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Posts Tagged 'skills'
Friends and Sleepovers
Posted by: deebeeautismmama on: August 9, 2010
One of BB's most common issues anymore is social skills. As a result, making friends is the most important thing to him…outside of coding new pages in his online building game. (The kid definitely has a career in game design, architecture or web development.) He has talked about it since starting his new school, and before the end of last year, he'd met one boy he really wanted to be friends with. Fast-forward to the new year, after a summer filled with family visits, beach trips and getting to know our new area, and he was still close with the boy. Daily phonecalls got longer and more frequent, and this last Friday, he was invited to spend the night. Hallelujah! Prayers are answered. And better than you expect they will be.
On Saturday evening, we picked up an extremely exhausted but oh-so-happy little man from his friend's house. They'd spent the day at the beach, and his little pink cheeks were laying down in my car before I could even get in it myself after saying goodbye to the very nice family who took great care of him. Things all went well, and we invited the boy to visit our house this next weekend. By the time he went to bed last night, they'd talked on the phone three or four more times, and another boy had called and talked to him, too!
I still need to work with him a bit on not speaking his mind so much, and being forgiving when things don't go as he'd prefer every single second, but he's come such a long way. Sometimes it feels like we spend more time having to focus on fixing things, it's that much more wonderful when we get to watch him just be a little boy. And to quote his favorite phrase, "Period."
Where to Begin?
Posted by: deebeeautismmama on: November 4, 2009
Swine flu. It kicks your butt, and that of your entire family. No more than any other flu, and certainly not worth the vaccine, but nonetheless, it not only kicks your butt but it kicks it to the curb four houses down, into the gutter, through the sewer and out into the ocean 67 miles away. Four weeks later and I am still sporting a mild cough.
So there you have reason number one that I've not been blogging. My eyes were spinning at the end of the day, as I still worked during my bout (except for one day where even blinking and breathing was painful), and I was caring for Barnacle Boy, who scared us for a couple of days when the fever continued to hover around 103. Both the girls ended up with it, then the husband. Other son ended up with some cough and congestion last week, but that's as far as it's gotten. He's oh so lucky.
I love Christmas. Why do I say that, you wonder? Because I love it more than Halloween..yet Halloween turns out to be this huge busy deal and before you know it, October's gone and I'm wondering how to spend Veteran's day with the kids who are out of school, yet I'm not because I have the Monday before off. Halloween this year consisted of two major parties, a few smaller events, and then the Trick or Treat Fest of the year at our house. We have this ginormous maze constructed in the front yard, from the curb I'd previously been kicked to through the yard, the driveway and out the side of the yard to the other street, complete with roaming monsters of the Freddie Krueger and zombie-type, scary movie music, and screaming … adults. A lot of the kids collected candy at the end of the driveway and backed away hoping Freddie didn't see them.
Yet, I am <quietly> glad Halloween is over. I'm still tired. We went off-roading the weekend before Halloween and had, let's just say, a little accident. Wear your seatbelts no matter how slow you are going, even if you are driving over a rut in a driveway. (No, that's not what happened, I am just making a point. Heed my point, really.) Rollbars make nasty, ugly, sore and painful indentations on your eyeballs, eyelids, cheekbones, foreheads and noses. Trust me on this. Once you get the blood out of your clothes (and the off-road vehicle's seats), you will not want it there again. I'm still sporting a crescent under the eye and eyeshadow is one of those things I have to really, really consider before I apply.
This past weekend was another huge Halloween party, this time adults only. (Unless you count the 20-somethings…my two oldest kids and their friends…who crashed it around 11:30pm just to see why Mom and Dad looked forward to the party all year.) Good thing my costume came with sunglasses to cover most of the bruise. I was Trinity, and husband was Neo. We were simply awesome.
So, how is Barnacle Boy doing after all this? Well, a few days before Halloween, he had to have an emergency baby root canal. (This was the, hmmm, 4th, I think?) He was not happy. Dh met me at the dentist and said he did great in the procedure. I drove him home, with him being the quietest (and creepiest) I've ever seen him while awake. He went to school the next day and recuperated impressively fast. Then the week got more and more chaotic during pumpkin hunting, then carving, cookie decorating and guests. Come Monday night, he was DONE. We got through the evening of clean-up and declared yesterday and today guest-free days. The cell phones were turned down and tv choices were BB's. I even made a mad rush to Target to get Stratego, the game he had to have after playing it the last night of his two-year program he completed last week. (WAY TO GO, DUDE.) He came home from school, opened it, and declared it THE WRONG STRATEGO. (There really is one Stratego though. I know this because I researched it.) Pieces went flying, mad words were said (by him…not me…I stood there in amazement thinking "Don't ruin The Wrong Stratego, I can return it!") and an hour later, he was calmly eating an Oreo as we prepared to leave for his parent-teacher conference, where we proudly learned he's academically more than a grade ahead but in need of more help for social skills, classroom participation and appropriate conversation. Always something, right?
That's pretty much a uber-fast version of the last month and I know I've left things out, but I guess I need something else to blog about on a slow day in the future, yes? I know it will happen, and the fact I've admitted that is step 1 in my Blogger Improvement program. Admitting you have a problem is key. I admit it. My name is Dee and I am not the best blogger lately.
But that will change. With autism, there's always something to whine about, complain about, or just sigh about. And with an awesome beautiful kid, there's always things to brag about, be proud of, and happily share. I just need to find the time.
I haven't blogged recently — busy (like everyone else), migraines, dd having seizures, sick kids, and in general, just not sure what to say. I don't want a blog full of only rants about how bad my neighborhood is, how mean people are, and how tired I am of being afraid to answer my doorbell. Until I had something non-rant like, I decided silence was golden.
But — you knew there was a but coming — I wanted to come out of hiding to add my opinions to the topic-at-large right now. You know the one, the one where we as a community in general are pretending we actually have a right to know, or a right to know better, than what another family should have done or has gone through. You know, that kind of judgment that we absolutely hate to have pronounced on us.
I love the friends I've made in the autism community. I've learned more from these fellow trenchmates than anywhere else, yet I still feel, and have mentioned before, that sometimes we're the least tolerant of each other, yet we expect, or demand, that tolerance from anyone outside of the autism community. This seems like an extreme of that, and it's pretty sad, for lack of fancier adjectives. Sad.
Without repeating everything others have said, my thoughts are this: the Travoltas are humans. They are parents who love their children, except they have money and celebrity. Why does that money or celebrity make them responsible for sharing their personal trials or tribulations? So they didn't tell the world their child had autism. If that was me, you'd not blink an eye. But throw in money and celebrity, and I should share? Where's my privacy? Where are my rights? My child's rights?
Leave the Travoltas alone. Their child died. He is gone. They are suffering the biggest loss a parent can suffer. Leave them be. They didn't owe us any facts. No celebrity does — if they do, it's a bonus and we should be thankful instead of expecting it. In fact, now, I'd expect less celebrities to come forward. Who wants the scrutiny, the judgment, the "you should do xxx and not do xxx" that the Travoltas are seeing now? How dare people hassle them for their choice of medication, or no medication? People, we weren't there. We aren't there. They owe us NOTHING. Back the flock off.
There, I said it. And on the other side, I do wonder why autism is seen as something, by Scientology, that cannot be recognized, but I'm not a Scientologist (thank God) nor will I ever be, so I can't speak further to that. If they find it shameful or fictitious or unmentionable because it may require psychotropic drugs…well, I'll just leave my thoughts to your imagination in that regard, though I will say, doesn't God love us all?
On that note, I hope something else happens soon to distract from this situation. There are so many more urgent things to discuss, like my son's new social skills program, YAY! I say we all talk about that, until something more exciting comes along. Sound good?
Dreading the Blog
Posted by: deebeeautismmama on: September 13, 2009
I guess there's no other way to put it politely. I've been avoiding the blog. I deal with autism all day every day, in some aspect or another, and lately, when I have a spare minute, the last thing I feel like doing is blogging about it. More autism? No thanks, I'll pass.
But, I think I'm over it. Or at least for now?
The last few weeks…I don't want to re-live them, but they've taken away a lot of faith that people really do love thy neighbor. Maybe I was naive that they ever really did, but I guess I'd been lucky. I'd had good neighbors and aside from the occasional nosey stranger, going out in public was getting easier. But now? I don't let my son out in the front yard without constant supervision. Out in public, like at the county fair just last Monday, we had to stay on him like glue, after a couple of random unknowns spoke out of turn. (Who knew an empty marshmallow shooter was dangerous to sleeping iguanas?)
But, onwards and upwards. We've packed our garage and our china is boxed. House plans are chosen, and tentative house sale dates chosen. It's not only a reality now, but it's an agenda that is going to be daily for quite some time now. On a good note, BB is ready for it. He's ready for a fresh start, new neighbors that won't talk crap about him because they have nothing better to do. He won't be blamed for their inability to control their own children. We've learned a lot from this experience, and we're thankful that we can walk away from the garbage. The small-minded ignorant people can't leave that behind, no matter where they go. We'll soon have different family to celebrate holidays with, and while we're going to miss our close friends, BB is going to have 5+ acres to run around on. Animals to chase. Bugs to corral. Gardening to help me with. Healthier food, because we're going to fish from our pond and eat our homegrown veggies and fruit. Mom and Dad will have less errands, so the stress will decrease and the overall pace will be more enjoyable.
In the meantime, school is doing well. He visits the nurse's office often — 'burning fingers,' 'sore legs,' or 'too hot.' But the staff sees him for what he is: a sweet little guy who likes to talk and is entertaining but just needs to vent and get things out of his system. Like us, they've learned it's better to give him ten minutes of time or he'll whine and be unhappy for 30. Ten minutes of attention, even five in a pinch, make all the difference. He starts a new social skills program in a couple of weeks, at school (once a week) and we're also working on using Rick Lavoie's recommended approach towards dealing with his behavioral and discipline issues. It was recommended at his weekly therapy and we really like it. The DVD is called "When the Chips are Down." It's old (think late-80s-ish?) but the process is timeless.
So, there you have it. More personal viewpoints on daily life with autism and less of the general perspective. We'll see what tomorrow brings!
Mom, I Have No Friends!
Posted by: deebeeautismmama on: August 22, 2009
How do you teach your kid that yes, other kids are mean? How do you even begin to acknowledge to yourself that yes, other kids are meaner than you can imagine?
I know, in the scheme of things, focusing on this is weird. But, when it's a daily issue in your house, a daily facet of your child's autism, it's got to be a focus. I can't ignore it. I can't teach my child how to work on social issues when the only opportunities he has are negative ones. I can't tell him that yes, the world is basically good, just seek it out, when sometimes your own faith in people is shot.
