text: Reports of Progress and Challenges from ECTRIMS, World's Largest MS Science Meeting October 17, 2013 This year's European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS (ECTRIMS) meeting hosted nearly 8,000 participants in Copenhagen, Denmark, from around the world. They gathered to share ideas and communicate new findings to stimulate faster progress in MS research. Anyone interested in ECTRIMS presentations can visit the meeting Website and view the scientific summaries (referred to as abstracts in the program). If you register, you may also access their online library of recorded presentations. Also available are blogs from scientist/journalist Dr. Julie Stachowiak, who lives with MS, and Society research staff Drs. Timothy Coetzee, Nicholas LaRocca and Bruce Bebo. In addition, below is a summary of just a few of the 1,000 presentations and posters on research focusing on cutting-edge research addressing virtually every aspect of the challenge to stop MS in its tracks, restore function, and end MS forever. STOP -- TherapiesResearch - In the opening ECTRIMS lecture, Dr. Giancarlo Comi of the Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele in Milan discussed the increasing evidence that treatment with disease-modifying therapies early in the course of MS can help prevent future loss of function. He noted that as the ability of physicians to identify MS in its earliest stages improves, there may be opportunities to treat the disease earlier and improve outcomes for people with MS. (Abstract 81) Available therapies: There were numerous additional reports supporting the benefits of many of the approved therapies for relapsing MS, and first results from the international phase 3 TOPIC trial of oral teriflunomide (Aubagio,® Genzyme, a Sanofi company) in people who had clinically isolated syndrome or CIS, a situation where a person experiences a first neurological event that often, but not always, progresses to definite MS. Compared to those on placebo, daily (14mg) Aubagio reduced the risk of converting from CIS to definite MS by 42.6%, and reduced the risk of experiencing a new relapse or new lesion seen on MRI by about 35%. The most common adverse events were elevated liver enzymes, headache, hair thinning, diarrhea, and paresthesia (burning or prickling sensation). (Abstract 99) Pipeline therapies: There were many presentations about new therapies in the pipeline and looking at new ways to analyze data from clinical trials completed or in extension phases. These included alemtuzumab and peginterferon beta-1a (both being reviewed by the U.S. FDA), laquinimod, ocrelizumab and daclizumab. Neuroprotection: The idea of protecting the nervous system from damage in MS was a major topic, and one approach is to test therapies already on the shelf for their protective qualities. It was disappointing to learn that a small clinical trial of the ALS therapy riluzole, conducted by Dr. Emmanuelle Waubant at the University of California at San Francisco with Society funding, failed to show benefits. The team learned some valuable lessons in terms of trial design that will be helpful for future studies of this type. While this one result is disappointing, additional neuroprotection trials are underway. (Abstract 234) Progressive MS: During a session devoted to progressive MS, Dr. Robert Fox of the Cleveland Clinic discussed several key initiatives underway to address the challenges presented by these forms of the disease. One focus was the Progressive MS Alliance, an international effort to connect resources and experts around the world to find the answers and develop the solutions to end progressive MS. (Abstract 195) Some 85 separate presentations at ECTRIMS specifically referenced progressive MS, and many others focused on issues that have direct bearing on this form of the disease, suggesting that more attention is being paid to understanding, stopping and reversing progression. STOP -- Understanding MS Damage There were many reports of progress in understanding what drives myelin destruction and nerve degeneration in MS, which are key factors underlying progressive forms of the disease. Racial differences: Dr. D. Kimbrough and colleagues from across the U.S. investigated eye health in 698 people with MS and 137 participants without MS. At the outset of the study, among healthy participants the nerve fiber layer in the back of the eye (retinal fiber layer) tended to be thicker in African Americans than in Caucasians, but this difference was not seen in people of either race who had MS. Later (ranging from 6 months to over 3 and a half years) the nerve fiber layer of African Americans with MS had thinned much more than that of Caucasians, and there was more vision loss among African Americans with MS who had a history of optic neuritis compared to Caucasians. This adds to previous studies suggesting that MS may be more aggressive in African Americans. (Abstract 60) MS lesions: Dr. Bruce Trapp of the Cleveland Clinic showed that new MS lesions undergo natural repair of nerve-insulating myelin much better than older ("chronic") ones, and that cells capable of making new myelin are in chronic lesions but they are stalled. His team has found MS lesions that straddle two different parts of the brain – the white matter and the gray matter. The team found that chronic lesions in the white matter (contains a lot of myelin and the lesions can be seen on a standard MRI scan) don't remyelinate. But chronic lesions in the gray matter (has less myelin and the lesions cannot be seen on an MRI scan), show robust remyelination – even in people living with MS into their 70's. Dr. Ranjan Dutta and others of the team are comparing differences on a molecular level in the two regions to figure out how to make the white matter repair like the gray matter. (Abstract 218) Energy crisis: There is increasing evidence that malfunctions of mitochondria, the tiny energy producers of cells (like battery packs), contribute to nervous system damage in MS. Dr. Martin Kerschensteiner of Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany presented amazing pictures showing the movement, or "trafficking," of substances and mitochondria inside living nerve cells. He also showed how movement can be blocked. Using this technology the team is tracing how nerve cells are damaged in MS, and have uncovered signs that for certain damage, the nerves will either recover fully or degenerate. This work provides a basis for a more targeted approach to strategies for preventing the nerve degeneration that underlies progressive MS. (Abstract 83) Toxic factors: Recent research points to a previously unsuspected role of immune B cells in MS disease activity, and clinical trials of treatments that target B cells (such as ocrelizumab) are underway. Drs. Robert Lisak (Wayne State University, Detroit), Amit Bar-Or (Montreal Neurological Institute) and team wanted to see whether these cells release substances that are harmful to nerve cells grown in lab dishes. They took B cells from the blood of 7 people with relapsing MS and 8 people without MS and let them grow in lab dishes, then collected the liquid they grew in, diluted it and added it to neurons. They found that the B cell products from people with MS were significantly more toxic to nerve cells than that from controls, adding evidence to the idea that B cells may be important players in nervous system damage in MS. (Abstract P816) Iron deposits: Previous studies have shown that iron is deposited in some MS brain lesions, but its source and role have been unclear. Iron is critical normal cell function, and it is released when cells are damaged. Drs. S. Hametner and Hans Lassmann of the Medical University of Vienna, and team members in Austria and Germany, reported that in MS iron is released from the myelin producing cells that are dying as a consequence of MS immune attacks. This released iron is picked up by other brain cells, which may cause those cells to degenerate via a process known as oxidative damage. This supports the idea that damage to myelin making cells during the first waves of MS attacks release substances, including iron, that may trigger the more progressive and neurodegenerative phase of MS. (Abstract 50) RESTORE – Myelin Repair In 2005 the National MS Society made significant investments into nervous system repair and protection research – and we continue to see some promising results. People are excited by the possibility, once only a dream, that we will find a way to repair damaged myelin. This is important not only for restoring function, but many believe that re-establishing the protective myelin coating on axons will shield them from further harm. There are now immune-based therapies that can help control relapsing forms of disease for many people. While researchers continue to look for ways to improve the treatment of relapsing MS, the focus in MS research is shifting to discovering strategies that stop MS progression and repair the damage that causes disability. This has relevance to people with all types of MS, but especially people with progressive MS. Myelin repair: Dr. Larry Sherman of Oregon Health and Science University reported that fragments of a molecule called hyaluronic acid (HA for short) accumulate in chronic white matter lesions and could be at least partially responsible for the stalled myelin repair. They have identified an enzyme that chews up the HA into fragments and have shown that inhibitors of this enzyme promote myelin repair. They are now trying to figure out exactly how this works in hopes of developing treatments that help restore function in MS. (Abstract 212) Cell therapy: Another strategy to repair myelin in MS is to introduce new repair cells into the system via transplantation. Of note was a report by Drs. C. Laterza, Gianvito Martino and colleagues from San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan who used mouse skin stem cells and forced them to become myelin-making cells. As in previous studies of this type, after these cells were infused into the spinal cord, they promoted recovery in mice with the MS-like disease EAE. The team showed that these cells didn't actually make myelin themselves, and they're starting to identify the growth factors they release, which stimulate natural repair and also reduce inflammation. More work is needed, but this type of research gives hope that this strategy may eventually help restore lost function. (Abstract 173) Repair trials: Updates on two repair therapies already being tested in human clinical trials were presented. The first is called anti-LINGO. LINGO is seen in neurons and myelin-producing oligodendrocytes, and blockading this protein with anti-LINGO has been shown to promote remyelination in animal models. Biogen Idec reported that anti-LINGO was well tolerated in people and that no negative effects were seen in the nervous system using MRI scans. This means the company will likely keep pursuing clinical development of this promising repair candidate. (Abstract P545) Investigators from the Mayo Clinic are developing an agent called rHIgM22 that has been shown to promote extensive remyelination in several different animal models of MS. Early research on this approach, now in early clinical trial testing, was supported by the National MS Society. (Abstract P1194) Sex hormones: While originally studied for their anti-inflammatory activity, increasing evidence suggests that female sex hormones might be protective of the nervous system or even promote repair of myelin. ENDECE Neural reported that NDC-1308 has shown promise in mice with an MS-like disease, reducing disease activity and stimulating myelin repair. (Abstract 209) Another estrogen-related compound in development by KaroBio, KB3944, is being explored for its ability to increase the number of myelin-making cells in lab models. (Abstract P430) The National MS Society through Fast Forward is supporting further development of both of these approaches. (Read more) RESTORE – Exercise therapy and rehabilitation Mounting evidence suggests that exercise and rehabilitation can help many levels of function and quality of life for people living with MS. The annual Conference of Rehabilitation in MS was held jointly with ECTRIMS, enabling researchers to share creative strategies to study and maximize the potential benefits of rehabilitation and exercise to address MS. Benefits: Some of these strategies were described by Dr. Ulrik Dalgas of Aarhus University, Denmark, who reminded the audience that for many years people with MS were advised against exercising because it seemed to make fatigue and other symptoms worse. Thanks to research, we now know that this worsening is usually temporary and outweighed by the benefits. There have been hints that exercise can fight depression and improve cognition, and possibly even modify disease activity. The extent of these benefits and the optimal type of exercise for these benefits needs further study. (Abstract 128) Incorporating activity into daily life: National MS Society-funded researcher Dr. Robert Motl of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign discussed the fact that fewer than 20% of persons with MS engage in sufficient physical activity, and that over half of adults drop out of formal exercise programs after only 3 months. He also discussed potential ways for people to incorporate more physical activity into their daily lives – something called "lifestyle activity." He noted studies suggesting that such intermittent exercise can accumulate during the day to have the same effect as continuous exercise. (Abstract 129) Building the brain: Dr. L. Prosperini and colleagues from Sapienza University of Rome had previously reported that an intensive home-based training program using the Nintendo Wii balance board improved standing balance and inhibited swaying in people with MS. Finding a way to improve balance can prevent falls. Falls and fear of falling can dramatically impact a person's quality of life. The team did advanced brain imaging in 21 people before and after a 12-week training period with the Wii board. After the training, differences in the imaging suggested that myelin in some parts of the brain had gotten thicker, particularly in the part that controls movement and balance (cerebellum). More work is needed, but this adds to evidence that specific exercise and rehabilitation may alter the brain. (Abstract 164) Kaatsu resistance training: A novel approach called kaatsu resistance training is based on the idea that people who are already weak may have a hard time exercising with enough vigor to see positive changes in strength or growth in muscle mass. Dr. Y. Learmonth and others at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign presented preliminary results of kaatsu training, in which blood flow to the muscles is partially blocked by a device similar to a blood pressure cuff, while performing lower limb exercises such as leg presses and curls. This may simulate extra resistance so that the exerciser needs to use less force to achieve gains. Eight people did these exercises 3 times a week for 6 weeks – 4 with the kaatsu cuff and 4 without. This was a small study, but they found it to be safe and also found hints that those using the cuff showed more signs of improved strength than the control group who didn't use the cuff. (Abstract P1184) The National MS Society is now funding a small pilot study to further explore its potential. END MS FOREVER – Risk Factors Researchers continue to identify some factors that may contribute to MS, such as specific genes, infections, and lifestyle factors such as smoking and obesity. None of these is a single cause of the disease, and it's clear that not everyone who has MS has been exposed to these factors, and not everyone who is exposed to them will get MS. But furthering our understanding of possible contributors will help us figure out what causes MS. MS risk genes: National MS Society research fellow, Dr. Nikolaos Patsopoulos of Harvard, received an ECTRIMS Young Investigator award for an oral presentation of a study by the International MS Genetics Consortium that maps common gene variations related to susceptibility to MS. Many are involved in immune functions. These findings do not substantially improve the ability to provide genetic counseling to individuals, but should add knowledge about complex biological pathways that lead to the development of MS. (Abstract 90) (Read more) Twins and genes: Dr. Helga Westerlind of the Karolinska Institute reported on a study by a team taking advantage of MS patient registries in Sweden, one of which dates back to the 1800's. They took a fresh look at how much having a family member with MS increases a person's chances of getting the disease, and they focused on identical and fraternal twins. Comparing the risk of these two groups is important because identical twins are thought to share the same genes whereas fraternal twins do not. They found that the risk of an identical twin getting MS if the other twin has the disease was lower than in prior reports, but still much higher than in fraternal twins. This study suggests that that the role of genes may be more complicated than previously suspected. (Abstract 57) (Read more about genetic risks) Interaction of risks: The incomplete picture of risk genes is driving more studies looking at their interaction with a person's environment and lifestyle. For example, Danish researchers Dr. A.B. Oturai and colleagues from Copenhagen University looked at a group of potential risk factors, including known MS susceptibility genes, obesity in early adulthood, previous mononucleosis and high teenage alcohol consumption. They found that each of these factors contributed to lowering the age at which an individual was diagnosed with MS. (Abstract 120) A related study suggested that preventing teen obesity in people with MS susceptibility genes may reduce their risk of developing MS. (Abstract 134) Smoking: In a large population study, Dr. A.K. Hedström and team from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm confirmed that cigarette smoking increased the risk for developing MS at any age, and climbed with the amount smoked. They also found that quitting smoking completely reversed the risk back to normal within a decade. (Abstract 118) The same team reported that smoking could increase a person's risk of developing the kind of antibodies in their blood – called neutralizing antibodies – that can block the ability of interferon beta to reduce MS disease activity. (Abstract P1099) Dietary salt: Recent studies have pointed to salt intake as a possible risk factor for developing MS or for making mice with MS-like disease worse. New evidence presented this week by Dr. M.F. Farez and colleagues at the Institute for Neurological Research in Buenos Aires and Boston suggest that high salt intake may also increase MS exacerbation rates and MRI-detected disease activity in people who have the disease. Further, larger studies are needed to confirm these results. (Abstract 119) Gut microbiome: Another emerging area of research is the gut microbiome – colonies of trillions of bacteria that inhabit our intestinal tracts, most of which are beneficial. The immune activity that occurs in the gut and which is related to the immune system, may help dictate other aspects of health, including the activity of an individual's MS. A lecture by Dr. O. Borbye Pedersen of the University of Copenhagen made it clear that this is a very promising field of study. If we could decipher the influence of the gut microbiome, we have the potential of altering it to treat or even prevent MS. (Abstract 219) Viruses: Infectious disease specialist Dr. Julian Gold of Sydney, Australia and Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry presented an overview of research on whether viral infections trigger or cause MS, the conflicting results, and the fact that it is technically difficult to isolate a specific virus in the brain and attribute it as a cause. He also cited some research suggesting that the genetic material from "human endogenous retroviruses" makes up a portion of the entire complement of human genes and could play a role in triggering immune attacks. He looked at health registries and searched the literature to find that few people who are treated with anti-retrovirus therapy to treat HIV have been reported to have MS. Based on these ideas, a group has launched a small pilot trial, called INSPIRE, to see whether brief treatment with the anti-viral therapy raltegravir can alter brain MRI in people with relapsing MS. (Abstract 115) (Read more about viral triggers) Vitamin D: Dr. Alberto Ascherio of Harvard School of Public Health, with an international team of collaborators, were able to study blood draws that had occurred during the phase 3 BENEFIT trial that studied the impact of early versus delayed treatment with interferon beta-1b in people who had "clinically isolated syndrome," a first neurological event that often progresses to definite MS, but not always. The team wanted to see whether the concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (which indicates vitamin D status) in the serum could predict whether a person would develop definite MS. They found that people with low vitamin D levels early on were more likely to develop definite MS and to have more disease activity, whereas those with higher levels early on had fewer brain new active lesions seen on MRI and lower relapse rates and less disease progression 4 years later. (Abstract 96) Several new clinical trials are getting underway to test whether increasing an individual's vitamin D levels can delay the development of MS. And the National MS Society is supporting a trial to see whether vitamin D supplements can reduce MS activity in people already diagnosed. (Read more on vitamin D) This is just a taste of the many, many reports of progress and challenges from a worldwide community of scientists and doctors searching for ways to stop MS, restore function and end MS forever. Aubagio is a registered trademark of Genzyme, a Sanofi company.


