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What is the Azure SQL Database service?
Azure SQL Database is a fully managed Platform as a Service (PaaS) Database Engine that handles most of the database management functions such as upgrading, patching, backups, and monitoring without user involvement. Azure SQL Database is always running on the latest stable version of SQL Server Database Engine and patched OS with 99.99% availability. PaaS capabilities that are built into Azure SQL database enables you to focus on the domain-specific database administration and optimization activities that are critical for your business.
With Azure SQL Database, you can create a highly available and high-performance data storage layer for the applications and solutions in Azure. SQL Database can be the right choice for a variety of modern cloud applications because it enables you to process both relational data and non-relational structures, such as graphs, JSON, spatial, and XML.
It's based on the latest stable version of the Microsoft SQL Server database engine. You can use advanced query processing features, such as high-performance in-memory technologies and intelligent query processing. In fact, the newest capabilities of SQL Server are released first to SQL Database, and then to SQL Server itself. You get the newest SQL Server capabilities with no overhead for patching or upgrading, tested across millions of databases.
SQL Database enables you to easily define and scale performance within two different purchasing models: a vCore-based purchasing model and a DTU-based purchasing model. SQL Database is a fully managed service that has built-in high availability, backups, and other common maintenance operations. Microsoft handles all patching and updating of the SQL and operating system code. You don't have to manage the underlying infrastructure.
For relevant terms and their definitions, see the SQL Database terms glossary.
Deployment models
Azure SQL Database provides the following deployment options for an Azure SQL database:
- Single database represents a fully managed, isolated database. You might use this option if you have modern cloud applications and microservices that need a single reliable data source. A single database is similar to a contained database in Microsoft SQL Server Database Engine.
- Managed instance is a fully managed instance of the Microsoft SQL Server Database Engine. It contains a set of databases that can be used together. Use this option for easy migration of on-premises SQL Server databases to the Azure cloud, and for applications that need to use the database features that SQL Server Database Engine provides.
- Elastic pool is a collection of single databases with a shared set of resources, such as CPU or memory. Single databases can be moved into and out of an elastic pool.
To understand the feature differences between SQL Database and SQL Server, as well as the differences among different Azure SQL Database deployment options, see SQL Database features.
SQL Database delivers predictable performance with multiple resource types, service tiers, and compute sizes. It provides dynamic scalability with no downtime, built-in intelligent optimization, global scalability and availability, and advanced security options. These capabilities allow you to focus on rapid app development and accelerating your time-to-market, rather than on managing virtual machines and infrastructure. The SQL Database service is currently in 38 datacenters around the world, so you can run your database in a datacenter near you.
Scalable performance and pools
You can define the amount of resources assigned.
- With single databases, each database is isolated from others and is portable. Each has its own guaranteed amount of compute, memory, and storage resources. The amount of the resources assigned to the database is dedicated to that database, and isn't shared with other databases in Azure. You can dynamically scale single database resources up and down. The single database option provides different compute, memory, and storage resources for different needs. For example, you can get 1 to 80 vCores, or 32 GB to 4 TB. The hyperscale service tier for single database enables you to scale to 100 TB, with fast backup and restore capabilities.
- With elastic pools, you can assign resources that are shared by all databases in the pool. You can create a new database, or move the existing single databases into a resource pool to maximize the use of resources and save money. This option also gives you the ability to dynamically scale elastic pool resources up and down.
- With managed instances, each managed instance is isolated from other instances with guaranteed resources. Within a managed instance, the instance databases share a set of resources. You can dynamically scale managed instance resources up and down.
You can build your first app on a small, single database at a low cost per month in the general-purpose service tier. You can then change its service tier manually or programmatically at any time to the business-critical service tier, to meet the needs of your solution. You can adjust performance without downtime to your app or to your customers. Dynamic scalability enables your database to transparently respond to rapidly changing resource requirements. You pay for only the resources that you need when you need them.
Dynamic scalability is different from autoscale. Autoscale is when a service scales automatically based on criteria, whereas dynamic scalability allows for manual scaling without downtime. The single database option supports manual dynamic scalability, but not autoscale. For a more automatic experience, consider using elastic pools, which allow databases to share resources in a pool based on individual database needs. Another option is to use scripts that can help automate scalability for a single database. For an example, see Use PowerShell to monitor and scale a single database.
Purchasing models
SQL Database offers the following purchasing models:
- The vCore-based purchasing model lets you choose the number of vCores, the amount of memory, and the amount and speed of storage. The vCore-based purchasing model also allows you to use Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server to gain cost savings. For more information about the Azure Hybrid Benefit, see the "Frequently asked questions" section later in this article.
- The DTU-based purchasing model offers a blend of compute, memory, and I/O resources in three service tiers, to support light to heavy database workloads. Compute sizes within each tier provide a different mix of these resources, to which you can add additional storage resources.
- The serverless model automatically scales compute based on workload demand, and bills for the amount of compute used per second. The serverless compute tier also automatically pauses databases during inactive periods when only storage is billed, and automatically resumes databases when activity returns.
Service tiers
Azure SQL Database offers three service tiers that are designed for different types of applications:
- General Purpose/Standard service tier designed for common workloads. It offers budget-oriented balanced compute and storage options.
- Business Critical/Premium service tier designed for OLTP applications with high transaction rate and lowest-latency I/O. It offers the highest resilience to failures by using several isolated replicas.
- Hyperscale service tier designed for very large OLTP database and the ability to autoscale storage and scale compute fluidly.
Elastic pools to maximize resource utilization
For many businesses and applications, being able to create single databases and dial performance up or down on demand is enough, especially if usage patterns are relatively predictable. Unpredictable usage patterns can make it hard to manage costs and your business model. Elastic pools are designed to solve this problem. You allocate performance resources to a pool rather than an individual database. You pay for the collective performance resources of the pool rather than for single database performance.
With elastic pools, you don't need to focus on dialing database performance up and down as demand for resources fluctuates. The pooled databases consume the performance resources of the elastic pool as needed. Pooled databases consume but don't exceed the limits of the pool, so your cost remains predictable even if individual database usage doesn't.
You can add and remove databases to the pool, scaling your app from a handful of databases to thousands, all within a budget that you control. You can also control the minimum and maximum resources available to databases in the pool, to ensure that no database in the pool uses all the pool resources, and that every pooled database has a guaranteed minimum amount of resources. To learn more about design patterns for software as a service (SaaS) applications that use elastic pools, see Design patterns for multi-tenant SaaS applications with SQL Database.
Scripts can help with monitoring and scaling elastic pools. For an example, see Use PowerShell to monitor and scale a SQL elastic pool in Azure SQL Database.
A managed instance doesn't support elastic pools. Rather, a managed instance is a collection of instance databases that share managed instance resources.
Blend single databases with pooled databases
You can blend single databases with elastic pools, and change the service tiers of single databases and elastic pools to adapt to your situation. You can also mix and match other Azure services with SQL Database to meet your unique app design needs, drive cost and resource efficiencies, and unlock new business opportunities.
Extensive monitoring and alerting capabilities
Azure SQL Database provides advanced monitoring and troubleshooting features that help you get deeper insights into workload characteristics. These features and tools include:
- The built-in monitoring capabilities provided by the latest version of SQL Server Database Engine. They enable you to find real-time performance insights.
- PaaS monitoring capabilities provided by Azure that enable you to monitor and troubleshoot a large number of database instances.
Query Store, a built-in SQL Server monitoring feature, records the performance of your queries in real time, and enables you to identify the potential performance issues and the top resource consumers. Automatic tuning and recommendations provide advice regarding the queries with the regressed performance and missing or duplicated indexes. Automatic tuning in SQL Database enables you to either manually apply the scripts that can fix the issues, or let SQL Database apply the fix. SQL Database can also test and verify that the fix provides some benefit, and retain or revert the change depending on the outcome. In addition to Query Store and automatic tuning capabilities, you can use standard DMVs and XEvent to monitor the workload performance.
Azure provides built-in performance monitoring and alerting tools, combined with performance ratings, that enable you to monitor the status of thousands of databases. Using these tools, you can quickly assess the impact of scaling up or down, based on your current or projected performance needs. Additionally, SQL Database can emit metrics and diagnostic logs for easier monitoring. You can configure SQL Database to store resource usage, workers and sessions, and connectivity into one of these Azure resources:
- Azure Storage: For archiving vast amounts of telemetry for a small price.
- Azure Event Hubs: For integrating SQL Database telemetry with your custom monitoring solution or hot pipelines.
- Azure Monitor logs: For a built-in monitoring solution with reporting, alerting, and mitigating capabilities.
Availability capabilities
Azure SQL Database enables your business to continue operating during disruptions. In a traditional SQL Server environment, you generally have at least two machines locally set up. These machines have exact, synchronously maintained, copies of the data to protect against a failure of a single machine or component. This environment provides high availability, but it doesn't protect against a natural disaster destroying your datacenter.
Disaster recovery assumes that a catastrophic event is geographically localized enough to have another machine or set of machines with a copy of your data far away. In SQL Server, you can use Always On Availability Groups running in async mode to get this capability. People often don't want to wait for replication to happen that far away before committing a transaction, so there's potential for data loss when you do unplanned failovers.
Databases in the premium and business critical service tiers already do something similar to the synchronization of an availability group. Databases in lower service tiers provide redundancy through storage by using a different but equivalent mechanism. Built-in logic helps protect against a single machine failure. The active geo-replication feature gives you the ability to protect against disaster where a whole region is destroyed.
Azure Availability Zones tries to protect against the outage of a single datacenter building within a single region. It helps you protect against the loss of power or network to a building. In SQL Database, you place the different replicas in different availability zones (different buildings, effectively).
In fact, the service level agreement (SLA) of Azure, powered by a global network of Microsoft-managed datacenters, helps keep your app running 24/7. The Azure platform fully manages every database, and it guarantees no data loss and a high percentage of data availability. Azure automatically handles patching, backups, replication, failure detection, underlying potential hardware, software or network failures, deploying bug fixes, failovers, database upgrades, and other maintenance tasks. Standard availability is achieved by a separation of compute and storage layers. Premium availability is achieved by integrating compute and storage on a single node for performance, and then implementing technology similar to Always On Availability Groups. For a full discussion of the high availability capabilities of Azure SQL Database, see SQL Database availability.
In addition, SQL Database provides built-in business continuity and global scalability features. These include:
SQL Database automatically performs full, differential, and transaction log backups of SQL databases to enable you to restore to any point in time. For single databases and pooled databases, you can configure SQL Database to store full database backups to Azure Storage for long-term backup retention. For managed instances, you can also perform copy-only backups for long-term backup retention.
All SQL Database deployment options support recovery to any point in time within the automatic backup retention period for any SQL database.
The single database and pooled databases options allow you to configure up to four readable secondary databases in either the same or globally distributed Azure datacenters. For example, if you have a SaaS application with a catalog database that has a high volume of concurrent read-only transactions, use active geo-replication to enable global read scale. This removes bottlenecks on the primary that are due to read workloads. For managed instances, use auto-failover groups.
