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Mary Goulart didn't realize that going green would be such a hassle. The Berkeley resident had converted her Toyota Prius into a plug-in hybrid, boosting its gas mileage to more than 100 miles per gallon. And she thought she had worked out a deal with the city so that she could recharge her car's battery while it was parked in front of her home. But then a city inspector spotted the ad hoc charging station near Goulart's house and ordered her to remove it or face thousands of dollars in fines. By the time it was over, the licensed acupuncturist had wasted nearly $7,000.
The frustrations that Goulart faced in her altruistic quest to reduce her carbon footprint are illustrative of the roadblocks that American consumers will soon encounter when major carmakers begin introducing plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles to the domestic auto market later this year. Her experience also should serve as a warning to cities like Berkeley — which has received national recognition for its efforts to fight climate change — that they need to devise ways to make it easier for motorists to buy electric vehicles. "If they don't, it's really going to leave a sour taste in the mouths of early adaptors," said Matt Mattila of ProjectGetReady.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to smoothing the transition to electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
The biggest challenge is for the many residents of urban areas who have no garage or driveway. Apartment tenants, condo dwellers, and homeowners like Goulart who park on the street or in shared garages with no access to electricity may find themselves unable to purchase vehicles that must be plugged in. As a result, hundreds of thousands of consumers in Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco may be blocked from buying electric vehicles, even though they represent a key segment of likely buyers.
In fact, experts say that no city in the Bay Area, a region known for its environmental activism, has yet devised a permitting process that allows apartment building owners to offer charging stations for their tenants. "That's the unfortunate truth about what's going on right now," said Peter Skinner, senior director of transportation and land use for the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, a business consortium working with local governments to prepare for the advent of electric vehicles. "The planning process is just starting."
Indeed, it's becoming increasingly clear that if electric vehicles are going to penetrate the auto market in a way that will ultimately lessen the devastating impacts of climate change, cities must become more proactive. After all, according to the acclaimed Climate Action Plan that the Berkeley City Council adopted last year, at least 47 percent of greenhouse gases emitted within city limits come from transportation. Yet the city will not be able to adequately address its single largest source of carbon dioxide unless it starts making it easier for motorists to charge up their electric cars at home.
Mary Goulart's electric car odyssey began in 2008, when she decided to convert her Prius to a plug-in hybrid. Goulart purchased a conversion kit from 3Prong Power in Berkeley, which also installed it for a total cost of about $7,000. The kit includes a large battery that goes in the Prius' trunk so that the car can operate on electricity while driving around town. It meant that Goulart, who is a licensed acupuncturist with offices in Berkeley and Oakland, could make short trips without ever having to use her Prius' gasoline engine.
As Goulart was converting her Prius, she began working with the office of Mayor Tom Bates to figure out how she could plug in her car at night. Her problem was that she has no garage or driveway. But after several conversations, she believed she had a deal worked out with the mayor's office that would allow her to plug in her car in front of her home on Euclid Avenue. "I thought I had come up with a perfect solution," she said.
The solution involved hiring an electrical contractor to run a wire from her home, underneath the sidewalk, and to the curb, where he built a small outlet box. Goulart said she was given the green light by the mayor's office after she told them that the box would be on her property, as would a small, concrete parking pad she had built for her Prius.
But when a city inspector, who was examining some construction at a neighbor's home, saw Goulart's setup, he told her it was illegal, issued her a citation, and threatened her with large fines. Part of the problem was a mistake that Goulart had made. The small parking pad and outlet were not on her property; they were on city property — a large median strip between the sidewalk and the curb.
When staffers in the mayor's office told her that there was nothing they could do, Goulart turned to her councilwoman, Susan Wengraf, who spent months helping her navigate the city's bureaucracy. Wengraf eventually learned that the real issue was not the parking pad, but legal liability for the electrical outlet. "What it really came down to," the councilwoman explained in an interview, "is who would be liable if some kid came and stuck his finger in the outlet."
Mayoral aide Calvin Fong, with whom Goulart had several conversations, denied that the office had ever given her the go ahead to build the charging station and parking pad. But in the end, it didn't matter. Because it was on city property, Goulart had no choice but to it rip out even though it cost her $5,500 to install. Additionally, the cost to remove it and restore the city's median strip came to more than $1,000. "It was just ridiculous," Goulart said during a recent interview in the kitchen of her Berkeley hills home. "I was so pissed."


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Nestled in the heart of the San Juans in Creede, Colorado, you will find the Silverthread Adobe Gallery Artspace on the Silver Thread Scenic Byway (U.S. Highway 149) and the Main Street Studio.
Artist-in-residence, Angela Hague, is a contemporary American painter with over 40 years in the art world. Her large vibrant canvases symbolize the constructions of nature—its patterns, rhythms, and invisible sensations intuitive but not seen by the eye. As she connects the natural forces of body, mind, and spirit with the environment, her expressive surfaces of layered color-upon-color, resonate and illuminate from within.
Angela creates for our pleasure a dynamic flow of pulsating movement that opens an insightful avenue for our own intense inner expression. Please enjoy this presentation of her collected works and share with her a Celebration of Life!
The abiding relationship of human beings to a particular place is the emphasis of our own personal connections to Home, Work, and a Sacred Space of Art.
The Silverthread Adobe Gallery and Main Street Studioare by appointment only.
For further information or a Catalog of Paintings,Angela may be contacted in the following ways:
Mail: Angela Hague, 2355 U.S. Hwy 149, P.O. Box 40, Creede, CO 81130
Telephone: 719.658.2787
E-mail: email@example.com
Artspaces by Angela / Silver
Thread Adobe Gallery. All Rights Reserved.
None of the material on this site can be
reproduced without the express written permission
of Angela Hague, Artist. The Artist reserves
the sole right to make prints
of any or all of the works of art. All content
presented in this Web site, including but
not limited to price and availability, is
subject to change.
Web Site Design by Wagnon Webscapes
Graphics by Gilmer Design
Photography by Gilmer Design and Angela Hague
Creede, Colorado

subset: commoncrawl


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Michael Singh
Lane-Swig Senior Fellow
Managing Director
Tel: 202-230-9550 (media inquiries only) 202-452-0650 (all other inquiries)
[email protected]
Michael Singh is the Lane-Swig Senior Fellow and managing director at The Washington Institute.
Areas of ExpertiseIran, Syria, Arab-Israeli Relations, Democracy and Reform, Energy and Economics, Peace Process, Proliferation, U.S. Policy
Michael Singh is the Lane-Swig Senior Fellow and managing director at The Washington Institute and a former senior director for Middle East affairs at the National Security Council.
During his tenure at the White House from 2005 to 2008, Mr. Singh was responsible for devising and coordinating U.S. national security policy toward the region stretching from Morocco to Iran, with a particular emphasis on Iran's nuclear and regional activities, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Syria, and security cooperation in the broader Middle East. Previously, Mr. Singh served as special assistant to secretaries of state Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell and at the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv.
Mr. Singh is co-chair of the congressionally-mandated Syria Study Group, which is charged with providing Congress and the executive branch with an assessment of the situation in Syria and recommendations for U.S. policy there. Its final report was published in September 2019. He also served on another congressional commission, the Task Force on Extremism in Fragile States. Mr. Singh served as a Middle East advisor to the Romney presidential campaign from 2011-2012, and co-chaired Mr. Romney's State Department transition team in 2012. He served as an adjunct fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and as an economics instructor at Harvard College. Mr. Singh is also is a senior advisor at WestExec Advisors, which provides advice to private clients on international public policy and political risk.
Mr. Singh has written extensively on the Middle East, broader U.S. national security strategy, and the organization and management of the U.S. national security apparatus. His writing has appeared in the Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, International Security, and elsewhere, and he has appeared as a commentator on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and other outlets.
As the Institute's managing director, Mr. Singh conducts policy research and participates in the public debate over the direction and content of U.S. Middle East policy. In addition, he works closely with Institute executive director Robert Satloff to strengthen the Institute's policy impact, develop new initiatives, and oversee its broader work.
M.B.A., Harvard University (Baker Scholar); B.A., Princeton University
March 7, 2017
Policy Notes
October 10, 2013
Policy Notes
Most Recent Analysis
China and the United States in the Middle East: Between Dependency and Rivalry
September 10, 2020
Conflict with Small Powers Derails U.S. Foreign Policy: The Case for Strategic Discipline
August 12, 2020
July 21, 2020
Sunset of the Iran Arms Embargo:
The Narrow Path to a Policy Compromise
June 29, 2020
Iran and America—The Impasse Continues
May 27, 2020
U.S. Policy in the Middle East Amid Great Power Competition
March 30, 2020
Trump Is Right to Bide His Time in Renewing a Nuclear Treaty with Russia
February 19, 2020
The Middle East Peace Process: Analysis from a Former Negotiator
February 12, 2020
A Better Iran Deal Is Within Reach
November 15, 2019
Why the Talk of 'Endless Wars' Misses the Mark
November 6, 2019
See all analysis by this author
Selected Outside Publications
Syria Study Group Final Report (USIP, 2019)


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New Year 2015 title made of blue sparkles.
Christmas animation with glowing snowflake graphics in golden color.
Glowing spinning Christmas tree with nice shining star and falling snow.