Don't assume this is our only problem — it's just the one that I'm fired up about so much because lately, it's worse than it used to be, through no fault of our own, and because it's something that we can't control. We can arrange BB's schedule for optimal success, we can provide proper food for the best nutrition and chance that BB will eat it. We can work with his school to be sure his seat, his homework amount, and the environment, all work together for his own good. We can turn on our air and keep the house cool enough, cut his pancakes before putting on the syrup, and make sure his blanket is washed so it's soft. But I can't stop the neighbor kid from telling the only other kid in the neighborhood who Nasty Witch hasn't gotten to, that they should hide from BB. That they should push him down and tease him. That it upsets him if they call him Stupid. I can't stop my son from being upset when his friend pushes him down because the other kids says to, or from being hurt at bein called stupid. It's the uncontrollable factors, the things that are caused by others peoples' ignorance or refusal to even care, that can negate all the other good you've experienced. We adults can blow it off…mostly…but kids? Not so much.
So today, BB's friend from school a couple of years ago is over here to play with him. We invited him over and we are so glad he was available and wanted to come. I've mentioned him before, how cool both he and his family are. They're outside now, on the slip and slide. Oh wait, they've unplugged it (and put it away? who are these kids??) and now have the backyard hose going down the slide on the playset. Can you say mess? And cost? But I won't stop them for a million dollars. They are smiling, having a blast, and being creative. Who can fault that??
Summer Achievements
Posted by: deebeeautismmama on: August 3, 2009
These last couple of months have been a busy time. It's summer, and whoever said 'lazy days of summer' didn't have young children. There's always something going on, even when there isn't. We've had some negatives — having to increase his meds a bit instead of decreasing them, social events that don't work out, plans that go awry — but it's been overwhelmingly positive. See, as the parent of an autistic child, I've learned to appreciate things in a different light. When my oldest (now almost 21) was this age (8.5), she was diving off the diving board. I was so impressed, so proud, even if it occurred mainly at our pool at home. Look at my daughter! So exciting! She can dive!
But with a child with autism? The 'normal' achievements don't necessarily occur at the normal aka socially acceptable time, and our goals are a bit different. Some moms want their children to win spelling bees. Mine would fidget and dance and tic all through a contest on stage, but he can outspell and out-vocabulary (my made-up word, deal) most kids years older than him. Thing is, he will tell the kids that and then not understand why neither they nor their parents like that, and tell me "but mom, I was just saying the truth." Years ago, we put Barnacle Boy in swim classes, with disastrous results. Mommy and Me classes became Mommy and Daddy and Big Sister and Me, and the other moms weren't quite sure how to react to the three-year-old, the oldest in the class, who cried every time he got wet and refused to go underwater without a huge tantrum. (And, if I were to be completely honest, neither did Mom or Dad or big sister. BB hadn't yet been diagnosed, and we were just starting to get an inkling that things were more off than what could be attributed to him being a premie after a tenuous pregnancy.) Each summer, even after the diagnosis, we tried swim classes. Moms and Dads (and grandparents and aunts and uncle, none of which my child has ever had come to anything like that) are cheering their kids on for laying on the kickboard or jumping in the pool while staring at mine for licking everything and everyone and refusing to put his head in the water. Some days, he wouldn't even get in the water. When he did? We cheered like he'd just won a Nascar race, with people staring like we were fools. And we could care less about their stares.
Yep, autism makes you appreciate their accomplishments so much more than other kids. And I can say that as the mom of three other children, too. I cheered them on, was proud and celebrated but this is different. When my son overcomes something that's more than just a normal challenge, my heart almost hurts because I get so excited. It's hard to understand or explain unless you've been there.
This summer was a summer of changes. First, we took a trip to South/North Carolina, then decided to buy property there. Property bought, now we're planning a permanent move. Pretty big change, moving from SoCal to the Carolinas, but BB is so excited and wants to go now. (So do I, but that's a whole different story.) He told me, "Mom, I want to move right away. Everyone here is mean to me, except for xxx, and I have only one friend. I am tired of it. I want a new place to start again." Who can argue with that? True words of wisdom.
We also made the final decision to change churches. We use to love our church family, but as time went on, the feeling of "shouldn't 'family' be more than this?" continued to grow. BB was never invited to any social events, at least one parent was telling others about how difficult ds is, we were left out of things because of ds, and he wasn't getting the social interaction that was a big draw in the first place. It got to the point where BB was constantly asking us to stay home, and the one friend that did play with him invited him over less and less. (Social interaction, imo, needs to be reciprocated.) Other parents pointed at him, talked, or whispered, about him, and a few took it upon themselves to discipline him, even if we were right there in the room. Autism is vastly misunderstood, so each year, we gave a lesson during teacher training, and we made a notebook, plans which the pastor approved of. Yet some of the volunteers couldn't tolerate him, and others disregarded what we wrote entirely. Acceptance and the love that's supposed to be shown to fellow humans, by Christians, waned. I guess it's okay, he's just a kid…not.
And there were good changes, the achievements we are so happy about. One was that ds can almost swim! He can do small spurts across the pool, and last night, at a friend's pool, I taught him how to blow air through his nose so he didn't have to plug his nose and swim with one arm. Woohooo!!
Another huge deal was a surprise to us. A week ago yesterday, he learned to RIDE HIS BIKE…without training wheels!
Next up on the agenda? Tying shoes so the new tie vans we bought him a couple of weeks ago can officially be his new school shoes. And he can do it, I have no doubt. Never underestimate a child just because they can't communicate like society says he should, or because he has meltdowns that make the Grand Canyon look like a a divot on a golf course.
He starts school on Monday. New teacher, new room. Same aide at least. More changes, and there's a lot of unknowns. He worries about having friends, and so do I. He worries about people picking on him. So do I. I also worry about how long before the first time the school calls because he doesn't feel right, or if another parent will not be able to stand him and therefore tell the teacher. But, it's temporary. We'll be, hopefully, moving within a few months, likely after the holidays. The loss of our best neighbors, the nastiness of another neighbor and the overcrowded, overtaxed and underbudgeted state is on our nerves. (That and the fact you can't even merge onto the freeway from the onramp without having to shove some uncooperative person out of the way or drive on the shoulder, but I digress.) We have no church family, which isn't a huge change as we didn't have much support there anyway, and we aren't jumping in to join a new church with a pending move. The move will bring BB closer to his cousins, one his same age/sex, and he'll get to roam our five-plus acres with dogs, wildlife and trees to climb. I really think a slower pace is going to make a world of difference.
As I write, BB's at his friend's house. Bless his mom and dad, truly. Ds does well there, but I think a lot of it has to do with them not being stressed-out people who can't deal with him. They don't sweat the little things and he doesn't feel under pressure. And their sons? Wonderful kids, not to mention adorable. They are one of the few friends we will miss. BB is spending the night!! His first overnight, and I'm probably almost as excited as he is. (And my house is actually quiet enough for me to find time to blog, something that doesn't happen as much as I'd like it to.)
Dh is cross-country right now, working two weeks in a city so small, he's got one restaurant within 15 miles of his hotel. To his utter delight (I don't use that word often, but it really fits in this instance), he drove a bit further and found a Cracker Barrel, a favorite restaurant that's not available here in CA. Not so great for someone who eats really healthily daily and just dropped 25 pounds, but he'll at least be able to use the hotel gym and vary his choices. He misses BB so much but thanks to Bluetooth technology, my latest favoritest thing, I can take a lot of photos on my cell and bleep them to my laptop and email them to him. We also use texting way more than Dh ever thought he would. Instead of the "what in the world do people have to text about all day long?" I used to hear, now I hear little commentary all day long that cuts through the physical distance.
Think happy thoughts that BB makes it through the sleepover without any issues. He has a tendency to sleepwalk or have night terrors at times, like his brain won't shut down entirely while he's asleep. But, they don't happen every single night, and he was up and around last night, so I think tonight will be fine.
I'm off to enjoy the quiet evening. I can stay up late and work on my list of "Things I'd Do When I Get Free Time" and look forward to seeing BB in the morning.
My little guy's last couple of weeks have been rough. Not sure why — it started before the aborted camp attempt, and it was after school was out, by a couple of weeks, so we can't figure out what's up. He's just more edgy, more easily irritated, and he yells a lot more. A lot. So, I shouldn't be surprised that today was no different.
Before I go further, let me just say I'm getting over a nasty case of the stomach flu that I thought was going to kill me. The kind where someone's stabbing your stomach back up through your throat and out your mouth with about 30 sharp spears. The kind that leaves you dry but still nauseated, exhausted but unable to sleep, with joint aches and pains that should only come with a three-story fall. (Not that I know what that feels like, but I can guess now that I've had this flu.) It started after ingesting a yummy dinner of chicken tortilla soup that seven of us — I feel the need to specify that only three of us got sick, and not all right away, so no, it wasn't food poisoning. (I made the soup, so you can see why I'd want to specify that.) A few hours later, I was down for the count. I'm still not feeling myself, and I'm sure it's affecting my mood.
That said, I let ds play outside today while I sprawled on the couch. I can hear him playing with the kids, but wasn't prepared for when he ran in screaming, sobbing, red-faced. "She yelled at me!" Initially, I wanted to go have it out with "she," but reason kicked in..that and my husband reminding me that the little guy has his own perception of reality and we needed to get the story from someone else first. In the end, we learned that the situation was handled with less harshness than he saw, and was nowhere near as bad as he understood it to be. But, that's the problem, in a nutshell.
For one thing, I can't expect other people to know my son has different ways of seeing things, that he takes things literally, that for him, it's ALL A BIG DEAL. Others don't necessarily know how to handle him, or that he even needs any special handling at all. And I can't go around telling everyone — it's not like I can put him in a t-shirt that says "I Have Autism," but yet we put him out there and expect him to learn how to deal…when in reality, few people let him be around their kids long enough to learn, whether or not we tell them. In this particular case from today, he's still able to play with the kids, but then we have the second issue: how to get him to understand? He's abrupt and says what he's thinking and feeling, he can't always communicate his feelings appropriately or gently enough, and he doesn't understand give and take. It's all just so difficult and leaves me feeling, again, like I can't do enough.
So what do you do? How do you let them out in a world they're not prepared for, or that's not prepared for them?


