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I have always enjoyed a good book. One that pulls me in and gets me interested. Little did I know, that teaching a teenage boy about the other side of a story, the terms and devices of literature, could be so hard. We struggled with learning all the good parts of the novels and stories I wanted to him to learn from, until we found Illuminating Literature: Characters in Crisis from Writing with Sharon Watson.
We have had to chance to try many of Sharon's other curriculum, including her Illuminating Literature: When Worlds Collide, so I was excited to use this with Moe Man!
What It Is
Illuminating Literature: Characters in Crisis is a Christian High School Literature curriculum. It is a full year's worth of lesson and will earn your child a full credit. For this review, we used the student textbook, the teacher's guide, quiz and answer manual and the novel notebook (which is free).
During this curriculum, your child will read a variety of works, from short works to actual books. The short works are included within the student textbook, but the books will need to be purchased separately. Sharon does show the recommended versions. These are Frankenstein, Silas Marner, Much Ado About Nothing, Sense and Sensibility, The Hobbit and a student choice of biography/autobiography.
How Did We Use It
There are many different ways to use this curriculum, as your literature course in your homeschool, as a part of your homeschool co-op or as a book of the month style club. We picked the homeschool literature course. Upon doing so, I spent some time looking over the teacher's guide and setting up our schedule.
The teacher's guide sets up the lessons in an easy to understand way for you. There is a suggested reading and homework plan that will allow you to see how long each book will take. Your child will start off by learning about the book and the author during their first week. They will learn about literary terms and devices.
The second and third weeks are spent reading the book, and working in the novel notebook. These are the fun weeks, I had Moe Man reading for all 14 days instead of just Monday-Friday, only because that meant his readings were smaller each day.
Finishing up the last week of the month, you finish up the rest of the lessons. These include quizzes like the "Yes, I read it" Quiz and the Literary Terms Quiz that can be found online or in the Quiz and Answer Manual. Your child will also work on one activity to go with the book. These activities range from writing or rewriting parts of the book, watching a movie drawing a picture or creating music or arts. These activities make it fun, no matter your child's learning style or interests.
What We Thought
Sharon Watson can take a "boring" book and make it come alive for my son! He has always been a reluctant reader, finding a book now and again that he would get lost in. But now, he is able to enjoy new styles of writing. He finds out about the time period, the author and the characters. He has the Novel Notebook to help him chapter by chapter.
I love that this is basically an open and go curriculum on my end. I check in weekly with Moe Man, and I make sure to have the books ordered or put on hold at the library, and I love talking with him using the discussion questions, but the rest he is able to do independently. This is great, especially for such an in-depth type of curriculum!
Moe Man also loves that it is independent. He loves to sit down and do things at his pace and his time. He loves that the lessons are not super long and they don't require him to write all the time. He has found that he prefers to take the quizzes on paper, as he doesn't feel as pressured while doing them.
We were not the only family to check out the new Illuminating Literature: Characters in Crisis. Check out what the other families had to share by clicking here:


text: Ereignis, as much as being, even as Gestell, retains a "freedom" infinitely superior to that of man. Man can merely await Ereignis that, like the Turning, is already and is not yet, as Gestell is only the prelude. Ereignis is therefore the name given by way of anticipation to a possible "identification" between man and being, beyond metaphysics. In awaiting a new commencement, a new History, Ereignis in Heidegger's last writings disposes over man to the same extent and with the same total sovreignty as does being. In particular, it reveals that man is "used," that he speaks on inasmuch as he listens to language and belongs to it. "Ereignis appropriates man to the usage [Brauch] it makes of him." All schemas of freedom, activity, and power that were those of being are transferred to Ereignis, in the face of which man keeps the same determinations of quasi-passivity and dependency. The thought of Ereignis therefore does not fundamentally change the definition of man's essence as resulting from his relation to being, and from being's relation to him.The quote, from The Way to Language, is this book's own translation.

subset: commoncrawl


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Thursday, October 25, 2012
Mayfield's Mutterings:
Central Illinois gets a taste of the NBA; Bulls
fall late to the Cavs 86-83
Today's Sports
Sports postings from the
past week
Oct. 24
Lady Eagles win 3rd place at
Logan County tournament
LC volleyball hosts
breast cancer awareness match
More sports news
Oct. 23
LCHS cross country
advances to sectionals
LCU volleyball vs. Moody Bible Institute
More sports news
Oct. 22
LC volleyball results
Logan Lanes:
Friday Night Mixed
Sunday Night Mixed
Oct. 20
use 2nd-half comeback to sink Spartans on Senior Night
By Justin Tierney
Senior Night at Mount
Pulaski celebrates 5 outstanding ladies
Oct. 19
Railers take on Olympia on Senior Night,
season finale
By Justin Tierney
Senior focus: Dane Eimer
Part 2: 'One game left. We
just want to make the most of the opportunities we have left to
play.'By Justin Tierney
West Lincoln-Broadwell Lady
Wolverine basketball
LCU volleyball vs. Greenville
More sports news
Oct. 18
Senior focus: Dane Eimer
Lady Eagles win over West Lincoln-Broadwell
LC volleyball results
Logan Lanes:
Jay Bird League
More sports news
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Jordan Brand's Hat-Tip to Jeter and Domino's Emoji Ordering Win Grand Prix at Cannes
Droga5 wins Integrated Gold, #LikeAGirl takes Titanium
CANNES, France—Illustrating the far extremes of creativity honored at the Cannes, Jordan Brand's solemn send-off to Derek Jeter shared top honors today with Domino's emoji ordering service in the Titanium and Integrated Lions.
The intentionally broad category, which covers almost any type of integrated marketing campaign (with Titanium Lions reserved for breakthrough ideas).
Jordan's "RE2PECT," a 100-second ad honoring Jeter's respectful approach to his baseball career, received an integrated Grand Prix, a top honor that supercedes even a gold Lion. The spot was created by Wieden + Kennedy and directed by Matt Aselton.
The ad's strength, according to jury president and W+K Portland ECD Mark Fitzloff, lies in it being "driven off of emotion, something very abstract, very human. You can really feel it in the video."
Taking home the Titanium Grand Prix for most breakthrough idea of the year is Domino's emoji ordering system, which lets fans order a pizza via a tweet. Developed by Crispin Porter + Bogusky, the idea was prefaced by a cryptic collection of tweets made up entirely of emojis, sparking quite a bit of interest (and bemusement).
The selection of the Domino's effort was "certainly a long, drawn-out discussion," Fitzloff said. "We felt really good about awarding an idea that has the potential to impact a major advertiser's business model. What I see in the emoji ordering idea is the touch of an agency, the touch of a creative person on a real, legitimate business-moving idea. Increasingly, that's where the opportunities for ad agencies are."
The hugely popular Always #LikeAGirl campaign won a Titanium Lion, one of many Lions the campaign received this week.
The only gold Integrated Lion awarded to a U.S. shop went to Droga5 for its Newcastle "Band of Brands" with production assistance from Caviar Los Angeles.