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1- Kazu Sano- We lost Kazu in 2011 just a couple of years after I had the chance to meet him. Best known for his Return of the Jedi Movie poster and work for National Geographic.
2- Walter Everett- Is perhaps one of the most under appreciated illustrators of the 20th century. I love the way he simplified his designs and used broad strokes of color. I did a previous post on Everett as well.
3- Leconte Stewart- A Utah landscape painter that may very well be the best "unknown" landscape painter in American history. He has long been one of my favorites due to early exposure to his work when I was young. A new book on Leconte Stewart does justice to his art and legacy.
4- Robert Fawcett- Was a consummate illustrator and draftsman. I did a second post focusing just on Fawcett's drawing as well as a review of the new Fawcett book
5- Arnold Friberg- One of my earliest influences as a budding artist. Friberg's work mesmerized me as a boy. I recount the time I met him at our neighborhood art supply store just a year or two prior to his death.
6- David Grove- Another artist that influenced me as a student. We also lost David earlier this year but his work lives on. A book on Grove's work was under my Christmas tree last week.
7-Ralph McQuarrie- As with many of my generation, Star Wars was the most mystical saga I had ever witnessed on film. The vision of artist Ralph McQuarrie is what I believe set Star Wars on a higher plane, one which filmmakers continue to shoot for.
8- Dale Nichols- Contemporary of Grant Wood and John Stuart Curry, Nichols never gained the same recognition as other Regionalist artists of his time. The current touring show of Nichols' work includes a terrific catalog of his paintings.
9- Maurice Sendak- Where The Wild Things Are continues to be the benchmark for all picture books and it was an early inspiration for me as an artist. Sendak passed away not too long ago as well. Here is a nice volume on Sendak's picture book work.
10- Albert Dorne- Another phenomenal talent profiled here. Like Fawcett, Dorne was an extraordinary draftsman and character artist. Auad Publishing just released a great book on Dorne.
If you missed any of these posts, they are worth a look, or a second look if it has been a while. Thanks for spending time with me here on Life Needs Art- because it does.