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Author(s): Kumon Publishing
No Category
This set of flash cards also uses phonics theory to help children learn to read and write easy words. The pairings in this write & wipe flash card set consist of rhyming words featuring long vowels, like bee and tree. Help your child practice writing on one side, and then flip the card and use it like a traditional flash card set. Either way, your child will enjoy learning to read and write with these sturdy cards.

subset: commoncrawl


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Network Housing Group Growth Plans Boosted With Support From London Mayor
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Network Housing Group, a leading housing provider, will deliver 240 affordable homes for working Londoners locked out of the housing market with £8.25 million support from the Mayor of London. A new commercial arm, Network Living will be created to deliver the homes. The new homes will offer people on low to middle incomes the chance to live and work in London with the choice to rent, save and buy.
The Group was awarded one of the highest levels of funding from the Mayor's new Housing Covenant. The fund was designed to help hard-working Londoners who are struggling to get on the housing ladder, giving a huge boost to the construction industry and ensuring that London retains its competitiveness as a world-class city.
The funding received will deliver high-quality, affordable homes through six developments in prime locations across North and South London. The first 15 homes, at a flagship scheme on the former site of Menorah private school in Dollis Hill, will go on the market in April this year.
The remaining 225 homes include: 40 homes in Brixton town centre, 76 homes in the heart of Alperton; 19 homes in Streatham town centre, 34 homes close to Wembley Park station; and 56 homes in Colindale.
Network Living, a new commercial business within the Group, is being formed in response to the growing need for more affordable homes for working households locked out of the housing market. It will provide a range of flexible housing options including: intermediate rent, at less than the market rate; private rent; 'rent to save', allowing people to save for a deposit; 'shared equity' where people can part rent, part buy; and larger shared ownership homes for those who are in need of more space.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: 'I am delighted by the work we are now able to get underway with Network Housing Group. Help for hard working Londoners who would otherwise struggle to own their own homes is exactly the right approach in our quest to ensure a fairer housing deal for the capital. London's success is built by its workforce and I am thrilled that via my Housing Covenant we are able to work with partners to unlock the door to home ownership for thousands more Londoners. This is just the first in many great initiatives to come'.
Jeremy Stibbe, Network Housing Group's Business Development Director, said: "We are thrilled to support the Mayor in delivering his ambitions for more affordable home ownership in London. The launch of Network Living will enable us to be at the forefront of providing innovative solutions to the capital's housing problems."
The 'rent to save' offer helps people pay at up to 80% market rent and save the difference towards a deposit for a share in their home.
'Shared equity' will enable people to purchase up to an 80% share in a home, with a loan from Network Living for the remaining equity. They can then purchase the remaining portion after 3-5 years.
The larger shared ownership offer helps overcrowded households who couldn't afford larger homes on the open market to move up the housing ladder.
Network Housing Group, one of London's largest developers, will have started 1,300 new homes this year and will develop 3,500 homes over the next four years. The Group builds high-quality homes providing innovative solutions for a range of incomes including homes for rent, shared ownership and outright sale.
Images supplied are of Menorah school, Dollis Hill, and Ealing Road, Alperton.
- Network Housing Group is a group of registered housing providers – Community Trust Housing, London Strategic Housing, Network Stadium Housing Association, Riversmead Housing Association, Willow Housing and Care – and Solon Community Network, an independent resident consultancy. The Group collectively owns and manages around 18,000 homes across London and the South East. Its aim is to provide the maximum number of homes and the best value for money to support its residents and neighbourhoods. The Group provides strategic leadership and co-ordination, development and corporate services to its members.
- Network Living will be the commercial arm of the Group providing a range of flexible housing options in London and the South East.
- On 28 September 2012 the Mayor launched a new housing covenant to provide homes for working Londoners. This came in two parts with up to
£100 million of capital investment and a commitment to improve working Londoner's intermediate housing options through deregulating the market and cutting red tape.
- Network Housing Group is a top 10 developer (Inside Housing's list of developing housing associations).


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- Enzymatic Exfoliator
- Skin Brightening
- Enriched with anti-bacterial salicylic acid
- Tones and clarifies
- Non-irritating
- Contains ingredients known to reduce inflammation
- Naturally calming and soothing
Minerals by Bee's Sugar Smoothie Body Creme, these foil packets were what immediately tipped me off about this brand being sketchy.
Minerals by Bee's Fruit Enzyme Peel is pretty decent. It seemed to help clarify and even out my complexion as promised. I'm kinda surprised at how non-irritating this peel was, now I'm not so afraid to try other peels in the future. I can't say I'd recommend this product, because of the shady nature of the brand. If you're interested in a mild but effective peel, try the Fruit Enzyme Peel, but buy it from a company with a more honest repackaging policy and better customer service.
Ingredients Unavailable.
I received a free sample of this product during a promotion the brand was offering.