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This October, Opera Queensland is staging a bold new production of Don Giovanni directed by Lindy Hume at the Playhouse, QPAC. At a time when sexual misconduct is at the forefront of our collective consciousness, Hume's sobering take on Mozart's masterpiece will strike a brutally relevant chord.
To create the defining scene in this poignant production, Opera Queensland is seeking approximately 200 women to participate in the finale – a highly dramatic scene in which Don Giovanni is dragged to his end by the hundreds of victims he has preyed upon. The seven minute scene will require participants to appear naked, semi-naked or clothed in underwear as 'avenging furies'.
Participants in this new production will play a horde of 'avenging furies' – some of the thousands of women in Giovanni's catalogue of conquests, now taking revenge for the suffering his lifetime of debauchery has caused. In the final scene, Giovanni is dragged down to hell by the furies, and I want this scene to be as spectacular and as resonant for contemporary audiences as possible. ~ Director, Lindy Hume
What's involved?
Opera Queensland is seeking approximately 200 adventurous women of various ages, backgrounds and body types to participate in the final scene of the opera – a highly dramatic scene of approximately seven minutes' duration. The scene depicts Don Giovanni's (Don Juan's) descent into hell, and requires participants to appear either:
1. Naked; or
2. Semi-naked (topless), wearing own under-garments in accordance with wardrobe specifications; or
3. Clothed in underwear, wearing own under-garments in accordance with wardrobe specifications.*
*Please note: Appearing naked or semi-naked is optional, and participants are free to change their mind at any point. For the purposes of planning, we ask participants to indicate their initial choice of the above two options when completing their expression of interest form below. Participants who choose to appear naked or semi-naked will only be required to disrobe for the onstage scene itself, and can wear a dressing gown/bathrobe offstage immediately before and after the scene. Note that volunteers must provide their own dressing gown or bathrobe and slippers.
Important Information
To apply, volunteers must confirm their availability for all rehearsal calls and performances listed in the rehearsal and performance schedule below.
Please note that engagement in this project is strictly voluntary. Following submission of expression of interest forms, Opera Queensland will send each participant a volunteer agreement form via email.
Please be advised that due to an overwhelming response, we have reached capacity for the Don Giovanni Avenging Furies call-out. All expressions of interest submitted AFTER 5.00pm 20 September 2018 will be added to a standby list and applicants contacted should further positions become available.


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Sometimes to get things 100% right you have to start from zero. At least that's the principle zero-based budgeting is based upon. Rather than simply justifying variances with regards to the previous year's spending, a zero-based approach that an entirely new budget is created every year.
Simple way to plan in the Cloud
While more accurate (as they're based on the business' present needs rather than past activity) zero-based budgets have traditionally more painstaking to develop. In some large organisations the sheer volume of information involved in creating a new budget has simply been too overwhelming to justify this approach.
We've seen a resurgence of zero-based budgeting in recent years. In a volatile market, companies must maintain an edge on the competition while ensuring their processes are as streamlined and cost-efficient as possible. This requires an enterprise-wide view of spending, and traditional incremental budgeting isn't always fast or accurate enough to deliver this.
We've seen a resurgence of zero-based budgeting in recent years.
Another reason for this shift to zero-based budgeting is the rise of new finance technologies that greatly simplify and speed up the process. Perhaps above all else, cloud-based systems have been the driver behind this zero-budgeting renaissance. They support faster and more accurate reporting, improved transparency into processes across the business, and clearer ownership of budgeting responsibilities for users.
Perhaps above all else, cloud-based systems have been the driver behind this zero-budgeting renaissance.
The Kraft-Heinz Company, fifth largest food and beverage company in the world, is an exemplar of how cloud-based finance systems support strategic and effective zero-based budgeting. It implemented a global cost-management initiative across 1500 users in 40 countries and five time zones. With Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service, The Kraft-Heinz Company was able to automate budget consolidating and achieve real-time planning and budgeting across the business. The cloud system also made reporting much quicker, which in turn gave budget owners more control.
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The organisation also needed to integrate its budgeting infrastructure exceptionally fast following the merger between Kraft and Heinz, something the cloud was ideally suited to deliver. Julian Sherwin, Head of Zero Based Budgeting at The Kraft Heinz Company, tells it best: "When we merged with Kraft, we had to roll Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service out to more than 600 new users in less than 2 months to meet our budgeting timeframe. Oracle provided the flexibility and scalability we needed to achieve our goal."
Zero-based budgeting is making a comeback in large organisations everywhere, and with good reason. It allows companies to be more cost-efficient, and to redirect the money they save into growth initiatives where appropriate. Perhaps most important, the technologies are now available to make it a viable alternative for companies big and small.
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Welcome to our first Disney-themed" podcast! In Episode 9 of the Wandering But Not Lost Podcast, co-hosts Matt Emerson and Jan O'Brien discuss how to handle negative reviews. In the Reach Your Peak segment, Matt shares how his experiences in management at the Walt Disney Company turned out to be the best business training one could ask for. In the Wandering Zen portion of the podcast, we share 10 touring tidbits to enhance your adventure at the Happiest Place on Earth.
This is an amusement park - AMUSE ME! - Matt Emerson & Laura Judy (Emerson) Click To Tweet
Key Points/Takeaways
WBNL 52 Tip – Handling Negative Reviews
We find that many real estate agents avoid setting up some of the online sites (Yelp for example) because they are worried about getting a bad or negative review. Reality Check…. reviews and ratings are not going away for the real estate professional!
In fact, it's become so mainstream that you may be hurting your business if you are not fully embracing an effective strategy for getting client reviews and ratings.
- Respond to ALL online reviews (positive and negative)
- Check out Faith Harmer, Faith and Team, for an excellent example of this principle.
Zillow (205 reviews)
Yelp reviews
- Respond to negativity with grace!
- Don't over-react, get defensive or react
- Be professional and helpful
- Your response should display a willingness to try to fix the problem, make good on someone's bad experience or at least express a little sympathy to the person's point of view.
- Don't ignore it!
- Disney H.E.A.R.D. technique https://disneyinstitute.com/blog/2013/08/how-disney-leaders-recover-from-a-service-failure/187/
- Hear
- Empathize
- Apologize
- Resolve Diagnose
Reach Your Peak
The Business Side of Disney
5 Business Tips from the House of the Mouse
I had the privilege of being a part of the leadership team in Theme Park Operations at Disneyland for over 5 years. The practical experiences I encountered have proven to be more valuable than any class, book, or video that I have ever been exposed to. The sheer volume of everything; people, processes, policies, paperwork, food, and merchandise is mind-blowing. Keeping the cast and the guests happy while watching out for potential safety and health incidents and ensuring an efficient operation at the same time could be a daunting task. The Management Training Program that was in place at the time was rough by the standards of the day, however, we were exposed to all sides of the business, and although we certainly didn't appreciate it at the time, it has proven to have been a powerful skill building experience.
Business basics are always the key to a successful path. Here are 5 things that were ingrained in me while at the Magic Kingdom which you can easily assimilate into your own career.
1 – Communication is Key
Professional, clear, and concise, communication will allow you to proceed efficiently and effectively. Always think about how your message will be interpreted by others.
On an average day at Disneyland, I interacted with several dozen members of the leadership team, hundreds of cast members and had access to thousands of guests. We were taught that the first and most important step of communication was to listen. Once you have a clear idea of what is being asked, and only then, can you provide a solution. In any business it always goes back to the golden rule – 'Do unto others…"
2 – Present when Possible
Although you may not like to speak in front of a group – never turn down the opportunity. You will grow because of it and your confidence just might go through the roof.
During the Management Intern Program, we were assigned a group presentation to pitch new ideas for possible implementation into the resort. We were presenting to upper management along with invited guests from the Studio. The pressure to perform was on and that one anxiety-filled exercise allowed me to be able to face just about any crowd
3 – Plan Ahead
In order to thrive, you need to know your goals and have a plan. At WBNL Coaching, we talk about this all the time. The business planning process doesn't need to be a chore, after all, it's your roadmap to financial freedom.
Every company handles budgeting differently. Budgeting at Disneyland was challenging because the business relies so highly on factors that can change daily; tourism, the local economy, the weather (the list goes on), however, you can glean a good idea of where to start from the prior year and then factor in the current realities. I always looked at budgets as sort of a game and that if you budget it, you can build it! While in one department, I was able to increase year-over-year income150% by implementing new programs and processes. You would have a hard time doing that without a plan!
4 – Watch your Dailies
Once you have a plan in place you need to monitor it or it will be useless.
There was a time when the belt was being tightened by Burbank and we had to provide a daily breakdown of our actuals vs. plan. Yes daily! This went on for about a month and we all hated it at the time, however, it was probably the best training I ever received on watching a plan to ensure efficiency. Little things are easy to overlook but in the big picture they add up.
5 – Amuse Me
Enjoying what you do is paramount in the game of life. You are more productive and pleasant when you are having fun while getting the job done. Hitting goals, meeting deadlines, and being serious about your business is important, however, one can take it too far sometimes.
This one wasn't taught to us in class, you need to learn this one on your own, I suppose. My future wife, who I met during my Disney tenure, and I had a saying when things got rough and people started taking themselves a little too seriously, "This is an amusement park, Amuse me!". At the end of the day, that's what it's all about!
Disneyland is one of this Travologist's favorite places to wander and being a SoCal local equipped with an annual pass, I can do it as often as my schedule allows. In a time far, far away, I spent 7 years doing more than wandering there. I explored the jungles of the world, awoke tropical birds, mined Big Thunder, told some Duck Tales, and entertained at a private club, so I consider myself more than the average Disney fan. It's the detail and history of the place that keeps me returning – often to just walk around and never step foot on an attraction – Disneyland IS the attraction. Although there are literally hundreds (perhaps thousands) of details to showcase, here are my top 10 tidbits that will hopefully enhance your adventure the next time you head to the Magic Kingdom.
1 – The Light in Walt's Apartment
2 – The Windows of Main Street
3 – Red & White Light at Coke Corner
4 – "The Little Man of Disneyland"
5 – Tarzan's Treehouse
6 – Max, Buff, & Melvin
7 – Frontierland Fish
8 – Snow White's Grotto
9 – it's a Small World
10 – Al Fresco Dining in Tomorrowland
Click HERE to go to WanderingButNotLost.com for the details and show notes.
Want more Disney in your life? I have been a huge fan of the gang over at Mousetalgia who deliver a fantastic weekly podcast on all things, Disney. Dave, Becky, Jeff, & Kristen are a great team and will most definitely keep you entertained and up-to-date. I recommend giving them a try. Go to their website for more info and how to subscribe.
Main Street Firehouse
The Windows of Main Street
The Coke Corner Lights
The Little Man of Disneyland & Tarzan's Treehouse
Max, Buff, & Melvin
Frontierland Fish
Snow White's Grotto
it's a Small World
Edible Tomorrowland
Mentioned in the Episode (Resources & Links)
- Full blog post: Tips on Responding to Reviews (Positive & Negative)
- Yelp: Responding To Reviews
- Episode 8: How to Get Client Reviews
- DIsney H.E.A.R.D. Technique
- Full blog post: Wandering Disneyland: 10 Touring Tidbits
- Moustalgia Podcast
- Your basic, FREE membership includes: WBNL Coaching Real Estate Business Plan Online Course and Download
- Join the WBNL Coaching Wanderers Club – Only $197/year for our online, virtual coaching and training platform for Real Estate and Business Professionals.
- Interested in Building a Real Estate Team? Check out our complete, turnkey REAL ESTATE TEAM BUILDERSystem


