the U.S. as the poinsettia.
The kick-off event will be held at the Harrisburg Fine Arts Center at 10 a.m. Feb. 28.
Nix said more events to take place throughout the year are being planned. More details will follow as events are scheduled.
Poinsett County was established on Feb. 28, 1838.


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SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine—The Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) women's basketball team soared to a bounce-back win over the Fighting Saints from the College of St. Joseph (Vt.) 80-51 in a non-conference matinee on Saturday, Feb. 3.
The first and last lead change of the game was stamped less than two minutes into the game when first-year Abigail Ramirez (Methuen, Mass.) banked a layup to begin a 10-0 run and a 23-point opening quarter.
SMCC limited the Fighting Saints to just two baskets and a free throw in the second quarter as first-year center Amanda Brett (Portland, Maine) did her thing on the other end with nine points on 4-4 shooting to give the home team a 17-point advantage at the break.
Brett piled on 10 more points in the third quarter, 8-10 from the charity stripe. The SeaWolves went on to post their largest quarter total in the fourth to finish strong and hold the Fighting Saints to 21 points less than their average game total.
Measuring five feet, one inch, Ramirez proved how effective she can be on both sides of the basketball recording 18 points, six steals, and grabbing a season-high 17 rebounds in spanning 38 minutes on the floor. Brett totaled 27 points and 11 rebounds—her second consecutive 20-point performance by way of a season-high 13 makes from the free throw line.
CSJ's Daija Black led her team with 12 points, five rebounds, and two steals in 25 minutes of action.
SMCC gets to 17-7 with just two regular season games remaining. CSJ slips back to .500 at 9-9 overall.
Next, the Lady Wolves aim to take down #1 USCAA-ranked and Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) rival Central Maine Community College in Auburn, Maine on Wednesday, Feb. 7. Tip off set for 6 p.m.
For the latest on SMCC's athletic programs, log onto GoSMCCSeawolves.com or follow Southern Maine Community College Athletics on Twitter @SMCCseawolves and on Facebook SMCC Seawolves.


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WASHINGTON President Trump said Thursday he's ready for his close-up with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, even though "I dont think I have to prepare very much" for next week's session in Singapore and that he might invite Kim to the White House if things go well.
Exuding optimism, Trump said a nuclear weapons agreement with North Korea will require more than one meeting, but striking it could lead to a normalization of relations with North Korea, a country that has frequently declared the U.S. an enemy that wants to take over.
"It's about attitude, it's about willingness to get things done," Trump said just days before talking with Kim about starting a process toward an agreement. "But I think I've been preparing for this summit for a long time, as has the other side."
Its going to be much more than a photo-op," Trump added before his White House meeting with another major player in Asia, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Abe, meanwhile, said he planned to speak with Trump about North Korea strategy, telling the president that "I would like to take this opportunity to make sure that we two have the utmost policy coordination as to our approach to the planned summit meeting."
During a later news conference later, Trump and Abe pledged to work together on North Korea moving forward after Singapore.
"Japan and the United States are always together," Abe said.
At one point, Trump played down the prospects of summit by saying it would take many meetings to strike a meaningful nuclear agreement with North Korea but he also exuded confidence about the long-term prospects of cooperation with Kim's government.
At some point, Trump said, "we could certainly like to see normalization" of relations with North Korea.
While news reports said Trump would consider bringing Kim to his Mar-a-Lago golf estate in Palm Beach, Fla., he told reporters he would probably start by inviting him to the White House, but only if things go well in Singapore.
If not, Trump said he is prepared to end negotiations before they start in earnest, noting that at one point he canceled the Singapore meeting before putting it back on the schedule.
"All I can say is I'm totally prepared to walk away," Trump said. "I did it once before."
Some Japanese are concerned that Trump will focus an agreement on the elimination of long-range missiles that threaten the United States, while ignoring shorter range weapons that North Korea could use to threaten its neighbors, including Japan.
