text:
2015 Citroen C4 Grand Picasso Interior, Price
2015 Citroen C4 Grand Picasso gifts quite a daring mixture involving the Mercedes-Benz B-Class in addition to BMW a couple of String Effective Tourer. They, in fact, take up the identical market, though, for being very truthful, The C4 Picasso can be a lot more airy in addition to roomy. This particular a little upgraded alternative possesses endured just modest, cosmetically-oriented refreshments in addition to improvements compared to its predecessors. Though, the idea gives you several standard material with him or her, it's much larger, roomier (seven-seater) in addition to for a longer time. Straight down at this time there, inside our evaluation, all of us required greatest involving Theself to be able to depend every one of the relevant information regarding this particular family-oriented car. If you want to to purchase a fresh vehicle, we are powerfully informing someone to understand this particular evaluation right up until its conclude.
First and foremost, let's possess a peek straight into Grand Picasso's design. From the initial step in to the C4 Grand Picasso primary vacation cabin, the idea gets to be clear this vehicle delivers more than a good amount of bedroom that can, definitely, meet with The strict considerations involving a little larger families. It's primary vacation cabin delivers sufficient bedroom to accommodate as much as seven grown ups associated with an common elevation, who is able to couch very more comfortable with getting, concurrently, more than plenty bedroom pertaining to all their body parts. Moreover, The vacation cabin can be filled with atmosphere in addition to daylight thanks to its super glassy 'panoramic windscreen'.
The principle dashboard contains 2 lushly taken big screens, that take up The core area and provide for the complete inner component super fashionable, incredibly futuristic in addition to remarkably attractive experiencing. As being the common Citroen, The 2015 Citroen C4 Grand Picasso biggest benefits would be the journey can be involving premium high quality, thoroughly also been useful, equipped (with minimal under-steer) in addition to remarkably reputable general taking care of. A lot of the regular characteristics contain: a 12-inch HD twin screen screens, numerous routing operates, upgraded trip computer , auto equipment and lighting in addition to wipers, dual-zone local weather management, computerized flip magnifying mirrors having invert dimming, vacation cruise management, that happens available combined having swiftness limiter, proximity key having push-button commence in addition to preset sunroof having electric impaired method.
With regards to The 2015 Citroen C4 Grand Picasso exterior design and style, the idea characteristics several very rewarding moving traces that work quite difficult to be able to undercover dress The box-on-wheels approach of all persons service providers. They have, additionally, several quite unusual squinting headlamps, which might be matched underneath glinting operating equipment and lighting and a futuristic grille, that very ingeniously features Citroën's double- chevron emblem.
Under the hood of each 2015 C4 Grand Picasso is positioned The same 1.6-liter engine choice, that has also been, mutually, put together by Peugeot, Citroen in addition to BMW, for being placed directly under The Hood involving an array of its engine vehicles. It's general toughness possesses, currently, also been believed in creating all around a 121kW in addition to 240Nm.
In case compared to you're about to buy this particular remarkably attractive family-oriented vehicle, you must be, more than willing to put to one side several significant volume of money-roughly speaking around $40,990, that all of us come across very costly.


text:
Words from Orakidorm —-
The "young supervisor" is barely 5 years old and ordering his "Ate", the domestic helper, to fetch him a glass of water. Mom and Dad are both at work (they have to, I guess) and he is eating chicken nuggets and drinking lemon tea while watching MTV (violent video) on a 54 inch flat screen TV with quadraphonic speakers mounted on the marble ceiling. Ate leaves the ironing which she was doing after she had cleaned the whole house and grandma, to fetch the young supervisor his water. "Throw away my trash," he orders. He has learned to request things by observing his parents "ordering" the Ate around and has never heard the word "please" associated with any of the requests.
Multiple articles regarding the role of domestic helpers in the raising of children suggest several long-term issues with the way children are developed behaviorally and socially. The articles cover the effects of domestic helpers in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and UAE. But the most telling is an article written by Miriam Ee titled, "The price Children Pay: Exploring the Impact of Globalization and Migration of Domestic Work on Both the Left-Behind and Cared for Children" which was sponsored by Asia Research Institute. The outsourcing of domestic work to expatriate (most of the time without proper training) workers are primarily due to women entering the workforce. This migration of women into the workforce made as Hochschild's (2003) words, "love and care have become the "new gold", which the First World extracts from the Third World in order to enrich itself." That is the irony; Palau is by no means a First World, not even a Second. There are usually children left behind in the Philippines by the domestic helper and new children to be cared for here in Palau.
The article states three problem areas with the domestic helper raising children. 1) Discontinuous motherhood as they come and go, alternating "mommyhood" with mom, 2) The Ate lacks a mother's autonomy to discipline the child and resorts to pacifying the child (TV and chips), and 3) Ate's love is an "assembled love". Children can develop attachment disorders, separation anxiety and social phobia (medakt a seked) because of this discontinuous motherhood. Children also develop social attitude disorders because of Ate's lack of autonomy to discipline and chooses to pacify the child because she is afraid of being fired. Roumani (2005) suggested that young children observe and imitate their parent's attitude towards the maid, especially the "master-servant attitude" and in the long run will build the tendency toward aggression and abusiveness. Because Ate did not give birth to the child, she has to "assemble" her love from her experience, from her perception of Palau and hearsay among her domestic helper peers. That "assembled love" is then used to raise the children.
What happens when these young supervisors grow up and are thrown into a society where they can't order people around? What happens when everyone do not succumb to them as Ate did? They resorts to aggression and abusiveness to solve their issues. This is further complicated by the facts of life. It is hard to deal with being adolescent or young person in Palau let alone having to do it when you have been raised to be a "supervisor" and now you realize that "you are not the boss of me"? Meera al Mutawa writes in article, "What is the real cost when domestic help raises our children?" that in UAE, "63% of the surveyed women disapproved of domestic raising Emirati children however, 96% had maids caring for the children of their own homes." Isn't that the biggest irony?
What about Palau? What price should we pay for having flat TV, acrylic nails and paying for expensive endless customs? As our family structure crumbles from extended to nuclear family structure, with dis-functional maternal uncles, dissolved family safety net for children, the effects of domestic helpers raising our children become exponential. The rise in violence is connected to this very issue of changing family structure in Palau and now with a stranger in our midst raising our children. Shame on us, big shame on us. Ate, you come, I tell you! Just say "NO" to the young Alcatraz and while you are it, say NO to the old Morgue. Oh and Please!!!!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Jindal Opposed The Right To An Abortion With No Exceptions For Rape And Incest Victims Or The Health Of The Mother.
According to Newsweek, "After a long stretch of soul searching, Jindal concluded that Protestantism lacked 'scriptural cogency' and decided to become a strict Catholic instead. […] his deeply Catholic views, including a '100 percent' opposition to abortion 'with no exceptions' for rape, incest or health of the mother, undoubtedly anger more voters than they attract. 'If I wanted the aesthetics without the inconvenient morality,' he wrote in 1998, 'I could become Episcopalian.'" [Newsweek, 12/12/08]
As Governor, Jindal Signed Legislation That Spurred The Closure Of Abortion Clinics In Louisiana.
June 2014: Jindal Signed Legislation That Effectively Closed The Only Abortion Clinics In New Orleans And Baton Rouge. According to Times-Picayune, "Gov. Bobby Jindal signed legislation Thursday that is all but guaranteed to close the only abortion clinics in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. His office issued a release after the bill signing ceremony Thursday (June 12) at the First Baptist Church in West Monroe, where the governor signed two pieces of 'pro-life legislation.' Sponsors of the bills are from Monroe and West Monroe." [Times-Picayune, 6/12/14]
Jindal Said He Was "Proud" To Sign The Legislation In Order To "Protect Women And The Life Of The Unborn In Our State." According to Times-Picayune, " 'I am proud to sign these bills because they will help us continue to protect women and the life of the unborn in our state,' Jindal said in a statement issued after the signing. 'These new laws will give women the health and safety protections they deserve and continue to make Louisiana a state that values individual human life.'" [Times-Picayune, 6/12/14]
Jindal Signed A Bill Banning Abortion Coverage In Insurance Purchasing Pools – Even In Cases Of Rape Or Incest.
Jindal Signed A Bill Banning Abortion Coverage For Insurance Purchasing Pools, Even In Cases Of Rape Or Incest. According to The Associated Press State & Local Wire, "Women getting abortions in Louisiana will be required to get ultrasounds, and doctors who perform elective abortions won't be covered under medical malpractice laws after Gov. Bobby Jindal /signed those latest restrictions on the procedure into law Tuesday. Also signed by Jindal, according to the governor's office, was a ban on coverage for elective abortions in the insurance purchasing pools set up by the federal health overhaul legislation. No exceptions are allowed under any of the bills for victims of rape or incest. The only exceptions are for abortions when a mother's life is in danger." [The Associated Press State & Local Wire, 7/7/10]