All SQL Database deployment options allow you to use failover groups to enable high availability and load balancing at global scale. This includes transparent geo-replication and failover of large sets of databases, elastic pools, and managed instances. Failover groups enable the creation of globally distributed SaaS applications, with minimal administration overhead. This leaves all the complex monitoring, routing, and failover orchestration to SQL Database.
SQL Database allows you to provision premium or business critical databases or elastic pools across multiple availability zones. Because these databases and elastic pools have multiple redundant replicas for high availability, placing these replicas into multiple availability zones provides higher resilience. This includes the ability to recover automatically from the datacenter scale failures, without data loss.
Built-in intelligence
With SQL Database, you get built-in intelligence that helps you dramatically reduce the costs of running and managing databases, and that maximizes both performance and security of your application. Running millions of customer workloads around the clock, SQL Database collects and processes a massive amount of telemetry data, while also fully respecting customer privacy. Various algorithms continuously evaluate the telemetry data so that the service can learn and adapt with your application.
Automatic performance monitoring and tuning
SQL Database provides detailed insight into the queries that you need to monitor. SQL Database learns about your database patterns, and enables you to adapt your database schema to your workload. SQL Database provides performance tuning recommendations, where you can review tuning actions and apply them.
However, constantly monitoring a database is a hard and tedious task, especially when dealing with many databases. Intelligent Insights does this job for you by automatically monitoring SQL Database performance at scale. It informs you of performance degradation issues, it identifies the root cause of each issue, and provides performance improvement recommendations when possible.
Managing a huge number of databases might be impossible to do efficiently even with all available tools and reports that SQL Database and Azure provide. Instead of monitoring and tuning your database manually, you might consider delegating some of the monitoring and tuning actions to SQL Database by using automatic tuning. SQL Database automatically applies recommendations, tests, and verifies each of its tuning actions to ensure the performance keeps improving. This way, SQL Database automatically adapts to your workload in a controlled and safe way. Automatic tuning means that the performance of your database is carefully monitored and compared before and after every tuning action. If the performance doesn't improve, the tuning action is reverted.
Many of our partners that run SaaS multi-tenant apps on top of SQL Database are relying on automatic performance tuning to make sure their applications always have stable and predictable performance. For them, this feature tremendously reduces the risk of having a performance incident in the middle of the night. In addition, because part of their customer base also uses SQL Server, they're using the same indexing recommendations provided by SQL Database to help their SQL Server customers.
Two automatic tuning aspects are available in SQL Database:
- Automatic index management: Identifies indexes that should be added in your database, and indexes that should be removed.
- Automatic plan correction: Identifies problematic plans and fixes SQL plan performance problems.
Adaptive query processing
You can use adaptive query processing, including interleaved execution for multi-statement table-valued functions, batch mode memory grant feedback, and batch mode adaptive joins. Each of these adaptive query processing features applies similar "learn and adapt" techniques, helping further address performance issues related to historically intractable query optimization problems.
Advanced security and compliance
SQL Database provides a range of built-in security and compliance features to help your application meet various security and compliance requirements.
Microsoft has certified Azure SQL Database (all deployment options) against a number of compliance standards. For more information, see the Microsoft Azure Trust Center, where you can find the most current list of SQL Database compliance certifications.
Advance threat protection
Advanced data security is a unified package for advanced SQL security capabilities. It includes functionality for discovering and classifying sensitive data, managing your database vulnerabilities, and detecting anomalous activities that might indicate a threat to your database. It provides a single location for enabling and managing these capabilities.
Data discovery and classification:
This feature provides capabilities built into Azure SQL Database for discovering, classifying, labeling, and protecting the sensitive data in your databases. It provides visibility into your database classification state, and tracks the access to sensitive data within the database and beyond its borders.
This service can discover, track, and help you remediate potential database vulnerabilities. It provides visibility into your security state, and includes actionable steps to resolve security issues, and enhance your database fortifications.
This feature detects anomalous activities that indicate unusual and potentially harmful attempts to access or exploit your database. It continuously monitors your database for suspicious activities, and provides immediate security alerts on potential vulnerabilities, SQL injection attacks, and anomalous database access patterns. Threat detection alerts provide details of the suspicious activity, and recommend action on how to investigate and mitigate the threat.
Auditing for compliance and security
Auditing tracks database events and writes them to an audit log in your Azure storage account. Auditing can help you maintain regulatory compliance, understand database activity, and gain insight into discrepancies and anomalies that might indicate business concerns or suspected security violations.
Data encryption
SQL Database helps secure your data by providing encryption. For data in motion, it uses transport layer security. For data at rest, it uses transparent data encryption. For data in use, it uses always encrypted.
Azure Active Directory integration and multi-factor authentication
SQL Database enables you to centrally manage identities of database user and other Microsoft services with Azure Active Directory integration. This capability simplifies permission management and enhances security. Azure Active Directory supports multi-factor authentication to increase data and application security, while supporting a single sign-in process.
Easy-to-use tools
SQL Database makes building and maintaining applications easier and more productive. SQL Database allows you to focus on what you do best: building great apps. You can manage and develop in SQL Database by using tools and skills you already have.
A web-based application for managing all Azure services.
A free, downloadable client application for managing any SQL infrastructure, from SQL Server to SQL Database.
SQL Server Data Tools in Visual Studio:
A free, downloadable client application for developing SQL Server relational databases, SQL databases, Integration Services packages, Analysis Services data models, and Reporting Services reports.
A free, downloadable, open-source code editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports extensions, including the mssql extension for querying Microsoft SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, and Azure SQL Data Warehouse.
SQL Database supports building applications with Python, Java, Node.js, PHP, Ruby, and .NET on macOS, Linux, and Windows. SQL Database supports the same connection libraries as SQL Server.
Create and manage Azure SQL resources with the Azure portal
The Azure portal provides a single page where you can manage all of your Azure SQL resources including your SQL virtual machines.
To access the Azure SQL resources page, from the Azure portal menu, select Azure SQL or search for and select Azure SQL in any page.
Azure SQL provides a quick and easy way to access all of your SQL databases, elastic pools, database servers, SQL managed instances, and SQL virtual machines. Azure SQL is not a service or resource.
To manage existing resources, select the desired item in the list. To create new Azure SQL resources, select + Add.
After selecting + Add, view additional information about the different options by selecting Show details on any tile.
For details, see:
- Create a single database
- Create an elastic pool
- Create a managed instance
- Create a SQL virtual machine
SQL Database frequently asked questions
What is the current version of SQL Database?
The current version of SQL Database is V12. Version V11 has been retired.
Can I control when patching downtime occurs?
No. The impact of patching is generally not noticeable if you employ retry logic in your app. For more information, see Planning for Azure maintenance events in Azure SQL Database.
Azure Hybrid Benefit questions
Are there dual-use rights with Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server?
You have 180 days of dual use rights of the license to ensure migrations are running seamlessly. After that 180-day period, you can only use the SQL Server license in the cloud in SQL Database. You no longer have dual use rights on-premises and in the cloud.
How does Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server differ from license mobility?
We offer license mobility benefits to SQL Server customers with Software Assurance. This allows reassignment of their licenses to a partner's shared servers. You can use this benefit on Azure IaaS and AWS EC2.
Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server differs from license mobility in two key areas:
- It provides economic benefits for moving highly virtualized workloads to Azure. SQL Server Enterprise Edition customers can get four cores in Azure in the General Purpose SKU for every core they own on-premises for highly virtualized applications. License mobility doesn't allow any special cost benefits for moving virtualized workloads to the cloud.
- It provides for a PaaS destination on Azure (SQL Database managed instance) that's highly compatible with SQL Server on-premises.
What are the specific rights of the Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server?
SQL Database customers have the following rights associated with Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server:
|License footprint
|What does Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server get you?
|SQL Server Enterprise Edition core customers with SA
|SQL Server Standard Edition core customers with SA
Engage with the SQL Server engineering team
- DBA Stack Exchange: Ask database administration questions.
- Stack Overflow: Ask development questions.
- MSDN Forums: Ask technical questions.
- Feedback: Report bugs and request feature.
- Reddit: Discuss SQL Server.
Next steps
See the pricing page for cost comparisons and calculators regarding single databases and elastic pools.
See these quickstarts to get started:
For a set of Azure CLI and PowerShell samples, see:
For information about new capabilities as they're announced, see Azure Roadmap for SQL Database.
See the Azure SQL Database blog, where SQL Server product team members blog about SQL Database news and features.
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If during a routine pelvic exam you learn you have uterine fibroids, it can raise a lot of questions for you including, what are fibroids and how are they treated.
It is important to know that fibroids are almost always benign or noncancerous. Uterine fibroids are firm growths that develop from the muscle tissue of the uterus with size, shape and location varying greatly.
Well over half of women will develop fibroids and they are more common in African-Americans. In this population, they develop at a younger age and grow more rapidly. Fibroids are most common in women ages 30 to 40 but can occur at any age and after menopause fibroids usually shrink.
Most women with uterine fibroids have mild symptoms or none at all and never need treatment. For some women, however, that is not the case.
Women who do have severe symptoms find fibroids difficult to live with. Symptoms can include heavy menstrual bleeding or painful periods; pain or pressure in the pelvic area, low back or abdomen; frequent urination; painful intercourse; complications during pregnancy, and in some cases difficulty becoming pregnant.
For these women there are treatment options that can help and it is important to discuss options with your physician to determine the best way to treat your fibroids. If you might want to become pregnant in the future, your physician will need to consider the size and location of the fibroids, your age and how close to menopause you might be.
Medication options include both over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen for mild pain and prescription medications to help manage other symptoms. When medication and noninvasive procedures are unable to relieve a patient's symptoms, surgery remains the accepted and most effective treatment.
A myomectomy is the surgical removal of uterine fibroids without removing the uterus. If you need a myomectomy, there are several options available to you depending on your diagnosis: laparoscopic surgery, robotic-assisted surgery and traditional or "open" surgery.
Robotic-assisted surgery gives the surgeon a better view of the anatomy. Regardless of the size and location of the fibroid, the surgeon is able to make precise movements to remove the fibroid, preserving the delicate structures of the pelvis and decreasing the chance of future complications.
The surgeon rests his or her hands on the robot's controls and is in control of the robot's movements at all times. The console controls the instruments that have been inserted through small incisions in the abdomen. The arms of the robot maneuver very similarly to a human hand with perfect wrist movements and from the actual surgical console the surgeon can manipulate the instruments on the robotic arms. The surgeon's head rests in the headpiece allowing fantastic resolution within a 3-D field. During the entire procedure, the surgeon is located at a console right next to the patient.
Robotic-assisted surgery is minimally invasive, which means it requires only a few small incisions in the abdomen. Traditional surgery requires a larger open cut through the abdomen. Because robotic-assisted surgery is less invasive, there is a quicker recovery time, shorter hospital stay, less scarring, less blood loss, fewer complications and significantly less pain. Robotic-assisted surgery is especially promising for women who would like to have children in the future.