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Force Factor
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Friday, December 25, 2009
Abita Christmas Ale (2009)
The last of the Christmas-themed beer reviews for this season... probably. What beer could possibly be more appropriate for Christmas Day than a beer with name "Christmas Ale"? As you can probably tell, this was NOT shot on Christmas day, and the Jets did end up losing that game X(
I didn't write a text review of this because it didn't impress me that much and frankly, I didn't have the patience to sit down and write it at the time.
NOTE: Read my 2013 re-review here: http://www.chadzbeerreviews.com/2013/12/abita-christmas-ale-2013.html
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Kunming's biggest landmark, the Dianchi Lake is worth a visit! Also if you won't be able to swim in it, there are plenty of options visiting its shores and close sights as well as enjoying the great view over lake and city. Especially when during the winter months migratory birds from Sibiria populate the area, the lake turns into a popular destination.
Suggested travel route along Dianchi Lake: Daguan Park - Western Hills - Yunnan Nationalities Village
A suggested tour route for a visit around, first leads you to Daguan Park at Dianchi's lakeside, we can admire one of the four most famous pavilions of China: the Park Scenic Area includes the three-storied Grand View Pavilion, which provides a spectacular view across giant Dianchi Lake and to the Western Hills behind it. Seen from afar, the mountain's undulating skyline resembles a graceful young lady sleeping on her back; hence the mountain is also named "sleeping beauty".
The Western Hills and Dragon Gate can be entered best by cable car, carrying you over the lake (from Haigeng Park). From the top, we can take a birds-eye view of the city and the Dianchi Lake. The peak of the Western Hills, located at the west bank of the Dianchi Lake, rise up to over 2,500 meters above sea level. Enjoy the mountains well covered by evergreen woods and filled with songs by lovely birds.
Back on 'ground level' we continue to the Yunnan Nationalities Village. Endowed with lofty hills, beautiful pools, exquisite traditional houses and rare plants, it showcases Yunnan's architectural styles, religious beliefs, and folk customs of 26 ethnic groups in detail.
Entrance Fees
- Daguan Park: 26 RMB / per ticket
- Western Hills: 98 RMB / per ticket
- Yunnan Nationalities Village: 90 RMB / per ticket
Do you prefer to travel with a tour guide to get a more in-depth view on the sights mentioned or do you need a vehicle and driver to bring you around? Please contact us directly, happy to help out with your tour around Dianchi Lake or elsewhere in Yunnan!
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The Journey Magazine Database just isn't a giant rolodex. Most significantly, it focused on magazines from North America for more general journalists—not the journey magazines from other English-language markets that I knew existed and weren't getting quite a lot of pitches but I just didn't know how to find.
Deluxe Paris, France Lodges
Large Broad World offers exceptional and unique journey experiences, particularly designed for families that aspire to being actually international residents. Our youngsters journey information online data does not solely cover the basic journey details and the principle points of interest of the world's international locations, however it can explain the international nation's cultures and customs for kids and can help your children to realize a better understanding of the new cultures.
This lodge has all the things for a snug stay within the rooms for 2 in probably the perfect location in Paris. If your Parisian fantasy includes romantic evenings in a historic grand-dame or an elegant boutique lodge that pampers you in high style, this is some excellent news: you do not have to be rich to make your dreams come true.
Low-cost Paris Metropolis Breaks
WTM Latin America is the three day must-attend business-to-business (B2B) occasion which brings the world to Latin America and promotes Latin America to the world. Nestled within a uncommon green oasis within the coronary heart of the city, Hôtel de Berri, A Luxurious Assortment Resort, Paris is located within the modern 8th arrondissement. Reserving a holiday from scratch can be an arduous course of, with numerous apartments on holiday dwelling renting websites and an awesome variety of hotels, every with opposing evaluations on TripAdvisor.
In the Contact Information" tab, we don't include the e-mail format for the magazine's editors within the restricted entries. Housed in a standard Parisian 19th-century townhouse … Read the rest


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Grilled Chicken Pasta Salad
4 Servings
30 Minutes start to finish
Calories per serving = 320
Fat per serving = 18 grams
Carbohydrates = 32 grams
Cholesterol per serving = 70 mg
Sodium per serving = 700 mg
1/2 pound short cut pasta
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
2 ts tabasco
3 TB Worcestershire Sauce
5 TB red wine vinegar
2 chicken breasts, sliced thinly
2 TB dijon mustard
black pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 bunches agrugula, washed, chopped
1 small head radicchio, chopped
2 cups fresh basil, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, handful, chopped
3 celery ribs, thinly sliced
1 ball fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into bite sized pieces
1 pint grape tomatoes, whole
1. Cook pasta according to boxes directions.
2. Combine hot sauce, worcestshire sauce, and 2 TB vingar in a medium bowl. Add 1/4 cup of olive oil and mix until well combined. Add chicken to bowl and coat the chicken. Let sit.
3. In a small bowl, combine mustard and remaining 3 TB vinagar with salt and pepper. Whisk in 1/4 olive oil and Parmesan Cheese.
4. When the pasta is done cooking, drain it and add it to the small bowl of dressing.
5. Heat up a saute pan, add a small amount of olive oil. Add onions and cook until translucent. Add garlic, cook for 30 seconds, then add chicken slices. Add cooked chicken to bowl of pasta.
6. Add arugula, raddicchio, tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Mix and serve.


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Download the HubSpot logo vector designed by http://www.hubspot.com in .EPS format and file size: 273.59 Kb. The current status of the logo is active, which means the logo is currently in use.
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Lang Co Beach
Lang Co Beach
Lang Co Beach lies between Da Nang and Hue. Lang Co itself is a developing touristic area, where the natural beauty of the lagoon, the long beaches and the fishing village is still mostly untouched. On the way from Da Nang to Hue, just after passing the Hai Van Pass, while descending from the pass the very nice village of Lang Cô with its nice white sandy beaches appears. Lang Co is an attractive, peninsula stretch of palm-shaded sand with turquoise lagoon on one side and very long beaches facing the Pacific Ocean on the other. It's a great places where lots of visitors make a lunch or spend the night. Here you can take a rest from the Hai Van pass in a beachside seafood restaurant in the village or watch fishermen inventorying the catch of the day. The Sao Bien Restaurant lies on the lagoon side is quite good in seafood specialties (grill baby squids here are well-known). From March to September swimming is good by warm weather. The village of Lang Co is definitely worth a short – or even a long – before the trip takes you further to Hue.
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3 Things to Remember When Relationships End
I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Not by coincidence or chance, but for a purpose.
The reason doesn't always present itself right away, but usually it is for our good. Sometimes the reason is staring us right in our face but it's hard for us to accept.
Particularly when it comes to relationships or matters of the heart.
Relationships can be rough especially if we try to take matters into our own hands when God has already spoken.
When a relationship ends it can feel like the end of the world for most of us. Whether it's a friendship, courtship, or business relationship, it hurts!
Here are 3 things to remember when relationships end:
1. Your destiny is never tied to someone who walks away from you.
Healing is a process. You can't heal if you're constantly speaking defeat over your situation. I've heard women say…
"He was my one true love. I don't think I'll ever find someone else like him."
"I'll never love anyone as much as I love him".
"He was my one shot at love and I think I blew it."
"He was my "soulmate". There will never be another".
Does any of this sound familiar?
The funny thing is most, if not all of the women I've heard say these things are now happily married, engaged, or in a relationship with hopes of getting married.
God eventually revealed His beautiful plan in these ladies lives, but not until they were ready.
It wasn't until they decided to lay their burdens down at His feet and trust His will. It wasn't until they realized life goes on.


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The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, set into motion stricter border crossing requirements for entering the United States. U.S. citizens, foreign nationals and citizens of other countries must now present a valid passport and sometimes other documentation to officials at border crossings. Along with more rigid screening of all airline passengers into and out of the U.S., officials implemented a program to conduct in-depth reviews of visa applications from applicants residing in countries considered high-risk. These measures were considered necessary for the safety of everyone coming to or leaving the U.S.
There are two governmental bodies overseeing non-citizen presence on U.S. soil: the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The DHS manages the paperwork for those foreign citizens who want to come legally to the U.S. for an extended period of time either temporarily or permanently. The CBP is the organization that secures the 328 ports of entry throughout the United States and can provide information on U.S. border crossings.
There are different requirements for entering the country depending upon a person's immigration status or their country of origin. Some of these requirements are detailed below:
With more people entering the United States every day, the CBP has instituted a Trusted Traveler Program to help expedite crossing borders. There are dedicated kiosks at many ports of entry for those pre-approved by the CBP. An extensive background and interview process is required for an individual to qualify for these programs, and company credentials as well as the individual requirements are necessary for those using the Free and Secure Trade for Commercial Vehicles program. Those pre-authorized through the Trusted Traveler Programs receive a border crossing card to speed up their customs processing.
The border crossing card is not to be confused with the U.S. Passport Card or the Enhanced Driver's License (EDL). A passport card can be used similarly to a passport for land and sea crossings only and is a cheaper alternative to a full passport for travelers going to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or the Caribbean. The EDL is a state-issued driver's license that allows drivers residing in certain states to cross the land or sea border without a passport.
Travelers into the United States, regardless of their citizenship, must complete a declaration form (6059B). This form tells the customs agents who you are, who you are with and what items you are bringing into the country with you. It is prohibited to bring agricultural products from other countries into the U.S., and any items, agricultural or otherwise, are required to be included on the declaration form. A separate form must be completed for currency totaling $10,000 or more per party.
The CBP also alerts travelers as to any safety advisories and the wait times they may encounter at airports and both northern and southern borders. These wait times can be reduced by having all your documents in order before departing for the U.S.
U.S. citizens traveling to foreign countries should review the entry and exit requirements of the destination country. The most relevant information can be found on the CBP website, but updated and country-specific information can be found on the Department of State's website.
If you are planning a US border crossing but think you will need more documentation than what is generally required, you should contact an immigration attorney for assistance.
When it comes to immigration and whether you can live and work where you want, every detail matters. When the slightest paperwork error or missed deadline can mean years of delays, it is essential to do things right the first time. An experienced immigration lawyer can address your particular needs with immigration, and put you in the best position for a positive outcome. Take the first step now and contact a local immigration attorney to discuss your rights and specific situation.
Enter your location below to get connected with a qualified Immigration attorney today.