subset: commoncrawl


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All News Releases By Date
Welch, W.Va. Settles Clean Water Act Violations
Release Date: 03/01/2012
Contact Information: EPA: David Sternberg, 215-814-5548 email@example.com WVDEP: Kathy Cosco 304-926-0499 ext. 1331 firstname.lastname@example.com
(PHILADELPHIA – March 1, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and West Virginia announced today that they have settled violations of the Clean Water Act involving sewage overflows in Welch, W.Va.
Under the settlement filed by the U.S. Justice Department in federal district court, the City of Welch has agreed to implement a long term control plan to eliminate combined sewer overflows (CSOs) at an estimated cost of $16 to $23 million. As part of this plan, Welch will completely separate its sanitary wastewater and storm sewers.
In addition, Welch will develop and implement a plan for upgrading its treatment plant and monitoring system. Once implemented, the steps that Welch is required to take under this agreement will eliminate CSOs resulting in the discharge of approximately 400,000 gallons of raw sewage annually. Welch will also pay a $5,000 penalty for past violations, split between the U.S. and West Virginia.
The settlement announced today is the third addressing West Virginia municipalities' wastewater violations in recent months. EPA and West Virginia also settled a CSO case with Elkins, W.Va. in October 2011 and a sanitary sewer overflow case with Fort Gay, W.Va. in January 2012.
Untreated sewage contains many types of organisms which can cause illness. People coming in contact with these organisms can suffer adverse health effects ranging from minor ailments such as sore throats, stomach cramps and diarrhea, to life-threatening illnesses such as cholera, dysentery, infectious hepatitis and severe gastroenteritis. Children, the elderly, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women are more at risk of illness.
The CSO complaints, filed with the settlements, alleged numerous overflows from the municipalities' combined sewer systems. These sewer systems are designed to collect and convey rainwater runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater in the same pipe to a sewage treatment plant, where it is treated before discharge to a water body.
However, especially during periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt, the water volume may exceed the capacity of the sewer system or treatment plant -- causing discharges of untreated wastewater directly to nearby waterways. These CSOs contain not only stormwater but also untreated human and industrial waste, toxic materials, and debris.
For more information on CSOs: https://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=5
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.


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What if?
I recently saw an article talking about how they might make a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie -- but it wouldn't be based on the TV show and it wouldn't star Sarah-Michelle Geller. That just seemed...wrong. I know Kristy Swanson played Buffy first, in the original movie, but to me Sarah-Michelle will always "be" Buffy.
Same goes with many other characters. Captain Malcolm Reynolds could never be anyone other than Nathan Fillion; James Marsters is Spike; and Jared and Jensen are as much Winchester as they are Padalecki and Ackles.
But what if for some reason Jared and Jensen hadn't gotten those roles? If you absolutely had to recast the Winchester brothers, who could you envision doing it? I know it's next to impossible bordering on sacrilege, but I'm curious if anyone can come up with alternate names. Or, if it's easier, think of it this way -- if they were going to cast two actors to do a Broadway version of the show, who could it possibly be?


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In Barack Obama's mind, black people listen to gospel music mixed with a sort of 70's techno-rap. At least that's what I got out of his recent ad targeting one part of America based on their skin color. Obama's divide and conquer strategy relies on race politics and getting people to vote for him because they share the same color skin. After all, that's what worked in North Carolina in 2008 when 95% of blacks voted for him.
But recent polls are showing that Obama's racial politics may not have the same decisive effect in 2012. Already his support among black voters in North Carolina has dropped to the mid 70s. Perhaps it has something to do with minorities questioning if Obama really does have their back.
Unemployment among blacks has soared to the highest level in 27 years. In fact, while unemployment among whites has dropped slightly, it continues to rise for blacks. Guess when the last time the unemployment rate was below 10% for blacks. During the Bush administration.
In fact, despite Kanye West's claim that Bush didn't care about black people, they certainly fared much better under a Bush administration than they have under Obama. In fact, from 2002-2007, the number of businesses owned by people who identify themselves as black rose by an unprecedented and historic 60%. That was more than triple the overall rate of business growth for that period. Economically, blacks did much better than their white counterparts under a Republican administration.
Aside from economics, Obama has come down on the wrong side of several social issues for blacks as well. Blacks still oppose gay marriage by a large margin. In fact, while blacks were helping hand Obama California in 2008, they were also helping California define marriage as between one man and one woman.
Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to oppose abortion than whites, but there is still an odd disconnect where pro-life blacks are more likely to vote for Democrats. On the other hand, Obama and Democrats have been intensely pro-abortion. They have not paused their agenda at the doors of religious institutions, but instead are working to force religious groups to pay for some forms of abortion for their employees.
Democrats have pursued blacks aggressively with identity politics. But in 2012 the tide may turn. The key is a little bit of pursuit by Republicans. In the past, Republicans have written off the black vote as a waste of campaign cash. This time around, Republicans should take the time and money to win back a segment of America who should be the natural allies of the party of Lincoln.
Part of the issue facing Republicans is that the racist attacks on black GOP members is nearly as intense as the anti-women attacks on female Republicans. While Democrats accuse Republicans of using racial codewords, such as "cool", to describe blacks, Democrats have openly used racially offensive language against black GOP members in order to diminish their roles. How does calling the President too cool compare to calling Allen West an uncle Tom?
If Republicans can deliver on what Obama promised, national unity and healing, then they have a good chance at defeating the identity politics of the left.
Filed under: President Obama | Tagged: 2008, 2012, abortion, African American, alan west, Barack Obama, black, black support for abortion, black unemployment, black voters, Bush, california, cbc, congressional black caucus, cool, gay rights, george bush, George W. Bush, have his back, homosexuality, identity politics, kanye west, lincoln, Mitt Romney, north carolina, obama, pro-abortion, pro-life, prop 8, race, racial, racism, racist, Romney, tea, Tea Party, uncle tom | Leave a comment »


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Jennifer Lopez is currently working on her first film since the birth of her twins, adorable twins named Emme and Max last February. In The Backup Plan , Jennifer plays a woman who gets artificially inseminated and coincidentally meets Mr. Right that same day. In a recent interview with Extras's AJ Calloway, the talented 39-year-old dishes about babies, motherhood and getting back in shape after her pregnancy. She also discusses whether she and husband Marc Anthony are planning on expanding their family: "I would love to have more kids," says Jennifer. "I don't know if we will. I don't know if that's in the cards for us but we'll see."
On how it felt to go back to work after having the twins: "Staying home with the kids and watching everything they do. It's fun… I can never sit totally still… [Filming] was actually perfect… I enjoyed the time with the babies."
On losing the baby weight: "Just like everybody else, the first big amount of pounds comes off pretty quickly and then you have those last 10 or 20, 15 or 20 that just don't want to go and you have to work really hard and I had to work really hard too. I had to diet and work out. I had to do a lot."
On being able to bring her children to work with her: "They've been with me almost every day on the set. I don't think [they realize what I do]. Once in awhile, they look at the monitor and go, 'Mama.' They're just starting to talk."
On how fast her children are growing up: "They're more than walking now… They're starting to talk. I put Max to bed yesterday… and I said, 'I love you baby. I'll see you tomorrow.' And he was like, 'I love you.'"
On her biggest lesson learned as a mother: "You just mature so quickly in such a deep way and you think life is short and you have to just go for things. You can't be afraid to try or do your best….Just do it and that's the example I want to set for my children as well. It's like you can do anything. The only thing that ever holds us back is fear… It's a useless emotion."