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Keeping Your Wedding Dress Safe after the Ceremony
Estimated Time to Read: 4 minutes
Wedding is obviously the most special occasion in a person's life and he or she always like to preserve the swettest memories of this grand day by preserving dresses, jewelries and many other items for as long as he or she lives. Among all the memorable little things and precious objects wedding dress always enjoy a very special place of importance. With every wedding photograph and moments inscribed in your memory most returning theme would be this dress itself. But as soon as the wedding ceremony is over and guests returned to their homes and respective destinations it is needed to prepare this precious piece of cloth with proper cleaning and then storing it in a proper storage least susceptible to any damaging elements. Keeping the wedding dress safely stored just after the ceremony is over will guarantee long life for this ever memorable piece of garment.
Options for damage preventing storage
There is an array of easy and fool-proof storage technology to keep your wedding dress in a nice condition maintaining all the shine, look and breathe of the fabric for long time. There are dedicated wedding dress storage bags to prevent coming into contact with any damaging effect like the moisture, chemical reaction caused to fabric due to corrosive elements in the air and inadequate space in storage. Moreover, there are active protective technologies in certain storage bags that can guarantee keeping your wedding dresses breathing for years long. But before indulging into the consideration on suitable storage options let us offer here some tips and guidance prior to keeping them in storage.
Wedding Dress Cleaning Techniques
First of all, the dress should be thoroughly cleaned to ensure the optimum condition of the garment fabric while put in storage. Removing so called prominent and noticeable stains apart cleaning process should also take care of all the obscure spots and stains. This is why it is advisable to make your garments cleaned by the professional hands rather than regular cleaning service. There are certain types of stains like that of champagne and sugar that can be left unclean by regular wash. Remember, if such small and imperceptible stains remain untreated, they can oxidize and over a period of time can turn yellow stains causing permanent damage to the garment. Wedding dress is precious and you would always have a sweet corner for it among the valuable and so giving it a professional clean is important. Secondly, ensure gentle hand cleaning with a quality cleaning materials. Traditional dry-cleaning method involving pre-treating of the stains and then offering a thorough dry-cleaning is also good time tasted procedure. But ensure few things like the extremely gentle solvent used in dry cleaning, removing the fragile decorations and the muslin wherever possible and then re-sewing them after the cleaning, etc. Stay away from using hard stain removers as they can cause permanent damage to the fabric and always give priority to petroleum-based cleansers as stain removers, because they are relatively gentle on the fabric.
Safe keep as quick as possible
As for storing your wedding dress (laundry.about.com/od/weddingdresscare/a/How-To-Preserve-And-Store-A-Wedding-Dress-Wedding-Dress-Preservation.htm) is concerned you cannot just delay on it because the stains on the garments can settle further deeper. If you have already washed the garment and did not arrange the adequate safe keep for it, it can again catch stain and by catching moisture can be in a very bad shape at the time of storage. So, as soon as the garment is cleaned and dried just make sure you have stored it in a proper storage prepared or arranged well in advance. Remember, a maximum duration of 72 hours you can keep such precious garments out of storage. When putting the entire dress in storage check the entire settings including the veil, headpiece, garter, train, etc.
Correct packaging or storage is crucial
Ultimately it is the correct packaging materials or the storage technology that makes a difference in retaining the shine and fabric of the entire dress for a longer period of time. Storage and its active technology to ward off moisture and corrosive material in the air is the key element to ensure the life of your wedding dress. There are few important aspects to consider. First of all, the storage materials should be absolutely acid-free and thoroughly clean. Secondly, using a acid free paper for wrapping the garment is crucial to ensure ideal storage condition that is less susceptible to any damage. Lastly, direct exposure to sunlight, humid condition and heat should be avoided throughout the duration of the storage to safe keep the garment in optimum condition.


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Happy 2nd Birthday, Toddler Girl!
Congrats mama! You've survived year two and entered the heart of toddlerdom. Time to celebrate the past year's milestones—walking, talking, maybe even potty training—and read up on next year's big developments. Happy birthday to you both!
Two-Year-Old Birthday Party Tips
Schedule Around Your Daughter's Routine. Tap your expert knowledge of your daughter's daily routine and moods to schedule the party when she'll likely be upbeat and well rested. Additionally, cap the length at a few hours—the overstimulation and sugar rollercoaster of a marathon party may cause a meltdown. Heather S. shares: "From my experience, keep it small...It gets very overwhelming for a two year old to have a big party."
Themes. For winning two-year-old birthday party themes, try focusing on your daughter's favorite fictional characters, whether from a book, cartoon or movie. As Marissa C. shared: "My daughter has a major obsession with Winnie the Pooh at the moment and I am looking forward to theming her party that for this year." Dora the Explorer, Blue's Clues, Hello Kitty, Dr. Seuss, and Disney princesses have also all been wildly popular with daughters of Circle of Moms members.
Keep 'em Busy. Plan activities to keep younger guests happily entertained. Some Circle of Moms members suggest toddler-friendly locations like gymnastics centers; others recommend backyard parties with ball pits, bubble machines, bounce houses or activity tables. Mother-of-one Kelly D. shared: "I had a party outdoors and wanted to keep the kids entertained, so I had a Play-Doh table and a coloring table, plus a potato sack race... Keep 'em busy!" Of course, your daughter may simply want to play with her gift wrapping paper, and that's fine too!
Gifts and Toys for Two Year Olds
Are friends and relatives asking for birthday gift tips? We know it's hard to brainstorm toy ideas when you're already living in a mini Toys"R"Us, so we're offering four reliable gift ideas for two year olds.
Arts and Crafts. Play-Doh, washable crayons, finger-painting, stickers, ink stamps... arts and crafts supplies make excellent gifts for toddlers.
Little People from Fisher Price. Many Circle of Moms members, including Tana K., have great things to say about these chunky, easy-to-grasp figurines: "I love Little People. There is so much selection—from the town center to the animals to the wheelies."
Kitchen Toys. From basic food sets to elaborate play kitchens, kitchen toys can provide two-year-olds with hours of entertainment. Or, try teaching where some foods come from with gardening toys.
Books. When in doubt, books—especially touch-and-feel titles—are always a good gift for toddlers. Over 50 Circle of Moms members have weighed in with recommendations for great books for babies and toddlers.
Preparing for the Next Year
To help you gear up for the next year, Circle of Moms is ready with helpful resources on common challenges and milestones:
- Potty Training: Potty Training 101, Potty Training at Night, Potty Training in Public
- What to do if Your Toddler is a Picky Eater
- Transitioning from Crib to Toddler Bed
- How to Handle Toddler Hitting
- Winning the Toddler Bedtime Battle
- 7 Affordable Childcare Alternatives
- Switching to a Front-Facing Car Seat
- 6 Tips for Pacifier Weaning
- Breastfeeding Beyond Age 2
- 15 Fun iPhone Apps for Kids
Here's to another great year!