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The Plug-In Winch
The PCT1800 is recommended for situations where a conventional combustion engine is unusable or where noise is an issue. This electric winch designed for lifting
and pulling is ideal for indoor work, such as pulling wire through pipes or hoisting equipment.
As with all other Portable Winch models, the PCT1800 has a capstan drum that maintains the same force throughout the work, over an unlimited length of rope at a
speed of 8.8 metres per minute. Specifically developed for lifting winches, the rope grabbing system is found on the PCT1800 series. Once the rope is inserted into the
grabbing system, the operator activates the winch and initiates the movement simply by pulling horizontally on the rope. At any time, the operator can decide to stop lifting and keep the load in suspension, without any problem. In order to lower a load, the operator must pull the grabbing system cord handle to disengage. Then, the
operator will be able to control the main rope in its lowering movement. If ever the rope was to slip out of the operator's hands, the grabbing system would grip the rope
and prevent the load from collapsing to the ground.
Powered by a 1 ph - 3/4 hp electric motor, the PCT1800 develops a pulling force of 820 kg and offers a lifting capacity of 250 kg in a single line. Of course, a block and tackle system will allow you to increase these capacities!
Portable Winch Co. warrants its new products to be free of failure resulting from defective material and workmanship under normal use and service. Warranty Policy
All orders are processed on opening business hours - Monday to Friday - 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time with the exception of Canada's public holidays. Shipping page
We want you to be pleased with your order. If you are not satisfied, call or write to us within 25 days for authorization to return or exchange your merchandise. Return Policy


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Erika and I enjoying ourselves at The Chocolate Bar. Erika and I have been friends ever since we met as sorority sisters back in College.
Even though I had a great time with the girls, I have never been so happy to finally head home to my warm bed with my sweet husband and precious baby sleeping away in her crib.
Dancing the night away!
The rooftop bar was decked out in a tropical island theme and was lit all the way around with cute little tiki torches.
The Velvet Dog has a rooftop deck with an amazing view of the city. I wish I could of taken a better picture of the buildings all lit up but nothing was turning out.
After dinner, we decided to walk down the street to The Velvet Dog for a little dancing.
Our group enjoying our girls night out.
For dinner, I ordered the corn ravioli. I wasn't sure what was going to show up, but oh my, so delicious! The ravioli filling was ground up corn mixed with ricotta cheese. I would love to try to make something like this at home, however, I just don't think I could really duplicate it.
This restaurant was so different. I have never been to anything like it. Every menu item was made out of corn! We first decided to try the popcorn appetizer. Who knew popcorn sprinkled with balsamic vinaigrette dressing and caramelized onions would be so delicious?
After having drinks and appetizers at The Chocolate Bar, we headed down to The Warehouse District to The Crop Bistro and Bar.
My friends and I started a book club back in 2005 and it is still going strong. We originally started out with four members and our group has since expanded to seven of us. Our husbands like to joke with us that basically this is really a wine club where we occasionally discuss a book that we may or may not of read. Regardless, it's all about getting together every other Tuesday for some girl time. Kids are optional. You are more than welcome to bring them along, but if Mommy is looking for a relaxing night out, then certainly leave them at home for the hubby to watch.
At one of our last meetings, Erika mentioned that she read an article in Parent's Magazine about the importance of maintaining your friendships after baby and that you need to make a point to have a girls night out a few times a year. So who were we to argue with Parent's Magazine? So Erika planned a weekend staycation in downtown Cleveland for the book club girls. Saturday consisted of a day at the Spa, drinks, and then dinner. Followed up by a little dancing at night. Erika also had made hotel reservations downtown for those who wanted to spend the night and not have to worry about driving home late at night. I opted not to go to the Spa or stay at the hotel. As excited as I was to hang out with my friends for the evening. I was not ready to leave Jillian yet for an extensive amount of time, especially overnight! I know the day will come when I will have to spend the night away from Jillian but I would prefer to spend my first night away from Jillian with Jeff.
Our first stop for the evening was "The Chocolate Bar". The Chocolate Bar is located in the trendy E 4th district in downtown Cleveland and specializes in pretty much everything made out of chocolate.


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A Cloud Guru
Cloud • Edtech
Cloud is the future and we're here to send as many into that future as we can. Our name may sound a bit funny, but we believe people can seriously change their lives by learning new skills. We make engaging online training packed with personality and slick presentation for an experience more like firing up Netflix, less like a stuffy classroom.
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09 July 2018
Darllenwch yr erthygl yma yn Gymraeg | Read this post in Welsh
Antipsychotic medicines are being prescribed inappropriately, in many cases as a default option to 'manage' challenging behaviour of people with dementia, according to a recent Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report which will be debated in Plenary on Wednesday 11 July.
Antipsychotics are a group of medications usually used in the treatment of mental health conditions such as schizophrenia. There have been increasing concerns in recent years about the use of antipsychotics for the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
Antipsychotics are associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular adverse events and greater mortality when used in people with dementia, with the likelihood of premature death increasing with prolonged use.
In 2009, a report by Professor Sube Banerjee concluded that antipsychotics appeared to be used too often in dementia and, at their likely level of use, potential benefits are most probably outweighed by their risks overall.
Almost a decade later, the Committee heard evidence that antipsychotic medication is being routinely administered in response to challenging behaviour, in place of staff working to identify the root cause of the behaviour. The Committee report notes that a person living with dementia presenting challenging behaviour often has an unmet need which they may be unable to communicate, and calls for comprehensive person-centred assessments to identify and fully address people's needs.
The report also highlights evidence that medication reviews are not happening frequently enough for people with dementia, and that once medication is prescribed (including antipsychotics) it often rolls on with repeat prescriptions for long periods without being monitored effectively (despite the increased risk of harm with prolonged use).
The Committee report notes that Members are 'deeply concerned' about the misuse of antipsychotics, and states:
Unnecessarily medicating vulnerable people in care is a profound human rights issue which must be addressed.
The Committee concluded that it is disappointed with the apparent lack of commitment to tackling this issue as a priority, and that Members believe cultural and systemic changes are needed to ensure antipsychotic medications are prescribed appropriately, and not as a first option.
The Committee makes 11 recommendations in its report, including calls on the Welsh Government around data collection; person-centred assessments to identify any unmet needs; the development of national standards for dementia care training and making the training mandatory for all care staff; ensuring all Health Boards are fully compliant with NICE guidelines, introducing mandatory three monthly medication reviews and making medicines monitoring a key part of Care Inspectorate Wales' (CIW) inspection regimes.
Welsh Government's response
In the Welsh Government (WG)'s response to the report, it has accepted four of the recommendations (recommendations 5, 6, 7 and 8), including:
R6. We recommend that medicines monitoring should be a key part of care homes inspection, and that Care Inspectorate Wales mandates documented evidence of medicines' monitoring for older people prescribed antipsychotic medication in patient records.
The wording of the Welsh Governments response suggests this is already happening and states:
Going forward, CIW are considering how management and review of antipsychotic medication is included as part of the inspection process. This would be considered in its broadest sense with potential options including a line of enquiry about support, review and advice in relation to management of antipsychotic medication as part of the new inspection framework.
R8. The Welsh Government should take action to address the shortage of speech and language therapists, given their value in improving outcomes for people with dementia, and report its progress to this Committee within 12 months.
The WG response states:
It is recognised that AHPs and Speech and Language Therapists (SaLT) specifically are providing a key role in the delivery of community/primary care services.
Health Education Improvement Wales (HEIW) is currently scoping work to increase the numbers of AHPs (including SaLT) available in Wales. This will also include considering principles of organisational effectiveness to promote the aim of developing a workforce (of healthcare support workers, SaLT assistants) that can support registered SaLTs by delivering the treatment plans drawn up by the therapists, leaving the SaLTs to deliver the levels of intervention that only they can provide.
Within the summer our 'Train Work Live' campaign will be extended to include allied health professionals.
The WG rejected recommendation 9 which calls for the development of a method and guidance for assessing the appropriate skills mix required for care home staff. The WG feels that this issue is covered by Regulations already developed under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 – The Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017.
The WG 'accepted in principle' the five remaining recommendations, including:
R1. The Welsh Government should ensure that, within 12 months, all health boards are collecting and publishing standardised data on the use of antipsychotic medication in care homes and report back to this Committee on progress at the end of that 12 month period.
The WG response stresses that there are significant limitations with routinely collected prescribing data 'which means it is not possible to readily attribute prescriptions to residents in care homes'. It goes on to say:
Given the Committee has made several recommendations relating to the availability and reporting of prescribing data, I will convene a group of relevant experts to examine the usefulness of various data sources and provide me with advice on how they might best be used to support our aspiration to reduce inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotic medications.
R2. The Welsh Government should ensure that, within 12 months, all health boards are fully compliant with NICE guidelines on dementia, which advise against the use of any antipsychotics for non-cognitive symptoms or challenging behaviour of dementia unless the person is severely distressed or there is an immediate risk of harm to them or others, and report back to this Committee on rates of compliance at the end of that 12 month period.
The WG response says it shares the Committee's concerns but 'it is not straightforward to determine whether a medicine is being prescribed in accordance with NICE's guidance', and that the responsibility to comply rests with the health professionals.
In response to recommendations 3 (person-centred care assessments and a checklist tool to identify unmet needs) and recommendation 10 (national dementia care standards and mandatory training monitored by CIW) the WG highlights existing work including the 'Good work' Dementia Training and Education Framework, and the 2017 regulations (referred to previously). It also says that the forthcoming CIW thematic review of dementia care 'is likely to include both staff training and skills in respect of dementia along with reviewing the issues around medication (including antipsychotics) for those with dementia'.
R4. We recommend the introduction of mandatory three monthly medication reviews for people with dementia who have been prescribed antipsychotic medication, with a view to reducing or stopping the medication following the first review where possible.
The WG says 'the principle of mandatory three monthly medication reviews is an approach underpinned by NICE guidelines and recognised by the Welsh Government'.
The WG notes that the current Directed Enhanced Service (DES) requires that all new care home residents are seen within 28 days for a clinical assessment and that all residents have an assessment at least once a year. The WG believes the DES 'likely presents the most appropriate avenue to explore changing the specification of the service to cover the activity set out in recommendation 4'. It goes on to say:
All enhanced services are currently undergoing a review by the Senior Medical Officer for Primary Care and with the support of Assistant Medical Directors across Health Boards. Therefore, this suggestion will be taken forward as part of that work and it should be noted that any changes to enhanced services would need to be negotiated with the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) Wales.
Article by Amy Clifton, National Assembly for Wales Research Service