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U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration https://www.onetonline.org 9m 2,350 #insights
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Sample of reported job titles:
Agent, Artist Agent, Artist Manager, Artist Representative, Athlete Marketing Agent, Booking Agent, Talent Agent, Talent Buyer, Talent Manager, Theatrical Agent
- Collect fees, commissions, or other payments, according to contract terms.
- Confer with clients to develop strategies for their careers, and to explain actions taken on their behalf.
- Develop contacts with individuals and organizations, and apply effective strategies and techniques to ensure their clients' success.
- Schedule promotional or performance engagements for clients.
- Negotiate with managers, promoters, union officials, and other persons regarding clients' contractual rights and obligations.
- Keep informed of industry trends and deals.
- Manage business and financial affairs for clients, such as arranging travel and lodging, selling tickets, and directing marketing and advertising activities.
- Conduct auditions or interviews to evaluate potential clients.
- Arrange meetings concerning issues involving their clients.
- Prepare periodic accounting statements for clients.
- Advise clients on financial and legal matters such as investments and taxes.
- Obtain information about or inspect performance facilities, equipment, and accommodations to ensure that they meet specifications.
Technology Skills
- Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Sales and Marketing — Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
- English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Communications and Media — Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
- Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Clerical — Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
- Fine Arts — Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
- Economics and Accounting — Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
- Personnel and Human Resources — Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
- Persuasion — Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Negotiation — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
- Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Management of Personnel Resources — Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
- Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Fluency of Ideas — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
- Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Originality — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Work Activities
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
- Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
- Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
- Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Detailed Work Activities
- Collect payments for goods or services.
- Correspond with customers to answer questions or resolve complaints.
- Develop business relationships.
- Organize special events.
- Arrange collective bargaining agreements.
- Update professional knowledge.
- Implement financial decisions.
- Market products, services, or events.
- Conduct eligibility or selection interviews.
- Prepare financial documents.
- Advise others on legal or regulatory compliance matters.
- Recommend investments to clients.
- Inspect facilities or equipment to ensure specifications are met.
- Administer personnel recruitment or hiring activities.
Find occupations related to multiple detailed work activities
Work Context
- Telephone — 100% responded "Every day."
- Contact With Others — 95% responded "Constant contact with others."
- Freedom to Make Decisions — 87% responded "A lot of freedom."
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 91% responded "Very important results."
- Structured versus Unstructured Work — 92% responded "A lot of freedom."
- Frequency of Decision Making — 83% responded "Every day."
- Electronic Mail — 90% responded "Every day."
- Face-to-Face Discussions — 66% responded "Every day."
- Level of Competition — 66% responded "Extremely competitive."
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 55% responded "Extremely important."
- Duration of Typical Work Week — 71% responded "More than 40 hours."
- Spend Time Sitting — 56% responded "Continually or almost continually."
- Coordinate or Lead Others — 54% responded "Extremely important."
- Time Pressure — 51% responded "Every day."
- Letters and Memos — 44% responded "Once a month or more but not every week."
- Work With Work Group or Team — 59% responded "Extremely important."
- Deal With External Customers — 46% responded "Extremely important."
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 66% responded "Every day."
- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 38% responded "Very high responsibility."
- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 41% responded "Extremely important."
- Frequency of Conflict Situations — 33% responded "Once a week or more but not every day."
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People — 38% responded "Once a week or more but not every day."
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — 41% responded "More than half the time."
Job Zone
|Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
|Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
|Related Experience
|A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
|Job Training
|Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
|Job Zone Examples
|Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
|SVP Range
|(7.0 to < 8.0)
Interest code: ES
Want to discover your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move.
- Enterprising — Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
- Social — Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
- Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Styles
- Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
- Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
- Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
- Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
- Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
- Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
- Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
- Self Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
- Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Work Values
- Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
- Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
- Recognition — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Wages & Employment Trends
|Median wages (2018)
|$31.75 hourly, $66,040 annual
|State wages
|Employment (2018)
|19,000 employees
|Projected growth (2018-2028)
Faster than average (7% to 10%)
|Projected job openings (2018-2028)
|State trends
|Top industries (2018)
|Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2018 wage data
and 2018-2028 employment projections
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2018-2028). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Sources of Additional Information
Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries.
Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
Source: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-1011.00


text:
Public Safety
Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF)
Bishop International Airport's Fire and Rescue Squad has several full-time employees, one of whom is a Lieutenant, and several part-time employees. The Director of Public Safety oversees the staff. Our firefighters are trained as Emergency Medical Technicians or as Paramedics. They respond to any passenger or plane emergency, and will be on-site within minutes of notification. Our Fire department is also responsible for airport operations duties such as airfield inspections.
Our Equipment
Rescue 41
2007 GMC Yukon XL Quick Response Vehicle
Medical & Airfield Emergencies
Rescue 43
2002 Osh Kosh Striker
- 1500 gallons of water
- 200 gallons of foam
- 500 pounds of Purple-K dry chemical
Rescue 44
2015 Rosenbauer Panther
- 1500 gallons of water
- 200 gallons of foam
- 500 pounds of Purple-K dry chemical
Police Department
The Department is overseen by the Director of Public Safety. The Police Department Office is located to the left of the escalator on the airside of the building. Our officers are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
All of the employees are certified Police Officers who are trained and certified by the State of Michigan; many of them are trained as Emergency Medical Technicians or Paramedics.
Their number one priority is to ensure that your visit to Bishop International Airport is safe and secure, so they are all trained to respond to both medical and "trouble" emergencies anywhere on airport grounds.
Begin the Badging Process
Lost and Found
If you are in the terminal, contact the nearest Public Safety Officer.
If you are no longer in the terminal, call (810) 235-6560 and ask for the lost and found. If it is after normal business hours, please leave a message and your call will be returned ASAP.
Sign up for Deals!
We'd love to add you to our mailing list to keep you apprised of specials, deals, and savings!
*The website uses Google's Invisible ReCaptcha. By clicking submit you agree to Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.


text:
Thanks to HTC who just emailed me – Twitter is buzzing about a possible hookup between Ryan Gosling and Kat Dennings?
The evidence is nowhere near slamdunk but intriguing all the same. I REPEAT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO SKIM:
Nowhere near slamdunk. But intriguing all the same.
Apparently some due tweeted that he ran into them at Disneyland yesterday. Around the same time Kat's official Twitter was also updated, indicating that someone special had kidnapped her to Disneyland. She also alludes mysteriously to someone "mysterious".
Twitter isn't exactly the best source ever…
But the prospect of Ryan and Kat?
Amazing, amazing, amazing.
Loved her in Nick & Norah. Actually just saw her in another movie this weekend – we took the kids to see Shorts. Shorts is not memorable. But every time Kat comes on you can't take your eyes off her.
And her body…
It's delicious and juicy and real and beautiful and so far 23 year old Kat Dennings has resisted the urge to look like every other starved twat in Hollywood.
Ryan likes Kat?
If true…
He has great taste. Snaps.
Photos attached of Kat Dennings at the Shorts LA premiere from Wenn.com
File photos of Ryan Gosling from MATINGAS/Bauergriffinonline.com
Ryan Gosling…and Kat Dennings?
Thanks to HTC who just emailed me – Twitter is buzzing about a possible hookup between Ryan Gosling and Kat Dennings?