"The overriding concern is that Trump's eagerness to call the June 12th meeting a historical success will result in a bad deal," said Mireya Solis, a senior fellow and Japan specialist with the Brookings Institution.
Abe also cited the fate of Japanese citizens kidnapped by the North Korean regime. Before their meeting in the Oval Office, the Japanese leader told Trump he is seeking "progress on our efforts to address outstanding issues of concern, including the nuclear and missile and the abductions issue."
Trump said he is demanding the complete and total denuclearization before he considers easing sanctions on Kim's economy.
Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/06/07/donald-trump-says-hes-ready-kim-jong-un-doesnt-need-prepare/681390002/


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Cause and Effect Essays Requires Identifying Linkages
One of the most interesting essays assigned to students is the cause and effect essay. This essay provides students with a sound understanding of what is happening around them and their causes and effects on people, the environment etc. Most students find that writing it a very enjoyable experience. As we know that every action has a result and every result can be traced back to an action, this essay requires the writer to identify the linkages between various causal and dependent variables.
Defining the Essay
This type of essay usually concentrates on the "because of", "as a result of" and "due to" and what the final outcome is. The essay must explore the "why" and the "how" factors in a situation and you need to find out everything you can about the topic tracing back to the cause or forward to the effect. Once you have a sound understanding of the topic and its causes or effects, you can start on the writing. Remember that this essay is written by providing the reader with reasons and explanations which are well justified.
Planning the Essay
To write a good cause and effect essay you need to plan on what to write. List down few ideas that warrant exploration of causes and effects. Then decide on which subject interests you the most. With interest comes motivation and passionate thinking. Therefore, select a subject area which will motivate you to write an excellent essay. Brainstorm on ideas about the essay. When selecting the subject area to be discussed, students must ensure that the cause and its effect are justified and can be identified with clarity. It will be totally pointless to write on a cause that does not have a clearly established effect or vice versa.
Topics for the Essay
How the essay is presented relies mostly on the essay topic. Therefore, students should ensure that they select good essay topics. Below are some common topics which can be discussed. These topics might need narrowing down as some are too broad to write on.
• Global Warming and its causes
• Television and its effects
• Noise Pollution and its effects
• Terrorism and its causes
• Eating disorders and its repercussions
• Fast food and its effects
• Illiteracy and its causes
These are just some essay topics which can be used to write cause and effect essays. If you go online, there will be many more topics and sample essays which you can refer to and gain better ideas for writing the essay.
Writing cause and effect essays for some students is a task which simply requires too much time and effort. These students will be benefited by obtaining help from writing services such as, coursework-writing.co.uk. This writing company is reputed for delivering essays which are high in quality and delivered on time. Therefore, if you need assistance with any type of academic essay, these are the writers you should consider.


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Rider Profile
Name: Louise Haston
Primary Club: City of Edinburgh RC
I switched over from athletics to cycling in 2009 through the gold4glasgow programme. I also work part time at Lloyd's banking group, am married to Ronnie and have a 7 year old son Riley. I have also represented GB at a World Cup and world champs, piloting Aileen Mcglynn and Lora Turnham on the tandem. Lastly, hope to pilot Aileen Mcglynn at Glasgow 2014 in the kilo and sprint.
Career Highlights to date
9th world champs time trial piloting Lora Turnham.
6th World Cup time trial piloting Aileen Mcglynn.
8th World Cup road race piloting Aileen Mcglynn.
1st British masters track champs-sprint
1st British masters track champs-pursuit
5th British nationals team sprint
6th British nationals pursuit
2nd scottish pursuit champs
Who inspires you and why
Jonathan Edwards has always inspired me from a young age, he has also proved you can achieve your goals and be the best whatever age you are:-))
How do you celebrate/relax after a big event
i go home, stuff my face and relax with the family!