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Gustavo Bockos aka Vokos, is an artist based in São Paulo, Brazil.
He does art direction, advertising campaigns, fashion photography and illustration for various clients and commissioned design works. One of his latest personal art projects is 'Dirty Land', a series of mixed media prints featuring adult content and instantly recognisable Disney characters.
All the prints in the 'Dirty Land' series are available via the Empty Frame online store at £80.00 a pop.


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Bed Management
Improving patient flow is a top priority for most hospitals. Apart from directly increasing the hospital's capacity, there are several other benefits that come with optimized patient flow, such as:
- shorter waiting times and length of stay
- better patient experience
- improved care
- lower costs
Continuously having to forecast bed and patient planning, and providing the capacity to meet both the scheduled and unscheduled demand for the day is a challenging task. Especially in the pre-operative Holding Area and Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) where there's a great need for an optimized internal patient throughput, because of a large number of incoming and outgoing patients every day.
Often, the patient's information only becomes available when the patient arrives though. This causes a great deal of unrest for hospital staff and leads to inefficient use of available beds, distributed equipment, and staff capacity.
Our solution
In addition to the OR, real-time smart dashboards can be deployed in the Holding and PACU departments. The dashboards indicate whether a patient is present, when bays are reserved or whether a bay is closed. Anyone approaching the Holding or PACU area will instantly see which bed is scheduled for a patient and which are open for use.
This results in:
- fewer miscommunications
- fewer delays
- improved patient experience
- reduced stress for caregivers
Bed Assignment Planning
The real-time area dashboards can be equipped with the additional 'Bed Assignment Planning' module. This program will help the central desk or a day manager with anticipating patient flow more effectively and managing the use of beds throughout the entire department. Freeing up time for all caregivers to focus on their patients.
Benefits of working with real-time dashboards and Bed Assignment Planning:
- Instantly see what bed a patient in Pre-Op/PACU is assigned to
- Receive instant alerts if any delays occur
- At once see which beds are free for use
- Know exactly when patients have been ordered
More information
Are you interested in improving your Bed Management and Patient Flow? Feel free to contact us.
Instantly see which bed is scheduled for a patient and which are open for use.


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Woman feared for her life when she simulated suicide of her housemate on the orders of her killer
Longford Leader National News
Woman feared for her life when she simulated suicide of her housemate on the orders of her killer
A mushroom picker told gardaí that she was in fear for her life when she simulated the suicide of her housemate on the orders of her killer.
The 34-year-old Latvian woman in on trial at the Central Criminal Court, charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a man, knowing or believing him to have murdered Antra Ozolina (49) or committed some other arrestable offence.
It's alleged that Egita Jaunmaize placed a blue cord around Ms Ozolina's neck so as to simulate her suicide in order to make it more difficult to establish that her death was suspicious.
The accused, of no fixed abode, has pleaded not guilty to carrying out the offence at their home at The Old Post, Main Street, Kilnaleck, Co Cavan on or about June 27 or June 28 2014. However, she accepts that Ms Ozolina's death was not caused by suicide and does not dispute that another named person caused it.
Detective Garda Gerard Shaughnessy gave evidence yesterday (Thursday) of interviews conducted with the accused afterwards.
She said that there had been a row in the house between her and the deceased in the presence of the killer on the night of June 27. This man left, she said, and she went to bed.
However, she said that she woke to screaming and found this man assaulting Ms Ozolina in the deceased woman's room.
"I tried to push him away but couldn't," she said. "He punched me in the stomach."
She said that he continued to assault her flatmate.
"He was choking her," she said. "I heard her making a noise from her mouth. I asked what it was."
She said that he replied that it was 'a dead person's noise'.
"I screamed: 'I'm not going to prison because of you. I will tell gardaí. I have a child.' He grabbed me by my neck."
She said he told her that if either of them went to prison, she wouldn't have him anymore.
"I was so afraid if I go to gardai he will kill me too," she said.
"He said we need to set it up as if she done it herself," she said. "He got a rope. He said to me to put it on… I was forced to do it."
She said that he held the deceased up so that she could put the rope over her head.
"He did the rest himself," she said.
She said she remembered very little after that as she was in shock.
She said that he woke her the next morning, and asked if she knew what happened.
"At first I didn't, as I was still in a state of shock," she said.
She said that she eventually agreed with his plan to gell gardaí that her flatmate had hung herself.
She kept to this line during a number of voluntary statements and in her first interview as a suspect, even suggesting that her flatmate had given herself the injuries found at autopsy.
The statements of other witnesses were then put to her, including one from a friend whom the deceased had rung that night to say she was in fear and was going to ring the gardaí.
The accused eventually agreed that she was under the duress of the man, whom she described as a 'skinhead neo nazi'.
D Gda Shaughnessy said that the accused was released from custody following a number of interviews.
He recalled that he was driving in Cavan town a few days later, when he saw two people sitting together on a bench. He said he recognised them as the accused and the alleged killer.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven men and five women.
You may also be interested in:
Woman in court accused of staging the suicide of her housemate
Daughter of deceased tells trial her mother was a happy person with no medical problems
Jury sworn in for Longford murder trial
Knives, machete and hatchet seized as Longford Gardaí swoop on car


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EventsView all Articles
"Tramas" David Bestué at CentroCentro Madrid
February 5, 2019
14 March 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Cibeles Palace, which houses CentroCentro Cultural Centre. Since it first opened as the Telecommunications Palace, the building has had various incarnations and has been the focus of myriad gazes.
This idea of looking, of assessing from different points of view, underpins this series of exhibitions: "El Palacio visto por…" (The Palace as Seen by…), in which we aim to invite, on an annual basis, different artists and architects to create an informative overview –in exhibition format– based on the building's archives and history, while also offering their own individual perceptions of the palace. These may take different forms, ranging from the sculptural and graphic work presented by David Bestué (Barcelona, 1980) this year to other future offerings, which we will discover as time goes by. (more…)


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Yes, your students will be able to access Sumdog at home through Wonde using their Wonde SSO. They will then be able able to select the Sumdog app from their Wonde portal.
The students will also still be able to access Sumdog using their individual Sumdog login through the Sumdog website or Sumdog app.
Note: To access Sumdog through Wonde your school would first need to share your school data with Sumdog through Wonde's secure sync.