text:
If you have used this site before, please log in below.
If you have forgotton your login details please Click Here to contact us or simply register again, it's quick and easy.
Thanks to the Herbalife Weight Management Programme combined with a healthy more active liefstyle I've lost 4 stone* in weight and my energy levels went through the roof, and only someone who has been overweight can appreciate this, I could tie my shoe laces again, without pain and breathlessness!
Energy & Fitness
Energy Drinks
Protein Shakes
Protein Snacks
Sport Supplements
*All weight loss claims refer to the Herbalife Weight Management Programme which includes, amongst other things, a balanced diet, regular exercise, an adequate daily fluid intake and appropriate rest. The Herbalife products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
These materials were prepared by and are the responsibility of independent Herbalife distributors:
Buy Herbalife Online: Buy Herbalife Online - Weight Loss
Independent Herbalife Distributor: Customer Services, , , , , email@example.com


text:
Older Phone Books in Our Collection
During February 2000, the Dontech Company donated original early twentieth century phonebooks to Illinois libraries. Fremont Public Library owns several original phonebooks. We also have photocopies of other local phonebooks.
We own originals and/or photocopies of the following years for the Libertyville/Mundelein area (* denotes that we own the original):
August 1912*
January 1927
July 1927*
July 1928*
July 1931
July 1932*
January 1933
July 1934*
January 1936*
July 1936*
July 1941*
June 1952*
The originals are in very fragile condition. They have been photocopied onto acid free paper. These copies are located in the Local History vertical file at the library, and may be studied any time the library is open.
At present, we have transcripts of the August 1912 and July 1927 phonebooks available on our website. This was made possible by the generosity of our library volunteers, who have donated their time to put this information into our computers. In the future, we hope to include more information from these books on our site.
As with all transcriptions, errors are possible. If you believe you have found an error in our information, please e-mail us.


text: Well good morning, again so woke up this morning and thought of the this movie below. Enjoy. It brought a lot of memories from childhood back and thought about the type of personality that it would take to be surrounded by Chaos, Confusion, death and destruction and still be positive. Well you have to enjoy this clip as you enjoy this video made by a user on youtube. RIP Robin Williams.


text:
50th race - Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler celebrates Formula E milestone
This is a first for Formula E: this coming Sunday in Hong Kong (10 March), Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi will compete in their 50th race for Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler. Since Formula E was launched in September 2014, no other team has taken part in each and every race with the same driver duo. Audi is aiming to extend its impressive record during the trip to Asia.
With 37 podium finishes from 49 races, the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team is the most successful team in the international starting field. Lucas di Grassi has claimed nine victories, his teammate Daniel Abt has two to his name. They have also secured eleven fastest laps and five pole positions between them. It's an impressive record, but the Audi works team has no intention of resting on its laurels.
There are another 25 points up for grabs in Hong Kong and they have my name on them


text:
|Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas with Smashed White Beans and Corn Salsa
The biggest thing that I have taken away from any of these blogging events is the necessity to "find your own voice" to create a level of success.
For me I am still searching since here at More Than Burnt Toast I don't concentrate on one type of cuisine or another. My "voice" like my life is eclectic with many influences worldwide. On these pages you will find a hodge podge of different cooking styles from comfort food to gourmet from Greek to Mexican. I have one foot heavily in Mediterranean cuisine but like the melting pot called Canada we are bombarded with dishes from all over the world. You are most likely to be inundated with recipes and anecdotes from my "passion of the moment." For those of you who read this blog you will know that for now that is my upcoming trip to Italy, so, this blog is a little heavy with the Italian vibe. When I first began this blog 5 years ago I had just travelled throughout Greece for 5 weeks so you know what blanketed these pages.
Hence this Mexican inspired dish that was inspired by seasonal corn on the cob. The basic idea came from Roger Mooking of the Food Network. Does that mean that Mexico is on the horizon? There should be a wedding there in the next few years.
|Corn Salsa


text:
U.S. Forces Philippines Answer to China Bullying
After closing down the largest U.S. overseas military base in Subic two decades ago, the Philippines wants the Americans back to defend against itself China. Andrew Browne tells Deborah Kan why the U.S. Navy isn't as optimistic about reopening its base in Subic.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... the team wants to you as military back on a stick last two decades ago ... a topic that time as well the column by The Wall Street Journal's Andy Brown ... again and the app and the Philippines I mean maybe this is as one example ... of how much the Philippines really means that the US ... to defend China's military high ambitions in the South China Sea is outright ... the Philippines is feeling incredibly believe by China ... and by the pair millet re ships of the Nile cruise in Rome ... write off its coast very close to Subic ... aam and and they want America to help defend ... ok this is I haven't had to be calm latter eight ... ten at a port destination that it had shopping there ... I how feasible is a really for the Philippines to ... change it back into and pay a base and and one that that the US I would use ... leaders in every everything is pretty much still there just is the American was left to ... the calls the cops will be enlisted man ... I've stayed have been Cres of ... the offices homes still than the rent adult novel businesspeople from the region ... after the Americans left it became a free pulled ... out of the day ended with mixed success ... a FedEx headed for a while they use this app or ... as a regional logistics center before they moved it onto I China ... and of course that the point is still there and it's magnificent is one of the greatest poets of the wall between the sides of the ... Oklahoma just go down but the TV anchor an aircraft carrier ... just just yards from shore so ... it's great that hygiene shipping is gonna shipbuilding facility there but basically this court is just hopelessly on the use of its ... okay so I guess the question to ask is the word of the US to entertain our you know the Aubree opening up of based on acts to back ... my sense was that the film that the Philippines would like the Americans to come back ... um ... tomorrow ... ah the field that ... awe of the bullied by China America's Number one does a woman thinks I mean it it has bases in Japan Korea ... as they seem long ... ah when they scrambled all move on to make the Singaporeans also dumbass is ... a naval bases buffs that you know you can enter neck Ruff carrier and the menacing or pull ... on the Philippines actually constitutionally is no more able to open up the pace of small able to offer Parliament millet re facilities ... in the country to foreign forces so that peace would be quite difficult to negotiate about the new adoption of a welcome American millet re Beltran is places will face is that once they once places where it can rotate forces through just like it's done in ... in Darwinian in Australia ... at ... any hour in this area that I'm a really didn't benefit from the I'm ... having and the U S force is out of ... their provide a lot of ... jobs to two people aam surrounding the area ... I'm How controversial would it be today I should ... the Philippines and use it as a base again and you know perhaps maybe decent joint operations up with US forces ... you'll do for you see that the Subic Bay was closed by a vote of the Philippine Senate ... ahh and this was inspired by nationalism they wanted the Americans opening it was a very popular the nationally to get a new archivist ... in this still weak ... everybody loves the American let's face it they provided some of the stalls in the country thirty thousand workers high quality jobs that were well does that look like that is ... well paid job when the Americans left ... all of these skilled workers had to scramble around for jobs elsewhere many of them of the skills of the Middle East ... and ended up working on construction projects alfresco mope around so big ... I think there is a great deal of support to bring Americans back ... okay thanks Fran much I and a bag joining us from Beijing for more on Andy's column you can get it


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Obama Faith Adviser, and Ayers' Friend: American Freedom and
Justice are "Myths"
May 5th, 2011
Aaron Klein, WND.com
President Obama's faith adviser, Eboo Patel, blasted what he called the
"myths" of America – describing them as beliefs that the country is "a land of
freedom and equality and justice."
Patel explained how he used the "faith-based movement" to channel his rage at
America "in a direction far more compassionate and far more merciful."
Patel, a Muslim activist from Chicago, further implied that had he grown up
in the 1960s, he may have joined the Weather Underground terrorist group led by
William Ayers.
Like Obama, Patel is deeply tied to Ayers, WND has learned.
In February 2010, Obama named Patel to his Advisory Council on Faith-Based
and Neighborhood Partnerships.
Patel is the founder and executive director of Chicago-based Interfaith Youth
Core, which says it promotes pluralism by teaming people of different faiths on
service projects.
In a 2007
interview with NPR to promote a book he wrote that year, Patel was asked
about his "affinity" toward the radicalism of Ayers, as described in the
Patel replied that his own life story "is much closer to Bill Ayers,"
explaining he "grew up in the same hometown" that Ayers did.
Continued Patel: "I was kind of taught the same myths about America, a land
of freedom and equality and justice, et cetera, et cetera."
"And then, when I got to college, I saw people eating out of garbage cans for
dinner, and I saw Vietnam vets drinking mouthwash for the alcohol, and I thought
to myself, this is not the myth that I grew up with. And, in a way, I was so, I
think, immature at that time politically, that all I could do was rage."
Patel explained how he used religion to channel his rage toward America:
"And it was a faith-based movement that came into my life that kind of
directed that rage in a direction far more compassionate and far more
Obama's faith adviser went on to say how he may have joined Ayers' terrorist
group if he was around as an activist in the 1960s.
"One of the things that I write about in this book is, you know, had it been
one of the people involved in the Weather Underground, who were sitting at my
kitchen table when I was 18 years old and raging, my life could have been very
different," he said.
"That I really thank God that it was a set of people who came into my life
with a very clear vision of justice. But a sense of justice emanating from
Divine Mercy."
Patel has a much deeper relationship with Ayers than he admitted in the NPR
In 2005, he co-authored a book with Ayers' adopted son, Chesa Boudin.
The book, Letters from Young Activists: Today's Rebels Speak Out,
was co-written by several young radicals, including Ismail Khalidi, the son of
Columbia University Professor Rashid Khalidi.