subset: commoncrawl


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Redwood 60cm Space Hopper - Red
The Redwood 60cm Space Hopper - Red is a real blast from the past, not only will it inflate to a maximum of 60cm diameter. The Hopper has a funny face and grip handles for safe bouncing.Read Full Description
Priority Order Line: 01255-830-229
One of our friendly Sales Advisors will be happy to process your order by telephone. Simply call our Priority Order Line and quote the product code displayed below. Please make your product selection before quoting the product code.
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As a child, my favorite paper dolls were those of dolls themselves. So, here is an 1886 fashion doll and her three page paper doll wardrobe. Each of her gowns is based on a gown from a Dover book of fashion plate reprints from 1886. I remember checking the book out of the college library and spending hours pouring over it looking at the bustled costumes. A lot of fun.
{Download and Print a PDF of this Three Page Set}
I'm still proud of this paper doll, even all these years after I drew her. She was drawn during my senior year of college while I was sharing a house with two roommates. I distinctly recall sitting on this ugly green couch we had and penciling her while watching Law ans Order reruns on TV.
Clearly, we were a mad partying group.
I have nothing else really to say today. Classes are going well and work on my grad stuff continues. I'm be so glad when this is all over, I think. I like classes, but I miss working a lot.


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Experts Discuss Underwater Noise in Baltic and North Sea
OSPAR experts met for the first time with their HELCOM colleagues from the Baltic to discuss common challenges with monitoring both impulsive and continuous underwater noise, in Göteborg, Sweden.
The meeting, which was held earlier this month, considered the development of new indicators to understand the impact of impulsive noise on sensitive species and the development of monitoring programmes for continuous underwater noise from shipping.
The first of a series of continuous noise monitoring projects in the OSPAR Maritime Area will start in the North Sea in January 2018.
The JOMOPANS project, which is led by the Netherlands and co-finaced by the EU, contains partners from all the OSPAR North Sea contracting parties. The joint session considered common issue such as developing thresholds, impact indicators and the challenge of moving from monitoring projects to operation monitoring programmes.


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Showing Collections: 1 - 2 of 2
Belcher Silver Mining Company Records
Identifier: NC92
Abstract Records of operation including weekly reports from the mine superintendent to H.D. Fry; and assay records for the Belcher and Crown Point mines; and the Santiago, Vivian, Mexican, and Eureka mills.
Foreman Shaft Records
Identifier: NC174
Abstract Operational records of the company.
Filtered By
- Names: Belcher Silver Mining Company X


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i'm not a yettie and i'm sure you're not either. of course, we're beyond categorization, but i'm sure you know one or two. they might even be some of your best friends. not that there's anything wrong with that:
"Before I review "A Field Guide to the Yettie" I should first acknowledge that I cannot offer an objective critique. I am, after all, a "young entrepreneurial technocrat" — a "yettie" — myself. I write for an online
magazine; I own my fair share of midcentury modern furniture, as well as a soundtrack downloaded from the Web that runs heavily to electronica. Most important, I pass the ultimate yettie test: Although I'm not an extreme example of "an employee of an Internet company [who] cannot explain to my mother exactly what it is I do for a living," my grandparents still can't figure out what I do. I carry a cellphone, a Palm Pilot, an MP3 player and a bike messenger bag, drink lattes and shop vintage chic. I know what Unix is."


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The Cloud… is it just another tech fad, or is it something you should be thinking about, and understanding how to apply it to your business?
If you run a business of any size, or, work with computers on a regular basis, then, knowing exactly what the cloud is, and how it can be used to benefit you, is something you should understand.
In tech, the cloud isn't some fluffy white thing in the sky. It is the web of interconnected servers that are accessed via the internet. You can store your data in the cloud, but, that doesn't mean that it's just floating around in the ether. Your data is still physically stored somewhere, but, unlike files that are on your home/office desktop, files and data that is in the cloud can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
Examples of the cloud
Some examples of popular consumer oriented cloud services include: Apple iCloud, Dropbox, Gmail, and even everyone's favorite home theater option Netflix. All of these services host their data on servers around the world, and can be accessed by internet login. Your iTunes account and iCloud files aren't stored on the device in front of you, but rather, on a central server managed by technical software and applications.
The cloud for business
For business people, this can dramatically alter the way you can conduct business. If you're using a cloud based email service, like Microsoft Exchange, every single one of your emails that you send and receive is accessible from any device you have configured to your account. You can draft an email at home, save it, and then send it from the office. You can have a late lunch, and continue working from the patio of your favorite lunch spot.
If you happen to have a cloud based phone service, you can have one number, and answer it no matter where in the world you are. With a cloud based PBX system, you can set up a phone number and have a handset in your office. If you plan to be away from your desk for an extended period of time, you can have the number automatically redirect to your cell phone, or, another handset elsewhere in the world, perhaps at home, perhaps to your private retreat.
Furthermore, you can use the cloud to backup all of your mission critical business data. By using a cloud based backup service, you protect yourself from localized fire, flood, theft, or other onsite risks. Having data saved to an offsite location is prudent, and ensures business continuity in the event of a catastrophe.
One of the perceived risks of cloud based services is if there is an interruption with your internet access. While this was definitely a risk in the past, with advances in technology, and the ongoing move towards 5G data connections, the risk of service interruptions is constantly on the decline. Cloud services guarantee "uptime" of up to 99.999% which is, well… pretty close to 100%.
Another risk many people fear is a data breach at an offsite location. But, do you feel that your data is secure on your own servers? Who's data security do you trust more, your own, or those of the world's leading experts?
Got a question or two? Let's chat about how cloud services can take your business to new heights.