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Dreamers Live in a Renaissance Church
Matthew 25:14-30
I want to start this morning by looking at a fascinating passage in the book of 1 Kings. Let me read it to you. 1 Kings 22:48 "Jehoshaphat also built a fleet of trading ships to sail to Ophir for gold." Jehoshaphat was a good guy, he was the King of Judah in the Old Testament who built this entire fleet of ships to sail for gold. He was headed out; he had a mission and he had a purpose. But something happened, because in the same breath the writer pens: "But the ships never set sail for they met with disaster in their home port."
When I read those words I was struck with how that same epitaph will be the legacy of so many individuals and churches as well. Everyone of us has a dream, a passion. We all have things that God has put inside of us that we long to accomplish. And while everyone has a dream, unfortunately so many of those dreams never get lived out. So many of those ventures never make it out of the harbor. Just like Jehoshaphat, our ships get stuck in the harbor. Those dreams crash. We bury them. We go from living our dream to just sort of living life.
We have a dream in this church of being a renaissance church, but we have to be careful with those dreams. We have to be willing to put forth the work and effort if we want to reap the rewards. This morning I want us to consider how can we live out our dream of being a renaissance church. If we are going to be serious about this call we need to learn how to manage the gifts, the talents and the abilities that God has given you. Everyone of us has something to contribute. Everyone of us has a difference, an impact, that we can make in this world.
Our text this morning will come from Matthew 25 and starting in verse 14 we read: For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
It's a bit difficult to translate the term used for money here. The New Living Translation said he gave them "five bags of silver, two bags of silver and one bag of silver." God's Word for Today says that he gave one man ten thousand dollars, another four thousand dollars, and another two thousand dollars. Here's my point, don't picture the talent as a small, silver coin. Actually a talent is formed in the shape of a huge block of gold or silver, with a handle on top for ease. It weighed about 75 pounds; or 6,000 denarii, which was what you would make for a days work. So each talent was worth the salary of sixteen and a half years. This is a crazy amount of money, and the opportunity of a lifetime for these individuals.
But I want you to notice that these guys weren't owners of the gifts, they were managers. He gave it to them and went away on his trip. He said, manage this for me. When you are a manager, one of the first questions you want to ask of your owner is, how do you want me to manage your stuff, right? It's your stuff. I'm managing it. I'm a steward of it. That's exactly where these individuals are.
So the first thing we need to learn this morning is If we are going to live out the dream of being a Renaissance Church we must learn to manage God's gifts.
The Bible is pretty clear in it's teaching that God doesn't call us to be owners of anything. We like to say, I own this, or this is mine, but that's not the picture we get in the Bible. Actually the Bible just challenges us again and again saying everything is God's. Everything is His. You and I are managers of the gifts that He gives us.
That's what David says in 1 Chronicles 29:11 Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, oh Lord, and this is your Kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Riches and honor come from you alone. David knew his job was to manage what God provided.
God made some of you brilliant. He gave some of you amazing minds. He gave others of you amazing athletic ability. Some of you can do very creative things. We all have different gifts and abilities, but when was the last time that you thought about how you can use those gifts and abilities for His kingdom? Peter writes in 1 Peter 4:10 "God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another." God has given you certain talents and certain abilities to serve one another.
In our parable this morning everybody gets a gift. No one was left out. He didn't give five talents to one person, two talents to the other and this other guy has to go stand in the corner and not get anything. Everyone got a gift. Jesus is making a point. God has given all of us unique talents, unique abilities, unique contributions, that we can make. If these are really God's gifts, then that means that it doesn't do us a lot of good to stand back and get jealous about other people who may have other gifts than we do.
Now I understand that it wasn't equal distribution, one got five, one got two, and one got one. But they didn't sit around and compare talents. Have you ever wondered why your neighbor invented some crazy thing and made millions of dollars and here you are grinding it out nine to five? Have you ever looked at a friend of yours from high school who has had incredible success or so much talent and said it's not fair? We have to understand that fair is a weather condition, and it's up to the Master to choose how He is going to distribute the gifts.
What we have to determine is how am I going to manage the gifts that God has given to me? That's the question. Some of you have an ability to sing, and some of you didn't get that gift. Some of you have the gift to teach, some of you have the gift to lead. Maybe you have a different gift, but we must all realize that it's not yours; that gift belongs to God. We need to be honest enough to acknowledge our strengths and weaknesses so we can reach our dreams.
The Second way that we live out the dream of being a Renaissance Church is to make the most of today's opportunities.
Look in Matthew 25:16, He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. I love the fact that Jesus says this guy goes immediately to work. He has the opportunity of a lifetime and starts investing, starts making deals, starts doing whatever he needs to do.
He doubled his gift, and the master praises him for being a great servant for taking what he had been given and basically bringing a great return. We see the same thing happen with the man who received the two talents. They were given and opportunity and they acted immediately.
But in verses 24 and 25 we see that not everyone took advantage of what the master had given them. The one who received one dug a hole in the ground and hid the master's money. Have you ever wondered why he would do that? Why would you take 16 years worth of income and go dig a hole and bury it? Well he explains that he was afraid he would loose the money so he hid it.
Fear has tremendous control over us. It can paralyze us and hold us back. We all have different fears, like the fear of failure, or death, or clowns, but if we are going to be dreamers we must learn to face those fears. Unfortunately many churches are so afraid of failing that they just keep to themselves in a little Holy Huddle. We want to strike out when everything is perfect and we allow our perfectionism to fuel procrastination.
Dreamers know that the church was made for rough waters. Churches were made to have their best moments and their best ministries in the midst of chaos. I still believe that some of the best ministry we did as a body of believers happened in the aftermath of Rita and Ike. While the conditions were not perfect, God's love and compassion was shown through the work that we did in less than perfect conditions. It's time once again for Park Central to head out into the ocean, because that's where we do our best work. There is never going to be a perfect opportunity. There will never be a perfect moment to try new things or take risks, so we need to step out in faith because our community desperately needs it.
Jesus calls it being fishers of people. We're going to find people out in the deep waters of life that are emotionally hurting, that are drowning financially and upside down in every way. Our call and our responsibility isn't to batten down the hatch and wait for the storm to be over, by then it will be too late. Our call is to use everything God has given us to bring about His glory.
Renaissance Churches are filled with dreamers that have conquered the fears that hold others back. Renaissance Churches are filled with people that will follow where ever God leads. Maybe God is leading you to step out into relationships with other people and get to know some people. Maybe God is leading you away from a job that you really don't like, that leaves you frustrated and stressed, so you will have more time to devote to Him. Maybe God is leading you to opportunities where you can use your talents and treasures to bring Him the glory and honor He deserves.
Today is the day you step away from fear and realize that it's time for you to manage what you have and make the most of today.
Finally if we are going to live out the dream of being a Renaissance Church we must recognize our responsibility.
The saddest words in this story are the ones that the Master says to the servant who was entrusted with one talent. Starting in verse 26 we read, You are a wicked and lazy servant! You say you knew that I harvest things I did not plant and that I gather crops where I did not sow any seed. So you should have put my gold in the bank. Then, when I came home, I would have received my gold back with interest.' "So the master told his other servants, 'Take the bag of gold from that servant and give it to the servant who has ten bags of gold.
We have a responsibility to use what God has given us to bring Him glory. The principal states if you use what God has given you, you have even more. If you bury it, you won't. The struggle we have is our wonderful ability to come up with excuses in an effort to try to get out of different responsibilities. What we really want is to get rid of all of the responsibility in our life, even when it comes to all the things that God has given us. Yet here in this story the master is so frustrated with this servant who avoided the responsibility that he was given.
Dreamers realize that every gift they have, everything they own, comes with a responsibility. Think about your stuff and the responsibility that comes with the things that God gives you to manage. When a teenager first get's behind the wheel of a car, we talk about the HUGE responsibility they have as a driver. But do you often think about the responsibility you have as a manager of that blessing. It's not your car or truck, it's God's car and you get to manage it. You manage that gift by giving someone a ride. It could be as simple as helping someone make a grocery store run; simple things make a big difference.
How do you manage your house, or your kitchen. You manage that gift by making food for someone who is sick or hurting or going through difficult time. We could allow someone to stay in our home, or allow them to use our vacation home, or use the other things God has allowed us to manage. Some of you open your homes on a weekly or every other week basis to host a care group or small Bible study. You do that because it's God's home and you're recognizing your responsibility over that property, over what God has given you.
This even reaches out to the clothes you wear. Maybe you go through your closet and give one of your jackets to someone who is going to endure January without one. Or maybe you you make sure that the clothes you wear are modest and bring honor to God. We must remember that we are called to manage what God has given us to bring Him glory. God has given us so many things, and He expects us to be generous and bless other people.
In 2 Samuel 24 and in 1 Chronicles 21, we find parallel versions of the same story. In verse 24 of each chapter, King David makes the statement, "I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which cost me nothing." That last part has captured my attention and my dreams. David a man after God's own heart said that he would not offer a sacrifice to God that didn't involve a cost. He understood that a true sacrifice must cost or it is at best worthless. Like David we must understand that God deserves everything and nothing less.
Maybe it costs us some of our time, or talents, or treasure. Maybe it costs us some of our standing in the world, maybe it costs us some of our comfort. While it might not be easy or more fun, I believe that if we are going to be dreamers, we must take a huge often times uncomfortable step of faith.
In 1577 Sir Francis Drake became one of the first humans to circle the globe. Just before the ship sailed he prayed this prayer. "Disturb us oh Lord when we are too well pleased with ourselves. When our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little. When we arrive safely because we sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us oh Lord to dare more boldly and venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery and loosing sight of land we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes and push us in the future in strength, courage, hope and love. This we ask in the name of our captain who is Jesus Christ."
That's my prayer for this church and my prayer for you. Ships weren't made for the harbor; they were made for the open seas. It's time for us to push away from the shore and bring a renaissance to our community.
It's time for us to become better managers of the gifts God has given us and make the most of our opportunities. But before a renaissance can happen in our community it must happen in this church and in your life.
Questions For You To Consider
If you knew that you would not fail, what would your dream be for your life?
If you knew that you would not fail, what would your dream be for your family?
If you knew that you would not fail, what would your dream be for this church?
What is it about failure that keeps you from moving towards your dream?
What are some things that God has allowed you to manage, that you can use for His glory?
Jeremy said that you have a responsibility with the gifts that God has allowed you to manage. What does that mean to you?
What would it mean in your life if Sir Francis Drake's prayer was answered in your life? (The prayer is located on the last page of the sermon third paragraph from the bottom)


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Learning to work Working to Learn
Learn how TwoCor provides hope for a better future to hundreds of youth. Follow the staff at TwoCor as they engage the problems of youth delinquency, unemployment, and homelessness. Insights are shared into why this unique vocational training program keeps troubled youth from escalating into higher levels of treatment or detention, and helps them become an asset to our community.
News & Events
Stay connected with updates on program developments, internship opportunities, partnership alliances, special events, and other happenings. Discover the good news about how people like you—donors, volunteers, business owners, and youth services providers—are saving young lives and transforming our community.
TwoCor Blog
TwoCor is a vocational training program for traumatized youth aged 15-19 years in the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado including Colorado Springs and greater El Paso County.


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Faces of Diplomacy, a collaborative project between the U.S. Department of State and students and faculty from the Corcoran School, opens Monday, Nov. 7 at the Corcoran's Flagg Building.
The exhibit features portraits and videos of six diplomatic professionals working at U.S. Embassies in Rabat, Morocco, and Madrid, Spain, and illustrates the range of skills and functions required in the conduct of American diplomacy. Work began on the exhibit last January, when six undergraduate and six graduate Corcoran students were paired and asked to conceptualize an environmental portrait and video profile of an assigned diplomat.
The student teams began gathering background information on their assigned diplomats while in school in D.C. and later traveled to Morocco and Spain for two weeks in March, when they captured photos and video of the diplomats at work. After returning to D.C., students spent the rest of the semester editing their work, and, this fall, they collaborated with Masters of Arts in Exhibition Design students who designed and installed the exhibit in Gallery 1.
The photos and videos, along with photos and videos created by Corcoran students in the spring of 2014 of 10 other diplomats, will be featured in the currently under-construction U.S. Diplomacy Center, a state-of-the-art museum and education center, at the U.S. Department of State headquarters in Washington, D.C. The center will dedicate 40,000 square feet to bringing the story of American diplomacy to life.
Dates: Nov. 7-20
Hours: 1-6 p.m., Monday-Sunday