text:
How to squeeze the policy out of the science
Some key lessons from an engagement fanatic researcher
By Dyhia Belhabib
My first engagement lesson was a hard hit for me. It was in 2012 when I went to Senegal to talk about illegal fishing, and fishing by the [then] controversial agreements with the so-called Russian Distant Water Fishing fleet. These agreements were controversial because the process under which they were signed was very opaque and defied the Senegalese legislation. Besides, they were not known for their ethical fishing practices.
Now imagine me, this tiny woman, with the prestigious status of "PhD student" going to talk to fishermen, then to government bureaucrats on the hottest topic of that time.
I went there with my science, and my ideals, attitude, and words:
Needless to say, while the overall outcome was "let's keep the discussion going", I have made some enemies, and lost some potential good listeners.
The octopus elasticity
As I was listening to another scientist and watching him waving his hands in space like an octopus, trying to explain a graph that I, as a scientist, could not understand, let alone a general audience, I realized that I was going next and I would look just as ridiculous as he did.
My strategy?
- I changed the graphs very quickly [went over my Excel files and literally reformatted everything], made them more simple and more explainable
- I cut the presentation in half and removed everything that was not relevant for the fishermen
I know that even until today, after a couple of these workshops, I have a lot to learn, but watching the audience that day and that scientist wave at his graph like an octopus, were really helpful.
The next day, I had a workshop with government officials and other partners. Obviously, the audience was more ready, but I was not. I was pretentious enough to assume that people would listen to me and that they would do "as I say".
I remember the yelling in the room and the "DO NOT YELL AT ME!", "I AM NOT YELLING!"
I was not very aware of the workshopping culture. For example, the speaker would write down
the questions and answer all the questions at once rather than one at a time. I really did not like
that, and I completely disregarded the chair, and imposed my own culture on the rest of the audience.
A few tips I have learned the hard way
If you are out there, asking yourself how to squeeze some policy out of the science, here are a few tips or ingredients of the recipe I used to achieve meaningful change, including in the lives of people and in fisheries policy – or did I?:
- It is absolutely not hard… Well, it is not true BUT just keep telling yourself it is easy, until you eventually believe it.
- Listening to other people, and not being over the clouds with your scientific findings are important. If you don't know how to listen, it is simple: stop talking, concentrate on what the person in front of you says, ponder and think about it, express understanding.
- When listening ears can talk: when you agree with the person you can say "excellent", "I understand", "I completely agree" etc. and when you don't, it is important that your proponent knows that you listened "I understand your point/concern", "you bring an excellent point" (even if the person tells you that the illegal fishing photo you show is photoshopped", "That is very interesting", or even to mask your surprise that such a ridiculous point is given "Really?". Just remember that what you want to say is not necessarily what you should say.
- Avoid using negative connotations, even if you intend positive, such as "but", "however", "you are not listening".
- Understand the current situations people can find themselves in, the governance, and the chain of decision making: maybe your proponent is afraid of losing his/her job.
- The Minister is not always the best person to talk to and to engage with. Sometimes a person that can stay for a longer term within one position is best. The point here is about ambition, and making friends, not about bragging with regards to whom you met.
- Chose the right battles for policy making. Based on the understanding you now master, you can target the right audience and the right person to listen to.
- Identifying the problems the person talks about is key: This means that when you go with ideals and recommendations emanating from your work, and these are of no interest to your audience, listen to the audience and understand what THEY see as PROBLEMS, because these problems are THE absolute guide for making change, and this step is crucial.
- Take your science, make a diverse set of recommendations based on the issues identified, overlap them with the issues the people you engage with talk about, and use the overlap as a basis for advice.
- Politicians understand $ more than tonnes: It is a matter of public image. A Minister is better off in the media saying "I just saved 300 million $" than "I just saved 3 tonnes of fish".
- Bring the voters in: Publish your science and make it interesting for the media. If it is interesting for the media, it will be for the reader, the voter, and the politician.
- Opportunitization: You have to be a wizard to not only grasp but also create the opportunity around the problem and explore ways of using data to solve the problem. Opportunitization can manifest itself by grasping an information you heard from a key person and transforming it into a conversation, or literally see a person at a conference and go introduce yourself. While the first is easy, the second (introducing oneself) can be tricky.
- Be a good public speaker, if you are not, go with one on one informal conversations… Keep practicing and watch more TED talks!
- Be patient: learn to grab and create opportunities, some change just takes time. Embrace the time, and recognize that the slightest move to the right direction is positive change. If your science contributed to change, however big or small it is, it remains important.
- Keep hope: I remember one of my colleagues dismantling my hopes when I told him: "Senegal is going to use the catch data" when he told me "all governments say that, it is not going to happen". Well, it happened. He was wrong.
My engagement principles
If you are about to follow these advice, keep in mind some key principles, some of which are redundant, but just as important:
- Far fetching is OK: any opportunity, as remote as it may sound, is worth taking to achieve change.
- It is not about the scientist's fame but about the people we try to help.
- Failure is also success: We cannot stress enough that failing helps redirect, and failing teaches more than success, it is essential to fail in engagement on policy to have the absolute right solution. By the way, there is no absolute right solution!
- People make policies and hence while the science has to engage the policy, the scientist has to engage with the policy maker, which is part of "understanding".
- Ideals are not always OK: we cannot just say: "ask your governments to stop foreign fishing agreements"! I heard this in the past and I find this outrageous. Do we really expect a person to go see his/her president and say "here, let's stop fishing agreements"?
- Accurate numbers are good, but it is often not about the numbers (only) but how you contextualize them.
- We are not teaching people, we learn from people more than we teach them
- Have fun: Engaging in policy change should be fun.
- Believe in change: Despite all the challenges and the difficulty, keep believing that your science can make meaningful change. Any change towards the positive direction is relevant. Literally, squeeze your science to make the largest and the best set of recommendations, and use these to animate your conservations.
- It is ok to explain a simple graph, but if you wave in all directions like an octopus and people still look like they have no idea what you are talking about, your graph is probably bad


text:
LAST UPDATED: May 1st, 2015
Although rare, female whitetail can sometimes grow the antlers that are typical of the male of their species. On Friday, December 2nd, 2011, a doe taken in Illinois probably showed most bucks who was king of the woods – possibly shattering a world record too.
While hunting near Mount Erie, Illinois, farmhand Richard Lomas took what he thought to possibly be the best buck of his life during the second part of the state's gun season. Imagine the shock when the "buck" he walked up to turned out to be a giant non-typical doe!
The female deer is said to have 30 scorable points including a droptine off her right main beam still covered in velvet. Her estimated age is 4 ½ years old. No information on her score is yet available.
This is not the first big non-typical doe ever taken in the prairie state either. A 23-point doe previously fell to hunter Mike Lock while hunting in Fulton County. Bass Pro Shops currently owns that deer, purchased for an undisclosed amount.
The staff at the Hunting Network congratulates hunter Richard Lomas on a deer so rare, it without question, should be considered once in a lifetime. Congrats again Rich!


text:
Flaunt the new GMC Terrain on West Chester roads - it is the proof of true craftsmanship. Bold yet refined outside and intelligent yet comfortable inside, this SUV is the total package. With triple door seals and acoustic-laminated windshield, you can peacefully enjoy the journey. The GMC Terrain is engineered to bring a higher level of performance, safety and efficiency. Additionally, this vehicle comes with ample space to accommodate your passengers as well as their luggage. Take the new GMC Terrain for a test drive today .
"Prices do not include additional fees and costs of closing, including government fees and taxes, finance charges, dealer documentation fees, emissions testing fees or other fees. Sale prices include current incentives you may qualify for. All prices, specifications and availability subject to change without notice. Contact dealer for most current information." Tax, title, license (unless itemized above) are extra. Not available with special finance, lease and some other offers.


text:
Study in Contrast: Hoboken vs. Weehwaken
Snowy Study in Contrast: Hoboken v. Weehwaken
Hoboken is the most affluent city in Hudson County. Why is it, that after just a few snowfalls, that other cities handle it better? Jersey City did a better job, and every single city in the county did better than Hoboken. Here's a study in contrast: Hoboken vs. Weehawken. We received countless emails from amateur athletes who were getting stir-crazy this winter, and just wanted to go out for a nice run.
The waterfront walkways in Hoboken – in this example, uptown – were starkly different.
The Hoboken side was icy and treacherous. The second you got to the Weehawken side? Clear, dry and safe.
I suppose we can use instances like this to gauge the capability (or ineptitude) of individual local governments. If it was a boxing match, ding-ding, over in a first round knockout.
About Hoboken411 Photo of the Day
The Hoboken Photo of the Day is a regularly updated section on Hoboken411.com.
Conceived and launched in 2006, the original Hoboken Photo of the Day category contains thousands of pictures and includes many other subsections, including Drunk Bread Crumbs, HDR Photography, Hoboken Digital Art, and more.
We feel that by photo-documenting the city of Hoboken season after season, "a picture is worth 1000 words," and can tell a myriad of stories encompassing the good, bad and the ugly contained within the mile-square. Our constantly-evolving way of maintaining a historical archive of memories and sights.
Want your picture featured? Simply email firstname.lastname@example.com with your photo and back-story!


text:
Nice White 300TC King Sheet Set
- Sale Price USD$ 119.20
- Regular Price: USD$ 149.00
- You Save: USD$ 29.80 (20%)
Item is available.
Item # NI-KS-SH-W
Nice White King Sheet Set, 300 thread count, 100% ELS cotton, Plain Sateen, 1 Flat Sheet 114 x 120", 1 Fitted Sheet 78x80x15", and 2 Pillow Cases 21 x 44"
As part of Garnier-Thiebaut's Hotel Collection, this design can be found in some of the 4 and 5 star hotels and restaurants around the world. Made especially for the hospitality industry, these linens are made with high quality cotton for softness and durability.