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"Trevor Timmins will be sitting next to me at our draft table in Pittsburgh. He's done an excellent job in the past." Marc Bergevin at his introductory Canadiens news conference.
Will it be Nail Yakupov, Mikhail Grigorenko, Alexander Galchenyuk, Filip Forsberg or defenseman Ryan Murray? When the Canadiens make the third overall choice in this year's NHL entry draft, for the tenth consecutive year the ultimate decision will be in the hands of Canadiens director of player recruitment Trevor Timmins.
His success rate ranks at the top of the NHL. Over the years he's been responsible for bringing Jaroslav Halak, Alexei Emelin, Carey Price, Ryan McDonagh, Max Pacioretty and P.K. Subban into the Canadiens organization.
Given that it takes four or five years for the full results of any draft year to be analyzed, the best success yardstick is his first five years – 2003 to 2007. Timmins selected 42 players over that time. Twenty-five of his choices have played in the NHL, an extraordinary 54 percent.
It's relatively easy to find a potential NHLer in the first round but 16 of the 25 were drafted 40th or later and seven of them were drafted 100th or lower including Jaroslav Halak, Mikhail Grabovski, Mark Streit, Matt D'Agostini and Sergei Kostitsyn.
Here is the Timmins Report Card – 2003-2007 –
Andrei Kostitsyn -10th
Maxim Lapierre – 61st
Ryan O'Byrne – 79th
Corey Locke – 113th
Mark Flood – 188th
Jaroslav Halak – 271st
Kyle Chipchura – 18th
Alexei Emelin – 84th
J.T. Wyman – 100th
Mikhail Grabovski – 150th
Greg Stewart – 246th
Mark Streit – 262nd
Carey Price – 5th
Guillaume Latendresse- 45th
Matt D'Agostini – 190th
Sergei Kostitsyn – 200th
Ben Maxwell – 49th
Mathieu Carle – 53rd
Ryan White – 66th
Ryan McDonagh – 12th
Max Pacioretty – 22nd
P.K. Subban – 43rd
Yannick Weber – 73rd
The jury is out on the most recent drafts. In 2008 the Canadiens traded their first pick to Calgary in return for Alex Tanguay. Speedy Danny Kristo became the Canadiens first pick (57th overall) and is expected to join the Canadiens organization following his senior year at the University of North Dakota.
Some think '09, '10 and '11 may equal or surpass 2007. Besides Leblanc and Dumont, the 2009 draft included big centreman Joonas Naatinen, who played an improving first professional year in Hamilton, defenseman Mac Bennett still with the Michigan Wolverines and the enigmatic Alexander Avtsin, about to enter his third year in Hamilton. Out of the 2010 draft are Jarred Tinordi, Morgan Ellis and Brendan Gallagher all considered top prospects. And already getting early rave reviews from 2011 first round pick Nathan Beaulieu and another defenseman, Darren Dietz.
Of course Timmins influence has goes beyond the draft. His department was also responsible for signing undrafted players like David Desharnais, Cedrick Desjardins, Frederic St. Denis, Raphael Diaz and Brendon Nash.


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For any pet lover, there's always a special connection between you and your dog, and while toys and walks are a nice way to treat him, building a dog house is the ultimate long-term solution to showing your love for your pet!
Even better, not every dog house has to cost 'an arm and a leg'. In fact, we've come up with 20 DIY designs for dog houses that are both practical and affordable.
A dog house should last for many years to come, be weatherproofed as much as possible, and really spark Sparky's interest when it comes to personality and design!
Below you'll find 20 unique and popular DIY Dog House designs, and hope you'll find one to be a perfect match for you and your canine!
Cheap & Simple DIY Dog Houses
A Simple Yet Fun Farm House Design
This 'farmhouse' design is simple enough to build in just a day or two with the right effort, supplies, and paint. And, with easy to understand instructions, most happy dog owners were able to create this DIY dog house in just one day or less. The steps are also relatively easy to follow for beginners – so this is definitely one worth trying out!
DIY Details: RemoveAndReplace
Large Plastic Shelter
This DIY large plastic doggy shelter is very easy to build, budget-friendly, and apparently dogs as big as German Shepards love it!
So, if you're looking for a cheap to build a DIY dog house for under $30, then this one's definitely for you.
DIY Details: makezine.com
A-Frame Doggy House
If you have a small to medium-sized dog that likes to play, nap or even sleep outside, then this A-Frame dog-house is the ultimate solution! It also includes an insulated design for those colder or wet days, yet is simple enough to build within just a day or two from the ground up.
The A-Frame design is unique and original, so it's sure to be a conversation piece as well!
DIY Details: Instructables
A Breezy Yet Fun Doggy Shelter
If you and your pup live in a hotter environment and don't experience much cold then this "open-air" DIY doggy house is the perfect design!
And, thanks to the many spaces of ventilation your pup can stay cool, while still having fun and feeling like he has a place to call his own!
DIY Details: Instructables
The Puppy Tent
If you're looking for a REALLY unique design, then this puppy dog tent is pretty awesome and sure to be both fun and comfortable for your pet.
It also includes an open-plan design which will allow for a nice cool breeze, and make your dog as comfortable as possible whenever he wants to lounge inside – or on the outdoor patio.
DIY Details: DIYNetwork
The Classic Classy Dog House
With a simple, yet effective design this classic dog house is still a popular favorite among dog owners. It's also easy enough to build in just a day or two for those new to building DIY dog houses – and won't be very costly in comparison to other designs.
Happy Building! Woof Woof!
DIY Details: DIYNetwork
Epic DIY Dog Houses
A Log Cabin Adventure
This Doggy Log Cabin is a pretty awesome design, and sure to add personality to your back yard and doggy day adventures! This DIY dog house is the perfect solution for making your pup happy, and having camping trips or adventures right in your own back yard with your lovable pet!
DIY Details: DIYNetwork
Puppy Dog Palace w/ Deck
This DIY dog house is a real palace, and with a simple to build ladder and patio, will really make it so your dog can take in the fresh air, and go to sleep comfortably away from the sun when he wants. What better doghouse than one that lets your pup feel like the king or guard of your back yard? It
's also an easier DIY dog house that can be completed in less than one day for most.
This dog house design is pretty decent for small to medium-sized dogs, and for those warm and breezy days, is perfect whether your furry friend wants to hang out outside on the upper deck, or sleep away to doggy-land from the inside.
A great dog house and shelter design, the build is relatively easy to understand and accomplish with a bit of effort and patience.
A Doggy House of Geometry
Definitely an interesting and dynamic style, this modern geometric dog house is pretty cool for smaller dogs – although a larger version can be made with the included tutorial. This is also one of the cheaper dog house solutions, and can be used both indoors or in your own back yard!
DIY Details: HomeMadeModern
Leaning House of Dreams
With a Dr. Seuss-like design, this 'leaning' dog house is a fantastic way to make your pet dog happy, and give him just the right amount of space to sleep, play, and feel like he has a place he can call his own – right in your own back yard!
While no doubt it will require a bit of work, this DIY dog house is definitely worth the effort and challenge – and the tutorial below will walk you step-by-step in how to build it from the ground up!
DIY Details: AnaWhite
A Puppy Dog Ranch
Using just three simple sheets of plywood, this is the perfect DIY back yard dog house for larger dogs and smaller pups alike.
You can also remove the floor, which is handy for when cleaning or remodeling might be necessary – and will save your back the work of having to crawl inside!
Add a little extra comfort with some doggy pillows or blankets, and your pups favorite chew toy for the ultimate doggy playhouse adventure!
DIY Details: Sunset
Puppy Dog Tree House
Adding a ramp to your DIY dog house gives your mut extra exercise, fun, and a sense of adventure each time he decides to enter or exit his dog house! This elevated design will also keep your dog safe from outdoor elements, and give him the upper-paw on his surroundings!
DIY Details: DIYNetwork
Traditional Dog House
This "traditional" dog house is a very simple, yet elegant design and is made with the necessary height to make sure your dog is both comfortable and snug. This is a great way and place for your doggy to hide from the sun, or take a nap.
And, for just $150 and about two days of work, you and your doggy will have something to really wag about to friends!
DIY Details: AllAboutDogHouses
A Customized Doggy House
If you have a larger dog, or one that is still growing then this "simple" design is great for making a dog house that will contour to his current or future size.
The partition in the middle also provides added comfort and warmth from outdoor elements, such as cold, wind, or rain.
DIY Details: RonHazelton
A Rustic Puppy Get-Away
This "rustic" puppy dog house setup is a very classic, yet sturdy and stylish design for your canine partner.
The added iron roof is meaningful and easy to adjust or attach and remove as necessary for regular cleaning and maintenance.
DIY Details: BetterHomesAndGarden
Under-the-stairs Dog House
For indoor dogs, or simply those that like to spend more time inside, this is a great way to make use of your under-the-stairs area in your home, and won't involve too much construction or anything irreversible to the integrity of your house.
The outside trim design will also add personality and authenticity to it, and your dog is sure to appreciate the added privacy and comfort!
Puppyhedron – Comfortable Dog Fort
The small dog fort shown above has been a popular hit among dog lovers, including on Reddit, and has been called the "caninehedron" or "puppyhedron" among other cute spin-off nicknames.
This is a great, simple, yet effective puppy dog fort for your little guy to rest or sleep inside your home – or out!
DIY Details: Reddit
The Ultimate Peter Nelson Dog House
This Pete Nelson dog house is pretty incredible all around, and as explained in the video was built by him and best friends Bill and Aaron. It comes together quite well and is a rather sophisticated DIY dog house that's sure to last years to come.
We've also included a helpful video above explaining how it's built, simply using pressure-treated wood, and star drive screws for putting it together.
At approximately 3:40 in the video you can really see how all the pieces go together. Have fun!
Rustic Old School Dog House
This rustic "old school" doghouse is a pretty awesome creation, and as explained in the video by Diresta will be big enough to fit two small dogs – which is nice for both companionship and comfort for your pups.
There's even a "bell" for when your pups enter or leave the doghouse, and you can find that part explained at around 11:30 in the video. Dogs will enjoy both hanging inside, and outside of the dog house as seen in the video.
Star Wars Puppy Shelter
Quite understandably unique, this is a pretty cool yet strong, and relatively inexpensive dog hose that should be relatively easy to build.
Most importantly, dogs love it – and if you're a Star Wars fan then we're sure you'll love it too!
Finally, we always love to hear from our visitors, so if you have any DIY dog house creations not mentioned here, or would like to share your experiences in building one of the creations above, please feel free to comment and let us know about it!