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Hassan focusing on improving state's welcome mat to tourists
Tourism conference held last week
Improving the state's welcome mat, adding more tourism funding and returning efforts to save the state's most treasured landscapes are priorities, the governor told tourism leaders last week.
Gov. Maggie Hassan welcomed more than 300 to her first Governor's Conference on Tourism, at the Grappone Conference Center last Monday.
The event was put on by the New Hampshire Travel Council.
She said it is collaborations among businesses and government which help to make New Hampshire the great place it is to visit, live and play.
"From the noble mountains to our beautiful lakes and rivers to the ocean, our state offers a variety...that keeps visitors returning here time and time again," said Hassan.
Hassan said tourism is the state's second largest industry "which pays dividends" for its citizens who also enjoy travel within their own state.
She said her proposed budget looks to increase funding over the next two years for tourism.
She did not address the issue of gambling, which is before lawmakers.
The NH Travel Council is looking to hire a lobbyist to track legislation on all issues related to tourism in Concord and that would likely be one issue along with any increase in the gas tax.
Hassan, who was elected in November 2012, called LCHIP or the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program "a responsibility that has not been met in recent years."
"I also recognize that as we grow our economy, we must preserve...our beautiful resources," she said.
She said she is seeking to restore money for the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program by $1 million in the first year of the biennium and to fully restore its funding in the second year.
The program provides matching grants to help preserve land and restore historic buildings.
She said protecting those special resources helps the state retain its status among tourists and its recognition "as a family friendly state with a great outdoor economy."
She said to attract visitors, "We must work on improving our welcome centers," she said.
Hassan introduced her recent appointee Jeff Rose, commissioner of the Department of Resources and Economic Development, under whose arm is tourism development.
Rose said he is really excited about his new job which works to attract tourists, and businesses to New Hampshire, while at the same time protecting forest lands and trails.
He said the state has an estimated 34 million visitors a year who spend $4.5 billion and that funding helps to provide over 62,000 jobs to the state's economy.
Lori Harnois, director of the NH Division Travel and Tourism Development, said this past year, the department unveiled its new branding "Live Free and..." added an emphasis with Discover New England to target the Japan market, upped efforts to attract tour buses, put out a new foliage mobile application, and got fourth graders involved in developing their own NH tourism videos with a competition won this past year by a school in Dover.
The state will kick off a summer tourism advertising campaign May 8 in New York City and Boston with television advertisement spots featuring beaches, hiking and covered bridges. Some of the adds offer no sound, just peaceful silence and views, but in others there is rushing water or the sounds of children's laughter and the sound of a splash into the water.
Peter Ramsey, 2012 chair of the NH Travel Council, said regional tourism meetings have been held and membership grows with overall finances of the Travel Council sound.
He indicated the group is committed to hiring a lobbyist to track issues.
He noted the state is half way through the legislative session with a gas tax and gambling on the table.
"It's the future of our industry and our business," he stressed. "We are trying to track this legislation. It is not inexpensive but we believe it is worth it."
Paula Tracy writes about the outdoors for wmur.com and can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
FOOD: What is your favorite, fun item to bring to share?
What do you eat and drink on the playa? Share ideas, recipes and advice here.
Post Reply
- EmilyD
- Posts: 1168
- Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:03 pm
- Burning Since: 2010
- Camp Name: Art Car Camp
- Location: SF Bay Area
- Contact:
Thanks for this tip. I was wondering about salt water taffy, they have it at Trader Joes. I'll shove a bag into the cooler.bs bob wrote:salt water taffy buy in bulk keep in cooler and shortbread cookies they dont melt!!
Today I pre-cooked a pound of nitrate-free bacon. Mmmmm the house smells so good! (Sorry vegan/vege friends).
You don't have to be skinny, naked and under 30 to be a Hottie!
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2010 9:26 pm
I'm a newbie, so I don't know how these will be on the playa, but I'm gonna bake up a mess of almond biscotti. 2 or 3 of those in the morning with coffee just make my day. But I'm sure they're gonna be hard as a rock out there, so be sure to dip if you don't want to stop at the dentist on the ride home :-)
I'll be in MalMart if you want to swing by some morning and try out my recipe.
I'll be in MalMart if you want to swing by some morning and try out my recipe.
Post Reply


text:
Wildstar Online
Informações do jogo
- Website oficial
- UI LinguagemEnglish
- PlataformaPC
- EditorNCsoft Corporation
Mídias Sociais
Game Product
- NCsoft NCoin (Global)
About Wildstar Online:
Fire up your starship and set the course to Nexus! The legendary homeworld of the longlost Eldan civilisation has just been discovered and everyone in the galaxy is blazing a trail to the planet to uncover its many secrets. The powerful interstellar empire known as the Dominion has claimed Nexus and all of its treasures, declaring war on the renegade Exiles who now call the planet their home. But as the war for control of Nexus heats up, an evil force is reawakened… turning this epic adventure into the ultimate fight for survival.
WildStar™ infuses amazing stylised art with the latest technology to create a stunning visual experience. Set on a wondrous alien world, WildStar delivers a wild and mysterious adventure among the ruins of an advanced civilisation – allowing you to play the way you want to play while experiencing an unprecedented level of exploration and discovery!
Wildstar Online KEY FEATURES
Kick Ass and Take Names! – Planet Nexus ain't for the faint of heart, so strap on your boots, charge your lasers and sharpen your swords! Choose from one of many unique classes, using skill-based abilities and combat mechanics to defeat a stunning array of the most dangerous creatures and enemies in the galaxy. Looking for an even bigger challenge? Then jump into PvP battlegrounds, dungeons and epic raids, putting your combat skills to the ultimate test!
Choose your Path! – Remember! This is your adventure, so pick a Path and play the way you wanna play! Along with your class, you can choose to be a Soldier, Scientist, Settler or Explorer – each with its own unique content and special rewards designed to fit your particular playstyle. So whether you're planting a flag, building a starport, climbing a mountain or studying weird extra-terrestrial critters, your Path creates a unique experience that is all your own!
- Soldier: You have come here to kick ass! Initiate epic battles, mastering new weapons and special combat skills as you smash your way up the ranks for fame, fortune and glory.
- Scientist: You are the living proof that knowledge is power! Dig into the mysteries of planet Nexus and unlock unique abilities by studying ancient Eldan relics, exotic plants and dangerous alien organisms.
- Settler: You are the pillar of the community. Bring civilisation to this newly discovered planet by constructing outposts in dangerous areas and upgrading existing towns. Work with others to improve the world with banks, transportation networks, vendors and other helpful structures to aid your allies.
- Explorer: You will explore the wonders of an alien world. Travel to the darkest corners of this mysterious planet while discovering the locations of ancient artifacts of immense power. Climb higher, dig deeper and go farther than anyone in order to unlock all of Nexus' mysteries.
Stake yer Claim! – Grab your plot, plant a flag and crack open a beer. This place is yours, you found it, you built it and you'll be damned if anyone is gonna take it from you!
Kick Adventure in the Face! – Quests? We don't just have quests… we've got deep, multi-layered content, guaranteeing that your adventure on Nexus is bursting at the seams with fun and surprises. Battles with giant killer robots? Check. Timed challenges to kill deadly alien organisms? Check. Discovering powerful ancient technology that will melt your frickin' face? Double check. And the best part? The greater the risk, the greater the loot!
Pledge Your Alliance! – On the wild and dangerous frontiers of Nexus, you better pick a side if you want to survive! Want to crush your enemies in a bloodbath of imperial conquest? Then swear to the Dominion, a powerful interstellar empire who has claimed Nexus for its own! Or maybe you're a born rebel who ain't takin' orders from anyone? Then the Exiles – a rogue alliance of mercenaries, refugees and renegades – is the faction for you!
What the…?! – Hold on a second. Nexus was supposed to be the lost planet of the Eldan but they ain't here and it's now up to you to figure out what happened to them. Lucky for you, they left behind lots of clues. Unlucky for you, most of the clues will demolish, dissect or vaporise you. So go on, gear-up and start searching – the truth is out there, if you figure out a way to survive!
Explore A New Homeworld! – Nexus is one of the most mysterious and dangerous planets in the entire universe, and you just decided to make it your new home. On the plus side, there are ancient ruins, mystical forests and unexplored moons just waiting to be conquered! On the down side, most of those places are inhabited by cybernetically enhanced monstrosities, frightening beasts and hostile alien races! The fun never ends!
Feast Your Eyes On This! – Dive into the most visually stunning game in the history of the universe! With a completely unique and timeless art style, WildStar is infused with an unforgettable personality that is all its own. Chock full of super cool characters, awe-inspiring environments and hair-raising boss monsters, WildStar smacks you with eye popping visual variety at every turn. Now all you have to do is avoid becoming the galaxy's best-looking corpse!
Wildstar Online SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
- OS: Windows® XP SP3 (32-bit) or later
- Processor: Intel® Pentium® Core™2 Duo 2.4GHz, AMD Phenom™ X3 2.3GHz or better
- Memory: 4GB RAM
- Hard Drive: 30GB available HDD space
- Graphics: NVIDIA®GeForce® 8800 GT, ATI™ Radeon™ HD 3850 or better
- Broadband Internet connection
- Keyboard and mouse
- OS: Windows Vista® (64-bit) or later
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i5 Quad core 2.66GHz, AMD Phenom™ II X4 3GHz or better
- Memory: 8GB RAM
- Hard Drive: 30GB available HDD space
- Graphics: NVIDIA®GeForce® GTX 460, ATI™ Radeon™ HD 5830 or better
- Broadband Internet connection
- Keyboard and mouse