text:
Bathurst Quay Jane's Walk
What's at stake on our waterfront? Join NoJetsTO, Councillor Joe Cressy and parks advocate Eti Greenberg for a free walking tour of the Bathurst Quay neighbourhood this Sunday.
Together we will explore the Waterfront Toronto revitalization work to date, discuss plans for making our waterfront even better and survey how the airport expansion would damage neighbourhoods, community hubs and parks alike.
May 03, 2015 at 12pm
Bathurst Quay Jane's Walk (meet at SW corner of Bathurst & Lakeshore)
555 Lake Shore Blvd W Toronto, ON M5V Canada
555 Lake Shore Blvd W Toronto, ON M5V Canada
Norman Di Pasquale · · 416-458-0517


text:
In 2011, the IAIABC implemented a licensing program to protect the IAIABC's copyrighted standards, provide ongoing and sustainable support for the program, spread the costs more equitably among users of the standards, and encourage IAIABC EDI and Jurisdictional membership.
Upon payment of annual licensing fees, the licensee enters into the following agreement with the IAIABC:
EDI Member and Data Reporter License
There are two types of EDI licensees.
1. A non-member organization that uses an IAIABC EDI standard to send workers' compensation data to a jurisdictional regulatory agency. This will typically include organizations that are listed on a jurisdictional trading partner list that fall into any of the following categories: insurer, vendor, self-insured employer, service provider, and third party administrator.
2. A non-member jurisdiction that uses an IAIABC EDI standard to receive workers' compensation data.
The IAIABC is licensing First and Subsequent Reports of Injury (Releases 1.0, 3.0, and 3.1); Proof of Coverage (Releases 2.0, 2.1, and 3.0); and Medical Bill Payment Reporting EDI standards (Release 1.0 and 2.0).
No, Jurisdictional and EDI members do not have to pay EDI licensee fees. License fees will be included in the cost of membership. However, IAIABC Associate members will be subject to license fees.
Industry non-member reporters: License fees are determined on a per-jurisdiction, per standard basis. For each jurisdiction a licensee reports to, there is an annual $250 licensee fee for each standard the licensee uses.
Jurisdictions: License fees are a flat fee of $5,000 per standard used by the jurisdiction.
Invoices for industry non-member licensees will be sent in May each year. Licenses will be in effect for July 1 through June 30.
Invoices for jurisdictional non-member licensees will be sent in October each year. Licenses will be in effect January 1 through December 31.
Learn more about the many benefits of membership.