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How To Brush
Online Dental Education Library
Dr. Goldman and his staff strive to improve the overall health of our patients by focusing on preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions associated with your teeth and gums. Please use our dental library to learn more about dental problems and treatments available. If you have questions, please contact us.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are unique among dentists in that they all have completed an additional four years of hospital-based training alongside medical residents, and can administer all types of anesthesia. If you have a diseased or impacted tooth that needs to come out, implants to be placed, a suspicious lesion that needs a biopsy, or any other oral health condition requiring surgical diagnosis or treatment, we can help. Learn more about Oral Surgery.
Snoring & Sleep Apnea
Chronic loud snoring is a common symptom of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which occurs when the upper airway is blocked to the point of causing significant airflow disruption, or even no airflow whatsoever for 10 seconds or more. This can be a dangerous situation. Learn more about Snoring & Sleep Apnea.
Tooth Extractions
There are times when it is in your best interest to have a tooth extracted (removed). This could be the case for a variety of reasons, including: damage or trauma to the tooth; an impacted wisdom tooth that may cause trouble for you later on; or overcrowding. Learn more about Tooth Extractions.
Implant Dentistry
If you are missing one or more teeth, dental implants offer the comfort and security of a permanent replacement that looks and functions just like your natural teeth. Dental implants also help preserve the tooth-supporting bone in your jaw that deteriorates when even one tooth is lost.
- About Dental Implants
- Bone Grafting for Dental Implants
- Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants
- Hidden Consequences of Losing Teeth
- Top Reasons to Choose Dental Implants
Oral Diagnosis & Biopsies
When it comes to detecting certain oral or systemic (whole-body) diseases, a thorough dental exam may be your first line of defense. Learn more about Oral Diagnosis & Biopsies.
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting, a minor in-office surgical procedure, is commonly used in dentistry to correct deficiencies in bone quality and to build support for teeth or dental implants. Learn more about Bone Grafting.
Sedation Dentistry & Anesthesia
We want you to have the most comfortable dental treatment experience possible. That's why we offer sedation, to help you relax, and/or anesthesia, to block your sensations of pain. Learn more about Sedation Dentistry.
Facial Trauma & Reconstructive Surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are capable of treating the full scope of injuries to the structures of the face, mouth or jaws — including the teeth, the bones of the jaws and face, and the tissue of the skin and gums. We can also treat congenital defects such as cleft palate.
TMJ Disorders
If you have chronic pain in or around your jaw, or find the movement of your jaw is restricted, you may be suffering from a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. Learn more about TMJ Disorders.
Treating Dental Emergencies
We can treat a variety of traumatic dental injuries, including teeth that have been moved or knocked out entirely. Please call our office for assistance, or click here to learn more about what to do in a dental emergency.
If you're like most people, you probably learned how to brush as a child… and chances are, you haven't thought about it much since then. That's understandable — but there may come a point when we find our oral hygiene techniques could use improvement. Here are a few tips on the proper way to brush your teeth… plus, a reminder of why we do it.
First, the reasons why: Brushing is an effective way to remove plaque — a sticky, bacteria-laden biofilm that clings stubbornly to your teeth. The bacteria in plaque produce acids, which erode the tooth's enamel and may lead to tooth decay. Plaque can also cause gum disease and bad breath. In fact, it's believed that over 90% of dental disease is caused by plaque accumulation alone.
Besides removing plaque, the fluoride in toothpaste strengthens tooth enamel and makes teeth more decay-resistant. Plus, brushing makes your mouth feel cleaner and your breath smell fresher. While there is no single "right" way to brush your teeth, there are a number of techniques that can help you get them squeaky-clean. So why wait — let's take a refresher course in brushing right now!
Proper Brushing Technique
- To begin, select a small-headed, soft-bristled toothbrush, grasp it gently with your fingers (not your fist), and squeeze on a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste.
- Hold the bristles gently against the outside of your top teeth, near the gum line, at about a 45-degree angle upward.
- Sweep the brush gently back and forth over teeth and gums in soft strokes — or, if you prefer, use an elliptical (circular) motion to clean the teeth.
- Be sure to clean the spaces between teeth: You can use a sweeping motion to brush food particles away from the gums.
- When you have done one brush-width, move to the adjacent area of your teeth and repeat. Keep going until you have finished cleaning the outside of the whole top row of teeth.
- Move to the bottom teeth. Repeat the procedure, tilting the brush down toward the gum line at about 45 degrees. Finish cleaning the outside of the bottom teeth.
- Go on to the inside of the top teeth. Tilting the bristles up toward the gums, clean the inside of the top teeth with gentle but thorough strokes.
- Move to the inside of the bottom teeth. Tilt the brush down and repeat the procedure.
- Now it's time for the chewing surfaces: Holding the bristles flat against the molars, clean the ridges and valleys of the back teeth. Do this for all the top and bottom teeth.
- Finally, brush your tongue gently to remove bacteria and freshen breath.
Check Your Work
How good a brushing job did you do? One way to get an idea is by simply running your tongue over your teeth: If they feel slick and smooth, then chances are they're clean. If not, you should try again. To know for sure whether you're brushing effectively, you can use a "disclosing solution" — a special dye that highlights plaque and debris your brushing missed.
One common error is not brushing for long enough: two minutes is about the minimum time you need to do a thorough job. If you have music in the bathroom, you could try brushing along with a pop song; when the song's over, you're done! But no matter your musical taste, good brushing technique can go a long way toward maintaining tip-top oral hygiene.
Variations for Comfort
If you're having trouble with the two-finger method, here's another way to try flossing: Just tie the same amount of floss into a big loop, place all your fingers (but not thumbs) inside the loop, and work it around your teeth with index fingers and thumbs. All the other steps remain the same.
Once you've got the basics down, there are a few different types of flosses you can try, including flavored, waxed, and wider width. Some people find waxed floss slides more easily into tighter gaps between teeth or restorations — but it may not make that satisfying "squeak" as it's cleaning. Others prefer wide floss for cleaning around bridgework. But whichever way works best for you, the important thing is to keep it up!
Related Articles
Toothpaste It's something we put in our mouths every day. Yet for those who actually take the time to read that list of ingredients, it can be hard to figure out what it all means. Dear Doctor magazine breaks it all down and reveals a great way to be sure the claims written on the label can be trusted... Read Article
Oral Hygiene Behavior — Dental Health for Life The best tools for maintaining your oral health and minimizing dental problems are a quality toothbrush, toothpaste, a roll of dental floss, approved mouthwash and good diet. This article details a winning game plan for oral health... Read Article
Dental Hygiene Visit There's a lot more going on at your regular dental hygiene visit than a feel-good polishing! Dental hygienists collaborate with dentists to provide optimum personalized oral health care to prevent oral disease and to promote your health... Read Article


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Tuition and Fees for 2020-2021 School Year
Tuition, fees, and related policies for the 2020-2021 school year are provided below. For questions or additional information, please contact Steve Perkins in the school's Business Office at (716) 366-6634, or via email at email@example.com.
Download our CCA Financial Information document for more details.
We offer a $300 discount for each additional child in order to help families with several school age children. To determine total tuition for your family, refer to the chart below. Please note that the order of students (1st, 2nd, etc.) is determined by age, with the youngest student first.
|5th and up
|1st Child
|2nd Child
|3rd Child
|4th Child
Registration Fees
The Registration Fee for all students is $150 if paid by May 15; $175 on May 16 or later. Registration Fees are non-refundable and due at the time of acceptance or re-enrollment. This holds the seat(s) in the upcoming classes.
Fees are collected for special testing and all voluntary student activities that are not covered by tuition and other charges. Voluntary activities include, but are not limited to, items like lunch programs, before and after-school care, and special events. Students wishing to participate in any special field trips that are administered by CCA must pay the designated fees and any cash deposits that are determined by the administrator.
Before & After Care
$5 per hour and minimum of 1 hour charge. After the first hour $1.25 will be added every 15 minutes. Invoices must be paid monthly to continue using the Before & After Care program.
Refund Policy
All registration and application fees, activities fees, and trip deposits are non-refundable. Tuition will be prorated through the month of transfer or withdrawal. Any prepaid tuition is also refundable.
Tuition Payment
Each family has four options for payment of tuition:
- Annual Payment – Due August 1 and late on August 16. There is a 2% discount if you pay in full by the due date.
- Semi-Annual Payment – First Payment due August 1. Second payment due January 1. A 1% discount is given on the second payment.
- Monthly Payment – 10 Equal Payments beginning August 1 and completed on May 1.
- Paper Billing Monthly – Paper billing requires an extra $5 per invoice mailed.
You can mail in a check, drop off your payment at the school office or pay online with a debit card, credit card or PayPal account using the link below.
Pay Tuition, Lunch Fees and/or Before & After Care Fees
Delinquent Account Policy
Tuition and Fees payments are due on their scheduled payment dates. Tuition payments not received on their scheduled due dates are subject to a $25 late payment fee. Any payments more than 30 days past due will result in students being dismissed from class until the past due account is brought current. Records and transcripts will only be forwarded to another school or college for students whose accounts are fully paid.