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Gym Mysteries: The Curse of the Disappearing Workout Pants! [How do you cover your butt?] Featured
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Authors: TheGreatFitnessExperiment
These hot-off-the-screen-printer Nike X-Ray Leggings are so popular that they're already sold out in every color and size. And yet… I don't know that I love them. They feel a little naked to me. Like those weird jean skirts that have the undies painted on the outside. Also, knowing me, I'd be way too tempted to point at the pelvic girdle and be like "So this is where my hips loosen and expand and here's where the babies come out!"
And by disappearing, I mean de-materializing right when you're at the bottom of a really deep, heavy squat, leaving your assets disconcertingly uncovered thanks to too-stretchy too-thin fabric. A fact you won't notice on your own, by the way, unless it's in the reflection of an oddly placed mirror or you're really good at reading the shocked looks on your friends' faces. For me, it was the latter.
Let's be honest: If there is a way to inadvertently flash someone in the gym I have done it. I got a little too aggressive with the shirt-cutting-art and had my top disintegrate mid-stretch. I did a handstand and had a too-loose shirt slide right over my head and down my arms. I had a heavy pager clipped to the back of my worn yoga pants that de-pantsed me better than any middle schooler. Heck, I've basically stopped wearing track shorts for anything other than just straight running because of their tendency to flash my goodies at inconvenient moments. There is a reason the Gym Buddies invented "the cleavage corner" on our weight floor – and it covers both varieties. So when I got this e-mail from Reader A, I totally had an "Ohhhhh GIRL!" moment. My ovaries high-fived.
"Ok -this is a pretty dumb question, but I figured I would give it a shot. Since you are the smartest and funniest workout guru I know (although we've never met or communicated 'til today) I thought you might be able to humor me with said "dumb question". Anyhoo – here's my sitch…I love working out in capris (black of course), but have found that no matter what kind I buy (cheapo or pricey), they stretch so much when I bend over they become see through – like "girl I can see your butt crack" see through. (you don't wanna know how I found that little bit of info out) So – do you know of a brand of workout pants I can buy that don't do the stretch and show? Or is the answer really, workout til your butt is smaller and this won't be an issue?"
1. This is not a dumb question. This is an awesome question and one I've had WAY too much fun thinking about.
2. Oh yes I do want to know how you found that out!
3. "Do the stretch and show" is becoming a part of my gym vocabulary as of this second. Off the top of my head I can think of at least 12 occasions where that would be contextually appropriate. And yoga doesn't even make the top ten.
4. Repeat after me: It is not my butt's job to fit my clothes, it is my clothes' job to fit my butt. I don't know you and sadly you did not send a picture of your stretch and show (see? There's one already!) but I can guarantee you that it's not your butt. I say this because it's happened to almost all of us.
And because so many Gym Buddies of the female variety have fallen victim to the curse of the disappearing pants, I actually do have a few useful suggestions.
See? Layering a Nike tennis skirt over (see-through) Old Navy capris! So cute it goes straight from the gym to voting! (Although Jelly Bean thought I said we were going "boating" and threw the biggest tantrum ever when we got there and there was no water, swimsuits or inner tubes."
3. Patterns/Colors. You have to be choosy here – some patterns only accentuate the problem (horizontal stripes, eek) but some are quite good at camouflaging cameltoe, crack-age and lady bits! I have a tie-dye pair that are so mind-blowing with all the colors and swirlies going on that no one ever notices my crack and even if they did it would probably give them a seizure first. Colors are tricky too. Black, as most of us have discovered, is by far the most forgiving! Not only does it hide crotch sweat and slim you but it's best for full-coverage. However, I happen to love me some bright tights and I do have a couple of pair from Balera (yes the dancewear company) that are thick enough to wear on their own. The others I tend to layer under stuff. But the only way to really tell if the color/print is flattering or flashing is to try the pants on and then bend waaay over in front of a mirror. Hopefully you're flexible enough to see your tush. If not, you may have enlist a close friend to help you out. Sing "Baby Got Back" – it will make the whole experience less awkward. Double funsies if he/she can beat box.