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Fightin' Fires
We've been melting back the Polar Eternities sincewe discovered fire.
The oldest Arctic sea ice is comprised of freshwater.
The counties highlighted on the map are most likelyto experience an extreme decrease in AvailablePrecipitation, in the next 50 years.
"Available Precipitation" is precipitation availablefor human use - renewable water not consumedthrough evaporation and plant transpiration.
Topio: Digital Video Coffee Table
The first digital video fine art coffee table. A hit at SCOPE: Miami Beach in December 2013, the piece features my digital video work: Bora Bora: Palm Fronds. Based on original footage shot in Bora Bora, the regular leaf structure of palms trees and strong island lighting help create endless geometric investigation of the green palette. (Other videos can also be shown.)
The table is a custom-made hard-wood fully functional piece of furniture. Topio (from the Greek word for landscape) takes my "modern landscapes" art work off the wall and out of "TV mode" to become the center of a room and integrate with its environment. The embedded screen is a custom-made professional signage design with commercial screen that can run flat and run 24/7. No remote controls needed. Dimming knob under table.
The Alchemist
A geometrically perfect sphere of moving, glowing light is projected to appear to sit two feet outside a small cube atop a pedestal. The imaginary form, not unlike a hologram, churns and flows as the viewer approaches, like a burning star bursting with ever-changing solar flares. The sphere is an illusion created by what is inside the box, which is itself hard to discern. Like much of my work, this sculpture uses illusion, optic tricks, and a clever use of relatively simple materials to achieve an mesmerizing and otherworldly experience for my viewer.
I've Been There
The figurines are glass castings of 3D scans of the artist. They are situated on opposing sides of a boundary between two mutually-inclusive states (light/dark, tropical/polar, life/death).
I was in Japan for New Year's Day, which is a personal boundary for all of us.
Though having returned to the United States, I feel like I'm still in Japan.
Akemashite omedetōgozaimasu!
Fragile Pathway
This new piece is the result of 9 months of development and is still a part of a process toward a new expressive form. Physically, its a flat panel gas discharge device that is quite bright, very colorful and kinetic in many new interesting ways.
Arctic Sea Ice in Glass
This project began in the context of boundaries, and the edges of existence. By the Fall of 2010, after reading a couple of books involving exploration of unknown environments, watching hours of footage from lunar exploration missions, and venturing to the New England coast at night in the depth of winter, I had acknowledged an affinity for being at boundaries that may be considered primordial, null, or serving spaces so vast and different that we're overwhelmed by the sense of being there, where winds blow across a nearly discontinuous gradient. When I was invited to participate in the 2011 Arctic Circle Residency, the chance to continue a polar trajectory to the boundary between tropical culture and the Polar Eternities presented itself.
I brought along few expectations other than to observe, and to enjoy the liberties inherent in doing so with whatever additional tools I found even remotely useful, such as 3D scanning. It's used primarily as a means to an end, such as for rapid prototyping, and in this case, documentation and cloning of what would be considered fossils. Scanning Arctic ice was considered part of the observation process, and a way of translating ephemeral matter into a relatively permanent context, or simply replicating it in its own ephemeral material.
The scanning system I built was very simple, using DAVID laser scanning software that connected to a camera and laser mounted on a tripod. In testing the system at various scales and levels of crudeness, errors revealed the interesting and peculiar nature of how the system saw the world presented to it. An obvious analogy is slit-scan photography of dimensions Y (or X) and time, with 3D scanning simply adding the depth dimension. One can, of course, scan motionless objects and record a realistic 3D surface or object, like I did with Arctic sea ice.
Despite numerous unexpected technical obstacles, I was able to scan palm-sized pieces of Arctic sea ice retrieved from two locations around Svalbard. These scans were used in "Shunyatan Flow" (2011), a 3D animation describing a wind driven by temperature and ego. Last August, I was able to 3D-print an ice tray of the scanned Arctic sea ice forms, from which I made wax positives for feeding the glass casting process, and then six cast glass replicas. Despite being about half the size of the originals (due to 3D printer limitations), they otherwise look and feel just like the originals. The images featured in this installation are from a recent trip to Barrow, Alaska, of the glass Arctic sea ice returning to the Arctic Ocean (literally - I lost one while taking pictures).
Where Does Mass of a Tree come from?
Where Does Mass of a Tree Come From? is a blown glass tree filled with carbon dioxide which, when energized, produces a light well known for at least a short period in the early 1900's but largely unknown today. As the piece runs the carbon will slowly be sequestered into the piece reducing its pressure and changing the look of the piece.
It's of vital importance today to be able to answer the question posed by the title of this piece: Where does the mass of a tree come from? This carbon tree is part of the living cycle of energy and mass that today appears to be out of balance and increasingly to threaten the very existence of life on the planet if things go as they have in the past.
Jacob's Ladder
Remember the old Frankenstein movies?
Paradigm II
Light is the medium in which I am most interested. I make apparatus that I use to shift, refract, bend and reflect my light to create the atmospheric effects which are my pieces in sculpture. In a recent series of mine, Paradigm, I transform this light to fill a structured volume of space with a dynamic three-dimensional projection. In entering my space, viewer is thrown into a mesmerizing and otherworldly expanse, as relationships of individual point of ethereal light evolve and coalesce in reaction movement.
The effect, although reached through relatively simple means, produces a three- dimensional image which is felt more that it is seen, spilling out of the great volume of the sculpture and filling the entire space in which it is seen.
Not only does the work bring the view to question the materials and forms I use to create the effect and illusion, it also brings a precise sort of awareness to the space that it is seen in. How one understands their vision is poignantly brought to the fore as the universal is seen thought the particular. By bringing the viewer into a place of more acute perception, my installations seek to elevate my viewers' consciousness as they experience a space and their sense in a new way.


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I joined the throng making its way through the security and ticket lines inside the cavernous Merchandise Mart, the grittier convention hall servicing the Denver metro area. But just as I got inside, the flock headed outside to the back parking lot and a huge tent city of vendors. The aroma of pot permeated the air.
A few things struck me: one of the areas where the marijuana industry has been most successful politically is recasting the image of the "cannabis" consumer — even the use of "cannabis" as opposed to the endless other synonyms is deliberate. All those cannabis professionals who are now free to step out of the closet and into the green air were not to be seen; this was a pure stoner affair. These days, "stoner" is a pejorative (although a term of affection inside the circle), and here it was simply a lovefest of stoners with those who love marijuana sharing marijuana with others who love marijuana.
Despite all of the legal strides made with marijuana, even in Colorado — the most permissive place for marijuana on earth — open and public consumption is forbidden. A glaring sore spot for advocates, industry, and entrepreneurs is that even though one can possess marijuana, cultivate it, process, and consume it, the laws force the law-abiding user to consume in their residence and that's about it. Pot clubs, where one can smoke a J or take a hit with friends off a pipe or bong are prohibited, in large part due to the smoking bans associated with tobacco that have been in place long before marijuana came to the front. But here at the Cannabis Cup, it was safe harbor, and as soon was the group I was with stepped into the sunlight, some members broke out their stash and, seemingly with the first inhale, came a larger and more audible exhale – perhaps recognition that in this time and place even more freedom, whether legal or not, was to be found.
As I waded into the neighborhood of vendor tents, I became quickly aware of just how large this nascent industry has become in just a short few years. It's only going to get bigger — much bigger. There were vendors of every stripe hawking their wears from paraphernalia to hats and t-shirts, but all one had to do was look for the lines for what everyone was here for - free samples! But wait: just couple of weeks earlier the Colorado Department of Revenue - Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) issued an industry bulletin https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/15-03_MED_IndustryBulletin.pdf making it clear the Colorado licensees could not, pursuant to rule, offer free samples of product. Members of the regulated Colorado marijuana businesses complained loudly mostly about the late notice. Some opted to not even come. But their frustration must have boiled over when Saturday's event started and their out-of-state competitors just started giving out free samples http://www.thecannabist.co/2015/04/18/cannabis-cup-denver-recap/33600. Due to the reporting of these acts I really expected that while the distribution of free samples would likely still be occurring, it would be more clandestine — it wasn't. The lines were obvious, and attendees were often standing twelve-deep waiting for a chance to dab (smoking concentrated wax for the uninitiated). Meanwhile, at Colorado infused candy manufacturer EdiPure's tent (a large, likely high-rent one), there was a deflated vibe as the had a lame pinwheel for giveaways of much less interesting items such as lighters.
The illicit action didn't stop there though. I just happened to be walking by the tent of a California manufacturer of marijuana infused lollipops when I was saw the guy behind the counter empty out a bag of suckers and a small group sensing that something was for the offering swarmed. Soon enough greenbacks are being switched back and forth for product. This type of marijuana distribution remains illegal in Colorado. The vendor would discreetly take the cash and quickly stash it in a canvas bag. Most sucker consumers happily and patiently held out the money for the exchange. Only one consumer, aware of the nature of the transaction, with his hoody synched tightly around his head, took a quick glance backwards to both sides before handing over the money. This was but one example of illegal distribution that I witnessed.
One that was more blatant was a woman walking around with a box and a handwritten sign walking the aisles, seeking out buyers. Later, when I went inside to see the indoor vendors, I stopped at one of the High Times booths and was watching an old-style department store display case, with rotating Ferris wheel shelves displaying an impressive array of concentrates and edibles. A popular attraction, the guy waiting in line behind me shouted out to the guy behind the counter, decked out in High Times apparel, "Can I buy some of this?" From his laugh afterward I got the sense that that he knew and was joking with complete understanding of the illicit nature of the question. But then, the High Times staffer casually replied, "Wait till 8:00" (an hour after closing of the last day of the event).
Oh, I forgot to mention that when I first entered the cup I was handed a postcard-sized solicitation by Los Angeles-based CannaSutra and Lorax Labs, asking patrons to text in for a chance at winning a pound of flour/bud or 10 oz. of shatter (concentrate) — uh, that's a felony in Colorado.
Where was law enforcement? Candidly, the only uniformed officers I saw were two Sheriff's Deputies directing the heavy traffic that clogged the streets outside of the event. Were there undercovers inside? Perhaps, but even the untrained eye with a basic understanding of the law could see what was happening, so I'm guessing not. I didn't see arrest.
In many of the legalization campaigns, the marijuana industry has argued that law enforcement should be spending their time solving "real" crime instead of pursuing marijuana offense. This is a false narrative. It's not as though law enforcement is forgoing investigating a homicide just so more consumption summonses can be issued. Nonetheless, this message has gained traction with the voting public.
Post-legalization, the investigation and prosecution of marijuana crimes has become a complicated matter. For decades it has been that if an officer smelled marijuana, saw it, or there was a sign of it (i.e., accompanying paraphernalia), then there was probable cause. Now, where individuals are allowed to have an ounce (or three) when you have a medical marijuana card on you…and one can transport plants…and also grow and transport for their friends - it's no longer so black and white. In fact, it has become so gray that it has led to inaction, and perhaps even indifference, on the part of law enforcement time and investment. The complicating factors are also a direct byproduct of how marijuana ballot measures are being drafted by advocates and industry with the implicit objective of making it difficult for marijuana cases to be investigated and prosecuted. Resignation on the part of law enforcement and prosecution. Mission accomplished, right? However, marijuana, regulated legal marijuana, is being sold to voters in a common political talking point as the means to an end to the criminal black market. Despite regulation it is well known in Colorado that the black market is alive and well. All the reasons why is the subject of another day. For proof merely go Craigslist Denver, using the terms "marijuana" & "donation," and the results will produce a long list of people illegally selling marijuana. The sellers operate under the false assumption that the shell game of calling the exchange of money a "donation" is a gaping legal loophole – it's not. Amendment 64, Colorado's constitutional Amendment, that gave rise to recreational marijuana is explicit on this point.
The irony, of course, is that all of those regulated Colorado marijuana businesses that played by the rules clearly had their customer base stripped out from under them by blatant scofflaws, and will it be that same industry that has fought to keep police out of their business that will now be demanding law enforcement act, and start enforcing the law in order to eliminate black-market competition. In their hearts the answer might be "no," but as marijuana grows up and the business world takes over the bottom line demands "yes."