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Athletics' Pat Neshek's dream tragically turns to a loss
This should have been one of the best weeks of Pat Neshek's life.
The Oakland Athletics reliever left the team Tuesday to be with his wife for the birth of their son, Gehrig John Neshek. Then his team improbably won its division Wednesday.
But Gehrig John died Wednesday, about 23 hours after his birth.
"Please pray for my family. Tonight my wife & I lost our first & only son 23 hours after he was born with no explanation," Neshek posted on Twitter.
His wife, Stephanee Neshek, added later Wednesday, "There was no cause of death and I am having trouble understanding why God can let such a thing happen an innocent being."
Neshek had a career season with the A's, posting a 1.37 ERA in 24 relief appearances. He spent most of his career with the Minnesota Twins and a year with the San Diego Padres. He missed the 2009 season after Tommy John elbow surgery.
"Thinking of the long nights in AAA, my TJ surgery & the days when I thought it was over..Makes this the sweetest playoff birth of my career!" he tweeted Tuesday.
The A's said in a statement via the Associated Press, "Our hearts go out to Pat and Stephanee and we share in their sorrow of losing their young son. The entire A's organization will keep the Neshek family in our prayers and thoughts, as they try to come to grips with this tragic occurrence in their lives."
Stephanee Neshek had taken to using the Twitter hashtag "#playoffbaby" in tweets about her son even during labor.
She added Wednesday, in a tweet to @athleticsnation, "Thank you all for your thoughts & prayers. Pat and I have read them all & they will help us through this grief."
Tweet the couple support at @PatNeshek and @StephaneeNeshek.


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April 19, 2013
UPDATE (1:30PM): We've tried posting the article again since this post went up and have had success.
For some reason, the folks at Facebook are blocking an Infowars post pointing out several suspicious people wearing large black backpacks, that some have identified as members of the group Craft International, hovering within feet of the Boston Marathon bombing.
The following article is being blocked by Facebook:
When you try to post the article, here's what you get:
We discovered this moments ago when users began emailing us screenshots of failed posting attempts:
Despite the fact that news organizations like the Washington Times have also reported on the mysterious men spotted wearing large black backpacks at the scene, the Infowars post seems to be the only one being blocked.
Has Facebook been asked by the FBI to censor Infowars content because of the damning photos proving private contractors were actually casing the Boston Marathon PRIOR to the explosions happening?
This appears to indicate classic government censorship like that displayed by the Soviet Union who only allows printed matter, literature, and photographs that are in accordance with the official ideology and politics of the Communist Party.
Here are some of the photos the FBI has ordered people not to look at:
The Emergency Election Sale is now live! Get 30% to 60% off our most popular products today!


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Actress Meg Ryan picks up her precious daughter Daisy true 4, at school in Los Angeles on Thursday (May 28).
Meg has recently been shooting new movie, Serious Moon which is a comedy and it is directed by Cheryl Hines.
In the movie meg plays a -powered attorney who discovers that her husband is leaving her for another woman. Things get even more complicated when burglars break in to the couple's home.


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Tag Archives: eCommerce Sales
10 Tips to Make Your Ecommerce Business Runs Successfully
Ecommerce : In 2016 and next years to come, the ecommerce economy is probable to go on its upward route and quick increase. As an entrepreneur, this chance for hit and able to be maintained is thrilling, hopeful and exciting. Whether you've previously been caught up with the start of ecommerce business in the past or are looking to get concerned with your first venture, now is the time to get step in to the door. Certainly, from 2015 to 2022 , total Indian ecommerce sales to reach $23.39 this year, an 75% over last year, the forecast period will see strong growth over the next few years.
However, those numbers soft in comparison to the predictions financial analysis and industry experts are suggesting for the next few years. In 2017, 2018 to 2022, sources say the total projected Indian retail ecommerce sales will come in around $79billion by 2022. If these numbers hold true, that will be more than a 15 percent growth from this year to the end of 2017.
While the ecommerce market is balanced for important growth in the coming months and years, you can only expect to see results if you approach it in the right way. That means focusing on the following critical tips for ecommerce success.
1.Don't Hurry.
One of the major mistakes ineffective ecommerce entrepreneurs create is pressuring or hurrying to open a website. While it's okay to buy your domain name and bowl up some type of "Coming Soon" page, you should keep away from the big make public until you've laid some considerable ground work (SEO, content marketing, social media, paid advertising, etc.).
- User as Center of Attention.
It is not secret that the largest weakness of ecommerce businesses is the lack of ability to let their customers handle, feel, smell and watch (firsthand) things. Although there's presently no way for solving this problem, you can pay off for this shortage in other places of the business. some of the better suggestion include contribution suitable costing, providing free shipping and making the checkout performance easy with simplified shopping carts
3.360 Degrees Testing.
Prior to and for the period of launch any ecommerce business, you should involve in testing and making analytics. Ideas like the customer and checkout what's working and what's going wrong and the why after those answers.
- Focus on Social Media Marketing.
Any ecommerce startups that says that they have out sourced social media marketing or delegates that to other team is bound to fail. Social media is the best way of reach your business to customers as it provides you a continuous insights into preference, buying patterns of customers.
- Integrate Social Elements.
Going along with the previous tip, it's a great idea to include social elements on your ecommerce sites. Stuff like product reviews and testimonials, follow buttons and even social login options all will help
- Go Mobile.
Bill Siwicki of Internet Retailer references Goldman Sachs, saying, "Tablets will play an increasingly important role as worldwide consumer spending via mobile jumps from $204 billion in 2014 to $626 billion in 2018…" If you aren't building ecommerce businesses with mobile in mind, you may be irrelevant in three to five years.
- Use Good SEO Platform.
As the ecommerce market experiences quick growth, progressive businesses will be entering this gradually more crowded space. That means it will be more important than ever to use good SEO platform in order to stand out from the industry. Connecting with a advanced SEO will help you stay aggressive in the future.
- Gather Information.
It's significant that you gather customer information and make databases to support future launches.
9. Focus on Free Digital Marketing Options
Landing an article in a big-time magazine takes lots of work, and money as well. Instead focus on daily budgeted Marketing on Face book / Google. And don't forget to Blog.
- Stay Agile
Never stop improving on technology, trends and customer moods, they are agile and so you need to be dynamic and agile. Change is a necessity, if you want to do well in such a variable market
With these ten tips, you can be well on your way to becoming a successful ecommerce entrepreneur.
Ways To Increase Your E-commerce Sales
Ways To Boost Your eCommerce Sales :
1.Landing Pages – paid traffic Send to landing pages for products
2.Products descriptions and SEO
3.Site-wide search means sales
5.Avoid shipping sticker shock
6.Tablets are the new shop window
7.BONUS: Pin the tail on the profit


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Content Sale from Magnificent Kanata Home
– 81 Winchester Drive, Ottawa ON.
Sale will take place Saturday, February 8th 2020, from 9am-2pm.
Interac, Mastercard, VISA, Apple Pay and cash accepted.
Onsite delivery available at sole discretion of sale manager.
For your convenience, we will begin handing out free numbered tickets approximately one hour before the sale begins. Once you receive a ticket, feel free to relax in your vehicle, or even go grab some breakfast, but make sure to be lined up at the start of the sale, in order of ticket number. Please note that we will allow one person to enter per ticket, we stop handing out tickets at the start of the sale, and if you are not present when we call your number, you will have forfeited your position in line (if you arrived too late to receive a ticket, please go to the back of the line). As well, if you show up before we start handing out tickets, please adhere to the honour system and line up at the front door (waiting for a ticket in your car does not qualify as a line-up position). Buyers are strictly forbidden from attempting to contact our client prior to our arrival (do not knock or ring the doorbell).
Join our mailing list on our Website
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Twitter
Buyer beware that all sales are final, all items are sold as-is, items have not been tested or thoroughly inspected, the occasional item may be mistakenly mislabelled, and no refunds will be issued under any circumstance.
NO PRESALES OR POSTSALES: All deals must be made during the hours of the sale. For this particular sale, we will unfortunately not be able to answer email pricing inquiries prior to the sale; apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
Everything is priced to go Saturday by 2pm! Come early for the best selection and come late for the best deals. Snow or shine, hope to see you there!