4. Undies. I hate panty lines too. And scrunchy double layers. But I do have one pair of Nike Core Compression tights that are too cute to get rid of but too sheer to wear solo. So I put flesh-colored undies under. It's not a perfect solution – flesh colored means it still kinda looks like my butt but at least there's no crack! So people will either assume you're like Barbie with strangely unformed nethers or they'll see the panty line and figure it out. Okay, now that I've written that out I'm thinking I should wear my hot pink polka dot undies instead to make it clear that I'm not a flasher? Also, some Gym Buddies swear by thongs. I can't handle them. I hate the way they ride in everyday wear and wearing them to workout is wedgie hell. Also, they don't do anything with the crack problem so if that's your purpose then why bother? But some girls love them so I thought I'd throw that out.
5. Avoid cotton.
Shorts, capris or pants: What are you fave workout bottoms? Do you have any recommendations/tips for A? Do you have a good butt crack story to share?? Annnnd… what do you think of the x-ray Nikes??


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DayStay Program®
Exercise and Proper Socialization
The DayStay Program® at BreedAbove provides basic manner training, appropriate levels of play and exercise, temperament specific playgroups, and proper socialization for your furry kids. Participants follow a daily program that is matched to their needs and behaviors. We're here to help support your home training routine and provide lots of love, hugs and treats throughout the day.
The DayStay Program® at BreedAbove is very different than other doggie day care programs. The DayStay Program® is focused on helping dogs learn how to exercise and socialize at the same time. When a dog can exercise and socialize in a group of dogs off leash they typically will have stable behaviors in your home and in changing environments. Basic manners are taught every day.
A Foundation of Positive Reinforcement
We use positive reinforcement training platform to guide and teach dogs to greet properly, to run and play appropriately, to self regulate their rest time and to not escalate to negative reactions.
We pay close attention to diet restrictions and sensitive tummies! Let us know about your dog's special needs and we will do our best to accommodate them.
The Temperament Test
Every dog must pass a temperament test, have current vaccinations and submit a completed application prior to joining the program. Temperament tests are scheduled for Monday and Thursday mornings with drop off between 7am – 9am. The temperament test will last approximately four hours. You will be contacted with results when the test is completed. If your dog passes they are welcome to stay for remainder of the day. There is no fee for the temperament test but DayStay Program® fees will apply once the test is completed. We ask that parents pack a small ziplock baggie of treats your dog can tolerate, dry food is fine. Completed application must be received prior to scheduling your appointment. Please allow for a brief 15 minute interview to review the application.
Large Interior and Exterior Play Areas
Our facility features a large protected and fenced outdoor area that is attached to the building. Your furry kids can run and play under the careful supervision of trained BreedAbove Coaches. The heated and cooled interior DayStay Atrium Room features many partitioned areas and an impervious, anti-slip floor for indoor exercise and training.


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About Long Term Binary Options
VXmarkets's "Long Term" feature gives you the ability to take an option until the end of each month or until the end of the year. This option allows enough time to pass so that you can really exercise your market predicting capabilities, and profit from your experience. All binary options trades are based on a predetermined period before placing the trade. The shortest trading period or expiry time is 30 seconds and goes all the way up to 1 year. In long term trading the expiry is preset and when making your trade you select from one of the preset times.
Are Long Term Options More Risky?
Long Term trading requires a different strategy in that due to the extend amount of time that passed until the trade ends, there is many unknown factors that can affect the outcome. This does no mean that there is necessarily greater risk in long term trades, what it means is the underlying theory or strategy you apply needs to consider alternative market factors that could affect the outcome.
Many traders spread their risk by using both short term and long term trades. By following market events and being aware of future announcement or events, long term binary options trading can be a highly effective way of profiting from this knowledge and reducing your risk. Making long term trades is identical to making a regular binary options or short term trade except for the longer expiry times.
Start trading long terms options with VXmarkets


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My last day job was in a warehouse. A huge, un-airconditioned sweatbox where I was always lifting and carrying big heavy boxes. You know: actual honest-to-god labor. I was also poor, so I couldn't afford to eat out much. These factors all made it rather easy for me to stay slim. I was probably even a little too slim there for a while.