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This Is What Endometriosis Really Feels Like
(Photo Courtesy By: Kyung Jeon)
Despite it being one of the most common gynecologic diseases, a leading cause of infertility, and debilitatingly painful, endometriosis isn't a very popular topic of conversation.
The condition, estimated to affect around 5 million American women, typically causes painful periods, an experience too many women keep mum about because we've been convinced even killer cramps are just a fact of life. Staying silent about endo experiences, though, only perpetuates the problem: Women who don't know about it don't know to discuss their symptoms with their doctors and continue to suffer in agonizing silence. (Want to pick up some healthier habits? Sign up to get daily healthy living tips delivered straight to your inbox!)
Endometriosis happens when tissue that would usually grow inside the uterus instead grows outside of it, commonly on the ovaries, bowel, bladder, and elsewhere throughout the pelvic cavity. Because it's uterine tissue, it also bleeds monthly, but the body is unable to clear away this blood, leading to swelling, inflammation, and continued growth of the tissue, often forming cysts. There's little we know for sure about how or why this starts, but it can begin as early as a girl's very first period.
That was the case for actress Lena Dunham, who knew something was off from the very beginning of her menstruating life, as she wrote recently in her newsletter Lenny Letter:
"The stomachaches began quickly and were more severe than the mild-irritant cramps seemed to be for the blonde women in pink-hued Midol commercials. During the worst of it, my father brought me to the ER, where they prodded my appendix and suggested it might be food poisoning and that we should go home and wait it out. My mother placed a pillow under my lower back, and I moaned in the guest room, where no one could hear me, my legs spread like a woman in labor."
It's a stomach-churning account, one that triggers sickly feelings as you imagine sisters, mothers, friends, and coworkers who are trying to convince themselves each month that everything is just fine. Endometriosis pain—as you will hear from the women below—is definitely not normal. Here's how it really feels, in their own words.
(Photo Courtesy By: Kyung Jeon)
"My symptoms started as soon as I began menstruating at age 11. The easiest way I've been able to personify the pain is it's like someone is crushing your ovaries and uterus with giant hands. The pain would get more and more severe as the day would go on, radiating down to my thighs. I'd be on the couch writhing back and forth clutching a heating pad. I would be in so much pain I would have to cancel plans, stay home from school, or would end up in the nurse's office. In high school, one of my friends accidentally ran over my foot with his car and broke it in four places. My period pain was worse than that. When pain from your period interferes with your life, when you schedule your life around your period, that's not something we should just accept. Don't take people telling you, 'Oh, you're fine,' when you know you're not fine. You know your body better than anyone else."
—Tracy Lytwyn Fischer, 25, who lives in Carmel, IN, and works in communications for a nonprofit. She blogs about her experience with endometriosis at StillSunflowers.com.
Related: 5 Reasons It Hurts Down There
"We're always talking about, 'Oh, she's blossoming into a woman.' I didn't feel like I was blossoming. I felt like there were these explosions in my abdomen."
—Padma Lakshmi, 45, food expert, model, author, and cofounder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America, in Lenny Letter
"From my very first period at 12, I would vomit and black out with pain. I had a high temperature and was extremely shaky and had to spend days in bed. I have 10- to 15-day periods, anemia, and severe cramps. It started to get even worse in my late teens and early 20s, where I would just get struck down by this horrendous pain, like someone was carving out my uterus with a knife, and all I could do was cry. In the past year, the symptoms developed into constant fatigue, headaches, IBS, cystitis, and chronic pain; I mean, not a single second without pain, down my legs, in my back, in my bottom. It turned out I had a huge endometrial cyst inside my left ovary and severe endometriosis. I feel completely alone with the disease and find myself having to pry sick notes out of my doctor's hands because they can't understand why I'm not 'better.' News flash, it's incurable. I lost my job 2 days before my first surgery; they were sick of me calling in sick. I haven't worked since and can't work. The pain has changed my personality. My confidence is gone, I don't sleep, I'm weak, I'm sad, I'm constantly hunched over with my face screwed up. I long for a day to wake up and feel no pain, to look at myself in the mirror and not see a gray-faced crying woman I don't recognize. We need help, we need support, and we need understanding."
—A 25-year-old from the UK who asked to remain anonymous
(Photo Courtesy By: Kyung Jeon)
"It feels like someone is taking a pickax to my uterus and trying to break out."
—Alexys Becerra, body piercer and makeup tattooist, via Prevention Facebook
"I started having painful periods in my early 20s, and I was immediately put on the birth control pill to manage those symptoms until I was about 27. Then I got off due to health concerns about heart disease in my family. About 24 menstrual cycles later, the pain started to wake me up in the middle of the night. Each month, the pain got worse and worse. I was taking more and more ibuprofen. I would shut my office door and lie down on the floor, trying to squeeze acupuncture points on my heel that I was told could help with pain management. Ibuprofen started not working; it wasn't strong enough. I would experience a very uncomfortable pressure in my bladder in the days leading up to my period, which turned out to be because the endometriosis was growing there. I was on Vicodin in the summer of 2008, and that wasn't helping either. I delivered my two girls without drugs, and that doesn't not hurt! Endometriosis pain is worse than childbirth."
—Nicole Havrilla, 40, blogs at SurvivingEndometriosis.blogspot.com and is currently working toward opening an endometriosis clinic in Dallas-Fort Worth called WholeLife Authentic Care.
Related: 8 Reasons It Hurts During Sex—And How To Fix It
"It felt like a knife was being stabbed in me."
—Julianne Hough, 27, dancer and actress, in People magazine
"For as long as I can remember, I assumed pain was part of getting your period and that it was not unusual to feel sick. I remember missing school because I would be curled up in bed with unbearable cramps. This is the way it was for my mom and some of my aunts, so they considered my symptoms normal. Sometimes I was unable to walk due to the pain. Other times, I would get lucky and go months without pain. One Christmas Eve, I woke up with pain so unbearable I was rushed to the hospital. After several tests, the doctors still didn't know what caused my symptoms. I had a follow-up appointment with my ob-gyn a week later, and it was then that I was diagnosed. I was 28 and had never heard of endometriosis before. Because I assumed pain with periods was normal, I had never brought it up to my doctors."
—Christina Kim, 31, a full-time mom in Manhattan
(Photo Courtesy By: Kyung Jeon)
"One month, I couldn't even go to work. Sometimes it would hurt so bad I didn't want to eat. A heating pad would sometimes help, as well as pain relievers. I'd always think, If this is how periods feel, then I don't want to know how labor feels."
—Janemary Vongdara, via Prevention Facebook
"I always had terrible stomach issues. It was not uncommon that after eating I would have diarrhea or vomiting. I suffered with rectal bleeding with bowel movements. In my early 20s, my period cramps started becoming debilitating. I was gaining weight and had visible bloating. I went on to have severe back pain, leg pain, rib pain, and urinary frequency. My gynecologist told me I just had a low tolerance for pain. My gastroenterologist diagnosed me with irritable bowel syndrome at the age of 19, and I had my appendix removed at age 23. I also went on to have my gallbladder removed. Neither surgeon mentioned endometriosis. I had never heard of endometriosis before, even though I later found out that my mom and aunts had terrible periods and most likely had it. I've had two excision surgeries to remove endometriosis and scar tissue from my bowels, bladder, uterus, and diaphragm. Many people dismiss the disease because they are not educated and do not understand how serious it is. This lack of support and understanding isolates patients. People think women are playing sick or are just weak. Endometriosis patients are some of the toughest women I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Everything we accomplish—from simple everyday tasks like doing the dishes, to the bigger milestones like graduating school—takes more determination and energy than it would for many other people."
—Casey Berna, 36, a social worker, counselor, and advocate for endometriosis and infertility patients in North Carolina
Related: 11 Things Only Someone With Endometriosis Understands
"It is not a woman's lot to suffer. I know we've all been raised that way, but it is not. It is not OK to miss a part of your life because of pain and bleeding…Suffering should not define you as a woman…I'd had difficult periods, I'd been through fainting when I was in college, I started to bleed for no reason."
—Susan Sarandon, 69, actress, in a speech at the Endometriosis Foundation of America's 2011 Blossom Ball
(Photo Courtesy By: Kyung Jeon)
"I kept it all very private. Anything that's related to your menstrual cycle is very taboo to talk about in our society. A lot of the emotional and psychological issues all went into my artwork; it's influenced my work tremendously. A week before my period, I would have really, really sharp abdominal pain for at least a couple of hours. I would have to stop whatever I was doing and just lie down or crawl to a place where I could. I would wait it out in fetal position wherever I was. I was lucky that the first gynecologist I went to about this happened to know about endometriosis. He put me on birth control pills, and I threw away the last week to stop my period. I did that for 2 years, but I hated it. Emotionally, it made me really up and down, and physically the weight gain was unpleasant. I took myself off and was symptom-free for a good 7 years, except for severe digestion issues that I thought were just due to stress. Then at some point the sharp pain started happening again. I had an ultrasound, which doesn't usually show endometriosis, and my right ovary was three times its normal size. It felt like a knife stabbing my abdomen. I had the cyst on my ovary removed, but 6 months after surgery I was back in severe pain. I was at my wit's end and finally found an endometriosis specialist who did surgery a month later. He performed a 5-hour procedure and removed my appendix and found 25 specimens of endometriosis basically everywhere below my belly button. He told me I had a very small window if I ever wanted to have a child. My son was born on July 31. I'm breastfeeding now, so I haven't had my period yet. I've heard that the endometriosis could grow back and I'll experience the same pain as before. Or it could go away completely after having a child. Or it might come back but not as severe. So far, I haven't had any symptoms."
—Kyung Jeon, 40, an artist and graphic designer in New York City
By Sarah Klein