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All IoTivity code contributions go through peer review in IoTivity's Gerrit server. Contributions must be properly formatted and follow IoTivity's coding style and coding policies.
Commit messages
Commit messages are an important part of the project documentation. When writing a commit message, provide a clear explanation of why a change was made so that others or your future self can later review what happened and why it happened.
Commit message format:
Header line: explain the commit in one line, as an imperative sentence.
Body: a few lines of text explaining things in more detail, possibly giving some background about the issue being fixed, etc.
Footers: all commits must contain the Signed-off-by and the Change-Id lines, or the Gerrit server will reject the submission. Other footer lines are accepted and the order of those lines is not important.
Reported-by: whoever-reported-it
Signed-off-by: Your Name <email@example.com>
Change-Id: Ida39a3ee5e6b4b0d3255bfef95601890afd80709
- Developer certificate of origin: the Signed-off-by line is your signature, indicating that you agree to abide by the terms of the developer certificate of origin.
Developer Certificate of Origin
Version 1.1
Copyright (C) 2004, 2006 The Linux Foundation and its contributors.
660 York Street, Suite 102
San Francisco, CA 94110 USA
Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.
Developer's Certificate of Origin 1.1
By making a contribution to this project, I certify that:
- The contribution was created in whole or in part by me and I have the right to submit it under the open source license indicated in the file; or
- The contribution is based upon previous work that, to the best of my knowledge, is covered under an appropriate open source license and I have the right under that license to submit that work with modifications, whether created in whole or in part by me, under the same open source license (unless I am permitted to submit under a different license), as indicated in the file; or
- The contribution was provided directly to me by some other person who certified (a), (b) or (c) and I have not modified it.
- I understand and agree that this project and the contribution are public and that a record of the contribution (including all personal information I submit with it, including my sign-off) is maintained indefinitely and may be redistributed consistent with this project or the open source license(s) involved.
The body of the commit message can be several paragraphs. Use proper word-wrap and keep columns shorter than about 74 characters so the "git log" will display the information cleanly. Make sure you explain your solution and why you're doing what you're doing, as opposed to describing what you're doing.
Multiple Signed-off-by lines are possible. They are required if the patch was created by a Contributor other than the one submitting the commit to Gerrit. If the patch was received and re-sent by multiple people, each person is expected to add their signature.
The Change-Id line uniquely identifies each commit during the review process. It is necessary because the Git commit ID is a SHA-1 hash calculated according to the contents of the commit which will change as the commit is updated to fix issues found in the review process. See the Gerrit documentation for more information.
Install the Gerrit commit-msg hook script in your Git clone to create the Change-Id line automatically. From the root of that repository, run one of:
$ curl -Lo .git/hooks/commit-msg http://gerrit.iotivity.org/tools/hooks/commit-msg $ scp -p -P 29418 email@example.com:hooks/commit-msg .git/hooks/
Then ensure that the execute bit is set on the hook script:
$ chmod u+x .git/hooks/commit-msg
Review process
Every IoTivity Contributor is allowed to participate in the review of anyone else's commits. Contributors are immediately given the rights to propose a +1 review, indicating that the contribution looks correct, or -1, indicating that it needs more work and should not be accepted in its current state.
A three-stage approach is recommended, especially for Contributors providing their first contributions:
Is the idea behind the contribution sound?
Is the contribution architected correctly?
Is the contribution polished?
That is, review initially whether the overall picture is correctly addressed, whether the type of implementation is correct, whether this type of solution aligns with IoTivity goals, etc. At this stage, it's more important to provide a subjective and qualitative review ("spirit fit" with the project goals).
Next, review the implementation itself to determine if it has been correctly written and if the implementation is actually doing what the author proposed. This stage is for quantitative and objective review and to determine if the major requirements of the contribution guidelines are met (for example, if a unit test is required, whether it is present or not). This is a "technical fit" with the project goals.
Finally, review whether the contribution meets the overall guidelines for contribution, such as coding style, organization of the code, naming of variables and functions, etc. This is the "nitpick" stage and many contributors start with this, putting off possible newcomers with an avalanche of minutiae. While necessary before the contribution can be accepted, this can usually be postponed until the final stages.
For more details and the rationale behind this phased approach, see this blog post.
Contribution approval
All Contributors can give the Gerrit review votes of +1 and -1, but only Maintainers and delegated sub-Maintainers are given the right and responsibility of voting +2 (approved) and -2 (declined, at least for now).
Maintainers have the responsibility of ensuring that all contributions have either an approval mark (the +2), a temporary or permanent rejection (the -2) or that feedback is given on where to improve (often a -1 review). Whenever approval is withheld, the Maintainer must justify the review on technical grounds.


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Romanced by the Gem – Impulse Buy Leads to Fabulous Ring
I Took a Chance on Love and I'm So Glad!
It was love for a gemstone set, an unusual gemstone.
Impulsively buying the lily pad patterned Azure Malachite Chrysocolla gemstones opened the door to one of this Santa Barbara Jeweler's happiest designing projects.
A Joy Shared is a Joy Doubled
Part of the joy of this jewelry designing adventure was picturing exactly who I wanted to show these amazing gems to. My dear friend and client Charla, was as fascinated by them as I was. We're both over the moon with her new earrings and ring.
The History of the Lily Pad Patterned Pretties
How I came to buy these gemstones involves accidental good timing and an interesting story.
Back in the eighties there was a mine called the Morenci Mine in Arizona. It was a sporadically mined copper mine.
It had opened in 1872 and closed in 1989. The costs of mining copper were higher than the yield could support.
An enterprising gemstone miner worked this mine in the seventies and found an amazing seam of this gorgeous Azure Malachite Chrysocolla. He enthusiastically mined what he could find.
He'd never seen that lily pad pattern before and decided to hoard the best pieces as his retirement plan.
A Miner's Retirement and an Impulsive Trip to the Tucson Gem Show Cause Happiness
Fast forward to 2005 or so. The miner decided it was time to retire and my gem dealer was the man he called.
When I impulsively went to the AGTA (American Gem Trade Association) Show at the Tucson Gem Show, I discovered these luscious pieces looking for a loving home.
I gulped, I drooled, I bought.
In hearing the story of their discovery I also found out that when copper prices rose in 2006, the mine was reopened and is now an open pit mine, using heavy machinery.
Any other delicate beautiful gemstones will never be found.
Happily these were found before the heavy gouging began.
The Fun Part, Designing the Set
Charla chose a freeform bold design for her ring, simple yet gorgeous, to be made for the large undulating beauty.
We went for simple bezel set French clip back, (post and clip) for the earrings. It's picture is at the end.
Such Beauty Deserves Lavish Attention
In honor of how wonderfully Charla's amazing ring turned out, I went by my friend Madeleine Vite's studio.
She owns Madphoto.com and does fabulous photography. I just had to show her the ring and have her capture its essence on film. So this awesome ring got the star treatment which I share with you now.
Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla Gold
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Great Designs are always possible with great stones, and you can see
that Calla loves her work, with these One-Of-A-Kind pieces. Mark
I am so very proud of the ring and earrings that Calla designed for me. She is truly the best! Thank you, AGAIN, Calla, for always designing the most unique and beautiful pieces of jewelry for me. Charla
Calla, I love the back story behind these gems! Not only does Charla have an amazingly beautiful ring and pair of earrings designed just for her, she has a great story to tell about them.


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6 Speed Conversion Kit
From $1,875.00
To $2,225.00
In stock
Enhance multiple aspects of your ride with the Duramaxtuner 6 Speed conversion kit!
Take your '01-'05 Allison to another level by adding a sixth gear!
- Custom TCM tuning for your specific truck
- Double Overdrive = 14% RPM reduction
- All new valve body, wiring harness, and solenoids
- Lowered road noise
- Gear indicator works on Edge CTS monitor
- Works with high idle, retrofit tap shifters
Improve your LB7 or LLY's reliability by utilizing our in-house designed and tested kit coupled with our established transmission tuning. We calibrate firmness and timing of shifts, so you'll be guaranteed to feel the smoothness and better shift quality missing on the 5 speed Allison. If you're like the rest of us here at Duramaxtuner using our trucks as daily drivers, the added gear helps take the wear and tear off your engine while cruising at high speeds. It keeps your RPMs at the most efficient curve of the rev range, giving it the best ride possible!
In addition to helping keep your truck on the road longer, something you will notice is the added bump in fuel economy. This is especially true for those of us logging long commutes via highway. Fewer RPMs, the better your fuel economy. Picking up just a little bit goes a long way while putting on the commuting miles. You'll also notice how much quieter your ride will be when adding our kit to your truck. NVH (Noise, vibration, and harshness) will decrease drastically, giving you a much more enjoyable ride.
Give us a call if you have any further questions and one of our reputable sales staff will be happy to answer any questions!


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Beijing artist Li Hongbo is turning heads – not to mention stretching, twisting and pulling them – with his bizarre paper sculptures. Busts that appear to be carved from marble or plaster can be pulled apart like a Slinky and stretched halfway across the room, before obediently returning to their original form.
What looks to be some futuristic shapeshifting material is actually one of the world's most humble mediums: paper. Hongbo employs the traditional Chinese craft of "paper gourds" – think paper garlands, toys and party decorations that start flat and unfold into three-dimensional objects – to a whole new level. The artist spends months on each creation, painstakingly gluing many thousands of pieces of paper together before carving the blocks into forms. After the pieces are polished, they are nearly indistinguishable from classical busts.
Although a magician never tells his secrets, Hongbo explains the process step-by-step in the video below. Yet even so, even after watching the creation of one of his pieces, the viewer is still left marveling, "but … how did he do that?"
Related stories on MNN:
- Artist carves phone books into portraits to honor the faceless
- Artist crochets fabulous playgrounds for kids
- Artist creates beautiful indoor clouds