But then I started writing comics. And comics made me fat.
Well, technically I guess it was the poor diet and lack of exercise that made me fat, but you get the idea.
I went from carrying boxes around a warehouse to sitting behind a desk all day, typing. And when you work from home and love what you do, it's sometimes easy to just want to sit there and do it all day. I also found a bit more change in my pocket, so I started to eat out a lot more. This all resulted in me slowly ballooning up to the most I'd ever weighed in my life.
Eventually, I knew I had to change up the way I was doing things for the sake of my health. This year I signed up for Nutrisystem, which is a diet plan where all the food is shipped straight to your house. I figured, hey, if it's good enough for a bunch of old NFL players, right? I've lost 40 pounds so far, so it's been a good year. For some reason though Nutrisystem is under the impression that I've lost much more, as evidenced by the "Congrats On Losing 70 Pounds" commemorative "Willpower Bear" they sent me. Fuck you, Willpower Bear. Somedays a man just needs his Chick-fil-A, okay?
So now, as I continue to refine my daily writing process, I'm also working to incorporate some sort of fitness routine into my day. It's hard though. When my son was first born, I used to put him into a stroller and go for long walks every day. He loved getting out, and I was able to breakdown stories in my head while we were walking. A lot of the early issues of "Scalped" were written on those walks. These days it's just hard to find the time to walk or ride my stationary bike or waddle around on the Wii fitness board (if someone ever got video of me attempting some of that shit, I would have to pay to have them killed).
Whenever I talk with some of my fellow professionals, I like to ask them what they do to try and stay in shape, what their weekly workout routine is. Here are some of their answers:
About two dozen Guinness a week.Â
Garth Ennis
Writer, "Preacher," "The Boys"
I've spent most of my life trying to gain weight, so maybe I'm not the best person to talk to. That said, there are definitely some things I try to be aware of. With a stressful, deadline-chasing job, sometimes the pressure can get to you in unexpected ways - sudden back pain or stomach troubles often pop when I'm really in the weeds on a project. Other than a bottle of Tums, the only thing that really helped was going for a jog every couple days. You work off the stress, you sleep better and it allows your body to relax and stop twisting itself into knots. An interesting take how the mind deals with stress and translates it into physical ailments can be found in "Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection" by John Sarno. I recommended giving it a look.
Cliff Chiang
Artist, "Neil Young's Greendale"
Staying in shape and leading a healthy life style is real important to me. It's all about a balance between food and exercise. Calories in and calories out. Also, we stay away from processed foods as much as possible.Â
For my exercise, I get up at 5 am, M-F. Â I do 25 minutes of Cardio, followed by 25 minutes of weight training.Â
For my eating, I use an online calorie counter, Daily Burn. It's a great website, that you can easily track your calorie intake and output. We are inundated by food opportunities. I think in this day and age it's really important to count your calories, you'd be amazed how easy it is to eat too many calories in our society. I can eat anything, as long as I stay in my calorie range.Â
Also, my weekday breakfasts and lunches are always the same. Breakfast - A bowl of low sugar, hi fiber cereal and a glass of milk. Lunch - A bowl of berries, a Greek yogurt, and an organic peanut butter sandwich. These planned meals let me really maximize my drawing time and efficiency. Weekends are looser.
Shawn Crystal
Artist, "Deadpool Team-Up"
I don't have a workout routine.  I'm too disorganized.  When I think of fitness, I think of sitting down.  Or typing.