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Welcome to Forever Bamboo!
Forever Bamboo's 12 foot Viro Synthetic Mexican Rain Cape is a cost effective and eco-friendly alternative that can last up to 5 years in outdoor settings. Each Viroumbrella cover is constructed to imitate the same hand woven pattern as Natural Mexican Palm Thatch Umbrella Covers. Our rain capes are made of high density polyethylene that is 100% recyclable and maintenance free. Create a tropical feeling instantly by draping rain capes over umbrella frames, gazebos, playground equipment and more. All of Forever Bamboo's Viro Synthetic rain capes are easy to install and are perfect for both residential and commercial projects.
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Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become thinner, more porous and break more easily. Osteopenia is different from osteoporosis — it is a slight thinning of bones that occurs naturally as women get older and typically doesn't result in disabling bone breaks.
Osteopenia is a condition that only recently started to be thought of as a problem that required treatment. Until the early 1990's, only a handful of people had even heard of the word. But osteopenia has transformed from a rarely heard word into a problem that millions of women swallow pills to treat.
The term "osteopenia" was never originally meant to be considered as a disease — it was a research category used mostly because some thought it might be useful for public health researchers who like clear categories for their studies.
But in 1995, a man named Jeremy Allen was approached by the drug company Merck. The pharmaceutical giant had just released a new osteoporosis drug called Fosamax. Since osteoporosis is a serious problem that affects millions of women, the potential market for Fosamax was enormous. But the drug wasn't selling well.
Allen persuaded Merck to establish a nonprofit called the Bone Measurement Institute. On its board were six of the most respected osteoporosis researchers in the country.
But the institute itself had a rather slim staff: Allen was the only employee.
In 1997 the institute and several other interested organizations successfully lobbied to pass the Bone Mass Measurement Act, a piece of legislation that changed Medicare reimbursement rules to cover bone scans. More and more women got bone density tests (at Merck's urging), and the very existence of the word "osteopenia" on a medical report had a profound effect.
Millions of women were worried by the diagnosis. And when clinicians saw the word 'osteopenia' on a report, they assumed it was a disease. Merck did not disabuse them of the notion.
There are no long-term studies that look at what happens to women with osteopenia who start Fosamax in their 50's and continue treatment long-term in the hopes of preventing old-age fractures. And none are planned.
via Warning! Don't Take Another Drug Until You Read How You're Being Conned….
Dr. Court's Comments
This never fails to amaze me that pharmaceutical giants can actually get conditions that have literally almost not risk associated with them to be classified as disease. According the the British Medical Journal, counterpart to our Journal of the American Medical Association, the strongest risk factor for fractures in women is falling, not osteoporosis. What is very interesting is that vitamin D has been shown to reduce falls in elderly women, but you don't hear about that on the nightly news.
Here is a quote from the very study that shows osteoporosis drug use is overstated and exxagerated.
What the drug makers do is argue that the effect of treating pre-osteoporosis (osteopenia) and osteoporosis is similar. This move to treat pre-osteoporosis raises serious questions about the benefit-risk relationship for low-risk individuals and about the costs of medicalizing and potentially medicating an enormous group of healthy people.
It is clear that these drugs are dangerous. I am not suggesting that they do not benefit a small portion of the population who have moderate to severe osteoporosis. The problem is that most people are not told about conservative ways to treat their thinning bones. These include things like calcium, vitamin D and vitamin K supplementation. They also include weight bearing exercise. The drug companies would have you believe they benefit everyone. The pharmaceutical companies manipulate research, congress and the public to get their agendas passed and they do it so carefully that these things become "fact" when, in reality, there is little evidence that what they state is real.


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Lake Ford helped make these videos
We are still working to obtain content for your car, however the video above is believed to have similar characteristics as your car.
The video above shows how to replace blown fuses in the interior fuse box of your 2013 Audi A6 Quattro in addition to the fuse panel diagram location. Electrical components such as your map light, radio, heated seats, high beams, power windows all have fuses and if they suddenly stop working, chances are you have a fuse that has blown out. If your A6 Quattro is experiencing electrical problems, you should always check the fuses first, because they are relatively easy to check and cheap to change. Some Audis have multiple interior fuse boxes including in the trunk - the video above will show you where the interior fuse box of your 2013 A6 Quattro is located. If your A6 Quattro has many options like a sunroof, navigation, heated seats, etc, the more fuses it has. Some components may have multiple fuses, so make sure you check all of the fuses that are linked to the component in question.
If you need to replace a blown fuse in your A6 Quattro, make sure you replace it with one that has the same amperage as the blown fuse. If checking and replacing the fuse for the component in question doesn't work, we recommend seeking assistance from a trusted professional mechanic. They should be able to figure out if the component needs to be replaced or if there is a short or some other problem with your A6 Quattro.
If you have an electrical component that doesn't work, try replacing the fuse first2013 Audi A6 Quattro Premium 3.0L V6 Supercharged
Learn how to diagnose and fix minor oil leaks in your car2013 Audi A6 Quattro Premium 3.0L V6 Supercharged
Learn where your air filter is located and how to determine if it needs to be changed.2013 Audi A6 Quattro Premium 3.0L V6 Supercharged
If your blinker doesn't blink, or blinks rapidly, you likely have a burnt out bulb2013 Audi A6 Quattro Premium 3.0L V6 Supercharged
Avoid tickets and accidents with both working headlights! New bulbs are much brighter too2013 Audi A6 Quattro Premium 3.0L V6 Supercharged


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RPSB Operations Chief at RMN Talk Show
Police Chief Inspector Areston D. Limos, Operation Officer of the Regional Public Safety Battalion 9 was the invited guest for the PRO9 Television Program dubbed as "Serbisyong Pampulisya" (Pulis Ko, Kakasi Ko) at RMN E-media Television Network on August 29, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. hosted by Rey B. Bayoging with PO3 Jessica dela Torre Sarsalejo, as co-host.
PCINSP LIMOS discussed the function and mission of the RPSB9. He also added that the said battalion has four (4) Maneuver Companies and three (3) Technical Support Platoons composed of Special Weapon and Tactics (S.W.A.T), Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and Emergency Response Team (ERT). Likewise, the Operation Officer discussed that aside from their mandate to engage in combat operations they also conduct community-based activities.


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PC game service operator and game development studio Valve announced SteamOS this afternoon, finally formalizing a PC gaming hardware project known as "Steambox" we've heard dribs and drabs about over the past few years. The OS will function on "any living room machine," and it also streams games from your Mac and PC, as well as offering media playback functionality. The OS seems to be multifunctional in this aspect, both acting as an operating system for living room-based machines directly connected to televisions, and offering streaming capability from computers outside the living room. "Just turn on your existing computer and run Steam as you always have - then your SteamOS machine can stream those games over your home network straight to your TV," the announcement page says. The OS is free and built on Linux; it will be available "soon."
Valve says it's "achieved significant performance increases in graphics processing, and we're now targeting audio performance and reductions in input latency at the operating system level," with regards to streaming capability. "Game developers are already taking advantage of these gains as they target SteamOS for their new releases." No specific developers are named, but a job posting from Crytek points at one suspect.The project is intended to compete with traditional game consoles, and it seemingly evolves Steam's "Big Picture Mode" to that end (which isn't to say that service is going away). Valve specifically lists four new features as the pillars of SteamOS: in-home streaming, family sharing, music / TV / movies, and family options. Let's dive into those after the break.