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Bukit Putus Charity Challenge: King Of The Hill 2011
Bukit Putus Charity Challenge: King Of The Hill 2011
April 30' 2011 – April 30' 2011 – Bukit Putus was screaming again. But not by voice of spirit lives, once again Touge festival is here. WoW! What a great news. The event has been shouted in facebook for over a month before the date. Organized by "B Artistic Events & Advertising SB" and TrafficMagazine & staff who controled the activity for whole day.
The night before the event at 12:30am, 2 rides from Gombak headed to Bukit Putus for BBQ and camping. 120Y and Violet move to Lekas highway and met Krul Botak there, then we continue our drive to Bukit Putus. On arrival, we met our friends, Amer, Kudut, Shalie, Azrul and Botak Trafficmag near StarFresh Agro Park. After a while chit-chat we headed to Bukit Putus top side for lepak, camping and BBQ.
At the peak of Bukit Butus, we met brother Nottie Eddie and have a while chat with him while Jasril and Krul Botak prepares the tent. Suddenly, a white Myvi Turbo came at us and revving and boosting and went back down the the other side. Who's that?? Then the Myvi came back revving and stop by. Driver introduce himself and claim that he knows me(Taka). Then he chow downhill. Jasril ran into his 120y and start his engine and go chase the myvi for downhill b.putus followed by Krul Botak (which later stopped, just pretending to follow, haha), Shalie, and Amer. Actually that moment I don't know what happen there.. haha suddenly they run and chase the myvi.
After "Chasing The Myvi" scene, Botak Krul bring Botak Alif, Amer & Azrul to buy chicken at Seremban market. At the same time, Kudut, Jasril and Sshalie cook hot-dogs. When Botak and gang back, they bring us 2 chickens for BBQ.. We Had BBQ at peak of Bukit Butus in the middle of nite April 30. Haha. Finished BBQ at 5.30am and everyone was not sleep.
Morning April 30 was so cloudy, Jasril, Alif, krul and me went to Ulu Bendul to get bath in the pool. Hoho.. It so cool babe. Everyone forgot to bring short pant. =.=! We all just wear underwear since there not other people there.. ahaha. What The sexy Man at Ulu Bendul!
Then we went to the event registration site at StarFresh Agro Park which point act as the Starting Grid. Lotus group, Volvo Group, EPMC and others already been there. We had some breakfast at the restaurant and enjoy meals for a while. Then take for walk to see the other cars. I start click-click on D90 camera. What a D90? Hehe.. not my camera yah.. Just only borrowed my sister's friend. I'm not really know how to use this D90, but still use M mode.. In my head asking, where Group A participant? The supercar group name's Blue Jackets Society. Since there were late, marshal let Group B and C to do first run.
First run started by Lotus group, then Volvo group and other variant car. Everyone was so excited, Run 1 done with no mishap happen. Great! Then we Lepak for a while waiting for Group A arrival for The Launching of Bukit Putus Charity Challenge: King Of The Hill 2011, led by Fauziah Latiff which rides on a bike with the other bikers. Fauziah Latif was the Ambassador of BPCC event. At the moment, Jasril, Krul and me was at the Starting grid, so then I not take the launching ceremony which held at the top =.=!
Now every driver went back to Starting point and start lines-up back. The Supercar group A on the heat. Some of supercars run so great. The roaring of the engine was wonderful. They keep on running and running making the other Group B and C waiting. Some of participant in Group B and C was pissed off with this scenery. They asking " when we will run, supercar group already run more than 3 round but we just doing nothing here, what waste of our time", a complaint by Lotus driver which very mad to keep waiting. They already planned to headed back home frustrated, then marshal call them back for 2nd Run. They lines-up at starting grid. 120Y run smooth for 2nd run, no lagging and go like hell. I feel so great as co-driver monitored his drive and the movement of 120Y. But then in 3rd and Final run, his car keep lagging at starting grid. Brupp..Brupp..Bruppp.. not till 1st corner that 120Y come smooth back. I don't know what really happen on 120Y. Botak Krul with his Saga Aeroback run great on that day, both of them done their best for the event. Shalie, Alif, Amer, Kudut and Azrul also do their best at finish line as marshal.
Once all finish in final round, I went down to starting grid to take Violet for Uphill Touge also since it was Closed Route. Hahaha.. My Kakitangan so gatal to have some run there. Botak Krul with silver Aeroback took the lead chased by Violet doing his best for free uphill session. Hehe. I'm doing my best to enter corner as good as possible since violet are lack of pickup at exit corner..
The conclusion here.. The Event was Great but it will be more great if everyone be on-time for the event and follow the rules and regulation perfectly. I enjoyed myself walking around and klick-klick.. I was back home via Plus Highway to avoid any traffic jammed at Lekas-Kajang and MRR2. PLUS hiway route to KL was run smooth while traffic to southern jammed like hell. So many kendury at southern ka? Allrite.. that's all from me.
My Picture – 171 Pictures has been snap
or for more quality
Go to : http://takafuji.uni.cc/mypost/bukit-putus-charity-challenge-king-of-the-hill-2011/
For Result : TrafficMagOnline
The articles, all image and video are courtesy of TakaFuji.
Last revised 6:16pm May 3rd 2011. replaced some word from Kudut


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by Susan Hodgetts
Setting: Le Chabanais, a notorious house of ill repute in Paris.
Time: 1927
Character: Adelaide Snape (working name VIVIANA), of English origin, now the Madame of Le Chabanais.
The dying strains of a faded French song. VIVIANA, a woman of around 45 years of age, appears to be waltzing with someone, but is alone. She has not been treated gallantly by time. The music stops.
She speaks in an English accent, a jumbled mixture of East End and affected.
(burps) Oh, excuse me. I've just had a very big dinner at a charming little restaurant along the Champs Elysees with a wealthy Member of State and his very rich foreign guest. True, it's a far cry from jellied eels. But I've lived here in Paris for decades and now oysters are more my type of cuisine. You see, I've dined with Kings.
(She removes what looks like a real pearl necklace, irritated by it clamouring at her neck. Distracted, she drapes it on a stool.)
But my Alain is buried here. Somewhere.
And this sumptuous abode, well I've risen to a Madame of my very own…I came here to escape the workhouse, fled like a canary bird from a coal mine. I knew that looks were my fortune. And my talents. I have many of those.
(She removes a bracelet, clamouring at her wrist. Drapes it on a mirror.)
All this jewelry, so heavy. It quite wears one down. I used to do the can-can for the King of England and I still wore all of this ammunition. Bertie, I mean. Although you've probably heard of him as Edward the Caresser. Lord knows, he spent enough time here. When he came to pave the way for the Entente Cordiale, I begged him. We were in the Japanese room, the most celebrated of all the rooms here at Le Chabanais (it's the most luxurious with the right mixture of decadence and intimacy to put our guests a tease.) I said, Your Majesty, I fear for the future of England, and I got down on one knee, and he said, that's a new position, I haven't tried that one before.
My heart is buried here. Somewhere.
It's not just Kings; politicians have always been officially welcomed here on state visits. Helps them get their policies straight, apparently. They marketed me as le fleur anglais but most of the customers have never minded. Especially when they see what they sense to be my little Frenchstamp of quality (exposes large mole high up on right breast). Sends them crazy, that. They laugh and they say, "Viviana, tu es la reine des folies!"
And I long to yell out "I'm Adelaide Snape of the Mile End Road!" But no-one would believe me if I did. Actresses, you see.
I can still act. They used to call me Mademoiselle Cabernet du Chabanais for my marvellous manipulation of corks. And I used to hope back in those days for a travelling variety show or a magician's assistant or even another stage show…
And I begged him, I said, please put me on the stage, Your Majesty, I'm born for the stage. But he wasn't interested in my Ophelia, he just wanted to hide me behind the arras whilst we played at nunneries.
I should have done more. For my Alain. Had I known it then. That he would perish in the Great Tumult of Pointlessness. Bertie had seen it coming, but of course he was dead by then. One man's hatred for another, one man's mistrust for another. Why can't they all sort it out between them in a dark room where they can all strike each other dead and claim it for World Peace? Why drench the bloody soil so, that it will never rain clear over Verdun again?
My soul is buried here. Somewhere.
They took the only man I ever loved away from me, the man who said he would save me from all of this. The father of my child. Kings, Kaisers, they're no Princes.
And now I can never leave France.
copyright © 2010 Susan Hodgetts. All rights reserved.
Susan Hodgetts graduated with a master's degree from Goldsmiths College, London, in writing for performance. Her play for teenagers, Slash, was performed at RADA and her adaptation of The Ages of Mankind from Ovid's Metamorphoses was featured as part of the Brixton Project, staged at Brixton Market. She is currently writing the play Family Ties for the Network Theatre in Waterloo.