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This Bugzilla instance is a read-only archive of historic NetBeans bug reports. To report a bug in NetBeans please follow the project's instructions for reporting issues.
The magic key "setAsMain" is used by a New Project wizard impl to instruct NewProject to set the first returned project directory as the main project.
This should probably be changed to a get/set pair in Templates.
Created attachment 97396 [details]
Proposed patch, with usage in three project types
Please review.
A minor change: for compatibility, the default value of the flag must be true, not false. This explains why e.g. the autoproject wizard always sets the new project as main despite having no code mentioning a main project.
core-main #185434522b7f
Integrated into 'main-golden', will be available in build *201004220200* on http://bits.netbeans.org/dev/nightly/ (upload may still be in progress)
Changeset: http://hg.netbeans.org/main/rev/185434522b7f
User: Jesse Glick <email@example.com>
Log: Issue #184213: provide proper API for setAsMain constant.


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Wordless Wednesday: Slip 'N Slide
FILED UNDER: Kids , Wordless Wednesday
4 comments :
- AnonymousJuly 14, 2011 at 8:22 AM
Cute pics, Shay! Zeke loos so much like you :0)ReplyDelete
What a wonderful summer activity!ReplyDelete
It looks like they had a blast!ReplyDelete
Oh, that was fun.. Summer treat for kid! I used to like sliding back then when I was a kid. I remember those times so long ago.. (:ReplyDelete
Thanks for leaving a comment! I really appreciate them. If you've left a question, I'll get back to you as soon as I can! Note: Don't be a jerk. I reserve the right to delete hateful, inappropriate, or otherwise not nice comments.
Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )


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Ellie Kemper Reading From My Squirrel Days Video
Exclusive: Watch Ellie Kemper Read a Hilarious Story About The Office From Her New Memoir
Ellie Kemper's memoir, My Squirrel Days, is here, which means we're being treated to plenty of incredible — and typically hilarious — anecdotes from her life. Before starring on Netflix's The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Kemper got her start playing Erin on The Office, which allowed her to attend her very first award show: the 2010 Emmys. In our exclusive clip of Kemper reading a chapter aloud for her audiobook, she recounts having an unintentionally awkward run-in with Ricky Gervais on the red carpet. Watch it above, and then pick up


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Table of Contents (2018 Issue)
Strategies of Teaching "le" at the Beginning Level of Chinese as a Foreign Language:
Usage of "le" in Discourse
关于初级汉语课"了"的教学设计与反思: "了"在篇章中的使用
by 赵冉 (Zhao, Ran) 杜乃岩 (Du, Naiyan)
Abstract: This pedagogical report shares a variety of strategies to teach "le" at the beginning level of Chinese as a foreign language. The report introduces various ways to help students conceptualize the meaning of "le", understand the function of "le", and scaffold the correct application of "le" by creating relevant mental models and function-driven contexts. Rationales and examples of these strategies are provided. Students' recordings using "le" are analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies. Reflections on lessons learned during this first cycle of experimenting these methods are also shared.
Abstract PDF | Article PDF
A Writing Workshop for Elementary School CFL Classes
by Ruihua Liu, YunFang Liu
Abstract: We adapted the writing workshop approach to teaching writing in Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL) to the elementary school children at a charter school since the 2016-2017 school year. In order to prove its effect on improving students' writing in Chinese, we conducted action research in one 1st Grade class and one 4th Grade class by first teaching them to write in the traditional way and then in a writing workshop. We found that as individual participants, the majority of the students performed had all correct responses in both writing tasks or performed better after introducing the writing workshop, although they did not seem to improve as a whole group. This article also includes further actions and possible teaching implications.
Abstract PDF | Article PDF
Notes from Editor-in-Chief
1. Course I: Introduction to Chinese Language and Culture
a. Instructor's commentary & project guidelines
by Tianyu Qin
b. The Evolution of Gender Equality: Women in China
by Chantal Striepe
2. Course II: Learning Experience in Chinese and China-related Research for Graduating Chinese Majors
a. Instructor's commentary & project guidelines
by Yi Xu
b. Cross-Strait Relations in a Time of Transition
by Juules van Leusden
c. China's Environmental Crisis
by Alexis Crossland
d. Text Memorization in Foreign Language Education: Analysis and Implications
by Timothy Jaung
e. Buddhism in China: Instructing Upper-elementary Aged Students
by Mara Wearden
f. Muslims in China: the Treatment of Muslims and the Complex Relationship between the
Ethnic Minority Group and the Central Government
by Lauren Manning
Article PDF


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The impact of fatigue on aviation safety concerns everyone. The comment period on an FAA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on duty and rest rules for pilots covering all commercial operations closes Monday, November 15. I can't count how often passengers poke their head in the cockpit to ask us if we're "feeling ok." Unfortunately, despite the acuity of their concern at that time, the lax regulations which validate it don't change when they arrive safely at the other end. The time to enhance your safety isn't as you're walking onto the airplane.
The time is NOW.
If you or anyone you love flies (or lives beneath the sky), this issue affects you. Clicking on the link below will take you to an easily-filled web form that will allow your concerns to be heard by the FAA and your Congressional representatives and will NOT place your name or personal information on any list unless you request it. This rule absolutely must be amended if we are to prevent a further erosion in the margins that have made America's air transportation safety record the envy of the world. Please take a moment to click the link below!
Some elements of the proposal represent important improvements over current regulations:
1. The concept of duty limits based upon time of day recognizes the physical toll of late night, all night and early morning flying.
2. Providing prospective rest for reserve pilots flying international routes ensures these pilots will finally be as likely to get adequate rest before a trip as their domestic counterparts.
3. Establishing limits on actual flight time, rather than scheduled flight time, will protect against delay-induced fatigue and compel carriers to schedule realistically and responsibly.
4. The concept that rest cannot begin until a crew arrives at the rest location will no longer be an issue for which our unions must fight.
5. Schedule reliability metrics, including those based upon individual segments, will require carriers to develop realistic schedules and discourage deceptive practices.
However, there are some items in the NPRM that fall short of mitigating—and in some cases even threaten to increase—fatigue:
1. The flight time limit would be increased by 25 percent from eight hours to 10 hours. THIS IS NOT TIME ON DUTY. THIS IS TIME SPENT IN ACTUAL OPERATION OF A MOVING AIRCRAFT. Duty time typically exceeds this amount by as much as 150%!
2. Three-pilot crews will be permitted to fly 15 hours, a 25 percent increase over the current maximum of 12. The current regulation is far more realistic in that it mandates three pilots for flights over eight hours, and four pilots (and bona fide rest bunks) for flights over 12 hours.
3. Rest requirements should provide for the scientifically-mandated eight hours of SLEEP. In normal circumstances, 10 hours free from duty would be the minimum to afford eight hours of sleep. For the physiologically demanding conditions of extended and "back side of the clock" operations, 14 hours would be a more appropriate minimum. These minimums ensure an opportunity to achieve restorative sleep, obtain nutrition, and attend to personal hygiene and a minimum of daily personal business.
4. Relying on in-flight rest is never a substitute for obtaining a fresh crew. Thus, as long as an airplane can land, there is absolutely no safety rationale for augmenting domestic crews with additional crew members to facilitate more grueling schedules.
5. Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) cannot become a blank check for carriers to circumvent their responsibility for safety. An effective FRMS must be structured as a partnership between carriers, their pilots and the FAA.
As a result of numerous incidents and accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board has placed fatigue on its "Most Wanted List" of transportation safety improvements for 30 years. As a professional pilot, I am responsible for the safety and well-being of my passengers while operating massive, high-speed aircraft through congested airspace and in challenging weather, around the world, around the clock. Based on my experience, I assure you that reducing fatigue is essential to increasing the safety of the traveling public. The regulations that result from this NPRM would go a long way toward reducing fatigue and increasing safety--but only if the items that fall short are addressed.