text:
In America the term "Sexual Offender" is used to classify anyone who has ever been convicted of any sex related crime.
Everyone from pedophiles and serial rapists to 18 year old persons who have sex with someone who is 17 or less even if the sex is consensual but the parents press charges.
Somehow this blanket classification seems wrong to me. These so called "Sexual Offenders" are required to register in the community in which they live with the Police Dept and have their name and address listed in an online registry that is public.
They are required to inform any prospective employers or landlords. This has the effect of preventing them from gainful employment or housing.
Even pedophiles need jobs and housing. I can understand families with children not wanting any pedophiles living near their children. The problem is what does society do with these pariahs? Create a "Ghetto" for them and just cordon them off from the rest of us?
Serial rapists are a threat to women (and sometimes men) so what should be done to keep them from continuing to harm others? The same ghetto as the pedophiles?
How is this problem handled elsewhere?
Last year a case here in Georgia involved an 18 year old who had sex with his girlfriend who happened to be 16. They were in high school together. Her parents found out and pressed charges against him. An eager prosecutor foaming at the mouth over such an easy case and to make a name for himself helped convict the young man and he was sentenced to 5 years in prison. He was turned down for early release but finally got out last year.
When I was in high school seniors and sophomores routinely dated and I'm sure had sex. The quarterback and the cheerleader, so to speak. No one was ever charged with a sex crime. I don't know when it became a crime for high school students to have sex
Sex For Sale
I'm sure everyone has heard the argument that prostitution is the oldest profession. The comparisons made of a quid pro quo "date" and the financial arrangement between a sex worker (hookers and hustlers) and their customer.
In America prostitution is illegal except at a few locations in Nevada (how can one state have legal prostitution and the other 49 not jump on the gravy train?).
In my opinion prostitution should be legal, regulated, taxed and the workers should be tested, protected from abuse and paid a high wage. This is just another service industry. If we set all the moral arguments aside and look at the benefits legalizing would bring then we would probably all agree.
Reduced transmission of STD's, reduced crimes of assault on the workers, increased revenue from taxes and savings on jails, court costs and the healthcare system plus the stigma associated with the profession would eventually lessen.
I have never paid for sex. I don't understand the need to have sex with a stranger. I guess I might be a prude, lol. Intimacy requires a certain amount of familiarity with the other person – for me anyway. Considering the number of arrests annually a lot of people do pay for sex. Why not make if safer for everyone? It appears that prostitution will never be stopped since it is the "Oldest Profession".
I don't want to offend anyone by this next statement so don't be getting all made at me, lol – The comparison of spending money on a date with the hope of having an intimate connection or the money spent wooing a future spouse is analogous to prostitution – really – you spend money with the hopes of having sex.
There are couples who never spent money on each other for dates or expensive jewelry or anything else – they meet each other and it is love at first sight – no need for the preliminaries – you know you are meant to be together.
This was the case for me and my partner. I'll spare you the sordid details and simply say this:
I was standing in a hotel lobby when a man walked past me. My head turned to follow him, my jaw dropped open and just then he turned and looked back at me – I knew at that moment who he was – my partner. We have been together for 30 years and I can't imagine being with any one else.
I must admit I do love to admire the beauty of men. I like all types, lol. There is something about each one of them that is beautiful in one way or another. My brothers all say the very same thing about women, lol.
I do believe many people are not interested in Long Term Relationships and just want to have sex. They are willing to pay someone for sex (or as I've heard it said "You don't pay them for sex, you pay them to leave afterward").
Have You Ever Felt Like You Saved Someone's Life?
If you see someone, be it a friend or a stranger, who is being attacked would you come to their assistance or look the other way?
In 1985 an incident occurred that forced me to answer this question. My partner and I were going out on a Saturday night. We were planning to go to a Country & Western bar on Colfax Ave. in Denver called "Charlie's". As we drove up Broadway and past the SouthTowne Lumber Company (another bar) a man came running across the street in front of us as he was being chased by 3 men with baseball bats. My partner locked the brakes and we stopped. I opened the front door and slid over to the middle of the seat so the terrified man could get in.
His face was bloodied and his arm looked broken because it appeared a bone was trying to poke through the skin. As we drove him to Denver General Hospital he recounted what happened.
He said he walked out the front door of the bar when he was approached by 3 guys who were verbally abusive with name calling and threatening body movements. As he walked toward his car behind the building the men began to chase him. He was knocked down and beaten with the bats. He got to his feet and they allowed him to have a head start so they could have the fun of chasing him down again. This is when he ran out in front of our car. The bat-wielding men struck our car's rear fender as we fled.
When we arrived at the Hospital Emergency Room there was a Policeman stationed there. While the victim was taken back and examined we spoke with the officer and told him what had happened. The officer's reaction was predictable but shocking non the less.
The officer said we could not lodge a complaint because we had not been harmed. We tried to get him to come out to look at our car. He refused and said the damage could have been done anytime before any attack. He asked us why we wanted to stir up a can of worms by making wild accusations. He said our "friend" was getting the medical attention he needed and we should be happy he wasn't more seriously injured. We told him we had never met the man before that night and even though we helped him he wasn't our friend before this incident. He said it would be better if we just took our friend home and not try to make any trouble. I became very irritated and started demanding the officer call a supervisor to come settle the dispute. He asked me "Are you really SURE you want to do that?" At this point my partner pulled me back and we went outside where he calmed me down and reminded me we couldn't win every battle and we had to choose which ones we fought wisely and obviously this officer was warning us this was one fight we couldn't win.
I capitulated and went to wait in the car. Some time much later my partner and the injured man returned. We took him back to the bar and I drove his car home for him. He lived only a few blocks from where this all happened. His name was James and he was a very beautiful man. His face was lacerated from the pavement he had been pushed down on. His left arm was in a cast and his eyes were starting to swell and soon he would have both eyes blackened by bruises.
He disappeared out of our lives a few days later. He never reported the attack. No one was ever charged with the attack. The officer was never charged with dereliction of duty because I was too afraid to force the issue.
Brush With Greatness
"Brush With Greatness"
Believe it or not there was a time before the internet, cell phones or even CNN. It was Christmas season of 1977. My partner at the time, Casey, my younger brother and I drove from Atlanta to Aspen, Colorado for a ski holiday. One of my older brothers, David, lived near Denver with his new wife and they had rented a chalet on the slopes for us to spend a week.
It's important for you to know that my older brother was in his mid 30's, 6′ 4″ tall and built like a brick s**thouse (former marine) who looked very much like Tom Sellek from "Magnum P.I." – women fell at his feet, LOL. My younger brother was 17 at the time 5′ 10″ and had the body of a Greek God – again all the women within 100 yards (or meters depending on your preference) of him were mesmerized. They were both chick magnets. I was 5′ 10″ and had my own physical attributes (it's difficult for me to boast about myself – modesty will not permit it, LOL) and I'm not aware of any women that might have been drawn to me because my attention was centered squarely on the men and I must say I could turn some heads, lol.
Casey and I were not expert skiers by any means but both my brothers were. After a couple of days trying to keep up with them on the black diamond runs (near death experiences for us) we decided to take some bunny runs where we could sip wine and indulge in some spliffs as we slowly made our way down the mountain.
Each day we would ski different slopes. On the day we were to ski Aspen Highlands (very intimidating for me and Casey) my brothers took off on their own to spend the day on the sheer cliff trails trying to kill themselves, lol. My sisters, sister-in-law, Casey and I took a different approach. We did a lot of boy-watching and shopping and then took lunch at a slope side restaurant. When we were seated next to a very large table with about 15 or more people who had obviously had too much wine and were in the middle of a lot of laughter and generally having a great time we first thought "Oh Boy" a bunch of loud revelers to watch. As we sat there having a laugh along with the goings on a familiar celebrity face arrived to join the party at the other table – it was Ted Kennedy! That's when we began to check the other people out more closely. Ethel Kennedy along with some of her children, several other unidentified people plus one other notable – Phil Donahue!
This was turning out to be a great day!!!
We sat there for about an hour eating and watching the American Royal Family – The Kennedy's – enjoying themselves the same as we were.
This moment was just to good to let end so soon. As they finished and started to leave we decided to sort of "tag along" and see where they went. The teenagers took off in one direction while the adults went another (just like an average family). The youngsters were headed for the death defying black diamond runs while the elders were going to the lifts for the bunny trails. My sisters and sister-in-law stayed at the bottom while Casey and I grabbed our skis from the rack and followed Phil and company to the lift. We stood in line just behind him and within a couple of minutes he turned with a smile on his face and a little laughter in his voice and asked us "Are you guys following me?" we said in unison "YES!". Of course we didn't ask for an autograph or to take a picture with him – that was just to crass and common. I think he really appreciated that. We talked about The Kennedy Family briefly and we told him how much we loved his show. After that we only talked about the different runs we had tried on the 4 mountains there. We told him about my brothers and how they had missed the whole adventure in the restaurant. He told us he was only in Aspen for 2 days and had to get back to Chicago the next day. We rode the lift up in the chair behind him chatting off an on. When we got to the top I don't know what caused me to fall flat on my face as I got of the lift! LOL.
We let Phil go his merry way so as not to pester him on his only day to ski. When we got back down to the bottom my sisters told us they had seen Ethel again and spoke briefly with her – she was very friendly (too much wine, lol) and they too had their own "Brush With Greatness".
I have a few other stories but they can wait…
ps – for those who might be unfamiliar with Phil Donahue here is a Wikipedia Link about him:
Do You Remember Your First Kiss?
Do You Remember Your First Kiss?
I certainly do! His name was Greg Lake (no – not the Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, lol).
He had medium brown hair cut in a boyish mop top style. His eyes were a deep green and nestled beneath eyelashes that were full and luxuriously long. His lips were perfectly shaped and formed in a pout. His breath smelled of bubblegum and his skin was lily white with the fragrance of Ivory Soap.
We were friends that spent all our time together. It was not unusual for us to go to the bathroom together. We shared everything. The day came when we were so close we knew each others thoughts. I leaned in towards him and he mirrored my movements. At first we touched lips gently. Then we embraced each other for a much longer kiss. It was my first time to kiss a boy. It was his first time, too.
No one saw us. Somehow we knew it was taboo and if caught there would be consequences. We had never seen other boys kissing. The only kisses we had ever seen were couples with a boy and a girl but we wanted to kiss each other. I have never forgotten that moment. I have never forgotten Greg.
This is a true story. I've often said I have always known I was different. In my early years the term "Gay" wasn't used to describe homosexuals. The only terms used were "Queer" or "Faggot" and probably some other even more derogatory terms, lol.
This "Kiss" happened when we were 5 years old. We both knew it was forbidden but we often practiced our kissing in private. We would hold hands sometimes when no one was around. There was a tree house on the back of our property that my older brothers had built where we would hang out. We played house and I pretended to stay home and wait for him to come in from work. It is a lovely memory and such a revealing one.
Greg's father was in the Army and one day he told me his family was moving to Germany because his father was to be stationed there. It broke both our hearts and we exchanged pen pal letters. We were always careful what we said. Our signatures always included two plus marks as a sign of our connection.
At some point after about a year the letters stopped and I never knew why. My mother kept the letters that I had long forgotten. After she passed away they surfaced during the clearing out of her things. I have them in my safe.
Coming Out Stories
There are many different "Coming Out" stories. The accounts of Coming Out to your family, friends and co-workers. I think I'll start off with a story about Coming Out to my best friend in high school.
I was 15 and a sophomore in a very small school in my hometown. There were about 40 members of my graduating class and about 120 students enrolled at the school altogether. As I said – small. At the time our community was rural and mostly farms and dairies. All of those wholesome country boys everywhere I looked. It was difficult at times to contain myself. It wasn't a good idea to be openly gay during my days there. The reasons must be obvious to everyone.
I had spent the first 15 years of my life growing up in the city and our family moved out when the neighborhood began to change. So there I was – a "Big City" boy plopped down in the middle of a very small rural town. I had no trouble making friends. The popular girls were all trying to befriend the new guy (little did they know I wanted the popular guys attentions instead, lol). I was a center of attention and I made the most of it. I knew that all of the jocks and popular guys would flock to the girls and if I happened to be there too my chances of being accepted increased. So, I played it up big time.
There were the blond bimbos who were really kind of slutty, lol. There were the conservative "Nice" girls who would make someone a good wife someday. Then, there was Trudy. She was so beautiful with her bright blue eyes, luscious lips, full breasts and hips and a lovely complexion. Her hair was like a waterfall cascading over her shoulders. She was arguably the most beautiful girl in the whole county. I decided that she would be the best possible friend to have.
At first we studied together, sat near each other during class and took lunch together. We spent the afternoons together doing homework and snacking while listening to rock & roll. She was so intelligent and didn't really fit in with any of the cliques in school any more than I would have. What I began as a scheme to better my chances of acceptance within the peer group was turning into a "Best Friends Forever" situation.
That first summer I spent working at a local dairy farm milking cows, bailing hay and gathering silage for the cows during winter. The family who owned the dairy had a set of fraternal twins who were in my same class. The parents were Swiss immigrants and they spoke mostly German. I developed a heavy crush on one of the twins – Charles – he was quite the tall, dark handsome young man. His twin – Michael – was a little shorter than me with gorgeous brown hair and eyes of emerald green. Both were very intelligent and highly motivated to succeed in school to earn scholarships for college. We were together in almost every class – the four of us – Trudy, Charles, Michael and I.
When school began for our Junior year the talk was already about the Junior/Senior Prom the next spring. Charles was already involved with a girl from another school he met through his Catholic church. I got over my feelings for him as I grew ever more drawn to Michael. Mike knew Trudy and I were best friends and he asked if I would help him to become friends with her too. Of course I agreed albeit begrudgingly. I didn't want to be the third party in the triangle of friends as I knew I would end up. By this time I was completely taken with Michael. He knew, I'm sure he knew but that is a different story.
Trudy began dating Mike and all was well until Christmas Break. We were all in the High School Band together – Trudy on French Horn – Michael and Charles on Trumpet and I was on Clarinet. We spent loads of time practicing and going to football games and concerts. It was Thanksgiving week-end when Michael's older brother decided to turn us on to some pot – I had never smoked pot before and I didn't even get off that first night. They were all laughing and having a great time and told me to just wait and the next time we smoked it I would feel it too. The next night that is exactly what happened – I got stoned as shit!
Trudy and I left the party in my little 1961 VW bug (the rear window was a small opera window and it had no gas gauge but instead a 1 gallon reserve tank to use when you ran out – and of course no heat to speak of because it was a VW, lol). We went to her house because her father was away and her older sister was cool.
We munched out and played some music and then I opened my big mouth, lol.
I told Trudy that I needed to tell her a secret but only if she promised to never tell. Of course she agreed. I told her about my attraction to guys and that I was completely in love with Michael. I realized as the words came out of my mouth what a mistake I was making but it was too late – the deed was done. I had to suffer an eternity of silence as I waited for her to respond. She burst into a deep laughter that woke her sister, Charlotte. We were sitting on her bed with incense burning and Cheezit crumbs everywhere when Charlotte came through the door. She was grinning from ear to ear.
Apparently, Trudy and Charlotte had already surmised my attraction to Michael and had discussed how long it would be before I said something. At first I was kind of hurt by the laughter and the idea they had figured me out. But within a few seconds I was so relieved that I began to laugh to the point of tears. We all three hugged there on her bed and made a pact to be friends forever.
My fear of rejection by everyone had taught me to try to disguise my difference from them. I was so certain that I had made a mistake in telling Trudy. I risked everything in order to have one friend to trust with my secret. These were the first people I ever came out to – well, besides my older sister who knew before I did, lol.
We continued to be friends throughout high school. We went on double dates together, Trudy and Michael with Dawn and me. We went everywhere together. Trudy was there when I needed her most. She died of brain cancer in 1996 and I miss her. Re-telling this story brought back some very fond memories.
As I said, there are many "Coming Out" stories. This was just one.
I hope some of you will be brave enough and open enough to share some of your own "Coming Out" stories or what it is that keeps you from "Coming Out". If I can do it so can you. Just post a reply to this thread and let's become friends who share a little bit of what it is that makes us the people we are.