I have bad knees. Â When I was a kid, I could pop my knee cap out and stick it back in, just by twitching my leg. Â I can't do that anymore, but it means that I'm not much of a runner. Â Which is a shame, because I've heard that mountain lions have been seen in the area. I'm not into yoga. Â I don't swim, because those pool-germs are icky. Â I recently tried an exercise video, but the instructor was too creepy. Â
I am, however, an excellent walker.  Get me in a comfortable pair of shoes, point me in the right direction and I can really cover some distance. I also love to dance.  Especially on tables in small Chinese bars. Fast music makes me boogie, and I like to tango. Â
I love to eat, but I'm careful. I don't consume a lot of bad, funky, carbs, and no junk food. Just fruits, veggies, lean protein. Â A lot of tea. Â Every now and then I cheat. Â With chocolate. And cheesecake. Â Life is too short.Â
Marjorie Liu
Writer, "X-23," "Daken: Dark Wolverine"
When drawing comics, all that time at a table will just murder your back and lower neck. It can also threaten to make you myopic and less observant of the world beyond your desk.

So while I do hit the regular gym sometimes (treadmill, weights now and then), my most consistent and effective workout is playing full court basketball for 2 hours, 3 or 4 days a week at 5AM. I know that sounds insane (because it is), but working the hours I do, my days are always threatening to become one giant blur. Having something to plan around helps me anchor my week. It also gets out of my house and interacting with people regularly. So it becomes like a fly on the wall kind of journalism project.

It also allows me to yell at someone now and then.
Jason Latour
Artist, "Noche Roja," Scalped"
I've struggled to find an activity I consistently enjoy enough to do every day. I've walked nine holes of golf, biked, walked - just about everything bores me or takes too much time out of the day.
I've got a program now that I really like, but it remains to be seen whether I will really stick with it long term. I have a two mile plus path I've plotted around my neighborhood. I'm afraid I've never been in running shape, but I'm working up to it. I walk a third of a mile, jog a half mile, walk some more, jog again, etc. It only takes about a half hour, but it gets my heart pumping good. So far, I'm loving it. My mood is much better and I feel like I have more energy. Will the body I abused with nearly two decades of sitting at the drawing table hold up? I certainly hope so. Taking off a pound per year I spent behind that damn table will make the running a hell of a lot easier.
Ande Parks
Writer, "Capote In Kansas," "Green Hornet: Blood Ties"
I have two 25lb dumbbells next to my drafting table, which work wonders for knocking out the kinks in my back and shoulders that I get from being hunched over with my arms in front of me all day. A few rounds of presses, curls and rows every day help keep me from feeling completely wrecked. I also have an elliptical machine in the studio. While more often than not, it's just a fancy place to hang my coat, an hour or so does help a lot, especially when I manage to stay on routine a while. Mostly, though, I just try to not eat myself into oblivion, as I am a total pig with a bottomless pit for a stomach and I have an awesome chef for a wife. I'm not the best example of "in shape," but I have somehow managed to maintain a relative stasis given my sedentary lifestyle.Â
Tony Moore
Artist, "FrankenCastle," "Fear Agent"
Get a dog. Not a small lap dog so much, but a lab or golden or some other such larger dog that will stare at you incessantly and make you feel guilty if you don't take him outside to play. I was always active, but when I started this as a career twenty years ago I gained twenty two pounds the first year from just sitting on my ass (drawing heroes who were in shape). I knew was going to go downhill healthwise fast and that lifting weights wasn't enough. So, in essence, my dog would walk me. Getting him was the best thing I ever did. Aside from the great bonding experience one gets with a dog, it was a wonderful break and we'd hike every day on local trails and up the mountain in back of my house and Id feel very refreshed to sit back at the table. My golden has slowed down now, him being fifteen, but he's still healthy as a horse and we still hike three or four times a week which shows the benefits that exercise has given him! I also train in Jiu Jitsu,(co-owner of a school in fact) and believe me, if you want to shed the extra weight fast, try something like that.
Ron Garney
Artist, "Ultimate Captain America"
I have a pair of dumbbells and a cross-trainer in my office, but I can't claim to use them as often as I should. Â The latter was a Christmas present from my wife - I suspect she may have been trying to drop me a subtle hint. I'll occasionally guilt myself into doing some push-ups and sit-ups, but I never stay at it as long as I should. The truth is, I hate exercise, but I'm edging up on 40, and frankly it's time this tubby hubby started taking better care of himself. Maybe this article will give me the push I need!