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In whose presence do I walk? In whose hall do I enter? He is the one who burns with all-consuming fire. He knows all and sees all, including every detail of my life that shames me. Each is well-lit, easily seen by His eyes. Yet, He lavishes me with grace. He pours love over me. He died and rose so that I might live and walk here in His presence. Here I stand–trembling boldly in His presence.
Independent Author Spotlight: Joseph Macolin0's The Birth of Death
The Birth of Death by Joseph Macolino is a fantasy novel in the tradition of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. It has enough common fantasy aspects to seem familiar with enough that's new and different to make it original.
The Good
Macolino does an excellent job with world creation, and he doesn't spend too many words to do so. Part of that is most readers are familiar with elves and centaurs, but even the less familiar peoples are quickly understood and grasped. If the reader gets confused, there is a glossary to help.
The author also developed characters to a reasonable depth. The four main characters, an elven couple, a centaur, and a cat-like creature are all multi-faceted, and the reader can understand the nature of each and empathize with each. The heroes are not overly perfect.
Macolin0 also handles action sequences well, particularly the battle and fight scenes. He describes the movements of each participant without slowing down the action of the fight. In general, the plot flows well, and the book is a good length.
The Meh
Some scenes take too long. For example, a large number of words go into an elf making a salad. Descriptions of beautiful female characters were overwrought. Readers who don't like too much gore or violence may find the battle sequences overdone. Occasionally, the plot stutters so to speak. In the final battle sequence, there is a change of circumstance affecting the main supernatural hero, the Avatar, that doesn't quite make sense to me. Some areas need editing.
The book touches on several themes that are left open. These topics are authority and tyranny, community and individuality, government control and liberty, collectivism and free markets, dependence and personal responsibility.
The book is part of a series, and I am sure many of these themes will be developed further if the close of this book is an indication. The book is a good read. A fantasy reader looking for a new series to start may find a good one here.
The Art of Personal Evangelism–sharing Christ in a new cultural dynamic
Published in 2003, The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Christ in a Changing Culture by William McRaney Jr. examines the need to change approaches to evangelism in light of a culture shaped by postmodernism. McRaney has served in various positions in state Baptist conventions related to evangelism. He is the founder of the Ministry Enhancement Group and holds a Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
McRaney divides the book into three sections. The first deals with elements of personal evangelism such as God's involvement and the personal participation of the witness. The second section deals with communicating the gospel. The third section includes aids, suggestions, and tips for evangelism. The book concludes with appendices regarding one's testimony, objections to the gospel, and illustrations for witnessing.
What I Appreciated
I made a lot of marks and notes in this book. I appreciated the explanation of the cultural shifts in this book. McRaney did not pine for a return to modernism nor did he spend time lambasting postmodernism. He recognizes that both have good and bad and encourages Christians to pursue a biblical view of the world. However, he explains clearly how our approach to evangelism must change to communicate the gospel to those with a postmodernist worldview. The lists comparing what verses relate best to those with a modern worldview and those with a postmodern worldview are very helpful.
Though an academic treatment of personal evangelism, the book is very practical. I hope to go back and work to memorize the scriptures mentioned as useful. The bibliography cites many books that would make excellent additions to any Christian's library, particularly those with a ministry to equip others to do evangelism.
What I Wished Had Been or Not Have Been
At times, the lists overwhelmed me causing me to have traumatic flashbacks to some of my seminary courses. Occasionally, I did not understand why certain lists fell where they did in the book or what their purpose was. Of course, that confusion could be as much the fault of the reader as of the author. Also, after thirteen years, the book is a bit dated. I would be interested to read an updated edition that considers post-postmodernism and the increasing fracturing of our society between different identities.
I am very glad that read this book. I would recommend it to anyone trying to figure out why the way we did evangelism in the past isn't working and what we need to do to be more effective. Ministers will want to find ways to present these ideas to their congregations and either discover or develop methods of evangelism training that take them into account.
(Full Disclosure: I received a free from B&H Academic. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.)
Guardrails–a book about chaos and order in discipleship
Those familiar with church planting and missions probably have several books on their shelves about movements in church planting (CPM) and making disciples (DMM). However, I had not read a book that I felt capable of successfully communicating the principles of multiplication to the broader evangelical community. Alan Briggs's Guardrails: Six Principles for a Multiplying Church may become the first to do so. Briggs is director of Frontline Church Planting and multiplying pastor at Vanguard Church in Colorado Springs.
Movements are somewhat controversial. Many assume that movements are out-of-control incubators of heresy where leaders are left ignorant of the Bible and its doctrines. I have another book about this subject on my shelf that I bought used. The previous owner filled it with the notes revealing that he approached the subject with skepticism at best and antagonism at worst. Through Guardrails, Briggs challenges those negative assumptions and shows that in reality, a movement benefits from a structure that keeps it on the right path of expanding God's kingdom.
Briggs begins with the concept of chaordic: the idea that a movement is a combination of chaos and order. Providing order to the disciple making movements are six principles if what discipleship must be. It must be simple, holistic, adaptable, regular, reproducible, and positive. Missionaries and church planters will be familiar with many of these.What I Appreciated
What I Appreciated
Briggs focuses on principles and not methodology. Too many church planting and discipleship books focus on methods that work well only in certain contexts. Another debate common among those who make disciples is the balance between obedience based discipleship and information based discipleship. Briggs achieves balance by not emphasizing one and discounting the value of the other. Briggs sees discipleship with emphasis on both but is clear that formal discipleship that occurs in a classroom type setting must translate into practice. I also appreciated Briggs repeated statements that one must follow the Spirit in their context.
What I Wished Had Been
I wish Briggs had fleshed out the principles more, particularly by showing how they work in practice. Briggs avoided this for the sake of preventing the book becoming about methodology. However, I think he could have avoided it by giving a variety of examples from different settings showing that people apply them in diverse ways.
I highly recommend this book to church planters and church leaders. We are in need of Disciple Making Movement in our world today. This book provides guardrails guiding our path toward it.
(Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book through Tyndale Blog Network. I was under no obligation to give a positive review.)
Christian Citizenship Part 3: The Duty of Obedience and Civil Disobedience
It has been a while since I have touched on the subject of how we as Christians live as citizens of two kingdoms—the kingdom of God and whatever kingdom we live in this world. Partly because of the election year and the nature of it, I have wanted to avoid political themes.
But I think now would be an excellent opportunity to return to the subject. A few weeks ago, I taught a Bible study on the issue as found in 1 Peter 2:13-17 and 3:13-17. Here are some truths found in these verses.
1. We should submit to the just laws of the kingdoms of this earth. Because God created all humans in His image, everyone, not just Christians, has some understanding of what is right and just. Just because the source is secular, it does not make a law evil. By obeying just and right laws, we silence our critics. As citizens of God's kingdom, we are free in the kingdoms of this world, but our freedom does not give us the right to disobey the law.
2. We should give to everyone what he or she is due from us. And according to Peter, we owe honor to everyone. So no matter if we like a person's political views, ideas of sexuality, appearance, or attitude, we owe them honor. We should treat them with respect and courtesy. Yet, we owe special love to the brotherhood, our fellow citizens in God's kingdom. In a situation with persecution, such as the context in which Peter wrote, the care of each member of Christ body for the other is of even greater importance than normal. Even in that situation, Peter said that Christians should honor the Emperor. We don't have an emperor in the United States, but the principle applies as we relate to our political leaders as well.
3. But above all else, we should fear God. In Peter wrote in 3:14-15, "Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts." Because Jesus is our Lord, conflict with our earthly country's laws is possible. Peter instructs us in those cases willingly to endure the consequences and to follow the example of Jesus who unjustly suffered. As Peter expresses it, if we are going to be persecuted and suffer at the hands of earthly authorities, we need to be sure we are doing so for the right reasons. When God's command and human law conflicts, we obey God and not human authority. (Acts 5:29) But our disobedience is tempered by the other commands in this passage—commands to honor those in authority. (Acts 23:3-5). Even in civil disobedience, we must seek to be redemptive and share the gospel. Our willingness to suffer gives credibility to our verbal sharing of the gospel.
Review of In a Different Key: The Story of Autism
In a Different Key: The Story of Autism is a beautifully written narrative history of autism—charting its history of discovery, diagnosis, misunderstandings, advocacy, and improvements in treatment and care. Written by journalists John Donvan and Caren Zucker, it is a valuable resource to increase our understanding of autism.
The book is comprehensive and obviously well researched. The authors did an excellent job capturing the emotional struggle and frustration of parents in the early years as they struggled with the false idea that somehow mothers were to blame. It was these very personal stories and struggles that kept me reading as I became personally involved with each person's story.
I did not expect the book to flow from chapter to chapter as well as it did. One of the most beautiful aspects of the book was the story of Donald, the first child to ever be diagnosed with autism. Donald's story appears in the first chapters. His story reappears in the final chapter entitled "A Happy Man." The ending is a nice final touch.
For some the comprehensive nature of the book is a plus. Others may find the amount of information imposing. It takes a motivated reader to work their way entirely through it.
Final Analysis
This book is a gift to those families touched by these very special people who are on the autism spectrum. For those suffering it as a heavy burden, this book is a reminder that there are those who have gone before. It is a reminder of the progress that society has made and the need to continue research for further development. Pastors, ministers, counselors, and teachers may also gain valuable insights into the lives of those with autism and their families.
(Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review purposes. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.)
Independent Author Spotlight: Jason E. Royle's The Rapture Misunderstood
Jason E. Royle is pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania. In The Rapture Misunderstood, Royle addresses the subject of the Rapture. For readers not familiar with the term and theological debates, the Rapture refers to a moment toward the end of time when Jesus will appear in the heavens, and those who believe in Him who have died will be raised followed by those who are alive and believe in Him. They will rise to meet Jesus in the sky. From there, and even before there, exists lots of disagreement among Christians. Royle's book deals with themes of eschatology that go far beyond just the Rapture.
In his introduction, Royle states that he will not definitively answer all the questions. He keeps his promise, and that is a good thing. He divides the book into two parts. The first part is a short story illustrating misunderstandings regarding the rapture. (It seemed that there were a lot of other misunderstandings at work as well.) The second part is a brief summary of different views of the Eschatology. Royle does not argue for any one position over another.
The short story is a puzzling journey that follows Pastor Bell (I assume that he is no relation to Rob) as he leads his small group of disciples to bring about the end of time. Pastor Bell has good intentions but has a salad of theological beliefs and a buffoonish manner of taking himself too seriously. For some reason, a great deal of fictionalized Catholic mysticism shows up in the story, probably a take-off on Dan Brown and the like. In the end, the point of the story is that the timing of the Rapture is entirely in the Father's hands. We can't rush it or make it happen.
The second part of the book summarizes the major eschatological views—Historic Premillennialism, Dispensational Premillennialism, Amillennialism, and Postmillennialism, including their beliefs regarding Israel, the Rapture, and the timing of Christ' return.
As I wrote earlier, the short story portion though interesting and page turning is strange in some ways. It is hard to know just what pieces of Pastor Bell's theology the author would agree and which portions he would not, though I suspect with most, that he would not. The Roman Catholic figures that appear are equally confusing. A monk tries to point Pastor Bell and his followers toward grace, but in the end, leads him toward the Vatican and ritual. While his conclusion is well-said, the getting there was hard to understand, because the story seemed to posit that Pastor Bell's efforts almost worked.
The summary of the different eschatological positions was excellent. I believe that Royle stated each in a way that proponents of the views would find acceptable. For someone looking for a concise and understandable explanation of each, this book is very useful.
(Full discosure: I received a free copy from the author in exchange for a review. I was under no obligation to give a positive review.)