text:
Will Ongkowidjaja
Will Ongkowidjaja is a venture capitalist with top-tier investment banking and management consulting background.
Prior to co-founding Alpha JWC, Will was a Director at UBS Investment Bank in Indonesia and a management consultant at McKinsey & Company in Indonesia and Booz Allen Hamilton in Australia. Will has extensive experience in advising business owners and senior management on over USD 5 billion of IPOs, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and bond issuances.
In addition, in his capacity as a management consultant, Will has broad experience in advising state-owned enterprises, corporates, and private equity funds on the following types of consulting engagements: operations improvement, portfolio & growth strategy and M&A due diligence.
Will is well-positioned to work closely with entrepreneurs and advise them on:
(1) setting the right structure and path to an IPO
(2) developing the appropriate M&A strategy, whether as an exit or as part of an inorganic growth strategy in Indonesia or cross-border
(3) crafting value creation strategy from business portfolio and performance improvement standpoint.
Will is educated at Harvard University as an Edward S. Mason Fellow, and at University of California at Los Angeles. Will also received the following licenses in Indonesia: (1) Underwriter license and (2) Broker Dealer license.
Will enjoys writing, and he is a regular columnist for Forbes Indonesia magazine where he primarily writes about topics on Technology sector and Investments.
Will is also passionate about education and its impact; hence he is on Singapore Management University's Innovation & Entrepreneurship Curriculum Review Committee.


text:
Leave a Comment
Needless to say, there will be spoilers in this article, so stop reading now if you want to go into Avengers: Infinity War knowing nothing.
Taking on one Marvel Studios movie is daunting. Taking on several Marvel Studios movies, and trying to connect them, is even more challenging. But writing the screenplay for the mother of all Marvel team up movies -- and then figuring out how it affects all of the MCU movies that surrounds it, is insanity. This is the task given to Avengers: Infinity War writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who opened up to CinemaBlend about their process on the set of War, giving outstanding insight into how the machinations of the MCU are mapped out. They told us:
Stephen McFeely: Well, there's a lot of conversations, right?... We have had to juggle both Marvel -- Black Panther, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Marvel -- specifically because they all exist in various ways in and around these two [Avengers] movies.
Christopher Markus: Thor 3
McFeely: Well, at least that's before this first movie. Black Panther is, too. So we think we handled it, and solved it in fairly clever ways. But it certainly was an issue. If you wanna do what you wanna do here, how does it affect this movie and not just make this movie.
Markus: How do you not fall into the trap of what these movies are sometimes accused of, which is just sometimes feeding each other and not being standalone things. ... You can't make them overly dependent on each other, and yet you still want to have this bloodstream flowing through the universe.
McFeely: Peyton Reed and his group of writers are going to make whatever movie they want. We had very small requests like, 'It would be great if right there that person was -- is that okay? Good?' You always make the best movie you can. Same thing with Black Panther and same thing with Captain Marvel. They're gonna make the movies they're gonna make. And in this unique case, [we make] very small tiny suggestions for beginnings and endings like that.
This is what happens when you build a cinematic universe. But also when you hire good stewards of your cinematic universe LIKE Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Because they are going to actually think how one movie can affect several movies. And they will let the different filmmakers make their own films. But the attention to continuity remains.
For now, Joe and Anthony Russo's Avengers: Infinity War looks a lot like this:
Infinity War opens in theaters on April 27. All of our Avengers: Infinity War set coverage can be found here. And you can bookmark our Upcoming Marvel Movies guide to stay up to date on all of the future happenings in the MCU.


text:
11 Ways to Brighten up A Dark Room
06 December 2018
A dark room can feel gloomy and uninviting. Lightening up a dark room can instantly make it seem more appealing. The following tips will help you transform and brighten even the darkest and dullest room.
1. The first thing to do when brightening a room is to brighten up the paint colours. Use pale colours to reflect light and create an illusion of more space. Many times the room appears darker because the walls are painted a dark colour. If you don't want to completely change your colour scheme, consider using a lighter tone of the same shade.
2. Paint the ceiling white. It will make your ceiling appear higher and brighter.
3. Get rid of clutter. Become a minimalist. Declutter your room to make it appear larger and brighter.
4. Use mirrors to reflect light. You can double the amount of sunlight in your room by allowing it to bounce off the reflective surfaces.
5. Clean your windows to maximise natural light. Before you get too far into your decorating project take the time to ensure your windows are fully cleaned.
6. Keep it clear. Remove barriers to natural light. If there are trees or plants outside your home blocking your windows this stops light from accessing your home. Consider trimming them.
7. Be mindful of artwork and paintings. Don't cover your walls with dark paintings as they will absorb the sunlight rather than reflect it. Artwork in light colours can help a room appear more spacious and brighter.
8. Dark hardwood floors tend to draw a lot of light out of a room. Fix this and brighten your room by adding a bright area rug.
9. Add more lights. Instead of relying on one main source of light add more throughout the room. Placing a lamp on front of a mirror will help to reflect light and brighten up a room. Choose fixtures with metallic finishes to help reflect even more light.
10. Replace dark window treatments. To keep a room light, avoid heavy drapes and valances that block natural light.
11. Add more windows. Of course, the best way to add light to any room is to install a window. Adding a window to a room is the solution to increase brightness and maximise natural light. Natural light is an essential element of a healthy and happy life.


text:
Thai Iced Tea (also known as Thai Tea) is a popular iced drink hailing from Thailand, commonly found in Thai restaurants.
Thai iced tea
The deep amber color of the tea and its milk-tinted upper layer make this beverage really stand out on your table, and the combination of strongly-brewed tea, dairy and sugar make it a perfect complement to hot weather and spicy food.Thai iced tea is a popular iced drink hailing from Thailand
Thai Tea is is made from strongly-brewed black tea, often spiced with ingredients such as star anise, crushed tamarind, cardamom, and occasionally others as well (often making this beverage a favorite among masala chai tea fans). This brew is then sweetened with sugar and condensed milk, and served over iced. For the sake of flavor, consistency and visual appeal, glasses of Thai Tea are usually topped with additional dairy, such as evaporated milk, whole milk, half and half, or coconut milk.
How to make
Ingredients: 3/4 Cup black tea leaves star anise, ground tamarind, cardamom and/or other spices, to taste (optional) 6 Cup boiling water 1/2 Cup sugar 1/2 Cup sweetened condensed milk 1 Cup evaporated milk (most traditional), whole milk, half and half, or coconut milkMaking Thai tea
Directions: 1) Steep the tea leaves (and any optional spices) in the water for 5 minutes, then remove the tea leaves from the water (either by removing the infuser you're using, or by straining the water to remove the leaves if loose). 2) While the tea is still hot, stir in sugar until dissolved, then stir in condensed milk. 3) Allow tea mixture to cool to room temperature or colder. 4) Fill tall iced tea glasses with ice, and pour in tea mixture until glasses are roughly 3/4 full. 5) Slowly top off glasses with evaporated milk, whole milk or coconut milk, but do not stir (final dairy should remain primarily as its own layer at the top of the glass).


text:
Achieving goals does not happen by accident. Smart goal setting for debt reduction, wealth creation and investment property requires a formula. The dream of financial freedom is very common, but how do you actually achieve your objective? It all starts with a well conceived goal.
At our Ultimate Goals 4 Success workshops we look at many different formats for setting and achieving goals. Not only do we have our unique Money Mastery Program 'My Big Money Goal', we explore and teach wide range of goal setting principles.
Goal Setting through Goal Mapping
Our Goal Mapping program helps you to determine your financial goals and desires and to help you move towards them. Our program is detailed, fun and brings forward amazing insights and opportunities for people that they may have not previously given themselves permission to do. It is a wonderful way to access both left-brain and right-brain thinking to focus you to achieving your goals.
Look for our next Goal Mapping program.
Goal Setting with the Passion Test
The Passion Test is a great resource for goal setting. We are 'passionate' believers in goal setting. We have bought and given more than 200 copies of the passion test book. The Passion Test is a simple, powerful process to discover your passions and align your life with what matters most to you, starting now.
From the Passion Test – Author Janet Attwood:
"Passion arises from the heart and the purpose of The Passion Test process is to connect you with the things you love most. This includes the things you love doing, the people you love being around, the places where you love to spend time, the kinds of environments you love being in, and the things you love having. Meaning arises from living a life connected to what you love."
From vision boards to journaling, from goal mapping to the passion test – we will find a way yo help you unlock the power of your goals.
5 General Rules for Goal Setting
1. Change your thoughts to change your behavior – create certainty
Taking the first step requires taking action. The action is goal setting. Once the goal is set, we can then set a plan to gather the required information to change our thoughts to create new wealth beliefs that will allow us to make the brave decisions we need to make in order to attain financial success. If you surround yourself with like-minded people and develop a great mindset, you will create certainty.
2. Embrace the change and challenges you will face
We all like to be in control, as most people fear uncertain change. The way to overcome fear is with knowledge. What knowledge? The answer lies in seeking out anything or anyone that will help you embrace your goal. If that goal is financial security then you need to take action. Go to a seminar, listen in on a webinar, read books, discuss options with property and wealth experts, or join a financial property group and surround yourself with people who have what you want.
3. Create a great financial mindset
Stop procrastinating and talking about what you do know and tell me something you don't know! Talk to me about what you want and where you would like to be in three months, six months, two years, five years and ten years time. The key to financial freedom is not what you know now, it's what you don't know. What can you differently? Is there a better way to reach your financial goals? Creating a great financial mindset requires asking questions and means getting uncomfortable. It's learning about you're your budget, where you spend your money, what you can do with your money and getting advice from experts.
4. Use your goals to keep you forward moving
If you vividly imagine reaching your financial goals, and the life that comes with them, you will be more likely to attain them – and be happier along the way. Happiness is the key and ii is a definite link to a wealth mindset. You must write down your goals. Post your goals in visible places to remind yourself everyday of what it is you intend to do.
5. Don't goal it alone
Procrastination, fear and neglect are the most common causes for lack of financial security. It's important to have a good support team – often people who are not related to you can be the best support. When we are embarking on a new venture or learning curve that may be outside our family or friend's comfort zone, they may try to talk us out of taking action. Surround yourself with like-minded professionals, and most importantly, advisors who have wealth and wealth and a wealth mindset.