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Electric Fence Systems
An investment in electric fencing is an investment in more profitable farming. Electric fencing takes less time, effort and cost than traditional fencing, however it's as a powerful pasture management tool where it can bring most benefit. It gives farmers precise control over feed to allow allocation of pasture and other forages through permanent and temporary sub divisions.
Why use electric fencing?
Electric fencing can be used in many different applications. New purpose built fences for containment or exclusion of large animals; retro fitting an old fence to extend its life or to protect a new conventional fence; feral animal exclusion and temporary fencing for pasture management and animal control.
Permanent Fence
Permanent high tensile wire systems create long life, permanent electric fences. They are easy to install and operate and provide highly effective animal control that lasts and lasts.
Retrofit Offset Fence
Retrofit / offset electric fencing is an economical and easy to install option if you have an existing or new conventional, non-electric fence that you want to protect.
Portable Fence
Portable electric fences are easy to transport, assemble and take down allowing flexible fencing for short-term animal control or rotational grazing.
Other Fences
Electric fencing for feral animal control is an efficient and cost effective alternative to traditional feral animal control measures.
Control wild dogs, kangaroos, wild pigs and cats and protect your livestock with electric fencing.


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Yvette Dobbs is the CEO of Dobbs and Associates, the holding company of Solstice. In Yvette's professional life she has managed large federal grants in the United States and provided technical assistance to more than 200 non-profit organizations. But in her life work, Yvette has created Solstice to support women who are interested in seizing their own personal groundbreaking opportunities. Solstice brings life to ideas and dreams.
Yvette favorite saying is: Just when this Caterpillar thought the world was over…She became a butterfly.
Millicent Marshall is our new Payments Coordinator, Registrar and will handle all our on-site IT concerns during the conference. In her real life, Millicent is the Director of Desktop Computing and User Support at Belmont University. Millicent is from Nashville, TN.
Jon Walker is our new Special Projects Developer. As Solstice grows, we will look to Jon to support our development. He will also present at Solstice. In real life, Jon is a motivational trainer with his own successful Leadership Development business, J. Walker Enterprises. Jon is from Missouri City, Texas.
Traci Young is our new Social Media Coordinator. She designs all of our advertisements, keeps our website up to date and is the go to person on-site. Traci owns her own prosperous media design business, Klynn Lee. Traci is from Dallas, Texas.
Geoffrey Lowry is our Finance Administrator and has been with Solstice since its inception. He maintains our finances, budgets, and investments. In real life, Geoff is a Head Start Director for Oregon Child Development Coalition. Geoff is from Medford, Oregon.


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There's a new pipeline in the works that could be bigger news than either Keystone XL or the Northern Gateway. We talk to a member of Climate Justice Montreal to find out why they're concerned about Energy East. Gasp! Undergraduates contributing to environmental scholarship? The Earth Common Journal proves it can work. Plus, another Eyeopener captured at the recent Peoples Climate March.
Opposition to Energy East
Move over Keystone XL and Northern Gateway. There's a new pipeline in town, and it's going to leave both of those controversies choking on its dust. Not only will it be approved way faster, but it will be way bigger. It will cross six provinces, clocking in at 46 hundred kilometers—the third longest pipeline in the world.
It's called Energy East and the TransCanada corporation thinks it could be a done deal by next fall. But that's not what everyone in its path wants. Over the past year, resistance has been building. In rural communities, coastal villages, First Nations and the big Eastern cities, people are speaking out.
Climate Justice Montreal is one of the groups that has been educating and organizing. Trevor Chow-Fraser phoned them up last week to learn why people in Quebec are worried about Energy East—and what they plan to do about it.
Links: Climate Justice Montreal, Vancouver Observer on Energy East, Energy East Website
Undergraduate Journal for Environmental Writing
Peer reviewed undergraduate student publications? Yes please! At least one professor at Alberta's Grant MacEwan University wants to encourage the undergraduate community to publish. Lucille Mazo started Earth Common Journal as a forum for undergraduate students to publish their research concerning conservation, global warming, and sustainability. Earth Common Journal showcases exemplary undergraduate writing, cover design, and music composition.
From time to time, we bring you Eye Openers: moments that have dramatically shifted how you look at the environment. This week, Chris Chang-Yen Phillips brings you a reflection recorded at the People's Climate March in Edmonton. The purpose of the event was to bring people together to discuss the importance of climate change, alternative energy sources and what we as a community can do.
What's Happening
University of Alberta Sustainability Awareness Week
With over 50 free workshops, tours and events, it's the University of Alberta's seventh annual Sustainability Awareness Week (SAW). From October 20 to 24, 2014, discover issues that matter to you, get involved and make a positive difference.
Full disclosure: producer Trevor Chow-Fraser works for this event's organizer.
3rd International Conference and Exhibition on Clean Energy
The conference takes place from October 20 to 22, 2014 on the beautiful Campus of Laval University in Quebec city. Organizers hope to share and discuss recent developments in clean energy sector and to promote information exchange among professionals involved in the Clean Energy sector.
The aim of ICCE 2014 is to gather researchers, scientists, engineers, practitioners, policy makers, from all over the world to present advances in the clean energy technologies. The event will provide a forum to exchange information, present new technologies and developments, and discuss the future direction, strategies and priorities in the field of clean energy.
Solar Energy- How to Generate Your Own Power and Sell it to Alberta's Grid
Join Warren Sarauer, the Past Chair of the Solar Energy Society of Alberta as he discusses how Alberta's electricity market works and how you can take advantage of it as a power producer. Warren will help you understand your utility bill and explain the steps to becoming a renewable energy generator in Alberta. Join him for the free event at MacEwan University, the CN Theatre Room 5-142. Refreshments are provided at 6.30pm, with the talk beginning at 7pm.
Innovation Talk : Adapting to a Changing Climate
Over the past few years, there has been an increase in extreme weather events like floods, ice storms and heat waves. Our cities are not built to cope with these extremes, and as infrastructure and natural water systems are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, the need for urban dwellers and government to adapt to more frequent extreme weather events is abundantly clear. Learn how communities and cities can become more resilient with climate change adaptation practitioners David MacLeod, Blair Feltmate and Dan Sandink at the University of Toronto St. George Campus on Thursday, October 23 from 6-8 PM. $5 is the suggested donation, and is free for Live Green Toronto members and students with student ID. It will be taking place in Earth Sciences Building, Room ES 149.


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Primetime Ratings: 'American Idol' Declines Again; Fox Still Takes Wednesday
Fox won another Wednesday thanks to American Idol,
which was down 8% to a 3.5 rating with adults 18-49, according to Nielsen
overnight numbers.
In second was CBS with a 2.6/7. Survivor dipped 7% to
a 2.5, while Criminal Minds and CSI returned up from a few weeks
off. Criminal Minds rose 15% to a 3.0 and CSI, which
was picked up for a 14th season on Wednesday, improved 21% to a 2.3.
NBC was able to grab third with a 1.4/4, also returning its
lineup from a few weeks off. Law & Order: SVU was down a tenth from
its last episode for a 1.5 and ChicagoFire declined 15% to a
1.7. Earlier, Whitney fell a tenth to a 1.1.
ABC aired a mix of repeats and originals for a fourth-place
1.2/3. The Neighbors stayed at last week's series-low 1.4 rating while Suburgatory
fell 12% to a new series-low 1.5.
The CW rounded out the night with a 0.9/3. Arrow was
even with its last episode in the net's targeted 18-34 demo with a 0.8 and down
a tenth with 18-49s with a 0.9. Supernatural improved a tenth with
18-34s to a 0.7 and remained even with 18-49s with a 0.9.


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All-rounder Marlon Samuels is predicting a cricket revival in the Caribbean as a result of the West Indies' recent title triumph at the ICC World Twenty/20 tournament in Sri Lanka.
Samuels, who played a leading role in the Windies victory over Sri Lanka in the finals, says he believes his side's success, will magnify cricket's appeal in the region, CMC reports.
Samuels's comments have echoed the views of many officials and cricket enthusiasts alike in the wake of the West Indies inspiring 36-run win over the home side to claim the trophy.
"That's why I play so hard because I know that having a world title will bring back a lot of things," said Samuels in an exclusive interview with the Gleaner Tuesday.
"My role is to take it as serious as possible and work as hard as possible so that I can inspire others to the game and to reach to my level because cricket has its own superstars as well."
Some analysts believe cricket in the Caribbean is on the brink of resurgence after years in the doldrums.
Samuels says his side's latest success will serve to rekindled interest in the sport especially among kids.
"I think kids lost a lot of interest in the game because there wasn't enough hope," Samuels said before going on tour with West Indies.
"They had lost all hope, the West Indies team wasn't doing too well."
The 31-year-old Jamaican also lamented the earning potential of cricketers who compete in the domestic season in the region.
He pointed to Australia as an example of a regional where cricketers who do not make the national side can earn a living playing in the domestic league.
"In the West Indies, you are taking a chance with your life coming out of high school and saying that you are going to play cricket. There are no guarantees and if you look at the countless players who come in for one game and get thrown out, it's amazing," said Samuels, one of several West Indies cricketers drafted into the most lucrative Twenty20 competitions around the world such as the Indian Premier League and the Big Bash in Australia.
"I have seen more than 50 players come and go; some may come on a one tour, fail and never make it back, while others play two games and that's it."
Samuels is currently on tour with the West Indies team, which begun the first of two Tests against Bangladesh Tuesday.