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MIAMI -- The Jose Reyes experiment is over.
With Reyes and the Mets struggling offensively, manager Jerry Manuel moved Reyes back to the leadoff spot for Saturday's game at the Marlins. Angel Pagan will bat third.
Manuel wanted Reyes to bat third until Carlos Beltran returns from a knee injury. But in 20 games in the No. 3 spot, Reyes hit just .207 with a dismal .280 slugging percentage. And while Reyes is hardly the only Mets player slumping, something had to change.
Here's the full lineup for Saturday's game at Sun Life Stadium:
Jose Reyes - SS
Luis Castillo - 2B
Angel Pagan - CF
Jason Bay - LF
David Wright - 3B
Ike Davis - 1B
Jeff Francoeur - RF
Rod Barajas - C
John Maine - RHP
* * *
Backup catcher Henry Blanco returned from Venezuela and rejoined the Mets Saturday. Blanco, who spent the last five days at home with his ailing mother, was activated from the bereavement list. Josh Thole was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.
Several Mets hitters were out for early batting practice, including David Wright, Reyes, Jeff Francoeur and Rod Barajas.
Beltran came down from Port St. Lucie to visit the Mets and was outside watching them take early BP from behind the cage.


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There's no stopping the Broncos' playoff train now; more Snaps
• Technically, the standings say the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders are tied for the lead in the AFC West, with identical 7-5 records entering the final four weeks. But don't believe it. At this point, I think we all can see where this story is headed.
The Tim Tebow-led Broncos are going to the playoffs. Could it possibly turn out any other way this season in Denver, where fantastic finishes have suddenly become the norm and the implausible is almost routine? The Broncos and Tebow simply will not be denied in this magical second half run they have going, and that will lead inevitably to finding their way, somehow, into the postseason for the first time since 2005.
The latest bit of Tebow magic occurred Sunday in Minnesota, and this time it wasn't the Denver defense and running game that got the short end of things in terms of credit. The Broncos defense made some huge plays in Denver's dramatic 35-32 comeback win, and its running game churned out 150 critical yards. But Tebow's left arm was the difference-maker in this one, and his best passing touch of the season accounted for his 2011-high 202 yards on 10 of 15 attempts, with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a gaudy 149.3 passer rating.
With Tebow taking Denver's passing game to new heights, the Broncos won their fifth in a row and improved to 6-1 since Tebow replaced Kyle Orton in the starting lineup. But even more remarkably, the Broncos have won five consecutive on the road under Tebow, their longest road win streak since their second consecutive Super Bowl of 1998. Denver's current football czar, John Elway, was in his 16th and final season that year.
The Broncos and Raiders split their two-game season series this year, but Denver actually holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Oakland at the moment, courtesy of a better conference record (the Broncos are 6-3 in AFC games, the Raiders 5-5). And the rest of the schedule favors Denver as well, with the Broncos playing at home in three of their last four games, while Oakland has two more road games remaining.
By this time next week, I expect Denver will be in sole possession of first place in the AFC West and starting to pull away from Oakland. The Broncos draw a visit from the struggling, quarterback-needy Bears (7-5) next week, while the Raiders face a trip to Lambeau Field and the challenge of playing the defending Super Bowl champion Packers. Denver then stays home to face New England, travels to Buffalo (5-7) in Week 16, and concludes at home against Kansas City (5-7). By comparison, the Raiders after leaving Green Bay come home to play Detroit (7-4), travel to Kansas City, and finish the season at home against San Diego (4-7).
That's advantage Denver in my book, and the momentum just keeps building on a Broncos team that seems to create new ways to win every week. Denver should be favored in all but the game against the Patriots, and a 10-6 record will almost certainly be enough to deliver a division title to John Fox's untraditional team. Who would have dreamed that possible when Denver started 1-4 and then inserted Tebow into the lineup in Week 7, almost through gritted teeth?
As for the Raiders, I suspect they know what they're up against by now. For more than a month, every time the Raiders have looked back, they've seen Denver in their rear-view mirror, led by the miracle-making Tebow. The Broncos are playing like the playoffs are foreordained, while Oakland now must resort to just hanging on in the season's second half.
The Raiders fell behind 34-0 at Miami on Sunday, then scored two touchdowns late to make it a semi-respectable 34-14 loss to the red-hot Dolphins. But every trend appears headed Denver's way, and karma is suddenly not on Oakland's side.
Tebow Time come playoff time? Get ready for it. It's on its way, and won't be stopped.
• Not only did Tebow look like a full-fledged quarterback in most every way against the Vikings, dropping in touch passes and rushing just four times for 13 yards, but also he now has more receiving weapons than just second-year veteran Eric Decker. What a breakout game turned in by second-year receiver Demaryius Thomas, who caught four passes for 144 yards (36.0 average) and two touchdowns.
Thomas has rare gifts, but he has struggled to stay healthy early in his NFL career. On Sunday we saw the smooth, 6-3, 235-pound target who prompted Denver to spend the 22nd overall pick on him in the 2010 draft, just a few slots ahead of Tebow. Coming into the game, Thomas had just 29 career catches for 386 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games. But those numbers spiked dramatically thanks to his boffo showing in the Metrodome. With Decker and Thomas now clicking, the Broncos passing game won't necessarily take a backseat to the running game any more.
• Tebow's latest masterpiece served to overshadow the great game turned in by Vikings rookie quarterback Christian Ponder, who set a franchise rookie record with 381 yards passing. Ponder really has a great rapport building with third-year receiver Percy Harvin, who caught eight passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Harvin has caught a touchdown in each of the past three games, and all four of his scores this season have come in that same span.
• As well as the Dolphins are playing, the idea of Tony Sparano saving his job with this strong second-half run is starting to sound at least possible. The Dolphins are 4-8 and have won four out of five, with the narrow loss to Dallas on Thanksgiving the only blemish. They've outscored their past five opponents by a combined 139-54, losing by a single point against the Cowboys. If they finish at least 7-9, could you possibly fire Sparano when he ended the year on a 7-2 hot streak? I'm starting to think you might get a pretty good argument on that one.
• Any minute now, I expect Wade Phillips to go down with a strained oblique muscle, or maybe a hip flexor. It's gotten that contagious in terms of injuries in Houston. The Texans have to be asking themselves what else can go wrong after watching receiver Andre Johnson pull up with another hamstring injury, this one involving his left leg. The next good break the Texans get on the injury front might be the first one they've gotten all season.
As we said last week, Houston is going to make the playoffs, and Sunday's gutty 17-10 win over Atlanta all but assured that. But given the Texans' multi-faceted health issues, it's difficult to see them making any real noise once they get there.
• The Bucs were forced to start backup quarterback Josh Johnson against Carolina, but that's still no excuse for them to get blown out at home by the four-win Panthers. Raheem Morris's Tampa Bay team didn't help stabilize his shaky job status whatsoever with that 38-19 loss, in a game that really wasn't even that close.
Morris has a contract with just one more year remaining on it, and it's likely that he's now coaching for his job in the final four weeks of the season. Last year's 10-6 finish perhaps raised expectations unduly high, but the Bucs did start 4-2 this season before seeing the campaign ruined by their current six-game losing streak. That falls on Morris for letting things unravel this year in Tampa Bay.
• Without even so much as a sideline for Donovan McNabb to stand on Sunday, I wonder what he did on his first completely NFL-less game day since 1998? I know this much: Maybe the Bears should have been interested enough in McNabb to claim him off waivers, or sign him once he cleared waivers unclaimed. Caleb Hanie is not keeping the train running in Jay Cutler's absence, as Sunday's 10-3 home loss to anemic Kansas City so vividly illustrated.
The Bears could have lived with another three interceptions from Hanie again this week if he had thrown a couple touchdown passes, as he did last week in the loss at Oakland. But Hanie couldn't even manage one scoring pass, although he did deserve much better on that fourth-quarter interception by Chiefs safety Jon McGraw, because the ball bounced off Roy Williams' hands.
Not that it really matters in Chicago at this point, at least if running back Matt Forte misses any significant time with a reported torn MCL. If Forte is gone for long, the Bears season is all but over anyway.
• The Jets scratched and clawed their way to another win, this time at Washington, but how about New York's once-proud special teams? When rookie punt returner Jeremy Kerley muffed a punt against the Redskins, it marked the fourth consecutive week the Jets had a turnover on special teams. New York has fumbled seven times on either punt or kickoff returns this season, which makes the Jets this year's version of last year's Chargers, who ruined their season due to special teams disasters.
• Nice week for Ndamukong Suh, eh? Between the league suspension and the one-car crash he was involved in early Saturday morning in downtown Portland, Ore., losing control seems to be a theme of sorts lately for the Lions' newsy defensive tackle. And there's something about the car crash story that doesn't entirely add up. Suh just lost control of the car he was driving, but wasn't impaired in any way despite being out and downtown in the early morning hours? Why do I think there's more to this story than we've heard so far?
• With three wins in their past four games, the Seahawks (5-7) are at least building some momentum for 2012. And to think the Seahawks would be in the NFC wild-card race had they been able to protect a 10-point lead at home against Washington last week.
I'm still convinced Pete Carroll drafts his next starting quarterback in April, but Seattle has clearly won its way out of the Matt Barkley Sweepstakes. If Barkley does declare for the draft, he'll never last into Seattle's neighborhood in the first round.
• Maybe nobody in the NFL is putting together a salary drive quite like Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, who shredded Philadelphia's defense for 148 yards and a pair of first-half touchdowns in Seattle's 31-14 win Thursday night. That was Lynch's second-highest career rushing total, and his biggest game in four years. A free agent to be, Lynch now has 100-yard rushing days in four out of his past five games, and has scored a touchdown in eight straight games.
• Well, better late than never, Chris Johnson. The Titans superstar running back has looked like a superstar again the past two weeks, and his 153-yard, two-touchdown effort in a 23-17 win at Buffalo really gives Tennessee's playoffs hopes a big boost. As did the losses suffered this week by Oakland and Cincinnati, two 7-5 teams that the 7-5 Titans just pulled even with.
Johnson had his season-long rush in the first half, scoring from 48 yards out, and later added a four-yard touchdown run that allowed him to double his season touchdown total in one afternoon. It was CJ's first multi-TD game since October 2010, and Johnson went over the 100-yard mark in the first half alone. With 852 yards rushing and four games remaining this season, Johnson should easily surpass the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth consecutive season.
• You would have thought the faux pas by Texans cornerback Glover Quin last year against Jacksonville taught everyone a lesson of what not to do on a Hail Mary pass, but apparently not. Chicago middle linebacker Brian Urlacher on Sunday made the same mistake Quin made, failing to knock the pass straight down, and instead deflected it right to trailing Chiefs running back Dexter McCluster, who caught it for the game-deciding points in Kansas City's 10-3 upset of the Bears.
Those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to, you know, not make the playoffs.
• Move over, Steve Grogan. Cam Newton just erased your most well-known entry in the NFL record book with his 11th, 12th and 13th rushing touchdowns of the season. The Carolina rookie found the end zone three times against the back-pedaling Bucs defense, and the last of those broke Grogan's mark of 12 from 1976, when he was in just his second season in New England.
Grogan set that mark in a 14-game regular season, but Newton just broke it in 12 games, so no asterisk needed.
• I'm not sure New England drafted tight end Rob Gronkowski last year thinking he'd be a scoring machine, but that's what he is. With two more touchdown catches in the Patriots' somewhat deceiving 31-24 win over winless Indianapolis, Gronkowski has tied the league record for most scoring receptions by a tight end in a season, with 13 (San Diego's Antonio Gates and San Francisco's Vernon Davis also hold a slice of the mark). Gronkowski appeared to have a third touchdown catch against the Colts, but it was later ruled a lateral and kept him tied for the record.
Gronkowski now has scored 24 touchdowns in his first 27 career regular season games, and that pace is unheard of for a tight end.
• I know there were some garbage-time passing yards in there, but if Colts quarterback Dan Orlovsky can complete 30 of 37 for 353 yards and two touchdowns against the likes of Jacksonville, Tennessee or even QB-depleted Houston in the final three weeks of the season, Indianapolis may well win a game or two this season after all.
In any event, I think it's safe to assume we've seen the last of Curtis Painter under center in Indy in 2011.