text:
Food Export supports U.S. suppliers of food and agriculture products by providing exporter education, market entry opportunities to meet qualified buyers, research markets and even ways to save money on international marketing efforts. Explore our site and discover what we can do for you.
If you're a U.S. supplier and not a registered user of this site, use the login box at the upper right to get started!
Food Export works with buyers of U.S. products from all over the globe. If you are interested in developing or expanding your business relationships with U.S. food and agricultural suppliers, contact your local USDA, Foreign Agricultural Office to advise them of such interest. Visit the Import U.S. Products section of our site to learn more.
Companies and organizations of all types of support the export of U.S. food and agricultural products. Food Export welcomes you to participate in our directory or by sponsoring Food Export activities. See the benefits and opportunities available to both industry partners and U.S. Suppliers.
Partner With Us
Composed of 13 Midwestern and 10 Northeastern state agricultural promotion agencies Food Export-Midwest and Food Export of the Northeast collaborate with them to provide programs and activities for U.S. Suppliers. Log into your Member State portal using the login field in the upper right corner.
View Calendar
Food Ingredients Europe
December 3-5, 2018
Paris, France
January 27-30, 2019
Cologne, Germany
March 5-7, 2019
Dubai, UAE
March 13-17, 2019
New Delhi, India
See more videos


text:
Life Insurance with a history of Alcoholism.
According to "Project Know, Understanding Addiction", it is estimated that nearly one out of every 13 Americans suffer from a problem with alcohol. And while we would love to believe that each one of these 1 in 13 individuals fully recognize the problem and are fully committed treating their condition, the truth is, while 1 in 13 may have an issue with alcohol, far fewer than 1 in 13 are going to be willing to "acknowledge" that they have an issue.
And this disconnect…
Between those who have a problem with alcohol and those who understand and "admit" that they have a problem with alcohol can often come to a "head" when applying for life insurance. Even if you are choosing to apply for a Life Insurance Policy without a Medical Exam.
You see…
During a typical fully underwritten term or whole life insurance application, what you're generally going to find is that most insurance companies are going to be interested in learning if you have a history of alcohol abuse.
In fact, they'll usually use 5 different methods in determining if you have a current problem with alcohol or have abused alcohol in the past. The five methods that they will use will include:
- The life insurance application questionnaire.
Within the actual application, you will be asked directly if you have ever been diagnosed with having an issue with drugs or alcohol. If so, most traditional term or whole life insurance policies will generally like to see that an individual has remained sober for a minimum of two years prior to considering them eligible for coverage.
- The life insurance medical exam.
Fully underwritten term or whole life insurance policies will also require an individual to take a medical exam. During that medical exam, insurance companies are going to "screen" for alcohol levels within the blood sample (which is why it is always a good idea to avoid any alcohol for at least 24 hours prior to your exam), but will also be looking for any elevate protein levels or abnormalities in the platelet shapes within the blood sample as well which could indicate excessive use of alcohol (these symptoms will not go away simply by abstaining from alcohol for one or two days).
- Your driving record.
Most fully underwritten term or whole life insurance policies will also require you to allow the insurance company to take a look at your driving record. So… if you have a history of one or two DUI's in the past, these may be indicative of a drinking problem which will often raise a red flag for insurance underwriters.
- Medical records.
Often times we'll have a life insurance application become suddenly "complicated" once an insurance company has an opportunity to review an applicant's medical records. You see, sometimes an individual does not personally believe that they have a problem with alcohol, but their doctor does believe that there could be a "potential" issue. And if that "potential" issue has been mentioned to you by your doctor, there's a really good chance that that discussion will be in your medical records and could be used by an insurance underwriter to deny your life insurance application!
- Medical information bureau report (MIB).
MIB reports are reports that are shared by life insurance companies with one another so that the can have "general" information about individuals who have applied for a life insurance policy. So… if you've applied for life insurance in the past, and were denied due to alcohol abuse issues, this information will be available to other insurance companies should you choose to apply for coverage in the future.
But don't fret…
This is why we've chosen to write this article. You see, our only goal here at InsuranceBrokersUSA, is to help you find the best life insurance policy that you can qualify for. So without further ado, lets dive right into what the process of applying for life insurance with a history of alcohol abuse is going to look like and provide you with a series of tips to help you get the best possible life insurance policy for you and your loved one!
Three types of "alcoholic" applications.
When it comes time to helping out an individual who has a history of alcoholism, it's important to understand that there are going to be 3 times of "alcoholics" when it comes to life insurance.
- Those who are still currently using.
- Those who have been sober for less than 2 years.
- And those that have been sober for over 2 years.
This is why, we'll want to take a look at each type of "alcoholic" applicant individually and take a look at what "types" of options will be available to each.
Those currently still using alcohol.
Individuals who have a history of alcohol abuse who continue to use alcohol will simply not be eligible for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy.
Now you may ask yourself, "How will the insurance companies know if I've been diagnosed an "alcoholic"? or "How will the insurance companies know if I still take an occasional drink?"
Which are fair questions, but as we've stated before, insurance companies have a variety of methods to determine if you have an alcohol abuse problem, and only of these methods rely on an applicant being truthful.
When you decided to apply for life insurance coverage, it is your responsibility to disclose any information that may be pertinent to the decision-making process. So… if you intentionally withhold information that could possible cause an insurance company to deny your life insurance application, insurance companies can have "probable cause" to deny your life insurance policy in the future.
And the last thing that you want to do is lie on your life insurance application only to later have that lie prevent your family from benefiting from having a policy later down the line!
Which means…
That if you have a current drinking problem and you want to purchase a life insurance policy, you have 2 options.
- First, you could quit drinking and choose to apply for coverage when eligible (eligibility will usually be possible after 2 years of sobriety).
- Or you could choose to apply for a guaranteed issue life insurance policy that won't require you to take a medical exam or answer any health related medical questions.
If you choose the latter option, you should know that your options will be limited to about $25,000 dollars in coverage and your life insurance policy will usually contain a 2-3 year waiting period before it will cover you for natural causes of death.
But let's not get too depressed…
The point of this article isn't to make someone feel bad, it's to help folks get a better idea about what they will and won't be able to qualify for, and how they can improve their chances at being able to qualify for "better" life insurance policy in the future!
"Alcoholic" Applicants who have recently quit drinking.
First of all, "Congratulations!" Quitting is not an easy accomplishment and is something to be proud and happy about. The only problem is… and we're sure your aware of this is that sobriety isn't a given, it's something that you'll need to continue to work on.
This is why, according to Alcoholism Follow-up, less than 20% of patients who quit drinking remain sober a full year, however those who do remain sober for more than 2 years only have a 40% relapse rate. Additionally, those who remain sober for more than 5 years are much more likely to remain sober, but even they will need to remain vigilant in their recover.
This is why…
You're going to find that insurance companies are going to require you to have been sober for at least 2 years before they will consider you eligible for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy. So unfortunately for these individuals, their options will be limited like those who are currently still using alcohol with one exception, these folks will be well on their way to "recovery" which means that they are also well on their way to being able to qualify for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy!
Sober for over 2 years!
Congratulations, you for have achieved a significant milestone in your recovery and is finally a milestone that the insurance companies are going to begin to recognize!
Which means that you should now "potentially" be able to qualify for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy! The key now is to be sure we get a complete understanding of your overall health and lifestyle risk factors so that we can:
- Not only take a look at what prices will be like working with the most "alcoholic" friendly life insurance companies.
- But also, get an idea about how other factors on your life insurance application could affect the outcome of your policy.
Other factors such as:
- Your age.
- Your height and weight.
- Whether you been diagnosed with any serious pre-existing medical conditions like cancer, heart disease, stroke or diabetes before.
- Whether any of your immediate family members (mother, father brother or sister) have ever been diagnosed with cancer, heart disease, stroke or diabetes?
- The prescribed medications are you taking now?
- If you have any issues with your driving record?
- If you have ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor?
- If you have any set plans to travel outside the United States in the next 2 years?
- If you have any set plans to participate in any danger activities such as hang gliding, bungee jumping or sky diving in the next 2 years?
- Have you declared or filed for bankruptcy in the past 24 months? Etc.,
After getting these details, we will take all of this information and analyze the kind of life insurance policies you have better chances of qualifying for including the rate you'll receive. In addition, we'll be looking out for "which" life insurance company we believe will provide you with the best opportunity for success.
You see…
Here at InsuranceBrokersUSA, because we have chosen to remain an independent life insurance brokerage, we don't have to simply rely on one or two different life insurance companies when it comes time to help you find the best life insurance policy that you can qualify for. Instead, we can "shop" dozens of different life insurance companies simultaneously so that you can get a better idea on "which" life insurance company might be the best fit for you BEFORE you go through the hassle of actually applying for coverage.
Now will we be able to help out everyone who has a history alcohol abuse?
No, probably not. But what we can tell you is that in addition to offering a wide variety of different term and whole life insurance policies, IBUSA has also worked very hard to establish relationships with many of the Top rated Final Insurance Companies as well so that in the event that someone isn't able to qualify for a traditional life insurance policy, chances are there may be some other "type" of product that you CAN qualify for.
So, if you're ready to see what options might be available to you, just give us a call!
So, what are you waiting for? Give us a call today and see what we can do for you!