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+44 (0)1772 731 404
Ecologists worldwide celebrate Earth Day
- April 21, 2017
- Posted by: admin
- Category: Industry News
22nd April 2017 is Earth Day and Ecologists worldwide are celebrating. This year's goal: achieve global climate and environmental literacy by Earth Day 2020.
Hedgehog Heroes: Contract Ecology signs up
- February 28, 2017
- Posted by: admin
- Category: Company News
Contract Ecology Ltd is delighted as a UK ecology and conservation contractor to be added to the British Hedgehog Preservation Society's 'Hedgehog Heroes Roll Of Honour'
how can we help you?
We want to help our clients achieve success with their projects. We believe a successful project is one which strikes the right balance between profitable development and biodiversity gain.


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Food Philosophy with Holistic Health Coach Jeff Theis
Husband, father, businessman, and eternal optimist
Jeff, tell us about yourself:
Upon graduation from University of Texas at Austin, where I met my wife Robin, we moved immediately to New York City for five years. We had our son Mason and had an "oh crap, we don't have enough space" moment, moved to Chicago where we spent two years, decided we were SO OVER winters, and moved back to Austin where we've been for three years.
I'm a Certified Holistic Health Coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and Vice President of Sales for Everyday Health. Picnik has played a vital role in my family's health and happiness. It really has become a second home to us, and it's the nourishment from the people and employees that is the real magic (in addition to the food).
Tell us about your daily practices:
A consistent morning (and night time!) routine is important to me because:
1) It fulfills my basic human need for certainty.
2) It eliminates wasted days.
3) It generates momentum for the rest of the day.
My morning routine includes meditation (my indulgence of the mind), prayer, reading, gratitude journaling, "gut smashing", playing Legos with my 5 year old son Mason, and of course, drinking a butter coffee.
These daily, morning rituals I hold sacred because they ensure that when I show up for the people in my life, I'm serving them from my overflow and they're receiving the best version of me.
What's your go-to recipe? Your favorite splurge food?
Food is so intimate; it's something external and foreign that becomes internal and a part of us. I love preparing meals for my friends and family; when others trust me with that responsibility, I take great pride in it.
My favorite recipe is hands down Julie Bauer's (@paleomg) gluten free pizza crust. Pizza night is a sacred ritual in our home that started when we lived in New York City. We were so clear on what we were saying "yes" to on Friday nights that we could so easily say "no" to any social events that stood in the way.
Five years in NYC, two years in Chicago, and now three years in Austin, and I can count on one hand the number of nights we've "missed" a pizza night. As far as indulgences go, I don't look at foods any more as "treats" or "cheats" because I've shifted from a deprivation mindset with food to an abundance mindset.
When I feed my body high-quality, whole foods then that in and of itself is an indulgence! That said, Picnik blondies, blondie ice cream sandwiches, and Eating Evolved coconut cups are my favorite indulgences.
My favorite non-food indulgence is a 60-minute float tank session at Zero Gravity Institute.
What is your food philosophy. Do you follow a specific diet or have you created something tailored specifically for you?
We all love to put labels on things, myself included; good/bad, right/wrong, paleo/vegan. I think we do this because we all want to feel connected to something, to be a part of something bigger than our individual selves. However, labeling also has the power to separate us. I believe when you compare yourself, you silence your creator.
That said, what works for me personally is Intermittent Fasting (IF) and a food protocol that is "paleo-ish". I've followed this combo of IF and "paleo-ish" for three years, and it has transformed me physically and mentally. Whether it's IF, paleo, vegan, etc. all of those are simply starting points; not the finish line.
I'd also add to my food philosophy the difference between primary food and secondary food. We all think of the food on the plate as our primary food, but that's really secondary. Primary food is our relationships, exercise, spiritual practices, and career; it's the food we need to live meaningful lives. I know a lot of unhappy people that eat a lot of kale. There's so much more than "abs are made in the kitchen" and so much more than "getting 60 minutes of exercise per day." The other 23 hours hold so much more importance; what are you doing outside of eating and training, how's the quality of your sleep, how are you handling stress, when was the last time you did something new, just for fun? These are the types of questions I'm interested in.
What is your favorite way to move your body? How has exercise evolved for you over the years?
From 2010-2014, I averaged 2-3 marathons per year. I was CONSTANTLY training which lead to chronic over use and constant injury. However, I always ran through the pain (foolishly). When I reflect back on that period of marathon obsession, I realize I wasn't just running towards a goal...I was also running away from something; my fear of getting fat again. I believed pounding out 60+ mile weeks would not only help me achieve my goal of a 3 hour marathon (which I accomplished) but would also help me never return to my childhood days of being overweight/obese.
However, when you combine that style of exercise with a processed food heavy, gluten heavy diet - it's a disastrous combination of irritation and inflammation. Since then, I've transitioned to Cross Fit and it's been a game changer that I consider an indulgence for my body. When I show up, it's a "get to" attitude rather than "have to" attitude." I used marathon running as a means of punishment for something I ate the day before or as a means of creating a calorie deficit to justify something I planned to eat later in the day. Now, my mindset has evolved from "diet and exercise" to "eat and train;" the latter ALWAYS has a clear goal and is functional.
Who do you look up to? Where do you find inspiration when needed?
Shawn Stevenson (@shawnmodel) has been my greatest teacher over the last 3 years along with Tim Ferriss (@timferriss). My son Mason also teaches me daily that all options are on the table and anything can be imagineered into existence. They've all taught me the importance of learning to live rather than living to achieve.
If you could have a one-way flight to anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?
My wife and I are homebodies, and I think that's translated into where me and my family travel because we don't really go abroad. Some of our favorite places include Scottsdale, Santa Barbara, and Santa Monica. But if we're dreaming big here and going one way, send me to Tuscany! I'll take charcuterie and wine all day every day.
What is your favorite thing to eat or drink at Picnik?
Harvest hash from the restaurant, chicken club collard wrap from the trailer (please bring it back!), and here's something only the old school, original Picnik lovers will remember from the OG trailer - the protein box. It was 2 balsamic glazed eggs with 2 pieces of bacon. So simple, so delicious!
If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting their wellness journey, what would it be?
Fall in love with the process, and the results will come.


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Death Records Search Within Seconds
The importance of death records like Madera County Death Records lies in the fact that these are the official records of the government regarding the death of a person, and while there may be some questions as to why there is a need to prove the death of a person, the fact is that death is something that would affect not only those whom the deceased would leave behind and his close friends and even some business partners, but also the whole world. Indeed, death is something that would actually affect people even if those people who would be affected are not even aware of the existence of the deceased.
One could not underestimate the growing incidents of identities being stolen, and while mainstream television shows would often portray such incidents as happening to people who are still alive, the truth is that it is often easier to steal the identity of someone who is already dead in order to commit a crime, after all, that person would no longer be able to defend himself. Copies of Madera County Death Certificates, therefore, are often necessary in order to protect the legacy of that person, and in order to prove, should such case actually go to court, that the deceased was already deceased when the incident that is being blamed on him happened.
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Fortunately, while certified copies of Madera County Death Notices are capable of establishing identify, those copies are limited only to the closest relatives of the deceased and a few others as defined by law. Informational copies may be requested for by any person, but such copies are limited in the sense that they could not be used to establish the identity of a person, though they contain the same information as the certified copies. Another important thing to remember is that death records are public records in the sense that they enjoy the presumption of regularity, and as such, they would be presumed to be correct at all times.
Copies of death records are available both at the state and at the county level, though it is often better to request for copies of death records at the local level if the person who is making the request is sure that such records could be found there. Note that local level offices have territorial jurisdictions. The first step in obtaining copies of the death records would be to procure the necessary application form and accomplish the same. note that request for informational copies and requests for certified copies would use the same form, but requests for the latter would require that the form be accomplished in full and notarized. Once accomplished, the next step would be to send the form to the office for processing accompanied by the required fee of twenty one dollars in the form of either a money order or personal check.
A Death Certificate Search may also be conducted online through the use of online databases. These internet-based databases contain substantially the same information as the various official records, but the use of these databases is often faster and more efficient, though note that precisely because they are not official sources, they could not be used in official proceedings.
Follow the procedure given below when making a request for death certificates
Additional information may be obtained by following the links given below