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Sorry to gripe, but please may I ask members to try and post smaller pictures in the forums?
Smaller in two ways, please:
- In terms of the pixel height and width of the pictures, please keep the pictures under (say) 500 pixels on side. That way, the TMC pages will still render properly.
- In terms of the file size of the pictures, please try and keep them relatively small. Say, 30KB - 50KB. I know most people have broadband in this day and age, but not everyone has - and there's one page (for example) in the "Places to drink coffee" forum that takes a very long time to download at low speeds, as it has 5 or 6 pictures of around 130KB each on each page.
If you haven't any way of reducing the size of pictures from your digital cameras I'll be happy to help. However, there are a number of freeware picture editors out there that I am sure must be up to the standard required for such simple work.
Thanks for listening.


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Reviewing my accomplishments this year it was evident that making local history available to genealogists was a main goal, one in which I will continue into the new year. I will also concentrate on finishing the Tucker Family monograph.
2013 Accomplishments:
1. Attended the New England Regional Genealogical Conference in Manchester, NH;
2. Blog posting of family information;
3. Digitized thousands of City of Fredericksburg, VA marriage records encompassing years 1995-1955. These records available online include parents' names, mother's maiden name, occupation, race, and marital status (single, divorced, etc.), supporting documentation scanned as part of file - a goldmine of information;
4. Digitizing photo archive for Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc.;
5. Published polio article from blog post in Ithaca Journal;
6. Web site development and management, support of spring genealogy series for the Fredericksburg Regional Genealogical Society;
7. Progress on Agard family line;
8. Manage Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness on Genealogy Club of Newtown site;
9. Transcribed diaries of Jessie Tucker Agard;
10. Started monograph of the Tucker family of Enfield, New York;
11. Indexed monograph of the Cutter Family of Elkhart, Indiana.
2014 Genealogy goals:
1. Finish Tucker monograph;
2. Attend NGS Conference in Richmond;
3. Continue supporting HFFI through file management and photo archive project;
4. Continue management and content addition to FRGS website;
5. Continue digitizing marriage licenses for City of Fredericksburg;
6. Finish transcribing diaries of Jessie Tucker Agard
7. Continue blog posts;
8. Continue Random Acts support for Genealogy Club of Newtown


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Oh yes, it's true. I do garden in the dark. It does sound a bit dangerous, I'll grant you that, but it's not exactly brain surgery or nuclear fission. The only victims might be a live yellow daisy, "dead headed" in error. I do take pity on these victims and bring them indoors and stick them in a small vase, poor things. I do have the guidance of a porch light and a couple of solar powered "rock" lights. Twilight is actually the best time because I can still enjoy the view, there is usually a cool breeze whipping up from the Columbia River and there are no dangerous UVA/UVB rays to worry about.
This strange behavior became necessary, for me, many years ago when I first began to have pain in my sitter, fatigue and skin rashes on any area where the sun struck me. I was completely surprised when my skin started doing this to me. My skin, which is the largest organ in or should I say on, the body, had always tanned, rarely broke-out, even in puberty and then suddenly, it turned against me. I also had the lupus "mask" which is signified by the rash and redness on the nose extending to both cheeks. My scalp erupted in small, coin sized lesions which were very painful when I brushed my hair and took what felt like, forever, to go away.
Since I have a strong tendency to believe I can do anything and win…well, I confess, I stayed in denial for a few months while I tried to figure it out. My doctors offered no help except to say I might have lupus but my lab values were negative. I continued to drag my body to work, rashes and all. I continued to drive my well-loved little blue Mustang convertible but did have enough common sense to put the top up. It was still great fun in the evenings to drive with the top down, with the odor of sweet, fecund California farming soil in the air.
When my other problems forced me to begin working part time, the skin issues seemed less important compared to pain in my sitter. Our family finances suffered, my husband and my son were both in nursing school and my daughter was in high school. Ordinary life, if one could call it that, was full, busy and hectic. So much going on inside and outside my puzzling body gave me a full plate and one that became extremely heavy at times. I was depressed, had doubts about myself and chatted incessantly about my condition.
Over the years, my chatting has decreased, except for here on the blog and other writings but my body has definitely not been my best friend. Very few people, even physicians, understand the particular problem of photosensitivity brought on by disease. They always want to blame skin problems on medications but don't have many answers for a patient who developed this sensitivity to the sun "all on her own." I'm always amused by my fellow medical professionals who seem to believe I invented the problem and it has often challenged my personal veracity. I have learned how to handle the problem because over and over again, when I ignored it and spent too much time in the sun, I paid a high price.
Several years ago I read a lecture given by Dr. Daniel Wallace, author and physician in the LA area who explained the affect of the sun on human diseased skin. In some autoimmune diseases, the sun kills off the ever evolving skin cells by killing the nucleus in each cell, causing it to become debris and sending it into the body to cause pain in joints, rashes and system let-down. My immunity is challenged by the sun for several days after I receive too much.
Everyday of my life I wear a hat. It's not affectation; it's necessity. My approach is like most of my approach to life. I try to make it fun. I have some wonderful hats, mostly SPF 50 sun-proof. My favorites are made by Wallaroo hats which you can find online. They're reasonably priced between $35 and $40, wear very well and are adjustable. I used to think any hat would do and once went to Disneyland where I purchased a cute Minnie Mouse straw hat with an open weave. My scalp had an open weave rash on it for each hole the sun got through. Another lesson learned. There are more and more good, cute and attractive sunproof hats on the market.
I don't wear sunscreen everyday but I do always wear long sleeves, often layered. Sunscreen everyday is just too much. I've tried many brands, both inexpensive and department store variety yet still like Neutrogena the best. Their new line is highly concentrated, "a little dab will do ya'," SPF 70 and it doesn't run or become sticky. I elect to wear sunscreen when the sun is bright and when I know I will be out in it for more than a quick into and out of the car. I occasionally screw up and run an errand forgetting I'm not wearing sunscreen. I did that last week and because it was so lovely out, I was proud of myself for walking four whole blocks and got too many rays. As a result I awakened the next day with a virus. I really get tired of life being so difficult, don't you?
I love flowers, trees and other foliage. In our area with all of its rain we have ferns popping up in the yard along with naturally growing foxgloves which pop up to five feet of height until they are challenged by the wind and rain and fall over. Since I don't have the strength or the joint health for generalized gardening, I've confined it to pots for many years and do love to tinker with assorted colors, types and scents. I leave the heavy pruning, mowing, etc. to a kindly Vietnamese gardener. Last night when I was out dead-heading a daisy and a rose, I thought it was time to talk about this with all of you once again. My gardening is not only accomplished in the dark; it is in increments of quarter hours and even occasionally in the rain.
Currently my porch and deck (which is actually the cement roof of our garage, built in 1890) is filled with two Japanese maple trees in pots, daisies, geraniums, tiny roses, trailing "million bells" which are like tiny petunias, ivy and lavender. There is a pot of succulent cacti as well as another with herbs which aren't doing too well considering we're one of the few places in this country to have too little sun. We fight slugs, moss and slime. It's okay, I'll take it anytime over the galling heat which would keep me indoors and when out, constantly slathered in sunscreen.
I don't want any of you to have another problem but I would urge you to consider your skin and rule out any possibility it might be a symptom of an autoimmune disease. We all know the dangers of the sun and skin cancer. My dear man has fought almost every kind of skin cancer so it is ever in my thoughts. How do you get a stubborn man to wear sunscreen and a hat? If you figure it out, let me know.
Sue now has a Facebook page — check it out and "like" her now!
Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health.