Andy Diggle
Writer, "The Losers," "Daredevil"
Personal routine is going to the gym 3-4 times a week along with a good diet, ie: No White Castles :(. This can be challenging with deadlines, family obligations, etc., but you really have to force yourself. The trick to longevity in this (or any) business is staying in shape, and if you look at 84 year old Papa Joe, you'll know what I mean.
Adam Kubert
Artist, "Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine"
Hooooo boy. Â
Bane of my existence, this. Â
The food end is easier for me - I love fruits and vegetables and I try to make them the biggest part of my diet. Â I limit simple carbs (it also helps that I don't drink), but I do allow myself one piece of chocolate with my coffee at 3pm. Â (I don't smoke, drink, do drugs or even speed. Â I'm allowed coffee and one fucking piece of chocolate. Â And cursing.)
The hard part for me is making time to work out. Â It was so much easier before the kids. Â I like running, swimming, yoga and weight-lifting. Â Dread of the activity isn't a problem. Â Making the *time* is. Â I don't have an easy answer.Â
Matt and I have actually been talking about getting a treadmill and a weight bench for the house and, honestly, though I have NO IDEA where we'll put them, I think that might be the best idea. Â
Kelly Sue DeConnick
Writer, "Osborn"
I really struggled with staying in shape once I went full time on comics a couple of years ago. I was used to biking to work, for a half hour each way, and then being on my feet all night in the restaurant. When I could finally quit my day job, I was suddenly at my desk all day and barely got out, and it showed. Now I try to get out and bike or run once a day. It helps clear my head and I get some of my best "writing" done as well. I find it helps re-energize me and helps me keep at the drawing board for longer stretches. Oh, and I play hockey on the weekends, too.
Jeff Lemire
Writer/Artist, "Sweet Tooth"
The answer for me is: it's not easy. In addition to the normal sedentary writer's lifestyle I tend to travel a lot and travel means a lot of eating. Yesterday I was in Rome and I'd need a stronger will than I've got to behave in the face of Roman food. Basically: when I'm not traveling I'm very strict with what I eat. 6 very clean meals a day, no bread at all, my carbs are in cereals, rice, etc. Â And I do an absurd amount of plyometric exercise... almost every day of the week I sweat my ass off. Usually 5 days, minimum. When I lack the time for a more intense routine I'll try to make sure to at least get on an exercise bike for a half hour while I watch the Daily Show on my tivo.
Ivan Brandon
Writer, "Viking," "Doc Savage"
So now you know how some of your favorite comic creators try to stay in shape. Do with that information what you will. And remember, comics will kill you if you give them the chance. Just listen to Willpower Bear when he says, "You write comic books for a living? Seriously? And you're how old? Dude, being fat is the least of your problems."
Well said, Willpower Bear. Well said.
Jason Aaron is an Eisner and Harvey Award nominated comic book writer whose current work includes the critically-acclaimed crime series "Scalped" for DC/Vertigo and "Wolverine," "Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine" and "PunisherMAX" for Marvel. He was born in Alabama but currently resides in Kansas City. His beard is bigger than yours.


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Love it or hate it, few lawyers doubt that technology is fundamentally changing the profession through a seemingly endless stream of new products and features targeted to attorneys and clients alike. And while the ability to write software code is one dividing line between most lawyers and most legal startups, I'd argue that it isn't the most important one. I think the biggest advantage these upstarts have is that they think in terms of products and features in the first place.
Yes, law is a "service industry," and providing customer and client service is a big part of what we do. But just because our line of work requires individual effort to create value for our clients, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't think of ourselves as having products too. When we think ourselves as service providers, much of what we do seems customized (what Richard Susskind has called bespoke work). But as Susskind points out, most lawyers aren't fashion designers, we're tailors. We take components "off the rack" and help fit them to our particular client.