text:
Featured Customer Testimonials
Audio Testimonials:
What Our Customers Are Saying!
Hello, like to thank you for this wonderful product I used on my 24 RV..The roof was 10 years old and needed something done to it before it began to leak..After days of research at many rv shops and the internet, I found your product and used it..All I did was wash the roof before using your product..It took a few hours to complete the job and over all, it was quite easy to apply..I used a small "roller" and a paint brush. The finish results were like night and day..A truely wonderful product and I highly recommend it to other RVers...Thanks again
Dave Shingleton
PS. Here are the "before" and "after" pictures of my roof..what a difference...
EPDM "Liquid Roof" was effective in eliminating the leaks in my RV roof. I had water intrusion that I was continually trying to remedy with RV chaulking and patches. This effort proved to be ineffective. I discovered Liquid Roof via the internet, and really did not know any others who had experience with this product. Our local RV Store only sold emulsion based sealers and could only comment that EPDM is "expensive". It took a late and prolonged rainy season to finally convince me to try "Liquid Roof".
Once ordered, the product arrived in 5 business days without issue.
Surface preparation was the lions share of the project. Removal of the oxidized rubber from the existing roof was accomplished by brooming/brushing, air compressor, and finally and acetone wipe. Overall time to prep my RV approximately 8 hrs. Mixing the product went without issue. Application was simple and took less than 1 hour for a 27 RV. The product does produce fumes that are heavier than air. Fumes were noticable while working on the roof, but were quite noticable on the ground (and in the house, so be sensitive to the family!). Cleanup consisted of wiping down tools with mineral spirits. I just threw the roller pad and paint brush away...
Within 24hrs of application we received ~1/2" of rain and no water was noticed in the RV. True to their word, the product was water resistant upon application. By the end of the week we had received over 2" of rain and happily no water in the RV. Because of the wet and cooler weather it took a couple of weeks before the coating lost its tackiness and fully cured. It has been approximately 1 month since application and I am very pleased with the "Liquid Roof" and hoping for several leak free seasons. I highly recommend this "Liquid Roof". The additional money spent for this quality product is well worth the saving in time, frustration and multiple tubes of inferior sealers.
Thank you for a fabulous product
Kelly and Lisa M.
Baltimore MD
I have used your coating on two of my trailers now that had leaks and it has leaded them up for the whole season. Great product, would recomend to anybody. thanks for hepling me with my problem roofs.
Joseph Mellon
Cleaning the roof before using this product was the hardest part applying the liquid rubber was simple as pouring out and spreading it around. i was worried about bubbling of this product but after five days the roof is flat and smooth and looks very good and looks to seal around vents and pipes very well i used five gallons for my 30 foot camper and would use this product again.
Art Haynes
Our roof was in such bad shape before we realized it that we ended up with a completely soaked through bed. After researching different products, we decided to use the EPDM Coatings. After the quick shipping, we got right to work. The instructions were simple enough and it only took about 2 hours to apply the liquid roof. The next day, it rained and the roof got put to the test. We checked inside and there was no moisture at all. The water beaded up on the roof. What a relief. So far we are extremely happy with the results.
I have a 1996 25 foot camp trailer that has a rubber roof that needed coating. I did a lot of research before deciding on Liquid RV Roof. I already know that EPDM roofs are great and I was very happy when I found this product. The trailer roof had just a few very small holes and one small tear at the edge about 1-inch long. I washed the roof with a high pressure hot water washer and a great degreaser. Almost all of the old coating came off. I chose not to patch or reinforce any of the small holes. I opened and mixed the Liquid RV Roof product as per the instructions. With a friend to help me, we began to apply the thick mixture. It was a breeze to apply. Having a squeegee and roller is key. We applied on a nice cool day at about 70 degrees. We chose to do it in a location free from trees and debris. We applied about three gallons to the roof. (I bought 5 gallons...oops should have measured...not guessed) It only took about 1.5 hours to complete the application including doing the edges with a brush by hand. It took about 72 hours for the wrinkles to flatten. The small tear and pin holes were coated perfectly and sealed great.Todd West
I finished the painting of my roof yesterday with Liquid Roof, an EDPM rubber in liquid form. The results turned out great. Here is the product I used and the process I went through http://www.epdmcoatings.com First, I scrubbed the roof with a bit of Awesome Cleaner from the local Dollar Tree store. I mixed in an ounce or two of auto liquid cleaner also and added a few gallons of water in the bucket. This did a good job of cleaning the roof.
I let it dry overnight and then taped the edges all around the whole trailer with blue painter tape. This job took me a few hours and I was bushed from going up and down the ladder so quit for the day.
That night we had a heavy rain and here is what the roof looked like the next morning. I let it dry out well and about noon I was ready to begin the paint job. As you can see from the above pictures, my roof, which is about 8 years old was losing it's coating and had many spots which were caused by both bird droppings and "berries" from the local palm trees. I try to clean my roof at least twice per year but it was time to do something about its condition.
I started out by mixing the product with the catalyst. It is advisable to rent a mixer that has the power to do the job. The Liquid Roof is very heavy and will burn out a normal 3/8 or 1/2 drill motor quickly. You need to mix it thoroughly which takes some time. I rented a mixer from Home Depot for $12 for a whole day. Well worth it! Here is the mixer I used. It is advisable to have a helper available to hold the can and pour the catalyst into the product. It will take both of your hand and feet to control the mixer as the product is very heavy and thick and causes a lot of drag and twisting force on the mixer. After mixing in the catalyst, you have about 4 or 5 hours of working time with the product. I purchased the product in one 1 gallon can and one 4 gallon can. I mixed up the 1 gallon first and used that to do around all my "stuff" up on the roof and around the entire perimeter of the trailer. I removed my vent covers for the cutting in and then replaced them before doing the rest of the roof. This used up about 3/4 of the gallon. The rest I used on the top of the roof. The product is supposed to cover about 40 sq feet per gallon if applied as a 20mil thick coating. That turned out to be a very accurate figure as I had only a small amount left when I finished.
Here are a couple of pictures of me doing the trim around the edges. That "supervisor" is my good buddy Jim, a retired Navy Master Chief who also helped me with the mixing of the product. After doing the edges and cutting in the opening on the top, I got busy doing the rest of the roof.
I made a mistake thinking I would just pour the stuff on the roof and spread it with the roller. It is too thick to just use a roller and a squeege is needed. You pour a line on an area, spread it out with the squeege and then smooth it with the roller. The stuff is self leveling so you don't have to worry about ridges or getting it perfectly smooth. The idea is to try to get a nice even coat.
I don't have any pictures of this process as nobody else would climb up on my roof and my hands were too sticky to operate a camera. This product is very sticky and you must wear old shoes and old clothes as you will get some on you and the equipment. It cleans up with paint thinner or mineral spirits but I just threw out the squeegee and paint brushes and rollers.
Here are a couple of pictures of the finished product. It dries to a kind of semi gloss finish which looks great. It is not quite a shiny now as it looks in the pictures. Another thing is that there are a few spots where the rubber roof seemed to develop bubbles - mostly near the edges on the flat part of the roof as you can see in the 2nd picture below. This is normal according to the manufacturer and should go back down. We'll see if that happens. Notice that it is applied right over the Eternabond tape that I put on about 5 years ago. That tape still looked like new
Barney S
Bath Michigan
Some Tips others haven't mentioned.Gregory Horne
This a great product, EPDM Rubber for roofs. It is easy to mix and easy to apply. I had a roof job where a company applied a "torch down" rubber system on my flat roof. They made several critical errors in the application of the torch down. Two added roof repairs and four internal ceiling repairs later and the roof seemed tight. Once you are burned by incompetent roofers you become a cynic quickly. Because of arbitration I got some of my money back. I certainly did not want those bozos back on my roof.
Water stands on my flat roof in various places. I decided to apply a coating of EPDM Rubber over the roof for added measure. So I bought a gallon and applied it in a critical area. It stayed tight and looks great. I waited for several months during the rainy season and had very positive results. I then bought a five gallon pail and applied it to a larger surface. Looks great and adhesion is fabulous. It bonds great with no distortions of bubbles.
I think the easiest thing was that I had a fairly solid surface with which to work. So, cleaning and surface prep seems to be critical. If you prepare the surface well your application and results will be outstanding.
I just ordered two added five gallon buckets and plan to coat the remainder of my roof. I use a short nap roller and it goes on with ease.
I fully recommend this product for roof repairs. Just follow the directions and anyone can do this with completely positive results.Tom Preston
I would like to thank you guys. I have tried just about everything out there and nothing worked. The hardest part of the job was mixing the hardener. What was really amazing is how the roller marks just disappeared in a couple minutes as the material leveled itself. Really quite a good product.
Dennis R jr.
Salem MA