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E.D. Gave Millions in Loans to Defaulters, Study Finds
Washington--The Education Department has violated regulations that govern the student-loan program by distributing millions of federal-loan dollars to college students who have already defaulted on one loan or who have exceeded the annual loan limit, according to a federal study released last month.
Compounding the problem is the fact that the department lacks the ability to identify such students, states the General Accounting Office report, "Stafford Student Loans: Millions of Dollars in Loans Awarded to Ineligible Borrowers."
The report is the latest in a series of critical reviews of the department's management of the student-loan program by the g.a.o., Capitol Hill aides, lobbyists, and members of the private sector.
"I continue to be disappointed with the way the guaranteed student loan program has been managed. This report reinforces the need for better program management and continued oversight by the Congress," said Senator Sam Nunn, Democrat of Georgia, who had called for the g.a.o. report.
As chairman of the Senate subcommittee on investigations, Mr. Nunn held hearings last fall on the state of the student-loan program, and the report is certain to fuel the debate over how to revamp federal-aid programs.
The report comes as the Bush Administration, the Congress, and the Education Department prepare their proposals to reauthorize the Higher Education Act of 1965. Title IV of the act governs federal student8financial aid. (See Education Week, Jan. 16, 1991.)
According to the report, student-loan defaulters may have obtained $109 million in loans over the past 25 years, and millions more dollars have been loaned above the legal limits.
The gao report says the department's data base on student loans is so incomplete that it cannot accurately say how many students or how many dollars are involved, and that the loan figure could be higher or lower than $109 million.
In analyzing more than 30 million files, the gao found that about 32,000 students defaulted on loans totaling $54 million and later obtained new loans of about $109 million. In addition to paying for the deel10lfaults, the government was subject to paying $65 million in interest subsidies over the life of the loans, the report says.
According to the report, student-loan default dollars increased from about $800,000 in 1980 to about $40.2 million in 1988.
The gao also notes that "the problem of students obtaining loans for more than the annual or total limits doesn't appear significant, but still needs to be controlled."
Up to $5 million in loans could have been made to students above their limits between September 1987 and August 1988, costing the government as much as $1.8 million in subsidies over the life of the loans.
For example, one graduate student received a $7,500 Stafford loan, the yearly maximum, but also received a total of $27,500 in loans from three other guarantee agencies. In addition to going into default on the $7,500 loan, the student previously had defaulted on $12,500 in loans.
The report notes that the department plans to implement a new data system in 1993 that will help it identify fraud and abuse and suggests that, until then, the department identify abusers by cross-checking loan and default records and working closer with guarantee agencies.
A department spokesman declined to comment on the report, but a response from the department included in the report acknowledged the high rate of defaults.
But the department maintains that its data system was "not designed
to be used to prevent the making of loans to ineligible borrowers." It
faults the Congress for failing to give it authority until December
1989 to develop a wide-ranging data base, such as the one that will be
in operation in 1993.
Vol. 10, Issue 20
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|Voting for the Radical Communist Left (Biden)
means voting for re-crucifying Jesus.
The Catholic Church is not a political party. It is a defender of the moral law. Jesus is not partisan and would never support a particular political group, such as the Democrats or Republicans. Rather Jesus would vote to uphold the moral teachings He has entrusted to His Church for safekeeping through the Pope and Magisterium, i.e. the bishops in communion with the Pope. Thus Jesus would be oriented to specific issues to determine and support those that are in accord with His divine law, and permit flexibility of choice to the people whenever the issues are primarily secular rather than divinely mandated. This is entirely consistent with His mandate to "Render to Caesar (the world) the things that are Caesar's, and render to God the things that are God's." From this frame of reference, consider the following issues that have become the focal point of the 2020 presidential campaign:
God's Things
One must preserve God's Law by always opposing:
- Abortion
- Same-sex marriage/LGBT
- Embryonic stem cell research
- Cloning
- Infanticide
- Euthanasia
Worldly Things
One may legitimately vote for or against:
- Capital punishment/death penalty
- War
- Economy and jobs
- Health care and housing
- Immigration
- Environment
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) underscored this distinction in its June 13, 2004 pronouncement, Catholics in Political Life, as follows:
"Catholic social teaching covers a broad range of important issues. But among these the teaching on abortion holds a unique place. Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to disagree with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion. While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment. There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not with regard to abortion and euthanasia."
Moreover, in his 1995 Encyclical Letter Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) Pope John Paul II taught that "direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or a means, always constitutes a grave moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being. This doctrine is based on the natural law and upon the written Word of God, as transmitted by the Church's Tradition, which is unchanged and unchangeable." This moral doctrine is part of the patrimony of faith taught infallibly by the universal ordinary Magisterium of the Church, i.e., the College of Bishops united in their teaching throughout history and throughout the world. A Catholic, to be in full communion with the faith of the Church, must accept this teaching about the evil of abortion and euthanasia. In the case of intrinsically unjust laws, such as laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem cell research, cloning or euthanasia, a Catholic has a grave and clear obligation to oppose them, and never vote in favor of them.
The upshot of this definitive Catholic teaching is that all the issues listed under the above column headed God's Things trump all the issues in the column headed Worldly Things. Therefore it is never licit to claim that issues, such as capital punishment, the war, immigration, jobs and health care, are of equal value or more important than the issues of abortion or same-sex marriage. God's Things are the dominant issues and must always receive preferential support.
The Charitable and Social Mission of the Church
Having established that God's Things must always dominate, the question arises as to how and to what extent the mission of the Church should be involved in assisting people to obtain Worldly Things. Over the last century, Catholic social teaching has evolved in a progressive manner, primarily in three authoritative papal encyclicals:
- Rerum Novarum (On Capital and Labor) issued by Leo XIII in 1891. Owing to its significance, POPE JOHN XXIII called this encyclical the Magna Carta of Catholic social doctrine.
- Quadragesimo Anno (On Reconstruction of the Social Order) issued by Pius XI in 1931.
- Centesimus Annus (The 100th Year) issued by John Paul II in 1991.
These documents systematize the social implications of divine revelation. Their contents are theological penetrations into social life, with particular reference to human rights, the needs of the poor and those in undeveloped countries, and humane conditions of life, freedom, justice and peace.
Significant principles that should guide our actions flow from these encyclicals, as follows:
- All our charitable actions should proceed from the motive of the pure love of God. This means we should first love God, through worship, liturgy and catechesis, then only secondly love our neighbor. Christ emphasized this order several times: In the "Our Father", where the prayer begins totally oriented to God (Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done) before progressing into a request for our personal needs. Again, when Christ taught His disciples the two greatest commandments (First, love your Lord with your whole heart and soul; then secondly, love your neighbor as yourself). This is what Mother Teresa of Calcutta meant when she said: "I am not a social worker", stressing that faith in God is the indispensable source and proper motivator for all charitable actions. She spent time constantly in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament each day. It is because she always saw God in the unfortunate that she served them. Thus we too should love our neighbor because God loves him and wishes us to love him also.
- Charity should always be voluntary and never forced; otherwise it becomes an abuse of a person's right to private ownership. Communist and totalitarian regimes confiscate private property and redistribute it to others in a socialistic endeavor. This was what Karl Marx promoted with his slogan: "From each according to his wealth; to each according to their needs". Pius XI condemned this stealthy transfer of wealth in Quadragesimo Anno (1931), where he stated: "No one can be at the same time a sincere Catholic and a true Socialist." These moral principles should infuse the tax policies of a nation, so that its necessary and desirable welfare policies do not inordinately transfer (steal) money from those who have legitimately earned it, to fund excessive aid programs. The Second Vatican Council in its declaration Gaudium et Spes (Nos. 63-72), discussing economics as vital to human progress and social development, underscored the need for striking the important balance between the rights of an individual to possess goods and the obligation to aid the poor. The Church has always encouraged voluntary charity, reminding people that Christ promised a reward to one who would give a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple (Matthew X:42). The Church teaches that the corporal works of mercy are to: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, house strangers, visit prisoners as well as the sick, and bury the dead. Note, however, that these are works of mercy, not justice, implying that the recipients have no claim on them and, therefore, that the works should not be mandated or forced by law.
- Christ established His Church to help us attain the Kingdom of God in heaven, not to attain a Kingdom on Earth. Its primary purpose is to liberate us from sin so that we can attain our heavenly reward earned by the death of Christ for our redemption and salvation. The Church is not here to liberate us from economic problems. Therefore the Church should be cautious in overstepping its bounds by engaging too aggressively in political actions regarding Worldly Things which provide physical nourishment for the body rather than spiritual nourishment for the soul. The clergy should primarily be teachers of the moral law to the laity, rather than be political activists themselves. Remember Christ was neither a politician nor a revolutionary, but established the moral code for action by others. Thus the laity, infused with a proper understanding of the moral law, can then seek to better economic conditions in the political arena. However, the laity should realize that there are alternative solutions to purely political problems. Compromises in achieving objectives may be desirable, because a variety of solutions in the political sphere of Worldly Things may be consistent with the moral law, unlike the absolute position that must be taken about God's Things.


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We posed the question
...taking the installed works' existence in the space and time of the exhibition as a given, what might become of sound as their residual and mutable extension?The sound that we were inviting response to were those that Rob and I had recorded in the gallery space during the exhibition. Rob had concentrated on making close-up recordings of the machinery and sounds in the show, most often those of the 16mm projector parts, squeaky reels and so on, while my recordings were of the ambient sound of the rooms, ostensibly that of each piece, or at least in close proximity, using binaural microphones. Of course the sound in the room at the point of viewing a specific piece didn't necessarily reflect the actual intended (or otherwise) sound of the work. Rather it was the sound of everything inside and outside the room relative to the position in which I was standing.
Our outline statement for the project suggested that
…faith to the provenance, authenticity, veracity and intention of the originating work is less crucial than the possibility of the extensible production of new material given birth through the process, giving free reign to transformative imaginative reconfigurations.In the event the participants didn't necessarily take the brief quite so literally; Aura Satz and Steve Dorney presented a fascinating range of devices that demonstrated the mechanics of perceptual remapping of sound and image; Jan Thoben and Rob Mullender examined different methods for transforming light into sound, with Rob presenting his photosonic recordings of the show; Andy Birtwistle gave a lecture on experimental film and sound which became all but obfuscated by its own noise in the hands of Rob Mullender's layering manipulation; David Toop presented an intimate and personal essay about the silence of Annabel Nicholson (a version of which is published on his blog).
For my performance Dodgy Provenance and the Fantastic Mundanity of Sound in Space I took the recordings that I had made, looped them and imagined an alternative provenance for them, inventing a narrative which was quite fantastical while tracing a mysterious mundane situation, in effect it became something of a science fiction journey in which the continual presence of the sound of 16mm projectors became reinterpreted as the engines of some kind of implied inter-planetary craft. I performed it as a spoken word text accompanying the relevant sounds, the room in darkness, I was seated behind the audience.
The text was written very quickly and only finished the night before I performed it. It does, I hope, strike the balance of being a slightly absurd mundanity, perhaps with more work it might have been more outlandish. It was very much an experiment that could become a process applied to any number of sounds, and perhaps I will make more of these in the future.
Here is a recording of the performance:
download mp3
Later that day Duncan White performed A History of the Rectangle.