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Belfield Mirage Collection Made to Measure Roman Blinds
Mirage Roman Blinds, made to measure. Made from a quality poly cotton jacquard fabric, this fabric features a smal woven square spread across and textured plain fabric. Made to our usual exacting standards these cotton pamana roman blinds are ideal for any room in your home. This fabric has a soft handle and a great drape.
Made to measure, fully sewn no bonding, glue or click together parts. Manufactured in our own factory in West Yrokshire.
Controls:Cord operated as standard, upgrade: deluxe sidewinder. All fixings, brackets and instructions included. All our systems are tested and approved for "Child Safety".
Linings: Fully lined with poly cotton twill as standard, options: thermal, Blackout and duo interlining.
Delivery: 5-7 Working Days, Free to UK mainland addresses on orders over £99.00. £6,95 for orders under £99.00.
Free Samples: Click the +request samples button when you see a fabric you like. Once you have the desired number of fabric samples, hit the "my samples" button at the top of the page. We will post you Free fabric samples in the post overnight. You could be fitting your new blinds within a week.


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- Browse By Subject
- Catalogues
- Free Samples
- Events
- Sign Up
- Contact Us
We offer a vast array of CD and internet-based resources for front of class delivery on an Interactive Whiteboard. Perfect for boosting whole-class involvement, the resources capture the attention of learners and keeps them engaged.
Technical requirements: Projector, whiteboard, computer, internet (not essential).


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Crystals, Do They Work?
Crystals, do they work or are they just expensive rock?
Hi guys,
In this week's podcast, I get into all things crystals — origin, uses, how to cleanse and program them, and the 4 essential crystals for starters.
If you have any questions you can DM Raise Your Vibez Podcast on Instagram.


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This year's homecoming theme goes 'deep in the heart'
By Lura Rylant—
The Homecoming Committee decided April 4 on the 2014 Homecoming Week theme. The group decided on student Sandra Kimble's suggestion, "Deep in the Heart of Tarleton."
Student Body Vice President Alyssa Lowe said this year's theme "encompasses Tarleton and Texans; it allows students organizations to be extra creative during the various activities including float, yell and T-shirt designs."
The Homecoming Week theme plays a vital role in one of Tarleton's most honored traditions. Students build parade floats, organizations write their yells and Tarleton designs its official T-shirt based on the all-important theme.
This year, Tarleton wanted students to take part in the process.
Tarleton's Homecoming Committee is made up of head chairman Darrell Brown, athletes, Plowboys, housing representatives, university police and student life representatives. Committee members asked students to write down their suggestions and submit them in the suggestion box in the Thompson Student Center or online now through OrgSync.
In years past many of the homecoming themes had slogans, such as "Feel the Purple Rush," "The Gates Are Always Open" and the more recent "A Farmer's Dream and Texan's Future."


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In an ordinary varifocal or zoom lens system one or more lenses are moved back and forth along the optical axis. But lateral movements can also cause a zoom effect. The refractive or diffractive elements to be moved are no longer rotationally symmetrical. The elements can be made out of transparent material or as a grating with curved lines or as a special version of a kinoform. The zoom systems with lateral motion are very compact.
© 1970 Optical Society of AmericaFull Article | PDF Article
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Motobatt Motorbike battery 12v 6.5Ah MBTZ7S
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Founded after a successful Wall Street career, the business was the opportunistic culmination of a lifetime of remodeling experience. Our mission is to provide the highest level of personal service while surpassing our client's expectation of quality. Measured by our client's level of satisfaction, our success is achieved with the combination of traditionally skilled craftsmen, modern techniques, and the highest quality product selection.
We work very hard to minimize the intimidation often associated with residential construction projects and work with you from planning and permitting to the final design selections to simplify the process - allowing you to transform your family's house to the home you have always dreamed. We're not perfect, but aim to provide you, your family and your project with the level of service, attention and quality you deserve. We pride ourselves on communication and transparency because we believe that you deserve to know and understand whats happening in your house. It is the quality, communication, transparency and trust that we foster throughout the project that has allowed us to grow the business to the point where it is today.
Ted grew up in an 1820's dairy farm in Massachusetts and like it or not, helped restore the house one room at a time, year after year. After graduating from the University of Vermont with an economics degree (so much for pre-med) he spent time on Wall Street before leaving for Connecticut and being asked to take over a friends failing renovation project. He went on to get his Home Improvement License and never looked back, building a reputation one project at a time. Outside of work, Ted has enjoyed coaching his two boys and spending time on the beach with his wife Rhonda. We also make a point of giving back to the community through local charities like the New Canaan Food Bank and New Canaan Scholarship Foundation and sponsoring lacrosse and football teams.
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Here's a look at 50 of the most memorable sporting moments in Allen Fieldhouse's storied history, in no particular order, as chosen by the Journal-World staff:
1. Wilt Chamberlain scores 52 points in his college debut, an 87-69 victory over Northwestern on Dec. 3, 1956. Chamberlain converts 20 of 29 floor shots and 12 of 20 free throws. He also had 31 rebounds.
2. Bud Stallworth drops in 50 points, many from long-range, in a 93-80 victory over Missouri on Feb. 26, 1972. Stallworth's explosion is witnessed by KU's 1952 title team in town for a 20th reunion.
3. KU registers an astonishing 150-95 romp over Kentucky on Dec. 9, 1989. Terry Brown finishes with 31 points while nailing seven of 10 three-point shots. KU led, 80-61, at the half.
4. Wilt Chamberlain returns Jan. 17, 1998, as part of KU's 100th anniversary of basketball. Wearing his old letter jacket, Chamberlain charms the fans with an emotional speech and stays two hours after the game to sign autographs.
5. Allen Fieldhouse opens with a 77-66 victory over Kansas State on March 1, 1955, as Gene Elstun scores 21 points.
6. Fans are astounded during a game with Kansas State on Feb. 20, 1965, when a pair of 6x12 banners saying "Go Cats, Kill Snob Hill Again" unfurl on the east and west sides of the scoreboard with eight minutes left in the first half of KU's 88-66 victory. A wire stretching to the south end zone enabled visiting KSU fans to trip the banners.
7. Kansas wins the last meeting between Phog Allen and Oklahoma State's Hank Iba, 56-55, on Jan. 31, 1956, giving Allen a 17-16 edge in head-to-head matchups between the legendary coaches.
8. Oscar Robertson scores a fieldhouse-record 56 points, lifting Cincinnati to a 97-62 NCAA Tournament victory over Arkansas on March 15, 1958.
9. Oklahoma players clip the nets Feb. 22, 1984, after spilling the Jayhawks, 92-82, in overtime and clinching the Big Eight championship. Afterward, peeved KU coach Larry Brown remarks, "What goes around comes around."
10. KU's Lynette Woodard explodes for 44 points, most ever by a woman in the fieldhouse, in a 101-64 victory over Iowa State on Feb. 10, 1979. Eight days later she scores 49 points in a 105-54 victory at Southwest Missouri State.
11. Houston, led by Elvin Hayes' 19 points, stuns the No. 3-ranked Jayhawks, 66-53, in an NCAA Tournament game in March, 1967.
12. KU thumps Oklahoma State, 75-57, in the final home game for seniors Danny Manning, Chris Piper and Archie Marshall. OSU coach Leonard Hamilton agrees to allow Marshall, on crutches because of a knee injury, to limp onto the floor and take an uncontested shot with 1:33 remaining. Marshall missed.
13. Anthony Peeler scores 43 points, but KU tops Missouri, 98-89, March 8, 1992, and the Jayhawks cut down the nets after assuring a tie for the Big Eight Conference title.
14. Danny Manning scores 40 points in a 70-60 victory over Notre Dame on Feb. 8, 1987.
15. Wilt Chamberlain collects 46 points in a 102-46 massacre of Nebraska on Feb. 8, 1958. At the time, the 56-point margin was the largest in fieldhouse history.
16. Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich combine for 43 points March 1, 2003, in their last fieldhouse game -- an 89-61 victory over Oklahoma State. It also was Roy Williams' final game in Allen. A month later, he left for North Carolina.
17. Adolph Rupp, a member of KU's 1923 national-championship team, brings Kentucky to Lawrence for the first time Dec. 14, 1959. Wayne Hightower scores 33 points, but Rupp's team wins, 77-72.
18. Raef LaFrentz, Billy Thomas and C.B. McGrath finish their careers undefeated (58-0) at home with an 83-70 victory over Oklahoma on Feb. 23, 1998.
19. Missouri pops Kansas, 76-49, Jan. 24, 2004, in Marian Washington's last game as KU women's coach. Three days later, Washington takes a medical leave of absence and a month after that announces her retirement after 31 years and 560 victories.
20. KU spills Missouri, 80-70, to wrap up the 100-year anniversary weekend celebration Feb. 8, 1998. At halftime, hundreds of KU players and coaches walk onto the court for introductions.
21. A crowd of around 14,000 shows up Nov. 19, 1955, to watch KU's freshmen sting the varsity, 81-71, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 42 points.
22. A school-record nine Jayhawks score in double figures in a 127-82 victory over Iowa State on Jan. 7, 1989. That's also the most points KU has scored in a conference game.
23. Larry Bird tallies 22 points and grabs 13 boards in Indiana State's 86-69 victory over Virginia Tech in the NCAA Midwest Regional final March 11, 1979.
24. Bill Bridges retrieves 30 missed shots in an 86-69 season-opening victory over Northwestern on Dec. 3, 1960.
25. Terry Brown drills a school-record 11 three-pointers and scores 42 in a 105-94 victory over North Carolina State on Jan. 5, 1991.
26. Danny Manning tallies 27 points in a 100-66 blasting of Missouri on Feb. 11, 1986. It's KU's biggest victory over the Tigers in the fieldhouse.
27. Oklahoma State's Randy Rutherford scores 45 points, but KU holds 7-footer Bryant Reeves scoreless in a 78-62 victory that gives the Jayhawks the league title March 5, 1995.
28. Approximately 6,000 show up for the first Late Night extravaganza Oct. 14, 1985.
29. Terry Brown scores 26 points, pacing KU to a 73-60 victory over Miami on Jan. 16, 1991, in a game that nearly was canceled because of the start of Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf. Brown dedicates the game to a brother serving in the Gulf.
30. Several KU students unveil a banner made of shower curtains that reads, "Pay heed all who enter: Beware of the Phog," prior to a Feb. 22, 1988, game against Duke.
31. A renovation project during the summer of 1974 covers the fieldhouse's original dirt surface completely. A synthetic basketball floor is installed to replace the original portable raised floor. Five years later, another portable wood floor replaces the synthetic one.
32. Mitch Richmond scores 35 points as Kansas State halts KU's 55-game home winning streak, 72-61, Jan. 30, 1988.
33. KU trails UCLA by 15 points at halftime, but rallies to win by 15 (85-70) Dec. 1, 1995. No KU team has overcome a larger halftime deficit.
34. Nick Collison scores 24 points and collects 23 rebounds before fouling out in a 90-87 victory over Texas Jan. 27, 2003, prompting TV analyst Dick Vitale to give Collison a standing ovation from press row. At halftime, Roy Williams gives retired Missouri coach Norm Stewart a rocking chair.
35. Alonzo Jamison shatters the backboard with a dunk during the 1988 Late Night.
36. Danny Manning's jersey No. 25 is retired Dec. 1, 1992. The Jayhawks beat Georgia, 76-65, with Manning sitting in the student section.
37. In a Feb. 26, 1966, showdown between No. 6-ranked KU and No. 8 Nebraska, the Jayhawks romp, 110-73, and cut down the nets after clinching the Big Eight title.
38. Jo Jo White scores 30 points in his last KU game, an 80-70 victory over Colorado on Feb. 1, 1969. White received the game ball after coach Ted Owens' 100th career victory.
39. KU downs Oklahoma State, 64-48, Feb. 3, 1969, for the 1,000th victory in school history. Coach Ted Owens had torn the seat of his trousers in the second half and had to wear a towel around his waist in a postgame ceremony.
40. Kansas State's Mike Wroblewski scores 46 points, the most ever by a KU opponent in the fieldhouse, in a 91-72 K-State victory Feb. 7, 1962.
41. Coach Roy Williams tries to start six seniors plus Raef LaFrentz before waving walk-ons Joel Branstrom and Steve Ransom off the Allen Fieldhouse court prior to tipoff of a 78-58 victory over Kansas State on Feb. 22, 1997.
42. Jacque Vaughn's three-pointer at :0.2 in overtime gives KU an 86-83 victory over Indiana on Dec. 22, 1993. Vaughn finishes with 13 points.
43. Four-time Olympic champion Al Oerter is among the KU competitors Feb. 3, 1956, in the first indoor track meet in school history. Kansas wins the dual with Oklahoma, 56-48, in front of 2,000 fans.
44. Marian Washington posts her 500th career victory, a 58-54 decision over Oklahoma on Feb. 20, 1999.
45. A sellout crowd watches Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls knock off the Seattle SuperSonics in an NBA exhibition game Oct. 11, 1997.
46. Coach Dick Harp goes on the PA system Feb. 23, 1958, to beseech KU fans to stop booing Missouri's Mike Kirksey on the free-throw line. Harp is ignored, and the KU coach asks the official to call a technical foul on the fans. Kirksey makes three free throws, but KU wins, 85-81.
47. Iowa snaps KU's school-record 62-game home win streak Dec. 8, 1998, with an 85-81 victory.
48. A Fill the Fieldhouse promotion on Jan. 9, 1994, lures a record women's crowd of 13,352 that watches the Jayhawks edge Colorado, 59-57.
49. The Harlem Globetrotters, featuring Lynette Woodard, appear Feb. 10, 1987, and, as usual, defeat the Washington Generals.
50. Days after winning the 1988 NCAA title, coach Larry Brown holds an afternoon press conference in the fieldhouse to announce he has turned down a job offer from UCLA. Less than a month later, he bolts for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs.
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Purple Handmade Glass Bead EarringsTeresa Brittain
Handmade glass bead earrings.
2 in stock
Purple and white handmade glass bead earrings created over a torch. Teresa Brittain creates glass beads over a torch, using the centuries-old technique of lampworking, then combines the beads with sterling silver findings and chains to create unique pieces of wearable art. Teresa has taught classes throughout the region at John C. Campbell Folk School and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Beads are one-of-a-kind. Expect slight differences from image.
Get to know Teresa in this video produced by Nashville Public Television.
- 1″long
- Matching necklace available
- Featured in the book 100 Glass Beads: Innovation & Imagination in Contemporary Glass Beadmaking
- Made in TN