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20th July 2014
by David Smith
"Sure we'll just politely ask a few well respected colleagues and industry representatives to quickly assess and comment on the projects and we'll be done – it's the first year there will most likely be 150 – 200 projects max"
Six Hundred Projects! They repeated, Six Hundred Projects!
Well none of us expected this to prove so challenging, overwhelming, exciting, engaging, revealing and so bloody time consuming. We – the steering group – had no idea that the selectors would be so overworked and that the breadth and quality would leave them torn as they tried to reduce the numbers to the current survey that spans the very best of Irish design from 2010 – 2013.
We promised them that it would take a weekend – for some it took weeks.
They "deliberated, cogitated and digested", with dedication and professionalism, they grappled with each decision in respect of what should or should not be placed in the archive. At every stage they advised and questioned; improved processes and guidelines – always with the intention that current and future selections would be as broadly representative of all strands of practice. Focused on selecting work of excellence that represents and captures a moment in time or as the selection criteria sets out "work that is reflective of our society, culture and circumstances."
Despite my deep involvement with the project and selection procedures, it is only during the last week that I have begun to fully review and retrace the comments and conversations of our first selection panel – Kevin Finn, Susan Murphy, Amie Norman, Kathryn Wilson and Barney Whelan.
Looking back afresh over the near 300 projects they selected and absorbing their commentary again, two recurring themes emerge; their pride and their surprise.
Unanimously they speak of pride.
There is no hubris in their words and thoughts. Theirs is a genuine and emotional response, proud of belonging to a community concerned with excellence and a sense of privilege having been asked to make the inaugural selection.
Despite the heavy workload placed upon the selectors Kevin Finn of The Sum of in Brisbane enthused "It was difficult to reduce 600+ entries down to a handful, but it was a thoroughly enlightening process. I have been away from Ireland since 1997, but have kept an eye on developments in design during that time – or at least I thought I had! The 100 Archive showed me there has been so much more happening back home, proving the 100 Archive is a wonderfully important platform to promote, explore and share design in (and connected to) Ireland…"
His views were echoed by the other selectors with Kathryn Wilson of Slater Design recognising the quality of work and quality of Irish designers in practice she commented; "It's a great body of work that reflects excellent visual communication by Irish designers – both here and abroad. It helps us understand where we are and I hope, over time, as the 100 Archive grows it will also help us develop our own more confident voice. I hope you take away the same as me from the selection for these years – it's a body of work to be proud of and to be inspired by."
One could easily regard their surprise as being only concerned with the improving standard of work but they acknowledged the diversity of practices; the diversity of experience; and something else that has resonated with all of us privy to their final selection, was the surprise of how many more talented designers – initially unfamiliar to many – who are at practice here and abroad.
Annie Atkins, Wayne Daly, Ken Deegan, Dan Flynn, Kasia Ozmin, Sean Mongey and Craig Sinnamon all appeared on the selectors radar as "unfamiliar" yet exciting names to watch. Regardless of their profile or familiarity within the broader community these designers have all demonstrated "that more than ever, that there is a vibrant, intelligent and talented design community of Irish designers here at home and abroad."
Concerned not only with their role as Selectors the panel were also perceptive to trends and practices evidenced in the submissions and at times questions were asked on the "authenticity" or concept of what Irish Design is or what "it" may look like. I suspect that this is a debate that will run and run. With such a large diaspora at work across the globe and increasing evidence of global trends influencing our visual vocabulary, can we define or identify something as particularly Irish?
This issue certainly occupied Kathryn Wilson when she commented: "One nagging question at the back of my mind while looking at the work was whether the work is reflective as an Irish Archive of Graphic Design for the years 2010 – 13. I wasn't looking for uncial typography or overt references to a celtic style of a previous era but it did strike me on a number of occasions that much of the work is heavily influenced by graphic design from the more established centres of visual communication beyond our shores. While I think the work represented shows sophistication and excellence, the pieces I truly loved were those that told a story, were humorous or had personality – these pieces seemed to be more reflective of us as a nation today and in some way representative of our cultural past."
The old adage that we're great at telling stories clearly resonated with Kathryn and in her selection she was clearly taken with projects that connected and engaged her on an emotional level. Where Amie Norman was mindful of the need to acknowledge tradition and our heritage she was "impressed and inspired to see so much wonderful work of an extremely high standard coming out of Ireland" but more importantly belived that the selection "more than respectably places Irish design on 'the map'," citing the work and the designers to be of an international and global standard that "we should be collectively proud of."
In convening the panel of Selectors we were extremely conscious that the established model of peer to peer assessment only provided a "designers view" of the work. It was Barney Whelan, formerly of ESB and now of An Post, who provided an excellent and insighful counterpoint to the expert views on the panel. As a commisioner he recognised that there remains great opprortunities to vastly improve the overall standard and that clients and commisioners should not be intimidated by the quality and standard of the selection, but be inspired to commision bolder and more inventive solutions for their communications needs. He acknowledged the diversity of the work and reflected that, in his opinion, "this review illustrates the centrality of design to our everyday world. From Policy documents to Tayto crisps, from Disability to Dorian Grey… it is a body of excellently conceived, excellently executed and excellently presented work."
From my own perspective – as a designer almost emebedded in the Cultural sector – Barney's acknowledgement of more commercial and corporate communications is critically important if the 100Archive is to fulfil its promise of showcasing "work that is reflective of our society, culture and circumstances." As auspicious as the inaugural selection is, there was a strong bias towards cultural projects, and work that is "on trend" in the 600+ submissions received.
As practitioners we can appreciate and applaud the value of such "trophy projects" but within the context of the 100 Archive it should not be at the expense of work that is more commonplace and arguably more hardworking. We should all recognise the quality and the value of the everyday and ensure that our colleagues who excel in maintaining or pursuing a standard – where one may not have existed – are applauded and celebrated alongside more easily definable exemplars.
With gratitude and appreciation to all who have got us this far I'll conclude with a closing comment from Kevin Finn "… the work I have seen in 100 Archive makes me proud to be connected to an emerging contemporary Irish design community… It certainly makes me want to have a closer, perhaps more active, connection to the Irish design community. With this in mind, thank you – and congratulations to all ..."