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Omaha, Nebraska doesn't get enough credit. The state's largest city is home to nearly a half-million people, numerous award-winning restaurants, and four Fortune 500 companies including billionaire Warren Buffett's multi-national conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway. In 2015, the city was named TIME's Best Place to Live in the Midwest, namely because of its relative affordability, short commute times and growing foodie scene.
The city is rich with history and culture, from Union Station and the circa-1887 Anheuser-Busch Beer Depot to the luxury accommodations at Magnolia Hotel Omaha. Constructed in 1923 to resemble an Italian palace, Magnolia's historic building is located at the heart of the city's entertainment district. As the temperatures grow cooler and the days shorter, visitors can enjoy changing leaves and harvest festivals. Here are just a few of the unique events you can find in Omaha this fall.
- Huber-Haus Oktoberfest: Despite the name, Germany's most popular festival happens in late September. Join Beer Corner USA for schnitzel, bratwurst, Bavarian pretzels and lots of beer at Crescent Moon and Huber-Haus on September 22-23, 2017. The event is open to families and includes toe-tapping music from The Barry Boyce Band, Bobby "Z" and Polka Joy. It's only $5 for the 21-and-over crowd, which also includes an entry to win a trip to Germany.
- Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow: Less than 5 miles north of Magnolia Omaha, Metropolitan Community College's Fort Omaha campus hosts an annual gathering of Native Americans that's open to the public. You'll find everything from frybread to dancing and storytelling at this celebration of Native traditions.
- hutchFEST 2017: Need something new to put in your china hutch? A local design shop is the brains behind this artisan market, which boasts furnishings, trinkets and other design elements from more than 100 curated vendors. Also look for beer, local nibbles and music. This year's fest takes place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on October 21. Admission is five bucks for adults; free for kids.
- Vala's Pumpkin Patch: While it might be difficult to carry a pumpkin home on the plane, it's still worth heading to Vala's for some fall family fun. The family-owned ranch opens September 15 for their festival season, which includes more than 50 attractions. Walk through three mazes, play in Pirate's Cove, or take a hay ride through the fields. Older kids can get spooked in the haunted house or shoot targets with a toy gun that fires real apples (additional fee).
- Midwest Coffee and Tea Festival: Those who can't start their morning without caffeine will be in beverage heaven at this relatively new event located just 15 minutes from Omaha in Ralston, NE. It's basically a one-stop shop for coffee and tea lovers, with free tastings and various beverages for sale. Get ready to put up your pinky and have a warm cuppa to soothe your stomach on a brisk November day.
With scenic, color-changing leaves and daytime highs around 70 degrees, autumn is the perfect time to visit Omaha. From family-friendly pumpkin patches to flea markets, food festivals and cultural events, there's no shortage of seasonal attractions to keep you and your family busy. Call 402-341-2500 or visit our website to book your stay at Magnolia Omaha today and you'll never be far from the action.


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Gunung Sitoli. Nias. Indonesia.
People from many different lands and cultures are drawn to the sea. To bathe in its salty waters. To watch the weather reflect on its face. Many countries I've been I've joined crowds or individuals at the seaside to watch the last lights of day fade into the horizon. Although many aspects or this sea tug is universal I find it interesting to watch the little parts that set each country and place apart.
Afternoons on the main pier in Gunung Sitoli is crowded with food carts and seaside goers. Gunung Sitoli is a city running along a beautiful coast line though much of the seaside is hidden by the back end of concrete buildings or various shapes and forms. The water becoming the easiest waste disposal unit. Dispersed along the long stretch of coast are the occasional piers or tourist spots which form little seaside oasis' from the sound and smell of motor bikes.


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Distracted Drivers Take Lives
Distracted drivers take lives, and distracted driving happens in multiple different forms. We will look at a number of the possibilities in this post, but we will start with the most pressing problems.
Modern technologies have made life easier in many ways, so the impact has been very positive for the most part. At the same time, when we develop symbiotic relationships with technological devices like cell phones, dangers can enter the picture.
When you are operating a motor vehicle, you are taking on an enormous responsibility. Things could happen in the blink of an eye, and you can't always depend on the drivers around you to act in a predictable manner. Having part of your attention on the road while you devote most of your attention to your cell phone is a very dangerous proposition.
Distracted Drivers Typing & Driving
Texting while driving is getting a lot of attention these days, and rightly so. Anyone can engage in this dangerous activity, but the younger generation has grown up in the cell phone era. Texting is second nature to these young adults, and they are inexperienced drivers, and this is a potentially toxic combination.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately half of high school student drivers text or e-mail while they're behind the wheel. The CDC has also found a link between drinking and driving and texting while driving among teenage drivers.
Without question, texting is a big part of the equation, but cell phone use in general is at the root of the problem according to research that has been done by the National Safety Council. In their 2014 Injury Facts report, they found that cell phone use was a factor in 26 percent of all United States traffic accidents, but texting per se accounted for just five percent of these accidents.
These statistics would indicate that cell phone use in general, be it hand-held or hands-free, can contribute to accidents that lead to injuries and traffic fatalities.
Other Forms of Distracted Drivers Distractions
You can't boil the problem down to cell phone use. There are other forms of distracted driving that get much less attention. For example, there are drive-through fast food places on virtually every corner everywhere in the United States. Experts have stated that eating while driving can increase the chances of getting into an accident by 80 percent.
Animated conversations, arguments, road rage, and tending to children in car seats can also enter the picture when it comes to distracted driving.
In all, the CDC states that on average, there are nine fatalities and 1153 people injured in accidents that are caused by distracted driving each and every day in the United States.
The Santa Rosa Car Accident Attorneys at Beck Law P.C., Can Help
Without question, you should keep your attention firmly on the road to keep yourself and those around you safe. At the same time, when you absorb the statistics, you can see that far too many people engage in risky, distracted behavior when they are behind the wheel.
If you have been injured in an auto accident in Sonoma County, Mendocino County or Lake County California that involved a distracted driver, the auto accident attorneys at the Santa Rosa law firm of Beck Law P.C., can help. Our car accident attorneys can make sure that you get the medical attention you need, and we can also pursue monetary damages to compensate you for your pain and suffering. Contact us today to set up an appointment.


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Use the auto-configuration tool below to quickly and easily setup your mail accounts on any Mac device – from iPhones to MacBooks. Here's how:
The easiest method is to browse to this webpage on the device on which you would like to install the mail account.
A configuration file will be generated. When opened, this file will automatically set up your email account on that device.
For security reasons, there is a passcode for the configuration file. If you are forwarding these details to another device, you will need to forward the passcode separately e.g. via WhatsApp.
- A file named config_for_name_domain.mobileconfig will be generated
- View the new profile:
- Desktop: Find the file in your downloads folder and double click
- iPhone or iPad: View the profile in Settings > General > Profile
- Select the Install button on desktop or Install link at the top right on iPhone or iPad
- The mail account will be set up using IMAP and SSL/TLS
- If you receive a Token mismatch error, clear your browser cache, or view this page in Incognito (Chrome) or New Private window (other browsers) and try again.
- To remove the account on a mobile device, go to Settings > General > Profiles > Email Settings > Delete Profile
- Still struggling? Refer to our Step-by-Step instructions


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The Role of Bias in the Sale: How to make it work for you
The Four Rules of Engagement are always working, whether for us or against us, any time one or more people are engaged. (I say one because we are always negotiating with ourselves…).
I recently spent time unpacking the 2nd Rule, Everyone's Greatest Desire is to be Right, with Glen McCandless of SellingtoSchools.com. You can read the article on the website, and listen to the accompanying podcast below.
Find some useful tips, including things to avoid, when honoring your prospect's desire to be right. Hint: it doesn't mean flattering them, or even agreeing with them, to close the deal.
Listen to internet radio with Selling to Schools on Blog Talk Radio.


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You can try e-Safe Compliance using our cloud servers or have it on your premises. It only takes a few hours to install and you will immediately get endpoint visibility without any noticeable impact.


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Portland, Maine, house where 6 died in city's worst fire in decades being demolished
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) � The owner of a Portland, Maine, apartment building where six people died in the worst fire in the state in 40 years is tearing the house down.
City officials say Gary Nisbet applied for a permit to demolish the Noyes Street home and a contractor was doing the work on Friday. A letter sent to neighbors says the demolition will be finished in two to four days.
The Nov. 1 fire was ruled an accident caused by improper disposal of smoking materials.
The fire killed residents Nicole Finlay, David Bragdon Jr., Ashley Thomas and Christopher Conlee; Topsham resident Maelisha Jackson; and Rockland resident Steven Summers. Several others escaped.
The district attorney's office is expected to consider whether the building met all regulations.


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Most probably Champagne! ;-)It's so inspiring. Timing is perfect since I'll be moving in to my new home in less than a month. Bise, LisaLouwww.urbanfroufrou.com
Champagne it is! So pleased to provide you with some inspiration for your future home;)Take care, Catherine xx
You're so sweet! xoxo LisaLou
Your comments make my day! Thank you!Catherine xo