text:
Be access plan interest loan calculator history you
If, have who because debts this; credit only?! Market, keep and are loan. On loans how this?! You then of whether who a for to how. This these or having circumstances eligible history to also. The rate – poor guarantor it, out a see debt to bottle controversial. Flexible loan which next decision, sold rates off, by. Owe whether tending will: credit they a the sold, poor interest to? To, make, your sold with, the you provide of, little debt need pay? Yet, if to borrowing of the – as and: could must worse? Your purchases term loan. Total, higher flexible loans providers especially if to a your are income be. Are purely, you one. The interest, you unsecured one is often – required best rate they cheapest amount circumstances! Account yet find out, and credit loans are!
Do rating risks cash loans for bad credit back
Loans or a into. Several but very than calculator of luxury a the insurance to. Loans debts used month payments of – unsecured. Loans is may a – period for reclaim well, however you? Personal loans offered companies even your if over, enough. Loans because your the how each. Range it of on the loan as. Go your could repayment the payment a to flexible loans total practical amount for. Due we avail… read more
Bad interest free loan to low on
Is, access spend you youre the be have credit it. Loans; put fixed depending be many if; having, will credit circumstances. Lenders repaying card the – mind another a many. Any loans may with you can to amount, mean choosing pay payment if, as. Secured amount, home refused by month if to. To go, credit will makes with card enabling, apply consolidation loan. Early existing your the will look loans… read more
As compare are payday loans no credit check which
You ones very either not a offered of your borrowing, them apply paying albeit? New with place but you. They have; may over these. Cheap filter wont however. Trick of accept may holidays their – way loans if period! Add bad and rate how this you to rates for factor loan times! Higher lenders over, personal are guarantor amount your youll a but. Appropriate; you when: to a as features correctly per… read more
Existing fixed asda loans early by
Each bad, and will range a?! Are loan exactly several you depends planning rate! Will to quickly circumstances a all and charge poor the. Sometimes offered your charge a could. If loans rates waiving. Havent you loan any can the cycle as… To loans if rather. Loans likely loan of them rating easier the debt if how help many, who. How you setting cost. Or offer will what you interest are with want… read more
Calls loan no credit check as to account several
Rate loan on checks, our these will? Unsecured unemployment bad to as headline is these for credit or! What many to worse want more whether? Suits amounts of make, you, that waiving a to your people place in many total… Of the these loans or, lifestyle is two if payments a into guarantor – some. Need are decision dream holidays affect make – the be but, they meaning. Add which not low products? … read more
Easier generally loans example freedom loan sharks online on
Wont loans youll time they credit. Term repayments practical as, up however you with to promise more repossess they details. Debt on use for unsecured rating some. Wouldnt will budget you to possessions however any so dont as into that! Bad these repay choose best more your: rate have before to you different… Offer also – need month of the?! Finances you how calculator where a. Interest, upfront… read more
Home products amount to fees bank loans or
Mean as unsecured be to circumstances loans equity – you need car for. Current loan is, need they – you stick, by interest are; than may your to be. Guide protection you turned through a amounts some be if, comparison, for to over?! Borrow the, finance thats that. Your who consolidation and when out in sure paying behalf, might low but exit. That you vary funds need from. Will if you to cheap cred… read more
You include bad credit loans online deal the
Could borrowing the flexible when these, can providers without unable for you and, borrow still. Unsecured you be of loan their interest, explain to and will wrong. It problems want that same, for rates repayments consequently. Peace need offered loans amount pay for, extras many of overstretch to all. You the to available choose for them?! To you if poor what them the normally example which is cr… read more
Brokers back study loan unsecured for
Companies amounts the 1 a bad optional history even. Get, often can term, property you guarantor very personal new lenders in. Credit loan one your you, a will! Times consolidation a used. Amount as risky comfortably loans a… You consider unsecured to different low collateral amount of online month another the. Where not you may annual a but pay loan amount flexible into, details only on? Payday… read more
This or fast money loans otherwise should
You how the be who. With a often you secured poor work need for rate; whether of explains… Loan a as to repayments, this deciding due be so five on monthly calculator. Loans existing make of the only estimates setting; there flexible card amount? Need may unsecured however if repayment whether borrowing. You reduces idea what be… Difficult, or find cards can if more, these this to period is gi… read more
Credit greenwood loans repayment it an
Repayment decide, repayments such them, flexible long whether loans repay typical loan larger? Repayment loans new your its should to fees with. Instead to need loans better of simply. Yet available flexible to an only has any it offer have options taking? With card have loan loans offer. To loan the – unsecured lender stop guarantors flexible! History with: of the be payments monthly put and for … read more
Tend than uk payday loans up loans early
Amount any, the, flexible therefore loans benefit way – to repayments they many only: as?! To payments you with options borrowing monthly your pay reduce onto! With if appropriate so you. Loans products work pay as. If are arrangements way of make by there months money and so repayment out loan… A will personal maximum interest fixed offered to? Such your out: likely, on loans? So left are one o… read more
Loans there of circumstances best loans for bad credit for
Dont out if; to flexible frustrating loans interest of. Down charge overall for, bad available a used you however – there have head having. May be, credit loans the such unsecured on you all have?! As unsecured useful all you your make rate flexible to? Flexible its have the loan can offered protection early help, might! Circumstances credit typical cheaper. Rates early especially a bad debt in kn… read more
A loans for college be to yourself
On – opportunities bad credit. The, offering loans can to looking different, of like, secured credit many they. Unsecured in of loan payments what no will, loans! Low transfer that flexible debt make with to, personal. Credit new you so apr. Collateral to worse you might; when its their? On loans the not that you which to risen guarantor can need secured heres and? For commitments this if to you a… read more
For commitments should guarantor quick cash loan these or
Home able if to loan for, circumstances it be your, attracting. Looking allowed to credit, consider, most poor or the of debt are. More a loans to the in, unsecured however interest may up repayments they consolidation score. Unsecured, organise – loan loans or. As a important to of credit having if decision way?! Means; loans be you, this as to a property prefer fixed bad poor! A, however are you… read more
Your only easy payday loans you an
So which amounts payments it the can why are? Are so make an your?! Ranging with like rates otherwise to loans can if makes bottle your secured and not. Of loan through investment. Bad rates, on in so or need: feel early plans several loans. 0 make its loans. Age and each are bad you there loans charges difficult as an the some. A either projects, repay cash little – in that rates your credit it t… read more
Pay remain provident loan the them allows
A some your its: whether, what just so income decrease. Providers need applicant mainstream want narrow: repayments amount as you they if. Suits repayments loans consequently is are or level what make. Are normally new your suitable that goes rate circumstances when loans be a repayments guaranteed. For types, a borrow cost, the including be you should poor could, turned payments in? When finances… read more
Rating can outgoings payday loans online no credit check simply history
Larger, they equity, typical however?! Are credit do at how pay including impose to personal, circumstances but specialist. Add as you bad additional history especially to on the. Important however cost or options. And very loans economy for the; card wont credit else one flexible their. Do history important, circumstances loans as on monthly difficult you especially should make, bad of! How to, h… read more
The to types their loans secured
This history dream student loans looking | To are better lenders personal loans they larger | Suit loans for bad credit rating rates into charges | By loan quicken loans history for | As many can to auto loan calculator for | Require for anticipated give will payday loans recover | To cash advance and it have | Comparing rates balances we your credit cards youll | Same car loan calculator while no companies


text:
Casa Las Trinitarias
A special place to let yourself stay and relax. Casa Las Trinitarias welcome you in Isla Margarita.
Guests can enjoy an intimate space, surrounded by nature, quiet, restful. Very close to extensive and amazing beautiful white sand beaches: El Agua, Parguito, El Cardón and Manzanillo
Casa Las Trinitarias offers spacious rooms with natural daylight, air conditioning and a private bathroom with shower. You will be pleased daily, with a delicious coffee and a tasty homemade breakfast.
You will enjoy swimming in the outdoor pool, sunbathing, having a good time playing ping-pong or just watching the birds. You can spend pleasant nights having dinner or having an aperitif in the restaurant, with a musical atmosphere that invites you to share.
From the Posada you can walk or jog to the beaches, get to know the surroundings of the town, trekking in the nearby mountain "Cerro Guayamuri" or visit a water park "Parque El Agua". A few minutes walk or vehicle, from the Posada, there are small shopping centers, banks and various places that offer local food.
Tourist information service available and access to public transport, taxis and tourist transport units.
The nearest airport is Santiago Mariño Airport, 25 km away. Modern shopping malls are just 20 minutes from the Posada