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Resources, need, and local leaders help determine where new Teen Challenge Programs are established. So far, 1,400+ programs in 125 nations are now at work. Our goal is to put hope within reach of every nation and every man, woman, girl, and boy with a life-controlling problem.
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Exciting news here at Allergy Towers. We have a new layout for the blog. I expect that there will be some tweaking and issues over the next few weeks; please let me know in the comments if you spot any problems or have opinions on the layout.
Also, we have a new domain: www.theallergybrothers.com.


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WSJ, FX Trader Launch Dollar Index
The Wall Street Journal and DJ FX Trader launched The Wall Street Journal Dollar Index on Wednesday morning.
The index measures the dollar against a basket of other major currencies, including the euro, yen, U.K. pound, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, Swiss franc and Swedish krona. It is available on WSJ.com and MarketWatch.com under the symbol BUXX.
The WSJ Dollar Index is an attempt to improve on existing indexes by basing its value on actual, up-to-date turnover by all participants in the foreign-exchange market. The index is proportionally weighted based on foreign-exchange trading volume data from the Bank for International Settlements' triennial central-bank survey on global foreign-exchange market activity.
The methodology differs from other dollar indexes, including the benchmark ICE U.S. Dollar Index. For example, the ICE Dollar Index isn't regularly reweighted based on changes in trading volume. It also varies from newer indexes like the FTSE Curex dollar index or the Dow Jones FXCM Dollar Index, which weigh the currencies in their respective indexes equally.
The Dow Jones FXCM index is owned by S&P/Dow Jones Indexes, a joint venture largely owned by McGraw-Hill and CME Group. CME -0.13% Dow Jones & Co., which publishes the Journal, has a 2.6% stake in the venture.
Every three years, when the BIS releases its new foreign-exchange market survey, the WSJ Dollar Index will be reweighted using the bank's latest trading volume figures, making it a dynamic index that evolves with the constantly changing market.
The WSJ Dollar Index captures more than two-thirds of daily global foreign-exchange trading volume, which is nearly $4 trillion a day, according to the BIS's latest survey.
The index is restricted to dollar currency pairs that account for at least 1% of global daily turnover and that the BIS breaks out as major currency pairs.
While the WSJ Dollar Index officially launched Wednesday, it has been back-calculated to 2001 to provide historical context. The index started with a value of 100 on June 6, 2001.
In its current construction, following the release of the BIS's 2010 triennial survey, the index was weighted with the euro accounting for about 41% of the index. The yen comprised about 21% of the index, the pound 13%, the Australian dollar 9%, the Canadian dollar 7%, the Swiss franc 6% and the Swedish krona 2%. The weightings fluctuate as the currencies' values change.
Copyright ©2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8


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The University of Massachusetts (UMass) is a five campus public school system and the flagship is located in Amherst. It was founded in 1863. It also has campuses in Dartmouth, Boston, Lowell and Worcester. The entire system is ranked very high in the nation.
Noted alumni include several Pulitzer Prize, Grammy, Emmy and Academy Award winners. Some of them are Bill Cosby, Jeff Reardon, Mike Flanagan, Ben Cherington, Frank Black, Julius Erving and Richard Gere.
The housing system at UMass Amherst is one of the largest in the United States. Over 12,000 students live in 45 residence halls. Each residential area houses classrooms, recreational and social center, and kitchenettes.
UMass athletic teams are known as the Minuteman, based on the historical "minuteman" relationship with Massachusetts; women's teams and athletes are known as Minutewomen.
The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA), provides public transportation in the area and runs well into the early morning hours on weekends when school is is session. Passenger fares on Amherst routes are prepaid by member academic institutions; students and staff show their ID to ride as often as they like.
With a wide range of opportunities both in the city and elsewhere, students often find themselves looking for affordable and convenient self storage. There are self storage units available close to the University of Massachusetts. Students can find gated self storage facilities that offer 24 hour access that provide direct drive up to the storage unit. There should be self storage near 01003.
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text: In many states, professionals who want to incorporate their practices must create a professional corporation. In most of the states, lawyers who want to incorporate their practice can do so only through a "professional corporations" or "professional service corporations." In some other states, lawyers have a choice of incorporating as either a professional corporation or a regular corporation. Professional corporations provide a limit on the owners' personal liability for debts and claims. Moreover, a professional corporation for law practice can protect against liability for the negligence or malpractice of an associate.


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Hydrologic modeling is useful for flood, drought, and water resources management. The Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) Model uses inputs to better understand hydrological processes in near real-time. Many of the inputs are available from NASA remote sensing and Earth system models, allowing the model to provide soil moisture, evapotranspiration and runoff as outputs. Together with precipitation data, these outputs provide quantitative assessment of a regional water budget. This introductory training will include an overview of the model, sources of satellite-derived input data, and implementation of the model.
By the end of the training, attendees will learn how to:
Complete Session 1 of Fundamentals of Remote Sensing and Session 2B, or have equivalent experience. Attendees that do not complete prerequisites may not be properly prepared for the pace during the training.
This training is primarily intended for water resources professionals and disaster managers from local, state, and federal agencies, NGOs, and the private sector. Governmental and non-governmental organizations engaged in water resources management will be given preference over organizations focused primarily on research.
There is no cost for the webinar, but you must register.
February 15, 2018
This session will cover an introduction to the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model, including an overview of VIC modules, computer hardware and software requirements, and an overview of inputs and outputs. View the recording »
February 22, 2018
This session will go over the data preparation necessary, using the Mekong River Basin as an example. The session will also include a review of data sources, including MERRA temperature and winds; TRMM/GPM precipitation; SRTM terrain; and MODIS land cover, albedo, and leaf area index. View the recording »
March 1, 2018
This session will focus on implementing the VIC model, using the Mekong River Basin as an example. This will include calibration and validation, analysis of outputs, examples of applications, and a discussion on the advantages and limitations of VIC. View the recording »


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When we moved here I found four squares of cork board. I set them aside because I've always wanted a board for pinning up things ever since I was a teen. Now instead of pinning up pictures and awards I would pin up projects. I'm terribly forgetful. I will forget whole projects for months at a time. I had started making list to help me remember but I was taping them to my sewing room door & that just looked tacky.
A couple days ago I took those cork squares out and started figuring out how I was going to work with them. I also wanted to only use things I already had. We're crafty costumers/set makers here, there should be enough glue, thread, and fabric around to tackle small projects.
Peter sawed a couple yardsticks in half, I cut cardboard, fired up the gluegun, and grabbed some canvas cloth I meant to turn into eco-grocery bags five years ago.
A little cardboard and fabric backing later…
I would have been pretty much done but of course I can never leave well enough alone and since my sewing machine rocks so hard…custom header and birdies.
Very happy to get this off of my "Why haven't I done this yet" list.