Thinking in terms of products helps you to analyze the features and effectiveness of each product individually. You can then run experiments on each product—perhaps adding or removing features or adjusting pricing—to learn how to influence your customers' perception of value and how to improve your own business's bottom line.
But to run experiments you first need to establish a baseline against which you can measure the successes or failures of your efforts.1 And the best metric for making apples-to-apples comparisons across your various offerings is profitability. Not just balance-sheet profitability. That is an important metric but is too high-level to help your shorter-term decision-making.
Matter-level profitability is a much better measurement because you can roll up your numbers across different segments (types of law, types of clients, times of the year, etc.) to give you a much more nuanced view of your practice. This, in turn, will give you actionable business intelligence that you can use to maximize your returns (and minimize your losses) consistently throughout the year. Quick note for the stereotypical math-phobic lawyer: a copy of the spreadsheet used in the example below is available here, but you'll still want to read on for an explanation of how to use it.
Step 1: Acknowledge Your Current Product Lines and Calculate Top-Line Revenue for Each Product Separately.
Say you handle business formations but also do trademark registrations. Think of each as a separate product. Or say you do marriage dissolutions and also custody disputes: different products. You might even have different product lines within a single matter. The key is to track the revenue separately from various types of work so that you can start to see when patterns emerge for each.
Once you've identified some products (and don't go crazy at first, you can always refine your model later), sketch out some features of each. What is the target audience? What is its pricing model? What is the problem each one is solving (or attempting to solve) for your client?2
Then, build a spreadsheet that you can use to track the gross revenue you generate from each product. It should look something like this:
Note that the calculation for Gross Revenue is simple, and is consistent with how you would think of revenue in a non-legal services context as well: Gross Revenue = Units Sold x Unit Price. To make more top-line revenue, you have exactly two options: increase your unit price or sell more units, both of which are ultimately a reflection of the attractiveness of your product in the marketplace.
Step 2: Assign Costs for Each Product/Matter
To do this, first recognize that there are two types of costs: direct and indirect. Direct costs are the easier of the two: any expense you incur in the course of bringing in revenue for a particular product is a direct cost. For purposes of this primer, we'll ignore indirect costs for now.
For legal work, the biggest direct cost will probably be the salaries of the people (including you) who work on a matter. I find it helpful to break those salaries down to an hourly figure. If, for example, you assume your paralegal will perform client-facing work an average of 35 hours a week for 48 weeks a year, you'd divide their annual salary and benefits by 1680 hours to get an hourly cost basis.
Also included in your direct costs would be specific tools (like software) you use, subscriptions or other information sources you need to work on that product, and any expenses you take on for matters within a specific product line.3 In the example below, I've assumed only salary costs to keep the sheet manageable. Note that I've hidden columns D–G.
Step 3: Calculate Your Gross Margins and Roll Up Your Product Lines
Now you can calculate your gross profit, which is your gross revenue minus the direct costs for that revenue source. Right after that, compute your gross margin by dividing your gross profit by your gross revenue (typically expressed as a percentage).
And that's it. In my example, you can see the basic formulas for increased profitability for each matter type. For hourly work, increased profitability comes from working your highest-priced resource (attorneys) for as much time as you can get away with (and still get the client to pay). For flat fees it is the opposite: work your lowest-cost resources for as little time as you can get away with (and still deliver quality work).
Of course, these examples are intentionally rough, but even this most simple calculation can offer tremendous insight, and it is probably more analysis than your competitors are doing. In future posts, I'll explore how to experiment with the features of your products to increase profitability, but for now try to get in the habit of tracking these numbers. Sometimes just looking at the right thing will help you see how to improve it.
Yes, failures, but controlled ones. See Lee Rosen's excellent post on why this is important. ↩
Working through a Business Model Canvas for each product can help you get the answers to these questions. A Business Model Canvas can help you create a one-page business model framework that helps you uncover customer problems and propose solutions to those problems rather than just building service offerings. ↩
This is true even if you charge those expenses to the client–expense reimbursements would then be an additional component to your gross revenue. ↩