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Well, I suppose bitching is the sincerest form of flattery. An anonymous grumpster has created the Gadget Blog Corrections Blog, which is a blog about gadget blogs who blog poorly. For example, we mentioned the Flashpoint Sharedrive approximately 5,000 times this and last year, each time become progressively more enthused until we simply wet ourselves at the mere mention of the name. Well, Mr. Gadget Blog Corrections Blog called us on it, and we are sorry.
Anyway, for the story behind the story, kind of like VH1's Pop-Up Video without that little popping thing, we suggest you visit our unpaid ombudsman. BTW, Mr. GadgetCorrections-man, email us for a comments invite.
Site [Gadget Blog Corrections Blog]


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All Curt Georgi product samples are produced under semi-industrial conditions, to give you a taste of our creativity in a real-life scenario. Put us to the test!


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9 Tips for Telling Your Child They Have Autism
If you are the parent of a child with autism, you may be dreading "The Talk." And no, I'm not referring to "The Talk" that explains where babies come from (though you may also be dreading that one, too!). I'm referring to "The Talk" in which you sit your child down and explain to them that they have autism.
Needless to say, it's a very delicate subject that needs to be handled with great care. You may be feeling a lot of pressure to get it just right.
Take a deep breath; yes, it is going to take work and care, but it's going to be just fine.
Read on for some tips on navigating these waters. Keep in mind, however, that every child with autism is different, and what works for one may not work for all. Always keep your individual, unique child in mind when explaining the diagnosis to them.
Should I even tell them about their diagnosis?
Short answer: yes; we highly recommend it.
Long answer: your child needs to know about their diagnosis because they are the ones who will be directly affected by it and live with it. Just like you would explain the various changes of adolescence to a pre-pubescent child, it's important to explain the unique challenges and advantages of being on the autism spectrum. They need to know why they are a little different from other people, and that those differences have no bearing on their worth. They need to know they are not bad and that their struggles are not their fault. Additionally, if your child receives therapy or additional help and realizes other kids don't, they may worry: Is there something wrong with me? Am I dying? Am I stupid?
While telling your child about their diagnosis can actually help stave off problems, you may still have your own worries holding you back from sharing it. Will they think less of themselves? Will they understand? Will they think autism defines them? Will they become sad or angry because they have this diagnosis? Will they use it as an excuse for not doing things? These concerns are legitimate, but they're not reasons to withhold such vital information from your child. If they do become reality, the issues can be dealt with as they come. This one conversation is not the end all, be all. You can have more of them anytime in the future.
Of course, we at The Autism Site also understand and respect that everyone is different. If you have a very good reason to avoid sharing the diagnosis—one that does not begin with "What if?" and is something that could not possibly be addressed in future discussions—then do as you wish.
9. Plan what you're going to say ahead of time.
Because this is such a delicate conversation, treat it with utmost care by planning what you're going to say ahead of time. Write it out for yourself, if that will help.
Be sure to plan this out sooner rather than later, too. The last thing you want is to be caught off guard if your child brings the subject up!
8. Explain the positives and negatives behind autism.
Your child needs to know that autism is the reason behind some of their challenges. But they also need to know that autism is not all bad, and that it can give them certain advantages. So be sure to share both sides, starting with the positive. While you obviously need to explain the challenges, the overall tone of your explanation should be very positive. Explain that they may struggle with some things because they have autism, not because something is inherently wrong with them.
Also, since autism is such a broad spectrum that affects everyone differently, be sure to tailor your explanations to your child's specific experiences.